The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-31
THE FIGHTINTHE ELEVENTH
Closing Days of Canvass That Has
Been Quietly but Earnestly Fought.
A ell-Organized Campaign in Every Schoal
District-The Count Will Be Close, with
Chances in Favor of Steel.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

MARION Ind Oct. 3O-The congressional feht a.
this. the Eleventh, district almost drawn to
close has been one of the most holly contested in tho
history Of the State and is of absorbing interest to
every voter who pays any attention 70
politics. There have been no great
or impressive public demonstrations not
much flourish of trumpets nor burning Of gun.
powder, but the has been carried into every
school district and the organization is complete
almost to the point of perfection.
One feature that gives interest to the contest is the
uncertainty of the result 1t is conceded by the bes
posted politicians that neither James O. Branyan nor
Major Steele is likely to have majority OF
over three hundred. It is lkelyso much closer
than that 1t is clear field and fair race the re.
suit of which may turn on the smallest mischance or
untoward circumstance.
Two years ago Major Steele had plurality over
Major Kidd OF 4S votes. The Creenback vote in the
district was l. 224, The last Democratic Legislature
decided to fix this district up for a
Democrat, and Topped off Howard
county, with its majority of something like thou.
sand and placed it in the Ninth. The district as now
composed consists of Adams. Blackboard, Grant
Huntington Jay. Miami, Wabash and Wells. These
counties taking the vote of 1884 as basis, have
Democratic plurality of $40. This plurality, which
rendered the election of the Democratic nominee who
ever he might be- very probable set the congressional
bee to buzzng in number of Democratic bonnets.
The leading candidate Major Kidd who ran
against Steele two years and whose contest for
Major Steees seat in Congress is still pending There
were four other aspirants for the honor and the
test was bitter and protracted 1t was the field
against Kidd and though by all political rules and
precedents the latter entitled to the nominaton
the field won, and Branyan nominated at Bluff
ton the thrty-sixth ballot. Kidd gave his quasi
Endorsement of the nomination and promised his sup
port He has done little however to further the in
terests of the man who knocked him out and be.
ba have knlfad eff.
feet such action would have on his pend
ing contest: The other candidates for
cold support and Branyans canvass, from the begin.
ming, has been uphill work. Nevertheless, his
plain and unpretentious manners and his hand.shaH
ing qualities have groundsdS him deeply IN the es'
TEEN of the rank and file of the party who ask fa
vors and who want no Offices.
The Republican convention which met at Peru
few weeks later nominated Steele with little opposi
ton and over his protest. 1t looked to be los
ing game for the Republican nominee and his nomt
nation left no jeaousies nor grudges. The Republic
ans who in previous contests had voted against hin
for his defeat of their favortes in convention rae
to his support and pledged their assistance and in
fuence, and never in any OF Steele
as solid or unbroken. He Immediately announced his
determination to be elected, and a week later his
every county in the dist He took personal charge
of his canvass. Since his nomination he has slept
with his clothes and boots and has talked face to
the district. Forces that will inure
to his benefit are dissatisfaction of the Democrats
with Cleveland's failure to make clean sweep
the failure of business to revive, the depreciation In
the value of farm products and the Democratic rows
that have been raised where federal patronage has
been bestowed: The last factor is a
capacity of Congressman de j1re, psrceled out
the federal pap and made sueh aEness of 1T as to
compass his defeat for q denomination Where
candidates cravings satisfied twenty were
disappointed. In each each one of the twenty
commenced whetting his little tomahawk, and not
satisfied with the slaughter of Kidd many of them will
carry the into this campaign Elements of great
uncertainty are the Greenback and Prohibition votes
Where will the first go and what will the latter amount
there were, in 1884, 1,093 Greenback votes On a
fair estimate two-thirds of these Republican,
but as before stated, where they will go robem:
The Prohibitionsts make great pRetensione I'D will
cut some figure. Their leaders claim
that in this county they will poll
600 votes. The best estimates place their strength
at from $50 to 400. In this district they will proba-
bly, poll 800. AS before stated, and for tb~ 'asons
herein mentioned the race in this 1t is
anybody's race, with the chsnces bel to be
slightly in favor of Major Steele most
ardent supporters have faith in Steeles luck. AL
though the odds have never been in his favor, and
although he has never had q majority of over 800,
yet he has never been defeated. ''Steeles luck in
this locality is almost common expression as
the luck of another who at present, stands sew
eral rounds higher the official ladder
Yesterday Republican, than whom there IS no one
in this district better informed the situation took
bit of paper and the presence of the Journals
spondent, wrote on it figures which he offered
following his figures, which have reference to ma
iorities: