The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-03
SEEKING THE SENATORSHIP.
The Remarkable Shifting of Two Ri
walls for Democratic leadership.
Governor Gray Finds 1t To Be Policy to Take
q New Position Relative to the Lieu
tenant GoVernOrship.

all other State officers, the Lieutenant governor
the Democrats are ready to kick over the pot of
their own boiling. Going back to the week pre-
cedng their State convention, it is rather ludi-
crous to contrast the opinions then with those
entertained now by the worsted leaders of the
bulldozing party. The central ground in the
hight of that convention was the lieutenant-sov-
erDorship 1t was understood that Attorney
general Hord's opinion that Lieutenant-gov-
ernor should be elected was the law in the case,
and Immediately the aspiring candi-
dates were numerous. It went so
far that some astute politicians
tried to work up a fever Of excitement for ex-
Senator Mcdonald, who, they presumed, could
carry the State without question which would
place him in an impregnable position for not
only the United States senatorship, but the
presidential nomination. This. of course, was
merely the gossip of the lobby, but it came
very near reaching the distinction of well-de-
fined effort At that time not word was ut
tered contrary to the opinion of the Attorney
general 1t was accepted by its being addressed
to the Governor as bearing the Endorsement of
that official No one thought of calling
in question the legality or the ne
cessity Of the nomination There was
not the least intmation of support
of Green Smith then, or that he would be sus-
tained even if he had the presumption to set up
claims to the Office. Smith met with no consid
Grafton whatever in the contest, and each sec
ton Of the State presented it's candidate, all
finally dropping out until the contest went alto
gether in the direction of Judge Nelson. Great
oR xbn
stump. Tie Democrats, without de-
murder, went into the campaign with
this candidate for Lieutenant-g governor un
der the belief that Governor Gray,
on the opinion of Attorney general Hord, had
called for an election to fill the vacancy caused
by General Mansons appointment to the Terre
Haute collectorship. A Democrat cannot be
found now, including the Governor, who is not
ready to say that he always believed no election
OF Leutenant-governor was legally required.
1t is the shifting OF the weather-cock, the pre-
vailing Democratic opinion now, and all the
leaders, large and small moving to the
windw1rd in order to keep in line with Green
Smiths alleged claims to the position.
There is bit of secret history connected with
this question that has just come to light. While
the record represents Governor GRAY as being
should be made it also singularly brings the
opinion OF Attorney general Hord in line with
this wish. The opinion. it was argued in the
event OF Democrat being elected to the lieu
tenant governorship, cleared away the embar-
rassment of succession and would let Governor
Gray into the race as a candidate for
United States Senator 1t was a position
the Mcdonald men could not afford to fight;
therefore they tacitly fell in with the idea of
electing acknowledgements Nor, after the
election, could they support Green Smiths prop
osition. until his one or two hackers OF some in
fuence beat them into the ranks with ntima-
lions Of danger to their scheme to raid Repub-
lican seats in the Senate. Mr. McDonalds forces
have suddenly become the champions of the idea
that no Lieutenant governor ought to have been
elected. If one wants to hear any bristling
opinions concerning Governor Gray and Attor-
ney-general Hord's acts in bringing on the party
this burdensome record, he should go to Nc
Donald man.
Governor Gray has seen the effect on the
party. 1t is urged by some, and is now ready to
trim his views in order not to let Mr.. Mcdonald
get away with the senatorial plum. In an inter
view published in the News yesterday he said:
I'm case of my death I think Green
Smith. as President pro tenn. of the
Senate, would become Governor. Colonel
Robertson, if consttutlonally elected, could not
succeed to his Office and to the line of succession
to the governorshp until after the oath of Office
has been administered TO him, when the Legisla-
ture convenes The matter of Smiths perma-
nent right to the lieutenant governorship is now
receiving attention in the courts, and individual
opinions thereon are best withheld There
has been some misunderstanding of my rela-
ton to the case. The Attorney general was
strongly of the opinion that there should be an
election of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. | asked him
for an opinion and he so decided probably
suggested to my party that it would be well to
nominate candidate as precautionary meas
ure. I resisted an entreaty from some Demo
Gratis to issue proclamation to that effect. for
was rather inclined to the opinion that an cleo
tion was not necessary under the law"
ThlS2 position OF the Governor those who ara
acquainted with the details Of argument that
led up to the nomination do not accept, espe-
cially those Democrats who know that he had a
written opinion from Judge Turpie. taking q 20.
sition directly opposite that taken by the Attor-
ney general This opinion, it is asserted, was
in his possession either before or directly after
that of the Attorney general was published. 1t
is the current expression of politi-
cal possibilities that the Governor
is hedging on his former position in
the opportunity offered by the Green Smith suit
His friends claim that he will go into the caucus
with a formidable backing. while the friends Of
Mcdonald say the opinions of an Attorney
general are in no instance to be accepted as a
suits their wishes. Governor Gray, it is said
has assumed the same view, and now wants to
get from under the load he took up, with the
prospect of checking the Mcdonald game.
A story comes here from Sullivan that an en-
issary of Congressman Bynum called on the
father of Representative-elect Mackey, of Vim
cennes, and lnduced him to go from Sullivan to
the home OF his son to endeavor TO pursuade him
to vote for Bynum for United States Senator
The promise m ade was that. if Mackey did so, the
Democrats would not push the contest for his
seat The son, when approached, Indignantly
declined to enter into such an agreement.
Contrasting Representative Mackey's Election.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
VIEcENNEs. Ind. Dec 2-The contest case of
Henry Englehart vs. Robert l.. Mackey, joint
Representative-elect for the counties of Knox
Gibson and Vanderburg, came up before 'Squires
Jackson and McCrisaken. this afternoon. Mack
eys seat is contested on the ground that ne has
not been resident of the State two years. In
his testimony to day. Mackey admitted that he
went to Tennessee in September, 1882 voted
there in November, 1884 and did not return to
Indiana until May, 1885. The case will be con
tinued tomorrow.