The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-11
Judge Mitchell, of the Supreme Court,
0bedient to the Demand of His Party.
Everything from Closing Presiding Officer
to Electing DOOr-keepers Pushed Through
Under the Spur-The House organized.
THE GUERRILLA DEMOCRACY.

Green Smith Plan.
The Fifty sixth General Assembly of In
diana, with cloud as big as a long accumu-
latiOD of Democratic acts can make it hang
ing over the Senate side, began its session
yesterday morning. Long before 100 clock,
when the Senators and Representatives
were expected to be in their seats, the sec
Ond-foor corridor, in the vicinity of the
Senate chamber had likeness in the
groups gathered there to the crowds that
were seen on the days of excitement at
tending the Fifty-ffth Assembly. Bruisers
from Pot alley and thugs from the coverts
Of Outlawed precincts mingling with tho
higher grade of Democratic heelers and re-
spectacle citizens, who had come 10 crafty
their curiosity, were numerous. At dis
tance could be seen a blue-coated police
man, with his brass buttons taking on an
extra shine, as if the occasion merited
an additionale care in appearance.
Over on the House side the
entrance to the chamber was
practically unobstructed. 1t required no
card from the State Librarian TO get in
there pending the organization of that
body, but to reach the Senate one had To
face the scrutiny of an outer guard and
then submit TO inspection from the SEN
tinels on the inside after the door was
opened. The lock was only turned at a cer-
tain number of raps from the man in posi-
ton on the outside. Perhaps glance was
sufficient to satisfy the inner sentinels. but
often the holder of the State Librarians
card had to present it. Representatives.
of the press, gentlemen in the company of
oil raaonufzaH
as friends of the cause. and few Repub-
licans were admitted Extraordinarily.
There was but one door of the three
through which anyone could gain an en-
trance and when once inside he would be
apt to come at the first step in contact with
party of Democrats, official and other
wise, from the back districts, tho towns
and cities of the State. During the time of
waiting for the hour Of beginning to come,
this crowd steadily increased. No one of
especial distinction, though, was there to
overshadOw the little prominence some Of
the politicians had in their respective To-
calities. Republicans, aside from the Sem
atOrs were scarce, and in the gallery there
was nothing but empty seats. A few ladies
enjoyed the privileges always granted to
their sex, and here and there could be seen
Democratic Senator OF two whispering
mysteriously and gesticulating suggest
lively, or walking up and down the aisles.
OF crossing over into the lobby space in an
effort to be seen. Alonzo Green Smith
stood at the Secretary's desk as he did two
years ago over the presiding officers chair,
as if to protect it from any possible capture.
One or two ex-Senators, like
Dov,x. ,oI.
now of Tippecanoe, but when
in Office resident of Posey county, were
there to see what the political guerrillas
would accomplish without their assistance.
Campbell, of Hendricks, was the only Re-
| publican ex-senator who, having gone
| through the old turmoil, thought it worth
| while to see what the outcome of Demo-
cratic bulldOzing this year would he.
| Patrolling the outer line of the chamber,
| within easy call of the persons guarding
| the door were half dozen assistant door
| keepers, the distinctive figure among whom
was Thomas COttrell ex-DemOcratic cam
| didate for Mayor. One of the pillars in
| line with the main entrance was supported
| by Constable Darby Donahue, who has "a
! suit for damages on trial in Judge Tayi0rs
| court against the lawyer, George w. Stubs.
| Some attention was paid TO Mr.. D0nahue
| as representative Democrat Altogether
| the audience and the guards and Senator'S,
| with the Republican Senators left out,
| would have suited the time of waiting for
| a Democratic convention TO commence car
| rying out the orders of the bosses.
| When the new Democratic Senators came
| to the city they were inclined I'd let the
| hold-overs do without their assistance
| whatever might be done in regard TO pre-
| venting Lieutenant-goyernOr Robertson
| from presiding. They wanted peace, and
| whenever the topic was preached, in caucus
Il Or QlSpxy here mt forward the 1P0nmpnE
| that, as no attention had been paid TO
Robertson during the past two years when
he was allowed without protest 70 draw the
| paw due the Lieutenant-g governor as pre-
siding-officer of the Senate and to sit as pre-
| siding Officer of the State Board of Equali-
| cation, nothing consistently could be done
| now. They maintained that this Senate had
| no concern with the troubles of the last
one but there was Senator Cox, of Morgan.
| striving for the brief glory of presiding
| over the Senate four days. He would have
| been, by the usual exercise OF usurped au-
| thOrity and the smuggling of a brutal major
| ity, elected President pro TEN. at the end of
| the last session, had not Green Smith and
| his sixteen supporters prevented IT. Cox
| came here with "A grievance, and. managing
| through an understanding with Smith, who
| yearned for the Office of Secretary of tho
| Senate, to bring the latter's friends over to
| his side, the combination drubbed the new
| Senators into line until they, too, decided
| that Robertson should. for the remaining
four days of his term, be kept out of the
| presiding officers chair. All the Democratic
| guerrillas acknowledged that nothing was To
be gained except 10 satisfy the petty ambi-
| ton of Senator Cox. of Morgan.
| They We're ready to make all the trouble
| possible but as the proceedings developed
| ii was observable that these political
| guerrillas had little heart in what they were
doing 1t seemed To be more TO crafty
| desire iii overriding parliamentary law
| than TO preserve the consistency of their
| record that the majority went through
rules and precedents as the bull did IN
| demollshIng the stock in the china shop.
such a thing could be their acts yester-
were more outrageous and repulsiye 20
| II, right and decency than when
en- Smith cavorted in the Presidents
place and emphasized his rulings with
| club. Shortly before 10 o'clock Lieutenant
governor Robertson appeared at the door OF
| the Senate. He did not get IN. and no one
| inside would have known he was there had
| not the certainty of his coming suggested
| inquiry of the door-keepcr If he had applied
for admission. lie had. and on being re-
| fused stood for a time in front of the door,
| conversing with acquaintance. Moving
| little out of the crowd. he waited in the
| corridor few minutes. and then renewed
| his request. The refusal brought forth "a
| protesf against the Lieutenant-gOv
being thus prevented from fulfilling lis
| duties Abont this time, 1905 o'clock per-
| haps. Judge J. 4. ;. Mitchell. the only
Democrat on the Supreme Bench, APP
peared mt the door passing the Lieutenant