Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1887 — THE ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT S. P. THOMPSON. [ARTICLE]

THE ATTEMPT TO UNSEAT S. P. THOMPSON.

We received last week just' before going to pressSqome of the particulars regarding the preparations A that were being made to throw c. P. Thompson, of this district, out of his seat. We have since taken pains to obtain, from a Reliable source, more information about the scoundrelly scheme, aM now propose giving some further particulars regarding it, and especially shall endeavor to present Dr. Patton’s connection with the matter in a elear, truthful and fearless manner. The unseating of Mr. Thompson was to be done, not because there was anybody, democrat or republican who believed for an instant that he was not fairly elected and in every way fully entitled to his seat, but simply because the democratic majority in the senate believed that they needed another democratic vote to help elect a democratic senator. The only fact upon which they relied for a pretest for their intended base robbery of the seat was . the reflaark of M. H. Walker, of Fowler, explained last week. The principle tools of the head conspirators were Patrick Keefe, of Kentland, and 0. K. Hob its, of howler, and among the witnesses they subpoencd was Chap. W. Hartley, of Goodland. The committee on elections gave Mr. Thompson no notice of the pending contest until the witnesses against him began to arrive on Monday morning of the 10th iust., and the taking of testimony began at 10 p. m. of that day and was concluded by noon the next day. The evident intention of the conspirators of course was to hurry through with the case before Mr. Thompson could secure any witnesses in his defense. By his energetic measures, however, Mr. Thompson managed to secure the attendance of enough witnesses to get so strong and clear a case in his favor on record that even the desperately reckless majority of the Senate will doubtless hestitate sometime before they venture to throw him out

The scheme was- a deliberate intention to commit a crime which in actual criminality, was vastly greater than those for which nine tenths of the-present inmates of our penitentiaries were sentenced. It was a flagrant dime against Mr, Thompson, in thatjt would deliberately rob him a position the honors and emoluments of which belonged to him by the clearest and strongest title. It was a crime against the people of the senatorial district, for it was an attempt to deprive them of the services of that representative in the Senate whom they had freely elected by a majority of nearly 400 votes, and greater than all, it was a crime against society, against republican institutions and against the rights of the people. In regard to Dr. Patton’s connection with this villainous conspiracy, we wish most earnestly that we could truthfully say that he was guiltless; but unfortunately for him, all the circumstauces of the case combine to make a prim a. facia case to show that he was deep in the counsels of the cbnspirators, and that he stood ready and anxious to avail himself of the fruits of the robbery. In the first place it would be impossible to believe that the contest would ever have been begun, on such miserable and trivial pretexts had not the conspirators known well enough that Patton would be ready to take the place of Mr. Thompson, no matter by what injustice it might be taken from him.

Secondly, the prompt appearance and persistent attendance of Dr. Patton at the scene of the intended outrage is a strong evidence that he knew of and approved what was going on there. It is true it has been given out that he ' was called to Indianapolis by the sickness of a relative; but, aside from tii© inherent improbability that a sickness that had already continued for five or six weeks should suddenly take Such a turn as to require the doctor to bo summoned t<? Indianapolis by telegraph, at the very.time when he would naturally go there provided' he were privy to the plot to rob Mr. Thompson, we have the state-' rnent of a reliable person Saafrth# doctor himself stated while in Indianapolis that he went there in response to a telegram from the Senate committee on elections; and the-purpose-of- visiting a sick relative was only mentioned in a subordinato way. Still further we have it on good authority that the most of the doctor’s, three days stay in Indianapolis was not at the bedside of liis sick relative but in the large hotels, at the state house, and

other resorts of the politicians; and also that he was very much in the company of Patrick Keefe, the leading tool a fid emissary of the chief conspirators in their meditated outrage. Lastly and most conclusive of all, we snow that on Wednesday, the 19th inst., when the first joint ballot was taken for United States Senator, when the name of S. P. Thompson was called, Leon Bailey, a leading democrat arose and protested against Mr. Thompson’s vote and stated that David H. Patton was present and would vote for David Turpie, if permitted so to do. David H. Patton heard this statement and made no objection. It is true that he stated afterwards, to private persons, that Bailey’s statement was made without his authority; but that this remark of the doctor’s was made merely for the purpose of preparing a way for his retreat, in caso the scheme to oust Thompson miscarried, is made pretty evident by the facts that it was made as an afterthought and at a time when it would have no force or prominence, and further by the facts that the doctor did not deny the truth of Bailey’s statement. The doctor was subpcened as a witness by Mr. Thompson, and when upon the stand it is stated, testified fairly and “said nothing against Mr. Thompson.” But how could he have done otherwise when he knew nothing against him that he could say? Mr. Patton stayed in Indianapolis until Thursday, or just as long as there was any prospect that the contest against Mr. Thompson would be pressed to a conclusion. This fact is another strong proof that liis chief object in being there was the hope of obtaining Thompson’s stolen seat. As to tjie|present. status of the contest, it is sufficient to say that it rests in t abeyance, in the hands ot the Election Committee, and so long as thejjnow famous “Compromise with llevolutionists” remains in force there is no prospect of any further action upon it.