The Indianapolis times., 1924-07-29
Bass All Powerful

And why shouldn't they? The
influence of the boss was all
powerful in the election or ap.
pointment Of sheriffs. police, con-
stables, usually the district attor-
ney, and even judges.
With their official life in some
measure dependent upon the boss,
a mere nod or a request might
easily change the whole course Of
. justice.
I began to feel this pressure in
all sorts Of cases; they did not
attempt to reach me directly,
knowing that had defied the boss
in my election, but 1t came about
in the curious ways in which
witnesses faded out Of the reach
Of the sheriff's office, in the dis
agreement of jurles. and the like.
Under such conditions any man
inside the political ring, or a man
with great political influence,
could escape punishment for al
most any offense.
I early determined I would make
absolutely no distinctions between
men in the administration of 1us-
tice, and I soon had a very severe
test. Sanderson, chairman OF the
Republican State central commit
tee, came to Madison at the or
ganization of the Legislature, got
to gambling and drinking and
went TO bed in a state of intoxi-
cation.
Feeling some one trying to take
his money, he aroused himself
enough to make an outcry, and
the next morning the story was
all over town. 1t came up to me.
and in the regular course Of my
duty I went to tn ehotel to get
Sanderson to make a complaint.
He was insulting; told me it was
none of my business, and that II
knew where my political inter-
ests lay. better keep d-n quiet.
told him plainly that we did not
permit such things to happen in
Madison without prosecution and
that l shoull require him to swear
out a warrant.
Sanderson got out of Madison by
the first train and tried to get out
Of the State, but caught him with
subpoena at Milwaukee. I aho
got the fellow who was charged
With taking the money: but the
pressure on the witnesses was so
great that I could not convict him.
However, the purpose Of the prose
Cution-to make the law supreme in
Dane county-was well served;
and instead Of inJuring my chances
for reelection, the case decidedly
helped me.
During the four years I served
as district attorney had practical
ly nothing to do with politics; I
made as good a campaign as I
knew how for reelection, but I
knew nothing and cared nothing
for the political organizations of
the county and State.
1t is facts that settle cases; the
law is always the same. And this
rule applies to things Of larger i'm
portance than criminal cases.
Facts count high everywhere.
Whether the matter in hand Is
railroad legislation or the tariff, 1t
Is always a question Of digging
out the facts upon which to base
your case.
The first and rather surprising
suggestion made to me to become
a candidate for Congress came
about in this way.
Samuel A. Harper and I were
classmates and chums in the uni
versity. In 1884, my last year as
district attorney, he came to visit
me in Madison. He was full of
imagination and the spirit of
youth; six feet tall. 1.-the and ath-
letic, he was a handsome and
brilliant fellow. He possessed the
most unerri1g political Judgment
OF any one have ever known.
Law Partner
Our lives were knit together In
way that rarely comes to men. He
became my law partner in 1885,
and was my clogest friend and
most trustful adviser until his
death in 1898.
Sam remained with mo for