The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-10
DEMOCRATIC
LASH APPLIED
TO COFF|NISM
Crowd of 1000 Listens to
Speakers at Rally in
TomIinSon Hall.

Whipping aside the mask of re-
spectability donned by the Repub-
lican party after the primary, Dem
ocratic speakers at a record-break-
ing rally in Tomlinson hall Thurs
day night, stressed the issue of
"Coffinism.
Speaker after speaker emphasized
to more than 1000 Democrats and
independent Republicans that this
will be the only issue at the polls in
Marion county, Nov. 4.
Mincing no words, the orators, led
by Frederick Van Mugs, former
United States district attorney.
pounded at the record of the Re-
publican county organization.
Evans Woollen, Indianapolis
banker and favorite son nominee
for President in 1928, was permanent
chairman, being introduced by H.
Nathan Swain, county chairman.
Mayor Is Speaker
Accomplishments of the Demo-
cratic city administration were cited
by Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan,
whose successful campaign for
mayor was begun year ago in the
same hall.
Declaring that eighteen police
men have been indicted by the Fed
eral grand jury, Sullivan said the
board of safety will suspend judg-
naent until after the trials. IF they
are guilty they should and will be
punished. If innocent, they should
not be punished.
IF any men on the police force
are guilty of violating their oath OF
Office and their guilt comes to the
attention of the board Of safety,
they will be punished" Sullivan
promised. ...,. ,
Amidst a thunderous ovation,
Louis Ludlow, candidate for re-
election to congress, declared: THE
county situation appeals not to
partisans, but to good citizens OF all
parties The same sinister influences
that make our city a byword and
reproach throughout the nation now
are seeking their hold upon county
government.
Deery SCOTS at Shakeup
@The question the voters must de-
termine is whether we shall move
forward to a final and complete
vindication of our community's good
name or whether we shall slip back
ward into the mire of disrepute and
permit our city and county to be
blackened and irreparably damaged
bv another deluge of bad advertis-
ing throughout the country"
Quoting from various newspapers
of the county, James E. Deery, city
attorney, pointed out there had
been no reorganization of the G. o.
P. in Marion county after the pri-
mary.
Let us call to the witness stand, %
declared Deery, none other than
Martin Hugg, former Republican
county chairman, who truthfully
testifies as follows: I have made an
effort to rehabilitate the organiza-
ton and did this as a Republican
interested in the welfare of the
party. My action have not met
with approval and am ready to
step out"
The record of Cofinism then was
read by Van Mugs, who called of
the high crimes of the Republican
"boss."
Points to Coffin Record
"Cofiinism and Stephensonism
worked hand in glove in foiSting
upon the people Ed Jackson for
Governor, Ralph Updyke for con-
gresham and John L. Duvall for
mayor" declared the former district
attorney.
"Cofinism gave the city Of In
dianapolis members of the city
council who pleaded guilty to minor
violations of the corrupt practices
act to keep out of the penitentiary
and resigned from Office under fire
"Coffinism tried to buy the Office
of prosecuting attorney of Marion
county for $4,000.
"CofiniSm spread it's tentacleS
over the school system Of Indian
apolis and made it the football Of
politics.
'Cofinism filed the city schools
and the city hall with hundreds OF
henchmen whose chief duty was tC
look after the interests of the ma
chine and perpetuate it in power.
Killed City Manager Law
"Cofanisn was the influence
which undermined the city manager
law and instituted the suit which
resulted in having the law declared
unconstitutional.
'Cof1nism opposed a registration
law which prevents fraudulent cleo
tons and is opposed to any measure
making for the purity of elections, u
Van Mugs said.
He described the stranglehold OF
the machine upon the county Offices
and then went into details regard
ing the manner in which the ma
chine became respectable for the
duration Of the primary.
sIenry L. Dithmer, L. Ert Slack
and r. Earl Peters, state chairman
spoke briefly and the candidates
and county officers were introduced