Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-28
He and Over Hundred More Must
Answer in Court for Election
Irregularities.
GOVERNMENT COVERS ITS HAND
Has Not Yet Exposed All Evidence
that Has Been Gathered.
ROBERT HERETOFORE UNsCATHE
Actions at NOvember Election Com
Quoted Too Boldly and Govern
mept Probe is UncOvering
Methods Used.

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. N-When the
federal grand jury reconvenes here
January 4, election conditions in Terre
Haute, 1t is said will again be taken
up. When the grand jury recessed last
Wednesday, it returned partial report,
in which more than 125 men, including
Mayor Dom M. Robert and the majority
of the members of his official family were
indicted.
The real. story of the alleged con-
spiracy to corrupt the election is merely
hinted in the indictment 1t is said, the
federal authorities indicting that they will
not expose their had until the trial is
called.
Frank C. Daley, United States district
attorney for Indiana who is in personal
charge of the grand jury investigation
states that immunity has been offered to
none.
Lays IT to Politics.
Mayor Roberts is a candidate for the
democratic nomination for governor In
1916 and has been the democratic leader
in Terre Haute only short time, having
risen rapidly in politics. He declares that
political enemies have attacked him.
In 1910. he was appointed city engineer
of Terre Haute. and while holding that
position, organized the city council
against the mayor, who later discharged
Roberts. Later Roberts was made county
chairman Of the democratio party and
not only nominated his slate In the
primary, but carried 1t through in the
election Of 1872 As the next step in his
political advancement, Roberts became
the democratic candidate for mayor and
was elected. During that election. men
were slugged at the polls. election Of
ficiaIs driven from the polling places
and before the day was over, appeals
were made TO Governor Samuel M.
Ralston to take a hand.
once Acquitted.
-Agrandjury investigated the election
and returned indictments against Rob-
erts and number of his supporters.
Roberts was placed on trial, and after a
hearing during which all male spectators
weer searched for firearms to prevent q
shooting affray he was acquitted.
Since bis elevation to the mayors chair
of Terre Haute. Roberts has been almost
continuausly in the limelight, figuring
in a number Of cases in court. Tn esec-
ond day after his election, he and his
a contempt charge over the discharge Of
two patrolmen, but were acquitted.
Within the last year he was fined for
contempt by Judge A. Nj. Anderson of
the federal court for violating court
order regarding some sewer work.
Then came the election Of last No
vember. which was declared by Terre
Hauteans to have been worse than the
one the year before and which was the
cause of the arrests beginning Christmas
night
Indianapolis IL Next.
When the grand jury completes the in
vestigation of Terre Haute conditions IL
will take up. according to Mr.. Daley.
conditions in Indianapolis, whihc in the
last election were said to have rivaled
Terre Haute conditions in many pre-
cincts. and also in Evansville, where a
number Of organizations have requested
Mr.. Daley to make an investigation.