The Indianapolis journal., 1903-08-12
They Were Not to Blame. He Declares,
for the Wholesale Poisoning of
Fish i'm White River.
GOVERNOR OWNS NO STOCK
AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO DIsCRED-
IT HIM, FLEMING SAYS.


Senator 5. Il. Fleming, of Fort Wayne,
who was at the Claypool last evening, is
deeply incensed over the charges that the
strawboard mills have been responsible for
the recent pollution of White river. The
senator is a, director i'm the trust that owns
all of the mills in Indiana and says that
he knows exactly whereof he speaks when
he claims that the refuse from the mills
along White river had absolutely nothing
to do with the wholesale killing of fish.
Incidentally Senator Fleming paid his COM
pliments to +. A w. Davis, of the Indian
apolis Water Company.
II have made a careful investigation and
L am assured by responsible employees of
the mills that there has not been the least
increase in the amount of refuse turned
into the river" said Senator Fleming.
THAT being the case. and L think we can
prove that it is if it becomes necessary,
what ground is there for the belief that
the fish were suddenly killed in one or two
days? If there Is sufficient poison in the
refuse to kill them, why haven't they been
dying every day? Or perhaps the fish all
decided to commit suicide and came up
the river in bunch 10 get the poison from
the mills.
KILLED BY DYNAMITE.
by dynamite. OF some other explosive. That
is the only plausible explanation of the
death or many of them in such a short
time. Some years ago when fish were killed
in large numbers I'm the river near our
Eaton mill and the responsibility was laid
on the refuse from the MILL had detectives
make long and careful inquiry and they
discovered that one of the men employed in
the mill and another man on the outside
had filled bottles with unSlacked lime and
q little water and sunk them to thet bot
tom of the river The lime Stacked and
the pressure of the water on the outside
OF the bottle caused a severe explosion, suf-
ficient in force TO stun the bass and other
game fish and to kill the suckers, catfish.
etc. L have not the slightest doubt that
the fish in the river above Anderson Were
killed In a similar manner.
I'm this connection i would like TO saw
that the statements of +. A. w Davis
of the Indianapolis Water Company which
received so much publicity a few days ago.
were absolutely without foundation in truth
Mr.. Davis has been endeavoring for he mast
eight years to lay all blame for the pollution
of White river on the strawboard mills and
the public should understand that all his
statements are prejudiced because he is an
interested party. The same thing NAV be
said of my statements, but | am prepared
to back up everything say with good and
never been able to substantiate a single
statement he has made on this question
GOVERNOR OWNS NO STOCK
AS director of the strawboard trust Sen
ator Fleming was asked If Governor Durbin
is or has ever been stockholder in any OF
the mills.
Governor Durbin has never owned dol
lars worth of stock in a strawboard mill. -
he answered 'Such statement from me Is
not necessary after the Governor mas him
self said that he has never been interested
i'm any of the mills, but am glad to make
il If it will add anything to the confusion
in which the detractors of the Governor
have found themselves il this connection
The effort to discredit the Governor by ir-
sinuating alleging openly that he holds
stock in any of the mills shows the same
animus that has been back of the attacks
on the mills.