The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-05
POLITICAL SURMISES
BASED ON GEN. HARRIsON's LETTER
TO INDIANA REPUBLICANS.
Guesses Of WelI-Known Men ms to
What Candidates Friends OF the
Ex-President Will support.
SEVERAL SAY MIR. ALLISON
AND POINT TO HARRIsON's WARM
REGARD FOR THE IOwAN.
Think Governor MOrton's Chances
Have Been Materially Improved.
M'KINLEY MEN CONFIDENT
AND HOPEFUL OF SECURING PART
OF THE HOOsIER DELEGATION.
Opinions of Chairman Carter. Gen. j.
w. Foster, L.. II. Michencr and
Others-Scntiment i'm Indiana.
M'KINLEY MEN CONFIDENT
AND HOPEFUL OF SECURING PART
OF THE HOOsIER DELEGATION.
Opinions of Chairman Carter, Gen. j.
w. Foster, l.. II. Michencr and
Others-Scntiment i'm Indiana.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Washington is
pre-eminently cold-blooded. ''The king lie
dead, Long live the king!' is the cry here
and so to-day the chief topic of gossip is the
speculation as to General Harrison's legatee
Ex-Secretary of War Proctor. General Har-
rson's intimate friend. believes that the ex.
President and his oldest followers all favor
Senator Allison. There was always close
friendship between the two when In the Sem
ate together, and Mr.. Proctor believes that
General Harrison would prefer 10 see the
Iowan nominated al st. Louis. At the same
time, Mr.. Proctor is confident that General
Harrison will in no way exert the great in
huence he wields over Indiana politics to
control the Indiana delegation to st. Louis
in any manner.
The letter of General Harrison has not
caused general surprise. His not being a
candidate was anticipated among politicians,
and the letter was to that extent discounted.
Some two weeks or more ago. when ex-Mar-
shall Ransdell was in Washington and held a
conference with some other of General Har-
rison's friends, ii was stated by Mr.. Rams
dell that the ex-Presidents name would not
be presented TO the convention. A few days
later General Harrison's closest friends in
long before that General Harrison's attitude
was known to the friends CT some OF the
other candidates. The friends of Mr.. Alli-
son were probably the first to be informed
definitely that the ex-President would not
again enter the field. 1t is said they were
informed some time before Congress met.
about the time General Harrison made his
first visit to New York, early last fall. The
opinion generally concurred in at the capital
is that, as far as the retirement of Harrison
has any effect on the situation. 1t will he
favorable to Mckinley and Allison, and that
it is not, and is not intended to be. bene-
fetal to Reed. AS far as the Indiana delega-
tion in the House reflects the sentiment of
that State, II is strongly favorable to the
Ohio candidate.
CARTER QUOTES A LETTER.
Senator Carter, chairman of the Repub-
lican national committee, said: THE let
ter Of General Harrison to Chairman
Gowdy is in strict accordance with every
expression L have heard him make since the
election of 1892. Shortly after the election
he wrote me an autograph letter. rendering
his personal thanks to the committee and
expressing his cordial appreciation of the
services rendered In that letter he mani
tested grave concern for the welfare OF
the country under the policy of the sue
cessful party. l take the liberty Of quoting
from his latter:
~ could not feel much personal inter-
est in a result that seemed 10 me to be
so full of heavy burdens. But for our good
friends and for the country, / am full of
regret. Prosperity in an unexampled man
ner was ours and the future was big with
Increase. But the people have chosen reac-
ton and retrogression. Old ex-
perience is not Instructive; each generation
must have its own. The antagonism be-
tween the workman and his employer made
the former deliver blow which l pray
God he may never feel, which / fear he
will
These expressions OF concern for the
general welfare of the country. separate
and apart from any personal relation. have
characterized every utterance from General
Harrison in my presence from the elec-
ton OF 1892 to the present time. All no
time has he. TO my knowledge. directly or
indirectly. indicated to any person desire
to secure the presidential nomination OF
1885,
The friends of all the candidates in the
field see in General Harrison's elimination
the elements of strength for their own can
didate. Mr. Northway of Ohio said: IL
believe Indiana is for Mckinley and that
he will get the vote of that State"
Representative Southwick. OF Albany
said: II think Governor Morton will be the
principal beneficiary of Mr.. Harrison $
withdrawal. The popular strength of Mr..
Harrison rested in the weil-founded con-
viction that during his administration the
people of the United States enjoyed an un-
precedented business prosperity. and a firm
but dignified and mature policy in foreign
| affairs. To Mr.. Morton l believe the people
| will now turn. recognizing in him the best
| exponent of all the traits that distinguished
| General Harrison.
| Senator Cullom, who is a candidate said
cautiously that the Indiana delegation
would now divide up among all the other
| candidates.
All the Indiana delegation, except Mr.
Johnson, who declines TO discuss the SUBJ
ject at ALL agree that General Harrison is
intensely in earnest, but they are of opin-
| ion that Mr. Harrison is still a formidable
| possibility at St. Louis in spite of himself
ITS SINCERITY NOT DOUBTED.
| An Associated Press dispatch says: Gen
eral Harrison's letter of withdrawal from
the presidential race gave an unusual in.
/ petus to political talk about the Capitol to
day. There are active workers in Congress,
for the nomination OF Reed, Morton, McKin
ley and Allison, and the friends of each O
these candidates found cause for encourage
ment in the letter, which, they say. remove.
the ex-President from the list OF possibili
| ties. No one suggested any doubt of the sin
cerity of Mr.. Harrisons declaration, ant
most OF them professed to believe that III
result would strengthen their own candidate
! Mr.. Dingley. OF Maine. who Is Speake
Reefs closest friend in the House. was re
luctant TO say more about General Harri
sons letter than that 1t undoubtedly re
moved him from the field as a presidential
| factor. lie added that who knew
Mr.. Harrison had believed him to be a can
didate, and that the letter not sur
4 prise.
Senator Hansbrough. who is a strong advo
cate OF the nomination Of senator Davis