The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-06
INDIANA AND IT'S POLITICS.
The Republican Ranks Harmonious and
in Good Working Trim.
Ex-senator Mcdonald and His Strength with
the DemOcracy-The Tariff Issue
and Civil Service Reform.
F. D. Root, in New York Times.

the last presidential campaign was fought. In
no other State do politicians fight more bravely
and earnestly when the two great parties face
each other and try their strength and in no
other do they more quickly lay aside their polit-
zeal weapons and become warm-hearted fellow
citizens after decision has been reached and the
smoke of the conflict has been blown away. The
Hoosier's hearty good nature at once asserts
itself, and those who were separated for time
by the most uncompromsing political hostility
are friends once more, saying innumerable good
things about each other, ana jogging along lifes
road side by side in the most neghborly fashion.
The October election of 1880 in this State
hard-fought battle Each party had staked its
hopes upon the result, and thousands of polti-
clans from other States were here supporting
their friends in one way another All the bit
terness of that memorable contest seems to have
passed away, and although the State has several
candidates for the presidency, and is still very
important factor in all political calculations, pol
itcians here are, for the most part, attending to
their private business, no political work of any
account has been done, and no one seems to long
for a resumption of hostilities.
When President Arthur called Judge Gresh-
publican delegation. 1t does not appear that it
was his purpose to divide it, but the division
was one of the inevitable results of his action.
By giving to Judge Gresham national reputa-
ton he raised him to the level of Harrison as "a
presidential candidate at home, and provided
new center in the State around which the forces
of the administration could be gathered Yet
Harrison and Gresham by no means rivals.
Their friends will not admit that either of the
gentlemen is a candidate in the full sense of the
word. Their prominence has not caused any
factional division. The supporters of one
friends of the supporters of the other Never
theless, it is true that Harrison would
have stronger support in the delega
made Postmaster general, and that Greshams
appointment and service in the Cabinet have
neutralized the political force of Indiana in the
national convention The Republican leaders
cago without instructions. For whom will the
delegates vote on the first ballot! No one can
tell. If Harrison and Gresham were the only
candidates, and if it were necessary to vote for
one or the other, the delegation would be pretty
evenly divided. Gresham would have the ma
jority of delegates in the southern half of the
State and Harrison the majority of the delegates
in the northern half. But the leaders say that
no attempt will be made to thrust either of the
men before the convention The delegates will
go free footed" hoping of course, that an Ind-
ana man will be nominated If they find that
goOdly number of delegates from other States
would like to vote for Harrison it will be easy to
secure every Indiana vote, they say, for the Sen
ator; and if the tide sets toward Gresham every
Indiana delegate will gladly, they say, vote for
the Postmaster general But the delegates must
vote for the first ballot, and it is not
probable that they will discover before that bal
lot decided tendeDcy in other delegations to
nominate either Harrison or Gresham. 1t is
predicted, therefore, that on the first ballot In
diana will present several names Harrison will
have votes Gresham will have votes and Blaine,
Arthur, Logan and General Sherman will have
few supporters. All will be ready. however, to
wheel into line for Harrison Gresham if
either of these men shall seem to have strength
outside OF the State. This is the perfection of
harmony.
THE REPUBLICAN VOTE AT CHICAGO.
While it is admitted that Gresham might take
half of the State it is said that he will be loyal
to his superior officer, the President so long as
the President shall have any hope of success
What then. does the Gresham vote meanl Gen
orally it means Arthur. If Arthur can get the
nomination. it means Gresham for Viee-presi-
dent If Arthur cannot be nominated it means
a transfer, so far possible. of Arthur's votes
to Gresham as the political heir of the admins
tration. Arthur and Gresham" is a very popu-
lar ticket among outspoken Arthur men. 1t is a
ticket of the federal office holders in Kentucky.
''The Gresham men can be transferred to
Arthur" said Republican who is acquainted
with the working forces of the party ''and if
Arthur should be very strong in the convention
it would not be very difficult to induce many of
the Harrison men to vote for him. But Arthur's
chances depend upon New York All agree
that Arthur can advance his fortunes in no other
way so effectively as by doing his duty and re-
Ill
best friends say that if he reaches for the prize
he will surely lose it, while it may come to him
if he does not try to get it. Wherever have
been, in this State and other States, the politi-
clans and the people agree upon this point.
Indiana had thirty delegates in the national
convention, and twenty-six of them voted for
Blaine two for Sherman, and one for Wash
burne. The growth of Harrison and Gresham
and the alleged retirement of Blaine have taken
away great part of Blaine's strength here. 1t
is no longer Blaine State, but the eX-Secretary
will probably have some delegates the first
ballot No one seems to be talking or working
for him in Indiana If Harrison, Gresham, and
Arthur should be taken from the field, many of
the active Republicans and politicians would
turn to Logan or General Sherman. Logan has
stumped the State, and the existence of strong
Grand Army organization is of some service to
any candidate who was soldier. The nomina-
ton of either of these men would probably cause
the friends of Governor Porter to bring him for
ward as a candidate for the second place on the
ticket. Occasionally one hndS politician who
thinks that Sherman is the man because he could
get the votes of Independents. Others say that
no one knows whether he is Democrat or Re
publican, and his supporters reply that the
try knows much about his political creed as it
did about Grants when he was first elected.
Indiana having become a national battle
ground in politics, some of the States politicians
have way of looking beyond the States bound
aries and taking hand in national political
movements. One of these gentlemen has found
time to keep up communication with his friends
in Washington, Chicago, and New York. while
paying some attention to local politics. and his
statements deserve careful consideration ''Ar
thurs chances" he says, twill depend entirely
upon how he looks in May next as to his strength
in New York for the delegates will then have
been chosen. Some of his friends think he will
get large majority of the delegates from that
State JIG he doesn't get majority it will be