New-York tribune., 1912-02-25
Indianapolis Executive Whose National Note Cen
tres Around Garden Truck, Sees Govern
orship of Indiana Coming His
Way Next Fall.

look funny, somehow, to you fellows down
East here, but they go strong out in 1ndi-
ana the way old John Kern wears 'em.
Indiana would be for him. I think. We
amt got the same prejudice against Wills
kers. especially old John Kern's, some
way.
But the Democrats can't elect a Presi-
dent this year. How can they elect ticket
without Bryan being for It? Answer me
that, will you, please? II the best man in
the country can figure out how Democrat
can be elected this year l wish he would
show me how he done it
Asked about the sentiment in Indiana for
Theodore Roosevelt Mr. Shank said:
Il was up TO the drug store one night
talking politics with some men, and that
very question come up. Some one suggested
that we take a poll of the prisoners in the
New Castle jail So we 'phoned 10 the Jail
and the keeper said he had thirty-three
prisoners out therein there, l should say.
He took poll and all thirty-three OF 'em
were for Rosey.
INDIANA is FOR TAFT.
But Notwithstanding this" continued
the Mayor, II feel sure that Indiana is 60
ing to be for Taft. The thirty delegates
will vote for Taft and he will carry the
state when the votes of the people are
counted, too. We haven't cot that dis
satisfaction out there that we always have
had Marshall won't be renominated for
Governor. He's a kind OF candidate for
President"
This was a good while to ask a Mayor.
with a national reputation for doing things
/ FOR the common people, TO talk on extran-
eous subjects. as you might say. Butchers
were telephoning him every few minutes,
asking for appointments; women's clubs
were inviting him 10 drink tea, the Peoples
Institute had sent a delegation TO ask him
TO speak on municipality owned markets In
Cooper Union; photographers were waiting
| TO take the Mayor and Mrs. Shank up on
1 the roof of the Astor, where the light was
good and there was plenty of room for the
big man really to expand his chest and
here nothing had been said about monopoly,
m!ddleman, cheap potatoes, pears and other
produce.
Mayor Shank was requested to talk about
himself and his work and OF his early po-
ltical struggles
II never criticise an opponent during a
hot political campaign" said the Mayor.
that is, I never say lot OF hard, mean
things about him. I may poke FUN ar him,
but that's as far as go, as rule.
1.-THE color question is big element in
Indianapolis" he continued, "and the ne
groes are my friends. i give them water
melons and ice cream to eat while I'm
speakin' to 'em. Bet I've had b.OD negroes
az single meeting up there In Craptown.
''Well, sir" he laughed, "the fight was
waging something fierce few years back,
and 1t didn't take no political expert to un-
derstand as how the votes was going to
be scarce enough on the winning side, Who
| ever got II.
Il got hold of a negro preacher and took
him to dinner. There was going TO be a
negro mass meeting In town that night.
threw couple OF whislies into the colored
preacher which done him a heap of good,
and told him what to say to his people up
there at the mass meeting. told IL TO him
so that he caught the point without no
trouble. Then asked him II he would say
1t. The negro parson said he sure would.
when the parson got up to speak the
hall was Jsmmed. He said
Brothers and Sisters: Does you-all
realize what de opponent oh Afista Shank
To- dis hyar important office In de gift OBJ