Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1884 — BLAINE’S BOOM? [ARTICLE]

BLAINE’S BOOM?

Bead ex-President Tilden’s letter Democratic State Conventl n next Wednesday. a potion of Blaine’s record will be found in another portion of today’s paper. Bead it. True, Dudley, Hill and Ruuyan were maimed in the war, nevertheless their admirers in the late radical State Convention were sadly in the minority. . Now we would like to see Judge Turpie escort Calkins over the State on a tour of joint discussions. Our rosy-cheeked friend would smile as sickly, and more so, than the great Smiler Colfax was wont to do on similar expeditions.

Capt. Burnham of Rensselaer, formerly Greenback-Democratic candidate for prosecutor in thia circuit presided at the Blaine ratification meeting at that place.—Kentland Gazette. Burnham never was a candidate for prosecutor in this circuit. But, then, go away from home for the news.

Republican nominations— The former member of Congress from this district, rosy-cheeked William H. Calkins, for Governor. For Lieutenant Governor —Eugene Bundy, of Hen.y county. ’Oh what was the matter with Hanna?’ Secretary of State—Robert Mitehell.

Auditor of State-Bruce Carr Treasurer of State—Rhody Shiel. Attorney General—W. C. Wilson. Reporter of the Supreme Court— W M Hoggat. Superintendent of Public Instruct tion—B. C Hobbs. Judge Hammond was nominated by acclamation. The best and most fitting nomination made. We are sorry the Judge is a Ro;>u lican. Ed. Sentinel: A few evenings since I stopped in your office, and, picking up a copy of the Kentland Gazette read tm article under the caption,— “Judicial Convention.” and from it extract the following: “The unanimity by which he (Judge Ward) was recommended for the appointment, ana the talked of understanding that the appointee would bt the recognized candidate, induced him to give up a large law practice, tcaccept the position.”

Now, Mr. Mac., I am a Republica:, and a friend of Judge Ward, but what I want to know is who the h— 1 had any authority to enter into any such agreement or understanding?— If you please, can th- Gazette attach blame to nine hundred and niuetya nine because they may not feel bound by an understanding hail with some one. or more, unauthorized by them to enter into such an agreement?

A RENSSELAER REPIBLICAN.

Not Veky Consistent—A few weeks ago the Rensselaer Republican announced the names of a numbey of the citizens of this . ounty in conection with the Republican nomination of a candidate for the State Legislature, only one of whom—Dr. Maxwell —have we heard mentioned for the position. On the list were the names of Alfred Thompson and Wm. B. Austin. Last week, in a pronunciamento, Simon P, Thompson said: “Local modesty forbids that more than two or three out of four of the candidates voted for by us, on June 21st, 1884, should reside in this county.” in response to this the Republican yesterday added the names of M, L« Spitler and S. P. Thompson to the list of candidates for the Legislature. According to the proposition of Mr. Thompson, “Local modesty forbids that more than two or three out of four of the candidates voted for by us, on June 21, 1884, should”—be connected with one establishment.

The Democratic Congressional Convention for the Tenth Indiana District, will be held at Rensselaer* on Tuesday, July 22d 1884 Ezra C Newels, Chair an of the County Democratic Central Committee, has been untiring in his efforts to locate the Contention at this place, and we are pleased to note his success The people of our town will no do bt do all in thrfir power’to make the visit of the delegates a pleasant one. Mr Nowels informs us that our member of Congress, Hon. Thomas J. Wood, will be present and address the people on the issues of the day, Members of the County Democratic Central Committee are requested to meet In Rensselaer on the day appointed for the Convention for the transaction of Important business.

(Rep til fished by request.) 2.. PRIMARY vs. DELEGATE. Culp, Ind., June, 1884. Ed. Sentinel: The Rensselaer Republican frequently contains articles recommending the advantages of a primary election as being the best method for placing a ticket in nomi nation for the many offices to be filled at the general election November next- It is claimed that by the pri maiy system a majority of the votes cast by the party elect, and is a sure index of the strength of the lucky men. Now this might be true if there was no time given candidates to plant their henchmen and strikers in each precinct victory by fair means or foul; and if t..e nominee could secure the untrammeled majority of all the votes. I think a delegate convention will come nearer nominating men that the people favor than th- primary system. For inst ance: it is a sort- d in this county that two hundred and fifty votes, by ti>e primary plan, will nominate.— Concede this, and that .there are one thousand votes cast, that eight of the nine republican candidates for sheriff should each receive one nundred and ten votes making a total of eight hundred and eighty, and the ninth receives one Hundred and twenty, he is tne nominee, and the cho.ce of a small fraction over one-ninth of the party. Eighty-eight per cent must yield their preferences to 12 per cent, and whip into line, vote fur the choice of 120 out of 1,000 regardless of Qualification?, habits, murals, or the questionable he may have practiced to triumph. A convention composed of dele gates from among the people of the several townships, selected a short time before its meeting, instructed or uninstructed as the constituency may elect, is mure likely to voice the sen ; timehts of the people The demoerats have wisely concluded to nomnate by delegate convention, while the republicans, under the direction of the great generalissimo at Rensselaer, will nominate by primary— The methods resorted to by the more unscrupulous will return to plague them. REPUBLICAN. Ed- .Sentinel: Th? above, which appeared in your paper last week, taken in connection with the claims of the friends of certain candidates, tne declarations of others that a proper t’onately small number of the total vote could make the nomination, and the untiring efforts of certain selfconstituted leaders to direct the operations of the so called primary plan to have it result in harmony with their designs and wishes, has opened my eyes to see the mat er in a light that I had never dreamed of. A card in last week’s Republican signed by 8. P. Thomps »n, says for himself:

“I have warmly advocated our method of se ecting delegates,” etc. I go him one better, and assert that I honestly believe, in common with many others, he also originated “our method of selecting delegates.” with a view to secure the success of himself and his favorites He says that he has “no prospect or desire to appear as a candidate before the Congressional conventions, I will be pleased if no voter in tne county shall write my name on his ballot—as his choice for Congressman.”— Why? I quote his reason: “There may be created a prejudice against the citizens of out county, if we are to clannish and local in our expressions for official preferment.” * • • ♦ ♦ * • “Local modesty forbids that more than two or three out ot four of the candidates voted for by us, on June 21SL 1884, shou d reside in this county.” It is generally supp .sed that he is making active personal efforts to break down any “clannish and local * * expressions for official prefer-

ment” with a view to aid a personal favorite iesiding in another section of the district, and remove any prejudice that might be ere Ped against him elsewhere by the “clannish”conduct of our people in expressing a “local” preference. Mr Thompson’s card in my judgment, tnrows promthe suf ace the" idea that other aspirants must give way when a “clannish and local” policy may create a “prejudice” against him in othen local! ies. He' concludes with the statement that he, “for prudential, political and personal reasons prefers that no vote shall be cast for him, as a candidate for Congressman at our precinct mass conventions.” This recommendation may secure for him favorable consideration elsewhere, while ha would reasonably expect the support of our local delegation on demand, whether voted for or not. P jetty sharp proposition, isn’t it? I should like to see a fair, free, honest choice of capable, honorable candidates? But where there are so many candidates, eac setting pins and making every effort to overreach his competitor—some praying to the Lord for help and favor in their political aspirations; others employing henchmen to control votes in their respective localities, while the “clannish and local” preference of the more densely populated precincts will secure the triumph of “ring” favorites I dont like toe tncdc. A Republican supporter of Chile*. te in Walksr Township,

These nominations are revolution'* ary. They are suth as the Republican Party has never before rresent ed, and will carry dismay and alarm to thousands of men who have regarded this as the party Of safety, of integrity, of principle and of high moral ends. They portend deserved disaster and defeat to the Republican party and a revolution in the National Administration.-Springfleld (Mass.) Republican (Rep.)

The next morning has come, gen tlemen. How do you like it? Your party is rent in twain. The East is out off from the West. Maine is a political island. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Indiana have been turned over to the Democrats if the Democrats will keep sober enough under their good luck to put up a respectable candidate. Independent Bepub" Heang refuse the party their support and are planning a “conscience oom ination.” Defeat and perhaps dissolution stare the Republican party inthe face.—New York Times (Rep.) fTo be eontinued.l