The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-23
The Duvall Verdict


John L. Duvall is guilty Of political corruption
and must spend some time in jail as punish
ment for his crimes.
The people Of the State have known it for
months, ever since in fact The Times began its
exposure Of the influences and the forces which
had taken over the government, and made the
name Of Indiana mockery and by-word.
Those influences were born in an era of
hideous hate, and fed upon the masked secrecy
which was their emblem. Super government
was their purpose. To accomplish it, they set
aside the laws and the safeguards established
in the past for the protection of liberty and
justice.
The contest between law and the con-
stituted authorities on the one side, and the
invisible empire these influences had created
on the other was the inevitable conflict be-
tween representative government and super
government.
Once more it is demonstrated that the heart
Of Indiana beats true, and that it can be de-
pended upon to maintain the faith when it
knows the truth.
The conviction Of Mayor Duvall is more
than the downfall of man. 1t is the col
lapse Of gigantic conspiracy to take over the
peoples government and to discard the Con-
stitution.
Were it but John Il. Duvan who is con-
cerned, there might be and would be pity for
a weak man who may have been tempted by
his ambitions to forsake the path of honor for
one of crime
Were nothing more accomplished than
would be meaningless.
Putting men in jail is merely the stupid but
the only way that society has had of protect
ing itself and its institutions.
Were that all, nothing has been done. For
unless the verdict means that there is once
again courage and a conscience that are
alert, awakened and watchful, ready to de-
fend the sacredness Of the ballot as the one de-
Tense of justice and of law, it is trivial thing
and worthless.
AS a symbol of an aroused conscience, it
means everything. One year ago, Duvall be-
came the first open target of the blasts Of D.
G. Stephenson, who from his prison cell pro-
tested that he had and could reveal proofs of
political corruption.
There were denials then that there had been
any corruption. The entire machinery Of gov
eminent declared that the charge was SANDER.
When The Times demanded an investigation,
the answer, not from Duval but from more
powerful men than he, was that this was
scandalous newspaper, intent on besmirching
the mighty and the fine for its own purposes.
Day after day for a year, against the most
powerful influences and the greatest of OBJ
stacles, The Times dug beneath the surface and
produced the evidence that Stephenson had
said he could reveal, but which he withheld in
the hope that those with whom he had con-
spired would open the prison doors as the price
Of silence.
Two grand juries failed, not for lack of
evidence but because Of sinister conditions
which surrounded their deliberations
The system Of which Duvall was both part
and tool used the powers of government to
suppress and to protect.
Witnesses disclosed by The Times were
hurried from the State. There were stealthy
bargains and men who could tell went into hid
ing The law was Haunted. The machinery OF
the courts was clogged.
It can not be said that those who defended
Duvall did so in ignorance Of the facts and the
truth.
The conviction of Duvall is an indictment
Of the majority membership of the last Legis-
lature, and of the Governor. For in his hey
day of disrepute the Legislature, with the APP
prevail of the Governor, passed law which
prevented the citizens of Indianapolis from
freeing themselves by the one way then open,
the changing of the system to that Of City
Manager.
When the Legislature extended the term
Of Duvall and took from the people this
weapon, they became his partners in the con-
spiracy to rule Indianapolis against its will
The awakening has come. 1t will be
shameful thing if Duvall, or those who may
inherit power through him, are permitted to
T.. AZ "a 4ls1~x IL. L.