The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-27
ENLISTED FOR THE WAR

This newspaper enlisted in the cause OF good gov
eminent for the duration of the war, not for one,
battle 1t has no interest in parties 1t has every
interest in government. 1t has partisanship. 1t
always has zeal for the citizen.
Long before the startling charges came from the
cell of D. c. STEPHENSON this newspaper was diligent-
ly probing into the misgovernment that was so ap-
parent in county and State that it believed there was
duty of exposure
1t hated government by vepa minorities and self
,4h groups.
1t is dedicated to the foundation principles of
lis Government, which IS rule by the majority.
And then when this lfe-term convict, once the most
powerful figure in Indiana, the maker of Governors,
the dictator of political conventions the boss of
Legislature, caught in his own machine cried on:
that he had documents which would prove graft and
corruption The Times declared that those charges
must be investigated.
If they false Indiana must not rest under
the burden of shame and SANDER If they be true,
the guilty must be driven from power and
punished that never again would men be tempted
to sell their souls to some master trickster.
That was the reason behind the demand of The
Times upon Governor Jackson that he permit this
prisoner to tell his story.
No one doubted his ability to prove such charges.
That was the startling and terrible thing-that they
accepted true and that interest conferred not
on the charges but on the question of whether Ste
phenson could be induced to reveal his secrets and
produce his evidence
The Times was amazed that there was not an
Indignant denial. 1t amazed that for five days
oficiadom not only silent but turned it's every
effort towards keeping Stephenson from being
by any and especially by six State Senators in
whose names demand for admission had been
made
The Times ashamed for Indiana when it
required a visit from Col Theodore Roosevelt and
the magic Of his fathers name to open he lips of
any former associate and beneficiary of Stephenson
ism in any feeble promise of investigation.
1t for the purpose of following this trail to
its end that it alone of the Indianapolis newspapers
day after day, repeated it's demand for an inquiry
that would satisfy.
1t was for that reason that it has tried in every
and to the full extent of its resources to assist
q grand jury under Prosecutor Remy to get at the
facts. For it realized people must realize, that
this body is almost helpless without Investigators,
without trained detectives without any of the ordi-
nary agencies for the disclosure of crime and the
obtaining of evidence.
And more and more it realized that every force
of those in power who had been placed in their po-
sitions of eminence and influence by Stephenson
were using that power, not to uncover graft but to
block and hinder it's discovery.
When Clyde Walb made his CHARGES now proven
to be false, it was The Times which urged Senator
James A. Reed to come to Indiana and under the
mandate of the Senate seek the truth of those
charges.
Be it remembered to the discredt of Mr. Walb
and of Senators Watson and Robinson that they did
not at any time appeal to Reed for probe of his
charges. That is understandable now 1t was per-
picking then, for The Times was guileless enough to
believe that Wab had some evidence before making.
charge that corrupt money to be found in every
precinct.
1t was as eager and as Jealous to protect the name
and the honor of Indiana from an assault by those
mythical international bankers" as it had been per-
sistent in demanding a probe of the Stephenson
charges.
And when Reed came and the poisoned press
which supports Senators Watson and Robinson mis-
quoted Reed as saying that he had found only
chicken feed" 1t remained for The Times to print
the stern rebuke from the Missouri Senator in which
he denied not only the statement but added that
Wab, the chairman of the Republican committee had
written deliberate falsehood and was thoroughly
discredted by his testimony
These facts are rebearsed so that there may be
no Misunderstanding the part Of it's readers as
TO it's purpose and it's policy
1t has dared to print the news when other news
papers in this city silent.
1t dared to print the news and the fact and to
get the facts because it has friends to protect
and no enemies to punish. No political parties to
foster and none to fight
1T does have the hope that the people will in this
election wipe from power those who are heirs To that
foul thing called Stephensonism, will defeat those
who once paid their tribute of obedience to his COM
mands, who were once proud and eager to be his
political slaves
But it pledges here and that it will carry on
this fight for honesty and decency no matter what
the people may decide to do with their ballots ON
next Tuesday 1t will carry on that warfare against
dishonesty and corruption long has one sheet
of white paper on which to print its warning
1t will wage that against any who may in
the future be tempted to betray the people of this
State or use power given them for their own pur-
poses.
1t believes that the first battle will be won next
Tuesday, for it has faith in Indiana in the honesty
and the integrity and the intelligence of it's people
And The Times knows that the war will be won
IL the end for proposes to see that there is never