Indiana daily times., 1921-05-02


The conversation that took place at
this private meeting was not disclosed IN
detail, but it is known that Mr.. Baker
demanded an explanation of why certain
changes in announced election officials
We're made by Meeker and that after con-
siderable effort to evade an explanation
Meeker declared that he would make
none
1t is understood that when Meeker's att
titude was fully disclosed Mr. Baker gave
him some of the information which had
been gathered in the course of a quiet
surVellence which has been maintained
ever since Meeker was elected chairman.
ANOTHER MEETING TONIGHT
SET BY THE Committeeman
Hereafter, Mee6er is reported to have
agreed that none of the election officials
nominated for the several boards by him
would be such as are not satisfactory to
the ward chairmen of the Democratic
party and another meeting of the COM
mltteemen was fixed for tonight when
fnal steps will be taken to insure that
no Democratic official lends assistance to
the Republican organization in its final
efforts to nominate Professor Howe.
The Sunday night gathering at which
there were some ugly charges made and
determination expressed to keep the
democratic party clean of election
crookedness at any cost, was the direct
result OF reports that the election boards
publicly named by Meeker were in fa>S
only dummies who We're to be repIaeed
at the last minute by men more accept.
apIe to what has recently become known
as the Thomas Riley crowd of the Demo-
cratic party.
In the election of Meeker as city chair
man this crowd, led by Tom Riley. who
Is the News-Jewett member of the Re-
puohcan administration board of works,
supported William Feeney for chairman
and was overwhelmingly defeated.
The defeat of Feeney, based ON hia
friendliness to Riley, was ACCOMPLISHED
Though the com bination of TIE better
eletleut Of the Democratic party behind
AeeEef. This combination was not ef-
tected, however, until Meeker had PROM
lsed to be guided in party matters by
an advisory board, the members Of which
were intent on preventing the party from
lending assistance in any plans to cor
rupt the primary. 1t was also agreed
by those who were sponsors for Meeker
that close watch would be kept Of lis
conduct and no opportunity Allowed him
to parley with Republican organization
members
AA-N AO1A he HALT CALLED
ON CHANGES IN BOARDS.
The supervision of this task was left
to Frank Baker, president of the DEM
ocratlc Club. and it has not been neg~
lected.
When it became known Saturday that
Meeker had established line Of ccmmu.
nicatiOn with the News -Jewett organlza-
ton and that changes were being made
In the publicly announced election offi~
ctals, the Democrats got busy at once
Their inyestlga tions disclosed that
known Democrats were being supplanted
in the Sixth and the Thirteenth ward
election boards by men whose political
integrity was questionable and who were
known to be very satisfactory to the
News-Jewett machine.
An immediate halt was called on this
procedure and final plans were perfected
for review of the boards tonight with
view to making the Democratic mems
bers of them consist Of real Democrats
who viii not passively or actively assist
the News-Jewett machine in the nomi-
nation of its candidate.
Around the emocratic Club last night
there was also expressed a determination
to reOrganize the committee Immediately
after the primaries with a view to plac-
ing the campaign in the hands of men
who will not require watching.
LIMP IN MACHINE
ELATES SHANK CAMP.
Eladon over the way in which the Re-
publican political situation is working
out was evident at Shank headquarters
today.
I'VE have known for weeks that wa
would be able to swamp the sagging
Jewett machine with votes" said Dr.. ID.
E. Hodgin, Shank manager, but we
have been apprehensive over the count
ing. We now know just what Will be at
tempted and just how to circumvent
it,"
Dr. Hodgin said that for two weeks
the Shank organization has laid more
stress upon anti-fraud Investigation and
preparation than upon other phase OF
campaign work.
Leading figures in both Democratic
and Republican political circles. about
whom uneasiness was felt, hsve been
shadowed night and day." he SAID. We
are ready to go into court Today to prove
that fraud is intended and that feiontes
have been compounce4. But we feel sure
now that we can cJyiate the odor of such
a mess by using he proverbial ounce OF
prevention.
I'VE have ldavits that prove conclu.
sively men ave been appointed on elec-
tion board when they do not live In the
precincts assigned. We know of others
who have accepted gifts of money and
other considerations in return for Ia
vors to be rendered to Professor Howe.
Delivery will be long delayed on most
Of these. We also have evidence that VIII
connect the men higher up. Some hypo-
Continued on Page Two1