The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-09
Committee Appointed to Prepare an
Address to Advocates Of the PrOhi-
bition Candidates Election.
AN NANTI-B0oKWALTER MEETING
TWENTY-FIVE OR THIRTY REPUB-
LICANS ATTEND 1T.
Reporters Barred from the Gathering
in DIR. Hunts Building-LOcal
Political News.

The committee of five appointed at the
meeting held last Wednesday night in the
Office of Joseph w. Selvage to further the
interests of George Hitz as an independent
candidate for mayor yesterday completed its
work of preparing an address to the citizens
of indianapolis and securing the signatures
to it of men who are backing the independ-
ent movement. The address is as follows:
ITO the Citizens of indianapolis: After
an earnest consultation and careful investi-
CATION of the present campaign for the cleo
tion of city officials in the city of Indian
apolis we feel 1T to be our duty as citizens
OF no mean city to issue the following
statement of the voters of Indianapolis
L. 1t is generally recognized that the
weakest spot in a representative govern
ment such as we have in America is the
official management of great cities. This is
made true largely by the fact that the bust
ness men of the city and those who are
really most interested in it's correct govern
ment are so busy with their own affairs
that they do not take the time to devote
themselves seriously to the securing of a
good government, and the campaign is US
ually turned over to politicians who find
the local campaign and the local admins
tration OF government a fruitful field of
strengthening the political party organiza-
ton to be welded in their own personal in
terest and in the interest of the political
party which they seek to control or in which
they hope to secure employment. The in
difference of the best citizenship makes it
possible to organize the lawbreaking and
them effectively as the balance of power
in every campaign.
IN THIS CITY.
''2. Our own city is no exception to the
rule and as it has grown larger the dom-
nation of the best element has grown less
and less pronounced, until for many years
past the affairs of our city government
have been managed almost solely in the
interest of political and personal party ma
chimes. This is true no matter which poll
tical party is in power, and we believe will
continue to be so. as long our city gov
ernment is managed in the interest of poll
tical party organization.
''3 Whether the present administration
is either better or worse than those which
have preceded it and those which are to
follow ii If political machine rule is to con-
tinue, is not of sufficient Importance to be
worthy of our consideration. We feel that
there is absolutely no hope of the kind of
government which We desire so long as the
city's affairs are managed by professional
politicians in the interest of political parties.
"A. Surely every law-abiding citizen of
Indianapolis recognizes the desirabilty of
defeating the present administration in its
attempt to secure reelection. But we be-
lieve no considerable number of citizens
with the welfare of Indianapolis at heart
care 20 defeat the political machine rule of
the party at present in power by turning
the government over TO the management of
this class interested in partisan machine
rule under another name. We believe the
object of every law-abiding citizen should
be to secure better government and We feel
that this does not look hopeful in the cleo
ton Of either Mr.. Bookwalter or Mr. Holtz-
%. After careful investigation in all
parts OF the city, We are convinced that
Mr.. Holtzmans election Is impossible even
if IL were desirable. Under normal condi-
tions Indianapolis is strongly Republican,
| and IL Mr.. Hoffman could receive his en-
tire party vote il is uncertain whether he
could be elected; but are convinced
| that there are a large number of Demo-
| cratic citizens who will not give their vote
tn Mr.. Hoffman. and that the defeat of
Mr.. Bookwalter by the election of Mr..
Hoffman is impossible under present con-
ditions.
AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE.
80. The third candidate for mayor,
George Hitz, although having his name
placed under the emblem of the Rising
) Sun for the sake of securing official watch