The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-24

TOT the democratic district cnalf mdnSnlp
yesterday revealed that James l.. Reach.
city chairman. has evolved a remarkable
scheme whereby he hopes to rally to his
support in his fight on Tanning and Tag
CART, an element of the party TO which he
has never heretofore appealed-the free sill
verites- The scheme is based on his being
able TO induce a man who stands as rad
ical free silver Democrat TO become can
didate against Tanning, and IL is under
stood that Chairman Reach, with the as
slstance of the leaders OF the city admlnlS-
tration forces. has all but persuaded Wal
lace Names, OF Pike township, to make the
race.
The plan does not call for the immediate
announcement of Maines's candidacy. on
the contrary, the machine forces will be
lined up for the primaries next Monday,
states of delegates will be fixed up for every
ward and township, including only men
who can be relied on 10 do keach'ss bid
ding at all times. and then the name or
Maines will be sprung as big surprise
Friday evening or Saturday. Names VIII
not be advocated as the Reach candidate,
but a candidate independent of both the
Taggart and Reach machines, and as free
silverite, ii is thought that he would make
a more formidable showing against Fam
ming than any one else keSch could bring
out.
That James l.. Reach. former chairman
OF the Gold Democrats committee, and the
most caustic critic of free silverites in the
State should seek such an alliance is quite
as surprising as some of the other political
methods he has adopted since he assumed
the role of would-be boss and dictator of
the Democratic party in Indianapolis and
Marion county, but there is every evidence
that he is making this play. 1t is known
that he went to John F. Geckler, former
city clerk, day two since. and endeav
ored to persuade him to become a candi-
date for district chairman. Geckler is
known as a strong Bryan Democrat and
Reach urged him TO make the race as a
free silverite. When Geckler told him fatty
that he would not be a candidate Reach
then asked him TO get some free-silver
Democrat who would make the race.
Il have always been known Gold
Democrat" Reach is understood to have
said to Geckler, but believe that the time
for differences between the Gold and Silver
Democrats has passed. L want you silver
people 10 know that / am willing 10 meet
you more than half way and that's the
reason L want you, or someone you will
name, to make the race for district chair
man. All you have to do is TO say the
word and We'll elect you dead easy.
Failing to induce Geckler to become his
standard bearer Reach turned TO Wallace
Names. Names is brother of Edgar l.
Maines, of louisville, the president of the
Jefferson League of Indiana, and is known
as a radical silverite: Evidence of the deal
to bring out Names leaked out by the mer-
est accident yesterday afternoon. A re-
porter called at the Office of Mayor HoltZ-
man, In the Stevenson building: He asked
the stenographer in charge of the outer
office If Mayor Hoffman were in, and was
answered by the counter question, Are you
Mr.. Maines?" The reporter had Just start
ed to explain who he was when the door
appeared. Through the half-opened door a
glimpse was caught Of half a dozen of the
administration leaders 1t evident that
Mr.. Names was expected to take part in
an important conference, and ii Is inferred
that a result of this conference he is to
he drawn into the district Craftsmanship
fight.
When Mayor Hoffman was questioned
about the district situation he professed an
amazing lack Of knowledge, and in reply
to the inquiry as TO who probably would
be the candidate against Tanning said:
why, understand that Ed Little is go
ing 10 make the race
Ten minutes later Mr.. Little assured the
reporter that under no circumstances would
he be candidate and that he is still for
Tanning and will be so until the fight is
over.
"All the talk about my being a candidate
has come from Reach and Hoffman" said
Mr.. Little, 'and they would doubtless be
glad 10 have me take the bait hook and all.
because they think they could undermine
Tanning by getting me or any other of Fan
ning's friends into the race. Why doesn't
Reach come out as candidate himself?
lie mas made his boasts about what he Will
do to Tanning"
In the meantime, while Reach is making
such desperate efforts to find candidate.
the Tanning people are going quietly ahead
perfecting their organization and getting
everything In shape for the primaries. They
have been holding meetings all over the city
and in some of the out-toWnships and ex-
press confidence of securing an overwhelm-
tncr
make up the convention next Tuesday aft
ernoon In Masonic Hall. They have been
slightly handicapped this week by the ILL
ness of Mr. Taggart. as he is past master
they have made good Roadway neverthe-
less, they say, and they are already jollify-
ing. over the way they have turned the
tables on Reach.
William ]. Bryan is having such a good
time in Europe, hobnobbing with royalty,
taking siestas with Tolstoi, and the like,
that he has decided to prolong his tour at
least one week, and thereby he has given
the Jefferson League of Indiana a severe
JOLT The league had prepared to welcome
Bryan back to this country by banquet at
Evansville on Jan. and celebration in
this city on Jan. 6. All the arrangements
had been made for the two affairs, and
everything was "al set when William
Reister, of Evansville, the First district
chairman of the league, received a tele-
gram from Mrs. Bryan, stating that her
husband would not return to America until
at least one week later than originally
planned. John w. Kern, who has charge OF
| the meeting here, also received letter yes
| terday from Charles Bryan, the brother OF
| the famous Nebraskan, asking that the
meetings be postponed.
Mr. Kern Immediately wrote to Mr. REFS
| ter suggesting that in the rearrangement
| of dates it might be advisable to have Bry-
| an appear in this city first and then pro-
coed to Evansville. and proposing Jan. ]:
and ii as the dates. However IL is by nc
means certain that Bryan will be home from
Europe in time to reach Indiana on those
| dates, and pending more definite assur-
rangements for the meetings will not bt
| made.
| Another thing has conspired to detract
| from the success of the two league dem
onstrations President Edgar L. Names re-
Gently INDUCED himself in the pleasure Of
writing letter severely arraigning In
diana Democrats and stating that tn,
trouble with the party in Indiana was tina
| il had plethora of politicians and a woe
| full lack of statesmen. This letter wa,
| made public and il is just beginning L
| have its effect, and the old war horses O
| the party asking: "Wno is this youn,
| party?" They do not relish the idea o
| being dubbed politicians and not states
| men by a youth who still in swad
| ding clothes long after they had won fhcf