The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05
MIR. CHAMBERs's SOBER SECOND
THOUGHT.

Probably the most startling occurrence in
Indiana politics since the election is the dec
laration of Smiley n. Chambers against
the reapportionment Of the state by the
coming legislature As Mr. Chambers says,
a reapportionment will be unconstitutional,
but why a little thing like that should af-
feet him any more than it does the other
leaders Of the republican party is a problem
that calls for equations Of several degrees.
As Mr.. Chambers says, it will be impolitic
to outrage the feelings of decency and
propriety Of the people by a palpabe vio-
lation of the plain intent of the constitution:
but why should that affect Mr.. Chambers
or any other republican politician? After
the vicious assaults on the constitution
made by the last republican supreme court
in the Hovey patronage cases. and in taking
jurisdiction q the legislative apportionment
case. there would seem to be but little room
for complaint of republican legislative de-
fiance of the constitution. And Mr.. Cham
bers has never been suspected of being
weak-kneed in regard to taking partisan adj
vantage, especially since his immortal de-
Tense of the Dudley letter.
What then is agitating Mr.. Chambers? OF
course outsiders can merely surmise. 1t
is worthy of consideration that Mr.. Cham
bers is a leader of the Harrison faction in
this state Mr.. Harrison is a candidate for
reelection. 1t is probable that Mr.. Har-
rison and his intimate advisers are not re-
lying on fairy dreams for the results of the
campaign, and that they, therefore, antici-
pate hot campaign in Indiana in 1896 and
realize the Importance of carrying this
state. They are not looking for any
miracles. They know that a fool legislature
can destroy all their prospects. They know
that the reapportionment which will BE-
passed will De a gerrymander Of the most
reprehensible character, and that the people
Of the state will resent it. Hence they de-
sire to restrain the enthusiasm of republican
patriots for reform in this and other mat
tiers that would make it more difficult to
carry the state for Harrison in 1896. And
another consideration is that in fixing up
their gerrymander they will offend the re-
publicans VINO are thrown into democratic
districts. This will be especially forcibe as
to the congressional districts. Every con-
gressman-elect is solicitous that his district
be arranged so that he may be reelected,
but unfortunately no district can be
strengthened without weakening some other
district and fharabv raising tha ire of It's
representative.
On the whole there is some political
sagacity in the Chambers idea, provided, Of
course. that the republicans can, by good
behavior for the present. carry the state
in 1896. If they can carry the state at all,
their present advantage in hold-over sena-
tors will insure them the legislature, for
Notwithstanding all the complaint that has
been made of the present appointment it
is certain that a plurality of four or five
thousand would carry both houses for any
party. A gerrymander in 1897 would not be
of importance to the Harrison faction if they
had at that time the control Of the federal
patronage. Hence. from their standpoint,
and with their hopes, it would be better to
let the reform" rest until they are safely
intrenched. The question Of policy is a
large one, and it is not surprising that on
taking second thought the republican lead
ers are beginning to hesitate as to high
handed measures that have usually charac-
terized their policy in the past