History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 81

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

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The nomination and election of Hon. John A. M. Adair to Congress from the Eighth district in 1906 had a direct bearing on the politics of Delaware county. A large number of thoughtful Republicans of this county voted for Mr. Adair. When these same Republicans discovered that the success of a Democrat at the polls did not cause a hiatus in the economy of nature, when they learned that their act of voting for a Democrat did not prove disastrous, they were willing to try the experiment on the county offices.

In 1910 the Democrats presented to the voters of the county a ticket of unusual strength. The men named on that ticket were men worthy of confidence. The result was seen in the election of Democrats to the offices of County Auditor, Recorder, Sheriff and one member of the Board of County Commissioners.

It was with unusual confidence that the party

entered the campaign of 1912. The ticket was a good one and the result was the election of Coun- ty Treasurer, Coroner and Surveyor; re-election of the Sheriff, State Senator and two Representa- tives and Prosecuting Attorney.

At the election in 1914 the party was again successful in a marked degree, though not all of the candidates on the ticket were so fortunate as to be elected. But in the main the victory was pronounced, the party having secured the election of the County Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder, Prosecuting Attorney, Surveyor, Coun- ty Assessor, two members of the Board of County Commissioners, making that body entirely Demo- cratic, the first time in the history of the county that such condition existed, elected one Repre- sentative, losing only the Sheriff, Coroner and one Representative.

The historian of a quarter of a century hence will not need depend on legends for his facts re- garding the Democratic party in old Delaware county. The records will show that there were Democrats in office and that the dawn of a better day had fully come.

It may prove of interest to the future voters of the county to know the names of the men who were the successful candidates of the Democratic party at the elections above mentioned. In 1910 F. M. Williams secured the office of County Au- ditor. Jesse G. White, Sheriff, came near losing the office due to a mistake in setting the voting machine in one of the precincts, but the case was taken into court, where a decision was handed down in favor of Mr. White. Charles W. Fletcher was elected to the office of Recorder and William Sunderland as a member of the Board of County Commissioners.

The election of 1912 resulted in the election of Mr. G. G. Williamson to the office of County Treasurer, perhaps the first Democrat to hold that office; Jesse G. White, re-elected to the office of Sheriff by a majority of more than two thou- sand votes; George Gelts, State Senator; John W. Schafer and Charles Barnhart, Representatives; J. Frank Mann, Prosecuting Attorney; Dr. Fred Bunch, Coroner; Horace Weber, Surveyor, and William Sunderland and S. A. Clark as members of the Board of County Commissioners.

When the time came for the election of 1914 the Democrats were ready for the fray and suc- ceeded in clecting the following to the offices in- dicated: F. M. Williams, to be his own suc- cessor in the office of County Auditor; G. G. Wil- liamson, who was re-elected to the office of Coun- ty Treasurer; Charles Bowden, Clerk of the Court; Ross Dowden, County Recorder; J. Frank Mann, to succeed himself as Prosecuting Attor- ney; Horace Weber, re-elected County Surveyor;

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John W. Schafer, re-elected Representative; Da- vid Hays and S. A. Clark, re-elected to the Board of County Commissioners.

At the election in 1916, the Republicans were successful at the polls in this county, electing their entire ticket, thus displacing Democrats whose term of office had expired. While the ma- jorities obtained were not large, they were ample to yield practical results.

Again in 1918 the Democrats of this county met defeat at the hands of the ancient enemy and the following offices passed to the control of the Republicans: Auditor, Clerk of the Court, Re- corder and the remaining member of the Board of County Commissioners. Thus the county is once more held in the bondage of the Republican party after a respite of some eight years. True the old time majorities that once marked the success of the G. O. P. when it was in the heydey of success are absent. But this fact does not lessen the concern of those who believe in an efficient management of the business affairs of the coun- ty.

The reverses that came to the Democratic party in this county, and for that matter, throughout the Nation, were not due to lack of party fealty, but were due to the pro-German sentiment, which was unalterably opposed to the administration of President Wilson. The vote of the pro-Germans was cast for Republican candidates from Con- gressman to road supervisor as an expression of disloyalty to the Government that has all these years fostered and protected them. It was a vote against the great institutions of this land of free- dom. Certainly the Republican party should feel greatly elated and highly complimented to have associated with this band of unpatriotic people. No man with a drop of red blood coursing through his veins but must feel outraged when he realizes that the men who voted against the administration in this time of war were stabbing the boys in the back while they were facing the uncivilized Hun on the field of carnage. The vote at the election of 1918 in this county and in the state places the Republican party in the position of disloyalty to free institutions. It is undoubtedly true that the rank and file of that party are just as loyal as the men of other parties, yet the managers of the Re- publican party were willing to encourage the traitors and solicited their votes and thus brought odium to the party that all time can not erase.

In this county there was not a large pro-Ger- man vote, but it was ample to turn the tide at the polls. Certainly the Republican party is welcome to whatever glory it can obtain from the results of the election of 1918. The fact stands out clear and distinct that the Democratic party, in county,

state and nation, is alone today the embodiment of all that means genuine Americanism.

This is the record of Democratic tri- umphs in the county in recent years. The change in political sentiment was almost in the nature of a revolution, but this change was only the sequence of partisan poli- tics, intoxicated with long years of uninterrupted success at the polls. The change was the logical result of hossism, grown arrogant through long years of control. It fully demonstrated the fact that the people will eventually revolt against the politician and insist on having things change to meet their ideas of honest politics. The change in the political sentiment demonstrated the fact that a political party can hope to remain in con- trol only so long as it serves the best interests of all the people. Whenever a party attempts to go counter to the will of the majority of the party its days of success at the polls are num- bered. Put in epigrammatic form, that party serves itself best which serves the public best at all times.

An illustration of how the shuttlecock of poli- tics may vary with the political breezes of the day is seen in the city of Muncie. For years the city had a large Republican majority, though occasionally a Democrat secured a municipal office. In 1891 A. W. Brady served as Mayor and Arthur Shideler as City Clerk and James Williams as City Treasurer, each serving a term. In 1898 Edward Tuhey, Democrat, was elected to the office of Mayor, but all the remainder of the city officials were of the Republican faith.

The most remarkable instance of transfer of municipal political fealty came in 1909 when Ed- ward Tuhey was elected Mayor, John R. Kelly, City Clerk, and the entire membership of the Com- mon Council, all Democrats, were elected. This was the first time in the history of the city of Muncie that every one of the municipal officers was a Democrat, placing the control of the city in the hands of the Democratic party, the party that within the memory of men yet living was ostra- cized and its members driven from the polls.

At the election in 1913 the Democratic ticket was again successful at the municipal election, the Mayor, R. H. Bunch, City Clerk John R. Kel- ly, and eleven of the twelve members of the Com- mon Council being elected. The Progressives elected one member to the Council.

There yet remains one oasis in the Delaware county desert of Republicanism-the city of Mun- cie continues Democratic. At the election for Mayor and other city officials in 1917, Mayor Rol- lin H. Bunch was re-elected by an unprecedented majority and with him were elected ten of the

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twelve members of the City Council, as was the City Clerk, Dennis Cleary. This much remains of the work accomplished by the faithful followers of the stanch old party, and the spirit of determina- tion to win future contests has not been quenched -the workers will "carry on."

Delaware county Democrats never received any recognition from the hands of the State Conven- tions of the party by having any one from this county placed as a candidate on the State ticket. This order of procedure was broken in 1892 when Hon. O. J. Lotz, who had served on the Delaware Circuit Court bench, was nominated by the con- vention as a member of the Appellate Court. He was elected at the November election and served with credit to himself by making an enviable rec- ord in the Appellate Court by his keen analysis of the cases set down, upon which he was selected to write the opinion.

It may be a bit of digression to make mention of the fact that during the days when the Demo- cratic party in this county was very much sub- merged, there was enough virility in and fealty to the fundamental party principles of the fathers to organize and successfully conduct a Demo- cratic Club. In 1891 a number of the stanch party men organized the Delaware County Gray Club with a very substantial membership. The first president of the club was Frank Gribben and the first secretary was F. D. Haimbaugh. The first political dinner given by any party in the county was tendered by the Gray Club in Feb- ruary, 1892. A number of the prominent party workers of the State were present, as was a large and faithful contingent of the adherents of the party in this county. The Gray Club had per- manent club rooms and flourished for a number of years and exerted a wholesome influence on the party politics of the county. It finally ceased to exist and the party was without club organiza- tion until 1909, when the Delaware County Demo- cratic Club was called into existence. This result was accomplished through the efforts of a num- ber of the earnest party workers. This club is in vigorous existence today and wields a sub- stantial influence in all the things that look for party success. The club since its inception has given a dinner each year that is conceded to be among the best of such functions provided any- where in the State. The advantages of political clubs grow out of the fact that they are perennial in their influences in disseminating the doctrines of the party and stand guard over the destinies of the organization the whole year through.

During all the years of benighted political ex- istence in Delaware county, when to be a Demo- crat was to be a martyr for political belief, there

were a number of stalwart, earnest, sturdy Demo- crats, who ever had the courage of their convic- tions. These patriots of principle kept faithful watch at the hearth-stone of the house that Jef- ferson built. They kindled the fires of party pa- triotism on that hearth-stone and kept them burning; they made bright the windows of the home in order that when the dawn of a better day should herald the coming of political civiliza- tion in Delaware county, a hospitable welcome would be found by those seeking deliverance from the thralldom of an intolerant political dynasty, such as the Republican party for long years main- tained.

It would be a distinct pleasure to here record the names of all those faithful adherents of party principles, but the absence of a roster of the names precludes a complete list and memory on the part of one who lived in those strenuous days supplies a partial list :

There was Dr. M. James, who was a host with- in himself, ever ready to serve the party that he had loved so long and well; Henry Wysor, in the dark days of Democracy in Delaware county stood almost alone as an advocate of the teach- ings of Jefferson and Jackson; Adam Wolf, al- ways ready to help the party work with wise counsel and in more substantial ways; Martin Galliher, a pioneer in party service; Arthur Pat- terson, stanch and sturdy for party; Phil Ken- nedy, a keeper of the faith at all times; "Uncle" George Elliott, always ready with wit and satire in defense of his party; Dr. H. M. Mitchell could be found at his post as a defender of Democratic principles; Lew Sears, ready at a moment's notice to help in party work; H. Silverburg, father of two Democratic sons, Victor, deceased, and A. C .; Samuel Williamson, constant and faithful worker; H. M. Winans, father and son of the same name and political fealty; L. A. Kirk- wood, who waged an unequal warfare through the columns of his newspaper back in the seven- ties and early eighties; Thomas McKillip, earnest in his Democracy and founder of the Muncie Herald, the first Democratic daily paper in the county. Then there were the Thomas boys, James and William, ever ready to fight for the principles of the party; Dr. E. J. Puckett, stalwart in phys- ical makeup and of equal stature in party adher- ence; Hiram Messersmith, happiest when plead- ing the cause of real Democracy; Samuel Mar- tin, always on the defense of party; Eph Smell, faithful through many years of defeat; James Moffett, a wheel horse in party work and an ad- vocate of party principles at all times; Dr. Mun- sey of Washington township, who never deserted the citadel of his party; Thomas Marshall of Per-

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ry township, first Democrat to be elected to be a member of the Board of County Commissioners, elected in 1886; Judge O. J. Lotz, who served faithfully and with distinction on the "bench" in this county and as a member of the Appellate Court; Daniel Kelly, always at the bat for his party.

There were giants in those days, and the names above mentioned are at best but a few of those who kept watch and ward over the citadel of the party in this county. Just a few of those who kept the faith. The roll of honor, were it written in full, would chronicle distinguished service ren- dered by those unselfish patriots of party. In those days the contest was hopeless, but the fact . that by force of circumstances the battle was one- sided did not deter those men from being found at their post of duty.

In those days it was no unusual occurrence for

half a dozen of the faithful to meet in "mass con- vention" and select a ticket to be placed as a sacrifice on the altar of the party. There was no hope of success, but only by such means was it possible to maintain party organization and keep it intact and make success at the polls possible in the future. Many of those who served the party thus are yet living and to all such the party in the county owes a debt of gratitude that can never be paid. Even as late as the period cov- ered by the years from 1890 to 1910 the work of keeping the party organized was done by a few faithful workers, who, at the cost of personal comfort and even business and social standing, stood at their post and directed the party in the channels of modern political thought and action. Had it not been for these men there would have been no Democratic victories in 1910, 1912 and 1914.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF DUBOIS COUNTY

By William Melchior

D UBOIS COUNTY, once a part of Knox coun- ty, later a part of Gibson, then a part of Pike county, was organized as a distinct county in December, 1817, when an area of 480 square miles was cut from the eastern part of Pike county.

John Niblack, a former Kentuckian, was ap- pointed county agent, and his duties were to lo- cate and build the new court house and jail. He virutally built these in the forest, and later served with credit as one of the judges of the court. He was a man of ability, that left his name indelibly stamped on the pioneer history of the county. Later his son, Hon. William E. Niblack, served in the county as Circuit Judge for four years, Con- gressman for fourteen years (1859-61, 1863-75), and later as Judge of the Supreme Court of In- diana for twelve years. He was the Democratic idol of Dubois county for a period of thirty years, and the people today feel that their confidence in him was well bestowed.

The census of 1820 gave Dubois county a popu- lation of 1,168, all white but eight. Most of the early settler read the Western Sun, a pioneer Democratic newspaper published at Vincennes by Elihu Stout, and thus absorbed Democratic doc- trine.

The American Eagle, published by Henry Comingore, at Jasper, was the first paper pub- lished in the county. It was Democratic and ap- peared from 1846 to 1848.

The Jasper Courier, established at Jasper in 1858, is the oldest newspaper in the county. It was edited by Clement Doane, who belched forth undefiled doctrines of Democracy for a period of forty-six years, when the editorial robe descended upon his son, Benjamin Ed, who fearlessly con- tinues the task of pushing his pen for Democracy.

In 1867 the Huntingburg Signal appeared, print- ed in the German language, Ernst Pickhardt be- ing the editor. For thirty-seven years it was a welcome visitor in many homes, and proved its worth as a missionary, spreading the gospel of Democracy among the German-American citizens of the county. Hon. E. W. Pickhardt, son of the former propietor, is now the editor, and changed the language of the Signal from German to Eng- lish in 1914, while its other policies remain as heretofore.

The Jasper Herald was established by William C. Binckley in 1895. The Herald prospered from the beginning. The editor, William C. Binckley,

fearlessly espoused the cause of Democracy for fifteen years, when he sold the paper to Louis Zoercher, a journalist of Perry county. Mr. Syl- vester Smith is now manager and the Herald en- joys a very large and growing subscription list.

The Ferdinand News, published at Ferdinand, entered the field in 1906. Henry Haake is the manager and editor. The News is able and always clean, and merits the large support it receives.

From its organization, Dubois county was Dem- ocratic. Colonel B. B. Edmonston, a pioneer and politician who was very popular with immigrants and native-born alike, is entitled to much credit for moulding the political opinions of the early days. For a period of twenty-five years he faith- fully served the people as a county official.

The rise of Professor Andrew M. Sweeney of Jasper reads like a romance. By pluck and en- ergy he rose from the railroad camp to the po- sition of teacher, then county superintendent, 1881-89, then nominated for State Superintendent of Schools, and in 1890 he was elected Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State. In 1894 he founded the State Life Insurance Company of Indianapolis, and served fourteen years as first president of the company.

Hon. John L. Bretz of Jasper likewise has had a meteoric career. A farmer's plow-boy first, then a teacher, then a lawyer, then Prosecuting Attorney, then two terms in Congress, 1891-95, and at the present time he is Judge of the Fifty- seventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Another, whose political rise has been phe- nomenal, is Hon. William E. Cox of Jasper. He was a tiller of the soil, a teacher, Prosecuting Attorney, and at present serving his fourth term in Congress, 1907-1915.

Since 1842 the county officials have been Demo- crats, with four exceptions-one recorder, one school superintendent, and two county commis- sioners. A Republican was also elected as county surveyor, but declined to accept the position. Party lines were not closely drawn. Many of the victories achieved by the Democratic party, were in large part due to the quality of the men seek- ing official positions and the splendid work of a long list of hustling county chairman, comprising Hon. Bomar Traylor, Senator M. A. Sweeney, Ex-County Superintendent George R. Wilson, Ex- Auditor August H. Koerner, and other leaders such as Hon. William A. Traylor, John Gramel- . spacher, George Friedman, Gerhart Eversman,

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HISTORY INDIANA DEMOCRACY-1816-1916

William Heitman, Frank Zimmer, Joseph Buchart and many others, who pushed the issues with vigor.

Our State Senators since 1840 have been: John Hargrave, Smith Miller, Benjamin Edmonston, Benjamin Goodman, W. Hawthorne, Colonel Thomas Shoulders, Allen Fleming, James Barker, William Montgomery, Leroy Cave, Henry Peed, William A. Traylor, James Willard, Oscar Trippet, John Sweeney, M. A. Sweeney, Ephraim Inman, R. M. Milburn, John Benz, Samuel Benz, and Bomar Traylor.

Our State Representatives for the same time include the following list of names: Dr. A. B. MeCrillus, Dr. John Polson, B. R. Edmonston, Si- las Davis, George Lemonds, Benjamin Goodman, Henry Barker, General John Able, John Martin, Colonel Thomas Shoulders, Dr. M. Kempf, Ephraim Inman, A. W. Porter, S. H. Stewart, Perry McCart, Frank Pinnick, Captain S. Sulli-

van, Dr. P. L. Coble, David Corn, Horace M. Kean and Robert Kemp.

To name a complete list of Democratic leaders in this county would be a task indeed, for the county is filled with them. Suffice to say, that when voters elsewhere vacillated and followed strange gods, the Democracy of Dubois county continued to be as constant as the north star.

Since 1856, the Democratic majorities have in- creased from 1,000 to 2,000. Here is an example of continuous party service. Nowhere has the idea of graft been allowed to enter and nowhere has political service been rendered with greater efficiency.

"Men may come and men may go," but the un- terrified Democracy of Dubois county remains forever.

The cardinal principles of Democracy are en- shrined in the hearts of our people, and when these are assailed, the Democracy of Dubois coun- ty will be found rock-ribbed and true.

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HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ELKHART COUNTY

By H. S. K. Bartholomew

F ROM the organization of the county in 1830 to the present time the rank and file of Elk- hart county Democracy has been composed of as true, as loyal and patriotic men as can be found in any portion of the good old Hoosier State.

During the first quarter of a century of the county's history it was in the ascendancy and during that period, too, the men whom it elected to public positions gave a good account of them- selves as custodians of the county's business. Since 1860 Democracy has been in the minority and only at occasional intervals has it been able to elect its candidates to office.

During the more than four-score years that it has participated in political contests its nominees for public office have been, almost without excep- tion, among the best representatives of the coun- ty's manhood and men eminently worthy of public trust. At no time has it been held together by the "cohesive power of public plunder," but it has been inspired by worthy ideals and has waged its campaigns in behalf of the principles to which it subscribes.

The most eminent representative of the party in the early days of the county's history was Colonel John Jackson, one of the pioneer settlers of Elkhart prairie. Colonel Jackson first came to the county in 1812 with a detachment of Gen- eral Anthony Wayne's army in pursuit of hostile Indians. Being favorably impressed with the beautiful Elkhart prairie, he then selected the tract of land which he wished for his future home. He settled there in 1829 and at once be- came a prominent factor in the county's develop- ment. He secured the establishment of the first postoffice and was appointed the first postmaster. He was a member of the board of justices during the time when that body had charge of the coun- ty's business, and when the board of commission- ers was established he was chosen the first Com- missioner for the Southern district of the county. While serving on the board of justices he took an active part in locating the county seat at Goshen. In 1832 he was elected representative in the Legislature and filled that responsible posi- tion with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituency. For forty years he was one of the leading citizens of the county and doubt- less did more for its upbuilding than any other one man of his day and generation. During all

those years he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people for whose welfare he labored so long and for whom he made sacrifices innumer- able. He died in 1873, full of years and honors and his remains repose in the little city of the dead which bears his name. Two of his sons, Ira and Dr. A. C. Jackson, were prominently iden- tified with Elkhart county during their long lives, both remaining steadfast in the political faith of their illustrious father. One of his daughters is still living. She is the widow of Hon. John E. Thompson, who for many years was a Repub- lican wheel horse, but who in 1896 left that party and became a Democrat.

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History of the Indiana democracy, 1816-1916, Part 81

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