The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13

habited by bankers, merchants and lawyers
The taciturn little Irishman whom we left
just now i'm intimate consultation with the
President is certain TO be on hand in order
to secure for his own district as large a
proportion of the tickets as possible. And
he in his turn is beset on his arrival at his
own saloon by all his captains. each one of
whom wishes to get the lions share for
his own followers.
The saloon of one of these district cap
tains is the scene of unusual hustle and
activity on the day of one of these distribu-
tons. Every man the block who is out
of work-and that frequently means large
percentage of the adult male population-is
to be seen leaning against the bar or buzz
zing i'm and out of the ever-open door.
Those who have money spend it ostenta-
t!ously for they know that willingness to
buy liquor is a personal trait that. in the
eyes of district leader. enjoys an even
higher rank than the cardinal virtue of
political zeal. 1t is usually late in the day
before the captain returns, and as he passes
round behind his bar to his private office.
pausing only to glance at the figures on
the cash register, the poor devils who are
looking for a chance 10 make their bread
and butter flourish their coins in the air
i'm the hope of catching his eye.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that in
distributing the tickets the captain has a
keen eye for the main chance. which in this
case is his own saloon. And If it comes TO
a question of choice between Pat, who can
be counted on TO pour at least one of his
two dollars day into the publican's till,
and Tim who has contracted the bad habit
of bringing the bulk of his wages home TO
his wife, it will be safe to assume that Pat
will have the ticket if for nothing better
than as an encouragement to the rest
Now at the time of which 1 write no
Assembly district in the town was kept so
thoroughly in control as was this one of
5000 enfranchised souls by the silent, ugly
faced and resolute little Irishman who sat
in intimate conversation with his distin-
guished visitor on this Sunday morning in
early September. cit is a curious thing, by
the way that the Jews of the lower East
Side are more easily led by an Irishman
than by one of their own race And among
all his thirty lieutenants there was none
more Loyalty jealous to the party the year
round nor more efficient at the polls on
election day than ex-Asserlblyman Jimmy
Martin. the captain of the voting district
that can boast of more cheap lodging
houses than any other block i'm the city. and
the proprietor of the very prosperous Bow
cry saloon that marks the center of his
domain. Jimmy Martin was always deemed
fortunate in the number and loyalty of his
followers. but there was one among them
who was beyond all compare in those
characteristics which are the cardinal vr-
80.
was Hot Corn Pete whose caldron. set
up this morning directly across the street
from the Martin saloon. is already begin
ming 10 hiss and bubble and send forth an
appetizing advertisement of the delicscics
cooking beneath its tin lid.
For more years than be counted
Petes kettle had been set up every August
in front of the saloon which was his home
or ''hang-out," he would have phrased it.
for he slept on the roof of its extension just