The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-31
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS.

Joseph M. Hudspeth, of Boonville, who
was in the city yesterday official bust
ness as member of the board of trustees
of the Southern Hospital for the Insane.
says that the Democrats of the First dis
trict have not only abandoned all idea of
defeating Representative James A. Hem
enway, but are actually booming him for
President.
Perhaps it is putting it rather strong
to say that the Democrats of the First are
booming Hemenway for President" said
Mr.. Hudspeth, in qualifying his first state
ment, but it is an actual fact that one
of the strongest Democrats in the district,
one Of the dyed-in-the-wo kind, who never
voted anything but the straight Democratic
ticket in his life, told me the other day that
he believed Hemenway would be elected
President before he closed his political ca
reer. This Democrat spoke of Hemenway'S
record and position in Congress with almost
much pride If he were a Republican,
and / am satisfied that there are hundreds
of other Democrats in the district who feel
1--WE are ali proud of Jim down our way
and he'll be returned to Congress just as
long as he wants to go. The district has al
ways been a close one, but after the
strength he showed last year, carrying
every county In the district but Posey, and
reducing the Democratic plurality there. 1
don't see how ii can be regarded as close
again, especially on congressional cleo
ton with Mr.. Hemenway as our candi-
date"
Mr.. Hudspeth says that Representative
Hemenway will leave Boonville to-day for
Washington, as he has a great deal of
work to do before the converting of Con-
greSS on the 9Th
Washington correspondents are predicting
that when Speaker Cannon announces his
committee assignments it will be found that
Representative Hemenway will not only
be chairman of the committee on appropri-
atoms. but will also be member of the
committee on rules. If such turns out to
be the case Mr.. Hemenway's influence and
power in all matters of legislation will be
almost unlimited.
A. c. Pikenton, of Greenfield, proposes
novel scheme for Hancock county Repub-
licans to adopt in county politics.
Republicans stand absolutely no chance
of electing any part of the county ticket in
Hancock" he said land some of us are get
ting tired of putting up ticket year after
year. only to have it knocked down by the
Democrats 1t occurred to that for a
campaign or two We ought to refuse to NOM
mate a county ticket, go into the Demo
cratic nominating conventions, pledge our
selves to vote for the Democratic candidates
selected and then see IL we can't break UP
the Democratic ring that runs the county
We might be able TO nominate few DEM
oerats who had a little Republican blood
in them and in any event we could get the
Democrats to fighting among themselves
As long as We put up Republican heads for
them to shoot at they'll shoot at US, but we
might be able TO get them TO turn their
guns on each other.
why, the way the Democratic ring runs
things in Hancock is outrageous. They
have reached the point where they make
up a slate eight or ten years in advance
They tell Democrat TO so ahead and work
and he VIII be given such and such office
at such and such a time and then if he de
livers the goods they give him his reward
Il don't know whether my scheme would
meet with the approval Of the majority OF
Hancock county Republicans but | know
the Democrats wouldn't like il. / told
Democrat about Ii the other day and he
swore like a pirate at the suggestion: said
the Democrats didn't want to have ANY,
thing to do with Republicans and that we
should attend strictly to our own business -
The first Democratic convention in which
the Republicans attempted TO take a hand.
under this scheme proposed by Mr.. Pilken-
ton, would undoubtedly be a lively affair
but it's difficult TO see how the Democrats
could help themselves if the Republicans
pledged themselves TO vote for the Demo-
cratic nominees.
w. A. Brown. NJ. E. Forkner and Eugene
Bundy. three of the leading attorneys and
most active Republicans of Henry county,
were here yesterday on legal business They
said politics In their county is comparative
ly quiet at present, reports TO the contrary
Notwithstanding.
{" Jim Watson is spending this week in
Henry county, said Mr.. Brown, 'and