The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-26
He Fought Well
quent crash

The many thousands of men and women of this
state who gave unqrestoning faith and loyalty will
mourn the passing of Rev. E. S. Shumaker more
than the loss of personal friend. They will feel the
loss of his leadership in cause to which they are
devoted.
From those who did not agree with either his aims
his methods will tribute of regard for his
sincerity and admiration for that singleness of pur
pose which made him for SO many years one of the
most powerful figures in the destiny of this state.
His power was unquestioned He could make or
break political careers His voice powerful and
his silence potent. Politicians and ambitious men
could not disregard his attitude his probable de-
cision. They guided their very often
by desire to gain his support or avoid his opposition.
The source of that powe- was in the confidence and
trust given him by the thousands Of and women
who not only gave allegiance to the he repre-
sented but had absolute confidence in his integrity
and his political judgment.
That he posed but one standard for judging men
and officials did not deract from either his influence
his power. He never permitted any other consd-
eraton than the advancement of prohibition to sway
his course He had interest in other policies or
other activities of government. To him, the solving
of prohibition by complete enforcement meant the
automatic solving of all other questions and accord
ingly he judged the fitness of for office by their
promises ana their pledges on tnS one question:
That he was often imposed upon by the unscrupu-
lous and self-seeking that he at times guile
less to the wiles and trckery of those who betrayed
his confidence in order to obtain power and offices,
adds to the picture of his power and influence.
In his clash with the supreme court of this state,
he saw only battle between the forces of prohibition
and those who would destroy it. He failed to the
larger issue of freedom of speech In that hour he
had the opportunity to lead another crusade. He
sacrificed it for the sake of centering attention upon
the one cause to which he had given lifetime of
devotion.
New precedentS Of law were written III his case,
precedents that are dangerous and likely to arise
again and again to cruelty Others including those who
may have had mean satisfaction in the sentencing
of the dry leader
His sincerity above question Perhaps no other
incident proved it clearly than the letter writ
ten during his last Illness asking that the firm which
had prepared a tonic prescribed for him and which
seemed to alleviate his condition, change its product
so as to exclude alcohol from the content
That the firm rather ruthlessly capitalized this
letter by exploiting it only emphasized to the dis
corning that Shumaker had not only sincerity but
courage of conviction which stamps him as outstand-
ing and different from most
1t is that sincerity and that sngleness of pur
pose which gave him his power and his leadership.
He was powerful because he commanded the trust
and confidence of Others He commanded that trust
and confidence by his belief in the cause for which
he fought and fought so well.