The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-09
He Considers that the Leagues Reply
to His Notification Was Some.
what Impertinent.
AFFIDAVIT OF BENNINGTON
OPPOSED TO STATEMENTS OF OTHER
SPRINKLING CONTRACTORS.
He AbsOlves LGgsdOn from Any At
tempt at WrOngdOing-NO PrOpO.
sition Made to Him.

A special meeting of the City Council will
be held, probably tomorrow night, to act
on a recommendation from Controller
Breunig for an appropriation of $500, or
about that amount, as may be decided, for
the expenses incidental to the investigation
of the charges in reference to the sweeping
and sprinking contracts. The committee
on investigation and impeachment will
meet this afternoon to discuss the method
to be pursued in making the investigation
and also to talk over the advisability of
employing an attorney to examine wit
nesses.
1t is hoped to begin the investigation
Monday or Tuesday of next week. In con-
nection with the method Edwin d. Logs
don, of the Board of Works, whose name is
involved In the investigation, has sent the
following communication to Chairman
Wynne:
dianapois Journal of April / notice you
say you can see no reason why the Citizens
League should not be allowed to participate
me. / heartily concur in this opinion, and
suggest and earnestly request that you in
vite them to conduct the investigation with
their attorney, together with an attorney
recommended by the Indianapolis News.
Like you, 1 want every means used to
bring out the facts, and II the investiga-
tion does not investigate 1 want II to be
the charges"
Mr.. Logsdon has also made public reply
sent by him to the executive committee of
the Citizens League-A. l.. Mason, l.. b.
Swift, T. c. Day, William Fortune, G. z.
Hunt, Francis H. Gavisk and Theodore E.
tice of April holding the League person.
ally responsible for false charges given pub
licity by them.
LETTER TO CITIZENS LEAGUE.
Mr.. Logsdon's communication is as fol-
lows:
"Gentlemen-Your abrupt reply to my no.
tice informing you that certain charges re-
Meeting upon my official conduct contained
In affidavits prepared by one of your COM
mittee were false, and warning you against
circulating. any false or defamatory state
mentS against me, Is at hand
las you well know, the only protection
1 demanded of you was against the circula-
tion of false or defamatory charges you
eo%ans Se yr@e and
standard of public purity which you have
arrogated to yourselves. l can see no rea-
son why had not the right to expect that
my request would at least receive respect
full consideration.
when a committee, posing as an as
nation about candidates s. for ofiice. becomes oe
so prejudiced and partial that 1t persists
in asserting it's right to lay before the
voters statements regarding such officials
and candidates for Office, after 1t knows
them to be false, it has greatly impaired
its usefulness as a public benefactor and
forfeited its right to public confidence.
Il concede that any affidavit, statement
or charge that you may now have, that
your diligence may be able TO procure
hereafter, containing the truth with refer
ence to and my official conduct you
have the right to lay before the voters of
the city of indianapolis at any time and In
any manner that will be most advan-
tageous to you, but / deny your right to
give to the public so-called pertinent in
formation about me, or any other citizen
whether an official of the present city ad-
ministration or candidate for any office,
not supported by the truth, whether relat-
ing to official conduct otherwise. If the
objects and motives of the executive COM
mittee of the Citizens League are to secure
charges or information from unscrupulous
and evil-designing persons, regardless of
the truth, and then, as you say, at an
opportune time (by which I presume you
mean the time when your victim will have
the least opportunity to defend himself
against the charge) lay before the voters
of Indianapolis such pertinent information
bearing upon the fitness of all candidates
for city office, and upon the conduct of
officers of the present administration as
Ii may have at the time, whether I'm the
form of afhdavits or otherwise. without
regard to whether or not your information
is based upon the truth, then the tenor
of your letter indicating your purpose to
maliciously use the affidavits you have.
whether true or false, does you no Injustice
but exposes your insincerity and clearly
reveals to the public your intent to trifie
with their confidence by giving them in
formation as likely to be false as il is to be
true in order that the candidate you per-
sonally favor may be benefited and the one
you dislike prejudiced thereby
If the information which you gracious
ly bestow upon the citizens is to be want
ing in the element of truth it is well that
the fair-mnded voters whom you profess
TO assist be made acquainted with its
character. and IL my letter has had no
effect in restraining you from circulating
without fear false and defamafory
charges against me, / trust IL may have
served even a better purpose in revealing
TO the good citizens Of indianapolis your
true purposes. EDWIN d. LOGSDON."