The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-29

Know anything about III Bless YOU no.
Wheeler, who has an office or this floor, got me
into IL. He wanted me to go into tine syndicate
so az to be on the inside if there were any CON
tracts. 1t only required subscription for a
$1,000 share of stock, he said, 500 to be paid
down."
80 they've got 300 of your good moneyr
"Oh, no; only S23. They'll not get any more
until find out what it is. L don't know any
very long ODDS just at Wheeler's solicitations
They've elected me president of their local
board. told 'em didn't want II; hut they went
ON and elected me. They say they've collected
$1,000 in this city already. Pm going to find
out what they've done with it. If they say
they've got tin bank, that will not satisfy me.
I'll go and find out. Come in again. II this thing
is crooked I'm out of it. So far l don't know
anything about it, or anything about the peope
running it. So far I've taken their say-so I'm
not going to take it any longer"
Chow did you come to join the great syndi-
cate to build the Peoples Railway Of Americal"
was asked of Mr. Sversmth.
"Well," said that gentleman, who edits the o.
of advertising with me. have made some CON
tracts with them. have written only one edi-
torlal, however, in my paper favoring it."
"Do you know any OF the men in the COM
panyq"
Not personally, except Mr. Coffey. of tie
Western Ca thOllc."
Have you ever Investigated the scheme thor
oughly?"
mot thoroughly. If it is not all right shall,
OF course, have nothing further to do with it. [
certainly should not approve of swindlinS any
body: [ am secretary of the local board"
here2"
mo, I did not. 1t does not go through my
hands. They paid me for some advertising, and
have some further contracts with Them" cOu-
tinued Mi Silversmith; "Dut, of course If GU In
vestigating find it not as represented will
sever my connection with it."
The reporter left Mr.. SilversmIth protesting,
and found Jay B. Wheeler, an advertising
lctor. Between you and l." said Wheeler OF
went into the thing with a view of getting a no
sltion. I'm going TO find out in very short
time, though, whether it is straight or not. If
II ls9t, III wash my hands Of the whole affair.
handled $2,0O0,OO0 of government money the
last year OF the war, and the government never
had scrap of writing from me-. cannot afford
TO be mixed up in anything doubtful"
Mr.. Cotfey, of the Western Catholic, said that
he expected to get some advertising out of the
scheme, but wanted nothing TO do with it If liz
was crooked. He had put in 800 good money,
and was member of the syndicate. He was
surprised to learn that some other members or
the syndicate had paid in $25 for the privilege
OF getting in the inside.
Colonel" ]. g. Phillips, organizer of local
boards and chief of the canvassing department.
was not asked why he joined the scheme. He
is paid a salary just now Of 500 to 1925
month.
Mr. Boughron, who handles all the money
not asked why he Joined. He is paid salary of
about 800 per month. The privilege of hand
ling the $2,O00O00 which is to be collected in
Chicago is worth something.
The only notable thing in Sol" Plillips's ca.
reer, so far as his aequaintances now recall was
his connection with Kentucky Tontiae insur-
auce company, which had brief career in this
city. Phillips is said by friends to be visionary.
He is "a man after Col. Sellers's own heart, II
the latter had only had Phillips to pnsh his 'eye-
water" there is no doubt at all but that yeth-
er they would have made go of It, This Pto-
PIES Railway Company is said to be really side
speculation with Philips. 1t has only $175,
100000 of stock. The Colonel is reported TO
have schemes in his head with twice that
amount of stock. ale is a schemer" said Il
friend, "Dut he has been little down iu the
shoes of late years have no doubt at all but at
the 1920 a month which he is now paid is very
grateful to him." This friend is not far wrong
in his estimate. The Colonel" himself said dur
ing recent interview at the Times office: 'YOu
must not be hard on me. don't pretend to know
all about the Peoples Railway Company of
America It's matter of salary with me. I
am drawing liberal salary, and, of course,
must work for it,"