The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-23
1T NAY CONTROL THE CITY
Lieber Has Coy, Wilson. Polster ct Al. Bnsily
at Work-Notorious "Sim" for Council
CAncus of Saloon Keepers.

While The municipal election Is still SIX
months off. and good, every day citizens
have not yet begun to think about il.
certain combination of men. with their
own interests at stake, have been actively
engaged in laying their plans and setting
up the pins" to hold absolute control of
the city government after the next cleo
tion. This com bination is headed by
Albert Lieber and the breweries and DOW
erful financial interests which he and his
associates control. and has for its chief
tools j. l.. Reach. Simeon Coy. James b.
Wilson. Charlie Pclster and others of
that crowd.
Their candidate for Mayor is Col NJ. A.
Downing. q man who has stood well in the
community and will be hard to beat in the
Democratic convention and hard to beat at
the polls. Just what promises Downing
has made to these people, or just where he
finds with them q community of interest.
unless it be in a contemplated street-raIl-
road deal. it is impossible to say. They are
not proclaiming their intentions from the
house tops. One thing. however, is APP
parent even TO blind man: with this COM
bination in power, the liquor interest and
the wide-o open element would get none the
worst of 1t.
was the purchase of Enos b. Reeds weekly
paper. the People. and it's consolidation
with the Right and Freedom, already prac-
tically owned by Lleber. This paper will
he the organ of the clique. 1t Is said that
it has even made overtures TO obtain the
Sentinel. but 1t is hardly believed that 1t
Will 90 to the expense necessary TO buy the
State organ.
The first announcement made by John
w. Kern when he returned yesterday was
that no would not be q candidate for Mayor.
MIR. Kern was fully aware of the "dea.."
and did not care to stand In it's way. as he
is the attorney for the brewery syndicate.
KeIn's defamation was foreshadowed be-
fore it was made by Jim" Wilson In CON-
versation with Journal reporter. Kern
won't be candidate" said Mr.. Wilson.
land if he was he couldn't even get the
Sixth ward. Charlie Polster and mes got
that all fixed. Mike Downing will be the
next Mayor-mInd what tell you. Sulli-
van is the only man that will be agin him
for the nomination. and he won't be in it,"
At Mozart Hall. on Tuesday night,
caucus OF saloon keepers and Democratic
ward politicians was held. at whichsth
situation In various wards was discussed.
The meeting was called by the clique men,
toned and controlled by them. Merely as
matter of form straw vote" for Mayor
was taken. and of about forty cast all but
two were for Downing. Ftf9E
The liquor interest absolutely controls q
number of the mem bers of the Council now.
A year or so ago business man was trying
to get an ordinance through the Council
that met with not q little opposition.
Among others opposing it were Rassmann,
Sherrer and MoGill. The business man
went TO Lieber for help. and Lieber prom
ised these three votes. Let 'em talk
against il all they want to-" said
he When it comes down TO
cases they'll vote for it," And they did.
BY the nature of their business this CON-
bination also controls Golfer and Smith.
both saloon keepers 1t is the intention of
the combination to retain those men who
are with il. and to strengthen itself on tho
South Side by electing Coy In place of
White from the Ninth ward. and replacing
Halloran in the Fifteenth. COstello in the
Fifth and Ry an in the Eleven th with more
convenient tools
The objection of the clique to Sullivan
lies In the fact that it cannot conty0t his
Board of Public Works and controller 1t
harmoEIzes with the Board of Safety we'll
enough. but the others are not subservient
to it. Moreover. John p. Frenzel, Mr.. Lie
ber's partner In the bank, has despised Sui
Ivan with true Frenzelian hatred ever
since that celebrated bit of puerility. ut is
no part of the duty of the city OF Indian
apOlis to operate street cars"