South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-08
No "FFLON'S RELIEF" FOR THE
ELECTION CROOKS.

ELECTION CROOKS.
Whatever else may be said Of the
state assembly that closed its 1915
session. Monday night II has proven
a veritable graveyard for number Of
undertakings. most certainly deserving
Of that very end Among the latest
OF the vicious ones is what became
known as the "felon's relief bill de-
feated ia the house Friday after the
senate had passed il. aud after being
reported out favorably by the house
judiciary committee. The bill would
not have been so bad on its face, had
not the senate been forced 20 admit
its primal purpose. and finally. by
amendment. 10 openly recognize it.
OF course, it hailed from Indian
apolis Practically all the vicious
legislation before the assembly seems
10 have hailed from Indianapolis. 1t
came right along with the Bell king
ship" bill and the sneaking attempt
10 recall City Judge Deery through
the establishment OF second and un-
necessary city police court. Unlimit-
ed power for Mayor Bell and a judicial
system that would enable him 10 pro-
test his political crooks seems 20 have
been the entire ambition Of the In
dianapolis democracy during the past
couple months. and backed by the
state organization, Us these measures
have been. IL has required a pretty in
dependent legislature 70 turn them
down.
The "'felon's relief bill" was plain
~ calculated TO save. IL possible. the
political crooks in Indianapolis who
operated there at the registration. the
primary. and the election last fall
and some OF them sufficiently long
ago TO even have helped Mayor Bell TO
his election The plan was 60 make
IL possible for them 10 demand
change of venue-have their cases
transferred TO some other cOunty-and
be sure of getting there. To accom-
plish this the promoters of the bill
we're willing 10 allow such political Of
tenders to be classified along with
murderers and men accused of trea-
son, these three 20 be the only crimes
with regard 10 which a change of
venue might be demanded, without the
court having any discretion in the
matter.
Incident 10 which, we suggest. that
while the purpose of the bill was
vicious. the classification was not so
bad The election crook is traitor
to the government Had the bill pre-
scribed for him the same penalties
that it prescribes for murderers or
treason, we do not know but that We
would say that it should have passed.
The larger frightfulness Of the penal
~ might carry with it sufficient mer-
il TO more than offset the proposed
larger opportunity OF escape.
Happily. South Bend, especially
since the passage of the corrupt prac-
tees act has been comparatively free
from election crookedness-compar-
atively we say. with especial empha-
sis when it comes 10 making cOinpar-
isons with Terre Haute and Indianap-
oils. We know Of no circuit or SUI
perior court judges in the counties
surrounding St Joseph, TO which an
election crook might appeal with any
degree of certainty that he would be
shown any favOritism. but down at
Indianapolis they seem TO feel differ
emily. and the assembly was right in
declining 10 subscribe TO any such a
program.
We can understand how commun-
ity might become so wrought up over
election frauds and the abuse of lie
governmental franchise. that deter
nination might he engendered 20 pun
ish someone regardless Of their guilt
or innocence. but as general rule the
fellow that such a community would
pick up would have a bad spot ON him
somewhere. we believe in making
il Just as unsafe TO corrupt the bal
lot as IT possibly can be made. The
law was not prepared 10 protect the
ipnocent. but rather 10 save the guilty
II went down. 10 where IL belonged,
into the junk hcap-and do you know.
that the moment it had gone, there
was none so poor about that state
house as 10 do 10 reverence.