The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-27
MOVEMENTS OFPOLITICIANS.
The Contest for the General Assembly
Offices and the Senatorship.
The Important Part that the Knights of La
Dor Intend to Take in Shaping the
Work of the Legislature.

| Members of the Legislature, with leading
party men. who have since the election never
failed to put in few days of each week in the
Bates, Grand and Denison House Hobbies, took
an early departure for their homes on account of
Christmas festivities They will doubtless re-
turn today and renew the customary order of
canvassing the situation, and the posi-.
| bilities of an exciting session. One or
two were in town last night, but So
cial amenities rather than politics held
them here An exception is probably James
ID. Willard, who says he sis here to stay until
the fun is over" John e. Lamb proposes to go
back to Terre Haute, this morning, for brief
season, while Charles L. Jewett has not an
| nounced his intentions of how or where his time
until the Legislature meets will be utilized. It
is o. ~esumable, though, that he viii remain in
easy cal. Of his party colleagues, who have given
him the Del ocratic leadership of the House.
This will be formally approved by his receiving
the complimentary vote for SpeaS5r.
The Republican candidacy for the leadership
is confined to Warren G. Sayre and W. R. t,ssrd-
liner, and their respective forces are doing their
best for success. 1t will be race devoid of any
warmth other than friendly interest aroused by
party harmony. The chances. as they appear
now, are about even, although Mr.. Sayre has ex-
pressed confidence in his election.
It is generally accepted that as to the other
officers of the House the Republican candidates
will be those announced short time ago. The
Democrats intend to give their votes, without
exception, to the officers who served during the
last session In the Senate, where they have the
majority, the asprants, at first many have been
reduced to state that affords no control out
side of the question whether the assistant sec
retaryshp or tho door keeper shall be given to
Marion county. The candidate Watts for the
latter position, claims to have the influence of
the Knights of Labor, and therefore Walsh, who
wants to be assistant secretary, is anxious,
pecally since his late experience with that order.
Walsh believes, though, that while he does not
antagonize the interest of the Knights he stands
better chance for prefermert than Watts, for
he claims in his interest the influence of the
Democrats who have the making Of states.
The Knights of Labor do not propose to be
satisfied with minor positions. They say that
they would like to have the naming of clerks for
few of the committees. Something in this
line. but in a general way. they propose to do on
| their own account, as the Evansville knights
have employed man to keep record of legis-
ative proceedings that. it is claimed, the in
forests of organized labor can be protected.
I'VE will have at least ten members in the Gen
| eral Assembly" said one of the order land they
| frlttered away in a sQuabble over who shall
| be Senator. We determined to have
some legislation in our behalf this session,
| particularly in regard to convict labor and the
party that obstructs it will be the loser in 1888"
An effort is to be made to have the statstician
| of the Knights VIM p. Smith, appointed as
| State Labor Statstcian. He has inside ad-
| vantages," Knight remarked ''for collecting
| labor statistics, and we think the two positions
| together will secure more efficient service in
| that office. Do you know that r. L. Mackev,
| the VinceEnes Representative is a rising mem
| Der in the order? When he was here few days
| ago, he at once took a leading position in
| convention, and impressed both Democrats and
| Republicans with his good sense and honesty of
purpose. He is a Republican. and in political
action will be with his party's caucus"
How about Meagher!
''The Knights have weakened on him. They
| will not care much whether he is ousted not
If he does not take his seat the Knights will lose
nothing, for another knight will take his place.
| The trouble with Meagher is that he is Nc
| Donald man and nothing can change him We
are not for Mcdonald by any means The op-
| position to him has become great that we will
| help elect any one but him."
| A leading Democrat in the Bates House lobby
last night. expressed want of confidence in his
| party caucus being able to settle readily on a
| senatorial nominee. He counted the aspirauts
| on his fingers and closed with: "Look at that
| will you9 If right TO the nomination has any
| thing to do with it, Gray ought to get it. He
our footing in the General Assembly. McDon-
| aid made speech or two late in the season, and
now comes in with claim to the honors. If We
had good working majority there would be
no doubt about the selection of Gray.
| Mcdonald in that event would not have the
ghost of a chance. 1t is only the ma
! jority aud his national prominence that aid him
| in the You give it as fact that
money is to be sent here from New York to help
the Mcdonald men control the and the
| LEGISLATURE This Knight of Labor movement
| for Bynum will not amount to anything He is,
however, straight-out candidate but the earli.
est sign of his having any strength will lead to
| a row."
| ''You have mentioned all possible candidates
| but Mr. English"
Possible! Why. he is a candidate, and it
would not surprise me if he was successful
| Holman and Judge Niblack are also talked Of
| with any number of so called dark horses. There
was time when Judge Turpie could have set
| tied the trouble, but it has passed. The burde
the Democratic party has to bear now is that it
| haa no leader"