The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-06
ASSAILED BY HOODLUMS
EFFORT TO CREATE
A RIOT AT A M'KINLEY MEETING.
Republican Speakers at McCarty
ana West Streets Last Night.

A lot of Democratic hoodlums made an
effort to break up Mckinley meeting last
night at the corner of McCarty and West
streets, and but for the timely arrival of
Sergeants Kruger and Lowe and four or
five patrolmen. it is probable that there
would have been no means of averting a
riot.
Lynn Hay, Samuel II. Spooner and John
L. Ketcham were advertised to speak there
and preparations had been made for a big
meeting. The trouble began when the Jes-
Sc Overstreet Club marched to the place of
the speaking. Near the corner they were
attacked by d LOS IF hoodlums, and it was
only the GOODNESS Of the leaders of the club
that prevented a riot then. The leaders
counseled the members of the club to
merely protect themselves, but to do moth
ing that could indicate desire to attack
the hoodlums. Even this course did not
prevent the destruction of several drums
and the clubs banner. The fact that the
club members merely protected themselves
from bodily injury seemed to enrage the
hoodlums who took this as an act of cow
ardice instead of simply the act of men
who did not desire to become involved in
a riot with such characters. Slowly the
club moved forward until it reached the
place of the speaking.
Mr.. Spooner was trying to make a speech
when the club finally arrived but he was in
a bad way for a speech. Men who sat on
the platform said they could not hear what
he said on account of the noise that was
being raised. Hoodlums and some women
aided by many children. were doing all that
powerful lungs could do to make a noise
to drown the voice of the speaker. 1t was
not only noise, but some of the hoodlums
tIrau stones md other missiles a those on
the platform. Several were hit, but
none were injured seriously.
Mr.. Spooner then appealed to the law
abiding people of the neighborhood, both
Democrats and Republicans, to show a
little respect for him as representative of
a cause, but the appeal was in vain. He
said he did not want the people there to
understand that he believed that the action
OF the hoodiums was countenanced by the
law-abidinS citiZens and that ne would not
hold them responsible for the acts OF those
who knew law. This made the hood
Iums even more angry than they had been
before and one of them drew a large knife
and proposed to them near MIN that they
pull the speaker from the Platform. They
were deferred in this by the sight of many
whom they knew would not permit such an
act, although possibly not in sympathy
with the cause being advocated. They con-
tented themselves with trying. to pun down
the stand and with throwing more mis-
sles at those on the stand.
Some one had teiephoned to the police
station, and about TINS time a squad OF
men arrived in charge Of SergeanIs krue-
ger and Lowe. The police succeeded in
routing the hoodlums sufficiently to allow
the meeting TO proceed, but even with the
police present there Were occasional show
ers of missiles hurled at the stand.
The Whole thing seemed to be prear-
ranged attack on the meeting. III was con-
tinued too long and too persistently TO have
been simply the acts of d few acting in
dependently. the frst attack was made
by a crowd which had been waiting for the
arrival of the club. They We're not at the
place of the speaking. but had advanced
to meet the club, knowing the route it
would take.
After semi-quiet was restored Lynn Hay
and John l.. keteham spoke to the crowd.
There were many present who had come
to hear the arguments and they listened
as attentively as they could with so much
noise to distract them and drown the words
of the speakers. But ii is i'll wind that
blows good. G1e 1rishman, who is a
contractor was heard to say after the
meeting that he had intended TO vote for
Bryan, but that he could not vote for any
party that would countenance such ac-
tons as he had seen that night, and would
vote for Mckinley to rebuke Democracy.