The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-20
MUNICIPAL ISSUES.

The absurdity of making the silver ques-
ton an issue in the municipal election must
be evident to every person who has sense
or candor. a few uneasy and noisy place
seekers who have no other pretext, have
used the cry of free silver to combine the
elements opposed to Mayor Taggart. They
have found in an ex-brewer and capitalist
a candidate who is opposed to Mr. Taggart
because he is supposed to stand in with
the potential brewing interest in the city
which has compelled Mr.. Maus to sell out
Mr.. Taggart is supposed to be on good
terms with most of the Democrats who
are identified with the business and the
industry of the city-an element which
the leaders of the silver push" hold in
detestation, because men of affairs-Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike-have no use
for such incompetents. Mr.. Taggart has
yielded to this noisy score of place seekers
and ward heelers, and the Democratic or
gan. which a little over = year ago de-
nounced free silverism, shouts that the
Democratic candidate will be free silver
lite and stand upon the Chicago platform.
1t is the most humiliating abdication of
personal and party independence TO a score
of characterless ward bummers that can be
found
Mr.. Taggart has been mayor of Indianap-
oils nearly two years. In that time he has
made a record upon which a policy can be
based, and, if the record is a good one
upon which a reelection can be demanded
If the mayor could show that his admins
traton has been conducted with an eye to
business principles he would have no troub-
le in his appeal for reelection even
if the silver push should put a
candidate in the field against him.
What the taxpayers of Indianapolis
desire is an administration of it's affairs
upon business principles. This being the
case, all that Mayor Taggart has to do is
to show that the current expenditures have
not increased beyond the growth of the
city. If he can show that he has secured
greater results for the expenditure than
has any of his predecessors he may count
on an election. If he can suggest a bust
ness-like proposition which promises to
check the tendency to increased expendi-
ture for city affairs, he cannot keep men
OF all parties from voting for him en- masse.
By the advice of Mayor Taggart, with
others, $35O,O0O of the bonds of the city
have been sold that money may be had for
the purchase of land for the park system.
That money is in the hands of the city
treasurer awaiting the decision of the Su-
preme Court as to the constitutionality of
the act creating the park board. There is
doubt as to the mayors intentions regard
ing the purchase of lands in the north
eastern part of the city which is necessary
to complete the proposed system. The $780,
900 is but a fraction of the money which
will be needed to carry out the plans of
the park board. 1t is, therefore, of the ut
most Importance to the taxpayers that they
should know the policy of the mayor for
raising the million of dollars which will be
necessary to beautify the territory pur-
chased for park purposes. Between decla-
ration in favor of stamping fifty cents
worth of silver bullion one dollar and the
electing of man as mayor who has we'll
digested plan for raising the money and a
clear-cut proposition for its expenditure 50
that taxpayers and public, rather than IA
vorites, shall be benefited, there can be no
comparison.
Shall all these important interests, in
volving the welfare, the government and
the taxing of a large city be ignored that
the interests of a silver bullion combina-
ton ban ba adxyapppd2