The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-11


party leaders, who have been discussing the
matter pro and con for several months and
are now ready To start the preliminary
work that will result in the consumma-
ton of their schemes when the state con-
vention Is held.
The principal argument for the farmer
candidate proposition is that the Republic
can candidate will be an attorney-all four
of the men who are after the Republican
nomination are attorneys-and the Demo-
Gratis believe they should have a candidate
who presents as much OF a contrast as pos
sible 10 the Republican candidate, and one
who cannot be classed a politician. no
matter if he be creature of the politicians
Upon such a candidate the leaders base
their hopes of carrying the State, and while
ii makes them groan to think OF throwing
the best office away on a man who has not
been one of their crowd, they solace them
selves with the reflection that they can at
ford TO give this recognition TO the rank
and file II by doing so they can carry lndi-
ana and get control of the Legislature, for
then they can elect one of their own kind
United states senator and control practi-
cally all the pie.
So the leaders are casting about for a
second Claude Matthews and the man who
comes nearest TO filling the bill is none
other than Warder w. Stevens. OF Salem,
Washington county. Mr. Stevens is a
farmer. he has never been classed a
politician and he is blessed with a sufii-
cheney of this worlds goods to enable him
to pay stiff campaign assessment, a mat
ter by no means 10 be overlooked. Further
than that Mr.. Stevens has come into some
little prominence during the last year as
member OF the Worlds Fair Commits
| sion. He is chairman of the subcommittee
| in charge of the agricultural exhibit and
! has been in all parts of the State, getting
| in touch with the farmers particularly.
gubernatorial boom was launched for Mr..
Stevens some months ago. but he declined
| TO pay any attention TO the gossip, because,
| he said. he realized that if there was any
chance OF carrying Indiana this year the
! politicians would gobble up the nomination
and he would not let them play him for an
easy mark who would pay big campaign
assessment when they knew he couldn't
be elected. He made this statement in an
| interview published in these columns sew
eral weeks ago and unwittingiy he thereby
| scored hit with the selfsame politicians
| he denounced. He had sized up the situa-
| ton exactly, for the leaders then had no
| thought of giving the gubernatorial noml-
| nation TO any one outside their crowd II
| they concluded That there was a chance
| of electing their ticket. But that was be-
| fore the suggestion of a farmer candidate
| campaign had appealed to them. Then Mr..
| Stevens won their attention by his shrewd
| exposition of their plans
| Stevens is nobody's fool they said
| He's long-headed and has the making or
politician in him even if he isn't one. We'd
| better think twice before we pass him by"
Having thought twice they are now of
| opinion that perhaps after all they could
| not make stronger play than to nominate
| the Washington county farmer. 1t appeals
to them as a long shot proposition. They
| stand to lose little or nothing If they NOM
| mate and then fail TO eject him, while if
| by the one chance in a thousand they
| should elect him he would have the honors
and emoluments of the office, they would
| be in control of the State, and then, there
| would be that senatOrship. That toga would
| just about fit the Hon. I. Taggart, the
| Hon. John w. Kern, the Hon. Ben r.
Shively, the Hon. S. M. Ralston, the Hon.
oeF Gp one wS So stand e o e
| lars of Indiana Democracy. If the state
convention could be held on until after the
| national convention the plan might be rad
icaly changed. If harmony should prevail
| at St. Louis and a strong national ticket
| nominated that would receive the support
| of all the elements in the party, then the
leaders believe the chance of carrying In
| diana would not be such long shot and
| the gubernatorial prize would not be vast
ed on farmer. Ii would go TO politician
| who had earned it by valiant party service.
| However, with the result of the St. Louis
| convention so much of an uncertainty the
prospects in Indiana are not regarded as
| encouraging, so the game must be played
here. as forlorn hope affair and Warder
w. Stevens may be given the opportunity
| to pay that assessment and to prove him.
self second Claude Matthews.
The result of the Democratic state con-
vention in Rhode Island is an eyeopener
to Indiana Democrats. who have heretofore
refused to take William Randolph Hearst
seriously as presidential candidate. There
are, of course, a few wiseacres who say
81 told you so,' but the Parkerites and the
Gormantes and the Clevelandites are moth
| ing short of stunned at the unexpected
strength shown by Hearst. Hearst Sc
cured six of the eight delegates from Rhode
| Island, and he did il in the face of the
| hardest fight the Parker men, backed by
the state organization, could put up. The
victory was a signal one for the cheek
and checkbook'' candidate, and IL will be
some days before the old-line Democrats
recover from the effects of the shock
Rhode Island is not regarded as one Of
| the pivotal States, but the eyes of all Dem
ocrats have been turned to that State, be
cause it was the first to select delegates
TO the national convention. 1t was the
first round of the fight for the presidential
nomination, and Hearst drew first blood
gave Parker a black eye, and comes vi
smiling for the next round. The issue wa:
eiearIy on 1e' the question of Where the dele
I | gates to be selected would stand on tn
, presidential proposition. Under those cir
| cumstances HearSts HeutenantS secured
| three-fourths of the delegates.
Z +
The Rhode Island convention was the sol
topic of conversation among the Democrat
in the lobby of the Grand last evening. an'
, it goes without saying that there was n
one there to jubiIate over Hearst's victory
, Hearst has few if any advocates among
, the Democrats who make thei Grand thei
headquarters. None OF the leaders woul'
discuss the matter for publication, but pr
vately they were free with expressions o
| aStonishment.
Things never get so bad that they Nigh
| not be worse" said of them with
feeble attempt at humor. Hearst Nigh
| have secured the entire delegation and ha
/ il instructed for him. l confess L don
| know what to make of IL, but ii certainl
| looks bad. L wouldn't have believed tina
| Hearst stood the slightest show in Rhod
! Island. but 1t seems we've been mderes
3 | timating him. If he can get delegates i
! Rhode Island I'm prepared to believe he ca
\ | get them in any other State, unless hare
: | well-organized fight is made against hin
| from this time The trouble has bee
that while the party leaders have been let
g ting things drift TO see where the sentimen
| would crystalline, Hearst has been creatin
, ! sentiment and making an active organize
| campaign ali over the country. He Ia
| caught the party mapping, and unless
y | wakes up now and gets 10 work he'll hav
$ ! the nomination in his grip when he goes {
! | ST. Louis. I'm not for Hearst. I'm ia
| Parker first. but I'd rather see a yello-
. dog nominated than this upstart from Cal
| fornia who has nothing but monuments
{ All Eyes Smoot.