Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 23: Politics and Parties, 1913

FEDEBAIi - DEMOCRATIC - ^WhIG - REPUBLICAN - ^KnOW NOTHING OB AMERICAN - Greenback or Peoples - Progressive or Bull Moose - Campaign OP 1840 - First Glee Club - First Republican Ticket, 1856 - Campaign op 1860 to 1876 - Glee Club, 1876 - Campaign, 1880 - De Motte's Defeat - Campaigns, 1884 to 1912 - Vote of Cass County, 1828 to 1912 - Personality and Party - ^Australun Ballot - Origin of Party Emblems - Political Incidents.

Prior to the Revolutionary war there were no political parties in this country. As the discontent with the mother country grew, people divided into Whigs and Tories; the Whigs being in favor of resistance to England and the Tories in favor of submission. After the colonies gained their independence the Whi^ became divided into two factions although not strenuously opposed to each other at first. They were known as the Federal and Republican parties. The Federal party of whom Alexander Hamilton was the leader and Washington in sympathy with him, believed in a strong centralized government. The Republican party with Thomas Jefferson as leader, maintained extreme state rights' views.

The War of 1812 largely obliterated these parties and James Monroe, Republican, was elected over Rufus King, P^ederalist, the latter receiving only the votes of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Delaware. This was the end of the Federal party and Monroe was re-elected in 1820 with but one opposing vote for John Quincy Adams.

Up to 1824 there were still no definitely organized political parties and the presidential conflict that year was a personal one. There were four candidates : Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Wm. H. Crawford and Henry Clay. No one had a majority of the electoral votes and the election was thrown into the house of representatives and by a coalition of Clay and Adams the latter was elected. During these years the Whig party had been forming as a successor to the Federal under the leadership of Henry Clay and the votes cast for him were the nucleus of the new party.

In the campaign of 1828 the Democratic party came into being as the successor of the original Republican or Jeffersonian party under the leadership of Andrew Jackson, who was elected to the. presidency that year, and the Whig party formally came into being under the leadership of Henry Clay. The name Whig, is of Scottish origin and was at first a * nickname for the peasantry and was later applied to the Covenanters, who took up arms against the oppression of the government. Since Jackson's first election, 1828, when the Democratic party came into being under that name, it has had a continuous existence until the present day, showing a greater tenacity and power of endurance than any other party in the history of our country. Although defeated, time and time again, at the polls, yet it comes up smiling at the next election and main- taining a solid front, manifesting an untiring pluck and courage worthy of the highest commendation. The Whig party that had its beginning in 1824 but not regularly organized until 1828 maintained its organization until 1854 when it was succeeded by the Republican party, which has had a most wonderful career down to the present day.

The Know-Nothing or American party who were opposed to foreigners voting until they were twenty-one years a resident of our country, was organized in 1852, and in 1856 Millard Pilmore became their candidate for the presidency, but the party fell to pieces in the next campaign and never elected an oflBcer.

Greenback Party. After the resumption of specie payments in 1873, those opposed to that measure organized the Greenback party and at the next election put a ticket in the field but never were successful and later was merged into the Peoples party and National party, neither of which were successful and have ceased to exist. In 1872 the Prohibition party was organized, with a view of prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, and has maintained an active organization ever since, and although it has never been successful as a party yet it is doing a grand work in educating the people to higher moral and political standards. Its principles are right, no one can deny, and what is right will eventually prevail. For the past twenty years there - have been various parties organised by the labor unions and others under different names, ** Labor Party,'' ''Union Labor Party," ''Socialist Party,'' "SociaUst Labor Party," "People's Party," etc., none of which have received any following to speak of.

The Progressive party sprang suddenly into Ijeing in the summer of 1912, largely through the wonderful and magnetic influence of Theodore Roosevelt, who failed to secure the Republican nomination for president at the regular Republican convention that met in Chicago in June of that year, and in the following August a convention met in Chicago and nominated Roosevelt and Johnson as their standard bearers, who polled a larger popular vote than the regular Republican ticket. What the future of this party, vulgarly called the "Bull Moose" party will be, remains to be determined.

The Democrats were successful in 1828-1832 under Jackson's leadership, and also in 1836 when Martin Van Buren was elected. The campaign of 1840 was the most exciting and enthusiastic of any election up to that date, when the Whigs were successful, their candidate, Gen. William Henry Harrison, beating Van Buren, who was up for re-election.

The Democrats taunted the Whigs, calling Harrison a backwoods log-cabin candidate, and the latter took up the appellation and made their campaign largely on that issue. Great rallies were held with long processions, in which were miniature log cabins hauled on wagons with live coons and barrels of hard cider. The Democrats accused General Harrison of cowardice at the battle of Tippecanoe (falsely), and as an emblem of weakness and cowardice they introduced a red petticoat and carried it in their processions, which often led to bad blood and fistic encounters. The Whigs held a great rally at the Tippecanoe battleground and large delegations from Cass county attended and thousands from all over Indiana were present, with log cabins, coons and barrels of hard cider. Their campaign slogan was, "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," and their glee clubs sang many inspiring songs, of which the following are samples:

From this we would judge that public oflBcials were not exempt from accusations of wrong-doing in pioneer days any more than they are today.

' Harrison died about a month after his inauguration and John Tyler, the vice president, became president and **Tylerized" the WTiig party so that they lost the election in 1844, the Democrats electing James K. Polk. In 1848, however, the Whigs ran Gen. Zachariah Taylor, the hero of the Mexican war, and were successful, but in 1852 Franklin Pierce (Democrat) was elected, and the Whig party went to pieces and the Republican party came into being in 1854, and in 1856 an animated campaign was prosecuted with John C. Fremont aa the first Republican presidential candidate, with the slogan: **Free men, free territories, free speech and Fremont." During this campaign the fiarst political glee club in the county played an important part. It was composed of David E. Bryer, James T. Bryer, Allen Richardson and E, S. Rice, all of whom are now dead. The writer well remembers hearing this glee club sing political songs composed by D. E. Bryer, in which the Democratic party was represented as an old gray horse long fed at the public expense, while the young and active mustang pony on which General Fremont made his western explorations was the insignia of the Republican party, as indicated in the following stanza:

Do da, do da dah! We're bound to work all ;night, we're bound to work all day, I'll bet my money on the mustang pony, who dare bet on the gray."

Dr. 6. N. Fitch was a candidate for Congress and he had written a letter to Mr. Pomroy explaining his position on the slavery question, which he later desired to recall or deny, and Mr. Bryer, in his songs, ,had something like the following:

The campaign was spirited and eminent men of national reputation spoke for their respective parties in Cass county. Thomas A. Hendricks on the part of the Democrats and Anson Burlingame for the Republicans, and one of the mottoes on a banner when the latter spoke here was :

Some of the prominent pioneer politicians of Cass county were: Democrats, Cyrus Taber, George W. Ewing, Chauncey Carter, Dr. G. N. Fitch, Gen. John Tipton. Whigs, Hyacinth Lasselle, Daniel D. Pratt, Horace P. Diddle, John B. Dillon, John S. Patterson, Williamson Wright, William Palmer.

The first national Republican convention met at Philadelphia in 1856 and was presided over by Henry S. Lane of Indiana, who was a magnetic speaker.

The Republican party was organized to check the advance of slavery and prevent its spread into the territories, and the debates of Lincoln and Douglas in 1858 brought the former prominently before the whole country. Judge D. B. McConnell had the honor and pleasure of hearing one of Lincoln's speeches in that memorable campaign, and Daniel D. Pratt acted as secretary of the Chicago convention that nominated Lincoln in 1860. Mr. Pratt was a large man with a fog-horn voice, who could make himself heard in every corner of the large hall, and was complimented on his eflSciency as secretary of the convention.

The campaign of 1860 was a triangular fight. The Democrats being divided into the southern and northern wings, represented by Breckenridge and Douglas, respectively. The Republican party, made up of anti-slavery Whigs, Free Soil Democrats, anti-Nebraska Democrats and old line Abolishionists, waged an aggressive campaign in Cass county. They held immense rallies, addressed by men of national reputation, in which great torchlight processions and **wide awake'' marching clubs, floats with Lincoln's picture, full size, in the act of splitting rails, participated. Also floats with flat-boats, rail-splitters at work and other designs representing the early life of Lincoln.

During the Civil war, from 1861 to 1865, Cass county and the whole state and nation were in a constant state of political turmoil. Many Democrats espoused the cause of the Republican party, which was then known as the ** Union party," who believed in maintaining the Union undivided. In the off year of 1862 the Democrats were in the majority both in this county and state, owing largely to the soldiers being away from home, the majority of whom belonged to the Union party. The legislature, being Democratic, would not endorse Governor Morton's policy and resigned without making the necessary appropriations, and embarrassed the state, but the great war governor, Morton, was equal to the occasion and borrowed money to carry on the state government for the time and eventually triumphed. In the campaign of 1864, Mr. Lincoln was triumphantly re-elected over Gen. George B. McClellan, although Cass county gave a majority for the latter. During that campaign the Union party held a grand rally in Logansport, at which Andrew Johnson, their candidate for vice president, spoke. During all the exciting political scenes in Cass county during the Civil war, the county as a whole was loyal to the government. Men differed as to measures, and occasionally an extreme partisan would let his partisanship overcome his better judgment, and would say and do thmgs that did not accord with true patriotism, yet on the whole Cass county was loyal During the dark days of the Civil war there were some lodges of the Knights of the Golden Circle instituted in Cass county. This was an organization opposed to Mr. Lincoln's policy of carrying on the war and in sympathy with the South, and favored peace on any terms. A number of prominent and otherwise good citizens were persuaded to join this order, but have long since repented of their hasty action To counteract this organization a secret society known as the ** Union Ijeague was instituted in nearly every township in the county and greatly aided the Union cause and upholding the hands of our war governor. In the campaign of 1868 the Republicans had an easy victory as has always been the case after a successful war. The popular general of that war is readily elected to any office he aspires, and Gen U S Grant was elected over Horatio Seymour, the Democratic nominee for president, although Cass county still remained in the Democratic column.

General Grant was triuihphantly re-elected in 1872 over Horace Greeley, the Democratic nominee, who was an old-time Abolitionist Whig and Republican up to that time, seemingly the most irrational candidate for that party to follow, and Cass county Democrats could not follow his leadership and General Grant carried the county by a large majority.

Up to this time the Republican party, who had successfully prosecuted the war and maintained the Union, had easy victories over their Democratic opponents, who were made up largely of the southern states, against whom the North had a prejudice, even among Democrats, for be it said to their credit the Democrats of the North as a rule were loyal to the government. But as time obliterated the active scenes of the war, the ** bloody shirt,'' as the Democrats called the references to the war, had lost its terrors somewhat and with the necessary corrupting influences of war, with extravagance during and following the reconstructive period, led to some dissatisfaction with the Republican management and the campaign of 1876 was hotly contested. Hayes and Wheeler were the Republican and Tilden and Hendricks the Democratic candidates for the presidency, and Benjamin Harrison and James DWilliams the opposing gubernatorial candidates. E. N. Talbott was the chairman of the Cass county Republican central committee and the party erected a wigwam in which to hold their meetings on the east side of Sixth street, south of Broadway, where Carl Schurz, Oliver P. Morton, John Sherman, J. C. Burrows, General Kilpatrick, Schuyler Colfax, Daniel D. Pratt and others of national reputation orated in behalf of the G. 0. P. A glee club was organized consisting of D. E. Bryer, H. C. Cushman, J. C. Bridge, Dr. J. H. Talbott, A. B. Leedy, W. W. Thornton and J. M. Stallard, who made the wigwam fairly tremble with their songs, composed by Mr. Bryer. A stanza ran thus :

**0, see ye the banners wave Where the drums are rolling deep. Where the charging squadrons brave The battery's deadly sweep! His eagle's plumage sways. As his prancing charger neighs - The pride of the army corps. The gallant General Hayes, Where then was Sammy Tilden? Repeat. Safe sleeping in Grammercy Park. Where then was T. A. Hendricks ? Repeat. Safe skulking in the rear.''

In the state, the Republicans applied the term *'Blue Jeans" to Mr. Williams, the Democratic candidate for governor, because he was a farmer and wore plain clothes, which was the means of electing him.

The Democrats held a big rally in Taber's grove, on the south side, where Blue Jeans Jimmy and Senator D. W. Voorhees spoke to thousands. The Tilden and Hendricks marching club, of which B. F. Louthain was a member and Mace River was captain, acted as escort to the speakers with great flourish of trumpets. Indiana at that time held its state election in October and all eyes were on this state as an indicator of the result in November. The election was close and in doubt for some days. Finally the result was received at the Journal oflSce, then located. at 416^^ Broadway, and to announce the result the Journal hung out of its window a pair of blue jeans pants and the crowd outside understood the meaning and a shout of derisive laughter went up from the Republicans.

The presidential election of 1876 was close and in doubt, and was finally settled by an electoral commission only a short time before the constitutional time to announce the result, but the decision gave R. B. Hayes one majority in the electoral college, although Samuel J. Tilden had a majority of the popular vote and many fair-minded men always doubted the justness of Mr. Hayes' election, yet he had the forms of law in his favor.

The campaign of 1880 was run on high pressure principles. Garfield and Hancock were the opposing presidential candidates, and Albert 6. Porter and Frank Landers were candidates for governor on the Republican and Democratic tickets respectively.

The contest was bitter and joint debates were held between the two candidates for governor, and it was generally conceded that Mr. Porter was more than a match for Mr. Landers. Besides the Republicans had an excellent glee club headed by H. C. Cushman that always amused and enthused the Republicans. One song ran thus :

''We'll vote for Governor Porter early in the morning, WeTl vote for (Jovemor Porter early in the morning. Well vote for Governor Porter early in the morning, So come and join our band.''

Chorus: ''Landers, you ain't the kind of man. Landers, you ain't the kind of man. Landers, you ain't the kind of man To tackle Garfield's band."

The Democrats having had a popular majority in 1876, they were expecting to be successful, and the Republicans were prepared for defeat, but when their ticket was elected they were so overjoyed that they paraded the streets for several evenings after the election, making the air ring with their campaign songs : as T. H. Bringhurst, D. W. Tomlinson and Jack Burrows actively opposed the re-election of Mark L. De Motte ior Congress, while Mr Talbott, A. H. Hardy and Frank Swigart as ardently supported him, the result was that the Democrat, Thomas J, Wood, was elected to Congress with the entire Democratic county ticket. The opponents of Mr. De Motte were dubbed the **Rule or Ruin" faction.

The campaign of 1884 was somewhat similar to that of 1844, when Henry Clay, the most popular and brainiest man in the Whig party, went down to defeat by James K. Polk, so in this election James g! Blaine, the popular and brilliant orator of the Republican party, was defeated by Grover Cleveland. The oratorical pyrotechnics were constantly on display by both parties, and some of the ablest speakers in the nation visited our county. Even Mr. Blaine himself stopped oflf in Logansport and addressed an immense crowd near the Panhandle shops. The Democrats had a good glee club under the leadership of William Grace, which sang appropriate campaign songs composed by John Brisco. This club was organized by T. J. Immel. One of the refrains ran thus:

Cleveland was the first Democratic president elected since James Buchanan in 1856, and the Cass county Democracy were overjoyed and their enthusiasm knew no bounds at their ratification meeting, while the Republicans were correspondingly depressed, especially those who held office or were expecting political preferment.

The writer w^ell remembers a scene at Republican headquarters, when the returns came in announcing Cleveland 's election. As Ben Louthain would say, **It was amusing, ludicrous and pathetic.'*

Those of us who were expiecting no personal advantage from the result of the election could but laugh, but some of the actors who expected pecuniary rewards could not crack a smile, and in the midst of death could not look more solemn.

In 1888, however, the tables were turned and Indiana's favorite son, Benjamin Harrison, defeated Mr. Cleveland after a hard fought campaign ; but in 1892 Mr. Cleveland was for a third time a candidate for president and defeated Mr. Harrison for re-election. During Mr. Cleveland's and Mr. Harrison's terms in the White House a baby was bom into their families, and in this campaign the Democratic glee club created considerable merriment by singing the following :

The campaign of 1892 was distinguished by a little episode among the Republicans of this congressional district (then the 10th). The writer, who was the chairtnan of the Republican county committee, was on a visit to Old Mexico when the congressional convention was held which nominated Charles B. Landis by methods which would not stand investigation. Because of this fact a second conventioii was held at Hammond and William Johnson of Porter county was nominated. A compromise was entered into whereby both Mr. Landis and Mr. Johnson withdrew and a third convention was held in Logansport and Dr. J. A. Hatch of Goodland was nominated and elected. Later, however, the congressional districts were re-apportioned and Charles B. Landis was sent to congress for five or six successive terms, and became one of the most influential members of that body.

Probably the most exciting campaign in many years was that of 1896, when William McKinley opposed William J. Bryan for the presidency, and free silver coinage at 16 to 1 was the chief issue. In the beginning of the campaign the Democrats had the advantage as they had been studying the question, while the Republicans of Cass county had paid but little attention to the subject. The writer, who was chairman of the committee, called all the local speakers together at D. C. Justice's oflSce, purchased every book on finance in the market and held a school of finance twice a week for a month or so, at which school all the difficult and knotty questions would be solved and a unity of action agreed upon until our local speakers were fully capable of meeting what we termed the fallacious yet sometimes plausible arguments of the followers of the orator of the Platte, and we employed one or »two men thus posted to go out on the streets and by sound argument check the spread of free silver sentiment that in the beginning seemed to be sweeping over the land.

The Democrats in Cass county were much crippled by the withdrawal of most of their local speakers, while the Republicans were joined by several of the Gold Democrats of influence. Party lines were down and many crossed over each way, and it was impossible to predict the result. Mr. Bryan spoke to great crowds in Logansport, as did Roswell Horr for the Republicans, and other men of national reputation. The campaign was enlivened by great rallies, barbecues and clam bakes, torchlight processions with displays of red fire as were never before seen in Cass county, and it is to be hoped never will be again.

The Republicans were successful in state and nation, but the Democrats carried Cass county. Mr. Cleveland was a fortunate man, having ran for president three times and twice being elected. Mr. Bryan is a wonderful man and has a great hold on the masses of the people, and although he was the defeated candidate of his party three times - 1896, 1900 and in 1908 - yet he is more popular today than when he first appeared before the public. In 1904 Alton B. Parker opposed Theodore Roosevelt, but was badly beaten by Mr. Bryan's followers because of his apathy during Mr, Bryan's candidacy.

The last political campaign should not go unnoticed. President William H. Taft, who came unto the presidential chair in 1909, probably the best equipped man who ever entered the White House, was not, however, a politician or a policy man and could not reconcile his party's differences, yet he was as fairly renominated at Chicago in

June, 1912, under the past rules of the Republican party as any candidate in the past, but some Republicans thought differently and under the wonderful magnetic influence of Theodore Roosevelt organized the Progressive (Bull Moose) party, and the following August met in convention in Chicago and nominated Mr. Roosevelt for the presidency and Mr. Johnson of California for vice president, and put -a complete ticket in the field down to the lowest county office, A. J. Beveridge being their candidate for governor and our own Fred Landis lieutenant governor. With the Republicans thus divided it was easy sailing for the Democrats and they elected every officer from president to coroner. Woodrow Wilson, our president, is an educated, refined gentleman, and we bespeak for him a successful administration.

As an incident of this campaign, when the Republican congressional convention met in Elks' Hall, Logansport, Mrs. Bickel, an accomplished musician, sang the following campaign song, composed by a local man, that created great merriment and enthusiasm, and there were calls all over the district for Cass county's musician: (Tune, ** Marching Through Georgia.")

*' Theodore does bluster, because we claim our own, Beveridge does threaten and little Freddy moan ; Democrats do strugg:le and Dr. Jordan foam, As we go marching to victory.

1904 - Theodore Roosevelt, Republican, 5,282 votes; Alton B. Parker, Democrat, 4,357 votes; Prohibition, 389 votes; Socialist, 52 votes; Socialist Labor, 17 votes; People's Party, 44 votes.

Li early days of the county, the people were followers of certain leaders who, by force of character or magnetic personality, exerted a constraining influence over voters.

Then came the separation into political parties divided on great moral and economic issues. Principles became more potent and leaders less so. Personality became less potent. The voters cast their ballots for their respective parties. Their boast was that they voted their ticket straight and often with little regard for personal qualifications of the candidates.

Within the last two decades there has been a reversion to the early type of political leadership. Personality is becoming more potent and party lines are weakening. A man's character and qualifications are now greater controlling influences, especially in local elections. Hence, the dominant political party may carry our county on national issues and yet their local ticket be defeated.

People are beginning to realize that honesty and competency in their office-holders are to be desired regardless of party affiliations. All this is certainly to be desired and shows a right spirit among our people.

The campaigns from 1876 to 1888 became so corrupt by the use of money in the purchase of votes that the people of Indiana demanded a change in the method of voting. Prior to the introduction of the secret ballot, the different parties printed their own tickets.

Party leaders would march an ignorant or purchasable voter up to the polls, and when in front of the window would give the voter a ticket he wanted him to vote, and saw that it was handed to the election inspector and placed in the ballot box. In 1890, however, all this was changed by the present Australian ballot law, which requires the county or state to print all genuine ballots, which can only be given to the voter by the election clerks, and keeping all voters except officers fifty feet from the polling place. Certainly a great improvement over the old method.

In 1840 the Whigs adopted the *' raccoon'' as their insignia. They were led to take the **coon'' in consequence of the taunts thrown at General Harrison, their candidate for president. He Vas called by the Democrats **the log-cabin candidate,'' *'an old hunter," etc. The Democrats adopted the ** rooster" from the following circumstance:

Joseph Chapman, a leading Democrat in the southern* part of the state, wrote to a friend that the contest was close and asking what he could do in order to carry his county (Hancock). His friend wrote back to him to appear in good spirits, to represent the party as gaining, and saying in the letter **Crow! Chapman, crow!" The Whigs obtained knowledge of the contents of this letter. Their speakers rang the changes on **Crow! Chapman, crow!" In every Whig meeting you would hear the shout, * * Crow ! Chapman, crow ! "

Thomas Nast, Harper's great cartoonist, introduced the political menagerie, at least he originated the tiger, donkey and elephant as representing certain political parties. The tiger was an emblem of Tammany, and still survives. **Boss" Tweed was at the head of the Tammany organization in New York in the seventies, and at that time had the worst gang of political grafters the country has ever known. No attention was paid to public indignation, and in answer to remonstrances, Tammany simply asked, **What are you going to do about it?" Tweed belonged to the Big Six fire company and had as an emblem a tiger's head. Nast attached a body to the tiger's head in his cartoons and created the Tammany tiger. Tweed was sent to the penitentiary, but the Tammany tiger still lives, although Tweed has long since passed to judgment.

The donkey as an insignia of the Democratic party was originated by Thomas Nast at the time of the death of Secretary of War Stanton. As he lay dead in his coffin a number of Democratic papers attacked his record and reputation. Harper's Weekly came out with cartoons picturing Stanton dead in his coffin, and a donkey kicking at the coffin.

The donkey in the cartoon was labeled **The Copperhead Press." The cartoon was entitled, **A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Elephant." Since then the donkey has come into general use as an emblem of the Democratic party.

The elephant as the emblem of the Republican party was introduced by Thomas Nast in his cartoon in Harper's Weekly in 1876, when General Grant was pushed by Conkling and others for a third term. The big, clumsy animal was on the brink of a pitfall, but escaped, as did the Republican party, from a third term. He first labeled it the Grand Old Party, but later abbreviated it to G. 0. P., by which the party has since been known.

In Indiana, when under the Australian ballot law it became necessary to select a party emblem, the Republicans chose an eagle rather then the elephant, and the Democrats preferred the rooster to the donkey, and in Indiana each party has two emblems.

he felt, and his reply was: '*I feel like a bull moose/' And the newspapers soon took up^the phrase and applied the term **Bull Moose'' to the so-called Progressive party, and the bull moose became the emblem of that party. As the bull moose is hunting trouble, fights everything and every animal it meets, some think the moose is an appropriate emblem of the Roosevelt party.

Landis-Steele Controversy, Hon. George W. Steele had been a useful member of congress for many years, and had necessarily made some estrangements, among whom were Calvin Cowgill of Wabash and Dr. C. H. Good of Huntington, who had congressional aspirations. There was accordingly a combination of these two gentlemen with Frederick Landis of Logansport to beat Major Steele in the nominating convention held at Wabash in June, 1902. The convention was a stormy one, the three candidates pooling their issues, their followers voting for one, then the other, but the majority of the Cass county delegation, headed by John Johnson, S. B. Boyer and W. T. GiflPe, stood sullenly for Mr. Landis, and after 1,000 ballots had been taken Mr. Landis won the nomination and was elected and served two terms, but in his third candidacy in 1906, owing to Republican dissensions, he was beaten by G. W. Ranch, who still represents this, the Eleventh, district as a Democrat. The opponents to Mr. Landis were called **Bull Frogs." . During the war, at a camp meeting in Adams township, a man from Logansport made some slighting remarks about President Lincoln and the Union soldiers who were at home on a furlough prepared a noose with which to stretch his neck, but his friends hurried him off the grounds, thus preventing a hanging bee.

At a Democratic barbecue on Twelve Mile during the war of the rebellion an altercation between parties of different political faith occurred and the refreshment stand of the Democrats was demolished. The perpetrators had to answer in court and were fined a nominal sum.

During war times the Union party were often aggravated by unfavorable criticisms of Mr. Lincoln or the Union soldiers by the extreme partisan sympathizers of the southern cause. Such remarks were especially tantalizing when a soldier friend was brought home wounded or in a box, and numerous fistic encounters ensued in different parts of the county, particularly during political campaigns. These encounters were not always confined to the sterner sex, but the writer well remembers an incident of this kind in Bethlehem township, caused by a southern sympathizer wearing a butternut breastpin a& emblematical of the South. A sister of a wounded Union soldier deliberately snatched the pin from the cloak of the wearer, which resulted in pulling of hair and disheveling of female attire. The names are omitted as both families were otherwise respected citizens.

John T. Musselman, a prominent merchant in ante-bellum days, but of eccentric characteristics, in the early seventies started a newspaper, the Sun, and announced himself as a candidate for the legislature.

He used vigorous language, setverely criticised Rufus Magee, then editor of the Pharos, and many others. One favorite expression of his was, **When you catch a skunk, skin it, skin it to the tail.'' In his later years he was regarded as of unsound mind.

While in the United States senate Dr. G. N. Fitch became involved in a personal controversy with Senator Stephen A, Douglas, of Illinois, that came near ending in a hostile meeting according to the code. The meeting was only prevented by the interference of mutual friends, but

During the exciting campaign of 1864, Samuel A. Hall, editor of the Pharos and prominent Democratic leader, was advertised to speak at Metia. The writer's father rode a jackass to the meeting and hitched the animal to a sapling just outside an open window where he could have his eye on the beast. Mr. Hall was an animated speaker and elicited numerous outbursts of applause, not only by hand clapping of his audience but by cheers and stamping of heavy boots of Bethlehem's sturdy yeomanry. Every time there was applause in the school house the donkey just outside would join in the salutations by loud and long '*onk, onks,'' which lasted long after the applause inside had ceased, and so loud that Mr. Hall was compelled to wait until the donkey had ceased from his discordant refrain, which created much merriment among the Republicans, who constituted the majority of the audience.

To show the bitter political feeling sometimes engendered between even members of the same family, we relate the following incident, which I am informed is not a myth. Abraham Skinner was a respected farmer of Harrison township, where he died many years ago. His brother came from Ohio to visit him, and while the two were out unhitching the horse they became involved in a political controversy, Mr. Skinner being an ardent Democrat, while his brother as strenuously defended the Republicans. The result was that the brother hitched up his horse and drove away and never returned, and when Abraham Skinner died,' in his will he bequeathed over $2,000 to the school fund of Harrison township instead of to his brother, as he had intended.

On his return from his trip around the world in 1878, Gen. U. S. Grant made a stop in Logansport. The local committee of arrangements had erected a stand in front of the Murdock hotel, on Broadway, about four feet high. While General Grant was speaking from this stand it gave way and the general sank to the level of the street, but was not hurt. He was the calmest man in that immense crowd and said he had met with worse mishaps, waved to the crowd to keep cool and finished his short speech, standing in the midst of the fallen platform.

In the campaign of 1896, Bourke Cockran, a Tammany brave, left the Democratic party on account of its free silver ideas and was advocating the election of Mr. McKinley. He passed through Logansport and the local Republican committee had drummed up a large crowd at the Panhandle station on Fourth street to hear a ten-minute talk from Mr. Cockran.

Joseph Gray, a respected citizen of Deer Creek township, a leading Democrat, but that day somewhat under the influence of *' tanglefoot,'* kept interrupting the speaker. Frank Porter, an enthusiastic Republican from Clinton township, became so exasperated that he put a quietus on Mr. Gray by bringing his fist into **ju±taposition" with one of Gray's optics in such a manner that there was no further interruption. The Republican committee paid Mr. Porter's fine for his breach of the peace, to which he plead guilty, and all was thereafter quiet on the Wabash.

W. C. Smith, in his Miscellany, relates an amusing incident that occurred in another county during the celebrated campaign of 1840, when Thomas Walpole, a Whig, was opposed by Joseph Chapman, Democrat. Chapman was a plain farmer, and in his speeches accused Walpole, who was a lawyer, of being proud and wearing ruflBed shirts. They were holding joint debates and Chapman said he would have to go home to get some clean shirts, when Walpole offered to lend him one of his, but Chapman at first refused because it was ruffled, but was told he could keep his vest buttoned and no one would see it, so he accepted the offer. Next day Chapman spoke first and reiterated the charge of ** ruffled shirt gentry", and pointed tO'the ruffles in Walpole's bosom. Walpole arose to reply with apparent great indignation and referred to the abuse he had received from his opponent. ** Fellow citizens, I do wear ruffled shirts; you can see them now on my bosom. I am an honest man. I don't try to conceal them. I believe you all abhor a deceiver. What character is as much to be despised as that of a hypocrite? I have patiently borne this abuse and do not like to refer to personalities, but I have resolved to expose my opponent's hypocrisy and to prove to you that he wears a ruffled shirt as well as I.'' At that moment he tore open Chapman's vest, as he sat near him, when out popped a bosomful of ruffles. At once the audience raised a tremendous shout. Chapman was so surprised and confused that he dare not get up and confess that he had on "Walpole 's shirt. The trick gained the day for Walpole.

On another page of the Miscellany a few of the leading politicians of pioneer days were given, and we will here mention some of the active workers who have taken a prominent part in their respective parties during the middle period of the county 's history when partisanism was at its height, from 1850 to 1888.

Among Republicans we find such sturdy characters as Col. T. H. Bringhurst, D. W. Tomliason, James T. Bryer, Capt. Alexander Hardy, Frank Swigert, John T. Powell, Jack Burrows, Dr. J. M. Justice, Richard Tyner, Buford Banta, Joseph Penrose, John Campbell and a host of others who took an interest in the game of politics.

Among Democrats were such men as Judge D. D. Dykeman, S. L. McFaddin, N. S. La Rose, C. B. Knowlton, Dr. G. N. Fitch, John Davis, Dr. J. A. Adrian, William Dolan, Daniel Lybrook, Dr. James Thomas, J. J. Stapleton, Paul Taber, T. J. Immel, Samuel Panabaker, Dr. J. M. Jeroleman and many more who were devoted to their party's interests, all of whom have gone beyond the Great Divide, where party lines are supposed to be obliterated.

The slavery question has caused more bitter party feeling than any or all other causes. Curbing its extension brought on the war, and the results of that war required a generation to overcome, and today there is not that bitterness and animosity existing between the parties that there was in the past. Newspapers are not so abusive and are more tolerant, as we recede from the war period, and now a generation has sprung up who know nothing of those trying times except as an historical reminiscence, and we seem to be entering upon an era of good feeling, where the common welfare takes precedence of party success, which is the prayer of all good and patriotic citizens.

George P. McKee, for over twelve years mayor of the city of Logansport, during the latter half of his last term, in the winter of 1908, was cited before the city council on impeachment proceedings brought by Dr. J. P. Hetherington, then a member of the city council, in form as follows :

**To the Honorable Common Council of Logansport: The undersigned, John P. Hetherington, a resident taxpayer of the city of Logansport, Indiana, hereby charges that Geo. P. McKee, present mayor of said city of Logansport, did on the 16th day of January, 1908, during his term as such mayor, appear at his office in said city in attendance upon a meeting of the board of finance of said city, then and there held, of which board he was a member by virtue of his office as such mayor, and that, said Geo. P. McKee was then and there on the 16th day of

January, 1908, while in attendance upon the meeting of said board of finance afor^aid, in such a state of intoxication and drunkenness as to be unable to attend to his duties as a member of said board of finance. I further charge that said Geo. P. McKee, mayor of said city, did on the 15th day of January, 1908, appear on the public streets of said city of Logansport during his office hours as such mayor and outside of such office hours in a state of intoxication and drunkenness. These charges are made in accordance with and under the provision of Section 54 of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana approved March 6, 1905, entitled an act 'Concerning Municipal Corporations,* and the undersigned asks your honorable body to adopt and act upon the same under the provisions of said statute. ** Signed and sworn to by

The city council received these. accusations, and adopted an ordinance prescribing rules to regulate the impeachment proceedings and employing Long and Walters, attorneys, to prosecute the case on behalf of the city, all of which were vetoed by the mayor but passed over the mayor's veto by the following vote : For the ordinance, Wm. O. Fiedler, Fred A. Grover, Joseph T. McNary, John P. Hetherington and Robt. R. Johnston ; against the ordinance, P. J. Farrel and Wm. Henke, making five for and two opposed ; and thus the council stood on all further proceedings in the case. The mayor went into court and obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent Dr. Hetherington sitting in the case, as he was the surgeon in the employ of the railroads, but the injunction, upon a full hearing, was dissolved and the case came to trial in the council chamber on February 19, 1908, with Long and Walters prosecuting and Geo. Funk defending the mayor. Joseph T. McNary presided over the impeachment trial. The lobby was packed, mostly with backers of the mayor, and some of them were very hilarious and order could not be maintained, and the council adjourned the next night to the North court room, but the mayor, his attorney and the two councilmen friendly to him remained in the council chamber ; thus there were two courts in session at the same time. P. J. Farrel presided and Wm. Henke made a motion and seconded the same. Farrel put the question and they two voted for it, fully exonerating the mayor. The five councilmen in the court house were proceeding with the trial at the same time in the absence of the defendant and his counsel. The mayor had many friends, and a petition to the council containing 2,000 names was presented asking the council not to prosecute the charges, but the petition was referred to the auditing committee and was withdrawn by the mayor. Several sessions of the council were held, but Councilmen Farrel and Henke were absent and part of the time Mayor McKee and his counsel were not present. Great excitement and feeling was manifested, especially on the part of the mayor and his friends, and some disgraceful scenes were enacted, but be it said to the honor of the citizens in general, that this unseemly conduct was confined to a certain class of men who were somewhat overjoyed from the effects of fire-water.

The trial, however, was concluded, and on March 7, 1908, five of the seven councilmen sustained the charges and convicted Mayor McKee of the offense as charged. The mayor was a candidate for the Republican nomination for congress and on the eve of a political campaign, and party politics played an important role, so that the council never fixed any penalty, and the matter was dropped and the mayor filled out the remainder of his term.

During the campaign of 1848, there lived in the west part of Jefferson township a family by the name of Siedenbender. The father was a strong Democrat and the mother as ardent a Whig. Their son, Bill, was of age that year and on the morning of the election declared he was going to vote for General Taylor. **You will do nothing of the land,*' shouted the old man, **You are not old enough to vote; no son of mine can kill my vote unless he is old enough, and you are not." **Yes, you are, Bill, ' ' said the mother. * * No, you are not, ' ' rejoined the father, * * and if you attempt to vote I will challenge you.'* *'You will, will you,'' replied the mother; and addressing her son, said: **Bill, you go to the election and don't stand on the order of your going, but go and tender your vote to the election board and if your father challenges it, come in haste, saddle old Barney and I will go and swear in your vote for I was present at your * horning. ' " It is needless to say Bill voted - and woman . has her way and sways the world although she herself does not vote.