The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-05-08
THE EVANSVILLE COURIER AND THE
STATE HOUSE.

Among the few papers that are charging
the formation of state house ring here and
asserting the impcssibility of building the
state house as contemplated by the legisla-
ture. and within the limit of the appropria-
ton made for that purpose, we note that the
Evansville Courier is the most bitter
and the most persistent. One of the
proprietors of this paper is candidate
for secretary of state, and it is but fair to
assume that these attacks nave his passive
consent if not his active appreciation. We
are surprised that one, who, like him, has
had every opportunity for possessing him
self of accurate knowledge concerning the
character of the commissioners and also for
obtaining all the facts in relation to their
action, should permit either of them to be so
uniustly assailed or their action so basely
misrepresented. At the head of the commits
sion sits Governor Williams. Will the Cou-
rier say aught that would inpugn his integ-
rity or honesty? Does it mean that he would
descend TO the unfair and dishonest measures
of trickster in matter IN which the
people OF Indiana are interested? On
this board are two republicans, Gen
eral Tom Morris and Professor Collect
both strong republicans. The other
two are democrats Politically speaking
both parties are equally represented, and in
a political sense the commission is equally
divided. The governor being presiding Off
Ger. both parties then are equally response
bic one with the other for the prOpriety OF
the conduct of the trust imposed upon the
commissioners. Being equally divided
the constitution of the commission is such
that every restraint is imposed to prevent
any action of a purely political character or
the imposition of any contracts in the
interest of democratic ring. When the
May plan was voted on, four out of five of
the commissioners were for it. The fifth
one then changed his vote, and the plan was
adopted unanimously. The architects whose
plans were rejected, and who charged so
much partiality, were those who had spent
most money In lobbying for their own
plans. Several of the defeated architects
wrote Mr.. May congratulating him on his
good fortune, approving also of his plan
and misunderstanding any attempt to de-
nounce the action of the commission as
unfair. One of the most "disgruntled'' of
the dissatisfied architects was the very one
who estimated the cost of our court house at
$S5O,000 and spent nearly 81, 600 on it.
The experts estimated that the state house
could be built by Mays plan within the
limits Of the appropriation, and offers have
been made by wealthy firms to take the
contract and give bonds to complete 1t
in pursuance of the plan. The commission
ers feel the responsibility of their position,
and they are men who will be careful to abb
stain from any act that will not bear close
inspection and fair criticism in connection
with their trust
This thing Of denouncing the acts of pub
lie servants whose characters are at stake
and whose actions are in the interests of the
whole people, before they have done any
thing TO merit other criticism than that
of commendation, is 3 popularity that
does not belong properly to democratic
journals. A certain class of vampires do it
with others of the same class, until 'addi-
ton, division and silence" squares their
accounts. We are surprised at the course of
the Courier on this question, and are forced
TO the conclusion that the family and friends
of Mr.. Gil Shsnklin are opposed to his cleo
ton as secretary of state.