The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-19
Open the Boxes

Two years ago the people of Indiana went
to the polls lacking information and misIed
by the vehement denials of Senators Watson
and Robinson, Congressman Updike and Chair
man Clyde Walb that there had ever been any
thing to hide in Indiana.
Today the people have had one peak behind
the curtains and know that there was very
much to hide.
At that time the Governor of this State was
one of the leading campaigners for the two
men who again seek the higher braces of
power and for the Congressman in this district
who once more asks for support of his fellow
partisans.
But the Governor is not speaking this year
The Times produced for the public cancelled
check for So, 500 given him by Stephenson. On
that check was notation that it was part of
a $4,000 contribution to the jackson cam
paign, although jackson had denied in weasel
words that he had received checks from the
former dragon.
The Governor then said that this was tl.-
price of The Senator, riding horse which
choked to death on a corn cob.
The Governor has been on trial since then
on a charge Of offering to Warren 7. McCray,
when Governor, bride Of $4,000. Indicted
with him was Boss Coffin, who is still to go to
trial. The Governor escaped on plea of the
statute Of limitations, entered after the jury
had listened to evidence which his attorneys
must have believed to have been convincing,
or they would not have placed him in his pres.
i oP
tanning the highest office in the State by plead
ing that he was not caught soon enough.
The public knows these things. 1t knows
Others but it does not know all
The grand jury which indicted the Gov
ernor had before it the black boxes of Ste
phenson whose existence was denied by the
unholy alliance that now proposes to indorse
Watson for President, send Robinson back to
the Senate and Ralph Updike back to Congress.
Some of the contents of those boxes are
known. One of the documents was, admittedly,
letter of thanks from the Robinson household
for Christmas gift of pearl necklace. 1t is
now said that the pearls were cheap limitations.
Senator Robinson should demand at once
that Prosecutor Remy produce the original of
that letter and let the people judge for them
selves whether it indicates ten-cent bargains
or something different. The letter, under no
stretch Of the imagination, can be Of any use
in prosecuting hidden crimes
It is whispered and more than whispered
that within that box is written contract from
Ralph Updike, in which he pledged to Ste
phenson all the patronage Of his office, includ-
ing the postmastership Of indianapolis, in re-
turn for support
The grand jury has reported that it was
there, but that it was beyond the statute of
limitations.
If Updike does not demand from Remy
that he make public this document, no longer
evidence Of crime, then the people should.
Those black boxes of Stephenson are sup
posed to contain his political secrets. Not all
documents were evidence Of crime. Many of
them merely showed the sinister alliances and
secret deals with men who again seek power.
1t would be very unfortunate if the Re-
publican party or the Democratic party should
go to the primaries lacking the knowledge
which these boxes may contain
There should be concerted demand by all
candidates of all parties for glimpse at those
boxes Those who did not deal with Steve
have a right to be free from suspicion. Those
who did have contacts, should be known