The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-26
Many Contests to Be Heard To-
Day May Decide the Race
Returns Are Late.
BOTH MEN CONFIDENT
Metzger Claims a Victory With
out the Contested Precincts
No Figures.
SMITH SAYS HE HAS WON
Declares He VIII Have I63 Votes
in the Committee-Chair-
man Elliott Talks.

bers OF the Republican county central com
mittee, held yesterday evening from 4 TO
S o'clock throughout Marion county. was
ore Of the most spirited organization con-
tests in the history Of either party The re-
suit Of the fight between Robert Metzger
and II. r. Smith for the county chairman
ship. which hinges cn the primary, was
generally conceded at midnight last night
by the more conservative friends Of both
candidates to be in doubt with the chances
slightly in favor of Mr.. Metzger
Both candidates claim control of the new
county committee. but neither will give the
detailed figures upon which his claim is
based-
The returns received up to this hour,
and / may say that / have heard from
every precinct expected to carry, give me
no occasion to change the figure / made
several days ago." said Mr.. Metzger at
midnight. Il shall have 100 to 165 members
of the county committee and my election
IS assured
Il nave won. absolutely" declared Mr..
Smith few minutes later 'T have won
absolutely. 1 have had sufficient returns
to warrant that claim.
Mr.. Smith at first would not state the
number Of committeeman he expected to
control Later he claimed 16S votes
The feature of the primary was the large
number OF contests filed by the Smith
forces These contests will be settled by
the Board Of Primary Election Commission
ers to-day. County Chairman c. N FL
lott, in the primary call. called the COM
missioners to meet last night at O'Clock
in the Criminal Court room to hear the con-
tests. but, when the board assembled last
night. after spirited preliminary skirmish
n mOUOn prevailed to adjourn to meet at
10 clock this forenoon at the same place.
No contests We're passed upon by the board
last night.
MANY CONTESTS FILED.
The exact number of contests filed could
not be learned last night, but ii was said
that there were at least twenty-five or
thirty and possibly as many more Con-
sequently 1t is possible that the decision
OF the craftsmanship race viii devoIve upon
the board. Mr.. Metzger however. claims
that he has a majority or the members of
the precinct committeeman without figuring
on any of the contested precincts. There
are 25S precincts in the county, conse-
quently 127 votes are necessary for the
election as chairman.
The Smith forces were prepared in ad-
vance for a large number Of contests.
They sent out printed forms for contests
TO their workers in every precinct and il
was said that instructions accompanied
slightest pretext- This was denied by
friends of Mr.. Smith last night but friends
OF MI. Metzger. to substantiate their
claims, pointed TO several precincts where
the Smith people had filed contests in
which their candidate for committeeman
had received but 10 or 10 votes to 40 or so
cast for the Metzger candidate.
County Chairman Elliott, when asked
Tor statement last night, at first declined
10 be quoted. Then he said:
i viii not express an opinion as to the
result OF the race for chairman. but l will
say that, SO far as IL lay in my power both
candidates were treated fairly and | be-
heve that the primaries. on the whole were
fair. The number OF contests filed by the
Smith forces is certainly out of the ordi-
Metzgers friends have filed no contests, at
least such is my information at this time.
The Metzger people may have one or two
tied
RETURNS ARE LATE.
Returns from the primary were received
last night at the offices OF the county COM
mittee in the Lemcke building. and in addi-
tion, both Mr. Metzger and MIR. Smith re-
eeived reports from their lieutenants in
each precinct. Both sides watched the re-
turns from each precinct with the deepest
interest. and in a number of precincts where
leaders on either side reside especial in
terest was shown in the outcome. The
ried the precincts in which former Mayor
g \ BOokwalter, r ~ Joss and Ira
Holmes live. Former City Chairman Edwin
u. LOgsdou carried his precinct, the ff-
teenth OF the Second ward. the only one
IN that ward carried for MetZger.
The Metzger forces were especially in
terested in the thirteenth precinct of the
First. the one in which Judge Fremont Al
ford lives. Judge Afford has been vigorous
IL his opposition to Metzger. but he was
unable 10 carry his own precinct His can
didate for committeeman, Fred Andrews,
went down in defeat to the Metzger candi-
vote Of % 10 -. Gaylord Hawkins. who
has been one of Smiths closest lieutenantS.
teenth of the sixth bv i've votes. Mar
ouette permitted Hawkins to name the
inspectors and TO select the voting place
Hawkins admits he was defeated fairly.
In Mr. BoOkwalter's precinct. the second
OF the Fourth. Mr.. BOokwalter acted as in
spector. and attention was called TO the
fact that. although the fight there waged
with extreme warmth, there was not a com
plant from either side. not a challenge and
nothing 20 arouse III feeling. There are 40
Republican votes in the precinct. and of this
number 112 were pOlled in the primary-a
remarkable showing. Fred Akin was elect
ed committeeman by 65 votes TO A. for y. T.
Washburn- The Smith forces claim Akin.
but II is said that he has not pledged his
support TO either candidate for the chair
mauship.
At a late hour this morning il was
learned that the Metzger people claim with
absolute certainty 13S of the 253 precinct
from the out townships and l23 in the city.
bIr. Metzger himself would not corrobo-
rate these figures. but still insisted that he
would not change his original figures of
loo TO 165.
ASKS FAIR TREATMENT ONLY
81 would like to say one thing. however" :"
added Mr.. Metzger. "and that is in refer
ence 10 the contests. There is a large num-
Der OF contests, just how many 1 do not
know. I have the utmost confidence in the
fairness and impartialty of the members
Of the Board of Primary Commissioners.
and I only ask that exact justice be done
IN deciding the contests. have endeav-
ored 10 make a fair fight from the moment
entered the race / am confident that a
substantial majority of the committeeman
elected will vote for me for chairman. but
if j should be mistaken in my nsures and
should be defeated IN the end no one will
hear a complaint or cry Of fraud from me-
IL was pointed out early this morning
that in several precincts there was tie
vote for committeeman, consequently IL Is
possible that the number of committeeman
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