Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1906 — PROBLEM FOR GOVERNOR HANLY [ARTICLE]

PROBLEM FOR GOVERNOR HANLY

There seems to be a very large question in the minds of a good many persons as to the sincerity of Governor Hanly’s ‘Jaw enforcement" professions. Among the doubting persons jußt now is B. F. Watson, a member of the Prohibition party’s state central committee. On the 23d of last August Mr. Watson addressed a letter to the governor in which he called the latter’s attention to his past professions and certain of his performances and asked him to cast his eyes toward alleged transgressors which he was meeting face to face every day. And now we quote from Ms. Watson’s latter: “I refer prlmar ly to the Columbia Chib, of which likely you are a member. It is notorious that this great Republican organization maintains one of the finest bars in the state, at which llqucrs are sold, not only to Its members, but to their friends and other visitors. In fact, lam Informed that the club receipts from the sale of liquor are greater than from any other department. The Columbia Club has, of course, no license to sell Intoxicating liquor, as it could not obtain one. Every sale of liquor made by It, whether to members or others, Is as clearly a violation of the law as was the gambling conducted at West Baden or French Lick. And In this case the law violation is not merely connected with the building owned by the corporation by a bridge or walk, but is in a conspicuous place just back of the main corridor. There would be no pretense, I opine, that the receipts do not go Into the treasury of the club.

“More than thirty years ago, In the case of Marmont vs. the State, 48 Ind. 21, the supreme court held that the sale of Intoxicating liquor by an association or club to its members was a violation of law, and this decision has been followed by the appellate court as late as Haggard vs. State, 26 App. 695. If the power of the state should be' used to suppress gambling at French Lick and West Baden. I submit the question whether the auditor of state ought not institute an investigation of the Columbia Club, with the view of revoking Its charter for these notorious violations of the law, which go on 365 days in the year and practically twenty-four hours each day.” On the first of September Governor Hanly wrote to Mr. Watson that his “favor” had been received and that It would be given “such consideration as Its character and evident purpose” entitled it to receive. Just what the governor means by “character” and

“evident purpose,” he does not explain. But in the meantime it may be suspected that the Columbia Club remains unreformed and steeped in the iniquity described by Mr. Watson. It is understood that not only Governor Hanly, but practically all of the candidates on the Republican state ticket, most of the congressional candidates and dozens of other prominent 1 Republicans, including the vice president of the United States and Senators Beveridge and Hemenway, all are members of the aristocratic Columbia I Chib. Nor should It be forgotten that Attorney General Miller and State Auditor Bigler also are reputed to he members of the institution whose alleged questionable practices are thrust so rudely into the face of that eminent apostle of patriotism in time of peace, the Hon. J. Frank Hanly. And the question is, what will Governor Hanly do about the charges so openly and boldly made against the Republican Columbia Club of Indianapolis?