Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1914 — STATE-WIDE FIGHT TO SAVE PARTY [ARTICLE]

STATE-WIDE FIGHT TO SAVE PARTY

Democrats From All Over Indiana Call for Freedom From the Bosses. MACHINE RULE DENOUNCED Wilson and Bryan League in Strong Resolutions Demands Fair Methods —Lobbyists Are Flayed. Indianapolis, Dec. 31.—Plans for the thorough organization of every district, county and precinct in the state for the purpose of freeing the democratic party in Indiana from machine rule and building up a decent and constructive party government in which all democrats can participate with pride, were perfected last night at the Claypool hotel by the Wilson and Bryan League of Indiana. This organization which promises to be a very important factor in the fight for a free and unbossed democratic party in Indiana, is to be a permanent affair, and has already marshaled such strength that its success at once in many parts of the state is assured. The organizers of the movement are democrats of such high standing that they command the respect of the people. They are determined to oppose the machine at every turn and to establish the party government of this state in harmony With the Wilson and Bryan policies. “The Indiana Federation of Progressive Democrats” was the name chosen for the preliminary organization, but it was finally decided that a,stronger title would be “The \\ ilson and Bryan League.” The delivery of the democratic party in Indiana from machine rule and bringing it abreast with the progressive policies of Wilson and Bryan were called for by the resolutions. A state-wide primary election Iqw and a constitutional convention were favored.

A significant feature of the resolutions was a criticism of the inter•ference of democratic state organization lobbyists with legislation, “In our party’s record in the field ot state legislation," the resolutions said, “we are not unmindful of the fact that several bills of great merit .were made into law and that a large nercentage of the members of both houses were disposed to serve well the people's interest- when not misled by lobbyists who had occupied Important places of trust in the democratic state organization." The conference held at the Claypool hotel last night was not called as a convention, was not advertised, and no effort was made to obtain a large crowd. It was attended by about sixty-five democrats representing every congressional district in Indiana, a much larger number than had been expected. The business of the meeting was to get an organization started, and a convention and banquet will be held in Indianapolis soon at the call of the executiye Committee.

Albert J. Veneman, of Evansville, former speaker of the Indiana house of representatives, is chairman of the executive committee, and Edward B. Rauh, of Indianapolis, is vice-chairman. The mayor of Washington, Second district: M. C. Brown, Salem, Third district; Nick Cornet, Lawrenceburg, Fourth district: J. S. McFadden, Rockville, Fifth district; E. C. Farris, Fountain City. Sixth district: Dee R Jones. Crawfordsville, Ninth district: Judge Lawrence Becker, Hammond, Tenth district: J. M. Wallace, Peru, Eleventh district: H. C. Case, Lagrange, Twelfth district, and Charles Weidler, South Bend, Thirteenth district. Mr. O’Connor and Mr. Kirby will work with t!he executive committee. Mr. Weidler was a member of the last Indiana house of representatives, and is one of the most able leaders of the forward-looking movement’ among the democrats. He was one of the first men to “sjtart the ba|l rolling,” and it was due largely to his efforts that a preliminary conference in South Bend resulted in the state-wide conference in Indianapolis. He was the first Speaker called on last night by Richard B. Kirby, of Indianapolis, chairman of the meeting, and made one of the most effective addresses for a democratic house cleaning in Indiana. The organization committee, which will perfect plans for. organization in every precinct, is composed of Jesse E. Wade, Mt. Vernon; Dr. Fej'ermuth, South Bend; J, C. O’Connor, Delphi; J. A. Bell, Elkhart; Bernard O’Connor, Indianapolis; W. A. Hammond, mayor-elect of Peru; State Senator Bernard B. Shively, Marion; C. Y. Andrews, of Peru, and

James K. Risk, Lafayette. Other committees are: Advisory committee—John W. Boehne, former mayor of Evansville, and former congressman from the First district; W. V. Rooker, Noblesville; State Representative Earl Crawford, Milton; Pink East, Worthington, and Richard B. Kirby, Indianapolis. Finance committee Theodore Dammeyer, Indianapolis, chairman and treasurer; John W. Boehne, Evansville; Cyrus E. Davis, Bloomfield; J. W. Lytle, Brazil; W. Frank Ewing; Shelbyville; Dee Crawfordsville; Dr. J. WN. Klotz, Noblesville; J. H. McGill, Valparaiso; Bernard B. Shively, Marion; H. C. Case, Lagrange, and Samuel Committee on primary law—John R. Jones, Plymouth; John W. Holtzman, Indianapolis; Cyrus E. Davis, Bloomfield; Charles Spencer, Monticello, and Gideon Blain, Indianapolis. Bernard E. O Connor, of Indianapolis, was elected permanent secretary of the organization, and he was empowered to call committee meetings. Plenty, of the spirit of fight against the democratic state machine owned by the Taggart-Fairbanks combination and its numerous subsidiaries was manifested in the speeches made at the meeting. But nearly all of the speakers emphasized the need of constructive work as well as an attack on the machine. The speakers were Mr. Weidler, of South Bend; John W. Holtzman, former mayor of Indianapolis; J. A. Bell, of Elkhart; Bernard B. Shively, of Marion: Judge Lawrence Becker, of Hamniond: Albert J. Veneman and John W. Boehne, of Evansville; W. A. Hammond, of Peru; C, Y. Andrews, Peru; J. C. O'Connor, of Delphi; J. Kirby Risk, of Lafayette, Edward Barker, of Indianapolis; W. V. Rooker, of Noblesville, and Mr. Kirby, chairman of the meeting. Strong resolutions outlining the working policies and the beliefs of the Wilson and Bryan League of Indiana were adopted. The resolutions were drawn by a committee composed of Veneman, Weidler, Crawford. McGill and Becker.