The Indianapolis journal., 1891-04-09
AN INVALID GERRYMANDER.
Omissions from the Legislative Apportionment
Illegally Supplied by Democrats.

Green Smith has again thrown himself
into the breach to save spoils the Demo-
cratic robbers in the last Legislature ar
gerrymander. That bill was pushed
through the House and Senate with con-
scienceless assault on law and Justice. No
mercy was shown the minority, arguing Tor
reason, fairness and honesty. From the
time the bill passed both houses until day
before yesterday the political robbers were
chuckling over the apparent impossibiiity
of Indiana Republicans breaking through
the fence that bad been put around them.
But on Monday there came a cessation of
glee, followed by CONSERVATION. subsidlng
into despair. Deputy Secretary of State
King had discovered an omission III the
enrolled apportionment act. and shouted
for his chief In the adjoining room. Secre-
tary of State Matthews, when he learned
the cause of the alarm, sent messenger forth
to summon Democratic State officers and
all party leaders, advisers and lawyers that
could be pulled in at a moments notice to
gather at onco for consultation.
When the intelligence and political dis
honesty of the party hereabouts had been
brought together in Matthews's private
office the room was full. Mournfully
Deputy Secretary King told the story of q
crime of omission. The laws passed by
that grand aggregation of irreclaimabie
Democratic highwaymen. the last Legisla-
ture. are in the printers hand. King was.
Monday. revising the proof OF the appor-
tionment act when be discovered that Mon
roe county had been left out of the sena-
torial district of that county, Brown and
Bartholomew. That was enough to deprive
him of his wits. but when he reached the
House apportionment and discovered that
had been omitted, the alarm Of disas-
ter went forth. Here was a perfect
scheme of audacions robbery knocked
into a cooked hat by the stupid carelessness
of the enrolling clerk The number of Sen
ators- fifty-was allrightiD the law. but the
number of Representatives was snotallright.
Gibson omitted left ninety nine instead of
the 100 the Constitution requires. No fault
ould be found with the act as to other
details They had been carefully attended
House aud the Lieutenant governor left no
room for doubt on that point. VillainOus
as it was in purpose, 1T was perfect Jaw,
except as to the two omissions.
to offer until King suggested that they act
upon the opinion of Green Smith, the At.
tOrney- general. The alternative of
losing the fruits of robbery or
taking the risk of putting In the omit.
ted counties presented itself to the mind of
the hide-b Democrat and club-swing-
ing lawyer from Jennings. THAT law can
be made all right" said Smith, lust as
soon as you can get Newkirk. who was
Clerk of the House, here"
what good, in the name of all that is
gracious, can he do?" exclaimed one of the
crowd.
''Interline Monroe county in the sena-
torial apportionment, and do the same for
Gibson in that of the House," dictatively
replied the Attorney general.
Within an hour Newkirk was in the Of
fee of the Secretary of State, and in five
minutes after getting there had Monroe"
written just before Brown and Bartholo-
new" and Gibson with one Representa-
tive" in the proper place. The engrossed
act needed no interllneation, the coun-
ties these being in proper order and num-
Der required. The Democratic party, in
the absence of a Legislature, has ali the
resources to fix laws to suit itself.