The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
ALDRICH-PLOWMANC CASE
NOTED ELECTION CONTEST DIS
CUssED BY THE HOUSE.
An Alabama District where Gross
Frauds Were Committed - Petit
grew Opposing Hawaiian Treaty.

WASHINGTON, Feb S.-The House to-
day entered on consideration of the Aid
rich Plowman contested election case from
the Fourth Alabama district The majority
of the committee reported in favor of seat
ing the Republican contestant on the
ground of conspiracy, an allegation vigor-
ously denied by the Democratic minority.
Mr.. Plowman's plurality on the face of the
returns was 1857. The majority revised the
figures so as TO give Aldrich a plurality
OF 342 Mr. Plowman, the sitting member
is a Democrat and Mr.. Aldrich was the
Populist and Republican candidate Mr..
TAYLOR, who opened the debate with an
elaborate argument in favor of sustaining
the majority, deplored the fact that par
tisan body was called on to pass upon
election case, but in this particular in
stance he said, there had been no draft
on his political prejudices. He explained the
Alabama election laws which, he said
could not have been framed more effective
ly to encourage fraud and thwart the peo-
pies will The illiterate voter. he said, was
absolutely at the mercy of the ticket mark
err. Fraud, he said, was everywhere; not
lurking or secret, but bold and insolent
Mr.. Fox presented the case of the minor
ity, which reported that Mr.. Plowman was
entitled to retain his seat. He dwelt on the
fact that Aldrich was not the regular nom
inee of the Republican party and was OPP
posed on the stump by leading Republicans
and Popuists and that any assumption
that he commanded the full strength of the
Republicans and Populsts of the district
was unwarranted. While there was time,
said Mr.. Cox. when the magic names of
Lincoln and Grant, together with a baseless
fear that the domination of their former
masters might again impress them into
slavery, kept the negroes solid, that time
had gone. Republicans of the North had no
right to assume that every negro was
Republican because his skin was black. He
controyerted the claim that a conspiracy
existed aud maintained that a revision Of
the returns, in accordance with the testi-
mony would still give Plowman plurality
of 2,4S7.
Mr.. Mann, a member of the committee,
who followed, in concluding his argument
in favor of the majority report, said he had
gone into the case with his prejudices in
favor of the South. His people were all
Southerners. But after examination of the
testimony fraud was patent and he could
not but condemn a condition which, by con-
spiracy sought to control the Congress of
the United States and legislate through
fraud for the business interests of the coun-
try. He appealed to his Republican asso-
ciates to vote to seat 1.-THE man who in
the face of utilization had the nerve and
manhood to say to the rascals who pursued
him will fight you till die. +"
Mr. Settle, another member of the COM
mittee, in opening his argument. said that
while ne feared the verdict against Mr..
PloWman was already made up he could
not believe that honest men would seize
upon a combination of isolated irregular
tiles. none of which amounted to actual
fraud a sop to conscience and vote to I'M
seat a fellow member because he was a
Democrat. Mr.. Settle was very severe in
his condemnation of Mr. Aldrichs tactics.
frequently aroused his political associates
to manifestations of enthusiastic approval.
Some of his sallies were appa uded even by
the Republicans Without completing his
argument he yielded to a motion to adjourn
and at sos p. m. the House adjourned.