The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-04
MENlES TO THE FORE
IN THE FIRST DISTRICT
Democrats Want the Posey County
Man to Accept the Congress
sional Nomination.
HE DESIRES THE TOGA
Would Sit in the Seat of VOORHEES,
and Turpie-Bryan's Coming
a Sign of Trouble.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. Jan. efforts Of
leaders in the now dominant wing OF First
district Democrats to have Major G.. V.
Menzies, of Mount Vernon, take the con-
gressional nomination this year-it is ad-
mitted he would have no opposition if he
stood for the place in convention-are
blocked by the majors own desires, which
have as their object. it is said, a senatorial
toga and the place filled by Voorhees, and
Turpie.
No secret is made Of the Posey county
mans aspirations. His objection to the dis
trict nomination does not lie in his aver
sion TO political honor. but TO his firm con-
victions that of the two honors, he ought to
take the greater. Before now his name has
been mentioned as a Democratic possibility
for the Senate, and the suggestion of his
candidacy for the upper body has found
place in a number Of party papers in the
State. These repetitions have given form TO
his boom and it remains now for the
major TO give it strength by personal work
and an organization.
He is well known as a leader of State
Democracy, because of his prominence in
conventions and at all party gatherings, and
because OF his services in two successive
campaigns as a presidential convention dele
gate. These conventions, il is not TO be de-
MED, were in the reign of free silver, but
the major, although he was a conscientious
Democrat, was not carried into enthusiasm
by the doctrines of the Nebraskan sage. He
was IKE many other prominent Democrats
in the State whose partisan scruples out
weighed their belief, and who, while they
did not like the Chicago and Kansas City
platforms, supported them and the candi-
date because they were the will of the
party expressed in the majority.
But at the reversion from outspoken Bry-
anlsm by the leaders Major Menzies again
came TO his own, and was with the element
that dictated party policies in the State for
the I9CZ campaign. The major, it will be
membered was permanent chairman of
the Boonville convention that nominated
John w. Spencer for Congress from the dis
trict, and in his speech of thanks made di-
rect reference to what he declared was a
buried issue. Let bygones be bygones,"
was the tenor of his speech at the conven-
tlon then, as 1t was again at the Mount
Vernon gathering last Thursday, when John
j. Nolan, of Evansville, was superseded as
chairman and guiding hand of the district
Democracy.
At Boonville in 1902 the Pike county dele
cation, which is now in the ascendant in
the party, suffered visibly at the hands of
Major MenzieS, the presiding officer. They
were reputed to have q candidate in opposf-
ton to Spencer and no opportunity was left
unaccepted TO make them feel that their
candldate was not wanted. Arthur II. Tay-
lor, former congressman and a leader in
PIKE county, was the spokesman for the
delegation. Major Menzies, relying on a
strict Interpretation of parliamentary prac-
tice, declared the former congressman out
of order several times and Just before adj
Journment, when Mr.. Taylor offered the
usual motion that the rooster be adopted as
the party emblem, said Sarcastically that
the gentleman from Pike county must not
be considered as sumbitting a minority re-
port"
The renewal of friendly relations between
the Vanderburg triumvirate and Pike
county. as is evidenced in the formers sub
mission to the inevitable at last Thursdays
meeting-although the election of anybody
10 supersede Nolan was exceedinly distaste-
full to Vanderburg-is taken as a token that
the two combinations, or camps as they
are called by party men, will dictate the
congressional nominee and will work for
Major MenZies's interests among prospec-
tive members of the Legislature If the major
cannot be prevailed on TO become the dis
trict candidate. Mr.. Taylor has been sug-
gested as a congressional candidate. but IL
is known that he will not accept. Besides.
not the kindest personal feelings exist be-
tween him and John w. Spencer, for whom
Taylor showed only a lukewarm support in
1902. Indeed, after the Boonville convention.
Mr.. Taylor declared his belief that Mr..
Spencer could not be elected and that re-
mark has not been forgotten.
The coming of William j. Bryan and VIII
liam r. Hearst this month at the instance
of the free-silver wing OF the party will
have a tendency TO widen the breach be-
tween the gold and silver elements of the
party in the district.