The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-27
DRIVEN In BY KEEPER
POlster, the Notorious, Attending
to the Collection of Funds.
He Tells About the "Privileges' They
EDjOy-'FlOaters" Boarded at a
Saloon Keepers Expense.
The best laid schemes % mice and men

not been impaired by age. Another veriti-
cation was had of IL yesterday. when the
full details of q Democratic scheme were
brought to light by the work of the Jour
nal The scheme was that of assessment of
every saloon keeper in the city to swell the
Democratic corruption fund. The saloon
keepers were called upon yesterday after
noon to pay over to the committee their
assessment in consideration of the immu-
mites they have been granted during the
Democratic administration in this city.
They were not asked for the money as a
gift. but it was demanded By their friends
In control of the city as q payment for the
reimbursement of the law and the wide
open policy which has been adopted for
their benefit.
The fact was drawn yesterday from the
lips of Charles POlster. ex-jsil prisoner and
present dive-keeper, who Is one of the chief
men in charge of the Sullivan camp align.
that every saloon in tie city has been as
sessed $40 by the Democratic committee.
and those in the dOwn-t OWN distrIct-pre-
sumablv within the central square mile
800 extra. There are in the city about
four hundred saloons, which will give $1,000
as the result of the $40 assessment. Then
there are at least one hund red within the
central territory. which will give $40, 600.
Thus, 1t seems that the Democratic COM
mittee is getting at least S14. 900 from the
saloon keepers alone.
Saturday afternoon the notices were
sent to various saloon keepers and
were not intrusted TO he regular mails.
Document of such Importance were no to
be cODtided to the mails. Not even the
registered mail was considered safe enough
for the purpose. 1t was recognized that IL
would be q calamity to have the contents of
the documents known and every precau-
tion that conld be devised was thrown
about the writing and delivery of them.
They were written on u pewriter by the
stenographer at the Democratic city COM
mittee headquarters. at tho dictatlon of
Charles Polster. In whose hands had been
put the work or securing the money from
his fellow saloon keepers. After the notices
had been written and turned over to Pol
ster, they were by him placed In the hands
OF trusted messengers TO deliver and taken
by them and given to each saloon keeper in
person. Notwithstanding all the precau-
tlons taken TO ineure secrecy. one of the
notices fell into good hands and was de-
livered to the Journal. The notice was as
follows:
HEADQUARTERS DEMOCRATIC CITY CoMMrr-)
TEE, HENDRICKS CLUE ROOM, WEST
WASHINGTON STREET,
JAMES W.. McGISNIs. THOMAS TAGGART.
Secretary. Chairman.
Executive COmmittee-John p. Franz, John W.
De Busk. William Armstrong. Michael L. Laugh
lin, Michael IL. Burns. Joseph +. Bell. Lon III. Nc
Clellan. George F. Miller, Michael F. Lehey. Fred
| Heller. John Agnew, Con W. sullivan, John z.
Schiltges, Charles Adam. John Kali.
Finance e-James L. Reach. Charles
Poister. Patrick IL. McNelis Albert Lieber, VIC
tor M. Baekus, Isaac King, Maurice Donnelly.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. %, 1898.
Dear sir-I would be pleased to have you meet
with me on tuesday afternoon, Sept. 90, at 2:30
o'clock Please do not fail to come, Yours truly,
CHARLES PoLSTER.
Come to Room 8, Grand Hotel.
1t wss O verification OF the already WELL
known fact that the saloon keepers were to
bear q good portion of the campaign ex-
penses. In fact. the saloon keepers and
gamblers have charge of the campaign and
have furnished about all the money re-
quired by the committee. AS in the case of
the gamblers, the saloon keepers were not
only willing but ANXIOUS TO contribute. and
not an objection was made by any of them
to the assessment. On the contrary. there
was q large number of them who expressed
| O Willingness to give double the amount,
and it goes without saying that their gen.
erous offer was thankfully accepted, and
they were assured that their lIberality
would be remembered III "a substantial way
If the Democrats were successful and the
money awaited the purpose for which it
was contributed.
AS stated in the notice. the saloon Keepers
were to cali at Room 8. of Mr.. Tsggarts
newly-acquired hotel. at 2:30 O'Clock yes
terday afternoon. Room 3 is II sample
room Just at the head OF the landing as one
ascends the steps beside the elevator. In
this room yesterday afternoon Charles
Polster. the saloon keeper king during the
campaign. had established headquarters.
| There were a hall dozen chairs In the room,
and In the center was a small stand upon
which was writing paper. pen and ink, and
by which sat Mr.. POlster ready TO write
the receipts for the money left by the
friends of the administration. The cre-
dentials which had ZONE into the posses
sion of sine Journal were placed In tho
hands or a reporter, with Instructions to
attend the meeting. He did so. and Charles
POlster very kindly told him ell the az
r8ngements that had been made by the
committees. and what they wanted from the
saloon keepers and upon what claim It was
demanded. At the hour named in the no.
tice the reporter knocked at the door of
Room 3.
Come in" was the response from inside.
The reporter walked into the room and
was greeted very cordially by POlster. who
was engaged IN an earnest conversation
with q saloon keeper from the Fifth ward.
whose name could not be learned. The
Fifth varder was sitting upon the edge of
the table and was very much aggrieved be-
cause he had been compelled TO pay board
for several weeks for a hnlf dozen men TO
prevent them from carrying out q threat
TO leave the precinct and lose their votes.
From his conversation with POlstor the re-
porter gathered the facts and learned that
the saloon keeper had been paying board
for several voters for about two weeks.
There were abont n half dozen of them. and
the xpeDse was Just a little more than he
thought he should be called upcn to bear.
He said he had no kick coming because
no had paid the board thus far. but thought
that after the pay of bis regular as
sessment the committee should relieve him
of the burden o: keeping them till after the
election. 1T takes money. l tell you. /
haye got them slice ping in cellars out in
that ward, but We cam keep them there
till after tho election If they don't have
money. and if they get away from us now
the expense we have been put 10 is for
nothing
Polster referred him to Tom" ''You
see Tom about that" he said. and l know
he will fix things all right for you. You
can see him at the committee rooms this
afternoon"
After the gentleman from the Fifth ward
had retired Polster turned to the Journal
reporter.
What ia your namei" he said.
"Charles Brown" answered the reporter.
"Oh. yes: well Mr.. Brown i am glad to
see you. / AN glad that you understand
that we must do everything we oan TO
keep Denny from being elected Mayor"
We'll. / wasn't here unde Denny's ad-
ministration before" said the reporter,
but / ave heard enough Of it and i awe