The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-20
POLITICAL POT BOILING
MAYOR BOOKwALTER WILL NOT
RETURN UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
His Friends Say They Are Not
Alarmed at the Situation-Demo-
cratic Squabble Subsidies.

The friends Of Mayor Bookwalter, who is
still in Arizona with his brother, are going
ahead with their organization in his inter
est as the nominee of the Republicans for
second term. The mayor is not expected
home before the middle of next week, and
there Is so far no candidate announced
against him. The Republicans who op-
posed to his nomination assert that nearly
one-half of the members of the city central
committee are in favor of selecting a new
man, and they are now spending their ef-
forts in trying to gain the consent of the
man who is deemed by them to be capable
of defeating Mayor Bookwalter in the con-
vention.
The city convention will be held a week
from tomorrow in Tomlinson Hall. 1t will
be composed of 661 delegates. Those op-
posed to the denomination of Mayor Book
walter say that their strength is in the
heavy Republican wards on the North Side
and that If the candidate they hope to an
nounce consents TO the use of his name
nearly four hundred delegates may be elect
ed at the primaries Friday.
The friends of Mayor Bookwalter say
they are amply Informed as to the situation
and that there is not the slightest danger
that any candidate can overcome him. No
opposition is announced to the renomina-
ton of Charles N. Elliott city clerk Should
Court Thomas c. Whallon, now city prose-
cutor in Police Court. and Cass Connaway
are mentioned as probable candidates for
police judge. Six councilmen at large are
also to be nominated 1t is expected a
number of new candidates for these places
on the ticket will appear within the next
twenty-four hours.
IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAMP.
The Democratic squabble has subsided
into generalities and mutterings. Former
Mayor Taggart left for French Lick yes
terday and the Democratic machine showed
no signs of a demonstration. Neither is
there a flag of truce in sight. James L.
Keach is going along with his organization
and his friends say he cannot be beaten.
The newest feature of the Democratic sit
uation is the admitted absence of Mr.. Tag
CART from the firing line. His friends say
that he has not been as active in the pres
ent controversy as has been supposed and
that the assertions of the Reach element
| that he was planning all the campaign
against them was beyond the truth. Tag
gart's friends say he is merely exercising
| his privilege of supporting Joseph Z. Bell
| and is inclined TO do so only in the most
nuendos of the Reach men may bring him
| into the fight with all his strength. The
| Keach men say that IL Taggart is not the
! head and front of the opposition to them
| then they have been deceived by facts that
| they have not the courage TO dispute. Both
| sides seem to be trying TO dodge an ugly
quarrel bringing up the memories of 1896
| and which each seems equally responsible
| for introducing into the craftsmanship con-
| troverSy.
Mr.. Taggart. in an interview before he
| left, said he was not afraid of his record in
| 1896 and that he had no apology for his
political acts. He also said he thought
John w. Kern would be forced to become
| chairman of the city committee.