New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
indianapolis Chiefs Con-
viction Ends One Period
of Campaign
Big Game Is in Sight
Ex-Cunman's Ambition Helped
State to Cast Off Shackles
of Corruption
10y Telegraph 10 IN. T1bunel

indianapolis, July THE house
cleaning project which the State OF
Indiana started on its way three years
ago shows no signs of tagging energy
nor are there any indications that the
end of the labors is in sight. A few
days ago there was printed a brief
paragraph telling of the conviction of
the chief Of police of Indianapolis for
conspiracy to commit fraud in the
Indiana elections of 1914. In itself the
paragraph recorded only another short
step in the history of Indiana's political
regeneration. But actually il marks the
end of one period of the campaign for
clean government and the beginning OF
another. For, much as Indiana has been
able to disclose Of the rotten system of
government under which the people Of
the state have been forced to exist, a
great deal more remains to be I'M
covered.
And close upon the conviction of the
head Of the indianapolis police machine
has come the announcement that the
disclosures of the trial will form the
basis for further grand jury investiga-
tions into governmental graft and cleo
ton fraud. Bigger fish still remain to
be caught.
Conditions in 1914
What happened in indianapolis in
1914 to draw the verdicts of guilty for
these six men is plainly described edl-
torially in "Vhe indianapolis News:
There could not have been more
corrupt and brazen attempt to defeat
the will of the people. Both violence
and fraud were resorted TO. Honest
voters were driven away from the polls
and the registration booths; and re-
peaters were voted in droves-voted in
one precinct so rapidly that 1T was I'M
possible to record their names. great
slush fund was raised by levying on
saloonkeepers, against whom the law
was enforced if they refused to con-
tribute, but who were allowed to do as
they pleased if they came across.
In indianapolis the saloon slush fund
amounted to $4S,0 900. But Indianapolis
was only one pivot in the machinery OF
a statewide organization that kept the
people of the commonwealth powerless
TO accomplish anything contrary TO the
will of the machine.
indianapolis always supplied enough
votes to win when the machine IN Ierre
Haute faced a deficit. Voters were
carried around the state and voted at
the polls almost openly, from town TO
town and precinct to precinct.
The ambitions of onetime gunman
n hOnnS
that held the state prisoner. Dom Rob
erts, Mayor of Terre Haute, went TO the
Federal prison at Leavenworth because
one day he tainted Joseph r. Roach
with his prison record. And Roach, VINO
had been pardoned by Thomas X.
Marshall, then Governor of Indiana,
and who then had entered politics,
swore TO put Roberts behind the bars.
In 1913 Roach brought charges OF
bribery against Roberts and his gang,
but the Terre Haute Mayor escaped. IL
was only when Roach brought to his aid
the long arm Of the Federal govern
ment. that the Terre Haute politicians
were finally caught and sent to prison.
Two weeks ago the United States gu.
preme Court refused to grant writ OF
habeas corpus for the release or Rod
erts.
IcTrc ndute
But Terre Haute was only the be-
ginning.
Two years ago indictments were re-
turned against Mayor Bell OF Indian
apolis and Tom Taggart, hotelkeeper at
French Lick and chief of the Demo,
cratic organization in the state. Bell
was acquitted. The case against Tag
cart was dismissed. But Indiana,
backed by the Federal government, kept
on. Eighty-three Evansville RePubli-
can. were indicted, forty-one Demo
Gratis. Most Of them pleaded guilty'
Politicians indicted at Frankfort plead
cd guilty. A conspiracy charge at Gary
is still awaiting trial.
It was Roach who started the prose,
cution in the case which finally marked
the Indianapolis police chief as Grim.
inal. Roach is out OF it now put
Indiana does not intend to let up. me
inland give the