The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-12
A TALK WITH JUDGE NIBLACK.
Effect of the Defeat of the Morrison Bill
Gossip About Candidates.

Judge w r Niblack was at Washington last
week when the Morrison tariff bill was defeated
his visit to the capital, however was simply q
social one, having lived there for fourteen years
while a member of Congress-and Saturday af-
ternoon Journal reporter asked him what it
was thought the political effect of the action
upon the measure would be.
'"There will be no legislation upon the tariff at
this session OF Congress" he said Judging from
what I learned. Mr.. Carlisle has advised
against taking up the question again. However,
Mr.. Hewitt told me in conversation before
left Washington that he intended to introduce a
bill providing for reduction on certain articles,
but the idea seemed to prevail among members
of Congress that it would come to nothing. |
don't think anything ought to bedone tits an un
fortunate time-the beginning of presidential
campaign-for legislation upon an important
public question, for the reason that it is consid-
cred more in its effect upon men than upon any
merits that it may have. How will
it affect this man or that man,
is the question generally considered-not what
will the public benefits be. There was consider
able -feeling aroused in the party over the bill,
but l think that it will measureably subside.
The Morrison bill was not satisfactory to free
trade Democrats, who wanted discriminating
tariff-not a horizontal reduction all articles
and there were many who voted for it under
protest"
When asked what seemed to be the feeling in
Washington regarding the presidential aspirants,
Judge Niblack said that he had made no effort
to learn and whatever he had heard was simply
casual or incidental
II have never known things, he said, ''to be
so unsettled at time near a presidential
campaign as row. Our best politicians have no
wel-defned idea what the result will be-
Everything is unsettled but everybody is specu-
lating on the candidates. | met one man who
told me that he had been figuring pretty closely
on the matter, and that he had come to the con
clusion from his calculations that General
Hawley would be nominated by the Republicans
on the twenty seventh ballot"
did you find very strong sentiment in ia
vor of the old ticket!n
''rhere were great many questions asked me
about our Indiana men. 1t seemed to me that
no one had any opinions but everybody wanted
to learn what the feeling is. find generally
that in the talk about candidates the wish is
father to the thought. There is great deal of
talk about the old ticket and there are many
who believe that it will be renominated if Mr.
Tilden lives, but to nearly every man of this
opinion met one who would say that he had
authoritative information that Mr.. Tilden would
positively not accept In New York find that
Mr.. Cleveland is developing a candidate and
there is a great deal of talk about him. but there
is no telling s what it will come to. Mr.. Flower
is talked of with considerable favor If it is
decided to cast the vote of New York for either
of these men, there may be something of boom,
as it is called, for them"
In further conversation, Judge Niblack said
that the failure of Grant & Ward had been the
subject of great deal Of talk in Washington
sympathy for General Grant was expressed
generally, y he said ''aud the talk about the mat
ter seems to indicate that an effort to place him
on the retired list will be renewed"