The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-23
Charges Against Administration Are
Taken Up I'm Detail and Answered
Temperately and Frankly.
MINISTERS WARNED BY HIM
THEY SHOULD NOT BE LED AsTRAY
BY COOKED-UP STORIES.
False Impressions Created by Persons
Interested in Republican Defeat
Mayors Address I'm Full.

Before the meeting of the Methodist min
listers n the Meridian-street M E. Church
yesterday morning Mayor Bookwalter made
an address presenting the side Of the ad-
ministration in the controversy that has
been waged concerning the conduct of the
city's affairs during his term of Office, par
ticularly with reference to gambling, the
enforcement of the liquor laws and other
moral question. 1t was the consensus of
opinion, in which even the severest Of the
mayors critics Joined. that the speech
was temperate, fair. broad and deserving
of the attention of the public.
The address was made partly in answer
to attacks that have been made on the ad-
ministration through the columns of an aft
ernoon newspaper, and in pulpits of the
city's churches. The mayor assumed the
position at the outset that he was entitled
to make a presentation of the administra-
tion's side of the argument. There was no
disposition among the ministers to deny
him a hearing. When he appeared with
Superintendent Taffe of the police Dr. c.
E. Bacon, pastor of Roberts Park Church,
moved that he be heard and the motion
carried without a dissenting voice. The
address, which will be found In full be-
low was listened to with close attention
on the part &C the minister's
VOTE OF THANKS.
The meeting well attended. In ad-
dition to the members Of the Methodist
Ministers Association. there were pastors
of other denominations and a number of
prominent men, including members of the
Citizens League. When the mayor had
concluded, and had left with Superinten-
dent Taffe, the ministers discussed the ad-
dress in meeting. Just before the mayor
left, Dr. w. r. Halstead, one of the most
prominent of the Methodist clergy moved,
with the Rev. Robb Earring, that the mayor
be thanked for attending the meeting and
making an ADDRESS. DIR. Halstead's mo-
ton was put, as follows:
1T is not best for the preachers meeting
nor for the Methods. Church. to have such
a discussion here. The mayor made a
discriminating and well-guarded speech. /
have heard fifty men say that the meet
ing last week at which we said that the
mayor and chief of police were in com
plicity with crime was a mistake IL we
things like that will do ii. We live in a lit
tie glass house in this controversy. The
mayors statements in the papers have
been more courteous and Christian than
ours. / want to do nothing l move we
accept that speech with thanks and then
do as we please about voting
MR.. ZARING'S OPINION.
DR.. Halsted was not the only one upon
whom the mayors speech made distinctly
favorable impression. The Rev. Robb Ear
ing, also. in approving the motion that the
mayor should be given the thanks of the
association, said: I'VE have heard the
mayors speech. He positively asserted there
was no gambling of any sort. and that sa-
looms were closed to the minimum. He NAV
have created impressions here that II will
be hard to overthrow. The truth ought 10
be sought for and presented to the ministers,
and then be given to the people. The