The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-18
GETTING MEN DRUNK
METHODS OF DEMOCRATIC CANDI-
DATES AT THE BIG FOUR SHOPS.
BrightwOod Indignant at n Scandal
Gus PrOceedinE-Free Beer Incapa-
citated Men from Their Work.

The committee of the Good Citizenship
League can find an excellent field for in
vestigation by a few inquiries at the Big
Four shops at Brightwood. The canvass
ing methods of Democratic candidates have
been scandalous enough all along, but not
until yesterday did they excite the ~indigna-
ton of the good people living at Bright
wood and the Big Four officials, who de-
pend on the sobriety of their men for
effective work. Yesterday afternoon the
work at the shops was seriously hampered
by the invasion of the suburb at the noon
hour by three Democratic candidates for
county offices. The officials would not
have offered the least objection to a legiti-
mate canvass of their shops at the noon
hour, but they were very indignant at
the course pursued by Hunter McCaslin,
Democratic candidate for treasurer, E. VI.
Johnson, Democratic candidate for aud
itor. and Charles Mcguire. candidate for
clerk on the same ticket. Employees OF
the shop were made maudlin drunk by
these c~ampaigners, and when the whistle
blew for the resumption of work in the
afternoon twenty of the employees were
unable to resume their places in the shop
on account of their condition.
The trio of Democratic candidates made
their appearance in the suburb a short
time before noon and sent word over to
the shops that they would like to have
the men come over and "take something
at noon. The saloons of Messrs. Seiden-
sticker and Stevens were named as the
places where the liquor would be on tap
free to all Corners. a great many of those
who went over TO the saloons only eX-
pected to tax a single glass of beer, but
when they got inside the candidates in
glass of liquor was recklessly passed out.
The candidates blandly urged that every
bit of it be taken. hoping to impress the
men by their prodigality and caring little
for the fact that the men were apt to
lose their positions by appearing at work
in a drunken condition. A dozen or so
of the men who were unable to Withstand
the pressing invitations of the candidates
fell by the wayside and did not even go
and other foremen of departments began
to skirmish around to secure enough men
to operate the shops, and it was with diff
enough 70 do the work. Some of the men
who had been enjoying the social hour
with the Democrats tried to do their duty,
but the foremen were compelled to send
them home, as Ii was dangerous to have
them around the machinery while not in
possession of their sober senses.
The affair created much unfavorable
comment on the streets of Brightwood last
night. and some Of the men who had un-
willingly taken too much liquor Joined
the others of the suburb in denouncing the
politicians, who, showed so little respect
for them. Not a few proposed TO ride out
Of town on a rail the next Democratic can
didate that came along. The Big Four
officials considerably decided to overlook
this affair, believing. that the candidates
who furnished the liquor were more to
blame than the men, but the action of
McCaslin and others will probably be re-
sponsible for an order preventing candi-
dates. from interfering with the men in
the shops. 1t is said some of the Bright
wood ministers will preach about the
affair next Sunday and condemn such dis
graceful campaign methods. Among the
many whom the candidates made drunk
were a number of boys who had never
been in that condition before.