The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-25
THE GovERNoRsHIP.
Speculations to the Candidates in 1884 Of
Both Political Parties.


Letter in Cincinnati Enquirer,
The Democrats are lying low on guberna-
torial candidates for 1884. Every time an
election occurs, w. S. Holman hobs up se-
renely for all the Offices in sight He is now
mentioned for Congress, Governor and Presi-
dent, with mild hint at the Senate. He
calmly sits astride of all public questions un-
til somebody takes sides, and then he yels,
II object" 1t is said that when at rare and
sober intervals he wanders into church, his
old propensity is too strong that when some
pious brother prayerfully exclaims, Lord
forgive u.s." he yells, II object" Mr.. Holman
may as well be informed now that Hon,
Frank Landers has knife ready sharpened
for him. and when the battle of 1884 opens
Holmans scalp will bangle at his belt
Colonel Isaac z. Gray is on still-hunt for
the nomination. In fact he has come be
known as the sly boots" of the Democratic
party in this State Some months ago seeing
that the tide had turned to Mcdonald. he
had himself interviewed, and said that he
regarded the ex-senator as a great man, no
deserved the presidency, and that he thought
he would get it. This was taffy to cover the
little game which Hendricks Inveigled him
into in 1881, when he took from Mcdonald
the empty honor of the complimentary vote
of his party for Senator 1t was sneaking
little game, and Gray has been heartily
ashamed of it ever since.
Hon. John R. Cofroth, of Lafayette, has
the boom at present being backed by the old
war horses of the party, but the "new De.
mocracy" may down him long before the
convention next year. Governor Gray
represents the new element in the party
and already there is q feeling among his
friends that he has not been sufficiently re-
warded for withdrawing his one vote from
the Republican party, and they will Insist
on the Democratic party coming to him now.
But all the Democratic fight will be before
the convention.
The Republicans have one active candidate
in the field for Governor in the person of
Major W. H. Calkins, who represents the
Michigan City district in Congress, lives in
Washington and has his law office in this
city. Calkins is brainy man, has good
war record and stands well in Congress, but
he is only forty, an offense which some of
the older managers are not willing to over
look. He is not considered the strongest
man, owing to the fact that he is or has been
attorney for some of the leading railroad cor
porations in the north part of the State. The
silent force which worked for Porter in 1880,
and was worth fully 10000 votes to him, was
the Knights of Labor. Way back in 1877,
when the great railroad strike was on, Gov
ernor Porter sympathized with the demands
of the strikers, and when an effort was
made to compromise the differences be-
tween the men and the railroad officials
the Governor was the head of what was
known as the Committee of Cancellation"
which finally brought about an understand
ing. He was selected at the time on the wish
of w. r. McKeen, president of the Vandaia
railroad. who personally was on the side of
the strikers. And few weeks afterward,
when the unfortunate leaders of the strike
were on trial before Judge Drummond for
contempt of court and when public senti.
ment was fairly ablaze against athe poor dew
lis. who then had neither friends nor money,
Mr.. Porter came into court and defended
fhnm vii other COnSp-
quently, when three years later Mr.. Porter
became candidate for office, every member
of lubor organization in the State voted for
him, running him 1000 votes ahead of the
ticket. For this reason, it is hardly probable
that any man of any party could now carry
the State against him.
The two strongest men in the Republican
party who are available are Colonel w. w.
Dudley and Rev. Myron w. Reed, of this
city, Dudley is so we'll known as the best
political manager the Republicans have ever
had in Indiana, though he does hobble on a
wooden leg, that can tell nothing new of
him. But no man has ever lived who lived
more for the people and for humanity than
Mr.. Reed From theological seminary to
the war; where he made a brilliant record;
thence home to the pulpit, he has made his
name familiar in the house of every poor
and unfortunate man and woman in this
city His congregation, the richest in the
city has been forced by him to more gener-
GUS charity in the last four years than in all
its previous history His theory is to feed
and clothe the needy, then inquire after
their spiritual wants.
Mr.. Reed is not a candidate, but his name
is being used by those who are casting about
for the strongest man, who can make the
best fl hit on the stump. Ii Dudley refuses
absolutely the nomination, the indications
are now strongly in favor of Mr. Reed. Dud-
ley only asks the craftsmanship of the State
central committee, and if he should take
that and carry the Legislature as he did in
1880. his way is open to the Senate, an Office
more to his taste.