The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-23
THE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS.

THE CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS.
No man who cares for the honor of the Of
fee, nor one who cares for the purity of the
public service, can hesitate in choice as be-
tween Addison C. Harris and William D. By
mum, the candidates for representative in Con-
gress from this district No amount of evasive
shutting, no sophistry of any sort. can hide
from any conscientious man the conspicuous
reasons why Mr.. Bynum should be heavily
defeated in the present contest.
Who is Mr.. Bynum, and what has he ever
done in the State or national legislature that
can commend him to the confidence and sup
port Of the people9 A comparative stranger to
Indianapolis, by force of character that
would be termed impudence, if fair name
was to be given it, he secured nomination and
election to the General Assembly, and was
made Speaker of the House. No one who re-
members the scenes attending that Legisla-
ture, or who has ever read the record Of its
proceedings, will hesitate to say that Mr..
Bynum's administration of the speakership
was disgraceful. 1t should have forever pre-
vented him from again securing the commits
sion of the people to a public trust. It was
Mr. Bynum who defeated the appropriation
bills, and blocked all legislation in the mad and
passionate determination to force Governor
Porter to dishonorable surrender of the pre-
negatives of his Office. It was Mr. Bynum
who, as Speaker of the House. turned away
from the advice and entreaties Of such
men as John FL. Stotzenberg Senators Magee
and Bell, Hon. Chas L. Jewett, and others of
the kind, and placed the full influence and
power of the Speakers Office at the service of
the bummers and scoundrels who packed the
galleries of the Criminal Court ROOM
and were prepared to inaugurate vic
lence, if need be- to compel the
House to obey their partisan demands.
MIR. BYnum was then denounced in the
most bitter terms by the conservative and
honorable men Of his own party, and it was
he. more than any one else, who brought the
name of the State into discredit, and forced
the people into the heavy expense of special
session.
Mr.. Bynum camo out Of that Legislature
and, relying upon the same traits that had
served him well in lower sphere, at
tanned the congressional nomination, and, in
the accidents of 1884, was elected. No
sooner had he been made Congressman than
he at once began to plot and scheme for the
distribution of public places to his own pets
and henchmen. The postofice controversy
is familiar history. Because the late Vice
president desired the Office for an old friend
Mr.. Bynum did not scruple to assail Mr..
Hendricks as a liar and hypocrite while
his first lieutenant covered him with
the most opprobrious epithets that
"swashbuckler'-to use the Sentinels
phrase-could think of. Mr. Bynum at once
began the work of filling the petty offices with
his partisan "heelers," and we venture that
nowhere in the United States have there been
more disreputable appointments made than in
Mr.. Bynum's district, and for which he is
responsible. Convicted criminals, confessed
bribers, aw-breakers, and men of the worst
possible character are the kind of men that
Mr.. Bynum has foisted upon the
people of this congressional district.
What has Mr.. Bynum done besides the MAX
ing Of these appointments What measure
has he introduced What service has he rem
dered district, State or country? What single
thing is connected with his name, except a
continuous and continued wrangle over the
is perfectly notorious. 1t is a twice told tale
to repeat it; yet there are those who are
attempting to throw dirt into the eyes of the
voters of this district, and, cloaking per-
sonal reason under athin disguise, are urging
that this sort of man should be returned to
Congress against such man as Addison C.
Harris.
Mr.. Harris has lived many years in this city.
He has achieved reputation that any man
might envy as a citizen. He is lawyer of
ability, man of character and standing 1t
is an infamous libel on such a man to say that,
because it has not been demonstra-
ted to the contrary, he would use
his influence to secure Office for
such scoundrels and criminals as have been
selected by Mr.. Bynum as the recipients Of