The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-05

candidates had 800 plurality outside Of these
scattering votes. Nevertheless. these rep
resentatives were refused seats in the Leg
islature. There were several cases where
the middle name was left out CT one re-
turn. either by collision with the mana
gers or carelessness. For instance, Frank
&. Nickerson, who represented a district
in the northern part of the State. had on
the face of the returns. IL ali were counted
for him. majority Of forty votes, but IN
the return Of one town sixty votes were
returned for Frank Nickerson. The re-
port OF the town clerk showed that the
votes were cast for Franz g Nickerson.
and the affidavits OF the more prominent
citiZents in that town were 10 the effect
that they voted for Frank &. Nickerson
upon printed ballot. which was used
throughout the district. After setting forth
these cases. these citizens asked the court
frankly what should be done In the event
that its opinion was that the Legislature
then in session was not organized accord
ing TO the Constitution and the laws or
the State. The court did not hesitate 10
give its opinion. AZ declared that IL was
the clear right and duty of a majority or
the members who had been elected. ac-
cording 10 their opinion, despite these
various technicalities upon which they
had been thrown out. to meet and 10 or
ganize the Legislature and the State gov
eminent.
SETTING UP A GOVERNMENT.
This opinion was received on Friday. On
eral Chamberlain. meeting Of citizens
who were members of the Legislature was
permitted in the Senate chamber and in
the hall of the House of Representatives
The Republicans who were elected by this
method quietly assembled. organized
Legislature. elected a Governor. and had
set up before midnight another complete
State government. At the same time IL
applied to the Supreme Court TO say which
of the State governments was the legal
one. The Supreme Court directly replied
that the body of men claiming to be a
Legislature who appeared 10 be elected
upon the face OF the returns was the legal
Legislature. Thereupon General Chamber
lain recognized the Legislature formed by
the Republicans as the legal Legislature.
The Fusion Legislature had adjourned
from Saturday morning until Monday.
Monday afternoon. when its members APP
peared to go in the Statehouse they We're
stopped and were told that by decision
of the Supreme Court General Chamber
lain under the order OF the Governor rec
ognized by the Supreme Court would NOT
permit them to occupy the Senate chamber
or the hall of the House TO act as LeSls-
lature. They were very angry ana very
noisy. but the man at the gateway stopped
them, and they adjourned to meet In a nan
down town the next day, where they set
up a State government for a few days. and
finally adjourned until August. never 10
meet The Republicans proceeded quietly
about their work. and one by one the Dem
ocratic members came in and took their
seats qualified. and took a part In the
Legislative work
An investigation into the frauds by which
thirty-five members of the Republican
House were counted out or refused GER
tificates showed that the returns had been
manipulated in the Office of the secretary
of state To count out Republicans the
initial letter had been changed In severaf
instances with different colored ink. The
top of a CAPITAL I'll" the initial OF a
middle name, was closed over at the top
and made a capital "a in two instances.
changed, showing a conspiracy as foul as
was ever devised to overcome the declared
will of the majority of the voters.
A few leaders in the conspiracy never re-
covered their standing In the State, but the
most of the ignominy fell upon few very
small men who changed the returns and
did the work in order to continue In the
offices they held. The more conservative
leaders and members OF the Democratic
party did not favor the conspiracy, and
a number of them denounced IL.
In this case there would have been blood
shed and widespread confusion but for the
promptness and GOODNESS OF such men as
James G.. Blaine. General Chamberlain. ex-
Vice President Hamlin, Hon. Lot NJ. Nor
rill. Hon. William p. Frye. Hon. Eugene
Hale and Governor Dingley- They would
not permit any sort of violent demonstra-
ton They would not permit In the State
capital the holding of indignation meet
ings They appealed to the fairness and
the good sense OF the people. Outside or
the recognized channels they went TO the
Supreme Court, and that tripunal, because
of it's high and nonpartisan character.
saved to the people of Maine Republican
form of government as indicated by vote
of the majority of the people.