The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-19

centuate the bitterness of the fractional di-
vision and furnish no end Of diversion for
the Republicans who are taking unusual
interest in the affair. Yesterday, the day
after the meeting of the city committee
that fell so far short of the purposes of
Reach, Warrum INK Polster. was produc-
tive of a further lining up of the forces.
and a large Number of Democrats who had
been holding aloof came out squarely for
Tanning or for Reach. or Keach's candi-
date, whoever he might be. Last evening
leaders of both factions expressed salts
faction at the situation, but impartial OBJ
servers expressed the belief that Tanning
had made material gains, while Reach had
not even held his own. Thursday nights
meeting OF the city committee gave evil
dence that Reach will not be able TO con-
troll his own machine and this sign of
resulted in further defections in
his organization. several weakened men,
bers deciding that the city chairman would
lose the fgh and that Ii was high time for
them to be climbing on the Fanning-Tag-
CART band wagon.
Chairman Reach has not yet announced
his candidate against Tanning, but IL is
the general belief that he will make the
race himself. 1t was reported that he said
to q friend during the day hat he really
did not want TO make the race, as he did
not feel hat he could give the time to the
fight, and that he had about decided 10
beat Tanning with Polster." He indicated
the utmost confidence that he could defeat
Tanning and expressed the conviction that
1t was only a question Of picking out a can
didate to make the race.
Edward w. Little, who but a few weeks
since was an important part of the Reach
machine, has surprised everybody by COM
ing out squarely against Reach on the dis
trict craftsmanship question. Little, IL will
be remembered, was a candidate for police
Judge on the Democratic city ticket during
the recent campaign, having been NOM
mated along with Hoffman as a machine
candidate. He was defeated for election
by Judge Whallon. but it had been gen.
orally understood tina he had been taken
care OF by the administration and that he
was still a Reach man. When asked where
he stood in the district fight, however, he
declared emphatically:
I'm for Joe Tanning, first, last and all
the time, and don't you forget il. / think
/ know when I've had enough of anybody
or anything, and I've had enough Of
Reach. I've found Reach out as a lot of
other Democrats have found him out, and
i know that he isn't the kind of a man the
party wants at the head of any of its or
CARNATIONS or in a position of power in the
party. He was elected city chairman as an
ant-machiho man, but, talk about ma
chimes, he wants TO build up a machine
that will make any other organization this
>t>s WV AO"h iOVh lhV q DChIlLS
circle. He wants to be a car and wants
to dictate every move made by the party.
1 Know dozens of Democrats who were
with him in his first fight who are good and
sick Of their bargain, and they've been just
anxious for this chance to turn him down.
The best element in the party came to his
assistance once, but that element is all
Keach's greatest difficulty in lining up his
forces for the district fight is in placing
the numerous ward and precinct workers
to whom he promised jobs during the city
campaign. He promised anything to any
body while he was trying to elect Holtz-
man. but after the election he either could
not or would not redeem 5 per cent of his
promises.
Of the sore ones last night, sis that he
hasn't any more blood in him than one of
the potatoes he sells. He is the coolest
proposition I ever went up against, and l
believe he'd sacrifice anybody to gain his
own selfish ends. He'll promise anything
to get a man to work for him. but after the
works done he laughs at the man when he
comes up for his piece of pie. Now he's
starting this district fight by promising
Jobs for next spring, sprinkling inspector
ships and the like and he knows that he
can't place one-tenth Of the men he's prom
Using to take care Of. / didn't want any
thing myself during the city campaign, but
he came to me and insisted that I take two
or three jobs and pass them around among
the boys in my ward. / said I'd do 1t, and
made my promises to the boys, but after
the election / couldn't even get into the
basement Of the courthouse to see about the
jobs"
Reach is having further trouble in holding
Mayor Holtzman in line. The mayor has
learned that Reach expected to make q
mere puppet of him and has also heard some
OF the uncomplimentary things Reach said
about him but a few months ago. For in
stance. when Hoffman was first mentioned
as a mayoralty possibility among the Dem
ocrats some of the organization men went
to Reach to talk it over, but at their first
suggestion of Hoffman as a candidate
Reach threw up his hands.
Johnny Holtzman for mayor" he said
derisiveiy: Why. he's ten pounds lighter
Later on he decided that he could use
Hoffman, however, and made him the ma
chine candidate for the nomination.
Politicians on all sides are discussing
Keach's called meeting of the city commit
tee and more complete accounts of what
transpired at the meetirg are going the
rounds. 1t is said that Fred Grossart, of
the Twelfth ward, who was reported in
yesterdays Journal as having made a speech
opposing Keach's scheme to have the COM
mittee indorse a candidate for district chair
man, said some extremely pointed things
to the city chairman before he left the
meeting. Gr0ssart, Ii is understood. be-
came quite heated in his argument and said
to Reach: You needn't take all the credit
for electing Hoffman to yourself or TO your
organization. Dissatisfied Republicans
elected Holtzman and any Democrat would
have been elected under the circumstances
witt any organization. Why, we've been
defeated here when we had a better organi-
cation than yours
An afternoon paper yesterday argued
editorially that in seeking to have the city
committee indorse a candidate for district
chairman Reach had sought to do nothing
more unprecedented than the Democratic
State committee had done at it's recent meet
ing in indorsing Thomas Taggart as a can
didate for national chairman. In answer to
this argument il Is pointed out that Tag
CART Is the only candidate from Indiana
for national chairman and that in indorsing
him the State committee did not discrimi-
nate between two Indiana Democrats who
were seeking the same place. The pro-
posed action of the city committee meant
discrimination by the organization be-
tween two or more Democrats who were
aspirants for the same place.
XXX
Representative Jesse Overstreet will ar
rive in the city from Washington to-day
and will spend a few hours here before pro-
ceeding to Franklin TO visit his father.
DR.. G.. d. Kimball, of Marion, who was
a member of the lower branch of the last
General Assembly, was here yesterday, call
ing on his friends. He said hat Grant coun-
ty Republicans are very well satisfied with