The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-19
POLICE STATION GOSSIP.
A Social Question-Cause of Anti-Spit-
ting Ordinance Defeat.

Many questions of wide importance or
deep scientific significance are discussed
and decided definitely in the circle that
forms around the desk sergeant at the police
station. When affairs were dull one after
noon last week a reporter, from whose head
not all the sleep had flown, raped en-
phatically on the desk and said: do you
know what I'm going to do? Well, I'm GO
ing to lay off day and go to see John d.
Rockefeller and I'm going to say to him
that think it's a fair proposition that he
give me- out of his several millions, $4,000.
I'll explain my circumstances to him, and
think it ought to be possible to persuade
him to give me the money. He wouldn't
miss $4,000 any more than I'd miss rs
cents"
This gave opportunity for discussion of
capitalists and their stock in trade, and it
was seized eagerly. one policeman, with
an anarchistic ring in his voice, declared
that if the one who had made the first
statement staten carried it out Rockefeller, would
probably sue him for 50 damages for having
trespassed on his time.
IF l had $4,000" broke in the first
speaker, I'd"
ooh, quit burnin' pills." interrupted a
man who gloated over 'human-interest sto
rles' and rolled new phrases around in his
mouth as if they were delicious.
But the garrulous one had not yet fin
1shed his talk. L know a newspaper man."
he said, who wrote letter to Russell Sage
when Sage's relative lost his home over in
Illinois. lou remember the story, don't
you? And he said in this letter that he
found it hard TO believe the rough story
that was printed in regard to Sage's selfish
ness and he would be glad TO have him tell
his side of the case. 1t was a strong play
for a story, but, of course, he didn't get an
answer to his letter."
Everybody stared at the speaker, there
was some muttering, a few yawned and the
symposium broke up.
It is said at the police station that the
sergeants are primarily responsible for the
defeat of the anti-spitting ordinance. When
the ordinance was introduced, it is said the
sergeants held a secret meeting, at which
John Lowe made a fervent speech
This measure is unconstitutional and un-
patriotic" he is alleged to have exclaimed
and Is structure on the rights of Amer
lean citizens. You might well muzzle a
policeman as to make law prohibiting
him from splitting when he wants to- If the
would either have to arrest itself, resign or
become outlaws
Whereupon Sergeant Lowe was deputized
as committee of one to lobby against the
ordinance. The ordinance failed to pass.
Three of the patrolmen recently dismissed
from the force were arrested shortly after
their dismissal. The last one arrested had
opened a saloon, and one night he was found
associating with immoral characters and
was locked up at the station. This fact
brings to mind a story that Sergeant Crane
tells of man who now is employed as a
special policeman at one of the notorious
Indoor gardens" He had once been reg
ular policeman and was dismissed for dis
orderly conduct. Crane asked him one day
if he liked his job.
ooh, yes" was the answer, "they pays
me prompt"
well, L know, but doesn't it make you
sick and tired to have to mix up with all
these bad characters after having once as
ISOLATED with the men on the police force?"
Thus penned in the Special replied,
Yes, I'll own up at it does get kinda
monopoly sometimes"