The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-11-05
Demand That Special Session

hall to demand the election OF decent mayor
should be but detour on their way to the
State House to demand special session Of the
Legislature.
If the conviction of John L. Duvan made it
urgent that special session of the Legislature
be called, the indictment of four members of
the city council makes it's imperative.
These councilmen hold their Jobs under that
same amendment to the city manager law
which was enacted to protect Duvall, and did
protect him against the voters but not against
a jury.
These councimen were elected under law
which provided that the people could get rid
of them by adopting the city manager system
at any time they wished The people have
voted that wish. The amendment to the law
passed by the last Legislature prevents the
change Of system until $780, That is too long
to wait for justice. 1t is too long to suffer
continuation of the present order
The indictments, of course, are not convic-
tions. These councilmen will have their day
in court.
They must face their accusers. They are
presumably innocent.
But it is fair to say because it is the truth
that these indicted councilmen have lost moth
ing in the way of public confidence or respect
because Of the indictments. They had no conf
dence and no respect to lose. That went
months ago.
1t is fair to say that they have lost their use
fulness and should not even be permitted to
remain as rubber stamps to register the de-
cisions Of others.
This city needs new city government.
This city has voted to get a new city gov
ernment and a new system that will not invite
such catastrophes.
This city has voted it's wish on the matter
of a new system Of government and is entitled
to have that system put into effect at once
The same civic organizations which are
working in unity to obtain a representative
citizen as mayor, a place that is almost re-
ownership for the moral bankruptcy Of the city
government should now combine their infu-
ence to persuade Governor Ed Jackson that
special session of the Legislature should be
called.
That special session could in a very brief
time repeal that amendment to the city man
ager law and permit this city to free itself. 1t
could amend any defects in that law and make
it stronger if amendments are needed
That is only simple justice to this city and
the excuse of Governor Jackson that he does
not know that members of the Legislature
would change their minds is puerile.
A committee should go at once to the Gov
ernor and ask him whether he would again
sign law that was designed to keep John L.
DuvalI and the "Four Horsemen" in office
against five to one vote Of the people of In
dianapolis.
That committee should ask the Governor
whether he is not ready now to send letter
to members of the Legislature asking them
whether they would give Indianapolis the JUS
tice that is demanded if they were called into
special session.
The people Of this city, working through
the civic organizations which are functioning
so well, have right to demand these things of
Governor Ed jackson.
They have a right to know whether he, as
Governor of all the people, as he says he is,
has quit being Governor for Indianapolis and
is only Governor for the purpose of keeping
political machine in control of the largest city
in the State.
The time to get that special session is now.
There is every reason for calling one. There
is not a single reason to advance against it
unless Of course, the Governor suggests to any
committees that call upon him that he would
be personally embarrassed by a Legislature
which might be inquisitive about State affairs
and not limit its activities to giving justice to
indianapolis.
Why should not the demand be made now
that Governor Jackson either call session i'm
mediately or address a letter to each Senator
and Representative asking them whether they
would vote for the repeal Of the Sims amend
ment and make their answers public?
The debris is being cleared away. It is time
to call in the bricklayers and begin to build.
Old Towns and New