The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-23
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS

Alonzo Greene Smith. of Indianapolis.
for permanent chairman OF the Democratic
national convention at St. Louis.
Such was the boom started last evening
at the Grand Hotel, where half a dozen
wen-known Democrats. engaged in more or
less desGltory political gossip. finally got
around TO the subject of the national con-
vention and the question was asked: Who
VIII be the temporary and permanent chair
men of the convention" 1t appeared that
none of the group knew who had been
slated for those positions. and then the
suggestion followed. naturally enough. that
Indiana should have one OF the places.
When il came to a discussion of what In
diana men were available for such pre-
ferment, all agreed readily that Alonzo
Greene Smith was the man to pilot the
Democratic ship of state through the
stormy seas anticipated at st. Louis.
Let's start boom for Greene Smith for
permanent chairman proposed one of the
group. man who had much TO do with
making Mr.. Smith the permanent chair
man of the recent state convention. IF
we're going TO have a fight at St. Louis
like we had here. and guess we are-the
only probable difference is that ii will be
worse one than we had-Smith's as good
man for chairman as could be found the
country over. He handled our convention
admirably. He's been tried out time and
again a presiding officer in a big fight,
and Democrats in other States know of
him. During our state convention the
papers in St Louis Chicago, New York,
Boston and other cities gave him con-
siderable prominence as the chairman.
Prominent Democrats. in the East especial
ly, had their eyes on Indiana, and they
saw that the convention was handled splen-
didly.
Il don't mean to push Smith forward as
man TO sound the keynote for the ma
tional campaign. Let them choose a man
and do it well, and then let's put Smith
forward to handle the gavel when the fight
is on.
This suggestion was received without a
dissenting voice, and il was urged. in addi-
ton, that Indiana might we'll claim this
recognition at ST. Louis because it has been
urged that the nominee for Vice President
should come from this State, and the In
diana leaders are virtually agreed that In
diana does not want the candidate for sec
ond place. For that matter, however, there
are Democrats here who are ready to pro-
pose that Indiana furnish the permanent
chairman of the convention, the candidate
for Vice President, and then the chairman
of the national committee to direct the
campaign. They incline to the theory that
modesty is a weak political virtue, and to
the philosophy that If one wants thing
the only way to get it is to go after it.
I
Levi Ulrich, of Greensboro, Republican
nominee for state representative from Her.
~ county. was in the city yesterday en-
route to his home from st. Louis, where
he attended the International Good Roads
| Congress a delegate from Indiana. Mr..
| Ulrich is a wide-awake, well-informed, pro-
gressive farmer, who keeps in touch with
all movements for the improvement of
| agricultural conditions. He. states that In
| diana was well represented at the good
| roads congress and that the sessions
| throughout were of great interest. Dele
gates were present not only from all the
| States of the Union. but from Canada.
| Mexico, Cuba and South America and
| European countries.
| Mr.. Ulrich says that Indiana has the
| most attractive state building the
| worlds fair grounds and that every
Hoosier who visits it has additional cause
| for pride in his State.
James F. Statesman, of Peru, who has
represented the 'shoestring' district, COM
posed of Miami. Wabash. Huntington.
| Grant and Howard counties, in the House
| during the last two sessions of the Legisla-
ture, and who is being mentioned as a