New-York tribune., 1883-06-18
INDIANA POLITICS.

SENATOR HARRISON ON CURRENT ISSUES,
THE STATE DISGUISED WITH DEMOCRATIC RULE
BAD POSITION OF THE DEMOCRATS IN RELATION
TO THE rAIuBP AND CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
fvsou Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or TRIBUNE
INDIANAPOLIS June 15.-Th-re has been no law
yer here buster than Senator Harrison since his re-
turn from Washington. Clients who had gwen
cases TO the firm to which he belongs. before his
election to the Senate, have kept them out OF court
awaiting the Congressional recess. Thus the mud
of Washington was hardly off his boots when he
found himself plunged into professional work at
home. He had Just disposed of one case that took
six weeks in court. Meanwhile, however. he has
not been unmindlul of carrent affairs of public
concern or of the future. Special interest may at
tach to what he says regarding the outlook Tor
Indiana, because of the earnestness with which ms
friends IN the East, well West have been sug-
gesting the strength that his name would give to
the ticket to be nominated by the next Repubhcan
National Convention.
"We shall soon begin 10 prepare for next year i'll
this State" he says, although there have been no
conferences among the party managers yet. Inc
State Committee holds over and, before long, lines
will be gathered and local organizations set IN
motion. So let the campaign open early as it may.
we shall be ready for IT, Nor will full and prompt
prenaration be our best equipment for next year.
The Republican outlook has greatly improved since
the election OF 1882 by reason OF the conduct Ol
the Democratic Legislature las. winter. They came
into power with q good majority aud at once set
about plunderng the public institutions, and every
place OF thing out of which patronage could be
wrung. Perhaps more prominence has been gwen
to the effort 10 expel DIR. Rogers from the
euperipteadeney OF Tie State Asylum for
the Insane than to any other one act.
He had held the place aceeptably for
long time; he is man of ability and fine attain
ments and by tho way. a Democrat. They wanted
his place TO serve some party purpose. and called for
it, He was disposed 20 inisf uoon his rights, but
they finally forced him TO abandon the position.
Not to instance further, there were many acts of
that nature, together with course OF recA-
lessness, including on the floor among Demo
Gratis brought by tho greed for spOils which dis
rraced the session. The Republicans had very
intelligent and clever set of representatives.. both
in the Senate and House. mainly young men, who
took advantage of their opportunities and in open
session. exposed what was gong As result
thc course of the majority severely criticised by
the press of the State hardly lees by Democratic
than by Republican papers, and the people were
disgussed 1t is impossible that that sort of rule
should last and the Republicans will get the bene-
ft of the disafection which jast now is general and
will continue large enough, feel quite sure, TO
give US the State IN another year"
"In what issues do you suppose the people of
Indiana will be mainly interested next yearW
Disgust with Democratic rn!e will affect many
voters. have no doubt. Then VIC shall have the
National issues well"
- Is the party division distnct here the tariff
question:
There is quite difference among Democrats
about it. and don't know that every Republican
suescrbes heartily to the new law Both sides
much interested in the subject The idea Of protec-
lion that the law carries with 1T Is the Republican
idea. in framing q law of such wide scope it is
impossible TO please every individual ] doubt
indeed if the bill as it passed had the unqualified
approval Of any one who voted for it. Each of us
would probably have changed 1t IN some respect
If it had been in power to 90 it. But
Ii expressed only what such law can express-the
aggregate OF party opinion 1t scarcely
that IN the Senate for the majority was liable TO be
shifted at any moment one way or tho other by
single vote. Yet the bill as a whole conveys the
Republican lGes aud Republican voters VIII assent
10 1t SUCH Ii is beyond conjecture how the DEM
ocrats in this State will stand Mr. Voorhees, avows
himself Protectionist. Ills speech in the Senate
said that. Yet failed to notice that be voted that
way except glass and few other articles of In
diana industry He has declared, however, that the
revenue plank IN the IamocratIc platform lost In
diana 70 that party at the last National election and
would do so again. Mr.. Mcdonald, on the other
nand, Is outspoken for revenue tariff OF one
thing am satisted-the Democrats will not dare at
their next eonyentton, to declare for tariff for
revenue only"
-" W.T. an issue be made over Civil Service Re
"l think that will present strong issue, although
SoVefnor hendric his letter accepting theiVice-
fresidentAl nomination, very clear IN his ex-
pressions OF iavor for this reform. But it would
DE wholesome Tor Dcmvcrat to 90 over the
state now advocating present efforts in that drec-
tioY The subject at this stage Is By no means pop
lar with them Ian satisfied that the people
are Interested and want a correct Civil Service !;
also that they will appiaud anything which looks
TO that. The work of tho Civil Service Commission
will therefore be watched closely and with hone
II seems 10 have been begun in
the proper spirit, as though the Com
mission desired anG intended 20 make tho best OF
the opportunity 10 do commendable thing A
wise development of the plan on which they have
started viii command public respect IL is the
common sentiment that Office ought 20 be awarded
on the score OF fitness II examinations shall be
conducted with the view OF testing the capacity and
; msnaa n,nsss o. appncan,s ior thc ouses 81 tne