The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-02
HOW CoFFEY LOST HIS JOB.
Republicans at Their Old Tricks of
SwindIing Each other.

NOBLESVILLE, April 29.-Special-
The most influential republicans in
Hamilton county are deploring the &C
ton of Auditor a. r. Tucker of this
city in the state convention held at Indi-
annapolis last Wednesday.
They are of the opinion that the gentle
man has dug his own political grave and
buried himself therein. and what is
more, they are very frank to express
their views on the subject.
The general opinion prevails through
out the state that Tucker, as chairman
OF the County officers association, was
an instrumental factor in bringing about
the defeat of Judge Coffey of Clay
county, who was a candidate for the re-
nomination of judge of the supreme
bench. His action in this regard is the
source Of all the trouble.
In an interview with a reporter for
the Sentinel yesterday Auditor Tucker
stated that until two weeks prior to the
state convention he was fighting Mr..
Coffey with all the influence at his COM
mand, but says when ii was learned
that the charges preferred against him
by the editor of the Brazil Enterprise
were false. he, as a member of the
County officers association, an organiZa-
ton perfected year ago to test the
law, became a disinterested party in
Mr.. Coffey's denomination.
While this may be true. Mr.. Tucker is
having a very difficult time explaining
matters TO his friends. They openly
charge that he resorted to INSCRIPTIONS
measures to defeat Coffey. It is as
serted by a host &C fuckers friends
who disapprove Of his action. that he
remained upon the floor of the conven-
tion hall until the name of Judge Cof-
fey was placed in nomination, and as
the delegates from Hamilton county
would leave the assenblage one by one
he would secure their permission TO
cast their vote by proxy. In this man
ner he was successful in casting the
votes Of eight delegates. which number
gave Judge Jordan the nomination by a
majority of four. This is the light in
which the situation is viewed, and it is
probably not far from being correct
fuckers course is bitterly deplOTed by
such prominent republicans as ex-State
Senator Robert Graham, Judge r. r.
Stephenson, James r. Christian and a
host of others. They say IL will forever
defeat the chances of a Hamilton county
man securing place on the state
ticket.
Auditor Tucker denied in emphatic
terms that Judge COffey ever told him
If he would assist him in getting the
nomination he would declare the fee
and salary law unconstitutional. He ad-
mits having had a conversation with the
Judge in which his opinion was asked
regarding the case of the recorder of
Lake county, which is now pending in
the supreme court.
To Mr.. Tucker Judge Coffey expressed
himself the matter in substance as
follows: It was his opinion, according
10 the limited knowledge which he had
of the case then. that it was entirely diff
ferent from the one in regard to
sheriffs, which was held TO be constitu-
tiOnal. and that it might possibly be de-
clared unconstitutional. If what Mr.
Tucker says is true, Judge Daily of the
supreme bench entertains an entirely
different opinion. 1t is alleged that he
said If the case in regard TO sheriffs had
been declared constitutional that of the
recorder and auditors and treasurers as
we'll ought to be decided in the same
way.
Mr.. Tucker enters a strenuous denial to
the editorial published in the Brazil
Enterprise of April 20, in which Mr.
Wolf attaches the blame of the origin of
the vicious secret circular against Judge
association. In answer TO this he says
the thought of doing such a thing never
occurred TO him until it was brought to
the editor Of the Enterprise, during a
streets of Indianapolis several weeks
prior to the state convention. Eve
thousand of the circulars were printed
in the Enterprise Office and shipped by
express to Mr.. Tucker in this city.