The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-29
INFAVOR OF LAW AND ORDER.
A Splendid and Enthusiastic Meeting of
Citizens to Open the City Campaign.
Political Divisions Disregarded in the Inter
ests of Good Government-Speeches Of
Messrs Denny, Harrison and Peelle.

ests of Good ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
Messrs. Denny, Harrison and Peelle.
At half past o'clock last night representative
audience of business men and citizens had gath
cred at Masonic Hall in response to the call for
citizens meeting in behalf of law and order.
Many ladies, also, were present, and as the hall
hour until o'clock passed on, the people, in
groups of three, half dozen or more increased
the crowd. When the meeting opened the hall
was filed. Law, medicine and the pulpit, mer
camille circles. manufacturing and other indus
tries and workingmen had representatives there
showing an active interest among responsible cit
liens in the results that are to attend the pres
emit municipal campaign. 1t was an audience
that had within itself forceful antagonism tc
anything that promised an overthrow Of all NOR
al sentiment in politics, honesty of government
and strict observance Of laws, It was made uI
of people who demand order and the enforcement
of law to secure it.
At o'clock, as officers Of the meeting and
leading citizens came on the stage, there was q
liberal burst of applause. Gathered on the ros
trum were Hon. John Caven, the presiding
officer, Senator Benjamin Harrison, Hon. Stan
ton j. Peelle, N. S. Byram. James r. Layman,
Judge Byron K. Elliott the Rev. DR.. Mcleod
the Rev. M. l.. Haines, General Carnahan, and
many others.
Mr.. Layman, chairman of the city committee
called the meeting to order, and introduced the
Hon John Caven, as presiding officer. who, with
simple thanks and expressions of salts
oo<;1
Caleb S. Denny, the law and order cand
date for mayor. On stepping to the speakers
desk Mr.. Denny was received with warm ap
plause. He spoke as follows, frequent approba-
ton being manifested by his hearers:
MR.. DENNY's SPEECH.
The present contest in this city is novel one in
far its political aspects are concerned. cast my
first vote in Indianapolis and campaign since that
time has been completely stripped of politics. and
free from partisan feeling and prejudice this Sc
there has been and is to be very little Of the old time
drawing of political lines. In my opinion, this is
it should be. For while under system of govern
ment political parties must exist and candidates for
public Office must almost of necessity be put before
the people by the expression of party conventions
yet, in city like this during times like these the
interests rather than their political beliefs applied to
national or State politics The tendency, so far as
local elections concerned, has been gradually
moving in that direction for some years. and it would
SEEM from the character of the questions involved in
this contest, applied to municipal government,
that the voters apt to think very little of politics
and great deal of their property and business
interests in making up their minds to how they
will vote AS have studied the questions involved
this seems to me to be contest of good emit
for the whole people, the enforcement of law in the
interest of society, fair and equitable apportion
ment of the public burdens among the various classes
of business and property against the very opposite
these things. 1t strife for supremacy between
the manufacturer, the merchant the mechanic, the
honest laborer, and the taxpayer of every class
s against the he; drone and the man who asks
shall be borne by his neighbor. 1t is between
the people of all trades professions and business but
against the dictation of society representing
that one business, and which doesn't stop with at
tempts to shape legislation in its interest but
dehes ard seeks to trampe under foot the laws
enacted for the people of the whole State by repre-
sentatives chosen for that purpose
Let therefore put aside political feelings
the issues Joined by the platf adopted at Mozart
Hall ON the Sd, and in this haHon the 5th inst
By the fundamental law of this, State the people
have very wisely placed in the hands of representa-
laws for their government and the protection OF
society When the electors of the State adopted that
them supposed the laws thereafter to be enacted
der it's promises would be set aside and dsregarded
by any class of the community. 1t is rather to be
supposed that every voter of the State who cast his
ballot for that Constitution intended and desired that
the laws thereafter to be passed within it's terms
should be respected, upheld and enforced. 1t was
community would band together to pre-
vent the passage of laws manifestly in
the interest of good society and good government
and if unsuccessful in that to demand and dictate
their repeal and if bafed in that to then set such
laws in defiance. But just such state of affairs we
have lived to see brought about, and such orgsn
cation know exists in this State and city. Shall
the good of society be jeoparded by the of
such organization? This is of the questions
to be settled on the second Tuesday in October
The convention which nominated for may or,
without eauvocation demanded the overthrow of the
arrogant domination of this organization then ap
proved that proposition and reiterate the same sen
tment now. In favoring the overthrow of the Liquor
take offense, | appTTehsnd. Wills the mem
Sought eo to make their equalization nave
part of the Democratic party, do not understand
that the better elements of that party-the who
constitute the intelligence of the party, and hence
make up and keen up the party organization. such
have accepted the leagues owninvtaton to become
part and parcel of the party; They have not yet
having their party and the good of society at heart
But notwiths landing the thinking law-abiding Demo
Gratis of this city are not members of the Liquor
League, and are not in sympathy with its plans or
purposes, yet it is fact not to be denied that the
league delegates, reinforced by few others under
their control dictated the platform and nominated
the ticket at Mozart Hall Sept 3. Delegates who
were in favor of the enforcement of the laws got
poor encouragement in that convention. They were
hopelessly in the minority, that minority represent
ing the Democratic party and the majority repre-
senting the Liquor League.
Let see if have drawn too wide distinction be-
tween the Democratic party and the Liquor League as
distinctive organizations The laws of this State
in force regulating the traffic in Intoxicating liquors
are. in the main. laws which were passed by Demo
cratic Legislatures. And those passed by the
General Assembly of 1881 have stood the test of
Democratic Legislatures since elected without being
repealed that it may be fairly said that all sections
of the statute force regulating the sale of in
toxicatng liquors have been fully approved by the
Democratic party of Indiana 1t is fresh in the mind
of every one how the Liquor League. at the last
of General Assembly had oil
Democratic majority in both branches, came forward
with bill to repeal the 11-o'clock law
| and how that domineering organization has
demanded that all laws obnoxious to
it. and which. in any material respect restrict the
business it represents shall be wiped off the statute
books The representatives of the people, elected by
the voters of every county in the State have far
refused to yield to the demands of this selfish organ
zation and the law passed ten years ago by Demo