The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-24
IL johnson Wins Contested Delega-
wise Zimmerman VIII Win.
BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY
AND BOTH ARE HUSTLING TO MAKE
THEIR CLAIMS GOOD.
Resolutions and Rules Committees
Centers of Bitter Straggle-Other
Matters i'm Contest.

test between Mayor Tom l.. Johnson, of
Cleveland and John l.. Zimmerman, OF
Springfield, for the gubernatorial nomina-
ton has caused more interest in the Demo-
cratic State convention here this week than
for many years.
While both claim a majority of the 600
delegates, the result depends on the settle
ment of contests involving AS delegates.
These contests are expected to prevent two
congressional districts at Cincinnati and
one at Cleveland from participating I'm the
selection of members of the committees SO
that the committee credentials may have
only eighteen members voting on the first
contest that is passed on. With the GUS
tom of taking the contests up i'm alpha
betical order, that of Cuyahoga county
would come first, and it would likely be
decided in favor of Johnson so that there
would be nineteen voting on the contests
from Gallia, Hamilton and other counties.
The contest is so close that all sorts of
rules are agitated, even that of consider
ing contests in the numerical order of the
congressional districts, which would give
the Zimmerman men the votes of the First
and Second districts at the start.
While the Zimmerman men here and at
Springfield are in conference tonight over
the contested delegations. the Johnson men
are busy everywhere. Besides the six con-
tested counties there are threats of throw
ing out the Erie, Clark and Defiance dele
cations for irregularities. While the home
delegation of one candidate has a contest,
the home delegation of the other is charged
with irregularity The fight this week will
come when the delegates meet by congress
sional districts Tuesday afternoon. And the
session of the committee on credentials
Tuesday night is awaited with more anx-
iety than any preliminary meeting in the
history of Ohio conventions.
The preliminary contests extend to all
parts of the organization of the convention
Johnson says he coula not make the race
on zimmerman platform and thinner
platform, so BOTH are seeking a majority
of the committee on resolutions while the
control of the new State central committee,
which holds over for the presidential year,
Is secondary only to that of the committee
on credentials. There is close watch on
the committee on rules and order of bust
ness, as Johnson wants an Endorsement
made for United States senator before the
State ticket is named, while Zimmerman
wants the senatorial Endorsement to come
up after State nominations, if such indorse-
ment is made at all.
If the Johnson men control the convention
the temporary organization will be made
permanent, but If the Zimmerman men
win on Tuesday there will be another or
ganization on Wednesday
John w. Bookwalter, recognized as the
Johnson candidate for United States Sen
ator, tonight gave out the following:
Much pleased and gratified as / am at
the mention of my name in connection with
the nomination for United States Senator
by the Democratic State convention this
week, and much as J appreciate the honor
and the compliment which my friends seek
to pay me, feel it hut matter of justice
TO my fellow-Democrats of the State and to
myself TO say that am not candidate for
such nomination. and my name will not
be presented to the convention for it's con-
sideration.
when the matter was first published 1
received the suggestion with such recogni-
ton of the courtesy that mention of the
honor imposes and full measure of ap-
probation of the kindness of my friends in
the full belief that in view of my frequent
REFUSAL to discuss the subject i'm the public
prints, nothing would come of it. The
movement, however, has assumed such pro-
portions that | feel | should make the
above positive announcement. My decision
is unalterable and irrevocable.
The good fIlenoS, responsible for the
movement in my behalf, will be entitled to
and will receive my further thanks and re-
newed manifestations Of sincere gratitude
if they will kindly accept this decision. ar
rived at from purely personal considera-
lions, without question. 1t is final and alb
solute''
Mayor Johnson and his manager, Charles
p. Sa,en, of Cleveland; Judge w. I. Durbin
and w. F. Finley, of Kenton: Congressman
III. c. CARRIER, of Greenville, and others
were i'm conference here to-day with Book
walter, but the latter would not reconsider
his withdrawal. Bookwalter was accom-
panied by Charles w. Constantine, of
| Springfield. They will return home to-mor-
| row. The Johnson men say they still favor
senatorial Endorsement and that it will be
| a ''free-for-all'' race.
Among those mentioned for senatorial in
dorsement are Melville +. Ingalls, Charles
| W. Baker and Judson Harmon, of Cincin-
natl; John FL. Clarke and l.. A. Russell, of
| Cleveland, Allen w. Thurman, James Kill
bourne and ex-Congressman John j. Lentz
of Columbus; ex-Congressman John A. Nc
Mahon, of Dayton; ex-Congressman j. A
| Norton, of Tiffin; ex-Congressman A J.
Warner. of Marietta; Charles N. Haskell,
of Ottawa; George M. Saltzgaber, of Van
| Vert and Walter Richie, of Lima