The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-11

and determination Of all pending and un-
determined contests for the offices of rep
resentatives and senator's. all partisan con-
siderations snail be eliminated as Tar as
may be; but this provision shall not be re-
dation
Sixth-That the present General Assem-
piy snail provide an absolutely fair and
non-partisan election Law which shall Sc
cure 10 the voter the fullest measure or
protection, TO the end that he shall have
the Iuiiest liberty to cast his vote without
let or hindrance and have it counted as
cast, and shall secure TO the officers of
election the fullest protection in the dis
charge of their duties
Seventh-That as soon as possible from
TINS date the State militia now on duty at
the seat OF government shall be withdrawn
ana sent to their homes due regard be-
ing had for the preservation of the public
This was signed for the Republican party
by John w. Barr. Augustus E. Wilson.
1. II. Baker, ID. w. Lindsay, David w.
Falrleigh. Charles T. Ballard For the
democratic party by 10. G. s. Blackburn,
James b. McCreary, Robert j. Breckin-
ridge, Urey Woodson, S. ]. Shakelford.
Phil B. Thompson. jr., f. t. Lillard, ST.,
D.; q. thompson. 1t was approved by John
Marshall and j. c. w. Beckham.
BLACKBURN'S STATEMENT.
When the agreement was given to the
newspapers it was accompanied by state
ment covering the whole course of the
negotiations, beginning with call by
David w. Fairleigh on Senator Blackburn
at Frankfort on Feb. to seek a confer
ence looking for a settlement. The sena-
tor said: II insisted that before I could
consent to undertake so grave and deli
cate task L must be assured of the full
and plenary powers with which he was
authorized TO act OF this he gave me
satisfactory assurances It was then
agreed between US, after various points had
been suggested, that we should meet in
Louisville, and he and the Hon. John
Marshall, who was not present at this in
,erview with me, but was accompanying
Mr.. talrleigh as he told me, in his inter-
views with Mr.. Taylor, did go from Frank
tort TO Louisville Monday morning."
senator Blackburn then tells of the meet
Fairleigh and Marshall and their asso-
GATES and Mr.. Beckham, Senator Black
Turn and five other Democrats. He con-
tinues: The agreement, by direction of
and put in form by Mr.. Fairleigh and
myself. 1t was then submitted to our asso-
cjates. and as the result of our protracted
oenoeratlons Il was unanimously agreed
TO and signed. On Tuesday morning Gen.
ID. w. Lindsay, DR.. T. III. Baker. Governor
McCreary ana myself went, according to
agreement, to Frankfort 1t was under
stood and agreed that General Lindsay
tc the copy Of the agreement in his posses
sion and exchange the same with me for
the copy which l held
Senator Blackburn tells of the delay in
signing the agreement, adding that Messrs.
Lindsay and Fairleigh both called on him
meanwhile to express regret at their in
ability to bring the matter to close. This
continued until last night, when Senator
Blackburn left Frankfort, having told
Judge Barr and Mr.. Fairleigh he would
have nothing more TO do with the matter.
The Senator continues: SAT an unusually
early hour this morning / was awakened
by the clerk at my hotel and told that
Governor Taylor wanted me at the long
distance telephone, and requested me not to
take the time necessary TO dress, but to
come at once. went promptly and Mr..
Taylor told me of his great perplexity and
distress of mind, expressed his apprecia-
ton of the liberal measure of patience I
had shown throughout these negotiations,
said that he felt that the parties to this
conference had found the proper solution
to the situation, that he approved of the
agreement and found no fault with IL
either in whole or in part; but he said
that the pressure that had been brought to
bear upon him in opposition to his approval
was beyond anything of which 1T was pos
sible for me to conceive. He further said
that he had summoned certain parties to a
conference with him at 10 o'clock this
morning, and asked me-earnestly urged
me-tO consider the matter as open until
IL o'clock this morning. l agreed to this,
and further said that instead of IL o'clock,
we would make it IL o'clock If he wished 1t,
at which later hour 1t was agreed that he
should call me up by telephone and advise
me of his approval of the agreement and of
q proclamation that he would issue revok-
ing his call for a meeting of the Legisla-
ture at London and calling ii to meet at
Frankfort on Monday next, and of the
sending of the military force now on duty
at Frankfort away. / waited until IL
o'clock and until 1 o'clock, and, hearing
nothing from him 1 wired Mr.. Taylor that
the hour that he had named had passed,
and another hour in addition and that the
matter under consideration stood closed
Senator Blackburn says Governor Taylor
called him up soon afterward to explain
the delay. He continues: He told me he
could not sign or approve the agreement:
that the conditions were such and the
pressure so heavy that he could not do it.
With this statement 1 and my associates
are content to have the public to decide
as to where the crushing burden of respon-
sibility rests for continuance of the de-
porable condition that we have labored so
earnestly to relieve. Should 1t be that even
worse is to come than now exists, We feel
that we have done our utmost to protect
our people and our State, and that we shall
not be answerable."
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