The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-15
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT |! h !! EVENTS T. l
Alleged Corrupt Political
Ring in Indiana Is IS
Facing Exposure.
BY EDWARD w. PtckARD

BY EDWARD w. PEcKARD
WHILE the rest of the country
wv looks on with intense interest,
Indiana is listening aghast to revela-
lions exposing great alleged politi-
cal conspiracy spreading over the en-
tire state and threatening to involve
some of its most prominent citizens.
Thomas Il. Adams, publisher of Vim
cennes and chairman of an investiga-
ton committee named by the Republi-
can Editorial association Of Indiana,
is responsible for the exposure, and
the charges are based on the stories
told by D.. C. Stephenson, former
grand dragon Of the, Ku Klux Khan
and now serving a. life sentence for
murder. Stephenson, who says he was
framed" seeks vindication and re-
venge; and the editorial associations
committee has made repeated demands
on Gov. Ed Jackson for complete
investigation. Mr.. Adams, asserting
that the governor has lodged the is
sue, has been trying to persuade the
Indianapolis city council to hear the
charges before mass meeting. He
also has made repeated attempts to
reach Stephenson in his prison. but the
warden, backed by the prison board
and the governor. will let no one in
to interview; the convict. The latter.
however, managed to smuggle out
letter in which he said in part:
II have in a'place of security the
following. described documents:
81. A written contract by the
terms of which a certain prominent
official of the state of Indiana agrees
to pay me the sum of eight hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars
($S25, O0O), or three times the amount
expended in his behalf for election.
"2. / have notes representing the
above amount, signed by the official.
IS. / have written memorandum
signed by the same official acknowl-
edging the amounts expended by, me
in his behalf to bes:tEo hundred and
seventy-five thousand dollars (S275,-
600, or one-third of the sum above
mentioned. This memo recites an
agreement where 1 lose all if he was
beaten in the election, but receive
three-for-ones it, he won. s.r
Il. A written agreement with the
mayors of three. large cities in Indi-
ana binding themlcto repay me on
ratio of three-for-one for all money l
advanced in>their behalf, and further
agreements are In my possession
where ese;sameS men agree to|allow
certain individuals to name all ap-
pointments.
"5. I hold two Photographic copies
(and the PLATED. of an agreement by
and between the mayor of large city
and an organization politician in
which the mayor agrees to allow that
politician to name all of the city APP
pointees of certain class l also
have eight .affidavits of reputable men
who saw the photograph made from
the original n. later delivered the
original to the politician to whom it
was addressed by the mayor.
&c. have perhaps thirty or forty
contracts with less important public
officials who have agreed to repay
me for funds advanced to them for
campaign purposes
Publication of this by Mr.. Adams
being of no apparent avail, he next
made public photostatic copy of the
following amazing contract bearing
, the alleged signature of J. L. Duva.l,
mayor of Indianapolis and president
of the Marion County State bark:
"In return for the political support
Of d. c. Stephenson, in the event
am elected mayor of Indianapolis,
Ind. promise not TO. appoint any
person as member of the board of
public works without they first have
the Endorsement of D. c. Stephenson"
the contract reads. - 80
II also agree and promise to up
point Claude Morley as chief of po-
lice and Earl Klenck as captain.
"Signed by me. this 18th day of Feb
ruary. 1925"
With this he gave out a letter pur-
porting to have been written and
signed by Dura.l. 1t is written on the
ietterhead Of his bank. addresses