The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-09
A Tense Feeling Apparent Among the
Citizens Who Crowded Into
the Town Hall.
RELIEF WHEN REPORT CAME
NEWSPAPER MEN AssAILED BY ONE
DISCOUNTED MAN.
He Resented the Fact that Reporters
Attended the Me~eting-FeeI-
Ing of ~tisfactio

c. j. Ward, members of the Town Board
OF Irvington, pushed their way through the
closely packed body of citizens that were
jammed elbow to elbow in the little hall
last night and took their seats at the table
conversation ceased abruptly. One hundred
heads were craned forward and one humid
dred pairs OF eyes strained through the
cigar smoke in a vain endeavor to read the
carelessly scrawled writing on a slip of
paper that the president of the board held
in his hand. Blood undoubtedly pulsated
a little faster and nerves were certainly a
little less steady, while Mr.. Davenport,
with exaggerated calm. pulled at his cigar
and chatted with Simeon Frazier, clerk Of
the board.
The single sheet of paper that drew all
glances to 1t with magnetic influence had
more written on it than the mere report of
the Town Board committee on public prop
erty and streets. Its contents were not con-
fined to a mere approval or disapprova1 Of
the request OF the city Water Company
of Irvington" for a franchise. Those who
waited breathlessly for the town clerk to
drone out its meaning knew with absolute
certainty .that the scrap of paper and the
few irregular pen strokes traced upon it
meant for the community of Irvington
either a continuance Of the friendly rela-
tons that have existed heretofore among
its leading men,, or else the inauguration
OF a spirit OF discord and strife that might
have results of a particularly unpleasant
nature.
INJUNCTION SUIT TALK.
1t is probable that every man in the room
knew that upon the report OF the commit
tee hinged the filing OF an injunction
against the members of the Town Board.
1t is equally certain the information had
been generally disseminated that the pa
pers for a permanent restraining order had
been drawn in the afternoon by the law
firm of Clark & Clark, representing Gist
and Johnson in q suit against the Town
Board of Irvington. Many there knew the
only reason the suit had not been filed was
that Attorney Charles Clark and Sylvester
Johnson had received information before 5
O'Clock that the Town Board would not
recommend the granting of a franchise to
the company which proposed the institution
Of a water works plant. The situation was
strained and awkward. An enforced air Of
joviality failed to relieve the tension.
Finally Clerk Frazier began TO read the
paper. I'VE, the committee, to whom was
referred he began, then stopped. An
audible murmur ran around the room, and
men hedged closer, fearing the words that
might follow. Mr.. Frazier peered at the
sentences in the uncertain light. and then
handed the paper back to President Daven-
port. Il can't make this out" he said,
DtIudUS you Itd u OdNCH-
port continued: " . . . recommend that
action on the ordinance giving the City
Water Company of Irvington a franchise
to construct and operate a water works
plant in Irvington be indefinitely post
pOned."
The tension was snapped and the general
relief was manifested in smiles, quips and
quirks on the new citizenship dignities and
congratulations all around. There were
sixty-six men In the room, it is stated, and
of this number only six, including, 1t is
said, the members of the Town Board, were
believed to favor the local water works
idea and TO be opposed to annexation. The
sixty were joyful; the six were not. One of
the number, however, gained the resent
ment of a number of gentlemen who were
sitting near him.
AT THE REPORTERS.
He turned to a group of newspaper men
sitting at the board table conversing
among themselves, and precipitated himself
into the talk by the remark: II don't see
what you fellows want to come out here for
and then write things and insult the people
of Irvingtoni" The newspaper reporters
laughed and turned away. but the residents
of the town who heard the remark came
TO them and gave them the assurance that
nobody in the suburb felt aggrieved at the
attitude of the papers, and that it was the
general opinion that IrvingtOn had re-
ceived fair and courteous treatment from
all the Indianapolis papers and their rep
IesentatiVes.
The matter passed off with a joke, and
Sam M~cGaughey, who used TO be town
clerk. got upon a chair and very seriously
proceeded to ask for bids on the town safe
standing bulkily in the corner. How much
am l ofered?' he cried. How much am 1
Ofered?' Bids were received ranging all
the way from 3 cents to the amount of
irvington's indebtedness. After the meet
ing everybody got together in a way, and
il is said that there was more real neigh
borly feeling and friendliness shown than
at any time since the discussion of the
annexation question.
The Town Board will meet next Satur-
day night, but il is believed to be certain
that the franchise request is a dead issue.
The member of the board. it is said, are
not anxious to push the question to the
point of legal complications and are willing
to abide by the decision of the citizens.