The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-21
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
The Views of the Leading Candidate as
to What 1t Should Be.
Candidate Bernhamer, Who Thinks lie Will Be
Nominated, Is Opposed to Enforcing the
Saloon Laws-Col. MaynardS Views.

The Democratic central committee will meet
tomorrow night for the purpose of determining
when the convention shall assemble to nominate
the city ticket The delegation will be based on
representation of one to each fifty votes cast at
the last election, thus giving the convention 2l3
delegates. 1t will take 1O7 votes to nominate
any candidate. OF the whole number of votes,
the Fifth aldermanic district will have sixtytwo.
There will be 119 delegates south Of Washington
street and 81 north.
All the Democratic members of the Council
are candidates for reelection, with two excep-
tons Downey of the Ninth and Bowling of the
Sixteenth ward. Of the Democratic aldermen,
King Of the Fourth and McHugh of the Fifth
district will be candidates for denomination,
while an outsider, Henry W. Lout, will be can
didate for alderman from the Twentieth dis
trict In the Twenty-frst ward there are
several new candidates for councilman, among
whom may be named Abner L Newland and G..
H. Rosebrock. The Democrats aspiring to the
Office of councilman in the Sixteenth ward are
Robert c. McGill, p. J. Ryan and Abner Hyde.
Among the candidates for mayor are w F. A.
Bernhamer Colonel j. B. Maynard, Mayor
James l.. Mitchell Thomas Cottrell, and Lester
II. Norton. Of these, Bernhamer will run on
his record as Democrat Maynard will empha-
size his love and past services to the workingman,
Mitchell will point to his past record as mayor
Tom Cottrell will rely upon his laurels as a
police commissioner, and Norton is willing to
take his chances as dark horse.
THE VIEWS OF CANDIDATE BERNHAMER.
4 Journal reporter asked Mr.. Bernhamer,
yesterday, who would be his most formidable
opponents in the race for mayor.
"Oh, l am not aware that there is any organ
lied opposition to me-" he replied. II am
certainly in the lead at present. and if no unfore-
seen trouble arises confidently hope to be
nominated. l have every delegate in my dis
trict pledged to me, and only need fifty-fve
outside Of it,
What sort of platform do you think should
be adopted?" was asked.
'The platform should be against sumptuary
laws, and in favor of an economical govern
ment It should not be made up of billingsgate
and SANDER, but be brief outspoken in opinion
and free of unintelligible platitudes. The man
himself, however, ought to be platform in
himself"
What is your attitude in relation to the Sun
day and saloon lawsF'
II am opposed to enforcing the Sunday law to
the exclusion Of other laws" said Mr.. Bern
heimer, land do not think that the power be-
longs to the city mayor to close saloons on Sun
day or other holidays by simply issuing proc
lamation to that effect. However, l believe that
all violatorS of the law should be punished in
the courts, saloon keepers and decorators OF the
Sabbath as we'll as other men, 1t is the duty of
the mayor to enforce all laws, but tho light of
issuing proclamation belongs to the Council.
am opposed also to raising the saloon license to
500. The city can make more money and pros
per better by taxing saloons one-half that sum"
COL. MAYNARp's POSITION.
Il have not given the matter five minutes
thought" replied Colonel Maynard, when asked
if he was a candidate for the Democratic nom-
nation for mayor. ''There have been only two
persons who have spoke to me about it, and
besides what I have seen in the papers, I have
no further information regarding the matter. !"
He said that he had been an outspoken friend of
the laboring classes and that in conse
quence they had manifested some friendly
feeling for him. Whatever had been said about
nominating him for mayor had probably been an
outgrOwth of this He was not however, seek
ing the nomination, and would make no effort to
get it. If it should be rendered him with any
degree of unanimity, he would probably not
refuse to accept. He did not feel called upon at
this time to decline it.
"What are your views regarding the issues
that will probably figure in the city campaign
j
doubtless give it considerable prominence in the
campaign. It seems to me, however, that it
cannot properly have anything TO do with the
election of mayor The mayor has no police
power for the enforcement of the laws. His
authority is limited to the sentences or fines
which he may impose when law breakers are
brought before him, and the law prescribes what
these penalties may be. cannot see therefore,
that the issue should have anything to do with
the election of the mayor, because it is not in
L e
the laws That is something that be-
longs to the police commissioners. If
candidate for mayor should declare
that he was opposed to the enforcement of the
laws, suppose it would very soon take him
out of the ring. He is bound by his oath of
Office to uphold the laws"
Are you in favor of increasing the saloon tax
to $1OO!'
THE increase of the saloon tax is not urged,
believe, or moral grounds. 1t Is advocated AS
a means of increasing the revenue of the city.
The question is therefore, simply one of finan-
ces. The thing to be considered is whether OF
not the revenue would be increased by an in
crease of the saloon tax. 1t would be
relation to the matter to arrive
at any conclusion. 1t may be that many of the
saloons could not afford to pay the 500, and
that the revenue from an increased tax would
not amount 70 much as it does now. An in
crease in the tax may, by diminishing the mum
OCl, AiRhO aIoAo lOoPNNoooi0 s"AoOLS IL Az nay
be supposed possible. 1t may be, however, that
all would pay the tax and increase the price for
their commodity proportionately To reach
any conclusion on the question, which is purely
one of finances. one must know how many Of
the saloons will or can afford to pay the tax OF
500.
Indiana Masonic Mutual Benefit Society.
The Masonic Mutual Benefit Society of Indiana
held it sixteenth annual meeting at Masonic
Hall yesterday afternoon. Tho report of the