The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-29
Republican and Democrat VIII Each
Hold Office for Year In Greene
County.
WILL BE NO SPECIAL ELECTION
TAXPAYERS WILL BE SAVED A
LARGE SUM IN THIS WAY.
Another Contest That Will Pc Set
tied in the Legislature-Talks
with Politicians.

The bitter political fight in Greene coun-
ty which eliminated in almost riotous
scenes in Bloomfield on election day and
the days Immediately succeeding, is a thing
Of the past. Oil has been poured on the
troubled waters and the storm has SUBJ
sided. A compromise has been effected and
the Democrats and Republicans, who for
several weeks were at daggers' points and
mentioned each others names only with
Kisses and bitter invectives, have clasped
hands across the breach. Now the leaders
are coming down to the capital city, arm
in arm, fguratively speaking. to attend the
theater and enjoy little city life.
The result of the election, as shown In
the returns of the canvassing board, was
a partial victory for the Republicans and
a partial triumph for the Democrats.
Candidates on both tickets were elected,
but in the race for sheriff the result was
declared tie and new election was or
dered by Governor Durbin for Dec.
2. The rival candidates were j. c. Huff
man, Republican, and A. +. Wilson, Demo-
crat, the present incumbent. Both parties
began preparations for the special election
and each was claiming the election of its
candidate by a large plurality until early
this week, when a happy idea struck one OF
the leaders. He suggested a compromise,
and compromise they did, with the result
that the special election will not be held
Mr.. Wilson will serve as sheriff for one
| year of the term and then Mr.. Huffman
| will step in for the other half.
1--WE have compromised the contest" said
Mr.. Wilson, who was at the English las,
ex<lst
ferences and each take year of the term
| No election will be held"
but can such a compromise be effected
| legally, now that special election ha:
| been ordered?"
"Well, legally or illegally, we're gone
| to do il. 1t is the sense of the leaders OF
| both parties and of the rank and file OF
| the voters that the compromise is a wise
| one, and it will be made. There may be ne
! law providing for such a way out of the
| emergency, but we'll find way to do ii
| The arrangement is perfectly satisfactory
| to all parties concerned. No one in Greene
| county will raise protest, unless 1t l:
some hoater who wants an election ever,
| day In the year IL he can get one, so why
should the compromise not be carried int
| effect?"
The way that the compromise will b,
carried out is as follows: Mr.. Wilson II
| county will decline to hold a special cleo
ton. Mr. Wilson must serve, under tn,
law, until his successor is elected or ap
| pointed. He will stay in Office one year
| and then he will resign, to be succeeded
by Mr. Huffman, who will be appointed b!
the County Commissioners. The law pro
the office Of sheriff the County Commits
sioners shall appoint man to serve unit
| the next election. However, in case of
tie vote at an election, the law stipulate
| order of the Governor. and now that Gov
ernor Durbin has ordered the special cleo
ton in Greene county the question arises
| must not the County Commissioners hol,
that election without regard to any agree
ment between the candidates and part,
| leaders? And if the commissioners fail L
hold such election In pursuance of tn
| order, will they not violate the law and *
themselves liable to impeachment or re
moval?
REASONS FOR COMPROMISE.
The reasons for the compromise are tina
the leaders of both parties feel that anothe
election would split things wide open i
Greene county and lead to a veritable polit
ical feud, and that the people of the count
should not be called upon to bear the ex
pense of special election if way can b
found to avoid it. The special electio
would cost the county at least $1,000, 1t
estimated. and it would cost the candidate
about the same amount each. The office
hardly worth such price, especially whe
the candidates have been to the expense @
one election already.
Whether or not the proposed compromis
in Greene county is strictly legal, 1t
doubtful If any one will attempt to defea
1t. The people of the county have had a
the politics they want for a year or two
and If they are unit in favor of the com
promise no one outside of the county
likely to take it on himself to interior
and start trouble anew.
| There is one more contest in Greene cour
ty, but it will be settled by the Legislator
this winter and the leaders of both partie
say that no bitter fight will be made. Pete
Schloot. the Democratic candidate for Sta;
representative, was declared elected by
plurality of four votes by the canvassin
board. The Republicans however clair
that in one precinct five votes were counte
for Schloot that were not cast for hin
and that, therefore the Republican cand
date, Will Hamilton, was elected by a PHI
rality of one vote. Notice of contest he
been fled and the case will be settled
the opening of the session.
The disputed votes were in one precins
in which seventy-five votes were tailed fC
Schloot, while eighty were counted as tn
total in the figures at the right-hand sid
of the sheet. The Democratic election off
Gals claim that eighty votes were counte
for Schloot, but that through an error
the clerk. only seventy-five were tallie,
They say that they counted the ballo,
and put in the total figures first, and the
made the tallies, which is in violation {
the election law, but which is often don
On the other hand the Republicans clail
tnat the NUMBER OF tdllleS SHOWS the CO..
rect number of votes for the Democrat
nominee and that therefore only sevent,
five votes should be counted for hin
The bag containing the ballots and III
other tally sheet has not been opene
but this will be done by the legislati,
committee.
Now that the parties have compromise
on the sheriff fight neither is pushing ii
representative squabble and leaders on bot
sides say that they will abide by the fin,
ing of the House committee on confess
without protest. They only ask that
careful investigation be made. The whit
winged dove of peace is bird that
warmly welcomed in Greene. Polite
fights in that county have grown to
so bitter that the phrase "in darke
Greene" has been used frequently in r
ferring to political doings there and If II
spirit of compromise prevails the phra!
, will gladly be forgotten by both parties.