The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-13
Scripps- Howard Views on Presidential
Situation: Statement of Principles

deliberations IN matters affecting the public
interest, aOe are publishing beIoa0 a letter
that has been received By the editor of The
Times, from Robert P. Scripps, editorial d.
rector of the Scripps-HoaOGrd newspapers.
The letter also points oNt that the VieaOs
given represent arnG1,in,ity of opinion among
Messrs. r. P. Scripps, Roy w. Hoacars1,
chairman of the board; George B. Parker,
editor-in-chief; and other members Of the
general editorial 5oard)
EDITOR TIMES:
DEAR MR.. GURLEY:
The Scripps-Howard newspapers have no
special interest in either of the old political
parties. This was made clear in 1924, when, in
the absence of inspiring leadership of either
of the old parties, this group Of newspapers
Endorsed an independent movement
These newspapers do, however, owe the
common debt of good citizenship to all the
American people; and it must be the wish of
every good citizen that in 1928 each OF the
political parties put forward a candidate and
q platform as nearly DIS pOSSlUl6 uGG0O W
serve the interests of our country.
With respect to the coming campaign, it
is the promotion of vital national policies that
should claim our chief attention. Certain
national policies that we must consider as vital
are as follows:
/. Recognition Of the changed economic
situation of the United States that demands
that we take some reasonable position as a
member of community of nations; reshaplng
Of our foreign policy so that it may be con-
sistent rather than haphazard one; and cor
relation of our naval and general armament
programs with our foreign policies.
q Recognition of the fundamental char
acter of all articles of the "Bill of Rights
section Of the Constitution.
3. Recognition of the inadvisability of
most sumptuary and so-called "moral'' legis-
lation; and recognition Of the primary rights
and responsibilities of the separate States in
enforcement, and eventually in the repeal, of
such legislation
4. A definite attitude toward the develop
ment of so-called "super-power" systems,
guaranteeing protection of the public interest
as the paramount interest in all cases. and a
free field for government as well as private de-
velopment, ownership and operation of water
power systems, and the promise of honest ex-
Fermentation in Government operation.
g. Official condemnation of widespread
political and administrative corruption, as
discovered more or less recently in the Fall
Doheny-Sinclair oil lease scandals, the Penn
sylvania and other election scandals, the ap-
palling Indiana situation, the Canton, Ohio,
vice ring situation exposed during the prose-
cution of the murderers of Editor Mellett, etc.
The present Importance to the welfare of
our people of the conduct of our foreign af-
fairs and the development of new and en-
ightened foreign policies, especially with ref
erence to other countries on this continent and
in South America hardly can be overstated
Without expecting any man to see eye to
eye with us on every one Of these questions,
some decent, honest, fortnight and reassur-
ing statement or record with respect to most
Of them is what the editors Of these newspa-
pers should seek in any candidate they may
be called upon to favor in their editorial
columns.
As to the Republican party, it seems ap-
parent even at this early date that Herbert
Hoover more nearly achieves understanding
of, sympathy with, and ability to carry out
the kind of national program that we urge
than any other man who has even an outside
chance Of nomination.
In the Democratic party there are, in this
view, two or three men who seem qualified
and who might be nominated Outstanding
among them is Newton D. Baker.
Outstanding also is Governor Alfred Smith.
We can have only admiration for Smith s rec
ord in New York, although on international
questions he is as yet an unknown quantity.
Certainly our newspapers cannot tolerate
prejudice against him on the religious grounds
that are commonly discussed in connection
with his candidacy and which, it will be our
duty to point out, is in direct conflict with
the Snirif of tho ConStitutio,,a1 e,uarapfea IF