The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-23
THE PARTY's LEADER.
Candidate CaIkins Tells How He Came to
Enter Upon a Political Life.


Enter Upon Political Life.
Chicago Tribune Saturday.
Congressman w. II. Call1ins, of LaPorte, Ind,
who has just been nominated as the Republican
candidate for Governor of his State arrived
last evening with Mrs. CaIklns at the Grand
Pacific
II am returning to Washington" he said 'for
no other reason than to look after the naval
appropriation bill. I am the only Republican
from the House on the conference committee,
and l want to see that the estimates are not cut
down too much and that money enough is
voted to continue the work the cruisers now
in course of construction. 1t is shame that a
country like ours cannot have navy, and that
our enormous coast line should be at the mercy
of any third-rate power that might seek a quarrel
with u.s.
In regard to his nomination Mir. Calkins said:
II do not care to discuss politics just yet /
feel confident that we will carry the State.
The nomination of Blaine and Logan takes
splendidly in Indiana, and Republicans are
everywhere united Still, the State is close at
best and it is going to be rough7and tumble
fight Since 1856 the Democrats have not car
ried the State for President except in 1876, and
then they had only plurality of 1000 votes.
The Republican and Greenback vote combined
left them about s, GOO votes In the minority
The situation was reversed in 1880, and we had
plurality. but were in the minority as against
the combined opposition SO you see that the
Democrats have no grounds upon which TO
claim Indiana among the Democratic States. 1t
is anybody's fight, but have no fear of the re-
suit. / think we will come out on top. My OPP
ponent will probably be Gov Gray, an active
worker and firstrate talker. 1 see there is
some talk of running Gov. Hendricks against
I'll hat 1,o will tN
it. If he should be the man it might prove to
be a case of David and Golath-at least should
rely upon the justice of my cause"
Congressman Calkins though still Dung
man. made his first race for Congress in 1874.
He tells funny story about how he came to
enter public life 'At that time" he said, II
had fine law business and was making money
pretty fast. Two corporations alone paid me
$1,000 year each knew there was no money
in politics, and had no idea of running for Con
gress. One day. sitting in my Office picked up
a country paper and read a hatterlng notice OF
myself, in which my nomination was urged upon
the ground that could carry the district L
read the notice over carefully and thought to
myself this is about the correct thing and
then L picked up my pen and addressed letter
to the editor, personal friend OF mine, thank
ing him, but assuring him that under no cir
cumstances could l consent to give up my prac-
tees and enter public life. sealed the envelope
and then picked up another paper, in which
a very different kind of a notice met my
eye This one stated that il was generally un-
derstood that 1 was being groomed for Con
gress; that 1 a pretty bright young man.
who, with little patience, might be taken up in
time, but that my present display, of freshness
was totally out of order, and that anyhow
could not be elected, 1t wound up by saying
that it was really unnecessary to consider the
matter, as I could not possibly be nominated.
Well as I had not given the subject a thought
and was innocent of the charge, it put me in a
white heat, so tore up the letter l had just
written to my friend and wrote him another
asking him to announce in his paper that was
candidate for Congress; and further, that
would surely be nominated. l was nominated
and defeated and in 1876, naturally, l sought a
second nomination to get Tindication and keep
from being snuffed out, SO that is how left a
fine law business to enter upon the uncertain
sea of politics"