The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07
THE LEADING LAWMAKERS.
The Personnel of the Coming Legislature
The Prominent Members of Both Houses.

OF the sixty-6ve Democrats who have been
elected Representatives in the next Legislature,
twenty four have been members of the body be-
fore. and nine of the thirty five Republicans are
Former members There will be less of raw ma
terial in both houses, it is claimed, than
Bver before, and in consequence there
will be excuse for the delays or
representation in legislative work usually at
tributed to inexperience. 1t is altogether likely
however that there will be more expedition in
the proceedings of the House than in the Senate,
Because the latter will probably be under the
Eule of a capable presiding officer 1t is ex-
bected that there will be more fun than
work in he Senate, with General Man
ION as the president of the body. He is
good for the general purposes of ian old
War-horse," is tolerable companion, and, alto
9ether, is not bad man, but his knowledge of
The rhythmic architecture of poetry is no less
limited than his knowledge of parliamentary
law and the responsible duties of presiding over
D Legislative body. 1t seems to be generally con-
eeded that Jewett will be elected Speaker of the
House. He has the abilities for an efficient
officer, and his election would probably be more
satisfactory to the Republican members than
that of any of the other Democratic candidates.
The Democratic leaders in the Senate will be
Mayer, of Logansport; Mccullough, of Prince
ton, and Hlligass, of Huntington, all of
whom are old members. Willard will
BE conspicuous, but he will not
have much weight or influence. Morgan
Weir. of LaPorte, Emory B. Sellers, of Month
cello, and Green Smith, of North Vernon, will
be prominent among the new members. Weir,
1t is said is a man of some brilliance, and is
likely to say astonishing things at very unex-
Cal1o 30 ani
has the reputation OF being a good
speaker. Smith is quite we'll known as
lobbyist and politician. He is the
successor of Jason B. Brown, and has bluff
manner quite like that of his predecessor
There will be several rivals for the leadership
among the Democrats in the House. David S.
Goodng will be one of the most conspicuous
members, and he will have considerable infu-
prominent in the party. Among those who will,
1t is thought, be prominent, are Moody, of
Auburn; Williams, of Vincennes; McMichael,
of Washington; McMullen, of Dearborn, and
Ditmore, of Spencer. The new members who
promise to attract some attention are Hiram
Brown, of Marion Levi Mack of Bluffton;
Eugene B. Debs, of Terre Haute, and E. H.
Staley, of Frankfort Debs is only
twenty nine years old, and is credited
with being young man of very
remarkable executive ability A few years ago
he was fireman on the Vandalia road and he
is now secretary of the Association of Locomo-
tive Fire Engineers, besides being the editor of
the Fireman'S Magazine, published at Terre
Haute the circulation of which has increased
under his management from q, 600 to 20, 600 He
was city clerk of Terre Haute PRIOR to his
election to the Legislature. His friends claim
that he will make one of the best members of the
body. Staley is editor of the Frankfort Ores
cent, and has the qualifications required for a
good legislator. Warren d. Sayre, of Wabash,
who was formerly in the Senate, and is known
as a man of exceptional ability, will be one. of
the most prominent members of the Legislature
among the Republicans. No member
of either body of the General Assembly,
however, will be an object of more interest than
Rev. J. NJ Townsend of Richmond, the colored
representative. He is man of more than ord-
nary ability, and has rather a remarkable his
tory. He served three years in the war, as
soldier in the Fifty fourth Massachusetts, Regi-
ment, and he has travelled extensively having
made two trips to Europe He is a member of
1he Ecumemical Society of London, and has been
secretary of the foreign missions of the A Nj. E.
Church for five years.