The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-09
The banning Facts

How much longer will the rank and file OF
the Republican party, the editors of decent
Republican papers, the leaders who were not
part of the trades and deals with D. G:
Stephenson and the Khan, permit silence on the
part of Governor Ed jackson to place all OF
them under cloud?
The Governor wrote letter to the editor
of The indianapolis Times declaring that the
statements published by this newspaper con-
corning an effort to induce Governor McCray
to name selection of George V. Coffin as
prosecutor were false.
The editor of The Times promptly asked the
Governor to go before the grand jury and re-
peat his statements under oath.
The answer of this newspaper was that If
the Governor is innocent, then the editor of this
newspaper Should be in jail on charge of
criminal libcl-and the editor of this paper is
not anxious for jail.
Here is so grave matter that it cannot be
left to controversy and correspondence.
1t must have a judicial decision, with the
evidence out in the open so that the people may
know.
The men and women who vote the Repub
lican ticket as matter of principle and who
believe in it and who elected Jackson have
right to see that evidence and the Governor
should be most anxious that it be made public.
The course suggested by The Times to the
Governor would open the way. 1t may not be
generally known that volunteer witness be-
fore grand jury obtains no immunity A wit
ness called by subpoena obtains immunity.
Close friends of the Governor have insulted
him by declaring that he can afford to be silent
because the date fixed by The Times as that of
the conference at which this offer was Matched
and made by Jackson to NcCray is now for
given by the statute Of limitations and that he
is safe because the law cannot reach him.
That is an explanation that the Governor
should resent and especially should those who
may have confidence in his innocence, resent.
This incident, however, is but the climax to
Ayear Of events in which official power has al
ways operated to prevent the people getting
the truth
From the daylthat Stephenson, former
dragon and maker of Governors and Senators
and State officials and now life termer,
smuggled out his letter saying he had doc
dmentary evidence of political corruption there
has been studied and persistent.effort to pre-
vent the public from getting those documents.
The Governor and the prison board denied
access to this prisoner when requested that six
State Senators be allowed to talk to him.
The Governor, hiding behind his board was
successful in keeping Stephenson away from
the questions of all newspapers.
There was a denial that Stephenson had
any documents or ever had any documents
Senator Watson was elected largely be-
cause of this denial and of the statements that
Stephenson was trying to blackmail his way
to liberty and could produce nothing.
1t was denied by the Governor that he had
ever received check from Stephenson for
campaign purposes and the implication was
made in his denial that there were no checks
that Stephenson had drawn which would be
embarrassing. His denial did not say frankly
and openly then that he had had a business
transaction with the former dragon and that he
had sold him horse for $4,000.
The closest friends of the Governor were
amazed when, months later, The Times pro-
duced the original Of check for $4,000 with
penciled note written in his Noblesville cell by
Stephenson that it was part of $4,000 given
Jackson for his primary campaign.
When the check was produced the Cover
nor said as he has said most frequently that he
had nothing to say.
Days later he said that this check was given
him for horse. The explanation came after