Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-09-22
THE PRESIDENTIAL PIVOT.
A Glance over the Political Field in the
HoosIer State-ghe Situation as it Ap-
pears to a Non-Partisan Observer.
Correspondence Philadelphia Times.

Hoosier State-Ghe Situation as it Ap-
pears to Non-Partlsan Observer.
Correspondence Philadelphia Times
INDIANAPOLIS, September l6.
The news from Maine is accepted as
Republican defeat, but is not altogeth.
er certain that it inspires the Indiana
Democracy with confidence. The Green
back element of this State is undoubt-
edly an important factor OF successor
to speak more correctly, 1t is an un.
known quantity OF defeat. 1t is in
some sort successor to the Floating
vote" that was wont to control our e!ec.
tions, but it differs from that element
in the fact it has so.named principles, an
organization and consequently leaders,
who can at will barter away the suffrage
OF the party. In the floating vote there
was an individuality and independence
which only needed candid and intelli
gent direction to yield honorable service
to the State and country.
The Fusion or Make.W eight Role,
in which the Greenback element now
vibrates between the Democrat and Re.
publican parties, Is wide departure
from its rura! and innocent inception as
the Patrons OF Husbandry. Under that
name it captlvated large number OF the
farming population, to both sexes OF
whom it offered an association of mutual
pleasure and profit. The Greenback
issue was grated upon it before it as
sumed the political importance OF State
Convention, and then it presented
conglomerate delegation OF social and
religious isms, together with notable
proportion of financial failures, which
last las been steadily maintained in all
its subsequent forms OF organization.
Independent, National and Labor Re-
form.
This was so well recognized that in
one OF the Greenback Conventions, held
about the time the climax OF the panic
was reached, a blind young man in at
tendance, when it was in order for the
delegates to present their credentials,
observed, soto vOCe: TEL them to
pass up their schedules" The growth
OF the Greenback faction was 90 rapid
that in 1874 it held the balance of power
in the Legislature and was disturbing
element in local politics. 1t was soon
apparent, however, that no vital spark
of patriotic flame animated the Organlza-
ton, and it straightway fell into the
hands OF scheming party malcontents,
who manipulated it for personal profit
and aggrandizement. No one disputes
that the Republicans
Foreclosed the First Mortgage Upon sit
in 1915,
which the Democracy cruelty lifted two
wears later by adopting for its very own
the redoubtable Greenback champion,
Rev. Gilbert De La Matyr, and crown
ing him with Congressional honors.
Withal, the National vote OF 1882 for
Cooper in the Presidential contest Of
1876 was swelled to 39,4iS in 1873 for
James. the National candidate for Sec.
retary of State. The Democratic plu.
rality was likewise increased from 5,5l5
TO 1916, which renders an enumera-
ton OF the comparative vote OF 1876 and
1873 necessary in order to convey an
idea OF
The Present Political Status OF Indiana
In 1876 the vote Tor President in In
diana was as follows:
Tilden ....2l3, ,526 Cooper .................9,5S3
Hayes......-......2OS,Ol Tildens piurality-j,jl5
In 1878 the vote for Secretary of State
stood:
S-auklin Dem. ...l9I ,49l James Nstl~...f9,IiS
Moore, Rep.....lS0,77j Dem plurality. ..l3, $50
IL is thus seen that the entire vote OF
1878 was over 1900 short OF that OF
1876. and that the Democracy lost but
IL 900 odd votes, while the Republicans
sustained loss Of over 2S,000 The OBJ
vious inference is that the detection of
the Nationals was proportionately
greater from the Republican than from
the Democratic party. The question
then presents itself,
What Bearing Will the National Party
Have Upon the state and Presidential
Electionsp
The last Legislature, which was Dem
ocratic, redistric;ed the State for Con-
gressional and Legislative purposes. In
the former case the margin oi Demo
cratic majority is so small that should
the National vote be resolved into It's
original elements nine out of thirteen
of the Congressional districts stand
fair chance of being carried by the Re-
publicans. For reasons personal to MN.
self, with an eye single to the United
States Senate, Mr.. William ii. English,
had large share in drafting the appor-
tionment bills, and the Legislature viii
be more certainly Democratic. There
are fourteen Democratic and nine ke-
publican Senators holding over. Eec-
tions are TO be held in twelve Demo
cratic and thirteen Republican Senatorl-
al districts, which will give the Demo
Gratis
A Majority Of Four in the Senate
and insure independence of the Nation.
al vote should the two members, Davis
and Majors, depart from their custom
and vote with the Republicans In the
House, the Democratic Representative
districts by the reapportioment are
fiftv.fiye, while the Republicans can .ay
claim to but forty-iive, making the re-
suit on joint ballot as follows:
Dem. Senator's. % Rep. Senators-......... %
Dem Repres nt,ti's s. Rep. Represtntati's- 10
TOt9l................. III o.
Democratic majority, II.
Which does not include the votes o.
the National Senators, Majors and
Davis, who, rs observed before, will
probably continue TO swell the ma iorlty
of the Democratic party, as they are
both offshoots OF that organization.
The Greenback Transformation.
The transformation OF the Greenback
psrty to its original elements may be
announced on the general principle OF
political inanition. 1t has lost its gallant
leader of the forlorn hope OF party exis.
tence in Major Smith, who, as editor OF