The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-04
PAYING F THE MAGUIRE ARMY.

81 have been in this Office several years
said a clerk in the county treasurer's office
yesterday, but 1 have never seen such a
procession Of men unfit for labor as filed b.
the cashiers window last Saturday bear
ing street and bridge gang checks An
other employe said: Il wish that snap
shots could have been taken Of the crowd
and pictures made to send out 10 the vot-
ers. In the line there were not fifty men
who could do a fair days work Men who
looked on recognized the buns that hang
about the saloons. one man gave the name
Of a pickpOcket in the line and another
recognized several members Of the BUnga-
loo gang" A citizen whose attention was
called 10 the crowd took a look at the men,
after which he said: II do not think there
were fifty men in the line that could do a
days work; the most of them were old and
broken, some even having paralysis so that
they could scarcely move. One man could
not take his money from the cashiers
window without assistance because of
shaking palsy. 1t seemed as if there had
been a muster of all the buns who hang
about the most ~disreputable saloons in the
city"
This form of robbing he taxpayers of
indianapolis has been going on for several
weeks, but the infamy reached its climax
last Saturday. These 435 men were paid not
less than $500. two-thirds Of which at least
was paid to men who could not give the
city any return in labor for a days wages.
1t is believed by men whose opinions re-
garding the matter are of value that many
of these men did not pretend TO do any
work, but were put upon the pay roll only
for payment just before the election. This
condition, however, cannot relieve the pro-
ceeding Of any of the infamy connected
with il. since it is no better to pay men
who cannot earn wages to stand about with
hoes and shovels in their hands than it
would be TO have their names placed upon
the pay roll for payment without putting
in an appearance. This has always been
the Taggart practice. but the outrage grows
with the increasing years of his rule over
the city. There has not been an election
when the peoples money has not been used
to bride voters in this way. 1t is worse
this year than ever before. At a time when
the Taggart officers are asking the Council
for loans for current expenses beyond the
legal limit not less than $4,000 will have
been paid out by next Tuesday to the halt,
the lame and to others who would not
work if they could. How much of this
money is retained for campaign purposes is
not known, but one man who had three
vouchers said that he had already paid
$ for Mr.. Mcguire. AS this robbing of
the taxpayers has been more indecent this
year than heretofore, what could not the
Mcguire supporters do a year hence if they
had a compliant Council and a general cleo
ton were pending? They could transfer
unexpended balances to the park fund and
put a thousand men at work just before
the election, no matter from whence they
came so long as they could be made to vote
the Democratic ticket.
Who are in this conspiracy to rob the
city treasury? 1t could not be done with
out the order or approval of the Board Of
Public Works, of which candidate Mcguire
is a member. He is the chief beneficiary,
and he cordially indorses all of the Taggart
administration, including the use Of the
city's money to keep n lot of men in line
if not to secure campaign contributions.
There is but one way to put an END 20
this use of taxpayers money to bride vot-
ers, and that is for all voters who do not
approve of it to so to the polls next Tues
day and vote the Republican ticket.