The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-11
FROM POLITICAL CURRENTS
A Vigorous Campaign Is to Be Carried
On in Every Precinct in the State.
Democrats Using the Great Work Of Republic
ans to Curry Favor with Yeterans-Action
by Knights of Labor-e:her Topics.


the Democrats are not inclined to make any
move in that direction until they can see their
way clear on the tariff legislation pending in
Congress. Elk Senator Mcdonald will no doubt
in this State be the one to speak OK cathedra on
this question, and for that event he is preparing
o speech, but he says he wishes to wait for the
action of the Republicans in the Senate on the
Mills bill. He was in Washington recently. and
will return there early in the coming week to
gather material for his purpose. When this
was mentioned by one of a group Of politicians,
yesterday. another said: YES, / was in Nc
Dopalds Office the other day and found him
writing on his forthcoming speech. In
an adjoining room was his law partner, Mr..
Butler engaged in the same work, but. of course,
he was writing on the side of protection. In the
coming campaign both Of the distinguished gen.
tlemen will do their best to advance the inter
ests Of their respective parties; one as a Demo
crat. in paving tho way for free trade; the other
as q Republican, arguing for American ideas and
home industries" Mr.. Mcdonald will, perhaps.
lead his partner on the stump in point of time
as he thinks 1T will be between the 25th of this
month and the 1st of next when he will make
the speech that is TO be accepted as the authori-
tative Interpretation of the issues for Indiana
Democrats. He has promised to speak in West
Virginia, Michigan and Illinois. Whenever the
Democrats are ready their opponents will not be
far behind them. 1--WE would prefer" said
Chairman Huston, of the Republican committee,
yesterday. ito put off the date OF opening the
campaign until the 1st of September, but if the
Democrats appoint an earlier date we will be
prepared to meet them. 1t is our desire to start
In neck-and-neck, and from that on to push the
campaign with all the vigor We can command"
"Who will be the first speaker of prominence
the reporter asked him.
IL cannot say, but there will be no trouble to
bring into the service the most distinguished ora
tors of the Republican party. Mr.. Blaine's
coming to Indiana is expected, but as to the
time that visit will occur / cannot say. Moth
ing definite has been done concerning it, but he
will no doubt be here. But other eminent
speakers are only waiting to be notified Of the
DAYS when their services are wanted. All Re-
publicans in the State who have attained promi-
hence on the stump have placed themselves at
the command of the State committee. General
Hovey will no doubt be here soon, with a pur-
pose of remaining until the campaign closes.
Richard w. Thompson. Albert q. Porter.
John M. Butler. Major Calkins and others
OIL euudi pEOmiueDCo NIL 10 lIoulcuty
heard. l never saw such a demand for speak
ers. and yet every school district has its own
list Of local men who are well equipped with
eloquence and argument Heretofore IL has
been difficult to bring these men OF local promi-
hence and influence into service, but now not
one Of them is holding back. The demand
for outside talent does not mean that their peo-
pie do not want to hear them. On the con-
trary, the audiences are Just as enthusiastic aud
well pleased with their local speakers as they
yonld ha With those of mora eXtanCad reDuta-
ton"
Every locality, then, thinks it cannot have too
many speechesl'
THAT'S it. The spirit Of the Republicans is
aroused as il never has been before. and every
foot of the ground is to be as tenaciously con-
tested as if upon the carrying Of any particular
district or precinct the result alone depended.
It will not only be a campaign of speeches bat
one of hard. unceasing and determined work.
Our organization is first class and it means TO
win the battle"
. The Democratic Pension Circular.
The Democratic State central committee is
going to make a mighty effort to get a few
soldiers votes in this State this year. They
nominated Matson in the hope that he would catch
afew, though their hopes will hardly be realized,
since his deception and trickery in regard to
pension matters has been pretty thoroughly ex-
posed. The singing denunciation by General
Hovey entirely tore Matson's mask of, and if
there is anything more needed to show him up
in his true light it will be produced during the
campaign. Just now, however, tho committee
is putting out q circular which attempts to make
some political capital for the Democrats by
showing that more pensions have been granted
at the indianapolis agency under the three years
Of Democratic rule than under the last three of
Republican.
That's a very catching circular in the eyes of
the Democratic committee. l presume" said a
well-known pension attorney. ct only illus
trstes the old saying that you can prove any
thing by statistics. If a man can
sit down and show by figures that the Demo-
Gratis have been the friend of the Union veterans.
1t brings, | think, anything within the range Of
mathematical demonstrators. Now let me give
you a few facts about that circular. The Indian
apolls pension agency is q mere machine for do
iug what is ordered by the Commissioners of Pen
sions at Washington. To use q homely COM
parison, 1T Is like a corn-sheller. The farmer
pots the ear in and gives the wheel a turn. The
Commissioner grants the pensions and orders
Colonel Zollinccr. the agent here. to pay them.
He grinds out the cases after they are allowed.
That, and that alone, is his sole business.
Therefore, the number of cases paid at any
agency signifies nothing. We must go further
back to see who the soldiers friends are. The
Democrats claim that the Commissioner has al
lowed more claims than the Republicans ever
did-that is, in a single year. Suppose he did.
lie 10 only an executive Ofncer and is compelled
20 allow every claim that is proved
up under the law. There is no other
way for him to do when q man
has applied for a pension and proved a disability
but to grant him a pension in accordance with
the laws of Congress- The Democratic circular
presumes on the ignorance OF the voters of In
diana 1t would make them believe that Com
missioner Black, whose chief duty is to sign his
name, has the granting of pensions aud that it
is q matter that is optional with him alone. The
fact is that whom evidence to establish a disa-
biity is shown before the examining board in
the Commissioners Office, it is the boards duty
to award the applicant q pension. Now when
you consider the matter in this light, you read
lily see where the question of real friendship to
the soldiers it to be decided. Not in the Indi-
annapolis pension agency, with it's formidable ()
| array of figures, nor in the Commissioners Office,
but in the legislation that makes it possible for
q man to get a pension. There, in Congress,
where the laws are passed which give men pen
sions. irrespective of the will of mere figure
heads like the Commissioner and pension agent,
is the place to find out who are the true friends
of the soldier, and / think the veterans
are too we'll informed on the pension legislation
of this country to have any doubt about which
party has been their faithful, consistent friend,
and which their pretended friend for the pur-
pose of capturing votes. When you consider
the circular in this light. you easily see that it
means nothing. and is only meant to catch the
man who does not look into the rasl facts in tha