The Indianapolis journal., 1896-06-13
BATTLE COMES TO-DAY
REFORM AGAINST CLIQUE RULE IN
SCHOOL BOARD.
Honest Candidates Ask for Votes Re-
gardIcss of Party AmIiation-List
of Voting Places.

DISTRICT NO. 3-School building No. 3.
Meridian street. between Ohio and New
York streets.
DISTRICT NO. 5-School building No. u.
corner of West and McCarty streets.
DISTRICT NO. 6-School building No. 6,
corner Union and Phipps streets.
DISTRICT No. 9-School building No. IA.
on East Ohio street. between Highland
avenue and Hanna street
DISTRICT NO. u--School building No.
g. corner of Illinois and Twenty-first
streets. formerly Twelfth street.
The campaign for reform in the manage
ment of the public schools will end to-day.
Those interested in the election of the re
form candidates. as they have been called.
were sanguine last night that business
qualifications and character would triumph
over the corporation and personal interests
concentrated in the clique which has DOM
mated School Board affairs for SO many
years. They felt that when the polls
closed at 6 O'Clock tonight the successful
candidates would be Flavius J. Van Vorhis
or George w. Sloan in District 3; John Cal
vim in District 5; George F. Borst in District
6; Franklin Vonnegut in District ., and
John Il. McNeeley in District IL. The
friends of the anti-clique candidates feel
that they are certain to elect three of the
five candidates which. with the four anti
clique hold-over members of the board will
put the ring in the minority.
The conduct of the present campaign has
not differed much from others of late
years. The only difference is that this
time the citizens favoring reforms We're
alert earlier than usual. This has caused
the clique to show it's methods more bold
ly than ever. In some Of the districts beer
has been a softening influence with the
clique workers. especially in the Ninth dis
trict, where Charles i. Piel is fighting
Franklin Vonnegut. The district has a
large German population and as both can
didates are representative of their people
the contest has not been without some bit
terness. The use of beer by the friends or
Mr.. Piel and their labor among the saloons
has not been in secret Mr.. Vonnegut has
conducted his campaign on straight-our
business claims. which caused his cleo
ton before. Mr. Piel also has TO meet
charges of unfriendiiness to the public
school system. ii being claimed that he
sends his children to private dencmina-
tional school. The fact that he represents
the Frenzel-Lieber clique is not denied by
him or his friends.
THIRD DISTRICT FIGHT
Probably the hottest fight of the cam
paign is In the Third district. The friends
Flavius j. Van yorhis and George w.
Sloan. Mr.. Van vorhis has been making
an aggressive campaign. while Mr.. Sloan
has not been active. Henry wetzel is
the other candidate in this dis
trict. The colored element is the
real key to the situation and a number or
prominent persons supposed to exercise
control over the voters of that race have
been working for the two aggressive cam
didates. The complicated condition of af-
fairs in this district places 1t in jeopardy
according to the friends of reform.
In the Sixth district Herman Rhine is
the choice of the clique. Rhine is grocer
and is a close friend OF Jacob w. Loeper,
the retiring member from this district.
George F. Borst is the choice of those op-
posed to the clique. He has. however. de-
cided not to ask election. saving that he
influence of the district. which is soldly
for Rhine. This leaves the field practical
friends declare they will vote for him and
that is so badly needed
In the Fifth district the contest is be-
tween John Calvin. the present incumbent,
and Michael j. Burns. assistant city street
commissioner and ex-councilman from the
old Fifteenth ward which is part of the
school district There is no criticism of
Mr. Calvin except that he is opposed to
the Frenzel-Lieber CLIQUE and has shown
his honesty. Mr.. Burns is the choice of
that ring and represents none of the quail
ties of Mr.. Calvin, who is a scholar
~ man.. The statement has been made that
MI Calvin was not a resident of the dis
trict, but he became one Thursday, which
makes him eligible although there are Sc
rious doubts as to the necessity for this
act In this district the "free-silver'' ele-
ment has supported Mr. Calvin, not be-
cause he represents that theory. but be-
cause IN defeating a Frenzel candidate it
would destroy some Of the boss influence.
Both candidates are Irish Catholics. Mr..
Calvin has been creditable representa- tive
or the district for two terms.
VICTORY SEEMS ASSURED.
In the Eleventh district John b. Nc
Neeley is the choice of those who favor
reform. He is opposed by ]. b. Allfree.
president OF the Allfree Manufacturing
Company. Mr.. Allfree is receiving his prin-
cipal support from the Frenzel workers.
Both candidates have made some ageres-
sive efforts in the canvass, but the con.
test Is not nearly so warm as in other dis
tricts
resume Of the campaign made by a
friend OF the reform candidates last night
indicates almost certain victory for them
and defeat for the clique. The reformers
are certain OF electing Vonnegut i'm the
Ninth. Calvin in the Sixth and McNeeley
IN the Eleventh They are confident that
the race will be close I'm the Third. Should
anti-clique majority of the board would be:
Blackledge, Scott Hendrickson Vonnegut
Calvin and McNeeley.
The clique members lminorityl would be:
Adams, Russo. Roth, Rhine and Wetzel
Should Calvin be defeated the hope of
the friends OF reform is that Van Vorhis
VIII pun through. His untiring energy I'm
combating ciiques and clique power is
THAT SECRET MEETING