The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-11-18
HOW IT WAS DONE.
Mr.. Filley Gives On Account % The L.
diana Csmnaion.

Mr.. Filley Gives On Account Of The On.
diana Campaign.
"The great crisis of the late camp.
align" said Mr.. Chaucey I, Filley to q
representative of the Globe Democrat
yesterday, twas the October election
in Indiana. II the Republican party
had been defeated in that struggle its
chances of victory in November would
not have been worth a pins fee. Be
fore the Maine election a great many
sanguine Republicans had made up
their minds that Gen. Garfield would
have q walk-Over, and not q few Of
them expressed the belief that il
would be unnecessary to put forth any
special efforts in behalf Of our ticket,
because it was strong enough to win
Of itself. did not accept this rOseate
view then, nor did l fly to the other
extreme after the surprise Of defeat in
Maine, and conclude that our whole
campaign must end in failure because
one Of our small Outposts had been
captured by the enemy. 1t has been
reported in the press that Gen. Gar
field, Gen. Arthur, Senator Dorsey
and Others deeply interested in the
success of the Republican party were
badly frightened by the result in
Maine, and that some of these gentle
men expressed serious doubts Of the
possibility Of victory in November.
From my close personal and official
relations with these gentlemen
throughout the entire campaign, /
know that this story was simply q
week invention of the enemy. The
leaders and managers Of the party
never faltcred i'm their belief in ulti-
mate triumph, and you will admit
that the outcome shows that they had
good reasons for the faith that was in
them.
Another popular delusion, continued
Mr. Filley, "is that We spent more
money i'm Indiana than the Democrats
did. They really had no more than
we, but we beat them by superior or
ganization. 1t required vast deal of
work TO bring the party machinery in
To perfect running order. They had a
splendid organization in that State on
paper, but when carefully examined
it was found to be quito worthless
There were many strong Democratic
counties in which for years there had
been no pretense of a Republican Or
ganizatiOn; in other counties there
was SO much jealousy and ill-feeling
between different leaders and factions
that the interests of the party were en-
dangered. Senator Dorsey and my
self, as representatives of the National
Committee, resolved to make q
thorough reorganization of the party
in. -, Of . hA fata N
we were ably assisted by Mr.. John c.
New, Chairman of the State Central
Committee. The State WAS mapped
off into districts, and within four days
from the beginning of the work every
township was organized and in cOm-
municatiOn with the headquarters in
indianapolis.
Next to the importance of getting
out full Republican vote was the
necessity of preventing Democratic
frauds Oh election day. and We made
the machinery for the detection Of re-
peating and ballot-bOx stuffing as
thorough rs possible. Inever doubted
that, if we could carry Indiana by a
decisive majority i'm October We would
elect our ticket in November. At one
time in the campaign u powerful pres
sure was brought to hear upon the Ma
tional Committee by prominent Re
publicans i'm the East, who were not
fully cognizant Of the facts Of the
situation, in favor of withdrawal
from what they considered hopeless
struggle i'm Indiana, and the cOncen-
tratiOn of all our energies on New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
This movement had to he counter
acted, and George e. GOrham and my
self went East To prevent the adoption
of such course.
at did not take long to show the
promoters of this scheme that it would
he equivalent to suicide, and We
back only the more eager to
make good our predictions Of success.
"Threc days before the election We
knew Just how the State was going,
but we kept still, in order that the
Democrats might go quietly on their
way to certain and unsupported defeat.
"As a matter of course, after the In
diana and Ohio elections the contest
was settled; all the Republican party
had to do was TO go steadily forward
and gather the fruits of victory. Sena-
tor Dorsey, Mr. GorhanI and myself
went to New York and staid until
after the Presidential election. That
State was never in doubt, l think.
OF course the credit Of every victory ut
the polls belongs in the main TO the
men who do the voting on the win
ming side, but much also depends upon
Gen. Arthur had COM
plete control of the campaign in New
York, and from what l have seen of
him | am convinced that he has no
superior rs a political manager. Sena-
tor COnkling il n popular idol among
the Republicans Of New York, but he
takes no part In the practical details
Of political management.
Gen. Grants assistance was Of in
advantage to the party
and he went into the
with all his might. 1t has
been stated in some Of the newspaper
that Gen. Grant will become part Of
the new Administration, but l be-
lieve that he has no such desire and
that he would not accept any position
that could be given to him. have no
doubt that he could have any place
within the gift of President Garfield IL
he desired it. know positively that
the kindliest feelings exist between
them.
New Jersey was lost to Us mainly
because the party leaders in the state
neglected to organize on their own ac-
count. There were several counties
that had absolutely no Republican or
whatever a week before
the election. The National Com
mittec concluded II would he hest un.
der the circumstances to concentrate