Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-06
COUNTY JAIL SCANDAL HAS
STATEWIDE POLITICAL EFFECT

purely honorary and have not obeyed
the statute (or realized their RESPONSE
bilitfes
From a political standpoint the Jail
scandal in Marion county has been of i'm
mense benefit to the democratic party
1t has shown that the republican admin
istration of the county has been exceed
ingly lax and that under this laxity the
republican sheriff has been proflting i'm
mensely by the abuse ana neglect of
prisoners.
Robert r. Miller. Marion county sher-
If, was the organizations candidate for
denomination and refused to admit that
he would retire from the race when it
was disclosed that under his admins
tration of the county Jail the following
has taken place:
l. The 60 cents allowed him for
serving each meal to each prisoner in
the Jail had provided meals that did
not cost more than 30 cents day and
consisted of rotten food, horribly pre-
pared and served.
2. Prisoners were charged for beds
and bedding provided in the Jail,
were compelled to buy outside provi-
sions at exorbitant prices, to share
them with the jailers. and even to
pay for pure drinking water
y. poker game was maintained
in the Jail and a "rake-off" taken by
the guards for their own use. Pris-
oners were compelled to play poker or
were removed to a dungeon.
4. Prisoners who could pay for the
privileges were permitted to leave the
Jail at night and go to their own
homes.
S. Prisoners were beaten, tortured
with fire and otherwise mistreated at
the within of the guards.
These revelations in the federal court
have made an impossible situation for
the republicans. They must repudiate
Miller or they will fail to elect a single
man on their county ticket,
But Reputation of Miller is very diff
ficult, for the reason that he is a close
personal friend and political associate OF
George V. Coffin, ex-sherin, who, with
Charles o. Dodson, another ex-sherir,
controls this Marion county republican
organization.
A strong fight has been under way for
some time I'm Marion county against the
organization and IL is now certain thar
unless the rank and file Of the party is
able 10 shake of the "old gang" IL win
be In the minority in the November cleo
ton. And It Is by no means certain that
IL viii be able to shake the old crowd
which has always been defended and sus-
tanned by the indianapolis News and 70
which the News has becn looking for the
success Of fits efforts 10 send a Wood del
egation to the republican convention at
Chicago.
Marion county democrats have been so
much encouraged by the scandals In the
republican ranks that they have sue
eeeded In bringing out for Office some Of
the best men that live IN the county
They have been out Of Office so long that
they are able to so before the voters
without any criticism Of misconduct In
Office and their records viii be contrasted
with the foulest records that have been
seen IN the state in many years.
Marion county ought to be safely dem
ccratic as a result Of the jail scandal and
other scandals that will follow this sum
mer and there are hundreds Of demo I
Gratis who believe that as Marion county
votes the state VIII be recorded.--1ndiaua
Publicity Bureau.