Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1908 — AN ECHO OF THE PAST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AN ECHO OF THE PAST

Present Day Methods of Indiana Democrats Serve to Recall Un* pleasant Memories. KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE Operation of Oath-Bound Organization at Auburn Revives Recollections of the Practices of Above Treasonable Society in This State During the War (Special Correspondence.] Auburn; Methods ot the politicians who have control of the Democratic organization in Dekalb county remind the war-daV citizens of the practices of the Knights of the Golden Circle, the treasonable, oath-bound organize* tion that gave the loyal men of Indic ana so much concern in the early si* ties, and the less treasonable but cret and oath-bound societies like the Sons of Liberty, which had for their jpurpose the control of politics through the operation of hidden cabals, where passwords, grips and signs were used for the identification of individual members. The Auburn Mystery. Late last spring, when the preliminaries of politics began to take on shape. and the formation of county? -tickets were being discussed, the curl Osity of the people of Auburn was greatly excited because of the appearance at intervals of a mysterious sign on the sidewalks and dead walls of the town. The peculiar sign was made with blue chalk, the formation of it being a triangle, within which were certain figures. At each recurring appearance of the mysterious triangles the figures would be changed. Otherwise the sign remained the same, something after this fashion:

Carried a Cryptic Message. At first the queer demonstration was regarded as a boyish prank or the work of some practical joker, but final ly someone figured out that the chain ed design in dark blue really carried a cryptic message, intelligible only tc the initiated, and that this was the means adopted to call together in session some sort of secret society. At first it was thought that it was a re vival of some one of the political religious organizations that existed many years ago and which were pestiferous annoyances to the politicians everywhere. Interest aroused in the public brought an Investigation which disclosed that the authorship of the - strange signs rested in a secret politisociety organized to control the nomination of the Democratic county ■ticket, and that the high-sounding title of this cabal was “The Honest Voter-’ League." The membership of it cast iome suspicion on the integrity of the name, however, for it was made up of saloon keepers and the hangers-on of saloons, brewery agents and the’r friends, and a lot of designing politicians who were in it to serve their selfish interests. Put the Ticket Through.

This “Honest Voters’ League” made up a slate for the Democratic county ticket, and what is more, put the ticket through before the rank and file of the Democrats of Dekalb county four ’ out what was going on. The league had secret signs and passwords, and only members under oath were adrritted to the league’s deliberations. One' old-time Democrat, Joe Link, of Auburn, succeeded in getting into ope cd the meetings one night, but his presence immediately was challenged. “What are you doing in here?” one of the leaders inquired of Link. "Why, I thought this was a Democratic meeting,” was the response, “and I am a Democrat.” But he was coolly informed that he was not among the eleot, and he was fired bodily. He had learned, however, that it was true what everybot'y suspected, that the figures in the triangle referred to the day of the called meeting. For instance, the 5-24 meaaf that a meeting was to be held on the 24th of May. Brewers Worked the Triok. “The Honest Voters’ League” eno oeeded tn naming the entire Democrat 1c county ticket in Dekalb, but the particular exploit upon which tne league especially plumes Itself was its success in defeating C. E. Galletln of Garrett for the nomination for representative in the legislature. Gallettn, who is a Democrat of pronounced temperance sympathies, was distasteful to the brewers and the saloon men. His nomination was conceded, however, except by the members of the league, who knew a thing or two and kept their own counsel. But about tea days before the primaries, when GaUetin and his friends were resting secure in the belief that they had nc opposition, the league suddenly placed K. M. MoKenan of Garrett In the running. MeKenan made satisfactory terms with the brewers. It is charged, the league worked for him tooth and toenail, and When the votes were counted, to the great astonishment of

| Honest Fork Indignant. Much indignation followed. Dekalb is Democratic on a close party vote, but there is a big independent vote and the temperance sentiment Is widespread. The Democratic organisation is counting on the. support of the Republican voters in the towns of Dekalb ccunty that are under the Influence of the saloons to carry through the ticket constructed by “The Honest Voters’ League,” but well-informed politicians tn Dekalb county are of the opinion that for every vote the saloon ticket gains from the Republicans there will be a loss of at least three Democrats who are opposed to the brewery domination of politics, which will give the county to the Republk cans by a safe majority.