The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-16
FRENZEL ATTACKS BYNUM.
The Treasurer of the State Central Com
mittee Tells Why He Opposed Bynum.
The Congressman Would Not Pay Anything to
the Campaign Fund, but Told the
Committee "tO Go to -"
INDIANAPOLIS People. May. 1886.

Indianapolis People, May. 1886.
A representative of the People accidentally
met the Hon. John p Frenzel, president of the
Merchants National Bank, the other day, and,
knowing him to be an active, ardent Democrat
and a very influential leader among the Ger
mans of our city, asked him how he stood upon
Bynum's denomination for Congress Such a
query in these days is generally intended to pro-
woke more or less wrath, ask it almost of whom
you may, but in this instance it drew forth an
array of charges and fire of indignation which
were absolutely irresistible. The treasurer of
the Democratic committe, Mr.. Frenzel, said:
"Mr. Bynum should be opposed for the reason
that he is not fit person to hold the important
Office of Con xressman-he is a man who has
not the slightest regard for his word in fact, is
man without integrity. What am going to
say will prove, conclusively, think, the truth
of my assertion.
THE executive committee of the Marion
county Democratic central committee of 1884
the same year of Mr.. Bynum's candidacy. was
composed of Oscar B. Hord, James Renihan.
George F. Pfngst, John E. Sullivan, L. P Har-
Ian and myself. [ was then, and am still, the
treasurer of the committee.
GAS is usual in political campaigns, an assess
ment was made by this committee against every
candidate upon the Democratic ticket, Mr. By
mum, only, being excepted Upon my sugges-
ton, no assessment was made against Mr. BY
mum, but a committee consisting OF the chair
man and the treasurer was instructed to see Mr.
Bynum and accept such contributions as he (Mr
Bynum) was willing to make towards paying the
expenses of the campaign This plan was pur-
sued in Difference to Mr.. Bynum's supposed
financial condition, and in order to save him
from any embarrassment The subcommittee
was explicitly Instructed to leave the amount of
the contribution, or of any contribution at all,
entirely optional with Mr. Bynum
"Mr. Bynum met the subcommittee, and, in
response to an explanation of their business,
promptly informed them that he (Mr. Bynum)
had received from friend 81, 900 for the purpose
of paying $500 into the Marion county committee
and $3.50 each to the Hancock and Shelby county
committees, and that he would pay the half OF
these sums at once and the balance in two
weeks
sit is scarcely necessary to add that he never
redeemed the promise-that he never paid one
cent into the Marion county committee. few
days before the election member of the eXecu-
tive committee called on MIR. Bynum to urge the
spouse from Mr.. Bynum was THAT He
WOULD NOT PAY ONE ID CENT TO
A COMMITTEE THAT WAS TRYING TO
SELL HIM OUT
las might be expected this insult created
considerable feeling, which became so intense
that Mr.. Bynum finally concluded some repara-
tion would have to be made; in this resolve he
was not in earnest, but simply trying to mislead
the committee, as subsequent events proved.
On the day prior to election day Hon. VIM. H.
English called to inform me that Mr. Bynum
had made arrangements for the money promised
the committee, and would pay the same imme-
diately. This. of course, was only one of Mr.
Bynums receptions He never intended to and
never did pay one cent.
I'm consequence of this last deception the
committee found itself in debt $500.
1.-TWO more efforts were made-one by Mr.. L.
7. Harlan, and the other by Mr.. James Renihan
The former was answered by Mr. Bynum with a
positive refusal, and the latter was not only re-
fused but insuIted, Mr. Bynum using the words,
TELL THE COMMITTEE THEY CAN GO
TO HE'LL The money necessary to cover the
deficit of the committee was then secured by
private subscriptions. 1 never asked favor of
Mr.. Bynum and was earnest supporter Of
his for the nomination in 1884"
"Did Mr. Bynum pay the $3.50 to each of the
counties of Hancock and Shelby. as he said to
you he intended doingW
mo, sir, he did not To Shelby county he
paid $50, l am informed, and to Hancock county
not one cent"
Mr. Frenzel was asked if the other members
of the committee would indorse the statement
given above, whereupon he replied that they
would, and, if necessary the afidavits of each in
dividual on the executive board could be OBJ
tanned fully substantiating every charge he had
made, including the OF Mr.. English as to the
part he had taken in the matter.