The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17
In Brief Speech He Declares keach In
His Chairman, Too, and Pre-
diets Victory.
KEACH'S STRENGTH GENERAL
HE HAD MAJORITY OF PRECINCTMEN
IN EVERY WARD SAVE one.
Carl Won Hake Elected Vice Chairman
Delegate Convention Chosen
Vote by Wards.

James Lawrence keacn, potato King ana
politician. defeated John Worth Kern. Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor in 1900 and
prospective United States senator, for chair
man Of the Democratic city committee last
night by a vote of III To 67. This COM
pleted the first step in the restoration"
of the Democratic party in Indiana.
Those who look no farther than the con-
vention hall see no more than local revo-
luton in the organization-a new deal. But
those who have watched and waited pa
tiently for the opportune time TO wrest the
party organization from Organism see lead
ing from il the elimination Of the Bryan
element as an effective factor and the res
toration OF the men who controlled the
party prior to 1896. 1t was also noticeable
that Thomas Taggart. national committee
man from Indiana, the dictator Of the city
and state machines, by his speech after
Keachs victory, aoquiesced in the res
toration."
HIS PERFECT MACHINE.
No political machine ever worked smooth
er than Keachs. II rode into view on the
night of its first appearance high geared,
well oiled and beautiful to see. Its boss
was in absolute control and his followers
performed their dusy like drilled soldiers.
1t revealed a manipulator who brings TO the
new machine all the expert knowledge OK
years Of tutorship by that master me-
chanic, Taggart, with some improvements
invented by the new boss. Its victory was
complete and apparently subduing. Co
horts of the old Taggart machine even went
to Keach and took him by the hand.
There was one important feature lack
ing, however. No one moved TO make ii
unanimous, and John W. Kern. the defeat
ed candidate. left the hall Mr.. Kern went
home before the demand came for him 10
speak Chairman flaming found It neces-
sary to explain that he was not in the
hail." Mr. Kern's friends said his leav-
ing indicated no intent 10 offend the new
deal. They said IL anything Ii meant re-
buke to those who had wrung from him
the permission TO use his name, believing
that his popularity would carry everything
They censured his friends for permitting
his name TO go before the convention.
A LARGE CROWD.
Long before the hour fixed for the meet
ing of the committeeman Masonic Hall was
sought by a large crowd. This crowd en-
tertained itself in front of the building until
il was time for the meeting. Many of the
committeeman were late. Six never came
at all. The decision of the primary cleo
ton commission in ten cases left ten pre-
oincts without representation. that of
100 committeeman elected, 14 were present.
The six absentees were reported to be
buggy riding" So far as could be ascer-
tanned two of them were Keach men,
Chairman Tanning found II difficult 10
bring the committeeman to their seats
Each committeeman soon found himself
under the calcium light. At the opening the
gallery was packed, the spectators includ-
ing many prominent members of both par
ties. Few were admitted to the main floor
except delegates. On the stage were
Thomas Taggart. who was applauded when
he appeared, John j. Appel, Judge willard
New of North Vernon, Eudorus NJ. john
son and Joseph r. Bell. No others Of prom
inence were there. Chairman flaming gave
ample time for all to reach the hall before
he directed Secretary Albert Sahm 10 call
the roll of committeeman. The assistant
secretaries were w w. Spencer and Elliott
r. Hooten for Kern, and Patrick j. Ryan
for Reach.
The floor of the haIl was arranged so that
there were only fifteen rows of chairs. and
in each row was the number OF seats re-
quired for the committeeman from each
ward AS Secretary Sahm called the roll
each man was required to rise and answer
Thus the calcium light was momentarily on
each.
But The calcium was more in evidence
when the roll was called for the vote for
Chairman. When Mr.. flaming called for
nominal tions. oren s. Hack. of the seventh
ward, placed John w. Kern's name before
the convention. A round Of applause and
cheers greeted Kern's name. Charles Pol
ster was next recognized. The king Of the
Sixth ward said: 'I nominate James l.
Keachs"
The words were hardly finished before a
demonstration from the floor and the gal
ieries came II was tremendous in form
and import Committeeman got on their
chairs and waved their hats and shouted
and spectators In the galleries cheered and
shouted 'Keach. Keach! The tumult sub
thusiasrn Chairman flaming pounded his
table with water glass. in lieu Of a gavel.
Henry Warrum moved that when the
committeeman vote they rise In their seats
and pronounce the name OF the man they
voted for. This was carried unanimously
and the roll call began The First ward
was for Kern And the Kern cohorts
cheered The Second ward was for Keach
and the Reach cohorts cheered. The rol
OF applause until ''Bill' Kissei. the policy
king, rose TO cast the vote OF his precinct
for John W. Kern. Kisses greeted him.
cut" Chairman flaming again had 10 use
the water glass &c restore order. The DEM
onstration when Charley Polster voted his
precinct OF the Sixth ward for Reach In
cluded few Misses. but they were not over
wheiming as when Kissel voted When the
Tenth ward voted solidly for keaoh there
was another surprise because Georss
Moraritys precinct on the Kern slate,
voted for Keach. Keach had eighty votes
at the close OF his own ward-the Tsnth-
gave aim most of its vote. although e Wnn