The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-14
DEMOCRATS AND THE MAYoRALTY.
Warning Brewery interests VIII Cut
Considerable Figure.

Now that the Legislature is a thing of
the past and no longer furnishes a daily
topic of conversation, the local politicians
are turning their attention to the coming
municipal election. The Democrats are not
very active in the matter of personally
announcing themselves as candidates for
the executive chair, but their friends are
working hard to see how the land lies
and determine who has chance for the
empty honor of the Democratic nomination.
AT least a dozen names can be heard men,
toned on the streets. but most of them
seem to have but little, if any, following,
except some one or two admirers with
more enthusiasm than regard for the ulti-
mate welfare of their candidate.
Sterling r. Holt is the one who probably
has the largest following; but it is not one
which most men would look upon with
pride. His support comes from that ele-
ment which upheld him. and at the same
time bowed down TO him, when the city
was thrown wide open to gamblers In
1891 the Legislature passed bill taking
and placing 1t in the hands of board APP
pointed by State officers and Holt was made
a member of that board. Later, however,
the law was declared unconstitutional, and
in a short time the new city charter went
into effect and s from th
old board on the theory that 1t had been
selected by his party. This was the board
that inaugurated the open policy that
brought this city into such disgrace for two
years.
There are two other candidates men
toned quite prominently and thereby hangs
a tale of dissension in the ranks of the
saloon element, which is generally supposed
two men are Henry Spaan and John Holtz-
man. In this fight the Liquor League and
The ie light began When the the deal was made
by which the brewers of this city placed all
the breweries which We're here then under
one management and undertook to compel
the saloon keepers to buy their beer from
the syndicate. This fight was finally brought
to the death when the Home brewery was
established. The syndicate determined that
no saloon that did not. use its beer could
operate in peace and have an open field
for its business. Under the old law. and
the consent of the Democratic Board of
through the agency Of third man an Sc ss
cured a license and opened saloon in a
room near nat 10 81 aos1 every man ami wn9 nc
the brewers against the independent saloon
keepers, who wanted to exercise their right
many of this class, of men to favor the
Nicholson BILL because. although it had
tbs nS tSns e wa f Mou
the establishment Of opposition saloons by
the brewers syndicate. whose only thought
business, or compel him to buy syndicate
beer at arbitrary prices. This state of
cumstances of two candidates being backed
by the liquor interests. Henry Span is
backed by most Of the saloon keepers who
are independent of brewery assistance and
the local agents of the foreign breweries,
and John Holtzmans is being urged by the
brewers syndicate and their agents, 1t is
not. known yet what attitude the wholesale
whisky dealers Will take. but they will
most Hkely keep out of the fight or sup
port the side which has the greatest follow
Ing among the retail saloon keepers.
There is an effort among the Democrats
to patch up the trouble in the liquor camp
and bring out a compromise candidate. who
has never taken any active part in the
been Ruthless. The longer the fight con-
tinues, the greater the breach and the less
the chance for amcable settlement in
the future. A number of other names
have been mentioned as Democratic posi-
bilities but as yet they have no defined
following, with the exception of few
ardent personal friends.
Lee Nixon will be candidate for re-
nomination as city clerk on the Republican
ticket @