USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 35
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Later it was decided to add to this committee the names of John D. Barr. William Sears, George Barnett. L. W. Gooding. Joseph Baldwin and Jared C. Meek. Judge Gooding was called upon for a speech and he gave an account of the situation in Oregon, Louisiana and South Carolina. Before the close of the meeting Captain Riley, of the resolutions committee, offered the following report, which was accepted :
"I'hercas, in the late presidential election of November 7. 1876. the election for Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas . A. Hendricks received an undoubted popular majority of 241.022 votes, and 185 undoubted electoral votes, and were the popular majority of the votes in South Carolina, Florida and Lou- isiana, regarded as they should be, the electors of each of said states would cast their aggregate electoral votes also for Tilden and Hendricks, giving nineteen majority to them; and
"I'hercas, there is a persistent effort being made by fraud and violence to declare elected and inaugurate Rutherford Hayes and William A. Wheeler. the minority candidates, as President and Vice-President, thus defeating the constitutionally and lawfully expressed will of the people. Therefore, be it
"Resolved, that we are now, as ever, devotedly attached to the Constitu- tion of the United States, and to the Union of the states under the general government and that the general and state governments are each limited in their power, and that one should not entrench on the power of the other.
"Resolved, that in the election of a President and Vice-President of the U'nited States the will of the people. as expressed at the ballot box, according to the Constitution and the laws, should be faithfully and honestly carried out and maintained by all the people, irrespective of party.
"Resolved, that in our candid judgment, Tilden and Hendricks have been constitutionally and lawfully elected President and Vice-President of the I'nited States by a popular majority of 241.022 and will be so declared by a majority of the electors of the United States, who were honestly elected, if permitted to cast their ballots, and that the honest and intelligent masses of the people will meet on their inauguration, and we denounce all attempts.
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whether made by illegal returning boards, the Senate or the President of the United States, to usurp power by overriding the will of the people, by fraud or force, and we demand of the Senate and House of Representatives that they see to it that no mere technicality, fraud or force shall annul the verdict of the people.
"Resolved, that whoever is elected President and Vice-President, accord- ing to the Constitution and the laws, ought to be mangurated and recognized as such by the people, irrespective of party.
"Resolved, that we denounce the use of the army to control elections. or to intimidate voters, or to interfere with the legislatures of any of the states, in their organization or otherwise: and that President Grant, by making such illegal and unconstitutional use of the army of the United States, deserved impeachment and deposition from office.
"Resolved, that Grant and his office-holders are not the government of the United States, but simply office hoklers under the government. liable to displacement, according to the Constitution and laws.
"Resolved, that while we demand of our representatives in the Congress of the United States that they stand by the rights of the people, as expressed by the Constitution and laws, as against fraud, usurpation, intimidation and violence, we pledge ourselves that we will stand by them in all their con- stitutional and legal acts.
"Resolved, that we demand of Congress that they adhere to the uniform practice of the government in counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President, and that we denounce the arrogant and unconstitutional assumption that the president of the Senate has the sole power to count the electoral votes."
AFTER 1870.
In the campaign of 1878 the Republicans were again active in the organ- ization of young men's clubs. The club at Greenfield elected the following officers: President. War Barnett; secretary. Newton L. Wray: treasurer. Adams L. Ogg. Thirty-five young men enrolled in the club on the evening of its organization and a number of names were added to it later.
In the campaign of 1880 the Democrats in the county were especially active. Ephraim Marsh was the chairman and William Ward Cook. secre- tary, of the Democratic county central committee.
On September 23. 1880, the Democratic ladies of Greenfield presented to the Democracy of the city and Center township a beautiful silk flag. The ladies who headed this presentation were Mrs. Charles Downing. Mrs. Capt.
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A1. L. Paullus and Mrs. John F. Mitchell. At seven o'clock on that evening there was a torchlight procession. The Greenfield band marched to the resi- dence of Capt. M. L. Paullus and escorted the speakers, ladies and Glee Club to the court house square, where it was estimated that five thousand people had assembled. The flag was presented with the following program :
Meeting called to order, Ephraim Marsh Invocation, Rev. Williams Song, "Hancock is the Man." Herkimer Glee Club of New York Presentation of Flag by Charles G. Offutt in behalf of the Democratic Ladies of the City of Greenfield Response on behalf of the Hancock and Landers Guards. James A. New Song by Glee Club. "The Star Spangled Banner" Address. Luther Benson Song. Glee Club
On September 15. 1880. Gen. Franz Sigel spoke at New Palestine. much to the delight of the German population. Ernest H. Faut was instru- mental in having him brought into the county. Gabriel Schmuck also addressed the Germans in their native tongue on that occasion. About one thousand and five hundred people were present to hear these addresses.
The campaign was also characterized by one of the greatest Democratic rallies at Greenfield in the history of the county. The following was the order of the march, as taken from the columns of the Hancock Democrat :
Greenfield Cornet Band Hancock and Landers Guards of Greenfield Martial Music Hancock and Landers Guards of Center Township Brandywine Township Horseback Company New Palestine Band Horsemen from New Palestine Wagons with ladies from Sugar Creek Township Wagon with 24 ladies from Brandywine Township Wagon with 36 ladies from Independence School House Martial Band Wagon with 50 young ladies. Blue River Township Wagon of voters, Blue River Township
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Wagon with bo young ladies, Morristown Wagons. Baggies and Carriages Speakers' Carriages Fortville Cornet Band Wagon with 43 young ladies, Vernon Township McCordsville Guards in 2 wagons 3 large wagons with voters. McCordsville Wagons and carriages McCordsville Band Buggies, Carriages and Wagons Martial Band Hancock and Landers Guards, of Buck Creek Wagon with 36 young ladies, Buck Creek Township Wagon with voters, Morristown Carriages and wagons Band Carriages, buggies and wagons "In comes Garfield"-A mule on a large wagon Work cart, containing General Irwin Hunt carrying the American flag Gravel Wagons. 25 in number, under Marshal F. M. Faurot Carriages and wagons Martial Band. Jackson Township Wagon with 27 young ladies, Jackson Township Horseback Company. Jackson Township Wagon containing organ Wagons, carriages and buggies
In 1884 Andrew Hagans was the chairman of the Democratic county central committee. Ilenry Snow was the chairman of the Republican county central committee. In the report of the Republican county convention hekl February 16, 1884. the following names are prominent : Henry Snow. R. 1. Black, John W. Jones, Capt. Thomas B. Noel, Senator Yancey, Cyrus T. Nixon, Oscar F. Meck, Samuel B. Hill, Henry Marsh, Thomas F. Bentley, John T. Duncan. John C. Eastes, William O. Bradley. A. N. Rhue, James L. Mitchell. J. Il. Mckown, Charles H. Rock, David Dove. S. Burk, Albert G. Jackson, M. M. Vail, George V. Sowerwine.
An incident of the campaign of 1884 was the dissatisfaction of Capt. .Adams L. Ogg, who had been a very energetic worker in the local organiza-
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tion of the Republican party, with the Republican candidate, James G. Blaine. In a published interview. Captain Ogg gave his reasons for not supporting Blaine. . A short time after the publication of this interview the Cleveland and Hendricks clubs of the county held a meeting at the city of Greenfield. Among the other matters that were transacted by the clubs, a resolution was adopted. inviting the Captain to address the people of the county on the political issues of the hour. The chairman then appointed a committee to wait upon the Captain and present these matters to him. This the committee did in the following written statement :
"To CAPT. ADAMS L. OGG :
"At a stated meeting of the Cleveland and Hendricks Clubs of this county held in the city of Greenfield. the following resolutions were unani- mously passed :
"'Resolved, that it is the wish of these clubs that Capt. Adams 1. Ogg be invited to address the people of this county, in the city of Greenfieldl. at as early a date as is to him convenient, on the political issues of the hour; and that a committee of three be delegated by the chair to wait upon him. bearing him this resolution and learning his pleasure in that behalf."
"The chair thereupon appointed the following named persons to that committee : James A. New. Hon. J. L. Mason and Ephraim Marsh.
"And now the above named committeemen submit you the aforesaid resolution and most cordially invite you to address our people from a political standpoint at your earliest date, and trust you will accept the invitation.
"JAMES .A. NEW. "JAMES L. MASON. "EPHRAIM MARSH. "Committee."
The Captain replied in the following letter :
"MESSRS. JAMES A. NEW. J. L. MASON AND EPHRAIM MARSH :
"My dear Sirs :- Your communication at hand in which you convey 10 me the formal invitation of the Cleveland and Hendricks Clubs of the county. that I shall at earliest convenience, address the people at Greenfield on the pending political issues, etc. Permit me, through you. to thank the gentle- men for this flattering request. I accept your invitation, but regret that business engagements in a neighboring state compel my absence for an indefi- nite period (I hope not to exceed five or eight days), renders it unsafe to fix an earlier time than Saturday evening. October 11, at which time, or at a later day. if more agreeable to you. I will be pleased to speak. My whole
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heart is enlisted on behalf of an intelligent, free and fearless expression of all the voters at the coming election.
"I am very truly yours.
".A. L. O.G."
Dates were fixed for speaking's at different points in the county, and Captain Ogg appeared upon the various platforms with other Democratic speakers in support of Grover Cleveland. Ile remained an ardent Democrat during the remainder of his life.
Following the Democratic victory in 1884, the administration appointed Albert L. New as register in the United States land office at Evanston. Wyoming, and, later, as United States collector of internal revenue for the District of Colorado and Wyoming, with his office at Denver, Colorado.
While in Wyoming Mr. New served as chairman of the Democratic state central committee, and had his name presented to the Legislature as a candidate for United States senator. The Legislature balloted twenty-nine days and Mr. New lacked but one vote of an election. The Legislature finally adjourned its session without electing anyone.
ELECTION OF 1886.
During the summer of 1886 the following tickets were nominated by the respective party conventions, each candidate receiving the number of votes indicated :
Clerk-Charles Downing. Democrat, 1.906: R. A. Black, Republican, 1,991.
Sheriff-U. S. Jackson, Democrat. 2,108: Thomas E. Niles. Republican, 1.843.
Auditor-James Mannix. Democrat. 1.960: James L. Mitchell, Repub- lican. 1,966.
Treasurer-Charles H. Fort, Democrat. 2,134: Robert B. Binford, Republican, 1,826.
Recorder-Ira Collins, Democrat, 1.783: Henry Snow. Republican, 2,001.
Surveyor-W. S. Fries, Democrat. 1.753: John H. Landis. Republican. 2.130.
MITCHELL-MANNIX AFFAIR.
James Mannix was dissatisfied with this count of the votes and took steps to contest the election. The Hancock circuit court appointed J. Ward
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Walker, John E. Dye and John A. Craft, commissioners to recount the votes The recount gave Mannix 1,966 votes and Mitchell 1.957, whereupon Mitchell appealed from the recount to the board of commissioners of Hancock county. After a hearing the board found for Mannix, and Mitchell appealed to the Hancock circuit court. The chief question connected with the contest arose from the count of the votes in one of the precinets of Green township, in which Henry B. Wilson was inspector. The question involved in the contest was whether the ballots had been tampered with or whether the clerks of the board in Green township had failed to keep a correet tally. The case was venued to Newcastle, where, in June, 1887, an agreement or a compromise was made between Mannix and Mitchell, in which Mitchell agreed to pay Mannix one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. In consideration thereof. Mitchell was to take the office after November 1, 1887. When this agreement became known to the people of the county, it was very unsatis- factory to both Republicans and Democrats. There was a general feeling that the case should have been tried and decided on its merits; that whichever of the candidates had received the majority of the votes should have had the office, and that it should have been settled in no other manner.
On November 1, 1887, Mannix, however, refused to give up the office. whereupon Mitchell brought a suit for possession in the Hancock circuit court. This case was venned to Henry county, and Judge Comstock, of Richmond, was appointed special judge. Mannix in his answer to Mitchell's complaint alleged "that on or about the 18th day of June, 1887. and while the appeal involving the contest for the office was pending in the Hancock circuit court, the relator's attorneys entered into a negotiation with him, the said Mannix, and his attorneys concerning such contest ; that it was finally agreed between the parties that the relator (Mitchell ) should pay to him, said Mannix, the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, in con- sideration of which the latter's right to the office in contest, including the right to hold the same, to discharge its duties and to receive the emoluments thereof, should be transferred to, and recognized as existing in the relator ; that the relator thereupon paid to him, the said Mannix, the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, after which the judgment declaring the relator to have been duly elected as above stated, being the same judgment described in the alternative writ of mandate, was entered as by agreement of the parties; that such judgment was, therefore, procured to be entered by the relator (Mitchell) in pursuance of such fraudulent agreement and by the payment of the sum of money named, and for no other reason: that said agreement for the sale and transfer of said office of county auditor was not
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only against public policy, but was also corrupt. fraudulent and void, as between the parties thereto, as well as to all other persons, and that hence, he, the said Mannix, was not bound or concluded by the judgment rendered thereon, nor was the relator. therefore, lawfully adjudicated to be entitled to hold said office."
The supreme court decided the matter in favor of Mitchell, hokling that "the rule that the courts will not aid in the enforcement of a corrupt or unlawful contract, but will leave the parties where they have placed them- selves, has no application to a judgment which by inadvertance or collusion may have been rendered upon such a contract, but such contract stands upon the same footing as any other judgment, and is binding while it remains in force." (Mannix vs. the State ex rel. Mitchell, 115 Ind. 245. )
It will be observed that in this election the Democrats lost the offices of clerk, auditor. recorder and surveyor. There may have been several reasons for this. A sentiment was growing in the county that no person should hold a four-year county office for more than one term. On the Democratic ticket. Tra Collins, recorder ; Charles Downing, clerk, and James Mannix. anditor. had each served a term of four years and were candidates for reelection. W. S. Fries had served a term of two years as surveyor and was a candidate for reelection. On the other hand. R. A. Black, the Republican candidate for clerk, was an able attorney and well known throughout the county. Henry Snow was generally acquainted over the county and was very popular with the people. . All of these conditions, and likely others, operated to produce the partial defeat of the Democratic party in that election.
PROHIBITION PARTY.
The Prohibition party also effected a county organization in 1886. 1. N. Hunt was elected chairman of the county central committee, and R. M. Julian. secretary. A county ticket was nominated, which polled approximately fifty- six votes in that election. The party polled from sixty-five to seventy-five votes for several years. In more recent years its candidates have been receiv- ing from ninety to one hundred and twenty votes and a few have received as high as one hundred and seventy votes.
In 1888 R. M. Julian, secretary of the Prohibition county central com- mittee, inserted the following sentence in his official notice, published in the local papers : "We hereby give notice that the Prohibition party in Hancock county has come to stay." To this time the party has stayed and in the greater number of conventions has had a county ticket or at least a partial ticket in the field.
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During the summer of 1888 Ephraim Marsh was selected as a member of the state Democratic central committee, upon which he served for several years.
PEOPLE'S PARTY.
The summer of 1892 witnessed the organization of the Populist, or People's party, in Hancock county. Coleman Pope was chosen chairman of the county central committee and their county ticket received approximately three hundred votes in the election of 1892. In the election of 1894 the ticket received approximately two hundred votes: in 1896, one hundred and ten votes : and in 1898, which was its last county ticket. thirty votes.
FARMERS' MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATIONS.
In 1890 Farmers' Mutual Benefit Associations had become pretty strongly organized in the county. Though not a political organization, it was an organization, in a measure, like the "Grangers," of which candidates were care- ful to take notice. In that year a report was circulated in the southern part of the county that Lawrence Boring, who was then a candidate for county auditor, was not in sympathy with the order. Mr. Boring felt it worth while to issue a very explicit statement through the columns of the local press. denying these charges. On May 7. 1892. the county assembly of the order adopted the following resolution in relation to the association's attitude toward politics :
"Resolved, that we. the county assembly of the Hancock Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, do hereby agree that we as a body are a non-political- organization, and declare ourselves not pledged to support any political party or faction as a body and that said resolution be published in the Hancock Democrat.
"J. H. WHITE, President. "MORGAN J. TYNER, Secretary."
BRYAN AND FREE SILVER.
Following the nomination of William Jennings Bryan at Chicago in 1806, the Democracy of the county rallied enthusiastically to his support. Stokes Jackson was a delegate to the national Democratic convention and was also a member of the notification committee that brought to Mr. Bryan the news that he had been nominated for the Presidency by the Democratic party. No party in the county has ever given any candidate a more enthusiastic and more loyal support than the Democracy of the county has given to Mr. Bryan in each of his campaigns.
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The Democrats of the county were thoroughly imbued with the idea of free silver and on June 6, 1896, just a few days prior to the Center town- ship Democratic convention, copies of the following notice were sent to prae- tieally all of the Democratic voters of the township :
"Greenfield, Ind., May 30, 1896.
"Dear Sir: The township Democratic convention for the selection of delegates to the state, congressional, senatorial and joint representative con- ventions will be held at the court room in the city of Greenfield, on Saturday, June 6, 1896, at two o'clock P. M. You are earnestly requested to see your friends and neighbors and urge them to be present, as it is important on account of the action which is desired to be taken, instructing all delegates to vote for platform and candidates who are in favor of the restoration of silver to the position it occupied before its demonetization in 1873 by the Republican party. Free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one is the battle cry of the Democracy for 1896. There is likely to be an effort made to carry the convention for a gold standard, but if all of the friends of silver attend this convention and do their duty, silver will win the day. "FRIENDS OF SILVER."
All the Democratic township conventions adopted resolutions during the summer of 1896 in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver, and the defeat of Mr. Bryan at the polls did not shake the faith of the county. "Six- teen to one" was affectionately remembered for many years and the "peer- less leader" remained the idol of the party. Through the influence of Mr Jackson, Mr. Bryan was brought to Greenfield on July 27. 1899. Great preparations were made for his reception. The city was decorated, a large eannon was procured and it seemed that the entire county turned out en masse to licar him. He spoke at the fair ground and it was estimated that twenty thousand people were present to hear the address. On June 22, 1903, Mr. Bryan again made two addresses at Greenfield, one on the east side of the court house and another at the opera house. On October 3. 1906, he spoke at Fortville and then, with a party, came to Greenfield by automobile. The city was again decorated and an immense throng filled the streets on the east side of the court house to hear him. It is most likely true that Mr. Bryan has not had a more loyal county in the United States than Hancock.
A few Democrats in the county, including Ephraim Marsh, Judge Offutt and E. H. Faut were opposed to Mr. Bryan's theory of "free silver" and supported the national Gold Democratic ticket. This ticket, however, polled
(25)
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only fifteen votes in the county, of which one was in Brandywine. eight in Center, four in Sugar Creek and two in Vernon.
HANCOCK POLITICIANS.
Since 1896 several of the leading men in both political parties of the county have received recognition for their political services. In 1868 Stokes Jackson was chosen Democratie chairman of the Sixth Congressional dis- trict. In 1910 he was selected as chairman of the Democratic state central committee, and m 1911 was appointed sergeant-at-arms in the Lower House of Congress.
In 1002 Col. E. P. Thayer was selected as Republican chairman of the Sixth Congressional district, and at the Republican national conventions held! in 1908 and 1012 he was honored with the appointment as first assistant sergeant-at-arms in the conventions. Colonel Thayer has been active in the Republican party, both in this county and in the state, for a member of years. With the exception of his candidacy for the office of county auditor in 1898. in which he reduced the Democratic majority of his opponent to one hundred and sixty-nine votes, he has never asked for political preferment either at the hands of the voters of the county or by appointment from the national admin- istration. No doubt the popularity of Colonel Thayer with his party has been in a large measure due to this unselfish service.
In 1010 Edward W. Felt, who had been honored with several elections in his own county, was elected to the appellate bench of the state.
SCHLOSSER VS. STRICKLAND AND RASH VS. SAMPLE.
In 1910 two contests arose over the result of the Democratic primary nominating convention .. This convention was held on February 5. Harry G. Strickland and Chahner Schlosser were opposing candidates for representative. and James E. Sample and John T. Rash for county recorder. The count of the votes showed that Strickland had received 1,020 and Schlosser. 1,000; that Sample had received 1,207, Rash, 1, 123. The count gave Strickland a majority of 11 for representative, and Sample a majority of 84 for county recorder. This result was declared on February 7, 1910. Schlosser and Rash were dissatisfied with the count in so far as it related to their respective candidacies and within about a week after the nomination each filed his peti- tion in the Hancock circuit court, asking for a recount of the votes, alleging that he believed that there had been a mistake in the count. All the can- didates, the Democratic central committee, and the election commissioners were made defendants in the action. The convention had been held on the
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