Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-14
Counter MOUe
of Bi-PG artisan
Machine N e 70
Democrats Oppose Effort to
DrdIU Party Into Republic
an Primary Net.

Democrats who have grown gray IN the
faith and learned the most of the po-
IiticaI trickery with which the affairs OF
the city Of Indianapolis are conducted,
announced today that they believed they
hal countered the latest move Of the
Republic city organization to control
the coming primaries through bi-par-
tisan combination.
Ever since ". Z. Feeney, business and
social associate Of Thomas f. Riley,
Jewett News Democrat, announced his
candidacy for the Democratic chairman
ship Of the city, these Democrats have
been busy seeking 80 head of the Feeney
movement.
These Democrats have not been per
sonally opposed to Feeney, but they are
opposed to the backing that Feeney has,
on the grounds that It IS not Demo
cratic following, but IS a part and par
Gel of the scheme by which the city ad-
ministration expects to control the nom
ingtion Of a mayor,
FEENEY- HELD MASK
FOR COMBINATION.
Feeney, to these men, is merely a mask
for the News Hoffman Riley combina-
tion of minority Republican henchmen
They profess to see IN his candidacy en-
attempt Of the News-Jewett Democrats
to lie the Democratic organization,
name election boards that will work with
the Republican board members TO the
end that Samuel Lewis shank can again
be counted out OF the nomination re
rardless Of how many votes he may OBJ
tain.
These Democrats are not anxious to
see Shank nominated. nor do they de
s're to interfere in the least with the
Republican primaries. They have, how
ever, too much respect for their party
to be willing to sit by and see IT made
a party to corrupt primary such as
has been the rule in Indianapolis for
many years.
If the administration Republicans are
determined to corrupt the primary, these
Democrats reason, they should be com
PEELED to corrupt 1t themselves, and not
to have either the active or passive sup
port Of the Democrats Of the city.
NOT OF TYPE TO
HELP DEMOCRATS.
Feeney. they argue, is not the type OF
a man who win help the Democrats in
the campaign. He Is, they know, SO close
ly related to the News Hoffman Riley
combination that whether he so desired
or not his administration Of the city
craftsmanship would be in the interest
of this faction.
The interest Of this faction lies wholly
in the nomination and election Of what
ever candidate the indianapolis News de
cldes should be elected.
Heretofore Mr.. Riley, who is the minor
| ity member Of the board Of works, has
been of service to the Jewett admins
tration in many ways. In the last pri.
ma -
the primary boards and in each pre-.
cinct in which he had his way there was
a complete understanding between tbs
machine Republicans and the election
board, which understanding did not do
the machine candidates any harm, al
least
SUBSTANTIAL,
MEMBERS OPPOSE.
There is disposition on the part OF
the older and more substantial Demo
Gratis of Indianapolis to prevent, If pos.
slble, the assistance Of the Democratic
organization in the rigging" Of the pri
maries. Hence the opposition to Feeney
who comes before the city committee as
a candidate for chairman with the collar
/ Of the News-J ewett combination promi
nently displayed.
| Hopes of clean primary In which the
! Republican voters Of Indianapolis viii
actually nominate a mayor are very low
1t is generally expected among those per.
sons in both parties that watch pri
maries that there will be every method
| possible used to count out Shank, JUS
as it was admitted every effort was made
successfully, four years ago.
Democrats who oppose Feeney's candi
dacy are doing so because they have
pride enough In their party to be op-
posed to a very evident movement t
make the party organization a tool with
which the News-Jewett combination may
put over It's nominee