The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-30
TAKING 1T INTO POLITICS
Two Trustees of the Central Hospital
Seem to Have Formed a Combine.
Edenharters Candidacy and MOrrisons With
drawal-Gerrym and the Courts
Kern Takes His Pill.

Hospital for the Insane will meet to-mor-
row to select superintendent to succeed
DR.. Wright. IL is probable that they will
have an informal conference to-day. Mr..
Osterman has said that he was ready to
vote. but the choice of Messrs. Carson and
Hauser is not known. tits. however, known
that they are opposed to DR.. Morrison. and
it was knowledge of this that led him TO
announce that he would not accept the ap-
pointment. 1t is said that to do otherwise
would be to abandon the right to say that
he would not take the appointment except
on the terms on which it was extended TO
Dr. Wright Mr.. Osterman favored DR..
Morrison, and it Is believed will yet insist
that the appointment be offered him.
DR.. Edenharter. of tho City Hospital. ls
having q rough road to travel in his oan-
dldacy for the position. Several weeks
ago, when he was first spoken of for the
place. he said that he would not have 1t
under any circumstances He said that BIO
got salary of $4,000 year In his present
position. had something like a hundred
patients and thirty employees. and
handled something less than $4,000 Out
there he would have 1.5O0 patients to
look after, about four hundred employ es,
be responsible for nearly 100000 year.
including maintenance. repairs and such
things, and only get salary of $1,000. He
said that he could not afford 10 do 1T on
these reasons only, aside from the fact that
he would be- buried out there, and that
when he would try 10 resume his private
practice would tind himself forgotten. Al
that time Dr.. Morrison. of the City Board
of Health, was an active candidate for the
position. and DR.. Edenharter was an
evowed supporter of HIM.
it now transpires, since DIR. Morrison has
Withdrawn, that DR.. Edenharter has been
actively eanvassing for the place for the
last month. A fellow hyscian even went
far to go to HIM and accuse him of
unprofesslonai conduct In actively oppos-
ing DIR. Morrison, to whom he owes his
present position. Dr.. Edenharter was
asked the point blank question, q day or so
ago. if he would accept the position If it
were offered him. Before, when asked, he
could not enter protest quick enough.
The last time he said that he could not tell
what he would do In such q case as that.
True, he said that he was not q candidate.
but he conveyed the impression that he
would not refuse If it were offered him.
The only advancement which be could hope
to gain from the position. according to bis
and it is asserted that he is the favorite
candidate of the two mem bers, Carson and
Hauser, who are attempting 10 run the
hospital on q political basis.
There is not q little probability that there
will be decided dltfere1o between o.
terman on the one side and the other two
on the other. They will, 1t is said, act to-
gether. having long been connected with
the board. and will not feel inclined 10 let
Mr.. Osterman have any influence. The
latter's friends however say that this
will not be winning policy with Dir. o.
termaD. that while he Is very suave,
pleasant gentleman. he has mind of
his own, and feels that In his own
city he ought to have q hand in the seIec-
ton of a superintendent. He has already
declared that the man selected shall be the
responsible head OF the institution. and
will be instructed to make it the most sue
cessful hospital in the West, and not po-
litical machine. Il will bet hat" said
friend of Mr.. Osterman. yesterday. that
if the other trustees insist On throwing the
institution into politics. as il used to be.
Osterman will simply throw up his COM
mission. He did not want the pO-
sition, and had to be persuaded to take it.
He will have that institution in proper
hands or b 9 will havenothing 10 do with i'll
DIR. w. ii. Hubbard. of Marion. is one of
the latest candidates TO be announced. He
called on Mr.. Ostermann. but found him
decided upon some one else. The trustees
Will tomorrow meet so award me monthly
contracts for supplies and VIII afterward
confer TO see If they can agree upon q su-
perIntendent.
Why the Gsrrymnnder Should Be Tested.
Senator Wishard was asked last night about
the proposition to go before the people on the
issue of the last gerrymander. The Senator is
strongly opposed to any such plan, and ex-
pressed himself in no uncertain terms. In an
swer to the question he said: $50 long as
remedy is offered by an appeal TO the courts that
should be exhausted before we GO to the people
OF the State. Strictly speaking, the gerrymander
suit was not an issue in the last campaign. The
suit brought some time after both
State conventions had met, and
after the platforms had been adopted.
The apportionmen6 or 1891 was condemned but
only in general terms The case had not been
decided at the time of the election in 1892, and
was not finally decided until after the three
Democratic judges chosen at the election of 1892
had taken their places. The decisions In the
States of Wisconsin, Michigan. New York and
Indiana are all 10 one etiect-that the apporti0n-
ment shall be in accordance with the provisions
OF the Constitution. The principal Democrats,
both In the Senate and in the House. recognized
its unconstitutionality, and told mo at tho time
OF its passage that they knew it unconsti-
ing suit in the first place they are moro
than right now in contrasting the validity
OF the superintendent of 1898. The fact that
there has been u change in the persopelle OF the
bench does not change the law. II we fail to
contest the validity OF the law the answer OF the
Democrats IN the next campaign Will be that the
Republicans knew that IL was constitutional and
were afraid To attack it directly. So long as
remedy can he had in the courts the relief should
studied the apportionment OF 1893 can come to
but one conclusion. and that Ia that IL Is uncOn-
stitutional. It lie so unfair and so wrongful that
IL should be attacked not only in the courts but
before the people Also But the place TO begin
Is in the courts"