The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-01-03

Democratic Black Ballots Give a Pretext
for Claiming the Success OF the Repub-
lican Ticket Excitement Throughout

declaring The "black" ballots used at the |
mui icipal election illegal, threatens to |
revolutionize the politics OF the State, and |
10 completely upset the result OF the
November Democratic tidal wave. The |
ballOIs in litigation were exactly OF the
pattern used in New Haven for the Demo
cratic State officers, Congressman, State |
Senator and Judge of Probate. The decision |
virtually declares the Z 900 ballots cast here /
for Thomas NJ. Waller and the rest OF
the Democratic State nominees illegal, and |
the Republican managers openly svow their |
intention To contest Walters election. The |
so called black ballots were printed from q
block, on plain white paper. The names |
are in white and the rest of the impression |
is in blacg. This style of ballot was used |
to prevent easy counterfeiting High sums |
had been offered day or two previous TO |
election for copy OF the Democratic ballot |
The precaution was deemed necessary, as
certain Democrats W re known to be opposed
to candidates on the ticket, and 1t was feared
that counterfeit ballots might be run out OF
the Democratic booth. Judge Park, In
his decision in the municipal contest,
assumed that the ballots were printed III
black for purposes OF coercion, ana there
fore were in violation of the law, which
says that the ballots shall be plain - bite
paper. with the names of the candidates
written or printed thereon" His decision,
| il sustained, gives the control II the entire
municipal Government to the Republicans
for two years, though the Democratic major
ity averaged 500. 1t deprives the Demo
| Gratis of proper representation in the Com
mon Council. thus enabling the Republicans
TO ell CT The Corporation Counsel, n lucrative
Office, and members of all thetCommissioDs.
| The Democrats have two thirds majority
| in the present Common Council and all the
! city officers.
| But the decision is more fsr-reaching than
this, as shown by tO-day's developments.
| William A. Buckley, the present Lieutenant
| Governor and the defeated Republican can
didate for Governor, declared his purpose
| to-day to contest the election OF Hon. mos.
| NJ Waller, the Democratic Governor eltct,
| whose majority, as declared by the ofnclAl
| Board of Canvassers, Was O00. he SAID 10
your correspondent in Hartford to-day that
| the shape the case had assumed was very
distasteful TO him, and he would have been
better pleased if nothing had occurred 10
| raise the question of the legality of the black
| ballots. But" he added, Il believe that
legally, the whole Republican ticket
was elected at the State election. | can not
see how the Legislature can declare IL other-
wise in view of Judge Parks decision.
must be governed by circumstances, and
consider the best interests of Connecticut
According to the law there can be but one
result. Ii the Legislature ignore the laws
ttev have made that is another thing; but L
don't see how they can overlook law they
have passed. The Democratic ballot was
simply a direct violation of the law, just as
much as if | tJOk a watch from man 5
uocket on the street What will be done Is
not for me to say. am, you understand,
simply a passenger. If the Legislature de-
clare the Republican Stale ticket elected.
Waller can not hold Office. hat | will do
is another matter. That l dtciine to dis
cuss."
Chairman Cole of the Rel ublicsn State
Committee, said TO day that a petiuon will
be brought TO the Legislature setting iorth
the facts in accordance with Judge Park
: decision, and T. gislatiOn would be asked. 81
would rather" said he, those ballots had
been cast legally. 50 as not to have this cast
) arise; but it must now be treated ACCORDING
20 law. The Committee on the Canvass o.
> Votes must, according to the Constitution o.
q Connecticut, declare the Republican ticke
: cleo ed"
Twill Mr.. Buckley take his seat then?'
II don't see any escape from IL.
"Who will bring the petitionr
I'VE have not decided, but will within
|. twenty-four hours. In my opinion 1t $ tn
!, duty of the Republican candidates to TAX
9 their Offices"
Eminent Democratic lawyers declare tina
= the Republican State ballots are illegal !
the so called "black ballots" are. Tne.
= we're surrounded by a deep, black border
which was as much a distinguishing mari
: | as the black on the Democratic ballot. Blu
, It il observed by these same lawyers tina
= Judge Park apparently left lOophole II
mis- decision through which to crawl on
: should the legality of the Republican ba
! lois be questioned before him. hi
q language is very ambiguous and might b
:, construed to favor the Republican bale
- Toe Republicans say that their ballot was i
81 accordance with custom at least, Will
10 hall innovation
= IL is cited also that Judge Park is stron
Republican partisan, who. coming int
public life through the Know Nothin
movement, has r-tained many OF the pre-
JUDGES of bis early career. He came upo
nj the political stage with Postmaster Neh'
miah d. Sperry OF this city, and ihey 81
W intimate friends. When the Republican
in New Ii ven were looking about for
judge before whom 10 take the black ballC
- issne. Sperry was consulted, and he advise
MI PARK by ali means. A little delay was ne
ne essary, but the risk was taken and the resn
n satisfactory. Sperry was intensely te
y in the municipal result as relan' Q OF NJ
q was on the defeated ticket for lucratiy
at Office, and the decision gives him the ofhc
"a for two yesrs.
Is Governorelect Weller could not be see
q | this afternoon. His views on the blac
ballots question were, however, fully e.
pressed to legal friend some days ago. Nj
te | Waller said that undoubtedly the Oidc
pm ballots were voted in New Haven in go
CT faith; that they we're marked at they wei
"a to prevent counterfeiIing. and in accordant
Dr. with an established custom of both partie
er and that. under all the circumstances,
"a would be gross outrage to throw them OF
Ne and deprive so many electors of their vote
he He thought no Court aud no Legisatul
ch would sanction snch thing.
he Some of the Republican lawyers were
ou we'll satisfied that their State tickets wei
ei illegal that they tore the border on befo
voting them. In the town OF Guiliord, Q
the advice of ex-Speaker Lynde Harrison
ts the borders we're all cut of the ballots II
M night before election. John s. Beac
nd Simon F. Baldwin and some other Repuol
ne can lawyers in New Haven tore on q
az borders from their ballots, but the Repub
or can managers insist that a Judicial decisiC
ng Will sustain the legality of their ballots al
he they are iubiant over the situation. Ge
~, . eral SloaI, the only Republican elected TO
sv State Office at the recent election, declar
ITO the decision throwing out the Democrat
re ballotsin New Haven an outrage. he "
las elected Comptroller by the German vol
he | they iDdorsiDg all the rest OF the Democrat
Safe candidates. If the legality OF q
Republican ballots is tested and they a
thrown out all the Republican state Sc
ators chosen at the Novemb Der election wou
be ousted, also all the Republican candida
I'm for Judge of Probate 1t is believed 10
)re the Republicans would not give cause fol
IT. conrest If not assured beforehand that