The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-18
Uncle Sam Steps In

Uncle Ddm OtepS HI
The federal government is guarding In
diana. Not in the usual sense. Not under the
orderly routine of law. But with armed
guards.
When the encouragement ordered the
marshal for the northern district to name as
many deputies as were necessary to protect
the lives of witnesses before the federal
court, it meant that the government believes
that law has broken down in this state and
that the local governments no longer func-
ton for the protection of life.
1t is not pleasant picture. But it is one
which should cause citizens to stop and Won
der why it should be necessary for the feder-
al government to plant deputies in communi-
ties which have sheriffs, constables and large
police forces.
The answer has been known but never be-
fore has it been given such hideOus naked
ness that no one can misunderstood. The
reason for the Intervention is the alliance be-
tween the machine politics of this state and
organized crime.
The immediate occasion of the order to
patrol Indiana for the protection of the lives
of federal witnesses was the killing of wit
ness before the federal grand jury.
It is reported that he had testified con-
corning the protection given to criminals in
the Calumet district, On his return to his
home, he was lured to lonely spot and
killed. The local authorities evidently found
no connection between his death and the fact
that he had turned the light upon prevailing
protective practices.
The federal government evidently be-
Iieved that when state can not protect the
lives of such citizens as may desire to assist
the federal government in the prosecution of
crime, it is time to establish protectorate
for such witnesses.
The patrol is established in the Calumet
district. That was the center of the protected
crime. That was the place where the fed
eral witness was murdered. And, more sig
nifcantly, that is the place that regularly re-
turns a majority of votes for the candidates
of the Republican machine.
1t was from this district that the votes
came which sent Watson back to the Senate
in 1926 by so scant margin that had it not
been for this rotten borough he would now be
in private life.
1t was this district which sends down its
bloc of legislators who trade and traffic with
Coffin in this city for the passage of laws that
gives the people over to plumber by privileged
interests and robs them of any safeguards
against frauds at election.
1t was in this district that bootlegging
and vice ran rampant for at least three years
without any interference on the part of fed
eral agents or local police.
The protectorate by Uncle Sam is made
necessary because of machine politics and
the alliance of the bosses with the criminal
elements.
The way to prevent such things is to hit
at bossism and machine rule whenever posi-
BILE. If there was no such thing as Cofinism
in indianapolis, it would have been impossi-
bic for the Calumet gangsters to have made
their trades That machine had to have
terminal at the state capital. Coffinism fur
nished it.
This may be worth thinking about when
you vote this fall. If you find any candidate
playing with the bosses or depending on the
the boss, vote against him.
The way to get rid of federal interference
Is to hit at the things which make it neces-
sary.