The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-25

gentleman who can work at the game OF
politics all the time and yet keep about
nine-tenths of his fellow-citizens in the dark
as to his intentions and plans. was here a
few hours yesterday. He did not give the
newspaper representatives heart failure by
entering into a free and full discussion Of
Eleventh district Republican affairs and
stating just where he stood several prop
ositions that are Of unusual interest to poll
ticians of the district at this time, but on
the contrary he adhered strictly to his role
OF artful d0dger. Heretofore the major has
avoided the subject of politics when talking
to reporters by INDUCING in learned disser-
tations on farming as a fine art and relating
how many acres he had pIowed in the last
month or So Yesterday an attempt was
made to forestan this cline of talk with
the question as to whether he was done with
his fall blowing, followed up by another
to what he had been doing in political
way.
''well." laughed the major in reply, 1--WE
haven't had blowing weather for a few
weeks. but I've been so busy getting ready
for my spring blowing and to SOW clover
seed that | haven't paid any attention TO
politics have heard rumors of a political
stir of some kind, but I'm not on the inside,
so 1 don't know a thing about anything
that may be going on.
However, while Major Steele would not
talk politics he did drop a word or two
about indianapolis and the army post site
question. and he was a trifie inclined to
roast Indianapolis people for their appar-
ent lack of interest in the matter of secur-
ing the army post.
II see that it is still unsettled whether
indianapolis is to get that army post" he
said, but the people of your city do not
seem to be much concerned at the prospect
of losing the post after Congress has once
determined to locate it here. Now, if In
dlanapolis does not really want the post,
and is altogether Indifferent as to whether
ii is located here or elsewhere, your people
ought to say the word and give other cities
in the State chance. I've been doing a
little work and have tract of $500 acres
the purposes and requirements of the War
Department, which / can secure for the
post, for the amount which the government
proposes to pay for the site here, and If
Indianapolis people do not want the site
I'd like to have a tip so that can try to
pull 1t for Grant county.
Il really am surprised that the people of
indianapolis should permit the matter of a
few thousand dollars to interfere with the
locating Of the post here. The people of
almost any other city in the State would
nave raised the amount neeQed Wltnln
forty-eight hours after the difficulty be-
came known. / remember that the people
OF Marion and Grant county met the emer-
gency in great shape when II was up to
them to secure the Soldiers Home. IT
should be remembered that the bill estab-
fishing the post here has already been
passed, and that 1t will be much more diff
ficult to get another bill through or amend
ments to the original bill, than it to
pass the original bill. Congress will not be
as free in spending money this session as
it was at the last, and the idea. that the
government has money to burn is alto
gether erroneous. L hope to see the army
post established here, but in any event it
should not be lost to Indiana"
In the official call issued yesterday for
the reorganization of the Republican party
in Indiana State Chairman Goodrich
through an oversight made one omission.
He informs the Journal that the following
paragraph should be incorporated in the
call:
Notice of the time and place of the pre-
cinct, ward and township meetings shall be
given by at least one weeks publication IN
the Republican press of the various coun-
ties.
This is an important requirement and
should not be overlooked by any of the
John L. Rupe, of Richmond, who is being
urged as candidate for the Republican
nomination for State senator, to succeed
the late Senator Benjamin Starr, was in
the city yesterday,
Claude G. Bowers of Terre Haute, who
was one of the active promoters and organ
izers of the Jefferson League. was elected
secretary Of the new Democratic organi.
zation and then gave his Acknowledgements a
shock by resigning and repudiating the
league because he could not subscribe to
the particular brand of true Democratic
principles which it was to espouse, was
in the city last evening. To his friends he
would have nothing further to do with the
league because he was convinced that II
was inimicable to the best interests of the
a speech at the Jackson Club celebration
Jan. 8, at Terre Haute, at which John w
Kern. OF this city, will be the principal
speaker.
Wallace w. Names, of Pike township
yesterday announced his candidacy for the
Democratic district craftsmanship as indi-
Gated In yesterdays Journal. Mr.. Names
asserts that he is not the candidate of any
ring, clique faction of the party. but
that he is running entirely on his merits.
James L. Reach, Democratic city chair.
man, as was expected, disavows any re-
sponsibility for Mr.. Maines's entering the
race. ''I am against Mr.. Tanning, as 1 have
said all along" Reach Is quoted as having
said yesterday. IL am not party to bring.
ing out any candidate however. and do not
intend to be. I have no time to give con-
stantly to political fights, and / do not
intend to take part in this one"
In view of the fact that Reach announced
with a flourish but a few weeks ago that
he would defeat Tanning for district chair
man. and that he would put Thomas Tag
CART out of politics IL it was the last ant
only thing he ever did do, and would begir
by defeating Taggart's righthand man
flaming his protestation that he has moth
| ing to do with Mr.. Maines's candidacy 1:
regarded as one of his exceptionally goot
| jokes. Especially is this true when It Il
indisputably known that Names wa.