The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-20
THEY FOREsEE DEFEAT.
Hammond and Other Democrats Don't
Want to Run for Congress Again.

Hammond and Other DemOcrats DON'T
Want to Run for Congress Again.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-As indicated
in a Journal special few days ago, one by
one the Democratic members of the Indi-
ana delegation in Congress, anticipating de-
feat at the polls next November, are seek
ing excuses for avoiding another race. Rep
resentative Thomas Hammond, of the
Tenth district, is the first TO decline to be
a candidate for denomination. He takes
his excuse the mayOralty Of Hammond.
He has written letter saying that he
will accept the nomination for Mayor of
Hammond If selected by the Democrats OF
that city at their convention of the 2Sth
instant few days ago Hon. 5. p. Sheer
in, of Logansport, who is regarded the
smartest Democrat in the State, visited
Washington. He expressed the opinion TO
a number of Democratic members of the
Indiana delegation that the Tenth district
would certainly be carried by the Repub-
licans next November. II think you are
the only man that could carry the Tenth
district for the Democratic ticket" said
Mr.. Sheerin TO Mr.. Hammond, land
think you ought to take denomination"
Mr.. Hammond afterward in relating the
conversation with Mr.. Sheerin, said TO a
Democratic colleague in the House: Mr..
Sheerin only wanted to compliment me. It
was delicate way of saying that he didn't
believe any Democrat could be elected to
Congress in my district this year, and !
do not intend to take a losing race. Mr..
Sheerin believes that Charles Landis will
be the Republican nominee, and L don't
want to enter a race against him, for l be-
lieve that the young men in my district
are going 10 run things this time" Mr..
Hammond wants Valentine Zimmerman. of
Rochester, nominated by the Democrats,
he believes il would be a good way to
retire Zimmerman from politics. thinner
man and Hammond are rivals. With the
advice and opinion of national committee
man Sheerin ringing in his ears, and with
wink in his left eye, Mr.. Hammond wrote
his Democratic friends at Hammond that
they were at liberty to nominate him for
Mayor; In fact, he would be very glad TO
have that an excuse TO get out OF the
Congressional race. Mr.. Hammond feels
that il costs more than IL comes to, this
thing of carrying a Republican district on
Two or three other members of the DEM
ocratic delegation from Indiana in the
House are casting about for some excuse
10 decline renomlnat tion. They feel Ger
tain that they will be defeated at the
polls. They are Mr.. Taylor. of the
First; Mr.. Martin. OF the Ninth. and Mr..
BroOkshire, Of the Eighth district. The
dean of the Indiana delegation in the House
expressed the private opinion to the Jour-
nal correspondent to-day, that If Repre-
sentative Jason Brown is renOminated he
entertains the same private opinion and il
might be further added that others believe
that should Mr.. Stockslager defeat Mr.
Brown for the denomination he also would
be defeated, as the contest between those
two men over the nomination has engen-
dered much feeling that Republican
will surely be elected. Mr. Cooper, OF the
Fifth district, also has fears Of defeat at
the polls.