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

ton" and he says further that he thinks
there are at least two or three men in lndl-
ana who will understand perfectly what he
means by that.
Every Republican approached on the SUBJ
ject to-day declared that IL Neal is candi-
date Grant county will be for him, yigor-
conviction that IL he enters the race he will
win hands down. Representative G. ID.
Kimball and Senator c.. c. Lyons both said
they thought the Jonesboro man would be
a candidate and that he would undoubtedly
be elected.
AS to the congressional question, Jasper
A. Gauntt, former member of the Legis-
lature, expressed what seems TO be the con-
sensus Of opinion when he said he believed
there would either be one candidate for
Congress or four In the Eleventh next year.
meaning thereby that Lands, of Cass, will
either be nominated without opposition, or
1t will be a four-cornered fight between him
and Steele, of Grant, Cowgirl, of Wabash.
and Goode, of Huntington. Mr.. Gauntt was
inclined to believe 1t will be four-cornered.
This answer to the question is not very
definite, but Ii is altogether probable that
a more definite one will be unobtainabe for
at least three or four months. Lands will
be given a few months in the House, under
the most critical eyes, before Steele, Cowgirl
and Goode decide whether to enter the
lists against him. The action of Major
Steele will doubtless have a great deal to do
with the course followed by Cowgirl and
Goode.
when will you decide whether you will
be a candidate for Congress next year?'
asked Major Steele this afternoon.
In answer he held up the palms of both
hands, showing numerous calloused spots.
HAS a man whose hands bear such evil
dences of manual labor had time to think
about poliucS?" he asked.
And that is about as satisfactory an
answer as the major has vouchsafed to that
question and none more satisfactory may
be expected for some time The major is
waiting. His friends, men who have always
been close to him personally and politically,
say that they have not the slightest idea
as to what he will do, but they are not
worrying about that They are for him
even more loyalty than ever and their con-
fidence in his political judgment is such
ready to announce his position and then
take off their coats and line up with him
for the fight. The statement is encountered
on every hand here that Major Steele was
never stronger in his own county than he
is right at this time.
Senator O'Brien, by the way. paid Major
Steele high compliment this evening. He
was discussing the congressional situation
in the district and said he regretted very
much that the major had been defeated for
the nomination last year.
"Of course, / want to see Democrats go
to Congress from Indiana" he said. "but
II Republicans must go IKE to on see
lican is the next best thing TO an able
Democrat Major Steele should be in Con-
gress now, and he should be kept there as
long as the district is Republican and he
is able to serve his constituents as capably
as he has served them and as long as he
reflects the credit on Indiana that he has
reflected on the State
said that. in saying this, he did not intend
to offer advice to Eleventh district Repub-
licans, and did NOT think of being quoted,
state chairman to a former Republican
member of Congress is well worth calling
attention to.
Coming down to the third of the 'big
questions"-will G. A. H. Shideler be the
districts candidate for Governor ?-the an
swer is easier. 1t is altogether probable
that he will. In fact, he stated this after
noon that he is all but ready to make his
formal announcement.
II am merely waiting on one or two little
details that may be worked out within a
week." he said, land then I shall make
my announcement. OF course, something
may occur to delay my action, but do not
regard that is probable"
Mr.. Shideler's announcement will settle
the question, for the sentiment from all
parts of the district is that the Eleventh
will be behind him from the moment he en-
tiers the race until he is nominated or gives
the signal to retreat. Grant county Re-
publicans all expect him TO be a candidate
and all express their loyalty to him.
II is barely possible that IL ELAN Neal
becomes a candidate for district chairman
and a hard fight is precipitated, similar to
the contests now on in two or three other
districts, Mr. Shideler's candidacy viii be
affected, just as the congressional situation
might be altered by such an event.
XXX
Along with the interest and gossip con-
corning district affairs (and let it be said
there never was more politics to the square
in Marion than there is at presently there
is some little speculation concerning the
county organization. c. M. Ratliff. the
present county chairman, will probably
stand for reelection, and if he does may
have opposition. Two or three prospective
candidates have been mentioned, among
them s. F. Jones, former secretary of the
committee, Senator c. c. Lyons, of Fair
mount, and Representative Kimball. None
of them will say he Is a candidate, however
Senator Lyons was recently spoken of as a
probable candidate for the secretaryship OF
the state committee, and says he still has
his eyes on that place. kimball may be a
candidate for denomination as one of the
Grant county members Of the lower branch
of the General Assembly.
xxx
The friends of ]. A. Gauntt say he will be
a candidate for state representative next
year, and he does not deny the soft impeach.
ment. Neither does he confirm it, but he is
undoubtedly seriously considering the prop.
osition. John Minnick, who was one of the
representatives last winter, announces that
he will ask denomination, and 1t seems
to be conceded that he will get it. Grant
under the new apportionment, has two rep
resentatives and a joint representative with
BLACKBOARD Both the Grant county sena
tors. Lyons and Stricler. are followers.
The visit Of Governor Durbin and the
members of the Worlds Fair Commission
here to-day created some little stir among
the politicians, and acutely developed
are the political olefactory organs of some
of them that deep political significance
in the visit was at once scented. No one
evolved the exact significance, but severa
insisted that there was something doing.
1t may be stated reliably that there was
nothing whatever of political nature III
the visit. The Governor and the member:
of the commission desire to arouse Interest
in the part Indiana is to take in the expo
sition next year, and little junkets of thai
kind result in more advertising of the prof
ect than anything else could bring about.
Marion Republicans did last year what
Indianapolis Republicans did Unsolicited
a Democratic mayor. They have been do
since, just as Indianapolis Republicans viii
do penance for the next two years. ant
now they are beginning to think about re-
deeming themselves next year. They are
confident this will be an easy matter. i
seems to be conceded by both Democrat.