The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-12


A review of The recent senatorial contest
in this State affords ground for congratu-
lating the people, and especially the Re-
publicans of Indiana. The people and the
State are to be congratulated above all else
that the contest and the nomination We're
entirely free from any charge or suspicion
of Doodle or scandal of any kind There
is the more ground for congratulation
on this score because no scandal of that
kind has ever occurred in the State, and
II would have been particularly unfortu-
nate if the long record of fair and honor
able senatorial elections had been broken
Most of the senators from Indiana have
been. if not poor, at least men of moderate
means and unable to conduct a doodle"
campaign even if they had been so dis
posed, and the few who could have used
money improperly have been above the sus-
picion of doing so. From 1916 to the pres
ent time Indiana has had twenty-five sena-
tors, most of whom have served only one
term. and she has never had senatorial
scandal of the kind indicated. 1t is crafty
ing to know that the record remains I'M
broken. and that in an age of rotten bor-
oughs and Doodle senator's, when the United
States Senate is sometimes unjustly stigma
tized as a millionaires' club Indiana ad-
heres to its best traditions and selects men
from either party for their ability and per-
sonal worth or their political popularity
ard services.
1t follows from what has been said that
the nomination of Mr.. Beveridge is mainly
q recording of the popular will. Left to
themselves and without being subjected to
undue or improper influence members of
the Legislature We're pretty sure in the
outcome to represent the views and wishes
Of their constituents. If their first choice
differed from that of their constituents their
second choice was sure to agree, so that in
the end the popular choice would prevail
That it has prevailed there can be no
doubt. The Journal believes the result
would have been the same if the nominal
ton had been left to a primary election by
Republicans. Mr.. Beveridge was not nomi-
mated by the Republican politicians of the
State, but by the Republican masses speak
ing through their chosen representatives
No other candidate had or has as large a
personal following and as many admirers
among the Republicans of Indiana as Mr.
Beveridge. No other speaker drew as large
crowds in the last campaign or made an
Impression so invariably strong and favor
able. No other speaker was so well re-
membered or as much talked about wher-
ever he spoke. Mr.. Beveridge's canvass of
the State has not been equaled in many
years if ever, in respect to it's results in
personal following and political support
and while he did not mention the senator
ship and was not known to be a candidate
either present or prospective, he won the
office before the people. Therefore, as the
Journal looks at it, the Republicans of In
diana are TO be congratulated that the party
caucus has recorded the peoples choice.
For Mr.. Beveridge himself the nominal
ton is more than a distinguished honor
it is a great and brilliant victory. Enter
ing the contest without the advantage of
previous legislative service or any expert
ence in public affairs, handicapped by his
geographical location and by the fact that
some of the members from his own county
were first pledged to other candidates, and
handicapped also to some extent by his
youth compared with some other candi-
dates, without any congressional combine"
or artificial alliances in his favor, he won
by the sheer force of personal talent and
merit backed by an unmistakable drift of
popular sentiment. Few men have entered
public life after cleaner first contest or
with the prestige of a more brilliant per-
sonal victory. That Mr.. Beveridge fully APP
preciates and rightly prizes the honor thus
bestowed goes without saying, and that he
will reflect credit on the State in the ma
tional Senate admits of no doubt. In the
prime of life, possessed of a thorough lib
eral and legal education, of correct and
studious habits. reader thinker and a
worker, an eloquent orator, with elevated
ideals and a high ambition to serve his
country and State. there can be no doubt
that Mr.. Beveridge has before him bright
and useful future, and one that will bring
credit to the Republican party and the State
of Indiana.