The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-04
Said Nothing I'm Henry County About
During the Cnmpafgn.
THE UNIT RULE DENOUNCED
CLAIMS 1900 MORE VOTES IN THE
DISTRICT THAN JOHNSON.
Went Into Henry County with 200 and
Came Out with 2,0Is, and IL
Perfectly Satisfied.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.


son to-day and found him romping with his
sixteen-months-old boy. OF whom he is pas
sionately fond. When asked what ne had to
say regarding the recent campaign he re-
piled that there was not much 10 be said.
Il did the best coyld." he went on, "and
all my friends worked like Troians for my
success. i never saw more enthusiasm. IL
grew to be very contagious along toward
the last of the campaign. and there Is
telling what might have happened had the
nomination been postponed three days lat
er. am only sorry that / cannot nov.
and in fact i may never be able TO. reward
all my friends / wish you would say that
1 am profoundly grateful TO them for the
great interest they manifested in my well
fare, for no man ever had truer friends. and
no man ever appreciated such friendships
more than L.
do you feel that the contest was fair
one?' was asked.
Fair enough. perhaps. but yet very un-
equal. You see. the new Sixth district if
made up Of Wayne, Fayette. Union and
Henry, from Johnson's old district; Frank
lin. Shelby and Rush. from my old district,
and Hancock. from the old Seventh In
other words, Mr.. Johnson's old counties had
125 votes in the convention and mine 10
convention. which, on the basis OF one TO
every hundred. are equal to five thousand
votes. You see, therefore. that 1 had 10
overcome five thousand votes In order TO
start even with him. Why. his county alone
had more than one-fourth OF all the votes
in the district. leaving me but thrse-fourths
to work on at any time. Now, would not
have cared so much for these circum-
stances" continued Mr.. Watson, had IL
not been for the enforcement OF the unit
rule. / received 1900 or more than one
third of all the votes in Wayne county;
75O or one-third of all the votes I'm Fayette
county; $50. or one-third OF all the votes In
Union county, and 2,0lS. or nearly one-half
OF all the votes in Henry county. In those
four counties i received nearly 5000 votes.
and yet they are simply rubbed out OBJ
liberated, and have voice or representa-
tion whatever. Eighteen hundred men for
me in Wayne count for nothing Eighteen
hundred for johnson count for thirty-six-
The same is true in the other countiea"
How many votes would Mr.. Johnson
have got in the counties you control7"
was asked Mr.. Watson.
lone hundred in Franklin 100 in Rush. 200
in Shelby and 800 in Hancock. / think
state Ii fairly. In other words. had pop
ans in the district voted on their choice
at one time, would easily have beaten him
5000 at the least calculations. How Is that
for gerrymander?' said Mr.. Watson.
laughingly.
Look at 1t in another light. Mr. Johnpn
came up to Henry county with eighty-nino
delegates, representing $500 votes. / came
up to Henry county with ninety-six dele
gates, representing 9,6G) votes. In Henry he
received 2172 and I received 2.o1s. In other
words, his total vote amounts to 11,o7z and
mine to 11,elS, a majority Of 54s in my fa-
vor do not want you 10 understand that
I am complaining of Mr.. johnson at all.
or that 1 am growing about what hap
happened. / am simply stating well-known
facts in order that people may see the In
justice of the so-called unit rule, which 10
un-Republican and un-American, and ought
never TO, be tolerated anywhere. IL Is
worse than any Democratic gerrymander
ever devised. L had difficulty in secur-
ing the solid support OF Hancock. the
neutral county in the district. although Mr..
johnson canvassed il more closely than I
did Nv friends there were inclined to the
belief that my nomination would assist
them in carrying the county for the he-
publican ticket. and gave me the vote ac- -
in Henry very much, since Mr.. Johnson hal
as good an opportunity to capture that coun-
ty as l did. Il having been in neither OF
Were you surprised at the result IN
Henry county, Mr.. Watson?"
well. yes and no, both AT the general
result no, at the vote In some places. yes.
Ny most sanguine friends did not expect
me to receive more than 2O0 majority IN
Henry township, whereas i beat that ~
votes On the other hand, II was UNIVERSAL
ly conceded that Mr.. Johnson's majority
would be at least 200 IN W. WAYNE ne towns townsai2: Up
tremendous activity or my friends The
great disappointment TO me was In Fall
crees e majority Of m M John
son carried ii by Il and my friends aoan-
donei all hope.
weeks ago." continued Mr.. Watson, Il did
not have over 800 votes In the county. MI
Johnson had represented II In Congress TOT
six years, had campaigned over IL time ana
again. had sent unnumDered thousands or
! documents and letters 10 its people this
year and was generally Wen liked. he went
gress, riding in a buggy and making >
| house-to-house canvass. pledging his oi1
t,t'', not well i' desert him. He had never dis
| tributed any patronage, as no opportunity
had been presented, ana had made no enc
| niles on that account IL seemet 10 the
! few friends I had there that. under the
| circumstances, i never would overcome the
great odds against m me; put 1 ~sns ,ss r,sst se,
| test contest i ever witnessed. ! was beat
en-, but I am perfectly satisfied with my
| fight | have not said single thing I
| wish had been left unsaid- haze not Civ
| en- utterance 10 a single sentiment In regard
| to my opponent that 1 can not cheernhly
| repeat OF him as the nominee OF my party
| for Congress and I am satisdei-complete-
/ ly thoroughly satisfied.
Here Mr.. Watson sprawled out on the
| floor TO begin the rornp with his boy. and
/ the interview was ended.
Mr. Watson came TO Rushviile at noon
on the day OF the election I'm Henry. lie
| went at once TO see his vile and boy. and
| did not come into the city until yesterday:
/ He went to the revival services being held
| here Wednesday evening and no one coulo
! have told from his manner or conrtrsatlo0
| that ne was right then in contest that
| mif-ht decide the future OF his life- He has
| been .he center OF large group or friends
whenever he male his appearance ana all
| comment his healthy look, and the ease ana
| cheerfuiness with which he accepts the ait
| uation. They still! admire him Tor me peas
| ANT smile his genial hand<hake and his
| magnetic presence. and have faith IN him
! as one Of the strongest and best campaIGu-
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