The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-29
Arthur Pue German, of Maryland, IL
Is Thought, Is Directing the Fight
I'm Indiana.
A DEMOCRATIC GERRYMANDER
REASON WHY THAT PARTY SEEKS
THE LEGISLATURE.
Great Desire to Increase Congress
sional Representstion-Sche for
Trading I'm Votes.

BY far the most interesting development
of the campaign thus far is the fact, now
established beyond question of doubt. that
the Democratic managers are subordinat-
ing everything else on their ticket to elect
members of the Legislature.
There have been hints of this from time
to time. The Cincinnati Enquirer corre-
spondent disclosed the plan a few days
ago. Since then evidence has been COM
ing in from various sources to show that
there is a carefully organized plan looking
to this result 1t has behind it forces that
suggest that IL originated with the national
Democratic managers. Money is being
spent lavishly TO secure the floating vote
in the doubtful districts.
The system of buying up fioaters In close
counties and taking receipts is a part OF
the plan. Trades are offered in many To-
calties of four and FIVE to one-i e., a
Democrat will propose to Republican TO
vote for any five other candidates on the
Republican ticket provided the Republican
TO whom the offer is made will support the
Democratic nominee for the Legislature.
The Republican managers did not at first
regard this movement seriously until the
evidence began to accumulate so rapidly.
Then an investigation was started and the
whole plot was developed. 1t is desperate
game, and 1t has national Democratic
backing. with plenty Of money for its exc
cution, and IL Is being played for large
stakes
THE STAKES.
The stakes are two seats In the United
States Senate and probably several seats In
the lower house of the United States Con-
gress. II is believed by some to have orig
mated in the fertile brain of Arthur L.
German, to whom the Indiana Democrats
were wont to look in the old days before
the Bryan regime for their suggestions
The Maryland boss is directing much OF
the work this year. since his political re-
juvenation last year, and that doubtless
accounts for the ease with which money
is being raised for the Democratic cam
paign. II some of the State and local DEM
ocratic candidates are to be believed. by
far the greater share of the funds Of the
Democratic organization is being diverted
to elect the Legislature In this State.
The object TO be attained by carrying
the Legislature this year from the Demo-
cratic viewpoint is to gerrymander the
State for legislative and congressional
purposes. Not only would Senator Fair
banks's successor be a Democrat. but the
man chosen to succeed Senator Beveridge
would be a Democrat, If there were any
virtue In a gerrymander. The work
wouldn't stop here, for the boundaries Of
congressional districts would be changed
to meet Democratic needs. and the Repub-
lican representation in Congress thereby
decreased
LAST DEMOCRATIC GERRYMANDER.
The last Democratic gerrymander is too
fresh in the minds Of Republicans to need
referring to for the purposes of pointing a
moral Republicans struggled along under
the effects of it for years, carrying the
State by substantial majorities. but losing
the Legislature on account of the infamous
gerrymander, until finally the courts were
invoked for relief. In the work of freeing
the Republican party from this burden
Senator Fairbanks played no small part.
He helped to get in motion the legal ma
chinery by which the question was tested
and through which relief finally came.
The Republican state committee is SPAR
ing no pains to impress upon the minds
of Republicans of the State the necessity
of looking carefully after the legislative
candidates. The necessity OF vigilance in
this matter is obvious In view Of the latest
Developments.