The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-26
THE Proposed INPAMY,

The rascally gerrymander bills now being
dragooned through the Legislature by men
afraid to allow them to be discussed, are the
most shameless pieces of political scoundrel-
ism ever attempted in the name of honorable
legislation. It is not surprising that the
Democratic manipulators Of this disreputable
scheme do not care to allow its merits to be
shown up. The most OUTRAGEOUS abuse Of
power has been brought to bear in overriding
all opposition to these bills, and no mem
Der of the Legislature has been al
lowed to discuss the measure. This
unprecedented procedure will not, however,
keep the people from knowing the full infamy
of the action of those who are bent on dis
franchising the people of Indiana. The Jour
nal for one, will see to it that the people Of
the State are fully advised
There are two objects in view that are hoped
to be accomplished by these bills: First, the
congressional districts are to be changed so as
to return eleven Democrats instead of nine.
To do this and to change the politics of the
Eighth and Eleventh districts, Crawford
county is taken from the Third and
given to the Second, from which Sullivan
county is to be taken to be given to the Eighth;
Warren county, Of the latter, being trans-
ferred to the Tenth. This, it is hoped, will make
all three Of these districts reliably Democratic.
In November last the Democratic plurality in
the Third district was 1927; by this bill it
will be 4, BOG in 1886. In the Second district
the Democratic plurality was 3,7O4; it will be
2,493, while the Eighth district, in which
Lamb, Democrat, was defeated by $50 votes,
will return Democratic plurality of 2,175.
BY taking Grant county from the
Eleventh district, the Republican plu-
rality of 81 will be changed to
a Democratic plurality of Sl1. The Repub-
lican plurality in the Tenth district will be
increased from 4s1 to 1,274, and in the Sixth
from 6, 400 to 9,01l, while in the Fourth dis
trict the Democratic plurality will be reduced
from l, 739 to l,3T7. In other words, by this
bill the 237, 600 Republican voters Of Indiana
will be given two congressman, while the
Democratic party, by a narrow plurality Of
less than 1000, arrogates to itself eleven MEM
bers. Reduced to figures, it will appear that
in Indiana 16, 900 Democrats can elect con-
gresham but it requires no less than lis, 500
Republicans to do the same.
The second object Of this bill to steal the
suffrages Of the people is to make absolutely
sure OF the Legislature, so that Democratic
senator may be chosen to succeed General
Harrison. In order to fair understanding of
this feature Of the BILL the table, elsewhere
printed, showing the new senatorial districts,
together with their total Republican and
Democratic vote for Governor in November
last, is worth careful study. Tt will be OBJ
served that of the fifty senators to be chosen,
but seventeen Republicans could hope
to DO elected on the vote given
Hon. William Fl. Calkins, though he received
but 1000 less than his Democratic opponent
This counts Marion county Republican,
whereas it is now represented in the Senate
by one Democrat and one Republican elected
in November last BY this bill 145, 900 Demo
Gratis take to themselves thirty five senators
and allow the 1000 Republicans but fif-
teen. At this rate Of apportionment it would
take but 4,143 Democratic votes to elect
state senator, while not less than 9, 1873, or
more than twice as many, Republican votes
must be cast. No wonder the disreputable
scheme won't stand debate.
Let the reader examine in detail the table.
He will see, for one thing, that Clinton coun-
ty, with but 6, $50 votes is given fve-sixths
Of a senatorship while Montgomery county,
with 7,340 votes. is awarded but one third of a
senatorshin This means that in Clinton
county, which is Democratic, 1906 voters Sc
lect senator, while in Montgomery county,
Republican, not less than %, O20 votes are re-
quired to accomplish the same A like meas
ure Of injustice holds in the mat
ter Of electing a representative. Clinton
county, with 5000 votes, is given one and a
half; Montgomery, with 1000, gets but one
and quarter. Over half of the voters Of In
diana are thus practically disfranchised be-
cause of insatiate Democratic greed. Against
such an infamy as this every power and priv
ilege should be used to the utmost, and the
Republican minority viii be upheld by the
people in any measure less than revolution to
protect them in their political and individual
rights.
A SPECIMEN of the reapportionment out
rara already nrinted is renuhlished: It takes