The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-08
He Tells the Democratic Executive
Committee He Will at Once Pub
lish Call for Primaries.
KEACH NOW HAS A MISSION
MUST HAVE A VIGILANT EYE FOR
COOKED-UP ELECTION BOARDS.
Machine Democrats Using a Weekly
Paper as Their Organ-Taggart
Looking at Trouble.

Although Chairman Tanning refused to
put both his shoulders to the mat it is
now assured that the Democratic pri-
maries will be held next week. The call
for them will be issued to-day or to-mor-
row. The exact day is not named, but it
is deemed probable, from the quiver Of an
eyelash of Chairman Tanning when the
day was mentioned, that they will be pulled
off week from to-day. Mr.. Tanning still
stands mpledged as to the date but he gave
the executive committee which met with
him at the committee rooms last night the
promise that he would announce the call
in day or two.
Three of the nineteen members did not
attend. They were Charles H. Stuckmey-
er. Jacob Buennagle and Patrick Henry
Woods. Chairman Tanning did some patient
waiting for them, but finally decided to
take chances without them. While waiting
for them there were fresh and positive
demonstrations between Mr.. Tanning and
Mr.. Keach that their personal relations
are cordial. Mr.. Reach. to make good be-
fore the bunch, presented Mr.. Tanning with
a solid silver monkey wrench, weighing
sixteen pounds. with the injunction that
Mr.. Tanning might find it of use if any
screws of the machine became loose at
IS made of the right metal" quoth Keach.
Mr.. Reach has cultivated smile. 1t is not
so magnetic as that of the wizard of French
Lick. but it bears promise.
Mr.. Tanning was not to be outdone. As
prompt as his acceptance of the silver
monkey wrench was his presentation in full
view of all the committee, of a cut-glass
jar containing ninety-six gold fish to Mr..
Reach. Just for Auld Lang Syne," he
said, with beaming face.
CALLED TO ORDER.
Mr.. Tanning then called the committee to
order and stated that it was a conference
as to the time when it was deemed proper
to hold the primaries for the organization of
the party Everybody agreed, with the ex-
ception of w. W. Spencer. that they should
be held within the next week or ten days.
Mr.. Spencer, almost an Ishmaelite, thought
they should be held after the new precincts
are made. as this would relieve the new
chairman of much work when the new
precinct boundaries were fixed. Former
Mayor Sullivan thought this would be
wise under different circumstances. So did
Harvey r. Matthews: Everybody else
thought they should be held soon.
Mr.. Tanning then announced that he
would to-day tomorrow publish the off,
cial call naming the date. The commit
tee rose with relief stamped on every face.
After the meeting Mr.. Tanning said:
1.-The committee without any effort to die
tate to the chairman. indicated that Ii was
deemed proper to hold the primaries soon.
| will within day or two formally an
nounce the date. The committee suggest
ed no date and / will not announce the
date until the call lis issued
Mr.. Tanning said the primaries would
probably be held next week.
The unanimity of sentiment seemed por-
tentous. Everybody seemed pleased. Mr..
Tanning was buoyant. Mr.. Bell beaming
and Mr.. Spencer. like the faithful shepherd
OF the flock, benign 1t seemed to be an
occasion when all was ready and each side
seemed eager for the fight. The evident
good spirit of the machine leaders is TAX
en- TO mean that they have got the crush
er built by T. Taggart in Indianapolis
i'm first-class condition and that the guar
antee period on IL has not expired. I'VE
told Reach to look out" they seemed to
say, "but he wouldn: hear u.s.
KEACH SEEMED PLEASED.
Keach seemed pleased after the meet
ing. He said he was pleased to know that
the primaries were to be held soon. He
also said he would be more pleased when
he found Chairman Tanning making good
his promise to see that the primaries would
be fairly conducted He said he would be
glad to assist Mr.. Tanning In making them
fair.
Reach and all his cohorts are vigilant In
discovering any efforts to cook up election
boards. They claim they cannot be beaten
except by Unfair practices. They have