East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-07-16
A FEW MAYORS LEFT
N INDIANA WHO ARE
NOT YET INDICTED
OPEN SEASON is ON, HOWEVER,
AND OTHERS MAY COME UN-
DER LAWS BAN.
IL Is Impossible to say How Many
More Are Under scrutiny at This
Time for Alleged Political Irregp-
larity-General Cleanup 70 Be
Rushed TO Completion.
BY DAN II. BEEBE.

BY DAN II, BEEBE,
Omitted Press staff Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS. July ls.-This is
the open season for mayors in Indi-
ana. If you need recreation, come to
Indiana and take pot shot at some
prosperous executive, There are a
few left.
Here is the list Of Indiana mayors
who are either under Indictment or
who have been tried in the past
three months:
Mayor Joseph e. Bell indianapolis
indicted with 127 others on As counts
for eonspiring to corrupt the Marion
county election.
Former Mayor Dom NJ. Roberts,
rerre Haute, now in Leavenworth
prison, sentenced by Federal Judge
Anderson after conviction on charge
OF conspiring to corrupt the vigo
county election.
Mayor Roll II, Bunch, Munice, in
dicted by the Delaware county grand
jury on graft charges and malfeasance
in office.
Mayor George Stidger, Kokomo, in
dieted by the Howard county grand
jury for Oppression" malconduct
and misfeasance in office" but ae-
quilted
Mayor James Leb Watkins, New
castle, indicted by the Henry county
grand jury for bribery, but acquitted.
1t would be impossible to say just
how many Indiana mayors, not to
mention other officials, are under
scrutiny at this thine. The federal
grand jury will soon be in session
again and numerous county grandju-
ries are working.
AS each additional city joins the
list, inquiring Hoosiers ask again
whether these indictments and prose-
cutions indicate that Indiana city gov
ernments are more corrupt than cities
of other states or whether new
sense of civic Righteousness is sweep
ing over the state, causing counties to
clean up cities where conditions are
no worse than the average in other
states.
With the indictment Of Mayor Bell,
Thomas Taggart, democratic national
committeeman, and 1875 other Indiana
Politicians, including Chief of Police
Perrott Of this city and Dom Roberts,
the previous indictments were thrown
into the background. Mayor Bunch
of Munice has taken legal points OF
his case to the state supreme court
and a decision will not come until
October and the Terre Haute con-
spiiracy so thoroughly cleaned up by
U. S. District Attorney Daley, is his
tory.
The Indianapolis indictment strik
ing as it did 50 many prominent In
diana democrats, has caused more
statewide bitterness than any of its
predecessors. A political writer en-
ployed by state democrats to write
for democratic papers has not hesitat-
ed to attack Prosecutor Alvah j..
Rueker of Marion couny and his as
sistant, Joseph Roach, until recently
of Terre Haute. He has charged
that Roach and Rucker take their or
ders from a sourse opposed to Tom
Taggart, which he describes as a
sinister influence
When George NJ Ray, editor Of the
Herald. a democratic organ published
here printed an editorial attacking
Judge James A. Collins of the Marion
county criminal court, he was cited
for contempt of court and of the
grand jury on the application of
Prosecutor Rucker. Rays editorial
charged that Judge Collins tried to-
confine the grand jury until indict-
ments were agreed upon, but failed. =
Judge Collins and Prosecutor Ruck-
er were elected on the successful re-
publican ticket in the election inves-
tigated by the grand jury The coun-
~ election resulted in a republican
landslide while the state went demo-
cratic, though with majority some
what reduced
Much Of the attack has eentered
about Roach. who is the picturesque
figure In the case. Roach, who adj
mits he was dope" fiend. was SEN
fenced to Michigan City prison after
he had pleaded guilty to murder
While in prison Roach foresook his
bad habits and began the study Of
law Later Governor Marshall, now
vice president. paroled and then par
d0ned him. Roach was the promi-
nent figure in the various prosecutions
of Mayor Dom Roberts. After Rob
erts landed in Leavenworth, Roach
was employed by Rucker to assist in
gathering evidence against Taggart
Bell and other prominent local demo-
Gratis.
Roach is a powerful man physically
and of good appearance. In Terre
Haute he ls feared but popular. He
has a reputation there Of being fear
less Friends Of the indicted man de-
clare that they are being "hounded by
convict"