The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-25


parties that dishonesty and treachery
would not be tolerated. 1t is a shame that
they did not do it,"
And then Mr.. Van Vorhis takes up the
Hon. John w. Kern and handles him after
this fashion. which is not altogether uncom-
plimentary. but at the same time could not
we'll be wholly gratifying to that eminent
party leader:
1T is matter of the greatest regret that
John w. Kern allowed himself to be identi-
fed with and used by the Taggart frag-
ment. But even his great popularity was
not sufficient to overcome the disgust ex-
cited by the memory OF Taggarts admins
trations as mayor. and his double dealing
politically. Unfortunately, Mr.. Kern has
occupied a somewhat ambiguous attitude
in The public mind. At one time he de-
nounced the principles of the Chicago plat
form but changed his views. There is no
doubt about his being sincere. and the
change has been so accepted by the support
been feeling that Mr.. Kern has been too
intimate with Morss. Taggart and others
known to be opposed to Mr.. Bryan. or under
sbeen some curiosity, that has found EXPIRES
sion. to know how he was able to maintain
his popularity with them.
IF Mr.. Kern could have seen his way
TO have said some time ago, in the same
public way, what he has said recently,
and have cut loose from all those who OPEN
iy or secretly opposed Mr.. Bryan. he would
have made himself the undisputed leader
of his party in the State. If he had taken
this course and stood for the truth as
there is no doubt he sees 1T, without so
many complimentary references to Cleve-
land, Hill, German, Watterson and others
we'll known to be untrue, not only to the
party but to Democratic principles. he
would have had standing and influence in
his party possessed by no other man In
this State. He might not have been the
candidate for Governor in 1900. but he would
not have been in situation to be used by
Taggart to maintain his position in the
party in the hope that it would assist him
in his ambition to be national chairman.
To be used by such a man as Taggart and
defeated by such man as Reach for such
a position city chairman, and feel COM
PEELED to publicly declare his fealty to
Reach. must bring feeling of humiliation
that is indescribable. While there is no
that he has allowed his political friend
ships and his hopes to deceive him con-
corning the real purposes of Morss and
other members of the old Indiana Cleveland
ring.
This ring had practical control in the
campaign Of 1900. They would have been
glad to have MIR. Kern elected Governor if
they could have been sure that Mr.. Bryan
would not carry the State. To have had
the State ticket elected and Mr.. Bryan
defeated would have given them added
pleasure.
Mr.. Van Vorhis concludes his instructive
dissertation as follows:
'As for Reach, what reasonable assur-
ance can be given, if he is to be judged
by his past conduct, that he will not use
his position at the head of the Democratic
city committee to elect the Republican
ticket? There is no man in this city crazy
enough to believe that he has any political
principle that will not give way to his priv
ate interests. From this standpoint there is
not single reason why he will not prefer
the election of Bookwalter to the election
of any Democrat, who cannot be controlled
by the elements that have controlled both
Taggart and Bookwalter.
I'm the face of Mr.. Keach's political rec
ord and his reputation, 1t is difficult to un-
derstand how Democrat of this character
afford to accept the nomination for
mayor, and take the risk of betrayal in the
headquarters of his own party. In the face
of the general want of concern manifested
by the better class of Democrats, the same
kind of influences that selected Reach for
chairman can select candidate for mayor.
The chances are that they have already de-
termned who it will be, and that we are
again to be left the alternative Of choice
between evils or taking to the woods. "
xxx
In this connection il has been suggested
that w. j. Bryan was brought to Green
field for his speech Monday night as part
of the programme of opposition to Reach.
Bryan's speech was little else than a con-
tinuous denunciation of the ''reorganizers,"
of whom Reach has been one Of the most
conspicuous in Indianapolis, and, indeed,
the entire sentiment of the demonstration
was hostile to the likes of Reach. Bryan's
panacea for the "reorganizing" evil is for
defeat the s.reorsanizersa whenever and
wherever they seek to control the party
machinery, or succeeding in that, put up
lowers to vote the Republican ticket, if nee
essary to accomplish this end. 1t would
not have been wise to bring him to Indian
apolis for speech of this kind, but Green
field was close enough that the speech de-
livered there would do almost much good
as If it had been made to an audience
composed solely of indianapolis Demo-
Gratis.
VIII A. Hough, well-known Greenfield
Republican, who was at the Columbia Club
last evening. takes this view of the OBJ
PLANTATION have heard advanced for bring
ing Mr. Bryan to Greenfield is that it was
hostile movement toward Reach by the
Bryan Democrats" said Mr.. Hough.
L. p. Newly. of Knightstown. and SEN
ator Fremont Goodwine, Of Williamsport,
one an avowed and the other a probable
cadidate for the Republican nomination for
lieutenant governor, were in the city yes
terday Both were inclined to dodge the
discussion Of the topic that lies nearest
them however, and both said they were
giving their attention to business. Senator
Goodwine stopped off on his way home from
ST. Louis to have conference with State
Superintendent F. A. Cotton concerning the
educational exhibit at the worlds fair but
he found that Mr.. Cotton is out of the city.
j. w. Emison, prominent attorney and
active Republican of vincennes, was at the
Claypooi yesterday. He was here on legal
business.
]. Bennett Gordon, editor Of the Rich
mond Item, was here yesterday and was
one of the callers at Senator Beverages
Office.
VIII Conner of Martinsville. former coun-
ty clerk of Morgan county, was in the city
yesterday. Mr.. Conner is at present inter-
ested in a lead and zinc mining enterprise
at Joplin, Mo-, and is back in Indiana for
a weeks visit.
Senator Fairbanks, who has been in
Cleveland and New York on business mat
tiers, goes to Elberon, N. j., to-day to be
the guest of Governor Franklin Murphy un-
til Saturday when they will go to Freehold
for the exercises in celebration OF the one
hundred d-twenty-fifth anniversary of
the battle of Monmouth.
The man who is looking for good, lucra-
tive government job should apply to SEN
ment, for the senator has such a place at
his disposal. He received the following
note from Fourth Assistant Postmaster
! nj