The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-29
DOWNING AND SULLIVAN.

They Seem to BE Puppets of the Opposing
Street Cor Compsn Ies-Eiectric Lights.
The fight in the local Democratic party
has narrowed down to squabble between
Downing and Sullivan. and one faction
rides In the Citizens Strest-railway Com
pany's vehicles. while the other faction
well. they would ride in the City company's
electric cars. if any such cars were in ex-
istence. Hon. Thomas Taggart and Hon.
Michael Burns have been considered guam.
titles of great weight recently. and 1t has
been understood that they might carry
q balance of power with them If
they should decide TO flop. Perhaps Mr..
Burns has never before been SO conscious
OF his 'huence. but there is faint SUSPICION
that Mr.. Burns's influence is o great deal
like the barrel of money on exhibition In
the window of q South Illinois-street store;
there Is only q sprinkling of the valuable
stuff on top. and below this upper layer
there is nothing but emptiness. Mr.. Burns
is said to be a good organizer. however.
and while he miRht not have any material
to work on in the Civ company's barns.
yet he might do some good organizing
among the gang OF men employed by tho
city. and he might do some valuable prose-
!"
employ Of men that have secured big con-
tracts with the city. The Citizens COM
pany seem to realize that Mr.. Burns would
be very valuable man to them. and as for
Mr. Burnside is not say ing word.
Sterling X. Holt is Downing's chief
boomer, and Mr.. Holt is one of the Citl-
Zens chief lieutenants Downing. IL is
said. will get tho Citizens compaDys sup
port. but the officials Of that system are
new to their positions and know but little
of the manner of controlling the vote of
employees. OF trying TO. as the statement
should be qualified. Precedent Mason is q
man wholly unacquainted with the details
of local politics There Is q cry for some
local Cincinnatus to leave the pillow or the
street department. and take g. seat behind
the dashboard of the Citizens mule car.
and gee and haw the team TO victory in the
franchise fight, through the troub!esoms
battles of the Democratic city convention.
The administration is counting on big
stroke when it turns on the electric lights
next month. Some of the advisers want to
delay it as much as possible so that 1t will
come q few days before the convention and
not miss its effect. One enthusiast sug-
! gests that the administration put ont o
stump speaker under every electric hight
the night the lights are turned on, and that
a good Sullivan talk be furnished with
each carbon. The Downing men say that if
the administration does take ADVANTAGE of
Downing in this manner they will paint
big SLAMS under any lights that have been
bCatkeItQ Will I6NOEitloiu anu euOW why
each lamp was placed as lt was. The
Downing men have suggested that favOrit-
ism has been shown in the placing of
these lights. and while they do not show so
specifically, it is stated that a Downing
committee Is TO make tour or the oity
shortly To gather statistics relative to the
placin of these lights. With the statistics
the Downing men propose TO go TO every
man in the ward who Is not directly bene-
| fitted by the lights and show him how the
n a r. atiOn has ninVed faVOrlfal in the
distribution. III the Downing men can
prove this it will almost destroy Sullvan's
chances at the start.
The dirty condition of the downtown
asphalt streets and the manner IN which
they are neglected. although the city pay Is
literally for the care of them. Will lose
sullivan votes among the class of men
from whom he is supposed Co draw much of
his support. The having in INDIANAPOLIS
has been very expensive. and If these
streets are neglected while they are new
there will be great expense TO the people
In few years repairing and Improving.
cohorts make their final rally before con-
vention day. Commissioners Burns. If he
decides TO support Sullivan, will turn lose
| q force ofmen and the dirt and dust will
begin to fly fast and furious.
The gambling element 10 undecided these
| days. The crowd that originally paved
| the way tor open gam bling in this city are
| for the most part supporting Downing. but
the sullivan administration has even given
| them more latitude. and there Ia now even
| no necessity for keeping q lookout at the
! front doors OF the gam bling houses. Tho
| levee is thronged with sports. and, instead
| of talking about the prospects for term
| ct the works If they don't move on. they
are discussing the best man TO work for
In the coming municipal campaign. They
don't know whether it is best to
stand by their old friends. the
Downing people. or to declare themselves
| boldly for the Sullivan people. with W HON
they have enjoyed such season of pros
! perity. They are afraid If they support
| sullivan. and Downing Is nominated, the
| Downingites will make them pay = double
campaign assessment for their treachery
TO their old-time friends They are also
| afraid If they cleave to Downing and Sui
I Ivan is nominated and elected. Sullivan
( will tell them and their kit TO 'go TO" after
| election. The old saying of the devil and
the deep blue sea is never more applicable
than il is 10 this dilemma in which the
| IL t..I% IL.