Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1896 — POLITICS IN INDIANA. [ARTICLE]

POLITICS IN INDIANA.

CHOICE CONTRIBUTION BV OUR SPECIAL INDIANAPOLIS REPORTER. Hurllon’i Attitude Not a Snrpriie—Democrats Disappointed by Republican Harmony—Governor Matthews to Reorgran--1» Metropolitan Police Boards—Popnlist Hair Palling. Special Correspondence. Indianapolis, Dec. 16. —The authorized statement of General Harrison that he would not under any circumstances accept a seat in the United States senate was a great relief to at least some of the aspirants for that position. All those who knew anything of General Harrison’s desires in the matter knew that if it ever became necessary for him to say anything on the subject he would make just such a declaration as he has made. It was no surprise, therefore, when he gave out his statement, reiterating that he had all along said to those who had spoken to him on the subject that he would not accept the nomination for senator if tendered him by the caucus. A rash toward Harrison was what all the various, aspirants in the race feared most, for notwithstanding the fact that those close to him had repeatedly said he would not accept the place it was known that several of the members were very willing to vote for him. ’ k ‘ ' H U it * The expected seldom happens in politics, as in other walks of life, and the great bitterness in the senatorial struggle that has been so freely predicted in the past has thus far failed to materialize. Each of the gentlemen mentioned for the honor seems to be pursuing the even tenor of his way, without paying much attention to what the others are doing. A few of the Democratic members, going upon the false hypothesis that the* ttepnblican contestants were willing to win success by any method, sent one of their number a few days ago to one of the more prominent Republican candidates with the proposition that if he should fail of the caucus nomination and could hold his forces together enough Democratic votes could he secured to elect him. The candidate replied very briefly but very emphatically: “I should prefer remaining a private citizen all my life,” said he, “to acquiring political success by means of Democratic votes. So far as I am concerned |he senatorial contest shall begin and end in the Republican caucus: If lam defeated there my successful opponent will have no more cordial support than that of my friends in the legislature.”

; *»a»a» At this period two years ago the canvass for the speakership of the house was at a white heat, but thus far this year it has created hardly a ripple. Mr. Pettit of Wabash has been here once or twice, as have also Mr. Willoughby of Vincennes and Mr. Smith Of Lafayette, but none of them has been going about the state to see members or making any particular effort to meet them personally. So long as no one of them starts ont to make an active oanvass the rest of the candidates feel satisfied to let the contest be determined after the members gather here for the session during the first week in January. The business of making np the various committees of the house is going to prove a problem of no small proportions to the man who is elected speaker, largely from the fact that there are so very few members of this legislature who have served in previous years. Pettit, Willoughby and Nicholson are the only Republicans in the house who attained much prominence in the session of 1895. Of these none had chairmanships on prominent committees, though Mr. Pettit had much to do with the work of the judiciary committee, and Mr. Willoughby was prominent in insurance legislation, while Mr. Nicholson, as chairman of the temperance committee, made himself famons by introducing the bill that bears his name and leading the successful fight for its passage. In this struggle he developed some surprising qualities, and those who take him to be a “crank” or fanatic are gravely mistaken. - He' is an enormous fellow in size, is well proportioned and good looking, with the complexion of a pretty girl of 17 years. He is-, clearheaded and deliberate in all that he does and in debate is cool and shrewd.

There has been some talk of con testing .the seats of Senators Campbell and Gill from the Olinton-Boone-Montgom-ery distriot, and a meeting was held behind closed doors in the statehonse a few evenings ago, attended by friends of Messrs. Carrick and Artman, their Republican opponents. The ground for contest lies in the fact that the requirements of the ballot law were not fully complied with in filing the certificates of their nomination by the silver Democrats and Populists with the clerks of the three counties. This fact was net discovered until the expiration of the 10 days given by the constitution for filing with county clerks notices ‘of proposed contests. However, the friends of Artman and Garrick propose to look up -the'records and if they can find a Democratic precedent far bringing the contest after the expiration of 10 days they will probably contest the sfeats. But should - they do so it is doubtful whether they would succeed in their contest. If the various candidates for United States senator should be counting noses in the senatorial canons at about that time the contestants would not stand much, chance of success, for each aide wonld be afraid of giving the other any advantage that might be gained by bringing new men into the caucus. h 4 4 Governor Matthews proposes to fire a parting shot before leaving office by making a general reorganization of the metropolitan police force. The term of one of these commissioners in each city ends the first Tuesday in January, just a few hefoor«»_tiio .piwoiucs mtii**

irom omCB. xnose retiring are Ynifiam Mack*, South Bend; John Horn, Sew William F. Stillwell, Lafayette; Vernon Davis. Muncie; Henry 0. Tonsley, Logansport; George T. Beebe, Anderson; William Mfeese, Michigan City; Mathais Kilgus, Jeffersonville; W. F. Wickwire, Elkhart: J. Everett Jones, Richmond; Jacob C. Colson, Terre Haute. Then the term of at least one member of each of the board of trustees of the various state benevolent institutions expires on Jan. 1, and the governor will fill their places before retiring. Among these are John OstermaU* Indianapolis, member of the Central insane hospital beard; Dennis Uhl, Logansport, member of the Northern hospital board; Silas D. Hale, Geneva, member of the Eastern hospital board; William L. Swormstedt, Evansville, member of the Southern hospital board; Samuel A. Bonner, member of the board for the deaf and dumb asylum, and John F. Hennessey, Indianapolis, member of the board for the blind asylum. It happens that some of these gentlemen who were appointed as Democrats could not see their way clear during the last campaign by voting and fighting for Bryan and the rest of the “push.” They will walk the plank in beautiful shape this time and their places will be filled by men of the genuine Popoeratic stamp with the important planks of the Chicago platform blown in the bottle. 2« 5* Si Hiram Brownlee of Marion, whom the Republicans of Grant county have entered in the contest for the United States senatorship-, stopped here for a few hours on Sunday. Mr. Brownlee declined to make any claims as to the strength which he expects to show in the party caucus, but professes to be satisfied with the outlook. His friends claim that the Eleventh congressional district is solidly behind him and that the announcement by Frank Hanley that he is not now and has not been a candidate will work to the advantage of the Grant county man. kkk Governor Matthews has begun the preparation of his last message to the legislature, a work that was delayed a week by the very serious illness of his wife, who is fortunately nqw on the high road to recovery. With characteristic assurance the governor will point with pride to the rapid payment of the stale debt within the past two years as a part of the record of “my administration,” just as though it were not due to the careful economy of the legislature of 1896 in making np its appropriation bill and the careful management of the financial officers of the state. The past year, closing Oct. 81, has broken the record as a debtpaying year for Indiana. During the year $800,900 of the state debt was paid off and the auditor, in his annual repert, predicts that if no unusual expenses of magnitude are indulged in and the tax laws enforced with the same care as now Indiana will be practically clear of debt within six or seven years. This is the first time the state has seen its way clear to a clean balance sheet since away back in 1837, when the fever for building canals struck it. Its credit, which was practically ruined by the litigation ending in the celebrated Butler compromise, is now gilt-edged and its bonds are in demand by eastern savings banks. MM* There is a right pretty prospect for a general pulling of hair and whiskers when that Populist conference called by ' Julius Rosenheimer meets here Deo. 89. When the Populists met in state convention Rosenheimer made great pretensions of being “in the middle of the road,” and as the convention was in the hands of that kind of people he was made chairman of the state committee. Julius had heard great stories about oodles of Republican money being ready for Populist leaders who would stand by their guns, but none of that money showed up and he became one of the most ardent fusionists in the state, ready at all times to do the bidding of the Popoeratic managers. Now, N. A. Motsinger, who was the Populist candidate for congress in the Second distriot, and declined to pull off, is after the scalp of Julius. He runs a paper down at Shoals called The Referendum, and he has of late fallen into the uncomfortable habit of filling its columns with big chunks of truth about the men who led the Populists into the camp of their betrayers. He is calling upon all the "middle of the road” Populists to attend this conference and oust Rosenheimer and the rest of the gang from the party management. it it H Last Thursday’s meetings here of the two wings of the Democratic party demonstrated more clearly than ever that there is to be no compromise. Both sides are so determined in their course as to give every encouragement to Republicans. MM* Lieutenant Governor Haggard has practically completed the task of making up the senate committees, though he is holding the list subject to revision up to the time of the beginning of the session. He has a great advantage in the fact that he has served one term in the senate and is pretty well acquainted with the qualifications and characteristics of each of the members of both sides and the prospects are good for a i harmonious session ki the senate. One of the exciting contests in the last legislature will be absent in this one, since the state board of education now selects the state librarian instead of the legislature. Two years ago there were just Ba people who thought they would make excellent librarians. .

RUSSEL M. SEEDS.