Evening star., 1898-12-09
POLITICS IN INDIANA
Considerable Excitement at Capitol
Over Next Senatorship.
PROMINENT MEN IN THE RACE
Perry Heath is Counted Among the
Dark Horses,
THE OTHER CANDIDATES
Special corre-ponaepcs Of The Erenlss Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
INDIANAPOLIS. December I, 1895.
So far as indianapolis Il concerned there
is now more political excitement and in
terest than at any time during the year.
except the last few days before the cleo
tion, and 1t even equals those days. This
excitement comes from the approaching
session of the general assembly and the
selection of a successor to Senator Turpie.
The republicans. having q majority in each
house, will he able to elect whoever gets
the caucus nomination: but The exciting
question is who Will get that nomination? :?
Two years ago Senator Fairbanks had 1t all
his own way. but even then three other
distinguished gentlemen came out for the
prize. and each made gallant oght. One
was W. r. McKeen. the most prominent
railroad man in the state; another was
Judge Taylor and the other was Gen. Lew
Wallace Fairbanks had begun early--in
fact. SO far hack as 1880. Then the repub-
| iicans were in a hopeless minority, but he
began to look ahead to time when they
would have control of the legislature ard
he shaped his course for that lime. He
made friends with those VINO We're then
members and with those vino might he
members in the future. Each year he
grew in favor, both with politicians and
with tHe ptopie- In lSi4 tle republicans
| carried the day, but there was no vacancy.
| He then saw that the fruitiou Of his hopes
was nigh, and he became more active than
ever
When it came time to nominate candi-
dates for the general assembly in 1890 he
saw to 1t that his friends are chosen in
as many districts possible. and long
before the election 1t was settled that he
would receive the nomination: but this did
not deter Mckeen, Taylor and Wallace
from entering the ring as candidates. They
obeued out headquarters here. and pursued
the fight to the last; but Fairbanks won in
a cdnter.
Became Candidates Anew.
Taylor and Wallace at once announced
that they would stand for the race in 1898
hey began active work ia various parts
OF the state, but when the breczes brought
news of the war with Spain General Wal
lace announced that he would retire from
the race for the purpose of entering the
service in the field. He did not get q
place in the field but has manUainad that
aS deciinatiou was final. Long before the
election other candidates Were in the field
J. Frank Hanley, who served in Congress
from 1894 to 1896. announced himself as n
candidate, and was followed by Col. Frank
t. POsey. These three men CanvqSSed the
state in the interest of the party ticket, but
did not neglect to put in 4 good worI for
themselves when an opportunity offered.
It has been seldom that .hree more able
men have canvassed the state AT one time
after the same office from the same party.
Judge Taylor IS man who would make
ms marx anywhere among men of intel
leci. Strong 2S a writer. strong as a sneak
or. possessing great knowledge of all po-
HtIc5I affairs. he inpFeSseS every one with
his intellectually He Is one of the ablest
lawyers IN The state, ana, next to Gen. Har-
risOn. has been looked upon as the abIest
man in the republican party or Indiana ].
Frank Haniey has been iess before the pub
lie. less OF a political student. but is man
OF brilliant parts. He had never entered the
political 1reni' until his nomination for Con-
ETess in 1891. hut rapidly grew ON the pub
lie by his powers IS political speaker.
During the campaign Of 1896 he rose in
favor. and WsS ia demand at all political
gatherings. -... -
Col. Posey has been much longer in poll
ties. He is a man of dignified bearing and
presence courteous and pleasant in his
TannerS. As q stump speaker he ranks
among the first in the state. and on the
floor Of tn" Senate 1t would be found to be
an able debatcr In 1889 he served short
time in Congress. having been elected To
fill out the uneXpired term Of Gen. Hovey.
| Living in the Pocket he will go into the
caucus with the energetic and enthusiastic
support OF the members from that section.
The Pocket Never Had n Senator.
The Pocket" has never had 81 senator. In
fact. the senatorial history of Indiana has
been confined to very narrow radius. In
| diana has existed state eighty-two
| years. but during that time no senator has
| ever been elected who lived more than
sixty miles north OF Indianapolis. John
| Petit served a part of a term from Lafay-
| cite, Graham n. Fitch part of q term
| from Logansport. and Daniel ID. Pratt a full
| term from the same place. All the others
| have been from the central or southern
parts OF the state: In the early days
| BrookviIlc and Madison were the political
| Centers from which senators were taken
| but for many years indianapolis and Terrc
| Hautc have mOHopolized the honors. The
Pocket has produced many distinguished
| men, such Profit, owen and Niblack, but
| none ever reached the Senate. This feeling
| adds to the strength of Col Posey.
| During the campaign the names Of num-
| ber of other gentlemen would be occasion
| ally heard in connection with the race, pro-
| vided the republicans were successful
| but none of them would announce himself
| as a candidate, The name of Governor
Mount was more frequently heard than any
| other. The governor had made a success
| fuI race in fSg6, and his administration as
governor had been clean and able. and his
friends naturally turned to him as a posi-
BILE candidate. knowing that the office of
governor had been often sought only as :!
stepping stone to a seat In the Senate.
Major George w. Steele. so long the mem
of Congress from the eleventh district. was
also frequently mentioned. w. d. owen,
| secretary of state and who served four
terms il Congress. was also a proposed
dark horse. ana Perry S. Heath Of the Post
Office Department had many admirers, but
none were openly in the field.
The result of the election had hardly been
announced until a crop of candidates began
| to count chances. Among these Albert Bev-
| eridge was the first to announce himself.
| Beveridce is 4 young lawyer, and has been
| the boy orator of Indiana. He is popu-
| lar member OF the Marion Club, q strong
| political organization of this city, which
| aspires to be the republican Tammany of
| Indiana, and the club Is pushing Beveridge.
| He has never held Office. and his only
| claim appears to be his ability to make a
| pretty speech.
Mai. steele Candidate.
| Major Steele has announced himself as a
| candidate and has actively enterad ,,nor