The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-18
THE LOWRY-WHITE CONTEST
House Committee on Elections Hears
Argument in Behalf of Both Men.
Record, and Major Calkins Makes an Effect
i've Speech in Behalf of the Contestee.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WAsHINGToN jan. 17.-At half past 10 o'clock
this morning the House committee elections
began consideration Of the LowryWhite con-
tested election from the Fort Wayne district
Ex-Representative William FL. Calkins, of In
dianapalis, and Mr.. Van Manning, of this city,
appeared for Captain White, while Messrs.
Hunter aud Chandler, of this city, and ex-Sena-
tor Joseph E. Mcdonald, OF Indianapolis. APP
pearsd as counsel for Dir. Lowry Counsel for
Lowry asked the committee to extend the time
for each side in arguments to three hours from
one and one-half hours, which was granted.
General Hunter spoke first. Very little interest
was shown in the arguments by the outside pub
lie, and at no time were there dozen visitors
present Nearly all the argument of General
Hunter consisted in elaboration upon extraneous
matters He entered into great details to
the discharge Of Captain White from the army
and made ali possible effort to fol-
low up the attempts of Lowry to
smirch the Captains war record
He talked at length about Captain White not
speaking OF taking ont his naturalization papers
till the verge of election, and seemed to think
some of the utterances of White in a speech on
the Saturday night previous to the election
were quite important. It will be remembered
that in that speech Captain White declared that
he was a naturalized citizen. and promised those
who voted for him that he would prove the
fact; that he would produce bis naturalization
papers. Hunter tried hard to discredit the
statement that White actually took out his
second naturalization papers, but the members
of the committee wound him up in an embar-
RAISING manner by reading excerpts from testi-
mony showing the contrary to be true. AS
ticipated, it was held by counsel for Lowry that
nothing but record proof was admissible.
Hunter rang the changes repeatedly on the as
sertion that there was mo trace OF record
proof"
Colonel Cooper. of Ohio, member Of the
committee. engaged Hunter in a examina-
ton which resulted in demonstrating to the
committee that there were several other citizens
of Allen county whose naturalization was ad-
mitted by everyone and yet who could not pro-
duce record proof that they had complied with
the laws relating to naturalization. Members of
the committee were unable to discover whether
Hunter was unfamiliar with the case or whether
he saw there nothing in it by the manner
in which he mouthed his sentences and &C
knowledged points in favor of the eontestee.
At the end of two hours General Hunter
closed his argument and the committee ad-
journed till half past 2 o'clock when Major
Calkns opened for Captain White Before he
began his argument Major Calkins filed in writing
two motions, asking the committee to dismiss
the contest for the reason that the contestant
himself had admitted that the only ground
upon which he had footing-title
to the of1ce-had been Abandoned;
that, therefore, notice of contest was futile, and
could not be treated memorial, since
mortal must be addressed the sound discre-
ton OF the House, aud the House may or may
a m 10 n
committee take testimony. the practice in
the two cases being entirely dissmilar. Most
OF the testimony Lowry deemed important in
his ease, it was shown, was taken within the
last ten days during which testimony could be
procured in a contest, which gave the contestee
no opportunity for reply. Major Cakns ap-
peared in his happiest vein. He in excel
lent humor, and was chock full of his
and law pertaining to 1t that he talked very rap
most direct and satisfactory manner, every in
very PrOD0unded by various %ho Men
held that candidate cannot be seated
In the House who has received but minority of
the legal votes cast This he showed by refer
ence to the Cannon Campbell case, from Utah,
in the Forty-seventh Congress, and while he
chairman OF the committee on elections. The
effort OF Lowry to smirch the record of
Capt White was exploded in a hurry. Major
Calkins showed that the Captain had been hon.
orabiy discharged; was a gallant soldier, and
bore honorable wounds received upon the battle
ry in connection with who served on the
battlefield; Lowry at home. shown,
much to his discredit, during the campaign.
There was not the slightest interruption dur
ing the fifteen minutes which Major Calkus
devoted to Capt Whites military service, and
after he had read letter from General Rose
Grams showing that White bonorably dis
charged and had exposed the dishonorable at
tempt made by Lowry to prejudice the war
record OF White. there was verdict in
the face OF every member of the committee that
would have put to shame any man in the posi-
zion of the contestant. Major Calkins finally
admitted that there was not trace OF court
record in Allen county showing that Capt White
had received his second naturalization papers.
The fact that he had voted at the polls years
before was sufficient evidence that be was
ognized a naturalized citizen, was entitled to
vote, and that his oath of allegiance was known
TO have been made sit is the oath of allegiance"
he said, "the oath to the United States and the
abjuration of loyalty to any other country
potentate that was proof of citizenship, and not
q certificate Of naturalization" The fact that
he had taken the oath was proven beyond all
question. The testimony OF the late Judge
Jenkinson. who present in court when
White took out his second naturalization papers.
bad telling effect upon the committee, and
during the comments of Major Calkins upon the |
of Jenkinson there was the utmost |
silence in the commttee-room.
IL was interesting to hear the narrative of |
MAJOR Calkins of the campaign in which White |
and Lowry were pitted against each other. He |
told how the brainy young Democrats of the |
twelfth district had taken hold Of Whites cam
palgn Tor the purpose of overthrowing Lowry, |
and how they had not only followed White, bus |
mad given him advice aud led in the fight which |
nad more tnan reversed the natural political ma
iority how when they told White that he was
charged with being alien. he instantly de-
ciared that he was nasuralized, had taken out
second naturalization papers, and then went |
home to procure them; how, few hours later,
those who went to Captain Whites house and |
saw him found him in a room with heaps of
bid papers piled about him, searching for
he naturalization papers Why did he
nstantly declare that he had been naturaIized
had taken out his papers, and could prove itl
And why was he found ransacking his old pa
,ers for certificate il he did not conseientiously
believe that he could find proof OF his CITIZEN
hipl The reason that he subsequently, went to
Warsaw and took out his third papers be-
ause he was told that the courts at Ft Wayne
we're not in session. and that third papers might
lave the effect of showing relationship TO those
ssued prior. "Can parole testimony be brought
o prove naturaliZatlon. anY court actionL7