The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-31
THE MAYORALTY CONTEST
PHILIP RAPPAPORT DISCUSSES SOME
OF THE POINTS IN ISSUE.
He Has No Personal Preference Be-
tween BOOkwalter and Hoffman,
but Asks for Fair Play.

of the columns of the Journal to express
my opinion OH the local political situation.
Ii may not be worth much nevertheless,
flatter myself that there are some per-
sons in this city who willing, at least,
TO grant me a respectful hearing.
have never attached myself to any one
party. On the contrary, / have given my
support at different times TO different
parties. just as. in my opinion, the occa-
sion warranted it, and 1 am proud of that
fact. / have never asked favors from any
party and have always preserved absolute
independence.
AS between Mr.. Bookwalter and Mr..
Hoffman L have personal preference.
L respect both equally. My personal reia-
lions to both have been very limited, and
no personal reasons exist why l should pre-
fer the one to the other For this very rea-
son, and being above all lover of justice
and fair play, i wish to raise my voice
against the persecution of Mr.. Bookwalter.
And those who are his friends (hey being
prosecuted for no other reason. but because
they are his friends), by an influential news
paper Of this city.
L do not hesitate for moment to say
that Mr.. Bookwalters administration has
been as good administration as the city
will have for a long time to come. 1 do,
by no means, intend TO say that 1t has been
III every way above reproach, that things
have not occurred, which, from strictly
ethical point OF view, did not deserve disap-
prevail from strict moraliSt. But, firstly, If
the warnings of moralist deserve consider
alton, the moralist must himself be above
reproach and practice what he breaches;
secondly, it should be shown that it would
be possible, under our political system, to
On a n m C - IN Of a
lutte purity that it would stand above criti-
clsm, and, thirdly, that any politician can
be found whose ethical views are so far
above the ordinary political ethics that any
city administration can possibly be COM
posed Of persons every one of whom can
entirely Withstand pressure, influence and
party interest These considerations are
by no means pleasant, but what is the use
of considering things otherwise than in the
light of conditions that exist?
Is there any one childish enough to be-
lieye that complete enforcement Of the
Nicholson law, or of any liquor law, is pos
sible in our city under any mayor, or any
set of officers. intrusted with such en-
fOrcement? That there is not even gen.
eral desire for such enforcement has been
once proven by the unmerciful rout which
the Republican party suffered after 1T had
attempted 1t. Is any one childish enough
TO believe that any administration that the
city of Indianapolis get, be it even
Holtzman administration, will be able to
statesmen, lawmakers and authorities
have wrestled in vain for centuries, and
stamp out such iniquities as gambling, bet
ting, prostitution, ETC.? To those who seek
after knowledge. and have no preconceived
opinions stubbornly maintained, it is Sc
cret at all that history and experience alike
prove that these evils grow in equal pro-
portion to the severity of the law, and the
severity of its enforcement. Alasi there
are always people whose occupation depends
upon voluntary or involuntary ignorance of
this matter. and who purposely charge the
saloon keeper with every crime and mlsde-
meanor that is committed anywhere and
by anyone
And what 1 ask, has been proven against
Mr. Bookwalter's administration, after
investigation rigid and thorough
as could be had, conducted as 1t was by a
| lawyer filled with the ambition TO become
a second Folk, and with all the assistance
which an interested newspaper and O corps
| of detective-playing reporters could render?
Weeks were spent 10 prove the truth or
the assertion that a contractor was re-
| quired TO pay 10 per cent. into the Republic
| an campaign fund, but the attempt to prove
| it absolute failure. A few small
| irregularities were shown that involved an
| amount of about $3.50 during a whole year.
| The mountain labored and brought forth a
mouse. / came to this country thirty
| seven years ago, and, during all that time,
| / have been a close observer of public af-
| fairs. including the mode and manner OF
| conducting those municipalities. Consider
| ing the fearful corruption which we fire.
| quently had occasion to witness in our large
| cities / am frank to say that, If nothing
worse can be proven against an adminstra-
| ton than the payment of less than 5000 in
| consequence of some irregularity of what
| ever nature IL may have been, may as
things go in this country. be justly con-
sidered very satisfactory administration.
PAST AND PRESENT.
He who, without any prejudice, looks
back into the past, and compares the pres
ent city administration with former admin
istrations; he. who, in a spirit of impair
| TALLY, compares it with the administra-
tons of other large cities. and does not
| fail to consider the political customs and
usages of this country. must be very opti-
mistic indeed to hope for a city admin
istraton which will be free from any irreg-
ularities whatsoever. or even for one bet
ter and purer than the present. or for one
| independent of any political machine.
| 1t takes no great genius, but only a suf-
| ficient amount of i'll will, to puff UP every
| little thing that has the semblance of an
| irregularity to a matter of extraordinary
| size and to give it the appearance of a gil
| gantic fraud, but l. for my part, am not
| inclined to consider a city administration
corrupt because some wrangling sprinkling
| contractors feel themselves aggrieved.
| 1t is true that, Independent of said in
| vestigation, gross irregularities in the con-
| duct of the office of the city clerk came
| to light. But the fact is, that they came
| to light through the city clerks own efforts
| to make them good, that he has made them
| good, and, having Deen re-nOmlnated he
| was forced by his party to resign as a
! candidate for reelection. However, taking
| this affair foc all that is in it. it is diff
ficut to see how the mayor can be held
| responsible for ii, unless IT is shown that
| it is his duty to supervise personally the
| accounts of every officer, and go to the
| Police Court every day and examine it's
records and the accounts of the city clerk.
| But it strikes me that, in such instance,
| the mayor, in order to perform the duties
| of his office, would need days of fifty or
| more hours. There is no more reason to
| hold Mr.. Bookwalter responsible for the
| city clerks shortcomings than there is to
| hold Mr.. Roosevelt responsible for the mis-
deeds of some of the officers in the mail
| service.
I do not wish to be understood that ]
| intend to say aught against Mr. Hoffman
| or his intentions. possibilities, probable
| tiles. / only speak for fair play for Mr.
| Bookwalter / only want to show that there
| is no good ground for his persecution by
| the News and that this persecution is
| nothing but personal. Taking all things to.
| gether, the fact that a member of Mr.
| Bookwalter's administration brought libel
| suit against the News: that the News
| was in need of evidence to defeat that suit
| that the News betrayed the expenses OF
who can doubt for a moment that il Is
| the News's personal affair? What, how
| ever. becomes of journalistic ethics If an
editor gives vent merely to his personal
| hatred. irrespective of the public interest
| In the same spirit of personal hatred the
| News attacks the friends of Mr.. Book
| walter, especially Mr.. Albert Lieber Two
| years ago. when the News supported Mr.
| BooSwalter. ii had not a word TO say
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