Hancock County, Indiana - Chapter 8: Politics, 1916 (part 2 of 2)

Greenback Movement

In February, 1876, a call was issued through the columns of the Hancock Democrat for a mass meeting of the old citizens and voters of Hancock county, irrespective of party, who were in favor of the legal "greenback" money and opposed to the National Bank law. The time of the meeting was set at one P. M. on Saturday, February 19, 1876, "for the purpose of taking such action as may seem expedient in regard to the money questions." This call was signed by S. F. Dickerson, William F. Wilson, James F. Wilson, Smith Hutchison, William Fries, Joseph Jackson, Henry L. Fry, Sr., John G. Gambrel, J. H. White, John Walsh, Rufus J. Scott, William F. McBane.

Judge Gooding was invited to address the meeting. The convention was attended by a large number of citizens from all parts of the county. Resolutions were adopted, condemning the circulation of national bank notes and favoring the issuance of "greenbacks" instead.

On March 23, 1878, a county convention of the Greenback followers was called at the Grange Hall at Greenfield. J. C. Vansickle, of Xew Palestine, was elected chairman and George Furry, secretary. The purpose of this meeting was to effect a county organization. The following central compolitics. 375

"Resolved, that the National party of Hancock county will hold a mass convention for Hancock county, at the court house in Greenfield, on the first Saturday in May, 1879, at one o'clock P. M., to complete a thorough organization of the National party in said county, and to nominate a full county ticket of able, truthful and faithful men, for which the central committee will issue a call, inviting all persons sympathizing with the National movement, and believing that there should be no partial or class legislation, that the laws should be so enacted and administered as to insure to every man the just reward of his own labor, to meet with them and participate in said mass convention.

"Resolved, that the Nationals of each township are earnestly recommended, at an early day, and upon their own notice, to meet at their usual place of holding elections, and to thoroughly organize their respective townships for efficient political action; ever remembering that "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," and giving notice to quit to dishonest trading politicians who have established themselves in the gateways of commerce and speculation, and are enriching themselves by seizing the reward of other people's labor.

"Resolved, that this meeting adopt the platform of principles laid down by the convention of the National party, held at Toledo, Ohio, on the 22nd of February, 1878."

After the county organization had been effected the following ticket was put into the field : Representative, George Furry, Brandywine ; clerk, Joseph Hanna, Buck Creek: treasurer, John S. Barrett, Jackson; auditor, John McCray, Brown; sheriff, Moses Fink, Center; recorder, Monteville Eastes, Buck Creek; commissioner, eastern district, Benjamin F. Luse, Blue River; commissioner, middle district, B. J. Goble, Brandywine.

Following this a Greenback party organization was maintained in the county for five or six years. William Sears was the chairman of the central committee practically all of the time.

Election Of 1 876

When the difficulties of determining the result of the election of 1876 presented itself the Democrats of the county held a mass meeting for the purpose of giving expression to their feelings. The meeting was held on December 23, 1876. John H. White was elected chairman; James L. Mason, D. S. Gooding, James H. Carr and William Mitchell, secretaries. The, following committee on resolutions was appointed: Blue River, Augustus Dennis; Brown, Robert D. Hayes; Brandywine, James Tyner; Buck Creek, Henry Wright; Center, Capt. R. A. Riley, Stephen Dickerson; Green, James M. Trueblood ; Jackson, George Kinder; Sugar Creek, Tilghman Collyer; Vernon, Smith McCord.

Later it was decided to add to this committee the names of John D. Barr, William Sears, George Barnett, L. W. Gooding, Joseph Baldwin and Tared C. Meek. Judge Gooding was called upon for a speech and he gave an account of the situation in Oregon, Louisiana and South Carolina. Before the close of the meeting Captain Riley, of the resolutions committee, offered the following report, which was accepted :

"Whereas, in the late presidential election of November 7, 1876, the election for Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks received an undoubted popular majority of 241,022 votes, and 185 undoubted electoral votes, and were the popular majority of the votes in South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana, regarded as they should be, the electors of each of said states would cast their aggregate electoral votes also for Tilden and Hendricks, giving nineteen majority to them; and

"Whereas, there is a persistent effort being made by fraud and violence to declare elected and inaugurate Rutherford Hayes and William A. Wheeler, the minority candidates, as President and Vice-President; thus defeating the constitutionally and lawfully expressed will of the people. Therefore, be it

"Resolved, that we are now, as ever, devotedly attached to the Constitution of the United States, and to the Union of the states under the general government and that the general and state governments are each limited in their power, and that one should not entrench on the power of the other.

"Resolved, that in the election of a President and Vice-President of the United States the will of the people, as expressed at the ballot box, according to the Constitution and the laws, should be faithfully and honestly carried out and maintained by all the people, irrespective of party.

"Resolved, that in our candid judgment, Tilden and Hendricks have been constitutionally and lawfully elected President and Vice-President of the United States by a popular majority of 241,022 and will be so declared by a majority of the electors of the United States, who were honestly elected, if permitted to cast their ballots, and that the honest and intelligent masses of the people will meet on their inauguration, and we denounce all attempts, whether made by illegal returning boards, the Senate or the President of the United States, to usurp power by overriding the will of the people, by fraud or force, and we demand of the Senate and House of Representatives that they see to it that no mere technicality, fraud or force shall annul the verdict of the people.

"Resolved, that whoever is elected President and Vice-President, according to the Constitution and the laws, ought to be inaugurated and recognized as such by the people, irrespective of party.

"Resolved, that we denounce the use of the army to control elections, or to intimidate voters, or to interfere with the legislatures of anv of the states, in their organization or otherwise ; and that President Grant, by making such illegal and unconstitutional use of the army of the United States, deserved impeachment and deposition from office.

"Resolved, that Grant and his office-holders are riot the government of the United States, but simply office holders under the government, liable to displacement, according to the Constitution and laws.

"Resolved, that while we demand of our representatives in the Congress of the United States that they stand by the rights of the people, as expressed by the Constitution and laws, as against fraud, usurpation, intimidation and violence, we pledge ourselves that we will stand by them in all their constitutional and legal acts.

"Resolved, that we demand of Congress that they adhere to the uniform practice of the government in counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President, and that we denounce the arrogant and unconstitutional assumption that the president of the Senate has the sole power to count the electoral votes."

In the campaign of 1878 the Republicans were again active in the organization of young men's clubs. The club at Greenfield elected the following officers: President, War Barnett; secretary, Newton L. Wray; treasurer, Adams L. Ogg. Thirty-five young men enrolled in the club on the evening of its organization and a number of names were added to it later.

In the campaign of 1880 the Democrats in the county were especially active. Ephraim Marsh was the chairman and William Ward Cook, secretary, of the Democratic county central committee.

On September 23, 1880, the Democratic ladies of Greenfield presented to the Democracy of the city and Center township a beautiful silk flag. The ladies who headed this presentation were Mrs. Charles Downing, Mrs. Capt.

M. L. Paullus and Mrs. John F. Mitchell. At seven o'clock on that evening there was a torchlight procession. The Greenfield band marched to the residence of Capt. M. L. Paullus and escorted the speakers, ladies and Glee Club to the court house square, where it was estimated that five thousand people had assembled. The flag was presented with the following program :

On September 15, 1880, Gen. Franz Sigel spoke at New Palestine, much to the delight of the German population. Ernest H. Faut was instrumental in having him brought into the county. Gabriel Schmuck also addressed the Germans in their native tongue on that occasion. About one Ihousand and five hundred people were present to hear these addresses.

The campaign was also characterized by one of the greatest Democratic rallies at Greenfield in the historv of the county. The following was the order of the march, as taken from the columns of the Hancock Democrat :

In 1884 Andrew Hagans was the chairman of the Democratic county central committee. Henry Snow was the chairman of the Republican county central committee. In the report of the Republican county convention held February 16, 1884, the following names are prominent: Henry Snow, R. A. Black, John W. Jones, Capt. Thomas B. Noel, Senator Yancey, Cyrus T. Nixon, Oscar F. Meek, Samuel B. Hill, Henry Marsh, Thomas E. Bentley, John T. Duncan, John C. Eastes, William O. Bradley, A. N. Rhue, James L. Mitchell, J. H. McKown, Charles H. Rock, David Dove. S. Burk, Albert G. Jackson, M. M* Vail, George V. Sowerwine.

An incident of the campaign of 1884 was the dissatisfaction of Capt. Adams L. Ogg, who had been a very energetic worker in the local organiza- tion of the Republican party, with the Republican candidate, James G. Blaine. In a published interview. Captain Ogg gave his reasons for not supporting Blaine. A short time after the publication of this interview the Cleveland and Hendricks clubs of the county held a meeting at the city of Greenfield. Among the other matters that were transacted by the clubs, a resolution was adopted, inviting the Captain to address the people of the county on the political issues of the hour. The chairman then appointed a committee to wait upon the Captain and present these matters to him. This the committee did in the following written statement : "To Capt. Adams L. Ogg :

"At a stated meeting of the Cleveland and Hendricks Clubs of this county held in the city of Greenfield, the following resolutions were unanimously passed :

" 'Resolved, that it is the wish of these clubs that Capt. Adams L. Ogg be invited to address the people of this county, in the city of Greenfield, at as early a date as is to him convenient, on the political issues of the hour; and that a committee of three be delegated by the chair to wait upon him, bearing him this resolution and learning his pleasure in that behalf.'

"And now the above named committeemen submit you the aforesaid resolution and most cordially invite you to address our people from a political standpoint at your earliest date, and trust you will accept the invitation.

"My dear Sirs : - Your communication at hand in which you convey to me the formal invitation of the Cleveland and Hendricks Clubs of the county, that I shall at earliest convenience, address the people at Greenfield on the pending political issues, etc. Permit me, through you, to thank the gentlemen for this flattering request. I accept your invitation, but regret that business engagements in a neighboring state compel my absence for an indefinite period (I hope not to exceed five or eight days)1, renders it unsafe to fix an earlier time than Saturday evening, October 11, at which time, or at a later day, if more agreeable to you, I will be pleased to speak. My whole

Dates were fixed for speakings at different points in the county, and Captain Ogg appeared upon the various platforms with other Democratic speakers in support of Grover Cleveland. He remained an ardent Democrat during the remainder of his life.

Following the Democratic victory in 1884, the administration appointed Albert L. New as register in the United States land office at Evanston, Wyoming, and, later, as United States collector of. internal revenue for the District of Colorado and Wyoming, with his office at Denver, Colorado.

While in Wyoming Mr. New served as chairman of the Democratic state central committee, and had his name presented to the Legislature as a candidate for United States senator. The Legislature balloted twenty-nine days and Mr. New lacked but one vote of an election. The Legislature finally adjourned its session without electing anyone.

Election Of 1 886

During the summer of 1886 the following tickets were nominated by the respective party conventions, each candidate receiving the number of votes indicated :

Mitchell- Mannix Affair

James Mannix was dissatisfied with this count of the votes and took steps to contest the election. The Hancock circuit court appointed J. Ward

Walker, John E. Dye and John A. Craft, commissioners to recount the votes The recount gave Mannix 1,966 votes and Mitchell 1,957, whereupon Mitchell appealed from the recount to the board of commissioners of Hancock county. After a hearing the board found for Mannix, and Mitchell appealed to the Hancock circuit court. The chief question connected with the contest arose from the count of the votes in one of the precincts of Green township, in which Henry B. Wilson was inspector. The question involved in the contest was whether the ballots had been tampered with or whether the clerks of the board in Green township had failed to keep a correct tally. The case was venued to Newcastle, where, in June, 1887, an agreement or a compromise was made between Mannix and Mitchell, in which Mitchell agreed to pay Mannix one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. In consideration thereof, Mitchell was to take the office after November 1, 1887. When this agreement became known to the people of the county, it was very unsatisfactory to both Republicans and Democrats. There was a general feeling that the case should have been tried and decided on its merits; that whichever of the candidates had received the majority of the votes should have had the office, and that it should have been settled in no other manner.

On November 1, 1887, Mannix, however, refused to give up the office, whereupon Mitchell brought a suit for possession in the Hancock circuit court. This case was venued to Henry county, and Judge Comstock, of Richmond, was appointed special judge. Mannix in his answer to Mitchell's complaint alleged "that on or about the 18th day of June, 1887, and while the appeal involving the contest for the office was pending in the Hancock circuit court, the relator's attorneys entered into a negotiation with him, the said Mannix, and his attorneys concerning such contest; that it was finally agreed between the parties that the relator (Mitchell) should pay to him, said Mannix, the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, in consideration of which the latter's right to the office in contest, including the right to hold the same, to discharge its duties and to receive the emoluments thereof, should be transferred to, and recognized as existing in the relator; that the relator thereupon paid to him, the said Mannix, the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, after which the judgment declaring the relator to have been duly elected as above stated, being the same judgment described in the alternative writ of mandate, was entered as by agreement of the parties; that such judgment was, therefore, procured to be entered by the relator (Mitchell) in pursuance of such fraudulent agreement and by the payment of the sum of money named, and for no other reason ; that said agreement for the sale and transfer of said office of county auditor was net only against public policy, but was also corrupt, fraudulent and void, as between the parties thereto, as well as to all other persons, and that hence, he, the said Mannix, was not bound or concluded by the judgment rendered thereon, nor was the relator, therefore, lawfully adjudicated to be entitled to hold said office."

The supreme court decided the matter in favor of Mitchell, holding that "the rule that the courts will not aid in the enforcement of a corrupt or unlawful contract, but will leave the parties where they have placed themselves, has no application to a judgment which by inadvertence or collusion may have been rendered upon such a contract, but such contract stands upon the same footing as any other judgment, and is binding while it remains in force.'' (Mannix vs. the State ex rel, Mitchell, 115 Ind. 245.)

It will be observed that in this election the Democrats lost the offices of clerk, auditor, recorder and surveyor. There may have been several reasons for this. A sentiment was growing in the county that no person should hold a four-year county office for more than one term. On the Democratic ticket. Ira Collins, recorder; Charles Downing, clerk, and James Mannix, auditor, had each served a term of four years and were candidates for reelection. W. S. Fries had served a term of two years as surveyor and was a candidate for reelection. On the other hand, R. A. Black, the Republican candidate for clerk, was an able attorney and well known throughout the county. Henry Snow was generally acquainted over the county and was very popular with the people. All of these conditions, and likely others, operated to produce the partial defeat of the Democratic party in that election.

Prohibition Party

The Prohibition party also effected a county organization in 1886. I. N. Hunt was elected chairman of the county central committee, and R. M. Julian, secretary. A county ticket was nominated, which polled approximately fiftysix votes in that election. The party polled from sixty-five to seventy-five votes for several years. In more recent years its candidates have been receiving from ninety to one hundred and twenty votes and a few have received as high as one hundred and seventy votes.

In 1888 R. M. Julian, secretary of the Prohibition county central committee, inserted the following sentence in his official notice, published in the local papers : "We hereby give notice that the Prohibition party in Hancock county has come to stay." To this time the party has stayed and in the greater number of conventions has had a county ticket or at least a partial ticket in the field.

During the summer of 1888 Ephraim Marsh was selected as a member of the state Democratic central committee, upon which he served for several years.

The summer of 1892 witnessed the organization of the Populist, or People's party, in Hancock county. Coleman Pope was chosen chairman of the county central committee and their county ticket received approximately three hundred votes in the election of 1892. In the election of 1894 the ticket received approximately two hundred votes ; in 1896, one hundred and ten votes ; and in 1898, which was its last county ticket, thirty votes.

Farmers' Mutual Benefit Associations

In 1890 Farmers' Mutual 'Benef it Associations had become pretty strongly organized in the county. Though not a political organization, it was an organization, in a measure, like the "Grangers," of which candidates were careful to take notice. In that year a report was circulated in the southern part of the county that Lawrence Boring, who was then a candidate for county auditor, was not in sympathy with the order. Mr. Boring felt it worth while to issue a very explicit statement through the columns of the local press, denying these charges. On May 7, 1892, the county assembly of the order adopted the following resolution in relation to the association's attitude toward politics :

"Resolved, that we, the county assembly of the Hancock Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association, do hereby agree that we as a body are a non-political organization, and declare ourselves not pledged to support any political party or faction as a body and that said resolution be published in the Hancock Democrat. "J. H. White, President,

Bryan And Free Silver

Following the nomination of William Jennings Bryan at Chicago in 1896, the Democracy of the county rallied enthusiastically to his support. Stokes Jackson was a delegate to the national Democratic convention and was also a member of the notification committee that brought to Mr. Bryan the news that he had been nominated for the Presidency by the Democratic party. No party in the county has ever given any candidate a more enthusiastic and more loyal support than the Democracy of the county has given to Mr. Bryan in each of his campaigns.

The Democrats of the county were thoroughly imbued with the idea of free silver and on June 6, 1896, just a few days prior to the Center township Democratic convention, copies of the following notice were sent to practically all of the Democratic voters of the township :

"Greenfield, Ind., May 30, 1896. "Dear Sir : The township Democratic convention for the selection of delegates to the state, congressional, senatorial and joint representative conventions will be held at the court room in the city of Greenfield, on Saturday, June 6, 1896, at two o'clock P. M. You are earnestly requested to see your friends and neighbors and urge them to be present, as it is important on account of the action which is desired to be taken, instructing all delegates to vote for platform and candidates who are in favor of the restoration of silver to the position it occupied before its demonetization in 1873 Dv the Republican party. Free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one is the battle cry of the Democracy for 1896. There is likely to be an effort made to carry the convention for a gold standard, but if all of the friends of silver attend this convention and do their duty, silver will win the day. "Friends of Silver/'

All the Democratic township conventions adopted resolutions during the summer of 1896 in favor of the free and unlimited coinage of silver, and the defeat of Mr. Bryan at the polls did not shake the faith of the county. "Sixteen to one" was affectionately remembered for many years and the "peerless leader" remained the idol of the party. Through the influence of Mr. Jackson, Mr. Bryan was brought to Greenfield on July 2J, 1899. Great preparations were made for his reception. The city was decorated, a large cannon was procured and it seemed that the entire county turned out en masse to hear him. He spoke at the fair ground and it was estimated that twenty thousand people were present to hear the address. On June 22, 1903, Mr. Bryan again made two addresses at Greenfield, one on the east side of the court house and another at the opera house. On October 3, 1906, he spoke at Fortville and then, with a party, came to Greenfield by automobile. The city was again decorated and an immense throng filled the streets on the east side of the court house to hear him. Tt is most likely true that Mr. Bryan has not had a more loyal county in the United States than Hancock.

A few Democrats in the county, including Ephraim Marsh, Judge Offutt and E. H. Faut were opposed to Mr. Bryan's theory of "free silver" and supported the national Gold Democratic ticket. This ticket, however, polled

Hancock Politicians

Since 1896 several of the leading men in both political parties of the county have received recognition for their political services. In 1898 Stokes Jackson was chosen Democratic chairman of the Sixth Congressional district. In 1910 he was selected as chairman of the Democratic state central committee, and in 191 1 was appointed sergeant-at-arms in the Lower House of Congress.

In 1902 Col. E. P. Thayer was selected as Republican chairman of the Sixth Congressional district, and at the Republican national conventions held in 1908 and 19 12 he was honored with the appointment as first assistant sergeant-at-arms in the conventions. Colonel Thayer has been active in the Republican party, both in this county and in the state, for a number of years. With the exception of his candidacy for the office of county auditor in 1898. in which he reduced the Democratic majority of his opponent to one hundred and sixty-nine votes, he has never asked for political preferment either at the hands of the voters of the county or by appointment from the national administration. No doubt the popularity of Colonel Thayer with his partv has been in a large measure due to this unselfish service.

Schlosser Vs. Strickland And Rash Vs. Sample

In 1910 two contests arose over the result of the Democratic primary nominating convention. This convention was held on February 5. Harry G. Strickland and Chalmer Schlosser were opposing candidates for representative, and James E. Sample and John T. Rash for county recorder. The count of the votes showed that Strickland had received 1,020 and Schlosser, 1,009; that Sample had received 1,207, Rash, 1,123. The count gave Strickland a majority of 1 1 for representative, and Sample a majority of 84 for county recorder. This result was declared on February 7, 19 10. Schlosser and Rash were dissatisfied with the 'count in so far as it related to their respective candidacies and within about a week after the nomination each filed his petition in the Hancock circuit court, asking for a recount of the votes, alleging that he believed that there had been a mistake in the count. All the candidates, the Democratic central committee, and the election commissioners were made defendants in the action. The convention had been held on the

Australian plan, but not strictly in accordance with any statute. For this reason the court held that it lacked jurisdiction. The cases were not appealed to any higher tribunal, but were dismissed following this decision.

Relative Strength Of Parties

The relative strength of the political parties in the county for twenty years prior to 1912 is shown by the following table, which gives the approximate number of votes polled by each ticket at the elections indicated :

Since 1912

The schism that occurred in the national Republican convention at Chicago in 19 1 2 was carried to the ranks of the party in Hancock county. Thomas I. Morgan, treasurer of the Republican central committee, and Tohn Rosser, secretary, both resigned and took their places in the alignment of the new Progressive party. Other members of the Republican county central committee resigned and threw their political fortunes with the new party. But these things were mere indications of the discontent that prevailed within the ranks of the Republican party itself. There was a general withdrawal from the party, and at the following election only a minority of the party was left to vote the Republican ticket. Progressive township organizations were effected on August 9, 1912, a Progressive county convention was held and a county organization effected, with Carl Rock, of Greenfield, as chairman of the central committee. In the report of this county convention the following names were prominent: Carl Rock, Alvin Johnson, Gus Stuart. James Furgason, James F. Reed, Sherman Rothermal, Irwin Barnard, James L. Vail, Capt. Henry Snow. Charles McKensie. Robert Oldham. Joseph P. Reeves, John Henry Gates, Abram C. Pilkenton, H. E. Leech.

In the ranks of the Democracy of the county today are many men whose faces have been familiar in the party's councils, and whose judgments have directed the local policies of the party through many years and through many battles. We cannot mention all of them, but no picture of a general Democratic meeting of this day at the county seat would be complete without the faces of Elbert Tyner, John Hayes Duncan, Michael Quigley, George W. Ham, John E. Dye, William Flsbury, Isom Wright, August Dennis. Horace Wickard, John Manche, George Crider, Charles Barr, William H. Thompson. Matthew L. Frank, William A. Woods and others.

With these men who have labored through the years and who have borne the burden and the heat of the day, stand also the men of the middle age and the younger men, who are giving of their time and energy that its banner may not trail in the dust. Among the faces that are very familiar we see our Judge Earl Sample, John F. Eagan, John B. Hinchman, William A.

But no picture of any general or business meeting of the Democracy at the county, seat within the last quarter of a century would be complete if it omitted from the foreground the likeness of the genial secretary - who is practically always called to the table - Elmer T. Swope.

Among those who have remained loyal to the Republican standard through the storm and stress of many campaigns are such men as William R. Hough, John C. Eastes and others of their age. Among the younger men are Edwin P. Thayer, who has been mentioned above; William A. Hough, who has been favorably mentioned as a candidate for Congress ; Newton R. Spencer, editor of the Greenfield Republican; Ora Myers, Dr. C. K. Bruner, Dr. L. B. Griffin, George W. Duncan, J. P. Black, W. R. McKown, W. R. King, James McDaniels, Henry Nichols, R. F. Cook, George W. Gates, Eldon A. Robb, James W. Hiday, John Little, W. C. Atherton, William P. Bidgood, William F. Thomas, John S. Souder, James Garrett, William G. White, W. R. Johnston, Morgan Andrick, Charles Gately, I. A. May, John Corocoran, H. Ward Walker, Frank Cook, Morton Allender, Charles Vetters, A. H. Thomas, William T. Orr, Frank McCray, C. M, Eastes, W. E. Scotten, John E. Barrett, C. M. Jackson, Charles H. Kirkhoff, Ed C. Huntington, James H. Kimberlin, A. R. Ayres and others who have been active in different parts of the county.

Among those who revolted from the tyranny of party machinery that was thought to be crushing the individual under its weight; who preferred new standards and new7 ideals, and who led in the organization of the county under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, should be mentioned, James F. Reed, J. P. Reeves, Claude Woods, Walter Woods, H. H. Spangler, Edward Williams, Pearl Alexander, Elwood Barnard, Irvin Barnard, Sherman Rothermel, John Mugg, James Webb, G. E. Stuart, M. S. Walker, Thomas Dillman, Walter Eastes, Frank Hanes, Dr. Lucian Ely, Grant Krammes, Ralph Logan, O. J. Coffin, James Lindamood, William Hawkins, Barclay Binford, Frank E. Rock, Thomas E. Niles, R. O. N. Oldham, A. C. Pilkenton, Carl S. Rock, Marvin Fletcher, Homer Smith, W. W. McCole, Thomas I. Morgan, Alvin Johnson and H. T. Roberts.

One Term

For a number of years past a sentiment has been developing in the county that men elected to a four-year term of office should not be reelected. Since the partial defeat of the Democratic ticket in i<886, but two men, Lawrence Boring and James Thomas, have held more than one term of an elective fouryear office. No other candidates have even succeeded in getting a second nomination, although several efforts have been made.

Viewing the county by townships, Blue River has always been strongly Republican. Since the enactment of the law creating the township trustee's office in 1859, Blue River has elected but two Democratic township trustees. James P. New, in 1863, and Harry L. Fletcher, in 1914. Jackson township has also been Republican, yet on several occasions Democratic township trustees have been elected. All of the other townships have been counted in the Democratic column, although all of them, with the exception of Brandywine, have at different times elected Republican township trustees. Brandywine alone has had an unbroken line of Democratic township trustees since the law was enacted in 1859.

County Chairmen

Tt is impossible at this time to procure the names of the officers of the various political organizations prior to i860. The following, however, is a list of the chairmen of the different political parties in the county since i860, as far as it has been possible to make the same complete :