The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-30
HACKNEY OFF THE TICKET
DECLINES TO BE A DEMOCRATIC
NOMINEE FOR SUPREME JUDGE.
Sympathizes Largely with Republican
Principles, 1t Is RepOrted-COun-
sci for the Big Four.

The fact was made public yesterday that
on Sept II Leonard j. Hackney one of the
judges of the Supreme Court of Indiana,
had sent to the State Board of Election
Commissioners his formal withdrawal as
candidate for reelection on the Democratic
ticket. The document was worded as fol-
lows:
The undersigned. having been nominated
Dy the late state convention of the Demo-
cratic party of Indiana to the office of judge
OF the Supreme Court of said State from the
Second district, and said nomination having
been certified on the 10th inst, you are
hereby notified that he declines said nomi-
Grafton by the board of election commission
ers."
Accompanying the declination was per-
sonal letter to Governor Mount requesting
him. as chairman of the board, not to give
publicity to the document for few days in
order to allow the party TO choose his sue
cessor without friction.
The reason generally assigned for this ac-
ton on the part of Judge Hackney is that
he has been offered a position associate
counsel by the Big Four Railroad at a
salary of 5000 a year for term of years.
1t is believed that he can be of immense
benefit to the railroad in this capacity in it's
litigation in this State, because of his
hHOWleuS0 Oh 1Huldnd laws. Inc move Is
the result of careful thought on his part,
as he has had the proposal of the railroad
company under consideration for a long
time and discussed the details of it with
Governor Mount on several occasions.
Judge Hackney will be associated with
Alexander & Greene of New York, who are
the principal attorneys for the Vanderbilt
interests throughout the country and it is
Ilch hot MT y 1fu
ton with such firm of lawyers to help
him, his private practice will in short
time be of such figures as to make his 5000
salary a secondary consideration with him.
There is little doubt but what Judge
Hackney would never have allowed his
name to go before the late Democratic con-
vention as candidate for denomination had
he not been goaded by members of his party
into wishing to display his strength in the
convention, and prove that he could receive
the nomination If he wanted it, Ever since
the Democratic national convention at Chi
cago two years ago Judge Hackney has
Deen at loggerheads with his party man
ayers In Chicago he took no pains to con-
ceai MS repugnance for the silver platform.
80 bitter has been the feeling between him
and the silver men that he has been &C
cused by the politicians of the party of hav-
ing voted the Mckinley ticket at the last
presidential election. Nevertheless he has
throughout held the respect Of the best ele-
ment In the Democratic party.
prominent state official, in discussing
Judge HackneyS withdrawal yesterday said
there was little doubt but that his last step
was the prelude to a more sensational one
which he had in mind. According to him,
Judge Hackney announced confidentially
that at the coming election he was going to
vote the Republican ticket openly and the
feeling is strong that as soon as 1t is COM
patlble TO do so, he will become a full
nedged Republican not only as at present
IN principle. but also by profession.
In his own county Judge Hackney is not
in favor with the Democrats, but this fact
is not considered remarkable when it is
remembered that the influence of "Bill''
there. Judge Hackney has always remained
impervious to the attacks of his opponents
at home and has thereby earned the respect
of the Democrats of the State The free
his defeat at the recent convention, but in
spite of this opposition he was able to draw
to his support twO-thirdS of the votes of the
entire assembage
While the Democratic managers have not
considered the selection of his successor as
YET, there IS every reason to believe that
1t Will fall to Meichert z. StannaTd of JEFF
Iersonville. 1t is admitted that the candi-
date must come from the extreme southern
part of the State and the only other can
dldates mentioned as yet seem to be Willard
New, of North Vernon and Hugh McMul-
len, of Aurora. The latter is not now in good
standing with the bel,er element in the
party, which lacks confidence in his SINGER
ity. Judge New, however, is we'll thought
of and is openly after the place Both he
and Stannard were in the race at the re-
withdraw in favor of Hackney.
Judge Hackney will. of course. serve out
his term. which expires in November One
of the reasons given by him for his ac-
ceptance of the New York offer was that
he was too young man to allow himself to
devote his years to service on the bench
when he might win more enviabIe and
far-reaching reputation in practice