Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
INDIANA'S APPORTIONMENT
Uncertain Effect of the Recent State Su.
preme Court Decision.
Mr.. Voorhees, Seat I'm the Senate In
vOlved-He and the Democrats
Much Encouraged.

Under ordinary circumstances the deci-
sion of the supreme court of 1n,iiana sde-
claring the present aPportionmeats Jaw of
that state unconstitutional world be of
great consequence there and elsewhere. Ii
would be likely to have a marked influence
on the result in the state next fail. kThe
vote Of Indiana was for years almost even
ly divided between the two old parties
Whatever was gained 10y either side had to
De 1ought for with all energy and with
every weapon that legitimate campaigning
could command. Hence the practice that
grew up of the dominant party running
apportonment lines to suit its own pur-
poses ana to serve its own advantages The
state was sometimes carried by that means
alone. Tie law just rejected was the work
Oh the republicans. The law that again
becomes operative is the work of demo-
crats. This years elections will be held
unoer 1t, too unless action is taken mean
While TO repeal it. Such action would ap-
ernor viii hardly be likely to call a repub-
mean legislature together to pass upon
such question.
Will the Democrats Gain:
But Indiana has felt, with ker sister
states, the political changes of the past
lew years. The republicans have gained
ground amazingly there. They swept ey-
erythlng before them at the Congress cleo
tons of 1894, and while the democrats
since then have carried few municipal
eIectonS, the winnings have ROT Indicated
any material change in the general sitna-
lon. assuming, therefore, that the drift is
sun with the republicans on general lines
.he question comes up as to whether the
democrats. can obtain anything of real
value by this return to contests on speciaI
nhes IN the state designed for their ad-
vantage when the vote was close
The Scnatorship Involved.
Mr. Voorhees, seat in the Senate is most
directly involved in the issue. The republi-
cans have believed that they had that
prize Won. MI. Voorhees,, they have de-
clared, would certainly be succeeded bv a
republican; and Mr.. Fairbanks of Indianap-
oiis mas been pointed out as the man
everything seemed 10 assure this: the gen
erai dri1t or sentiment, the latest recorded
result IN the state, and the fact hat The
leslsiature TO determine the question
Wouid De elected under an apportionmrnt
giving them the advantage But the an
poruonment feature of the eauatioa has
been charged. What if anv will he lie
resultant gain to the democrats? Has the
republican TIDE risen SO high that appor-
tionment lines established and of so much
Importance In 1885 are Of no value now?
Mr.. Voorhees, Encouraged.
The democrats rejoice over the decision.
Ihey nope to gain by it. Mr.. Voorhees, is
encouraged. He had not given up the fight
by ary means, but he is gamer today by
nan than he was last week He is very
ahxlous an TO succeed himself in the Senate
me presidency seems never to have daz-
zled him. Mr.. Hendricks, Mr.. NIcDona1d
MT English, all played for that prize with.
out success. He has contentad 1inseIf
with seat in the Senate, and has managed
10 noid one nineteen years. Another term
VIII Nil the measure of his ambition He
is beginning to appeal to mis- old silver
auolence again. His first appearance in
tEe senate was as a champion of silver
and he maintained that attitude down n
the special session of the Fifty-third Con.
sIess when he parted company with his old
friends and worked and voted for I ne repeal
OF the purchasing clause of the SHERMAN
act Ihat vote subjected him 10 severe
crluclsn, but he insisted that he was stiIl
snVers friend; that he was voting merely
10 clear the decks for legislation which
would give to silver its just due as a
money metal: He is now in the silver camn
again, IN full fellowship with his old asso-
GATES, and apparently prepared to 20 his
oId lengths in furtherance of silver's in
terests. Is there another democrats sena-
torshlp In Indiana on the free coinage is
sue! Mr.. voorhees, undoubtedly thinks so