The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-10

scandal came out? Turner'S brother gave
the strongest evidence at the trial. you re-
member. Who was ii that got up that
Spanish grant story on the fellow that
thought he had old Clark beaten for Gov
ernor? Turner started that most successful
lie. Who was 1t that left the title out Of
the engrossed copy OF the redistricting bill
so our two friends might come back 10 keep
you good company in Washington? Turner
was engrossing clerk that term, if Robbins
did have to pay the penalty for it. In
short, who saved all our scalps, time and
again, but Turner? And, moreover, he did
things that nobody else would take the
chances on for US That's why we are for
him, and why. if he doesn't get the post
Office he wants, there's going to be the big
gest cIoudburst. avalanche and mine dis
aster, all in one, that our State ever saw.
You know I'm telling the truth. You know
that with IL all Turner hasn't got an enemy
in the State"
Senator Shacklett moved his eyes toward
the colonel the merest trihe.
"Of course, all the preachers and the
Christian Endeavor people and the Saliva
ton Army of politicians are raising Cain.
The reformers are against him. but who
ever heard of reformer going to pri-
mary? You don't care for their buzzing
any more than you do for the froth on a
bottle of soda pop. and it's no use to lug
that in. They
But why not select man who has been
a valuable party man without taking up
the most odorous one in the State? don't
want a Sunday school teacher. but don't
like to take the nephew of the devil. There
oil, Co
we compromise this thing some way? L
don't believe you folks can pick another
man in the State besides Turner that 1
won't indorse."
Compromise nothing, senator; it's Tur-
ner or fight. The pots too big to divide
now, and the biggest hand takes it. Come,
senator, admit we've got it. and stay here
in the Senate as long as you please with
out bit of bother"
Gentlemen, I've never posed as Puri-
tan in politics. You might as we'll try TO
make a prospector out of tenderfoot as
to expect to make a politician out of a
preacher. But there's got to be a limit
somewhere, for any game without limit
is too dangerous a game for me to stay in.
If indorse Turner 1 take the limit off for
all time, for I'll never run up against
worse man than our friend Turner. as 1
look at it; eh. colonel?"
"All right; well admit that. But why do
we want any limit on? The rest of us can't
write u. S. s. on public documents yet,
and consider that about the proper
limit. If you must stop at any ravine at
ali you'd better not try to climb the noun
| tain of politics, and stick to the flats. L
haven't any argument against moralizing,
| and don't need to make any to you, sen
ator"
But you can appreciate this" rejoined
| Senator Shacklett. when 1 call your at
| tention to the fact that it isn't good poll
| tics. You can climb out on limb for some
| distance all right. but IL you crawl out too
| far down you drop. You can get pretty far
away from the Ten Commandments in pol
itics. but when you get clear to the door
of Hades you're mighty likely to get the
stuffing knocked out of you in the most
surprising way. What's the use of loading
the party down with this dead load of Tur-
ner for postmaster when we don't have to?"
But. you see, we do have to-" smiled the
| colonel who continued with very grave
| face, which began to get somewhat flushed.
| You see, we do have TO, for if We don't
! we've got 80 fight the whole organization,
| from center to circumference. The party
says IL must have Turner appointed. 1t
| takes the responsibility in the person of
| the chairman here, the Times, and every
| body from the central committee to the
ward workers. You needn't to bother about
the responsibility or the party at all.
Now, see here, senator, I'll tell you what
We'll do. Proof of what I've been saying
to you is the fact that Turner can get the
| appointment without your Endorsement if
| youth merely let it go through. If you'll
| tell US now that you'll wash your hands of
| the whole matter it'll be very satisfactory
! all around. You can eat your cake and
| have it, too. You can keep your conscience,
| or whatever you call it, clear, prevent any
roorback, and keep ready TO say L told you
| So and we'll credit you up the same as if
you had Endorsed Turner and take care of
your future just the same. mean we'll give
| you at least two more terms in the Senate.
| Wen see that Turner gets appointed if
| you'll only allow to say that you'll not
pull senatorial courtesy on us and fight his
| confirmation. just go to sleep now will
your
Colonel. I'll give you the postofice for
being the best talker in the State" said
| Senator ShackIett, with just enough of Il
suggestion of seriousness in the tone OF his
voice to make the others lremble.
That's the highest compliment you ever
| paid me, Shacklett, in your certainty that
l wouldn't touch the bait" laughed the
| colonel. But enough of this monkeying,
he went on, with CULVER in his deep chest
| tones. ''Will you indorse Turner. or will
you fight the whole lot of US now and for
ever and knock the party off the top of the
| peak into the bottom of the deepest canyon
1t ever heard Of? That's exactly where we
are. and where we were before began to
| talk
| Shacklett picked UP pen and toyed with
| it while he smilingly said, looking the
colonel straight in the eye: Don't get ex-
| cited colonel. The fact is, I've got some
thing very important to do just now, and