The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-07
Joseph T.. Bell, william r. Moore and
James l.. Reach "Trying Out" Their
Mayoralty Booms.
LOVE FEAST WITHOUT LOVE
An ILL-MASkED ALLUSION TO
SACKS OF POTATOES,
Somebody Erred i'm Sending Out In
vitatiOns to Fourteenth Ward
Democratic Club Meeting.

Is James l.. Reach a candidate for mayor?
He said he was not at the Fourteenth Ward
Democratic Club meeting last night. But
IL would be hard to convince Joseph E
Bell and William F. Moore. who also made
speeches about the municipal campaign at
this meeting, that he meant exactly what
he said.
The monthly meeting of the club was an
nounced as a love feast" 1t proved to
be little less than that The three men
named, who are regarded as the most prob
able trio from which the next Democratic
candidate will be chosen. did much to clear
the murky Democratic atmosphere. al
though the Reach end of the performance
left doubt in the minds of Bell and Moore
as to the love" part of it. Equally must
Moore's speech have left doubt in the
minds of Reach and Bell. Also Bells
honeyed words must have raised ques-
ton in the minds of Moore and Reach.
According to the estimates of some work.
ers the meeting was framed up" for Bell
When he came he found Moore busy shak-
ing hands with his old neighbors of the
Fourteenth ward and Reach seated with a
group that seemed interested in his words
President John F. Geckler. who was city
Frank B. Ross, a probable candidate.
handing OUT friendly words to the Four
teenth ward boys" Mr.. Geckler said to
the fifty present in the close room at 1909
Shelby street. where the club meets, that
all the candidates" had been invited to
speak to them on the work of organization
Before the speeches began he directed Sec
rotary Mahoney to read letter from Will
liam F. Eiten, secretary of the National
Association of Democratic Clubs, which
spoke of the great political success of 'our
president" William Randolph Hearst, and
what Hearst thought about things political.
Nobody misunderstood the meaning of the
letter which was a Hearst boom for Presi-
dent.
BELL CALLED FIRST.
President Geckler called on Bell first.
Mr.. Bell spoke for Democratic principles
principles of Jefferson. He did not allude
to the principles of one William j. Bryan,
of Nebraska. In fact, no one seemed to
remember 'our peerless leader" as his
name was not mentioned during the night.
Mr.. Bell urged organization for the city
campaign, the nomination of the best man
for mayor, and the retirement of the Book
walter administration for fifty years
Moore
Mr. Moore did not allude to Ibis friend
Bell" He said he was known to the Four
teenth ward voters, and that they knew
any Democrat had right to possess a
laudable ambition to be mayor. Mr.. Moore
said he had been fought with all the con-
Reach looked up as though he remembered
the beer checks with the negro fiddler on
them. They were 'contraband' in the last
city campaign, when Moore ran against
What / do object to- continued Moore,
in aggressive tone, lis for one man, or
two men, or a clique of men, to set himself
or themselves up 10 weigh the quallncatlons
of candidate when they wouldn't know
the difference between qualifications and a
sack of potatoes, and couldn't read the
marks on the steelyard." Here Mr. Reach
looked UP and smiled.
Moore said all that was wanted was a
| free and fair contest among Democrats,
and that this alone would give the Demo
| Gratis chance for success.
| Said Reach: II wouldn't say a word il
| Billy Moore hadn't tramped in my potato
patch. L agree with him. What We want
| is a candidate nominated by the Demo-
crats-by all the Democrats-and a candi-
date who is a Democrat" Mr.. Reach said
two years ago that Moore was an 'fllegit-
/ innate candidate" He never agreed with
| Moore on anything before.
Il came here because Councilman Meyer
| invited me" said Reach. az have no selfish
interest. / only want to see the Democrats
Il
my daddy was, and that is as far as L care
| to trace the history OF it. And, since my
name has been mentioned in connection
with office, will say that am not a can
didate for Office. | merely want to see that
/ the candidate is fairly nominated, and then
i will do my best TO elect him.
OTHERS MADE SPEECHES.
Then came speeches from Frank b. Ross
John L. Sullivan, John Barmfuhrer. W. w
knight and Councilman Meyer. Mr.. Sulli-
van, who was once county clerk, created
! excitement by saying that he had come tc
the meeting to help organize for the cam.
] paign and that if a ''five-dollar note was
needed to come around in three or foul
days and it would be forthcoming" The
excitement subsidized when it appeared thai
| the 50 note was not present. Mr.. Meyer
| said the Democratic party is not i'm 10,
Bells office nor in Billy Moore's, but i.
| right here in the Fourteenth ward" Taker
with what Reach had previously said TN,
crowd guessed that perhaps Reach haC
room in his little potato kingdom for the
Democratic party. OF course. Meyer didnt
| mean this.
The meeting demonstrated that there /:
| To be large effort for the restoration o.
| the Democratic party to the strenuous life
President Geckler. in a concluding speech
said: mo matter whether Joe Bell. or Billy
/ Moore. or John Hoffman. or Edgar Per
kins was nominated. the party would b,
solid. This recalled that Perkins is :
| candidate. The omission Of Reach wa.
| ominouS.
The club declined to act on the elevated
| track question, as il was not deemed !
/ proper one for "A political campaign Coun
] Gilman Meyer directed attention to a meet
| ing OF another section of the club the las
| Wednesday of this month at it's headquar
| tiers on Madison avenue Bell, Reach ane
Moore secured the street number OF tn,
4 nlapQ