The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-25
The Opinions of Congressnen-Eiect
tial Members Of the Patty,
PLEDGES SHOULD BE KEPT
AND THE LONG RECORD OF CON-
sIsTENCY AND HONOR PRESERVED.
The County Republican Press, Al
most Without Exception, OppOses
the Action of the Caucus.

With view of ascertajning the opinions
of representative Republicans throughout
the State concerning the duty of t:e Leg
islature with reference TO the location of
the appointing power for the members of
the boards of trustees of the benevolent
institutions the Journal ON Saturday tele-
graphed the following inquiry to a large
number OF gentlemen residing in different
parts of the State, whose Republicanism is
well known and of long standing:
''Will you please wire the Journal briefly
for publication in Mondays issue, your
views as to the wisdom of the Republican
legislative caucus action in taking the APP
pointing power for benevolent institution
boards. out of the hands. of the Governor
be relative to this natter
No attempt was made to Influence the
character of the opinions of any of the in
dividuals addressed, and all the replies are
published exactly as framed by them.
Others answered that they thought the
caucus had made mistake. but did not
care to be quoted in a newspaper interview.
and their wishes. thus expressed, have
been respected. All the members of Con-
gress-elect were asked for their views,
seven of them responding OF these, Mr..
Hardy, of the Second District, is the only
gentleman who has expressed an opinion in
harmony with the caucus action The an
swers are given below.
A. NJ. Hardy.
The people, by the mandate of the ballot
declared in thunderous tones that the Re-
publican party should be the controlling
power in the management. of the benevolent
and other State institutions and as the Gov
ernor has shown himself to be an intensely
offensive Democratic partisan, and declared
that he will ignore the voice of the people
aS AT ha a pr1lv
Democrats on the boards, the appointing
power should be taken out of his hands. in
at her st SO far as will secure to the Repub-
Hcars q majority membership on the boards
oil the State institutions. The only logical
constructions of the Republican State plat
form Of 1894 is that in case we carried the
state and had a majority in the Legislature
we we're 10 have majority also Oh all the
state boards, and of all the employees con-
nected with the penal, benevolent and other
State institutions. The platform means
that or it means nothing. 1t con-
strued by the convention. and if it had not
been it would never have been adopted.
Manr abuses have crept into our State in
situations during the long term of years
they have been controlled and dominated by
democratic officers and employees, and the
TIME is now at hand to remedy the evils
tha. exist. Many incompetent, coarse,
bruta, men have been taken from the ranks
of Democratic ward heelers' and placed in
positions as attendants and guards in
penal and benevolent institutions. The peo-
-ple now demand that those institutions be
subjected to thorough spring house-clean-
Ing, and that all incompetent Democrats be
discharged and their places filled by upright,
competent, humane Republicans. I heartily
iIldorse the action of the Republican legis-
lative caucus. Personally, my watchword
Isl Put only Republicans on guard
A. NJ. HARDY.