The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12
Combination Formed That Is Expected
to Land the Indiana Candidate
I'm the Big Chair.
A PICNIC AT BROAD RIPPLE
ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED FOR
DELEGATES AND WIVES.
Lively business Session of the Con-
vention at the German House
TO-Day's Programme.

James G. Thomas's chances for victory in
the race for the presidency of the Travellers
Protective Association, which Is holding
its fourteenth annual convention at the
German House, are better than at any time
since the convention began. The election
will take place to-day. The presidential race
continues to be the absorbing topic OF in
terest to all the delegates.
Thomas has a greater show for election
than he had yesterday because a comblna-
ton was formed last night among the lead
ers OF the Indiana delegations, the dele
cations from Illinois and Pennsylvania
and the representatives from some of the
other States having the largest number
of delegates. The combination Is Tor
Thomas and will manipulate its votes in
such way as to elect the Indiana man, 1t
is thought
That three or four of the Indiana dele
gates who have seemed 10 have a grudge
against the Indiana candidate because he
would not support Indianapolis man for
State PRECEDENT some years ago, will not
be in Lin IL POr Thomas seems certain. An
other caucus yesterday failed to get the
delegation inc a solid line for Thomas.
and there is considerable fear on the part
of the leaders of this delegation that the
votes of a few of the indianapolis delega-
ton will go to Simons. if he runs, or TO
Louis Ochs. of New Orleans.
A NEW CANDIDATE.
The fact that another candidate for presi-
dent entered the field yesterday, w. w.
Johnson. of Knoxville. Tenn. will not lessen
Thomas's chances, it is thought For the
more the votes are divided the smaller
will grow the support of the candidacy of
Louis Ochs, w. r. Johnson, NELL McCoull
of New York and J. r. Simons of Denver,
Col. If he concludes to go into the race to-
day, as a second dark horse. The States
which have the smallest number of votes
is where Thomas will lose by the field be-
ing split up by Johnson and possibly by
Simons. In the States of the combination,
which have the largest representation in
the convention he will not be hurt by the
new candidates.
The election may have to be postponed
until this afternoon as the proposed consti-
tutional amendments are likely to take
up the entire morning session. There is
even a possibility. it is said. that the con-
vention might not get to the election until
tomorrow, but this is not thought to be
at all probable.
Post B gave the delegates and their wives
and the visiting members to the number
of more than 1,0OOsa picnic at Broad Ripple
Park yesterday afternoon and evening. The
women went TO the park early in the aft
ernOOn In chartered cars. The delegates
were detained in the city until 5 o'clock by
the business session at the German House.
Bert Essex, one of the most prominent
members of the post, was in charge of the
affair at the park.
ALL KINDS OF FUN
Professional boxing matches sack races
and cakewalking by indianapolis ''colored
folks" were the features of the entertain
ment About 500 in prizes was distributed
among the winners of the various contests
IN the evening there was a dance in the
pavilion. The music was furnished by an
orchestra from the Indianapolis Military
Band, which accompanied the women to
the park early in the afternoon. The steam
boat and forty rowboats, and in fact about
every attraction at the park, were put at
the disposal of the I. 2. AS. The weather
was too cold for boating and most of the
delegates and their wives found the paviI-
Ion the most comfortable place TO spend the
evening.
\ dance in the German House auditorium
and a professional vaudeville performance
In the summer garden have been provided
by the local post for the delegates enter
tainment tonight. 1t is the intention of
the natlOnaI officers To select a place for
next years convention and conclude the
business of the convention before the adj
1Ournment this afternoon, if possible. but
on account of the long discussion of the
proposed constitutional amendments ex-
pected this morning and the election to fol-
low IL may be found necessary To hold a
business session tomorrow morning
Following is the route Of the annual pa
rade, TO take place this afternoon, which
most or the delegates may not be able to
take part In: From the Commercial Tray
elers Club. on West Maryland street south
on Illinois street to Jackson place: east
around the Union Station to Meridian
street; north on Meridian street to Wash
1ngton; west 10 Illinois; north to Ohio; east
TO Meridian and south around the Monu-
ment TO Washington: east to Alabama:
back through Washington to Pennsylvania
and north on Pennsylvania and Massachu-
sets avenue to the German House.