The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-09
A Call to Duty

What former Congressman Fred Lands
asked Of the members of American Legion
should be passed along to all other good
citizens.
He merely asked that they take an in
telligent interest in honest government and
furnish leadership with conscience.
He asked the Republicans to fumigate their
elephant and the Democrats to change the
backbone of the donkey from rubber to bone.
eve put out the cat and went to bed when
we passed the primary law is his way of
describing the situation which permitted the
Khan and the Anti-Saloon League and little
groups to take control of the government.
1t might be added that this year it will be
very necessary for the people to be on guard
against those who will try to get into Office
who have no very high motives but who will
hope to mislead by prete4se of fumigation
in Republican circles and a false show of cour-
age in the Democratic side of the political bat
tlefeld
The situation is one which invites
demagogues. 1t is made to order for the
trickster. I
The people have pretty we'll determined
that the old order must go and are looking
for salvation from the shame which has been
theirs
1t may be assumed that there will be very
many Democrats who were silent in the years
when they should have voiced opposition now
ready to denounce and wax indignant at the
rape of the State.
1t requires no courage now for men of that
party to come out into the open and denounce
Stephensonism and the life term convict for
iniquities.
The people will be very wise if they can
apply few tests to those who seek Office on
that ticket and ask what those who ask for con-
fdence were doing when there was need of
courage and of leadership.
- Fumigatng the elephant is a popular
pastime in Republican circles, so popular that
Senator James Eli Watson assumes the role
of chief health officer for the party and is
looked upon to tell his followers what must be
done to be saved.
There will be reorganization of the ma
chinery of that party this week when the in
dicted chairman of the party in this State re-
tires from office and the State committee names
new leader.
The people will be able to judge little of
whatever sincerity may be found within the
present leadership of that party by the manner
and methods of selecting leader for the party.
Will there be chosen man brave enough to
denounce any new Stephenson who may arise
to challenge decent government in the State?
Or will there be picked man whose chief
purpose will be to deliver the votes of Indiana
in national convention to the hands Of Wat
son, who may trade them as he sees fit when
the Old Guard meets in the small hours to pick
a presidential candidate who will recognize his
master s voice if he arrives at the White House?
1t would be rather pity if the people, after
the big battle for decency, found that they had
arrived no farther than the tents of the suffers
This is great year. 1t is the year when men
of courage are needed 1t is the year when the
fakirs and the tricksters will operate and at
tempt once more to fool the people.
Will both parties have the wisdom to ask
any man who offers his services to the public
exactly what he was doing when all the shoot
ing was going on?
n,-.,