The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-11
T.FT US HAVE GAS.

OF course if the News pleads that 1t does
not understand the force Of what it says, the
proper feeling to have toward it regarding its
wanton charges and insinuations is pity in
stead of anger. For weeks and months the
News has continued to refer to the Journal
with dishonorable innuendoes, and to assert
that it has been the "organ" of persons and
interests inimicaf to the city. 1t is easy to
differ without impugning motives. but the
contrary has been the unvarying course of
the News. That patience should give way is
not strange. The News has the perfect right
to differ with the Journal in everything, and
we hope to find it in the position Of an OPP
ponent very frequently in the future; out
that opposition may be maintained In
courteous and honorable manner, and not
with epithet and insinuation against integrity
of purpose, and with fair and candid state
ment of the position to be controverted. For
instance: the News says last night that the
Journal has promulgated repeatedly the as
sertion that the Gas Trusts treasurer would
not go upon its bond" when we have never
said anything of the kind We have said
that Mr. Claypool said he would not do so; if
he chooses to eat his own words that is mat
ter of his own. But he did say SO repeatedly,
and he said so in no such manner and In no
such connection as explained in his interview
in the News. His statement was absolute and
uneouiyocal The difference between the
News and the Journal seems to be about this:
the News insists in effect, that the Trust
must and shall furnish all the gas the city of
Indianapolis needs and will use; the Journal
knows that that is impossible, upon the pres
emit basis and, therefore, wants to invite all
the capital and all the companies that can be
attracted, so that the city shall have the
amplest supply at the best possible terms and
within the shortest possible time. Because
we have said that it is folly to talk Of COM
pany with $500, 900 capital having monopoly
of the business of furnishing gas to city of
15O, 900 inhabitants, the News says the Jour-
nal doesn't forget to say that the Trusts pur-
pose is folly and impossible Of realization.
The Trusts purpose" therefore, is to supply
all the gas Indianapolis can use, and in
furtherance of that purpose" of course it
is business to keep competitors out. To that
policy the Journal is opposed. We want all
the companies to come in and give US gas
the Broad Ripple with its greater or less sup
ply; the Capital City with what it may have,
the indianapolis Company with its supply,
and the Trust, when it is ready, with all that
it can command. Is this policy reasonable
to the best interests of Indianapolis Is not
any other policy treasonable9 Is not the
Journals policy the one that all citizens who
care for the present and future prosperity of
the city should advocated
Natural gas was new thing to all of us not
many months ago. We all know more about
it now. It is not long since even the
News favored the amendment of the existin G
ordinance in the matter of rates. which the
Journal never did. The success of the Trust
movement put an end to that, and made alb
solutely certain natural gas at ordinance
prices or below. The Trust is to be credited
unreservedly with that great and important
result Now let US have gas. If amendmen IS
to the ordinance that can in nowise affect the
safety or the security of the city and its citi-
zens are desirable the Journal has not been
afraid to say, in spite of the bulldozers that
they should be made. If they are
not then the ordinance should stand
as it is. This question can
be settled by calm and equitable considera-
ton, but not by Comanche yells and dishon-
orable attacks. On Monday the News
charged the Journal with allowing its col
umns to be used in the interests of change
SO that the indianapolis company could
utilize old and alleged unsafe pipe, to the
peril of the lives and property of the people.
| This insinuation was as unfounded as it was
infamous and indecent, and yet the News
says it is not conscious of ever having
| published anything that would warrant the
anger of the Journal.
But further discussion is useless. The
| Journal is on the record in favor of gas-gas
at the earliest day, in the most unlimited