The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-25

ander Hamilton or Abraham Lin
coin.
The first Republican must have
been Christopher Columbus" said
the Governor. He didn't know
where he was going when he
started. he didn't know where he
was when he got there and he
didn't know where he'd been when
he started back
Campbell Chief QuestiOner
In starting his address. the Cover
nor put the open forum" idea over
when ne promised 70 answer any
question put 10 him and 10 drag any
"backyards gossip" out into the
open.
He repeated this promise later
after he had placed an impressive
array Of tax facts before his audi
enCe and the heckhng squad swung
into action.
The leadOff man was James BUD
Campbell. who was a deputy prose-
cutor under the prosecutor tenures
Of Republicans VIII Remy and Jud-
son Stark.
He didn't get far when he asked
the Governor about the state pur-
chasing department awarding con-
tracs TO the high bidders because Of
political influence. The name Of
Bowman Elder, treasurer of the 2
Per Cent Club, was brought into the
discussion.
Lowest Bidders Win
Il have said before" asserted the
Governor. and 1 repeat it here,
these contracts for state supplies
and equipment go to the low bidder
If you or any other person in the
state Of Indiana can bring me any
evidence Of graft in the state pur-
chasing department, 1 personally
will see to it that the offender or
offenders are prosecuted to the
fullest extent Of the law"
Why was one of the state po-
litical printing Jobs awarded to one
Of my bitterest political enemies?'
demanded the Governor. The an
swer is because he was the low bid
der.
rs it true that you forced the use
Of brick on State road 81 over the
protests Of the state highway COM
mission, its engineers and IS per
cent of the residents invOlved?" the
Governor was asked. rs it true that
your father is the attorney for the
company furnishing the brick?" his
queStioner pursued.
III answer that, too" snapped the
Governor.
Brick Plants Hard Hit
He explained that Indiana ranks
third among all the states in clay
products manufacture. that brick
plants have suffered a lot of damage
from the depression anG that only
8 per cent of the paving to be done
in the state highway system will be
of brick to give Indiana industry a
chance
Il never have and never will be
connected with the cement trust. :"
said the Governor. intimating that
much of the protest against the use
of brick has been engineered by
those interests.
We had to Junk one cement road
and bury it along the roadside" the
Governor said 1T had been down
only ten years and we have one
stretch of brick road that has been
down twenty years and still is in
fine condition.
NOurisheS State Industry
Isn't it fair that we build only 8
per cent of the Indiana roads with
brick for a trial, if for nothing
else?" he asked
And another thing" the Cover
nor said vigorously, the two peo-
pie from whom the brick will be
bought are the Republican national
committeewOman from Indiana, and
another Republican. If my father
is the attorney for either one Of
them. I do not know it
That was one down. but the ques-
tionS came thick and fast. Some
were ridiculous and some at least
had the merit of being based on
publicity.
Answers All Queries
But the Governor answered them
all
He was asked if it were true that
his family and his wife'S family own
an insecticide company which sold
a large amount of its products to
the state.
That company YOU refer TO is
the CantOl Wax Company replied
the Governor. 1T was formed in
1910 and has done business in every
state in the country. Before I was
elected. I was an officer in that COM
pany. but when I was elected. 1
resigned and sold my interest
don't own a pennyS worth of stock
in that company and if it gets state
business. 1t gets 1t because 1t sub
mitS the low bid"
The Governor even was asked
about the $4,000 he is rumored to
have deposited in a Chicago bank.
Laughingly, he said he didn't have
much money. but what he had was
deposited in an Indiana bank.
Two Per Cent Club Defended
Taking up questioning about the
Two Per Cent Club, the Governor
declared:
We all are practical people. We