The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-06-02
4 POLITICAL PARTY
OR A MACHINE ASSET?
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

Vh MhUllNn hOOnl! Q
Eo.aos.ofo.so-s.o.s.o
Never in the history of Indiana poll
tics has there been a manifestation of
bossism more fragrant than that at
tendant upon the selection of dele
gates to the national Democratic con-
vention in the Seventh congressional
district, compri~ing the county of Ma
rion. The gentlemen who some time
ago reached an agreement with David
B. Hill of New York, whereby they
agreed to deliver the state of Indiana
to any candidate for the Democratic
presidential nomination whom he
might select, in return for which they
are to be recognized as the dictators
of Democratic patronage in this state,
saw to it that there was absolutely
nothing left to chance This coterie
of politicians, being in control of the
state committee, departed from all
precedent by fixing the convention for
the election of delegates to the nation
al convention separate from the con-
dates for state Office, and sent forth
the word that no one seeking to in
terfere with their arrangements for
the delivery Of Indiana at st. Louis
could hope for preferment at the
hands of the body to assemble later
for the making up of state ticket.
In Marion county only three days no
tice was given of the election of the
delegates to select the delegation to
the natioral convention, the opposition
was denied the usual opportunity
to have watchers at the count and the
police force was used for the purpose
of seeing to it that there was no inter
ference with the program. The Indi-
annapolis News, which is the official
organ of the Parker movement in In
diana, last year filled its columns with
denunciation of the Republican organ
ization in Indianapolis because it
gave only few weeks, instead of
few days notice of the election of dele
gates to a city convent on, and for
months it cried out with righteous in
dignation because of what it then call
ed violation of the spirit of fair play.
The News has nothing but commenda-
ton, however, for these three days no.
tice primaries, the refusal to allow
watchers to the Hearst men, and the
calling together of the delegates at
secret caucus twenty-rour hours later
for the delivery of the goods TO the
Parker machine in Indiana. Indeed,
the News sees in all this the return of
responsibility to the Indiana Democ-
racy-a return to the good old days
when Mr.. Cleveland was in the White
House and Mr.. Simeon Coy was doing
business in the precincts.
Now what is the real truth about
the Packer movement in Indiana? Is
it an uprising of the better element"
in the Democratic party, and does it
bear the ear-marks of a return to the
conditions which prevailed when the
Indiana Democracy was a factor in
the councils of the Democratic party,
as the organ of the Parker movement
insists? Is there courage, conviction
and superior political virtue back of
there widespread popular feeling in
favor of David B. Hills mar ia this
state among the Democratic rank and
file because of that for which no
stands? Will the success Of the
| scheme for the delivery Of the party
to the ill-Tammany-C Cleveland COM
bine make Joseph E. .McDonalds, VIM.
H. Englishes and Thomas A. Hen
drickses out of the leaders who are
conducting these midnight maneu-
vers? In fact, is there any genuine
Parker movement in Indiana at all?
Does anyone, outside of the gentlemen
who have made the deal for the de-
livery of the state, know or care any,
thing about him? Is Alton B. Parker
Of New York personality, or is he
merely name like the label on case
of breakfast food? And despite the
affectation of superior conscience and
character and wisdom on the part of
those who espouse his cause in Indi-
ana, is any candidate whose stock in
trade as a politician is the fact that
he has never committed himself on
any question now before the American
people, to be preferred to any candi-
date who has even one opinion of any
kind on any subjectY
1t is a sad condition in which the
Democratic party in Indiana finds
itself. 1t has been reduced to the pc.
sition of mere asset, to be traded for
prospective spoils, by coterie of In
dianapolis politicians and their satel-
lites, who care absolutely nothing
about what is in the platform, or who
is their candidate, just so he stands a
chance of winning-just so the thing
for which they are contending bears
promise of yielding a plethoric cam.
paign fund. collected on Wall street
for the purpose of advancing the cause
of economic sanity" and political
conservatism" and enables them, in
case Of success at the polls, to be dis
pensers of patronage.
Will the Sim Coy methods which
meet the cordial approval of every
apostle Of reform and reorganization
who is now taking hand in syndicat
ing the Indiana Democracy, prevail in
the other districts of the state? Pre-
sumably so. We are being presented
with the spectacle Of a delegation
made up in the interests of a presiden