Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-18
MACHINEPLOT
TO AID JEWETT
by OPEN THEFT
Success of Belated Gerry
mander of Precincts Up to
Commissioner George.
RoBs VOTERS OF RIGHTS

Lewis W. George county commission
er, has it within his power to prevent
the completion Of one of the most no
torious political plots that has ever been
conceived in Marion county for the pur
pose of stealing an organization from
the voters who are presumed by the law
to effect 1t.
As county commissioner. he can join
with Carlin H. Shank in a belated gerry
mander of the voting precincts of Mar
ion county ~and prevent the voters from
participating in the reorganization Of
both the republican and democratic
county committees, or he can join with
Joseph G. Hayes and permit the voters
of both parties to select their own pre-
cinct committeeman.
Mr. George has not yet indicated
whether he viii listen to the desires Of
the republican bosses who conceived the
plan of hoOdwinking the voters, or will
refuse to be a party to the plot by
which Harry Hendrickson, republican
county chairman, expects to corral i
majority Of the precinct committee in
favor Of the old "Jewett machine"
WILL COMMISSIONERS
OBEY MACHINES ORDERS?
The plot is simplicity itself. 1t depends
only on the willingness Of the commits
siogers to listen to the machines orders.
The state law provides that changes
in the precinct lines must be made during
the March session Of the county commits
sioners. 1t also provides that candidates
for precinct committeeman must file an
nouncements Of their candidates. thirty
days before the primary. The last day
on which precinct boundaries may be
changed is March 81 The last day on
which candidates for precinct committee
men can be announced is April 5.
Between March 81 and April the can
didates for precinct committeeman must
be gotten out by all the various factions
in the two parties. If the gerrymander is
delayed as long as it is possible for the
commissioners to delay it.
These three days are recognized as
constituting too short a time for the
organization of any precinct fight But
if the machine has advance information
as to what the boundaries are going to
be it can prepare to get a candidate
within these boundaries and announce
him.
Or, in event no candidate Is an
nounced the county chairman can ap-
point precinct committeeman to fill the
vacancies created by the formation Of
new precincts. Unless these appointees
were opposed in the primaries they would
hold Office until their successors were
elected and qualified for two years from
next May.
CONTINUED JEWETT
CONTROL AT STAKE.
The obvious advantage Of this scheme
to the Jewett machine in Marion county
has aroused intense Indignation among
the "anti Jewett' faction. Harry Hen
erickson, county attorney, is county
chairman and a strong Jewett leader.
rf.~frr ha OLE ar
ganization a hard run for control. I'm
less some gerrymander or other crooked
scheme Of this kind is perpetrated at the
last minute the Jewett organization viii
lose control OF the county organization.
By promising Carlin II. Shank the
nomination for recorder the Jewett ma
chine has won his consent to the perDe-
= tration Of this trick on the voters Of
Marion county.
The county commissioners started the
first Of the month to revise the precinct
boundary lines. They suddenly stopped
and nothing has been done for the last
two weeks George Y. Coffin who was
proclaimed to be the best police chief
in the country" by Mayor Jewett prior
TO his spectacular retirement because ne
could not do what he wanted to- has
been in close touch with Carlin Shank
ever since he went into the automobile
BUSINESS
county. He IS generally accredited
with having evolved the scheme for the
perpetuation of the present county or
ganization-
Joseph Hayes, county commissioner
has expressed his disapprO7al OF delay
in connection with the revision Of the
boundaries. George viii cast the decid-
ing vote
AS is usual, Leo X. Fesler, county au
dftor. who plays the role Of chief ex
palmer for the gang, has come fortl
with the explanation that the commits
sioners are waiting TO see whether th'
women get vote or not" The Fesler OK
PLANTATION is laughable IN view o. the fac
that the revision which IS being under
taken and was started the first Of tn
month does not take into consideration
the woman voter from any viewpoint.
The same possibilities that lie in tn
delayed gerrymander for the republican
party are open to the democrats. Adolpl
Emhardt is the county chairman Of til
democratic party, and there are tire
active eontenders for the place.
SO far as IS known neither has beel