The Evening critic., 1885-01-24
INDIANA eERRYMANpERs.

Threatened work of the LegisIa.
ture Causes Uneasinesss-- How the
Scheme Would Affect CODgressmon
ana Judges.
A good deal Of agitation prevails among
Indianians here over the threatened gerry
Wandering of tho Congressional and Ju-
dicial districts in their State Quite
number of letters have been received this
week by Democratic Members from promi-
Dent men in the party in Indiana, but it
seems that those who are now here are con.
shlerably at sea on the subject, and are at a
loss to know whether they are to be gerry
wandered out or in, or, il neither, whether
their political lots will DO cast In easier or
rougher places.
Representative Kleiner, of tho First Dis.
trict, said TO CRITIC man to-day that he
had heard a good deal about the proposed
redistricting of the State, but he had not
found anyone who knew heads or tails of
the schemes. He thought, however, that If
the other districts afforded no better fields
for tho gerrymanderers than the first bat
little good could come Of the work. The
benefits, he presumed, were to accrue from
the changes In Judicial districts.
Other Indiana Members expressed the be-
lief that If there was to be anything done
in the Congressional districts, but little
could be done except in tho district occu-
pied by Mr.. Lamb. That might possibly
be arranged so as to give Democratic candi-
dates reasonably clear roads to success here
after.
The impression prevails that the most di.
rect benefit which will inure to the party
gerrymandering will be the securing Of
number Of judges. Ifa Republican Judge
is gerrymandered out of Office the place
will be filled by the Governor, and thus
some Republican circuits will for the
greater portion Of the term Of four years be
presided over by Democrats.
A Democratic Member, who was at In
dianapolis about the time the Legislature
was organized, says it is body composed of
good and sensible men, and that the party
has much more to hope for from it than it
got from the last Legislature. Whatever is
done in the way of redistrlcting the State,
he thinks. will be done with decency and in
order.
Another statesman who has Just returned
from the capital of Indiana, says there Is a
good deal of secret work being done for
certain aspirants in the State under Mr.
Clevelands administration, and thinks q
few prominent politicians will be fixed up
for positions before the Legislature ad-
jourps. In other words, tho members Of
that Legislature appear not to hesitate to
use their official names to advance the
ambitions Of their friends. They are what
may be termed political thoroughbreds"
He says that papers are being quietly cir
culated for Congressman Lamb for United
States District Attorney, and that he will
get .he place beyond doubt The leaders of
the party, too, have declared for the Com
missionership Of Pensions and are working
for DIR. Milton James, of Muncie, such men
as Governor Gray, Manson, Bynum, Crav-
ems, Harper, Spence and Barnett having
the matter In charge, and in several coun-
ties petitions are receiving the signatures
of men of all political creeds, asking for his
| appointment. These two men, this gentle
man said, were as sure as anything could
be in politics to receive the places. Ex-
Senator Mcdonald is also being urged by
tho Legislature for Cabinet position, In
the firm belief that he is as good as selected.