The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-08
THE TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS.

nOOu OIL lfJOUU votes. III 1907 WHeH captain
Harvey, was defeated, between4 900 and 5000
Republican voters livingnorth of Washington
street remained at home, while the Demo
cratic party succeeded in getting out a much
larger proportional per cent. of their vote.
The same condition of affairs obtained yester-
day, and the result is the reelection of Mr..
Kitz by a majority of about 1000, with the
chance in favor Of the success of
the entire Democratic ticket, although
Mr.. Shocks election is claimed by
a majority of 200, and possibly other
candidates may pull through. The almost alb
solute duplication of the result of last year,
with the advantages this year to the Repub-
lican party of by no means so active an asser-
ton Of the Liquor League in the contest, and
the confessedly Improbable record of Mr..
Kitz, is sufficient to cause serious thinking on
the part of those who assume to direct the fu-
ture of the Republican party. 1t must be
patent by this time that the Republican vote
of the city of indianapolis is not
carried in anybody's breeches' peck
cts, neither has the party a
ring in its nose by which it can
be led captive at will. Mr.. DeRuiter is not
defeated because of private resentments on
the part of anybody, nor has he suffered by
reason Of the personal" campaign made
against him. While very many Republic
A.
ans have not believed Mr.. DeRuiter the most
fitting candidate for the important position of
trustee of this township, the real reason of
the Republican defeat, twice repeated, in
Center township, IS because there is a revolt
against methods and manners which have
tainted the party management and the local
administration 1t has come to be be-
lieved that there is a select %coterie, which
meets and parcels out things among
themselves and their friends at will, expect
ing the compliment voters at the primaries,
the delegates at the conventions, and the
voters again at the elections, merely to meet
pro forma and ratify what has been done for
them by these estimable gentlemen, who polish
official leather and have come to mistake
themselves for the masters instead of the
servants of the people. 1t is not pleasant to
say these things, but they are the faithful
words of a friend-one which cares vastly more
for the success of the Republican party than it
does forthe temporary success of Smith, Brown,
or Robinson. We are in deep earnest about
this matter. There must be reform in the
method of doing certain things. The cards
must not be stocked in advance. The ~"slates"
must not be prepared in back rooms and the
primaries expected to accept what the
'bosses" give them. There must be an end
to the entire campaign being fought before
the primaries meet, so that the nominating
convention is nothing but a Babbage machine,
and in no respect a conference of earnest
representative men.
indianapolis and Center township are Re
publican whenever the vote is polled, a fact
made more palpable than ever by yesterdays
figures. The mob of h%ooting, bowling Demo
Gratis, who last night paraded the streets in
drunken enthusiasm, simply revealed their ut
ter inability to appreciate the meaning of the
election. There could be no greater blunder
than for either Mr.. Kitz or his party to con-
slider yesterdays election an Endorsement. Its
meaning is the furthest remove from that, as
will be seen in November, when the Repub-
lican vote will be called out by conditions that
will inspire the party.
Turning from the township to a perusal of
the returns from the State at large, there is
every reason for exultation and hope On the
part of Republicans. From all quarters, al
most without exception, the returns show the
Republican party alert, aggressive, victorious.
Democracy has been beaten back in some Of
its s~trongholds, while scarcely a Republican
position has been taken. 1t is very evident
that the party has gained substantial adj
vances, and that it is in the best possible CON
dition to enter the State and national
campaign. The Journal c~ongratulates
the gallant Republicans of Indiana
upon the splendid fight made
throughout the State yesterday. There is all
reason to believe that when November comes
there will be another such shout all along the
line as, in 1880, applauded the magnificent vic
tory that gave to Indiana the right to lead the
Republican procession in 1884.
ntr, A-a---1.oI .-.sa. sc ns,N.-.a4s L.