The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-21
1t Is ssid Joseph +. Bell Is About
Ready to- Announce His Candidacy
for Mayor.
TAGGART's COHORTS WILL FIGHT
KEACH's PREDICAMENT LIKE THAT
OF FRESHMAN AFTER WILDCAT.
IL Bell Is n Candidate 1t IsNot Thought
the Chairman VIII Be Warm
I'm Support.

Chairman Reach, OF the Democratic city
committee, says he will announce the date
of the democratic city convention and that
the date will not be earlier than the mid
die of June nor later than tine middle of
July. He says he expects to make his an
nouncement next week after he has heard
from all the persons who feel like advising
him. Mr.. Reach reiterates that he will
not interfere in the nomination and that
the primaries will offer equal advantage to
all candidates and that the party must
make it's own nomination.
On the heels of this announcement came
the report that Joseph E. Bells candidacy
is almost ready TO announce and that when
1t Is announced there will be another Zine
up of the Taggart machine for him. The
machine, it is understood. has many re-
cruits from among the Reach men who
favor Bells nomination. Many who sup
ported Reach. particularly John j. Appel
vice chairman OF the former Democratic
city committee, favor the nomination of
Bell. There are many indications that the
Bell forces are active and will. continue the
fight for him In the convention primaries.
A WAITING GAME.
Between Bell and Mccullough and Holtz-
man IL seems TO be waiting game, each
on the other two. Keach's announcement
is calculated to precipitate things, for If
he makes UP his mind to call the conven-
ton the middle of June the candidates
would have to hurry with their organiza-
tions. Friends of Bell say unreservedly
that he will be a candidate Mccullough
said yesterday he was not prepared to say
that he would be and Hoffman said he
would take time to consider the expediency
of running.
The climax of the day was reached when
it was reported, on high authority, that
Thomas Taggart had decided to spend
three weeks in Indianapolis prior to the
city convention, no matter when IL is
called, to organize the Bell forces.
The situation facing the new chairman
is said TO be much like that of the Irishman
who climbed tree to catch a wildcat.
While the struggle was going on his friend
asked II he should help him hold the cat .
For hivin's sake, no." said the Irishman
Help me let him 60"
Reach caught the Craftsmanship, but it
is proving wildcat Suppose Taggart
should renew the fight. win out and put
Joseph E. Bell at the head of the city tick
ct, spectators ask. If Tasgart did then it
would perhaps illuminate the late apparent
rout of the former boss of the Democrats.
Taggart may have saved some of his checks
for another hand and the new hand dealt
by Reach may be much better than Reach
intended 1t TO be. Reach would like to
carry any load except Bell, and nothing
would turn his success into disaster more
than to nominate Bell.
Keach's bold announcement as to the con-
vention programme indicates that he is
trying to disclose the enemy. If Bell is to
be candidate he must come into the open
or Reach may defeat his effort TO organize
for the primaries. Whether Reach intends
TO make any effort to defeat Bell remains
to be seen. He insists that he will make
good his promise to keep hands off, Since
the Saturday convention Bell has received
much sympathy. In fact, sympathy has
moved rapidly toward him. Reach, how
ever, has antipathy for Bell
AGAINST HIM TWO YEARS AGO.
Two years ago. when 1t was proposed to
make Bell the nominee and he announced
his candidacy. Reach made such a roar that
the machine withdrew Bell in twenty-fou
hours and substituted Charles Mcguire as
it's choice before the primaries. This was
after the nomination had been offered to
Reach. Appel and others and had been re-
fused.
Democrats realize that Keach's election
did not solve problems, but made them. The
Reach faction would be content to sit back
and see popular silver man nominated
and elected. This would be glory for
them both, but the chief glory would be
In the sound money organization that made
is rightly guessed he intends to throw the
tail in with the hide and give the Reach
organization which shouted ''gold bug at
Bell support him for mayor.
1t begins to look as IL the contest would
narrow down to Hoffman and Bell II IL
does-or even IL Mccullough should repre-
sent the Reach faction alone against Bell
lit means the square issue of machine
against machine-the old against the new
Reach has won one battle. If two candidates
oppose Bell his chances are better than II
-
er the Democrats even though they may
not want Bell, will push him, Taggart
and their companions into political obscur-
ity by another defeat. And IL they do will
not revenge be sweet?
Chairman Reach now has all these inter-
esting questions TO think about.