The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-06
THE CHRISTIAN STATESMAN. CUM
BACK.

HINTS OF FUTURE WIRE PULLING-How
OLIVER Is To FIN THINGS FOR PRATT's Sue
CESso8.
A Cincinnati correspondent of the New
York Sun writes: In Indiana, both parties
are pipe-laying in quiet way. Neither has
the upper hand in State affairs; but the Re-
publicans have so gerrymandered the State
thate it is next to impossible for the Demo-
Gratis to get the Legislature next year. The
State might go Democratic by 10000, yet the
Legislature be Republican. A year hence a
new United States Senator is to be elected,
to succeed Pratt. Morton and his party will
press Will Cumback for the place. He is
now a collector of internal revenue. Will
liam was Che nominee of the caucus in 1869.
but fell vigorously in the Legislature. He
had played il fine on theSunday schools and
the NJ. f. Church, and the teetotalers, and
plain sailing into the Senate. A little
letter turned up just then, and
all his hopes were nipped in the bud.
The kind heart of Useless S. Grant was
moved, either by Williams discontinue or
that little letter, and hence he was soon sp-
pointed to a ST.. 900 revenue office, which he
continues to run. As he is civil service
employee. and is to be administration candi-
date for United States Senator soon, a plain
unvarnished explanation of his defeat in 1869
may be entertaining. As said, he was the
nominee Ofthe Republican caucus in Indi-
annapolis in 1869. About dozen Repub-
licans refused TO go into the caucus, some OF
them, including Judge Jim Hughes lately
deceased) and Col. John A. Slime of Lafay-
cite, being among the aDlest debaters of the
Senate. There was a square bolt, and the
boilers refused to support the caucus nom
inee. 1t soon began to be nOised about that
the truly holy William had written TO Gov.
Baker year previously
A LITTLE LETTER.
Much curiosity was aroused. It had long
been known that a GOODNESS existed between
Baker and Cumback, but people only con-
iectured the cause. Daring the Senatorial
contest a resolution was introduced and
passed c. ling upon Governor Baker to lay
before thu Legislature the correspondence
referred to. Cumback had been elected on
the ticket with Baker, Baker Governor aud
Cumback Lieutenant Governor and eX -officio
President of the Senate. Hughes, good
parliamentarian, aided by dozen sharp and
experienced boilers, and of course by all the
collective wisdom of Hoosier Democracy,
made it very hot for the caucus and the
caucus nominee. Finally the little cor
respondence came forth, in answer to the
resolution calling for it. 1t read as follows
GREENsBURG, Ind, Jan. 6, 1865.
DEAR FRIEND; II had not thousand things
10 demand my attention this week / would
come up and see you. 1 will therefore venture
TO make this suggestion: 1 think Hendricks
will be chosen by the Democrats, and he viii
certainly. II he Intends 10 inspire success among
his friends, resign his position. The person ap-
pointed by you will, other things being equal
stand the best chance of being chosen by oul
Legislature. If you will assure me of the ap
pointment. will Withdraw from the contest fol
any position on the State ticket, and take the
position OF elecior at our State Convention. L
: 4 nrDn N n m o. wit
baton please return this letter TO me. Let me
have your reply at an early day. do most ear
nestly hope for the unity of the Republican
WILL CUmBAcK.
AN ANGRY GOVERNORS REPLY.
INDIASAPoLIs, Jan. s, 1858.
TO ne Hon. VIII Cum5ack, GreensbtTg, Ind;
| SIR: Your communication of the 9Th was re
ceiVed, put absence from the city prevented al
immediate reply. The proposition is corrup
and indecent, and feel Inundated that any hu
man Deing should measure me by so low stan
dard of common morality to make il. hav'
the honor To be, etc. CONRAD BAKER
A little explanation will make it clea
what proposition is corrupt and indecent.
Hendricks was then in the United State
Senate from Indiana. He was to be nomi
mated for Governor by the Indiana Democ
racy in the campaign OF 1853. Baker was
candidate tor denomination for Governor be
fore the Republican State Convention tt
meet February % that year. Cumback wa
also a candidate before that Convention TO
nomination. Hence the proposition of Cum
back to Baker (who was then serving a
| Gcvernor) was interpreted to mean simply
this: IF Governor Baker will placate mI
with the appointment TO the United State:
Senatorship. 70 be made vacant by the reslg
nation OF Hendricks, l will withdraw from
| the caInpaign for tine taubernatorial nOmina
ton, aud leave clean held for Baker,"
was cIever attempt at political bribery
and Baker saw that he had Cumback's scalI
/ in his Gings r.. tie sliced il loose from tn,
ambitious gentleman's skull with the grace
of Modoc. Of course the friends of Cum
| back were in rage at what they called
Bakers meanness IN exposing private cor
respondence from friend" But Bake
was implacsble, and the feline 9uadrupeC
was az large.
The Indiana Legislature then spread upor
its records tbs following bit of political NOR
alizing, viz:
ResOt0ed, That, in the opinion of the Sen
/ ate the letter of the Hon. Will Cumback
the present Lieutenant Governor of tn,
State, dated JsDuary q, 1868, and addressed
indirect attempt TO ia nper with the integri
: " ana destroy the independence of the APP
pOin ing scsIOu of the Governor.
Re>Dfred further, that the action of the
Governor, IN repeiling the dishonorable pro
position contains q ia said letter of Will Cum
a just example Uf the conduct which should
ever characterize the appointing power in
our SYST Ia o. government.
CumbacS's nomination by the caucus
proved deluSi0n and a snare. After days
Of vain effort, ais sick and mortified cham
pioLs gladly accepted any excuse to abandon
him. and tho bOitsrS and the regulars finally
com promised on ID. ID Pratt, who was cho-
sen seRdtor. Cumback, helped by Morton
and Others, is ''setting things mp" to get
Pratt's seat, and he expects to join the host
of Car sian 81 ltesmen in Washington year
,fom n6y- AAi b. a man capable of offer
ori o.. Governor to get into the
a., y senate is tit associate OF the
.OJ4-t- who are now there; but will
ssl.s-., !. -. a seogie dare to elect him?
~. ielt that inthis
"a will be dulled
80 of all? We