The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-07
Active i'm the Councils OF His Party.
Vigorous Writer and a Force
ful Speaker.
SUPPORTED MR.. CLEVELAND
THEN BECAME A WORsHIPER OF
THE STRANGE NEBRASKA GOD,
His Body to BE Cremated and the
Ashes Scattered Over the Graves
of His Parents.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Aug. 6.-John Gill
bert Shanklin died at his home in this city
to-day. While long illness had depleted his
vitality and death was considered by his
family and attendants as only matter of
short time, his demise was unexpected Mr..
Shankln having expressed wish to be ere
mated. his body will be taken to a crema-
tory at Chicago. Mr.. Shanklin had been in
poor health for several years. Early in
May last both asthmatic and heart troubles
became pronounced.
The funeral arrangements were completed
tonight. The remains will be sent to Chi
cago Friday night and cremated. The ashes
will be brought back here and scattered
over the graves of the parents of Mr..
Shanklin in Oak Hill Cemetery. The ashes
of the late George Shanklin, brother of John
Gilbert Shanklin, were disposed of in this
way. Mrs. Harlan, sister of the deceased,
is expected here from Washington city to-
morrow. Many kilograms of coincidence
were received by the Shanklin family to-
day, among them from William Jennings
Bryan, George Fred Williams, United States
Senator Beveridge, Clark Howell, Congress
man James A Hemenway and Gov. w. T.
Durbin.
Mr. Shanklin, who was perhaps the best
known Democratic politician i'm Indiana,
was born in Evansville May 3, 1S4l. He
graduated at Kenyon College and took a
course In the University of Heidelburg
Mr.. Shanklin entered politics after he
became editor of the Courier of this
city. in the early seventies. and for
twenty years he was a potent force
in the councils Of the party not only in the
State. but in the Nation. His supremacy as
leader and his wisdom as a man caused
him to be chosen as national committeeman
from Indiana in 1896. He held this position
for four years, retiring in 1900, when there
was reversion Of state leadership from the
principles of William Jennings Bryan.
AS politician ne took an active part i'm
campaigns and in advising the management
of party policy. But, aside from this, he
had small emoluments from his work. In
1873 he was elected secretary of state. serv-
ing two years while James Williams was
Governor. He was a candidate a second
eral landslide that overwhelmed the party
in State and Nation when James A. Gar
field was elected to the presidency.
In his political career he was an ardent
speech to turn the tide toward Grover
Cleveland In 1884, and again in 1892 After
the campaign at the close of which the
New Yorker was elected to the presidency
by a large vote Mr.. Shankiin and his
friends endeavored to get from the newly
elected President some proper recognition
OF Mr.; shankiin,s work, but without sue:
him diplomatic appointment. but the
smallpess of the Office was such that Mr.
Shanklin felt he could not sacrifice his edi-
Tor cl vxynr IN, H.
as well. for its reward. He refused the
appointment. Afterward, it is said he was
again offered an appointment, but the rec
ognition again was doubtful compliment,
so he thought, and again he refused
1t was after the second election of Mr..
Cleveland that the Evansville editor seemed
to turn his favor to other quarters. While
he did not combat the policies or official
position Of the dominant man either
through his paper or public speech. it was
evident by his passive attitude in times
were busy both with pen and tongue, that
he treasured a small degree of Recruitment
for Cleveland Whether Cleveland's slight
ing recognition of his ability and his work
tended to decide him In this course is not
known. At any rate, early "a the course
of Mr.. Clevelands second term as Presi-
dent Mr.. Shanklin cast about for new poll
cies and new man to follow. The dis
astrous times attending the New
York mans second term turned his
attention to free silver, and after
N
free silver doctrine, OF which William Jen-
nings Bryan later became the exponent AS
early as 1894 Mr.. Shanklin, through the edi-
torial columns of his paper, advocated the
ratio of 16 to l for silver coinage, and when
the sentiment showed itself universal in
the predominating element of his party IN,
1895 he pushed the advocacy with vigor.
AS one of the early champions of free silver
he became, when the Chicago convention
took its momentOus step and nominated
Bryan, one of its foremost advocates for
the campaign. Not only did ne conduct a
strong. campaign through his paper, but he
spoke as well in public meetings through
out Indiana. His idol went down with the
strong tide that put William Mckinley into
office, and for the time the principles of
Bryan were scoffed, but Mr.. Shanklin did
not abate his fight for the principles for
which the Nebraskan stood He still con-
tinued his vigorous attitude in the editorial
columns of his paper. and his position as
national committeeman from the State lent
a certain distinction to his otherwise trench
ant articles and logical articles.
AS speaker he was recognized through
out the central States. He was not an
orator, but he combined a deep fund of
knowledge with a pleasing conversational
tone In such a way as to interest and hold
large audiences
His last public appearance in Evansville
or anywhere, was last September, when he
introduced Benjamin F. Shively, of South
Bend, to campaign audience Even then
| his condition was very serious, and the
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