Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1890 — TO KILL THE ELECTION LAW. [ARTICLE]

TO KILL THE ELECTION LAW.

MICHENER AND DUDLEY’S SCHEME The Republican Managers £on’t Want a Secret Ballot and Will Try to Overthrow the Australian Election Act. [lndianapolis Sentinel:] Chairman Michener of the re-* publican state central committee is sending out private letters to prominent republican attorneys in the state, requesting their opinions as to the auvisability of causing the constitutionality of the new election .'aw, or at least certain sections of it, to be tested. This is carrying out a decision of a confer** ence of leading republicans held a short time ago. It would seem that Mr. Michener has received some encouragement in his hope of } reaking down the law. Last Thursday a suit to that ead was filed in the circuit court at New Castle, and the mouth-orgaa of tht repub 1 ican party in this city, the Journal, reported the fact in this significant telegram: A suit was filed in the circuit court here tc -day, the ultimate result of which will doubtless settle the constitutionality of sec. 3. of ’ the new election law. The county clerk filed a bill with the county commissioners on Monday for registers and blanks required to be kept by him under the provisions of the section referred to The bill was allowed by the commissioners and the suit filed to-day is to enjoin the auditor and treasurer from paying the bill as allowed. The plaintiff is a heavy tax-payer, who will son test the ease to the. lasi The case will be taken to the supreme court, no matter hew it is decided here, and will doubtless be watched with great interest all over the state. Sec. 3 provides that township trustees shall act as inspectors and sball appoint the judges: Provided that if at least one week or more prior to such election the chairman of the county central committee of either of the two parties tha* cast the largest number of votes in the state at the last general election shall designate a member of such party as judge having the required qualifications, he shall be appointed, and such judges, together with the inspector, shall constitute a board of election. The section contains ot'ier provisions, but the above is sufficient to show the manner m which the republican managers hope to destroy the law and make it possible to carry the state by the “blocks-of five” method. It is contended that because sec. 3 confines the right to representation on the election boards to the two political parties it is unconstitutional. if it is not valid, then the whole aot falls with it and the state election raws are the same as those under which Dudley and his corrupt republican army of vote

buyers operated at the last election. It is realized by the republican leaders in Indiana that there is little hope of their carrying the state under the election law enacted by the democratic legislatuie at its last session, and they pro* pose to overthrow the law if possible. The Journal has intimated in its editorial eolumns several times that the enactment contained unconstitutional provisions. Th ono above quoted and that providing for tjie registration of certain voters six months before election have been assailed in that paper. These articles were, it is said, published at the instance of chairman Michener, and in accordance with the wishes of his cabinet as expressed at a conference called to consider the matter. There is no doubt that it is the republican plan to knock out the Australian law if possible.

Editor Sentinel: In your paper of March 7th was an article signed “Rho,” which is giving some republicans considerable concern It is not the subject matter that so much interests them, but the politics of the writer. We learn that one of the county officers has offered to wager a five note that it was not written by a republican. We Dover bet. Vows that we ha e taken, if L ept, will prevent us from winuing the gentleman’s mon-y; so we will just say that “Rho” has beea a good enough republican to vote for this selfsame county officer, and might be persuaded to do so again, were it not that he has now been in office twelve or fifteen years, and is in need of a little rest. What is the politics of “A Res publican” wno week before last offered his objections to the reelection of Marion township’* trustee? His article was refused by the republican paper because it criticised the official acts of a repubieaa township officer. If what “A Republican” said were true, it should have been printed; if it were not true, it oo'd lave very easily b.-en proven false, and would have hurt no one bat the writer.

But no. w*- must not robuke the siLB of our party for fear of being read out of lis ranks. If tho leaders of our party go estray we must follow; if incompetent and unworthy men are nominated *ve must support them: if our leaders use unfair means to secure for them** selves and their friends official positions we must hold our peace, vote the ticket and thus make ourselves worthy, reliable p«rty men. We believe in parties. Politics, in a measure, is a profession—if properly followed, an honorable prose sion. Borne one muat manage, plan for* and control these parties; all can not hold official positions in their party, directly hel to manage its inward workings; all have not the taste or the time for political work.

While all do not directly h.dp to foimul te political creeds and conduct political campaigns, all ars finally called upon to pass judgs ment upon the polioies, prao' ices and principles of thsir parties. The free, honest, intelligent man will follow his party whan ha thinks it worthy; will rebuke it whan Be knows it is deserving of rebuke. The best friends my party have are those who refuse to follow it in the wrong; those who labor to Keep it in the right. We should deal with our party very much as we do with our phy* sician, our blacksmith, etc., patro*. nize it when it does honest work; give our support to its rivals when it goes estray, iv those rivals are in a way to do better for us and oar country.

If our party leaders are not amenable to us; if they fear |no power; if their commands, becks and calls are to be impliaitly obeyed, how can their mistakes over be corrected; when once in the wrong how ever hrougnt tc the right? The party should be responsible to its members; its members sho’d be free, honest, nd p triotie, perform ng their political duties heedless party msh The honest thiuker and voter is ur country’s greatest blessing. North End, March 17,1890. The Collector of the port at Philadelphia is one Cooper, who received a grand ovation wheu he left th© army. Some people called it a grand drumming match. Soldi rs know what it means to be escorted out of the camp by drums. Cooper knows 00. But, then, Cooper is a loyal high-taxer, and his army record don’t count.

The T nnessee Legislature has passed a bill and the governor has signed it, incorporating ihe top of Lookout Mountain, under the name of the “Town of Lookout Mountain.”