The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-14
BRYAN AND HEARST
TO CAUSE MORE D|ScORD
They VIII Fire the Hearts of First
District Silverites on the Even
ing of Jan. 5.
GOLD MEN ARE ANGRY

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Dec. 13.-The coming
Of William Jennings Bryan and W. K.
Hearst to this city on the night of Jan. 5.
when they will deliver addresses under the
auspices of the Jefferson League of the
State, has aroused considerable bitterness
in the First congressional district and in
sout bern Indiana between the Democratic
factions-the gold and silver wings of the
party-and it is predicted the meeting will
prove ''freeze-out'' for the gold men.
Why Bryan and Hearst should visit the
State at this time is a mystery TO the gold
Democrats, who believe that the reorgan-
ization of the party at this time Is the only
thing to insure success.
1t was arranged to have Bryan and
Hearst speak here in December. but the
meeting was postponed because of the go
ing abroad of Bryan. The men who were
instrumental in bringing these so-called
leaders here are men who stood for free
silver and many other isms long before the
nomination of the hoy orator" in 1896 on
a free-silver platform. Thus far, in the
meetings held to arrange for the January
meeting, the gold Democrats have not been
represented.
The officers of the Jefferson League in
Indiana are: President. Edgar L. Names.
louisville; vice president, William r. Refs
ter, Evansville; secretary, Claude G. Bow
ers, Terre Haute; treasurer, u. s. Jackson.
Greenfield. These men are known as rad
zeal free silver advocates and would rather
see the party go down in defeat, 1t is said.
than permit the reorganizers to regain con-
troll. Bowers was one of the Bryan leaders
in the central part of the State in 1896 and
Reister was one of his lieutenants in the
First congressional district In 1898 Reister
aspired to the district craftsmanship and
was defeated by Clinton +. Rose. who was
backed by the gold men. The breach be-
tween the gold and free silver men in this
end of the State has not been healed In the
least since 1896 and they have refused to
affiliate with each other in conventions.
The coming of Bryan and Hearst, 1t is pre-
dicted, will widen the breach.
Why should Bryan and Hearst come at
this time? is a question the reorganizers
ara asking themselves. Does Bryan favor
Hearst for the presidency, and If not, why
do they come together?
One of the radical free silver men here
who supported Bryan In his two campaigns
says he thinks Bryan would like to see
that Tom Johnson is out of the way. He
is Of the opinion that had Johnson cut down
the big Republican majority. in Ohio last
November Bryan would have favored
Johnson for the presidency. but now the
Ohio leader is not to be considered.
A Democrat prominent in the district,
who was never a Bryan man at heart, be-
cause of his free silver views, says the
motive for Bryan in coming here in January
is to prevent the gold men reorganizing the
party. He says Bryan imagines he can
create a sentiment in this end of the State
against reorganization. The night follow
ing the banquet here Bryan and Hearst will
speak in indianapolis.
Southern Indiana has been hot-bed Of
Organism for several years. In 1896 Bryan
carried this (the First district by a large
majority while the Republican nominee for
Congress was elected by over 1000 majority.
The Bryan men in the First district are
outspoken in their opposition to reorganiza-
ton, and the word has gone along the line
to ST. port no man who was not Bryan
follower in his two campaigns in 1896 and
1900. AT the first meeting held in this city
a few days ago to arrange for the Bryan
Hearst meeting the most radical free silver
men in the district were here. One Of those
who attended was Judge Thomas III. Dillon.
of Petersburg, who has stood for nearly
every third party movement since the war
between the St9tes. He is an aspirant for
Congress, and 1T is said he will have the
solid support Of the Bryan men In the dis
trict.
1t is evident from present indications that
the Bryan-Hearst "love-feast," as 1t has
been termed, will be a boost for the free
silver men and a set back to the conserva-
tive Democrats who believe in reorganiza-
ton. What the result of the meeting will
be is only a matter of conjecture, but able
politicians say it will have the effect of
creating havoc and more discord in the
Democratic camp.