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

There is more than probability that to-day
the first steps toward investigation of the
outrage attending last Tuesdays election will be
| taken. Mr.. Irwin and DR.. Wagner will
doubtedly gather material for contests and there
is every likelihood that papers in both cases will
be filed before evening. Mr.. Irwin at first
thought that the heavy expense long cam
paign entaed, and the odds that would be
against a contest, did not justify further person
al effort on his part but the more he reflects on
the Nervousness Of the offense, the hotter he be-
comes Il have come to the conclusion" said
he. last night, "that I will not submit to the
outrage. The manner in which it was DONE the
audacity with which the perpetrators ad-
NIT frauds were committed, and the
popular demand that something should be
done in furnishing the villains have led me to
to begin a contest at once Had been beaten
fairly, would have accepted the decision of the
majority without murmur but victory has
been taken from me by absolute robbery. No
one submit to such an infamy"
Dr. Wagner is as full of fight as the Repub-
lican Criminal judge elect 1t is possible the
papers in both cases will be fled at the same
time, and that before many days elapse the de-
cisive proof of not only altered tally sheets, but
of high-handed proceedings in false counting
| and illegal ballots will be forthcoming These
proceedings will be independent of, and yet
will largely shape, the prospective criminal
suits which, if Justice has fair show, will give
the picture in this i'm pression of the Journal
realism that exists now for the greater part in
moral certainty
The features of the local campaign are
strongly colored with the certainties of frauds
other than those appearing as fact in the
scratched tally sheets of the second precincts of
the Fourth, Thirteenth, Seventeenth and
Eighteenth wards, and the first of the Twenty
third. Up to the day of the election the Demo
Gratis, notwithstanding their scattering of money
| broadcast in certain quarters, were defeated.
But tie deviltry by which they rescued them
| selves was in readiness for action Every in
| spector in the southern wards had receiv ed
his instructions as to how to proceed at the last
moment The preponderance of express wagons
| placarded with 'fVote the Democratic ticket"
did their best service between and o'clock in
| the evening Many Of the precinct polls we're
| In close quarters, and duling this hour Demo
| cratic heelers surrounded the chutes It
was then dark, and no light appeared on the
/ outside except two or three Pickering candle
| flames. The time and conditions were all aus
pcious for rascaly work, and that it accom-
plshed its end the result of the voting shows
Before this hour the Democratic complaint was
that they had light vote, but the aggregate
| polling in these precincts reveals closeness to
the vote of 1884, when the presidential canvass
| serv ed an Incentive to bring out the votes.
'If there were no frauds at the polls, as we'll
| as cheating on the tally -sheets," said gent e
| man who conversant with every step of the
campaign, 'how is it that the Democrats lose
| heavily their vote of 1884 in every county
but Marionl" The Democrats answer that by
claiming perfect organization, without admitting
| the extravagant use of money, was suggested.
! and yet" continued the gentleman II found
| hundreds and hundreds of Democrats who were
| Indifferent and refused either to vote or to
| scratch the ticket This related particularly TO
candidates for State officers and the Legislature,
and yet both ran ahead of Sullivan, for whom
| most of the money was used. King, for sheriff,
| went in advance of his State ticket.
| The Republican vote. as whole. was
fair for off year, yet the Democrats lost only
| l34 on their presidential vote, while the Repub-
| icaus dropped behind $50 Sullivan kept with
! in 70 of the vote for Nelson, while Rollins ran
ahead of Robertson 49, but Kings vote exceeded
| Nelson's by 49, and Golfers was liz less than
| Robertson Nothing III the Democratic ranks
indicated the polling of such a vote for the can
| didates Cd that ticket The Coy gang became
desperate in the last days and flooded purchase
BILE localities with crisp bills. Without this they
knew Sullivan was defeated. AS the figures
show the extra efforts brought him within 10 of
| Nelson's vote, which can Il be accounted for by
| legitimate scratching Of course, every fraudu-
! lent vote cast was for the Democratic ticket I'M
scratched. The excessive gains of that party
hereare not genuine while the rest of the coun-
ties give it losses"
While this phase of the election is looked
upon for the time being of secondary interest
until legal measures will develop the proof, at
| tention certers upon the tally-sheet infamy
| Popular opinion regards this outrage as the last
straw in breaking the back of patience with Coy
and his robbers. 1t is felt that their methods of
| illegal voting are enough TO bear with simple
condemnation, but when it comes to bold faced
| robbery it is time to call halt by placing the
| guilty parties in the position wildly pictured in
! the above cut The development of proof will
| center about the transactions Immediately con
| nected with the canvassing board. 1t is the
RDenocratic policy, while admitting the proba-
| bitv of the robberies having been committed
| to express no view that will tend to
| give anything the form of certainty.
| But there is starting point in tbs
movements of Coy, Spaan and Counselman, the
earnest protest of Lorepz Schmidt inspector of
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