Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-02-21
SORT OF BLIND PIG.
Alleged To Be Hidden in the
Capitol of Indiana.
CHARGES MADE By A LEGISLATOR.
Says There's . Bar'l ON Tap in the Base-
ment Of the State House and That Its
Contents Arc Not Solid-A Lively Time
Among Hoosier Statesmen Results
Committee Of Inquisition APpointed.

Contents Are Not S0lid-A Lively Time
Among Hoosier Statesmen Results
Committee Of Inquisitioa Appointed.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Feb. 21.-A howl.
ing sensation was created in the house Of
representatives when the direct charge
was made by a member tina q barrel Of
whisky was on tap in the state house
basement for the free use of Legislators.
The house was discussing the Nicholson
temperance bill and amendments had
been offered. The floor of the house and
galleries were filled with friends of the
bill from all over the state. jackson of
Carroll got the floor and n veritable
bombshell was hurled by him when he
charged members with being subsidized
10y the whisky league. He, by imputa-
ton, included the author of the amend =
ments To this Holloway objected and
called the inputation slander upon him
traction. This made jackson angry.
Talking fsuncombc Temperance.
Stepping forward few feet, he gazed
around the hail and shouted: you say
this house is not subsidized, and you get
angry when charged with it. No wonder
you raise your hypocritical eyes in horror.
Hero you are talking buncombe temper
ance legislation to these good people in
the galleries, and all the time there Is n
barrel of whisky in the basement of this
statehouse, which is free to the members
on this floor. No wonder you're mad,
you -"
What followed was lost in the terrible
confusion which enSua1 mann.
bers were on the floor shouting for recog-
milton. Many members turned pale and
several abruptly left the hall. An at
tempt was made to hush jackson up,
Mr.. Statesman fastening over to jackson
and speaking to him in a low tone.
'Prove it! Prove it!' shouted several
members, and Mr.. Jackson was surround
ed. Il repeat just what 1 said" shouted
jackson, land no wonder you want me to
hush up. There is a barrel of free whisky
down there and it was furnished you
by the whisky league. You're shackled
by it,"
Applause in the Galleries.
Chairman Merritt raped for order and
the applause that went up from the gal
leries was so loud that Merritt threatened
for the second time to clear them. The
members We're on their feet and every
was shouting for recognition, and while
Statesman was trying to get Jackson to
listen to him the member from Wander
burg ran down the hall to his side in a
threatening manner. 1t looked as though
there would be a personal conflict and
the chair loudly called for a doorkeeper
to interfere and separate the men and
send members to their seat Statesman
and Holloway We're led to their seats by
Sergeant at Arms Graves.
jackson tried to continue his expose,
but was choked off by Holloway, who in
sisted upon his combining himself to the
question. The chair was trying to make
himself heard above the uproar, and
finally called jackson to order by telling
him that any statement as to whisky be-
ing in the basement had nothing to do
with the question and he would hear no
more of it.
Investigation Demanded.
"An right shouted Jackson, 81 see
your tactics. You don't want these peo-
pie to know the truth. I'll sit itdown."
Petit demanded an Investigation,
while a dozen other members tried to
keep jackson from talking Petit asked
him if he knew as to the truth of his
statement, upon which jackson informed
him that he had been told by a number
Of members that the barrel was there and
he had been invited to partake Of it.
''Then want an investigation, F" shouted
Petit. Its out of order" said the
chair. 1--WE can't consider anything but
the amendments to the Nicholson bill"
Petit offered resolution asking for
appointment of n committee of three to
investigate as to whether or not there was
| barrel of whisky in the cellar of free ac-
cess TO members and placed there by the
Indiana Whisky league. The resolution
was adopted and Messrs. Petit, Stutes-
Il<.l.s .4x,.l