The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-21
THE CITY ELECTION AND STATE
POLITICS.


brand is exercised in the region of its
mind because Chairman Goodrich, of the
Republican State central committee, has
given his views regarding local politics and
urging Republicans TO support the ticket
for party reasons. Mr.. OBrien, chairman
Of the Democratic State committee, has
made some earnest appeals to the warning
factions of Democrats to get together, pre-
sent solid front to the common enemy and
fire the Democratic heart throughout the
State with the tidings of victory in Indi-
annapolis. The organ of Keach-Polster re-
form did not see any improperly in the APP
peals Of the Democratic chairman, or if 1t
did it suppressed its emotions. But when
its own OK is subjected to a little goring 1t
denounces the use of ''the party lash,
classes Mr.. Goodrich's views as ''imperti-
nent suggestions from outsiders" and says
the men who are coming from a distance
to tell the Indianapolis Republicans how
they should vote in the city election are
performing wholly gratuitous and UNI
called-for mission" Chairman O'Brien is
rather more of an outsider than Chairman
Goodrich is, but his suggestions did not
strike the local organ as impertinent.
AS to the propriety of the chairmen of
State committees on either side taking an
interest in indianapolis city elections and
using every legitimate means to win a vic
tory for their party, there can be no tive
opinions among practical politicians. 1t
is not only natural and proper. but has
been the invariable custom. of committee
chairmen of both parties. City elections
in indianapolis have always been regarded
with interest by both parties throughout
the State, and their effect on State elections
has been unquestioned. The city alone
casts many more votes than any county
in the State, except Marion. The county
elects fourteen members of the Legislature,
and the city vote controls the county AS
| Mr.. Goodrich says: "As Marion county
has gone, so has Indiana almost always
| gone in past elections, and the failure to
carry Indiana next year should certainly
| endanger the national ticket" To say that
| the chairman of State committee should
| not take an interest in so important an
| election and use the legitimate influence of
| his position to win party victory is alb
| surd. That is what committee chairmen
| are for, and If they failed to take an in
| terest or failed to make any effort to Sc
| cure party victory, they would, from a
political point of view, be justly censur-
| able for neglect Of duty.
Chairman Goodrich's statement was di-
| rectly to the point and strongly put. He
made it very clear that from his point Of
| view, overlooking the whole State. IL the
| Democrats should carry the city in the
/ coming election cit will certainly prove a
difficult task for the Republicans to redeem
the city and hold the county in the next
| State and national election" There can
| be no doubt of this, and it is legitimate
1 argument to make to Republicans. 1t Is
true as Mr.. Goodrich says. that the result
of Democratic victory in this city in 1891
| was the loss of the county to General Har-
rison in the following presidential election,
and it is also true that Democratic VIC
tory in the coming city election might re-
suit i'm the loss of Marion county by the
| Republicans next fall, and the possible
loss of United States senator. These
are plain principles of practical politics
and it would be foolish to ignore them
They are SO plain that there is not a Re-
publican in Indiana outside of this city
who is not hoping for straight Republi'
can victory in the coming election. As
chairman of the State central committee
Mr. Goodrich represents all the Republican:
in Indiana. of whom nearly 100000 living
| outside of this city heartily concur in his
views regarding the Importance of the city
| election in its bearing on State politics.