The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-06
The Plans of Mice and Men

( by side in the United States senate. Blu
it is possible that Kansas will joir hand
with Indiana in honoring the Baker family
Judge John II. Baker. a brother Of Kan
sas' Lucien Bakers formidable facto
in the senatorial race in Indiana.
There have been some important ant
: highly characteristic moves on the checke
board Of Indiana senatorial politics within
the last few days. and interest in the re
suit has been intensified just III proportion
as the game has approached that stag
where science will avail most and the con
testants concede that luck is myth
Hiram Brownie has dropped out OF th'
contest, but General Lew Wallace. th'
Ben Hur' of Indiana, who, ''vowing M
would ne'er consent, consented" has rolled
UP his political sleeves and has entered tins
fight to remain to the finish.
The generals strength lies mainly in hi;
distinguished ability as scholar, and the
knowledge that he would reflect credit upon
the state in the United States senate. and
IN his cordial relations with the Grand
Army of Indiana, with which he is de-
cided favorite. Within the last week thai
organization has indorsed his candidacy in
two Of its post meetings, and word comes
from all sections that prominent members
Of the order will insist that the Grand
Army he recognized in his selection by the
Republican caucus.
What this may mean 10 the aspirants OF
| other candidates cannot with certainty De
foreshadowed. but politicians recall a con-
test several years ago, when the Repubh-
can minority had but a complimentary
nomination TO bestow, in which the old
soldiers of the state secured il for Governor
Hovey when Mr.. Fairbanks friends were
| hot he receive
| the nomination. Conditions, however, have
undergone some changes since that time,
| and the outlook is decidedly favorable 10
| Mr.. Fairbanks II the nomination goes 10
an active candidate at all.
| The retirement of Mr.. Brownlee was
| hardly announced before another stepped
| into the depleted ranks of senatorial can
! didates and brought with him a decided
| personality. Perhaps this statement should
| be qualified somewhat by saying that the
f! friends of another have brought him into
the race. but it was the character that he
/ has developed in public life, his sterling in
| tegrity and his many and diversified talents
that have attracted attention to him and
caused his friends 10 believe that the times
are ripe for calling him to a sphere of
higher and more distinguished usefulness.
United States district court. appointed 10
the bench by President Harrison when
Judge Woods was appointed a circuit judge.
He is in the prime of life and is one of tbs
self-made men of the west, having been a
poor boy, and coming up through gradual
gradations till ne is today recognized as
one of the best equipped men in the state
for any position to which the people may
call him.
Judge Baker was reared in Indiana. and
entered upon the practice of law in Elkhart
county In 1873 he was elected TO congress
from the Elkhart district, and served in
that body till 1881, when he voluntarily re-
tired TO resume the practice OF law. Dur
ing his service al Washington he took high
rank as an industrious, painstaking repre-
sentative, and his abilities were recognized.
He was not noted for his eloquence upon
the noor but his speeches were pregnant
with force and logic and when he partici-
pated in the debates his utterances always
received marked attention.
When he refused TO remain longer in con-
gress he was offered the circuit judgeship
nomination on three separate occasions, but
each time refused 1t because of his ever in
creas:ng and mere remunerative practice.
In 1891, when the United States circuit
court of appeals was established and Judge
Mr.. Harrison selected Judge Baker as his
successors on the district bench.
It this position he has proved a fearless |
and an upright judge, and the people of the |
state have been attracted to him by some |
of his expressions on the bench, and his |
evident hostility to the domino ton of trusts. |
which he has characterized as a menace 10 |
the country's prosperity. In a recent suit i
2 gainst the wire nail trust, in which the |
complaint graphically set out the oppres-
give methods that had been invoked against |
the plaintiff, he denied the doctrine adj
vanced by the attorneys for the defense |
and declared that the plaintiff was entitled |
to damages if, on the trial. the charges
" ere sustained. He also issued an order
the trust from interfering with
the establishment of a competing industry
by the plaintiff.
Judge Baker was seen in his chambers
at the federal court building this morning
ard the question of his candidacy for the
United States senate was preached. He
replied emphatically that he was not can
d'date. and was doing nothing to forward
the efforts of his friends in his behalf.
While drunkenness is growing to be re-
garded with more severity than ever in |
England, France and in most other con-
-inental countries as Well, government Of
fcials guilty thereof almost invariably be-
ng punished by dismissal, il apparently is
viewed with altogether extraordinary len
ency in Germany. In England and France
officers Of the army or navy incur the dan
ger of court-martial. and OF being cashier |
ID, II their intoxication attracts the atten- \
ion OF their superior officers. while il is
,ut the other day that couple of Russian
were dismissed from
he army on charges OF inebriety. and a
bird was reduced TO the ranks.
Emperor William on the contrary when |
lie addressed his officers recently on the sub
ect of using their swords with effect upon !
civilians who had insulted them, recon- |
nended them TO remain in barracks when |
intoxicated, and not 20 show themselves In
hat condition upon the streets That is to
ay. ne admitted that inebriety or the |
'art of his officers was perfectly natural |
N excusable. providing 1t was not display
d in the public streets.
Emboldened thereby. not merely the Of
icers OF The army and navy. but civil SER
ants Of the government as well, apparent
Y have cast to the winds all the restraints
o which they hitherto have subjected their
aste for liquor. and the newspapers in |
very portion OF the empire are teemiag
Nth stories OF drunken freaks and out
ages on the part of army officers and gov c
rEment officials one OF the most dis |
-aceful cases is that OF Baron Won Kornap.
mo occupies the position OF crown COM Z
n!ssioner for one OF the largest districts
\ Pru5s.au Poland While in a state OF | ,
ltoxica;on he attempted 70 force his way ,
trough a bridal procession al Posen, ,
me party as Polish hogs"