The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-27
Elections Different When In
diana Was October
State.
OLD HISTORY Is RECALLED.
INTERESTING HAPPENINGS OF
YEARS AGO WHEN ALL SORTS
OF CAMPAIGN FEATURES WERE
IN VOGUE.

Indianapolis, Ind, July 81 Elec-
lions in Indiana are quiet and tame
affairs nowadays compared with what
they were when it was IAN October
state" In those days Indiana was
pivotal state and the October election
in presidential years not only decided
the November election for the state
but to a considerable extent for the
nation Hence both parties regarded
the state as battle ground and made
tremendous efforts to carry it in Oc-
tober. This caused an unhealthy
amount of political excitement and
gave rise to great deal of corrup-
ton. The Australian ballot law had
wide open for all kinds of fraud. In
presidential years the people became
intensely excited over the October
elections and the victors went wild
over the result.
The election of 1880 was a fair sam
pie of these old time elections. Gar
field and Hancock were the opposing
candidates for president and Albert
G.. Porter and Franklin Landers for
governor. Special interest was given
to the campaign by the fact that VIM.
H. English of this city was the demo-
cratic candidate for vice president,
and was expected to contribute large
ly to the campaign funa, or open his
bar'P' as it was termed in those days.
This expectation was only partially
realized, but both parties had plenty
of money and spent it lavishly. John
c.. New was chairman of the republi-
can state central committee. Up to
that time Indiana had been considered
a normally democratic state. About
two weeks before the election, the
Washington Post, then the Democratic
organ at the national capital, said edi-
torially: "As we understand the re-
publican managers they propose to
make Indiana the battle-ground. 1t is
to be left to a democratic state to de-
eide between Hancock and Garfield.
We accept the proposition and it's at
tendant consequences. If Indiana
goes republican two weeks from to-
day, we will give up the election; if
1t goes democratic the republicans Of
course will do the same. Now let us
hear from indiana"
Efforts to Garry State.
Both parties regarded Indiana in
October as the determining state Of
the November election, and both made
tremendous efforts to carry it by i'm
porting an army of speakers and by
the free use of money. This was the
campaign in which w. H. Barnum.
chairman of the democratic national
committee wired to his local agent in
Indianapolis: you may buy seven
more mules" meaning, you may draw
$1,000 more. Barpum also came to
Indianapolis as he said to"purchase
steel rails and wired east for well
seasoned ties All this was CIPHER to
cover corruption. and the republicans
were not whit behind, although they
covered their tracks better.
A few days after the election John
c. New said: 1.-THE democrats spent in
Indiana over S35O,O0O, yet threw away
a good deal of their money, putting at
least $4,000 into brass bands and
PROFESSIONS, while we did not spend
5000 for that purpose. No convert
was ever made to a ticket by burning
a lamp or by beating a drum" The
republicans had plenty of money and
the presumption is tina 1t went where
It would do the most good. During
the last few days before the election
all sorts of alleged plots and conspir-
acies were discovered and exposed by
the respective organs Of the two par
ties, spurious tickets were circulated
and popular excitement reached fever
heat. The election occurred on Oc-
tober IS. and the republicans carried
the state by nearly 1000 majority.
They had not carried the state before
since 1872, and they went wild over
the victory.
Efforts to Reform Lines.
Both parties began to Immediately
reform their lines for the November
election. The democrats believed that
Hancock was 10000 votes stronger in
the state than Landers and had hopes
of reversing the October verdict. They
made tremendous fight, but only
succeeded in reducing the republican
majority by few hundreds. Again
they went wild over the result and
red paint and tin horns were in uni
versal demand. The republican jolli
fcations in this city on the day after
the November election developed q
phase of popular enthusiasm that was
both unique and ridiculous. Business
was almost suspended and a grea
crowd gathered near the old post
Office and Journal building (nov
Lemcke block) to hear the returns
The returns from Marion county show
ed net republican gain of 500 owe,
the October election. This was not O
great Importance in a national cleo
ton, but 1t struck the crowd as o.
vast significance and 1t immediatel,
seized up on the talismanic figures
"329' as the sign which is expected t,
conquer.