The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
TALKING OF A SENATOR
EACH PARTY HAS A NUMBER OF CAN
DIDATES TO SUCCEED TURPIE.
Possibility that the Conventions May
NOminate-Aspirant for state
Offices Begin to Appear.

It is surprising what an interest is al
ready being displayed in the question of
who shall be the next senator from Indiana
Not only those who make a business of
talking politics. but the people generally as
we'll as the newspapers, are discussing the
question with as much interest as though
the election were only a month away. Al
ready there are three acknowledged candi-
dates on the Republican side, General Lew
Wallace Judge r. S.Taylor, of Fort Wayne,
and ex-Representative j. Frank Hanly, of
Wlliamsport. In addition to these, George
W. Steele the dean of the Indiana delega-
ton to Congress, is a tentative candidate.
On the Democratic side. Senator Turpie will
be a candidate for reelection and Will
have in the field against him Ex-Governor
Matthew'S John Gilbert Shanklin, of Evans
VILE and probably others. 1t is whispered
about among Democratic politicians that
Samuel +. Morss, ex-consul general to Paris
and owner of the Indianapolis Sentinel, will
be among these others. John w. Kern is
also mentioned as a senatorial possibility.
With the multiplicity of candidates in the
field it would not be at all surprising if
the state conventions of both parties were
to take the matter up and name candidates
for the Senate, and there are already a
number of the leaders of both parties urging
this plan, which would practically make the
election of senators by popular vote without
going through the formality of changing
the Constitution The advocates of this plan
with success in Ohio, Illinois and other
tot a. g in hqr witt
tendency of the times. They argue that it
would stop the talk about the seats in the
Senate being purchased, and being open
only to men of large wealth. and that it
would be conducive to party harmony dur
ing the campaign for the Legislature. With
several candidates for the Senate it some
times happens that the partisans of one
candidate none too active in supporting
a legislative nominee, if he happens to be
pledged to another candidate for senator.
But the most telling argument they bring
forth is that during the loft year. campaign
in Indiana the ticket is frequently without
a head. The ticket is headed by the candi-
date for secretary of state and between the
campaigns hardly one man out of five can
tell who the secretary of state is.
This fact has brought some very prom-
nent men into the office of secretary, like
Matthews and Owen, through the fact that
the parties have sought in the "off years"
a man of bigger caliber than the office, be-
cause his name comes first on the ticket.
If a senatorial candidate were nominated
by the state convention he would be the
natural head of the ticket and the fight
would be carried out on national lines.
The result of the Indianapolis election has
the Democratic party of carrying the next
Legislature. Last year an appOrtionment
act was passed upon the lines laid down by
the several 'gerrymander' decisions of the
Supreme Court, and under this appor-
tionment the Legislature is likely to be so
evenly divided between the two parties that
the result in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and
Evansville would throw it either way. They
are naturally encouraged to believe they
can turn the trick next year and will put
a strong organization in the field The CHIEF
fallacy in their hope lies in the fact that
they do not calculate upon the attitude of
the gold Democrats. With them the Democ-
racy is strong, but without them it goes to
pieces. The gold Democrats supported Tag
CART in the municipal campaign, but an
nounce without hesitation that if there is a
silver plank in the state platform they will
fight it. Without their help the Democrats
cannot hope to carry any of the populous
counties except Allen.
Candidates for state offices are beginning
to come out of the woods in both parties
The friends of Charles E. Shively, member
of the State Senate from Wayne county,
are mentioning him for secretary of state.
w. r. Durbin, of Anderson, has been
candidate for state treasurer for some
months and Deputy Auditor w. H. Hart has
been in the field for auditor Of state for
some time. An indianapolis newspaper some
weeks ago stated that Captain Hart would
be opposed by some influential Republicans
because he was the author Of the Null law.
This is not the case. Not only was
he not the author of the law in question
requiring the filing of vouchers for all
items of expenditure by the various depart
ments of the state government, but he did
not know it was in force until his atten-
ton was called to the fact after the adj
journment of the Legislature. Capt. James
r. Henry is mentioned a possible
didate for treasurer and Wesley HOuck, of
Terre Haute, has been mentioned in connec-
ton with both the treasurer's and auditors
office. He gave Daily a close race for the
nomination. David SheTrick is a candidate
for auditor.
r. A. Brown, who came within a few
votes of being nominated for clerk of the
Supreme Court four years ago, will prob
ably go after the nomination again, and it is
likely that John b. Conner will be a candi-
date for Statistician. w. l.. Taylor has been
spoken of as a probable candidate for at
torney general, but has not authorized an
announcement by his friends.
The Democrats think they have some
chance and Will have field of candidates.
1t is likely that Samuel Ralston, of Leba-
non will ask for another nomination as sec
rotary of state, and Henry Stockholm. of
Evansville, wants to be treasurer. j. II.
Tanning, George Duke and John Minor are
candidates for auditor, and ex-senator
Parker of Plymouth is talked of for at
push" wants to be clerk of she Supreme
Court, but c. w. Wellman, Joseph Reilly
and Richard Irwin, of Fort Wayne, are in
the race with him.