South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-22
INDICTMENT OF
GOV. SMALL MAY
CHANGE POLITICS
Writer Declares Illinois MAY
Desert C.. o. p. i'm Coming
Elections.

SPRINGFIELD. III. aug 2I.-A
wound has been opened here In the
Grand old Party that may have
bearing rot alone on STATE politics
bat carries with IL the POSSIBILITY o.
changing the color o. the national
situation.
The opening 81 this wound dates
hack SEINE few months before II
leads 20 the present day. when az
This writing the governor and lieu
t-na governor o. Illinois are under
Indictments charging conspiracy 90
lefraud and EN- bezzlement Of state
Interest," funds when they served as
treasurer Of the state.
Friction IN the republican party
in this state started previous 10 tae
republican national convention IN
chicago. when William Hale Thomp-
son and his Is followers bOlted and
refused 10 vote for Frank o. LOwden
rs the repu blican nominee for pres.-
dent
At the state election which follow
sd the Thompsou-Lundia faction
tnumphed and had their candidate
Len Small. placed in the governors
chair at Springfield. Things pro-
ceeded hly-moder so a.
lssst-unul the closing dsys OF the
Fifty-second General Assembly
Charges were made by LOwden re-
pubhcans and members or the dem
ocratlc party in the house that the
administration was attempting 20
force through ~ legislative pro-
gram by rendering patronage favors.
The saouldeTing remains OF the
convention breach were being fan
ned.
seeks EindicatlOn.
Several Of the administration pet
projects dled in the last few days Of
the legislature and the governor
sought vindication with the Lowden
republicans when 90 came TO approx
ing appropriations made 20 the heads
81 various official branches Huge
slices were cut from all. including
$50. 900 made 10 the attOrney-gen-
srai for enforcing the new state pro
hib.tiOn act In statement the
governor charges that il was his be-
lief the money would have been used
by the attOrney-general for building
up q political machine.
This threw hot Goals on the smoul'
dering ashes. and the fan was APP
piled which added zest. Attorney
Gen. Brundage called in his politi-
cal aides. held q conference and
then asked the SangamOn county
circuit court 10 hold a grand jury
Invest GA tiOn or manipulations dur
ing the terms az treasurer OF Gov.
Len Small and Lieut.. Gov. Fred +.
Sterling
The grand jury returned indict-
nents against both and also Vernon
Curtis. n Grant Park banker and
brother Of the late Sen. %. c. Curtis.
The indictments charge ernDez2ie-
ment and conspiracy to defraud in
the handling OF interest money re-
celved In the loan Of 10000 600
made from the state treasury.
Tnis laid the wound wide open.
VitrloHo verbiage emanated in state
ments from the two political fac
tons Gov. Small charges his in
dictunent TO the big money interests
and traction barons who were seek
ing his political assassination. The
other side charge the governor with
attempting 90 cover up by lodging
about with counter charges instead
Of facing the indictments.
The question now arises as TO
whether during the three and one
half years remaining IN the Small
administration this wound can be
healed? Can two political factions
get together after fighting each
Ctaer whit such bitterness.
n not. what Will be the result A
the darky SAYS. things have done
gone democratic" which would
mean that one or the largest repub-
llcau states i'm the union would be
slipping away from the Grand Old
Party and this - no small item
when YOU begin 90 calculate its eff
feet on national politics