The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-19
The EvoIu.
ton ofd
Statesman
Walter Barr
SHACnLETT
1901 BIZ ID. APPLETON q Co.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

vention was still going on. He spoke so
slowly that each word seemed an idea in
itself, instead of a part Of a stream Of talk.
Every syllable was as distinct as if cut out
of crystal. And there could be no misin-
depreciation of what he would nave under
stood. He said:
"Mr. Chairman: This Is a great day for
the party Of which we are all so proud.
There have been times when some of US
could not agree with others as to exactly
the best kind Of campaign to make. There
have been differences of opinion among us,
but never disagreements in the sense of
divisions. With a party made up of men
each capable of thinking for himself, 1t is
impossible for all to take the same view
of things very often: but to-day all ves-
tiges of differences. of divergent policies.
should be swept aside in this great repre-
sentative convention. and there should be
unanimity OF action. / have often found
myself looking in a different direction from
that to which my friend. General French,
turned his eyes, but we both have one OBJ
ject at heart always. / believe to-day that
we will agree on one proposition. and that
Is that the party needs to move forward
against the enemy aligned in straight
TdHhS, htcplnS Slcp HI cAdCl us ~ Tic
same music and under a leader chosen
unanimously by us all. I cannot insist on
others coming to my way of thinking. but
I am willing TO for once adopt their plans.
1 hail with satisfaction the name just pre-
sented by General French, and take great
pleasure in seconding the nomination of
Mr.. Shacklett."
Then came the deluge. There was no
longer any doubt of what the delegates had
to do, however little they knew of the
grand tactics involved. and they made up
for the long suspense and inactivity in the
cheer that rose through the hall as Nc
Dougal sat down. The convention finally
understood itself. and the rest could have
been told at that moment by almost any
body there. Before the roll call was half
over all three original candidates had with
drawn their names through their accredited
agents. and Shacklett had been nominated
for Governor by reclamation.
MACHINE SURRENDERS," was the
top headline in one of the papers: PER
Feet UNANIMITY' stared at the readers
of another in large type; HARMONY Re-
STORED" was the headline in an organi-
zation organ, and GREEKS BEAR
GIFTS" was the dominant expression in
a paper of the other party, whose staf
man at the convention had a tendency to
the classical. Interviews were easily OBJ
tanned, and, like most such interviews,
hardly worth sending. for they were so
palpably half truths and whole lies. Shack
lett said little, and his own interview was
given out to the correspondents in mani
fold typewriter by Mckee, who reached
him first and at once Assumed the position
of private secretary on his own motion.
81 came to Springfield without thought of
such a thing as being nominated" it read,
land If such a remote possibility had been
suggested to me 1 should have said that I
would not take the honor. But since. with
out consulting me, the convention Of the
\ party in the whole State has nominated
me in the manner it did / cannot see how
1 can get away from it's mandate. although
1 would rather have had it different. I
am absolutely free from pledges. promises,
or, so far as l know, enemies. / shall
make a canvass as the state central COM
mittee may advise, and if / an elected shall
act so as to be thoroughly the Governor
of all the people of the State as 1 seem to
have been the choice of all the party. L
am really too much surprised to say much,
and have had no time in which to even
think of plans. 1 hope you will excuse me
from talking further just now"
Everybody conceded that it was a very
graceful interview for a man nominated
so unexpectedly, and showed both a proper
idea of his position and a carefulness that
was needed in the executive office.
That night Richardson closed the dicta-
ton of the lead to his sketch report of the
convention by turning away from his type
writer and saying to his confreres:
"I told you last night about working out
a blind lead. Well, like a variegated idiot.
there was a mine worth a million just be-
yond where 1 stopped and missed it. The
worst of it is that l ought to have known
there was a big nugget there. even if had
to doubt all my seven senses to do it: and
because this nomination of Shacklett' is the
most natural thing in the world is the very
reason / missed calling the turn last night
and beating the town. There's queer
things, we all know. but you'll see more
queer things in the next four years than
you ever dreamed of in all your philosophy,
my dear Horatios."
That evening a number Of people came
out to the Heights from Warsaw to offer
hearty congratulations to Mrs. Shacklett,
and she took no pains to conceal her pleas
Il al tlC IA fOih Adu ldhtI, GCCOTQlTR
to the news the telegraph operator had
heard on the wires and had given out. She
got her own telegram from her husband
while the people were there, and the word
ing of it satisfied her. She knew that his
taking the nomination meant that he was
to be Governor In fact as well as in name.
with no promises out to the machine or
the reformers, but it meant to her a
sweeter thing than that; It meant that her
husband trusted her completely, and to her
1t was the end of the old life and the BAN
ishment forever of the shadows looming
out of the past.
The campaign had no excitements. and
she did not find the moving into the Gov
ernor's mansion as tiresome as she had
expected. 1t did not seem to her as being
much of a change in life, but rather like
getting back home again after a long visit
abroad. She was glad to observe how
much her husband seemed to enjoy his new
life, and how easily he dropped into its la
bors, cares and duties. She had expected
him to take things as easily as possible
and to allow the well-oiled machinery of
the State to run on In the old grooves, but.
while the new appointments were made
without much trouble. a cloud began to
rise in the south that disturbed her much
more than ii seemed to concern the new
Governor. She talked to him of the dan