The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-31
MR.. -BooKwALTER's LETTER.

In this issue of the Journal will be found
the letter of Mr.. Bookwalter accepting the
Republican nomination for mayor made by
Republican voters. Every citizen and tax
payer who takes an interest in the affairs
of the city will read every word OF the
letter. because II is a clear and emphatic
presentation OF the candidates views and
an unequivocal statement Of his pledges
to the people of indianapolis in the event
of his election. 1t is. moreover. so admir-
able a presentation Of what the city needs
In order that II may be managed success
fully that no man. no matter to which
party he belongs, can criticise 1t. 1t is not
an utterance of negatives; it contains no
Ifs" or mays but the positive wills
and "shalls" of matured purpose.
1t is not necessary to epitomize Mr.. Book
walters letter. because he has stated in
terse sentences what he purposes TO do;
1t would be Unnecessary work TO set forth
here what he has written, because the peo-
pie of Indianapolis will read every word
of a letter written by a man who has &C
quired the happy faculty of clear and
forceful expression.
In advance. Mr.. makes his
views very clear and his pledges very en-
phatic upon two points which gave Mr..
Taggart many votes two years ago. One
OF these is regarding the irritating subject
of meters for natural gas, and the other
is regarding the policy of elevated tracks,
upon which the Taggart people won votes
fp,n opn hy Loud dacl ottop IN favor
of that policy to satisfy the people on the
South Side and by a quiet understanding
with the railroad corporations that nothing
should be done to their injury. Mr.. Book
walter believes that something should be
done to insure the safety and convenience
of the public. If the Supreme Court de-
| cides, as has the Superior Court. that the
city is not authorized by its charter to
| compel the elevation of the tracks, it
should be known in order that other rem
edies may he applied. If elected mayor
Mr.. Bookwalte pledges himself to the en-
forcement of the laws. That is what a
large majority of the people of Indianapolis
desire. and it is what they have not had.
In clear and dignihed language Mr.. Book
ditt lie dnu dSi VI
the management of the city's finances the
| past six years. Because OF conciseness Of
statement and absolute accuracy it is an
unanswerable arraignment of the Taggart
methods and shortcomings. Spending be-
| yond the revenues began some time after
Mr.. Taggart came into office, and the evil
has been increasing rapidly the past two
years. One of the greatest offenses of
Mayor Taggart was his 59-cent levy.
Urged, as it was, at a time when he knew
that the city was running behind on a
| 7O-cent levy, the mayor declared that a
of the city. He must have known that it
would not, yet he asked for votes because
he had urged a lower levy than had pre-
vailed. In clear terms Mr.. Bookwalter
shows the demagogy of the 59-cent levy.
From first to last the tone of the letter,
while vigorous, is dignified. So far as it
deals with topics which can be discussed
argument leaves no place for epithet. Mr..
Bookwalter has set the style for speaking
and writing during the campaign. If the
method and tone of his letter shall be con-
tinued the campaign will proceed with that
thoughtfulness and dignity which befit the
consideration of all topics affecting the
local government and the municipal well
fare of q largo CITY