Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-09-04
Political Mysteries Of indianapolis.

Morrison is not so icel known as he ought to be,
but he gets the old Democrat galvanized
again, he will probably remedy the deficiency. In
the meantime, to aid little in the charitable work,
and further develop the Political Mysteries of the
Capital, we present sketch of the mutations Of the
Democratic Press indianapolis, from the beginning.
This sketch is of course mere skeleton, for it woud
be impracticabe to fill up the picture at single sit
ting We shall complete the work rapidly the
nature of the matter will permit To begin with the
beginning:
In 1922, SMITH g. Bolton commenced the Indi-
annapolis Gazette and continued its publication up to
1929
In 1929, GEORGE L. KINNARD, afterwards member
of Congress, became the editor; Smith Withdrawing,
and Nat. Bolton remaining publisher. The title of
the paper changed to Indiana State Gazette, and
under this arrangement continued about six
months.
In the winter of ls29-3O, A. F. MORRISON was a
member of the House of Representatives. and during
the session, if we are correctly informed, commenced
schsming to supplant Bolton g. Kinnard. They had
contract for the State printing for three years. which
was supposed to be profitable, and had in view the
prospective patronage of the General Government
Whether these pecuniary considerations influenced
MIR. Morrison or not, may be imagined by the reader
At any rate, hostile feeling to Bolton g. Kinnard
in various ways engendered, and blow
aimed at them by passing bill essentially changing
the mode of contracting for the public printing. Nor
rison of voted for it. But Gov Ray reOed the
bill, and thus shielded Bolton & Kinnard from the
impending blow. Had the bill been approved, the
majority of the Assembly being wing, printers Of
wing politics would have been chosen, unless Mr.
Morrison could have obtained the contract by wing
votes
Mr. Morrison had previously issued prospectus
for nec Democratic paper, in opposition to- or CON-
petition with the State Gazette. The Gazette was
supposed to be friendly to Ray, who then prom
inent candidate for the u S. Senate and in his pro-
jected paper, Morrison received the aid and
tenance of Sam. Judah, and other aspirants several
of them competitors of Ray for the Senate. But be-
fore the paper started, Bolton yielded to the
pressure of circumstances and sold his interest in the
State Gazette to Morrison. The purchase money, in
whole or in part was contributed by Judah and GER
tain other men, members of the Democratic party.
eve learned this fact from than one of the con-
tributors.) A bond, told, was given by Nor
rison for the repayment of these contributions which
was placed in the hands of certain well known gem
tleman in this town for sqte-keeping. 1t was very
safely kept we assured, for when the contribu-
tors called for repayment the bond could not be found
and of legal evidence of debt was left be-
hind. Bolton removed to Madison and started de-
mocratic paper there.)
Thus MORRISON became associated with KINNARp
joint editor and of the State Gazette, and
thus it continued for the space of fire sr Weeks on
ly, when for some cause Morrison sold his interest
to Kinnard, who became sole and editor
Morrison then Immediately made arrangements to
start paper in opposition to Kinnard!! =! We
are tod but of this fact we are not certan that in
order procure materel for the new paper that an
other levy was made on the pockets of leading demo-
Gratis under the threat, that if the money was not
thus rased ,0hg paper should take the place of the
proposed new democratic one, and all the recuSants
blown sky hight!
Upon this, Kinnard having continued the Gazette
but tco eeks after his purchase of Morrison, left the
field clear for him. and in disgust we suppose sold
the Gazette Office to book pedler named LANGDoN
who was better known by the nickname of 'fhe Jdch
of Gibbs 1t subsequently fell into the hands of ex-
Gov. RAY, who removed it to Greencastle, where he
printed the "Hoosier" for while. 1t then went, the
Lord knows where but its history would be interest
ing enough doubtless, if it could be faithfully traced
from beginning to end
In 1880, then, Morrison commenced his new paper
which suppanted the Gazette under the title of the
Indiana Democrat" He continued its editor til
1892, when Bolton having returned from Madison
was engaged as a substitute while Morrison attend
ed to has share of the famous, more properly, the
atrociously infamous Indian contracting business Of
that year Many of citizens well recollect-they
cannot forget those transactions They know thai
some men in this town. as well as many out of it.
then and there either made their fortunes or laid the
foundation ofthem,on ,chat they STOLE from the In
dams and the Government! But whole newspaper
could not contain detail of these robberies. We
must pass them here. This absence of Morri
from his editorial post during the second can
Sass of Gen. Jackson for the Presidency. Attending
to Indian Contracts was doubtless considered full a:
pleasant a business as doing yeoman's service il
the great conflict with the u. S. Bank.
In the spring of 1893, Bolton purchased from Nor
rson equal interest in the Democrat, and became
joint editor and publisher. Shortly after, Morrison
sold out the whole of his interest to JOHN F. LANE,
son Of Amos, who purchased in behalf of v. P. Var
ANTWERP, who, not taking immediate possession, tn
paper was published under the style of N. Bolton &
Co. Van Antwerp subsequently came in, but havn,
derived his ideas Of the profit of such concerns iron
his knowledge of the income of the Albany Argus o
New York, he was disappointed, and retired from tn