The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-30
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

AprOpOS OF nOtnlnS IN particular, the
question suggests itself. what has become
of the Jefferson League of Indiana? But
few weeks ago the formation of the Jeffer-
son League furnished a choice morsel for
gossip and speculation to the politicians
and much was heard of the new Demo-
cratic organization that was to cut such a
wide swath in Democratic politics I'm Indi-
ana. After the meeting of the promoters
at the Grand Hotel here early in July it
was announced with a flourish of trumpets
that the league would be an organization
infinitely more complex and more complete
than the ordinary partisan organization for
campaign purposes; that ii would extend
into every precinct in the State; that the
names of district presidents would be made
public at an early date; that district and
county meetings would be held that a big
state meeting here at the capital would
speedily follow and that the purpose of the
league was to insure the domination of the
Indiana Democratic organization by real
for-sure Democrats, presumably of the
Bryan stripe, and hold the State in line for
true Democratic principles" So far as
the public was Informed the work of effect
ing the organization was pushed to a point
where President Edgar l.. Mains, of lions
vile, announced that he was about to an
nounce his list of district presidents, and
was preparing a circular setting forth the
objects of the league, to be distributed over
the State. Since then nothing has peen
heard of the league, and it seems to have
fallen into innocuouS desuetude. Con-
sidering the fact that the entire spirit of
the league was bitterly antagonistc to ev-
erything that Grover Cleveland stands for,
the condition that Mr.. Cleveland made
famous is the last into which the league
might have been expected to fall.
AT the time of the preliminary meeting
~ hot ha
object of the organization of the Jefferson
League was three-fold-to secure control of
the Democratic state committee by the
Bryan Democrats, who styled themselves
the regulars" and elect Stokes" Jackson,
of Greenfield, the most ardent Bryan Dem
ocrat in Indiana, state chairman; give John
w. Kern. of this city. a second guberna-
torial nomination and assist in the nominal
ton of w. ]. Bryan or a man Bryan
should name, for President next year The
regulars declared they had absolutely no
use for the ''reorganiZers" and would not
listen to a suggestion of compromise be-
tween the Democratic factions. They held
that the only course that could be followed
TO bring about harmony was for the '.reor-
ganiZers" TO come meekly into the fold OF
the regulars and sue for forgiveness.
Since the inception of the league, however,
several things have happened that tend to
explain the apparent fact that the organiza-
ton died a-bornin For instance the DEM
ocratS of this city, under the nominal or
real whichever is the case) leadership of
one of the ''reorganizers," succeeded in
electing the Democratic candidate for
anything but a Bryan Democrat Bryan
himself characterized Democratic City
Chairman James L. Reach a man who
was more fit to be at the head of Repub-
lican organization than Democratic one,
but Mr. Reach and his candidate were sue
cessful, and success and Democracy have
been strangers for SO long that even the
the moment to admire the Reach Holtzman
combination. From admiration TO positive
affection is but a slight change, and it
seems the transition has been quickly made
for now the talk in Democratic circles is of
Reach for chairman of the state committee
and OF Holtzman the nominee for Gov
ernor. and the public has had the spectacle
of Reach, former chairman of the Gold
Democratic organization, welcomed into a
gathering of Democrats chiefly those Of
the regular" brand. forgiven for his past
transgressons and consulted as one whose
advice Is not lightly to be regarded.
Under the circumstances, il is small won
der that nothing more is heard of the JEFF
ferson League The Democrats, both reg
ulars'' and ''reorganizers." have had an
object-lesson in the Indianapolis city cam
paign, and common sense tells them that
the only rational course for the party to
pursue in Indiana is TO abandon any such
project as the Jefferson League. with its
true Democratic principles" and put the
Democratic label Oh any man who Will
stand in the same place long enough to be
| labeled, or who can be thrown down and
held during the process. And as common
sense stalked In at the door. Organism flew
| out the window.
Immediately after the first Jefferson
League meeting the Journal gave the slogan
| Of the new organization as Bryan and