The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-16
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

Democratic gubernatorial booms are be-
coming numerous. Another was launched
last evening at the Grand Hotel and, in
deed. scarcely a day passes that some
"favorite son. is not trotted out and put
through his PAGES by admiring friends
This time it is Alonzo Green Smith, of In
dianapolis, former attorney general. For
mer Senator Joseph II. Shea. of Seymour
and State Committeeman Lincoln Dixon,
of North Vernon, stand sponsors.
Mr.. Smith has been conspicuous among
the Democratic leaders who happened to
drop in" at the Grand during the past two
days, and last evening the newspaper men
came to the conclusion that there was
something doing and that 1t was up to
Mr.. Smith to declare himself. 1t was noised
about that he had bee in his bonnet and
Senator Shea and Mr.. Dixon confirmed the
rumor They declared that Smith was or
should be candidate for Goevrnor and
announced that they were for him and
would deliver the Fourth district to. him at
the convention. Mr.. Smith seemed neither
when the matter was laid before him. On
the contrary. he took 1t very coolly, as If
he had been expecting that very thing,
but he did not make a formal announce
ment.
The latest revised list of Democrats who
are enjoying booms of this kind includes
ems, Salem; Stephen b. Fleming. Fort
Wayne; b. f. Shively South Bend: D, w.
Simms, Lafayette; John L. Forkner, An
derson; Henry A. Barnhart, Rochester;
w. II. O'Brien, Lawrenceburg. and Alonzo
Green Smith, Indianapolis. And a few
counties have not been heard from.
Strange ii may seem, all the men who
have been mentioned in this connection
AFFECT to take the matter as a joke, and
none OF them appears anxious TO receive
the nomination. AS one of them, who shall
obvious
it the other day: About all there Is in
1t for man who gets the Democratic
the opportunity TO pay as stin campaign
assessment as he can stand, wear hiT~ elf
to FRAGILE in the campaign, receive he
returns telling of the other fellows cleo
ton and wear Hon. before his name for a
few years until people forget that his name
was ever at the head of the State ticket"
xxx
story is told on Senator w. A.
Kittinger, of Anderson. Kit" as he is
Familiarity known to almost everyone who
knows him, is the busiest man in seven
| States. Since the Legislature adjourned
| he has tried over thirty jury cases and
| the pressure has been such as to keep him
at his office from early morning until late
| at night when he has not been in the court
| room. When the rush came on he began
| getting down to his office about two hours
earlier than had been his custom, and the
| first morning, just as he was getting set
/ tied down to work, of the telephone
| bells rang. He didn't want to answer It,
but he had to. Morning test" was all
| the other phone rang. with the same re-
suit. Those who are acquainted with the
angelic disposition of the senator from
| Madison will know what he thought but
he didn't say anything the first morning
He even stood the interruption the second
morning without an eruption, but on the
third he made few remarks-after he had
| hung up the receiver of course.
| The Interruptions came every morning
| with distracting regularity, but Kittinger
was helpless and had to stand for It, Then
| an idea occurred to him and now every
| night at midnight, whether he Is at his
| office or at his home. he calls UP central
on both phones. When the girls answer
| test" and slaps up the receiver.
IF 1 can just get little support" said
the senator in telling his troubles to a
| friend, III break up this morning test
! deal or the companies will have a strike
of hello girls on their hands inside of six
| ty days.
Xxx
Major George W. Steele, of Marion. was
here yesterday, but he did not shed any
light on the perpiexing question as TO
whether he will be a candidate for the con-
gressional nomination in the Eleventh dis
| trict next year against Representative
| Frederick Lands He still persists In talk
ing about farming whenever the subject OF
| politics is preached in his presence.
The major recently returned from trip
East where he went TO attend meeting
| of the board of managers of the national
| military homes. incidentally he stopped of
| In Washington to look after some business
| connected with the establishment OF COM
| plete rural delivery service in two or three
| counties of his district but he received little
| satisfaction ar the department. as 10 when
| the routes will be put into operation
/
w. b. Roberts. of Washington, assistant
superintendent of city delivery in the Post
office Department stepped on In the city
yesterday en- route TO ST. Louis and Kansas
City. Mr.. Roberts says that the investisa-