The Indianapolis times., 1928-04-23
The Power of Coffin

the State Republican chairman, Fay Kitsel-
man. remove Boss Coffin from the Republican
craftsmanship in this county in advance Of the
primaries. He has the power.
Adams gave good and sufficient reasons for
this demand and other candidates for office,
who have no reason to expect favors from
Coffin, would do well to back up his demand
for fair and honest count of votes
The power of Coffin rests very largely upon
the manner in which the votes are delivered in
six wards in this city
Those same six wards very often determine
the outcome in the entire State. This year the
manner in which the votes are counted may
determine the nomination for the presidency
itself
The power of Coffin rests very largely upon
his control of the election machinery. The
men he has named in six wards have not been
such as to inspire any great public confidence.
There have been too many whose names figure
In the criminal court records as being on parole
and over whom there rests some measure of
fear of the bosses.
The mathematics in these wards has been
so peculiar that it is a matter of common
knowledge that one Of the judges elected two
years ago formed battalion of young asso-
ciates to patrol these wards to prevent election
thefts
In the name of that much vaunted "new
deal, " it would seem imperative that steps be
4o1-o l.. 4 IL.
doubt rests upon the result in this county and
that the voters be given an opportunity to
register their wishes and be sure that those
wishes will be found in the official returns
Coffin is no longer under Indictment. The
charge against him was dismissed very sud-
denly on Saturday.
The reason advanced is that the evidence
Of the charge against him of conspiring with
Ed jackson to bribe Warren T. McCray in or
der to obtain friendly prosecutor to permit
election frauds, would be the same as against
jackson and that it would be impossible to
prove that Coffin had actually concealed his
crime for two years.
The State failed to discover the crime until
it was exposed by this newspaper
The motion Of dismissal constitutes new
charge against Coffin, for it implies that he is
free only by the statute of limitations.
Otherwise he would be on trial instead Of
dealing with the candidates who are willing
to rise to power through his favor and his
friendship
Will the Republicans of the State dare to
go to the primaries with the leadership in the
biggest county in the hands of man who is
free from trial under such conditions?
Will the candidates for office of Governor
and Senator and President accept such a con-
dition, with all its possibilities and its proba-
bilities7
The power of Coffin is not ended. It began,
if the statement of Stephenson is correct, in
convention where the money of Stephenson was
plentiful.
But it rests now upon the fact that Coffin
is the chief supporter of Senator Arthur Rob
inson and brings to his own aid the great
power of the head of the Anti-Saloon League,
known to be ready to sacrifice any other con-
sideration in order to keep his telephone boy
in the Senate.
The dismissal Of the indictment without
trial, the urgency Of the Anti-Saloon League
and the usual unfair tactics its head employed
in behalf of Robinson, the irksome alliance
with Watson, who fears to desert Robinson, the
undercover deal for the "surprise" candidate
for Governor who will be shock to Schorte-
meier, Jewett and Leslie, who have promises of
support the further factor that the fate of Her
bert Hoover nationally may rest on those six
bad wards of Coffin control, all demand action.
The votes this year must be counted and
counted straight.
Just what chance is there of this with Coffin
in control in this county?
History Of past elections gives the answer.
Will Mr.. Kitselman act and act quickly to
save not only his party but the reputation of
Indiana itself?