The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-15
PERTINENT
QUESTIONS
ARE ASKED
Dawes Is Embarrassed by
QUESTIONABLE Asked
in Wisconsin,
BIZ Times Special

n - - N3FF - 80
.IVI When Charles G. Dawes
W. came here to make his speech
on the Constitution OF the United
States" he found an embarrassing
set Of questions to nswer
The Milwaukee News Sentinel. I'M
der the heading, Get Down to Brass
Tacks, Mr.. Dawes" referred brief
~ TO Dawes denunCiatlon Of La Fol.
lette as a radical who would destroy
the Constitution, and then put the
following six questions:
Il. Can you name laws enacted
by the P~rogressives Of Wisconsin
during the last quarter Of a century
which have been declared unconsti-
tutional by the Supreme Court Of
the United States?
go. Can you site one instance IN
which the Constitution Of the United
States has been-or is beine-fouted
under Progressive government in
Wisconsin?
%. VIII you explain why It Is
that Wisconsin. under the political
leadership Of the man whom you de
scribe as a destructive red radical
is today n Of the most prosperous
and law-abiding States In the Union?
Lorimer Letter
-. You will recall. Mr.. Dawes.
that following the election. through
bribery and corruption. Of William
Lorimer by the famous jackpot
Legislature in your home State Of
Illinois. you wrote a letter to Lori
mer under date Of May Il. congrat-
ulating him upon his corrupt cleo.
ton, and that this letter was used
by him In the Senate investigation
OF his election, as a testimonial to
his good character. You will recall
that Robert NJ. La Toilette sue
ceeded in reopening this investiga.
ton, after LOrimer had once been
seated, and hat La Toilette finally
drove Lorimer from the Senate.
When la Toilette was fighting TO
Gust your friend Lorimer from the
Senate and you were fighting to put
him and keep him there. were Won
defending the Constitution Of the
United States, and was La Toilette
undermining it's basic principles?
Supreme Court Acts
IS. You will recall, Mr.. Dav
that on the day Of your nomination
for Vice President the Sunrer
Court Of Illinois rendered a decision
in a case in which it was alleged
that a Chicago bank Of which YOU
were president had secretly trans.
ferred to Lorimer, on Oct. p, 1921.
without the knowledge or consent of
its board Of directors. the sun Of
$1,250,00 which Lorimer falsely
swore was paid-in capital Of the
bank he was then organizing. in
order TO meet the requirements of
the banking laws, and which later
failed with losses to it's depositors
and stockholders Of more than So
900, 900. You will recall that this
decision Of the court compelled the
bank Of which you were president to
make good a portion Of the sum
which it had enabled Lorimer to rep.
resent falsely as capital of his bank.
will you state, Mr.. Dawes,
whether or not you regard this trans
action, which violated the letter and
spirit Of the banking laws and caused
heavy losses to many innocent per-
sons. as conduct in harmony with
the underlying principles Of the Con-
stitution of the United States?
First Primary Law
IS. You will recall, Mr.. Dawes,
that Wisconsin. under the governor
ship Of Robert NJ. La Follettet, en-
acted the first general primary law,
and that the primary has now been
incorporated in the laws and con
stitutions Of the most of the States
Of the Union. including your own
State. You have always opposed the
direct primary and as recently as
Oct. 10, 1922, publicly denounced
the primary system as responsible
for the alleged deterioration Of Con
gress, members Of which you
branded as damned towards Can
you explain to your Wisconsin au-
dience, Mr.. Dawes. how, as a de-
fender of constitutional government,
you have sought to bring into dis
repute this provision in the laws
and the constitutions Of your own
and neighboring States?
I'm the name of common sense
Mr.. Dawes, we ask you to answer
these specific questions as illustra-
tive Of your views on constitutional
Overnmen