The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-08

the independent element in Indiana voted the
Republican ticket this fail, and why good
many Democrats refused to vote at all. The
Democracy has had full swing in that State a
long time and the seed of such sowing is begin
ming to yield harvest. The State affairs are
travagant, and the returns for the public money
generally unsatisfactory presenting strong
contrast to Illinois, which. under Republican
rule, is free from debt and from all scandal
Then, too, in local matters maladministration
has brought reproach upon the State. Indiana
county bonds" are a byword and kissing in
financial circles. Cook county scrip is bad
enough, but if, in addition to the ills we have
now, we were saddled with county clerk and
treasurer in guilty partnership with the gang all
conspirina together to flood the money market
with fraudulent county scrip, we should even
then be no worse than several counties in that
State now are and lorg have been. The country
at large has not looked into the politics of these
bands OF robbers, but in their own respective
localities the facts in the case are well known,
and made hundreds if not thousands of honest
Democrats turn against their own party and
work for its defeat
Another cause is the outrageous gerrymander-
ing of congressional and legislative districts.
The apportonment for Congress was arranged
without regard to natural association. The
present delegation stands four Republicans TO
nine Democrats. That ives the original result
of the gerrymapdering; but now comes the re-
actioH at the pollS In IaVOr OF Ialr play, anu the
delegation-eleet stands seven Republicans to six
Democrats The people have wholesome
sense of justice which political tricksters cannot
disregard with impunity.
Bad as is the congressional apportionment, the
legislative is still worse. Besides the gerryman-
der, resort was had to the "f1oatern' For ex-
ample, county with 10000 population and 500
Republican majority would be Joined as dis
trict with another having $1,000 population and
800 Democratic majority. Each would be given
one legislator for itself and a third for the two
combined The 800 majority would be overcome
by the 500. and in effect the Democratic county
would be given two Representatives
and the Republican only one. when
by population it should be just the
other way. This ''ioater" fraud was formerly
practced In Ohio, Illinois, and other States. but
it long since disappeared from all Republican
States. and, it may be added, it seems to have
''outlived its usefulness" In Indiana. Another
trick was to throw two or three Republican
counties into a district and give them only one
lives to Democratic district of less
numbers. By these and other unfair and ras-
cally partisan swindles the Democratic
leaders calculated with confidence On
securing on overwhelming majority of
the Legislature, which would give
them United States Senator to take the place
of General Harrison. But thousands of fair
minded Democrats were Disguised at those
dishonest tricks that they voted the Republican
ticket and the result is that the tricksters have
not to exceed two or three majority, and dis
patch from Jacksonville indicates that the Leg
islature may be tie
1t the Republicans make wise use of their op-
portunitles in that State by giving the people
good government and necessary reforms, Indiana
will be permanently redeemed and will help in
1883 to build the Republican pyramid for the
Democratic sarcophagus