The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-11
BY THOMAS HI. ADAMS

Last May year ago small group
of newspaper men met for confer
ence in the Claypool Hotel, where
was discussed information and ru-
mors that had come to them from
time to time concerning irregular
tiles and corruption in Indiana gov
eminent.
The group consisted of out-State
newspaper men, sixteen or eighteen,
including officers of the Republican
Editorial Association.
In the discussion held that day
it was unanimously agreed to probe
to the bottom all the information
that had been received. 1t was de-
cided to call upon the political lead
ers and ask them to assist in the
investigation.
Governor Jackson was called
upon, and he declined to take any
part in the discussion. Other off,
Gals we're sought and they refused
The editors then decided to ap-
point a small investigation commit
tee to continue the work. Thomas
H. Adams was selected as chairman.
All this Is a matter Of record. The
editors meeting at the Claypool Ho-
tel was unanimous, only one editor
withdrawing, and he excused him.
self on the ground that he thought
an investigation was not necessary.
The chief topic of discussion was the
framed indictments against the
highway commission, which have
since been thrown out of court.
Then followed from week to week
tremendous amount of research
work and during July and August
number of exposures seemed i'm
minent.
Then it will be remembered let
ter came to the committee from be-
hind prison walls in which Stephen
son related a startling arraignment
of what he could tell If the news
paper committee, consisting OF
Thomas H. Adams, Vincennes; Will
Feudner, Rushville; E. H. Harris,
Richmond, and others, would give
him an opportunity to talk.
The committee made an attempt
to reach him in the prison, but the
prison doors were closed to us. Gov
ernor Jackson would not recognize
us and referred us to the trustees OF
the penitentiary.
From the day the Stephenson let
ter was published (and it was broad
casted throughout the entire coun-
try), every means known to machine
influence and official domination
was used to discredit the investiga-
ton and stop the exposure.
Thomas H. Adams was chairman
of the Republican editors executive
committee, and Will Feudner was
secretary. Frank McDermond of
Attica was president. The machine
vented it's spleen on McDermond,
and he was told that the Walb
State committee would send q
wrecking crew to Congressman Pur-
nell's district and defeat him If he,
McDermond, did not stop.
The Indianapolis Times, although
not Republican newspaper, con-
Quoted an investigation. sent dozens
of witnesses before the grand jury
and cooperated with the press probe
committee in every possible way.
Stories were made up that Adams
and Feudner did not represent the
press. One by one the political ma
chine attempted to injure the MEM
bers Of the investigating committee.
One by one the newspapers were
approached and any publications
made on the subject were made as
embarrassing as possible.
The grand jury in Marion County
started wholesale investigation.
But the press probe went on. In
the first instance the Indianapolis
press was silent except in the case OF
The Times. The Times took up the
battle. The out-State papers were