The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-15
The Persistent Senator


It could not have been the exceedingly hot
weather which furnished the heat for this
epistle:
indianapolis Indiana.
September IA, 1927.
Mr. Boyd Gurley Editor,
The Indianapolis Times.
indianapolis, Indiana
Dear Sir:
In leading editorial in your newspaper of
September H. you ask me three questions, which
answer herewith:
Cd "It (The Tines is fighting to end the
time when a United States Senator will endeavor
to influence, for political consideration and ex-
pediences the decisions OF its Supreme Court
"Will you tell the people of this State, Sena-
tor Robinson that you did not make such an at
tempt?"
Answer: have never made such an attempt,
and if you make the statement that did, you ut
ter an infamous and malicious lie.
90 Twill you tell the people that you never
knew Stephenson and were not on close and
friendly terms with him when he was political
power?"
Answer: 1 knew Stephenson, and have never
denied knew him. He was client of our law
Office, and represented him in several civil
suits-never in any criminal matter OF any kind.
Those suits matters of record at the Court
house in this city. My contacts with him were
open and above board.
go "WiI you tell the people exactly your
lationships with George v. Coffin, the political
Answer: George " Coffin has been my warm
personal friend for many years, and have been
his. Now that he is under Indictment he is still
my friend never deserted friend In trouble,
and never shall. My relations with him, personal
and political, have always been honorable IN
every respect, and you at liberty to print any
and all facts that may be in your possession con-
corning such relationships.
Your editorial asking the questions answered
herein failed to retract your lbelous statements
of September II. You still have until Friday,
September &c. to make that retraction.
'- ARTHUR r. ROBINSON
Without Words the letter really repeats
the statement Of the first letter to the effect
that Senator Robinson is acting without con-
sultation with Senator James E. Watson. It's
tenor indicates this Senator Watson is always
cautious.
1t is unfortunate that Senator Watson is
ILL., more unfortunate for his colleague perhaps
than for himself Had he been in Indiana he
might have guided the junior Senator into
safer and less hazardous paths than the course
on which he seems determined to embark, a
course that leads to courts and tribunals Of
sorts where evidence replaces mere assertion
Because The Times is much more consid-
crate Of Senator Watson than is his colleague,
it will not press for revision of the Robinson
answer to the first question until there can be
consultation between the Senators. Perhaps
then the junior Senator may wish to withdraw
his short, ugly and un-Christian word, and
make exception.
1t may be that the memory OF the senior
Senator is more acute than that Of the junior
is and is able to reach back to year ago when
there was pending before the Supreme Court
Of This State case which had very grave
political aspect.
He may be able, even if Senator Robinson
forgets, to recall what happened in Washing
ton in the early days of that summer and in
this city in August, on the sixth day Of August
and in the evening thereof, to be exact.
Poor memory, in these hot days. is ,excus-
able, Of course.
Now the State understands the exact re-
lationship between d. G.. Stephenson and the
Junior Senator. The former dragon in his cell
will read with interest, as do all citizens, that
he was merely the client of the Senator in some
civil matters and that the relationship was
that hard and fast business one which does not
reach the point where photographs are given
in token Of deep regard or gifts exchanged at
times when the spirit Of good will hovers over
the world. That is settled now with the Sen
ator's answer
The Senator's statement concerning Mr..
Coffin deserves, really, the first page of prom
inence. 1t is important news.
Fate, Senator, as you may have read, works
in mysterious ways to accomplish its purposes.
Often it has taken command of that earnest
endeavor Of The Times to destroy super gov
eminent in this State has directed its efforts in
a manner that must convince that there is a
destiny that shapes our governments and that
there is Providence that ever watches.
Perhaps, Senator, when you declare that
The Times has but one more day for retraction,
and there, will be none, it may have chosen you
as the instrument, perhaps all unknowingly,
by which super government, all super gov
ernment will be driven from Indiana.