The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-10
A REPUBLICAN SCHEME DISCOVERED.
Chicago Negroes Are Being Sent Into the
State to Vote for Harrison and Morton

Chicago Negroes Are Being Sent Into the
State to Vote for Harrison and Morton
CHICAGO, Oct. 2.-1o-duy's Herald says two
hundred Chicago negroes left the Polk-st. depot
Friday evening and three hundred Saturday.
They went over the Wabash and Atlantic roads
and were bound for various points in northern
Indiana, some going as far south as Indian
apolis The idea is to colonize them throughout
the state so they can vote for Harrison at the
coming election. The reason they are seutinto
the state this early is SO they can be registered.
How many more illegal votes have been snug
gled into Indiana by Illinois republicans is as
yet unknown but the above figures are reliable.
The scheme leaked out through Timothy
Hickey. member of the state board of equaliza-
ton from the Second district, going into a
barber shop at the corner of State and
Polk-sts. to get shaved. The shop is run by
man named Van Slack. and he and Mr.. Hickey
got to talking politics. Van Slack said some
thing about the republicans importing negroes
into Indiana from Chicago, and Hickey asked
him what he meant. "Why, there is a boy
working for me whom they wanted 10 go over
there" answered the barber and the boy was
Immediately called on to explain.
His story was brief one, told concisely. He
is stawart negro, good deal of hustler"
in ward politics, and the proposition made to
him was that he should go TO Hammond, Ind,
register, and return on election day TO vote. \
promise of ample reward for his trouble was
made him. Further investigation not only
proved the truth Of his story, but revealed the
figures already given.
As nearly as can be determined now, the
somewhat celebrated Ike Rivers is in charge Of
the plan to help the republicans of Indiana
out. Rivers is a negro who made much per-
sonal history for himself in Cincinnati four
years ago. lie was then carrier in Postmaster
Palmer's office here but delivered
precious few letters. He earned his
salary mainly by political work. He
led a crowd OF negroes to Cincinnati at the
time of the October election, they being con-
veyed there in mail ears at government eX-
pense, and took an active part in the rather
exciting times of that election. Rivers was
such an enthusiastic republican that he got
into an argument OF somewhat personal
nature with some equally enthusiastic demo-
crat, and the resalt was that he was badly
dishgured darkey when he returned home.
Still when he was able TO appear IN the streets
he went around Dragging how eve carried
Ohio" When Palmer was obliged to leave the
postofhce, Rivers was necessarily out Of job,
and his aversion to regular work has made
him all the more anxious to do what he
can for the party which promises,
ii once more put in power, to give him another
sinecure. Hence his fitness for the work OF
colonizing Indiana with Chicago negroes who
will vote, shout and if need be, fight for the
republican party next November.
Beside tins plan of colonization, another one
has been in practice lately Every delegation
that has gone to indianapolis lately has ear
ried number OF negroes along, either a mem
bers of the party servants. Every delega-
ton has brought back fewer than it took away,
and those lett behind stayed to vote the repub-
ican ticket.