The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-03
An Extra Session

us own IdlF Name anu reputation anu Oeot liz
terests were not demanding one.
For the State Legislature, with the approval
of the Governor, robbed Indianapolis of its
right to rule itself as one Of the final acts.
1t did more than that. The Legislature set
aside the contract of the city of Indianapolis
with John L. Duvall and forced him upon this
city for two years against the wishes of the
people.
When DuvalI was elected mayor, if he was
elected, the laws provided that the people
might at any time change to the City Manager
form of government.
That was one of the conditions of his bar
gain with the people. He took the Office made
his numerous bargains for jobs, grabbed his
numerous contributions, knowing that the peo-
pie had this right
The people understood this too. They must
have had away back in their minds the idea
that they had this avenue of escape There
could be no other explanation for the election
of Duvall.
When the people got ready to use this
weapon of defense the State political machine,
the heir to all the days Of Stephensonism, the
creation of combined fanaticism and bigotry,
forced the Legislature to repeal the law which
gave this right to the people.
That is the only reason that Duvall is now
mayor of this city Had not the people been
robbed of their rights (and The Times it may
be remembered, raised the only warning of this
fom conspiracy there would be no need of civic
clubs demanding designations or wabbly coun-
clmen threatening impeachments.
The Governor had his part in this robbery
of indianapolis. He signed the measure for
the bosses. Coffin, who is now under joint IN
dictment with the Governor, was the man who
cracked the whip.
Conditions have changed greatly Since the
close of the Legislature. Today it would be
impossible to pass such measure The grip
of fear has been broken. The machine is dis
credited and fearful.
It is probable that very many members of
the Legislature who timidly yielded to the
orders of the bosses would today defy them if
given chance.
That Legislature did one other thing for
which it undoubtedly repents and which it
should have the chance to rectify.
When Representative George Saunders of
Bluffton, an editor, asked for an investigation
of State affairs and especially the activities OF
Stephenson and the Khan, suppression became
party policy of the Republican members.
Many of the Republican members privately
protested The party whip was cracked. They
obeyed.
If there was need of legislative investiga-
ton then, there is a greater need now.
The Governor of this State is under indict-
ment. He will be tried in the courts and the
courts will pass upon his guilt. He is charged
with one specific offense.
The Legislature must feel somewhat
chagrined as they go among the people and
listen to the coarse jibes concerning the $1,000
horse which the Governor said he sold to
Stephenson, and said it only after The Times
had produced the check drawn in his favor by
Stephenson.
The people know that Stephenson insists
that this check was but one-fourth Of ten thou
sand dollars which the former grand dragon
says he gave to Jackson personally to finance
himself as the primary candidate.
The black boxes are in the hands of the
grand jury, thanks to the activity of The
Times.
What they contain is secret. There are
offenses that are greater than crimes. The peo-
pie understand that. They know that not all
the offenses against them are covered by Grim
inal laws They no longer accept the theory
that man can stay in office as long as he keeps
out of Jail.
The attorney general has before the highest
court contempt case which also should inter
est the State Legislature
The people have before them a letter of
United States Senator James E. Watson, in
which he incautiously admits that he wrote let
tiers throughout the State that he hoped would
keep the head of the Anti-Saloon League out of
fail
The Watson letter declares that the other
Senator Arthur Robinson, urged him to act.
Here is matter of such inheritance and of