The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-09

Reasons from a Democratic Point of View
for the Defeat of John e. Lamb.


for the Defeat of John e. Lamb.
Correspondence Evansville Courier (Dem)
1t has been learned, since the State central
committee meeting last week, that the Demo
cratic objection to Lamb in his district, and es-
pecay in his own county, does not turn upon
the point of patronage, but upon his record in
Congress, and, if the charges against him are
true, the question presents one Of more than
local interest; one in fact involving the graver
question as to whether people, whose represent
alive has declared himself against their will, are
under an obligation to support that represent
alive when he again comes before them as the
party nominee. It is extremely unfortunate
that such a condition exists, but the faithful
chronicler of events can not afford to ignore any
thing which points a lesson or contains mora.
and the calm, unbiased discussion of which
may prevent others from making SINH
lar mistakes. and thus, In the end,
tend to the general good. In
stating the Democratic objections to Lamb a
Democrat, your correspondent does not assume
that they are true, but he does assume that the
gentleman is not responsible for them in the
sense in which he is so held by Democrats in his
district, and for reasons that will be made ap
parent. The three most i'm portant charges are
these:
l. He voted for Randall for Speaker.
2 He voted against Morrison's tariff-reGuc-
ton bill.
g. He failed 100 times to vote at all, and many
of the measures were important to the people of
his district
These charges it will be seen, all relate to
Lambs official record, and are such as the rec
ords of Congress will sustain or disprove. What
that record is your correspondent does not know
from actual investigation, but since Lambs
warmest friends concede the truth of the first
and second charges it would be folly to deny
them. The justification of Mr.. Lamb does not
lie in denial, but in the error of another, from
whom Lamb has received political instruction
and upon whom no has been taught to look as
more than modern Gamaliel.
Mr. Lamb entered Congress soon after the
Atlanta speech Of Senator Voorhees,, in which
that gentleman, while representing anti-high
tariff people, praised protection as the source of
all our prosperity, and gave to the protectionists
of the East another argument against the claims
of the West, that protection IS an enemy to our
country. Lamb studied Voorhees, as political
model, knew his protection views and learned
from him to despise the attitude of a party
which was continually honoring him. Mr. Lamb
naturally began to look upon n platform as
meaning nothing against the will of Senator,
and he made the mistake Of carrying this idea
into the hall of the House AS Congressman,
he voted for Randall in the caucus when a large
majority of his constituency would have pre-
ferred that he vote for Republican. For the
same reasons he voted with Randall against the
Morrison BILL but upon final reading redeemed
llmSolL Dy Young Win MOrTlSOn, having re-
ceiyed the most convincing evidences that his
people were indignant over his act. In both of
these cases he followed the lead of Senator Voor
hees, and in both went counter to the
will of the people. Being man
of but little political experience, and having been
led to regard Voorhees, leader Of great
it, the mistake was natural in Lamb and should
not be held against him when his people have
received so many assurances that he now knows
their wants, and will follow the doubtful lead of
the Senator NO more
And here, again. is the party responsible for
the troubles that exist within itself. Standing
upon platform which denounces protection as
an evil and enemy, and placing in position
of trust and honor man who is VIGOROUSLY
leaning towards protection it is not at all
strange that Lamb and others should follow the
lead Of the man rather than the assertions of the
party. The one he sees every day; the other
speaks to him only at intervals of two years
And herein lies the inconsistency of men, Those
in the Eighth district who are now organizing
against Lamb because he voted against o re-
duction in the war tariff. clap tn eir hands and
stamp their feet in appreciation of the platitudes
of Voorhees, upon the stump, though they are
prepared to knife the man who, under Voorhees,
lead has gone counter to their expressed will
And yet, to honor Voorhees, is to invite others of
less political experience than he to fall into the
error which threatens to defeat Lamb, and
which, be the result what it may, must leave be-
hind it bitterness that years cannot allay.