The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-28
Ask Senator Watson

he says, even if what he will not say is Infinite
ly more important.
An interested, Informed and intelligent cti-
zenship is the only safeguard of government
and the voter who takes the trouble to inform
himself and to form his own opinions is a much
better citizen than one who takes his politics
by labels, too often counterfeit.
True, the Senator will probably feel trifle
strange when he walks upon the platform at
the Armory tonight. So many Of the faces that
were present two years ago will be missing.
He will undoubtedly miss and mourn for
Clyde Walb, his chairman of two years ago,
who was compelled to take sudden trip to
Leavenworth, Kan, at the expense of the Gov
eminent after his effort to get the aged presi-
dent of the La Grange bank to accept full
responsibility for forging notes under a
promise to use Federal judges to get light
sentence and escape entirely himself.
It will be rendered that two years ago
Walb was very busy saving Watson from the
international bankers"
It is not likely that Governor jackson, who
has in the past always appeared on the plat
form of the Watson meetings, will be present.
The Senator this year is not putting for
ward the chief executive Of the State in that
same position of prominence that he held two
years ago.
There is reason, of course. The Governor
may be devoting his time to deep study of
the statute of limitations in order that his final
Az
Legislature and that great bulwark of liberty
so carefully safeguarded that no one who offers
to bride Governor will in the future be put to
any expense in defending that act.
Two years ago the Senator received the
official welcome of the mayor Of the city and
had the coerced support of the city administra-
ton.
There is a different mayor now The one
that helped Watson two years ago is waiting
word from the Supreme Court as to whether he
shall go to prison cell for brief period of
punishment. The henchmen he once bossed
and forced to 60 the route for the Senator have
confessed their sins and are out Of jail only by
virtue of bargain to give up their jobs for
their liberty.
So, undoubtedly the meeting and the recep-
ton committee will suggest to the Senator
that he is not in Indiana at all.
Although his political playmates seem to
have had a run Of bad luck during the past two
years, Watson is still on the job holding i'll his
hands the endorsement of DR.. Shumaker, who
in December, was vociferous in his declaration
that Watson simply did not tell the truth if he
denied that he had told the dry leader that he
had whispered into the ears Of three members
Of the Supreme Court and that the doctor
would not go to Jail.
There may be some who will think that it is
stretching the imagination to explain on the
ground of mere coincidence the fact that so
many of the official supporters of Watson in the
recent past are either in Jail or under cloud.
But when the Senator speaks tonight he
will have chance to explain.
Perhaps some voter might inquire Of Wat
son just what his contact with Stephenson
was. They might ask him specifically, whether
he did not have a secret conference with
Stephenson in 1924, in advance of some very
important Federal appointments. If the Sen
ator is forgetful, he might be reminded that
the conference took place in South Bend and
that Ora Davies, now under Indictment for
grating, acted the escort for Stephenson
on that memorable and history making trip.
II that be too specific, the voters should ask
Senator Watson just what he is doing to help
clean up Indiana and whether he is willing that
the influence of the Khan shall be perpetuated
in the State.
He might be asked whether he is willing to
go to the Kansas City convention with his col
league, Senator Arthur Robinson, as his spokes-
man.
He might be asked whether he depends
upon George Coffin in this county.
He should, in all candor, be asked to tell the
people just how and what to do to clean house
in Indiana and get rid Of the influences which
have proved to be Objectionable
A few months ago, under the very insistent
urging of the Indianapolis Star, now his sup
porter, Watson was announced as the Moses to