The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-30
They VIII Fill the Remaining En-
gagements That Had Been Allotted
to MIR. Oserstreet.
HE EXPRESSES DEEP REGRET
BUT FEELS 1T HIS DUTY TO RE-
sPOND TO THE CALL.
Republican Meetings I'm Marion Coun-
ty-Other Political News of
Interest.

Representative Jesse Oyerstreet was
called suddenly TO New York yesterday TO
resume his duties as secretary of the ma
tional Republican congressional committee.
The call was in the nature of surprise to
Mr.. Overstreet who had thought IL proba-
BILE that he would be. able 10 remain in his
district until the close of the campaign.
Chairman Babcock, of the committee, and
Representative Hull. however. came to the
conclusion that the presence of Mr.. Over
street in New York is absolutely neces-
sary.
Mr.. Overstreet left yesterday afternoon
at o'clock for New York and will remain
there until after the close of the campaign.
His remaining dates in the county will be
filled by Attorney General William L, Tay-
lor and Robert A. Brown. A number of
meetings remain on the books Of the county
committee which these gentlemen will fill.
Before leaving for New York Mr.. Over
street said: Great as is my regret 10 leave
the district at this time, 1 feel that IL is my
duty to go. 1t is of more Importance that
the Republicans have next House than that
/ should stay here and devote the remain
der Of my time TO secure my own election.
However, L have not the slightest doubt
about the result in this district, and 1 be-
were never in better condition.
The next House will be Republican,"
continued Mr.. Overstreet "and our major
House. 1t is possible that our majority
may be as large as forty, and my opinion
Is that We will have It, To secure that re-
and our plans must work out favorably.
We must hold our own In the Northwest.
in Indiana and in California. IL that Is
done IL is hardly possible for our majority
in the House to be less than twenty-five.
That is the lowest estimate that can pos
sibly be made. My information from head
quarters is that the situation is improving
from day TO day. The fight will be pushed
in the closing days.
Mr.. Overstreet remarked that in a way
he felt responsible for the campaign In the
congressional districts, and but for that
fact he would hesitate at this time to give
up his work here and return.
STATEMENT OF A FRIEND.
A close friend of Mr.. Overstreet said
last night: ut is a source of greater re-
gret to Mr.. Overstreet than to any other
person in Marion county that he had to
leave his district at this time. The situa-
tion is such, however. at the headquarters
of the national congressional COMMITTEES
in New York that it was absolutely neces-
sary for him TO return there. The earlier
work of the campaign at the national head
quarters was largely in Mr.. Overstreet's
hands. The i'll health of Representative
Babcock, who is chairman of the commit
tee, made IL necessary for Mr.. Overstreet
TO relieve him as far as possible OF the bur-
den of the campaign. AS a matter of fact,
Mr.. Overstreet had expected to return to
his district about Oct. l. but the situation
was such that he could not return until the
10th of the month From the day he ar
rived in Indianapolis kilograms commenced
to reach him concerning the situation In
districts all over the country. the exact
afarra Of n ainh naa laaaf grnA<
was thoroughly familiar with. Some of
these matters were of such a nature that
Mr.. Overstreet found 1T impossible to at
tend to them over the wire, and mis- pres
ence at committee headquarters became
imperative.
brief as was his stay in the district
necessarily, the success of the noon and
night meetings held by Mr.. Overstrect was
exceedingly gratifying, not only 10 him but
also TO Republicans generally. The attend
ance Of the workingmen at the noon meet
ings at factories was particularly notice
able, and the assurances of business men.
not only of his own party. but Democrats
as we'll that he had their continued hearty
support was more than pleasing 10 him.
He goes away with the knowledge that
the situation in the district Is entirely sat-
isfactory and that he will be reelected to
Congress without doubt.
when Mr.. Overstreet first asked
by President Roosevelt the Republican
leaders in Congress and the entire Repub-
lcan congressional delegation from Indiana
to again become secretary Of the national
Republican congressional committee. he
hesitated for some time with the idea that
he might be doing his district an injustice.
for the reason that his duties secretary
would keep him away, but he was assured
Immediately by his friends here that he
should not hesitate and that he would, as
secretary of the committee, be of even
greater service TO the district than b. re-
naming here. Since that time Mr.. Over
street has secured an even greater measure
of the confidence of Republican leaders
over the country and his influence I'm the
House will be augmented by his able work
and generalship secretary OF the commit
tee. He will now be more valuable man
to the district than IL he had remained at
home and looked after his personal inter-
ests. Having once accepted that trust. all
personal inclinations had TO be sacrificed
at the bidding of his chief. Mr.. Babcock
even IL IL cost him his election"
Arrangements have been made by the
county committee to have men who know
how TO make good speeches fill his dates,
/ and the schedule will be carried out about
as originally planned.