Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1908 — BREWERS SEEK TO DECEIVE VOTERS [ARTICLE]

BREWERS SEEK TO DECEIVE VOTERS

Remain Away from Legislature for Effect but Meet Susceptible Members at Other Places.

Indianapolis, Sept. 23.—(Special.)— For the purpose of deceiving the people as to what Is going on here during the special session of the legislature, the Brewery Lobby is keeping away from‘the State House. Its representatives, however, are holding forth in large numbers at the Denison Hotel, where they meet with the Democratic leaders and their followers at all times of the day and night Tom Taggart, who Is managing Marshall’s campaign for governor, and who is also keeping the Democratic members of the legislature in line against county local option, has arranged his affairs so that he can spend all of his time here* during the special session. Crawford Fairbanks, the millionaire Terre Haute brewer, and who is said to be the principal financier of the Democratic state campaign, also has headquarters at the Denison Hotel. Fairbanks has a large automobile here in which be takes frequent rides with Ben F. Shiveley, of South Bend, and other members of the Taggart Democratic Brewery Machine, who are assisting him in this fight to defeat the wishes of the people who are interested in temperance legislation. It is understood that Taggart issued orders to the brewers and their bench men to keep away from the state house while the legislature was in session. His plan, i( is hoped by the Democratic leaders, would keep the people from getting wise to what the Brewery Lobby was doing, but the brewers and their agents have been so active around the Denison and other hotels, that they are deceivng no one here.

They are still spending their money as free as water, and are using it to entertain the members of the legislature and their friends. There have been many rumors here that members of the legislature have been offered money to line up with the brewers and the Democrats In this fight As matters now stands, It In apparent that the Lieber-Fairbanks-Fleming brewery combine is payment in advance from the democratic machine for the money tbn liquor people are putting Into tbn campaign to elect Marshall, and m majority of the members of the legislature. It has been no secret for some time that every brewer and every brewery saloon keeper In Indiana was doing everything in his power for Urn Democratic party. Whether or not the Republicans are able to pass the county local option bill at this session. the meeting of the legislator* at this time has demonstrated beyond any doubt that there is an ironi clad allianee between the brewers and the Democratic party for the purpose of defeating all measures for farther restriction and regulation of the liquor traffic. , < That there was an alliance was boldly asserted in a way today, when a large picture of Marshall appeared 1 ' across the street in front of the brewery headquarters at the Denison hotel. With this picture were th# words, “Thomas R. Marshall, Candidate for Governor.” It was said that the picture was put up by Democrats, but the fact that it is hanging near the headquarters of the noted brewery lobby was regarded as being very significant