The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-08
THE MAJORS IRE AROUSED.
He viii Not Permit Any Violation of
His Higher Laws.
The Commissioners Could Not Agree to En-
force the Laws-The Majors High
Estimate of Reporters.

There an animated set-to between Major
Irwin Robbins (the only one. and we've got HIM
and James H. Woodland, "Juyhawker,' of the
Enquirer, at the latter's Office yesterday. in
which the gifted superintendent of metropolitan
police not only lost his temper and conducted
ais end of the conversation in the strongest
Anglo-Saxon, but made some very startling
statements of the power he proposes to WELD.
The conversation was opened by the Major, who
asked the correspondent for his opinion of Mayor
Grubbs's action il refusing 10 fine offender
Tor violation of one of his "higher laws"
woodland took the mayors side OF the question,
and aroused the ire of the supern tendent to an
alarming extent.
"The truth of the matter is Major" said
Woodland, "that 1 don't think you've a particle
of police capacity, and think your head has
been swelled by your position until it's more Of
load than your legs can carry. IT you told me
that wagon carriage a good one, l
would think you knew something about it, as it
is in your line; but don't think you know thief
from q cigar-store Indian"
Didn't L work up the Wachstetter easel"
shouted the only one. THAT shows what can do
when try. Invent to work that case and per
sisted at it until got wachstetter into the peni-
Tertiary. Don't tell me don't make good po-
liceman."
At this point another gentleman entered, and,
taking part in the conversation, asked the Su-
perintendent about the celebrated IL O'Clock
law. The gentleman ventured the opinion that
he could not show a single excuse for not en-
forcing the existing law, closing the saloons at
IL O'Clock, and asked by what authority the time
was extended an hour2
''rhe commissioners were divided among them
DOint. n
go easy and the other was in favor of enforc-
ing the laws. So they left it to ME, and made
the II O'Clock order to suit myself The saloons
are left open until midnight because 1 say sol
Now you know the reason" shouted the
Major, pounding the table and boil
ing over with wrath az hold the
II o'clock order over them as a kind of club
to let them know hold the whip hand Every
saloon-keeper in this town has gOtto do just as
1 say, or if he doesn't can break up his bust
ness and force him out of town. Don't talk to
me; don't-I know my business. recognize no
authority save that Of the commissioners, and
they let me do just as please. If they didn't
I'd resign remember that"
Glow about the Sunday orderq Didn't you
make an order relative to keeping open on Sun
day." inquired Woodland when his visitor paused
for breath.
Eyes did. 1 allow the saloons to keep their
back doors open on Sunday and to do business,
provided they permit no games to be played. If
they allow that they will be raided The officers
have orders to arrest any saloon keeper violat-
ing my order"
The gentleman suggested that it was some
what strange that an open violation of the law
should be tolerated, while a violation of the
Superintendent's ''order' against PLAYING games
should subject the unlucRy offender to arrest.
but the Major only fOamed and swOre he knew
his business eff a saloon-keeper don't do eX-
actly what tell him to do, Pll shut HIM up" he
repeated, Vehemently. II have them complete
ly in my power, and don't yOu forget it,"
asked
Woodland
"rhey are set of thieves and black guards
They amt worth hell room. They are worse
than that Several of them who have been dis
missed are now running as special cOnstaDles
Only "a short time ago one of them followed me
into house and hung around until | tnrned on
him and called him blankety blanked, blank
blank, blank, and told him I'd empty his inter-
nal organization into the street if he didn't go
away from me-"
Haven't you had a little trouble with some of
the reporters?"
81 should say had. They are a blanked sight
bigger rascals than the merchant police Every
because they were corrupted 1 don't know that
they received money TO do so but they did it
from corrupt motives all the same There has
not been an attack made upon since / be-
came superin tendent that was not inspired by
corruption. Y0u bet [ will do Just as [ please,
and I'll run things to suit myself" and the Su-
perintendent, having concluded his remarks,
strobe out in high dudgeon. His remarks were
1nterlocked with profanity and savage denun-
Citations of newspapers and reporters, merchant
policemen, and those who didn't think him the
right man In the right place. He expressed his
determination of resigning shortly Truly he is
''the only one-and we've got him"