The Indianapolis times., 1926-10-26
THE TRICK THAT FAILED


1t is rather a desperate business, this trick of
putting words into the mouth of United States
Senator and especially of the Senator from Missouri
Senator James A. Reed
The forces of wisconsin and Stephensonism, ad
mittedy most desperate tried it. And the result
is a clean cut statement from Senator Reed that
Clyde Wab, chairman of the Republican State com
mittee, put out a deliberate falsehood when he
charged that there was corruption money in every
precinct to promote slanders and that Wab, in his
opinion was thoroughly discredited.
The rebuke came when the Indianapolis News,
the special peader for Senator Watson and the apol
ogist for Stebhensonism, quoted Senator Reed as
saying that this Indiana investigation had produced
only chicken feed"
The facts we're plain, clear, and SO unmistakabe
that such a quotation could have been nothing but
an inspired effort to the heirs to stephensonism
from defeat
Senator Reed in the hearing held in this city,
made it clear that he came here because Chairman
Walb had openly charged in letter to Senator Borah
that there evidence everywhere that the inter
national bankers had money in every precinct to
defeat the Senators who had voted against the
World Court.
1t was SO open and unqualified charge that Sen
ator Reed could not ignore 1t, even had he wished,
and he has record of ever lodging duty.
That charge was telegraphed to Senator Reed by
The Times whose policy is and has been for the
fullest and most complete investigation of every
charge of fraud and corruption, whether they came
from the prison cell of the former czar of this State
who misled and betrayed his thousands of followers,
or from Clyde Wab head of the Republican machine.
And when Senator Reed came his first act was
read his resolution of authority which limited his
powers inquiry into corruption in the primaries
and the election of the present year.
He repeated that he came to investigate chiefly.
the charges made by Walb The other evidence
which he admitted had relationship to this
paign He did not attempt to inquire into the truth
or falsty OF the grave charges made by Stephenson
in his letters
And when he was leaving, and there were still
to be examined some witnesses named by Wab, he
said that the remainder of the investigation was
important.
That was the phrase seized upon by the Watson
organ for its declaration that Reed has said the
whole inquiry had produced nothing but chicken
feed. The purpose, Of course, plain. 1t tried to
blanket the State with the idea that Reed had found
NO corruption in the Stephenson charges.
What ne had found basis for the charges
made by Clyde Walb.
II your neighbors don't read The Times you might
tell them of this effort to trick them out of their votes
by the same methods which Stephenson once en-
ployed trick his followers out of their citizenship
and their rights.
They may be grateful to you for informing them
of the ruth for You will probably not find it in other
newspapers printed in Indianapolis. You will find,
of course the broadcasted statement of Senator Reed
that he had found Walb guilty of perpetrating
attempt at deliberate falsehood to United States
Senator and he believed, fully discredited. They
cannot help that You will be faced by many such
attempts to beguile away your Judgment during the
coming week There will be many assaults upon
your Intelligence and your judgment For at last
it is disclosed and proven that the forces which
nived with Stephenson, who proud to
receive his aid desperate and desperately
trying to keep their power through suppression, dis
tortions and clear manufacture
What is to be the verdict of cause which is SO
weak that it's leader must resort to deliberate false
hood2
What is to be said of candidates who are man.
aged by who attempts to distract attention
from their weakness by putting out deliberate lie
to United States Senator?
What would be the action of Senators James Wat
son and Arthur Robinson when they discovered their
campaign In such hands, if they did not need just
such man? That Chicken feed" phrase Is part
of the game. 1t is part of the delusion and the
trick. It is part of the general scheme to win by
deceit in the fall where there was a victory by
gossip" in the spring.
Rather sad condition. 1t is only because of
strong sense of public duty that The Times feels it
incumbent to call to public attention the trick the
phrase and the newspaper which lent its aid to this
effort to disfranchise by trickery and deception
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