The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-09
The Silent Senators

Thus far the two. Senators from Indiana,
on whose recommendation Frank Rozelle was
named United States marshal for the northern
district, are significantly silent in regard to the
very grave charges made against that official
by Robert E. Hicks, editor of the Speciality
Salesman of South Whitley and nationally
known as the big game hunter of mail order
frauds
Hicks wrote the Senators week ago max
ing very specific charges and very grave
charges.
He declared that Rozelle has operated and
is still operating fraudulent business, getting
money from hopeless and helpless people who
respond to advertisements which promise great
rewards for easy work.
The advertisements appeal to women who,
for the most part, are shut-ins women to whom
a very few dollars mean much, women who are
eager to add to the family budget.
He appealed to women to paint pillow tops,
and his literature held out the idea that the
world is eager and waiting for hand-painted
covers, marked in designs of secret societies,
California peoples, landscapes or what have
you.
The real purpose, says Hicks, was not to get
painted pillow tops, but to sell to those who
answered his appeals, little outfit of liquid
colors and few toothpicks for six dollars.
The profit on these outfits, says Hicks, was
enormous and very few pillow tops were ever
purchased. Most of them, he says, were re-
turned as unsaleable.
The letter to the Senators raised an even
more serious charge and one that deserves
something more than silence as a reply.
He says that political influence is now pro-
tecting Rozelle and that it enters the organ
ization Of the court in which Rozelle is now an
official.
The position of marshal is an important
one. He is the high sheriff, an Office of in
creasing Importance in days when the Federal
Government is gradually assuming police
powers and regulating most Of the human
affairs. The marshal has much to do with the
drawing of juries which try cases of citizens
in civil matters and pass upon the guilt or
innocence Of those accused of crimes
The charge that politics is entering the Fed
eral courts is most important. For Federal
courts have held the respect and confidence of
citizens to degree not given to local tribunals.
In other days fear Of that court by the guilty
was traditional and universal
Certainly if the charge Of Hicks that the
marshal runs fraudulent business of a kind
for which other men are serving sentences in
prison are true, Rozelle should not be an Off
cial of this court.
More certain it is that if political influence
is protecting him, the Senators should relieve
themselves Of any responsibility by quick and
decisive action The fact that Rozelle boosted
that he was important in political campaigns,
that he directed the speakers bureau in the
campaign in which the Senators were elected,
that he told the orators where to go and what
to say, should urge action, rather than i'm
pede it.
There is very easy way to discover
whether Hicks is telling the truth when he
makes his charges or whether he is all wrong.
An inspection of the books of the Rozelle
concern, of the records Of the postof1ce at La
Grange, where he operated, interviews with
those who answered his advertisements, will
give all the facts.
1t would be too bad if the people, knowing
the seriousness of the charge, found the silence
of the Senators is more significant than the
charge itself.