The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-19
SEALS. STENCILS, STAMPS.
IGrOLMAYERs SEALS. roll
sVVZ4AGI STENCILS, STAMpSSII
ISNcAIAlDGUEFREH RADcRS. CHECKS &c. Til
les TEL 1894. Is SHERIDAN ST GROUND hOoR.
As TO VINDICATION.
Some of the Methods Pursued I'm the
City Election by Democrats.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
In the edition of Oct. Ii the indianapolis
News says editorially:
Therefore we say congratulations are
due to the people Of Indianapolis for this
vindtcation of their own character and the
vlndication of the good name OF their city
The Republicans that stayed at home, the
Republicans that voted for Mayor Taggart.
deserve praise and credit. If one says 1t is
not much to stand for truth and honor
one has only to reflect how truth and honor
were thrown to the winds by those who
claim them as their guide and standard in
private life.
1t is difficult to understand how such Ian
guage can be used in reference to the re-
cent municipal election in the editorials OF
a paper professedly Independent and claim
ing to stand on a high moral plane The
political methods used by the Taggart man
ayers must be known to the editorial man.
agement of the News; the reportorial force
is altogether too active to allow any other
SuppOSitiOn. 1t must be known to 1t that
barrels of beer were kept for free distribu-
ton In connection with many OF the polling
places by the managers of Mr.. Taggart's
campaign. 1t must be known that in the
Fourteenth precinct Of the Eighth ward
free beer was dispensed by an employee OF
the city administration within one hundred
feet or the table at which the election
board was sitting. 1t must be known that
in the Baldwin block large sums Of money
were distributed on the day before election
principally to colored people, to induce
them to vote for Mr. Taggart These are
not exceptional cases: they are merely ex-
axnples of the methods employed by the
Taggart managers to pile up the immense
majority which the News attributes to the
desire of the people of Indianapolis to win
dicate their own character and the good
name of their city" When people have any
very ardent desire TO vindicate their char
acter they do not require to be furnished
with free beer while this process OF vim
dication is going on.
If the News desires to represent facts
impartially and not a partisan organ Il
would seem that these and similar facts
would find a place among its news items at
least, and possibly II would not be too much
to expect criticism on its editorial page.
But such facts have not so far found exc
preston therein, and the prediction might
be hazarded that they will not.
1t may seem presumptious. possibly Inn
pertinent, for a private citizen to inQuiro
of a great newspaper as to its editorial po-
sition respecting any fact But as news
papers claim the right and have the power
to influence public sentiment and opinion II
would seem that this right ought to carry
some reciprocal obligation. If we sit as
patient students under our instructors and
listen we'll to their statements OF opinion
on subjects of their own selection, we ought
and then to be allowed to ask a uties-
ton, and possibly to suggest a subject on
which we desire advice. Therefore I VIII
presume to inquire whether the News does
or does not approve of such a campaign as
the above illustrations indicate, and II it
does not approve of IL, by means of what
mental process can the recent election be
called 'vindication of the good name OF
our city" CLARENCE l.. WEIR.
Indianapolis, Oct. IS.