The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-20
PRESIDENTIAL EAMESAKES.

The most casual observer of social
phenomena must have noticed the re-
markable increase In the infantile popu-
lation OF the country which occurs near
the date of each succeeding presidential
election. That there is an occult law
having a political bearing which gov
erns the arrival at these periods of the
surprising number of twins. triplets
and even bankruptcies, there is hardly
room to doubt, the more especially as
such arrivals are almost invariably boys
and prospective voters. The Journal
does not, at this time, care to en-
ter into discussion of the nat
ure of this mysterious law, but
merely wishes to call attention
to certain complications likely to arise
from the custom INDUCED in by parents
of naming their infants after favorite
presidential candidates. Anomalies of
one kind and another have always re-
suited from this custom. as, for example,
in the use of the name of Thomas JEFF
ferson. That title is still bestowed by
Democratic fathers upon sons who come
into the world in "off years." or when
there is already q Grover Cleveland in
the family. Jefferson has been adopted
as the patron saint of the Democratic
party without his own consent and over
what is, practically, his own protest,
namely, his protective tariff principles;
but, curiously enough. his namesakes
are reasonably sure to wander away
from tho modern Democratic path and
pin their faith to true Jeffefsonian
doctrine, as enunciated in the
platforms of the Republican party.
Witness the multitude of Thomas
jefferson Joneses. Smiths and Rcbinsons
who voted for protection and honest
money at the recent election. A corre-
spending deviation from the fathers
party is not observed on the other side.
The William Henry Harrisons born in
the year 1910 or whereabouts marched up
rs an army and supported Benjamin
Harrison. Whoever heard of name
sake of Abraham Lincoln or Ulysses S.
Grant voting a Democratic ticket2
But the recent advance of women into
politics promises to add to the confusion
by creating domestic as we'll as political
complications. The political opinions
held by women are frequently of an
opposite character from those enter
tanned by their respective husbands,
and, naturally, when it comes to naming
4. h.. do, n
arise. The Strumpfers,o of Brooklyn, hav-
ing become the parents of triplets since
election day, have solved the problem
to their present satisfaction by christen-
ing the children Grover, David B. and
Harrison. This preponderance of Dem
ocratic names is fair enough in view of
the Democratic majority In Brooklyn,
and the recent success of the paternal
Strumpfer's party; but it by no means
follows that Mrs. Strumpfier and little
Harrison will have the worst of it in the
long run. There is ground on which to
base the prediction that the two little
Democratic Strumpfers will live to
mourn that they were ever handicapped
with such names; but even if this be not
the case, aud each triplet remain true
to the principles and spirit of the man
whose name he bears, Grover and David
B. can never get along tremendously in
the same house. They may defend each
other against outside enemies, but when
together they will quarrel and make
mouths" And. to live mp to his
privileges and baptismal model. Harri-
son mnst furnish the brains for the
trio. If in their juvenile blithesomeness
itics, Harrison, as the leader of lis
party, will supply the ideas for BOTH
The others will oppose for the sake of
opposition, and will eventually. without
realizing how they got there, be stand
ing on the platform built for them by
Harrison. They will fancy they are
having their own way. but will be fol-
lowers, not originators. Naturally, this
means the ultimate triumph of the Har-
rison side, whether the latter be in NOM
inal control or not. Brains and honesty
always win.
But, with all this, the effect in the
domestic circle of the working of such
diverse elements can hardly be salutary.
They are daring parents who can risk
the introduction into their family of
such discordant possibilities. and Papa
Strumpfier may yet regret that he had
not chosen more innocuous pr Bnomens
for his two of the triplets.