Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1917 — SWELL REPUBLICAN CLUB RAIDED [ARTICLE]

SWELL REPUBLICAN CLUB RAIDED

Blind Tiger Charges Against Silk Stocking Organization. URAY LOADS OF BOOZE SEIZED - * Several Rensselaer Republicans Are Members of This Indianapolis Political Organization. JDold chills went down the spines Of the silk stocking Republicans of Indiana last Saturday when they read in* the Chicago papers—the Indianapolis? papers with their usual discretion did not give very great prominence to this item of .news —that the Columbia club rooms at tho capital city had been raided by the police on blind tiger charges and a whole carload, more or less, of intoxicating liquors seized. This organization is’ known as the very select Republican organization of Indianapolis and the state. Former Vice-president C. W. Fairbanks, former Senator Albert J. Beveridge, Senator James E. Watson, Govefrnor Goodrich and scores of other prominent Republicans of Indiana are members of the club, including Warren T. McCray” of Kentland, and several prominent and would-be prominent Republicans of Rensselaer. The raid was made on an affidavit filed by former Lew Shank of Indianapolis. Lew is made of the ordinary clay and is very prominent with the common people "Of Indianapolis. The exclusive Columbia club is said to be opposing Shank again for the Republican nomination for mayor at the coming primaries, and, while it has been known right along that liquors were being dispensed in the case and club rooms in defiance of law for years past, most of the prominent Republicans, including judges, lawyers and politicians of the capital city are members of the club and no one had the temerity to make any protest.

Shank, while a Republican, Is a free lance, and he resented the interference of this silk stocking brigade in his campaign. The raid was staged at an hour when the case was filled w’ith diners, scores of whom had bottles of wine at ♦heir plates. Many of the, diners hurriedly attempted to conceal or gulp down their wines for fear that these, too, would be seized, and there were many amusing- incidents connected the rail which furnished former Mayor Shank, who accompanied the policemen to the club and who has a keen sense of humor,- with much enjoyment. The raid, however, was confined to the. big stock of intoxicating liquors in the club from which patrons were served.

That the raid has created an im’mcnse sensation, not only in Indiana; olis but all over the state,goes without saying, and Shank stock, which was already strong with his party outside of the silk shocking element, has risen several points. ■ . , That Shank will surely secure the nomination under the primary law is giving his opposition much concern and they are now beseiging the legislature ,to repeal this law, feeling that under the old machine domination of the selection .of delegatee they can defeat him in a.delegate convention. In proof of this latter statement, the Lafayette Journal (Republican) of Monday said, in speaking of a bill that has been introduced to repeal the endtire primary law. "It is said that Lew Shank, formerly mayor and later of the vaudeville stage, would have very little show in getting the Republican nomination for mayor under the delegate convention system of nominating.’’