The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-05
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

First district member of Congress, is in the
city, stopping at the Claypool. He will be
here several days, although he did not know
that until several hours after he arrived
last evening. He is on his way from Wash
ington to Culver to place his boy in school
In the academy there In the course of a
conversation with a few friends some one
mentioned the fact that the Grand Lodge,
knights OF Pythias, will be in session this
week, and Mr.. Hemenway Immediately de-
cided that that was what he had come to
Indianapolis Tor. He is an active member
of the order, but the date of the Grand
Lodge meeting had escaped his memory for
once.
There is nothing especially new in Wash
ington." said Mr.. Hemenway when asked
for a story 1.-The President is back
from his vacation and several merlbers
of Congress have dropped in, but there is lit
tie of interest going on now. The Postoffice
Department investigation is still the en-
crossing topic of conversation in Washing
ton and the members Of Congress who have
been there within the past week or two have
discussed it at some length"
will there be congressional inyestiga-
tion?''
Yes, am inclined to think there will be-
The Democrats will raise such hue and
cry that to make life endurable at the
Capitoi L suppose it Will be necessary to
have congressional inquiry. AS a matter
OF tact, however. no one is opposed to such
an investigation If ii is deemed possible
TO dig up any additional evidence of
crookedness in the department. The only
objection l can see TO congressional in
vestigation is that in the examination of
witnesses, ETC., it would be almost inevitable
that the governments case against the men
now under indictment would be exposed and
that would be OF advantage to the defend
ants. My idea would be to appoint a COM
mittee to investigate the investigation that
has already been conducted within the de-
partment, and If the committee finds that
could be made then it will be necessary for
Congress to take no further steps.
1T Is my opinion that the investigation
has been as rigid and far-reaching as
could be made. Mr.. Bristow has had both a
highly qualified corps Of assistants and the
incentive to make thorough inquiry and
ne, ne has taken no halfway measures, as the
list of thirty-odd indictments shows"
XXX
Mr.. Hemenway was asked ebout the COM
mittee assignments which the Indiana
members of Congress will receive at the
hands of Representative Cannon, of nli-
nois. who will be the next speaker of the
House, but he disclaimed any knowledge of
that important question. Inasmuch as Mr..
Hemenway stands closer to Mr.. Cannon
than any other member of Congress, his
professions Of ignorance on the committee
question may be taken with a grain of salt.
Mr.. Cannon is making his own commit
tees" he said. land 1 do not know what
assignments he has determined upon. How
ever, / believe that the Indiana delegation
will fare well in this respect. / have used
whatever influence l have to that end, at
least"
means committee that several of the Re-
publican representatives from this State
would like to fill 1t has been intimated
that the fact that more than one Indianian
was after the assignment might jeopardize
the chances of any one of them getting it,
but Mr.. Hemenway says he thinks the
coveted place will fall to one Of the Indiana
delegation.
What one?'' he repeated. well, that is
another question, and / shouldn't like to
venture a guess, for might be wrong"
1t is believed that it would be safe
guess" to pick Representative James E.
Watson. of the Sixth district for this pref
erment. Mr.. Watson is not only close
friend of Mr.. Cannon, but he and Mr.. Hem
enway are the Damon and Pythias Of the
Indiana delegation. Add to this Mr.. Wat
sons length of service In the House and
his well-known ability and the result is a
combination that 1t would be difficult to
beat.
Representative Watson was here a few
hours yesterday, by the way, but he kept
under cover and managed to avoid news
paper men. 1t is understood that he was
here to talk with a few political friends
concerning some Sixth district matters. Mr..
Watson Is now threatened with opposition
for the nomination next year from Otho b.
Williams, of New Castle, the young min
lister who represented Henry county In the
lower branch of the State Legislature last
year. However, the Rushvflle statesman is
not greatly worried at the prospects OF a
fight. 1t Is conceded that he has one or
the best organizations, and he long since
established the reputation OF being one or
the shrewdest politicians in Indiana by his
campaign against the late Representative
Holman for the election and against Henry
L. Johnson for the nomination.
Representative Watson will return to In
dianapolis some time to-day or this even
ing TO attend the Grand Lodge. knights of
Pythias.
To revert to Representative Hemenway
for moment, 1t will be recalled that a
few days since. while in Washington. he
gave out an interview on the vice presiden-
tial question in which he stated the atti-
tude of Senator Fairbanks toward the vice
presidency While it is not to be inferred
that Mr.. Hemenway spoke for Senator
Fairbanks I'm the sense that he was dele
gated to make the statement, ii is known
that he stated correctly the senator's po-
sition.
Mr. Hemenway last evening. Il said that
Senator Fairbanks Is not in any sense a
candidate for the nomination for Vice
President and that he does not want it,
but that could not say what he would do
If the nomination came to him In spite of
his protest. There was no special occasion
for my giving the interview, except that a
few of the boys (Washington correspond
ents) came to me and said they were going
to use a story from me on that subject
whether / authorized Ii or not, so L con-
cluded that they might well have 1t
straight"
Representative Hemenway and Joseph B.
Healing were together several hours and In
the course of the evening called on Sena-
tor Fairbanks at his home on North Me-
ridian street.
James p Goodrich. chairman of the Re-
publican State committee. is expected in
the city to-day.
Union B. Hunt. of Winchester, is still
hearkening to the musical drone of the
gubernatorial bee, but is still undecided
whether to start out to chase the bee down.
| He is at the Denison. here for the Grand
Lodge. knights of Pythais, and consequent
ly says he has no time to think or talk
| about politics. but In the same breath he
| adds that he will definitely locate himself
| on the gubernatorial question within a few
| weeks The friends of Mr.. Hunt say he will
] be candidate and a thing Of that kind