The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-21
Politics and Crime


Republican editors who are gathered for a
summer outing heard two important state
ments.
One came from Senator Watson, who
wished to relay to the farmers that they could
exnect no immediate results from the farm
measure which has just been passed. That IS
Watsonian.
# farm conditions improve, the senior
senator will he on the job claiming credit If
nothing happens, he will leave the blame on
the presidential doorstep and recall that asser-
ton that only his great love for the party led
him to sacrifice his personal opinion to party
policy.
The other statement comes from Editor
George Lockwood, who believes that the Presi-
dent crime commission is quite likely to find
very close connection between crime and
politics.
That reminded the editors that Brother
Lockwood has spent most of his time for years
away from Indiana Otherwise, he would know
that his suggestion is old stuff.
This state has furnished some very fine e1-
amplcs Of the Lockwood prophecy.
It has in the past two years sent some Of
its very best politicians to prison. 1t has heard
others plead the statute of limitations. 1t
knows Of more who Should be in jail.
The editors recall that only two short years
AGO their summer reaxahons were directed by
one CLYDE Wab. then state chairman They
we're then loud IN accusation of any critics OF
Walb. CLYDE is now working for the govern
ment. really working, in secluded retreat at
Leavenworth.
Gone also are the weird powers of other
DAYS. the titans and the kleagles before whom
editorial pens were blunted by fear For they
were the powers that were greater than type
They dictated to the dictators
The most prominent of them are also at
Leavenworth. They believed that their po-
Htical prestige should give them the privilege
TO take automobiles as they pleased
The editors, if they challenge the statement
of Lockwood, can easily remember the day
when Governor of the state, Ed jackson,
pleaded the statute of limitations after listen
ing TO evidence that he had tried to bride
former occupant of that high office.
They might remember, if they dared, that
the same Indictment against George B. Coffin,
= district chairman and the indianapolis boss,
still in good standing, was dismissed for the
same reason.
They might look to the north and discover a
federal grand jury investigating charges of
election frauds on so vast range that the re-
suit of the state might easily have been changed
by them.
And they would know that the crimes OF
politics are committed by the protected crlml-
nails, that election frauds are perpetrated by
those who believe that they Will be guarded If
caught by the persons who benefit from their
crimes.
Editor Lockwood has offered to his col
leagues wonderful opportunity for real serv|
ice.
They might assist the Presidents commits
sion by really and earnestly attempting to trace
every connection between the criminal and the
politician.
They might try to discover who protects
the slot machines IN the country side, the boot
logger the thief. They might trace the connec-
ton between the vote in the ward and the
suspended sentence.
There is, indeed, very good reason to be
lieve that very much of our government is built
upon the clandestine intimacy between politi-
clans and criminals.