Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-06
DEMOCRATS MAKE A BLUFF.
They Propose to Organize Committee to
Prevent Election Frauds.

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct 5.-Anent the propo-
sition of Chairman ,Jewett, of the Demo-
cratic state committee, to Chairman Hus-
ton, of the Republican committee, that
each should name forty-five members and
the Prohibitionists ten members to con-
stitute a committee of one hundred, whose
duty it shall be TO prevent illegal voting,
Chairman Huston today makes reply to
Chairman Jewett, wherein he says: you
are doubtless aware there is now an exist
ing committee of one hundred which is
non-partisan in its character, having for
its president and chairman of its execu-
tive committee Democrats, its attorney a
Prohibitionist, its secretary and treasurer
Republicans This committee is made up
partially of Democrats and Republicans,
and has for its object the prevention
and punishment of illegal voting
and of election frauds of every
description. Being already organization
and having had valuable experience In the
work it was organized to accomplish, il
can certainly be more effective than Il new
committee than might be formed at this
time With the consent and hearty APP
prevail of our committee | have forwarded
TO the treasurer of this committee my
pended under their direction in giving re
wards for apprehension of ann persons Vi
olating the election laws of of this StatC
can assure you that Republicans are aud
ever have been IN favor of an honest ballot
and fair count"
Mr.. :. Z. Sherin, secretary OF the national
Democratic committee, in an interview
this evening touching Chairman Illusions
response, said: Il regard Chairman Hus-
tons reply as most extraordinary aud
public declaration that managers of the
Republican campaign are not only rot in
favor of an honest election but absolutely
opposed TO it. There can be no such thing
as q non-partlsan committee for prevention
Of or prosecution of, fraud at elections
the majority membership OF which and
entire control of the organization of which
belong to enc political party. Me do not
ask anything of Republicans for which we
are not willing to give full equivalent. 1t
is not so with Mr.. Huston, who speaks for
the whole Republican committee. We want
a fair and honest election and will 90 to
any extent to bring 1t about. There can
be no satisfactory or honest effort in that
direction unless each political party is
fairly represented, and whether or not it is
fairly represented is matter that the re-
spective committees should be permitted
20 decide" Mr.. Sherin continued: Char
man Huston's statement is untrue that
lsllS Npll4LuAlttG - up "a
Democrats and Republicans. The truth is
that two-thirds of the local COM
mittee of one hundred are ac-
tive working Republicans and the
remainder Democrats, independents
and Prohibitionists, and that its executive
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 Huston, after the
receipt of Chairman Jewett's letter dump
ed 500 OF the Republican campaign fund
into the treasury of this local committee
it seems TO me, Is proof positive that what
ever the intentions OF that committee may
be, Chairman Hustou's intentions are 10
make il a convenient excuse for his posi-
tive refusal 10 enter into an organization
for enforcement OF the law. without fear or
favor