The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-07

While Democrats of the middle West are
saying that the nominee OF their party for
President next year must be some strong
Eastern man." from the East comes the
suggestion that some Democrats in that part
OF the country look to the westward for a
candidate. Letters have been received here
from New York city commenting the
supposed lack OF available presidential
timber in the Democratic party and ask
ing If Indiana has "favorite SON. whose
name might be presented to the next na-
tional convention.
The intimation that representative Of the
Hoosier Democracy might be given consid-
Grafton as a candidate for the Presidency
will doubtless be sufficient to bring forth
boom at an early date, and the names Of
John w. Kern, of Indianapolis, Ben +.
Shively, Of South Bend and Representative
promptly to the mind OF almost every In
diana Democrat. The names Of Kern and
Shively are ones to conjure with among
the Democrats OF Indiana, and Miers. While
not so generally known, over the State, is
also popular and Is regarded as one Of the
strongest men in the party in Indiana
Miers has distinguished himself chieny
by holding on to seat in Congress from
the Second district for four terms, while
Kern was the Democratic candidate for
Governor three years ago and Shively was
States senator last winter by the Democratic
members Of the Legislature.
All three have been mentioned as avail
able for the vice presidential nomination in
event an Eastern man should be nominated
for first place on the ticket. but neither
nns or nsa oa I0r py
as they have not figured In national politics
to an extent that would give them such
standing
Miers belongs with the "reorganizers,
while Kern and Shively are to be classed
| with the regulars" and both stand high in
the councils Of the Bryan wing Of the
| party.
However, in Indiana as elsewhere, there
| is lack of available presidential tim
| ber'' among the Democrats and not since
| the days of Hendricks, Voorhees, and Tur-
| pie has the party had leader in the State
! who stood forth as a national figure. Sem
ator Turpie is still living. but his days OF
ment among Indiana Democrats seems to
be German Parker for president. In
| this Connection John B. Stoll, of South Bend.
recognized as one of the party leaders. says
| editorially in the South Bend Times:
| Somebody down East proposes Olney and
| Folk as an available presidential ticket for
1904. The proposition is a good one, but
| the programme now is to have Mr.. Joseph
| w. Folk serve as reform Governor of Mis-
| souri, for one term, and If he pans out all
right, make him the presidential nominee
| in 1908. He will be ripe by that time. As
| TO Olney-well, he will make good secre-
| tary of state for Parker, German or Gray"
| Some of the Democrats who enjoyed
| Thomas Taggart's hospitality at French
| Lick last week are enthusiastic enough to
declare that they are for him for anything
within the gift of the party. However, Mr..
Taggart made the mistake of selecting Ire
land for birthplace and is therefore incl.
/ igibie for the presidency. The most that
| can be done for him Is to make him national
chairman or United States senator If the
Democrats ever control the Indiana Legis-
| lature at the right time.
| Mr.. Tagart, by the way, is receiving his
| reward for his courtesies to the Indiana
editors, glance through the State ex-
! and Democrats are heaping encomiums
| upon him generously.
Someone started the report last night
that James L. Keach. of this city, whose
| avowed single aim in life now is the undoine
Of Taggart, will endeavor to counteract the
| effect of the French Lick entertainment OF
his rival, although ii was not stated Jus,
| what line OF procedure he would adopt. II
was also suggested that since Keaeh has
CART he will conclude that discretion is the
| better part of politics as well as OF valor
wagon. The seat is oSere waiting for him
the willy boss desiring peace at any price
| rather than another fight with the Demo
| cratic city chairman.
| X X
VIII III. Whitaker, superintendent Of the
Indiana Reformatory at Jeffersonville, i:
in the city to look after some private bust
who gravitated to French Lick during tn,
editorial outing there last week.
/
Republicans are looking forward will
some little interest to the meeting of tn.
State committee here next Friday. The re
| ago. Recent events have contributed to max
| Mr. Morgan resemble the Democratic party II