The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-02
INDIANA POLITICS.
THE POLITICAL CAULDRoN.
CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS.


PROMINENT CANDIDATES HOW THE
CHANCES ARE DIVIDED AMONG THE AsPIR-
ANTS.
From Occasional Correspondent of the Sentinel
Fort WAYNE, IND, May %, 1S74.-We
are in the midst OF the excitement of an
opening campaign. Candidates are stationed
at every street corner, waiting to gobble up
the runaway mechanic or business man as
he goes TO or from his work. You could
scarcely throw pebble in any direction with
hitting one or two candidates. To say moth
ing of the aspirants for minor positions,
there are in the city four possible candidates |
for congress for the twelfth Indiana district. |
not counting Shanks, who will probably be
the republican candidate for reelection. |
or these four democratic candidates, the
one most in favor so far as /
can learn, is Mr.. Andrew HoI-
man Hamilton. AS Mr.. Hamilton stands a
very fair chance of being the nominee. a
sketch OF the man ana his antecedents will,
trust, not be wanting in interest to the
readers of the Sentinel. Mr.. Hamilton be-
longs 20 one of the oldest families in Fort
wayne. His father was one of the early set
tiers, coming here while the place consisted
of little else than the block house and the
surrounding wilderness. Allen Hamilton
was the first sheriff OF Allen county,, and
afterwards clerk of the court He bought a
large tract of land where the city now stands,
a large part of which is still held by his
heirs. He founded the bank, which
i I1ons BSn nEl5neS Andrew H A,en H Ham
ton is the eldest son OF Allen Hamilton.
He is nephew of our distinguished con-
gresham, Judge w. 5. Holman of the old
third district. Mr.. Hamilton received a
common school education, after which he
graduated at the college at Charlottesville.
a an
several years in study and travel. Hespeaks
German as fiuently as English, and has good
knowledge of several of the European lam
guageS. His tastes
ARE ENIINENTLY SCHOLARLY,
and he has one of the most magnificent
private libraries in the state, if not the very
finest. Many of his books are very rare,
and were obtained at great cost in the course
of his travels in Europe. Mr.. Hamilton
studied law with Daniel ID. Pratt, our pres
ent United States senator, with whom he
was always a very great favorite. In fact,
Mr.. Hamilton, 1t is said by those who init
matey know him, possesses in a remarka-
Die degree those traits of character which
have distinguished his uncle, Judge Hol-
man. Mr.. Hamilton has never engaged
actively in the practice of the law, as he has
been obliged to take charge of his fathers
immense estate. This he has done so sue
cessfully that he is to-day worth considera-
bly, more than half million dollars. If he
has fault it is that he is too scholarly. He
loves seclusion and the companionship of
with men, which the Western
politician must invariably encoun-
ter in his struggle for po-
sition. Mr.. Hamilton is a very popular
man in this city and county, and is well
known throughout the other counties of the
/ y. =.
Templar of Indiana, he is pretty well known
throughout the state. He has never been in
Office, and has never soughtit. If elected to
congress, he will have no political record be-
hind him, either good or bad. He is demo-
crat by birth and education, though his
views are broad and liberal. He is at this
moment the strongest man in the district,
Notwithstanding the fact that some excellent
men are numbered among his competitors.
If nominated by the democratic convention,
| he will
| UNDOUBTEDLY BE ELECTED.
The district can not possibly go republican
under circumstances most favorable to
that party. The candidate whose
chance for nomination is next to that of Mr..
Hamilton, is Walpole g. Colerick, also
young man. AS lawyer, he has an excel
| lent reputation andis descended from a good
stock. His father, who is an early settler i'm
| Fort Wayne,was a famous criminal lawyer
| in his day, and his brother John who died
recently and who came so near defeating
Shanks tor congress in 1870, was a young
man of extraordinary ability. Had he
lived, he would be the universal choice now.
Walpole is popular young nan, and has
hosts of friends in the city. He will de-
velop great strength in Wells county, it is
thought by those who pretend to be posted
in the local politics OF the section. Neck and
neck with Colerick looms the form OF the
most inveterate Office seeker in the country.
Judge Lowry has an interesting history.
For eighteen years he has steadily been
trying to obtain that coveted boon, seat in
congress, and for eighteen years he has con-
stantly failed. In 1866 he was elected cir
cult Judge, but the tact that his office as
Judge operates as a constitutional bar to his
right to solicit the suffrages of his fellow
citizens for another position, has never i'll
the slightest degree prevented him from
making the trial. He is the standing can
didate for congress from Allen county.
Dynasties may rise and fall, nations may
crumble into dust, and still Bob Lowry
regularly turns up at the beginning of every
congressional campaign as the inevitable
candidate. There was time when people
thought that Lowry's candidacy might mean
an election, but his
REPEATED FAILURES
have taught the community to look upon
him as a harmless sort of person. They
allow him to run for congress by the extern
sion of sort of courtesy, well knowing that
it can do no harm, and will satisfy him for
the time being. He was originally wing,
bat finding that his party was not the win
ming one, he came over into the democratic
ranks with the intention, no doubt, of
gathering in a fair share of thespoils. He
is considered to be an INSCRIPTIONS man,
who will stop at nothing to accomplish his
nd Tha faof ha hac
the ermine by using his official influence to
further his claims to the nomination for con- |
gress, is sufficient evidence to most, that he
Is not to be trusted. Otherwise, Judge
Lowry is good man. He is not want
ing in ability, but be will not hest