The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
A BATCH OF SALOON MEN
FOUR ARE AMONG THE DEMOCRATS,
COUNCILMANIC NOMINATIONS.
Higgins, Frank s. Clark
and Woodburn l.asson Among
Others-Dewar Turned Down.

flFSL Ward-W. r. Smith.
Second Ward-Woodburn Mason.
Fifth Ward-Richard Merrick.
Sixth Ward-Dr. E. D. Moffatt.
Seventh Ward-E. II. Pritchard.
Eighth Ward-John A. Won S~preckelson.
Ninth Ward-Frank S. Clark. (Renomi-
Tenth ward-George r. Golfer. CRenomi-
nated)
Eleventh Ward-John Scanlon.
Twelfth Ward-James McGrew.
Thirteenth Ward-Edward Bernauer.
Fourteenth Ward--W. W. Knight.
Fifteenth Ward-John NJ. COMMODORE
Higgins.
Syndicate beer won another victory in
Democratic politics yesterday, when four
saloon keepers were nominated for Coun-
ell. The fight was particularly bitter in
the Eleventh and Fifteenth wards, where
the syndicate candidates, John Scanlon and
Commodore Higgins were successful.
William Beatty, the syndicate's candidate in
the Fourteenth, was turned down, but in
the Thirteenth, where Edward Bernauer,
and in the Fifth, where Richard Merrick,
both saloon keepers, were nominated, the
brewery efforts were more successful.
There is a. grim irony in the fact that
while the saloon interests were battling for
supremacy in the southern wards that are
regarded as safely Democratic, WOODBURY.
Mason was nominated in the Second, I'M
deniably Republican, in the hopes of pal
liating the Good Citizens League. Wood
burn Mason lately obtained some prestige
with the good citizens movement by the
fact that he was made a member of the
executive committee that drafted the ordi-
nance restricting saloons from the First,
Second, Third and Fourth wards. He has
not the slightest chance of election.
Duncan Dewar, present Democratic in
cumbent from the Eighth ward, was turned
down. He has been one of the most ef1-
cient members of the present Council, but
has proved troublesome to Mayor Taggart
on two or three occasions-irst when he in
sisted on the investigation of the Board of
Public Works that made it necessary for
the nay to ask for the resignation of Ed
A. Austin. and again, when he wanted the
scandal in the Board of Safety's office
with regard to the letting of the police
patrol contract investigated. He has been
sturdy in his demands and could not be
turned aside when he determined to I'M
cover wrongdoing in the administration.
Democrats accredit his defeat to the fact
that he was a pronounced gold bug dur
ing the recent national campaign. There
was some opposition to him on this ground,
but his friends declare that If the admins
i%stration had been warmer in his support
the result would have been different.
Frank S. Clark's friends had a long and
y AoNC ilSAL " N1ldlCdIC Illl1. / d y
nominated from the Ninth ward by a ma
jority of but eighteen votes. His open ad-
mission that he had used a pass from the
street-car company ana later the connection
of his name with the Board of Safety seam
dal was, used against him. 1t is already
predicted that if the Republicans nominate
a strong man Clark will be defeated.
In the Fifteenth ward Councilman John
G.. Ohleyer. was defeated by the combined
aggregatiOnS. 1t was war to the knife be-
tween them and they had no time to devote
to anybody else. Ohleyer has been charged
with being a gold bug" enough in itself
to turn Hymns gang against him. This,
with the fight made by the syndicate, took
away his strength, and early in the day
he withdrew after receiving such a small
vote that it was not even recorded.
But for the fact that there were two
William Beatty and James T. Smith, the
present councilman from that ward, the
syndicate would have triumphed there. The
old saw about "a house divided against it
self worked out in this case and w. w.
Knight was chosen by a good majority.
He would have been defeated if either
Smith or Beatty had withdrawn, but they
had their own personal ambitions to graf
ify. William Beatty was not caring who
knew he was backed by the syndicate.
There was plenty Of beer on tap for those
who desired it and cigars for those that
did not care for beer. When the supply of
cigars gave out more were ordered and the
bill was ordered sent to the brewery syndi-
cate.
In the Eleventh ward the friends of
James Ryan are charging Albert Lieber
and the gold bugs, with the defeat of
their candidate. He withdrew from the race
shortly after the polls opened, but his
friends say it was because they realized
that they could not fight the Doodle and
brewery combine. Scanlon, the nominee. is
the keeper of Parnell Hall saloon and it is
said that the syndicate was prepared to
spend $1,0G1 in money and furnish all the
beer that was needed to elect Scanlon.
There nen vas plenty Of Pv6 beer wd fur dhaifS n Wills |
out of the race by his brother, p. j. Ryan,
a gold bug.
ONE CANDIDATES PLACE RAIDED.
Richard Merriek, nominated in the Fifth
ward, has a saloon at 4S2 National road.
George R. Golfer was formerly proprietor
of a saloon on the viaduct. Mr.. Golfer
states that he has retired from that bust
ness and manufactures cigars. Edward
Bernauer has a saloon at the corner of
Virginia avenue and Cedar street. 1t IS
said that gambling goes on over his saloon.
Early last spring the place was raided and
twenty crap shooters were arrested. John
Scanlon is said to be the proprietor of the
Parnen Hall saloon. Dancing goes on in
a hall over the saloon nearly every night
in the winter. The sale of beer is con-
sidered a sufficient inducement to the pro-
prietor to let the hall without charging
Ions name among the saloon men, but he is
regarded as owning the place.
Following is a Of the vote cast
in the thirteen wards in which primaries
were held so far as returns were available:
First Ward
w. f. Smith .347
y. A.
Joseph Beatty 9
Smiths plurality, 1875.
Second Ward
WOODBURY. Mason was the only candi-
date.
Fifth Ward
Richard Merrick 4S1
Robert Earl .341
Merrick's plurality, 1874.
Sixth Ward
MoLatt -. .Z50
Moffatt's plurality, 221.
Seventh Ward
E. H. Pritchard sole candidate. E. W.
Tompkins withdrew.
Eighth Ward
John A. Won Spreckelson...............475
Duncan DeWar .304
Omer BaSSetI .ZUZ
Won Spreckelson's plurality. III.
Tenth Ward
Coiter ..'"''"'.- 55S
Golfers plurality, 294.
Twelfth Ward
J. W. McGrew .32S
Lee Gelsendort
McGrew's plurality, 154.
Thirteenth Ward
Edward Bernauer .39S
James Hannah
Il Csar-nH -