The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-27
ACTION OF SOCIALISTS
THEY DECLARE FOR PUBLIC OWN
ERsHIP OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Warm Debate Before the Adoption of
the REVOLUTIONARY Evening
Mass Meeting.

The Socialists of Indiana In state conven-
ton assembled yesterday declared I'M
eQuivocally and emphatically for the public
ownership OF all public utilities. The
declaration took the form of resolutions
which were adopted after heated discus
sion that prolonged the afternoon session
until after o'clock in the evening.
The matter came up as a result Of dis
Densions ensuing from split in the So
sialist organization In Marion two years
ago when John w. Kelly was expelled from
the party because as a member of the
Marion City Council he had voted to grant
franchise to the c.. r. & NJ Railroad to
enter and pass through the city. Kelly was
reinstated at the next state convention at
Terre Haute, but the question has been a
bone OF contention in the party ever since
and has threatened to completely disrupt
the organization in Grant county and the
city Of Marion.
In order to have basis from which to de-
termine similar cases which might arise
resolutions were submitted yesterday set
ting forth the details of the Kelly case and
declaring that members of the party who
represented the party in city councils
should not vote to grant special privileges
20 private individuals or corporations with
the local organization and received its con-
sent The resolutions set forth the idea
that, as at present the public ownership of
some public utilities was impracticable, IL
uight be necessary to grant some fran
chises.
The delegates at once divided on the
resolutions and a warm debate followed A
large number favored an amendment which
made the resolutions fiat-footed declara-
ton against the granting of franchises or
special privileges of any kind and in the
lions declare emphatically against the
granting of special privileges to any private
individual, firm or corporation
CONVENTION BUSINESS.
s. ~. Reynolds. of Terre Haute, was
made permanent chairman when the con-
vention opened yesterday forenoon in Reich
veins Hall with 40 delegates in attend
ance- 1t was decided that the offices of
secretary and treasurer should be COM
bined and made a salaried position, and
James O'Neal. Of Terre Eaute. the present
state secretary, and Wynn Silver. of Bluff
ton. were nominated for the place. The
election Is left to referendum vote of the
party, which will be held in two or three
weeks The location of the state head
quarters and the selection OF a national
committeeman from Indiana are also left
to referendum vote. The cities of Terre
Aaute. Button and Marion are applica nts
Tor the headquarters, while s. NJ. Rey-
H01uSs Oh Ell Martin Wenei. of
Fort Wayne, and Matthew Hollenbarger.
OF Evansville. are the nominees for ma
tfonal committeeman.
The plan OF organization adopted calls for
the establishment of summer circuits among
the various counties. in which each local
organization will entertain at least one
speaker each month. contributing a small
sum toward his expenses and giving him
the privilege of taking up a collection AT
his meeting The list of speakers Is to be
provided by the state committee, which is
composed OF one committeeman from each
local organization and one additional repre-
sentative for each fifty members
The mass meeting last night, which
closed the convention. was not the success
that had been anticipated as many of the
delegates. including several of the speak
ers, were forced to leave for their homes
at the adjournment OF the afternoon ses-
sion- John Kelly and William Mahoney
of Marion. who were TO have delivered ad-
dresses. could not be present. Matthew
Hollenbarger. OF Evansville. and James
O'Neal. OF Terre Haute. spoke to an audi
ence OF about one hundred.
The convention Is considered the most
successful the party has held since the
state organization was effected three years
ago. The number OF delegates in attend.
ance was larger than at the previous con
ventions and the general interest taker
IN the work OF the party was considered
very encouraging by the leaders.