The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-26
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS

voters win have greater leeway in working
Tor a strong ticket" -
The matter OF date for the county o. ~
ventlon has not yet been taken up by the
county committee.
There were busy scenes in Hearst heao-
quarters in the luxurious apartments on
the sixth floor Of the CIaypool Hotel yester-
day. J. Oscar Henderson. Charles +. >
Neal and Secretary &. A. Walsh. OF the
Democratic national committee, who were
in charge, were not exactly besieged with
callers anxious 10 find places on the Hearst
band wagon, but they held several confer
ences during the day. The real activity was
displayed by the office force. which was
apparently dispoSing OF a large amount OF
correspondence and sending out quantities
of Hearst literature. The barrel was not
visible 10 the casual caller, but the visit
ors who were taken into the inner sane
tum came out with expressions OF enthu-
siasm and deep satisfaction on their faces.
Most of the callers were men identihed
with local labor unions, Who were brought
there by John McKeon, the Chicago labor
leader sent here by Hearst 10 conduct his
negotiations with 1he laboring men. Kirby
Risk. OF Lafayette, chairman OF the Tippe-
canoe county Democratic committee, which
ing Hearst. was one OF the visitors during
the afternoon.
''Yes. the Tippecanoe county Democratic
committee indorsed Hearst" said a La
fayette man at the Claypool last evening.
land l was told to-day before / left home
that a number of the Democratic workers
now have money TO burn. are paying their
debts and doing all sorts of extravagant
things. OF course il may be merely a CO.
incidence.
I'VE are not starting a tight into which
bitterness and acrimony will be injected"
1--WE believe there is a considerable Hearst
sentiment among Indiana Democrats, and
we are endeavoring TO crystallize it. IL
majority of the Democrats OF Indiana be-
lieve that Mr.. Hearst is the man who should
be nominated az the ST. Louis convention.
we want TO see that they have ar oppor-
tunity to express their views through the
delegates sent TO the convention. III there
is no such sentiment we want TO ind IL out
L see nothing in such a campaign TO
estrange old friends or 10 involve personali-
ties in any way.
Despite Mr. Hendersons, protestations.
however, there is abundant evidence that
the fight is 10 become one of bitterness
and acrimony. The Hearst people and
Hearst newspapers of the State are attack
ing Mr. Taggart and his crowd In the most
vigorous fashion and denunciations are be-
ing hurled back and forth between the two
camps. Stories of all kinds are being put
into circulation, and even al this early
date the fight grows interesting. One OF the
stories now going the rounds attacks Mr..
Henderson party record. IL Is 10 the effect
that he did not vote for Bryan In 1896 or 1870
and that he told prominent Democrat OF
the State that he would make trip 10
Europe rather than vote for Bryan.
Mr. Henderson said yesterday that he did
vote for Bryan in 1896.
II voted for Mr. Bryan in 1885, he said,
'.but | did not vote for him In 1890 for the
very good reason that l was in Europe at
the time Of the election. / left for Europe
in 1897
A report is also in circulation that the
temporal reward Mr.. Henderson is 10 re-
ceive for his services 10 Hearst Is the ap-
pointment as consul general to Paris in
event Hearst should be nominated and
elected.
Mr.. Neal yesterday denied that he is to
receive the Democratic gubernatorial nom
ination as the reward for his services. ac-
cording to the deal said 10 have been engi-
neered by Messrs Walsh and Johnson. OF
the Democratic national committee.
II am not a candidate for Governor.
he declared. Il am simply interested in
seeing that Hearst delegates are selected
for the national convention"
In response to a question as to whether
he would say that he did not want the
nomination and would not accept IL Mr.
Neal laughed and said that was altogether
different proposition.
Senator Will II. Johnston, of Crawfords-
VILE, was one of the callers at Hearst
headquarters yesterday. coming in response
TO a request for an interview with him.
He would not discuss his interview with
the Hearst managers, but last evening at
the Grand Hotel he stated in emphatic
terms that he did not favor the nomination
of Hearst.
az am not prepared to say whom I favor
for the nomination" he said. but i will
saw that / am not for Hearst under any
circumstances. l believe a safe, conserNa-
tive man should be nominated. and sew
eral such men have been mentioned as
candidates.
Senator Johnston announced that he will,
be a candidate for denomination this year
provided the new apportonment act Is
thrown out and his district Is left as IL was
untier the old law. Montgomery and Put
nam counties.
| Burt New. a well-known Democratic at
torney, of North Vernon, who was at the
Grand last night, not only declared that he
| is not for Hearst, but said that Hearst
| Democrat is a rara avis in his county.
1.-The sentiment down our way seems to
| be largely for Parker" said Mr.. New. al
| though there are two or three other OF the
Eastern leaders who would be acceptable.
| / do not regard Hearst as the man TO head
or ticket s tb this bss haHe oHe of e
reasons, in my opinion, that he should not
be nominated is that all the Republicans
with whom ! L have talked want to see him
I
man TO defeat that the Democrats could
put up.
Joseph NJ. Cravens, of Madison. who rep
resented Jefferson county in the House DUR
| ing the last session Of the Legislature. was
in the city yesterday and some OF his
friends started the report that he was here
to get on the Hearst band wagon.
mo friend of mine ever started that
| story" protested Mr.. Cravens, when he
was told about the matter last night. I
am not for Hearst and 10 put IL mildly. 1
| believe that the gravest mistake the party
| could make would be TO nominate him We
have had no Hearst organizers in our
county either local or imported. and do
not think they will come our way. for they
| will get no encouragement. There Is nj
| Hearst sentiment In Jefferson county AMI
none TO speak OF in the entire Fourth dis
trict. save perhaps in Ripley county. and
| / 90 not think there are enough Hearst
/ people there to have any weight In tho
selection of delegates TO the state conyen-
| ton"
The Hearst managers received severe
blow in the interview given out by John
w. Kern. in which he declared that Indiana
Democrats need no assistance from tbs
| Democrats of other States IN the settlement
| OF their affairs. Mr.. Kern was the candi-
date of his party for Governor four yearl
| ago, stands high in the estimation or In
| diana Democrats and was one OF the men
counted on by the Hearst people when they
| started their invasion. Mr. Kern does not
declare for any OF the candidates for Presi-
H. 1an.u fnrI ~ faA