The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
High Lieense and tine City Government.

High License and the City Government.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The Journal has seldom rendered more SUBJ
stantial service to the people than within the
last three months by its persistent and consistent
demand for high license It's arguments have
been unanswered because they are unanswer-
able. Though it failed to secure the needed
legislation, two things have been accomplished
by its course, aud a third and more important
result is possible if judcious line Of policy is
pursued. AS the demand of the Journal has
been ably seconded by every other Republican
paper of the city, and by almost every Republic
an of prominence in the State, the first result
has been the absolute severance of the entire
saloon element in politics from the Republican
party, and it is important to recognize
this fact in all future political movements.
Not one dealer in intoxicants remains with the
Republicans unless it be those who pro-
pose to keep respectable bars, in a respectable
manner, and who see the justice of the demand
and who are themselves advocates of high
license, and who are as anxious as any to sup
press the low and vile drinking places which
contribute largely to the costs and crimes con-
nected with tipping. The second result is, that
tax payers have had their attention called, as
point, to the terrible burden which the drink
traffic fastens upon them and they have resolved
to make the traffic bear more equitable share
OF that burden hereafter. But the Legislature
has persistently refused to furnish any relief,
as every body knew it would who knew that the
majority were elected by the traffic TO protect it
against such legislation There is, however.
some relief to us of Indianapolis The thing
that is possible is to exact from every saloon
keeper the highest fee that the present law al
lows. But this cannot be done by allowing our
municipal affairs to drift along in the old chan
nels, managed wholly by ward politicians, and
in the personal interest of old party hacks. For
a quarter of a century, or more the saloon ele-
ment in politics has dictated the policy of our
city affairs, so absolutely controlling us that no
party has ever dared toopenly antagonize it, and
to-day it feels secure in its possessions, by its
close alliance with the Democratic party, and
the Republican party. One of the re-
suits of this is that we receive
only 81, $50 revenue from license, whereas we
entitled to $34, 900, those that pay at all,
and $4,000 additional from sixty that pay county
license. under the wholesome stimulus OF the
grand jury, who pay no city license at all, hav
ing no fear of the police before their eyes. In
other words, we deprived of at least So, 900
OF revenue, as the law now is, because the saloon
element controls our municipal affairs. This
would help amazingly to build market
house and assembly hall, aud make quite per-
ceptible reduction in the city tax levy when that
work is finished and paid for. 1t should be $780,
900, yearly Does not this state of affairs sug-
gest the proper thing for taxpayers to dos No
one doubts that the Democratic party will, true
to its traditions join hands with the Liquor
League, and pledge a continuance of its favors,
and be more likely to take off the $52 now i'm
posed, than to add the other $4S which the law
allows. The Coys, and Pendletons, and
Cropseys who manipulate the machinery will
never permit an addition dollars assessment,
while there are thousand Democrats who vote
-
delighted to join their felow-citizens of every
political faith on municipal reform, high saloon
taxation and the enforcement of the laws against
all classes of offenders But how can their vote
be obtained2 We can not ask them to vote the
Republican ticket with any platform candi
dates that are likely to be put forth, If left to
the usual managers of our city politics. Ought
we not, i'll this emergency. to rise above party in
the interest of city affairs, in other words
hold party in allegiance while we give attention
to business2 The world has for years
mended both the piety and good sense of the
Quaker who, being insulted by an upstart
that thought the Quaker would not fight, laid off
his Quaker coat and hat, saying: Quaker, lie
thou there while thrash this Scoundrel" and he
thrashed him we'll
Let us initiate the Quaker and invite men of
all parties to lay party by while we throttle this
insolent rum power, which entails upon US so
many wrongs with impunity And nothing
could be more appropriate than that the D, oposi-
on strict party issue We have so large major
ity, and could, no doubt carry the election as
we have, with one exception, for more than
quarter of a century Of course such move
will be antagonized by the entire army of ward
politicians, and prospective candidates. But
they afford to wait What tax payer would
not delight to vote for such man as John w.
Murphy or Fabius NJ Finch for mayor such
platform as the above-''high saloon taxation
and the enforcement of the laws"-such men as
would be very likely to administer all municipal
affairs honestly and prudently? Would it not,
therefore, be better to accept the gage
of battle which they offer, in as bold and defiant
manner as it is offered, rather than to submit
to a cowardly surrender! If the saloon element
owns this city, let us know it, but if not lst
them know it, Shall we not, therefore, move in
the direction of a peoples convention, for peo-
pies ticket on this issue9 Let it be understood
that there is no temperance or any other senti-
ment involved in this question 1t is pure. cold,
naked business; 1T is, in fact struggle for life
as against sure municipal death it we allow this
element to eternally rule us by It's whisky lash.
We never can prevent this rule except by bold
and manly resistance, and there will never be
better time than this year to test the relative
strength of the sober, taxpaying citizens and
those who fatten at our expense Individually
and collectively am in favor of peoples ticket
on this ISSUE which shall include every
elective city officer II. l.. SEE.
Sale of Indecent Literature.
To the Editor of the India napoIs journal:
The following BILL introduced into the House