The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-12
THE ARMY OF CANDIDATES.
Democratic Statesmen Who Are Ambi-
tiOus of Serving the State.
No Lack of Applicants for the GOvernOrship
Belief that the Other State Officers
Will Be RenOminated.

| The Office seeking mania which a prominent
politician at Washington characterized several
| years ago as "a national malady" has become
! nothing less than epidemic in Indiana and it
has become so near universal that the number
of men in whom there is not some symptoms of
the prevailing fever is a Saving remnant of
scarce existence. There are dozens of political
mendicants clamoring for every public Office and
it is the estimate of rather careful calculator
that there are no less than 10000 candidates in
Indiana for the ofices-township, county, ju-
dical, congressional, and State-to be filed by the
elections of this year. The next Democratic
State convention will be besieged by mob of
Office seekers large enough in numbers to form
| good-szed military company There
is scarcely rural paper in
the State that is not vigorously
''booming" some favored candidate, and they
have probably not all been heard from yet The
aspirants are already hard at work and the
scramble for party recognition promises to be
more lively than usual
In making inquiries among a number of prom
inent Democratic politicians journal reporter
learns that there is general expression in the
party in favor of an early convention. The
meeting of the State committee will be held on
the 9th inst, and it is quite probable that they
will decide to call the convention some
time early in June. although there
are many who favor deferring it
until after the Republican convention is held
Among those who are known to be aspirants for
the craftsmanship of the State committee are
William Fleming, of Fort Wayne, ex-Treasurer
of State; Thomas B. Byrnes, of Evansville, who
| wa n bafar +ba fo,
the nomination for Treasurer of State; John
Lee, of Crawfordsville J. B. Stoll, editor of the
Ligonier Banner, and William Mack of Terre
Haute Eb Henderson, ex-Auditor of State, is
quite generally spoken of for the po
sition, and will probably be urged
to accept it, if he is not nominated
as the Democratic candidate for Congress in the
Fifth district James H. Rice is the choice of
Mr. Mcdonald, and he would consent to accept
the position, would undoubtedly be elected, but
he will be a candidate for reelection as Auditor
of State, and, therefore, emphatically refuses to
| assume the management of the campaign for the
party. He has more extensive acquaintance,
knows more about the party organization, is the
most energetic worker, and probably
the shrewdest politician among the available
men in the party, but he will not bear the
| responsibility of manipulating campaign in the
! result of which he has a personal interest.
| Major G. V. Menzies, of Mount Vernon, is also
| mentioned in connection with the position, but
| he is seeking the nomination for Lieutenant
| governor, and is only to be elassed among those
who have been suggested as available There
| axe Democrats so friendly to the Posey county
| statesman that they in the habit of urging
him for everything that comes in sight
| Thomas B. Byrnes made himself quite popular
| during his canvass for the nomination for Treas
| of State in 1880 ig a an f
| very pleasing address, and to quote a remark of
one of his admirers, he would make it pleasant
for visitors to headquarters" 1t seems to be
| generally understood that J. L. Riley VIII be re-
elected Secretary, but this will not be settled
until after the reorganization of the State com
| mittee.
The aspirants for the nomination for Governor
| who have had their blooms" are Ex-Governor
Isaac P. Gray, of Randolph; David Tufpie, of
Marion; M. d. Manson, of Montgomery; A. G.
| Downey, of Ohio; w. S. Holman, of Dearborn;
and Judge John r: Cofroth, of Lafayette. A
favorite slate for the head Of the ticket is Sena-
tor Voorhees, for Governor and Hon.
WIS. Holman for Acknowledgements, which
contemplates the reelection of Mr. Voorhees,
to the Senate, and the succession of Mr. Holman
| to the Governors chair, but there are reasons
| for believing that the proposition would not meet
| with the approval OF Mr. Holman, even if Sena-
tor Voorhees, shall give his consent to such an
4 arrangement. Gen. NJ. d. Manson is probably
| the most formidable candidate in the field, and
| will be likely to develop the greatest strength in
the convention. He is the 'old war horse can
didate, and the sold war horse" gener
ally gets whatever he goes after. Mr.;
/ Gray was stronger candidate before he retired
4 from the office of Governor, during the brief
| period preceding the end of the unexpired term
! of the late Governor Williams, than he has been
at any time since. He will be prominent in the
| convention, and will unquestionably be a strong
| candidate, but his support has weakened rather
| than grown. There are many Democrats who
think that he is entitled TO the nomination and
that he should have received it in 1880,
but when the convention meets,
| to quote the remark of
leading politician to a Journal reporter, ''The
| man who has claims on his party is tolerated
with respectful consideration, but the man who
has claims on the people is stronger, and he is
more sure of recognition, although he may not be
near popular with the politicians" Judge
| David Turpie is regarded with considerable favor,
and will be likely to receive hearty support.
Judge Robinson, of Owen county, has been men
toned, but he is not known to be a candidate.
The aspirants for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, so far
as known, are ex-senator g. " Menzies, of
Posey county; Senator r. G. Bell, of Fort
Wayne; W. d. Bynum, of Indianapolis Speaker
| of the House during the last SESSION of the Gen
eral Assembly; j. v Kent, of Frankfort; Charles
Jewett representative from Scott county; Sen
ator James Fl. Willard Of Lawrence county;
Claude Matthews, of Vermillion county; Sen
ator j. E. Mccullough, of Gibson county;
and D. d. Dykeman, of Longansport
It is claimed by some Of Senator
Bells friends that he is not an aSplrant for the
nomination Mccullough, of Gibson, and jew
| ett of Scott, are regarded as dark horse" can
didates, more hopeful than energetic. McCul
Tough is a man of rather bright mind, but during
| the session of the last General Assembly he be-
trayed the weakness Of saying things from in-
pulse which would be more likely to W. TX to his
disadvantage that to his benefit and for that
reason he is not regarded as a
discreet politician. The admiration
of his friends is greater than their confidence
j. V. Kent, of Frankfort, is spoken of with
considerable favor, and Willard is heartily
supported in his section of the State. Ex-Sena-
tor Menzies, of Posey county, is, however, re
garded as the strongest candidate, and it is the
popular belief that he will secure the nomina-
ton. He is receiving very enthusiastic sup
port, and he is the choice of a