The Washington times., 1904-05-10
INDIANA ON EVE OF
STATE CONVENTION
Parker Forces. in the Majority, Would Tell Delegation
How TO Vote But Opponents Want Free Will to Obtain

Much interest centers in the Demo-
cratic State convention of Indiana,
which meets tomorrow in Indianapolis.
There will be more than 1.5O0 delegates
in the convention.
The principal fight will e upon the
proposition to instruct the thirty-four
delegates from the State tothe st. Louis
convention. The enthusiastic Parker men
are working hard for an instructed dele
cation to the national convention. while
all the opposing forces, and more con-
spicuously the Hearst followers. are
seeking to prevent instructions, and also
the adoption of the unit rule
Where Hearst Men Stand.
II the Hearst men were In majority
there is no doubt but they would fight Tor
instructions as hard as they are now
working against such a plan The in
dications are that Hearst viii have not
to exceed 500 of the l 500 delegates, while
majority of the remaining 1000 are
more or less favorable TO Judge Parker
Not all Parker men, however, favor
Instructions For instance, Mayor Holtz-
man, of Indianapolis, who Is counted as
Parker man. and under consideration
as one of the big four to the national
convention, is said to have announced
that he will not accept in case the dele
cation is bound down with instructions
Taggart Holds the Whip.
Ex-Mayor Tom Taggart. of Indianapo-
lis. and national committeeman for the
State, is the chief figure in the situation,
and his wish to have the delegation in
structed for Parker may be followed
Mr.. Taggart is said to be ambitious to
oh - a.
tionaI Committee.
When the national committee met here
last January to select the time and
place for holding the national eonven-
ton, he was very much talked OF in this
connection. The Presidential candidate
will, of course, indicate his preference
for chairman OF the committee Mr.
Taggart believes Judge Parker Will be
nomination. He desires to go 10 the con-
vention at the head OF a delegation
pledged to support him.
A Favorite Son.
Those who oppose pledging the dele
cation to Parker are attempting flank
movement, which is that Indiana shall
present to theJ convention a ''favorite
son" in the person Of the Hon. B. F.
Shively, former member of Congress.
and for many years a prominent Hoosier
politician 1dr. Shively was mentioned IN
connection with the nomination for Vice
President in 1900. bat there were cir
cumstances which operated to prevent
him from going Before the convention
as a candidate.
The opponents of Judge Parker in to-
morrow's convention will insist that If
Indiana instructs for anyone, it should
instruct for candidate from that State.
Notwithstanding all the power which
National Committeeman Taggart pcs
sesses, it is possible his plan 10 instruct
for Parker MAJ fail, and that either an
uninstructed delegation may be sent to
St Louis. or one directed TO vote for
Mr. Shively, even though majority or
the delegation may be favorable to Judge
Parker.
Boom for Representative Hit.
Secretary Shaw has gone over to New
York and launched a boom for the
nomination OF Hon. Robert Hit of Illi-
nois for Vice President. AIr. Hit has
been for nearly twenty-five years
member Of the House from the Thir-
teenth district OF the Prairie State, and
for many terms has been at the head OF
the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He is a man of highest character and
integrity, and is not allied with any of
the fighting factions in Illinois. Next to
Uncle joe Cannon, he is probably the
most popular Republican in the State
Had he been more a politician he might
long ago have been in the United States
Senate, but Mr.. Hit is not a politician
in the sense that Illinois knows politi-
clans.
Mr.. Hits boom is so young that no
one has yet had time 10 consult his
wishes in regard to the matter and as
certain whether or not he would accept
the nomination or consent to become a
candidate for nomination. In case he is
compiaisant, it is not unlikely that the
suggestion of his candidacy may meet
with a high degree of favor in Admins
tration circles, where the search is both