The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-04
FIELD CLEAR TO HIM
CONGRESSMAN OvERsTREET WILL
BE IN THE CITY TO-DAY.
Call for the Congregational Conven-
tfon-Mr. kern's Eye on Turpie's
Senatorial Seat.

District Committeeman Fesler yesterday
issued the official call for the convention
which Is to nominate candidate for Con-
gress TO succeed Jesse Overstrest. The con-
vention will be held at the Criminal Court
room, in this city, at 1:30 o'clock. April 16.
The basis of representation is one delegate
and one alternate to each 200 votes or frac-
ton Of 100 or over cast for W. ID. Owen for
Secretary Of State in 1894. This will make a
convention of 116 delegates, cf which Marion
county is entitled to 100 and Johnson county
TO eleven. The primaries for the selection Of
delegates viii be held in the townships on
the afternoon of April Is, and in this city
on the evening of that date.
Since the announcement of Merrill Moores
that he will not be candidate no other
stumbling blocks have appeared in the path
Of Mr.. Overstreet, and the probability now
appears to be that he will be nominated by
reclamation. There is a growing sentiment
in this county to the effect that Mr.. Over
street has made a good record, and that he
is entitled to a denomination Should Ma
rion county man now enter the field the
probability Is that it would be difficult for
him TO rally enough strength 10 make him
a factor in the flgat- Mr.. Overstreet is ex-
pected to arrive in the city this evening or
tomorrow, and will remain until after the
convention. Considering the drift there is in
the direction Of the Republicans the district
is regarded as sure to go Republican at the
next election.
KERN'S EYE ON THE SENATE.
The Democrats, notwithstanding the odds
against which they will have to contend,
will make hard fight TO recover the dis
trict. To the end that the strongest possible
candidate may be placed in the field, numer-
Gus curbstone and hotel corridor caucuses
have already been held. The man who could
have the nomination without turning his
hand over IL he would say the word is John
w. Kern, but Mr.. Kern will not have 1t.
Mr.. Kern has law practice that is paying
him more money than the salary of Con-
gressman amounts to, and the biennial fight
for retention, with the chances or being GUST
ed WITH every turn Oh the poltdicaL wneei, sis,s
of the prize in the estimation or Mr.. Kern
Furthermore, the latter has his eye upon the
seat in the United States Senate now nlled
by David Turpie, and when the time comes
the latter will have an active and energetic
competitor.
Another name connected with the nomina;;
ton is that of John r. Wilson. Several
times the matter has been suggested to Mr..
Wilson, but he has evaded the point, ana no
one knows whether he wants IL or Wnetner
L
is anxious for the nomination, and VINO may
make an active canvass to secure n, Is Cap,
tain James B. Curtis. Captain Curtis would
prefer that the nomination should start OUT
with a lantern and appear TO search hlm out
and find him, but it Is douotfui II IL VIII 90
IL. Several times, when w. ID. Bynum was
in Congress. the friends of Curtis almost
persuaded him to enter the lists against the
former Curtis had the inclination, but ne
hesitated to take the chances of defeat there
would have been in a measure of lances:
The friends of Curtis are telling him tnat IL
he ever expects to go TO Congress now is MS
time The fact that he is city attorney, al
good fat salary, would needs not deter MIN,
as ne could hold on to that If he was defeated
for the other. A man whose nomination
would inspire the most unDounded enthu-
siasm among the ward workers IS VIII 4.
English and the name OF Mr.. English Is be-
ing discussed. That Mr.. English might cas-
lily become an idol with this element by lit
tie 'loosening up is shown by the applause
that always breaks out when he arises 10
make a few remarks in a city or county con-
vention. Then, too. Mr.. English has lately
come into possession Of something Ike a
million dollars, and this would have tend
ency to strengthen the attachment and put
keener edge on the appreciation OF those
friends of Mr.. English who are looking for a
good thing. Mr.. English once served thirty
day3 in Congress, and on several occasions
si:ice he has said that ne would like TO try II
again. However, the element who take 1t
that the nomination Of Mr. English would
mean the opening of the nice new, fat bar
rel into possession of which he has recently
come, might be disappointed.