The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-06
REsoRrING TO BLUFF.

premo Court of Indiana There were about $50
persons present. and outside Of few State
officers and professional politicians it was
largely made mp of low-grade ward-workers,
shoulder-h itters and feeders upon party gar
bsge. Among the most respectable of the per-
sons present were Sammy Perkins, Goose Eden,
Bill Floyd (colored), Edgar Brown, Morris Solo
mon, j. B. Maynard, Tom Kearney, George
Wolfe, Collector of Customs Kuhn, Jack Kat
tenhorn, John E. Sullivan, Dorman Davidson,
John Brennan and Marsh Palmer
The meeting was called to order by Sim Coy,
who, removing his hat. raised fat red hand and
remarked, Gentlemen, you will now be seated.
We have come together to confer as to the best
means of protecting the ballots" This pleasant
display of wit on the part of the boss created
considerable laughter After the mirth had
somewhat subsidized Mr.. Coy introduced Eb Hen
derson as president of the meeting.
Mr.. Henderson, endeavorine to look as indig
nant as possible, said: 1--WE have met here for
the purpose of selecting a safety committee.
Not for the purpose of attempting or commit
ting any wrong any violation of law, but for
the purpose of protecting the rights of the peo-
The Democrats of Indiana have elected a
majority of the Legislature on joint ballot
and effort is being mace on the part
of our opponents to count out and defraud US of
that majority. It is proper that steps should
be taken to see that this is not done We have
the official returns from all parts of the State
by county clerks, and the gentlemen on the
other side fully understand and know the result
is in our favor. for they have the same returns
that we have. You can take whatever steps you
see proper, and select your committee. l am
ready to carry out whatever action is presented
to the meeting"
Eudorus NJ. johnson was chosen secretary
j. j. Bingham moved that a committee of FIVE
be appointed TO select committee of safety
consisting of 100. The chairman appointed as
the committee, j. j. Bingham, John w. Kern,
Cass Byfield, John r. Wilson and Hiram Miller,
and the committee retired to anteroom. AS
they were moving out, voice in the back part
of the room moved that Tom Kearney be added
in, the excellent Mr.. Kearney being added,
though several Democrats, who wore white
shirts, looked their disgust
There were loud calls for Mr. Maynard. He
rose. and, as il not knowing exactly what to say,
or if he really had anything to say, made brief
speech. Mr.. Maynard is warranted to become
incandescent on any subjec at any time on q mo-
ment's notice, and after a few sentences was in
a high state Inflammation. The orator was some
what husky and his words thick, but his manner
was grand. gloomy and peculiar. He did not
know, he said, the process by which the Repub-
icans were going to steal the returns but he
had no doubt, not he that they would try to do
it II know" he said, with explosive eloquence,
that they are willing to do it. They have the
capacity to do it. They have done it before"
To which Goose" Eden who occupied front
seat, added: ''Yaas, an they'll do it again.
A voice. would like to hear from Sim Coy.
He has carried this county, and he's a man we
are under obligations to. Great applause and
erie of That's sol" ''Hurrah for Sim!"l
Mr.. Coy was not then in the room. He had
gone out to assist Mr. Kearney In helping the
committee choose the hundred names.
Ed Henderson again spoke. He said II
think | know how the Republicans propose to
capture the Legislature. They are preparing, in
every close legislative district, a contest, know
ing that in the House we have but forty Five
members, and that they have fifty five regular
ly and properly elected. They will contest in
every instance where the majority is small for
the purpose of turning out the Democrats, and
they are now manufacturing testimony to bring
before the House of Representatives In the SEN
ate they cannot attempt to do anything, because
it is Democratic. Thew will claim that they
have carried Posey and Gibson, Vigo, and Vigo
Sullivan and Vermillion. This is for the pur
pose of contesting and bringing before the House
of Representatives, and they expect when the
Legislature convenes to turn them out by con-
test 1t will be necessary for this committee of
safety to take such steps as they may deem suf-
f1cient to prevent wrong to the people of these
legislative districts
Fl. N. Span was the next speaker, and he was
enthusiastically cheered he rose near the
chairman and bowed to the audience.
II. N. Spaan, the legal adviser of Sim Coy,
who was a conspicuous attendant beside the lit
tie boss during the count by the canvassing board
was called out, and at some length he defended
the proceedings of the canvassing board.
Sim Coy was again called for. He had returned
from his labors with the committee and as the
plaudits of his admiring friends ceased. he said:
II have little to say exceptthat this thing of the
Republicans is simply bluff. know, for am
among EN-. know who I'm dealing with.
have dealt with them for years and if they think
they will bluff me, they are mistaken. / have
stayed with them on two counts before this and
they can't do me up."
At this point Mr. Coy stopped for moment to
allow the audience to contemplate his greatness.
His head was cooked on one side, and self
satisfied smirk ran over his broad, fat face.
IF you stand firm" he continued, I'VE will
carry this Legislature. The idee of SIGH men
as those who were at the Circuit Court room last
night, representing the Republican party, accus-
ing anybody OF corruption-men who have been
robbng the county for years / know every
individual of 'em, and know them we'll They
won't do anything but bluff. am one of them
fellows that don't care for bluff. All ask is
for the Democratic party to stand by me and
will beat them every time" Great cheering
The next speaker was w. F. A. Bernhamer
AS he rose to speak he was greeted with a tenn
pest of applause, he being for the moment even
greater in the esteem of his admiring party
friends than Boss Coy. He declared that the
transactions of the canvassing board had been
honorable, and referred ambieuously to the fraud
of 1876 and local election counts in which he
hot afa al hQssf
counted ont. He was glad to see this first ex-
hibition of Democratic backbone in Marion
county, and said that if the board had
rejected the Republican precincts that
were out of order 1--WE the Democratsl
would have carried the county by 10000 Ia
voice: 'Hurrah for ustl They begin squeal-
ing when they are beat Let them howl, and
squirm. and appoint their committees of 100.
They used to organize their committees of safety
before the election; now they organize them
after the election. | say let US treat them hon
estly and fairly. For eight years more we will
have the election inspectors in Marion county in