The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-02

Vigo county will have at least one candi-
date for the Republican congressional nom
ination in the Fifth district. A Journal rep
resentative who visited Terre Haute yes
terday found practically. all the Republican
leaders a unit on that proposition. while
not a few of them ventured the opinion that
there will be two candidates from that
county. II there is but one candidate that
will, in all probability, be Alva NJ. Hig-
gins whose name has not been mentioned
heretofore in this connection. Robert II.
Catlin. who was a candidate two years ago,
is figured on as the second candidate from
Nigo if there should be one.
Both Mr. Higgins and Mr.. Catlin are eX-
ceedingly coy. in the political sense of
that feminine adjective. when approached
on the congressional subject and neither
will admit that he is or will become can
didate. Close friends OF both, however
have in a way committed them 10 making
the race and a formal announcement from
one or the other, or both, is anticipated
within the next few days. County Chair
man a. G.. Cavins. who has been spoken
of as a possible candidate. will not enter
the race Mr. Cavins did not inspire the
mention of his name in connection with tn,
congressional fight, but once the gossip
was started he has not taken the trouble
TO deny il because il seemed to give politi-
clans something to talk about and did not
worry him. But he will not be candidate.
lie and Mr.. Higgins are law partners anC
il one of the firm enters the contest 1t viii
be the latter.
When asked his intentions yesterday
morning Mr.. Higgins at first Jocularly de
MED the soft Impeachment that he has con
gressional aspirations. Later ne talkeC
seriously of the subject
81 cannot even say now that | shall prob
ably be a candidate, but II Is true that 4
am giving the matter some consideration,
he said. Il have just returned from tIil
East and really have not had time 70 tai
with many of my friends. but rev 1riends
have come TO me with the suggestion that
l enter the race. 1t will be a difficult mat
ter for me to determine, for my persona
affairs are in such a shape at present a
to demand all my time. However, 1 shali
not delay long in reaching decision anu
may have my mind MADE up within a rev
days"
one or two men who are close to NJ. Hig-
gins have already in a quiet way started
quite a boom for him and ii is upon Their
activity and expressions of confidence that
the prediction is based that he Will be found
in the list of Representative Holhday $ OPP
ponents before the campaign is many days
older These men say that Mr.. Higgins
will be a candidate and they have taken
steps toward forming the nucleus o. an or
ganization TO secure the Vigo county dele
CATION.
In much the same manner friends of Mr.
Catlin have committed him as candidate,
although they have not gone so far, per-
haps, as Mr.. Higgins's friends. Mr.. Cat
lin maintains the position he took last
week-that he has nothing at all 10 say
on the congressional subject-but his friends
have gone TO several men with the pur-
nf WI n
would be accorded his candidacy.
But, what will Barcus do?"
That is a question several Terre Haute
Republicans and many politicians in the
other counties of the district have asked.
Senator Barcus, as is well known, was a
candidate for the congressional nomination
two and four years ago and was regarded
as a prospective candidate for this years
nomination up until a few weeks ago. A
day or two before the recent convention
to elect a district chairman he announced
definitely that he was not a candidate. Az
that time it was anticipated that thez,e
would be no contest this year if Senator
Barcus did not make the first break, :and
that Mr.. Holiday would be given one re-
nomination without struggle. The en-
trance of other candidates has given some
of the politicians an idea that Senator Bar
Gus might therein find an excuse for chang
ing his mind and deciding after all if there
was to be fight he might as well be in il;
and that, along with the general curiosity
as to his attitude toward the several candi-
dates in event he adhered to his determna-
ton not TO be candidate, has led to the
question as to his intentions.
II have announced that L am not a
candidate, and that announcement was
made, only after due consideration-I am
not a candidate"
Cuco was the answer yeturr1ad nv -,
senator yesterday when the question was
put UP to him. When he was pressed To
state his position toward the other can
ddates he parried with a count er-question
as to whether there was an avowed candi-
date from Vigo county and said that he
could not aay what he would do until ne
knew If thsre was candidate from his
own county.
Inasmuch as Mr. Higgins managed Sen
ator Barcus'S campaign two years ago il
is not unreasonable TO infer that if Mr.
Higgins is a candidate this year he will
have the hearty support of the senator but
the latter intinE1ted that he was not given
to crossing a bridge until he came to il
and would not in any way commit himself
mick" Filbeck, that irrepressible polit-
ical iconoclast of the city on the banks OF
the Wabash, is enjoying himself hugely
these days of preliminary skirmishing along
congressional lin es. He is being felt OUT
by 1rlenQS OF the several prospective can
didates and there, is nothing wherein he
takes so much pleasure as the approach
of some man who wants his support in y
political struggle. Whether he is inclined
toward the man or not. he likes it,
81 really don't X now a thing about the
congressional situa ton" he protested 10
the Journals repres entattve. 1T looks like
there would be a fig ut against Holiday All
right. but / had maCe w my mind to keeu
out of the fight, if there one this wear
and / haven't paid much attention TO il
Some people have been talking to me about
it, though, and L may get into it before
it's over.
"Will Vigo county paVe candidate?"
well. now, / couldn't say positively h1t
it wouldn't be much of a shock or surprise
10 me to learn that there is a Republican
in Vigo county who would like to go To
Congress"
The question as to whether the Vigo
county candidate, if there be one, would
get the solid delegation from the county. is
another that is bothering the politicians
When it was put TO group of three or fo,lr
of the county leaders it seemed to strike
them. as a merry jest.
Its possible" said one of them with .
chlsckle, but IL strikes me that the. mo >
who can get the solid support of Vfeo '.o4,T
ty on any proposition is too big n man -
run fol' COngress-when we find him VII
nominate him for President"
RepreS entative Holiday has many xt,s 49,
friends In Vigo and some of tile acfi,,e