The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-22

what is known as the aqueoucb ring, anu
Flower seems to have W aded knee-deep, at
least into the subway job Both men appear
to be enmeshed in the same net with Flynn.
O'Brien is wound tight, but Flower is futterlng
like blue tailed fly. and may possibly escape
without injury. The taxpayers are we'll dis
posed toward him, and loath to believe anything
to his discredit The evidences of jobbery in the
subway commission, of which he is q member,
are quite clear however, and there is disposi
ton to hold him responsible. The subway mine
is only second in richness to the aqueduct de-
post The aqueduct will cost about thirty mile
ions. If the newspapers probe Alright, both
OBrien and Flynn are directly and indirectly in
terested to the extent of several millions. Not
satisfied with contracts awarded to them
by the aqueduct commissioners in the face of
lower bidders, they are charged with freezing
out other contractors and with trying to scoop
everything in sight and out of sight OBren,
by the way, is the receiver of the Broadway SUR
face railroad He has as many tentacles as an
octopus, and they reach throughout the State. as
well as the city. He is brawny man, about hf-
ty years old. He has a cold gray eye and square
cut features, and he wears close trimmed griz-
zled beard. He works silently. but persistently.
In pursuance of his schemes he is cred
tied with an attempt to steal the scepter of Tam
many Hall Its leaders were too keen of scent.
They detected him creeping to the windward, and
quietly shut him out OBrien. however, Is
strongly intrenched politically Dynamite alone
can breach his Notifications. With keen fore
sight, some weeks ago he sent letters to all the
members OF the State committee, asking their
views as to the necessity of State convention
this fall. The only State Office to be filled is
justiceship in the Court of Appeals Two-thirds
of the State committee expressed themselves as
opposed to a convention, and favored the nomi
nation of a candidate by the committee.
It this is done, OBrien will retain
the craftsmanship of the committee until
the year preceding the presidential election.
Not only this, but he would virtually have the
- III A. Al
fall In view of the recent developments, it is
highly probable that some of the committee may
take the back track, and insist upon calling a
State convention, Whether the feeling will be
so bitter as to force one, however, is doubtful.
O'Brien has strong political reserve in Albany,
and he will undoubtedly bring it forward for
protection if necessary He will give up nothing
without fight
The Flynn-Seuire expose has dimmed the pros
poets for Democratic success in both city and
State this fall. Grace forced the issue. and he
is damaged instead of benefited BY it. He
seems TO have irretrievably ruined his section OF
the Democracy. His course toward SQUIRE COM
pares unfavorably with his course toward the
Republican General Shaler charged with brib-
cry. The Mayor made no investigation Of the
charges until after Shalers trial before jury.
Then he removed him, and the removal now
awaits the action of the Governor In Squire's
case he pursued the investigation in the face
of the grand jury who indicted the
dence without waiting for jury trial. The only
reliance for Democratic success in this city this
fall is clearly Tammany Hail. Her withers are
unwrung Not a particle of mud has fallen upon
her leaders. Her shield was never brighter.
Years ago the name of Tammany was stigma
on the Democracy. Now the tables are changed.
The revelations duplicating prominent Demo
Gratis are having their effect. and it looks as
though the appelation Democrat might
injure Tammany. The people are
becoming SO intensely aroused that the
city may slip into the hands of Republican
Mayor. If so the Democratic party will thor
ouehly appreciate the heritage left it by Grover
Cleveland when he signed the bill giving the
Mayor of this city autocratic power A Repub-
lican Mayor would have the absolute appoint
ment of all the new commissioners. He would
be fortified by Republican Legislature. who
would certainly refuse to repeal the bill. Demo
cratic chickens would thus come home to roost,
and Republican politicians would gather the
eggs. ef5ISKA.