The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-31
INDIANA IN CONGRESS-.

The Journal publishes an interview with
railroad magnate Fairbanks. in which ne
is reported as saying: I'VE shall elect
seven representatives to congress. and
possibly two more" If such calamity
should result from the coming election it
would be due entirely to the action of
"sorahead' democrats-men who, while
making protestations Of democracy, are
voting and working against congressional
candidates because thsy or some Of their
friends have failed to get offices that they
desired. There is no room for question
as to this fact. 1t is not peculiar to any
one district, but is to be observed in all
the democratic districts. There Is moth
ing new in such opposition. 1t is always
found to exist by the party in power.
Possibly it is more pronounced than usual
in some districts, but that is questionable.
It is certain. however. that if 1t should
result at this time as Mr.. Fairbanks pre-
diets. these disappointed people will have
done an irreparable injury 10 their party,
and one that viii not soon be forgotten.
It is a probability that has been recog-
nlzed by the leading men Of both parties
in the nation that the next presidential
election may be settled by the national
house Of representatives. The Rocky
Mountain states are getting into a chaotic
political condition. and so are some other
states west of the Mississippi. and possibly
ell net
how far the populist craze or the free
coinage Of silver agitation may carry
some states. and, therefore, political
prudence dictates that every point Of pos
sible danger should be guarded. In case
the election of a president in 1896 should
be thrown into the national house Of rep
resentatives. the congressman elected at
the present election would do the voting
for Indiana. and the constitution provides
that in such election of president each
state shall cast one vote. and the ma
jority Of the congressional delegation shall
cast it. If. as Mr.. Fairbanks predicts, the
republicans should elect seven or more
congressmen from this state. the vote in
Indiana would be cast for a republican
president in 1896 No amount Of regret
then could prevent it.
There is another injury to the party
being done by this opposition that is more
pressing and that does not depend on any
future contingency. This is the injury to
the local tickets 1t is we'll known to
every one who has had any experience in
elections that in spite OF all the educating
that has been done. or that can be done.
hundreds of men will make their tickets
void IL they attempt TO scratch. and this
is especially true as to men who ordinari-
" vote a straight ticket. Every ticket
improperly stamped is thrown out. The
vo.e is lost. Possibly the men who are
leaders in oppositions to congressional
candidates know how to scratch their
tickets. but ;hey influence men who do
not know how to scratch. It j. safe to
say that at least one-half Of the voters
they influence viii 50 mark their ballots
as 20 lose their votes, and these votes are
lost 10 the entire county ticket Any per-
son who is urging voters to scratch one
candidate Is. in fact working against his
entire party ticket, no matter whether ne
intends to do 50 or not. He is doing Il
direct injury to every candidate on that
ticket; He is aiding in defeating his
party ticket, I, is a good pan to think
for some time before entering into work
OF that sort