The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-31
The Gangsters' Threat

MAKE no mistake ABOUT the effort OF the SIX
councilmen who are now attempting to throw
L. Ert Slack out of the office of mayor.
1t is the gangsters who want the city hall
and plumber 1t is the gangsters who are dis
mayed to find it no longer possible to operate
their gambling games, their pillage of the
weak, their forays upon the people money by
diverse and divers ways.
These councilmen who now attempt to re-
move Slack from the office into which he was
placed three months ago have long since sur
rendered any claim to public confidence
Some of them are under Indictment Some
of them were charged by John Duvall, who told
much after he had been deserted by his former
followers, with having blackmailed him for
money and jobs in order to prevent his own i'm
parchment.
Duvall was not in the position which Slack
holds He could not successfully face impeach-
ment charges, which is the only legal and prop
er way city council can remove mayor.
When Slack was suddenly put into the office
Of mayor these councilmen undoubtedly ex-
pected that he would be grateful for the job
They evidently did not understand that man.
Fate had watched over Indianapolis in that
moment of election For moment Destiny took
charge and led the crew of petty pillagers into
an act which they now regret
Does any one suppose that if Slack had
placed their incompetent relatives in jobs, had
turned over to dishonest grafters the large
positions, had permitted the protected gamblers
to thrive as they had thriven in the past that
these councilmen would now be trying to re-
move him from Officer
What single act of the Slack administration
can these unspeakable men who control the
council while standing in the shadow of the
Criminal Courts charge as a reason for their
Sbrupt determination to get rid of him?
What has been the crime of Slack that these
men should now be so anxious to have him set
aside and some other man placed in the mayors
office?
His crime has been, to their eyes, that he has
served all the people and put note of decency
into the public affairs of Indianapolis.
His offense has been that he has made it i'm
possible for those stealthy, secret bargains with
violators of law to be consummated.
His triumph has been that he has conquered
the inevitable suspicion that attached to his en-
trance to an office through the votes of some
of these men who now turn upon him.
1t is significant that the first attack upon
Slack by the members of the city council came
shortly after he had read to that body his
declaration that public gambling in this city
must cease and that there must be destroyed
that bond between the underworld of gangsters
and the city government o. Indianapolis.
1t is significant that the rage Of these
vcrmin was turned upon him after he had
proved that he meant what he said by driving
back to their holes those who preyed in the
dark upon the weak and the unfortunate.
That bond between the gamblers and the
government was evidently a strong thing, not
to be broken lightly.
So the people must understand that the fight
is not between the city council and Mayor
Slack, but is an attack by gangsters upon gov
eminent.
1t remains to be seen whether the decent
and orderly citizens will stand idly by and per-
nit this conspiracy to succeed.
1t is time for another gang to be formed,
zeal gang of the honest, the law abiding, the
decent
1t Is time for the stable citizenship to assert
itself.
1t is time for the decent to declare that they
will not stand for the Vaccinations of the de-
graded.
Of course, these councilmen do not act for
themselves Back of them are forces that are
powerful and evil. Back of them are scheming
men who want power and plumber.
The attack of these councilmen should have
one immediate result. 1t should solidify be-
hind Mayor Slack all the decent men and
women Of this city who want indianapolis to be
a decent and growing city. 1t is fine per-
sonal compliment to Slack, but it is dangerous
thing for Indianapolis when these councilmen
attack and harass him.
Has the civic conscience been sufficiently
aroused to rebel against infamies and to take
bold strong stand for decent government
How soon can the civic societies and the
IL hat