The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-30
Albert Lieber, the Fren.eIs, "Bill"
Iron, "Monk- Wilson ana others
Directing His Forces.
FOR A wIDE-OpEN TOWN
LAW AND ORDER sNUBBED COM
PLETELY IN THE PLATFORM.
Charles f. Cox Defeats Evans WooIlen
for Police Judge-CharIes n.
stuckmeycr forCity Clerk.

The Taggart machine. the Indianapolis
Iammany organized In James B. Curtiss
office some time ago by the Albert 'Lieber-
BIZ Tron-John w. Kern combination OF
Democracy. carried the Democratic conven.
ton last night. after all precautions had
been taken TO bar the Rogers element out
of the convention. The true character OF
the machine plainly manifested itself-the
controlling element was the same old crowd
that fought so hard for wide-open gamb-
ling and wide-open saloons. Albert Lieber
was everywhere directing his forces. "Bill"
Iron. whose gambling hell run a. full blast
and with windows thrown open to the
street during the Sullivan regime, wsS
there smiling and pushing the cause along.
Tom Colbert, ex-superintendent Of police.
and now brewery employe. was working
like a beaver, with his brothers aiding
him. Goose Eden and John Reardon were
also on deck. Monk Wilson. chief OF Irons
crap table brigade. John Barmfuher Gus
Rahke's right hand man, and a number OF
gambling house employees were among the
Taggart delegates, striving hard for their
favorite. Pat Dougherty, who was dis
missed from the detective force and after
wards employed by brewer Alb< Lieber.
lent his aid on the floor.
The Frenzels were. perhaps. the most Inc
dustrious workers in the convention. bob
bing around from delegate 10 delegate
now and then directing O'Meara. a creature
of the notorious School Board majority.
and other employees OF the same board. The
old Sullivan crowd was ably represented.
it being almost safe to say that every
man employed by that repudiated admin.
istration was delegate. II was distinctly
syllable for the upholding OF a law and
order policy being uttered. John w.
Kern was chosen chairman, the machine
refusing to allow Governor Matthews to
preside. II was announced a few days afo
that the Governor would be chairman Of
the convention. 1t was evident in every
move of the machine in the convention
that the Democratic machines plan OF cam
paign was to be along the line Of a wide.
open town.
Last nights work was a elimination of
the plan set on foot several months ago
TO organize a Tammany in this city, the
first meeting having been held in James B.
Curtis's Office. There 1t was decided TO
make Taggart the head OF the machine as
he was supposed to be the man OF the
most influence with the workers. The brew.
cries and the saloons were to furnish the
snews OF campaign. Curtis was decided
upon as chairman, and TO make. IL abso-
lutely certain that no outsiders should get
in the machine. ii was determined to break
all Democratic precedent and haze the
chairman appoint all the committeeman.
This was carried out successfully ana
Curtis Isanied the committeeman. who,
of course, were Taggart men. Then
the pins were set for the nomination Of the
favorite and some of the Offices were even
apportioned out. In the event OF TagSart's
election Tom Colbert was to be chief OF
police and the Board OF Safety was 20 con-
sist of Martin Murphy, Sterling r. Holt
and r. F. Catterson. These appointments
were all that concerned the brewery crowd
particularly and this preliminary was
settled to insure the breweries active con-
tribution. The convention, last night,
showed what the machine accomplished
The machine saw from the angry protests
after the primaries Wednesday night that
there was apt to be trouble In the conveur
ton and an appeal was made TO Superin-
tendent of Police Powell to furnish ofhcers
to head OF any riot. These policemen were
furnished. The extra precaution was taken
OF furnishing admission tickets 70 Taggart
supporters at the box office down stairs.
The Rogers men were furious ana crowd
of almost a thousand gathered In front Of
the hall and made threats. After the con-
yention was called to order. however. the
Rogers men got in and their noise became
so threatening that John w. Kern had 70
make a most astonishing speech. calling
out to Sergeant LaPorte 70 take tne % name
of every man who attempted 10 disturb
the convention. promising to prosecute
them himself. He insisted that the the men nn
been erected to prevent any bolt in the
convention. were hired emissaries 70 ere ere
ate a riot. and the Rogers men who had
exceedingly wrathy at this. Several times
the tumult promised TO end In riot. but
the speech OF Kern cowed most Of the RoH-
ers men. When Taggart was nominated.
a motion 10 make IL unanimous was put
by Kern without calling for the ayes. but
a storm OF noes followed as soon a. the
Rogers men realized that Taggart was de-
clared the nominee. Fully a thousand men
left the hall when IL was seen that the
machine was successful.