The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-02-11
Kidd Va. Steele.
I Kokomo Dispatch.


Recognizing the indelicscy as well as bad
taste OF such procedure, the Democratic
press of the Eleventh Congressional District
has to this hour RETAINED from discussing
the election contest of Kidd VS.. Steele other
than to print the allegations of Major Kidd
and the reply OF Major Steele. Had
the Republican press preserved silence as to
the merits or dement's of the contest, had
Major Steele himself not aagrantly ate II Dt-
ed 10 manufacture sentiment for himself by
charges and statements procured by him to
be made by Washington CORES Dondeuts in
the Indianapolis daily press, the Dispatch
would not now refer to the matter outside
of its news columns.
Major Kidd, the Democratic contester of
Major Stese's seat in the lower House of
Congress, is an honorable, high minded
gentleman, utterly incapable OF doing
small or malicious thing. He is gentle
man OF remarkable mentality, positive opin-
ions, and scrupulously honest in every rela-
ticn of life. He is not obstinate but he is
immovable when he considers him self in the
line of duty. He has just enough of the
bulldog in his nature to never yield ID a
palpable wrong or an acknowledged fraud,
whether in the trial OF cause in court or
the prose cution OF an honest claim in poll
tics. He is neither hyprocrite nor dung.
hill. Once convinced, upon good evidence,
that his cause is Just he possesses just enough
thoroughbred blood to prosecute ii to the
bitter end. In a word, while he is as gentle
as maiden, he will not be bullied nor
bulldozed out of his Just rights.
The face of the returns. last November,
gave Major Steele his election to Congress
by plurality of ffty-four out of a total
vote OF over 10000, q margin so narrow a
fraction so small, as to be scarcely appreci-
able. As was natural in a contest SO close,
Major Kidd Investigated the vote of every
county in the district very closely. He seru.
tinted the returns from every precinct
carefully. His friends. both Democrats and
Republicans, from almost every county in
the district wrote him OF frauds, Irregular.
ties, illegal voting, vote buying, etc, aud
urged him to take steps to contest the cleo
ton. To this proceeding Major Kidd was
10th to give in. bat mis- friends. ceasing to
urge. demanded, in the 7ame of the party,
that he not submit to q usfeet through fraud.
Finally he yielded to tie demand of his
party and began steps to contest. This he
did in bold, straightforward manner He
approached no man with a corrupt PROPOSE
ton, he suborned no testimony, he bought
DO witness to swear to statement of alleged
facts that he himself had prepared. His
charges were printed entire in the Dispatch
two months ago and were republished there
after throughout the district.
Major Steele's reply, very vulminous
his home organ. That part relating to How
ard County is printed elsewhere in the Dis.
patch Of this date. We shall not undertake
TO pass judgment upon MAJOR Steele's re-
markable reply other than to say
that if that portion relating to this
county is fair sample OF the re-
pressing the belief that Major Kidd
will unsest him. Major Steele has sought
to create the impression that Major Kidd
knows he has no just grounds on which to
contest, but relies solely on the friendly
action of a Democratic House to seat him,
regardless of the merits of his cause. Thisi is
absolutely false. Major Kidd honestly be-
lieves that he has abundant evidence to
make out his case. He would scorn to
take a seat to which he did not be.
lieve himself fairly entitled by
the honest vote of the electors of the DIS
trict. The Dispatch speaks by the card when
il declares that Major Kidd expects nothing
but justice from the Democratic House. He
does not bank on party kinship to promote
his cause. nor does he desire the counten-
ance of the Democratic Congress unless he
clearly makes out his case in the Law and
evidence.
Having been placed in possession of all
The facts that Major Kidd has collected in
bis behalf, we are of opinion that he will
win his cause on genuine merit Major
Kidd has never been charged with the cor
rupt use of money in his behalf either be-
fore or since the election. So much can not
be said of Major Steele, and we call to wit
ness TIE almost united voice of the Repub.
lican press of the district Immediately
following the Republican Congressional
Convention that renominated Steele
at Kokomo last June. On the floor OF that
convention, the Hon. Calvin Cowgirl, OF
Wabash, denounced Steele as one who had
purchased his nomination with money and
at the price OF his own honor. On that &C
casion, Mr.. Cowgirl washed his hands of
the infamous proceedings and in q thrill
ing and dramatic manner crucihed Major
Steele on the cross Of public execration.
The dIsgTacsful scenes of that convention
are yet fresh in the memories of all. We all
remember how leading Republican news
papers charged, openly and with screaming
had debauched the delegates and assailed
the manhood Of the party by his corrupt
methods. Reasoning, priori, we have
every argument to sustain the charge
that he also used money cor
ruptly in the general election. The
testimony of his own party is that he bought
his nomination, then in like manner it is
not difficult to believe that he employed the
same corrupt methods to compass his cleo
ton at the polls The testimony of Rspub
icans alone will unseat Major Steele. They
have placed the seal of corruption upon his
forehead themselves. They have welded the
chain that will fetter him hand and foot b.
fore any honest investigation.