The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-25
AN UNFAIR ATTACK.

An editorial printed in the Chicago Trib-
une, but which was written or inspired from
indianapolis, the authorship of it being quite
signed, purports to indicate three weak places
in General Harrison's political record and
availability, contrasting with these assumed
weaknesses the presumed strength of General
Gresham, and insisting that therefore, In
diana Republicans shall drop the former
and make the latter the candidate of their
choice. The editorial is prefaced with a
specious display of kind personal feeling
toward General Harrison, intended to sugar
coat the misrepresentation and falsehoods of
which the article is made up. The first
objection urged against General Harrison is
his record on the Chinese immigration act.
The Tribune article says:
General Harrison in Congress voted
against the Chinese restriction bill and took
active part with Senator Edmunds and
others in the discussions which places him
on the record as favoring Chinese immigra-
ton. When the bill was vetoed by the Pres
ident and modified bill presented he voted
against that also on the final ballot"
be so by the writer if he had examined the
record. On the first bill Senator Harrison,
as did every other Republican member of the
Senate except the Pacific coast Senators, so
voted as to secure its amendment in harmony
with existing treaties with China. He voted
with Allison. with Hawley, with Ingalls,, with
Sherman, and, as we have said, with the en-
tire Republican membership except two or
three from the Pacific States. The bill passed,
but was vetoed by President Arthur on the
grounds objected to by the Republicans in
their efforts to amend it. When the amended
bill was introduced. Senator Harrison favored
it, as did large number of the Republicans
with whom he had voted on the first bill
Senator Harrison voted for amendments that
would prevent in terms, the Chinese from
becoming naturalzed citizens, and that would
make the terms of the act unambiguous in
application to the hordes of Chinese and coolie
laborers being imported into California
and tho Pacific coast. On the final
vote Senator Harrison is recorded as
not present, and did not vote, but, as we
have said, his action throughout was in entire
harmony with that of Mr.. Allison and Mr..
Sherman, and others, he voting with
them on all questions, and he, with them,
being in favor of the amended bill as it stands
upon the statute book The extreme New
England Senators. including Edmunds and
Hawley, voted against the measure absolute
ly, but Senator Harrison did not, and he is
nowhere on record Gin favor of Chinese emil
grafton in the offensive sense in which the
phrase is used in the Tribune.
The second objection urged against Senator
Harrison is that he cannot secure what is
known as the Labor vote. The Tribune says
when he was candidate before the Leg
islature the Labor fusion members could not
be induced to vote for him under the strong
est pressure brought to bear upon them.
-Four of the Republican-1Iab members of
the Legislature would not vote for General
Harrison for Senator on any ballot"
That is meaner falsehood than the first
one. There were four so-called Labor and
Greenback members of the Legislature.
Three. Of Republican affiliations, made an
agreement with Robinson. the fourth, to unite