The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-24
BRYAN-HEARST MEN HOPE
TO CONTROL COMMITTEE
IN THE OHIO CONVENTION
Their Opponents, However, Say
Conservatives VIII Have a Ma
jority of 323 Delegates.
DEPENDS ON CONTESTS
Lively Time Promised Both Be
fore the Committee and on
Convention Floor.
DEPENDS ON CONTESTS

COLUMBUS. o.. May 23.-Leaders were
in conference here to-day preparatory TO
the Democratic state convention Of the
next two days Nothing seems 10 be set
tied in advance except Webb p. Hunting
ton. Of Columbus, for secretary of state.
He has no opposition.
The Hearst men tonight claim majority
in the state central committee tomorrow,
when contests will be determined from the
following counties: Cuyahoga, 70; Hamil-
ton. IS: Franklin. So; Montgomery. "a: Sum-
nit II; Miami. I; Madison. 4; total. 200.
The Bryan-Hearst men call themselves
1.-The regulars and the others 1.-The reor-
ganizers." Their opponents call themselves
the conservatives and the others "the radi-
Gals" The Bryan-Hearst men poll of the
723 delegates are regulars, 351: reorganizers
172; doubtful. 2O0 the last-named including
the contested seats. The conservatives
say the contests will be decided in their
favor by the committee on credentials no
matter what the state committee does; that
their polls shows 323 conservatives and 200
radicals without the 200 contested seats, and
that when the convention is permanently
organized any ballot will show 523 conserv-
atives to 200 radicals.
Under a rule of tie last two Democratic
state conventions. that were controlled by
Mayor Johnson of Cleveland, the state CEN
trail committee determines tomorrow morn
ing which contesting delegation shall take
part in the district meeting tomorrow att
ernoon 10 select members of the new state
central committee and members or the COM
mittees on credentials, resolutions, perma-
nent organization, rules and order or Dusl-
ness
If the radicals succeed tomorrow their
action will affect not only 200 seats in the
convention, but also nine of the twenty
one congressional districts, with their nine
members of the new state central commit
tee, and of the regular committees, 1nclud-
ing that on credentials and on resolutions
These contests include the First and Second
congressional districts at Cincinnati, the
Twentieth and Twenty-first at Cleveland,
the third at Dayton. the Twelfth at Column
bus, and counties in three other districts.
The hope of the radicals is with the state
committee meeting tomorrow morning ana
district meetings in the afternoon If they
win in both the conservatives still claim
that radical control would end with the
temporary organization. The conservatives
do not concede anything 10 the radicals,
not even control Of the old state central
committee that was selected at the john
son convention last year They denounce
as absurd the claims that the radicals may
carry a majority of the districts.
1t is conceded that the convention will
be opened by Hearst men. W. l.. Finley,
the Ohio manager for Hearst, as chairman
central
convention to order Wednesday morning.
r. l.. Starr, chairman, and the rest OF the
temporary organization are Hearst men,
but it is claimed that the state CEN
trail committee that selected them
will not decide in favor Of the
radicals. who are said TO have no
grounds of contest i'm some of the cases
presented, especially those from the larger
cities. When Starr was first selected as
temporary chairman IL was reported that
he would deliver a keynote speech that
To-,
Hearst, but since the Hearst men are now
advocating no Endorsement of anyone for
President the address of the temporary
chairman is expected to be conclliatory.
He will however, declare that the next
national platform and ticket should be
made by those who have supported the
Democratic national ticket during the past
eight years.
Those representing the contestants in
different counties are here presenting their
cases TO members of the state committee
individually in advance of the meeting TO-
morrow. Rev II. s. Bigelow. of Cincinnati,
who headed the Democratic state ticket for
secretary of state two years ago, has been
busy for his delegation against the one
headed by Lewis G. Bernard. Harry Will
sen, of Cleveland, has seen all the COM
mitteemen in favor Of his delegation as
Congressman Lentz. of Columbus, has been
advocating the cause of his delegation as
against the James Kilbourne delegation.
Separate conferences were held tonight
by the opposing members of the state CEN
trail committee. The radicals claimed con-
| troll, but gave no figures. The conserva-
tives claimed eleven of the twenty-one
members sure with three doubtful, and
that they would control majority of the
districts and the convention. The most
surprising development of these confer
ences was the announcement that Salem and
Madigan, state committeeman from the two
districts at Cleveland, were counted with
| the conservatives. while Mayor Johnson
is credited with cooperating with the rad
icals i'm organizing the convention. Johnson
| is for Folk of Missouri. for President but,
Il his old friends are for Hearst, he has CO.
| operated with them in the preliminary work
/ of the convention.
| The announcement that Charles p. Salem,
| who was chairman of the state committee
in JOhnson's campaign last year for Gov
| ager at the state conventions for years, had
| broken with his old chief, was the feature
| of the night.