The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-21

JOSHUA NJ. SPENCER, WHO HOPES TO
DEFEAT r. M. GRIFFITH.
A Native of Rising Sun Who Has Had a
Varied and Honorable Career
Telegrapher in the Civil War.
to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
RISING SUN, Ind, Sept. 20.-Joshua M.
Spencer. the Republican candidate for Con-
gress in the Fourth district, is a native Of
Rising Sun. His maternal grandfather.
Joshua Haines, came to this place from
New Hampshire in 1916, so he is a thor
oughbred Hoosier. His father, John w.
Spencer, came from Pennsylvania and was
a prominent Indiana Democrat i'm the pc
riod just before the civil war, having been
twice a member of the Legislature and
judge of the Circuit Court. He died in
1859.
The son started out when a child as a
Republican in the stirring times of the civil
war. After several failures to get into the
army, because too young, he learned teleg-
raphy and Joined the United States mill
tary telegraph corps, where, though only a
boy, he was intrusted with important re-
sponsibilities and had an opportunity TO
learn the sound of the rebel yell" and Of
bomb shells splitting the air. After the
war Mr.. Spencer became one of the most
expert operators in the service of the West
ern Union Telegraph Company and for a
number of years received the Associated
Press dispatches and Washington specials
in the Cincinnati office.
Later he studied law at Rising Sun with
the late Judge A. c. Downey, practiced a
short time there and then in Cincinnati for
a number of years until his health was i'm
paired by overwork and he returned to Ris-
ing Sun. He was chosen by the Common
Council as mayor of Rising Sun in 1897 to
fill an ~unexpired term and in 1898 was elect
ed without opposition for the succeeding
term of four years, which expired on the
LIST of this month. In both instances the
position was unsolicited. This was the
case also in his nomination for Congress-;
in fact, Mr.. Spencer was somewhat reluct-
ant to accept the nomination on account Of
personal affairs, though fully appreciating
the honor and the confidence of his party.
The Republican press of the district COM
mended him warmly when his nomination
was suggested. He is regarded fraternally
by the newspaper men, having always had
a literary inclination, and he has at times
furnished paid matter on special topics for
the Cincinnati Commercial, Cleveland
Leader and other prominent newspapers.
As writer and speaker he has advocated
Republican principles in numerous cam
paigns. In his profession he has the re-
bar. and his name appears as successful
counsel in the reports of the Supreme
courts of Indiana and Ohio.
Starting out in his early teens to make a
living by his own exertions, Mr.. Spencer
has had experience of life in varied phases
that will be of practical value If he goes to
Congress. He has visited Europe twice,
and his views on the tariff question are,
therefore, very positive. He is well in
formed on governmental affairs.
Mr.. Spencer is an affable gentleman. a
splendid mixer" and having an extensive
acquaintance. throughout southern Indiana
especially, is in this fight to win. and. al
though hampered by a decided Democratic
majority, hopes to retire the incumbent
member, and the Republicans of the
Fourth district believe he will be success
full in doing so.