The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-07

them so far in advance Of the opening Of
the 1900 campaign. But that DOunelly and
Barker will control the convention is
practically assured.
Uncertainty in Hoosierdom. - The
/ situation in the Indiana Democracy seems
TO be one Of the most uncertain Of any in
| the country. Mr.. Bryan's positive declara-
( ton that his visit the other day to South
Bend had nothing whatever to do with the
rumored candidacy Of the Hon. B. F.
Shively. of that place. for the Vice Presi-
dency. coupled with the further positive
expression of belief that this distinguished
HOOsier IS not a candidate. would appear
to wholly remove Shively from the list Of
probabilities. Indianans in Washington
are generally agreed that Shively could get
the united support Of the party in his
State for second place on the ticket If he
wanted il, and If it is true that he actual
~ does not desire the nomination Ii can
not be said that the signs are propitiOus
for the national Democracy in Indiana this
year 1t is understood here that Shiyely
prefers the nomination for Governor TO
that Of Vice President and that he Is
doing all he can to crafty this ambition.
The Hon. Tom Taggart, Mayor of Indian
apolis, also is known to very much desire
the gubernatoriai nomination. despite his
repeated denials OF late that he is even a
receptive candidate. Apparently the
HOOsier Democrats are convinced that their
State ticket this year is destined to fare
very we'll, in view, of the weakness of the |
Republican State ticket recently nominated
at indianapolis after some bitter fighting
Also it is apparent that they are not feel
ing so hopeful as to the chances Of the
national ticket in their State. The con-
sensus OF opinion in Washington seems to
be that Shively would make the strongest !
candidate for Governor that the Democrats |
could nominate against the Hon. Winfield !
Taylor Durbin 1t is stated by well-in- |
formed Indisnans in this city that the |
nomination Of Shvely would be almost |
certain to SO strengthen the Democratic |
lines all through Indiana as to afford the /
party an excellent chance OF carrying the |
Fifth. Seventh, Eighth. Eleventh. and |
Thirteenth Congressional districts. which |
arc now represented. respectively By |
Nessrs Farris Overstreet. Cromer, Steele. |
and Brick all Republicans.
An OF CIo' Accident-The Hon |
Willard Duncan Vaudiver Of the Four
teenth Missouri district has been made
the victim Of a very stupid mistake on
the part Of some of his hired help Several
days ago Representative Vandiyer closed
up his house in Washington for the season
audaeuth.z family home. He ordered large
let Of pub. docs. sent TO a valued Coustit-
uent in a remote section Of his district.
This bundle, though quite bulky was sent
through the mail on Mr. Vandiyer's frank.
as was his privilege to do. The Repub j.
can postmaster at st. Louis. without ap-
parent warrant for meddling with the az
fairs Of a member OF Congress- had this |
bulky package detained en- route and
opened IN his presence. Mixed up indis-
crimiuately with the pub. does. were some
old clothes that no respectable statesman
would wear either in Missouri or Wash
ingtou. The very dilapidated appearance
OF the garments would have suggested to
any mind not gangrened with partisan
prejudice that Representative andlyer had
not meant to abuse the ranking privilege
by having these old clothes secreted in
the bundle Of pub. does. And yet the Re
publican postmaster of st. Louis has raised
a mighty howl and the partisan press all
over the country has taken up the cry
against Mr.. Vandyer. Toe Missourian ex-
plains that the clothes evidently got into
the bundle through the carele ssness Of some
Of his household servants. He remembe s
that the bulky mail package was made up
while he was dismantling his Washington
ard is Onyinced that by the mer-
est accident the old clothes were tossed into
the package. Still, the Missouri Repub-
Leans are making much ever tn incident.
and already they have bestowed upon tie
OF the Fourteenth district
the uncouth soubriquet OF Old Clothes Van
diver Mr.. Vandiver declares that he is
ready to go back to Missouri and fight
them on this issue.