The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-08
STREET-CAR MEMS VOTE
COMPANY OFFICIALS URGED THEM
TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATS.
Want the Democratic Legislative
Ticket EIected-RumOrs of "a
Deal Stronger.

The latest effort or the Taggart- Bailey
combination is to compel street-car en-
ployes to vote the Democratic ticket. 1t
was shown in this paper some time ago
that an arrangement to settle the street.
car controversy is on between the Taggart
ring and the street-car company The set
Element it is alleged, involves certain legis-
lation by the forthcoming General Assem-
bly, There are hints that in the event of
Democratic success certain laws passed by
the General Assembly of 1897 are to be
amended, if not repealed. 1t has been OBJ
served in the last few days that Leon O..
Bailey and Miller Elliott, superintendent of
the Citizens Street-railroad Company, have
been in close consultation at the Grand
Hotel.
1t is openly asserted, in view of recent
conferences betweent Taggart, Bailey and
Elliott that there is a deal on. whereby
votes of the street-car employees are to be
controlled for the Democratic candidates
Just what this will mean in the next meet
ing of the General Assembly cannot be pre-
dicted at the present time. What bearing
it will have on the 3-cent-fare law and
other restrictive legislation cannot be de-
termined. 1t is known. however, that the
company would be very glad to have the
Hugg 3-cent-fare law repealed, if that were
expressions were obtained from Street-car
men yesterday.
A North Indianapolis and East Tenth
street car conductor said: Il am a Demo-
crat and the management of the Street.
railway Company has never said anything
to me- but l have learned at the barns that
the managers are going to the Republicans
and asking them as a personal favor to
vote for certain Democrats on the ticket
whom they designate. These names are the
Democrats on the legislative ticket. The
management says to them that the Repub-
Leans are in favor of the 3-cent-fare and
will injure the interests of the company
and necessitate lower wages for the men.
Generally the street-car men are pretty
well divided but few Republicans are
afraid they will be injured unless they vote
Said West Washington street car con-
ductor: Yes, the officials, some of them,
are asking the street-car men to vote for
certain Democratic candidates The fore
man at our barn is a Democrat and he is
doing all he can for the Democratic ticket
him and some of the officials. that the Re-
publicans are doing all they can to injure
the company and, therefore, it is to the
interest of the men to vote for Democratic
candidates. But they can talk to me ali
they want to, | will vote just as l please"
Another conductor said: IT am a Demo
crat and nobody has said anything to me-
but it is the talk of the men that they are
expected TO vote the Democratic ticket"
Il am a Democrat and there Is going to
be scratching by great many of the
street-car men," said another conductor
He refused TO commit himself as TO wheth-
or not any of the officials are making
attempts to influence Republican votes and
very reticent about what has been said
by the men about the influence of the COM
panys interests upon the votes of the en-
Dloyes.
Others apparently knew nothing of in
fluence used, but 1t seems that an agita-
ton has been started which has come to
the ears of all, and that attempts to influ-
ence. voters are made through the lower
officials.