The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-25
THE HENDRICKS CONSPIRACY.
His Alleged Bargain with Cleveland Con-
corning Federal Patronage in Indiana.


the factions to adjust their differences and par
ticipate in the distribution of the spoils. There
is bad blood in the ranks Of the surviving
Hoosier wing of the late Southern Confederacy,
and the Democratic year of jubilee in this State
is likely to be crowded full of bitter feuds, back
biting and hatred instead of joy and happiness.
This is the conclusion that must be reached after
listening to an Office seeker fer five minutes,
pecially if he happens to belong to the Voorhees,
Mcdonald Sentinel gang, as the opposition is
called by the Hendricks Gray faction. A dele
cation of ofice-seekers returned q few days ago
from pilgrimage to Washington, presenting
anything but the appearance of victors return
Ing with spoils Each one had blood in his eye.
Said one: "We have been to Washington, and
we have come to go to work. An exhibition of
ingratitude such as we saw at Washington is
almost enough to make one feel sorry that the
Der election So far as the party in Indiana is
concerned. the outlook is anything but encour-
aging Yet, if 1t shall come out of the approach
ing cyclone Of wrath and indignation shorn of
the treacherous leeches that have been sucking its
life blood for years, and otherwise renovated
and purified, we shall be satisfied, however vio-
lently the storm may rage. Mr.. Cleveland could
and should have given helping hand In our
efforts to prevent breach in our party. Henot
only refused to be peacemaker, but seemed
purposely to adopt such methods as would be
most fatal to any proposition looking to an ad-
justment of the differences in the party in this
State. Mr.. Cleveland does not now, and never
did, understand the situation in Indiana. and 1
am about persuaded that he does not attach
much Importance to this State anyway,
outside of what he imagines Mr. Hendricks
carries about in his pocket Mr.. Cleve-
lands anxiety for success at the polls
led him into combinations, and into making
pledges Of the most extraordinary and, / may
add foolish character the result of which, so far
as Indiana is concerned, is sure to bring disas-
exceedingly, as does every other lover of the
party in Indiana; but then we must assert and
MAINTAIN our rights and manhood without any
reference to consequences Self-constituted
bosses will not be obeyed by the Democracy of
Indiana nor will we submit to having one of
our greatest truest and best leaders butchered
to make holiday for Vice president Hendricks,
Governor Gray or anybody else. Indiana is
powerful and influential factor in the politics of
this countryside important to the Democracy
indeed to be treated with contempt by Mr.. Cleve-
land, for as you must know, Indiana is far from
being a sure Democratic State, and little snub-
bling or mlsmanagement by either party will
always send it flying into the arms Of the other
mdlanians are not in the habit of kissing the
hand that strikes them"
''Do these differences ante date the electionT
THE causes do, but not the bitter feeling
which now exists"
What were the causes and who is response
blel'
1.-The causes were the outgrowth Of jealousy
and the responsibility for all our troubles must
be laid upon the shoulders of Mr.. Hendricks
His burning ambition, and the high estimate he
placed upon his own greatness and popularity
hue nffn both =. ox,d
The beginning of the trickery, if / may call it
by so harsh name, dates back month or more
before the Chicago convention. However, the
work that was done behind the curtain after
the nominations were made and before the let
tiers of acceptance were delivered, did the mis-
chief for US. You remember that Mr.. Hendricks
visited Mr.. Cleveland before either had ac-
copied the nomination. Well, it has since leaked
out that Mr. Hendricks, believing himself to DO
in possession of all the brain power and glory of
the conventions work, demanded of Mr. Cleve-
land, as the condition upon which he would make
the race at the tail end of the ticket, the
full and absolute control of certain patronage in
Indiana and In two or three other States, with
the additional right to say whether or not an
Indiana man should be invited to place in the
Cabinet and to name the man if one was to be
selected from this State, and still further, that
no Indiana man should be placed in any position
of prominence and influence without the full
consent of the Vice-president Believing that
Mr.. Hendricks would be tower of strength in
the struggle, Mr.. Cleveland foolshly made all
the pledges that were demanded of him, and
more, too Not a soul in Indiana save Mr..
Hendricks and a few bosom friends knew of this
bargain and SALE and it is we'll enough that the
secret was kept close. otherwise the electoral
vote OF Indiana would have been counted for
Blaine. Soon after the election, however when
Mr.. McDonalds friends began to press him for a
Cabinet position, the conspiracy began to un-
wind its treacherous coil and, later on it became
evident that Mr. Mcdonald had been betrayed
by Mr.. Hendricks at every step from before the
Chicago convention dcwn to the hour in which
Cleveland and Hendricks were inaugurated.
"Of course, all this, OR half of it, is enough to
create divisions and contentious in any party.
1t has been given out that Mr.. Mcdonald be-
lieves that Mr.. Hendricks said nothing against
his appointment to Cabinet position, which is
true; he also knows that Mr.. Hendricks said
nothing favorable in the premises. The fact is.
Mr.. Hendricks had no need of saying anything
for or against Mr.. Mcdonald. Under the Cleve-
land Hendricks compact, q shake of the head
was as good as thousand verbal noes The
first thing that Mr.. Hendricks did after accept
ing the nomination was to put his scalping knife
in good trim; but mind you, to every one Of his
intended victims. until after the election, he was
all Smiles and each one was made to feel that
he, above ali others, was first in the confidence
AMI affections Of the tailend of the ticket"
How do you account for Holman having been
urged for Cabinet position9'
THAT was Hendricks scheme, prompted by
in the Cabinet became so formidable that some
thing had to be done. At this point Hendricks's
strikers got I'D a Holman boom Whereupon
the Vice-president elect urged assthe only way
to prevent the disruption of the party that
Indiana be left out altogether in considering the
makeup of the Cabinet. That was what took
Hendricks to Albany in February. Cleveland
wanted some excuse other than the ante election
bargain to give to the public for not giving Nc
Donald Cabinet place. Hendricks managed
the scheme with great cunning as he is per-
fectly capable of doing"
But what about the recent interview In
which Mr.. Hendricks was made to say that the
relations between himself and Mr.. Mcdonald
were pleasant
s>ssYou will understand all of that better when
/ .el you that that was one of Mr.. Hendricks
bureau interviews-the kind that is made to
order for a particular purpose
''How is the party divided at this time in In
dianaw
..Well Senator Yoorhaes Mr. McDonald and