The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-10
Demolition of the Last Argument in Favor
of Meagher's Eligibility to Seat in the
State House of representatives.
Parke County Republicans Demand
Recount of the Vote for Auditor.
Reception to Hon. L. 7. Michener by Republic.
ans of Observation-Disclosures at Bluff
ton--The Victory in Daviess County.
MEAGHER's CASE.

Demolition of the Final Argument In Favor
of His Eligibility as q Representative.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Nov. 9-Terre Haute is dea-
tined to have renown, or notoriety, through the
political ambitions OF John E. Lamb. whose ef-
forts to obtain public preferment have not only
involved his party in this district in quarrel,
the effect of which will be felt for years to come,
but have lost to the party in the State it's only
hope of electing United States Senator. This
latter result grows out of the effort to gain votes
for Lamb by trying to give workingman a seat
in the Legislature Meagher, the iron-puddler
and ineligible candidate for the Legislature, Is
not unlike Lamb in appearance He is fullset
man, has blue eyes, smooth and very forid face,
like Lamb and wears the conventional broad.
cloth, when not in the rolling-mill. and the mill
tary slouch- hat which Lamb particularly affects.
Two years ago, when Lamb was running for
Congress, and felt the necessity of offsetting the
i'll effects of his straddle on the protection ques
ton, he got up workingman's tariff club. and
at meeting Meagher was chosen as chairman.
In other ways he helped Lamb, and when the
federal Offices were to be doled was
to have had his reward. A gaugership
was fixed upon, and Meagher wss
happy in the prospect of drawing So day from
the government But his name was not in the
list of gaugers when the appointments were
made. This caused bad feeling, and ths puddlef
was classed among the 'kickers," whose ranks
were increasing daily In the spring the thoughts
of the politicians turned to the township cleo
ton, and Lamb was to make it all right by Civ
ing Meagher the nomination for trustee. This
placated him and in turn set the kckers against
him. He was defeated but was given the nomi-
nation for justice Of the peace and received the
lowest vote of the FIVE elected He duly quail.
fed for the Office for the term beginning Oct "a
The prospect for fees was not good five being
too many justices for the amount of business ir
:he township. The growth of the Knights of
Labor during the summer gave prominence to
Meagher who is master workman of assem-
bly,. in political affairs and when the county
ticket was being made up he was placed on II
for the Legislature. The question of eligibility
was raised at the time, but the Democrats said
there was no doubt the party would be in the
majority in the House and would give him the
seat. Since the result of the election the vital
Importance of the question has caused the Dem
Gratis to contend for every inch Of ground. First
they said that he had tqualifed. This was shown
by the records to be untrue. and finally, after
having been driven from one position to another,
they now base their claim that Meagher is eligi-
BILE on the ground that the action of the Board Of
Commissioners creating the Office of fifth justice
of the peace was taken at special meeting
of the board, holding that The law is that moth.
ing but such business as mentioned in the call
shall then be transacted, and that this action
was not 80 mentioned, thus rendering void the
election of Meagher because there
cancy in the Office. The custom, law and deci-
sons are, however, against this proposition. The
truth is the Democrats have no confidence in
their position, especially as they roalize that the
Republican house is the court that will pass up
on the question.
The last prop under the Democratic defense Of
Meaghers eligibility was knocked out this eve
ming by the discovery that Meagher did not sue
ceed the justice who had been appointed at the
special session of the Board of Commissioners.
Justice Slaughter, now serving received his GER
tifcate to succeed that particular justice and il
there is any lack of vacancy it is in Slaughiers
case and not that of Meagher, his certificate
being to succeed justice who had been elected
as one of three, four years ago.
Another Man Who Should BE Unseated.
Terre Haute Special to Chicago Tribune.
The Republicans now see their way clear to oh.
tain majority of two in joint convention, even
conceding the defeat Of Tanner in the senatorial
district of jefferson and Madison counties, which
will probably be allowed to go by default, foi
Tanner would certainly be unseated by the
Democratic Senate should he even succeed in get
ting certificate. John T. Beasly, the Demo
cratic candidate. who has majority on the face
of the returns of twenty one as joint Represen
tative from Sullivan, Vigo and Vermillion, will
be unseated, sufficient evidence of fraud having
been discovered to make this not only convenient
but just The Republican central committee OF
Vigo is busily engaged in preparing af1davlts IN
proof of the right of Decatur Downing, OF Yer
million county, a Nationalist and Prohbitionist
indorsed by the Republicans, to the seat Errors
have been discovered In the count OF Precinct A,
in Sugar Creek township. and the grossest frauds
are thought to have been perpetrated IN Neyins
township, Vigo county. This township held
back its returns for twelve hours after those
from every other precinct in this county had
been canvassed and reported. The majorities in
this township decided the election of Meagher
and Beasiy, Democratic candidates for Repre-
sentatives, and also that of the Democratic can
didates for sheriff and treasurer For the latter
office there were forty more votes counted than
were cast altogether for all the candidates for
any other Office indicating that forty voters cast
their franchises alone for the Office OF county
treasurer without voting for any other candidate
whatever. The township is normally Democrat
ic by large majority This year, despite Re-
publican gains in all other precincts. Nevina
came in with from 80 to 182 Democratic major.
ty, and just tho right size insure tho election
of four Democratic candidates, which depended
entirely upon the result from this precinct
Meagher and Beasly can both be deprived OF
- - F.. 4. =. -. -~<.~
cinct But in the case of the former it is not
necessary.
Senator Voorhees, has been in the city for SOY.
eral days studying the situation He had just