The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-05
Meeting in the Fourth Ward.


Meeting in the Fourth Ward.
The Republicans of the Fourth ward held
an enthusiastic and largely-attended meet
Ing, ia st. Clair Hall, corner of Indiana
avenue and st. Clair street, last night.
Those who were in charge had some diff
Guilty IN arranging for its opening, owing
to the persistence of a few. probably of OPP
posite political faith, who thought by their
rowdyism to break up the evenings pro-
gramme; but without much trouble
they were quieted. 1t was not
a difficult matter for a looker-on. as the
meeting proceeded, to rightly judge the
candidates in whose behalf the audience
had assembled. Enthusiasm for the Re-
publican party and It's candidates ran high,
and the closest attention was given to the
speeches. Charles c. Hickman discussed the
anvas In a clear and concise manner. The
duty of local Republicans, he said, is to
stand by their party. he discouraged the
return of Democratic rule, holding that the
evils which now exist in Indianapolis are
the legacies OF past experiments with its
system.
Frank II. Blackledge, in a brief talk, held
been made by Democrats and Democratic
newspapers since this campaign began, but,
he thought, everyone would concede
that they had been shown up ia
ftnCII III n Clty al
he said. is generally underestimated.
But. in point Oh actual benefit to the COM
munity, it is really more important than a
State or national canvass Indianapolis is
rapidly on the increase, the tax duplicate
is growing. and every evidence of a metro
pOlitan center Is becoming marked. The
past administration has added much to
this, but more can be done in the future.
Figures were quoted showing how. IN 1873,
under Democratic rule, and with In
~dianapolis half the present size. S13S, 1866
was expended for the fire department alone;
and, In 1884, under a Republican admins
t~ration. with the population nearly doubled.
81, 100. 10 only was spent for the same de-
partment. Other figures were given which
showed the extravaganza of the Demo-
cratic party In managing the city's finances.
Mr.. Blackledge closed with a review of the
Republican platform.
At this point of the meeting. General
Coburn, who had stepped in unobserved,
was noticed by some in the audience, and
calls for q speech, as loud as they were
earnest, at once began: The General was
duced, and, after being greeted
by a round of applause, he ad-
dressed the meeting in q half-hour's
discussion Of his position. He said that he
had come TO the meeting to hear, and not
be heard. He desired, he said, to let the
voters in the Fourth ward know that he
was still alive and in the canvass, and that
he had not been spirited away by the
agents oil q pOntlcai gang or BAND or cut
tLroats. The present canvass is one TO
which he has been accustomed, for 1t has
developed into a contest of q personal char
acter. But, notwithstanding all of this"
he said, Il an In the field. and 1 intend to
work for the people. and not myself. l re-
gard the office of Mayor In any city a very
honorable one, but especially. is it SO
in indianapolis. / am proud of our city,
of her progressive, intelligent and enter
prising people. The standard of morality,
of good citizenship, and of culture is nm
| equaled in any city of Its size in the world.
i regard it no trivial matter to be a citizen
| of Indianapolis. and much more is it an
honor to be the Mayor. But. with all this
prosperity, the growth of this city may be
stunted by Encouragement and by dishon-
est government. 1t has happened time and
time again in the worlds history, and is
possible here" In regard to the improve
ment question, General Coburn said, II
an heartily in favor of improve
extravagant ones. / am not in favor of in
creasing the rate of taxation, as a reporter
printing what purported to be an inter-
The Generals remarks were often ap-
plauded, and at the conclusion of his
speech. A. A. Young. candidate for alder
man from the Second district, was called
out. After listening to a very brief address
from him, the meeting adjourned