The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-27
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

paigning in Ohio came the word that Mayor
John w. Hoffman had departed for the
Buckeye State to assist Tom Johnson and
his other Democratic brethren who are
heading the forlorn hope in the Ohio cam
paign- Mayor Hoffman made a speech at
Greenville, o., yesterday afternoon and
last night spoke in Union City on the Ohio
side OF the State line. He will return in
indianapolis to-day. Humorously inclined
politicians, in commenting on the incident
last night, said that the Ohio Democrats
were apparently frightened at the prospect
of weeks campaign in their State by the
two Republican United States senators
from Indiana and Immediately rose to the
emergency by sending for Mayor Holtz-
man to make a couple of speeches to coun-
teract the effect of the arguments of the
senator's
Mayor Holtzman's recent victory in In
dianapolis by the way, has made him al
most a national character among Demo-
Gratis, judging, at least, from the publicity
he is receiving. He is already enjoying
boom Tor the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination, and IL he receives a few more
invitations to speak in other States and
gets TO consorting with such Democrats as
Tom L. Johnson, of Cleveland. he will soon
be In line for presidential boom. Indeed
his claims to attention from the Democrats
of the country are by no means inconsid-
cradle. He is about the only Democrat
In the country who has been able to win
a contest of any moment, and the national
Democracy Is unquestionably looking for
man with winning ways.
The mayor, 1t is whispered gently, is by
no means averse to the mention of his name
as gubernatorial possibility, and it is in
timated that he may really be regarded as
candidate for the Democratic nomination
Close friends of his are fostering the boom,
and while the mayor says he has no time
10 think OF such thing he has not said
that he would not consider the nomination.
He would not have to resign from the may
orally TO make the race, either for the NOM
ination or for the election, and inasEluch
as there are very few Democrats in the
State who are laundering for the experience
or severe drubbing at the hands of the
Republicans, to say nothing of digging up
the assessment always levied on the head
of the ticket, 1t is not unlikely that Mayor
Holtzman Will land the nomination.
Stranger things have happened in Indiana
politics.
The same elements that are ENCOURAGING
the Hoffman boom for Governor are also
urging James Leroy Reach for the chair
manship of the Democratic state committee
and it seems that the game is to push
Holtzman and Reach along, hand in hand,
until they are on the top of the Democratic
project is carried so far that a retreat
would be embarrassing, it would be ad-
visable for some of the promoters to "see
Taggart.
Jim Robinson, the Democratic member
Of Congress from the Twelfth district, is in
peck Of trouble because of an alleged in
terview with him in a Chicago paper in
which he is quoted as saying uncompli-
mentary things about Grover Cleveland.
The Chicago paper quoted Representative
Robinson as follows:
II understand that Grover Cleveland will
be in Chicago tomorrow, so we will leave
Tonight, for we want to get just as far
away from him as possible All good Demo-
Gratis should keep away from him. Those
are my sentiments exactly"
1T is a pure fake" said Robinson, to his
Democratic organ, when he reached Fort
wayne This is the first / have seen of
1t. OF course L never said it,"
However despite the vigorous denial of it's
authenticity, the alleged Interview will not
be without its disastrous effect. There are
many conservative Democrats in the
Twelfth who regard Grover Cleveland as
the patron saint of the party, and they will
| resent the aspersions attributed to Robin
son and will be quick to believe it. 1t is
true that the free silver Democrats have
been largely in the ascendency in the
Twelfth and that because Robinson was
right on that question he was reelected
| last year, but the free silverites are be-
coming less rabid and the hostility Of the
| conservative Democrats of his district will
! De a nedVy Tor MIN TO carry next
| year, both as a candidate for renomina-
| ton and as the nominee.
| Capt w. M. Meredith, chief of the Bureau
of Printing and Engraving at Washington,
is in the city, the guest of Meredith Nichol-
| son. He is returning from a trip to the
Northwest. Indianapolis is Captain Mere
dithS old home, and number of years ago
| he was identified with the Indianapolis Jour-
N a fn IoIric
! thence to Chicago, and was appointed from
| that city to the position he now holds by
President Harrison. He was out during
! Cleveland's second administration but was
| reappointed by President Mckinley.
| xxx
| Lieutenant Governor Gilbert is still con-
! fined to the sanitarium at Battle Creek,
| so crippled with rheumatism that he cannot
use his hands. and with prospects for early
recovery not altogether encouraging. He is
making some little improvement but in a
| letter to his law partner, Judge Wood of
! Fort Wayne, stated that his physicians give
him no definite assurances to when he
! will be able to leave the sanitarium. AS a
prospective candidate for the Republican
| nomination for Governor Mr.. Gilbert's illness
! comes at a very inopportune time, as the
| various candidates are doing great amount
| of log-rolling at present, and he is especially
| unfortunate in that there is lively contest
| now on in his district for the Craftsmanship,
| ana ne Is cOUlDclteu 10 Tar from the
scene of action, wholly incapacitated, liter
| ally and figuratively, to take hand in the
! affair."
The Columbia City Post Oemocratic) says
of congressional matters in the Twelfth dis
trict:
THUS far Mr.. Carver, OF Angola, and DR.
! McGoogan, of Fort Wayne, have authorized
| the announcement of their names candi-
dates for the Republican nomination fol
Congress in this district. Other prospective
candidates Bob Hanna and Lieutenant
! Governor Gilbert, of Fort Wayne and c. C.
Gilhams, of Lagrange. The Democrats will
likely trot out Jim again, he is regarded
/ swift enough to beat any man in that bunch
bob Hanna, who secured more rural mai
routes for the people of the district thar
both senators and all the congressman in the
State combined THAT is, according to the
Republican papers). may soon announce hi.
candidacy for the nomination in 190i'
c. II. Bundy, of Marion, who was here
on business yesterday, says there have
been no new Developments in politics ii
Grant county within the past week. Lik,
most Republicans of that city Mr. Bundy
regards the situation in his county and tbs
Eleventh district as exceedingly compli
Gated, but also like many others he re
fuses to make any predictions as to tn,
outcome in district craftsmanship or con
gressional affairs. I'm not good guesser,
he said, besides its always disconcerting
to say the least, to have after events SHOW
the wildness of ones guesses. I'm goin: