History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 40

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

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"From the days of Cincinnatus to the present time, men seeking popular favor have been paraded and eulogized as farm- ers, who could not tell a field of wheat from a field of oats, but the farmer in whose memory we are here today drove his team and held the plow; planted the corn, attended its growth and gathered it in; sowed his small grain, and reaped his har- vests ; raised horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, and fed them with his own hands. He made more than two blades of grass to grow where none had grown before, and thus advanced the general welfare. In the pursuit of these labors he became deep- ly imbued with sympathy for the agricul- tural classes, and with an earnest desire for their improvement. At an early pe- riod of his life he became actively identi- fied with agricultural associations, and for

more than thirty years was a controlling member of the Indiana State Fair organi- zation. This tribute, so long continued, and coming as it did from the tillers of the soil, was peculiarly grateful, and I doubt if any political honor was ever as pleasant to him or as highly prized as his promi- nent connection with the county and State fairs of Indiana. He delighted to inter- view a herd of blooded cattle as keenly as a reporter delights to interview a string of candidates for the Presidency. His en- joyment over a bunch of fine sheep, or a lot of cultivated hogs, looking comfortable from high living and handsome from high breeding, was very great and very genu- ine. In his admiration of the horses he had, without reading Bacon, adopted the Baconian philosophy. He looked to utility rather than to style and speed. His pride was in the farmer's horse rather than in the flying courser of the race track. Grow- ing grain, the tall, dark corn, the rich, golden wheat, the clover fields and broad meadow lands were to him a source of un- failing interest and continuous comment.

"While traversing every part of the State a few years ago, and as the bright and beautiful farms seemed to glide by like a painted panorama on exhibition, how often have I heard his exclamations of delight and listened to his comments on the more than magical changes he had wit- nessed. He had, indeed, in his own day and generation seen the wilderness put off its savage garb and array its waste places in the richest robes of progress, culture and refinement. I have heard him recall the fact that within his recol- lection not a tree of the primeval forest had been disturbed by the white man's ax where now stands the splendid capital of our State. George Pogue, the first settler of Indianapolis, was massacred by a squad of Shawnee Indians at a point not far from the Governor's Circle, in April, 1821, and Governor Williams, then an intelligent boy thirteen years old, could easily remember the painful excitement as the news traveled from settlement to set- tlement along the banks of White river and down here to his own home. It is not any wonder, therefore, that he looked with peculiar emotions on the present condition of Indiana, the happy home of two million healthy, prosperous people, her fields yield- ing more agricultural wealth in proportion to area than any other State in the Union;

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her coal, timber, stone and fine clays giv- ing employment at good wages to nearly one hundred thousand laborers, the prod- ucts of her manufactories reaching the an- nual value of $200,000,000; and all these elements of wealth and diversified indus- tries in no necessary conflict, but capable, under wise legislation, of being made to promote, foster and encourage each other. "He also saw the cause of education move forward with a force and rapidity unknown in any other Commonwealth ; he beheld the whole face of the State adorned and lit up with commodious free schools, with colleges, seminaries, high schools and universities ; he exulted in the fact that ris- ing generations had abundant access to pathways of learning and science, and that there were so few left in Indiana who were unable to read and write their mother tongue.

"In all these stupendous developments Governor Williams, whether in private or public life, always bore an active and hon- orable part. In 1843, then being thirty- five years of age, he was first elected to the Indiana Legislature as a member of the House, and from that time to the day of his death he was rarely, if ever, out of public employment. During a period of thirty years he was almost continuously elected and re-elected to the Legislature, either as a member of the House or the Senate. Such long and unbroken confi- dence on the part of those who knew him best is a far more eloquent eulogy than can be uttered over his grave on this occasion. He who in State or Nation has legislated faithfully and wisely for the homes and the fireside happiness of his people, needs not the aid of the orator or sculptor to be remembered by his own and by future gen- erations. Governor Williams took a prom- inent part in all important legislation in Indiana for more than a quarter of a cen- tury, and he was the best informed man in the legislative history of the State I have ever had the good fortune to know.

The grasp of his memory was strong and reliable, and he was an authority on dis- puted points in reference to the action of different legislatures.

"The administration of Governor Wil- liams as Chief Magistrate of Indiana is too recent and fresh in the public mind to call for discussion or extended notice at this time. It is an honorable part of the history of a magnificent State; a State whose career in all the elements of great- ness has been with the speed and strength of the eagle's wing in his flight toward the sun. Governor Williams loved Indiana and has left no blot on her name. He was her thirteenth executive elected by the people, and in the noble fraternity of his prede- cessors in that high office he stands a peer. Others were more learned in books, but none were wiser in the principles of self- government, nor purer in administering them for the welfare of the laboring, pro- ducing, business interests of the State. Others filled the public ear with higher notes of eloquence, but no one, as Governor of Indiana, ever filled the hearts of the people with more approbation for his offi- cial conduct or greater love for his personal character. But two of those who preceded him in the executive chair are amongst the living, one of whom is here to join in honor to the dead. Long, long may their useful and honorable lives be spared, and at last, when the final hour of rest shall come to them, as it will to all of us, may the mem- ories which cluster around their names in the hearts of all their fellow-countrymen, without respect to creed or party, be as kind, as free from reproach and as gentle in their judgment as those which now gather around the name of James D. Wil- liams and hallow the spot where he sleeps !"

Among the distinguished persons in at- tendance at the unveiling of the Williams monument were Governor Conrad Baker and Senator Benjamin Harrison.

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[CHAPTER XXXIX.]

OBLIGING AND ACCOMMODATING THE REPUBLICANS OF INDIANA UNWITTINGLY PROVED THEMSELVES IN 1882

HE temperance question again T bobbed up serenely in the Gen- eral Assembly of 1881. Re- membering the experience of 1873 and 1874, the Republicans thought they would play a cun- ning game by making the sop to be thrown to the temperance folk an exceedingly plausible and attractive meas- ure. The devise was this: Proposed amendment to the constitution prohibit- ing the manufacture and sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in Indiana. Cunningly it was called the "submission plan." No responsi- bility attached to it. A legislator could vote for this submission plan regardless of his individual attitude on the liquor ques- tion-whether for or against prohibition. The Republicans chuckled over their cun- ning. It was just a little bit the shrewdest game that had been played in Indiana pol- itics for years. This was the idea when the proposed amendment was introduced and voted on in the General Assembly. A change came over their dreams later on.

The "liberal element" did not regard this "harmless, inoffensive" prescription with the complacency of the average po- litical trimmer. It was up in arms. It or- ganized; it agitated; it worked like beavers. The submission plan was utilized as a campaign issue in the election of a trustee of the township in which Indian- apolis is located. A similar issue was made at Shelbyville. Both elections turned out to the gratification of the "liberal element." Adolph Seidensticker, then ed- itor of the Indianapolis Telegraph, was placed at the head of a State organization to fight the submission scheme. At his earnest solicitation the matter was brought before the summer meeting of the newly organized Indiana Democratic Edi-

torial Association held at Michigan City the latter part of June. The question was debated at great length and with much earnestness and no little ill feeling. A sur- prisingly large number of Democratic ed- itors, tutored by John C. Shoemaker, of the Indianapolis Sentinel, had come up from the extreme southern part of the State and they protested vehemently against any organization declaration in opposition to the submission proposition.

Mr. Seidensticker was amazed to learn that if a vote had been insisted on the result would have been "nip and tuck." Under these circumstances it was deemed the part of wisdom not to press the issue to a vote. But the revelations then and there made served as an eye-opener.

The attitude of so large a number of Democratic papers naturally had the effect of greatly strengthening the submission sentiment. In the rural districts public opinion ran overwhelmingly in favor of this alluring scheme. Tab was kept on the attitude of delegates chosen to the State convention. The facts thus gathered admit of no doubt that a majority of the delegates regarded the submission scheme with more or less favor.

A few days before the State convention a conference was held at the office of Wil- liam H. English for the purpose of agree- ing upon a plank to be incorporated into the State platform. In attendance at this conference were Thomas A. Hendricks, Joseph E. McDonald, William H. English, John B. Stoll, Adolph Seidensticker and Peter Lieber. Mr. Hendricks had prepared a plank, so had Mr. McDonald. Both were read. Mr. Hendricks at once pronounced the McDonald plank by far the preferable. It was then agreed that every effort be put forth to secure the adoption of this

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declaration by the Committee on Resolu- tions. That, as developed later on, wasn't as easy a task as some had imagined. But for one or two changes made in the selec- tion of members of the Platform Com- mittee the submissionists would have had a clear majority. As it was, neither side was in absolute control of the situation. Admirable as it was in its original con- struction, the McDonald resolution under- went considerable trimming before it be- came acceptable to a majority of the com- mittee. The committee was in session until early in the morning before an agreement could be reached.

The State convention met on Wednes- day, August 1, 1882. It was called to order by State Chairman William H. Eng- lish. The committee on permanent or- ganization recommended for Chairman John R. Coffroth, of Lafayette; for Sec- retary, John R. Simpson, of Paoli; Assist- ant Secretaries, John H. Poole, Newton; Charles E. Barrett, Hancock; Scott Ray Williams, Tipton. Their report was unani- mously agreed to.

STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

1. John Nester, Warrick county.

2. H. V. Norvell, Green.

3. Joseph L. Riley, Jennings.

4. H. B. Armington, Decatur.

5. John W. Buskirk, Monroe.

6. John Enos Neff, Randolph.

7. James M. Cropsey, Marion.

8. Dr. W. H. Gillum, Parke.

9. Thomas H. Harrison, Boone.

10. A. B. Crampton, Carroll.

11. D. B. Sweetser, Grant.

12. John B. Stoll, Noble.

13. Sorden Lister, St. Joseph.

COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.

1. James E. Mccullough, Gibson county.

2. Senator F. W. Viehe, Knox.

3. Samuel B. Voyles, Washington.

4. Hugh D. McMullen, Dearborn.

5. John C. Robinson, Owen.

6. Isaac P. Gray, Randolph.

7. Thomas A. Hendricks, Marion.

8. William Mack, Vigo.

9. Leander McClurg, Clinton.

10. D. D. Dykeman, Cass.

11. Major H. M. Kidd, Wabash.

12. Robert C. Bell, Allen.

13. Judge E. Van Long, Kosciusko.

Three candidates for Secretary of State were presented : Captain William R. Myers, of Anderson; William Wesley Woollen, of Indianapolis; William A. Peelle, Jr., of Indianapolis. After the first ballot Peelle withdrew in favor of Myers. The trend being unquestionably in favor of that gentleman, Mr. Woollen also with- drew, and the nomination of Captain Myers was made unanimous by acclama- tion.

For Auditor of State three aspirants en- tered the race. They were: James H. Rice, of New Albany; Daniel McDonald, of Plymouth; A. B. Pitzer, of Tipton. Rice had the lead. After the second ballot Mr. Pitzer moved that the genial gentleman from New Albany be declared the unani- mous choice of the convention. Agreed to, amidst manifestations of unalloyed joy.

There were five entries for State Treasurer: John J. Cooper, of Indian- apolis; Thomas B. Byrnes, of Evansville; Thomas B. Hunt, of Henry county ; Bern- hard Schweitzer, of Owen county, and William M. McPheeters, of Washington county. The race was between Cooper and Byrnes. After the second ballot the latter moved that Mr. Cooper be declared duly nominated by acclamation. This was done with a hearty good will and unre- stricted jubilation.

For the office of Attorney-General four distinguished lawyers were proposed: David Turpie, of Indianapolis; Joel Wil- liamson, of Fayette county; Francis T. Hord, of Columbus, and William C. For- rey, of Connersville. The contest was a sharp one, but Mr. Hord had such a strong lead that after the second ballot Mr. For- rey considerately moved that a unanimous nomination be accorded that gentleman. This was done with vociferous acclaim.

Three candidates for the Supreme Court were to be nominated-for the first, sec- ond and third districts. For the first dis- trict William E. Niblack was renominated by acclamation. For the second district

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former Judge A. C. Downey was pitted against George V. Howk, who desired a re- nomination. On the first ballot Howk was so honored by a close vote-566 for Howk, 555 for Downey; a majority of 11. For the fourth district there were three can- didates-Allen Zollars of Allen county, W. A. Bickle of Wayne, and J. T. Brown of Henry. The first ballot resulted in the nomination of Mr. Zollars, who received 656 votes as against 252 for Bickle and 213 for Brown.

With the nomination of John W. Hol- comb, of Valparaiso, for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and of Simon P. Sheerin, of Logansport, for Clerk of the Supreme Court, the ticket was completed. Notwithstanding the strained feeling en- gendered by the seductive yet delusive "submission scheme," those who fully un- derstood the situation freely predicted the triumphant election of the ticket in the fall. This prediction was amply verified by the verdict of the ballot.

THE PLATFORM.

In seventeen paragraphs expression is given to party sentiment and feeling. Most of these constitute arraignments of the Republican party for the abuse of power and the disregard of right and justice. The submission question was disposed of in this manner:

"The Democratic party is now, as it has always been, opposed to all sumptuary legislation, and it is especially opposed to the proposed amendment to the Constitu- tion of Indiana, known as the prohibitory amendment, and we are in favor of the submission of said proposed amendment, as well as other proposed amendments, to the people, according to the provisions of the Constitution for its own amendment, and the people have the right to oppose or favor the adoption of any or all the amend- ments at all stages of their consideration, and any submission of constitutional amendments to a vote of the people should be at a time and under circumstances most favorable to a full vote, and therefore should be at a general election."

The last paragraph appreciatively re- members Senator Voorhees with this mer- ited endorsement :

"We esteem Daniel W. Voorhees as an able and faithful representative of our State in the Senate, and especially com- mend him for his active sympathy in be- half of the soldier."

Though the Committee on Resolutions strained a point to make the plank relating to the proposed amendment to the Consti- tution palatable to the submissionists, the reading of that particular declaration by Governor Hendricks was loudly hissed. This was a new experience for that gen- tleman. A counter demonstration fol- lowed with three cheers for Hendricks. This, to some extent at least, neutralized the offensive manifestation of displeasure and hostility. When, at the conclusion of the reading of the report of the Commit- tee on Resolutions, Mr. Hendricks de- manded the previous question, another outburst of indignation startled timid on- lookers and frightened party leaders. For- tunately a gentleman was in the chair who knew a good deal about convention tu- mults. He handled the gavel judiciously and effectively. John R. East, of Bloom- ington, a tall member of the legal pro- fession, with striking physiognomy and of commanding presence, was the leader of the submissionists. He had a larger fol- lowing than he seemed to be aware of. It is well that he didn't know this. Had it been otherwise, the fight might have been prolonged and made far more bitter. The demand for the previous question was made effective and the platform as re- ported by Mr. Hendricks was finally adopted. It is due to Mr. East to say that later on he "saw the light" and took the stump for the ticket and the cause.

The outcome of the election demon- strated very clearly what can be accom- plished by a judiciously directed campaign of education. The work of enlightening the people as to the real issue involved was begun by the publication of a series of

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letters written by prominent Democrats throughout the State. These were origin- ally published in the Ligonier Banner and subsequently printed in pamphlet form and extensively circulated. In these let- ters it was made clear that the real object of the Republicans in putting forth the submission proposition was to evade a square issue on prohibition. It was held that when an amendment to the Con- stitution is proposed, those contend- ing for its submission to popular vote should favor the adoption there- of and not disown or repudiate its purpose. No member of the General As- sembly should vote for the submission of a proposed amendment unless he favors the same. Responsibility must accompany such action, otherwise the State would be kept in a constant turmoil over amend- ments to the basic law. Amending the Constitution was purposely and inten- tionally rendered difficult by the framers of that document, so that no change in the fundamental law of the State should be made unless the General Assembly be- lieved such change to be necessary and de- sirable. During the progress of the cam- paign the Republicans discovered that what they at first regarded a sure winner had turned into a boomerang. Judge Turpie was especially forceful in the pre- sentation and discussion of these points. For that reason he was very much in de- mand in all parts of the State. After the votes had been counted the Republican ascendancy gained in 1880 was reversed by the election of a Democratic Legis- lature and the triumph of the entire Dem- ocratic State ticket by more than 10,000 majority. Republican leaders were dum- founded. They wondered who had struck "Billy Patterson." A study of the election returns enlightened them.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

In the election of members of Congress the Republicans fared unusually badly. They pulled through only four of their

candidates, and of these one (Stanton J. Peelle, of the Indianapolis district) was unseated in a contest instituted by Will E. English, then a stanch Democrat. The four successful Republicans were Thomas M. Browne, Stanton J. Peelle, George W. Steele and William H. Calkins. The latter was nominated for Governor in 1884 and resigned his seat in Congress. Benjamin F. Shively, Greenback and Democratic nominee, was chosen Calkins's successor. Of the nine Democrats chosen five were new men: John J. Kleiner of the First, John E. Lamb of the Eighth, Thomas B. Ward of the Ninth, Thomas J. Wood of the Tenth, and Robert Lowry of the Twelfth. Four Democrats were re-elected: Cobb, Stockslager, Holman and Matson. At the wind-up of the Forty-eighth Con- gress only two Republicans-Browne and Steele-were in the Indiana delegation. The "submission" dodge played havoc with Republican plans and calculations. The rebuke to cunning and duplicity was stunning.

STATE EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION.

The wisdom of organizing the Demo- cratic State Editorial Association after the Hancock-English disaster became strikingly apparent during the 1882 cam- paign. A spirit of co-operation set in, more vigor was injected into the columns of Democratic papers, tolerance was cul- tivated, and the importance of mutuality received due attention. The idea of or- ganizing a Democratic State Editorial Association had its inception in Northern Indiana. A preliminary meeting was held at Fort Wayne shortly after the Novem- ber disaster of 1880. On historic Jackson Day, 1881, the association was formally organized at Indianapolis. In his admir- able early history of this association the Hon. Luther Short, of Franklin, furnishes this authentic information :

"A constitution for the new organiza- tion was drafted by a committee consist- ing of John M. Goar, John B. Stoll, W. J.

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Hilligoss, L. C. Jones and George W. Shanklin. Editors in attendance and sign- ing the constitution thereupon adopted were:

Ad. Arnold, Columbus Democrat.

M. A. Barnett, Danville Democrat.

George W. Basler, Sullivan True Democracy. W. R. Brownlee, Anderson Democrat.

Jerry Collins, Logansport Pharos. J. C. Dobelbower, Lafayette Dispatch. W. A. Donnell, Decatur News. T. J. Foster, Ft. Wayne Journal. Harry H. Francis, Michigan City Dispatch.

John M. Goar, New Castle Democrat. Josiah Gwin, New Albany Ledger-Standard. H. E. Henderson, Kokomo Dispatch.

W. J. Hilligoss, Huntington Democrat. William D. H. Hunter, Lawrenceburg Register. Lin C. Jones, Madison Herald.

William Mitchell, Hancock Democrat. G. W. Shanklin, Evansville Courier. Luther Short. Franklin Democrat. George F. Shutt, Elkhart Democrat. John C. Shoemaker, Indianapolis Sentinel. John B. Stoll, Ligonier Banner.

"The officers elected for the first year were:

President-John B. Stoll, Ligonier Banner.

First Vice-President-William D. H. Hunter, Lawrenceburg Register.

Second Vice-President-George W. Shanklin, Evansville Courier.

Recording Secretary-G. F. Shutt, Elkhart Democrat.

Corresponding Secretary-Howard E. Hender- son, Kokomo Dispatch.

Treasurer-Josiah Gwin, New Albany Ledger- Standard.

Executive Committee H. H. Francis, L. C. Jones, W. J. Hilligoss, M. A. Barnett and J. C. Shoemaker.

"A committee of one from each Congres- sional district, with John B. Stoll as chair- man, was appointed to prepare a suitable address embracing the opinion of the as- sociation upon the political issues of the day. Before adjournment a letter from Hon. Jeremiah S. Black of Pennsylvania was read, in which he most forcibly de- nounced the Republican frauds on the ballot box, and in unmeasured terms con- demned that party for rewarding the cor- ruptors with office.

"Of the twenty-one editors who took part in the organization only three besides the writer are members at the present time. They are Howard E. Henderson, Josiah Gwin and John B. Stoll. Of the other seventeen all are dead except John C. Shoemaker, Ad. Arnold, L. C. Jones, John M. Goar, George F. Shutt, W. R. Brownlee and Jerry Collins, none of whom are now engaged in the newspaper busi-

ness. To the Hon. John B. Stoll more than any other one person belongs the credit of originating this organization, and as its first president he did much to insure its permanent character."

Since the publication of Mr. Short's his- tory death has called of those mentioned in the preceding paragraph Howard E. Henderson, Josiah Gwin, John C. Shoe- maker, and John M. Goar.

OCTOBER ELECTION ABOLISHED.

Under the constitution of 1851, election of State officers was fixed upon the first Tuesday after the first Monday in Oc- tober. In presidential years, therefore, two elections became necessary. This in- volved a great deal of expense. That the system was so long maintained is among things difficult to understand. But need- less expensiveness did not constitute the sole nor even the most serious objection. The October election was more objection- able on account of its corrupting tendency. Many years ago Pennsylvania was an Oc- tober State. It quit being such when a new constitution was adopted during the Seventies. For years the "October States" were made the battleground in presiden- tial years. The result in these States would serve as a forecast of how the po- litical wind was blowing. Naturally this served as an incentive for contesting po- litical parties to throw their entire force into these States. Indiana was especially inviting on account of the nearly equal division of its electorate. Money to cor- rupt venal voters was poured into the cof- fers of committees with a lavishness that was appalling to all who had a decent re- gard for legitimate campaigning and the purity of the ballot.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 40

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