History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 38

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

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Strange as it may seem, I never met or talked with Senator Oliver P. Morton. I heard him speak once or twice, but never had an introduction to him. And yet he seems to have taken quite an interest in me. After C. L. Vallandigham had pro- mulgated his "new departure" doctrine

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and its general acceptance by Democrats Morton sent his trusted lieutenant, Cap- tain Hiram Iddings, then pension agent for the State of Indiana, to me with a message that the opportune time had come for a young man like myself to get into the Republican fold. Captain Iddings told me how painstakingly Senator Morton had kept tab on my political activity, how greatly he admired my fighting qualities, etc., etc. It so happened that Captain Id- dings and I had been warm friends ever since I had come into the State, and I was very fond of him. Giving close atten- tion to what he communicated in behalf of Senator Morton, I said to him:

"Captain, doubtless you remember the conference into which I was cunningly in- veigled by George A. Mitchell in 1868, when twenty-three of the most prominent Republicans of Noble county tried to make me believe that I ought to become editor of the Kendallville Standard, which con- cern its owner valued at $6,000 and which these twenty-three Republicans volun- teered to buy and present to me with their compliments. You also recall the fact that in these overtures was included the promise of a pledge signed by all the lead- ing Republicans of the district that I should be sent to Congress within four years. Doubtless you remember also how disconcerted and amazed those twenty- three prominent Republicans were when in reply I said to them that whenever political affairs of this country so shaped themselves as to make it apparent that the welfare of the Republic demanded the Republican party to be put and kept in power, I would come within the fold with- out any seductive inducements being held out to me. You remember distinctly, do you not, how chopfallen these men were over my disappointing answer, and yet how, afterward, a number of them ex- pressed their admiration for the steadfast- ness then and there exhibited? Refusal to accept so alluring an offer was a revela- tion and an unprecedented surprise to them. Though Vallandigham has accepted the amendments to the constitution as final and binding, I am not going to give approval to any such high- handed abuse of power as resorted to by carpet-baggers in

the South and by the fraudulent ratifica- tion of the fifteenth amendment, making wholly unprepared voters of thousands upon thousands of ignorant negroes. Say to Senator Morton that I appreciate his partiality for me, but, reiterating and re- affirming what I said at the conference in the back room of the First National Bank of Kendallville in 1868, I must respectfully but firmly decline his generous offer to turn over to me an up-to-date newspaper plant at Fort Wayne with a $4,000 sinecure attachment."

That these overtures must have had the benefit of Senator Morton's earnest con- sideration was subsequently confirmed by Morton's brother-in-law, Colonel Wm. R. Holloway, when upon meeting me at the State House, years after the Senator had passed away, he told me how grievously disappointed and chagrined Mr. Morton was over the failure to bring me into po- iitical fellowship with himself. Smilingly I said in reply that I was too thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Morton's great speech at Richmond, Ind., in 1865 even tacitly to approve what he in that mas- terly argument had shown to be so per- nicious ; so destructive in its effect and so menacing to the Republic itself.

A recital in detail of all that was said at the two conferences briefly narrated above would make thrillingly interesting political history. For obvious reasons this is the first time any publicity has ever been given to these episodes in political life, though Captain Iddings himself came near letting the cat out of the bag in 1880. The rank and file of the Republican party in Noble and adjoining counties who dur- ing the Sixties had become accustomed to hearing and seeing me unmercifully lam- hasted on account of politics would have been amazed had they known that their leaders were planning and conniving to place me at the head of the Republican county organ and to send me to Congress.

The ease with which Senator Morton, in the early 70's, succeeded in demonstrating to Jason B. Brown that under the opera-

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tion of Vallandigham's "New Departure" alluring avenues were afforded to migrate from the barren fields of Democracy into the green pastures of Republicanism, and the celerity with which that fiery Demo- crat was made territorial secretary of Montana, must have led Indiana's Repub- lican chieftain to believe that transforma- tions of this sort might be effected as easily in the northern part of the State as they were in the southern.

WISE COUNSELOR FOR MANY YEARS.

Colonel Thomas Dowling (1806-1876) was born in Ireland, came to America in 1814, and worked for Gales and Seaton on the National Intelligencer, and while a newspaper man in Washington acquired the friendship of many notable persons of much value to him in later life. He came to Terre Haute in 1832 and established the Wabash Courier, which he sold in 1842. He then became proprietor and ed- itor of the Wabash Express. His papers were very influential in Indiana life. He served eight years in the Legislature, was trustee of the Wabash and Erie Canal

from 1850 till his death, a member of the City Council 1867-1871, and County Com- missioner in 1873, and also an officer in the Savings Bank from 1869 to 1876.

After the dissolution of the Whig party he identified himself with the Democratic party and continued to act in that line until the time of his death. In State and county politics he was always considered, and his advice had much to do in mould- ing the course of his party. At the time of his death he was a member of the National Democratic Committee. During quite an extended period he was always a delegate to the Democratic State Con- vention, a member of the Committee on Resolutions, and generally took with him a complete platform. For the most part these platforms of his in whole or in great part were adopted.

He was a contemporary of Governor Joseph A. Wright, Senator Edward A. Hannegan, D. W. Voorhees, of his own party, and a personal friend though po- litical adversary of John P. Usher, Sec- retary of the Interior in the cabinet of President Lincoln, and of Colonel R. W. Thompson.

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[CHAPTER XXXVI.]

DEMOCRATIC BUOYANCY RETURNS IN 1878

POPULAR INDIGNATION OVER ELECTORAL FRAUD IMPELS DEMOCRATIC LANDSLIDE

W HEN the Indiana Democracy met in State convention at In- dianapolis, February 20, 1878, there were few, if any, among the delegates who had any doubt about the outcome of the fall election. The shameful an- nulment of the popular verdict in the Presidential contest of 1876 by returning board methods proved very unpalatable political pabulum to a good many Repub- licans who were uneducated to the per- nicious doctrine of might making right. Then there came to the surface other mat- ters that had a tendency to cool Republican ardor and abate Republican zeal. The masterful leadership of the Republican forces ceased when the spirit of Oliver P. Morton fled into the unfathomable be- yond; the economical administration of the farmer Governor, James D. Williams, gave unbounded satisfaction, and the Dem- ocratic heart throbbed with gratification over the assignment of Daniel W. Voorhees to a seat in the upper branch of Congress as the colleague of Senator McDonald.

When official responsibility imposed upon Governor Williams the duty of tem- porarily naming a successor to Senator Morton, there was no diversity of opinion among Democrats as to who should be the man. It was on the 12th day of Novem- ber, 1877, that Voorhees was sworn in as one of Indiana's Senators in the Congress of the United States. This appointment held good until the Legislature of 1879 convened in January. Thus the people were afforded opportunity to pass judg- ment on Governor Williams's action in selecting, temporarily, a successor to Sen-

ator Morton. The judgment rendered at the polls in 1878 was peculiarly gratifying to Senator Voorhees in this, that the ag- gregate majority for members of the Gen- eral Assembly who voted for him both for the short and the long term was the larg- est in the history of the State. His sub- sequent re-elections, in 1885 and 1891, gave him three full terms and a fraction of Morton's, and afforded him splendid opportunity to apply his master mind to the solution of many problems that pre- sented themselves during the most impor- tant years of his eventful official life.

The committee on permanent organiza- tion consisted of Colonel A. T. Whittlesey, M. S. Mavity, S. B. Difenderfer, Daniel Blocher, C. B. Bentley, C. S. Burr, James J. Smiley, Eli K. Miller, Leander McClurg, Richard Huncheon, George D. Tate, Ben- jamin F. Ibach, Dr. G. W. McConnell. For Permanent Chairman it had under consid- eration Governor Hendricks and Congress- man William S. Holman. The friends of the latter gracefully yielded to the naming of Mr. Hendricks for this post of honor.

At promptly 10 o'clock State Chairman Mahlon D. Manson rapped the convention to order. The choice of the committee on permanent organization was unanimously and enthusiastically approved. Upon as- suming the gavel, Governor Hendricks de- livered one of those inspiring speeches for which he had become justly noted locally as well as nationally. John W. Kern of Kokomo was made secretary of the con- vention. His thirteen assistants were nearly all newspaper men: H. J. May, J. R. Simpson, Josiah Gwin, John L. Bracken, John M. Higgs, R. F. Stewart, N. E. Alex-

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ander, Lycurgus Dalton, Isaac H. Ferris, A. J. Hoover, T. P. Davis, E. A. K. Hackett and D. W. Sweet.

Unusual interest was bestowed upon the selection of members of the Committee on Resolutions. This by reason of the fact that the money question had become one of the most important issues before the country. The committee consisted of these widely-known gentlemen, quite a number of whom had received nominations for Congress: E. R. Hatfield, W. D. Bynum, Jason B. Brown, Charles Korbly, W. S. Holman, Dr. William Glenn, Franklin Landers, George A. Knight, John R. Coff- roth, Morgan H. Weir, D. D. Dykeman, Eli W. Brown, John B. Stoll.

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

1. Thomas Collins, Posey county.

2. H. V. Norvell, Greene.

3. S. B. Voyles, Washington.

4. Alonzo Green Smith, Jennings.

5. John D. Smith, Randolph.

6. William Mitchell, Hancock.

7. Colonel C. C. Matson, Putnam.

8. Wiley E. Dittemore, Owen.

9. John Lee, Montgomery.

10. H. E. Wadsworth, Laporte.

11. H. M. Kidd, Wabash.

12. Harry B. Smith, Blackford.

13. C. A. O. McClellan, DeKalb.

The feeling that a nomination by this convention was equivalent to an election had the effect of bringing into the race an unusual number of aspirants. No less than six contestants for the nomination for Secretary of State were striving for mas- tery. They were: August Bradley of Floyd, Henry A. Peed of Martin, Will A. Peelle of Randolph, David S. Gooding of Hancock, John R. Cravens of Jefferson and John Gilbert Shanklin of Vanderburg.

Three ballots were required to effect a nomination. The winner in the exciting race proved to be John Gilbert Shanklin, editor of the Evansville Courier, a giant physically, a writer of unusual ability, and an orator of high order. He made a bril- liant campaign and contributed no little to the triumph of the party at the October election.

For the office of Auditor of State there was an equally lively contest. Those seek- ing the nomination were: A. F. Arm- strong of Howard, M. D. Manson of Mont- gomery, L. B. Fullwiler of Miami, John Nester of Warrick, R. D. Slater of Dear- born and J. M. Haskins of Clay.

After the second ballot Mr. Armstrong moved that the old Democratic warhorse, General Mahlon D. Manson, be declared the unanimous choice of the convention. This was responded to with a thunderous "aye," and General Manson was so de- clared.

Hot as were the contests over the two preceding nominations, they were tame affairs as compared with the fight over the State Treasurership. That was a battle royal. Nine contestants had entered the race. These were the entries: William Fleming of Allen county, W. O. Foley of Decatur, Joseph Henderson of St. Joseph, J. S. Williams of Tippecanoe, Edgar Hen- derson of Madison, John J. Cooper of Marion, Henry Kramer of Spencer, E. Stephenson of Dubois and Patrick Shan- non of Vigo.

In the beginning it seemed to be an even race between Fleming, Cooper and Shan- non. The second ballot made it a gallop- ing race between Fleming and Cooper. The third ballot made Fleming the winner by 6021/2 to 447 for Cooper and 21 scattering. It was a remarkable contest and served as a sharp reminder of the hot fight over the Auditorship in 1872.

Don't imagine, however, that these three contests ended the wild scramble for nomi- nations. Eight lawyers of note and dis- tinction aspired to the office of Attorney- General. The names of most of them were familiar to the people of Indiana. They have a familiar sound even to the present generation: T. W. Woollen of Johnson county, Frank M. Trissal of Marion, Jo- seph Ristine of Fountain, R. W. Miers of Monroe, J. S. Scobey of Decatur, Hugh D. McMullin of Dearborn, W. R. Harrison of

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Morgan, W. C. Forrey of Fayette. On the final ballot Thomas W. Woollen was de- clared winner. His vote was 545; that of his next highest competitor 462; scatter- ing, 25.

An exceedingly interesting race was that over the Superintendency of Public Instruction. James H. Smart of Fort Wayne was a prime favorite, but the fact of Allen county already having been honored by the nomination of Mr. Flem- ing for Treasurer of State, it was argued that it would be manifestly unjust to let "Allen hog it all." However, this argument failed to impress delegates to any consid- erable extent, and a tabulation of the final ballot accorded to Mr. Smart the bestowal of a merited renomination. The various candidates for this office were: A. C. Goodwin of Clark county, T. H. Harrison of Boone, James H. Smart of Allen, B. M. Blount of Tipton, William R. Norris of Shelby, W. W. Hibben of Marion and Alex. C. Hopkins of Howard.

THE PLATFORM.

The main planks of the platform of 1878 as unanimously adopted by the convention are herewith reproduced:

"That national bank notes shall be re- tired, and in lieu thereof there shall be issued by the Government an equal amount of treasury notes with full legal tender quality.

"That we are in favor of making the United States notes, commonly called greenbacks, a full legal tender in payment of all debts, public and private, except such obligations only as are by the terms of the original contracts under which they were issued, expressly payable in coin.

"That the right to issue paper money as well as coin is the exclusive prerogative of the Government, and such money should be issued in such amounts as the sound business interests of the country may from time to time require.

"We are in favor of such legislation by Congress as will authorize the taxation by the States of the United States notes in common with all other money.

"That we are in favor of such legislation

as shall fix the legal rate of interest at not exceeding 6 per centum per annum.

"We demand the restoration of the sil- ver dollar of 4121/2 grains to the coin of the country, and with full legal tender quality in the payment of all debts, both public and private; and that the coinage thereof shall be unlimited, and upon the same terms and conditions as may be provided for the coin- age of gold.

"The Democratic party is the friend of the common school system, and will in every legitimate way labor for its success, and will oppose any attempt to divert any portion of the common school fund to any sectarian purpose."

LEGISLATURE POLITICALLY MIXED.

The General Assembly of 1879, chosen in 1878, was thus constituted politically : Senate-Democrats, 24; Republicans, 23; Greenbackers, 3. House-Democrats, 50; Republicans, 39; Greenbackers, 11.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

Re-elected to Congress in 1878 were Thomas R. Cobb, Democrat, in the Second district ; George A. Bicknell, Democrat, in the Third; Thomas M. Browne, Republi- can, in the Fifth; William H. Calkins, Republican, in the Tenth; John H. Baker, Republican, in the Thirteenth. New mem- bers injected into the delegation were William Heilman, Republican, in the First ; Jeptha D. New, Democrat, in the Fourth ; Captain William R. Myers, Democrat, in the Sixth; Reverend Dr. Gilbert Dela- matyr, Greenback and Democratic nom- inee, in the Seventh ; Andrew J. Hostetler, Democrat, in the Eighth; Godlove S. Orth, Republican, in the Ninth; Calvin Cowgill, Republican, in the Eleventh; Walpole G. Colerick, Democrat, in the Twelfth. This made the delegation stand: Democrats, 6; Republicans, 6; Greenbacker, 1.

DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY, ABOUT 14,000. Secretary of State- John G. Shanklin, Democrat ... 194,770 I. S. Moore, Republican. 180,657

Auditor of State-

Mahlon' D. Manson, Democrat. 194,834 A. O. Miller, Republican . . 180,718 Treasurer of State- William Fleming, Democrat ... 194,143 George F. Herriott, Republican 180,574

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[CHAPTER XXXVII.]

FAILURE TO NOMINATE THE "OLD TICKET"

HAD A DEPRESSING EFFECT ON THE DEMOCRACY THROUGH- OUT THE LAND

F ROM the moment the Electoral Commission rendered its par- tisan decision of eight to seven in favor of seating Hayes and Wheeler in the Presidential and Vice-Presidential chairs an earnest hope developed in Democratic minds and hearts that oppor- tunity might be presented in 1880 to ren- der popular judgment against that in- iquitous onslaught on the majesty of the ballot. Everywhere public sentiment de- manded that the conspiracy of 1876-7 be subjected to review and rebuke by the highest tribunal-the sovereign voters of the land.

In course of time, however, the una- nimity for this opportunity to rebuke the crime of '77 was somewhat diminished by discordant notes. Here and there it was declared that Mr. Tilden ought to have asserted his rights more vigorously and determinedly ; that he ought to have dealt more candidly with the leaders in Congress as to what he expected or desired them to do; that he failed to counsel properly with his colleague on the ticket, Mr. Hendricks; that at the supreme moment he proved himself unequal to the emergency ; that ill- health and the infirmity of age might prove a serious obstacle to the rigors of an exciting campaign, and that under all the circumstances it might perhaps be better to go before the country with new candidates and present-day issues.

Notwithstanding all this, the over- whelming sentiment of the Democracy continued to insist upon the renomination of the ticket of 1876. State upon State so declared in convention up to 1880, not- withstanding the fact that both Mr. Tilden

and Mr. Hendricks had declared that they would not countenance a renomination of themselves to these respective positions.

With a view to settling this matter once for all, the New York World, in the latter part of 1879, sent a commissioner to In- diana to obtain from Mr. Hendricks a definite and final declaration as to his in- tentions. This envoy, upon reaching In- dianapolis, learned that Mr. Hendricks had gone to Fort Wayne to attend an im- portant case pending in the Federal Court. Thereupon the envoy proceeded to Fort Wayne and, making an appointment with Mr. Hendricks, succeeded in getting what he had been sent out for to obtain-a posi- tive declaration. It was stated in influen- tial circles at the time that Mr. Tilden had tacitly but reluctantly consented to make the race over, provided, of course, that Mr. Hendricks would do likewise. No separate action was admissible. It was both or none. Mr. Hendricks declared positively that he would not consent to again going on the ticket for second place. That settled it so far as Mr. Tilden was concerned, and settled it forever. From that time on he dismissed all thought of again entering upon a Presidential race.

In the "Life of Hendricks," by Holcombe and Skinner, on page 343, is to be found this statement:

"As the year 1880 approached public at- tention was fixed upon Mr. Hendricks. The demand for the old ticket was very strong, and it would unquestionably have been nominated but for two reasons: Mr. Hen- dricks absolutely declined to accept an- other nomination for the Vice-Presidency, and Mr. Tilden decided not to let his name go before the convention. The letter of the latter to the delegates at Cincinnati,

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

declining, on the score of ill health, to accept the nomination if tendered to him, made it evident that the old ticket was out of the question."

In the Indianapolis Sentinel of Novem- ber 22, 1879, was reproduced from the Indianapolis correspondence of the Cin- cinnati Enquirer this explanation of Mr. Hendricks' attitude:

"Hendricks answered an inquiry in re- gard to his having denounced Tilden in the following words: "I have never denounced Mr. Tilden, nor have I censured him, even. I did not attempt to advise Mr. Tilden as to his course after the election in 1876. He decided his course without sug- gestions from me, and I have no doubt he thought he was doing that which would result the best for the country. As to my- self, I have always thought it fortunate for me that I did not fill the Vice-Presi- dential office. I did not want it, because it would not add to the honors I have had conferred upon me by my countrymen, and in a financial way I think my profession quite as profitable.' "

In an interview published in the Indian- apolis Journal of December 1, 1879, Mr. Hendricks is quoted on the first page as saying, among other things:

"My reluctance to accept the second place on the Presidential ticket has never been on account of the men who were men- tioned for the first place, but it is because I do not want the place."

Henry Watterson, who was very near to Mr. Tilden up to the close of his earthly career, in a letter dated October 2, 1914, makes this statement:

"In 1880 Mr. Hendricks was himself a candidate for President and would listen to nothing else. From the first he arrayed himself against the renomination of the 'old ticket.' I was not at any time in his confidence; but this is the historic fact."

In a subsequent letter Mr. Watterson makes his statements far more emphatic. He says the antagonism of Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks to Mr. Tilden was very pro- nounced and that no cordial feelings ex- isted between these persons from the time that Mr. Hendricks failed to secure the Presidential nomination at St. Louis.

William H. English conceived the idea that inasmuch as Mr. Hendricks had made himself an impossibility for the Presi- dential nomination in 1880 by refusing to give his consent to the renomination of the "old ticket," there would be an opening for some other Indianian to secure the coveted prize. He subscribed liberally for a num- ber of Democratic papers in various parts of the State and for a while enjoyed quite a newspaper boost of his aspirations. When, however, the State convention met in June, short work was made of this boomlet. The delegates to the Cincinnati convention were, as four years before, in- structed to vote as a unit in favor of the nomination of Thomas A. Hendricks for President.

STATE CONVENTION, JUNE 9, 1880.

The Democracy of Indiana met in State convention on the 9th day of June. Called to order by State Chairman Benjamin C. Shaw, Hon. Francis T. Hord of Columbus was unanimously selected as temporary chairman. Upon assuming the gavel he delivered a ringing speech, in the course of which he fittingly characterized the elec- toral fraud of 1876 as the foulest political crime of the century.

Charles A. Munson of Fort Wayne was appointed chief sergeant-at-arms with power to choose assistants.

The committee on permanent organiza- tion, headed by Colonel Charles Denby, reported for officers of the convention Governor Thomas A. Hendricks for Presi- dent and John W. Kern of Kokomo for secretary. The recommendations of the committee were unanimously and enthusi- astically approved by the convention, fol- lowed with an incisive and inspiring ad- dress by Indiana's favorite son.

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

1. Dr. J. S. Bemis, Perry county.

2. Dr. H. V. Norvil, Greene.

3. O. O. Stealey, Clark.

4. William H. D. Hunter, Dearborn.

5. Richard Coffee, Brown.

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

6. William C. Forrey, Fayette.

7. James M. Cropsey, Marion.

8. Joshua Jump, Vermilion.

9. A. B. Pitzer, Tipton.

10. A. B. Crampton, Carroll.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 38

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