The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-09
DEMOCRATS
SALOON KEEPERS PAY RESPECTS TO
KERN AND MATTHEW'S.
Refer to Nicholson Bill Treachery-
Democrats Offer to Sell Legislative
Ticket to the Breweries.

Local Association. No. 1. of the State sa-
loon Keepers neld meeting yes
terday and instructed it's delegates to the
national convention to work to bring the
next national convention to indianapolis.
1t also adopted unanimously resolution
introduced by William G. Weiss which Sc
vereIy scores Governor Matthews and Sem
ator John w. Kern for what the saloon
keepers consider treachery. after the DEM
ocratic party had practically agreed in its
platform, which Matthews was elected,
not to pass any measure such as the Mich
olson law. No one ever accused John w.
Kern of being friendly to the Nicholson
bill, but the saloon keepers claim that
Kern, by a little desire for forensic fame,
jeopardzed their interests and brought the
Nicholson bill up in such a fashion that it
was eventually passed. The resolution be-
rates the Republicans, but turns more bit
terly on the Democrats for treachery. 1t
shows that the Democratic platform of
1852, on which Matthews was elected. de-
clared expressly against sumptuary laws,
the word ''sumptuary" being generally I'M
derstood as contemplating such measures
as the Nicholson bill. 1t is shown how
Mr.. Kern, after having brought out the bill
from a committees hands to put Repub-
leans on record as he claimed, tried to
send the bill back to committee. event
ually hoping it might die, but it was too
late then. The Republicans passed the bill.
1t is shown that Kern tried to shield him
self from the wrath of the saloon keepers
by claiming a Republican would have
called the measure up anyhow if he did not.
A part of the resolution referring to Mat
theWS is follows:
Now comes the Hon. Claude Matthews.
the small statesman who tried to ape the
great statesman, Thomas A. Hendricks.
Immediately upon the passage of the Mich
olson law a representative Democrat called
on Governor Matthews and demanded TO
know of him If he would carry out his
party's platform, upon which he had been
licans in that session of the Legislature
were elected by the ajority of the people
of the State. He said They are the will
of the people, and the peoples will ought
to he carried out He was then asked if
his election as Governor had not also been
by. the will of the people, and if he did
not stand upon platform which he had
promised to fulfill and which bore direct
~ upon liquor legislation. A comparison
ton the Republicans would pass high
tariff law with Grover Cleveland as Pres
ident, if the great Grover Cleveland would
say, The Republicans are the will of the
people and l must sign any laws that they
submit. No, Grover Cleveland would rise
above. petty politics and say, am the
VIII of the people, elected upon free-trade
platform, and | will veto any legislation
contrary to that platform of principles
1T was then, said to Governor Matthews
that We the liberal element, looked to him
to make good the promises of the plat
form OF the Democratic party and that he
there should be honesty in politics as well
as in other things. A large representative
committee called upon Governor Matthew'S
beseech1ng him to stand upon the Demo-
cratic platform and make good it's prom
1SeS. He then asked why it was that the
Germans ERIN sto always leave the Democratic
the Germans love above all things a man
Of character and party of honesty-a
party that carries out it's promises Thew
said that is the reason Grover Cleveland
is held so highly in their estimation; that
the people always know and can judge if
q law was merely passed to catch votes or
If it was made in an honest way. IT was
urged that if a dishonest bill were passed
Tor s political effect the people would throw
time came and would never be bound to a
dishonest move.
MATTHEWS'S AMBITION.
Twenty signatures secured
in the city of Indianapolis alone in the
short space of twenty-four hours asking
him to veto the bill did not have any eff
feet upon the Governor In addition to
this, some three thousand kilograms, each
representing about ten men, shared the
same fate. The Governor saw fit to sign
the bill. He tried to ape the great states
man Thomas A. Hendricks when the lat
ter signed the Baxter bill. Hendricks was
honest He said when he signed the Baxter
bill that it was against his party prin-
cipieS to do SO, but that it would be the
death blow to the Republicans, and so it
was. Governor Matthews was told that if
he reckoned on the liberal element to pour
out money for the campaign fund in the
November election and work night and day
besides to elect the next Legislature that
he for once would be mistaken; that he
could not prey upon the ignorance of the
saloon keepers; that they would not follow
q party that would not carry out it's plat
form. That which the Republicans wished
a Democratic Governor accomplished for
them when by his signature he made the
Nicholson bill a law.
The Democrats have been beseeching the
saloon keepers to contribute to their cam
paign fund in Indiana because q Republic
an Legislature passed the Nicholson bill.
and these demands have become extremely
urgent in the past week. The brewery in
terests of Indianapolis were told by the
local Democratic managers recently that
they might name the entire legislative
would contribute to the Democratic
campaign fund These same sort of offers
have practically been made in many other
parts of the State by the the Democrats
While the saloon keepers will not contrib
ute to the success of the Republican ticket
they have called the Democrats attention
to the manner in which Matthews and
Kern, who prominent in the present
campaign betrayed them during the last
legislative session.