The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-28
INDIAN A.
A Ring Ridden City and the Efforts Made
Turn the Rascals Ont.


to Turn the Rascals Ont.
Special Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
Fort WAYNE, Nov. 26.-In the campaign
of last year, the Independents of Allen
county accused the Democratic ring of hav
ing plundered the people of this county, in
the short space of four years, of about $780,
000 This the ringsters denied, as did the
ring organ, the Sentinel; but l was told by
Democratic friend, the other day. that the
charge was more than true, for, said he,
-four years ago our county was practically
out of debt; but last spring we discovered
that, instead of a $150000 debt, we had
100000 load to carry, and what was worse,
nothing to show for it. No gravel or pike
roads, no additional public buildings,
no extraordinary Improvements of
any kind, and the people are
left to conclude that their money was
stolen or wasted" l asked him how it was
possible for so large amount to be stolen in
a few years.
"Oh, you have no idea of the vast sums
which a courthouse ring can consume, in
Guiding their hangers-on, when they have a
pliable board of commissioners to allow
their bills and whose official etiquette will
not allow them to examine the correctness
of bill, when once approved by a brother
official"
Inext learned of meeting of ministers,
which was held at the Aveline House. for
the purpose of taking steps to ensure better
enforcement of our laws, State and city. All
the prominent pastors of the city were pres
ent, including, it is said, the Catholic Bishop.
They appointed committee to report at
another meeting l inquired of a friend
why it had become necessary for
the ministers of the gospel to
look after the enforcement of our laws
when we possessed three courts besides the
mayors court, and several justices of the
peace running full blast. He said ''that tn
Criminal Court and the mayors court looked
after criminal matters, and as at present man
aged, they would not do much damage either
to violators of the liquor laws, Su nday laws,
or houses of prostitution, and, ther efore, the
better class of people have urged their pas
tors to lead off and start out for q better
class of officials better enforcement of our
laws, and put some kind of a check upon
the brazen and disgusting conduct of houses
of iil-fame, and the roaming prostitutes who
pollute our streets" He continued: These
houses are patronized by and in many cases
receive aid from men holding official posi-
tons, and large amount of money, wrong
fully taken from the people, is wasted in
these dens of infamy by those who get hold
of the pickings."
why" said I, sis it necessary for your
officials to wink at the violations of law, or
to court favor with such an element OF So
ciety?"
"My dear sir, said he, Nyou know that
the hummer is worth more at a political eau
Gus, or in working mp the hoodlums previous
to the primaries than dozen of respectable
men who pay taxes and furnish the money
for officials to waste. The primaries name
the men who are to be delegates to county
and city conventions, and these delegates
name the candidates who are to be elected
by the party, and our party has so large
majority both in the city and county that
nomination has been equivalent to an cleo
ton, and that such an effort is made to Sc
cure nominations, as the lowest class OF bum
mer is almost sure of mis- election, if once
nominated. If our city or county were
nearly divided between the parties men who
now hold office would never think OF being
candidates.
said, II presume there would be no inde-
pendent movement in our county next year."
You are mistaken" replied my friend.
Democrats never bolt in such elections"
''You are mistaken this time, for the Inde
pents will move against the enemy's works
in this county and city without regard to
either President State officers, or congress
men. as they nave learned that a county
commissioner is of much more value to them
than who fills State office, goes to Congress,
or is President. Besides. we have an account
to settle with some of our State officers, and
it will not be neglected at tine proper time,
and that time for some of them will be 1854. y"
| also find that most of the Democratic
LAWYERS are on the war-path, and give as a
reason that all of the legal pickings go to the
relatives of certain officials and we know
when lawyers pocket is touched, his seat
OF honor is invaded. There are no less than
six candidates for sheriff, with several to
hear from, so that there will be fun in that
line, but some square, independent man Will
get the place.
Hon. Bell is booming again for Governor,
and Gray's fences are in bad shape. That
complimentary vote for United States Sena-
tor which GRAY took from Mcdonald is now
in the field.
The theory in Allen county with the Dem
ocratic ring is that county officials should be
nominated by the principle of civil-service
reform, and that none but members OF the
ring should be nominated and elected; and
that in this way the people would always
have officials who were familiar with the
official workings of the county; therefore,
no farmer or other person, unfamiliar with
the workings of the courthouse duties and
technical mode of charging costs.
This civil-service code keeps the same class
of men in office at all times, at least until
they get too old. In the meantime, as mem
bers get DID, younger men are taken in, so
that the same families, with their relatives
and hangers,on, nave held the offices in this
county for a generation. Our mayor has
held that office for about a dozen of years,