The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-28
JOKE OF THE CAMPAIGN
ROsENHEIMER HAD BEEN TOLD
GOwDY WAS AN "EAsY FARMER"
Thought Republicans Chairman Would
Help Him Get Two Popocratic Sher-
ifs for Each Precinct.

One of the most amusing humors of the
campaign has been perpetrated by the
ever-amusing julius Rosenheimer, chair
man of the Populist State committee. JUL
ius doesn't know anything in particular
about the campaign, or about the part he
is taking in it but he takes his orders from
T. Z. johnson or any other Popocrat VINO
happens to be in the vicinity, and carries
them out to the best of his ability A lew
days ago some of his Popocrauc posses
conceived the idea that it would be good
thing if they could have two Popocratlc
sheriffs at each polling place instead OF one.
They We're going on the theory tnat Chaif-
man Gowdy was an easy farmer, ana
suggested to julius that he see GoWdy ana
ask him to use his influence TO nave the
Populists represented upon the election
boards by sheriffs or watchers, thing the
Republicans tried to obtain in the Leglsia-
ture of 1893 but the Democratic majority
would not have it that way. They told
julius that Gowdy would fall an easy prey
if he would just suggest that he suspected
the Democrats Of foul play. Instead OF
seeing Gowdy in person, as his bosses con-
templated, julius took his pen in hand and
wrote a letter that does not look we'll in
print in these times of fusion and Eugglng
and OSCILLATION among 1.-The silver forces.
julius says in his letter:
cat the approaching election / think you
will readily concur with me that taere
should be every effort made to nave Ialr,
honest election, and every precautloh taheh
against unfair means and metnous IN Sc
curing and vending the Will OF the people;
| The Populists are not entirely satisfied
| with the sincerity and honest intentions OF
the Democracy (Which may De an H nnJust
| suspicion), but if all are Talr ana honest
| the best way to demonstrate a disposition
of fairness is to admit Popullst represe en-
| tation at all election boards throughout the
| State. We, therefore, respectfully ASK Inat
| you use your great influence IN pfocurlIlS
| at every precinct one election sheflH VINO
| shall be open and avowed Populist. May
| I not have a favorable answer at an early
| day to this simple request! You ana your
| party are as / understand, sincerely IN Ia
| yor of a fair vote and an honest count"
| Mr.. Gowdy replied thus: In reply TO
| your letter requesting me TO use my inHu-
| ence to secure Populist election sheriff
| for each voting precinct In the state,
| have to say the law provides for only two
election sheriffs to each precinct, ana that
| lone of each election sheriffs shall be
/ chosen from each of the TWO partles that
/ cast the largest number of votes in the
| State at the last general election. In view
| of the law governing the case which you
| seem to have overlooked, l do not see now
L can assist you in securing PopuIlst rep
reS,ntation on the election boards, or IN the
| capacity of election sheriffs. See acts oil
| 1889, D. 15S; Acts of 1891, p. 124. am some
! that the Popuiists are not :'entirely satisfied
| with the sincerity and honest 1ntentlons OF
| the Democracy in the matter or honest
| elections as Judging from recent events
| / was inclined to believe that there was
| full partnership and mutual confidence be-
| tween the Populists and silver Democrats
| in this campaign. The responsibility fof
| referring further minority representation
| on election boards rests with the Demo
| cratic party which has at all times op-
posed any change in the election laws on
| this point.
| The section cited is as follows:
| ELECTION Sherffs-It shall be the duty OF
| the sheriff of each county to appoint five
| DAYS prior to each election, two specia
| deputies for each precinct in the county, tt
| be known as election sheriffs, who shall at
| tend the polling places in their respective
| precincts from the opening of the polls II
| the conclusion of the count. 1t shall bt
| their duty to preserve order at the polls
! and enforce the provisions of the eiectior
| law under the direction of the election
| board and make arrests on the demand o.
| a member of the board or an afhdaVit, al
| hereinafter provided. One of such election
| sheriffs shall be chosen from each of the
| two parties who cast the largest number o.
| votes in the State at the last general cleo
ton and if al least five days prior to sucf
| election the chairman of the county centra
| committee of either of such parties shall
| nominate a member of his party for elec
ton sheriff in any precinct such nomine,
| shall be appointed. IF any election sheriff
| shall fail to appear at the opening of tn
| poIls the member or members of the cleo
ton board of his political party shall ap
point person to act in his place"