The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-20
A GUY FAWKES SCARE
WHISKY BARREL IN sTATEHOUsE
CAUSES A SENSATION.
Legislator jackson Makes Startling
Charges i'm the House-An In
vestisation On.

The discovery of Guy Fawkes under
the British Parliament house would cause
no greater furore than that which broke
forth in the lower house of the Indiana
Legislature yesterday, when Andrew Jack
son, he of Carroll county, announced that
a barrel of whisky was in the Statehouse
basement. A sort of simultaneous gasping
expressions belched up to the gay ceilings,
and then, as on such terror-striking occa-
sions the mantle of silence was tossed out
from that undiscovered region where such
mantles are kept in stock Only for a mo-
ment was the mantle in place; in the second
moment it was rent to imperceptible shreds.
Andrew Jackson stood erect, with head
poised in fiery indignation, waiting to fol-
low up his thunderbolt with vivid decora-
TONS The liquor interests of the State
might have put it there to influence legisia-
ton. Members who have gone down the
Statehouse freight elevator time and again,
and old members in the lobby who served
years far in the past, when the freight
elevator was even then a transportation to
the bliss of mellow, liquid sunshine, stood
aghast Unconsciously, so it appeared in
the light of the revelation, they had al
lowed this old iron-rimmed barrel to shape
legislation affecting two millions of people.
And the old barrel filled to the brim, could
be bought at any time for less than $40, for
it was a small barrel according to all tan
gible rumors.
"And these drinks are served free to any
member of this House, came the next SEN
sation, causing the very stone columns to
vibrate, so startling was the news. Lean
ing over the brass balcony rails were the
wistful faces of some few men who felt
something slipping away from them, an in
describable feeling that comes over men
who have had an opportunity they never
knew anything about. One small man was
seen threading his way through the crowds
to the door, and it was surmised that in all
his long friendship with Tim Griffin Tim
had maintained a cold, calm reticence about
this same mysterious barrel. Maybe he
went down to see Tim about something
else.
Such a tunult as followed Andrew jack
sons charges might have been expected
in French Chamber of Deputies, where
they whoop things up when they elect a
national President-but in the indiana Leg
islature, never! The men in the galleries
recovered their second wind and yelled and
applauded with the enthusiasm of specta-
tors who don't have to pay to get in. Mem
bers bounced up from their massive chairs
defined case of strabismus, so rap
idly and in SO many directions did
he glance about the House to determine
the floor. Everybody wanted to hurl back
the calumny-at least, everybody who had
had no occasion to go down In the freight
Mr.. Holloway walked down into Andrew
Jackson's aisle and wanted that gentleman
to specify. The gentleman who unloaded
the sensation replied with an intimation
that Mr. Holloway had had drinks from
the barrel.
Did you see me there when you went
down for a drink" retorted the Wander
burg gentleman, who Immediately so 1t
seemed, started for Andrew Jackson with
an inclination to resent his imputations by
bodily harm.
Didn't 1 have an invitation only last
night to go down in the basement ana get
a drink?' yelled Mr.. jackson.
The Chair at this juncture gave the door
keepers opportunity to exert themselves by
ordering them to restore quiet and peace.
Does the gentleman mean to, say that
this liquor is free of access to all members
OF the House?" demanded Mr.. Petit. If
such is the case l want an inquiry.
Mr. Jackson said that was his understand
ing. .
So Mr.. Petit drew up a resolution call
ing for an investigation of the charges
that barrel of whisky had been
placed in the basement of the Statehouse
by the Liquor League to influence legfsla.
ton. At the conclusion of the session or
the House the Speaker appointed Messrs.
Petit. Statesman and Bobilya on the COM
mittee.
But this barrel, as stated before, is a
mysterious barrel, and when the sun threw
its sad departing rays into the west base
ment of the Statehouse it didn't throw any
of them on the barrel-because the barrel
wasn't there