The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-06
Citizens League Makes Public
Report on Municipal Candidates

has been allowed to pass unpublished and
without termination OF their services. Court
leniency has been solicited on behalf or
gamblers. The city has been made the easy
prey of grating schemes Valuable fran
cnises have been granted TO the great detri-
ment of public interests; contracts have
been awarded TO the higher instead Of the
lower bidders without Justification; con-
tracts nave been awarded without cOmpeu-
ton; records are kept irregularly, and pay
ments have been made for services not
rendered. Instead of accomplishing any
thing for the protection of the public from
the dangers of grade crossings, as pledged
10 do, the mayor yielded to the demands or
the railroad corporation before the last
Legislature. while other city officials, APP
pointed by the mayor. openly worked for
the defeat of legislation granting the city
power to compel track elevation or depres-
sion. In addition to his betrayal of official
duty the administration has granted fran
cnlseS Tor two new railroads into the city
with surface tracks. which will unneces-
Sarlly ado many embarrassing deathtrapS
on the south and west sides. The admins
tration has permitted the violation of the
city charter, by diverting money from pur-
poses for which ii had been appropriated
by Council. In our judgment, ii has been
plainly evident that the private interests
of corporations and breweries, instead OF
public rights, have dominated the admins
tration. Lax enforcement of laws against
gambling and vice has resulted in shock
ing prevalence of immortality. Whatever
enforcement of laws there has been was
forced upon the administration by an out
ragged public sentiment Along with the
many grave abuses chargeable TO the pres
ent administration, the burden of taxation
has become the greatest that has been put
upon the people of Indianapolis under the
existing form of government. AT the same
time there has been an increase of city in
debtedness of about 100000. All citizens
DESTROYS of better government should vote
against Bookwalter. His administration has
show. him to be unworthy of reelection.
John w. Hoffman Dem.), age forty-five;
lawyer; resides at Claypool Hotel. Was pau
per attorney nine months; deputy prose-
cutor, 1856 to 1890; prosecuting attorney
from 1890 to 1894 During his second term as
prosecutor the County Commissioners made
TO him extra allowances for services,
usage which was followed in the case of his
predecessors, John b. Elan, William 7.
Brown, William n. Harding, James L.
Mitchell, and of his SUCCESSORS Charles S.
Wiltsie and Edwin B. Pugh, the legality OF
which has been disputed The question mas
never been submitted to our courts. He was
an average prosecutor, neither achieving
unusual distinction nor elicftlng much
criticism during his term of Office. OF the
nearly nine thousand cases docketed while
he was prosecutor, about $50 related to
liquor and gambling laws and immoral
houses. The dismissal or failure to bring TO
trial many of the last-named cases has
given rise to the charge of leniency toward
this class of lawbreakers. In this campaign
he has taken a bold stand against these
classes of lawbreakerS, and they are strong
ly against him. He is pledged to good add
of law. His public utterances are unquali-
fled and along the lines of good citizenship,
and boldly attack the forms of misconduct
which have made the Bookwalter admins
tration a disgrace His personal character
gives ground for belief that he will. may
or, live up to his utterances. We believe that
there is a much better chance for his cleo
ton than for the election of Mr.. Hitz, and
therefore the vote of all who want the city
relieved from the evils of the BOokwalter
adminstra ton should be cast for Hoffman
as the candidate through whom change for
the better seems most likely TO be realized
George HitZ, resides on Fletcher avenue;
running as an independent on the Prohlbi-
ton ticket; age fifty-four years. Has been
engaged during business career in grocery,
baking, cold storage and produce business;
member township advisory board. Has been
for years one of the most active opponents
of track elevation and joined railroad rep
resentatives in opposing the bill before the
last Legislature for comforting power upon
the city to provide relief from grade cross
ings, basing his opposition on his own per-
sonal and business interests. Mr.. HitZ has
had creditable private business career. He
pledges himself TO the enforcement of law
and the application of business methods in
city affairs. We think, however, that he has
little chance for success, and that vote
for him will be mistake. The real question
is: Shall Bookwalter's administration be in
dorsed? or shall it be repudiated by electing
Hoffman in the hope of better things?