The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-07
WON'T WEAR UNIFORMS
MERCHANT PO-
LICE FORM NEW ORGANIZATION.
They Secured Constabulary Powers
from the Comm issioners-.
Now Two Forces.

The threatened Eruption in the Merchant
police force of this city occurred yesterday
afternoon, when twenty-three of the Of
ficers sent their designations TO the Board
of Public Safety and forestalled the threat
Of the board to revoke their police powers.
Those who bolted and refused TO obey the
orders OF the board Immediately organized
themselves into the Indianapolis Merchant
Detectives Association" and received con-
stabulary powers from the Board of County
Commissioners.
The break In the force is the result of an
order issued by the Board of Safety sew
eral months ago to the effect that all Mer-
chant policemen should procure uniforms.
Some of the older men on the force claimed
this order was made so that the force
could be under the control of the Board of
Safety and Superintendent Quigley, and re-
fused to abide by 1t, as they claim they
could see where they would be called upon
TO do city duty. Those who joined the
new association further claim they were
willing to procure uniforms, so that they
would all be attired the same, but refused
TO purchase coats with brass buttons and
caps. They say they are in the employ
of merchants and the city does not pay
them; therefore the Board of Safety had
no right to dictate what they should wear.
They say their patrons did not desire them
to be uniformed. for in citizens apparel
they would stand a better chance of catch
ing thieves.
AN ORDER ISSUED
A few days ago the Board of Safety IS
sued an order to Captain Clary to furnish
ho hna rd with he If ha oha
policemen who refused to purchase uni
forms. Instead of furnishing this list the
men resigned Chairman Roth was asked
about the matter last night, and he pro-
fessed to know nothing about the resigna-
lions or the break in the Merchant police
force. He said 1t was the object of the
board to revoke the powers of all those who
did not abide by the order and TO compel
them to return their police and fire-alarm-
box keys. Those who resigned returned
the keys. but they claim they will secure
others If needed.
Those who bolted met yesterday after
noon and elected the following officers:
r. L. Bacon, president; J. c. Biddinger,
vice president; Jasper n. Clary. captain:
L. c. kingsbury and John FoltZenlogel,
lieutenants; II. p. Thomas, secretary and
Benjamin A. Bell, treasurer. The other
members of the Indianapolis Merchant
Detectives Association are as follows: Will
ford Bristow. Thomas c. Moore, Al Mi
chael, Joseph O'Donnell, John G.. Finney,
Nelson Daubenspeck, Harry j. Thrush,
Newton Williams, George w. Cheatam,
John c. Ballard. Grafton A. Clary. Patrick
ONeal, John l.. Elliott Charles +. Reno,
e. r. Metiver, Christian Cook. Samuel
Hice. John Whittinghill. Frank Griffith,
Edward Buckley and William H Mccain.
x is expected that a few OF the members
Of he 11op mill frfr1 tHe.
ranks of the new association. The cap
tain of the new association, Captain Clary.
was at the head of the Merchant police
force and was one of the officers who re-
fused to purchase uniforms.
The men secured their appointments from
the County Commissioners yesterday after
noon and partolled their districts last night
armed with the papers given them by the
county. 1t is the intention of the new as
ISOLATION TO incorporate under the State
laws. as the power vested In them as con-
Legislature. The members of the new as
ISOLATION claim they have all the down.
town districts. with the exception of one.
MEN WHO WEAR UNIFORMS.
The men who purchased uniforms and
remained with the old force met yesterday
and selected Milton III. Miller as captain.
He was formerly captain of the force.
Those who retain their membership in the
Merchant police force are as follows: Mil
ton II. Miller. Sam j. Mcclure, Harry Ro-
sengarten, William N. Wenner, Samuel
Dener. Charles B. Wells. Thomas Morton,
John Minor, T. j. Sullivan, Edward
Wheeler. James Bargman. ]. B. Hilton,
John Barman, Ira Hadley, Eli A. Lakin,
c. f. Portions. T. Grothams. III. r. Stein
kuller. Arthur Albeit, II. B. Thrush,
George NJ Tess, Charles Whitesell, l.. r.
Metiver. j. d. Crockett. B. Campbell, John
NJ. Spears. Stephen H. Enos. James M.
Kemp, Joseph Hosstatter, Fred Burgman,
Christ Hansing. ]. ]. Woolly, Ben f. My
ers and Thomas b. Archer.
A few of the men belong to both organi-
cations. The badges of the officers will be
similar. the new association men having
the word detective placed over the word
police on their old badges.