The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-27
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
The Wayne County Trouble.


The article attacking Colonel Dudley in Mon
days Palladium reveals too clearly the spirit by
which it is animated to be attributed to any other
than personal motives. True, the writer refers
to the many anxious inquiries throughout the
State as to the cause of the discussion in Wayne
county The source of such inquiries cannot he
doubtful to any one who will give the matter
moments thought The benefit to be obtained
by ventilating supposed Wayne county dissen-
sions is manifest as to require no explanation.
Those who expect to profit are alarmed that one
who had not sought the Office, an efficient public
servant brave soldier, an honest man, and one
of unblemished private life and habits, had been
called by his well-deserved popularity, with
out his consent, to assume the respon-
sibility Of candidacy which he did not desire.
1t is true that Colonel Dudley stated to many
persons, here and elsewhere, that he would not
be a candidate. 1t is possibly true that he so
stated to Mr. Noble. Colonel Dudley, as we
happen to know, had the strongest personal
reasons for declining. Having been in the pub
lie service for considerable time, he has been
able to lay by nothing from his earnings and it is
the strongest commentator of his personal and
political honesty that he is to-day u poor man,
just able to maintain in reasonable comfort the
family dependent upon him. Flatteriug bust
ness offers have been made to hi1n-opportuni
ties for the acquisition of an Independence
ne viii but retire from politics. His own decis-
ion concurred with the advice of his friends and
he resolved to consult his private interests; but
such considerations as these Colonel Dudley has
always considered subservient to the duty
which he owed to the public, and he
has never stated to anyone that if called upon
by the voice of the Republican convention in
June TO lead in the next campaign, he
would decline to obey the commands of his party
Indeed the matter was especially called to the
attention of Mr.. Noble by Hon. l.. NJ Meering
who asked him if Colonel Dudley told him that
he would not be candidate if nominated, and
Mr.. Noble admitted that the Colonel made
such statement. 1t is true that it was not gen
orally supposed by anybody that Colonel Dudley
would be Il candidate. At the same time the
possibility of such an occurrence was shown by
the fact that among the gentlemen who prom
ised to support Mr.. Noble considerable NUN
Der, including Mr. Bennett and Mr.. Foullle. did
so with the express statement that if Colonel
Dudley would be candidate hereafter their
support would be given to Dudley This was
well known to Mr.. Noble, who entered upon the
canvass with knowledge of the pos
sibility of such contingency. Now,
then, what did the Wayne county
convention do! With knowledge that Noble was
u cdnulOaJe. ana tlat dudley was not; with
knowledge that Colonel Dudley had repeatedly
refused, and that Noble was pressing his claims
they wholly failed to give Mr.. Noble any kind Of
Endorsement. But what did they say of Colonel
Dudley! A resolution was introduced, not by
one member of the convention, but with the
unanimous approval of the committee on resolu-
tons, as follows:
Resolved That the Republicans of Wayne county
recognize the eminent public services the isulied
private character and the State and national reputa
ton of distinguished fellow-ctizen Colonel
W. w. Dudley and we do unanimously and enthu-
sastcaly call upon him to become the standardbearer
of the Republican party Of the State candidate
for Governor i'll the approaching political contest and
hereby pledge him such majority in old Wayne as
will eclipse all the glorious records of the past
It was not then known that Colo
mel Dudley would accept On the
contrary it feared that he would not; yet this
resolution was passed, not as q mere matter Of
form, but amid the enthusiastic applause of
every portion of the house. Let us consider
what these words mean. They We're not simply
an expression of confidence in Dudley. They
called upon him to become q candidate; and
pledged him the support of Wayne county. Mr.
Noble and some of his friends claim that they
are not binding upon the delegation. Do these
gentlemen think that an individual who asks
man to become candidate and pledges him his
support is not bound to vote for hims What
sort of political morality is this! But Mr.. Jenk-
inson and Mr.. Noble claim, as we understand,
that these resolutions were passed under mis-
taken idea that Dudley would not accept. Are
they willing to confess themselves parties to
such duphcity! Can any greater act Of self stuti-
fcation be imagined than to say: Il only
requested you to run and promised to support
you because | thought you would not do it''s To
allege this is to insult the honesty of the Re-
pubheans of Wayne county and of the men who
attended that convention; it is to attack their
own good faith-these men who themselves
stood by and consented to the passage Of these
resolutions which they say were never meant,
but the claim is untrue. We meant what we
said, and the delegation which represents us at
indianapolis will see to it that our will is accom-
plished.
Now what was the position of Colonel Dudleyl
Put yourself in his place. He knows
that he has declined to be
candidate, to all persons and
is not satisfied. They unanimously and enthusi-
astcally demand that he shall run. Has he not
a right to presume that they meant what they
have said! The matter is no longer with HIM
q question of mere personal advantage; it be-
comes a question of public duty, and in matters
of this kind from the time that he left his leg at
Gettysburg down to his present war against the
pension frauds, Dudley has never tiinched, and
he never will. Wayne county called upon him,
and he was ready. Mr. Tenkinson claims we
understand, that he should not have accepted
without consulting his friends. Mr.. J. thinks
he was ignored, and says that any man who ig-
nores the Palladium must abide the conse-
quences Yet he claims that this attack upon
Colonel Dudley is matter of principle, Most
men would consider such motive a matter of
spleen. Were Dudleys friends not consulted
when they unanimously demanded his candi-
dacy!
In this matter of discussing the claims of
Dudley and Noble there seems too much IL dspo-
stion to treat the matter as if it We're a subject
of quirelaim and warranty between both parties;
as if the paramount question was, not what can
didate do the people demand, but what
is their will! Colonel Dudley has no
right to deprive his county Of the
power of insisting upon his nomination for Gov
ernor His public duty is paramount He is the
strong man of the hour. He is the available Re
publican of Indiana. He can stir the hearts of
his friends with zeal, just as he inspires hatred
in the breasts of the men whose corruptons he
has exposed. When the delegation from Wayne
county goes to the capital in June her voice will
be clear, harmonious and earnest in his support
RICHMOND. March DC WN d. FOI-TEr