Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1904 — ITEMS HERE AND THERE [ARTICLE]

ITEMS HERE AND THERE

Cue Indianapolis News says that Senator Goodwin, of Warren county, wojjld become a candidate for lieutenant governor but for the fact that the Tenth district has already too many candidates and that he will probably atk that he be sent as delegate from the Tenth to the Chicago convention.

With the Hon. William Katzenja turner Hearst smearing the red ink on extra editions nf a penny dreadful and the Hon. William Jennings Bryan issuing a daily edition of The Commoner, visitors to this year’s Democratic national convention at St Louis will not be compelled to go out to the World’s Fair grounds in order to get their fill of innocent amusement.

The 1904 postal guide just issued by the postuffice department shows there are at present, in the United States and Territories 74,169 postuffices, including Alaska, 101; Guam; 1; Porto Rico, 81; Hawaii, 92; and Samoa, 1. The s>ate having the largest number of offices is Pennsylvania with 4912, Indiana, has 1862. Hundreds of offices have been discontinued on account of rural free delivery. No more touching evidence of the prevalence of prosperity has been adduced than is contained in the decision of our Democratic friends to go up against St. Louis hotel rates during their national convention. The party’s Wall street expectations may, however, be offered as a reason why the Democracy feels flush enough to crucify itself upon a cross of gold for a whole week.

The old general law for moving county seats, but which never did aud never will move one, but which the Supreme Court intimates a good enough law for anybody, is about a-< unjust and unreasonable a piece of legislation as there is on the statute books of Indiana. It requires a vote of 70 per cent before removal can be effected, which is beyond all reason. Also it does not permit a first vote* on the abstract question of whether the people desire to remove or not, but limits, the voters to choosing between the old oounty seat, and some other paitioular town. It also prohibits a removal greater than 14 miles.

The official call for the Republican county convention has been issued by Chairman Williams and Secretary Leopold, per the order of the county committee, All the regular two years officers are to be elected this year, of course, which includes treasurer, sheriff, surveyor, assessor, and coroner. Only one four year officer is to be elected, the recorder. It has been decided, on looking up the law and the recoxds* that only one county commissioner will be elected this year, namely the commissioner from the Ist district, to succeed Abraham Halleck. The county counoilmen do not have to be elected this year. The Democratic rank and file is getting a bit pu zzkd as to jus what is expected of it. In 1892 the leaders told the rank and file to cheer Cleveland and Olevelandism, and it complied enthusiastically. Four years later the everyday Democrat was asked to support Bryan and Bryanism, and damn Cleveland and Olevelandism, and he did so. Now, eight years later, be is called upon to abandon Bryan and Bryanism and support a Wall street presidential candidate. <_lt Ur all getting a bit confusing. and it will not be at all surprising if a good many thousand Democrats conclude this year to join a party which is not being continually called upon to hold a joint debate with its own past.