The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-30
Only One Issue

DESPITE all efforts to create confusion IN
the minds of the voters, there IS but one
issue in the election to be decided Tuesday,
The people will determine whether they
will give Coffinism a new lease OF lie or
DESTROY the political regime which has out
ragged every canon of right, every standard
Of decency, every safeguard of the public.
That the desperate needs of Coffin COM
peUed him at this election to abandon MS
practice of picking a man without reputation
and accepting an outstanding business man
should be warning, not recommendation
Shocked by the widespread revolt when
his attack on the city manager law proved
so surprisingly successful in the supreme
court il was necessary for Coffin to abandon
Winkler and accept Glossbrenner. AS
shrewd and smart hombre, he knew that to
name one of his own henchmen would be
merely to invite the lightning.
It is true that Mr.. Glossbrenner says that
he has made no pledges of any sort That
statement is undoubtedly true. But when
the same candidate says that he personally
interviewed every candidate for the council
and approved them in advance, the people
NAV well be warned as to his good judgment
in the selection of men.
If Coffin could impose upon him with
these councilmanic candidates, what would
he do to him after election when it comes to
the picking of boards and officials?
Certainly if Coffin could persuade Gloss
brenner that the interests Of the city de-
manded the election of Keane, who was the
tool used in the assassination of the city
manager law, then he will be able to per-
suade him of even more important mistakes
in the event of his election.
The rest of the list gives little more con-
fidence, nor does the nomination of Emmel-
man, who has served Coffin so servilely and
abiectly for the years he has ruled with an
iron hand.
In indorsing these Coffin selections Mr..
Glossbrenner raises a grave question as to
his good judgment of men, or perhaps a suspi-
cion that he may be an easy prey to the
shrewdness and plausibility of Coffin, who
has fooled many other men during his
career.
The big fact for people to remember is
that Coffin has stood for and sponsored
every movement to take away the rights of
the people and make politics the chief bust
ness of government.
1t was he who abolished the primary
law, and it is somewhat significant that he
was able to so easily persuade Glossbrenner,
known as the disciple and friend of Albert
Beveridge, that he had been mistaken dur
ing two decades and that the primary is now
all wrong.
1t was Coffin whose men in the legisla-
ture abolished the safeguards against frauds
in elections and erased the registration law.
1t was Coffin who fought the city mana
ger law at every turn and it was his bench
men in the legislature who used every trick
to destroy it.
1t was Coffin who has brought the school
board to its present low estate, and it is Cof-
fin who hopes, through a trick suit, to pre-
vent the people from again taking possession
of the schools.
The one way to get rid of the outrages,
the one way to safeguard the future, is to
put Coffin off watch politically.
1t can not be done by electing respected
business man as mayor and a Coffin coun-
ell. 1t can not be done by permitting his
agents to retain charge of these schools.
The hour is here for decisive action. A
Coffin, hiding in the shadow of Glossbren-
ner, is still Coffin.