The Indianapolis times., 1927-01-15
WHERE SHALL WE GO?

This newspaper called upon the Champer u
commerce to protect the buyers of electricity from
hat, to it, seemed an extortionate raid upon the
copies pocketbooks.
II did so in desperation.
The municipal government is in such low
late as to offend the sensible judgment of every
onest man or invite suspicion as to its judgment,
The public service commission had been indicted
bought in advance by the utilities, any utility,
hich sought 1t services,
When Harley Clarke bought the tive electric
ompanies and sought to merge them this newspaper
aised its voice in protest against the fictitious value
Q sought to place upon them.
This newspaper demanded that there be one
stem in order to escape the cost of duplicate sys-
sms, duplicate officials duplicate valuations
The advice of The Times followed The
bamber of Commerce, representing the commercial
terests and the industrial interests of this city
nployed an expert to value the properties of these
WO companies,
The Chamber of Commerce forced reduction of
ates to every buyer of electricity in homes or in
lctories.
The Times believes that the Chamber of Com
erce is honest.
Somewhere and some place we must pin
9TH, This newspaper distrusted city officials with
pod cause, 1t distrusted the public service commits
with better cause 1t believes that if the Cham
or of Commerce could not be trusted it time for
very honest man to move out of Indianapolis.
The agreement Of the Chamber of Commerce
ad Harley Clarke is under attack.
If The Times and the members of the Chamber
Commerce have been betrayed by the directors of
lat body it is time to surrender.
The Times does not believe that the directors
the Chamber of Commerce have been bought. 1t
IS faith in their integrity 1t has faith in their hon
ty, 1t has faith In their judgment
These have invested their dollars in Indi
napolis. They only profit as indianapolis grows
nd is prosperous.
It resents the suggestion that these men are
Pnal and have been bought.
The Times knows other means by which In,
annapolis may grow than through this leadership
ity government has failed, State government has
tlsd-if industrial and commercial leadership fail
ere is no hope.
The Times believes that in the matter Of the
erger, necessary thing, that the Chambes OF
ommerce has acted for the best interests OF tadi
papolis
1t believes that every assault upon the ChambeF
a Commerce is attack upon Indianapolis.
The Times believes that unless confidence can
Teposed in the Chamber of Commerce have
acbed state of Bolshevlsm and of anarchy.
The Times resents blackmail.
The Times resents force.
The Times resents the oppression Of secret in.
renee.
The Times resents most Of all the use Of State
pvernment, city government commercial leadership
y private and yenal ambitions.
II there was ever time to make the leadership
commerce and of industry effective it is now
If the, Chamber Of Commerce should surrender
HI
hg and baggage into the camp Of the enemy
The Chamber of Commerce must become the
pvernment of Indianapolis 1t must represent public
pinion, Thereeis but one question before the mem.
brship of that body: VIII you trust that body or
liver yourselves to the weak, incompetent and
Prise city administration.
OF course, The Times does not believe that the
eat body of citizenship should be compelled to
AXE this choice. 1t hopes that at some day and at
me time there will be city government in which
Ie citizenship give it's trust That time is not
wv,
The Times prefers the Chamber of Commerce
the organized forces Of government 1t believes
the integrity of the Chamber of Commerce
1t does not believe that director of that BODY
uld be bought auction block at so much per
bad.
Those who attack the merger must believe that
mixers, manufacturers and merchants have been
ought and Sold
If we have reached this state of degradation there
no hope.