The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-16
CONNERSYlLLE.
One Of the Gems of the Hoosisr State.
The Usual Talk with Prominent Politicians
on Current Events and Prospects.

Especial Correspondence of the Sentinel
CoNNERsvILLE. April 11.-Those Eastern
cousins who are wont to speak OF Hooslers
rather slightingly should take tour of the
State and spend day or two in the differ
ent thriving little cities which are to be
found in almost every county. Corners
vile is one of those neat and wide-awake
towns in which the State abound. 1t Is the
seat of Fayette county, and claims 8 500 pop
ulation. 1t is BEAUTIFULLY situated in as
choice q farming region as can be found in
the State, 81 miles from Indianapolis, and
about as far from Cincinnati. Gas and
water works. good fire department., schools,
manufactures and we'll improved streets,
show it to be one of the thriving cities of
the West. The county is small, as compared
with some of its neighbors, but the most
of it is fertile and displays fine farms.
The political complexion is Republican by
about $50 majority, though occasionally a
Democratic candidate, for personal and local
reasons. slip into Office. The city has a
Democratic mayor. The National Green
back party is rather weak here, or, as Judge
Claypool put it, mot more than q dozen in
the county, Before the election last fall
they were regarded as formidable, but on
the voting day the most of them went to
the polls and voted as formerly.
large fine school house offers to the
youthful idea chance to shoot 1t is well
ordered and under the supervision OF Pro-
fessor ]. L. Rippetoe, who has been in his
present position for a number of years.
Connersyilie is somewhat of a manufac-
turing town and is putting forth effort to
become more SO. There is here as factories
of importance, a coffin factory, three furniture
factories. the Roots Blower foundry and
the drop-handle factory, all doing fair bust
ness. In fact, tine manufacturers here
seem to be more prosperous than merchants
or farmers especially the latter. Business
generally, as compared with last year, has
improved scarcely perceptibly. People are
economiziDg and endeavoring to pay their
debts, so buy as little as possible. Our
National bank and the Citizsns' bank seem
to get along well. Three weekly newspapers
tell the denizens what is what. The Times,
conducted by the postmasters brother the
News, started as our Independent or National
sheet, but now fully in line
with the dominant party, and the Examiner.
by Mr.. Higgs, who breaches Democracy &C.
cording to the Indiana idea and does what
he can to resist the world, the flesh and the
devil through the medium of Democracy.
w. c. Forrey, Esq, as mayor, deals out
Justice and mercy in his court, and betimes
counsels and practices at law. The
wee herek. the portly Judge Bonner,
of Greensburg, on the bench. The judge is
one of those who makes politics part of
his religion, and is Republican of the
original brand. 1 met him at the Browne
Hotel, last evening, to which was directed
as the place to get well cared for. and know
ing the Partially of the judge for good fare,
when l saw him there, picking his
teeth, l knew that I had found the
right place. Bonner is one of those men of
whom no evil can be said. He offends
no one, does but little superfuous talking
never takes drink, swears, nor uses tobac-
CO. know that in view of the fact that he
is member of the legal profession, these as
sertions weigh heavily upon. my character
for veracity, but, In the language OF the
! personally responsible for them. 1 asked
the judge how he felt over
the state OF affairs in his new
district (the Fourth) since Holman had been
placed in it with majority of nearly 5000.
The judge, usually placid, at times becomes
vigorous. Said he
II tell you, man can go into that district
with $40, 600 and carry it,
"And beat Holman?'
Eyes, and beat Holman. Those Dutch
down there can be bought for from 50 to $40
each. You can buy hundreds of them
Why, don't you remember how, in 1874,
Con. Lanham bought whole church for
$50q'
Lanham was a candidate then, and re-
membered distinctly how, according to the
story, he bought, congregation of
Germans on Sunday, by placing $50
in the church exchequer. His opponent
didn't happen to go to church, so Lanham
was elected. The Judge was quite vigorous
in denouncing the buying and selling of
votes, and then after q while rambled of in
to personal recollections, till brought him
back with, what caused Sexton to run be-
hind his ticket in every county last year ?"
There were probably two causes"
ssWhat are they2"
"Whisky and Nationals. Down in Swift
,erland county the Nationals sold out and
in Decatur they voted the Democratic
ticket
But there were but few Nationals in
Rush. and he ran behind them?"
''Well, 1T was whisky, then; he took too
much for his own good"
Strange it is how great minds will differ,
how many different opinions are expressed
on this same subject. But pardoning the
DEPRESSION, I went into the Court House to
see what was going on. The building is q
massive and rather imposing structure,
though rather out of date. Once 1T was
doubtless considered very fne 1 found in
the court room, up STAIRS, the judge reared
back with his feet on the desk, half the
attorneys and others smoking, while the
other half, or at least half of the half were
chewing ana sprung. OOnspicuousiy on
the WALL was displayed the placard posi-
lively no smoking during court hours" A
trivial case, as usual, was occupying the
time of the court. In nosng around / found
the great case of the term to be that of the
Hydraulic company against the city,
an old case involving nearly $40, 200,
which has been in litigation for years. 1t
seems that in 1870 the city built the water
works and proceeded to use the water of the
Hydraulic. Things went ouItiil a few years
ago, the Hydraulic company sued..for pay for
the water. Just about the time the case was
ready for trial it was mutually
agreed 20 refer the matter to arbitrators.
The result was that about one
year ago the decision was rendered in favor
of the Hydraulic company-$900 year.
Then did the city "klck." and refuse to pay
the award. She set up q defense that the
Hydraulic folks had met the arbltrators al
the depot with elegant carriges; had taken
them home gave them good suppers, intro