South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-14
MAYOR BELLS ACoUITTAL.


The question is. was the Bell con-
spiracy trial just concluded at Indian
apoIis, staged by the republicans as a |
safety first" measure. 10 ascertain |
the degree OF corruption that they |
may indulge in their campaign next |
year. and that with impunity? The |
verdict OF acquittal. unquestionably |
justified by the evidence as against
Mayor Bell. does not wipe out the
possibility Of there having been cor
ruption in the Indianapolis election.
IL merely acquits him OF having had
a cOnvictable part in il, and it con-
victs the republican politicians Of In
dianapolis. the republican prosecutor,
his ex-convict deputy, and last but not
least, the republican press that has
been growing so loudly over the affair,
with having been so over-zealous in
their efforts 10 besmirch the democ-
racy OF the state as 70 become utterly
ridiculous If not knaVsh.
We have never tried to shield Mayor
Bell nor TO convict him, but have kept
clear OF taking part I'm the current
press comment that has presumed his
guilt OF innocence. Our position from
the start has been that IL guilty, he
should be convicted, and if innocent,
acquitted. and we have been content
To leave the question 10 a jury. 1t is
TO be hoped that the outcome will not
have the effect Of encouraging cleo
ton corruptonists TO hencefOrth go
the limit and feel safe. for remem-
Der that the jury has not said that
there was no corruption at Indian
apolis. but only that Mayor Bell was
not guilty Of conspiracy 10 corrupt.
He may have been picked upon by
the republican politicians and press,
TO satisfy a grudge, or he may not
have been. but the jury after hearing
the evidence, seems 10 have declined
tc render the satisfaction. even OF a
disagreement, OF which the prosecu-
ton seemed TO be most certain.
The outcome Of the trial also goes
TO show that perhaps Dist. Atty. Daley
was not SO very far amiss when he
called off his federal investigation Of
the Indianap 4 5 cases, asserting that
there was not sufficient evidence to
even justify indictments Republicans
sought 10 make capital Of that too,
but evidently the Marion county cir
cult court jury. as TO Mayor Bell. at
least. has proven Of a somewhat sim
liar opinion. We are glad it is the
verdict Of a jury and not dismissal
on a technicality. 1t may not end
the cases. and perhaps should not. but
it sort OF gives color to rumors long
current at the state capital. to the
effect that they are more political than
such cases ought TO be.
Maybe. However, the republicans
will feel safs TO introduce another
y one of the:c barrel campaigns in 1916
\-and politicians in South Bend will
begin TO look forward Another S20,-
GOO expenditure here like that Of 1903,
and so on backward. bi-annually,
would no doubt have a strong ten
dency toward republican success. Pos
sibly all that was needed was an ink
ling OF assurance of immunity. We
wonder If they will accept the outcome
in the Bell case as furnishing it?
They may be mistaken if they do
Tor there is a vast difference between
acquittal of a man who is innocent
and of one who is guilty, and a guilty
man might not have escaped.
Republicans and democrats alike
would do well TO take notice that pub
IL al,
clean elections. and that public opin
ion is not always safe TO monkey with
We anticipate that there Will be closel
watch kept for election corruptionist
in 1916, as 10 All parties. than eve
before in the history of the state
and some effort may be made TO 10
cate those corruptionists as they pro
ceed If things were as rotten ia In
diauapoHs as the prosecution ha
sought 10 picture at the Bell trial
there can be but one excuse for il
having taken so long TO unyeil il, an,
that must have been that there wer
more dirty hands in it. than just thos
OF democra.s We had wanted Z
credit the republican officials an,
press with some good faith in tn
prosecutions. but it is growing NOR
and more difficult
We are not going to congratulate
Mayor Bell, as some OF his friend
did. upon his acquittaL We shal
rather congratulate him for not hav
ing yeen guilty. The verdict OF IN
Jury is the last word. Let the othe
eases proceed.
1870 ~, - y 80