The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-14
STREET flcKINGS.

Now that the smoke of political battle
has cleared away and campaign orators
are heard no more in all the land it may
not come amiss to tell OF some
Of the ludicrous experiences which
entered into the Ives of the
politicians, notably the life of Mer-
rill Moores, the nervy chairman of the re-
publican county central committee. Mer-
rill, as a matter of fact, was the hero of
several funny situations, but the most
amusing of all was related TO the Pick
ings man yesterday.
There is well-known citizen Of Indian
apols, who by reason of a collapse of his
mind, was committed to the central hos
pital for the insane last May. His men
tai ailment, however, was of a passive
and only temporary character and when.
his Improvement had reached the proper
point he was released by the asylum au-
thOrities The name of this gentleman,
which for obvious reasons is withheld is
a familiar one to republicans in Indianap-
oils, for he was for many years an ardent
worker in the ranks of that party in this
county. Almost from the very day that
headquarters opened for the republican
county committee in this city the gem
tleman with a mind impaired became a
regular habitue of the committee rooms.
He, under ordinary circumstances. IS
every inch a gentleman, but his republic
anism is vehement and he was full of
ideas about the proper way to run cam
paign, and was also persistent in fore
ing earnest expressions Of his opinions
upon Chairman Mooras 50, early in the
campaign, his presence became absolutely
offensive to Mr.. Moores, who adopted
every scheme possible to avoid offending
his old, but unfortunate friend. When
ever the rattled-brain republican came
near headquarters Merrill, as a final re-
sort, made regularly a hasty sneak by
way of a side door out on the street and
fed.
Another fellow, a scyophant, who
haunted the republican headquarters dur
ing the campaign, was one Harry White,
a one-arm individual, of the ward-bum
stripe. who wanted anything from a lu-
cratlve appointment to a GROWER of beer.
He bounded the life out of Chairman
AIoores and made Of himself a chronic
nuisance around the committee rooms.
One afternoon the gentleman, who had
spent portion of the season in the in
sane asylum, suddenly made his appear
ance at the entrance of the republican
headquarters just as Merrill Moores was
coming out. Before the chairman could
escape, the gentleman, Who for conven-
fence sake, may be called by the name
Of Smith, gathered Merrill by the lapel of
his coat and thrusting him back against
the wall he'd him there and thus ad-
dressed him: Look here, Moores, you
know me and you know me well. have
y TO 10 wifi
going to have it out with you right here.
wrote you more than a thousand letters
from the insane asylum, which you
treated with an Indifference that fired my
blood with a fever heat. I knew how to
manage a campaign and you did not. Do
you understand? I could have made vic
tory perch on our banners; you are run
ming the campaign in a manner which will
only end when the colors Of the republican
party are trailing in the dust of humiia-
ton and defeat. I had method; you,
nothing but confusion worse confOunded.
1 had at my call the intelligence and re-
finement of Hell's Bottom and the super
stitiOns Of Bucktown. / could have Whis-
pcred in your ear pointers which would
lead to successes that would make you
great in the party councils. You scorned
me; you ignored me, you spit upon me
you treated me with a contempt that has
again driven me mad and 1 am here for
revenge. In thirty seconds you must have
your breath pipe closed forever. Say your
prayers
Merrill, away back in the dim past,
may have said his prayers, but so far as
anybody learned he has not been known
to utter anything that had in it the sound
of prayer during the campaign, and he
was nonp.ussed. He felt himself placed
in a peculiarly unpleasant position. He,
for once was in the meshes, and escape
was practically impossible. Just at that
moment he looked out on the street and
saw White, the bum, approaching on
Delaware-st. a happy thought seized
him.
Say, Smith," he began, do you see
that man approaching out there?"
The crazy man looked in the direction
and nodded his head, but never relaxed
his hold on Merrill's coat.
''Wel." resumed Merrill, chat man is
my enemy and 1 want to get rid of him.
If you will go out there and punch his
head L will retire to my inner sanctum
and await your coming. If you actually
drive that fellow away from here I will
agree to step down and out and make
you chairman Of the committee. Not only
that, but I viii insure you a diplomatic
Office abroad which viii bring honors
upon you"
Smith simply said: II will rid you of
your enemy; go in and wait for me-" and !
deliberately went out the street.
Merrill fled precipitately and did not |
again show up at headquarters until after |
supper. Then he heard of what had hap |
pened. Smith had met White at the gate !
and before the latter could get an intima- |
ton of what was coming dealt him a |
sledgeIhammer blow between the eyes |
and knocked him flat on his back on the |
sidewalk. White, as he tried to regain |
his footing, was again knocked down and !
then scrambled away on all fOurS until !
he could secure the opportunity to run,
and disappeared, going east on Ohio-st., !
with Smith making a very good second |
at his very cOat-tai,s. Both men were !
picked up by the police later on and Mer- !
ril secured Smiths release, but left /
White behind the bars until the day be- !
fore the election, when ne was also re- |
leased.
Population OF France.
Those who are 50 deeply concerned /