USA > Indiana > History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916 > Part 41
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As the result of persistent agitation a movement was inaugurated to amend the constitution so as to abolish October elec- tions. An amendment to that effect was adopted by two successive legislatures- those of 1877 and 1879, and submitted to the people the latter year for adoption or
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rejection. It commanded a majority of the vote on that proposition, but not a constitutional majority as interpreted by the supreme court. The amendment was
again submitted to popular vote at a spe- cial election held March 4, 1881, duly rat- ified and authoritatively declared part of the constitution March 24, 1881.
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[CHAPTER XL.]
ISAAC P. GRAY IN THE SADDLE
NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR - JOSEPH E. McDONALD ENDORSED FOR THE PRESIDENCY
HORTLY after the opening of S the morning session of the Jan- uary meeting of the Indiana Democratic Editorial Associa- tion at Indianapolis, Mr. Wil- liam Henderson, a relative of Thos. A. Hendricks and promi- nent citizen of the State capital, ap- peared in the hall where the meeting was being held and somewhat excitedly told me that a movement was on foot to in- troduce a resolution at this meeting of Democratic editors to formally declare Joseph E. McDonald to be the choice of the Indiana Democracy for the Presi- dency of the United States. Besides ques- tioning the right of an editorial associa- tion to speak for the party in a matter of such importance, he declared that to adopt a resolution of this character dur- ing the absence of Mr. Hendricks in Eu- rope-Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks then being on an extended tour of the Old World- would be manifestly a gross injustice if not an indignity to the man who for so many years had been the recognized and undisputed leader of the Indiana Democ- racy. He expatiated with a good deal of feeling on what he declared to be an in- creasing awakening of Democratic senti- ment throughout the country in favor of the renomination of the 1876 ticket and the importance of avoiding any friction that might be caused by precipitating the launching of rival candidacies. I listened attentively to what Mr. Henderson had to present, then proceeded to say that while I would gladly once more be enlisted in waging political battle for "Tilden, Hen- dricks and Reform," I feared that the opportunity for avenging the wrong of 1876-7 had been frittered away; that the
bringing of a new Richmond into the field seemed to me inevitable; that I doubted the policy of antagonizing Mr. McDon- ald's aspirations in view of his steadfast support of Mr. Hendricks' candidacies in the past, and that I deemed it of the ut- most importance to maintain harmony within the party ranks in this State. However, I would see what could be done to guard against "snap judgment" being taken in the premises while Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks were abroad and if possible keep the field open until their return. By the application of some diplomacy presi- dential preferences were happily held in abeyance so far as the editorial associa- tion was concerned. For this Mr. Hen- derson expressed high appreciation after the association had completed its work without taking any action with reference to the Presidential nomination in 1884.
Immediately upon Mr. and Mrs. Hen- dricks' return from their European tour I received a telegram announcing that Mr. Hendricks desired to see me at Indi- anapolis. I hastened to the State capital and had a two hours' conference with Mr. Hendricks in his private office. The presi- dential situation was the sole subject of our conversation. Cautiously and diplo- matically Mr. Hendricks reviewed the events of the past eight years. In regard to his refusal to stand for renomination in 1880 he seemed somewhat evasive. What little he said on that subject led me to believe that he did have some feel- ing in regard to being ignored as to the course that should have been pursued in the electoral contest of 1877, but this was adroitly smoothed over by the declaration that he then did not know or understand Mr. Tilden as well as he had since learned
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to know and understand him; that he (Tilden) was a much greater man than he appeared to him (Hendricks) in former years; that as a matter of fact he (Hendricks) regarded Mr. Tilden, next to Bismarck, the greatest statesman in the world, "and when I say that," Mr. Hen- dricks added, significantly and im- pressively, "I think I am paying him the highest compliment one man can pay an- other." In substance I reiterated with reference to the presidential situation what I had previously said to Mr. Hen- derson-that even if inclined belatedly to go before the American people for the vindication of the majesty of the ballot, Mr. Tilden's impaired health would for- bid the making of another race with all the exactions, trials and tribulations in- cident thereto. Yet, if the party should decide to press Mr. Tilden into service, despite his protests, nothing could or would afford me greater pleasure than to devote myself to the advocacy of the "old ticket" with all the energy and en- thusiasm at my command.
STATE CONVENTION, JUNE 25, 1884.
The convention was called to order by State Chairman Joseph E. McDonald. The committee on permanent organization recommended that Senator Daniel W. Voorlees be chosen president of the con- vention, and Lincoln Dixon of Jennings county, serve as secretary. The recom- mendation was unanimously and enthusi- astically concurred in. A ringing keynote speech was delivered by Senator Voorhees on taking the chair. He was, as always, accorded a demonstrative greeting.
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
1. Eb. Henderson, Chairman, Morgan county.
2. M. B. McDonald, Gibson.
3. H. V. Norvell, Green.
4. Joseph L. Riley, Jennings.
5. A. B. Armington, Decatur.
6. W. C. Forey, Fayette.
7. Jackson Landers, Marion.
8. Dr. W. H. Gillum, Parke.
9. Elwood Avery, Clinton.
10. A. B. Crampton, Carroll.
11. D. B. Sweetser, Grant.
12. Colonel C. A. Zollinger, Allen.
13. Edward Hawkins, Laporte.
GRAY HAD THINGS HIS OWN WAY.
It had become plainly apparent that Isaac P. Gray was the undoubted choice of a majority of the delegates for the Gubernatorial nomination. This, how- ever, does not warrant the inference that all the delegates favored his nomination. A goodly number would gladly have seen General Mahlon D. Manson, Judge David Turpie or Senator D. W. Voorhees select- ed. Strong pressure was, especially, brought upon the latter to enter the race. Men of commanding influence in the or- ganization pleaded with him to make the race for the sake of the party. Most of these gentlemen believed Colonel Gray had not affiliated with the Democratic party long enough to be made its chosen State leader. The part he had in securing the ratification of the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution in 1869 was especially held against him. The Indianapolis Sen- tinel thus referred to the pressure brought on Senator Voorhees:
"Early in the morning it was announced that Senator Voorhees was giving way to the arguments of his friends and had con- cluded to be a candidate for Governor. A reporter asked Senator Voorhees about this and he neither affirmed or denied, but said: 'I was opposed to this thing from the first and do not care to talk about it. If I had known what I do now, I would not have come here. I do not care to discuss the matter in the newspapers.'
"Leaving Senator Voorhees' room, the reporter met Eb. Henderson and asked him about the matter. Mr. Henderson said: 'Mr. Voorhees did not come here as a candidate against any of the gentle- men in the field, and when his friends so- licited him to be a candidate he positively refused. When asked if he would accept the nomination if it were tendered him he replied that he owed all he was to the Dem- ocratic party and he would not refuse any position that the voice of that party asked
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him to take.' Mr. Henderson did not be- lieve that the Senator's name would be pre- sented."
When the convention settled down to the nomination of a State ticket Judge J. H. Stotsenburg, of New Albany, moved the nomination of Daniel W. Voorhees for Governor. Promptly that gentleman cleared the situation with this terse and explicit statement :
"Gentlemen of the convention, under no possible circumstances that now exist can my name be presented to this convention for any other position than the one I now enjoy as your representative in the United States Senate, and thanking the delegate who has paid me the compliment, being authorized to control my own name, I with- draw it from the convention."
Judge Bickle presented the name of Isaac P. Gray, of Randolph county, for Governor. Bayless W. Hanna, of Craw- fordsville, put in nomination General Mahlon D. Manson, which nomination was enthusiastically seconded by the Cass county delegation. The Tenth Congres- sional District presented the name of Judge David Turpie, of Indianapolis. So evident was the trend to Colonel Gray that before roll call General Manson moved that his nomination be made by acclamation, which motion, upon being seconded by Judge Turpie, was adopted with tumultuous applause.
For Lieutenant-Governor there were put in nomination James E. Mccullough, of Gibson county ; Judge Louis Jordan, of Indianapolis; General Mahlon D. Manson, of Crawfordsville; James H. Willard, of Lawrence county; Colonel Isaiah B. Mc- Donald, of Whitley county. As the roll was called and county upon county voted for General Manson, the names of the other gentlemen were withdrawn one af- ter another and the nomination of that. veteran made unanimous.
For Supreme Judge, Captain Joseph A. S. Mitchell, of Goshen, was nominated by acclamation.
All the State officers nominated and elected two years prior were honored with unanimous renominations, as fol- lows :
Secretary of State-Captain Wm. R. Myers.
Auditor of State-James H. Rice.
Treasurer of State-John J. Cooper.
Attorney-General-Francis T. Hord.
Superintendent of Public Instruction-John W. Holcombe.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
At Large-Bayless W. Hanna, of Crawfords- ville; Dr. W. D. H. Hunter, of Lawrenceburg.
Contingents-Woodson S. Marshall, of War- saw; Andrew Humphrey, of Greene county.
1. W. F. Townsend, Pike county.
2. Henry S. Cauthorn, Knox.
3. Aaron Cravens, Washington.
4. F. E. Gavin, Decatur.
5. Willis Hickan, Owen.
6. N. R. Elliott, Henry.
7. James A. New, Hancock.
8. James M. Sellers, Montgomery.
9. William R. Oglesby, Tipton.
10. Johann Kopelke, Lake.
11. W. H. Haskins, Jay.
12. William H. Dills, DeKalb.
13. Mortimer Nye, Laporte.
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
1. Haber J. May, Perry county.
2. W. Q. Traylor, Dubois.
3. James V. Kelso, Floyd.
4. Hugh D. McMullen, Dearborn.
5. John C. Robinson, Owen.
6. William Cassady, Rush.
7. William H. English, Marion.
8. John G. Williams, Vigo.
9. DeWitt Bryant, Clinton.
10. Dr. F. B. Thomas, Pulaski.
11. James S. Dailey, Wells.
12. Thomas R. Marshall, Whitley.
13. Charles H. Reeve, Marshall.
The platform reported by this commit- tee and adopted by the convention-
"Favors tariff duty on the luxuries of life and its removal from the necessities, with the stipulation that the surplus rev- enue be applied to the payment of the pub- lic debt.
"Favors the reduction of labor to eight hours; establishment of bureaus of labor statistics, both State and National; use of prison labor not to compete with outside labor; prohibition of children under four-
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teen employed in factories and mines and workshops; enforcement of the laws against Chinese immigration.
"Favors the prohibition by law of the right of private corporations to water their corporate stock.
"Favors granting of pensions to Mexi- can war veterans, and to all soldiers suf- fering from disability incurred during service in the army.
"Favors the protection by our Govern- ment of all United States citizens in every part of the world, including those who have declared their intention to become such under our laws.
"Demands reforms in the civil service which will result in the employment of . only those who are honest and capable, and that that shall be one of the conditions of public employment.
"Sectarianism shall and must be kept out of public schools.
"Approves the action of the late Demo- cratic Legislature in preventing a partisan Governor from revolutionizing politically the benevolent institutions of the State by appointment of political friends to vacan- cies.
"Approves the passage of a Metropolitan Police Bill which provides for mixed polit- ical incumbents instead of partisan police.
"Resolved, That we are opposed to the calling of a convention to amend the Con- stitution of the State; that we demand the repeal of the laws passed by the Republic- ans designed to place the elections under Federal control in direct violation of State rights."
Joseph E. McDonald was presented as Indiana's choice for the Presidency of the United States and the delegation was in- structed to support him as a unit.
DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTION.
At Large-Thomas A. Hendricks, Daniel W. Voorhees, Robert C. Bell and Colonel Charles Denby.
Contingents-General James A. Cravens, Wil- liam H. English, Colonel Patrick Keefe and Colonel John Lee.
1. Major G. V. Menzies, Posey county.
F. Lauenstein, Vanderburg.
2. J. Breen, Martin.
C. T. Aiken, Sullivan.
3. C. W. Grusen, Scott.
D. F. Lemon, Harrison.
4. Colonel E. D. Bannister, Dearborn. J. H. Woolford, Jefferson.
5. Thomas W. Woollen, Johnson. P. H. McCormack, Bartholomew.
6. W. A. Bickle, Wayne. Henry Wiger, Delaware.
7. Peter Lieber, Marion. Oscar B. Hord, Marion.
8. T. F. Davidson, Fountain. C. F. McNutt, Vigo.
9. J. A. Brunt, Madison. S. S. Dailey, Boone.
10. Chester Chamberlain, Fulton. A. L. Jones, Porter.
11. Dr. D. Yingling, Huntington. Hugh Daugherty, Wells.
12. Herman Freygang, Steuben. Henry Colerick, Allen.
13. Hudson Beck, Kosciusko. Daniel McDonald, Marshall.
The notable features of the convention were the graceful manner in which Gen- eral Manson and Judge Turpie took them- selves out of the Gubernatorial race, thus making the nomination of Colonel Gray the unanimous action of the convention, and the acquiescence of General Manson in having the nomination for Lieutenant- Governor thrust upon him when that wasn't at all what he wanted.
VOORHEES ON HENDRICKS' ATTITUDE.
Under date of July 18, 1883, Senator Voorhees wrote to me from his home, Terre Haute:
"I note what you say about Hendricks. I think he will finally come out all right, but I confess his present attitude gives me pain. He may not perhaps hurt McDon- ald, but I fear that he will injure and be- little himself. I am strongly attached to him, and don't want him to exhibit the small side of human nature, as a man al- ways does when he shows jealousy or envy. I do not know that Hendricks has any feel- ings of that kind, but the public will be swift to draw such a conclusion.
"There is nothing in the old ticket move- ment. I have seen Mr. Tilden within the last year. He is a broken-down, trem- bling, palsied old man, all the fabricating to the contrary notwithstanding. If he had not force enough in him to assert his
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rights in 1876-7, still less has he now. He is out of the question. Since the adjourn- ment of Congress I have been in eleven different States, and I have no doubt of McDonald's nomination unless some great change takes place. The movement for him did not originate in Indiana; it is everywhere else as well."
CLEVELAND AND HENDRICKS NOMINATED AT CHICAGO.
Grover Cleveland, of New York; Sen- ator Thomas Francis Bayard, of Dela- ware; Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio; Sam- uel J. Randall, of Pennsylvania; Joseph E. McDonald, of Indiana, and John G. Carlisle, of Kentucky, had earnest, active support at the Democratic National Con- vention, convened in Chicago, July 8. Til- den put a quietus on the further use of his name in connection with the Presi- dential nomination. Most of his lieuten- ants in the Empire State united with Daniel Manning in the support of Grover Cleveland. Manning proved himself a very capable manager. Tilden himself was not partial to Cleveland; his personal preference was Samuel J. Randall, but the latter's pronounced views on protective tariff made the distinguished Pennsyl- vanian an impossibility. Randall himself fully understood this aspect of the case. Tammany fought Cleveland as viciously as it fought Tilden at St. Louis and four years later at Cincinnati. It was this hos- tility to Cleveland that led General Ed- ward S. Bragg, a Wisconsin Congress- man, to exclaim in a fiery speech : "We love him (Cleveland) for the enemies he has made." At one time there seemed to be a prospect of forming a combination to defeat Cleveland by uniting all the elements of opposition on Thomas A. Hendricks. A mighty demonstration had been arranged and was carried into effect in the convention hall, but owing to the defection of the Illinois delegation, largely controlled by Mayor Carter H. Harrison, the scheme miscarried. Ran-
dall advised his friends to support Cleve- land. That made the latter invincible.
Richard D. Hubbard, of Texas, served as temporary and Colonel William F. Vilas, of Wisconsin, as permanent chair- man of the convention. It was a great assemblage. Ben Butler cut some figure in it. He had a following that was clam- orous for his nomination to the Presi- dency, but when it came to voting there was but little Butler sentiment visible to the naked eye.
Thomas A. Hendricks placed in nomi- nation for the Presidency of the United States his fellow-townsman, Joseph E. McDonald, in a speech of which the fol- lowing is a verbatim report, as delivered on the 9th day of July, 1884:
"Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention-This is my first experience as a delegate in a National Convention, and as I rise to present the name of a dis- tinguished citizen of Indiana in connection with the office of President of the United States, I feel the delicacy and great re- sponsibility of the duty I have undertaken. The people now demand a change in the management of Federal affairs; and if this convention will give them half an oppor- tunity they will execute that purpose in the election of a President in the coming fall.
"I believe the nominee of this conven- tion will soon become the chosen President of the United States. (Cheers.) He will be the first inaugurated President for twenty-four years. (Cheers.) He will come in burdened with all the duties that usually belong to high office, and in addi- tion such duties and delicate responsibili- ties as belong to the transfer of public af- fairs from the representatives of one party to the representatives of another, after long control by the latter.
"Mr. President and gentlemen, I have to suggest for your consideration a citizen of the State of Indiana, the Hon. Joseph E. McDonald. (Loud and long-continued ap- plause.) I thank you for the reception you have given to his name. Born in an ad- joining State, Indiana became his home when but a boy. He learned a trade, and that made him self-dependent and very re- spectable (applause), and after that he
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pursued his studies with such opportuni- ties as he had, and finally prepared him- self for the profession of law; and from the time that he took his stand in the court house of his county until the present time, when he stands, it may be, in the Supreme Court of the United States, he has been the peer of the best of that profession in the West. (Loud applause.) First, he was solicited by the district in which he lived to prosecute the pleas of the State; after- ward chosen by the State to represent her as the Attorney-General; next-not next to that, but before that-he went from his own district in which he was raised from boyhood to the Congress of the United States, and afterward the people of the whole State sent him as a Senator to Wash- ington. Faithfully, diligently, ably, for six years he represented Indiana in the Senate. He was welcomed by the ablest of the Senators as his peer. Mr. McDon- ald has been a student of the learning that has made the Democracy of the United States what it is today. (Loud applause.) He is familiar with the writings of the fathers, and his opinions are based upon the sentiments that came to him from their pages. He is of clear perception, of strong judgment, of earnest convictions, fair- minded and just. If you shall honor him with your nomination, no man will have occasion to find fault with the candid and frank manner of his reception when he may go to the White House.
"Gentlemen of the convention, I do not speak for Mr. McDonald alone. I do not speak for myself alone. I do not speak for those thirty gentlemen who directed me to stand here and speak for them-I speak for a mighty State. (Continued ap- plause.) But ten days ago a Democracy that never steps backward, a Democracy that meets the contest when and where it may (applause) instructed those thirty gentlemen and myself to say to you that Joseph E. McDonald is worthy of your con- sideration as the candidate for President of the United States. (Loud applause.) What is Indiana, and what is the Democ- racy of Indiana? This mighty State, that is neither of the East nor of the West, rest- ing upon Ohio, associating in commerce, in trade, in good neighborship with adjoining States, this great State has said to me, 'Present the name of Mr. McDonald to the greatest convention the world has ever
seen' (applause), and for Indiana I make my appeal to you today. What heed will you give to Indiana? For twenty-five years, during which I have had some re- sponsible connection with this great party, she has been without strife or discord in her ranks. (Applause.) She acted always as one man, and when the election days have come, the tread of her Democracy has been as the tread of one regiment when the hour of battle is at hand. (Applause.) You know very well, gentlemen, that In- diana makes no question whether your candidate shall live in New York, Dela- ware or Kentucky. You know very well that when the crisis comes Indiana will give him her vote. Are you going to make it against Indiana because she is so faith- ful, because she will not hesitate? Are you going to say from election to election, from convention to convention, 'We need not trouble about that solid State. She is all right. Her votes will go well at elec- tion. We must take care-oh, just by way of illustration-we must take care of New York.' (Great laughter and applause.) Is that where, as a representative of the Democracy of Indiana, these thirty gentle- men and myself have to stand in your pres- ence? We ask not a favor because Indiana is true always, but we ask that you shall not come in judgment against her. (Ap- plause.) When many of your States hesi- tated when war had passed, when the smoke of battle had blown away, and the sound of guns upon the plains and among the mountains had ceased, and you strug- gled and we struggled, Indiana was the first State to carry the banner of Democ- racy to the front.
"And now, gentlemen, a man of good at- tainments, of high character, endorsed by my State-I present his name to you-and all I ask is justice. The humblest of us may ask that much ; and when it shall come to be that in a Democratic convention jus- tice may not be asked, then perhaps I would better review the practices of the past and not come to convention at all. I thank you, brother Democrats, I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the attention you have given me while I have spoken for a friend." (Great and continued applause, a great number of the delegates rising to their feet and swinging their hats, etc.)
The first ballot resulted : Cleveland,
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392; Bayard, 170; Thurman, 88; Randall, 78; McDonald, 56; Carlisle, 27; scatter- ing, 8.
On the second ballot Cleveland was nominated by the decisive vote of 683 to 811/2 for Bayard, 1451/2 for Hendricks, 4 for Thurman, 4 for Randall and 2 for McDonald. Thomas A. Hendricks was unanimously nominated for Vice-Presi- dent. On a motion to make the nomina- tion of Cleveland unanimous, vigorous "noes" came up from the Tammany crowd, but the nomination of Hendricks was greeted with an outburst of enthusi- asm that admitted of no doubt of his pop- ularity with the great crowd that wit- nessed the nomination of the Democratic Presidential ticket in 1884.
THE CAMPAIGN IN INDIANA.
A more vigorous campaign than that fought by the Democracy of Indiana in 1884 could hardly be imagined. Every Democrat in the State seemed to have designated himself a committee of one to win a great and glorious victory. Some bitterness was occasioned by the publication in the columns of the Indian- apolis Sentinel of an ancient story reflect- ing upon the moral character of James G. Blaine, the idol of his party and head of the Republican National ticket. The Sen- tinel's plea of justification was that the Republicans had mercilessly and scandal- ously utilized the Maria Halpin story to render Grover Cleveland unpopular with voters of a high moral standard and that Republicans, therefore, had no right to complain upon having a dose of their own medicine administered to them. Libel suit was instituted against the Sentinel for defamation of character. In view of the politics involved in this case the proprie- tor of the Sentinel, Mr. John C. Shoe- maker, contended that the Democratic State Committee ought to pay the attor- ney's fee in defense of the case, but the chairman of the committee was unable to concur in this view, whereupon the Sen-
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