The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-22
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

candidate for the Republican congressional
nomination in this, the Seventh district in
opposition to Representative Jesse Over
street The rumor started, it is understood,
from a chance remark. not made for publ
cation, of a prominent indianapolis Re-
publican, who said recently to a friend,
We're going to nominate English for Con-
gress one of these days.
AS the quickest way of getting at what
truth or substance there might be in the
report Journal reporter visited Captain
English yesterday and asked him If he was
aware he was enjoying congressional
boom. The captain was Enthusiastically sur
prised.
NO" he said II had not heard that my
was being used In that connection.
1t has not been suggested to me, nor has it
occurred to me to become a candidate for
Congress. Some of my friends have pro-
posed that L become candidate for State
senator on the legislative ticket next year,
but even that suggestion has NOT gone very
far, I'm sure. i not in any sense seek
ing political honors and have not given
any thought TO that sort of thing, but L
do not affect to know what a year or two
or three th years may Drng 9 anant Ho ey
say that IL my name has been used in
that connection L am not particeps
criminis.'
a visit at his country place in Scott county
and, by the way, he carried excess baggage
on his return trip in the shape Of four fine
English setter pups which he will present
to friends. One he gave TO Governor Dur
bin and another to Senator Fortune, OF
Jeffersonville. The pups are registered ana
have pedigrees as long as the moral code.
XXX
Harry c. Starr, of Richmond, one of the
men who do things in Wayne county Repub-
lican politics and who is likewise prominent
in district and State affairs, was here yes
terday and was one of the callers at the
Statehouse. He was here on business, ana
as is almost invariably the case with him.
he was too busy to talk politics.
THE people over in Wayne county are not
thinking about politics now," he said. LAS
L said to you some time ago, We do not
work at politics three hundred and sixty
five days In the year as they ao IN s some
and then we may get In the game ana Iur-
niSh some news.
Governor Durbin was in his office yester-
day for the first time in a week. He re-
ceived a number of callers during the day.
The situation in the Ninth district, where
Representative c. B. Lands is threatened
with some little opposition for re-nomina-
State and the county press is taking it up
and commenting on it. The Starke county
Republican, published at Knox, in a recent
issue predicts that the retirement of Rep
resentative Lands would surely prove to
be an egregious politician blunder," and
says in part:
Down in the Ninth congressional dis
trict, which is so ably represented In Con-
gress by Charles Lands OF Delphi, there
has sprung up whole barn full of aspirants
who are bent on retiring the Delphi man:
This looks like about the silliest piece Of
politics ever trotted out for the considera-
ton of the voting public. for nothing but
jealousy, green-eyed jealousy of the rank
est kind, could inspire any one Of the
bunch with desire to wear Lands shoes.
Indiana is proud of Charles 3. Lands and
it makes us swell up all over to hear per-
sons residents of distant States speak OF
him as if they had known him from boy
hood. Indiana has had many popular and
able representatives in Congress, and 1t Is
no disparagement to them to say that for
length of service none of them were so we'll
and favorably known the land over as Is
Mr.. Lands"
The Upton Tribune, published at the
home Of the prospective candidate against
Mr.. Lands, apparently takes a different
view Of the situation, saying:
There is every reason to believe that
j
to get away from the demand that has
gone up for him to make the race for Con-
gress in this district against Charles Lam
have at all mentioned his name say that he
is the strongest man to pit against the
Delphian, but the judge himself has not
given out just what he will do. There are
strong enough to at least give Lands the
fight of his life and some say that If the
Upton man gets into the game he will
come out with the prize
Republican State Chairman James p.
Goodrich, of Winchester, was here last
night and spent a few hours at head
quarters looking after some routine bust
ness Of the organization.
Judge Hiram Brownlee, OF Marion, who
was at the Columbia Club last evening
talked freely of Eleventh district politics
although he professed ignorance on the
question that interests most Republicans
in that part of the State at present-Maj
George w. Steele's intentions as to enter
ing the congressional race next year.
II don't believe anyone on earth, save
Major Steele, knows what he will do In
regard to being a candidate for the nomi.
nation next year." said Judge Brownlee
land it is not improbable that he himself
has not finally decided the question. 1 see
him almost every day and joke with him
about his farming, and he comes back al
me about playing golf; but he has never
given me any intimation as to his political
plans. believe. too. that IL he was ready
| to take his friends into his confidence
would be one of his confidants.
Whatever he may decide to do, this
talk about a conflict between the Shidelel
and Steele forces will come to nothing
| and there Is not the slightest foundation
| for it, The Republicans of Grant county
are unanimously and enthusiastically fol
| Shideler. IL he is a candidate for Governor
and it is taken zen, for or granted that he will
| and just as enthusiastically for Steele If thu
| major decides to be a candidate for tn,
congressional nomination. The represen
| tation that there may be trouble between
| the friends of the two men comes, l be-
| county who are anxious to keep Steele on
| of the race for Congress or Shideer on
| of the fight for Governor.
| 81 believe that Major Steele was never
| stronger among the rank and file of tn
| he IS at this time. and If the nomination
| were left to a primary now / am of opinion
| that he would win out by an overwhelmin,
majority. His defeat last year was by n,
| means indicative of the attitude of tn
4 rank and file OF the party toward him, TO
| ton of politicians and circumstances tina
| stands without a parallel in the histor,
| of congressional contests in Indiana"
| XXX
Judge Brownlee was asked the sentmen
i of Marion Republicans on the distric
craftsmanship question, and he replied tina
all the expressions he had heard were t
the effect that Adam Beck, of Huntington