The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-08
DFMOCRATTC FRAUD.

the Republican party. A stranger to the
methods of American politics and to the de-
vious ways of Democracy, would most nat
urally conclude that the Republican party was
one mass of corruption, without the redeeming
feature Of respectable flaw, and that De
mocracy was purity embodied. Some of the
Democratic papers, with more zeal than
honesty, have pursued the ''stop- thief policy
so long that they have partially deceived them
selves, and led the simple to believe that
virtue dwelt within the tents of the De
mocracy and was stranger beyond those
narrow walls. The showing of the Demo
cratic senatorial campaign at Columbus, o.,
is calculated to make the elect open their eyes
and to pinch themselves to convince them
that they are not dreaming. The con-
test is very bitter, and as a
result the parties thereto-the Democratic fac
tons under Pendleton on one hand and Payne
on the other-have not been slow to expose
the tricks resorted to by either. 1t is no longer
has been shamelessly pursued. Men standing
high in the ranks of the Democratic party
have been found guilty of betraying the per-
sonal interests of their hackers and constitu-
ents The Cincinnati News Journal, the or
gan of pure and undefled Democracy, as OPP
posed to the heterodoxy of the Enquirer I'M
qualifedly charges G. H. Bargar, chairman of
the Democratic State executive committee,
with having sold out Pendleton in the interest
of Payne, the representative of the Standard
Oil Company. 1t charges, further, that Mr..
Bargar has corruptly applied the common Dem
ocratic campaign fund to the advancement of
Mr. Payne's canvass, while at the same time
pleading want of funds to properly carry on
the State campaign last summer. In support
of this, it publishes a circular-letter issued by
cratic candidates for the Legislature last Octo-
Der. In this letter New York draft was en-
closed, with promise of more. A second draft
and letter followed with the significant hint
that ''for both of said amounts we thank our
Cleveland friends, Col. Thompson, Mr.. Farley
and Mr.. Paige through whose efforts the
money was secured they paying most of it
themselves" During the whole campaign Mr..
Bargar posed as a Pendleton man, and the per-
secuted victim of the Bookwalter- Payne Nc
Lean spies The denouement is now apparent.
''Our friends in Cleveland" who so disinter-
estedly came to the help of candidates for the
Legislature, have now little favor to ask, and
it is that, in return for the help afforded, these
assisted" legislators cast their votes for the
friend of "our friends in Cleveland"-Mr
Henry B. Payne.
1t may be claimed that thus far the transac-
ton is perfectly legitimate, and that it is sim
ply making one Democratic hand wash the
other. But the News journal shows up a
savory fraud in this connection. The funds
specially subscribed by "our friends in Cleve-
land" were not so subscribed, but came directly
out of the regular Democratic fund paid in ac-
cording to assessments, without regard to SEN
atorial candidates. Mr.. Bargar's perfdy is
thus placed beyond question: and the marvel
is that so corrupt a man could have gained
such an exalted position among immaculate
Democrats Bnt this is not all. The News
Journal publishes two other letters these
from John H. Farley, one of "our friends at
Cleveland They are addressed to the man
ayers OF the Independent campaign in Allen
county against the regular Democratic nomi-
nee, and contain checks for $3.50 and 800
respectively This money, it is claimed,
was not subscribed in Cleveland,
but, like the amounts sent out by Chairman
Bargar, came out of the funds of the Demo
cratic State committee. So much for the
fraud and corruption practced upon the Demo
cratic party at large by Democratic campaign
managers.
But the corruption does not end here. When
the Democratic members gathered at Column
bus Mr.. Bargar and few of ''our friends
from Cleveland" were on hands with limitless
means, and for the avowed purpose of buying
enough votes to send Mr.. Payne to the United
States Senate. A Democratic special CORE
spondent declares "a more infamous scheme
never saw the light of day" Representative
Strobridge, of London, offers wager of ST.
900 that he can name Democratic member
who has been bought, and win the bet with
satisfactory proof Another Democrat, not
IA member of the Legislature, but in Colum-
bus in connection with the con
test, went to settle his hotel bill and
was told that it had already been paid by or
der of Mr.. Paige, of Cleveland He re-
scented the insult and compelled the clerk to