South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-20
DELEGATES BACK
FROM CONVENTION
Last of St. Joseph County
Delegation Arrives Friday
NOOn-Bittler'S Success a
Surprise.

The democratic state convention at
indianapolis is over and virtually all
the St Joseph county delegates are
back home, arriving Friday at noon.
The convention. probably the last of
its kind that Will ever be held IN
the state did not finish its work un-
til 1885 at night.
a number OF the delegates. and
practically all the on-loOkers, re-
turned Thursday night leaving after
the fourth ballot for treasurer. when
the convention was in the highest tur-
MOL OF the day. The success OF
George w. Bittler Of TT Wayne, dis
covered upon their arrival here. was
something OF "A surprise, IL being
generally understood that Tom O'Con-
nor of Monticello. had the better
chance for the treasury job.
The only exception TO the general
satisfaction applies TO the failure of
Charles T. Drummond 10 secure the
nomination for justice OF the SUI
preme court That ne made "a con-
siderably better showing, however,
than Judge James Gallaher of Mich
igan City proves To furnish some con
ISOLATION. Among the district dele
gates and visitors from outside South
Bend and LapOrte in particular a
further satisfaction appears to have
settled i'm the belief that this will be
the last state democratic convention
ever TO be held in Indiana.
The adoption Of the direct nOmlna-
ton primary plank passes muster as
the browning feat Of the convention.
1t is freely talked that without
question the republican and progress
sive parties viii now have direct pri-
mary planks i'm their platforms. so
that though a victory for democracy
appears 10 have been made doubV
sure. il makes no difference what
party gets control of the legislature SO
far as concerns the prospects Of the
statewide primary law.
With the defeat Of Sen Harry r.
Grubs Of Plymouth. for clerk of the
supreme court. the 18th district IS
left without "a candidate on the state
ticket. while IL had four for the nom
nation.
Use Geographical Argument.
ON the senatorial ticket. however,
there is L. s. Sen. 3. +. Shively. and
fl was pointed out frequently at IN
dianapolis that the district already
has the lieutenant governor rms
was used as geographical argument
against the nomination of ATTY.
Drummond for supreme court justice.
That Peter j. Kruger recently drew
the internal revenue collectorsnlp
was also used against "a nomination
being allowed 20 come here.
The hottest fight in recent years
was waged over the nomination Tor
treasurer. Opposed 10 Bittler was I.
w. O'Connor OF Monticello. The con-
test lasted over five hours and not
until the eighth ballot was Bittler
successful. After his nomination he
was carried around the convention
hall by friends Sen. Steve Fleming
and Edward G. Hoffman OF Fort
Wayne sponsored Bittler.
Fight Is Begun.
Trp to the time of the treasurer
fight things had moved with machine
like rapiditv. Eight nominations had
been made by noon. Then the man
ayers decided il was time for the
boys" 10 play a little and the contest
for state treasurer was staged.
In his speech as permanent chair
man. Sen. John W. Kern lauded Pres.
Wilson. Vice Pres. Marshall, Secy. OF
state Bryan and others as we'll as the
platform providing for statewide
primaries
IL was a strange fate that decreed
that Mayor Joseph +. Bell of Indian
apolis should read the platform be-
fore the convention. but as he was
chairman of the resolutions commit
tee he had 20 act as mead pallbearer
Tor his party. according TO his own
construction. Mr. Bell was greatly
opposed TO the direct primary plank,
as were others on the resolutions COM
mittee. Mayor Bell said they We're
all being forced into service as party
pallbearers. The forcing" influence
was tie congressional delegation
hacked W by the Wilson Bryan
league of Indiana and by the voices
~ the president and the secretary OF
IN ~ as IN IA ton