The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-02
Standing Mute

AS day after day passes and no word
comes from Governor Ed jackson concern
inc the most serious charge yet made IN the
whole probe Of political affairs, the public
I has a perfect right to speculate upon the
reasons for silence.
The defenders of the present regime and
especially of the political control OF the Re
publican party call the Governor s attitude
"policy of silence
That seems to be at least inaccurate.
Is it not, in the language Of the law,
rather an attitude of standing mute before
the court OF public opinion?
For there is no mistake that all those
who traficked and dealt and bargalned
with Stephenson and others during that
period when the government Of this State
was taken from the people by subterfuge,
trickery and deception are on trial before
that same court of public opinion.
And in that court of public opinion no
lenient statute Of limitation by which two
years may erase offenses from the Judg-
ment Of public opinion operates.
When Stephenson ten months ago sent
his letter from his cell declaring that he
could prove many things down to the time
that the "black boxes were delivered to
the prosecutors after the former Dragon,
now life termer in Michigan City, said
that he had been double-crossed for the
last time the matter has been before the
public for final and definite judgment.
There are three pleas possible in any
court. One is to admit the facts. The other
is to. deny and the third is to maintain
silence. That is called, in legal language
standing mute"
In courts Of law person who stands
mute invites proof without denying.
Unfortunately that seems to be the I'M
dignifed position which the Governor of
this State has placed himself by what his
friends call policy of silence
The charge was made by The Times one
week ago, with full realization of its own
responsibility in the matter and of the
gravity of the charge.
49, It told the people that on Dec. s,
1923, Ed Jackson then Secretary of State,
left conference in his own office at which
George Y. Coffin, the political boss, was pres
ent, went to the office Of Warren T. Nc
Cray, then Governor and offered to donate
$4,000 for attorney fees for the defense
viciton in courts in return for the naming
Of prosecutor selected by Coffin as a sue
!cessor to William P. Evans, son-in-law of
McCray, who was ready to resign.
1t said that McCray refused the offer and
that he said, in words and effect that he had
lost his money, would lose his Office and
might lose his liberty, but that he refused
to lose his self-respect.
: That is the matter upon which Ed Jack
son, then Secretary Of State and now Gov
ernor Of this State, says nothing.
The Times believes that there are many
places in which the evidence can and should
be presented.
James P Noel named in The Times story
as having received the same offer as at
torney for McCray from D. G.. Stephenson,
in public letter says that he has reason to
believe that he should be called upon in
some forum to give evidence as to the truth
or falsity of The Times statement
The people of this State must unques-
tionably ask what forum and what tribunal
will listen to the evidence and the facts.
That is the situation Certainly this policy
of silence can not continue.
No plea of standing mute" can be &C
cepted in a court of public opinion.
Unless the Governor denies and denies
quickly, he should resign. And if he does
not resign, the Legislature of this State
should convene and force all evidence and
all proof into the open.
There is no alternative None will be ac-
cepted.