The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-02
Bishop W. Perkins Appointed Senator to
Succeed the Late Preston B. Plumb.
Popular Republican Ex- Congressman Who Was
Defeated By the Alliance in 1S90-Like His
Colleague, He Once Lived in Indiana.
Phases Struggle Between Sherman
and Foraker for the Ohio Prize.
Friends of Both Candidates Confident of Sue
cess-Loud Talk by the Ex-Governors Sup
porters, and Speeches Full ofInuendoes.
NEW KANSAS SENATOR.


Ex-Congressman Perkins Appointed to the
Seat Made Vacant by the Death Of Plumb.
Topeka, Kan., Jan. 1.-The fight is ended.
The new year was ushered In most auspi-
ciously for ex-Congressman Perkins. He
has been appointed to the senatorial chair
made vacant by the death Of Senator
Plumb.
All day long the Governor discussed the
senatorial situation With himself Early
this morning his private secretary an
nouncea that Governor Humphrey would
receive no callers denying himself to all
alike, whether on q private, public or
political errand. At 10 O'clock the Gov
ernor entered the executive office and be-
gan pacing up and down the floor. The
lieutenants of the various candidates
were on hand. They were informed that
the Governor would not receive them. His
wishes seemed to cohnt for little. The
numerous callers proceeded to camp in the
executive reception-room. declaring they
would wait for favorable opportunity.
and it took considerable argument, on the
part of the private secretary, to dislodge
them from the vantage ground. This. how
ever. was eventually accomplished. and the
Governor. for the first time in a week. was
left to consider the situation alone.
All day long the feeling was strong that
ex-COngressman Perkins would receive the
appointment. and when 1t became known
that the Governor had signed his oommis-
sion as Senator from the State of Kansas
no one evinced any very considerable sur
priao The commi asiop wos a,uned Of R.16
o'clock. and Immediately taken to Mr..
Perkins. The news spread rapidly through
out the city. and in brief time large
number of citizens, irrespective of political
belief, offered Mr.. Perkins their con-
m the 9or
appointment delinquent in that respect
They came from all portions of the town.
for many of them had eaten New Years
dinner with their friends in Topeka, and
they. too. offered their congratulations.
Congratuiatory kilograms have been pour-
ing in from all points OF the country. east
and west. ali evening. The appoint
ment gives general satisfaction and Will,
it is thought, have the effect of sOlidifying
the opposing factions in the Repu blican
party IN phalanx that will present solid
front to the enemy at the next election.
In an interview this evening Governor
Humphrey stated that no political or per-
ing to decision. He had. in fact, reached
no dec;eion-a decision re.ched him. He
had appointed Mr. Perkins to succeed Sen
ator Plumb because he considered him the
best equipped mar for the place He Per-
kinsl had been closely associated with Sen
ator Plumb while he Perkinsl was q MEN,
ber of Congress, and could take up the
work at the point death relieved Senator
Plumb of his labors. better, perhaps, than
any OF the other candidates.
CONTEST OF THE CANDIDATES.
The contest for the appointment was q
unique one. even in Kansas politics. The
death of Senator Plumb had scarcely been
announced before the various aspirants
began laying wires for the succession to his
seat. Before his body reached Kansas the
contest had fairly commenced and during
the funeral journey from Kansas City to
the grave the war went merrily on. The
day after the funeral the political hosts
which had been In attendance upon the SOL
emn occasion assembled in Topeka. The
various candidates went to work with sys
tom. They established headquarters at the
various hotels chose their lieutenants and
marshaled their forces If there was q
whole Legislature to work upon instead of
one Governor. The Governor decided to
give each candidate and his friends an open
hearing for the presentation of their claims,
and as each candidate was announced he
was given a number according to the sue
cessiOn of his announcement. Two candi-
dates were heard each day until the list
was exhausted; the exh austion of the list
taking place Wednesday. Since that time
the Governor has apparently been thinking
the matter over. weighing the claims of the
vaIi0rs aspirants, although 1t Is said by
some his choice was made Immediately
upon the death of Senator Plumb. but un-
announced.
The most prominent candidates were
Congressman Funston and Morrill,. Major
Hudson, editor of the Topeka Capital the
Republican newspaper organ Of the State;
attorney; j. w. Ady, and q host of obscure
candidates and number of dark horses.
George w. Peck, general solicitor of the
Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa Fe Railway
Company, and Chief-justice Horton. of the
Kansas Supreme Court, were prominently
mentioned at first, but both peremptorily
announced at the very outset that they
could not accept the appointments.
WHO THE APPOINTEE Is.
Bishop w. Perkins was born at Roches.
ter, o., and was fifty-nine years old Oct. IS
last. He was educated in the public schools
and at Knox College. GalesburR. Ill. After
leaving college he went to Colorado. and
on his return. In 1862 enlisted in Company
ID. Eighty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
He served as sergeant and lieutenant. and
in December, 1863. was appointed adjutani
OF the Sixteenth COlored Infantry. Later
he was assigned to duty as captain of Com.
pany c, of the same regiment He
served as judge advocate on the sta e
of General Gillem. and also in the same
position on the staff of General Steedman;
was mustered out at Nashville in May,
1866 and returned 10 Illinois and resumed
the study of law. reading with o. G. Gray
at Ottawa. After being admitted to the
bar i'm 1867 he located at Pierceton, Ind,
where he remained until he came to Oswe-
60. Kan, in April, 1869. The same year he
was appointed county attorney, and the
following year probate judge. which Office
he held until February 1873. when The wal
elected Judge of the Eleventh judicial dis
trict. He was reelected in 1874 and 1878
and in November. 1882 was elected q mem.
Der OF Congress-.
Mr. Perkins Is q Republican, sincere in
his convictions and aggressive in his ex
presslons. He was q delegate to the Chi
cagO convention in 1880. He was elected
member of Congress from the Third dis
trict. He was reelected for three sue
cessive terms. but met defeat year ago q,
the hands of the Farmers Alliance III,
was editor and proprietor of the Oswegt
Register from the fall of the year 1871 unit
appointed district judge In 1873.
THE OHIO CONTEST