The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-07


JOHN KELLY's CAREER.
Interesting Sketch of the Failing Chieftain's
Life by an Intimate Friend.
New York Special.
John B. Haskin. who was in Congress with
John Kelly, and has known him very intimately
tor many years. gives some interesting reminis-
cences of that rapidly failing leader tonight.
Said the reporter Mr. Kelly was elected to
Congress- was he notl"
Eyes; and sat with him in the House of Rep
resentatives. He was elected to Congress in the
year 1885, during the same campaign which
elected Buchanan President. In this contest he
beat Michael Walsh who was something of a
w.t. and favorite with the workingmen. Dur
ing that campaign, Daniel e. Sckles John
Cochran and myself were also elected.
y 4 Kelly sat near me in the
OF seeing him at work. He was very industri-
ous and looked after the interests of his constit-
uents. He was always busy writing answers to
their letters. At that time there were such men
in the House John Sherman, Alexander Fl.
Stephens, j. D. NJ. Curry, now minister to
Spain; Ia. o. c. Lamar, now in President Cleve
lands Cabinet; Otto r. Singleton, of Mississippi,
as well as myself 1t was during Kelly's career
in Congress that he made his famous speech on
nothingism. Alexander Fl. Stephens pro-
nounced 1t the aolest speech he ever heard
After leaving Congress, was he offered the
mayoraltyl"
Yes; but he would never accept it. When
William ID. Wickham was nominated urged
him to accept the nomination for himself, bat.
with his usual retiring modesty, he refused, al
though at the time sure of an election"
Was he the means of making Samuel j. Til
den Governor of this State9"
Eyes; and l might as we'll tell you some of the
inside history of the campaign. just previous
to the convention which nominated Tiden, Mr..
Kelly sent for me at my Office, in the Bennett
building He then had an Office in Nassau
street When asked him what he had sent to
me for, he said: L want you to go TO the State
convention with your ward delegation. and make
Tilden Governor
Il replied: But I'm in favor of Judge
Church. l like him personally, and think he
is the best man. | do not like Tilden who is a
crusty old bachelor, well as do Church.
"Kely applied: Church won. take it. I like
him also. AS for Tilden he is not the crusty
bachelor you think him to be-
How about Mr.. Kelly's opposition to Lucius
Robinsonl What caused that2"
lit was Lucius Robnson's treatment of those
who had placed him in power, his prosecuting
and ignoring his duty to the organization that
had elevated him; his high-handed removal Of
Henry Gumbleton from the Office of county
clerk. Tammany Hall could not support such
man, and it resolved to defeat him if renom-
mated. The organization opposed him in
the convention at Syracuse, and in retail
alton for his despotic acts boldly said it
would not support him. The Tuscaroras did all
they could to defeat his nomination. and tried to
nominate Jacobs who was chairman of the con-
vention. Jacobs looked at Mclaughlin, who
shook his head. and declined nomination which
would have made him Governor Of the State.
WE'LL after the convention was over John Kelly
sent for me at the Vanderbilt Hotel. He said
his friends would meet at the Shakespeare that
evening. and he wanted the Tuscaroras to meet
with them. l said would find out what they
thought Amos j. Cummings was president of
the delegation Bryan insolvency was secretary
and Major Geo Mclean, of the Old
Guard. was the gray eyed eagle Of the tribe
await the results. When the Tuscaroras walked
into the hail. David Dudley Field was in the
chair, and Kelly was speaking about the other
convention Well, you know the result. Kelly
was nominated and he accepted, but, with the
usual frankness of his nature he said ne did not
expect to be elected All the demonstrations
throughout the State were large and at each
were music and fire works. The result of this
was the defeat of Robinson, and Kelly polled the
largest vote ever given to a personal candidate,
namely, between II, 600 and rs. 000 of which New
York city gave him 40, 900 and over"
what about the Cleveland campagn}'
when Cleveland ran for President John
Kelly thought he could capture the mayor and
controllers Offices for Tammany Hall. Although
opposed to his nomination at Chicago-prefer-
ring Bayard, as he did in the Hancock campaign
he thought that By supporting Cleveland he
could secure the mayoralty for H. j. Grant. and
also capture the other municipal Offices and
thus by success, take care OF his friends. He
became enthusiastic and worked hard. The
Tammany procession was the finest In the city
He called on Cleveland and doubtless said: You
and your friends feared was not true to you.
Tammany Hall will be true, and not fall off in a
single vote My honor and it's honor are in
volved, whatever may be the consequences to
myself. and thus they parted. Blaine was de-
feated and Cleveland elected If Kelly had
whispered to any of the leaders in the twenty
four districts of New York that he was indiffer-
ent to Cleveland, do you not think that the 600
votes could have been easily obtained and made
James G.. Blaine President! But Kelly and his
organization thought the Democratic party in
this city and Nation higher than to use it for a
retaliation for any disappointment in views
which he might have had. Cleveland was
the result OF that election. If Frank w.
Gibbs, the machine candidate of the Repub-
lican party, had not sold out his party to elect
Grace, FL. j. Grant would have been elected
This was great surprise and disappointment to
John Kelly, for ne had counted on the Repub-
lican vote going for the party candidate to elect
Grant and the Tammany ticket. This sudden
catastrophe to Tammany Hall was great per-
sonal disappointment TO John Kelly, and pc
cuniary loss to III. j. Grant and the Tammany
Hall organization. which used almost superhu-
man efforts to carry the city for Cleveland and
Grant. This disappointment produced reaction
Oh John Kelly. as did defeat on Stepen A. Doug
glas and Horace Greeley, resulting in a continued
illness which has hitherto baffied physicians,
strength, continues to render him permanent
invalid"
Who Clara Belle Is.
New York Latter to Minneapolis Tribune.
One writar however whom belieya To he tha