The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-06
A Democratic Fraud Exposed.


The Republicans In several localities in the
State have observed some maueuvering on the
part Of Democrats which suggests that they are
preparing to perpetrats frauds in an attempt to
carry the State. DR.. Bapta. of Martinsville,
chairman Of the Morgan county central commit
tee, gave an account last night of some discov-
cries that the central committee has made in
that county. sit is evident" said he, THAT the
Democrats have planned to colonize voters in
counties where the Republicans have but a
small majority. We have adjoining Morgan
county, Brown. which is almost solidly Demo-
cratic. Some time ago we found out that
men Of that party were being moved
from Brown over into Morgan. and by
making an investigation We ascertsined that
it was arranged to import into our county alone
from Brown one hundred voters. The Demo-
cratic committee decided to expend all it's
money in that way, and then. go before the
State committee aud say. We have Imported
one hundred Democrats. whom We are paying
one dollar . day; now, If VOC can give rs enough
money to control the floating vote, we can
carry the county By these fraudulent votes
the Democrats propose TO elect the district
Judge and prosecutor, and perhaps the sheriff.
] have no doubt but that it is the understanding
that the men shall vote in Morgan and then 60
over 10 bDSlr MONIES In brOWn au0 Vot9- AS the
Democrats have all the election machinery in
that county il will be an easy thing for the
men TO do.
What steps did you take after you discov-
cred the sehemel' he was asked.
We of course set about to prevent its being
carried out. There are now about sixty OF the
one hundred in the county. They were care
fully distributed among the brick-yards. and
other places where a good many men are en-
ployed- Frank Landers's farm. in Clay town.
chip. has been made the rendezvous for q num-
Der. The first thing we did was to get the name
Of avery ran who had been imported. and after
week or two we will keep the list standing in
the columns OF the local paper. We also got the
residence or each one in Brown county. As
they are not residents of Morgan county We shall
OF course challenge them on election day If they
attempt TO vote In the county,
What was the next stepl'
1--WE then established q court OF inquiry.
which was held at Centerton. and we had quite
number of those imported come before us. and
also those who were responsible for the impor-
tation. In that way we We're successful in get
ting afidavits from a number of men. stating
that they had been solicited TO come into the
county and vote. We had before US one of the
men VINO went over into Brown county and per-
shaded the men to come. The inquiry was very
those responsible for the importation in a very
bad light before the people"
DO you think the same plan is being followed
In other parts OF the State!s
"I have no doubt about il. | think the scheme
was concocted in the rooms of the State central
COMMITTEES. and Is being practiced 10 ali reliably
Democratic counties. If one hundred men from
each strong Democratic county in the State
could vote twice, as | have no doubt is toe in
~tention, il wonld have q good deal TO do with
the result. J feel confident we have checked the
scheme in Morgan county