The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-10

fairly won them at the election, on condition
that the guilty parties be not prosecuted If the
parties intended to be defrauded Justly en-
titled to the offices they were candidates for,
they should have them, and the criminals prose
cuted to the extent OF the law.
s'The committee of one hundred persons
should be made permanent organization for
the purpose of ferreting out and Furnishing all
vioators OF the election laws, whether by
bribery, buying and selling votes illegally
stuffng ballot boxes unlawfully changing tally
Sheets or any other form of fraud against the
election franchise. You may consider me
pledged to aid and assist all such organizations.
Very truly, w HENDERSON.
Judge Martindale said that it had been charged
that this was partisan committee. To show
its disposition to work on a non partisan basis he
nominated as chairman Silas T. Bowen. The
suggestion was received with applause but was
temporarily withdrawn
w. p Fishback said that number of gentle
men who had been named upon this committee
were attending the Democratic meeting which
was called for different object, and did not in
terfere with this. They had the same excuse as
Mr. Henderson. This must not appear to oe
partisan movement
Silas 7. Bowen was chosen temporary chair
man, ard e. w. Halford as secretary. On mo-
ton Of Capt C. W. Brouse the order of business
arranged by General Coburn was adopted The
committee of FIVE that selected the committee of
one hundred was added to the membership Of
the latter. The chairman appointed a commit
tee of five to nominate permanent officers This
committee consisted of j. A. Closer. E. B.
Martindale John W. Murphy, w. P. Fishback
and A. B. Conduit. The committee reported
the following nominations, their report being
unanimously adopted
President-Silas T. Bowen.
Vice presidents-William Henderson and John
Coburn.
Secretary-Lucius B. Swift.
Mr.. Bowen thanked the committee for having
chosen him to preside over the permanent
organization. He said that grave charges of
fraud 10 the recent election were openly made.
They must be investigated 'If shown clearly
and satisfactorily to this community that there
has been no fraud we shall have accomplished
q great work. The defeated candidates will be
satisfied, and those who will hold the offices will
do so by lawful tenure If, on the other
hand. there has been fraud that the will of the
people as expressed through the ballot box has
been thwarted; then every good citizen, regard
less of party, is vitality interested in bringing
the perpetrators to condign punishment"
This Mr. Bowen hoped would be done. He
hoped no guilty man would escape, ''Let US
then" said Mr.. Bowen, in conclusion, center
upon this investigation, resolved to prosecute
with earnescness and vigor and with the utmost
fairness
should be no delay that the work of prosecuting
the men guilty of these frauds should be en-
tered upon Immediately.
n. S. Byram moved an executive committee
be appointed, to consist of nine members The
committee that had reported the permanent Off
GERS was chosen for that duty, with w. C.
Grfiths and General Coburn added. This com
mittee then retired.
Maj j. w. Gordon offered the following,
which was adopted:
Resolved, That every member of this committee be
requested and instructed to communicated to the
ecutive committee thereof every clew and trace of
fraud in the election just past which he may be able
todiseover with all such inforn alton he may be
able to find touching the same regardless of the party
person that may be affected by the same in order
that such fraud may be traced to its authors and duly
punished
Mr. Closer, on behalf of the majority of the
nominating committee, and against the unavail
ing protests CT the minority, reported, recon-
mending that the executive committee consist OF
W. c. Griffith, p. II. Jameson, Eli F. Ritter, e.
B. Martiudale, John III. Holiday, Fred Fahnley,
Nathan Morris, A. B. Conduit and A. l..
Wright, with the president, vice presidents and
secretary as members ex of6cio.
EX-Mayor McMaster moved that the eXecu-
tive committee select finance committee of
three members, that those persons who desire
to contribute funds toward the investigation of
the alleged crimes may do This was carrie d.
Judge Martindale-This is to be permanent
organization. This thing does not stop here.
TIE woodchuck is not in one hole, he is abroad
in the land. This is important to all of US, no
matter what ticket he votes. like to know my
vote is counted and that a dollar and ahalf won't
kill it. Let us open the books for contributions
and let the contributions be made with the I'M
derstanding that this is permanent organiZa-
ton. with treasurer
w. D. Wiles thought the action of this COM
mittee would have good effect over the State;
AS Indianapolis is not the only place where
frauds perpetrated
William p Gallup was made treasurer. It
was stated that no one need feel called upon to
contribute any great amount, but that every one
who desired might give, whether member of
the committee or not. 1t was matter In which
all were interested The following contributions
we're then made: A. B. Conduit VIM. Hender
son, Y. T. Malott and w. H. H. Miller each $l0
VIM. P. Fishback, $25; E. B. Martindale
y. c. Griffith. Arthur Jordan, W., H
hg''' Dr. ''sa Van '" vol Murphy Y s'sa ne Kahn
A. L. Wright, pAomas Chandler, W. P Gallup
John l.. McMaster. Silas 7. Bowen, J. A. Wild
man. d. B. Snideler D. V. Burns, ]. A. Closer
William Wallace, I. S. Gordon. James II. Bald
win E. W. Halford, A. B. Gates, E. F. Ritter
w D. Wies G. w Brouse. Noble c. Butler, W.
j. Holiday Melville F. Shaw, Ralph Hill, n. S.
Byram each S.; Howard Gale. SO. A number of
others, not memers of the one hundred, con-
tributed among them John B. Conner So; Joseph
Boswell, S.; DR.. Cravens. So, and A. c. Hamil
ton, So
A. A. McKain offered the following resolutions
Resolved, That the chair appoint comrnittee of
FIVE to prepare petition to the next General AS
elections be made applicable to political primaries
and conventions.
Mr. McKain accepted an amendment that the
the committee prepare petition and bill
amendatory of the present election laws.
Brief speeches were made referring to polit-
cal rascaity that needed wholesome repression.
1t was suggested that registration law, similar
to that of other States, was needed Mr. Nc
Kain said the men who commit frauds at the
ballot-box hare their first lessons and first ex
perience at the primaries.
| Mr. Fishback spoke of the benefits OF regstra-
kian "a Ii ynoua in Ohio