The Indianapolis journal., 1890-11-06
THE BYNUM SCANDAL.

The disgraceful conduct of Messrs.
Bynum and Mccullough in resisting a
deputy marshal was the talk of the
town yesterday. Among persons whose
good opinion is worth having no de-
fense of their conduct was attempted,
though it was generally conceded that
it would perhaps make Bynum Speaker
of the next House, and Mccullough
Speaker of the State House of Repre-
sentatives. The Democracy are quick
to recognize such qualities as they
showed on Tuesday. The language
used by Bynum would rule any person
out of the society of gentlemen, but it
need not necessarily rule him out of the
list of Democratic favorites.
The Sentinel makes no report of the
facts, but says editorially:
There is no law in Indiana disfranchising
paupers. Until such law is passed pau
pers have right to vote in the precincts
where they have . legal residence, and
Judge WoOds's action yesterday in order
ing the arrest of citizen for swearing in
such voters was as wanton and brutal
abuse of power as even that judicial despOt
has ever been guilty of.
Lawyer Bynum is also reported as
saying that "all the parties accompany
ing Mr.. Williams in the chute were
competent voters. The charge that any
of them were idiots or imbeciles is not
true. Each and every one of them was
able to mark his own ticket and cast an
intelligent ballot" The able editor and
lawyer are evidently laboring under the
impression that in the absence of any
State law disqualifying inmates of the
infirmary from voting on account of
poverty they are therefore entitled to
vote. 1t requires very little legal knowl-
edge to know that these panpers have
no legal residence in the township or
precinct; that they go to the infirmary
invOluntarily and cannot leave volun-
tarily, and that their status in this re-
gard is precisely the same as that of in
mates of a Jail. 1t is not question of
property or of mental ability, as lawyer
Bynum seems to think. 1t is question
of residence, and on that point there is
no doubt whatever that these persons
are disqualified from voting.
Mr.. Bynum authorizes his organ to
say that che had determined, in order
that there might be no federal interfer-
ence and the county ticket receive the
vote, that he would instruct the voters
not to vote for Congressman on the
ticket, and he and Mr. Mccullough in
structed the voters to stamp the other
candidates, but to omit the Congress-
man." It is more than likely that this
was an afterthought of Mr.. Bynum's in
attempting to find some palliation for
his disgraceful conduct. But whether
this be so or not, the suggestion is frivo-
lous, and, coming from candidate for
Congress, is contemplate. 1t is plain
confession of guilty intent, for if the
voting of the paupers was likely to in
woke the interference of the deputy mar
shall under federal law their voting for
county officers would be as plainly il
legal. 1t is as if Mr.. Bynum had said:
"We will not attempt to violate the fed
eral law, for fear of federal interference,
but can manage the local authorities,
and we can violate the State law with
impunity." All this, as well as By
NUNS profanity and violence at the
polls, should make him a very popular
candidate for Speaker of the next House.