South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-30
ELECTION FRAUDS BACK OF FED
ERAL INDICTMENTS APPEAR
To HAVE BIPARTISAN CHAR
ACTER

Ii seems 10 have been the irony OF
fate that just as the republicans of
Indiana were beginning 20 crow bois-
terOusly and loud about the federal
indictments of Terre Haute politicians.
il should leak out that the system of
corruption involved should have cross
ed the border into Illinois and dipped
its dirty fingers in the elections about
Danville in the interests of ex-Speaker
Joseph G.. Cannon, and TO a degree, of
sen. l.. y. Sherman. Sherman was in
South Benz, Monday night, at the
time that the story Of the Illinois
scandal broke, eulOgizing local repub-
leans on the purity of their party.
and how il, and It alone can be trust
cd 10 lift mankind out OF the slough
of despond" and land it upon the de
lectabie mountain"
The floating" program reputed TO
be responsible for the indictments Of
democrats at Terre Haute. appears TO
have been a republican program
across the line in Paris, where the
manipulating is said 10 have been
Very naturally he knows nothing about
IT, Dom Roberts, the Terre Haute
mayor. is equally vigorous in his pro
tests Of innocence.
Dist. Atty. Daley is indeed doing a
splendid work in his manner of un-
covering election frauds and conspir-
acies. disregarding party as he is
doing, and letting the responsibility
fall where it will. If the state courts
VIII not clean up such conditions. il is
gratifying that the federal arm is
sometimes available. And that he as
serts that the end is not yet, and that
more viii be learned when the grand
jury reconvenes. suggesting that a
widespread republican conspiracy is
likely 20 be uncovered in Indiana,
makes the Illinois end ofuthe dilemma
less interesting. 1t remains TO be seen
whether Illinois will do as well as
indiana is doing 1t is possible that
the influence across the state line Will
be strong enough TO head action off,
but that Pres't Wilson made no mis-
take when he made Frank Daley dis
trict attorney for Indiana, there is
now no more question. The man
from Button is earning a reputation
equal TO that attained by Whitman in
Nelv York. and Folk in Missouri, and
If he stumbles not, the governorship
Of Indiana ought TO be his in 1916,
should he be willing TO accept it,
Very evidently both the democratic
ana republican parties need cleansing
from election frauds and conspiracies
in some localities. They need be made
To forget the ancient processes by
which they wrested victories from the
legitimate electorate and inaugurated
government by "hoaters." The world
has grown tired of that sort of thing.
Public sentiment no longer endorses
IT, Common decency refuses 10 stand
FOR it. 1t took years TO crystahze this
sentiment into law, and until now it
has been difficult TO make even the
law effective. but thanks to Senators
Kern and Shively, and Pres't Wilson,
Indiana has a district attorney who
places patriotism and principle above
party and is mot afraid of the cars"
lie should have the moral backing
and encouragement Of every self-re-
speeding Indianian. and of every
democrat and republican especially
that hope 10 hold the respect of self
respecting people.