The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-23
Mayor Bookwalter said:

The Mayors Address.
Mayor Bookwalter said:
Mr.. Chairman-In coming before this
gathering of what l consider to be the rep
resentatives of the good people of Indian
apois do so recognizing the fact that 1t is
an unusual departure for a man in my posi-
ton to take this step 1 do so possibly for
many reasons, and every man has his right
to ascribe in his own mind such reasons as
he could imagine would actuate a man in
my position to come, and, without in any
way seeking to controvert or deny any of
! the reasons which even charitably inclined
people might in their minds ascribe, wish
! to say that one of the principal reasons for
my coming here is while L am in a great
were not holding the position that I do,
subject to the criticism of every man who
| is displeased, and never receiving a word of
appreciation from those who are satisfied or
pleased, / would be in frame of mind
from weeks end to weeks end which
would not, to say the least, be an enviable
APPEAL. TO FAIRNESS.
"But I come here for one good principal
reason, and that is. whenever criticism
comes to me justly and fairly that criticism
accept with as much spirit of resignation
as is possible under the circumstances.
When criticism comes to me unjustly and
unfairly. based upon the ex parte state
ments of people who would have you and
| the QUIET BOOu people Oh iHuldHdpOuS De-
lieve that they unprecedented and indie
pendent, then II occuts to me that the time
has come for the man subjected to that
| criticism, which he in his heart believes 70
be unjust, to say something not by way of
extenuation or apology, not by way of de-
/ Tense, If you please-becauSe there must be
| guilt or a charge of guilt before there is
guilt
/ good element i'm this community, but you
represent a fair-mfnded element in this
/ city.
"a further reason that L come, and 1t is
/ not said by way of seeking to impress you
! with the idea that 1 entitled to special
! consideration, is that above all things, ow-
ing to early influences, am trifie more
| sensitive of the good opinion of the Meth
/ odist Church than almost any other 1t is
| q well-Settled proposition II you take
boy a girl and start them along a GER
| tain line of religious training, that they
may get away in the years to come, but at
| the same time, when they are clothed in
| their normal minds and think calmly and
| in unprejudiced way, they will drift
| back just as naturally to the old ideas and
| the old thoughts the magnetic needle
turns to the pole Consequently, | feel
| somewhat more the criticism of my friends
| of the Methodist Church.
REASONABLE PROPOSITION.
| whenever a man advances a PROPOSE
! ton which he expects me to accept
always ask myself first if the proposition
is a reasonable one. Second, in advancing
the proposition in which he seeks to work
| injury TO some one else, has he some hid
den motive to work Of benefit to himself?
1t has been the custom for the last three
or four months, it occurs to me, and Of
course may be mistaken, and L may see
this through the wrong sort of glasses.
but it seems to have been the purpose of
the people who desire to be accepted in the
community as Independent and who see
fit through their columns to roll and un-
roll as though there was something about
IL that was bad-it seems TO have been
their purpose for the past three or four
| dianapolis and work injury to admins
tration which IL is determined to defeat,
| and II occurs to me that many good peo-
pie, accepting the ex parte statement with
out examining the motive, have been in
duced to say many things which the cir
cumstances surrounding the people of In
| dianapolis at this time will not verify or
| bear out.
CONDITIONS CHANGED.
81 came into this office on the tenth day
| Of October, 1901. Then five or six places
! in the city of Indianapolis were main
tanned, known to all the people, with win
dows ajar, doors open, lights shining. five
or six faro banks. In the city of Indian
| apolis to-day, and 1 have brought the SUI
| perintendent of police, clean, honorable,
truthful gentleman, a man every citizen
of Indianapolis, knowing him in any way,
/ will say TO you unreservedly, is a man of
| integrity have brought him to verify
the statements / make to-day, and you
can search the fifteen wards in every block
and you will not find faro bank operated
even behind closed doors, or with all the
incidentals to protection against the po-
lice which are necessary when those games
are inhibited.
when 1 came into power in any one of
those places in Indianapolis there was
maintained In connection with the faro
banks roulette wheel L say TO you to-
day. and l ask you to investigate for your
selves and not accept the ex parte state
ment. not of independent people, but of the
organ for the defeat OF the party which
particularly represent at this time-to-day
in indianapolis there is not a single rou-
lette wheel turning nor one installed ready
been eliminated from the city of Indian
apolis. When 1 came into power. i'm In
dianapolis. in half dozen places there was
special apparatus and paraphernalia for
the operation of crap games. / do not
know what this apparatus is, for L have
never seen 1t. These places were main
tained But to-day there is not a single
crap game running in this city. absolutely
eliminated from the proposition.
POLICY STOPPED.
when 1 came into power every cigar
store. almost every downtown saloon. ev-
cry barber shop. many of the department
stores. many of the mercantile establish
ments or places openly sold policy tickets
from cents up to So either by direct run
ner from the establishment through some
men employed in those establishments. The
drawings were held IN public rooms in the
city without let or hindrance or without
protest of the people who make these
ex parte statements now While to-day and
for months and months in indianapolis II
has been impossible, even up on Indiana
avenue, OF which hear so much, ii has
been impossible for any man 10 buy from
any one a policy ticket Now, there are
four forms OF gambling that work harm to
the boy L am not an expert at the gam
bling game-God forbid. / have children OF
my own 90 rear. do not set them the ex-
ample and do not want them TO know il
be guilty of IT, But l do know. man OF
the world that / am. how they are played
general rule and what effect those
games have upon a community.
In the faro bank, the roulette. the Graz
game and the policy ticket opportunities
are given to the man who works by the day