The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-05
CITY CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
Municipal Decency and Loyalty to
Public Trust Are Involved.
Indiana Weekly.

INDIANA Weekly.
No amount of regret, next Wednesday,
no matter how sincere or ~poignant-will
remedy or atone for an error in voting for
mayor next Tuesday. The issue is not
merely a choice between the Republican
and Democratic candidates-Charles A.
Bookwalter and Charles Mcguire.
1t is deeper and broader than simply one
of candidates. 1t reaches back through
six years of municipal corruption and
administration. 1t is one of municipal
decency, honesty, and Of loyalty to public
trust.
Plainly and tersely put-the issue for the
people of Indianapolis to determine by
their votes next Tuesday is: Shall sa-
loonists, gamblers, and panderers to social
vice, be protected in lawlessness, while all
other classes of citizens must obey the
laws or pay the penalty?
Shall corporations that have been given
franchises of enormous value and that sell
indispensable commodities to the people
be amendable to laws and ordinances? Or
shall they be immune from interference.
regulation, or prosecution so long as they
pay tribute to the executive officers of the
city?
Shall the political combination known. as
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the breweries, the
gamblers, the panderers to vice, and the
corporations That fatten off city franchises
"a combination that has enriched it's bene-
iciaries and has controlled the city for
six years to insure immunity from police
or other official nterference-shal this
political combination be given two more
years of power and plumber?
No sophistry, no suffering nor lodging.
no ifs nor hypothetical propositions. no
subterfuge nor explanation can change the
following fact: A vote for Charles Ma
guire is a vote for .Taggartism, for pro-
corporations, for the principle and prac-
tice that a public office is a private snap"
The citizen who votes for Charles Ma
guire for mayor, votes in favor of pro-
tected lawlessness and the enjoyment of
special privileges by saloOnists, gamblers,
panderers to social vice, and corporations
holding valuable city franchises. "
There Is a considerable number of voters
In indianapolis known as the reform
element" They are mostly Republicans,
but are thought TO hold the welfare and
good name Of the. city TO be of greater and
higher Importance than party victory i'm a
municipal election.
They are on record against Taggartism.
They have again and again deplored and
denounced the corruption and venality Of
Mayor Taggart's' several administrations.
They have specified and signalized the sins
OF the political combination of which Mayor
Taggart is the king-pin and one of the
largest benedciaries.
The protected lawlessness of saloOnists.
gamblers. and other panderers to social
vices; the huckstering Of city contracts;
the defiance of the people by corporations
holding valuable franchises from the city;
the increase in the city's bonded debt-all
these have met with a just measure Of con-
demnation from the so-called reform ele-
ment."
1t is an interesting and timely query:
How will the reform element vote next
Tuesday? Because Of some real or fancied
objection 10 Mr.. Bookwalter's candidacy.
will they strain at a gnat and swallow a
camel2
VIII they, because of some preconcieved
possible or probable defect i'm Mr.. Book
walters administration. in case OF his cleo
ton, fly from imaginary or minor evils. and
Join forces with Plagiarism?
or will they stay at home. setting an
example of criminal Indifference TO and
neglect OF the first and highest duty of the
citizen; and thus aid in keeping in power
the political machine which has fiourished
and fattened and grown defiant. aud which
has even become boastful OF its power and
unashamed of its name-Taggartism.
How will the reform element vote next
Tuesday? Every principle and every APP
peal OF consistency, self-respect. and good
citizenship urge them TO vote for Book
walter.