The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-07
THE DAY OF ELECTION.

THE DAY OF ELECTION.
Interest Intense aud Republicans Subject to
Numerous Oursges.
After a brisk rain. yesterday morning, the
clouds remained, threatening TO make the day
as disagreeable possible, but sometime be-
fore noon " cooling current arose. adding
enough discomfort to cause uncertainty as TO
What the weather might be before night 1t
did not retard the Republican workers at the
polls, however, VINO were promptly in their
places before the voting began. The Democrats,
80, backed by thugs, renitentary birds and
few who have ordinarily the confidence of re-
spectacle men, al supplied with deputy
msrshaIs' badges, commissions and bull dog re-
yolyers. were on hand 10 carry out their general
plan of intinlidatiag voters. AS the day ad-
vanced the crowds around the polls increased,
and from the earliest honr possible until far in
the afternoon the voting was brisk. The
Democrats inspectors had AS much as
they could 90. There was no time
for talking; it was steady business
with them. judges and clerks from the be GIN
ming. Outside the challengers on the
alert. and not a man who went up the chute
escaped scrutiny from side or the other. AS
the one Offering ballot announced mis- name.
QUICK a flash the chall.ngers either side
would scan their lists closely, and 'all right,
would come from both parties at once. But
there never was an election when the tension
seemed tight the watchfulness
Keen. There was very little joking, aud no one
lad inclination for il. The Republicans were
hopeful, courageous and determined, but dis
erect in their activity. following scrupulously
tie law in every detail and perseverng in the
business of their cause and rightfulness of their
purpose. Democrats had an sssertiveness that
was annoying 10 precincts whore the majorities
are always against them, aud spirit of bravado
and buIldoziag where they have generally had
things their own way. But at no time during
the day would 1t have required much at any Of
the polls to bring about conflict. II was only
avoided by the Republicans preserving their
.manliness and good Judgment When violence
did occur il followed repeated acts of intimida-
ton, to which the Democrats resorted in the
outset and when they became of such aggravat-
ing character that only a superior being could
resist them.
Desperation, sustained by dsvilish impulses,
marked the workers OF Democracy, aud under
instructions, with a horde of rnfians, acting as
deputy marshals. behind them, the attack
Republican voters made all along the line
No matter what position in society or business
ore held, or how long he had lived in the pre-
cibct in which he offered to vote. whether
yess months he not certain OF
escaping arrest. The outlaws and freebooters
wearing the red badges issued TO them by the
United States marshal and armed with bulldog
revolyers ready TO ponnce upon any man
who en- tered sr came out OF the schultz. AS events
RQx fha ~ fYfc+ rtrrff fhavh had
ceived came 10 the surface. and they seemed TO
lie TO arrest evsry Republican voter sight.
Men. residents for a long number OF years in
their precincts. and who. time after time, had
voted there without question, were challenged by
Democrats ana forced to have their votes sworn
In with the chances Of falling into the hands of
cut th-oa's against them. While this in
famous method OF bnildozing was used
mainly against colored voters, IL was also
applied IN efforts 10 intimidate white men. 1t
was q coDDiete system of cowing infamous
as those who executed Were, In o majority OF
In stances, VIGOROUSLY vile. Every coored man
ran tue risk II arrest aud the sponsor for him.
whether be was lawyer. doctor, clergyman or
merchant, was either insalted, browbeaten or
arrested. An incident of this kind occurred to
the Rev. y. \. Hyde, former pastor Of the May
flower Congregational Church and resident or
the city for thirty years. "A coored man, Ma
thsn Hale, who worked for him and had often
voted, as Ire had perfect right To 90, at the
secon' precinct of the Ninth ward, was chal-
asked bim 70 20 with him TO the polls and swear
In Ills This Mr. HYDE willingly consented
20 10. At the polls, of course, the
form was gone through ana Hale cast his vote,
buE cot until TIE Democratic inspector insult
iGgy said 10 NJ Hyde. You have been doing a
good deal 81 tsis TO-DAY" 1t was tho only in
stance wtere Mr. Hyde mad sworn in vote.
hut John p. FTenzsl, the banker. Democratic
politician and school commissioner. e. b.lldoZer
Of the first grade. had FREQ access to these polls
lie was out and In the room where the inspector
md judges we're, and where he had nc right to
be, as 10 ne ownod the place ~ am here he
rsid when some protested against his superserv-
iceRb.eness. ITO swear IN voters
There was an outrageous abuse OF authority
by John Aenew. a cepn:y marshal in seeking
70 intimidats coored voter. one Harry Jones'
ut the second precinct of the Sixteenth ward.
Jones had lived there since 1872, and Oh going up
10 vote was challenged The deputy marshal
arrested him and hurried him off 10
the federal building, where. as
deputy could not swear TO sufficient grounds a.
making the arrest. Thus IL went oil day,
,he deputies hurryiue IN with men whose rest
dence and right 10 vote could not In any way be
inpeached. IL was an attack all along the line
90 brighten Republicans away from the polls,
but the outrages had the opposite effect. The
Republicans came together little closer after
avery arrest. until they presented a solid and
!uvincib.e phalanx IN their resistance TO these
repeated abuses of law by men who nave been
Or are on the way 20 the penitentlary. While
the voter himself thus suffered the Republican
challenger was especial object OF attack. He
did not know when bis turn would como 10 be
seized by a brutal officer disgracing the
authority OF the government. anu hus-
tied OF to the marshals office.
The simple act of chalen eing, ; in the cases of
CT Hssselmsp, of the first precinct OF the
Eleventh ward, and Samuel Goddard, Of the
second precinct OF the Sixteenth ward, was
enough TO put them in danger OF illegal arrest.
Wherever one went instances Of this kind we're
numerous and rumors were rife. Outrage
after outrage occurred, taking in gentlemen. IN
addition To the two named. Ike T. Z. Atkins,
A II. Nordyke, Brainard Rorison. representa-
tive manufacturers, Harry s. New, one Of the
Pre- prietors OF the Journal, and others whose in
tsgrity cannot be questioned and whose aarac-
ters are passports to high consideration among
al classes OF people. Ii was day when, armed
with brief authority by the Democrats powers
that be. cctthroats. bulldozers and peniteniiary
birds were let loose upon the community.
While these things were going on in immediate
connection With ths voting, the interest down
town grew as the day neared the end In the hotel
Hobbies on tho streets, and everywhere men
gathered, the election vAs the one topic Of talk.
Republicans were hopeful; Democrats o de-
gree Depressed. but svsryose had inquiry "a
make soassrnins New Ysrk OF the news from