The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-28
Is AIIopathic I'm What Ii Denounces,
He Says, and Homeopathic in
What 1t Promises.
HON. JOHN w. KERN's STINGER
CHAIRMAN JAMES LEROY kEACH Is
TOLD WHAT HE CAN Do.
Thomas Taggart Writes to the Sue
cessfuI Candidates from French
Lick-Other Political Gossip.

Mayor Bookwalter had a little something
To say yesterday about the Democratic plat
form on which John w. Hoffman will run
for Mayor. The mayor did not talk about
the whole platform, because, ne says. he
does not think Ii Is worthy of a very long
discussion.
The Democratic city platform is the best
example of negativeness / ever saw" said
Mr.. Bookwalter. I'm what il denounces it
is extremely allopathic. In what this docu-
ment promises 1T is extremely homeopathic.
There are good many well-turned SEN
fences and phrases in this document; we
must not overlook that feature.
I'm this platform the Democrats say they
win suppress gambling. That's commend
able, isn't 1t? There is less gambling in
Indianapolis right now, and has been for
year, than at any time during the pre-
yious eight years. People who know the
condition of the city know this. We pledge
our candidates TO the closing of all gam
bling hells, dives and winerooms' That
sounds well, doesn't it? We pledge our
candidates to the honest and economic en-
forcement of contracts That has been said
in a good many platforms before, L believe
But ii sounds well, too.
TRACK ELEVATION AND TAXATION.
The platform contains long paragraph
about track elevation. But will any one
tell me what the Democrats promise about
track elevation? What they say in their
platform about track elevation simply
amounts to nothing.
1.-The platform complains of high taxa
ton and says that we pledge our candi-
dates to the reduction of the city taxes.
In this connection and in speaking about
reckless and useless expenditure of public
funds, the platform fails to say anything
about the four expensive new engine houses
that have been built and equipped by this
administration out of the current revenues
The platform fails to speak of the new
Irvington engine house which, also, was
built out of current revenues These i'm
provements were made even before the city
began tn receive any benefit from the new
tax levy.
but then, this platform couldn't very
well speak of too many things, for some
of the things that might be said about the
present administration wouldn't coincide
very we'll with statements made in the
platform. The Democrats iase thought
this thing out very carefully. Yes. indeed
this platform is certainly a gem of Mega
uveneSs.
COMPENSATION FOR FRANCHISES.
We pledge our candidates 20 securing
fair compensation for all franchises granted
by the city In this part of the platform
the Democrats were especially careful to
avoid saying anything about what the city
received in return for the franchise which
will result in the building of The new ter
minal station and Office building at the
corner of Illinois and Market streets. If
the Democrats had mentioned inst this one
franchise granted by the present admins
tration, and told what the city received in
return for the grant, they would have
counteracted what results they expect to
receive from the promise that they will
secure fair compensation for all franchises
granted by the city.
LAS to the remainder of the statements
made in the Democratic platform? Well,
I'll tell you. / don't think there is any
reason for my discussing them. The plat
form is really amusing