The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-18
But Senator Admits Action
by Indirect Methods to
Win His Point.
INFLUENCE ON GILLIoM
Sought to Block Penalty
Against Shumaker in
Contempt Case.
Detailed story Of Watson's questioning
BY GilIiom on Page 2.
BY BOYD GURLEY
Editor Of The Times

E0itor OF Ino I1mo8
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18.-Sen-
ator James E. Watson yesterday af-
frmed with vehemence that never
in all his life had he attempted to
influence a. judge or court in its
decisions.
But, Of course, politics is politics,
and he admitted having conspired
to do by indirection what he re-
fused to do directly.
When e. S. Shumaker, head of the
Indiana Anti-Saloon League, seemed
destined to go to Jail for his eff
forts to tyrannize over the Indiana
Supreme Court, as result Of its re-
luctance to set aside the Bill of
Rights to maintain the Volstead act,
Watson coyly said he tried to sneak
into the back door of the court and
save a force that always has sup
ported his candidacy.
Instead Of going directly to
judges, Watson admitted he tried
to influence Arthur Gilliom, youth
full Attorney General of Indiana,
who had challenged the power of
the, league to corrupt or threaten
the court.
Pressure Is Exerted
He admitted he sent to Gilliom
his closest and best friends to per-
Suade him to consent to a verdict
which would satisfy not only the
followers of the league, but also
those who believe that courts should
retain some measure of autonomy.
His testimony here was taken by
Gilliom to strengthen his motion.
row pending before the court, to
increase Shumaker's sentence of six
ty days for contempt, on the ground
that Shumaker's efforts to get the
two Senator's to influence the court
constitute a new offense.
The Watson deposition was taken
here in the Office Of Vernon Van
Fleet. former Hoosier attorney and
federal trade commission member,
now practicing here.
Gilliom, a friendly interrogation
who nevertheless insisted on the
truth and all the truth, and who
seemingly was ready to carry it into
paths which the Anti-Saloon league
did not wish to follow, asked Watson
how he became interested in this
court case.
Charged With Contempt
Gilliom had charged the head of
the league in Indiana with con-
tempt and had declared that the
power Of the league had been ex-
ercised in a fashion to terrorize
timid judges.
Watson then told how Arthur
Robinson, junior Senator when both
were candidates, came to him and
told him that the wrath Of the
league would be invoked If its head
were sent to Jail.
Watson said that as a result of
this conference he attempted to
turn loose upon Gilliom the closest
and dearest friends he had, in
order tO persuade the attorney
general chat he was all wrong-or
was it all wet?-in asking that the
league commander be sent to jail.
Watson said the case had a
political slant. He was q candidate.
AS a lawyer he hesitated to ap-
proach q Judge. AS a candidate he
worked for a compromise.
And so he admitted that he sent
men to Gilliom who were friendly
to himself to ask the attorney
general that he advise the court
that It would be all right If the
judges merely called Shumaker into
court-quickly, Of course, to make
good with the league the idea that
the Senator'S had saved hinl-and
reprimanded him.
1t Goes All Wrong
The friends went all right, but
something went wrong, because
when all was ironed out, Shumaker
was under jail sentence, and Gil
liom had refused to accept the ad-
vice Of the Watson enlissaries.
Watson was being examined
about conversation which he held
with Shunaker. Later 1t was all
put into correspondence, and the
league attorney yesterday seemed
grieved because the original docu-
ments from the Watson files should
have come into Gilliom's possession.
Watson blandly blamed his secre-
tary, John Hayes.
When the hearing was all over,
the net result was that Watson had
said that he always refused to COR
rupt judges, but had tried indi-
rectlv to keen Shumaker out of jail.