The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-10
THE FIGHT FOR A PAIR BALLOT.

The FIGHT FOR FAIR BALLOT.
The fight for fair elections in this city and
county is not yet ended. The decisive VIC
tory is yet to be won. The conviction OF
Coy and Bernhamer was great triumph for
justice and worth all it cost. but it was not
conclusive An estimate of its value can be
formed by imagining what the results would
have been if the tally -sheet forgeries of 1886
had been passed over and the perpetrators
had not heen prosecuted and convicted. Coy
would have continued to be chairman of the
Democratic county committee, and the recog-
nized leader and idol of his party. He would
have carried things with higher hand than
ever. Immunity from punishment or prose-
cution would have emboldened him, his col
leagues and henchmen would have increased
in numbers and audacity, and election frauds
would have become the rule instead OF the
exception. The prosecution and conviction of
Coy and Bernhamer was a great blow to the
ring. but did not destroy it. The serpent is
scotched, not killed.
Coy's conviction rendered necessary the
election of a new chairman for the Democratic
county committee. His indictment and prose-
cution did not prevent his continuing to
act as such, but his conviction made some
concession to public opinion necessary. This
brought Mr.. Taggart to the front. II there
has been any improvement in Democratic
methods under his craftsmanship over
those used by Coy we fail to see it.
There is no more show for an honest election
now than there was before. Fraud and cor
ruption may not have made as rapid progress
as they would if Coy and Bernhamer had not
been convicted, but they are as much relied
upon IS ever. We doubt if any election ever
held in Marion county was attended by as
much corruption and fraud as that of Tues
day. Certainly none ever approached it in
the way of intimidation of voters and illegal
arrests. All these outrages are parts Of the
same plan, and they resulted in giving the
Democrats an apparent majority in the coun.
them the Legislature. On fair election
Marion county is not Democratic. 1t may not
be important that the city or county should
be made solidly Republican, but it is of the
greatest importance that We have fair cleo
tons
The election in this county should be con-
tested, to the end that it may be judicially
settled whether an election so tainted by fraud
is valid and shall stand as precedent for
the future. The question of liability for the
illegal arrests will be- tested by the suits
against Marshal Hawkins on his bond. Other
frauds of different character arc the pur.
chase of votes, the importation of voters and
the voting of the inmates of the Insane Hos
pital and the poor farm. AS to the first named,
the Democratic managers were very careful
to cover their tracks, and it may be difficult
to secure the evidence. But the Insane Hos
pital and poor-farm frauds are open and fla
grant. A large number Of Democratic votes
were poled of inmates OF the hospital who
the law distinctly says have no legal residence
here, and another large number. at the poor
farm, of idiots. imbeciles and paralytcs who
have no right to vote and who voted under
durs~s Mr.. Hiram Miller. inspector of the
poOr-farm precinct boasted, the day
before the election, that he would
vote all these people, and he did. There will
] be no trouble in establishing the facts in
these cases and to get judicial decision as to
the legality OF the proceeding. This must be
done by contest, and If the perpetrators of
the frauds can be brought under the criminal
! law they should be prosecuted. 1t would be
great thing for the cause Of honest elections
in Marion county if We could send these
rascsls to the peDitentiary in blocks Of five.