New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-15
THE CHANCES IN INDIANA.
THEY FAVOR THE REPUBLICANS.
AN IMPARTIAL REVIEW OF TIE SITUATION

tFRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuSEl
Indianapolis Oct Sin estimating the chances for
Republican in Indiana this fall, It must DC
remembered that the Democrats have not carried that
state in Presidential election but twice since 1soo
| Thomas A. Hendricks their ticket, both
I'm 1876 and IN 1884 and Thomas A. Hendricks IS dead
He the ablest and most popular politician Indiana
has prOduced-vth the single exception ol
/ Oliver r. Morton, perhaps-and the result IN thoso
! years due TO his strength a candidate ana
his personal appeals 70 the people among whom he haa
a wide acquaintance and remarkable influence III
1884. whcp the Democratic electoral ticket received
a majority of 6.oo0 Mr. Hendricks made cl''se can
Of the state and pleaded with tho people to give
him their votes. II was not Cleveland they supporou
at the polls, but Hendricks the favorlte son. ara 10
not only received tie fun Democratic vote, but droW
largely from the Republican party.
This year the conditions have materially changed
Although It IS conceded that the Democratic oreanza
ton IS more thorough and effective than Il has been
for several years there IS Hendricks TO give
personal interest 10 the canvass The personal IN
tcrcst entirely on the other side. II is needless
to say that benjamin Harrison IS not the politician
that Hendricks was. lie has not the same acquant-
ancc. nor has he the degree OF popularity
among the masses of tho people. bat he IS Thoroughly
respected, and the state Is proud Of hiHL II MP.
Harrison would resort TO Mr. Hcndricls's favorite
method of votc-winnng. there would BE no doubt o.
the result in this state but be would not. and could
not do so. and WHO respects him desires that
be shudld. How MANY votes viii be- given Mr. Har-
rison as matter Of state pride ind personal
compliment. u IS difficult 10 say. but the number VII
not be inconsiderahe. There az work this year,
on the stump in the street. and In the Offices ana
homes Of the peOpc-particularly I'm this city-many
who have shown interest In politics be-
fore and have been rcckoncl fair weather voters
Some Of them are Democrats. and they support
ing Harrison because Of personal reasons.
As an example would mention the Rev DR.. jerks,
rector Of OF the most prominent Protestant Eps-
copal churches, of whose parish Thomas A. Hendricks
member, and who has always voted the Demo
cratic ticket when he has all He is giving
Harrison cordial support, and using influence to
elect him. DR. jerks says that he knows Of dozen
Democratic business men in his congregation who IN
tend TO vote the Republican ticket this year because
of their respect for Harrison and their pride in having
fellow townsman in the White House. l find many
Others who talk and will vote the same way.
General Harrison will poll the full Republican vote
of the state and the Niugwumps nearly all sup
porting HIN. In 1854 thcrc was an Independent
movement which caimcdto have detached 1000 votes
from the Republican party and transferred them TO
Cleveland. Luclus b. Swift. the leader If that bolt,
tells that 90 per cent Of those who followed him
IN 1894 back I'm the Republican party-all EXCEPT
few rank Free Traders. who sll cling to Cleveland
regardless Of his violation hrs civil >cr,lcc pledges
and his Reputation Of the professions which drew
10 him their support. Ilr Swift says frankly that
the Nucvmps win rot support Cleveland again
because they feel that lie has betrayed them. He
has filed the Offices Of this state with worthless mon
10 reward them for their political services. and per
mlts them 10 indulge IN of ,asivc craftsmanship and
" pcrnicious activity an extent that
known here before.
II IS open secret, yes even the boast Of the
Democratic Committee that every Federal Office
holder I'm tho Stale f, actively engaged I'm the
pa-n. and IS using his official authority ard influence
ffa fufl o-afar fufsc has
forbidden him to do So Every one % them has con
tibutrd money, I'm proportion 10 bis salary. TO the
Democratic campaign fund.- and has required his
subordinatcs 10 do the same. The post
Office in every town IS the Democratic
campaign headquarters, and every post
master IN the state has furnished the Democratic
COMMITTEES With lists Of the voters who get mail at
bis Office. cles-l according TO their previous 20
liiical affiliations their nationality Tie length of tine
they have lived at their present addresses. and their
attitude in the present canvass far as II be
asce.iaiped-all this. too. upon blanks furnished by
the committee If the President wants az example
OF perncious activity he find It in any Indiana
town where there IS a post Office
And what IS SIN moro rcprehensblc lists Of per.
Sons who have claims for original or Increased pen
sons pending in the Office az Washington have I'm
some manner reached the hands of the postmasters
and they, without doubt ohcylng the instructions OF
some one in authority, have been inqurng into the
political aniecedcnts of such claimants and reporting
whether not votes night be gained By the granting
OF these claims. The lists of pensions granted TO
Indiana soldiers, or their relatives. are published
daily In the newspapers. and much larger than
ever before. The examiners at Washington seem
anxious to clear up all the Indiana claims as rapidly as
possible and those whose not In such shape
as to permit of decision have the promise Of the
postmaster, or some other Democratic politician, OF
immediate attention in Cleveland IS reelected.
such methods as these are being used by the Dem
ocrats without much attempt al cOnceament, and
while they gain votos among the persons whose
interests are involved, they have turned the Mug
wumps against the President. These same hide
pendents7 are engaged in raising money and per-
fecting organization prevent at tine polls
MI swift. who Is az the head OF the movement, tod
me the other day that there were at least $4,000 men
IN Indiana who habtually SOLD their votes and it
the determination OF the better element to prevent
such traffic al the approaching election. For this pur
pose there are two organizations the Committee OF
One Hundred composed OF equal numbers from each
political party, which secured the conviction OF Coy
and Hcmhamer FOR the tally-sheet forgclcs in 1856
and what is known a. the Fair Election League The
former confines ifs work 10 the city OF indianapolis
The latter extends IL, jurisdiction the entire
State, and IS supposed be In its character a.
wcil its methods. The head Of the Fair Election
League IS a wellknown criminal lawyer OF this city,
and its headquarters here. but 10 has branches in
all of the larger towns Of the state. and wherever
frauds likely to be committed. The work has
already begun and detectives arc now engaged in
looking into the reports Of fraudulent registration
The League las plenty OF funds, am told, and has
many volunteer well paid agents on duty
already.
one Of the picturesque features Of the campaign IS
the organization of the in Carrie Harrison
Clubs called ia honor Of the wife Of the candidate
They are enrolled Uniformed. drlod IN the ~ broom
manual and each member pledges herself 10 secure
least vote from the Democracy for the Repnb-
llcan ticket. Those who have been about the state
tell NE that the innGcnce OF these women cannot be
overcstimatcd. There are between 5000 and 1000
Of them already enrolled, and they giving pcncS
and other social gatherings wei rs attending pot-
cal meetings. to which young OF both parties are
invited. Tie effective work Of the Carrie Har-