Evening star., 1926-10-15
PROPOSED|NQU|RY
BY REED ARQUSES
INDIANA CAMP PA|GN
Walb Protest of Money Used
by International Bankers
Acts as Boomerang.
G. 0. P. FEARS INABILITY
TO RESTRAIN SENATORS
Democrats Hope to Drag in ste
phensonism," But Fear Reaction
if Whole Thing "Flivvers."
By G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
staff Core Snondpnt of The star

INDIANAPOLIS, October 15.-Until
"Ste ephensonism entered the cam
palgn and the limelight the same
apathy among the voters that is found
in Other states this Fall was here.
But the charges of political scandals
involving d. G. Stephenson. "lifer"
at the Michigan City Penitentiary,
and the Republican organization nave
aroused an interest. slowly at first,
but now gathering momentum which
may yet make this a real campaign.
Here in Marion County, the news
papers are full of the matter and
people are watching each new edition.
If the whole thing "flivvers." a s some
Republican leaders insist il will, ii
may prove a boomerang. On the other
hand. the expectations that Senator
Jim Reed of Missouri and his
Senate investigating committee will
be here next week, has reused still
further interest in the matter
Good Name of State at stake.
For the fair name of the State many
of its most influential citizens are
hoping that the charges will prove
incorrect. They are counseling voters
not to be carried away, but to wait
until the grand jury has sifted the
matter and made its report. Bishop
Frederick ID. Leete of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Indiana has is
sued a statement on the Adams
charges of political corruption. assert
ing that the people generally have
confidence in the prosecuting attor-
ney, William II. Remy, who is con
Quoting the grand jury investiga ton.
and that most good citizens have
suspended judgment. The bishops
statement suggests that the issue has
been made to free Stephenson or
merely as a political device at the last
hour before election. and that some
of the officials against whom the
charges have been made are more
trustworthy than are those who have
appeared as Complaina ntS.
But the tide of sentiment seems to
be rising and it Is impossible to tell
now just what the result will be.
G. o. p. Put in Hole.
Some Of the Republicans are not at
all pleased with the turn of affairs
which may bring the Reed commit.
tee into this State. Clyde Walb the
Republican State chairman, who
wrote a letter to Senator Borah of
Idaho charging that international
bankers were spending money in In
diana to hurt the Republican senate
rial candidates because they had op-
posed the World Court, is coming in
for criticism. The Democrats took
up this charge by Walb and sent word
to Senator Reed they would like to
have him investigate the matter. AS
it appears to be the only grounds on
which the Senate investigating com
mttee could we'll decide to come here
h,N l,;,
in IT. Once the Reed committee is
here the Democrats believe it will
so maneuver as to make an inveStica-
ton OF the entire situation. including
the Adams charges of corruption
against the Republicans.
A young woman. described by local
newspapers as "frail beautiful %.
year-old Indianapolis girl" said to
he a friend of Steve" has become
center of interest in the scandal
investigation. She is Mildred Meade
In the theory that she has. some of
the alleged Stephenson documents
showing payments to Republicans by
the former klansman and agreements
regarding political appointments Miss
Meade is sought by the grand jury.
Her parents insist she has none of
the documents, but that they were
all sent TO New York The proSe-
outing attorney is making every
efort TO obtain the documents.
World Court as Issue.
The issues insthe campaign outside
or StephenSoniSm' have created com
peratively little excitement. The Re.
publicans have sought to make the
World Court an issue, realizing the
strong sentiment in the State against
American adherence and the fact that
both Indiana Senators. Watson and
Robinson. voted against the court
The Democrats, on the other hand
have tried not to be drawn into the
court issue. Evans Woollen. Candi-
date OF the Democrats against Robin
son. and Albert Stump. their nominee
against Watson. have taken the posi-
tion that the Republicans and the Re.
publican administration first present
ed the court issue to the Senate Of the
Inited States. and were in control of
that body when the protocol was rati-
fled. Nevertheless. the Republicans
are counting on this anti-World Court
sentiment to aid them Back of them
in this stand they see the ku klux
Khan. Although the klan is declared
to be considerably weaker in Indiana
than it was two years ago. II is still in
control of many votes. II has been
estimated that the klan strength has
dwindled to 100 600 from the 400. 900
members il boasted at its height This
is only an estimate of klan strength
today.
The wet and dry issue that has
stirred other States is lacking here
except in three congressional districts,
the first fifth and twelfth. where the
Association Against the Prohibition
Amendment is backing the Demo
cratic nominees for the House. Off.
cials of the Anti-Saloon League say
that all four of the senatorial NOM
inees. Republican and Democratic
alike. are satisfactory 10 the drys, and
the issue does not enter into the sena-
torial campaign. Senator Robinson
has spoken repeatedly for the drys.
The league on a few occasions paid
Robinson's expenses from Washing
ton TO Indiana when he came to make
dry speeches. He was the dry floor
leader in the State Senate when the
State enforcement code, more strln-
gent than in any of the other States.
was put through. Senator Watson,
the league leaders point out has a
long record of voting for prohibition
measures in Congress.
Evans Woollen. head of one Of the
CONTINUED on Page s. Column 81