The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-07
GAMBLERS CARNIVAL
SCENES FOLLOWING DEMOCRATIC
VICTORY IN 1891 RECALLED.
in Making the Night HideQus
on the Levee.

Oct. 13, four years ago, Thomas L.
Sullivan was for the last time elected
Mayor Of Indianapolis. The date is men,
orable for many reasons. and hundreds of
| reputable citizens will recall with a blush
of shame TIE night that followed that day.
The scenes that took place on the streets
Of this city between 10 o'clock and mid
| night are yet fresh in the minds of many.
and it is an event only to be remembered
with feelings Of disgust.
Before 10 o'clock the better element OF
citizens became convinced that the city was
given over to an administration of law
lessness and went home disheartened. Then
the worst element came forth. A bowling
mob came out from every unholy walk of
life and took possession OF the streets.
They were out to celebrate the election of
men who would give them free license in
nearly every disreputable pursuit. On ILL
nois street a procession of gamblers. thugs
and "cappers'' formed in an irregular line
and proceeded about the town. The gam
blers were at the head of the procession.
They belonged there. 1t was a triumphant
march of lawlessness and crime. and the
decent citizen who witnessed it could not
but wonder what the end would be. AS the
night wore on the procession made it's way
tO Tia part VI lut City huoWu dS liz
"levee.' and there it stopped at midnight.
But the spectacle was not over. Every
man who lent his voice to the din had
helped to elect the ticket that meant two
more years Of lawbreaking, and he felt
that he ought to jolify. Soon the crowd
was augmented by another class. The aban-
doned women of the town, aroused by the
familiar sounds of ribald revelry, came
from their abodes and hurried to the
'levee." There they met their friends and
joined In the drunken orgies. 1t was a ju-
Eilee OF vice, but IL was in perfect keeping
with the administration that was to have
control of the city. The city was already in
the hands Of the Sullivan men. and there
ence. The gambler and the "capper" and
the thug saw glorious possibilities ahead.
The day had ended in a victory for crime
the prospect of a harvest. The cyprian,
with the brazen effrontery of her class.
mingled with the mob in the street ana
the saloon. She only understood that a
"wide-open town was to continue and she
rejoiced. Nearly all night drunken men
and women boldly paraded the streets arm
In arm unmolested.
1t is not likely that the people of Indian
apolis want a repetition OF those scenes.
The very men who were most prominent in
that disgraceful spectacle are hoping for
tails. For two years this element has been
kept down and 1t is waiting for the an
nouncement of the result next Tuesday
Should the free beer campaign OF Thomas
Taggart eliminate in a victory, the shame
less GROVE that took possession of the
streets four years ago may be expected
arain next Tuesday night. The gambler
CART his only safety, and the petty law
breaker sees an easy avenue Of escape with
Charles Cox on the police bench. The
tina these men are elected before begin
ming Its disreputable ratification.