New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
THE INDIANA CANVASS.
EFFORTS TO STOP ELECTION FRAUDS.
CHE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE RELUCTANT TO
GIVE AID-REpUBLIcANs CONFIDENT.

There two organizations IN Indiana Tor inc purpose
Of protecting the ballot boxes and the returns at tho
approaching election. One, which exercises 1urs-
dicticn in Marion County alone is called the Committee
Of One Hundred, and is composed Of forty-sevcn ke
publcans. fortyseven Democrats two members OF the
Prohibition party, and two members Of tho Indo-
pendent organization. All citizens Of the highest
standing, merchants and professional men, Tho presi-
dent is Mr.. Conduit, a Wholesale merchant VINO mas
always been Democrat, and has served that party
IN the Legislature. has been its candidate for Con-
gross and will vote for Cleveland Mr.. HOBBS the
secretary, is Republican, and Captain Ritter, tho
sttorney, who has charge Of prosecutions, is the
foremost loader Of the Prohibonlsts In this secon
Among the most active members Of the executive
committee william Henderson, brother-in-law OF
Vice President Hendricks Mr. Claypoo the proprietor
Of tho Bates House. and Mr. Bowen, a book mcrchah''
all Democrats of long standing who are supporting
that ticket this year. This is the organization which
sent Sim Coy, chairman OF the Dcmocrauo Coun'y
Committee to the penentiary for taysheet forgerics
in 1886, and intends TO increase the population OF that
institution II any such frauds are attempted this
year.
which has its headquarters here, but extends its
Jurisdiction all over the State, with auxiliary COM
mittecs IN each Congress district The president OF
this organization is Mr.. Merrill, book merchant,
and Democrat. The secretary IS Mr.. Conner, Editor
Of The Indiana Farmer" and Republican. 1t is the
been existing only during the present campaign but II
proposes TO be permanent at least until Indiana shall
have boon redeemed from its notoriety the boode'
State Of the Union.
When these organizations began work this fall both
addressed letters to the respective chaimen OF the
State Committees, asking their cooperation and
financial assistance, and explaining their purposes
and plans The Republican chairman responded
promptly and generously to both. The Prohibition
chairman did the same. To the Committee OF One
Hundred the Democratic chairman Mr Jewett, wrote
letter declining cooperate with 1t or to contribute
to its expenses, the ground that II was partisan
organization, that 1t assumed jurisdiction over one
county alone and should have applied to the County
instead Of the State Committee and that the Democrats
proposcd to encourage another similar organization
that did not have partisan character simultaneously
Mr. Jewett sent letter to the Republican Committee
asking its cooperation in forming new organization
for the purpose of preventing fraud at the polls The
Republican chairman declined for the reason that he
had already contributed to the two organizations In
existence and deemed third superfuous.
To the appeal of the Fair Election League the
Democratic chairman made no reply whatever, and
that organization In circular Just issued to the
public says: Hon. Charles L. Jewett, chairman OF
the Democratic State Central Committee acknowledged
the receipt Of request October s. and said to the
bearer Of letter that he would consider the matter
and advise us of his action. We have waited until
publish In this circular, that might go with the
moral support of both parties TO every quarter OF the
State and thus the more certainly be enabled with
such influence to secure favor and cooperation rom
the friends Of both parties We regret that he has not
so favored us, but we are gratifed that prominent
Democrats of Indianapolis and Of the State arc
heartily supporting movement for fair election
Mr. Conner, the secretary, says that the League IS
well supplied with funds, that II has agents In every
portion Of the State, and that 1t has already done
good deal of work in looking into reports of intended
frauds and taking other precautions Its agents have
lists of men who have come into the State within the
last few months and are not entitled TO VOTE, ana
will see that they do not attempt TO do So Both Mr.
Conner and Mr. Henderson, of the Committee OF one
Uundrrd assure me that there will be less fraud in
Indiana at the November election than has poem the
case for many years and that every man who attempts
TO sell or buy vote, attempts to vote liegaiiy'
will be punished to the full extent OF the law Both
organizations are terribly in earnest. The men VINO
compose them feel that there is disgrace attaching
IN the State for the frauds that have been committed
in tho past and propose that INDIANA shah ho Sune
in this respect any longer
The real reason why the Democratic Committee VIII
not contribute TO the Fair Election organizations Is
the fear It feels that the friends of Coy and Bernhamer
will resent any assistance 1t may give to the men
who sent them to the pententiary They were both
popular men and still exercise considerable nnuence'
n
in the campaign. Two Democrats who belonged to the
Committee of One Hundred and aided in the persecu-
ZION Of these martyrs candidates for local onccs'
and will be slaughtered at the polls as an example
TO other members of that party not to interfere WIN
reforms Coy's old associates here have passeo 'he
word around and 1t is certain that whatever may DC
the fate of other Democratic candidates. these TWO WI"
not come within a large vote of election.
The Republicans in this part Of the state are huch
encouraged by the reports that come III concerning
the attitude Of the first voters 1t Is CLAIMED tha'
there are sixty thousand young men IN INDIANA VIM
will cast their first Presidential votes In November
larger number than usual because Of the fact thai
more children born during the three years sue
ceedng the than IN any corresponding period, anu
the Republicans report that not less than iory 'hou
sand or two-thrds of these first voters, will cast
their ballots for Harrison. In some counties IN inc
State particularly in the northern portion 1t is Claimed
that 90 per cent are supporting the Republican Ticket
Ex-Governor Porter tells me that in sections where
he has BEEN and he has made pretty thorough cah-
vass of the State, he has been surprised TO see no"
MANY sons OF Democratic fathers are members OIL
Republican clubs and intend TO vote the Republican
ticket He estimates that he has seen enough to wipe
ont the Democratic majority in the state. judge
wilson, of Washington, alluded to the same fact and
.xpr,esed his astonishment at finding in his old Con-
~ress District where he used to know every man.
woman and child many young men OF Dchlocrauo
parentagc supporting the Republican candidates
have had similar reports from Others and when
r called the attention Of the Democratic managers to
them was surprised to have them admit their partial
truth. But the Democratic managers qualified the
admission by confdng this particular Increase 10 the
p.nublcan counties, and claimed that they enjoyed
d.,ilar advantage in the Democratic counties where
the sons Of Republican parents were supporting the
Dsr,ocratic ticket to equal degree. This they ex-
planned by saying that young voters were apt to be
carried away by the enthusiasm of the people around
mem. that they liked TO start with the majority and
he ON the winning side. The first voters they
uresd were about equally divided between the TWO
parties, the majority going with The hepuoncsnS III
Republican counties ard with the democrats III De'o-
cratic counties
put there are other reasons why the young voters
- ...,s into the Renuhllcan ranks this year: The