The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-27
WANTS TO RULE INDIANA.
Mr.. Cumback is in the Ascendant Among
tire Holsters

Mr.. Cumback is in the Ascendant Among
tire HOLSTERS
INDIANAPOLIS Nov. 26.-If the observ-
er of conditions in Indiana politics as
sunies that the numerical strength Of
the Republican candidates who have
| announced themselves for the COVER
norship is the only feature of interest
/ which will be presented in the ante
/ convention campaign, he will find as it
progresses that there are elements
which will call forth the most generous
/ expressions of enthusiasm and engen-
! der feelings of the strongest friendship,
/ and at the same time awaken MEM
cries which date back over a period Of
nearly forty years.
AS Colonel Richard W. Thompson
was the most interesting character in
the recent assembling of Republicans in
| the biennial conference of the party, so
/ the race for the gubernatorial nomina-
! ton is distinguished by a man who has
! been conspicuous in the party, and who
! thirty years ago was believed to have
! before him the brightest political fut-
ure of any man in the state. That he
was the victim of circumsta nceS which
relegated him to condition of quasi
privacy adds TO rather than detracts
from his temperance upon the stage
of political action, and there are many
Of the friends Of thirty years ago who
are glad that an opportunity is present
ed of showing a fealty which they then
offered, and which they believe can now
be made effective.
VIII Cumback, of Greensburg, is, in
one sense, the most conspicuous of all
the candidates now avowedly before the
Republicans of Indiana, and his candi-
Il r. * 1;a1,
called forth at the time generous ex-
pressions Of sympathy on account of a
singular act which was then miscon-
strued and seemed to forever dwarf an
ambition that had the brightest of pros
poets before II. In 1864 he was elected
to the state senate from the Decatur
district, and when Conrad Baker, the
lieutenant governor elected al that
time. succeeded to the governorship
through the promotion of Governor
Morton to the United States senate. he
became the presiding officer of the SEN
ate. He was man of much force OF
character, and had proved a power up
on the stump, and his rulings in the
senate and his general attitude toward
the members were characterized with
so much courtesy that he soon became
a favorite with that body.
Four years later he and Baker both
announced themselves as candidates
for governor and entered upon a can
vasS for the nomination. Before the
convention met Cumback addressed a
letter to his opponent in which he can
didly admitted that his objective point
was the United States senate, and init
mated that he would feel no disappoint-
ment should Baker receive the nomina-
tion for governor. Conforming to this
effort for the nomination, and was Sc
lected for the second place on the ticket
when Baker was nominated. The Re-
pubiicans carried the legislature, but
had only a bare majority on joint bal
lot. Cumbeck entered upon a vigorous
canvass for the United States senate
and had conducted 1t so well that he re-
ceived the caucus nomination OF his
party, which was supposed to be equiv
alent to an election. on the first ballot
The next day, and before the joint
convention met to elect a senator. Gov
eronr Baker gave out for publication
the letter which he had received from
Cumback during the campaign. There
was nothing in it that possibly could be
construed as an offer TO Baker, and
Cumback and his friends claimed that
ii was written in a spirit of friendship,
and designed only 10 show that the
writer was an aspirant for the senate
rather than for the governorship. and
was really making q candidacy for the
first instead Of the second.
The circumstances. however, under
which the letter reached the public. and
the positive refusal Of Governor Baker
TO say anything in connection with il,
gave preteXt to Cumback's enemies to
charge that he had attempted to bride
Governor Baker, and decided political
sensation was created. Three Republi-
can members OF the general assembly,
using the Baker letter as an excuse
bolted the caucus nomination and posi-
lively refused 10 vote for Cumback
Several ballots were taken in the Joint
convention. and finally despairing Of
eiecting their nominee. the Republicans
nominated Daniel Pratt OF Logansport.
and he was elected to the position
which Cumoack had earned at the
hands OF his party.
Immediately upon the adjournment
Of the legislature Cunfback was ap-
pointed internal revenue collector in the
old l-awrenceburs district. and he re-
manned in that position nearly seven
teen years. seeming 70 have given ND
all political aspirations He remained
Republican. however. but in sharp
contrast with his action is the fact
that the three Republicans who hoited
the caucus nomination gravitated in a
snort time into the Democratic party.
The temperance OF Nj Cumback on
the stage OF political action is hailed
with much satisfaction by those who
knew and admired him thirty years
ago. and twill not be surprising should
he be nominated and elected. If there is
another candidate for the United States
senate before the legislature Of 1897.