The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
PIE OPLE TIL AT ARE


not many years ago, a cab drew up at the
door of d certain New York club which has
long prided itself upon its exclusiveness
and the air of quiet decorum which prevails
within its walls. From this cab stepped
gentleman of dignified. almost distin-
guished mien, who was saluted with much
Difference by one of the younger members.
who paused to greet him on the steps.
II shall go back tonight" said the new
conner. Il only came over for the day TO
straighten out little matter in one OF the
downtown districts" Then the gentleman
Of distinguished mein made his way TO the
smoking room, seated himself at a small
round table and called for a cigar and the
morning newspaper.
Now the membership of this club is
made UP largely of wealthy, distinguished
and conservative citizens of advanced
years, and three or four of the oldest and
most clannish of these were grouped about
the open fireplace as the newcomer en-
tered. They eyed him suspiciOusly and
wondered who he was. No one could rec
ognize him, and the belief grew that some
stranger had strayed in at the easily
swinging doors under the impression that
he was entering a cafe The attendant
was questioned. but he did not know the
mysterious visitors name. Thereupon he
was directed to bring the signed check to
the group at the fireside, in order that
they might read the name and see il it
was upon the club membership list. The
servant did as he was told, and, just as
the visitor passed down the the steps to
his cab. the leader of the inquistion de-
ciphered the autograph on the bit of col
orod 81 ofh hxyr Il
ing it aloud. 1t was the name of the then
President of the United States.
And while the old gentlemen were looking
at one another in blank surprise and WON
dering how it could have been that they
had failed to recognize a visitor of such
distinction the cab was bearing him swiftly
to a quarter of the town which is situated
about one mile to the south of the aristo-
cratic club in which he had passed I'M
noticed.
Not far from Grand street the cab turned
down a narrow street. passing the kettle
of hot corn vendor. which was beginning
TO send forth its appetizing odors, and
plunged into the very heart of this dis
trict, where history is reckoned from the
reigns of the different police captains and
politics is the chief industry of the inhab
itants. Lying TO the east of the BOwery.
and taking in both sides of that thorough
fare on the blocks where the cheap lodging
houses are the most plentiful. this assem-
bly, district has long been regarded as one
of the most important political battle
grounds i'm the country. and one whose vote
in a close contest might easily determine
the result of a presidential election.
Half dozen men were standing in a
group at the corner of a narrow. evil-smel-
ing street that runs parallel to the Bowery.
There he comes now" said one of them.
as the cab drew up i'm front of a small,
dingy-looking saloon. Ostentatousy closed,
barred and padlocked in Difference To the
law. The President alghted and walked
quickly through the side door. which flew
open the moment he touched the pavement.
and closed sharply upon him as he passed
inside. The half dozen men strolled away,
and the next morning the whole district
goried i'm the knowledge of something that
never found its way into print. and is even
now known 20 but very few of the citizens
of Manhattan.
Once inside the door, the President
walked swiftly through narrow lane
formed by rows of dusty liquor casks and
into the dark and grimy back room in
which sat the taciturn, hard-headed little
Irishman, who was at once the owner of
the saloon. the leader of his district and
the wielder Of a political power so great
and far-reaching as to compel the presence
in his GROCERY that morning of the chief
executive Of the Nation.
And while these two men-the one a self
appointed Irish-American Warwick the
other n ruler chosen by the franchises of a
free and enlightened people-are facing
each other across the liquOr-stained table
deep in their discussion of the entangle-
ments which have arisen over the distribu-
ton OF patrOnage-regarded here as the
legitimate loot of political battle-let us
take a glance at the extraordinary system
that has grown up from the ballot box
and rendered possible just such a meeting
Gs l have described.
The assembly district i'm which this
meeting took place is situated in the most
densely populated corner of the town and
contains about 1900 votes. for here popu-
lation is not estimated by human souls.
but by votes. Women and children. sbeing
unable to exercise the franchise are not
considered in the count. The district con-
tains a comparatively small native and
Russian and Polish Jews. together with
goodly sprinkling of German. Hungarian
and Bohemian immigrants, who have lost
no time in becoming citizens of the repub-
lie. Like other assembly districts. this one
is divided into voting districts. each one of
which consists of a solid block or square
and contains from two to five hundred
votes Each of these voting districts has
its own captain. who reports TO and works
under the district leader
In nearly every case this captain is sa-
loon keeper. circumstance which has
given rise TO the expression saloon poli-
tician, and TO which is due the belief prev
alent in the more polite grades Of society
that political power is maintained bv the
simple process of supplying the voters with
free drinks. As matter OF fact the dis
els. "All the world loves a lover i'm lust the
same old way" he replied. Il remember
that Mr.. HOwells told me many wears AGO