The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-06
Captain W. r. Myers Gives Some Facts
Concerning the Late Election.
The Statement That He Attempted
to Bulldoze the Governor q
Sheer Fabrication.
Captain Myers Action Directed by
Desire for the City's Good
Some of the Men Pro-
posed by Him.

bis way to the State buildings yesterday for
the purpose of interviewing Hon. w. r.
Myers, Secretsryo of State, upon matters re-
sioner to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
resignation of Mr.. Malott.
Captain Myers received the reporter with
his accustomed cordiality, but when the
mission was announced the gallant Captain
seemed little inclined TO talk for the benefit
of the public.
"Captsin, notice that portion of the
city press is bandying your name in connec-
ton with the action of the board whose
dutv it is to elect Police Commissioners"
"Yes, nv attention has been called to va
Iious reports to which you doubtless allude
but such misrepresentation have become so
common that / am persuaded they are de-
signed to mislead public opinion. And
when malignity instead of manliness pre-.
! dominates the truth has little show in the
contest"
Exactly; but my purpose is to get at the
facts as il may please you to state them. A
city paper on Saturday, among other things,
reported incidents of the meeting for the
election of Mr.. Malotts successor as follows:
About the only exception was Mr.. Failey, from
whom the Democratic officials had indirectly re-
ceived word that he would accept. Edward II.
| Dean, ex. Councilman, was proposed by the Gov
| ernor, put Secretary Myers protested vigorously
against him, on the ground that he was ward
/ politician. ana a prospective candidate for
county Office. At this juncture Lee Mothershead
| made his appearance and secured an interview
with Governor Porter, which resulted in the latter
/ nominating J. J. Turner, Superintendent of the
| indianapolis and Vincennes Railroad, for the
| Commissionership. Again there was objection on
| the part of Myers, who intimsted that the Gov
ernor would support Failey but for fear OF hurt
ing the feelings of John C. News organ"
.'If agreeable. I would like to have your
version of the affair"
In matter ofsuch admitted Importance
as the appointment of Police Commission
! ers, the public has a right to know if those
upon whom the Law confers the responsible
ity Of selection are governed by prudent
| considerations of the best interests of soci-
| ETY.. So far as the selection of a gentleman
to I'LL the place vacated by Mr.. Malott ia
concerned, esteem it proper to say that |
proposed tor the consideration of Governor
| Porter the names of L. p. Haughey, ]. s.
Spsnn, Robert Browning, DR.. Alabaster,
Rev. T. A. Goodwin, William II. II. Miller
and many others equelly prominent. These
gentlemen stand high In public esteem,
substantial representatives OF the Re-
publican party in Indianapolis That
Governor Porter did not see proper to nomi-
nate any one of them for Police Commits
sioner was a surprise to me- and will doubt.
less be inexplicabIe to fair minded Rspub-
|
it we'll TO remark, that | had 40 intimation
that in a room adjoining the Governor s
Office, where the meeting was held, 8
reporter was sitting taking notes. and daaw-
ing on his imagination for facts 20 which
placed me in a false position, and this was
equally true OF my Democratic associates
] had supposed the State officers we're hold.
ing a private meeting and were udner obi.
cations TO the public to make such reference
10 candidates az the public good REQUIRED.
! certainly have no objections TO the widest
publicity of my official acts or official
expressions, and am probably as indifferent
ss most men 70 graLuitous misrepresents
;ion. This leads me to say that | did not
protest vigorously against Mr.. Dean,
though / did refer to him as a citizen want
ing in some of the qualifications required
for q Police Commissioner. I did not OBJ
ject to Mr.. ]. j. Turner, nor did intima te
that Governor Porter would. support Mr,
Failey but for fear Of hurting the feelings
of John @. News organ. Such deliberate
misrepresentation appear to gentlemen diff
ficult of explanation"
II ask your attention to the following
which, as you wil observe, appears edito
rally in the Journal of this morning:
As for Secretary Myers coarse and IN
sulting taunt to Governor Porter, that he Wa:
afraid OF public opinion in his choice of Com
missioner it may probably be enough 10 say tha
the spirit of the remark was entirely worthy d
81 certainly am obliged for your consider
alton in this matter. 1t is presumsble that
the Journal pTedicated its thrust at me upon
the report which appeared in the News. fol
which there was not the slightest founda
ton, and / only do the Governor simple JUS
tice by saying that he has assured me be is
in nowlse responsible for the fragrant mis-
representation, and | shall have right 10
believe that the Journal. when the facts
come TO its knowledge, will promptly make
the amende honorable. However, In such
matters it would be far preferable for paper
TO know the facts before it gives currency tC
falsehOod"
Il should like 70 have your views, Cap
tain, relating 10 the efficiency of the Metro
politan Police, as compared with the cendi
tion of things under the old regime. am
the more anxious TO obtain your views
because the Republican press has quite
| recently sought to make it appear thai the
present force is inefficient"
II am aware of the criticisms OF the Re
publican press, bat citizens generally, with
out regard to party affiliations, have Do
difficulty ia anelyZing the moral spasms
which have of late afflicted the Republican
press. i is we'll known when the police
force vas solid Republican, saloons remained
open at night as long as il was profitable
and that no special regard was paid 10 the
Sabbath. Under the old regime gambling
dens were numerous. and their Victims were
counted by scores and hundreds Ny infor-
nation is that under the METROPOLITAN Po-
lice supervision the condition of affairs has
greatly improved. Gambling dens have dis
appeared, saloons are closed at - o. clock at
night or earlier. aud are not kept open on
Sundays. II may be, and doubtless is true.
that the police force is not as large as the
area Of the city demands, bat that is not to
be charged to the fact that the force is non
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