The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-03
Committee Has Full Confidence I'm
Him and VIII Meet with Him
for Consultation.
PRIMARIES AT AN EARLY DAY
IT Is THOUGHT THE CHAIRMAN WILL
ABIDE BY COMPROMISE.
james l.. Reach offered to Produce
Evidence that Bell Wa. After
Election Boards.

found himself at French Lick yesterday
morning and hurried TO Indianapolis by
roundabout route, reaching here yesterday
afternoon. Last night he appeared at the
meeting of the Democratic executive COM
mittee, called by Vice Chairman Appel.
Tanning presided and made it plain that he
and no one else is legally authorized to call
this committee together.
The meeting lasted two hours. there were
many speeches, and when IL terminated
there were smiles. The members were
reticent as to what had been accomplished.
but Chairman Tanning gave out resolu-
ton that was unanimously adopted. The
resolution follows:
Resolved. That we, the individual
members of the Democratic city executive
committee, recognize that Joseph T. Fam
ming, chairman of the Democratic city GEN.
trail committee. is the person legally au-
thorized TO call said committee together
under the existing conditions.
"2. That having full confidence in the in
tegrity and ability of said chairman. We
assure him that we will be glad 10 meet
with him for consultation at such time as
he may designate in a call regularly issued
'3. That we do now adjourn"
at stated" said Chairman Tanning. ''at
the outset that did not recognize the call
of Vice Chairman Appel as being legal
and that, therefore. the meeting not
possessed of any legal authority. i also
stated that was within reach by tele-
phone, that my Whereabouts was known
and that had said to many persons that
1 would return Monday and would call the
executive committee together for a con-
ference. 1 also stated that was the chair
man Of the committee and that / would
perform all the duties of the chairman and
assume all the responsibility of the chair
man. / stated that / would call the execu-
tive committee together for a conference
and that 1 would call the primaries with
a view to the best interests OF the party"
Mr.. Tanning said much of the discussion
of the meeting related TO the legality Of
Vice Chairman Appers CALL He said he
felt that Mr.. Appel had been misled by
the representations made to him. He said
If absence from the city for few days con-
stituted an emergency for such action Gov
ernor Durbin took long chances when he
went to st. Louis to the dedication OF the
worlds fair buildings. He thought it rath-
er strange and unusual Vice Chairman Ap-
pei had sent a notice to Fanning's Office
notifying him Of the meeting.
eff had depended on that notice." said
he, II would still be in ignorance Of the
meeting. But my stenographer telegraphed
it to me at French Lick and / hurried
home"
Mr. Tanning seemed to view the affair as
an effort to dispossess him of his Office
DATE OF PRIMARIES.
Before the committee was called to order
the members We're buttonholed by the lead
ers and given to understand that Tanning
was prepared to announce the date of the
primaries tomorrow. The Journal printed
the fact yesterday that Tanning intended TO
return tomorrow or early in the week and
announce the primaries. Everybody under
stood last night that the primaries Will be
called next week. They will be held, il is
will reorganize soon thereafter
There were many speeches. w. w. Spen-
Ger, the legal oracle of the Taggart machine,
labored hard and long 10 convince the COM
mitteemen of what each OF them well knew
that flaming alone had authority To call
meetings or primaries. The resolution was
presented by Spencer early in ,he meeting.
and its debate received wide latitude. +. NJ.
Johnson, former Mayor Sullivan. Hiram w.
Brown and others made pleas for party har-
mony. James l.. Reach, the man who Is
trying to break the machine, and whose
probable success the machine is seeking To
prevent by fixed primaries, was present and
asked for fair play and early primaries.
Reach did not press his charges that Jo-
seph f. Bell, who was also present was
sending for committeeman and securing the
names OF the election officers in some cases
and practically appointing them in others.
KEACH OFFERS EVIDENCE.
Keach spoke the committeeman from
the Tenth ward and not as a candidate for
chairman. He spoke of the work OF Bell in
sending for committeeman TO dictate the
organization of the election board. and said
IL Chairman Tanning was ignorant OF the
facts as TO this he would furnish him indis-
putable evidence of The truth OF his charge.
Tanning reiterated, after w. w. Spencer
had spoken in condemnation OF the party
organ and number OF Democrats, that he
did not recognize the meeting as official.
and keach got I'D and left
Just keach left the resolution, which
was criticised by Reach as superfiuous. was
amended on motion OF Eiram Brown by the
insertion OF the words legal authority"
Bell did not attempt TO refute the state
ments made by Reach as TO his efforts 10
control the election boards
The result OF the meeting was apparent
behind the language OF the resolutions. One
OF the committeeman said IL was under
maries the coming week and that this was
about all the Reach men wanted 10 be sure
Of The fact that the vote on the resola-
Keach men knew well they were intended
TO placate Tanning for securing the meet
ing without his knowledge and that he
would return the compliment by issuing the
call at once
Tanning. however says he indicated no
time at which he would act other than that
he repeated what he had already said
about calling the committee together for q
conference. II Reach had any large am
munition he refused to use Il until there
was q meeting legally called
a Keach man Safd the whole nfPnfr ~<o~