The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-09
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
IN COMMITTEE SESSION
William H. O'Brien, of Lawrence
burg, Unanimously Reelected
State Chairman.
JACOB P. DUNN'S RULES
subcommittee Report on Unit
Rule Tabled-Editors Arrange
for Meeting.
JACOB P. DUNN'S RULES

William II. O'Brien, OF Lawrenceburg.
was reelected chairman Of the Democratic
State committe yesterday at the meeting
held at the Grand Hotel. Joseph T. Fan
ming. of this city, committeeman from the
Seventh district, was elected vice chair
man. Both elections were unanimous.
Chairman O'Brien then announced that he
would re-appoint J. w. Reilly secretary of
the committee, and Thomas Taggart treas
urer The appointments were confirmed
by the committee.
The committee declared for an early or
ganization of the party's forces throughout
the State. and a motion was adopted pro-
vidlng that the State chairman and district
chairmen shall see that the county commit
tees shall be organized not later than
March 1. The chairman. vice chairman
and secretary were constituted a committee
to secure and open suitable State head
quarters in this city at once.
TAGGART INDORSED.
A resolution indorsing Thomas Taggart
as a candidate for chairman of the Demo-
cratic national committee was adopted by a
rising vote and this time every member of
the committee voted 1t will be recalled
that at the last meeting of the State com
mittee a similar resolution was adopted.
Stephen b. Fleming. then representing the
Twelfth district, refused to vote for it.
The set of rules governing primaries for
the selection of delegates to county, dis
trict and State conventions, prepared by
Jacob z. Dunn, of this city. and submitted
to the committee at his request by Mr..
Tanning. was referred TO a special commit
tee composed of A. T. Livengood. A. A
Adams and John G.. McNutt. This was
taken the most effective way of dispos-
ing of the rules. The committee will never
be ready to make a report
Mr.. Dunn was on hand at the close of the
meeting to learn the fate of his rules. and
he did not appear at all happy when the
news was broken TO him. The rules con-
tanned some of the provisions of the pri-
mary election law. which is limited in its ap-
plication, and added one or two provisions,
the most important of which was that at
least fifteen days notice of the primary
shall be given by the chairmen. and that
the two candidates who first make applica-
ton TO the chairman shall be permitted
each TO name a member of the primary
election board In each ward or precinct.
The report of the subcommittee of
which j. l.. Mcgee was chairman, providing
for the adoption of resolution that would
do away with the unit rule in the selection
OF delegates to yariOuS conventions was
tabled. contrary to the general expectation
1t had been regarded foregone conclu-
sion that the report would be adopted, but
IL seemed that the majority of the commit
teemen had concluded that the unit rule
too valuable adjunct of a political
machine, and that Ii must not be done
away with.
Rush and Shelby counties were especially
interested in this question, and representa-
tves of the Morris and Wray factions were
on hand TO work for or against the adoption
of the subcommittee report. Peter Pettig
chairman of the Democratic organization i'm
Shelby county, and n. F. Wray, who is the
candidate for the nomination for Judge
against Judge Douglass Norris of Rush
especially jubilant when they learned that
they had won their fight. They believe that
Wray's nomination is now assured.
PREDICTS LOSS OF DISTRICT.
State Committeeman ]. d. Mcgee. of
Rushvile who was exceedingly anxious to
have his resolution adopted. freely predicts
that if the Shelby county organization per-
sists in its determination TO follow the unit
rule in the judicial primaries the result will
be the loss of the district
IF the unit rule is followed in Shelby
county. and as result Judge Morris is de-
feated for denomination. it means that
Republican judge and prosecutor will be
elected in that circuit, he declared.
ing member of the State committee from
the Tenth district. continued on the
law committee by unanimous vote.
Following the meeting of the State COM
mittee the law committee held a confer
enCe to take up the complaints that will be
filed tomorrow in the attack on the legis-
lative appOrtionment act of the last Gen.
eral Assembly.
Every member of the State committee
was present yesterday. except Gilbert Hem
dren. of the Second district. DR.. Sam N
CULLEN, OF Linton, represented Mr.. Hen
dren. The other members present were E.
+. Richardson, of Petersburg the new
member from the First; Thomas Hanlon
of New Albany, the new member from the
Third; Lincoln Dixon. OF North Vernon.
Fourth district; John G. McNutt. of Terre
Haute. Fifth district j. ID. Mcgee, OF
Rushville Sixth district; Joseph T. Fan
ming. of Indianapolis. Seventh district: j.
y. NJ Adair. OF Portland, Eighth district
A. T. Livengood. OF Covington, Ninth dis
trict; John h. Faulkner of Michigan City
the new member from the Tenth; j. Fred
France. OF Huntington. Eleventh district;
A. A. Adams of Columbia City the. new
member from the Twelfth j. G. Fletcher
of Knox. Thirteenth district.
The executive committee will be ap-
pointed within a few days, the State chair
man naming four members at large and
each district chairman naming two men,
bers from his district.
The committee adjourned to meet at the
call of the chairman.