The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
THE SENATORIAL RACE
1T WILL BE HOTLY CONTESTED
ALONG ABOUT CHRISTMAS.
Representative scOtt's Service in Be-
half of New acknowledgements
ership Contest.

Inere was an exodus OF politicians from
the Denison to their homes yesterday after
noon to spend Sunday, and the only states
men who grace the lobby from out Of the
city are George A. H. Shideler of Marion,
Senator Newton Gilbert of Angola and Rep
resentative Huff Of washington. BY the last
of this week it is expected that the sena-
torial race will be run in this city. Major
Steele will be here and have headquarters,
Judge Taylor will return about the middle
of the week. J. Frank Hanly will return to-
morrow, and A j. Beverage will be doing
business at his office on Pennsylvania street,
while his friends are keeping close watch
on events at the Denison. No definite in
formation has been received from Mr.. Posey
as to whether or not he will open headquar-
tiers, but with other candidates on the
ground the prevailing opinion is that Posey
will lose no time in getting here also.
Among the callers during the last week
was Representative A. M. Scott, of Ladoga-
Mr.. Scott will take particular pleasure in
occupying seat in the House. as he was
member of the Legislature in 1877, and
worked for and voted for the bill providing
for the erection of the present Statehouse.
His term expired before the building was
completed and Mr.. Scott will now sit there
and say to himself: 81 was one of the build
ers of this structure" Mr.. Scott was recall
ing the events connected with the passage
Of the bill the other evening, and said:
There was great opposition to building this
Statehouse, and for a time it looked as if 1t
would not be done. From my county there
was also joint representative who was OPP
posed to the bill. L was in favor of it, and
thought the State needed a suitable building.
argued with my colleague, but he told me
he had talked with the voters of his county,
and was satisfied he knew their sentiment.
1t was against the new building, he said,
and he intended to so vote 1 asked him If
he would vote for the bill if convinced him
he was wrong, and he agreed to. then
wrote about forty or fifty letters to the
most prominent men in the district and was
particular to send the majority of them into
his own county. Without committing my
self 1 asked them to express their opinion
as to whether or not a new Statehouse
should be built Almost without exception
the replies were, that if the bill should be
carefully framed SO that there would be no
Jobbery, the Statehouse should be bullt.
merely handed my colleague those letters,
and the result was that he voted for the
BILL 1t the vote of man by the same
name as mine, a Dr. Scott which decided
the fate of the bill. When the day arrived
for the vote to be taken Dr. Scott was con-
fined to his bed, and was very sick. Without
his vote the result would have been tie.
He was brought to the building in a carriage
cast his vote The bill was carried by that
one vote. Since have been here many have
thought it was my vote. which decided II,
but it was DR.. Scott, for then, as now, there
were two Scots in the House."
Mr.. Scott may present bill looking
TOW o ane care % not he but
if so it will provide for letting the care OF
roads out by contract and providing means
whereby the contract can be enforced. III
Mr.. Scott introduces it he will do SO by re-
quest.
THE SPEAKERSHIP CONTEST.
In speaking of the speakership contest
George A. H. Shideler, one of the candi-
dates, said az do not believe that there will
be any contest before the caucus. The feel
ing among the candidates is so friendly
that believe each candidate will be able to
tell just where he stands before the caucus
meets, and 1 am satisfied that if one can
show that he has a majority of the votes
the others will withdraw, and that the
nomination will be unanimous. I do not eX-
pect to see it otherwise, and feel confident
that there will not be, at the most, over
two names presented to the caucus"
1t is unnecessary to add that Mr.. Shideler
is of the opinion that his name will be the
one anonymously acted upon.
The chairmanships of the different COM
mittees arc beginning to be talked of, and
speculation as to who will occupy certain
positions in the event of the election of
each candidate for speaker is rife. There
are fifteen Republican members of the
House who have served before, and one of
them will probably be chosen as speaker.
The committees in the House number over
thirty. so many of the new men will have
desirable positions. 1t is understood that
it will not be the rule to appoint former
chairmen of committees to the same posi-
ton, but that each candidate will select
lis chairmen, in the event of his election,
solely with regard to the fitness for the
position, and will not be Influenced by
former service - as chairman alone one OF the
w. Williams, of Knightstown, will have
one of the most desirable places, and he is
one of the most prominently mentioned for
the craftsmanship of the ways and means
committee.
The rumors regarding cigarette legisla-
ton have not yet reached the dealers, and
so far as they know there will be none pre-
sented. No one of the members has an
nounced his determination to present such
a measure, although it has been commonly
reported that an attempt would be made to
license all retail dealers in cigarettes with
in the State. The law now gives the right
to any municipality to license dealers with
in the confines Of the municipality, and it
IS optional with each as to whether or not
it is done. One of the largest tobacco deal
ers in the city said yesterday afternoon:
Such a. law could not be enforced, be-
cause public sentiment is against it. 1t
would pass because the sentiment of a large
part of the people is against cigarettes, and
not be enforced, because the sentiment of
large number is against 1t, and law that
cannot be enforced is worse than no law at
all. That is the experience in the towns
where the license ordinance has been adopt
ed and is in force, and ] could name you
many cases where cigarettes are sent in
enormous quantities. l will frankly say
that our trade in cigarettes is greater in
the towns where the dealers are licensed
than it is where there is no license. It is
human nature to want something the law
says you can't thave, and our trade has al
ways increased as soon as a license ordi-
nance has been passed. We are not at all
disturbed over the prospect of any such
legisla ton''
Representative Steele left for indianapolis
yesterday afternoon. He makes no boast or
rash claims according TO a Washington dis
patch, but from assurances which have been
given him by his friends he feels that his
chances are as good at least as those of any
other candidate. The Indiana sena torial fight
is arousing considerable interest in Washing
ton.