USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement to the present time; with Biographical Sketches and Reference to Biographies, Volume I > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
Digitized by Google
278
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
and in sympathy with the South, and favored peace on any terms. A number of prominent and otherwise good citizens were persuaded to join this order, but have long since repented of their hasty action. To counteract this organization a secret society known as the "Union League" was instituted in nearly every township in the county and greatly aided the Union cause and upholding the hands of our war governor. In the campaign of 1868 the Republicans had an easy victory, as has always been the case after a successful war. The popular general of that war is readily elected to any office he aspires, and Gen. U. S. Grant was elected over Horatio Seymour, the Democratic nominee for president, although Cass county still remained in the Democratic column.
General Grant was triumphantly re-elected in 1872 over Horace Greeley, the Democratic nominee, who was an old-time Abolitionist, Whig and Republican up to that time, seemingly the most irrational candidate for that party to follow, and Cass county Democrats could not follow his leadership and General Grant carried the county by a large majority.
Up to this time the Republican party, who had successfully prose- cuted the war and maintained the Union, had easy victories over their Democratic opponents, who were made up largely of the southern states, against whom the North had a prejudice, even among Democrats, for be it said to their credit the Democrats of the North as a rule were loyal to the government. But as time obliterated the active scenes of the war, the "bloody shirt," as the Democrats called the references to the war, had lost its terrors somewhat and with the necessary corrupt- ing influences of war, with extravagance during and following the reconstructive period, led to some dissatisfaction with the Republican management and the campaign of 1876 was hotly contested. Hayes and Wheeler were the Republican and Tilden and Hendricks the Democratic candidates for the presidency, and Benjamin Harrison and James D. Williams the opposing gubernatorial candidates. E. N. Talbott was the chairman of the Cass county Republican central committee and the party erected a wigwam in which to hold their meetings on the east side of Sixth street, south of Broadway, where Carl Schurz, Oliver P. Morton, John Sherman, J. C. Burrows, General Kilpatrick, Schuyler Colfax, Daniel D. Pratt and others of national reputation orated in behalf of the G. O. P. A glee club was organized consisting of D. E. Bryer, H. C. Cushman, J. C. Bridge, Dr. J. H. Talbott, A. B. Leedy, W. W. Thornton and J. M. Stallard, who made the wigwam fairly tremble with their songs, composed by Mr. Bryer. A stanza ran thus :
"O, see ye the banners wave Where the drums are rolling deep, Where the charging squadrons brave The battery's deadly sweep ! His eagle's plumage sways, As his prancing charger neighs- The pride of the army corps, The gallant General Hayes, Where then was Sammy Tilden? Repeat. Safe sleeping in Grammercy Park. Where then was T. A. Hendricks ? Repeat. Safe skulking in the rear."
In the state, the Republicans applied the term "Blue Jeans" to Mr. Williams, the Democratic candidate for governor, because he was a farmer and wore plain clothes, which was the means of electing him.
Digitized by Google
279
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
while his opponent, General Harrison, was called a blue-blooded, proud aristocrat by his political opponents.
The Democrats held a big rally in Taber's grove, on the south side, where Blue Jeans Jimmy and Senator D. W. Voorhees spoke to thou- sands. The Tilden and Hendricks marching club, of which B. F. Louthain was a member and Mace River was captain, acted as escort to the speakers with great flourish of trumpets. Indiana at that time held its state election in October and all eyes were on this state as an indicator of the result in November. The election was close and in doubt for some days. Finally the result was received at the Journal office, then located. at 4161/2 Broadway, and to announce the result the Journal hung out of its window a pair of blue jeans pants and the crowd outside understood the meaning and a shout of derisive laughter went up from the Republicans.
The presidential election of 1876 was close and in doubt, and was finally settled by an electoral commission only a short time before the constitutional time to announce the result, but the decision gave R. B. Hayes one majority in the electoral college, although Samuel J. Tilden had a majority of the popular vote and many fair-minded men always doubted the justness of Mr. Hayes' election, yet he had the forms of law in his favor.
CAMPAIGN OF 1880
The campaign of 1880 was run on high pressure principles. Garfield and Hancock were the opposing presidential candidates, and Albert G. Porter and Frank Landers were candidates for governor on the Repub- lican and Democratic tickets respectively.
The contest was bitter and joint debates were held between the two candidates for governor, and it was generally conceded that Mr. Porter was more than a match for Mr. Landers. Besides the Republicans had an excellent glee club headed by H. C. Cushman that always amused and enthused the Republicans. One song ran thus :
"We'll vote for Governor Porter early in the morning, We'll vote for Governor Porter early in the morning, We'll vote for Governor Porter early in the morning, So come and join our band."
Chorus : "Landers, you ain't the kind of man, Landers, you ain't the kind of man, Landers, you ain't the kind of man To tackle Garfield's band."
The Democrats having had a popular majority in 1876, they were expecting to be successful, and the Republicans were prepared for defeat, but when their ticket was elected they were so overjoyed that they paraded the streets for several evenings after the election, making the air ring with their campaign songs:
"Hancock, you ain't the kind of man To tackle Garfield's band."
DE MOTTE'S DEFEAT
In 1882 there was a division among the Republicans, largely on account of the postoffice appointment of E. N. Talbott, and such men
Digitized by Google
280
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
as T. H. Bringhurst, D. W. Tomlinson and Jack Burrows actively opposed the re-election of Mark L. De Motte for Congress, while Mr. Talbott, A. H. Hardy and Frank Swigart as ardently supported him, the result was that the Democrat, Thomas J. Wood, was elected to Congress with the entire Democratic county ticket. The opponents of Mr. De Motte were dubbed the "Rule or Ruin" faction.
CAMPAIGNS, 1884 TO 1912
The campaign of 1884 was somewhat similar to that of 1844, when Henry Clay, the most popular and brainiest man in the Whig party, went down to defeat by James K. Polk, so in this election James G. Blaine, the popular and brilliant orator of the Republican party, was defeated by Grover Cleveland. The oratorical pyrotechnics were con- stantly on display by both parties, and some of the ablest speakers in the nation visited our county. Even Mr. Blaine himself stopped off in Logansport and addressed an immense crowd near the Panhandle shops. The Democrats had a good glee club under the leadership of William Grace, which sang appropriate campaign songs composed by John Brisco. This club was organized by T. J. Immel. One of the refrains ran thus :
"Oh, wake me early in the morning Before it is too late, To vote for Cleveland and Hendricks To swing on the White House gate.
Chorus : "Den wake me, shake me! Don't let me sleep too late ! For I'm gwine away in the morning To swing on the White House gate.
Cleveland was the first Democratic president elected since James Buchanan in 1856, and the Cass county Democracy were overjoyed and their enthusiasm knew no bounds at their ratification meeting, while the Republicans were correspondingly depressed, especially those who held office or were expecting political preferment.
The writer well remembers a scene at Republican headquarters, when the returns came in announcing Cleveland's election. As Ben Louthain would say, "It was amusing, ludicrous and pathetic."
James T. Bryer, Capt. Tom Powell and some others, with Mr. Bryer as leader, in a slow and solemn tone began to sing :
"There's a hole in de bottom ob de sea ; There's a hole there for you and for me."
Those of us who were expecting no personal advantage from the result of the election could but laugh, but some of the actors who expected pecuniary rewards could not crack a smile, and in the midst of death could not look more solemn.
In 1888, however, the tables were turned and Indiana's favorite son, Benjamin Harrison, defeated Mr. Cleveland after a hard fought cam- paign; but in 1892 Mr. Cleveland was for a third time a candidate for president and defeated Mr. Harrison for re-election. During Mr. Cleve- land's and Mr. Harrison's terms in the White House a baby was born into their families, and in this campaign the Democratic glee club created considerable merriment by singing the following :
Digitized by Google
.
281
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
"That baby McKee is going away ; He may let his playthings lay, That baby Ruth may with them play. Ta-ra-ra boom de-ay."
The campaign of 1892 was distinguished by a little episode among the Republicans of this congressional district (then the 10th). The writer, who was the chairman of the Republican county committee, was on a visit to Old Mexico when the congressional convention was held which nominated Charles B. Landis by methods which would not stand investigation. Because of this fact a second convention was held at Hammond and William Johnson of Porter county was nominated. A compromise was entered into whereby both Mr. Landis and Mr. Johnson withdrew and a third convention was held in Logansport and Dr. J. A. Hatch of Goodland was nominated and elected. Later, however, the congressional districts were re-apportioned and Charles B. Landis was sent to congress for five or six successive terms, and became one of the most influential members of that body.
Probably the most exciting campaign in many years was that of 1896, when William Mckinley opposed William J. Bryan for the presidency, and free silver coinage at 16 to 1 was the chief issue. In the beginning of the campaign the Democrats had the advantage as they had been studying the question, while the Republicans of Cass county had paid but little attention to the subject. The writer, who was chairman of the committee, called all the local speakers together at D. C. Justice's office, purchased every book on finance in the market and held a school of finance twice a week for a month or so, at which school all the difficult and knotty questions would be solved and a unity of action agreed upon until our local speakers were fully capable of meeting what we termed the fallacious yet sometimes plausible arguments of the followers of the orator of the Platte, and we employed one or .two men thus posted to go out on the streets and by sound argument check the spread of free silver sentiment that in the beginning seemed to be sweeping over the land.
The Democrats in Cass county were much crippled by the with- drawal of most of their local speakers, while the Republicans were joined by several of the Gold Democrats of influence. Party lines were down and many crossed over each way, and it was impossible to predict the result. Mr. Bryan spoke to great crowds in Logansport, as did Roswell Horr for the Republicans, and other men of national reputa- tion. The campaign was enlivened by great rallies, barbecues and clam bakes, torchlight processions with displays of red fire as were never before seen in Cass county, and it is to be hoped never will be again.
The Republicans were successful in state and nation, but the Demo- crats carried Cass county. Mr. Cleveland was a fortunate man, having ran for president three times and twice being elected. Mr. Bryan is a wonderful man and has a great hold on the masses of the people, and although he was the defeated candidate of his party three times- 1896, 1900 and in 1908-yet he is more popular today than when he first appeared before the public. In 1904 Alton B. Parker opposed Theodore Roosevelt, but was badly beaten by Mr. Bryan's followers because of his apathy during Mr. Bryan's candidacy.
The last political campaign should not go unnoticed. President William H. Taft, who came unto the presidential chair in 1909, prob- ably the best equipped man who ever entered the White House, was not, however, a politician or a policy man and could not reconcile his party's differences, yet he was as fairly renominated at Chicago in
Digitized by Google
i
282
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
June, 1912, under the past rules of the Republican party as any candi- date in the past, but some Republicans thought differently and under the wonderful magnetic influence of Theodore Roosevelt organized the Progressive (Bull Moose) party, and the following August met in con- vention in Chicago and nominated Mr. Roosevelt for the presidency and Mr. Johnson of California for vice president, and put a complete ticket in the field down to the lowest county office, A. J. Beveridge being their candidate for governor and our own Fred Landis lieutenant governor. With the Republicans thus divided it was easy sailing for the Democrats and they elected every officer from president to coroner. Woodrow Wilson, our president, is an educated, refined gentleman, and we bespeak for him a successful administration.
As an incident of this campaign, when the Republican congressional convention met in Elks' Hall, Logansport, Mrs. Bickel, an accomplished musician, sang the following campaign song, composed by a local man, that created great merriment and enthusiasm, and there were calls all over the district for Cass county's musician: (Tune, "Marching Through Georgia.")
"Theodore does bluster, because we claim our own, Beveridge does threaten and little Freddy moan; Democrats do struggle and Dr. Jordan foam, As we go marching to victory.
Chorus. "Hurrah! Hurrah! Never mind the noise, Hurrah! Hurrah! Taft's our leader, boys. Keep step beside him and do not lose your poise, As we go marching to victory." .
VOTE OF CASS COUNTY, 1828-1912
The following table gives the vote of Cass county for president, from its organization in 1828 to 1912:
1828 -Andrew Jackson, Democrat, 66 votes; John Quincy Adams, Whig, 31 votes.
1832-Andrew Jackson, Democrat, 162 votes; Henry Clay, Whig, 153 votes.
1836-Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 286 votes; William H. Harri- son, Whig, 313 votes.
1840-William H. Harrison, Whig, 640 votes; Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 372 votes.
1844 James K. Polk, Democrat, 671 votes; Henry Clay, Whig, 764 votes.
1848-Zachary Taylor, Whig, 881 votes; Lewis Cass, Democrat, 829 votes; Martin Van Buren, Free Soil, 55 votes.
1852-Franklin Pierce, Democrat, 1,190 votes; Winfield S. Scott, Whig, 1,176 votes; Hale, Free Soil, 50 votes.
1856-James Buchanan, Democrat, 1,539 votes; John C. Fremont, Republican, 1,504 votes; Millard Fillmore, American, 40 votes.
1860-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 1,874 votes; Stephen A. Doug- las, Northern Democrat, 1,727 votes; John C. Breckinridge, Southern Democrat, 34 votes.
1864-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 1,836 votes; George B. McClel- lan, Democrat, 2,087 votes.
1868-Ulysses S. Grant, Republican, 2,370 votes; Horatio Seymour, Democrat, 2,673 votes.
1872-Ulysses S. Grant, Republican, 2,616 votes; Horace Greeley, Democrat, 2,225 votes.
Digitized by Google
-- ---
283
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
1876-Samuel Tilden, Democrat, 3,586 votes; Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican, 3,040 votes; Peter Cooper, Populist, 55 votes.
1880-James A. Garfield, Republican, 3,387 votes; Winfield S. Hancock, Democrat, 3,579 votes; James B. Weaver, Populist, 92 votes.
1884-Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 4,070 votes; James G. Blaine, Republican, 3,583 votes.
1888-Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 4,221 votes; Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 3,822 votes; Fisk, Prohibition, 162 votes; Streeter, Labor, 43 votes.
1892-Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 4,006 votes; Benjamin Harri- son, Republican, 3,501 votes; Bidwell, Prohibition, 294 votes; James B. Weaver, People's Party, 453 votes.
1896-William J. Bryan, Democrat, 4,814 votes; William Mckinley, Republican,. 4,392 votes; Prohibition, 54 votes; People's Party, 37 votes; John A. Palmer, National Democrats, 26 votes.
1900-William J. Bryan, Democrat, 4,672 votes; William Mckinley, Republican, 4,308 votes; Prohibition, 235 votes ; People's Party, 50 votes; Socialist Labor, 8 votes.
1904-Theodore Roosevelt, Republican, 5,282 votes; Alton B. Parker, Democrat, 4,357 votes; Prohibition, 389 votes; Socialist, 52 votes; Socialist Labor, 17 votes; People's Party, 44 votes.
1908-William J. Bryan, Democrat, 5,205 votes; William H. Taft, Republican, 4,700 votes; Chafin, Prohibition, 349 votes.
1912-Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, 4,421 votes; William Howard Taft, Republican, 1,573 votes; Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive, 3,094 votes; Chafin, Prohibition, 207 votes; Debs, Socialist, 187 votes.
PERSONALITY AND PARTY
In early days of the county, the people were followers of certain leaders who, by force of character or magnetic personality, exerted a constraining influence over voters.
Then came the separation into political parties divided on great moral and economic issues. Principles became more potent and leaders less so. Personality became less potent. The voters cast their ballots for their respective parties. Their boast was that they voted their ticket straight and often with little regard for personal qualifications of the candidates.
-
Within the last two decades there has been a reversion to the early type of political leadership. Personality is becoming more potent and party lines are weakening. A man's character and qualifications are now greater controlling influences, especially in local elections. Hence, the dominant political party may carry our county on national issues and yet their local ticket be defeated.
People are beginning to realize that honesty and competency in their office-holders are to be desired regardless of party affiliations. All this is certainly to be desired and shows a right spirit among our people.
AUSTRALIAN OR SECRET BALLOT
The campaigns from 1876 to 1888 became so corrupt by the use of money in the purchase of votes that the people of Indiana demanded a change in the method of voting. Prior to the introduction of the secret ballot, the different parties printed their own tickets.
Party leaders would march an ignorant or purchasable voter up to the polls, and when in front of the window would give the voter a ticket he wanted him to vote, and saw that it was handed to the election
Digitized by Google
284
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
inspector and placed in the ballot box. In 1890, however, all this was changed by the present Australian ballot law, which requires the county or state to print all genuine ballots, which can only be given to the voter by the election clerks, and keeping all voters except officers fifty feet from the polling place. Certainly a great improvement over the old method.
ORIGIN OF PARTY EMBLEMS
In 1840 the Whigs adopted the "raccoon" as their insignia. They were led to take the "coon" in consequence of the taunts thrown at General Harrison, their candidate for president. He was called by the Democrats "the log-cabin candidate," "an old hunter," etc. The Democrats adopted the "rooster" from the following circumstance :
Joseph Chapman, a leading Democrat in the southern. part of the state, wrote to a friend that the contest was close and asking what he could do in order to carry his county (Hancock). His friend wrote back to him to appear in good spirits, to represent the party as gaining, and saying in the letter "Crow! Chapman, crow!" The Whigs obtained knowledge of the contents of this letter. Their speakers rang the changes on "Crow! Chapman, crow!" In every Whig meeting you would hear the shout, "Crow! Chapman, crow!"
As a result of these taunts the "rooster" became the insignia of the Democratic party.
Thomas Nast, Harper's great cartoonist, introduced the political menagerie, at least he originated the tiger, donkey and elephant as representing certain political parties. The tiger was an emblem of Tammany, and still survives. "Boss" Tweed was at the head of the Tammany organization in New York in the seventies, and at that time had the worst gang of political grafters the country has ever known. No attention was paid to public indignation, and in answer to remonstrances, Tammany simply asked, "What are you going to do about it?" Tweed belonged to the Big Six fire company and had as an emblem a tiger's head. Nast attached a body to the tiger's head in his cartoons and created the Tammany tiger. Tweed was sent to the penitentiary, but the Tammany tiger still lives, although Tweed has long since passed to judgment.
The donkey as an insignia of the Democratic party was originated by Thomas Nast at the time of the death of Secretary of War Stanton. As he lay dead in his coffin a number of Democratic papers attacked his record and reputation. Harper's Weekly came out with cartoons picturing Stanton dead in his coffin, and a donkey kicking at the coffin.
The donkey in the cartoon was labeled "The Copperhead Press." The cartoon was entitled, "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Elephant." Since then the donkey has come into general use as an emblem of the Democratic party.
The elephant as the emblem of the Republican party was intro- duced by Thomas Nast in his cartoon in Harper's Weekly in 1876, when General Grant was pushed by Conkling and others for a third term. The big, clumsy animal was on the brink of a pitfall, but escaped, as did the Republican party, from a third term. He first labeled it the Grand Old Party, but later abbreviated it to G. O. P., by which the party has since been known.
In Indiana, when under the Australian ballot law it became neces- sary to select a party emblem, the Republicans chose an eagle rather then the elephant, and the Democrats preferred the rooster to the donkey, and in Indiana each party has two emblems.
At the Chicago convention in 1912 some one asked Roosevelt how
Digitized by Google
.
285
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
he felt, and his reply was: "I feel like a bull moose." And the news- papers soon took up, the phrase and applied the term "Bull Moose" to the so-called Progressive party, and the bull moose became the emblem of that party. As the bull moose is hunting trouble, fights everything and every animal it meets, some think the moose is an appropriate emblem of the Roosevelt party.
POLITICAL INCIDENTS
Landis-Steele Controversy. Hon. George W. Steele had been a useful member of congress for many years, and had necessarily made some estrangements, among whom were Calvin Cowgill of Wabash and Dr. C. H. Good of Huntington, who had congressional aspirations. There was accordingly a combination of these two gentlemen with Frederick Landis of Logansport to beat Major Steele in the nominating conven- tion held at Wabash in June, 1902. The convention was a stormy one, the three candidates pooling their issues, their followers voting for one, then the other, but the majority of the Cass county delegation, headed by John Johnson, S. B. Boyer and W. T. Giffe, stood sullenly for Mr. Landis, and after 1,000 ballots had been taken Mr. Landis won the nomination and was elected and served two terms, but in his third candidacy in 1906, owing to Republican dissensions, he was beaten by G. W. Rauch, who still represents this, the Eleventh, district as a Democrat. The opponents to Mr. Landis were called "Bull Frogs."
During the war, at a camp meeting in Adams township, a man from .
Logansport made some slighting remarks about President Lincoln and the Union soldiers who were at home on a furlough prepared a noose with which to stretch his neck, but his friends hurried him off the grounds, thus preventing a hanging bee.
At a Democratic barbecue on Twelve Mile during the war of the rebellion an altercation between parties of different political faith occurred and the refreshment stand of the Democrats was demolished. The perpetrators had to answer in court and were fined a nominal sum.
During war times the Union party were often aggravated by unfav- orable criticisms of Mr. Lincoln or the Union soldiers by the extreme partisan sympathizers of the southern cause. Such remarks were especially tantalizing when a soldier friend was brought home wounded or in a box, and numerous fistic encounters ensued in different parts of the county, particularly during political campaigns. These encoun- ters were not always confined to the sterner sex, but the writer well remembers an incident of this kind in Bethlehem township, caused by a southern sympathizer wearing a butternut breastpin as emblematical of the South. A sister of a wounded Union soldier deliberately snatched the pin from the cloak of the wearer, which resulted in pulling of hair and disheveling of female attire. The names are omitted as both families were otherwise respected citizens.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.