The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-12


and who occasionally see a stray copy of
the indianapolis Sentinel, were thunder
struck yesterday when they saw headlines
in that paper yesterday saying:
MIR. HUNTER LIKES IT.
1.-THE Presbyterian Divine Thinks Mayor
Taggart VIII Do.
HE Sees no Necessity for Change Of Adj
miniStraton--T1e Business Men and
Ministers are Satisfied"
Can it be possible" they asked them
selves, that Dr. Hunter, who time and
again has raised his voice against Sunday
violation. gambling and wide-open' town,
could openly indorse mayor who had no.
toriously countenanced such evils and VINO
has tolerated all sorts of immortality
Such an idea seemed the more incredible
when it was known that Mayor Taggart
himself took out a saloon keepers license
at the June term of the County Commits
sioners for his barroom in the Grand Hotel.
June T. 1897. was the date on which it was
issued A prominent man of the South Side
who has known Dr. Hunter for years de-
clared that it was impossible that he could
ever have taken such a stand as was at
tributed to him. This is true. Dr. Hunter
was seen last night. He admitted that he
had been interviewed. lie said that there
was just enough foundation for what the
paper said to make it impossible for him
to brand the entire interview as false
hood. At the same time, it had been given
twist and a '"Taggart tone" he never
intended to convey.
DIR. Hunter went away for his summer
vacation Aug. /, was absent when the Re-
publican convention was held, had never
read either the platform or the opening
wi he w igtapVipWGd Friday
night and knew but little of the political
situation. On two or three occasions he
had discussed the campaign with friends,
with a view, as he put it, ito get light on
the situation" In conversation he assumed
as a hypothetical case that unless Hard
ing was known to be a man who
would give better administration than the
present he could not see what advantage
there would be in making a change. Re-
ports of this sort were out, and a Sentinel
reporter went to his home 240 Virginia ave-
nue.. to see him Friday night.
II was at a social said Dr. Hunter to a
Journal reporter last night, when young
man from the Sentinel that wears white
duck trousers-what's his name? Jones'
Smith, no that's not Thrown? That's
what he told me his name was-called st
my house and was informed that L WIS
away from home. He came to see me at
the social and informed me that he had
heard my views on the mayoralty canvass
l replied that l had no views, as l had no
definite information. Then l told him that
unless Mr. Harding was going to give a
better administration than the present
could not see what advantage there would
be in making change. 1t was a hypothet-
ical case all the way through. l had no
desire to be interviewed. l do not care to
get into the papers unless L am loaded for
the occasion, Having been away, / knew
but little and was not prepared to say any,
thing
THE inference drawn from the inter-
view Dr. Hunter said the reporter, lis
that you think that the church is satisfied
with the way IN which the laws are
forced"
What | said was that Mavor Taggart
was pretty smoth on that score. He has
kept the front doors closed. While it is
known that the back doors are open the
apparent enforcement of the law has kept
down any revolt any popular uprising
DR.. Hunter added that he believed if
Mayor Iaggart was reelected everything
would be wide open in two years--that at
the end of his next administration there
would be a practical duplication of condi-
tons at the end of the last Sullivan admin
iStration.
DIR. Hunter was quoted as saying that
three or four ministers to whom he talked
We're in the same position as himself. The
inference that the paper intended should
be drawn from this was that the ministers
think Mayor Taggart will do In his con-
versation with the ministers to whom he
referred, DR.. Hunter was still pursuing his
line of hypothetical investigation, and to
his assertion that if Mr. Harding would
give no better administration than the
present he could see no advantage in MAX
ing change assent was given. He was
also quoted as saying that the business
men were entertaining the same views as
were attributed to him in the interview.
This is not true. DR.. Hunter was asked
about the attitude of the business men. He
replied that he did not know, as he mad
talked with none.
Summing up what he really meant to
convey in his talk with the Sentinel re-
porter, DIR. Hunter said:
IF the Sentinel reporter understood me
to say that Mayor Taggart had enforced the
laws to my liking at all times he misap-
pretended me- / said that he had made
showing sufficient to pacify the majority,
and that unless Mr.. Harding promised to do
better / could see no great reason for a
change. on the principle that. if the laws
are to be broken | would prefer some one
else should be responsible. The Republican
party has no excuse for existence except 1t
gives us a better government. Mr.. Harding
was nominated for mayor While l was
away. Since my return have been watch
ing for evidence that he stands for fair
and impartial enforcement of the laws. Last
night (Friday night | had not seen the
ing will declare that he will enforce the
laws as his oath calls for should he be
elected | believe he will do it. Personally
/ believe he is a man of character. Mr..
Harding need not be prosecutor nor a
puritan in order to keep his oath If elected
mayor | want evidence that the Repub-
licans will not play fast and loose.
THE Sentinel reporter misguided me
slightly when he made me say that the
business men were satisfied with the pres
ent administration l know nothing about
that What | said was that l had talked
with a number of Republicans who had said
that unless they had evidence that Mr..
Harding would enforce the laws better than
Mr. Taggart was doing they were Indifferent
as to which became mayor. | saw Mr..
Harding to-day and was pleased with his
position far as We had time to talk 1t