The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29
s prior to yesterdays humiliating acct

to the Columbia Club for lunch and his ma
chine worked perfectly. AS he started to
leave the club on his return 10 the state
house after lunch he found Wingate stand
ing on the steps
"Going over to the Statehouse, John?'
he asked, adding without waiting for an
answer: Get in, and I'll take you over in
a jiffy."
Mr.. Wingate surveyed the red devil
somewhat obviously. but he is a brave man
and in he climbed without parley. Storms
settled himself In the seat, pulled the robe
over them, and with an admonition to Win
gate TO look out for your hat, grasped the
levers and gave the signal to start. The
machine didn't move. A surprised express
sion passed over the face of the secretary
OF state, and he shook the levers again and
pumped viciously up and down on handle
at the right of the seat. The machine emit
ted whir. ch0ked, gasped, sputtered and
was silent and motionless again.
Whats the matter. Dan; has she
balked?' inquired Wingate.
''Oh no, she's all right wait a minute
answered Storms, and he climbed out and
peeped under the vehicle TO inspect the
machinery. Then he got in again and laid
hold of the levers. and again there was
no response.
Maybe the critters hungry" suggested
Wingate. solicitiously.
mo. the tanks full of gasoline came
the reply. LET me get out and look at 1t
again..
Wingate interposed no objections and
Storms got out and commenced tinkering
WITH the machinery. once or TWICE the
auto snorted and made false starts, much
to the alarm of Wingate, who did not rel
ish the idea of taking ride by himself:
Watch out Dam" he admonished Don't
let her get away from you with me IN
here alone. She might start to climb the
monument. Hadn't 1 better get out, too?''
''Sit STILL" commanded Storms sternIy,
and proceeded with his tinkering.
In the meanwhile interested crowd OF
spectators had gathered to enjoy the sport
and offer advice. as is usually the case in
such an emergency storms didn't en Joy
advice, and from the region under the ma
chine where he was working came sputter-
ings and short, vicious explosions, all or
which could not be attributed TO the gaso-
line. For his position of ease and uncon-
Germ on the seat Wingate, too, contributed
observations that did not tend to make
the situation any more pleasant for his
host.
I've always thought these red devils
were uncertain brutes,' he said. And again:
Il wish l could help you, Dan, but de-
was horse We could put burr under
his tail, or build a fire under him, or do
something like that. I've handled balky
horses, but I'm not chur-chan-chanure,
or whatever you call yourself.
Finally, after fifteen minutes of strenu-
Gus effort, Storms surrendered. Straight
ening up beside the machine, with the per-
spiration pouring down his face in streams,
in tone of deepest humiliation he broke
the news to Wingate:
John I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I'll
have to ask you to get out and walk over
to the Statehouse. There's something wrong
that can't fix and I'll have to get an ex-
pert here"
Wingate started to make some facetious
reply but when he caught the tone or his
friends voice and realized his complete dis
comfiture, restrained his humor. Perhaps
there was something in the firm set or
Storms's chin and the steey CLINT in his
erstwhile mild blue eyes that warned Win
gate that the thing had reached point
where it was no longer TO be regarded as a
joke, and while the tax commissioner Is
brave, he Is also discreet. Besides, he
wants to take ride in that ''red devil one
of these days, when the kinks have been
taken out of its disposition.
XXX
j. A. Kautz, postmaster of Kokomo, who
was here last night, says politics is at ebb
tide in Howard county at present. There
is little to arouse the politicians just now"
said Mr.. Kautz. I'VE had a short furry
over the congressional question, but that
has almost subsidized. Congressman Lands
paid Kokomo visit recently and seemed
well pleased with the situation. He has
many friends in Kokomo and Howard
county. So has Judge Mount, of Upton,
so it is not likely that the Howard county
vote will all go one way in the convention
if the contest between Lands and Mount Is
fought TO finish.
1t has been reported within the past week
tnat Judge MOUNT may IecOHSlueT Ills uc-
termination to be a candidate against Rep
resentative Lands next year and defer his
congressional aspirations until 1906. Mr..
Kautz was asked IL he had heard this re-
port, but he said he knew nothing or II.
xxx
James d. Reid warden of the State Prison
at Michigan City, was here yesterday and
held conference with Governor Durbin
concerning institutional matters.
John W. Kern, of this city, has received
call to "come over into Macedonia and
will leave to-day for Ohio to assist the
Democrats in the closing days of the cam
pagn. Tonight Mr.. Kern will speak at
Hamilton, tomorrow night at Ottawa, Sat-
urday afternoon at Sidney and Saturday
night at Lima. Indiana Is furnishing a fair
share of the oratory for the last week of
the Ohio campaign, both Republican and
Democratic speakers from this State being
greatly in demand.
XXX
Thomas Taggart came up from French
Lick yesterday and was Immediately be-
sieged at the Grand Hotel by local Demo-
Gratis who are still seeking rewards in the
shape of appointments for their valiant
services in the recent city campaign. Since
the first few days OF the new administra-
ton the ofice-seekers have learned that
Mr. TaggartS influence is a most important
factor, and he has been the recipient of
almost as much attention as has Mayor
| Hoffman.
| The word comes from Decatur that Bar
ton w. Quinn, Of that place, will be can
| didate for the Republican congressional
nomination in the Eighth district next year
against Representative Cromer, of Muncie
Mr.. Quinn has the distinction OF being the
| only Republican who has ever been elected
mayor of Decatur. He was delegate to
| the Republican national convention in ST
| Louis in 1896, and in 1900 was presidential
| elector
| Several weeks ago c. c. Cowgirl, OF
| Wabash, in an interview In this column
| referred to a certain element in Eleventh
| district Republican politics as the ICON.
gressional crowd" This term did not take
/ well with some of the Republicans of the
| district and has been the subject of much
! comment. The Marion News-Tribune has
| the following to say about a meeting Of
| the crowd"
| 1.-The congressional crowd met at Hunt
| ington Monday. Those present were Hon
| c. g. Cowgirl, Wabash; Hon. G. III. Good
| Warren; Hon. Frederick Lands, Logans
| port; Hon. John NJ. Johnston Logansport
| Hon. h. b. Hubbard, Hartford City; Hon
| John Jack, Peru, and several others. Gran
| county, it is said was not represented ii
| the meeting. 1t is stated by veraciou:
/ rumor that the meeting had to do with tn,
| district craftsmanship In the Eleventh dis
| trict, and that gentlemen present founC
! after a canvass that Mr.. Beck is gooC
! enough for the congressional crowd i
! is reported that Mr.. Cowgirl read al
/ exhaustive paper upon the subject, VIII,
ha ok Is Conversational Crowd