Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1922-03-24

l.,
editorialy under the caption, 1T Is
a Hard Job Fighting for the Peo-
pie; Governor Smalrs Efforts for
/ Municipal ownership and Five-cent
Fare and Good Roads for Illinois
Are Reflected in the Indictment of
the Cement Trust by Federal Au-
thorities.' says:
"The fact that the federal author
tiles have instituted criminal pro-
ceedings against the individuals
making up the Cement Trust which
Governor Small has fought in ILL
INOIS BODYBUILDING WORK
tends to demonstrate the justice
and seriousness of the battle which
the states chief executive has
waged in the interest of the people
against the elleged profiteers NOW
UNDER INDICTMENT.
"Governor Small is to be admired
for the enemies he has made.
Consistently he has fought for
the peoplc-for the peoples own
ership and a 5-cent fare in the Leg
| islature, against the cement combine
J in road building-despite the handi-
caps placed upon him by the politi-
cal prosecution he has been compell-
| ed to endure.
"The Chicago Evening American
has exposed the two chief trial law
yers in the prosecution of the Gov
ernor as paid attorneys for the Chi
cago Surface Lines.
How much or how little the
powerful cement trust has had to
do, behind the scenes. with the
hunting and bounding of the Gov
ernor IS not known, but the Cover
nor speaks truly when hesays that
it is a hard job fighting for the
people.
Whether or not it is thankless
job Will be demonstrated by the
statewide vote April II for mem
bers Of the Legislature.
"The Brundage- Wilkerson-Mort
mer fosee, having failed to convict
the Governor in court, having
quashed the felony Indictment
against him December 10 rather
than meet Governor Small's ehal-
lenge for an immediate starting Of
the trial on that date, and since then
having twice refused Governor
Small's plea for a trial on the one
remaining, misdemeanor indictment,
now would attempt to convivct him
in A POLITICAL TRIAL IN A PO-
LITICAL COURT.
"They have raised the IMPEACH-
MENT ISSUE in Illinois. The pri-
mary April IL will decide whether
OF not the Governor, who has fought
for the people, will be permitted to
serve out the term for which the
people elected him.
at is gratifying indeed that the
prosecution was thwarted in it,
scheme to start the Governors trial
at date so late that but ONE SIDE
OF THE CASE could have been
heard before the IMPORTANT
VERDICT OF THE PEOPLE, April
II.
"This attempt to force the Cover
nor to trial, under circumstances
which would have prevented one
word Of defense being presented
before the people went to the polls,
was perhaps THE MOST UNFAIR
MOVE in all the rotten history of
Illinois feudist politics.
"The opening statement to the
jury of James Fl. Wilkerson, attor-
ney for the Chicago Surface Lines,
cannot now come in time 70 be u
campaign document for the anti
Small forces in the battle for con-
troll of the Legislature, but the cor
poration crowd without doubt will
resort to every species of camou-
hage, abuse and misrepresentation.
"ln this political crisis the cause
of popular government rests with
the sound judgment and clear un-
derstanding Of the people.
This newspaper will do its part
in making the issue clear in Illinois
and reiterates it's confidence in the
FAIRNESS AND INTELLIGENCE
of the electorate at large"