The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-16
DEMOCRATIC LAUNDERING.
How the Democrats Are Managing to
Make Indiana Solid for 1884.
). H. W. in Cincinnati Enquirer.

>. FL. W. In Cincinnati Enquirer.
Dudley said to me in 1880: SIT is easier to
carry the State in 1884 if We let the Demo-
Gratis have the Legislature in the of-year
than it would be to keep it right along. They
always lose their heads and let the ire
sponsible element take control, and thus
disgust the better element of the commu-
nifty"
That has been the result in Indiana. The
party came into power through the help of
an element which the Republicans have been
buying for years. These people, with the
usual financial supplies from the Repub-
iicans cut off, accepted Democratic promises
of spoils. and when the victory was gained
they claimed it as their own and demanded
the offices. When the Republicans had
power two years ago they found the benevo-
lent institutions in the hands of Democrats,
and they wisely left them there, for the in
cumbents wee generally fairly good men,
whom the wisdom of Hendricks, Mcdonald
and Governor Williams had selected. But
when the last gang rose to the top they de-
inanded the promised reward or threatened
to raise a row. Although many new offices
were created, there was not enough to go
around, and the old and tried men had to
walk the plank. The objection is not so
much to the change as it is to the persons
who get the places.
The application of the laws of the last Leg
islature are illustrations of the foolishness of
party management A metropolitan police
bill was passed which applied to the Repub-
lican city of indianapolis and the Democratic
city of Evansville. No sooner was the law in
force than board of commissioners was APP
pointed for this city, and soon after one Tor
Evansville. The board OF indianapolis
promptly organized their force and dismissed
the old one. But the board of Evansville
did not, and has not yet appointed force in
that city, and have no inten ton of doing so
until public sentiment drives them to it. The
entire force there is Democratic. and does
not propose to give half OF its strength to Re-
publicans.
The superintendent of the force here has
notified the saloon-keepers that they need
not close until midnight, though the law re-
guires that they shall cease selling at II
O'Clock. He also gives them notice that they
may keep their side or rear entrances open
on Sunday, although the law says they shall
not The board has not made an order to
this effect, for they dare not but they have
not offered to change the instructions of the
superintendent This officer gets his authori-
ty in an extra-official way from two men,
bers of the board. If one class of violators
of the law are thus exempted from police
control, no one can tell where the end will
be. Already the board and its creatures
have set themselves above the law, and that
class of usurpers who obey the dictation of
the law-breakers, no matter what their pri-
vate characters may be, are unfit for public
trust
The action of the board of trustees of the
Insane Hospital in removing Dr. Rogers
has been condemned in vigorous terms by
every decent Democratic newspaper in the
State, from the Sentinel, of this city, down
to the smallest country weekly, while the
Doctor carries with him the highest personal
and professional Endorsement of every Re-
publican paper in Indiana. The whole pro-
ceeding has been disgraceful, but creature
cannot raise above its creator, and nothing
better could have been expected of a board
created by the last Legislature. The element
which controlled that body is debating to
Its creatures, and pretty mess they are
making of it.
bricks and Mcdonald is another illustration
of how the damphool element can get to the
front For years Hendricks has never
seemed aware of the existence of any other
great Democrat in Indiana, or if he has been no
one has forced from him any expression that
he knew of such person. If he acknowl-
edges it now it is an admission of weakness
and jealousy on his part which is entirely
opposite to the whole of his past life l do
not believe he has done so, nor do think he
is in any sense jealous of the praise which is
being so freely and justly given to Nc
Donald. | am intimate with both of them
land they will not say | am notL and / re-
peat that 1 do not believe the stories afoat
about their feelings toward each other. Mr..
Hendricks said to me the other day:
''Did you ever think what a task lies be-
fore Democratic President Who succeeds a
long Republican administration? Just
think of 100, 900 federal offices to fill and
100000 applicants for them. I am quite
willing that any man who covets the task
shall have it,"
The fact is Mr.. Hendricks is quite as indie
pendent about the matter as Mr.. Tilden is.
He is not candidate for the Democratic
nomination in 1884, and no man living has
any auth GRITTY to say that he is. To say that
he is candidate for any place on the ma
tional ticket is to charge him with being a
fool and no one but his enemies do that.