The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-24
| forwarded him words Of sympathy in his af-
| Fiction, and assurances Of prayers for his re-
HENDRICKS AND MCDONALD.
The Latter Will Remain ut Home and Make
Fight for Supremacy.

Fight for Supremacy.
Washington Special to thicago Times.
The political situation in Indiana is undergo
ing an interesting change that promises to divide
the Democratic party into two distinct factions,
which will contend for the supremacy during
the next two years, and the senatorial election
at the end OF that period will probably decide
the supremacy of Hendricks or Mcdonald. Mr.
Hendricks has walked over Mr.. Mcdonald with
nails in his heels for several years, and Nc
Donald has meekly submitted in order to avoid
a breach in the party, which might endanger
the interests OF the whole party In the State ana
probably in the Nation. Mcdonald was loyal to
him in 1880 at tho sacrifice Of his own interests,
but in 1884 Hendricks had two strings to his
bow. and successfully Unanswered to get his
name on the ticket. Mcdonald and his friends
could overlook this treachery, but. when Hen
bricks exerted himself to keep Mcdonald out OF
the Cabinet. and went so far as to circulate the
story that there was something in McDonald's
family relations that would make it undesirable
for him to be placed in position where the So
cial duties that pertain to high station must
be discharged, the last straw had been added to
the burden Of indignity inflicted by his rival.
Mcdonald intends to accept the issue which has
been thrust upon him, and will hereafter con-
tend in fair and open field for the leadership OF
the Indiana Democrats. He came to Washing
ton recently, accompanied by prominent citizens
OF that State, who seem to have acted as his es-
cort chiefly for the purpose of emphasizing before
the country what they claim to be the fact, that
Mcdonald is really the favorite son Of Indiana
and the leader whom they would honor in prefer
ence to all others if the voice Of the Democrats
of that State could be heard. While here, Nc
Donald received marked attentions from public
men, and dined with President Cleveland, upon
whom he called soon after his arrival. He was
consulted about public affairs, and the President
had an opportunity to form estimate of his
merits as man of large experience, practical
wisdom and great individuality. The mission to
St Petersburg was rendered and pressed upon
him, but all preferment under the appointing
power was firmly and c0urteously declined, and
Mcdonald returned to Indiana to lay the founda-
ton for his election to the Senate as the sue
cessor of Ben Harrison. The most important
feature of his visit was the studied manner in
which he ignored the existence Of Hendricks,
upon whom it was naturally expected he would
call, merely to pay his respects to the Vice.
president. This studied slight to the most dis
tinguished citizen of his own State is regarded
as a notice served upon Hendricks that here
after Mcdonald will look out for his own polti-
cal interests In Indiana, TO matter how much
they may conflict with those of Hendricks Hen
bricks wants Gov. Gray TO come to the Senate,
and his influence will be exerted in his support.
Success in that would give Hendricks political
power in Indiana, and make him q potential
quantity in the contest for the presidential
nomination His plans will be supported by the
older members of the party, who possess great
responsibility and much influence, but do moth
ing more than to vote with conscientious regu-
larity. Dir. Holman is a type of the Indiana
Democrats who support Mr. Hendricks. He
will be found favoring the nomination of Gray
for the Senate against Mr.. Mcdonald. but his
own eye is turned longingly toward that coveted
position, and in the political whirl of the next
two years he may be thrown on top, instead of
either Gray or Mcdonald but his advancement
would he the work of Hendricks and his follow
ers. Mcdonald is far past middle-age,
but his supporters are the young and
progressive Democrats and there are
indications that mis- following will be greatly in
creased by feeling that Hendricks. in spite Of
the denials of his friends has selfshly sacrificed
Mcdonald when every consideration of good
faith and generous rivalry should have led HIM
to aid in advancing him. The treatment he has
received has opened a vein of sympathetic inter
est in the fortunes ce Mcdonald, even amcng
Indianians who have steadily followed the
fortunes of Hendricks and among them he will
acquire fast friends. Dan Voorhees, is on the
fence but he will not remain there long after
the contest opens between the other two leaders
in Indiana politics. He admires Mcdonald and
respects Hendricks. He worked hard in the
struggle to carry the State for Hendricks, and
harder still to get Mcdonald into the Cabinet.
1t would have been grand thing for Voorhees,
to have had so firm a foothold upon which to
base claims for patronage for himself and
friends. Hendricks has influence with the ad
ministration, as his defeat of McDonald's Cabi
net aspirations has demonstrated, but that
influence can be of comparatively little benefit
to Voorhees, He would probably prefer Nc
Donald to Gray, as a colleague in the Senate.
Gray is like himself. at least in respect to volu
bility and facility of expression on the stump
and in debate. Mcdonald resembles Hendricks
in that he has poor voice. and is not always an
agreeable speaker.