The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-10
ORGANIZED TO FIGHT
NORTH INDIANAPOLIS CITIZENS OBJ
JEcT TO A SALOON.
They Will Make n Demonstration Be-
fore the County Commits
sioners To-day.

An organization, to be known as the
Library Protective and Anti-saloon AS
ISOLATION" was formed by a body of repre-
sentative men of North Indianapolis in
the North Indianapolis Baptist Church
last night to fight the establishment Of a
saloon on the corner of Udell and Clifton
streets, opposite the library. The meet
ing was not advertised. and only infiuen-
tial men were asked to attend. There were
about sixty present and each expressed de-
termination to go into the fight to gain
victory.
The association went into a permanent
organization and elected for its president
Frank CaldwelI; vice presidents, County
Superintendent W. T. lands, George
Montgomery and W. s. Gray; secretary
treasurer. Thomas H. Hazelrigg: executive
committee, Fred Payne. ]. l.. Dixon and
Nathan III. Sheppard. The purpose Of the
association is not to inaugurate a tenn
perance movement, but to wage war on
Herman J. Ahrens If he persists in estab-
fishing saloon near the library. A COM
mittee was appointed to wait upon Mr..
Ahrens this morning and ask him to with
draw his application now before the Coun-
ty Commissioners for license. He is to be
given an option on quietly submitting the
request or Immediately becoming the OBJ
jective point of hostilities.
A resolution was passed which says: I'm
consideration of the fact that an attempt
is being made to establish a saloon at the
corner of Udell and Clifton streets, and
directly opposite and facing branch No.
l of the indianapolis Public Library, and
not more than sixty-five feet from the
same, and believing that the said saloon
will not only be most detrimental to the
interests of the library, but that II VIII
practically destroy its usefulness to large
class of our people. And furtner
wishing to preserve the good name OF our
part of the city, and wishing to show the
School Board of indianapolis that we
highly appreciate the comphment palu Us
in establishing branch No. ! of the library
in our midst; we, therefore, now organize
and bind ourselves together under the
name of the Association for the Protecuon
of Branch No. L of the Indianapolis Public
Library for the purpose of preventing the
establishing and continuance or saloon al
the corner of Clifton and Udell streets
This resolution was signed by everyone
present. and this morning 1t will be CIR
culated over that part of the city to OBJ
tain as many signatures as possible Pc
fore the hearing Of the remonstrance by
the commissioners this afternoon. In the
citation will then direct its entire force
toward carrying out clause of the resolu-
ton which says: ''In case license Is Sc
cured we will use our utmost endeavors
to see that the letter of the law is obeyed
in every particular 1t was cited at the
meeting that every property owner near
the saloon could bring damage suits and
that the keeper Of the Objectionable place
could be harassed with litigation until
he would be forced out of business. Sew
eral men said they were willing to sub
scribe to a fund to bring suits If neces-
sary.
Any but the one purpose in view was
eliminated so that q concerted fre VIII
ce turned in this one direction. This was
also done to get the assistance and SYM
pathy of men who are not entirely opposed
to saloons, yet do not favor one In such
proximity to the library.
This afternoon the people OF North In
danapolis will come down in delegation
to make a demonstration before the COM
missioners while they consider the license.
Those who have the papers in charge say
80 names will be secured and expect
large per cent. OF these TO appear person
ally before the commissioners.
A mass meeting has been called for Mon
day night in the Seventh Christian Church
to strengthen the organization, as fight
is anticipated. The organization as 1t now
stands is for one year.