The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-21
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

DR.. IL. e. Hobbs and James L. Tucker,
two stanch Republicans of Salem, are in the
city. their mission being one of a private
business character. Il have a little per-
sonal business matter to look after" said
DR.. Hobbs last evening at the English, "and
brought lawyer along to look after me
and see that don't get into any trouble.
You see," added the doctor, with a twinkle
in his eyes, "since the change in admins
tration in Indianapolis l didn't know but
that it would be wise to come prepared for
any emergency"
DR.. Hobbs is one of the members of the
board of mana gers of the Indiana Reforma-
tory at Jeffersonviile and he takes un-
bounded satisfaction in the revolution
which the new superintendent, VIII H.
Whitaker, has worked in the affairs of
the institution in the short time he has been
in charge.
'Mr. Whitaker has already accomplished
great things he said, land the good work
is still going on. There is still room for
improvement, but we have every reason to
believe that Mr.. Whitaker will make the
most of his opportunities. One of the best
things that has been brought about is the
change in the attitude of the management
companies. and the recent settlement of the
claims against the companies, amounting to
a clear gain of over $12, 900 in cash and con-
cessions to the State, is particularly sats-
factory. The contractors naturally did not
like to settle on that basis and when they
appeared before the board at the last meet
ing they asked for time in which to con-
slider the matter. The board gave them
twenty-four hours, and as it was to ad-
journ that night, left the matter with Su-
perintendent Whitaker and myself for set
tlement. The next afternoon the superin-
tendent called me up by telephone and told
me that the companies had conceded SUBJ
stantially everything the board claimed for
the State and the settlement was made.
The Reformatory is different institution
now from what it was few months ago,
but 1 am satisfied that Mr.. Whitaker is
not a man to weary in well doing and that
! in the course of year We shall have an
institution that will leave little to be de-
sired"
| In speaking of Third district politics Dr.
Hobbs said there was little activity among
| the Republicans at present. 1.-The Repub-
! licans down our way are not given to fore
! ing matters he said, land 1t will be some
little time before much interest is taken in
either State or district politics 1 suppose
that the matter of a new district chairman
will be taken I'D in three or four weeks.
| There are no candidates in the field at
present. l believe, although several men
| nave been mentioned, among them Amos
| Stout and John T. Stout, of Paoli, and
John c. Zulauf, of New Albany. All of
| them are good men. don't look for a con-
1 test for the place, as the disposition among
! the Republicans with whom 1 have talked
| is 10 get together and elect a good man by
! reclamation. That was the way we did
/ i'm selecting George Self last time There
was some talk Of opposition to Mr.. Self
| and Ward Watson a candidate for a
time, but he withdrew before the conven-
ton was held and Mr.. Self's election was
| made by acclamation. We are not inclined
to be emotional, politically, and get worked
up over thing like the district organiza-
| ton. We look at the matter calmly and
try to select the man who will fill the place
| to the best interest Of the party"
What about the gubernatorial race and
| the sentiment toward the candidates?'
! That's q hard question to answer al
| this time," replied DIR. Hobbs. Frank
| Hanly has many warm friends down oui
way and W. L. Taylor has lots of friends
there. They are more talked of than any
of the other candidates, perhaps
xxx
Speaking of the gubernatorial race, Unior
B. Hunt, of Winchester was here agair
last night, and again he said he was still
undecided whether to become a candidate
When it was intimated to him that i
| would be UP to him Ito fish or cut bait
within the near future, he laughed ant
| replied:
''Well, I'm willing to take my chances OF
that. / am satisfied that the race is youni
| yet, and that no time has been wasted III
to the present, at least
Mr.. Hunt was recently mixed up in al
affair that had many of the features of
political contest-the election of a grant
| keeper of records and seal of the Crane
Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and he came ou
on the winning side. He was one of tn,
I active supporters of Harry Wade, of Lafay
cite, who defeated Frank Bowers, of thi
city.
une, who was here last evening says tha
it is expected that G. A. III. Shideler, o
Marion. will formally announce his candi
dacy for the Republican nomination TO
Governor within the near future.
"Of course it has been generally under
stood that Mr.. Shideler would be a candi
date" said Mr.. Stout, 'but he has mad
no formal announcement as yet. 1 under
stand that he has delayed making his an
nouncement until he has his business affair
shaped no so that he can give PRACTICAL.
his undivided attention to his campaign
And when he does get into the race ii
earnest by the way, he'll be heard from
The politicians will find he's the livelies
sprinter for heavyweight that's been en-
tered in the gubernatorial handicap TO
many years"
Mr.. Stout says that. ostensibly at least
Mai George w. Steele continues devote
to agricultural pursuits TO the exclusion o
things political. Il was UP In the major