The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-02
Warfare Between Congressman Bynum
and His Democratic Opponents.
Boss Coy DevOtes the Day to Putting Money
Into Circulation in the Interest of His
FavOrites Information for Voters.
LAST HOURS OF TIE CANVASS.

Democratic Candidates and Their Friends.
If there has been any apathy in the campaign
outside of committee work it came to an end yes
Ssrday. Never at any time have the probaoili-
ties of an off-year election been more generally
discussed Merchants dropped business as much
As possible to talk about candidates and issues.
Ia few instances disputes waxed warm, and
stopped only short of an outbreak of ill-feeling.
Men gathered on the street corners, in groups of
anywhere from three to half dozen, to exchange
Views In brief, the election topic held full
sway, and crowded out every other matter COM
mon to Office, counting-room aud street gossip.
Of these surface indications offered no
certainty as to the result. but there was an I'M
dercurrent of Republican confidence that made
the outlook especially promising for the
success of that party. While this
remained undisturbed by any eddies of
doubts, dissatisfaction or discussions, the
Democratic run of talk broke principally on the
issues of Bynum and antiBynum within that
candidates party.
Mr.. Bynum's friends have tried to belittle the
opposition of his former supporters but 1t has
5 appeared in a form that not only threatens dis
Rster to his chances, but ruin to the Democratic
county ticket The Bynum people early in the
campaign appreciated the personal weakness OF
their party's county candidates. Besides. they
hold mighty grievance against the ticket, be-
cause il was nominated principally as an exhibit
ton of anti Bynum strength when the late Mr..
Bailey seemed to have the supremacy. There
fore, it not hard for the Bynumites to bring
the fRctional contest to point where it meant
anything save their candidate for Con-
Rtess Their fight has been determ1nedly
directed to that end, and natural
sequence the wrath of the friends of
the county candidates has been growing
md thn liYnav
was reached in the utmost bitterness. Cutting
and slashing all around was the Democratic con-
dition. The chances of each candidate had been
brought to a ruinous minimum, and the day and
night before the election everyone of the twenty
nine nominees on the county. congressional and
legislative tickets was driven 10 catch at straws
chickering's, tn eats and profanity could be heard
behind the curtain The much talked-about
Democratic discipline had been lost, and disor-
RaDization could be detected in nearly every
voting precinct
Intensity of feeling went so far on the part of
the Bynum men as to charge Postmaster Jones
with being the tool of Republicans in having
anti-Bynum circulars, prepared and signed by
Democrats, distributed by letter carriers
on Sunday. This circular came from
members of the formidable faction once
distinguished as the Bailey party It's author
ship, notwithstanding its fearful denunciation
of the private and political character OF Bynum,
is attributed to VIM. H. English, John P. From
gel and Mike Conner 1t cut deep and drove the
Bynumtes to frenzy. The order then went
forth TO scratch the Democratic county ticket
wherever a pencil mark could be made or
psster used This excited tho other side, who
also determined upon the scratching process.
Last evening the frmes. adherents of the several
candidates and those who have been boasting
without reason that the entire Democratic ticket
would be- elected, threw up their hands in &C
acknowledgement of the hopelessness of the con-
test.
AS matter of further retaliation, the anti
Bynumites were not charry in calling Bynum a
traitor, man who never paid a poti-
cal assessment until the present
year. Just consider the id scoundrel,"
said leading Democrat yesterday. HE did
not nay cent of the assessment that was
levied on him when he was a candidate for the
Legislature. In 1884, il his frs, candidacy for
Congress. he refused to pay the $500 required of
him; and this year, when he was assessed;
$1,000 he absolutely declined to pay cent
until the committee reduced the amount to $500.
After great deal of trouble he paid $500, and
begged off from the rest, saying he could not
raise it. That is nice plea for man who has
drawn $4,000 since he has been in Congress,
fhd has made altogether about $4,000 out of
the position. Landers paid So, 800 when he was
a candidate and Will English gave s., 000 in
Marion county and 81 200 in Shelby
The anti Bynumites after awhile took another
turn, and accused the object of their especial
hatred Of holding VIM. Henderson to his side by
q promise that he would have Jones removed as
postmaster in order to install Henderson in that
Office From the Irish wards came the bitterest
expressions against the Democratic congression-
al candidate The force of opposition is raging
there. Il was surprised last night" remarked a
politician, ION going into these wards to find the
breadth and strength of the opposition to By
pum. 1t was particularly among young Demo
Gratis who are to cast their first
votes They came from Democratic fam
lilies, and never expected to vote any other
ticket but they were all for Harris, and have
determined to use the pastors freely on Demo
cratic county and legislative candidates,
The decentralization has reached the limit be-
yond recovery, and unless Republicans allow
Coy and his gang to work their frauds without
hindrance. there can be hut little doubt that the
Republican candidates will be elected by 500 ma
jority and upward.
What is your opinion of the fight" was asked
of a careful political calculator and prominent
Democrat yesterday.
81 don't want to be quoted" he replied, 'hut
the Republicans have a certainty as far as l am
able to judge. am not estimating their major
titles too large an average of
300 for every man on the ticket The county Is
naturally Republican, but in addition to this
that.party has the advantage of Democratic dis
affection. l find everywhere men upon whom
we have relied in past campaigns as experienced
workers, showing lukewarmness and disin-
clination to do anything They may have here
ard Ghere q special friend they want elected but
beyond that they are doing nothing. The rest
of the ticket is nothing to them. We can ex-
poet a QeISdt as sure as Tue sun rises
THE scratcher is abroad in the land" said
another gentleman, out Of politics. "Al day
persons have come into my store, and they have
talked of nothing else but the election. Most
OF them were Democrats, and not one failed to
speak of the dissatisfaction in their party and of
the number they heard say they would scratch
extensively"
So appalling became this condition that Sim
Coy, il is said early in the day abandoned the
whols ticket, except Sullivan. He bent all his
Aparuiao schemes and a n alept that
Aidate. From early morning until late last
night the rooms of the little boss at the Grand
Hotel were visited by election sharks They
came oste1sibly after instructions, but in truth
20 ret mon sy to be expended in buying votes for
Sullivan general sacrifice for Coy's candi-
date for enunty clerk is TO be the plan to-day.
"a Bynam man told me-" remarked Democrat,
ssthat he would not come into Marion county
with l200 majority If that is the case, Mr..
Bynum need not look for election. Both factions
.uiil -.a-...h haro in order Z