The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS


Mr.. Hunt was in the city last evening and
after a last consultation at the Denison
House with a number Of his friends author
lied an announcement to that effect
Il have decided not to enter the guber-
material race" said Mr.. Hunt, Il have
reached that decision after studying the
question pro and con for several weeks. 1
have been led to it by three reasons First,
my wife is in poor health, and to enter
the campaign would mean that would be
away from home much of the time for the
next six months. Second. have some bust
ness deals under way that promise substan-
tial returns and at my age a man cannot
overlook money-making propositions; and
third, my candidacy would greatly en-
barass Mr.. Goodrich, the chairman of the
Republican State committee Mr.. Good
rich and L live in the same county and
city. His position at the head of the State
organization is such that he should main
tain an absolutely neutral position in the
gubernatorial race, yet our personal rela-
tons are such that if L were to become a
candidate he would be subjected to many
embarrassments.
L have not reached this decision easily.
Tor confess to decided ambition TO be
Governor of Indiana. A few days ago l was
on the verge OF announcing that l would be
a candidate this year. and L believe that
III had entered the race l would have a
good lighting chance of securing the nomi-
hallon However, l am out of il now. and
may the best man win. L do not wish to
De understood as announcing that l shall
retre from poliucs-l expect to take
active part in the campaign this year and
Tor many years 10 come. My services shall
De always at the command of the party.
Inc Republicans of Indiana have been
more than kind to me and il shall be my
pleasure to do anything within my power
at any time in the interests of the party"
Politicians have rather expected for sew
hot Mr. INIT ION
guDernatorial contest and his announce
ment may come as a surprise TO many.
with him out of the race the contest is
left to. William l.. Taylor, of this city, and
). Frank Hanly, of Lafayette, as the
avowed candidates. and John l.. Grifiths
OF this city, G. A. II. Shideler, of Marion,
and William l.. Penfield, of Auburn, as
prospective candidates A definite an
nouncement from Judge Penheld who is
now In Washington, is expected within the
Mr.. Hunt was asked what he thought of
the situation after the investigation which
ne had made as a prospective candidate.
While do not expect to take a hand in
the contest one way or the other, l very
frankly give 1t as my opinion that either
Mr. Taylor or Mr.. Hanly will be the NOM
inee. do not believe il possible for an
other candidate to enter the field now and
carry of the nomination. believe the
contest will be very close between Mr..
Taylor and Mr.. Hanly, and l would not
venture an opinion, If / had one, as to
which has the best of 1t at this time or
Will be the winner"
Although Mr.. Hunt did not make any
| statement as to his intentions for the flu
ture. it is altogether probable that he will
be found in the gubernatorial contest four,
| eight or even twelve years hence. He is
comparatively young man, having just
rounded his thirty-nnth milestone, and if
he keeps his hand in the political game, as
1 hn hA Il. h IL
oned with a gubernatorial possibility for
some years to come, especially since he
confesses to an ambition TO be Governor of
Indiana before he rounds out his political
career.
| 1t goes without saying that at least two
men in Indiana will be very glad that Mr..
Hunt has decided not to enter the race
| Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Hanly. They are not
J DESTROYS of competition for the prize on
which they have centered their hopes and
will be we'll content TO fight it out between
themselves Both are working hard, early
and late. to perfect their organizations, and
each has the assistance of a number of
energies to the fray.
| The event of the week politically will be
the midwinter meeting Of the Indiana Re
publican Editorial Association Thursday
and Friday at the Claypool Hotel Repub-
lican editors from all over the State will
! gather in the city for this affair, and it is
| anticipated that the attendance will be
| record-breaking because of the unusually
| good programme arranged and the fact
| that national campaign is at hand and
the newspaper news sp men desire to get together
| and talk the situation over before getting
| into the fight in dead earnest.
! James ID. Tate, of Hartman, Tenn, pres
ident of Hartman College and secretary Of
the Prohibition national committee. was
in the city yesterday in consultation with
| Prohibition State Chairman c. L. Newlin
concerning the national convention of the
party which will be held in Indianapolis the
last three days in June. Mr.. Tate has
been in Chicago looking after business in
connection with his duties as secretary of
the national committee and stopped of in
Indianapolis on his way home.
| Mr.. Tate expressed satisfaction that the
national convention is to be held in this
| city, and after looking over the local stu
alton expressed himself as well pleased
with the outlook. He visited Tomlinson
Hail. where the sessions of the convention
will be held, and said that the hall is well
adapted to the needs Of the convention,
save that it is little small. However, it
will afford ample Accommodations for the
delegates and alternates and that is the
chief point to be regarded, he said:
! The national convention comes to Indian
| apolis primarily because of the excellence
of Indianapolis newspapers and hotels ac-
cording TO Mr.. Tate. He was especially
complimentary in his references to the In
dianapolis newspapers. stating that they
were recognized the best and fairest in
the country. and that the Prohibitionists
felt that they would be accorded better
treatment by them than by the newspapers
of any other city in the United States:
THE newspapers of indianapolis, whether
/ Republican, Democratic Independent,
have been unusually fair to the Prohibition
party said Mr.. Tate. They seem to pro-
coed on the theory that news is news,
whether ii relates to one party or another
| that has few or no daily papers as organs.
| We do not ask unusual favors. We ask
| only fair treatment and due recognition, but
we have not received that in other cities as
| we have received 1t in Indianapolis"
Mr. Tate says that the Prohibitionists OF
| Kansas City are not doing anything 70 get
| the convention for their city since the ma
| tional executive committee has decided
against them, although newspaper reports
have made IL appear that a storm of pro-
| test had been raised when IL was decided
! that the convention should come TO this
city instead OF TO Kansas City. He says
! that the convention will be held here and
Mr. Newlin and other local leaders are
proceeding on that as a settled fact i'm max
! ing their preliminary arrangements The
| Commercial Club is backing the Prohibi-
tionists in preparations for the convention,
| and the invitation and guarantees extended
| by the club had no small bearing on the
decision or the committee that Indianapolis
is the best place for the big gathering
The Prohibition state committee has an
nounced the apportionment of delegates to