The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-30
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Views of Editor Lawson, Chauncey
VI. Depew and Others.

NEW YORK, Oct. 29-Little else was
discussed in the clubs and hotels to-day
than the cowardly and unprovoked assas-
snation of Mayor Carter II. Harrison, of
Chicago. The tragedy was universally de-
plored. and the wonder was expressed by
many that the murderer escaped lynching.
One Of the most prominent Chicagoans in
town is Mr.. Victor +. Lawson, publisher
of the Chicago Record and the Chicago
Daily News. He said, at the Gilsey House.
this afternoon. that Mayor Harrison was
an extraordinary man, of tremendous
strength and personality and possessed of
what Is called great personal magnetism.
He had made politics his great life business.
Although opposed by all the daily news
papers In Chicago except his own. he had
achieved decisive victory in the last
municipal election, although the moral ele-
ment was against him. On the other hand,
Mr.. Lawson said, il must be admitted that
his administration had not been unsucceSs-
full although from a high moral l., standard
method TO be all things to all men. Few
had the ability that Harrison had to bring
themselves into touch with the masses.
This, Mr.. Lawson went on, was especially
true with regard to his relations with the
foreign element Of Chicago; Asked his opin-
ion as to PrendergaSt, the assassin Mr..
Lawson said that there was seemingly lit
tie doubt that he was a crank. One of the
issues in the last election was the elevation
of the street-railroad tracks. as about one
person a day, on the average, was being
killed. The Mayor was supposed to favor
this reform, but after the election he had
there had, in South Chicago, been consider
able fealing led by priest; Mr.. lawson
interested in this movement. In all proba-
bility, according TO Mr. Lawson, oscar ID.
Weatherell, who is controller OF chicago,
would act as Mayor until a successor 10
Mayor Harrison was elected Mr.. Wealth,
ersil is president of the. Globe National
Bank, and Republican. who was appointed
by Mr.. Harrison. ,
!. Sherwood. of Chicago, who is at the
Holland House, said that Mayor Harrison
was q man whom he had never voted for,
but he had always admired him. He was.
aside from politics, admired almost uni
yersally by the citizens of Chicago. Mr..
Sherwood said that undoubtedly Prender-
CAST was crank. and that no other sig
nificance was to be attached TO the murder
of the Myor.
Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew said: "He was
almost by nature a politician. A shrewd
and able organizer and tactician, he had n
splendid grasp of the reins which drive men
into political prominence. He was a peoples
man In many ways. and his coming back
on the tidal wave OF popular favor as the
worlds fair Mayor OF Chicago, after he
had been out of office for several years, in
which he was not at all in evidence. is one
of the best testimonials the people OF any
city could give to a favorite leader. He
for the interests of the people, who, know
! ing what he was and what he would do,
picked him their leader"
Secretary De Forest, of the Democratic
State committee, Is In favor of additional
legislation TO protect the people against
cranks. He said to-day that whenever a man
acts as Prendergast did in the presence Of
the dead Mayors secretary a few days be-
for the murder that he should be at once
taken into custody. He would so even
further than this and say that whenever
a man showed signs of being a dangerous
crank he should be locked up and his men
tai condition inquired into.
The News Received by Cleveland.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Oct. 29.-President Cleve-
land received the news of Mayor Harri-
sons assassination shortly after 8 o'clock
last night. The first bulletin, briefly tell
ing that the Mayor has been shot and killed
by an unknown man. was Immediately
sent to the White House and from there
was dispatched to the President at Wood
ly. his country place. Mr.. Cleveland was at
first disposed to question the whole truth
of the news asking several times If 1t was
certain that Mr.. Harrison had been killed.
There is no doubt that the President was
greatly shocked at the terrible occurrence
although he is not know TO have ex-
pressed himself on the subject TO any ono.
Friends OF the President said to-day that
| while they had never heard him express
an opinion OF Mr.. Harrison from personal
standpoint they knew that Mr.. Cleveland
/ has high regard for the murdered man as
| politician and as an executive officer
! The President believed Mr.. Harrison to be
a man of great ambition with the ability
! and push 10 attain high political office and
/ he was also OF the belief that the predlc-
/ tions that the dead Mayor would be the
/ next candidate for the Democratic ncmina-
ton for the Presidency would have been
! fulfilled Mr.. Cleveland had known Mr..
| Harrison since the beginning OF his first
| term az President They had met sew
eral official occasions. the last time at the