The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-09
INDIANA POLITICS.
The Outlook in the Eighth DistrIct-Reas0ns
for Thinking Lamb Will Be Beaten.


| Special to tho indianapolis Journa7.
TERRE HAUTE, Sept. Sit has now been q
| month since John E. Lamb was nominated for
Congress in this district, and the Democratic
disaffection has had time to show whether it is
likely to endanger his election in district ,nade
| especially for him and which on the presidential
vote OF 1884 shows Democratic plurality Of
| 764. In the best judgment of those capable Of
forming an impartial estimate, Mr. Lamb will
be defeated Were the election to take place
this week Mr.. Johnston, his opponent, would
nave plurality of from 200 to / 500, and this
| statement is made with due respect to the prob
abilities as regards the action of the Greenback-
ers. Whatever effort may be made to secure
for Mr.. Lamb this support, which so materially
increased his vote two years ago. it is safe to say
that he will not receive over 10 per cent. of the
vote then given for him. The result in this dis
trict is mostly dependent on the opposition to
him in his own party. That opposition is grow.
ing. both in numerical strength and intensity Of
feeling
While it is true that much of the work done
by the leaders in the movement is of secret ma
ture yet am aware of enough of its details to
sneak advisedly. During the month past there
ers, as they are called, which is owing to many
causes, and altogether forms an interesting and
amusing study of Kaleidoscope politics. Tho
leaders are at work day and night and are work.
ing with more energy and to better effect than
before Mr. Lamb was nominated They are get
ting many signers to their pledges. and helieYe
| 1t to be true as claimed, that three hundred
| Democrats In this city have affixed their names
| to the little cards which pledge the sguers TO
| vote against Mr.. Lamb. know of fifteen Demo
in mt tow in uhn kcrilx-
| the city yesterday to sign these cards In Sulli-
| van county, which is the county fastened on to
| this district and which gave Cleveland 500
plurality, there is active opposition that bids
fair to surpass this, Vigo county, in the number
OF Democratic votes withheld from Mr.. Lamb.
Several years ago this county led in the bolt
against the Democratic candidate for judge for
the circuit then comprising these two counties,
and so serious was this bolt that change of over
one thousand votes was made and the Republic
an date elected. Many of the same men,
mostly .embers of the Christian church. who
are proverbially cannish in political matters.
are now engaged in the ant-Lamb scheme. Re-
publicans had hardly looked for less than 800
or 40 plurality for Mr. Lamb in that
| coun out | am satisfied after careful
inqr cat to-day he would not get over 700 or
portant field. In Montgomery county the dis
satisfaction is less serious, but, like that in the
other counties it is growing rather than disaD-
pearing, and is encouraged and augmented by
in Sullivan and in CLAY.
This opposition 10 longer be treated as =
doubtful quantity, or as element which tina
Republicans must regard with the solicitude that
would advise "still hunt" Indeed, it is a
stampede, and tle Republicans are alive to the
fact thar from now on the race is to be made
with a rush And why not? On even terms,
that is the policy suggested By the issues. Mr..
Lamb ought to be and could be defeated ON
square, strong and enthusiastic appeal to the
people public record cOmpare0 with
that OF Mr. Johnston. MIR. Lamb was given
seat in Congress in 1882 by reason of Repub-
lican split in the old district. BY much clamor
of his friends he then obtained reputation for
exceeding popularity, and made the race again
| ia 1854, when, although he captured the indorse-
ment of the Greenback convention and received
$500 Greenba votes, he was defeated He
was then given the position of United States
District attorney, and in the ensuing winter, al
| the dictaLion of Mr.. Voorhees, Democratic
con gressonal district carved out for
| him. 1t will thus be seen that everything has
been handed to him, so to speak He has bulls
nothing for himself, He had an opportunity to
do so in his term in Congress, but there he was
a failure. He missed 109 roll-cas. He voted
for Randall, and then voted for Morrison's hori-
zontal bill, that is, for its consideration, which
is considered test vote on the bill itself In the
campaign two years ago. in defending his rec.
ord he reiterated, at every opportunity, the fact
that he had reported from the foreign affaira
committee a Chinese restriction bill That
measure was unopposed and passed by prac-
tically unanimous vote Yet such a record was
| the best he had to offer. Mr.. Johnston, on TIE
| other hand has been constant attendant in the
| House, participating in the debates. and in the
commttee-room was studous and industrious
legislator.
All these considerations make the road to Re.
publican victory plain, and the people of the
Eighth district may expect to one of the live
lest campaigns IN many years.