The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-14
Chairman flaming Has Agreed to
Recognize His Election Board I'm
the Tenth Ward.
DAY OF UNUSUAL ACTIVITY
HEADQUARTERS OF BOTH SIDES
THRONGED WITH VISITORS.
The Contest Bound to Leave Sore Spots
That Cannot BE Healed-Elec-
tfon of Chairman.

The weeks of strenuous activity In local
Democratic politics will end tonight by the
election of enough precinct committeeman
to determine whether James l. Reach or
John w. Kern will be chosen chairman OF
the city committee Saturday night. The
primaries will be held in each precinct
from TO p. m. to-day.
The Democrats have never been so ex-
cited over such a contest and have never
been so evenly divided, IL appearances are
TO be trusted. There is no longer any con-
cealment whatever that 1t is the fight OF
Taggart's political life and that the situa-
tion. so far as his grip on the party organi-
zation is concerned, seriously menaces HIS
future. The fight Reach has been making
for ten days has been such that Taggart
could not avoid returning and commanding
the machine forces. He is doing that now
and since his generalship was inaugurated
there has been more progress made by the
machine.
KEACH'S PRONOUNCEMENT
Keach declared yesterday that, speaking
with full knowledge of the whole situation.
he was certain that he would carry over 15o
precincts which would leave fewer than
forty-five for Kern. Taggart was equally
as certain that Mr.. Kern would have be-
yond all reach of dispute nearly two-thirds
of the committeeman to be elected. Calm,
disinterested observers said both were
wrong and that the contest promised 70 be
either close a landslide against Taggart.
They gave credit TO Taggart for ali tli5>
power vested in the primary election ma
chinery, but they seemed sure that Taggart
could not make the use of that power
against Keach effective as he had two
years ago against w. F. Moore. They felt
that this power might turn the balance ia
Taggarrs favor and throw the chairman
ship to Kern. but they did not believe IL
could be used to overwhelm the Keach ele-
ment. This element IL credited with saga
cious leadership, ample funds and made
strong by the difatory tactics of the ma
chine crowd.
According to the programme announced
by Chairman Tanning the primaries will
be followed by meeting OF the primary
election commissioners at the city COM
mittee rooms in the Thorpe block tonight.
Under the primary law this committee ts
vested with the power to determine all con-
tests. That It's work viii be large seems
apparent. for both sides are making big
preparations to contest any doubtful point.
There is similarity in the instructions to
the precinct candidates on both sides ana
conflicts are expected in many precincts.
NEW CHAIRMAN SATURDAY.
The further programme announced By
Chairman flaming is that the precinct
committeeman elected will meet Saturday
night at Masonic Hall TO elect the new
chairman. 1t is possible II Will require
the vote of that meeting to determine who
is successful.
In all 199 precinct committeeman are 20
be elected. The contest has been so con-
Quoted that 1t is expected much bitterness
will survive the result. no matter how IL
goes. The machine expected to be able TO
bring about some concession or compro-
mise in the early stages OF the fight, but
every effort along that line has failed. The
Taggart element charges that II is fighting
to keep the party organization in the hands
of the truly loyal" and Taggart has said
that the Democrats thought well of Keach
but that they did not want to put him IN
charge of their organization because of
his detection In 1896. when he was chair
man of the gold Democratic committee
Keach has answered by saying this Is a
mere pretext on the part of Taggart TO re-
tain control for his personal advantage.
and he says the reason he now has the
support OF John ]. Rockford and most Of
the old silver push" Is because Taggart
was not active with the party organization
In 1886. Charges OF political treason are
being made against both Taggart and
Reach. and already number OF fights
have occurred.
party affairs for the moment In watching
the battle. They look upon IL with no IN
terest other than spectators who realize
lesssly split. for much that Is being done
by both sides cannot help but ALLEVIATE
thousands OF Democratic voters. Taggart
Is surrounded by hundreds OF loyal sup
porters. who VOW they will not assist
Reach in his campaign IL he should be
elected, while large element Of the Keach
crowd is composed OF those Democrats who
will not touch anything Taggart controls
under any pretext.
A MERE INCIDENT.
The Democrats who took consolation
from the opposition OF some Republicans
TO the course OF the city committee six weeks
ago are now finding that this was a mere
incident compared to the Democratic split.
Yesterday was one of unusual activity at
both the city committee rooms and Keach's
headquarters. The business I'm Chairman
Fannings Office in the morning was liv-
ened up when bud" Sullivan. committees
ward, called TO demand OF Tanning thar
the board Sullivan had selected be accept-
ed. Sullivan charged that Tanning had
sent George Kuhn 20 a Democrat in Srlli-
vans precinct and asked him 10 come TO the
committee rooms and receive inspectors
credentials. This man was not a member
of the election board sullivan Submitted
Sullivan "bawled' Tanning out and
threatened TO clean out the Office II his
recommendation was not accepted He de.
clared he had been committeeman I'm that
precinct for fourteen years. and that never
before had his board been questioned
During the day II developed that Georgo
l.. Paetz. Kern man who was proposed bv
a Keach committeeman In the Tenth ward
had declined % serve vould fh&