The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-21
GOVERNOR sPRAGUE.
The Strength of His Present Candidacy for
Governor of Hhnde Island.


Governor of Rhode Island.
Interview with Attorney-General Samuel P. Cot.
AS l am on the opposition ticket, of course
l cannot be expected to speak favorably of
Governor Spragues chances. The nomina-
ton was not unexpected. 1t has been the
design of the Equal Rights party for some
time to place him in nomination The party
is composed of those voters who favor an
amendment to the constitution of the State
doing away with the property qualification.
This subject has been agitated for years"
VIII Mr.. Sprague receive large voter"
II believe that he will receive avery strong
vote but he will not be elected. Had the
Sprague boom been started sooner the chances
of success would have been much better than
at present. If the movement had been begun
before January, when the registry tax comes
due the ex-governor would have been able
to secure many votes which are now lost TO
him, for If the registry tax of 81 is not paid
the vote is not accepted. The Democratic
registry tax was not paid to any extent this
year. This will throw out good many votes,
the loss in Prov ience and the larger places
being about 5000, three-fourths of which
would have been given to Sprague. Most of
these registry voters are operatives in the
mills, and the tax is paid by politicians"
will Mr.. Sprague be the Democratic nomi-
nee tor GOVERNOR"
"Therei is no doubt of that Ten days ago
if you had asked the old-time Democrats of
the State if Mr. Sprague would be nominated
they would have laughed at you and ridi-
culed. the idea. His stronghold is in the
western part of the State, and his main sup
port will come from Kent and Washington
counties, where the Sprague mills are stu
ated The Democratic convention will be
held on the Goth of this month, and it is now
certain that the old-time Democrats will not
oppose his nomination by that body. The
city caucuses were hacked, many Republic
ans with equal rights tendencies being pres
ent and taking part with the Democrats.
This was done in order to elect delegates who
will surely carry the convention in Spragues
favor"
ITO what do you attribute this sudden
popularity of the ex-GoyernorP'
when Mr.. Sprague was Governor of
Rhode Island times were prosperous, not
only there, but all over the country. The
depression in business has disheartened
many people, who now argue that as times
were prosperous while he was Governor they
will Again be prosperous if he is placed in
the same position. That is the secret"
Us there any influence at Mr.. Spragues
back which is urging him on?'
81 think there is; indeed, tits generally be-
leyed that Benjamin F. Butler is the chief
promoter of Sprague's nomination, and that
There is to be a Sprague mass meeting at
Providence, and Butler is announced to
speak 1t is one of the means by which But
Ter hopes to found a new party and to become
a candidate for the presidency. The Repub-
licanS have nominated Augustus O. Bour of
Bristol, for Governor. He is president of
the National Rubber Company, has been in
the State Senate for seven or eight years, and
is capable man for the position"