The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-17
Mr.. campbeIr- suggestion.

III the cOuFtS- j. n. CLA1fOOL-
Indianapolis. Feb. ls.
Mr.. CampbeIrs Suggestion.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Your editorial in the issue of Saturday,
18th inst. in regard to the policy OF bringing
q suit TO set aside the apportionment of 1885.
] think is correct. II has all rhe disadvan-
tages OF uncertainty and delay you mention,
and the still worse one OF losing the conf
dence and respect OF the independent Re-
publican voters OF the State. II Republicans
had never constructed outrageous gerryman-
ders, they could with a better grace pursue
the proposed policy OF overthrowing the
gerrymander OF 1885. for il is nothing else.
But they. too. have ge-rrymandered. Why
can't politicians see. without butting their
heads against them. the pIainest Of facts.
to wit-tha nearly every gerrymander has
beaten the party making il before its time
expired. and the more outrageous the ger
rymander, the worse Ii has been beaten.
These changes have not been due TO the riff
raff vote, but TO the intelligent, independent
vote of the State. The Republican party
must show itself more deserving of conf
dence than the Democratic, or it may not be
sustained. There is a large and growing in
dependent vote in the State. and that is the
vote that viii decide which party shall adj
minister the State government. These indie
pendent voters are Democrats or Republic
ans, but they are not SO at all hazards and
regardless OF conditions. The hot-headed
partisans viii support their party. no mat
ter what course 1t takes, but the intelligent.
independent voters are the real jurors be-
fore whom the political policies are tried
How would something like this do: Let
the Republican State propose 10
Governor Matthews TO have a committee of
business Democrats mot poiiticians), to con-
sist OF, say, ten twenty or thirty, one-naif
TO he SplQcfad nv the C0x orn0r and the afher
half by the Republican committee. TO con-
struct an apportionment OF the State. to be
made on their word of honor, not as Demo-
Gratis. but as patriotic business citizens of
the state, 10 apportion according TO the
male populstion. as the Constitution pro-
v.des; then let che Republican Senator's and
representatives pledge themselves TO pass
that apportionment. There are ten thou
sand Democrats in the State who would do
that work conscientfousiy. IL the Governor
should accept and appoint his half of trick
sters, which he probably. would not, the Re-
who would refuse TO agree to an unfair or
unlawful apportionmeut- If the Governor or
his party should refuse the offer. the Re-
nuDiicans could go before the voters OF the
State on that issue alone and beat any ger
rymander that was ever made against them.
10 standing on the dignity of a CO.
ordinate branch of the State government.
giving pledges to do any particular thing,
let as set that aside, for neither party has
ut to stand on. We are proposing a refor-
NATION in the appointments now. and a
~ Tt Implies a past anu
still existing wrong.
IL is very difficult work 10 construct
among one hundred Repreaeatative ana 1 lifty
Senator's. l tried that once. The Constitution
provides that the number OF Senators shall
ret exceed fifty. nor the Representatives one
implies that the numbers may be
less. Having started with fifty
sdopting the present co1ststu ioa. It is diff
heult u cut down the follower Senator's to
H1TQEn0n6 with n -tfA~rms~At - -
But no such trouble exists a. ID the Repre-
se1tatives. Where it is impossible 10 AZ one
nu1ared Representatives TO the number OF
male inhabitants Of twenty-one years of age
and upward. IL might be very easy u III,
say. eighty-sevel. or som ether number. 1t
seems TO me ta3t tire Senators might be cut
down bv. casting lots to determine which OF
two hoid-cver Senators found in a newly
constructed district should resign.
The state Is on the verge of caaos ar1
anarchy Same patriots concessions must
s De made nsteto The 0g PARTY v, Mhjsh makes a liberal
aavantage over the party that refuses to
accept II In good faith.
diara history which Is Worth 1p's consId ie ne-
In the session CT 1879 the State Senate was
pubiicans that IL the Greenback csNationaro
Senator. O. r.. Davis, voted with the Re-
puolicans II made a tie Davis would not
vote with the Democrats to organize the
Senate. SO the Senate at that session was
orsanized by resolution. because Lieutenant
luton. This resolution was fastened
through without waiting for PRAYER at fhe
opening. For lack OF prayer some later dis
asters followed. Greenbacker Davis would
not vote for the Democrats apportionment
The Democrats then proposed 10 Dust Re-
publican senator Marcus c. Smith. of Henry
county. Mr. Smith had been honestly elect
ed Dut there was an fnformality about it.
Tne County Commissioners had failed to
nix the boundary between two voting pre-
cincts- Because of this Democrats proposed
TO throw him out ard seat mis- Democratic
ment through. But there was one Demo
cratic Senator whose honesty was not
S nishanleb by party of Fo real w aRIs w As M inIa s tSe
Democrats In caucus that he could not be
a party 10 80 outrageous a scheme. He said
der to carry out a partisan political meas
ure. and that he then resolved that never
IN all MS following life would he ever loan
with dificulty. Said he: MIR. Schmidt vas
two precincts.' The Democrats had to aban-
Con the scheme and make terms with
Greeabacker Davis. who made considerable
changes in the superintendent. and helped
item to pass it. Mr.. Sarnighausen was
Urged to avail himself Of that opportunity
ciined- How many Republicans in the State
would have the gall TO condemn the course
many are viking 20 DO like him? j.. T. G.
Rockville. Ind, Feb. 10.
Attorney Enoch G.. Hogate.s Optpso,
Mr.. Enoch G. Hogate, one OF the most
active Republicans and prominent attor-
neys Of Danville. Ind. wrote the following
letter to District Chairman Fllbeck imme-
diate.y after the meeting of the State CEN
trail committees:
9Th Hon. Nicholas Fflbeck, Terre Haute.
Ind:
Dear SirI want to congratulate you ON
the stand you have taken opposing 3 suit
to set aside the apportionment act of isss'
When men get their sober second thought
all will say you are right. If the proposi-
ton made by the Democratic State com
mittee had been promptly accepted by the
Republican committee | believe they would
have accepted the situation and no com
,plications would have arisen I'm the cam
paign, but the rejection OF their PROPOSE
ton and a determination to do otherwise
renders them under no obligation to ac.
cept any proposal we may have to make,
or to meet with US and treat with us on
any basis II Won't do just at this juno.
ture forsus to get too virtuous and say we
-couunrouaisl.a ILL -