The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-24
THE MAN LOGAN DEFEATED.
Judge Tree Tells About a Memorable Con-
test-Artful but Fair Strategy.
New York Tribune.

Now York Tribune.
Judge Lambert Tree, of Chicago, who came
nearer being elected United States senator from
Illinois than any other Democrat, is at the
Clarendon Hotel He has been to Princeton,
where Nilsson was graduated last week, and is
on his way to the seashore for few weeks so
journ. He is slender. medium-sized man,
with high, round forehead, intellectual counte-
nance, bristing mustache and small side
whiskers. In a chat about the Illinois senator
ship, he said, among other things
II failed OF election, because the man whose
vote was necessary to that end died. and a Re-
publican was elected in his place. The vote
that was cast for Logan when l received 101
votes had been waiting for me for long time.
There were two votes which expected But after
the first one was cast the Democrats became eated
and there was cheering and confusion for long
time This interrupted the ballet, and before it
was resumed the Republicans had rallied and
got the other member away. They were both
from my district, and there were Democratic
majorites back of them. One of them ran as
an Independent The next day Weaver was
seated and that ended the contest. Colonel Nor
rison made wonderful contest. He received
the full caucus vote for three ballots and then
retired, on the same day that was baloted for.
The opposition to him was factions and unwar-
rantable. If he had received the full vote at an
earlier day he would have retil ed before There
was only one Republican entitled to the senator
ship and he got it. General Logan's course
throughout was manly and honorable. 1t was q
square contest. He had the prestage on his side
to start with and the figures at the close. The
election Of Weaver from the Thirty fourth dis
trict, which turned the scale, was clever trick.
How was 1t accomplished"
"Purely by strategy. The Republicans did
not nominate any one. They affected indiffer-
ence The Democrats saw no reason why one
vote would not elect their man as well as a
thousand, On the morning of the election, to
keep up the deception two three Republicans
appeared at each poll and jokingly said, as there
was only one candidate, they presumed they
might as well vote for Democrat for once in
their lives. But about o'clock in the afternoon
the Republicans began to pour in. For two
hours they kept the judge and clerks busy,
while the few Democrats who saw the situation
were dsmayed The Republicans all brought
was preconcerted plan. There was nothing
that could be done. The district is largely agri-
cultural The Democratic farmers, at that hour
were at their ploughs in distant fields. So Weaver
was elected"
"Did you learn how the plan was put into op-
erationl'
There were three weeks intervening between
the call for the election and its date. During
that time the Republicans sent men all through
the district to post their friends and distribute
ballots. They went as pedders, lightning rod
agents, sewing machine agents, insurance agents
and various other DISCUSSES of character not to
Is an insurance agent and was constantly on the
road The whole affair was merely clever
trick, but an entirely fair one so far as know
1t is curious. too, that it was practised once be-
fore, thirty five years ago. by the Democrats on
the Wings. Abraham Lincoln was the sufferer
by it, being defeated by General James A.
Shields. This was in 1897