Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1890 — The Vicissitudes of Politics. [ARTICLE]

The Vicissitudes of Politics.

“The Bumbler” iu the Michigan City Appeal says: The vicisitudes of political life are aptly illustrated tn the case of Major Williams H. Calkins. At one time the Major was the ideal of the thirteenth district. Iu his own county of LaPorte his own party worshipped him and his hold upon a large portion of the Democratic vote was truly astonishing and exasperating to the Democracy. He hadtn.bility, an excellent physique, was a good-look-er, and a king among politicians in general. Everybody liked J‘‘Bill” Calkins, and he was generally counted as ond of the best of fellows, which he was in every respect. His popularity kept him in congress term after term, being twice elected iD a Democratic district. However, his triumphal march of .victory suffered a sudden collapse in 1884, when he sought a nomination for govenorJAmd met defeat at the hands of Governor Gray, and from that time dates his failure as a politician. His long career in congress had ruined his once large law practice, aud like hundreds of -other congressmen, had in fact unfitted him for practice of his profession in Indianapolis, with only indifferent success. When Harrison became president he was appointed associate justice the United States Court at Washington territory, which he lost when Washington became a state, and only last week a special from Washington City stated that he was at the capital, looking for (mother appointment. Aud this is politics 4