The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-02
GOV. JACKSON
IGNORES Own
1925 DEMAND
Letter Shows He Requested
Indicted Commissioner
to Quit Post.
REVERSES HIS ATTITUDE
Turns Deaf Ear to Similar
InsistenCe on His
Resignation.
REVERSES HIS ATTITUDE
jackson letter on Page 2

Governor Ed Jackson, deaf now
TO Statewide demands for his
resignation, three years ago de-
manded the resignation Of an in
dicted State official, because of the
reflection" his predicament cast
upon the State.
The Governors reversed attitude
on odium in office and administra-
tive ethics was revealed clearly to-
day, when The Times obtained
from Earl Crawford, former State
highway commissioner, a letter
written by Jackson, April %, 1925,
demanding Crawford'S resignation,
and with it Crawford's account of
a conference in the Governors
. chamber which prefaced the de-
mand.
Crawford, then a highway COM
missioner; John D. Williams, high
way director, and others we're in
dicted in the spring of 1925, charged
with irregularities in the sale of
surplus war materials.
Trial Demands Denied
Vigorously denying their guilt,
Crawford and Williams made fire.
quent appeals for trial, but after
repeated delays the prosecution was
dropped and the indictments nolled
because of insufficient evidence.
"It was after the indictments were
returned and the Legislature had
adjourned" Crawford said, that all
commissioners were in the Gov
ernor'S office for a conference. They
were w. G. zahrt, F't. Wayne; A. v.
Burch, Evansville; Charles Ziegler,
Attica, Williams and myself
"The Governor said he felt that
Williams and I should resign-not
that he believed we were guilty but
that there were plenty of men not
under indictment who could per-
form the duties of our positions
and would not cast any reflection
on the States affairs or his admin
istration.
Writes for Resignation
when I didn't resign, he sent
me the letter demanding my resig-
nation, which I, of course, refused"
Crawford continued to serve on
the Highway Commission until his
term expired, April II, 1926.
The alleged irregularities resulting
in the indictments against him and
Williams we're recited in report of
the board of accounts, of which
Lawrence L. Orr was chief examiner.
The report precipitated a pitched
battle btween the Accounts Board
and the Highway Commission.
Legislation Baked
Efforts were made in the Legis-
lature, then in session, to enact a
bill which would have empowered
jackson to remove all highway
commission members then serving
and appoint others of his choice.
For the last two years Crawford
has been connected with the. Indiana
Farm Bureau Federation, addressing
farmers meetings throughout the
State.
Announcing his candidacy month
ago for the Democratic nomination
for Governor. he resigned his farm
bureau post and is preparing a
vigorous campaign for the nomina-
ton.
Governor Ignores Demands
In direct contradiction of his at
titude on the propriety Of Crawford
and Williams remaining in Office
after their indictment, the Gov
ernor has ignored resignation de-
mandS from the time of his indict-
ment Sept. 9, 1927 to the present.
jackson, with George v. Coffin,
Republican city and county chair
man. and Robert I. Marsh, his
former law partner and Klan at
torney, was charged with con-
spiracy to commit a felony, in Of
fering $4,000 and immunity from
conviction to former Governor
Warren T. McCray for the appoint
ment of James E. Mcdonald as
Marion County prosecutor.
McCray Spurns Offer
McCray spurned the offer, he tes-
titled in Jackson's trial and ap-
pointed William H. Remy to the
post.
Demands for Jackson's resigna-
ton increased in number and We
hemence when the Governor was
acquitted on a directed verdict with
out taking the stand to relate his
own story.
Because the State was held to
have proved no positive acts of con-
cealment of the alleged offense, its
case was lost on a technicality
under the statute of limitations.