The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-23
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

staff Correspondence of the Journal.
MARION, Ind, Oct. 22.-Viewed from a
distance the political situation in the
Eleventh district, as whole, and in Grant
county, as one of it's component parts Is
complex; viewed from this city, which is
the center of interest in the district at
present, it is nothing short of a Chinese
puzzle. 1t is a tangle Of moves and coun-
ter moves, plots and counter plots, that
might well battle the Philadelphia lawyer of
whom much has been heard. No one has
been found who processes to clear under
standing of the situation; even the men
who are deepest in the game throw up
their hands with every semblance Of sim
certify when asked for an explanation.
And speaking of politics in the Eleventh
district and Grant county, of course, refer
ence is had to Republican politics-there is
no Democratic politics here; at least, there
is so little that ii scarcely ever creates even
Chairman w. II. OBrien said to his good
Democratic brother Warder w. Stevens, Of
Salem. as the Grant county line was
crossed route here to-day:
Stevens. be careful now; we're getting
into a section where they raise more Re-
publicans than they do corn. A Democrat
stands no more show here than a SNOWFALL
In Gehenna.'
There are three big questions at issue in
the district Who will be the next district
chairman and member of the Republican
State committee, who will be the next con-
gressional nominee, and, will G.. A. H.
Shideler, of this city, be the districts can
didate for the Republican gubernatorial
nomination? Out of these questions and the
attempts now under way to work out the
answers arises the Chinese puzzle
The question of imminent interest and i'm
portance is that regarding the district
Craftsmanship. 1t must be settled before
any of the others. as the convention for
early in January, if not before the first of
the year. Adam Beck. of Huntington, the
present INCUMBENT, is a candidate for re-
election. ELAN III. Neal. of Jonesboro, this
county, Shideler's right hand man, is a
prospective candidate against Beck. 1t is
the impression here now that Neal will be
a candidate; both he and Shideler indicate
as much. Neither Beck nor Neal has an
nounced the platform" on which he will
ask the election, but it is generally under
stood that the former, IL elected, will vote
for the reelection of State Chairman Good
rich, while the latter will vote for Good
rich unless Senator Beverage and his
friends want someone else at the head of
the State organization, in which event it is
thought he will vote for someone else"
xxx
There has been a movement to oppose
Beck for several months and it is said
that Meals ambition to head the district
resentative Fred Lands, of Logansport
and his friends decided some time ago tha,
a change in the craftsmanship would be
best for his interests and 1T was first de-
cided TO bring out Judge III. B. Shively, OF
Wabash, as the candidate against the
Huntington man. This fell through be-
| cause Judge Shivelys health was such that
| he would not consider the proposition Then
| Elan Neal was suggested and the Lands
/ people decided to accept him. Everything
seemed in good shape, Ii Is said when sud
\ denly John NJ. Johnston, chairman of the
| Cass county committee and Landis's man.
! ager. got the idea that Neal was in realit,
! Major Steeles choice for chairman, and Il
/ elected. would use his position to further
/ Major Steele's prospective candidacy fol
! the congressional nomination against Ian
dis. The deal was of. Patiently but per
sistently the Neal people labored with
Johnston and finally disabused his mind OF
the Steele bugaboo. only to have him con
| ceive another. This time II was to the, eff
! feet that Shidelers candidacy Cor Goyerno,