History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 36

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104

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The money question was uppermost in the public mind at that time. Voorhees was a pronounced champion of the green- back cause; McDonald was just as pro- nounced in favor of sound (hard) money, while Holman was delightfully conserv-

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ative in his views on the money question. McDonald attested the courage of his con- victions by going to Greencastle during the 1874 campaign and delivering to the Put- nam county Democracy a forceful and very able argument in opposition to green- backism and in support of the old-time Democratic doctrine of hard money (gold and silver) being maintained in our mone- tary system. It was a bitter pill for some of the Greenback Democrats to swallow, but they had to come to it. Voorhees wanted McDonald to step into the Sena- torial shoes of Dan Pratt and he did not want Holman to slip into them under any circumstance. McDonald and Voorhees were warm personal and political friends, though differing on the money question. It can hardly be said that there existed ties of imperishable friendship between Holman and Voorhees.

As an indication of the broad-minded- ness and big-heartedness of Daniel W. Voorhees it is in order to state in this con- nection that instead of harboring a spirit of resentment or enmity toward me for my frank avowal of hostility to his Senatorial aspirations in 1875, he ever afterward made me the beneficiary of his most cor- dial friendship. Whenever and wherever it was within his power to render me a kindness or do me a favor it was done un- grudgingly and unstintedly. He was more than cordial. When opportunity presented itself to render me a service he did it un- hesitatingly and unreservedly. These relations were maintained to the end of this great and good man's earthly career. When assailed within the camp he usually availed himself of the columns of my paper to defend himself and his course. On some questions we differed, but such differences never were permitted in the slightest degree to diminish our friend- ship.

In the legislative caucus for the nomina- tion of a candidate for Senator Mr. Mc- Donald was an easy winner. The Voor- hees forces, all or nearly all advocates of

the greenback idea, supported him with avidity. The hard money element were, of course, glad to see one of their number chosen to a seat in the Senate. The Hol- man forces, as usual, lacked organization and cohesiveness. Mr. McDonald became the successor of Daniel D. Pratt ; as such he distinguished himself by the development of legislative capabilities that soon marked him as one of the foremost members of that august body. His colleague was Oliver P. Morton. Thus it was that both of the two leading parties of Indiana were represented in the Senate at Washington by two of their ablest and most conspicu- ous champions. In 1864 they were pitted against one another in the memorable con- test for the Governorship. In less than a dozen years afterward they were fellow- members of the highest legislative body in the world. Both were men of distin- guished ability; both did their utmost to give force and validity to the ideas that guided their political and legislative activ- ities.

Under date of April 30, 1911, former Congressman John E. Lamb wrote me from Terre Haute in regard to the Sena- torial contest of 1875: "Voorhees went out of Congress in 1873, having been beat- en in the Greeley campaign of 1872, and he was not a candidate even for the nomina- tion, but had retired to private life. He was dragged into the contest in 1875 by over-zealous friends. I know he was very loath to go into it and never had any heart- burnings because he was beaten."

As a young man, John E. Lamb at- tracted the attention of Mr. Voorhees and was induced to study law in Voorhees' office. Upon his admission to the bar young Lamb made rapid progress in his chosen profession. In course of time he built up a large and lucrative practice. Professional duties never deterred him from active participation in politics. In 1882 he was elected to Congress from the Terre Haute district. Repeatedly he rep- resented his district or the State in Na-

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tional conventions. He delighted in polit- ical contests. No event in his life caused him greater delight than the election of Mr. Voorhees to the Senate. In 1909 he

aspired to a seat in the upper branch of Congress, but was defeated by Benjamin F. Shively. Five years later he died, after a lingering illness.

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[CHAPTER XXXV.] 1876 DEMOCRACY'S GREAT YEAR

PARTY REJUVENATED NATIONALLY; VICTORIOUS ALL ALONG THE LINE

HE Indiana Democracy, buoyant T and jubilant over its signal vic- tory in 1874, met in State con- vention at Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 19, 1876. The attendance was large; the delegates were imbued with fervent spirit; harmony set in after a lively tilt had been had over the Governor- ship. A ticket was placed in nomination that all felt assured would be triumphant- ly elected in October.

The convention was called to order by General Mahlon D. Manson, who served as temporary chairman in order to save time and expedite business.

Judge Thomas R. Cobb, of Vincennes, was chosen president of the convention and John W. Kern served as principal sec- retary.

John B. Handy, Henry A. Peed, Stephen J. Barrett, Cyrus B. Bentley, George T. B. Carr, Dr. Rice, John Lee, Milton Bell, Eli W. Brown and Judge E. Van Long were named as vice-presidents.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

For the State at Large-Daniel W. Voorhees, of Terre Haute; John S. Scobey, of Greensburg.

1. G. V. Menzies, Posey county.

2. William D. Bynum, Daviess.

3. Jonas G. Howard, Clark.

4. Edward P. Ferris, Ripley.

5. General N. S. Given, Dearborn.

6. Charles G. Offut, Hancock.

7. Thomas Cottrell, Marion.

8. S. D. Puitt, Parke.

9. T. J. Harrison, Boone.

10. George Burson, Pulaski.

11. Dr. J. A. Adrian, Cass.

12. Isaiah B. McDonald, Whitley.

13. Woodson S. Marshall, Kosciusko.

DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTION

At Large-Senator Joseph E. McDonald, Con- gressman Michael C. Kerr, General Mahlon D. Manson, Bayless W. Hanna.

Contingents-Colonel Charles Denby, Captain J. A. S. Mitchell, William Fleming, Dr. George W. McConnell.

1. Thomas E. Garvin, Vanderburg county. O. M. Welborn, Gibson.

2. Samuel H. Taylor, Daviess. Thomas R. Cobb, Knox.

3. Samuel B. Voyles, Washington. Francis T. Hord, Bartholomew.

4. Cortez Ewing, Decatur. Thomas Armstrong, Switzerland.

5. O. H. Roberts, Dearborn. James Elder, Wayne.

6. James W. Sansbury, Madison. J. F. McDowell, Grant.

7. G. W. Neff, Putnam. J. B. Ryan, Marion.

8. D. W. Voorhees, Vigo. Elijah Newland, Lawrence.

9. John S. Williams, Tippecanoe. David P. Barnard, Clinton.

10. John H. Winterbotham, Laporte. B. B. Dailey, Carroll.

11. John Mitchell, Miami. A. F. Armstrong, Howard.

12. Samuel McGaughney, Huntington. M. V. B. Spencer, Allen.

13. John B. Stoll, Noble. Daniel McDonald, Marshall.

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

1. Thomas Byrnes, Vanderburg county.

2. Calvin Taylor, Sullivan.

3. John D. Lyle, Bartholomew.

4. Charles L. Jewett, Scott.

5. S. S. Harrell, Franklin.

6. Alonzo Blair, Shelby.

7. R. J. Bright, Marion.

8. Judge John T. Scott, Vigo.

9. M. D. Manson, Montgomery.

10. H. E. Wadsworth, Laporte.

11. D. D. Dykeman, Cass.

12. W. J. Craig, Wells.

13. Laporte Heefner, Elkhart.

STATE TICKET NOMINATED.

The names of Congressman William S. Holman of Dearborn, and of Congressman Franklin Landers were presented as can-

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didates for Governor. Judge Holman was not at the convention; Landers was. Hol- man's candidacy was spontaneous. No one in particular was in charge of it; no one seems to have had authority to speak for him. His nomination was urged with vigor and enthusiasm by the Ligonier Banner, and its editor was active and en- ergetic in espousing the cause of the famous "Watchdog of the Treasury." There had been no correspondence on the subject. The editor of the Banner felt assured that Samuel J. Tilden would be the Democratic standard-bearer in the national campaign, and that therefore a man of Judge Holman's fame as a cham- pion of retrenchment and reform ought to head the State ticket. The balloting indi- cated that the race between Holman and Landers would be close. Just as the last county had been called, Mr. Landers, sit- ting with the Marion county delegation, arose and asked permission to make a statement. Meanwhile the tabulation was complèted. The Holman forces had been accorded especially favorable seating fa- cilities in the convention hall, while the Marion delegation had been assigned to the gallery. Being in close proximity to the secretary's desk, the leaders of the Holman forces were given a tip that Hol- man had received a majority of all the votes cast and therefore nominated. Re- quest was sent to the secretary not to hand the result of the ballot to the chair, but to await developments.

Apprehension was felt that something was going to happen. Mr. Landers had some difficulty in getting a hearing. Bed- lam broke loose when it became known that Landers had something to say about Holman. The yelling was terrific. Lan- ders was shouted at to sit down, but he didn't. High up in the gallery he stood, complacently looking down upon the mad- dened delegates who wanted Holman and not Landers for Governor. It was a crit- ical situation. The Holman men had

learned all of a sudden that it was the determination of the Landers following to break up the convention in a row if Hol- man were made the nominee. Physical exhaustion caused a lull in the yelling. At last Landers was permitted to speak. He said before announcing himself a can- didate for Governor he had a conference with Judge Holman, in the course of which he (Landers) went fully over the situation and then said to Holman that if he had any desire or intention to enter the race, he (Landers) would not be a candidate. Landers declared with vehemence and the utmost positiveness that Holman assured him he would not be a candidate; that upon this assurance he (Landers) became an avowed, active candidate for the Gubernatorial nomination. Dramatically he averred that if there was any one in the convention authorized to speak for Judge Holman he wanted that individual to rise in his seat and state just what Judge Holman's attitude was. No one re- sponded to this challenge. Then Landers resumed his speech, saying that in view of what had taken place between himself and Judge Holman there could be no con- test between the parties to that compact. Emphasizing his determination not to let the contest proceed he announced his withdrawal from the race. While these ve- hement utterances came thundering down the gallery, the Holman leaders hurriedly held a conference to determine what course to pursue. The writer of this, upon whom primarily rested responsibility for the Holman movement, said it had become apparent that if the result of the ballot, showing Holman to have a majority of all votes cast and making him the nominee were announced, the convention would un- doubtedly break up in a row. "This," he added, "we can't afford to have done, how- ever unpleasant it may be to surrender after having won the battle." There was some objection to the proposition to with- draw Holman's name after he had been

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nominated, though the result of the ballot was known to only a few. Finally in the interest of peace it was agreed that Hol- man's name should be withdrawn, and that of "Blue Jeans" Williams, also then a member of Congress, substituted. These announcements restored order as well as harmony in the convention and the nom- ination of James D. Williams, of Vin- cennes, was thereupon, on motion of Austin H. Brown, of Indianapolis, made by acclamation amidst vociferous shouting of approval and unrestrained manifesta- tion of relief.

Two names were proposed for Lieuten- ant-Governor-Isaac P. Gray, of Ran- dolph county, and David Turpie, of Indi- anapolis. The name of Turpie was im- mediately withdrawn and Gray nominated by acclamation.

The gentlemen nominated and trium- phantly elected in 1874 were honored with renominations by acclamation and the ticket in its entirety consisted of James D. Williams for Governor, Isaac P. Gray for Lieutenant-Governor, John Enos Neff for Secretary of State, Ebenezer Hender- son for Auditor, Colonel Benjamin C. Shaw for Treasurer, Clarence A. Buskirk for Attorney-General, James H. Smart for Superintendent of Public Instruction. For Supreme Judges the convention named Samuel H. Buskirk, of Monroe; Alexander C. Downey, of Ohio; John Pettit, of Lafayette, and James L. Worden, of Fort Wayne. At the October election Williams' majority for Governor over General Ben- jamin Harrison was 5,139. Other major- ities were: Gray's, 5,435; Neff's, 6,035; Henderson's, 5,817; Shaw's, 5,801.

By resolution Thomas A. Hendricks was declared to be the choice of the Indiana Democracy for the Presidency of the United States and the delegates to the St. Louis convention were instructed to vote accordingly as a unit.

STATE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1876

"The Democracy of Indiana declare their fidelity to all the provisions of the Federal Constitution, to a perpetual union of the States, to local self-government in every section, to all public trusts and obligations, to the honest payment of the public debt, to the preservation of the public faith, to the maintenance of the free schools, and to the pure and economical administration of the Federal, State and municipal gov- ernments. They contemplate with alarm the distress that prevails, the widespread financial ruin that impends over the people and the corruption that pervades the pub- lic service, and they charge that these evils are the direct results of the personal gov- ernment, unwise legislation, vicious finan- cial policy, extravagance, the great con- traction of the currency and selfishness of the party and its officials who have so long held unchecked control. Inviting all who believe in and earnestly desire official pur- ity and fidelity, the adjustment of financial questions upon a sound basis, having a re- gard for the interests and welfare of the whole people, and not a class, and the recognition of a final settlement of all questions submitted to the arbitrament of the sword to unite with them, they de- clare :

"For the efficiency, correction and puri- fication of the civil service; for retrench- ment and economy in the public service; for gold and silver as the true and safe basis for a circulating medium; for the gradual retirement of national bank cur- rency and the substitution of circulating notes issued direct by the Government; for a natural (not forced) return to specie payments; for a legal tender currency and against its proposed retirement; for the repeal of the partisan act to force specie resumption, to the detriment of the debtor class; for the protection and furtherance of our common school system; for a duly safeguarded liquor license system ; for the proper care and welfare of the soldiers and sailors who defended the Union; against the payment of any part of the rebel debt, claims for emancipated slaves or destroyed property in the rebel States."

Upon the adjournment of the conven- tion the appointed delegates to the National convention were invited to a con- ference to make arrangements for the

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gathering at St. Louis. Senator McDon- ald, fresh from Washington, gave a de- tailed statement of prospects, promises, assurances, etc. According to his version the prospects were exceedingly bright for the nomination of Mr. Hendricks. The Senator named State upon State from which he had assurances of support. His statements were exceedingly rosy; so much so that those who did not closely fol- low the trend of developments in the po- litical arena might well have assumed that the nomination of Mr. Hendricks had be- come a foregone conclusion. While all the delegates were earnest supporters and stanch friends of Indiana's favorite son, some of them shared the opinion of keen, unbiased observers that indications pointed unerringly to the selection of Mr. Tilden. It was in the air; it appeared to be foreordained; destiny would seem to have so decreed.

TILDEN AND HENDRICKS.

The Presidential convention was held at St. Louis on the 28th of June. It was a gathering of men who had in view the accomplishment of a patriotic purpose -- the nomination of a ticket that would com- mend itself to the patriotism of the nation. The regular New York delegation was composed of perhaps the most accom- plished gentlemen that ever attended a national convention. The presence of a contesting delegation, embracing the rem- nants of the old Tweed ring and the dis- credited canal ring, only tended to in- tensify the feeling in favor of Tilden. Tammany was demonstrative but not com- manding. In visiting the various State delegations to give reasons why Tilden ought not to be nominated it soon became apparent that the more vindictive the talk against Tilden the stronger sentiment grew in his favor. The famous prize fighter, John Morrissey, was among those who did most effective work by way of counteracting the doings of the Tweed and canal rings. Morrissey was very much in

demand wherever Presidential candidates were under discussion. In his blunt yet singularly effective way he started out to say that every mother's son on the ground to fight Tilden had a grievance based on some happening, some injury inflicted by Tilden's unsparing warfare against cor- ruption and thievery. "If I were actuated by personal grievance," he averred, "I would be with them in opposing Tilden's nomination. I have a genuine grievance, a personal and political grievance. He caused me to be fired out of the Saratoga convention, although fully persuaded at the time that I was entitled to a seat. But when I cast about me, and contemplate the havoc that has been wrought in the South by carpet-bag rule; when I take into account the degradation of the public service, and when I contemplate how greatly this country stands in need of a master mind at the head of the Govern- ment to correct abuses and bring order out of chaos, I forget all about the per- sonal indignity offered me and determine to roll up my sleeves and do my utmost to place in the White House a man who will do for the country at large what he did when he cleaned out the Tweed ring in the city of New York and the canal ring in the State. For these reasons I am here to contribute my mite to the nom- ination of Samuel J. Tilden and to coun- teract the efforts of Tammany and kin- dred organizations." The oratorical ef- forts of John Morrissey, the prize fighter, counted for much more than did the com- bined efforts of the five hundred "braves" who ostentatiously paraded the streets of St. Louis to make a showing against Til- den.

The political wisdom of the managers of the Tilden forces was made manifest by the selection of Henry Watterson as temporary chairman and of General John A. McClernand, of Illinois, for president of the convention. It was furthermore made manifest when John Kelly, the fa-

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mous Tammany chief, endeavored to tell the convention why that organization was arrayed against Tilden. The convention, overwhelmingly for the Sage of Gramercy, did not want to listen to a tirade against their favorite. For minutes Kelly stood defiantly upon an elevation to be seen and heard. The protests against his being given a hearing were loud and menacing. The more he tried to talk the louder sounded the voices of protest. Finally Senator Francis Kernan, one of Tilden's New York supporters, gained the atten- tion of the chair. In well chosen words the New York Senator said the friends of Mr. Tilden had nothing to fear from anything Mr. Kelly might wish to say. "Accord to him a respectful hearing, and then vote as your judgment may dictate." The request was complied with. The con- vention listened patiently and attentively, and then deliberately proceeded to render judgment by nominating Tilden with a whoop.

Seven names were submitted for consid- eration-Governor Samuel J. Tilden, of New York; Governor Thomas A. Hen- dricks, of Indiana; General Winfield Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania ; Governor Wil- liam Allen, of Ohio; Senator Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware; Governor Joel Parker, of New Jersey, and Senator Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio. All of these emi- nent Democrats were men of high charac- ter and all had rendered distinguished service to their country. An informal bal- lot plainly foreshadowed Mr. Tilden's nomination on a formal ballot. Total num- ber of votes, 744; necessary to a choice, 496. Mr. Tilden received 535 votes, Hen- dricks 60, Hancock 59, Allen 54, Bayard 11, Parker 18, Thurman 7. Mr. Hen- dricks was named for the Vice-Presidency by acclamation. Some difficulty was ex- perienced in inducing him to accept. John Kelly and some of his lieutenants stopped off at Indianapolis on their homeward journey to impress upon Mr. Hendricks' mind that he could not afford to turn down

a nomination tendered by such a conven- tion as had met in St. Louis. Mr. Kelly had zcalously advocated the nomination of Mr. Hendricks for President.

There was a good deal of bitterness among the Ohio delegates. The feud be- tween Governor Allen and Senator Thur- man was not easily held in subjection. Some of the Allenites at one time talked of a bolt, but wiser counsels prevailed. At- tempts were made to enlist the Indiana delegation in such a movement. Now, while the entire delegation was heartily for Mr. Hendricks, not all the delegates were hostile to Mr. Tilden. When a bolt was suggested some of the Indiana dele- gates spoke their minds quite freely and emphatically. John H. Winterbotham, of Michigan City, was especially outspoken in expressing his disapproval of the sense- less fight that had been made on Mr. Til- den by Indiana men. He said that while he had steadfastly supported Mr. Hen- dricks he wanted it distinctly understood that he was utterly disgusted at the ora- torical "rot" to which he had listened for several days, and that it was high time for some of the Indiana men to show that they were not a pack of numskulls. A goodly number of Indianians heartily applauded Mr. Winterbotham's plain and emphatic talk.

One of the most level-headed Indianians in attendance at the St. Louis convention was William Fleming, of Fort Wayne. For years he had been a leader in Northern Indiana. In his own county, Allen, he was a power. His political wisdom had often helped to adjust difficulties and ward off disaster. It did not take him long to see the handwriting on the wall. Just before the nomination of Tilden was effected he said that there could be no doubt as to Mr. Tilden proving a very formidable candi- date before the people, but he feared that the bitter fight waged against him by the Cincinnati Enquirer and nearly the entire Democratic press of Indiana would make it impossible to carry the State. When

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the writer replied to this by saying that in less than six weeks enthusiasm for Tilden and Hendricks would run so high as to remove all doubt about Indiana going Democratic, Mr. Fleming expressed utter amazement that such expectancy could possibly lurk in any one's mind. Before six weeks had rolled around Mr. Fleming freely admitted that he had ceased to be a doubting Thomas.

The platform adopted by the St. Louis convention was the most comprehensive and specific declaration of political pur- pose ever promulgated by any party. It set forth in plain terms what Mr. Tilden intended to bring about, purification of the public service and correction of long- existing abuses being the chief object sought to be accomplished. It is generally understood that Mr. Tilden himself wrote the platform. At any rate, such was the understanding at St. Louis. For that reason all suggestions of change or modi- fication were discountenanced. It is too lengthy to be here reproduced; it is so terse in its wording that no mere epitome or synopsis could possibly do it ample justice. Every student of politics ought to make it a point to read and study this platform declaration-and profit by it. Wide circulation was given it during the progress of the campaign. Public speakers utilized it to fullest extent by way of tell- ing the American people what might be expected to be done in the event of Tilden and Hendricks's election.

The campaign was masterfully con- ducted under Mr. Tilden's personal direc- tion. He sent several experienced cam- paign managers to Indiana-one from New York and one from Pennsylvania- to aid the Democratic State Committee and to keep him fully advised of the prog- ress of the campaign. His trusted lieu- tenant, Wm. Dorsheimer, then serving with Mr. Tilden as Lieutenant-Governor of the Empire State, a man of superior ability and high accomplishments as a platform speaker, was sent into Indiana to

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 36

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Stoll, John B., 1843-1926
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : Indiana Democratic Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1104