The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-26
One of the Most Shameful Affairs
Ever Known I'm History of Mu-
nicipal Campaigns.
A FLOW OF LAGER BEER
SPEAKS OVER A SALOON.
WHERE THE FLUID WAS FREE.
Meeting of CoIored Re-
publicans at south Calvary Church
Other Political Gatherings.

All indications last night pointed to the
fact that the Taggart-Lieber Tammany
has concluded that IL is useless to longer
attempt to conceal the fact that this is to
be a beer campaign on the part of the
Democracy. Heretofore, when beer meet
ings have been held they have been Quiet
ly announced to a few. and those few have
assembled at the appointed time and
reveled in Democratic beer. Last night
It was quite different. Beer flowed as
freely as water in many parts of the city.
1t was high tide of the free beer campaign.
In one place the Democratic candidates,
including Taggart. held meeting In a hall.
and. free syndicate beer was on tap in the
saloon below. 1t was free to everybody.
In other places smaller gatherings were
held, and beer wits the sole topic of dis
cussion. III one place an attempt was made
to break up a colored Republican meeting.
The inducement openly offered by the
Democrats to get the men to leave the
Republican meeting were two kegs of beer
and five women.
meeting OF colored Republicans had
been announced to be held last night in
the South Calvary Baptist Church, at the
corner Of Maple and Morris streets. This
was the excuse for the Democrats to es-
taoiish beer meeting near by. At 1874
Maple street is an empty cottage, which
was. the only place in which a meeting
could be held within the vicinity of the
other meeting. The place was secured and
Fred Mitchell. negro saloon keeper who
has been In Police Court a number of
tunes. and at least twice for Keeping a
crap game in his place, was placed in
charge of the affair.
Fortified with beer and women Mitchell
thought he would have no trouble in draw
ing largely from the other meeting, but
ne did not count on the strong loyalty of
the cSiored men for their party not to
merdon their sense of decency When the
u>ne came emissaries were sent into the
camp OF the Republicans to quietly an
nounce the fact that treat awaited all
who would participate. None could be
found who would accept the invitation.
This did not suit Fred Mitchell and he
made visit to the church and, seeking
cut few whom he thought would be sus-
ceptible. quietly gave them the tip that
possibly more than beer awaited their COM
ing Even that broad invitation did not
friends.
The little back room in which the beer
meeting was being held was visited about
O'Clock. 1t was worse than getting into
the lodge room of a secret order. The build
ing is the middle one OF three little cot
tages. The beer was in a little back room
and to get TO Ii q visitor had 10 pass
through back yards. stumble over various
kinds OF distractions and finally give the
proper signal at the door. The scene with
to have not sood Republicsn see and it was
only after the man at the door was salts
fed that all was right that a person could
that that It was Taggart meeting, for the
tip was given at the Sentinel Office that
IL would be held for the purpose of break
ing up the other meeting and q reporter
was on hand to see the fun. Other evil
dence is the fact that Charles Bass, presi-
dent Of the Tom Taggart Democratic Club.
was present and seemed to be managing
tie AFFAIR. Once inside il was almost inn
possible to distinguish anything on account
of. the dim light. Two kegs of beer were
in plain view and near by four drunken
men. This was all that could be seen In
the first room, but on little further in
spection IL was found that another room
was in use. In II the other attraction
five women-could be found.
Altogether this was the most disgraceful
meeting the Democrats have held during
this campaign. 1t did not Impress the
Democrat, who has done hard and faith
full work for his party this year. in speak
ing of this meeting last night. said:
"Such proceedings are simply disgraceiui
IT is not politics, and can only end in those
who may be caught for the time peing
turning against us with more Iorce tnan
before. I did not think the leaders would
permit such q disgraceful meeting TO be
held In the name OF Democracy, but there
is no denying the fact that it was Dem
ocratic meeting
IT failed most signally in it's purpose.
Men who stood outside Of the Republican
meeting the entire evening TO see III any
left IT for the other, reported that not
man left. Except two or three white DEM
ocrats, who dropped in TO help consume the
beer, the only other men present at the
beer meeting were the four who spent the
entire meeting there getting drunk.