The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-27
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS
Inside View of Some of the Recent Ma
neuvers in Democratic Politics.
Sullivan's Ambition to Be Governor and the
Reason for Hawkinss Appointment
FrenZel and the Ring.

was once remarked by wise old Tony We'll
Ter.
Very true. The good citizens of Indian
ap0lis see the big wheel of the city govern
ment 90 round, but they fail to see the lit
tie wheel within it which spins about so
merrjly communicating motion to the big
one which grinds out the taxes.
There are several spokes in this smaller
wheel. represented by very clever and able
gentlemen-but why continue the simile
when it is so much easier to ring the
changes on "a ring" or shout Justify for
some one wandering about in impalpable
space to gig the gangl"
1.-THE appointment of Mr.. Hawkins to the
Board of Public Safety had something be-
hind it" remarked q Democrat whose nose
has recently been disiointed.
The reporter encouraged him to 60 on.
'Mr. Hawkins said the gentleman. pre-
sumed himself to be q candidate for Treas
urer of State. True, that is an office of a
two years term, and. following the usage.
Mr.. Gall. the present incumbent, should DO
renominated; but there is the proposition to
make il a four years term. and for Mr.. Gall
to be renominated and hold the position six
years has been talked over and thought TO
he too rich for that gentleman's Teutonic
blood. Mr.. Hawkins-or perhaps it would
be better to employ the usual fiction and
cay the friends of hat gentleman-thOught
IN case the two years terms of those State
officers who now hold only two years were
made four that an entirely new ticket
should be nominated, and that would leave
Mr.. Call out, and Mr. hawkins would
step H."
s~ULLlVAN'S AMBITION.
"WellY" said the reporter encouragingly.
Listen and you'll catch on. Mayor Sui
Ivan has the gubernatorial bee IN his bon
net. and he is quietly clearing the way for
the nomination. Bynum is in his road,
and Hawkins. as q new man. now q resi-
lent of this district. would add one more
from this district to the numerous seekers
after nominations on the State ticket. Mr..
Sullivan figured it out probably with the
assistance of the genial Tom Taggart) that
he could kill two BIRDS with one stone by
appointing Hawkins to Hollis place on the
Board of Safety, which would remove him
from the field and at the same time secure
his influence for Sullivan in northern ndi-
ana, whe-e he is supposed to have great in
fluence III the party.
This central district continued the mar
rator. will be handsomely represented by
candidates In the next state convention.
There's Gall for Treasurer, Sullivan, By
mum and Jim Rice for Governor. aud Capt.
Bill My ers, of Anderson, who has smoth-
cred his aspirations for the governorsblp
and now wants TO be Reporter of the Su-
preme Courr-an Office that has a good deal
more money in it.D
do you credit Jim Rico to this dIstrict?'
ooh, Jim probably will put himself for
ward as n citizen of the State. not TO be
credited TO any single district. lie Is a
resident of this city. but If forced 10 name
a residence would, probably claim to hail
from New Albany"
what 90 you think of Mr.. Hawkins as
q non-partisan member of the Board of
Safety 7" inquired the reporter:
The laugh that followed ratified the court
house windows. That's too good!' he eX-
claimed. Nobody has yet heard of Mr..
Hawkins's REIMBURSEMENT of his place on
the Democratic State central committee.
Probably, when his attention Is called TO IT.
his resignation from that committee will
show MP. dated far enough back to precede
his tenure of the presidency of the Board
of Public Safety. 1t Will be no trouble at
all to arrange q fake of that kind. The
school-book syndicate. of which Mr.. Haw-
kins is at the head, supplies the public
schools of this city with excellent publica-
tions.D
Isn't tha all right under the present re-
form administration"
The gentleman took from O shelf the &c Is
of the Legislature of 1891. and turning to
the chapter on city charter. page 140. put a
long, lean forefinger on Section z of that in
run wherein 1t Is specifically provided
that it shall be unlawful for any officer OF
employe to have any interest in contracts"
and that"whoever shall knowingly violate
the provisions of this section shall be fined
not more than $1,000. TO which may be
added Imprisonment for any period not
II suppose" the reporter ventured to re-
mark, That Mr.. Hawkins could show that
his school book trade is not direct with the
city. and that the statute is only indirectly
violated"
"Oh, L don't suppose any of the gentle
men who are In the city ring will be any
too nice in discrimination where the finan-
cial interests of any of its members are in
volved. Mr.. Conduit. president of the
Board of Public Works. Is n large stock
holder in the Consumers Gas Trust. / be-
lieve, and that worthy benevolence sup
plies its product to the city at its usual
rates."
"What kind of o cinch has Mr.. Frenzel
on the board of c~ontrolf Perhaps we had
better go up te the attic to talk about that"
THE HAND OF FRRNZEL.
Tho gentleman rose and shut the door.
'rMr. Frenzel. Mr.. Conduit and several
other gentlemen whom we oil know,
worked with the Legislature and succeeded
in getting our excellent city charter. /
understand that it was represented to the
Chicago capitalists, who own our street
cars. that Nh. Frenzel. who had. with the
assistance of the indianapolis News,
chosen the Board of Public Works for MI.
Sullivan, could get anything he pleased
from that body and could get anything in
sight or out of sight from tho Common
Council. By the way that 'unco guild or
gan, the News, has not said anything
against the Street-railway Company re-
Gently, not since Mr.. Frenzel has been at
the head of its affairs. How sweetly it
sang for a lower fare for the poor working
man before that; even the Sentinel, which
is now also strangely silent, also advocated
"a lower fare.p
"What OF that"
eff you can't put this and that together,
/ shall not help you do the doye-tailing.
IL now looks as if Mr.. Frenzel was waiting
to work the new Council for an extension of
franchise. Mr.. Rassmann, who has been
reelected TO that body, will probably be
made its president. He is MIR. FrenZel's
man. and the committees that he will make
up as president of the Council will not be
unfayorable TO that gentleman
Isn't il also whispered that Martin Muir
ply hugs the delusion that he is Mr.. Fren-
zeps friend and has his influence for presi-
dent of the new Councilf"
Martin Murphy is n well-meaning per-
son, and | trust Mr.. FrenZel has not be-
guiled him. We have TO give Mr.. Frenzel
credit for working by direct methods Us
ually, but In this street-ear franchise busi-
ness / suppose his chief duty is to hog the
persimmon."