The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-06
ABOUT MONEY IN INDIANA
Republican and Democratic Views of
the Campaign of 1880.
What Colonel Dudley Could Show-Contra-
dictOry Statements to Use of
Money by the Democrats.


said about the use of money by Democrats in
the Indiana campaign of $780," said promi-
nent man from that State to-day to Tribune
correspondent.
did the Democrats use much money i'll
that campaign
"Yes; and the cry they have raised re-
minds me of the complaint made by the
wolf in the fable against the lamb for muddy
ing the stream. If the truth were told, they
were the ones who set the example of using
money in Indiana that year; as 1 believe,
they used great deal more of it for illegiti-
mate purposes than the Republicans did. In
fact, so far as my knowledge extends, all the
money used by Republicans was legitimately
used"
"How much money did the Democrats
use2'
THAT cannot say. If knew 1 would
not say, because | should be challenged for
proof, which might not be able to produce
now. If James Rice would tell nobody
would dare to challenge his statements He
was secretary of the Democratic State COM
rnittee, of which Mcdonald was chairman,
after he had succeeded in ousting William
H. English. This / can say, however; The
Democrats opened their campaign two
months before the Republicans did, and it
was not long before letters and personal APP
peals began to flood the offices of the Repub-
Iican State committee from all parts OF the
State, warning them that the Democrats had
begun 'barP campaign, and were making
serious inroads upon the doubtful vote; that
they had shrewd agents in every county.
and that unless energetic canvassers and
popular speakers were at once sent into the
field the Republicans would be swamped in
October
Dudley could show you a trunkfu of
such letters if he chose, exposing the tactics
of the Democratic leaders. He had been at
work more than a year obtaining thorough
registry of the voters, with their political
preferences, so far these could be OBJ
tanned, and if man declined to express a
preference that fact also was noted. He had
also force of volunteer pickets in the field
as soon as the siX-months period began and
after that no man could stop in township
and show an intention of staying without
being asked if he were voter as he might
be il he had come from some other part of
the State. Ii he replied in the affirmative he
was asked where he came from, and his reply
was promptly communicated to Dudley. who
very soon ascertained if his statement was
true. Whenever it was found untrue lie was
promptly placed under surveillance. Dud-
ley, | know, was therefore not greatly dis
turbed at first by the reports that came in of
the use OF money by Democratic agents but
when the Democrats put English on their
National ticket simply because he had a
BARI it was regarded as plain, unequivo-
cal notice that they proposed to buy Indiana
if necessary, and had bought an Indiana mil
lionaire to carry out that purpose.
81 am by no means sure that English did
not put great deal of money into that cam
pagn. rather think he did. He is the
sort of man who, when he makes a losing
investment pockets his loss and says moth
ing. Yes, as l said in the beginning, l be-
lieve more money was used for Legitimate
purposes in the Indiana campaign of 1880 by
OalnnprafS N
publicans.
According to Democrat, however, who
had reason to know good deal about the
real condition of affairs at the Democratic
headquarters in Indianapolis during the
campaign of 1880, its managers were often in
such strait that they were without money
to pay the postage on their necessary official
correspondence. From what could he learned
by him at the time, the trouble sprang from
two causes: First, the refusal of William II.
English to retire from the craftsmanship of
the State central committee after his nomin-
alton to the yice-presidency. This refusal
was almost universally attributed by Demo-
Gratis to his desire to have the handling of
the Democratic campaign fund. OF W. II.
English and Franklin Landers candidates
for Vice-president and Governor, respec-
lively, Mr.. Landers would never have been
nominated for Governor, except for
his pledge to contribute certain
large sum for campaign purposes; and Mr..
English wouldsnot have been nominated for
the Yice-presidency except upon the under
standing that be would contribute $50 900
for like purposes-the money to be used in
carrying Indiana Upon the organization of
the executive committee of which Mr.. En-
glish was at that time the active chair man,
he evinced a carping disposition to the
money matters. Very soon afterward he
ref used to allow any one except himself to
open letters addressed to the chairman of
the executive committee or to himself as
chairman. Many of these letters contained
campaign contributions-some small some
large-the total amount of which he only
knew.
Soon afterward the first crisis in the In
diana campaign arose. Financial difficult
ties had presented themselves at the very
time when, it was believed, certain Repub-
iican workers" could he bought
mittee that funds should be raised;
that Mr.. English should contribute
$4,000 Mr. Landers $4,000, the State
Treasurer $1,000, and the other State officers
proportionate amounts. The motion was
adopted whereupon both the leading candi-
dates promptly repudiated it. Mr.. English
said he would give $4,000 and not one dol
lar more. So the proposition come to
naught. Matters went from bad to worse
Democrats who had the interests of their
party at heart became not only alarmed but
convinced that unless the relief should soon
come from some quarter Indiana was lost
Prominent Democrats in other States
were apprised of the desperate condi-
ton of atf.irs. General Hancock was made
acquainted with it, and as a result William
H. Barnum visited Indianapolis. meeting
of the executive committee was called and
proved to be a stormy one. English was
present but Hendricks was not for from the
very first he had excused himself from at
tending at all meetings where the subject of
raising or spending money was to be dis
cussed Everybody present admitted and
urged the necessity of carrying Indiana in
October if the Democratic national ticket