The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-07
MIR. HENDRICKS IN CHICAGO.
The Vice-P Elect Alludes to the Fact
that He Never Gets a Big Majority.

The Elect Alludes to the Fact
that He Never Gets a Big Majority
Chicago News.
vice-president-elect Thomas A. Hendricks, of
indianapolis, occupied a parlor of the Palmer
House last night. In speaking of the recent
campaign he said he was convinced that the
proper mode of conducting a presidential contest
was to discuss the political issues involved, and
not make an attack on the presidential nominees.
Mr.. Hendricks alluded to the excitement at
tending the recent election of the Democratic
ticket, and said that for a short time after cleo
ton day he believed a second protracted strug-
gle like that of 1876 was in store for him. Wits
very unpleasant, | can assure you" continued
the Ex-Governor and Vice president elect. This
Is the fourth time that an election in which l
was a candidate has been so close that both
sides claimed it until the official count was de-
c!ared. l ran twice for Governor of Indiana
when the result was in doubt for several days.
The first time was declared to be defeated by 300
votes, while in the second contest my majority
was l 100 and over, or very nearly the same num-
Der by which we carried New York at the recent
election. cannot understand why the Repub-
licans claimed Indiana last November, as the
returns gave increased Democratic gains on the
vote of 1880 and failed to show much of a falling
off on the vote of 1882. / knew that the State
had gone Democratic, and the Republicans had
the same facilities for gaining correct informa-
ton on the returns"
While not admitting that he was in the least
posted on the members of President Clevelands
dOllC OOf6IAOE IlCnuElChO SdlO hC
that the Southern States should be represented
among the Presidents advisers. He had re-
ceived letters from Southern gentlemen who had
suggested the propriety of leaving out the South
in the selection of the Cabinet. To these epistles
he had replied, and in his replies he had ex-
pressed the opinion that such a course would be
a virtual admission that the statesmen of the
South were not qualified for Cabinet
positions. an admission that wasl not
warranted by fact or fiction. He maintained
that many years had elapsed since the war,
and the North and South were united as one
people, He did not believe that the preserva-
ton of the Union depended on the dominance of
one section and the subjugation of another. He
announced that the civil and political rights of
the cOlOred race were settled by constitutional
amendment. and that there was no possibility OF
disturbing such rights. The platform of the
Democratic party, which would influence the in
coming administration, contained a plank pledg-
ing the party and its nominees to enforce all laws
giving political and civilliberties to all classes of
citizens, without regard to color or previous con-
| dition.
Mr.. Hendricks laughed over the eurrentreport
that his meeting with Governor Cleveland had
not been of the most pleasant character. He
said he had met the President-elect but twice,
once shortly after their nomination, and the Sec
ond time after the election had been decided.
AT both meetings the conversation was OF a most
agreeable nature, and he was at a loss to under
stand how such a rumor came into existence, as
it had absolutely no foundation in fact. He said
he had no intention of interfering with any of
the Presidents purposes, political or otherwise.
Mr.. Cleveland he regarded as a most decided
character, but this impression was gained more
from his record as Governor of New York than
from personal interviews. Referring to the
President elects letter on the civil-service laws,
the Vice president-elect said he believed that the
removal of the intensely partisan ofice-holders,
as was announced by Governor Cleveland as a
cause for removal, would satisfy the Democrats,
and keep the President busy for some time in
filing the vacancies.