The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-17
MAYOR SULLIyAN'S CRITICS.
He Is Deficient in Firmness. and Yieldssto the
Bad Element for the sake Of Peace.

That the official clothes given Thomas L.
Sullivan by the new city charter are .
great deal too large for hmm. in fact shock
ing mistt. is becoming evident to all OBJ
servers. Besides, the garments have too
many pockets in them. In providing q new
city oharteg for Indianapolis. city. with
its suburbs. of 125000 people. the Mayor
was expected to be a man of undOubted ez-
ecutive ability, and of infiexibie integrity
While Mayor Sullivan is weil-nieanIng
gentleman. it is all too apparent that he
lacks nerve. and is q person whe will yield
to the worst political influences for the
sake of peace and harmony. A elfknown
Democrat. q business man eXpresseC MINI
self with some vigor on this poinf yester-
day: Why" said he. 1.-The man Is utterly
spineless. He has been inundated by the
saloon element until they now do as they
tion to the IL O'Clock kw. and
run all day Sunday. He IS absolutely
ruled by that element. The power put into
his hands by the city charter, and which.
If used, would soon make this city 10 De
proud of. he seems afraid to employ he Is
timid and afraid of his shadow. fearing
that any exhibition of nerve will lmperil
Here another Democrat Clipped in: "Oh,"
said this one, "Sullivan's a nice man. You
might let him into n Republican caucus
and he wouldn't see what was going on"
Nothing has been done remarked a
third. and people are very much disap-
pointed. The Board of Public Works is
degenerating into q by-wOrd. The police
department is Utterly inefficient. and poiitI-
cal partlsanship Is stronger In that depart
ment than ever before. Mr.. Sullivan's Oat-
meal speeches To visiting delegations are
we'll enough IN their way. and do no
harm. but this city wants as Mayor
n practical man who knows what
should be done. and then not be- afraid to
do it. There is no dcu bit that he caters 10
the saloon element. The records of the po-
lice court will show this. IL a man comes
before him from that element the chances
are nine to one that the offender Will be let
OIL without punishment. His conduct IN
The viaduet matter was peculiar. Mr.. Sui
Ivan said that the ordinance. as passed by
the Council, to vacate Alabama street, was
clearly illegal Yet he signed that ordi-
it was Illegal he didn't believe 1t would do
any harm. For o man who has actually
sat upon the bench this is, perhaps. as re-
markable an expression as any ever dellv-
cred by Capt. Jack Bunsby."
The greatest fault that can be found
with Mayor Sullivan" remarked another
critic. lis that he doesn't know. l doubt II
he has more than read the city charter cas-
ually. While that charter was In course OF
preparation be was chairman OF the COM
members of that committee are aware.
knew nearly nothing of its provisions. the
work being left almost entirely in the
hands of A. l.. Mason"
The ordinance to pave Ohio street with
asphalt was one of the first improvements
introduced in the new Council. On the 18th
day of February. 1890. one month and eight
cen days after Mayor Sullivan entered upon
the duties of his office. remOnstrance was
presented against that Improvement and
the name of Thomas l.. Sullivan was npOn
that paper, he signing for Mary +. Love for
20212 feet on that thOroughfare. Mr.. Suili-
van asked the committee to report against
the Improvement. This struck both Demo
cratic and Republican councilmen In a
funny place. and some of Mr.. Sullivan's
party friends took him aside and reminded
him he had been elected on platform
his action was hardly consistent. He then
withdrew his objection and the committee
reported favoring the Improvement.