The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-03
GORGEOUS RIDING BOOTS
HOW MEMBERS OF GOVERNORS
STAFF CAME TO SECURE THEM.
They Were Given Free of Charge by
the Company That Secured the
Uniform Contract.

The men that compose the military staff
of Governor Durbin did not purchase the
handsome patent leather riding boots that
form part of their equipment as err0ne-
ously stated in morning paper yesterday.
And thereby hangs interesting tale.
When the Governors new staff met in the
Senate chamber Of the Statehouse some
weeks ago TO examine uniforms and equip
ment. more OF them were present than are
represented in the partial list printed In
the paper mentioned. At that time ros-
ter OF staff members that reported was
printed I'm the Journal. Representatives OF
three OF the largest uniform manufacture
Ing houses in the country were present.
and there was unusually sharp competition
TO obtain the contract, since it meant sew
eral thousand dollars to the house that
won.
Several prominent members OF the staff
Inclined strongly TO favor the goods made
by an Ohio concern, but the bid of that
company happened to be very much higher
than those submitted by the other two
houses. The representative of this company
was. however. called TO the corner of the
Senate chamber, in which the staff mem
beers were consulting as 10 which kind of
equipment they should purchase. and it
was explained to him that his bid was too
high The amount of his bid was $780, and &
included boots. The next lower bid was $50
''Will you furnish our equipment for sl50?"
asked a member of the staff. point blank
The agent was nonplused. He was ex-
tremely DESTROYS of securing the contract
yet he knew that To do so he must trans
cend his authority very considerably But
there was no time 10 wire his superiors
for further instructions. lie had TO think
and act quickly
NO" he said. Il will not depreciate my
goods by cutting prices. but l will tell you
what / will do. l will furnish your outfit for
$50 and make each man on the stan a
present of a pair of our best riding boots.
Done" said several members of the star
IN unison. and the contract was soon drawn
up and signed
so that is how il comes that the mem
bers of Governor Durbins military staff
viii wear handsome riding boots when
they appear on parade. said the uniform
man TO the reporter 10 whom he was re-
lating the story. and IL will be the first
STAFF that was ever thus equipped i'm III
diana. You see. | wanted that contract
tut / did not propose TO take IL i'm a way
that would Justify the other bidders in say
i Ing that l had inflated prices in my first
The smooth agent for military goods
exercised his povers of persuasion fur
ther and induced the members of the staff
To- purchase capes that will. he declares
make them the cynOsure Of all eyes when
ever they appear as the Governor escort
on the streets Of city. A Governor :
ftan in this State according To the arent
has never before been supplied with such
capes.
The uniforms and other equipment for
Governor Durbins staff. including the rid =.
ing boots, will probably be shipped TO IN
dianapolis this week. The entire cost OF
the outfit including the capes. will be SlS7 80
10 each member OF TIE staff