The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-17
DRY LEADER
DRAWS FIRE
! OF G|LL|OM
Attorney General Declares
Shumaker Seeks to Dis
rupt Judiciary.
CITES EVANSVILLE TALK
Writes Letters to Bar Heats-
Asking Action.

Charges that E. S. Shumaker, In.
diana Anti-Saloon superintendent. is
"viciously and falsely" attacking
the Supreme Court in an effort to
control election of judges at the
fall election" in his self-assumed
per-governmental role as dictator
in the enforcement of the prohi-
bition statute" were made by At
torney General Arthur l.. GilIiom
today in letters to chairmen OF all
district and county bar associations
in the State
Gilliom action was the latest step
in a conflict with Shumaker began
last spring when he filed charges be-
fore the Supreme Court asking that
Shumaker and two AntiSaloon
League attorneys be cited for con-
tempt of court for criticism of SUI
preme Court liquor case decisions in
his annual report.
Under Consideration
The Supreme Court still has the
contempt case under consideration.
Gilliom In his letter cited a speech
made by Shumaker at the State
Methodist conference at Evansville
Wednesday in which Shumaker de.
clared he stood by everything he had
said in the report.
Gilliom's letter:
Writing strictly in my capacity
as a citizen and as a lawyer and
member of the bar-not as a parti-
SAN or public officer-I am impelled
to publicly call the attention of the
bar of this State to certain activi-
ties in the pending election cam
paign which constitute most men
acing threat to the Supreme Court
of our State as an independent and
trusted instrument for justice.
Using Churches
'I refer to the activities of the
head of the Indiana Anti-Saloon
League, which weer typified on Sept.
16, at Evansville. There, before
religious organization, he again
viciously and falsely attacked the
Supreme Court. and evinced his in.
tention to again utilize the churches
as political organizations to accom-
plish the election of some and the
defeat of others of the candidates
for the Office of judge of this court
on the narrow issue of which can.
didates would be most nearly amen
able to his demands for decisions
agreeable to him in his self-assumed
super-g governmental role as dictator
in the enforcement of the prohibition
statute. Truth and fairness have
been, and are being, sacrificed in
this effort to prejudice and mislead
the credulous.
"The question of public interest is
shall judges be elected with abil.
ity and freedom to administre jus.
tice in all cases in consonance with
the laws Of the land, or shall they
be elected primarily for the purpose
of deciding cases involving charges
Of violations OF the prohibition stat.
ute in obedience to the demands of
the forces of tyranny under pain of
political annihilation?
"All of the candidates on both
tickets possess the proper qualifca-
tions for this high office, but those
elected should be chosen under cir
eumstances which would inspire gen.
eral confidence in them as judges.
Duty of Lawyer
ut is my vie wthat peculiar duty
rests on the lawyers In this State to
meet this threat at the sacred in
stitution of the Supreme Court by
encouraging fairminded considera-
tion of all candidates for this office
in the full light of truth and general
requirements so that those elected
may ascend to this high Office with
the general respect and confidence
of the people in their ability, inde-
pendence, and high purpose.
IT am sending this letter to all
chairmen of State, district and
county bar associations for such con-
slderation as to them may seem
proper"