The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-06
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

John T. Stout, of Paoli, one Of the Re-
publican wheelhorses of Orange county.
is being mentioned In connection with the
craftsmanship of the party organization in
the Third district. George w. Self. of Cory
don. the present State committeeman from
the district, will be candidate for report
er of the Supreme Court before the next
State convention, it is understood, and
hence will retire as district chairman this
year. The question of his successor has
not been widely agitated as yet, but in a
quiet way the district leaders are taking
1t under consideration and Mr.. Stout has
been frequently mentioned for the place.
Mr.. Stout was in the city yesterday and
was asked If he had considered becoming
a candidate. Il have not" he replied. 'In
the first place, I do not know that Mr..
Self will not be'a candidate for reelection.
1 have heard that he intends making the
race for a State office, but do rot under
stand he has made any such announce
ment. AS for myself, i do not believe
would have the time to give to the work.
My business requires close attention, and a
man to be the right kind of district chair
man must put In great deal Of time and
Mr.. Stout is as he says busy man, but
he has never been too busy to be an eff
fective party worker. and when the stress
of the campaign is on he has invariably
been found In the thick of the fight. Quiet,
cautious. clear-headed, essentially a busi-
ness man, he possesses the qualities of an
effective leader, and his friends believe
that IL called upon he would not hesitate
to assume the responsibilities of district
committeeman. John c. Billheimer. COM
mftteeman from the Second district, said
of him yesterday:
81 don't believe the Republicans Of the
Third could select a better man for chair
n \, I'd. IL.
the place, in case Mr.. Self retires, but
do not know how he looks at the sugges-
ton. Mr.. Stout is always counted on as
one of the best workers in the district, but
he will work whether he is at the head of
the organization or private in the ranks. -
xxx
Mr.. Stout was asked concerning the polit-
ical gossip of his part of the State, but he
said he had heard little or none. 1.-THE peo-
pie are not talking politics now" he said
In reply to a question as to the sentiment
of the Republicans of the district as to the
gubernatorial and senatorial situations. he
continued:
II really can't say. I haven't heard those
questions discussed to amount to anything
At any rate, don't go much on one mans
expressing the sentiment Of a district, or
even of his own county or town. It's too
easy for a man TO conclude that everybody
else thinks as he does, and in that he is
very often mistaken. We haven't had any
candidate for Governor down our way yet
and as for United States senator, 1 haven't
heard that talked of at ALL"
Xxx
| Apropos of the recent dedication of the
| st. Louis exposition and the treatment ac-
| corded the visitors on that occasion, much
has been heard of the extortions practiced
| and Sights heaped upon the various Gov
errors. but Senator NJ. A. Hanna. of Ohio.
| had an experience that caps the climax.
| The senator told the story himself to the
| members of the Indiana party who We're
guests at the dinner of the Indiana Society
| Of Ohio ar Cleveland last week. 1t seems
| of the leading ST. Louis clubs while he was
| In the exposition city. and he had occasion
| twice TO patronize the club barbershop for
| shave. Each time the barber told him
| 10 pay for the shave at the office, but he
gave the man a quarter and told him to
| settle. he. the senator. did not want to
| take the trouble TO go TO the office.
The senator thought nothing more of the
| incidents. but few days after he returned
| TO Cleveland they were forcibly recalled to
| his mind by a letter from the club manage
a Hanna. Cleveland, to Blank Club. ST.
| Louis. Dr.. TO two shaves, 500" The bar
| Der had evidently played him false.
| The whole thing struck Senator Hanna
| as an excellent joke. which he enjoyed none
| the less because he was the victim. and in
| telling the story he said he had often heard
| OF man feeling like thirty cents. but he
| had never before realized the sensation.
The senator's secretary answered the
| dun" promptly with a somewhat facetious
| letter and an Enclosure OF three dimes.
A dispatch to the Journal from Peru
reads:
The mention In the Journals Drift of
| Politics column the other day OF the pos-
sible candidacy OF James F. Statesman for