The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-12
A STOUT FIGHTER.
HI. Clay Evnns's Campaign Against
Tennessee's Corruptfonists.


Tennessee's Corruptfonists.
A. W. Tourgee in the Basis.
The best fight ever made in the United
States for "a free ballot and fair count
is that which Hon. Fl. Clay Evans Is max
spite of all that could be done to prevent
the count would show a clear majority for
Mr. Evans. Thereupon the Democratic ma
jority in the Legislature proceeded to enact
a law, professedly to determine contest
between the hold-over Governor Turney
and the man whom the face OF the returns
showed to have been elected In order to
accomplish this. 1t provided for a new
tribunal and adopted rules and methods at
war with all legal analogy and clearly in
tended to enable Turney to hold the office
through the use of the the machinery OF the
this outrageous and unconstitutional
usurpation of power with courage.
adroitness and tactful determination which
have clearly made him a man of national
Importance. Not content with a mere pro-
test against the unconstitutional character
of the investigation, he has met his oppo-
nents at every step, quiet, watchful, dig
nified in word and bearing; never yielding
an inch of ground, however hopeless the
fight has seemed, and forcing even
sided investigation to uncover not only the
nent, but the rottenness of the administra-
ton and the legislative faction who have
lent themselves to this conspiracy against
the popular will. Ttlrney claims that in
certain counties which gave majorities for
Evans the pollhoders did not require the
or to make affidavit in writing as to their
loss.'' In his secret circular to his agents
he tells them not to give any considera-
ton to the question whether the taxes
were paid or not; that he says is imma-
teria! but only to get evidence to show
There is no charge of fraud against the
Republicans. but only that this formality
omitted
In reply to this Governor Evans-for
when the returns showing that he had a
majority of the votes were published. he
went before magistrate and quietly took
the oath of office. as the. law required
Governor Evans not only alleges and avows
dtions prevailed in the '', Counties in which
a majority was returned for Turney. but
he carries. the war into Africa by alleging
and specifying the choicest lot of unique
and brazen frauds upon the ballot intended
to elect his opponent that were ever au-
thoritatively and deliberately unveiled in
The following are some of the choicest
bits of incontestable fraud set forth in Mr.:
Evanss plea after he had protested
against the entire proceedings At one of
the precincts the officers of election, all
Democrats, shut themselves in closed
room and required the voters to offer their
ballots through q window seven feet from
the ground, which was only opened six
inches, that no one could see what oc-
Cured within. This is what went on out
~. c. Herring. w. J. Rose, ]. A. Click,
John f. Quick, J A Holmes and others. ali
white. took a position very near the win
as they We're cast Herring sat down and
arranged things so that he could keep a
tally-sheet Of the voters. The other four
gentlemen stood around him to act
witnesses Wien Republican voter came
up he would first give. his. ticket and
ton, and the five gentlemen named would
examine them. Herring would place the
poltax receipt under the ballot and request
uemen could see the same ballot was hand
ed in As soon as the voter had handed
in his ballot and some one on the inside
had announce ell voted" Herring would
record the electors name on his tally
panons. This method Of procedure was
kept up until about 8 o'clock in the after
noon. whea Herring left. Up to that time
testee Evans. After Herring left w J.
Rose took his place, and on another sheet
recoried he names of the four electors,
VIII yo. d for Evans, thus making the to-
TIA, vote 1o- evans 1o2. The total vote
that eoat.stes Evans received io2 of these
eountee the vote stands: "rurney, 1853;
In another precinct the election was held
lin boot. on wheels made for this ex-
partments, the judges and clerks being sep
arated from the receiving officer by a par
no Sq and ra Judges from thf CLERKS by
stood at little door, four feet by eighteen
inches. at the rear of the wagon. which
ballot-box behind him. After receiving a
ballot he would turn around in this door,
completely hiding, the ballot-box and his
strange that in this precinct sixty-eight
votes were fraudulently counted for Turney.
which were actually cast for the Populist
candidate. Mr.. Evans humorously suggests
that this unique device should be patented
for the benefit of the Turney crowd OF
ballot thieves.
When it is remembered that it is a sim
gle man, with only volunteer associates
and assistance who is giving time and
money, and brain to carry out this unex-
ampled fight against the whole State ad-
mnistration and majority in the Legis-
lature-a fight which contests the vote of
every county in the State, save one-we
realize something of the magnitude of the
task Mr.. Evans has undertaken.
1t is pleasant to note the fact that the
entire Populist party of the State. as well
as the united Republican strength, Is be-
hind him; and the tactful character of his
protest and conflict is attested by tribute
never before given in any State to
testant of opposite politics. viz: A very
large proportion of the Democratic press
denounce the attempted steal, and thou
sands of Democratic citizens signed pro-
tests against the course adopted by pur-
blind partisan majority in the Legislature.
Whatever may sbe the outcome of this
contest, the cause of an honest ballot
and fair count will be greatly strength
ened, not only in the State of Tennessee,
but throughout the whole country. 1t is
a page of history which the American peo-
pie are sure to scan with indignation. On
it is written one bright name, that of II.
Clay Evans, who has shown and is now
showing in this conflict qualities which
give promise of much greater things