The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-16
BY WEBB MILLER


world Copyright. 1880. by United Press
BOMBAY, India, May 16.-A
movement for the release of Ma
hatma Gandhi has been initiated by
two organizations representing a
considerable section of opinion.
The council of the National Lib
eral Federation, representing mod
crate opinion, adopted, among other
measures at its meeting in Bonn
bay, Thursday, resolution urging
the government to release political
prisoners who were not convicted OF
violence; urging the viceroy. Lord
Irwin, to confer with leaders of
Indian opinion; and deploring the
civil disobedience campaign.
Likewise, the All-India journalists
conference, meeting here, adopted a
resolution demanding the release of
Gandhi, and urging the need of ne
gotiating with him. The resolution
also condemned the press restriction
ordinance which recently was re-
vivified.
200 Papers Represented
The journalists meeting was at
tended by 300 persons representing
papers throughout India.
With Gandhi in prison and his
direct personal influence thus
diminished, indications are growing
that the independence seekers are
departing from their attitude Of
civil disobedience. Despite their in
sistence to the contrary, they are
seeking every means to force the
government to exercise violence,
which inevitably means more blood
shed.
Meantime, the governments atti-
tude rapidly is stiffening. Mani
festations of this include the decla-
ration of drastic martial law regu-
lations at Sholapur, the disturbed
mill town, 220 miles southeast of
Bombay. The military took control
several days ago, and announced
punishments providing five years
Imprisonment for attractions of the
martial law. Nationalist flags were
seized at several places.
Ban Congress Bulletin
The authorities banned the con-
gress bulletin or any similar pub
LEGATION on the grounds that it was
calculated to arouse hatred and
contempt and to excite disaffection
against the government, provoke
riots and disturb public safety.
The governments increased pres
sure also was shown by the punish
mentS to be melted out to persons
giving any sort of assistance to or
harboring persons engaged in recent
disorders. These will be liable to
five years Imprisonment, and similar
penalties are provided for those who
display the nationalist flag or at
tend illegal meetings OF over five
persons, except religious meetings
in houses of worship.
Gandhi has always insisted on
nonviolence as the basis of his
campaign against British rule in
India. A few years ago he stopped
his disobedience campaign be-
cause of outbreaks and bloodShed.
Whether the new leaders will be
centent to follow the masters creed
remains to be seen.
Arrests Total Hundreds
1t is difficult to obtain accurate
compilations, but the arrests already
total several hundred.
The Satyagraha, or passive re-
sistance movement, however, can not
be said to have succeeded in attain
ing Gandhi's object, namely, to
compel the government to arrest
every one who breaks the salt law so
that civil authority would break
down owing to great mass arrests.
That Gandhi recognized some
thing more drastic was needed to
force the governments hand was re-
vealed in his plan to raid the salt
depots, which his followers at pres
ent are undertaking. The arrest Of
the whole group of the first raid
ers delighted the Indian members
of their congress.
Now, however, while the authori-
ties are declaring strong penalties
for breaches of regulations, there is
an indication they simply may dis
perse crowds of salt raiders, using
force if necessary without making
o~,.aefe