The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-09-24


man, last week, and tells him what
he knows of Indiana politics as
follows:
"Politics in Indiana is politics, ~
said p. l.. Sweeney, of Jasper,
Ind, who is guest of the St.
James. Mr.. Sweeney is leader
as an Irish Republican, but he
comes from family of Irish Demo-
Gratis. One of his brothers, M. A.
Sweeney, is State Senator, and isl
talked of for Governor in 1900 byI
the Indiana Democrats, and another
brother, A. NJ. Sweeney, Of Indiana
polls, was clerk of the Supreme
Court of Indiana during a Demo
cratic administration.
"Hot politics can be found in
every square mile in Indiana the
year round, no matter whether al
campaign is on or not. 1t is close
state-a political teeterboard that
boosts the Democrats into power
one year and the Republicans into
office the next. The uncertainty of
results and the almost even strength
OF the two parties naturally bring
about perfect political organization
in both parties. The Republican
party of Indiana was the first 10
bring to perfection the school dis
tricl plan Of organization, which
was done back in 1880, in the Gar
field campaign. | believe the Illinois
Republicans called this plan the
'cotilllon SYSTEM but, of course,
while they patterned after Indiana,
they had to find new-fangled
name.
"The next Legislature in Indiana
will elect successor to United
States Ssnator David Turpie, and
the political wires are now being
worked in preparation for that cam
paign. There are number of can
didates for the United States Senate
in both parties. Among the Demo-
Gratis are ex-Gov. Claude Matthews,
John w. Kern and Leon Bailey, of
indianapolis, and Gil Shanklin, of
Evansville. The Repu blic a n S
spoken Of are Riley +. McKeen, the
Terre Haute banker and railroad
magnate, who aspired to succeed
the late Daniel w. Voorhees,; Smiley
Chambers, formerly United States
District Attorney at indianapolis,
and Frank Posey, of Evansville.
Posey is a bright lawyer, a good
speaker and a man of trains. He
came within a few votes of defeating
Mount for the Republican nomina-
ton for Governor. Now that Mount
is in the Governors chair, he, too,
is said to be fishing for the United
States senatorship. Mount is max
ing a strong play to catch the labor
support by sympathizing with the
striking coal miners, and he is max
ing it warm for the Vandalia Rail-
road for having failed to pay the
state a couple million dollars in back
taxes.
"By the way, ex-President Har-
sison, who is making $4,000 to,
800, 900 a year in practicing law,
and who wants no Office, is just now
bringing much criticism upon him
self from the farmers by acting as
the attorney to defend the Vandalia
road. The farmers believe the road
owes the state s2,0O0,0OO and
doesn't want to pay its just taxes
to the state, and that Benjamin.
Harrison for fat fee for himself is
willing to see the state lose this
money.
"The followers Of Harrison are
against McKeen in the fight for theI
senatorship They will probably
favor Chambers. Chambers wife
and Gen. Harrison's first wife were
schoolmates, | believe, and Harri-
son, when President, appointed
Chambers to the office of United
States District Attorney. PoseyI
will likely have the supper! of the
friends of United States Senator
Fairbanks. ~