The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-02
Lively Time Anticipated I'm the Dis
cussfon of the Situation That
ConfrOnts Democrats.
KEACH AND BELL MEMBERS
BOTH ARE ENTITLED To TAKE PART
IN THE PROCEEDINGS.
The Result of the Meeting VIII De-
termfne the Course OF Events
Next Week.

The volcano in the local Democracy Is
scheduled for explosion tonight at 8
o'clock. AT that hour the city executive
committee will meet at the headquarters
in the Thorpe block to discuss the local
situation. The committee is composed OF
the chairman, vice chairman. secretary and
treasurer of the city committee and the
committeeman Of the fifteen wards. Ii is
not known whether Chairman Tanning.
who is reported to be at French Lick, viii
attend or not.
The meeting was called yesterday by John
]. Appel, vice chairman Of the committee.
Mr.. Appel said last night that he had been
requested to call the committee together
to discuss matters of party interest. IT
is understood that James l.. Reach, who
has been making a vigorous fight against
the Taggart machine for chairman of the
committee, and whose chances of success
depend on a fair primary election, was one
of those who urged the call. Mr.. Appel Is
for Keach, but he is also for Joseph Z.
Bell, the Taggart candidate for mayor
The demand for a meeting found him in
an amicable position, and he decided. IN
the absence of Chairman Tanning, to take
the responsibility.
CHARACTER OF MEETING.
While the Democrats are silent about
the character of the meeting there is no
doubt that the charge that Bell is usurp-
ing the functions of Chairman Tanning will
be considered The committee, considering
the complicated situation among the DEM
ocrats, is remarkable. Reach is the mem-
Der from the Tenth ward Bell is. ex Of
ficio as treasurer. member Albert,
o,,I 81 90 IT.
gart's, and E. NJ. Johnson, another close
friend of Taggart and the Third ward COM
mitteemen, are also members.
If Keach consists with his usual aggress-.
iveness he will voice the demand of his
faction that Bell be shorn Of the power
he has usurped. as charged. The Keach
men maintain that Bell cannot control the
committee that is to be chosen without snap
primaries. 1t is likely the committee. will
be asked to decide whether the organiza-
ton shall adhere to its custom Of accepting
the election board chosen by the precinct
committeeman or whether ii will indorse
the Bell programme. which ignores such
committeeman as it chooses to. The ques-
tion before the committee will be one that
can hardly result in amicable solution.
The only influence of the committee will
be moral, as 1t is not authorized by the law
to dictate how the chairman shall select
the boards. This power is vested solely and
unqualifiedly in the hands of the chairman
APPEL FOR FAIR PLAY.
1t is understood that Vice Chairman Appel
stands for fair play in the primaries. His
influence and that of Z. NJ. johnson are
counted on to prevent any Endorsement of
the Bell programme. Johnson is understood
to be in favor of a compromise with Keach
as chairman, and then let Bell make his
fight for the nomination after the committee
is organized. But whether their voices will
count for much against the machine men
on the committee remains 10 be seen. While
Keach may have had a majority of the
committee at one time, he has not a
jority now.
The result of the meeting will probably
determine the course OF events next week.
There is a rumor that Taggart mapped out
a programme for next week which Chair
man Tanning will carry out by reaching the
city Monday and start by announcing the
call for the primaries. They may be held
Wednesday or Thursday. No one seems 10
know that this will be done. but the ma
chine men expect such action. and the
Keach men fear IL.
Not I'm years has the local Democracy
faced such a crisis. The contest for con-
troll has become bitter that few are able
to devise any plan that will prevent split
The machine men are fearful that even IL
Reach should. after defeat get on the band
wagon, he cannot bring his forces with
him. and the machine men VOW they. viii
not play with Keach. They say IL he
wins in this contest he can win the election
with his own organization