The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-10
Kidd VS.. Steele.
IKokomo Dispatch.


Recognizing the indelicAcy 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 X i'd 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 attempt
ed TO manufacture sentiment for himself by
charges and statements procured by him 20
be made by Washington CORES 20 adents in
the Indianapolis daily press, the Dispatch
would not now refer TO the matter outside
OF its news columns.
Major Kidd, tbs Democratic confes,er OF
Major Stee les seat in the lower aeuse OF
Congress, is al honorable, high minds5
gentleman, utterly incapable of doing
small or malicious thing. He is a gentle
man OF remarkable mentslity, positive oDn-
ions snd scrupaiOusly honest 10 every reia
ton of life. He is not obstinate but he is
imuovsble when be considers him self in the
line of duty. He has just enough of the
bulldog IN his nature to never yield ID
pslpabls wrong or en- acknowledged fraud,
whether in the trial of a cause in court or
toe prosecution 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 10 prosecute il 70 the
bitter end. 10 q word, while he is rs gentle
as a maiden, be Will not be bullied nor
bulldozed ont Of his Just rights
The face OF the returns. last November,
gave Major Steele his election 70 Congress
by plurality Of ffty-foUr out OF tota.
vote OF over 40 600, q margin 50 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 aud
Republicans from almost every county in
the district wrote him of frauds irregulRri-
ties, illegal voting, vote buying, etc, aad
urged him to take steps to contest the cleo
ton. To this proceeding Major Kidd was
10th to give IN, but his friends, casing TO
urge, demanded, IN the name of the party,
that he not submit TO defeat through fraud.
Finally he yielded to the demand Of his
party and began steps to contest. This be
did In bold, straightforward manner. He
approached no man WITH a corrupt PROPOSE
ton, he subOrned 10 testimony, he bought
no witness TO swear to a statement OF alleged
facts that he himself had prepared. His
chsTges were printed entire in the Dispatch
two months ago and were repuOlished there
alter throughout the district.
Major SIeele'g reply, very valminous
dscrmenI, has been given to the PUBIC oy
his home organ. THAT part relating to How
ard Comfy IS printed elsewhere IN the Dis
patch OF this date. We shall not undertake
10 pass judgment upon MAJOR Steele's re-
markabls reply other than 10 say
that if that portion relating TO this
county is fair sample OF the re-
mainder. we have no hesitancy in ex-
pressing the belief that Major Kidd
will unsest him. Major Steele has songht
to create the impression that Major Kidd
knows be has no Just grounds on which to
contest but relies solely on the friendly
action OF a Democratic House 10 seat him,
regardless of the merits of his cause. This is
absolutely false. Major Kidd honestly be-