The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-22
HUGE RAKEOFF
CHARGED TO
COFFIN GANG
Henchmen of Boss Fatten
at Public Trough,
Lawyer Proves.
FAMILIES ON PAY ROLL
Gar Maintains Clutch on
County by Dealing Out
Patronage.
BY BEN STERN

EdtAOAldSSy COllllOA VI puDliC SA~
penditures, and power to give inn
munity for certain forms of law vio-
lations have perpetuated the hold
of Coffinism upon Marion county,
declared Charles c. Cox, former SUI
preme court judge. at meeting Of
workers at the Indiana Democratic
Club this noon.
THE most effective of this trio
of methods to retain political con-
troll is patronage. For ten years the
taxpayers of Marion county have by
their complacency permitted son
to tester and eat into the social and
political fabric of our county gov
eminent.
For a decade taxpayers have car
ried the burden of Coffin patronage
on the public pay rolls. Their money
has kept the machine in power" Cox
contended.
Many Jobs Handed Out
an our county government, there
are approximately 1000 jobs to be
handed out These jobs may be
passed out on the basis of merit, of
obtaining the best service possible
for the taxpayers, or they may be
offered as q reward for political
services, without regard to qualifi-
cation or the taxpayers pocketbook.
at is the latter method which
Coffinism has chosen to perpetuate
itself in power" Cox declared. Pre-
cinct committeeman, ward politi-
clans, political hangers-on, workers
at the polls-these are the only
qualifications Coffinism believes
necessary to qualify for public serv-
ice in the courthouse"
Cox pointed out that on Sheriff
George Winkler'S pay roll are fifty
persons drawing from $500 to $4,000
a year. Yet even the low-paid jobs
are sought eagerly by political
henchmen.
Answer Is Plain
"Why?" asked Cox. 1.-THE answer
is plain. The sheriff is the law en-
forcement officer of the county"
He offered records to show that
Winkler, who long has been Collins
first lieutenant, has in his employ
twenty-three precinct committee
men of the Coffin organization.
"Then there is Roland Snider.
chief jailer, son of George Snider,
county commissioner. Snider and
his son have been on the public pay
roll for ten years.
This is a form of nepotism that
is prevalent at the courthouse"
Cox said.
Relatives and families are on the
public pay roll, not as a reward for
service to the public, but as re-
ward of service to the boss.
It's All 'Isms
Our county government has
come to be one of isrns.' Nepotism,
Coffinism, bossism, and other titles
foreign to a democratic form of
government have been permitted to
rule.
I'm the conduct Of the county poor
farm, this nepotism is particularly
fragrant" Cox pointed out. "On the
pay roll we see the names of the
Carter family j. v. Carter is SUI
perintendent;~ Byron Carter, a son;
LIZZIE Garter, wife, and Catherine
Carter are all on the pay roll. At
the county asylum for the insane,
Benjamin Morgan is superintendent
and his wife is matron, while the
SONS are beneficiaries of the public
funds.
Forty persons are employed in
the office of Clyde Robinson, county
treasurer and Coffin county chair
man. Among these are six precinct
committeeman of the organization
and the remainder are allied to the
machine as election workers and
clerks.
: City Lame Ducks Get Jobs
Robinson also has taken care of
his predecessors city appointees.
Edith Campbell was in the John L.
Duvall purchasing department;
Frank Nilholland formerly was
chief Of the city engineering de-
partment, and Walter Varney for
merly was bookkeeper in the Duvall
controllers Office.
Judges have from three to six APP
pointments and each of these APP
pointees works hand in glove with
the organization.
THE county commissioners have
hundreds Of appointments to make
and the result is their perpetuation
in office, no matter how rank and
noisome their conduct becomes.
Throughout every department Of
the courthouse we find the same
condition of affairs" Cox declared.
This is the patronage system OF
government which Coffinism Is