The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-08
Ask the Governor


one thing which should have been done by that
body
When the Legislature refused to investigate
the political scandals, it set partisan politics
above the best interests of this State.
At that time Indiana was being held up to
it's own citizens and to other States as having
INDUCED in very bad brand Of politics. The
majority members under orders of the bosses,
made suppression party policy. The demand
from the opposition was not very strong. Only
one or two members made any noise about it.
There was not that insistence of determined
men which would have shamed the majority
into action.
Since that time the Marion County grand
jury has made charges of a very grave nature
which indicated that there was real necessity
for thorough investigation.
The real shame of Indiana has been that
there has been persistent use of power to pre-
vent the people from knowing the truth.
The real Indictment of Indiana comes not
from its grand juries but from the officials who
have used their influence to prevent inyestiga-
tions.
1t is no longer possible to point to Stephen
son, former Grand Dragon and political boss,
call him Matchmaking convict and declare
that he was accusing men in high places for the
purpose of forcing his liberation and that he
had nothing with which to back up his charges.
The grand jury now has the "Black Boxes
Al Jof4 oh f,11 RI
of his dictatorship Of this State.
The contents of the boxes should be known
and the Legislature is the proper body to bring
them to the light.
The people have conscience which is not
limited by laws or set aside by the statute of
limitations
The gravest acts are conceivably not pun
ishable under the criminal laws. They
grave because they may indicate the depravity
of those who dealt with this super-government
and made bargains secret bargains, that were
against the will of the majority.
The people Of this State are more interested
in keeping out Of office in the future those who
dealt with dragons than they are in filling
their jails with those who may have violated
corrupt practices acts or other laws for the
protection of elections
The cleanup in Indiana can only come
when every one who had any hand in the
shame of Indiana is exposed and driven from
public life
A special session of the Legislature at this
time would permit just such an inquiry and
advertise Indiana as the State which dares to
face the facts and which has courage to redeem
it elf.
Of course, the city Of Indianapolis is en-
Il led to special session to set aside that hur-
RED law under which the city manager system
of government is postponed until the term of
Duvall expires.
That law was essentially dishonest in that
it changed the bargain which Duvall had with
ell the citizens and legalized the secret ones
he made with politicians and secret ciques.
Under the law at the time of his election
$ the people had the right to change their form
CT government at any time. That law was an
essential part of his contract.
The Legislature, yielding to the whip of
party leaders, changed that contract and
robbed the people of this city.
The Governor signed that law. He should
be the first to rectify the wrong and restore
the right Of the people of this city to have the
sort Of government at the time they were en-
titled to it under the law which existed when
Duvall was declared elected.
There is very simple way of getting this
special session and that is to make the demand
so emphatic that the Governor can not ig-
more it.
If every citizen interested in honesty were
to write to him or call him on the telephone, he
would then understand that the people are in
earnest.
A few delegations from city clubs march
ing on the State House and emphasizing the de-
mand made by the city manager committee
would help.
Even the Governor might change that at
titude which he has assumed and maintained
from the start.