The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-20
1T WILL NOT REORGANIZE
Republican State Committee Not Likely
to Be Called Together Till January.
Chairman Gowdy Decides Not to Resign-Gsr-
rymander Suit to Be Brought at Once
and Pushed to Conclusion.

Chairman John Il. Gowdy, OF the hepuo-
lican State central committee. was in the
city yesterday in consultation with q
couple of members of the executive COM
mittee. w. I. Durbin. NJ. G. McLain and
Secretary Millikan. The subject under
discussion wss the suit to set aside the in
famous gerrymander law which was en-
acted by the last Legislature In defiance OF
the decision of the Supreme Court. declar-
ing such legislation contrary to the Con-
stitution. The committeeman were unani-
nous that the suit should be begun Is early
as is feasible with certainty in every step
taken. One of the arguments used by the
Democrats in the discussion before the SUI
preme Court in the litigation last year was
that the plaintiffs had waited too long be-
fore bringing the suit and that there was
not time for fair and just determination
of the subject before the election.
The Republicans believed that it was
proper to bring the suit just when the act
was imminent. the proceedings being of an
injunctive nature. 1t Is not believed that
because the Democratic counsel used the
argument then of insufficient time. that
they will be estopped now from using the
contrary argument la the forthcoming lit
igstion. If they did, it would be an act
utterly inconsistent with their former dis
position to fight the case upon any tiimsy
pretext. This contingency is said to be
among those which the committee has to
consider. At the conference yesterday 1t
was decided to intrust the litigation to
Mr.. Ferd Winter and Mr.. A w. WIshard.
who handled the former case with great
success and credit. 1t was not decided in
what county TO bring the suit, this being
left to the legal gentlemen IN charge OF the
matter. The particular county, however.
Will be made known In very short time.
In speaking of the case after the meeting
of the committee, Mr.. Gowdy said: There
Is an almost universal demand among the
Repu blicans of the State that this suit be
as whole wants TO know what the con-
stitutiOnal limit is TO this thing of strang-
ling q large part of the vote of the State.
Ii IL is legal and constitutional to deprive
q great portion of our people OF their I'll ht
to be heard at the ballot box. we want to
know 1t. If 1t is so decided by this Supreme
Court. then there are other things of vital
Importance to the State to be pressed upon
the attention of the voters. The decision
closing this litigation will declare whether
we live in State securing free and equal
rights to all. 1t will tell whether the
brIgand age Of politics. as practiced by the
Democrats of the State. is TO be tho rule Of
action for the party having the plurality
of votes. The Republican party Is opposed
to such o condition of things. and means to
keep up this fight un til every legal voter has
one honest vote which Is fairly counted.
By no other means can the people rule
Take for an example the last Legislature.
In spite of ell that the people could do, the
Legislature wasted it's time in passing
bills for which there was no demand.
which in many cases were offered with cor
rupt motive, and by reason of the inferior
men elected under the gerrymander system
were log-rolled through to enactment. For
many years this gerrymandered body was
not able to handle the finances of the State,
and authorized loan after loan for the pur-
pose of paying interest. The gerrymander
made the presence of such man as Me-
Hugh in the Senate possible. He was
never elected to the trust, but. having a
majority of political friends In the Senate.
he was seated after a contest de-
cided on the basis of party power secure
from popular indignation because the peo-
pies hands were bound under q gerry
mander. The whole mass of bad legisia-
ton and bad financiering since the Democ-
racy has had control of the Legislature
has not been within the power of the peO-
pie to punish because of the unfair ap.
pOintnent scattering their might. Ii ~
time for the gerrymander TO go. L thiRb
it's days are numb ered. | believe the pres
emit court is an honorable and just one, and
Will decide the law upon the point"
will the State committee be called to-
gether3" was asked.
NO" was the reply. II do not deem it
necessary to issue call for meeting OF
the committee. The secretary Will COM
munIcate with each member and in this
way the expense of a meeting can properly
be avoided. This action will. | am sure.
meet with approval. since there is no other
work for the committee to do at this time"
IL has been suggested that you will re-
sign from the committee for the purpose of
allowing an early reorganization. Is this
trne?"
1T was my intention so to do, but since
il was decided to push the gerrymander
suit Immediately. for which there seems to
be q general demand upon the part of Re-
publIcans, as [ was chairman when the
first suit was brought believe 1t my duty
to continue as chairman until the case Is
decided, at least in the lower court. My
term will expire in any event on Jan. 10,
and for this reason L Will. perhaps. hold on
until that time. If the appOrtioDment is
overthrown there will be an excellent
chance of making the next Legislature Re-
publican, and no time Will be IL 81 in put
ting the State in the best possible condl tion
for my successor to carry out the work to o
successful conclusion"