The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-15
CONSPIRACY OF DEMOCRATS.
The Plot to Prevent Col. Robertson from
Getting Possession of His Office.
Yesterdays Conference Of Democratic Mem
bers of the Legislature for the Purpose of
Agreeing Upon Revolutionary Methods.

any legal encroachments on their apparent ma
jority is still largely matter Of conjecture
Judge Ayres's decision as to Green Smiths pre-
tensions has aggravated them somewhat though
they try to conceal their soreness under hope
fulness that Democratic Senate will stand By
them in any emergency 1t is definitely settled
that. If the courts fail. the Senate will be or
ganized with Green Smith In the chair as pre-
siding officer AS this will occur three days
before the Speaker of the House will be called
upon to canvass the returns before both branches
of the General Assembly it is expected that the
Democratic Senator'S policy will be a refusal to
unite with the House on this occasion. ''This
can be DONE" remarked gentleman of legisla-
tive experience, ''by the Senate declining to
take any action on the invitation of the House
for that body to be present at the canvass.
When the formal notice is sent to the Senate
some Democrat will be in readiness for it anG
probably move to lay the invitation on the ia
ble"
This will hold the Democrats of the body, and
and their Republican colleagues uniting with the
House will not be considered as part of the SEN
ate in that connection. The vote canvassed and
the declaration of Colonel Robertson as Leuten-
| ant-governor will then be claimed as illegal.
Under this Green Smith is expected to retain the
presidency Of the Senate in order, as it is
counted on to force Colonel Robertson to make
formal demand for his right as Lieutenant gov
ernor to preside over the Senate. This
is to be refused. with the idea of compelling the
Lieutenant-g governor to. institute quo warranto
proceedings against Smith. If every feature of
this plot appears they wish it, 1t is hoped that
something will occur to hold them in possession
until after the contests settled This seems
to be the only use the Democrats have for Smith
as presiding officer of the Senate. He will be a
valuable person In aiding them to renew the
Burson incident of 1869, which is the central
point OF all schemes and their accessories.
Among the supplementary forces of recent ac-
QUESTION in bringing about period of turmoil is
the conference held by the Democratic members
OF the House yesterday afternoon at the Su-
prema Court room. Thirty of the forty five en-
bryonic revolutionsts in that branch of the Gen
eral Assembly we're present 1--WE were called
together" remarked one, Ito consider the situa
ton" ,.&f
"Embodying no doubt, ideas concerning pros
pective legislation" was suggested.
mo, I have not heard any legislative matters
referred to, either in the conference out of it,
and have talked with most of the members
The Democrats are ready for any political action
of the Republicans, and it was to bring us to q
better understanding of what is expected OF us
in case our support is needed in sustaining the
proposed action Of our Senators. A resolution
went upon record requiring US to put on our
armor"
Physical or morale"
II don't think there will be any necessity for
the former. 1t will not go that far. hope. l,
for one, am in favor of peaceful methods"
Yet You propose going to the last limit"
Eyes, to maintain our rights: and one of them
is we have two majority on joint ballot with
which we propose to elect q Senator" This
was the burden of the afternoons dis
cussion in the conference. with many ex-
pressions concerning Republican rascals and
frauds. 1t seems that most of the
speakers were fond of constructing supposititious
Republican schemes ending invariably with,
ut is our duty at all hazard to see that this
knavery is not accomplished" Something of
CONSERVATION struck the guileess portion of the
conference when Representative Mock, of Wells,
admitted that he had taken the oath of allie
glance to the British crown and Canadian gov
eminent For moment or two they
did not know what to do with this
frank Confession but able speaker
took offs the pressure by telling what Rspub-
jicau knaves intended to do. "Hence they
would stand by Mock TO the last" Great stress
was laid on the Mackey case.s land around it the
hopes of the conference conferred with a deter
mination to protect Meagher, Beasley and any
other Democrat whose seat may be in danger as
fa- as plots and braggadocio would go.
The want of leader also disturbed the con-
ference, as it does the Democratic party in the
State eenegally. 1t was decided to place this
distinction on Representative Jewett This
mocracy, for general adviser has
been retained in the person of James
II. Rice who has long done the
actual service of that position while others got
the glory of it. 1t has been tacitly assigned to
him but it carries all the force Of formal action
Among his first utterarce in taking command
was, "What we want to TO do is to make noise
and aggravste the Republicans. This will lead
them to do things that will put them before the
people as buldoZers That is Just what we need
IN "a DamOrratz Thara ia
Indifference in the ranks of our party. 1t cost
us the State, and if we can drive the Republic
ans to do the worst it will bring our men back
to u.s."
The conference of yesterday was in keeping
with this suggestion. 1t had the outward show
of concealing great mystery. but all the talk
aud propositions were whitfield down to the ap-
pointment OF q committee, with Representative
Jewett at its head to take charge of everything
connected with the defense of contested seats in
the House. 1--WE are trying to elect Senator"
said one of the conference last night. "and are
studying law in our efforts to DO it. The Repub-
llcans want to do the same thing, but are apply
ing mathematics to a solution of the problem,
and mathematics ia truer than law"
It was proposed in the conference by fiery
partisan that in order 10 defeat the Republicans
all the Democratic Representatives should RS
sign, but this was too much for those who are in
the first blush of fame as legislators. The prop
osition caused a good deal OF talk, but the
dict went against it. 1t was the opinion of the
young men, who, with an exception or two, will
make up the Democratic side of the House, that
to stay until the last ditch was reached had
more glory than in showing heels in retreat at
the first sign of victory for the enemy.
The senatorial candidates. were let severely
alone. Democrats find this a dangerous topic
at aSSJ time, for the evidences point to :. super
sensitiveness at any Suggestion of Gray TO a
Mcdonald man or Of the latter to Gray sup
porter
Green Smiths Appeal.
The record of the lieutenant governorshp case