The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-27
STRONG PROTEST MADE
OBJECTION TO LIQUOR SELLING AT
ARMSTRONG PARK.
Mass Meeting Held at the Seventh
Christian Church I'm North In
dianapoIis Last Night.

the citizens OF that suburb TO blot out for
ever the sale of liquor in connection with
Sunday picnics at Armstrong Park. The
meeting was marked by a deep sincerity
and convention-like manner with which
the proceedings were carried throtyh.
Every action concurred in was practically
by unanimous. vote, but to make the spirit
OF harmony even more conclusive a motion
was passed at the end of the meeting TO
the effect that everything transacted
should be considered the unanimous senti-
ment of the meeting. To inspire the con-
gregation the remonstrance. with 1.423
names attached and measuring nearly forty
feet in length as IT was stretched out across
the room. was exhibited. Yet there were
many who said they had been missed and
wanted TO sign. The meeting was then
turned into a sort of remonstrance-signing
revival While the audience stood and
sang a spirited song those who had not
signed crowded toward the front and in
serted their names at various places along
the long sheet of paper where they could
squeeze in. This demonstration brought
the number of demonstrators UP 10 1879.
The paragraph at the head Of the paper
TO which a signature was regarded an oath
of allegiance read as follows: whereas.
the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquors at
Armstrong Park on Sundays. holidays and
at other times has attracted large crowds
Of dissolute characters. destructive of the
peace and quiet of this part of the city,
damaging it's reputation, impairing the
value of property and menacing further
progress. we therefore agree to act together
to secure an abatement of this nuisance
and an enforcement of the law"
The meeting was called TO order, and
Fred Loftin was chosen temporary chair
man and Thomas Hazelrigg secretary. Mr..
Loftin stated the purpose of the meeting.
He said there was no fight against or
ganized labor. and that he regretted the
false impression had gone out that the citi-
zens of North Indianapolis cast reflections
upon the labor unions of the city. He said
he believed the labor leaders were In accord
with the movement and will do their share
to assist in suppressing lawlessness. Rev.
Nathan III. Sheppard made a brief address.
in which he impressed his hearers with the
necessity of going into the fight with no
compromise in view. He said a determined
stand must be taken, and that the organi-
cation must be unceasing in its efforts in
bringing about an enforcement Of the law.
When Mr.. Sheppard had finished the
meeting went into permanent organization.
Frank Caldwell, who was at the head of the
movement that suppressed the sale of liquor
in close proximity TO the branch city
library in North Indianapolis, was unani-
mously elected president. In taking the
chair Mr.. Caldwell said the movement
should be pushed In a determined but con-
servative way and admonished the remon-
starters to not say anything that will create
enmity between friends because all do not
see alike. He said all people do not think
alike and because l,500 people were lighting
an evil in their midst those who are not of
the same mind should not be antagonized.
Above all things, he said, quarrels should
be avoided and are unnecessary. To facili-
tate matters the power of appointing COM
mittees was delegated to the chair. The
committee on nominations reported for
first vice president, M. E. Washburn; sec
ond vice president, 8. s. Moore; third vice
president, A. b. Gould; secretary, T. H.
Hazelrigg: corresponding secretary, Mrs.
y. +. Clark; treasurer, Roy Weaver. On
the legal committee are f. b. Sprague, NJ.
II. Sheppard and w. F. Landes. The COM
mittee is empowered to act for the organi-
cation in all matters of litigation, to en-
ploy an attorney and not be restrained by
any rules. The executive committee is
composed of j. l.. Dixon, Harry Ferris and
Rev. w. w. Strecker and II also has
sweeping power. Fred Loftin, w. c.. Mann
and James NJ. Swan were named to act
with the president on the resolutions COM
mittee.
THE COMPLAINT SET OUT.
The resolutions committee report was
along the line of the paragraph heading the
remonstrance. but more specific and set out
the complaint to a better vantage. 1t said
that many picnics given at the park were
under alleged auspices to draw crowds.
This referred to the gatherings purported
to be headed by union labor organizations
and its purpose is to clear the laboring
people OF all responsibility. The report
called the picnics ''boisterous and disgust
ing and ended by saying that the Illegal
sale of intoxicating beverages at Arm
strong Park has led to conditions which
we should no longer tolerate" The report
was accepted with an enthusiastic and
unanimous vote.
A motion was then made and passed that
letters of courtesy be mailed to the three
address the men as "neighbors'' and sets
out the grievances in a courteous manner
at the same time asking that the practice
be stopped. There was much discussion
over this matter. some contending that on
account OF the elder Mr.. Armstrong; age
the letters should not be sent. and then IL
them in person. 1t was said the men knew
nothing about the manner in which the
Sunday picnics are carried on and charity
was pleaded. The original motion finally
passed when Ii was made known that the
plan originated with a legal adviser.
Rev. Mr.. Strecker, a new pastor in North
Indianapolis. and to whose congregation
the Armstrong; belong. took the platform
and read the contract under which the park
is let. 1t says that no minor shall enter the
park unless accompanied by it's parents. no
whisky is to be sold. no known disrepu-
table characters shall be allowed to enter
the grounds. the best possible order shall be
maintained by a police officer supplied by
the company, who will see that all rules
are observed. Gambling is eliminated and
the contract ends with specifying tina only
Terre Haute and Indianapolis beer shall be
sold on the rounds. While he read a
broad smile spread over every face. He
said he had gone to see Mr.. Armstrong and
that the contract was not given him in con-
idence. but with the statement that IL
could be made public.
OTHER SHORT SPEECHES.
Three-minute speeches were then voted
in order and Elder Summers. S. s.. Moore,
Mr.. Trotter. State Superintendent Helt, of
the Anti-Saloon League. and others adj
dressed the meeting. One man said he saw
children eight and ten years old buy beer
at the park and added hat he had proof.
He was told to give his information TO the
legal committee. Another man, who had
witnessed a crowd of picnickers on the
street car, was told TO see the committee.
81 49,