The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-04
LET HIM TELL


Will it dare to pass by in silence and inactivity
the charge that Adams makes that he has corrobora
tive proof for all the charges graft corruption OF
the theft of the government by super power?
The first to make demand for most drastic in
vestgation should be the half million men who were
led TO oin the hooded order Of the Khan which this
man ruled.
This paper has always protested against govern
ment by hate and by groups 1t said this when
Stephenson in power and it says now that there
must be no power above the elected officers OF the
State.
It declared then and now believes that the vast
majority of that half million were mlsled and DE-
traved were the victims of misrepresentation, were
led into the Stephenson by misdirected ideals
and by the turning of sincere motives into the I'M
reasoning obedience to those who had betrayed and
mised them.
The declaration of Thomas Adams, editor of
Republican paper high in the councils of his brother
editors that Stephenson wishes to tell the story OF
his political power should really not startle at all
It would be but confederation of what every
already knows.
It would be but convincing proof of facts which
have been common knowledge.
1t would be but startling revelation of things
which have been hidden but known to those who
have watched the slow disintegration of government
in this State it's seizure by little group which aban
doned decency, honesty every ideal on which Amer
icansm is founded, to gain control of the govern
ment
What are these things which Adams says that
he can now prove?
That Stephenson ruled the last Legislature and
by his nod directed legislation in the State.
Nothing new in that Every knew it.
That he through his political power elected .
the present State administration That has been an
open fact and common knowledge
That his power was great enough to send Sen
ator to Washington. Will Robinson, his private at
torney in many civil case repudiate that influence?
That vast fund raised to corrupt the cleo
tons in 1924 The merest tyro in politics knows
that it is true
That elections were corrupted ballot boxes
stuffed and votes miscounted Why did aspirants in
this county in the last primary plead with boss of
this county for. fair count?
That money was spent to influence legislation at
the last session. Is there any member of that body
who did not at least suspect that condition?
That contributions to the Republican campaign
funds from Chicago got into the treasury
but went to private individual That fact has been
than whispered for months.
That favorites of the machine have gone from
poverty to affluence in a brief period. Look around
the city and you can see some of them.
That bills disappeared from the Legislature after
they had been passed by the Legislature and
became laws. That is history.
Thrown together the charge, hideous when
grouped into its details, terrible in it's Implications
is that the government of this State and the politics
of the Republican party in the State has been gwen
to those who benefited from the power of this
yict, who wishes to tell his story, if what the
Republican editor says be true.
Parenthetically it is the story which the Times
has been printing and saying week after week, day
after day, in effort to the electorate of the
State to the fact that they longer have self-gov
eminent representative government.
Is there any doubt that the story which Adams
says Stephenson would tell if given the chance, and
can be proved by pictures and documentary evidence
is true?
1t would still be true if Stephenson instead of
telling kept silent in his cell and waited for time or
other power to secure his release
1t would be true if his silence the price of
his liberty.
That a condition arises where this man who
boosted that he was "the law" is ready to confess
is not surprising.
That those who benefited from his power and
influence should desire to forever silence his voice
in a prison cell is readily beevable.
That those he gathered about him and whom
he used would resort to just such practices is in
keeping with the kind of and the characters he
needed to maintain his power
That he is the victim of the same tactics which
certan-if his story be true. 1t would be inevitable
if common knowledge of his career be considered
We are trustful people. We like to believe the
best. We slow to convict or appear
That is why the story of Stephenson should be
heard and heard at
1t is even necessary in view of the fact
that there a quick change of wardens at the
penitentiary after his Imprisonment there being
taken from the State Warden Fogarty, recognized
the best of prison managers, and of such
standing ability that when crime-ridden Chicago
needed honest man, it sent for him it's
jails and house it's convicted politicians
1t is significant that since the day of his incar-
ceration, newspaper reporter has been allowed
TO visit him.
1t is than significant that the warden now
declares that no one may see him.
Under Fogarty no convict refused chance
to tell the world any story he wished give no one