The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-02
EVANS ANSWERS
GOVERNOR WITH
PROBE PROGRAM
Legislator Proposes Com
mittee of Five With Self
as Chairman.

BIZ Times Special
NEWCASTLE, Ind, Jan. O.
Governor Harry G. Leslie is chal-
lenged by H. H. Evans, Newcastle,
a member of the state house of
representatives, to name a commit
tee for an investigation as a result
OF Evans charge that those who
seek to corrupt or influence the
legislature are generally placed on
some board or commission"
Previously the Governor had twice
demanded that Evans produce proof
Of his assertion.
The legislator proposes that the
investigating body be composed of
two other members named by the
Governor, two named by himself
and with himself as chairman.
Evans offers to give his services
without charge.
Alleges False Pledges
Replying to the Governors most
recent demand for proof, Evans says
in part:
"You are quoted as saying that 1
have been a member Of the general
assembly for the past two sessions
and have never made any effort to
expose or abolish graft in either ses-
sion.
i want to call your attention in
the session Of 1929 when I had pre-
pared the bill to reconstruct the
state highway commission, and all
OF the promises that were made if 1
would not introduce it, and as o new
member / tried to follow you and I
was misled by false promises to
abolish one Of the rottenest outfits
IN the statehouse and it was not the
state highway department either.
Il also want to recall to your alb
sentmindedness in the session of
1881 house concurrent resolution
No. 8 that 1 wrote that passed the
house with only three or four dis
senting votes and which was pigeon
holed in the senate by as dirty
tactics as ever e-uttled a ship.
Branded Weak Leader
Il remembered that you promised
me then, intermingled with much
profanity, that you would do the
very thing that you did not do to-
ward cleaning up the situation out
lined in that concurrent resolution,
and 1 also remember afterward
that you told me that you knew
that that nest should be cleaned
out and that you could not Go it
because your hands we're tied.
also remember that 1 told you and
I want TO impress it on your mind
now that I said to you that if the
Republican party don't clean out
that stateholse that the Demo-
Gratis will
Il supported you for Governor
because 1 thought you would be for
the common people but l don't like
your ability to evade promises ap-
parently made in good faith. In
this respect you have exhibited
your weakness as a leader and it
has been for your lack of leader
ship in the last two sessions of
the legislature that little has been
done for the people of the state.
Rap at Secretary
Il am going to tell you frankly
that will not furnish you affi-
davitS because I think they would
either be pigeonholed for your own
private comment, or to be handed
to some rubber stamp committee of
your own choosing 1 also want to
call your attention that your Sec
rotary publicly announced that the
members of the legislature we're
bunch of 'drunkardS' and booze
hounds, or something to that eff
feet, as taking place within the
shadow of your office in the state
house. MIR. Chasey seems to have
these facts and he still is your Sec
retry, and I believe he could fur
niSh you with much information if
you really want to investigate that
situation.
"If you will appoint two members
of the legislature and let me name
two members of a committee and
let me act as chairman, will donate
my services to the state, and I am
in possession of the facts to present
to the committee. Whenever YOU
are ready to name your part of the
committee, will name mine, but
am not going to be sewed up by
any hand-picked committees APP
pointed for the purpose of white
wash. I am too old a bird to be
caught with that kind of chaff."
Hole in One Kills Rabbit
BIZ United Press