The Indianapolis times., 1929-02-22
Comnisrn

If any guileless member Of the legislature
who has been voting as MATES, of 'party'
regularity with the machine politicians of this
county, has any curiosity as to just what COT
fnism means, let him read the report OF the
grand jury on the poor house.
The members have listened to glib spokes-
men for Coffnism, clustering and foaming with
baseless charges, trying to defeat one measure
which would take away from the political ma
chine the care and custody OF the INDECENT, the
unfortunate the crazed.
The members know that the measure to
provide a control Of all such institutions IN
this county and the distribution of all funds
for the needy away from the Coffin machine, IS
being fought most bitterly by the machine
The reason is now disclosed by the report
OF the grand jury which should convince even
the most skeptical that Cofinism in It's prac-
tices and it's methods is hideous, cruel, ghoul-
ish system.
It begins at the cradle with its pillage and
it follows through poverty, to the very grave
for its plunder.
The poor farm is the stupid, cruel, but very
to house those unable to care for themselves
To it come the aged the helpless the sui
fering. To it's care are given the derehcts the
victims of industry, the weaklings OF society
but human beings, with feelings, emotions, ap-
petites.
The grand jury charges that these untortu-
mates are fed on the coarser FOODS while the
arioS For
ing for these wards, live upon the fats.
It charges that the milk from the fine herd
of dairv cows is SKINNED for inmates so that
the political cogs Of Cof6nism may have the
cream.
It charges that these unfortunates raise
the Vegetables in summer-but never eat them.
II charges that the inmates care for their
own sick. The one explanation is that tne sal
aried attendants are busy in politics
No wonder that Coffnism fights against any
change Of law that would place the manage
ment of not only the infrmary, but OF Juhetta
and the distribution of poor funds unoer
nonnolitical and trained management.
roffnism means the getting of the cream
and the fats and the fine foods tor Its servants
# means callousness to poverty ana neeo'
olosed ear to the cries Of the unfortunate. 1t
means the use of public funds to gain votes ana
favor the chance to force the unfortunate TO
bep and bark before they are fed, much as the
keeper of a trick dog might bait his victim
Now, not only the legislature but the people
who have been Indifferent can understand
little better what the fight started by cover
nor Harry Leslie against Cofinism means.
1t is translated now into actual cond1tlons.
II is no longer game between two sets OIL
no1itieians. It is no longer contest between
tyvo sets of tricksters looking for power
The picture of the poor hourse is sharp
Hrawing Of the result. But the same prlnclple
applies to every activity. under the control OIL
Cofinism.
That is the reason that the machine hghts
AGAINST honest elections against registration OF
voters. against the City Manager form OF gov
arnment against trained and non-pohtlcal
management of public institutions against
everv measure that promises freedom.
Those poor, aged, decrepit and weak un-
portunates at the poor house understand 1t
well. They have learned on skinned milk ana
unfit food.