South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-22
Do TEN POLITICIANS
SUPPORT BIG FIVE"
Local Citizens Are Wondering
Whether or Not Charges of
BoSSiSm in Independent
Movement Are True.

The little incident that broke out at
the epublican-mOOse-c citizens meet
ing the other evening that uncovered
the alleged fact that the bosses be-
hind the new movement selected on
their own inspiration and without
consulting anyone, a broom as the
emblem of the new citizens party. has
set people wondering as to whether
or not the independent movement is
as Independent as it's name would in
dictate or whether there is not some
truth TO the opposition charge that it
IS selfish movement in the interest
OF few politicians seeking to get in
control OF the city's management un-
der the plea OF decency in city gov
eminent
At all the meetings of the combi-
nation ticket bosses, attended by sup
pOrters Of the alleged boss rule il is
said to have been the aim Of the body
controlling the new party 10 have
everything appear above board and
open. They have made good in doing
this at the meetings and those good
citizens who have relied only upon
their sense of observation at the
meetings" are undoubtedly convinced
Of the independence of the new party
But there were some with a spark
of independence of their own in their
makeup who refused to knuckle down
TO the dictates of the the few real act
i've ones in the new party unless there
were real freedom in the organiza-
ton.
These men began to think and then
| TO investigate and their Investigations
are said to contain information that
will show behind the independent
curtain the alleged glaring Dossism
and dictation that is said. TO have fos-
tered the new party.
Was Free" at Birth.
When the party was born it was
free and open to anyone" In other
words anyone or everyone could run
for mayor. clerk. or anything else IL
he so desired. But strange to say only
one candidate for mayor and but a
few for the other offices appeared.
How these men were brought out and
| the united support that is back Of
them has been revealed, IL Is said, to
the seekers after the truth by an in
vestigation of the petitions filed with
the election commissioners.
There are six offices on the ticket
| besides the ward councilmen. These
are mayor, clerk. treasurer, judge and
/ the two councilmen-at- Now
| all candidates for city judge filed
| their own petitions. This eliminates
one and there remains the big Five"
mayor. clerk. treasurer and the two
councilmen-at-large
Trying TO dispute the statement OF
opposition party men that these five
are the choice of the bosses behind
the Independent movement. several
disinterested parties are said TO have
met surprise as they looked over the
| petitions Of these candidates.
1t was found that the petitions of
| all five bore the manuscript cover or
| Atty. H. II. Jernegan chairman OF the
| independent ticket movement and al
| legged to be one OF the main cogs in
I the machine behind the ticket. The
opposition to the new movement Is
| said TO have accepted this find as
/ meaning that the petitions were all
written in Jernegan's office. These
/ five petitions backed by the Jernegan
cover, ask that the names Of r. w.
/ GaylOr for mayor w. L. Kimball for
! Willard Kerr and +. w. Kuss for
councilmen-at-la be the nominees
of the independent movement.
Another disclosure that the petit
| tions are said TO have given out is the
fact that there were ten men, all well
known political leaders and men with
big follOwings. who signed either all
or most OF these petitions. In other
words the petitions Of the big 81
were signed by ten men irrespective
OF who else was on the petitions to
make the needed %.
/ Looking over the petitions II was
found that r G. Eberhart and Walter
/ Michael signed the petitions OF the
entire big >" besides that for coun-
Gilman from their own ward. +. l..
: Beatty. ]. A. Rishel Norman s. Cling
rich and w z. Miller signed four of
the five and all save Beatty signed for
. their ward councilmen. e. ]. W. Fink.
/ W d. Peiffer. J. Alvin Scott. and c.
( z. NcCullom signed three out Of the
i five ard all signed for their ward
/ cOunClimen.
Relieve Charges.
Therefore in view of these disclos-
ures il Is said shat the investigators
who are said to be erstwhile indepen-
dent men have become convinced that
there is truth i'm the charges OF boss