Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-21
SMALL CLAIMS
IMMUNITY AS
GOV. OF STATE
Continued From Page One.)

sonal and political enemies were heard
and / had no voice.
Attorney General Brundage, leader of
the conspiracy, has succeeded in obtain
ing this Indictment, simply because OF
the personal fury 1 aroused in him, be-
cause I refused to permit him to take
from the taxpayers pockets S1.50O.GO0
for the upkeep of his personal political
machine.
Il promised the people of Illinois that
I would attempt to secure for them
dollars worth of service for every dol
lar spent In carefully examing the
appropriation bills 1 found 100000 in
appropriations which the needs and well
fare Of the State of Illinois did not re-
quire, and l was able through the power
of my veto to save that amount in taxes
to the people of our State.
II found it necessary in thus reducing
the burdens Of taxation to cut Mr.
| Brundage's appropriations S700,0O AS
| explained to you at that time I had no
hesitancy in doing this, because Mr.
Brundage had been using your money
not for the enforcement of the law, or
for the welfare of the State, but purely
for his own selfish political desires
Evidence of that fact is available
sc Mr.. Brundage not only desired
my political assassination, but he pro-
ceeded with the machinery at his hands
to accomplish that fact. The Chicago
Tribune spokesman for all the inter
ests, gladly lent the aid of its powerful
press to the spreading broadcast of Mr.
Brundage's propaganda.
THE Chicago Daily News. owned and
edited by Mr. Victor Lawson. not only a
tax dodger Of record himself, but spokes-
man for the millionaire tax dodgers Of
Chicago who refuse to hear their just
proportion of taxes, rushed to the aid
Of Mr.. Brundage and The Tribune.
The public utility interests, offended
because l have kept my pledge for home
rule, and the abolition of their former
tool the public utilities commission
gave what support they were able to
give to Mr.. Brundage's effort to be-
smirch my name and my record.
BRINGS IN
TRACTION INTERESTS.
THE traction interests of Chicago. who
Know that the present Governor of Illi-
nois will reduce street car fares from
and 10 cents to . if it is humanity posi-
Bile, gladly Joined with Mr.. Brundage
and the other interests to annihiIate me
$50 Mr.. Brundage came to Sangamon
County, the only county in the State
where he had any hopes of securing an
Indictment against me. While it may
seem amazing that any grand jury
could do this thing, still l am not sur
prised that a Sangamon County grand
jury, dominated by an organization pro-
tecting the most vicious criminals and
brazen law violators to be found in the
State of Illinois has taken this action.
II am absolutely innocent OF every
charge they make. They, better than
any one else, know I am innocent and
that they can never prove the charges.
which are simply brought for the pur-
pose of character assassination through
the public press OF Illinois. And l be-
lieve the other parties indicted are equal
( ly innocent.
The people OF the State Of Illinois
elected me on the pledge that I would
| honestly serve them. I have served them
TO the best Of my ability. regardless Of
consequences, saving them many mil
lions Of dollars. I will continue to
, honestly and faithfully serve them with
every particle Of strength and ability 1
possess.
And I am not afraid of the final
verdict which will come from you, the
great people of Illinois
LEN SMALL. Governor"