The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-30
A NINTH-WARD TURNOUT
MIR. HARDING ADDRESSES ANOTHER
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
He Discusses the Gas Record of Mayor
Taggart-JOhn r. PearsOn's
$1,000 Contribution.

Although there was a nipping air last
night the Republican meeting in the Ninth
ward was well attended All the seats in
front of the speakers stand, erected on a
vacant lot, were occupied and fully five
hundred voters stood in the open air at
teEtively listening to some of the best
speeches that have been made For an hour
and a half the voters who are anxious to
get all the light possible on municipal ques-
tions gave ear to the speakers. Surprise
was expressed by the speakers at the at
tention given in spite of the unpleasant at
mosphere. From the indications of the
meeting last night Frank S. Clark, coun-
Gilman from that ward, will be defeated by
a big majority. The Ninth ward is Demo-
cratic and many of those present last night
apparently belonged to that party.
j. w. Fesler, county clerk, presided over
the meeting. Mr.. Fesler spoke briefly in
calling the meeting to order He declared
that every property holder is more deeply
interested in the coming city election than
in any state or national election that has
been held for years. He lfkened the city
to an immense corporation, in which he
said all citizens are stockholders You
want man that is something more than a
BOOu l6ilOW III CIleLl &c VI yOdA DdoAiASS9s q
man that can do something more than smile
and shake hands, &. man who is not under
obligations to any man nor susceptible to
any such influences as surround the Demo-
cratic candidate Gentlemen, the Republican
party offers you such man in the person
of Mr.. Harding" said Mr.. Fesler.
Fred e. Matson, who was on the pro-
gramme, regarded this campaign as paral-
lei with that of year ago, when the people
of the country were aroused against Grover
Cleveland's administration for it's debt-mak-
ing and bond-issuing record. When Mayor
Taggart assumed the management, he said,
he found the city being economically admin
istered and making great progress, but after
he came in power the people who control
him began to exert their influence and the
expenses of administration increased $780,
O0O In twenty-five months the bonded debt
increased $4,000. do you want TO see
your current expenses and bonded debt IN
crease in that manner?'' he asked. He spoke
of the fact that a large part of the money
is lying idle. Mayor Taggart and the Park
Board, he said knew what the park law
was, and yet they borrowed $350,0O0 when
they could not use it,. This money, he said,
was lying idle, while the, taxpayers had to
pay per cent. interest on it.. After CleVe-
land sold bonds for $104OO0,OO0 that ought
to have brought $120 600 900 it developed that
Wall street had made all those millions.
Grover Cleveland had his Perry Belmont.
Thomas Taggart has his John p. Frenzel,"
said the speaker. Notwithstanding the fact
that Cleveland was extravagant, Mr.. Mat
son said that he was brave and courageous.
If he favored free trade or the gold stand
ard he took a bold stand and it was al
* know
Does anybody know whether Thomas Tag
CART is a silver man or a gold-Standard man?
Although he is waverer and dodger and
a trimmer, he expects you to vote for him.
Is it not to be expected that a man who is
a Waverer and dodger, when he finds the
public interest conflicting with his own pri-
vate interests, that he will let the public in
terest go?
TELEPHONE COMPETITION FROZEN
OUT.
The speaker spoke Of the deal by which
the Phoenix Telephone Company was
frozen out, telling the audience that condi-
tons were fixed upon it that were impossi-
BILE for it to live under. He said that the
Democrats were compelled to pass a gas
ordinance after that subject had been
forced on them by a Republican council
man, after they had let twenty months of
their administration go by without doing
anything. How easily they got an inJunc-
ton after the ordinance was passed." said
Mr.. Matson, and now quietly it has LAID
ever since. What has your city attorney
done? When you find the gas company
supporting Taggart do you expect the Tag
CART administration to cut down the price
of gas? When you find the telephone COM
pany supporting him do you expect him to
secure lower telephone rates?
He took up the history of the 3-cent-fare
law, showing first how it was passed by a
Republican Legislature. No arrangements
were made to defend the law by city au-
took it into the courts the only successful
work was done by the attorney general If
it had not been for the attorney general, he
said nothing would have been done.9
When you find the street-car company
supporting Taggart," he asked, do you ex-
pect him TO do anything to cut down fares?
If the money of the corporations con-
tributed to his success, won't they have
more influence with him than the common
people? If they elect him, will they not
Mr. Matson's pertinent questions set the
crowd to studying deeply, and the applause
with which he was greeted indicated that
his words went home At one time in his
speech Mr.. Matson was interrupted by APP
piause and cheers for Mr.. Harding as that
gentleman came upon the platform.
He needs no introduction to you, said
Mr. FeSler in introducing the popular can
didate for mayor, and when he occupies
the mayors chair you viii know where to
find him"
Mr. Harding received a iatterng recep-
ton. He had been to a meeting at the o.
ings in another ward but did not appear
Wearied and made a speech that those who
have heard him declared was one of his
best efforts Although 1t was growing late
and the air was unpleaSantly chilly, the
crowd stayed with him and evinced deep
interest in what was said.
Mr. Harding said that the issues of this
campaign were purely local and while it
made no difference to the voters before him
personally as to who was mayor, 1T does
make a difference from a financial stand
point The speaker said that he had moth
He had known him for years as a genial
man. What he opposed was his policy.
1.-Two years ago he was elected on plat
form that declared for cheaper gas. Did
you ever hear any expression from him on
that subject until a week or ten days after
he was nominated, when the ordinance was
put before him for his SIGNATURE? asked
Mr.. Harding. HE signed that ordinance
without ever having raised his voice to Sc
cure it's passage.
TAGGARTS GAS RECORD.
Mr.. Harding went on to show that
duction in the price Of gas from $1.25 to
70 cents a thousand meant a saving of
81 a month to men who now pay $3.50 a
month He took up the Cleveland case
where the price was reduced from 81 to so
cents, beside which the company was re-
quired to pay per cent. into the treasury
which meant a net profit of $3.50 600 to the
city in three years.
Mr.. Taggart, sitting as your mayor, has
not said word in behalf of the people,
but let the company take your money With
til q week or ten days after his nomination.
Monday night in a Snepch he made before