The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-07
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE GERRY
WANDER.

WANDER.
Encouragement Smith has succeeded
in breaking into the gerrymander suit
and is "sloshing'' around at a great rate.
1t is hardly necessary to say that his
presence in the suit will not tend TO
illuminate any of the legal points in
volved or further the ends of justice.
His opinion on a question OF constitu-
tional Law is worthless. and his reputa-
tion as an INSCRIPTIONS partisan is such
as to destroy the effect OF anything he
might say or do in a suit where political
questions were involved.
The Encouragement has no business
in the Rerrymander suit. 1t is his busi-
ness to appear for the State only in suits
where the State is a party or where it
has interests at stake. The State, as
such, is not concerned in this suit.
The order of the court admit
ting Smith into the case desig-
mates his appearance as Zen behalf
of the people," Yet he is no sooner adj
mitted to the suit than he files a motion
to dismiss which is filled with scurrilous.
impertinent, partisan matter. 1t is an
insult to the court for him to lumber its
records with such matter as his petition
for dismissal of the suit, charging that
it was ."begun upon the suggestion of
the Republican State central commit
tee;" that the relator is a member of the
Republican party; that the judge before
whom the suit was brought is a Repub-
lican. etc. Suppose all this is true,
what thenq Have not Republicans a
right to bring a suit to test the consti-
tutionality of an appOrtionment act, and
has not a Republican judge o right to
hear and decide such a question? Since
when have Republicans been debarred
from the curtis in this State or Repub-
lican judges from hearing and deciding
suits?
The Announcement does not repre-
sent the people in this suit any moro
than he represents the State. He is not
in the suit to further the ends of justice
or to hasten a decision of the case on its
merits. He is in it solely and simply as
a partisan. He represents nobody but
Democrats, and'nothinR but the inter-
ests of the Democratic party. He is in
terested solely in maintaining the valid
,ty of the gerrymander for the benefit of
that party. He does not want the case
decided according to law and precedents.
He is in it for the purpose Of preventing
such a decision, and he will scruple at
nothing to accomplish his purpose.
His audacity in forcing himself into
the suit is only equaled by his gall in
assuming to spenk for the Supreme
Court, as he did in a street-cOrnerspeech
in this city, Tuesday night, when he
said:
Politicians may and will attempt to over
run the law of your State for unhOly and
dishonest purposes. as they are seeking TO
do in the apportionment suit But there
Is On abiding hope within me-a hope
sprinBing from a love of order and good
government-that makes me saw TO you
that the supreme judicial power of Indi-
ana Is at present vested in judges. though
Republicans. who will not permit the peo-
pie of this State to be deprived of their
rights on the eve of a great political CAM
palgn. l believe the Supreme Court 10
honest, and that it will protect the rights
of the people against the assault of pOlit-
lc0l DanQlts.
The Supreme Court ought to pray to
be delivered from the nauseous praise
of this notorious political bully and
partisan. The Encouragement is an
officer of that court, and he has no right
to be making Democratic stump
speeches in which he assumes to fore
shadow the decision of the court. 1.-THE
promoters of this suit" he said in the
same speech, fare dangerous political
partisans, who would. Tor unworthy po-
litical motives, prostitute the judiciary
of the State, if, by so doing, they could
reap q personal reward" The "dan-
gerous political p~artisans" who are thus
charged with trying to prostitute the jul
dietary ask nothing of the Su-
preme Court that the courts of
Michigan, New York and Wis
consin have not granted, viz,
q prompt hearing and decision of the
case in accordance with the Constitu-
ton. That, however. is just what the
Attorney-general does not want. and
what he is in the case, if possible, to
prevent. 1t is the first instance in the
history of the State in which IN AttOr-
n~ey-general has undertaken to defend a
piece of rascally DISQUALIFICATION I'M
der the p~retense of serving the people.
1t is to be sincerely hoped that the Su-
preme Court will prevent the interposi-
tion of all technical obstacles and see
its way clear to an early decision Of the
case. This seems to be absolutely
necessary to the avoidance of confusion
and to secure the people in their rights.
The constitutionality or unconstitution-
atty of the present apportionment is to
be settled by the courts decision, and,
whatever this may be, the law-abiding
people of the State. will be content; but
for every reason that can be urged a
decision should be reached without the
unnecessary loss of a single hour.
THIRD-PARTY COLLAPSE IN THE SOUTH.
Georgia has followed Arkansas and