The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-27
THE State debt has been increased by t
Democratic administration
$1.16O.OOO.OO.
THE INDIANAPOLIS RING.

is an unjust, dishonest apportionment There
is not man in that organization but knows
that his party had an overwhelming majority
in the last Legislature, so that there was no
excuse for redistricting the State so as to make
it Democratic nearly three to one, unless
there was something being done or contem-
plated that would not bear investigation. This
is indicated by the fact that the last Legisla-
ture refused to allow an inspection of the
books of the State Treasurer after it had been
shown that there was less than $1,000 of cash
have been nearly 100000. There is not a
Democrat in Indiana but realizes that the
profit of the gerrymander is not to the Demo-
cratic party as party, but to the few men in
Indianapolis who "run things" in the name of
the Democratic party. 1t would profit the
Democratic masses not particle more if there
were Democratic majority of 146 instead of
46 in the Legislature. Beyond the men
elected to the Legislature, not man among
the Democrats of the State will be
any the better off by reason Of the ger
rymander, unless it be some one
in the Indianapolis ring. 1t is not denied
that there is such ring here, and that its
members are enriching themselves at the ex-
pense of the people at large. The question to
be decided by honest Democrats is whether
they are willing to lend themselves to the fur
therance of this scheme of private specula-
ton. The men who were at the
bottom of the gerrymander had in
mind the speculations and crooked deal
ings that have been going on in the man
agement of the Hospital for the Insane, and
in other public institutions and Offices for all
that has been shown to the contrary. They
were arranging majority, not to elect Mr..
Mcdonald, or Governor Gray, or any other
Democrat to the Senate. They had in mind
that it would not do to allow the people to
ury. Their intention was to secure major
ity large enough to guard against possible de-
lection of members who would not refuse to
permit an examination into the condition of
the public funds. With amajority Of seventy
it would be next to impossible for any one,
Democrat or Republican, to compel showing
of accounts.
This is the way the issue stands the week be-
fore the election, and the question is whether
honest men acting with the Democratic party
will continue to do so in this election after it
has been shown that these unwarranted and
questionable things have been established
Will the mass of Democratic voters allow
themselves to be whipped in to vote for a
Legislature that will be the tools of the Indi-
annapolis ring intent on plumber? The election
on Tuesday next will not work harm to the
Democratic party as national organization
1t deserves to be roundly defeated in Indiana
for the very best reasons that ever sent po-
litical organization to the background. TO
this work every honest man in
the State should address himself
so that it will serve as a warning to
all parties in the future against attempts to
disfranchise the people, and to still popular
clamor against wrongs already unearthed but
not allowed to be fully exposed. If it be es-
tablished that any clique or ring may COM
bine to take the State in charge, manipu-
late the Legislature, and gerrymander
the State. in order that some
dozen or more men may become
wealthy through fraudulent contracts, paid
for by the people, then it will be next to use-
less for the voters of Indiana to go through
the expensive farce of an election. The
abuses that have been unearthed, by reason
of the fact that they had become too glaring
to be concealed, suggest that there is much
more beneath the surface than appears super
fcially. It is to lay these bare that the peo-
pie of this State should unite to overthrow
the conspirators who planned the gerryman-
der. This done and the rogues may be routed
out of their strongholds. There will be an
opportunity to do this on Tuesday next, and
no honest Democrat opposed to such practices
should allow narrow prejudice to keep him
from doing so plain duty. It is time that
the people of Indiana had some knowledge of
the true condition Of their State treasury,
and the only way they will get chance to do
so will be to elect the candidates who are not
pledged to addition, division and silence"
The abuses at tho Insane Hospital should be
reformed, and the Treasurers books should be
opened and the money counted, if it be there
to count.
LET THERE BE REFORM.
There is enough in the issues of this cam
naion to enlist the active and hearty co.oner