The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-01

The Democratic campaign in Ohio has
been directed by John r. Mclean with his
newspaper, the Enquirer, as an organ. With
actual Democrats in Ohio Mr.. Mclean is
not popular. He is not trusted by them.
At the beginning of the campaign ne was
denounced by the Cleveland Plain Dealer
a foreigner and the foe of the Ohio
Democracy. Remembering the humiliating
defeat Of his father through the plotting of
Mclean, Mr.. Thurman, at the beginning of
the campaign, denounced him with every
epithet in the Democratic vocabulary. Hav-
ing him in mind. the Democratic convention
in Cleveland pledged it's legislative nomi-
nees to vote for no millionaire for United
States senator. His purpose is to attain
seat in the Senate. His agents have fixed"
the candidates for the Legislature. Two
months ago, learning of the hostility to him
in his own party, Mr.. Mclean gave out that
he would not be q candidate for senator.
So much is he distrusted by men in his own
party that they stigmatized his withdrawal
as a mask and trick Such it has proved
to be, as his paid agents have been travel
ing about the State in his interest.
During the campaign his organ, the En-
quirer, shas been specially devoted TO the
nasty work of assailing the characters of
prominent Republicans, and particularly
Senator Hama AS McLean's opponent it
may be said that all his efforts have been
turned to accomplish Hanna's defeat that
he may succeed him. AS has been stated,
it is not necessary that Republicans should
take the trouble to assail the political
record of Mclean. Democrats have time
and again, and very recently, done that
most effectively. They have laid bare his
treachery and his corrupt deals and
methods. Cincinnati has been disgraced by
more than its share of political scandals,
but none was equal to the infamies of the
period of McLean's prominence, which Gull
minated in 1885 in the tally-sheet forgeries.
Because of their participation in the tally
sheet forgeries one or two were sent to the
penitentiary. To-day one of the most active
of McLean's lieutenants is the man who was
responsible for the most extensive ballot
box frauds ever perpetrated outside of New
York. Ex-Governor Hoadly, who was the
Democratic candidate for Governor when
these frauds were perpetrated. in a speech
to the Ohio Club Feb. rs, 1887, spoke Of them
as follows:
One trouble with the Democracy Of Ham,
ilton county is that they have learned the
trick of changing ballots after they have
been put in the box. Letting the past alone.
and looking only to the future, the duty OF
the Democracy of Hamilton county is this:
Never again-never again allow an honor
able man to contemplate, as had to with
shame, my name accredited with 1926 votes
l never received in the Fourth ward, and
my friend, Judge Foraker, in Precinct A,
Fourth ward, accredited with forty-six only
when he certainly received nearly two hum
bred.
Mr.. John R Mclean may be better man
now than he was during the period of his
active participation in Democratic politics
twelve or fifteen years ago. but there are
no indications of it in his present methods.
At any rate. with the record which the
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Mr.. Thurman and
many other Democrats in Ohio have given
him, he is not the man to bring charges
against others.