St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-06
HUSTON is HEDGING.
The HOosier Republican Boss
Practically Declares Against an
Honest Ballot

The HOosier Republican Boss
Practically Declares Against an
Honest Ballot.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 5.-Anent
the proposition of Chairman Jewett, of
the Democratic state central committee,
to Chairman Huston, of the Republican
committee, that each should name forty
five members and the ProhibitionisAs
ten members to constitute committee
of 100, whose duty it shall be to prevent
illegal voting, Chairman Huston makes
reply to Chairman Jewett, wherein he
says:
You are doubtless aware that there is now
existing committee of 100 which IS non-
partisan in its character having for its presi-
dent and chairman of its executive commit
tee Democrats, its attorney Prohibitionist,
and its secretary and treasurer Republicans.
The committee is made up equally of Dem
ocrats and Republicans, and has for its OBJ
ject the prevention and punishment of IL
legal voting and Of election fraud of every
description. Being already orgs nized and
having had valuable experience in
the work it was organized to accom-
plish, 1t can certainly be more
effective than any new committee
consent and hearty approval of our commit
tee l have forwarded to the treasurer of
this committee my check for $500, which
sum shall be expended under their direction
in giving rewards for the apprehension of
any persons violating the election laws of
this state. ] can assure you that the Repub-
licans are now and ever have been, in favor
OF an honest ballot and fair count.
T.. P. Sheerin, secretary Of the
National Democratic committee, in an
interview this evening touching Chair
man HustOn's response, said: 81 regard
Chairman Huston's reply as most ex-
traOrdinary one and public declara-
ton that the managers of the Repub-
lican campaign are not only not in favor
of an honest election, but absolutely op-
posed to it. There can be no such thing
as a non-partisan committee for the pre-
vention of or prosecution of fraud at
elections, the majority membership of
which, and the entire control of the
organization of which, belong to one
political party. We do not demand any,
thing from the Republicans for which we
are not willing to give full equivalent.
1t is not so with Mr.. Huston. who
speaks for the whole Republican COM
mittee. We want fair and honest
election, and will go to any extent to
bring it about. There can be no salts
factory or honest effort in that diree-
tion unless each political party is fairly
represented, anu whether or not 1t is
fairly represented is matter that their
committees should be permitted to de-
eide" Mr.. Sheerin continued: ''Chair-
man Huston's statement is untrue that
this committee is made up equally of
Democrats and Republicans. The truth
is that two-thirds of the local
committee of 100 are active,
working Republicans, and the re-
mainder Democrats, Independents
and Prohibitionists. and that its execu-
tive committee, which has full control
of the whole business, is composed of
fourteen members, only five of whom
have ever claimed to be Democrats.
The facility with which Chairman Hus--
ton, after the receipt of Chairman jew
ett's letter, dumped $500 of the Repub-
lican campaign fund into the treasury
of this local committee, it seems to me,
is proof positive that whatever the in
tentions of that committee may be,
Chairman Huston's intentions are to
make it convenient excuse for his
positive refusal to enter into an organ
ization for the enforcement of the law
without fear of favor"