Evening star., 1926-10-19
Nations Interest Is Rising
In Indiana Political CHARGES

Indiana's turmoil over a grand jury
investigation Of alleged corruption in
the State Republican Organization
an inquiry forced by group of In
diana Republican editors-has be-
come an affair of extraordinary ma
tiona1 interest The country awaits
developments which may clear up the
ong-whispered reports that d. G..
Stephenson, former Klan leader who
now is serving life term for murder,
might make sensational disclosures if
he decided to talk.
considering the long time that
ugly rumors have been in circulation
in the Hoosier State, and the openness
with which they have been directed
against men high in public life," ac-
cording to the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin independent Republican,,
| 'the order for a grand jury investiga-
tion in Indianapolis comes from the
statehouse rather belatedly and
with ill grace. Investigation is some
what overdue. The whole tempest
was brewed by Thomas A. Adams of
Vincennes, chairman of the executive
committee of the State Republican
Editorial Association. The statement
Of Atty. Gen. Gilliom is so worded
as to justify apprehension lest that
officials sudden grand jury proceeding
may be intended to squelch the tenn
pest, rather than to give the facts full
| publicity. Fortunately, the backing
| of Albert r. Erskine of South Bend
seems likely to enable Mr.. Adams to
| get at the bottom of the matter. re-
gardless of what the Marion County
| grand jury may do"
| "If the Republican party's organiza-
| ton in Indiana has been prostituted
by unscrupulous persons for their
own gain or ggrandizement," urges
| the South Bend Tribune independent
| Republican, "the only way to save
| the party in the State is to let the
people know the truth. The Tribune
| is glad to see a corporation head like
| A. r. Erskine calling for a public dis
| closure of facts. We urge no State
| officer to stand on technicalities for
| the purpose of propping a structure
| of which he may be skeptical. The
| only way for a Republican officer or
| leader to be right in 1926 is to be
for the; right"
|. X X X X
The Chicago Tribune independent
| Republican, takes q similar position:
"Mr. Adams and his committee, of
course, are after O. full disclosure. 1t
is their duty to fight for that to the
| finish. They know enough already to
| be convinced that evils of the ut
| most gravity have fiOurished under
| the pretense of morality and reform.
| They have, therefore, as loyal sons
of Indiana, as loyal Americans. as
loyal representatives of a free press,
| no other course than to fight on Tor
| the truth and all the truth. They Will
| win at last, despite all opposition that
| can and will be brought to bear
openly and secretly. If they will fight
| without fear or favor, respecting no
person, however powerful or popular;
| respecting no alleged interest, how
ever plausible; respecting only the
truth. They are serving the cause
of good government, not only in lndl'
ana, but in all the Nation"
zone of the most spectacular bat
ties Of recent history" Is the Balti-
more Evening Suns independently de-
scription of the Adams campaign
| and It declares he has taken on the
whole Of Indiana political organiza,
ton; has crowded 1t to the ropes, and
is hammering 1t so unmerclfully thai
hitherto the organization has been
able to do little more than duck and
cover" The st. Louis Post st-Dispatch
independently feels that ''it is a heart
ening sign that the press Is still Tree
when 10 Republican editors OF Indi
/ ana will toin In a demand that the
corrupt Republican politics of the
state be exposed" and the Evansville
Courier independently believes, that
"no man of Adams standing In the
State would go as far as he has
gone unless he had the goods"
The Milwaukee Journal Qndepend
ent), however, considering definite
results, remarks: No doubt there art
thousands in Indiana who want &
fair investigation, after which they
would be willing to start all ovel
again. Will they get It? They went
to sleep when the forces charged with
corruption were entrenching. Now
there are regulations to protect, with
an election coming On. It would be q
miracle of State resurrection If In
diana got a real hearing"
| saTLoro 0l1Uht fn ho tho fii11aGf nf