The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-01
The Call to Arms

The Call to Arms
No more ringing challenge was ever de
livered to any group of men than came iron
Stanley Coulter, chairman of the conserva
non commission, as he endeavored to lash ant
.ynip the Republican Editorial Association int
act;cn
This apostle of conservation. placed tn
preservation of ideals above the conservation
of resources.
His was an appeal that the same courage
character and convictions which had made thl
a land of liberty be vitalized by the editors t.
whom he was speaking.
In an hour when politicians were so fear
full that some one would speak some word tina
might embarrass those in power, that they re
fused to permit even the two United States
Senators to utter publicly a single sentence
Dean Coulter delivered this ringing appeal t.
the Republican editors:
"After all, are you not the leaders to whom
the people must turn? Is it not your appointed
task to mold to formulate to guide public
opinion? Has any other group Of men such van
tage ground in remaking the world to their de-
sire? There is question of the need for wise
and forceful leadership, there can be no question
of the importance of the problems calling for
solution.
"The only question is are you true enough,
strong enough, brave enough loyal enough to be
worthy of the leadership which you have assumed.
Is not true that the thinking of the people, the
judgments of the people, the actions of the people
are largely determined by you?
"You control the future as other group of
men; in your hands lie, very largely, the destinies
of our State. Like men, like State!' What type
of men, of citizens will be the outcome of your
work?
at is of course, the path of least resistance
to evade manifest duty; to deny your leadership
and claim that you merely cater to the demand
of the people. 1t is very easy to voice the opinion
of the people, but it may be very hard and at
times take very great courage to attempt to direct
and guide that opinion.
"But in your heart of hearts you realize the
truth of Plato's like man, like State and you
realize with equal clearness the fact that what
the man is depends very largely upon you and
your honest acceptance of the duties Of your self
imposed task
"What has been, what is your contribution to
the citizenship of this great State of ours this
State with its radantly splendid past. this State
with its almost i4imtable possibilities for the
future?
"Yours is a heavy responsibility but at the
same time magnificent opportunity.
"Your product is the citizen of tomorrow
what will he be?
s'VilI he be worthy of his heritage, eager to do
! his part even at sacrifice to build for better
tomorrow?
"vViIl he be all aaame pro bono publico? That
Is possible outcome to your labors, it is indeed
their real their only, justification"
It is unfortunate the editors did not take
stock of themselves and try to answer this
question as to what they had done to help pre-
serve Indiana from it's shame and it's low
estate.
1t might have been humiliating. Officially
the association has sad record in this matter
When its former officials, including Viii
Feudner. it's secretary, and Thomas H. Adams
head of its executive committee, raised theil
voices in denunciation Of political corruption
the answer of the association was to repudiatt
them and drive them from it's ranks.
When Clyde Walb summoned its officers
together, he secured from them an official in
dorsement Of the policy Of silence and of de
nunciation OF any one who would awaken thu
citizen from his lethargy
So it might be rather difficult for these edi
tors to answer that question as to what they
have been doing while Indiana has beer
tricked and trapped into political degrade
ton.
They would have to admit that instead O
attempting to arouse the citizenship of tn
State to sense of danger, to appeal to tn
conscience and intelligence, to inform them o
the facts, they have for the most part beer
either silenced or have attempted to chloroforn
the citizenry by suppression and distortion.
Perhaps they knew not what they did. Blu