The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-26
OFFICE.
Candidates Now Find 1t Desirable to
Hail from Iowa.
Washinpton Special in Chicaeo Post.

Washington Special In Chicago Post.
Not satisfied with pre-empting the office
Of secretary of the Senate for John s.
Clarkson. Iowa is preparing to make a play
for sergeant-at-arms as well. The secre-
taryship has already ben virtually allotted
to Mr.. Clarkson and the position charged 10
Iowa. Now IL Is proposed to have the record
show that Mr.. Garrison is from New York,
so as to leave the way free for another Iowa
and an objection from him to the programme
may upset the plans of the other candidate,
who is Alonzo II. Stewart, assistant SER
boy, Mr.. stewart lived in Iowa and for
twenty years has been the special protege
OF Senator Allison. By a series OF promo
lions Stewart has risen from a page to be
next in line to sergeant-at-arms and he
thinks he is entitled to the post now filed
by Col. r. ]. Bright. Some weeks before the
adjournment of Congress last spring he went
to his patron, Senator Allison, for his sup
port. The senator suggested that IL would
be the part Of wisdom to stay where he
the Senate was practically a life job. The
young man thanked the senator for his adj
vice. but said he wanted TO move up higher:
How many votes do you think you could
command" said the senator finally. Stewart
drew from his pocket a signed document
containing the pledges OF nineteen senators:
Senator Allison nearly collapsed, but added
his name TO the list. as did Senator Gear, his
colleague. This made twenty-one, and as
twenty-seven names would be sufficient TO
gain a caucus nomination and an election
Stewart felt that he had the game In his
hands At last accounts he had thirty-one
names pledged. If they stay pledged he Is
sure of election. AlonZo Stewards ambition
is regarded as something of a joke in Wash
ington, although 1t may prove not to be a
joke after all. He has been a Senate en-
ploye for nineteen years and probably knows
more than any other attache OF the body
about the rules. usages and practices OF the
upper house. He is particularly gifted on
questions Of ceremonials, nd can conduct
a Senate funeral with rare skill. Indeed. he
Is the highest known authority on official
funerals and is commonly designated about
the Capitol as the Senate sexton" Mr..
Stewart Is not an impressive Individual, like
the incumbent. Colonel Bright. He is lean
to gauntness and although nearly forty years
old he looks like a boy OF twenty.
Candidate Stewart must remember that
pledges do not always count, and Washing
ton is full OF notable instances In proof of
that of a St. Louis politician who came on
several years ago to get a position as as
sistant doorkeeper Of the House or some
thing OF the sort. He was a dangerous in
dividual and had several murders charged
against him. He was a walking arsenal. and
when drunk. which was twenty-three hours
out OF the twenty-four, was a perfect terror.
He got the name OF every Democratic
member OF Congress on his list OF indorse-
ments ard remained here all winter wonder
ing why he did not get the Job. He was
finally frozen out, however. but not until
the chief of police notified him he would be
arrested as a vagrant IL he did not leave
town. There is no point of similarity be-
tween Stewart and the st. Louis man. but
just the same, pledges do not always count.