The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-22
An Effort to Mitigate Holtxman's Rec
ord as Prosecutor by Saying
"Others Did IT,
LIST OF ELECTION INSPECTORS
THEY ARE APPOINTED BY RESOLU-
TION OF COMMON COUNCIL.
City Campaign Now in Full Swing,
and There Will BE Many Meet
ings by Both Parties.

The chapter from the official record of
John w. Holtzman, published in yesterdays
Journal, was the principal topic of CONVEX
sation among politicians yesterday and last
night The local Democratic organ ignored
the charge in it's issue last evening and did
not attempt to defend Mr.. Holtzman. The
evening anti-Bookwalter organ, however
rushes to the defense of the Democratic
candidate with both its editorial and news
columns. Editorially the News says:
1T is not at all surprising that an apology
should be offered for the Journals state
ments, after the full explanations made by
Mr. John Duncan and others that this al
lowance of $1,000 for four years was the
regular compensa ton for deputy prosecu-
tor, which was always allowed by the COM
missioners of this county after the Criminal
Court was organized, on account of services
required here that are not required in coun-
ties where no Criminal Court exists; that
such allowance was made to all prosecu-
tors until it was cut off by the present fee
and salary law. under the construction put
on that law by the county council, and that
Mr.. Holtzman's service before the fee
and salary law was in effect.
But the Journals apology does not go
far enough. 1t says that it's statements
came from Democratic sources and that
its ideas of law come from attorneys
whose names are not given. This looks de-
decidedly yellow. Who the Democrats
that are circulating slander that Mr..
LogsdOn's committee is unwilling to father ?
Who. are the attorneys who say that the
have stated under their signatures that it
was both legal and proper. Who Is the
skulker that the Journal does not manner"
ATTITUDE OF LAWYERS.
A Journal reporter had no difficulty yes
terday in finding a half-dozen attorneys
of repute, some Democrats and some Re-
publicans. none of whom hesitated to de-
nounce the allowances made to Mr.. Holtz-
man as prosecuting attorney by the Ma
rion County Commissioners unmistakable
violations of the law both on the part of
Mr.. Hoffman in presenting the claims and
receiving the money and the commissioners
in making the allowances. None of them
would consent to be quoted, however, and
all had the same reason for declining to go
on record One of them said, and the others
said substantially the same thing:
II do not wish to be quoted in this mat
ter simply because l do not wish to SUBJ
ject myself to the vilification and abuse
which would be heaped upon me by the
Indianapolis News if i stood sponsor for
the opinion that the Holtzman allowances
were illegal Any lawyer who would go on
record with such an opinion would, Ibelieve.
be bounded and prosecuted relentlessly by
the indianapolis News just as that paper
has attacked and pursued members of the
Legislature, Governor Durbin and other
State officers, Mayor Bookwalter and MEM
bers of his administration. and, in fact any
and every one who has not thought and
acted. officially. that paper attempted to
dictate. 1 cannot afford to make myself a
victim of the venom of the News
QUESTIONS SUGGESTED.
In reply to the defense of Mr. Holtz-
man by the News the following questions
have been suggested:
Has not the Supreme Court Of Indiana in
variably and consistently held that any
official under the constitution or laws of
the State who takes money from the people
in return for his services must be able 10
place his finger on the statute that author
ICES him TO do So2
Such being the case. what statute of
Indiana does now authorize. or has author
lied, a prosecuting attorney To present
claims against county for his services as
such prosecuting attorney. or for deputy
hire
What statute ever authorized the county
commissioners to make such allowances
VI the allowances made Mr.. Hoitzman
constituted the regular compensation for
| a deputy why did Mr. Holtzman put in
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