Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-07

OsAoOcrdCs pFSclhcEs tney nave Deen
counting upon.
BOTH PARTIES
CLAIM SOUTH SIDE.
However, there was no intimation from
leaders that the hattie would not be car
Red on with equal ferocity all over the
city. Both Democrats and Republicans
claim the south side. Republicans are
not so confident in claims upon the en-
tire north side, but they maintain that
they VIII prove futile the Democratic
hopes Of cracking the 'sOlid north"
The election win end one Of the most
turbulent campaigns in the ctty's his
tory. Things have happened within AID
to both parties which in any normal po-
ntiesl fight would have bene sufficient
to have caused the overwhelming defeat
Of either. The ability OF both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans to override SEEM
ingly IDsurmountable obstacles has be- \
one Of the marvels Of the day.
For instance, there is the remarkable
comeback Of the dissention torn. thrice
defeated Democratic organization, and
the refusal to be downed OF tine equally
disrupted and Indictment and resignation
harassed Republican crew.
SHANK HAD EDGE
IN PRIMARY.
The Democratic PARTY came out Of the
primary last May with a candidate for
mayor nominated by a vote Of 8,7ST, as
opposed to the 2S.S54 polled by Mr. Shank
on the Republican side. Whereas. there
were thousands Of Republicans getting
training for the general election this
fail out of their participation in the
bitter primary fight between ths News
JeEett and anti" factions, there were
a very few hundreds OF Democratic
workers active. The Republicans devel-
oped the material in the primary oft
Of which to pick enough trained workers
for half dozen general election organ
tzations in normal times.
The Democrats also came out Of the
primary with a city chairman on their
hands who was not at all satisfactory to
a great many Of the party leaders. There
was ugly talk that Thomas s. Meeker
had participated In the Republican pri-
mary scrap on the side of the News
Jewett machine. On May IA, only a few
days after the primary, the Indiana Dem
ocratie Club held a jollifcation for the
Democratic ticket and Frank 2. Baker,
president, failed to even introduce Chair
man Mseker to the men and women pres
emit. Dozens OF old-line Democrats talked
Of seeking some way to Gust Meeker and
get what they termed real chairman"
This talk became so Widespread and got
into the public print so often that few
Of the wiser heads OF the party called
upon ex-senator Thomas Taggart to come
TO town and help straighten out the mess
Mr.. Taggart responded and q truce be-
tween the Baker and Meeker factions MAS
arranged. The truce itself constituted,
in a measure, a confession OF the weak
ness Of the chairman, because It included
a provision that Mr.. Meeker was to be
assisted by an advisory board, upon
which the old-Hne leaders were to serve.
Politicians generally understood that this
board would not permit the chairman
much independence Of action
FINDS DEszOCRATs
WITH SHANK.
Mr.. Mee&er began to build his organi-
zation and Immediately ran into the fact
that a number Of precinct committeeman
we're lined up witt the Shank organiZa
ton. CAT that time there was no such
thing as a Republican" organization.J
He announced appointments Of ward COM
mitteenen. The list disclosed that some
Of the old ward leaders had been ditcheu.
These men promptly renewed the fight
for Meeker's scalp and wild stories were
circulated Of plans TO form a 'rump"
Democratic organization, somewhat
similar to the Shank for-Mayor Club
which then was carrying on the Shank
campaign because OF organization
troubles which absolutely prevented the
regular Republican organization from
functioning.
Mr.. Meeker considered the problem of
organizing Democratic women. Fresh
troubles arose, in tho form OF a demand,
from the Seventh District Democratic
Women's Club, that its president, Miss
Julia Landers, be named women's city
chairman with power to form a separate
women's organization with party prestige
equal to that OF the men. Mr.. Meeker
held out for a single organization OF
women and men. Mr.. Ralston's name
was brought into the scrap when the
women fighting for the separate Organi-
nation declared he had promised it to
them. However, Mr. Meeker eontrived
to get the support Of his advisory board
and in the end appointed Mrs. Grace
Jackson Bodenmiller to have charge OF
the women within the single organization
with the title Of womens city organizer.
The newspapers printed stories to the
effect that a truce between Mr.. Meeker
and Miss LandeTs, effected through Mr..
Ralston, whereby the Seventh District
Democratic Club was to have charge OF
the speakersl bureau when the campaign
opened.
Affairs drifted more or less idly through
the hot months until one day 1t was an
nounced that Mr.. Meeker was considering
a man to head the speakers bureau.
Miss Landers and her friends broke out
afresh Mr.. Meeker declared he never
had promised the Seventh District Club
should have charge Of all speaking ac-
tivities and that il was understood that
II merely should supervise women's speak
ing activities. Miss Landers and her
friends thought differently. The battle
ragged several days until Mr.. Meeker
finally appointed Charles z. Tighe to have
charge Of the speaking activities. Side
tracking of the Landers faction never
was openly admitted, but to this day
not q single announcement Of q Demo.
cratic women's meeting has come from the
Seventh District Club. The women OIL
Gals at city headquarters and Mr.. Tighe
have had complete charge.
Meanwhile the grumbling against Mr..
Meeker went steadily on.
DEMOCRATS HAVE
POWERFUL MACHINE.
Despite these organization troubles, OBJ
servers say that with the aid Of Mr.. Tag
CART and other men who have piloted
the party TO victory in Marion County
in former times the Democratic organt-
ration Is q powerful machine ready to
give the Republicans a great argument
tomorrow. Conduct Of propaganda so a.
to bring thousands Of Republicans to q
determination 20 vote for Mr.. Ralston has
had much to do with this, 1t is said.
Serious as hare been the organization
difficulties Of the Democrats they are
nothing as compared with, first, the
party machinery mix-ups and second. the