The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-25
AFRAID OF CITY ISSUES
DEMOCRATS. OPENING OF MUNIC-
IPAL CAMPAIGN 4 FIZZLE.
Not Over a Hundred People in the
Beer Gnrden-SpeaISers Defend
Some OF the Local Scandals.

The Democratic campaign had an auspi-
cious opening last night 1t took place in
William Beatteys beer garden on Shelby
street, at the end of the street-car line. it
is curious fact that not more than sew
enty-fve or hundred people were present.
The garden was brightly Illuminated and
it was evident that the proprietor of the
place had made arrangements to entertain
much larger crowd.
The meeting was under the auspices of
the Fourteenth Ward Democratic Club, of
which Thomas Gruelle is the chairman.
Mr.. Gruelle presided last night. John w.
KEN, who was advertised to speak, was
absent, but Attorney Henry Warrum took
his place. The meeting itself was held on
the dance platform in the rear of the gar
den, the orators speaking from the musi
clans stand. There We're two ways OF
trance-one through the saloon and the
other by means of gate leading directly
into the garden. The bar was doing a fir
business. The enthusiasm of the crowd
was as damp as the atmosphere.
All Of the speakers avoided as much as
possible the real issues, and put in the time
bolstering up the Chicago platform and
indulging in facetious remarks at the ex-
pense of the last Congress and. the nation
al administration. Attorney Warrum was
particularly shy of everything relating
to city affairs" He occasionally referred
to Taggarts liberal administration" He
created some mirth when he said in sheer
ing tones that the liberal administration"
had scarcely been criticised by the 'goody,
goody' people. who from housetops and
church steeples watch everybodys morals
but their own" The speaker had a few
words to say on the park question" and
referred to the administration master
stroke in putting down the price of gas.
John w. HoltZman was almost chary
of touching the topic of city administration
as the orator who preceded him. A pet
phrase Of his was Taggarts business adj
ministration." He made some very sarcas-
tic remarks about prosperity and the
Dingley tariff bill. Mr. Holtzman'S lefer-
ence to the affairs of the city were con-
Hened almost wholly to the discussion of
city parks. There were many things he did
not tell. But it was Colonel j. G, Hinckley
who discussed municipal issues to a fin
ish The colonel was in fine trim for
speech and he went at it with great vio-
lence.
Mayor Taggart has reduced your taxes
$4,000, was one of his eXtravagant asser-
lions, but just what he meant by it he
didn't stop to explain. The colonel notified
his audience that they need not be alarmed
about the bond given by the GameWell
Company, the corporation which sold the
city, a police telegraph system. He said
ne had taken the pains to examine the
bond himself, and it was all right. The
colonel gave way to Councilman Dudley.
Chairman Gruelle said there had been dis
satisfaction on the South Side over the
manner in which the administration had
treated the people, and Mr.. Dudley was
there to explain everything. The council
man referred to a bridge which the Four
teenth ward people wanted over Pleasant
run at Barth avenue. He said the reason
the bridge was not forthcoming was be-
cause 1t required a two-thirds vote of the
Council to make an appropriation. He was
sorry, but there were not enough Demo-
q
are enough, however. Mr.. Dudley made
some rash promises in this direction and re-
tired from the platform.
William Beattey's bar was open when the
meeting adjourned.