The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-18
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS

I publican forces of Fountain county are in
excellent shape, and that they are inter
l selection OF delegates 10 TIE State and dis
trict conventions. which will be held next
Saturday.
]. H. Bennett. Of Monticello. who was
here yesterday TO attend the hardware
dealers convention, was a caller at Re-
publican headquarters. He gave Secretary
Sims a good report of Republican affairs
in White county, saying that the organiza-
ton there was in better shape than il had
been for years. The Republicans are all
on their tiptoes, he said. ready 10 jump
into the campaign and sweep everything
before them.
Senator Eben II. Wolcott. of VOL
colt. who has represented Jasper.
Newton and White counties in the
Senate during the last two sessions
of the Legislature. was at the English lasS
evening. The senator is a candidate for
denomination. and he is one Of the members
who had their districts changed under the
new apportiOnment. Now ne is confronted
with the attack on the cOnstitutionality OF
the apportiOnment act. and until the Su-
preme Court passes on the question Will not
know exactly what counties will compose
his district. The new appOrtionment places
Benton county in his district In the place
of Jasper.
lid hNlNbll was IENOAMAEfA - NlO
of the Republican leaders in the Legisla-
ture. and his friends are confident that his
constituents will return him, whether from
the old or new district.
George Shirts, of Noblesville, the secre-
tary of the codifying commission. is being
urged by his friends as the man TO sue
coed TO the Republican Craftsmanship OF the
Ninth district in event Fred a. Sims. who
has been elected secretary Of the State
committee. decides that he cannot Shout
der the responsibilities of both secretary
and district chairman and relinquishes the
latter place.
Secretary Sims, Of the Republican State
committee. yesterday received a letter from
I. p. Tillman, chairman Of the Warrick
county organization. stating that the pro-
gramme for the Warrick county conyen-
ton, which will be held Feb. q at Boom
vile, will include an unusual feature.
Thomas w. Lindsay, former prosecuting
attorney of that circuit and also former
chairman of the Democratic county CON-
mittee, has renowned his allegiance to the
Democratic party, and at the Republican
convention will deliver an address. in which
he will set forth his reasons for this action
and tell why he has determined 10 idenufy
himself with the Republican party. Mr..
Lindsay has been one OF the leading DEM
ocrats OF the county and his withdrawal
from the party has greatly disconnected
his former associates.
Judge David s. Gooding. of Greenfield,
one of the sages of Indiana Democracy.
was in the city yesterday looking after
some legal business. AT eighty years OF
age Judge Gooding is an active practitioner
and has vigor. vitality and keenness thar
some men twenty years his junior might
well envy. Furthermore he still takes an
active interest in politics and is one of the
Indiana Democrats who admire ~ II RrN-
an above all other men in their party.
Il regard Bryan as one of the pucest
and best men in personal character / have
ever known, and as one of the greatest men
this country has produced" declared Judge
Gooding yesterday afternoon, when asked
whom he favored for the Democratic pres
idential nomination He did not say that
he thought Bryan should or would be NOM
mated again this year, but he was warm
:, in his praise of the Nebraskan.
Judge GOoding has an unlimited store OF
interesting political "reminiscences. for he
took part in politics from his early man
; hood and in his time had a hand i'm ma
tional affairs. Fifty-six years ago he was a
member of the Indiana General Assembly
and following that served as prosecuting
attorney, was twice elected judge Of his
circuit and had other similar preferments.
At the outbreak of the civil war ne be-
came an earnest Unionist and i'm 1864 was
:. at the head OF the Union electoral ticket in
this State and i'm the Electoral College cast
his vote for the reelection Of Abraham
Lincoln. 1t was largely through his ini-
tiatiVe that Andrew Johnson was nom
mated for Vice President on the ticket
l with Lincoln, as in the Indiana Union con-
? vention he offered a resolution indorsing
Johson, who was a war Democrat, as a
[ cadidate for Vice President, the first move
ment Of the kind that was made in tho
I country and one that resulted later IN
l Johnson's nomination.
As a result he stood high in Johnson's
5 favor and when Johnson succeeded 10 the
presidency upon Lincoln's death, Judge
Gooding received his reward in the appoint
I ment as United States marshal for the
> / DISTRICT OF CODlmD1a. a DOSltl0n WHICH 10
l held four years. Upon his return 70 H.
I, diana he was twice nominated for Congress
! by the Democrats in the old burnt as
/, trict, " in 1870 and 1872, and In his last race
was defeated by the narrow margin OF four
votes. All in all, the Judge has had a re-
/. markable career in politics, extending, as
: il did. over such a long period IN the epOch-
: making years of American history. In hi5
1 prime he was rated as one OF the best
campaigners among Indiana Democrats
and his services ON the stump were In de-
f mand in other States, as well.
81 don't get excited over politics as L
once did-at my age it doesn't pay a man
I to get excited over anything, said the
{ Judge.
However, when current political issues and
tendencies were touched upon the judge did
1 become aroused and with Democratic con-
e sistency predicted that the country is CO.
ing TO the demnition bow-wows under Re-
q publican administration or pubic analrs.
[ When urged that a man of his years should
e not be a Dessimist he still adhered TO his
8 dark fOrebOdings.
r The report in yesterdays Journal of the
e growth Of the Hearst movement i'm Indiana
aroused a number of local Democrats, many
: of whom were inclined to scout the sug-
: gestion that Hearst is making any head
5 way ia this State. Others. however, took
the other view. John w. Kern, who has
: been regarded as an advocate Of Judge
e Parker for the presidential nomination, was
asked last evening what he knew OF the
Hearst movement.
= We'll" he replied, Il don't pretend 10 be
informed on that point. but / may say
e that I've heard some Hearst talk recently
5 from sources that surprised ne. One solid,
substantial Democrat, who would be rated
as conservative If nothing else, said 90 mo
o to-day that he had about come to the con-
clusiOn that Hearst was the man upon
whom all elements in the party could best
unite. How much of that kind OF talk there
s is going the rounds / can't say, but II there
is much of il from men like the man who
II talked to me i should judge that Hearst 10
= a factor to be reckOned WITH
CTTTTn TA no