The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-10
The Beast Feeds at Last

For more than quarter or century
Judge Ben Lindsey Of Denver fought, cou-
rageously, often alone, unwaverlngly, against
the forces Of corruption.
He exposed dishonest elections and priv
ileged plunderers He exposed those who
stole from the people through the use OF
political power. He named the men VINO
from the barbados Of wealth, profted by
the overthrow of honesty in public life.
He fought these evils because he under
stood the forces in society which turn boys
and girls into criminals and incorrigibles.
It was not sufficient for him to write into
the laws some of the humanity of Christ.
He struck at the causes behind the forces
which made boys and girls bad.
When he went upon the bench, he found
children in chains and in cells with older
criminals. Then he founded his famous
Juvenile court lie wrote the laws for thirty
eight other states. These courts are his
monument.
He was the most loved and the most
hated man of his city.
The fathers and the mothers in the dis
tricts where privileges were few and tempta-
lions many loved him.
The crooked politicians and the corrupt
privileged interests which fattened upon
crooked politics hated him with venom I'M
paralleled in this country.
Every means was used to destroy him.
He withstood temptation. He was proof
against blackmail. He did not yield to either
flattery or brides or threats.
Years ago he rocked the nation with his
book. "The Beast and the Jungle" in which
he laid bare the infamies of his enemies.
When that book was published, one of the
tools of the system, his courage aroused by
drink, tried to kill him. His friends guarded
him. Lindsey smiled at such dangers and
went on.
For years the people stood between
Lindsey and his enemies. All their trickery
and intrigue failed. He was elected again
and again.
But the practical politicians did fill other
Offices in the state. The tools of the system
which he fought we're placed in power. The
Beast, which had hungered for the blood of
this man, grew hungry for its final meal. 1t
wanted Lindsey.
Now it has got him. He has been dis
barred from the practice of law. That will
mean nothing, perhaps, to the man whose
clients would be too poor to pay and who has
given, through the years, the most of his
earnings to the unfortunates who came be-
fore his court, to the education of the boys
and girls who would otherwise have been
denied a chance and perhaps been given over
to the ministrations of penal institutions to
be educated in crime instead of usefulness.
But it does mean something to the nation
and to decency 1t is not cheerful prospect
for any young man or young woman, who
may be inspired to devote their lives to popu-
lar causes.
Perhaps there may be other Lindseys,
fired with zeal for Righteousness and love of
! their fellows. Perhaps there will always be
those who are ready to fight the dragons.
They may not be dismayed.
The Beast feeds at last 1t has sucked the
1ood of Lindsey, to whom countless thou
lands of boys and girls in this nation owe
their chance in life. And with his blood
dripping from its fangs, it crawIs back to it's
jungle to gloat but not to sleep.