The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-09-18
REFORM
DRIVE BACKED
BY CANDIDATES
6. O.. p. and Democratic
Nominees Assure Times
of Support.

VI -
Continued From Page Onel
dates and thirty aspirsnts for re-
preventative cast affirmative votes
in the poll
The vote on the plan TO place all
officials and employees OF all penal
institutions on a strictly civil serv-
ice merit basis is almost identical
with the balloting on the police
question.
Three Democrats Disagree
Six Democratic senatorial candi-
dates and twenty-one nominees for
representative approve with nine
Republican senate candidates and
thirty representatives.
As in the case Of the police civil
service plan. no Republicans we're
found opposed 70 placing the en-
plOys Of the penal institutions under
civil service regulation Two Demo-
cratic senatorial candidates and
one Democratic nominee for repre-
sentative expressed opinions in OPP
position 70 expelling the "spoils"
system from the selection Of prison
executives and employees.
Only four responses from candi-
dates on adopting the civil service
plan fOT prison personnel were cor
sidered conditional. One was CLASH
fed as nOncOmmittal.
John Napier Dyer. Vincennes,
Democratic candidate for repre-
sentative from the Pike-Knox dis
trict. declared II elected he will be
active in furthering such legisla-
ton as may be necessary to revamp
the law enforcing agencies Of the
state.
Position Lauded by Dyer
I admire the position of your
paper in this matter" Mr.. Dyer
said. and I hope that YOU will con-
tinue 10 enunCiate in your courage
ous way a demand for the removal
Of our law enforcement agencies
from political influences and domin-
alton"
Mr.. Dyer favored removing poll
tics from the state police system,
placing penal institution officials
and employees under civil service
regulation and declared his opin-
ion in favor of a state department
Of correction which would have di-
rect authority over all penal insti-
tutions.
Malcolm v. Skinner. Portland.
Democratic candidate for senator
from the Jay-Randolph counties
district. voting against all four of
the proposals. declared:
state 'Cossacks' should be
abolished"
Mr.. Skinner. opposing abolish
ment of the "spoils" system, con-
tinued:
This reminds me of prohibition.
Dillinger goes wrong. so we must
change the whole system. I felt
you were better balanced than that.
We Can Run Our Business
1--WE can run our own business
without help from Indianapolis"
David H. Byers. VincenneS. Demo-
cratic nominee for representative
from Knox county. favored civil
service regulations for state police
and penal institution officials and
employees. but opposes supervision
of county institutions by a state
agency.
Mr.. Byers indicated he would
favor a department of correction
having direct control over state in
situations. but expressed the opin-
ion the average county takes better
care Of its penal institutions than
does the state.
B. B. Mayhill. Delphi. Republican
nominee for representative. favoring
all four proposals. remarked:
The state police should be evenly
divided politically. but it is time We
must 60 on a merit system"
Opposes Centralized Unit
Ernest r. Jeffrey. Connersville,
Republican aspirant for representa-
tive. was considered in conditional
favor OF the proposals when he said:
Il am in favor Of some such plan
as outlined if it does not involve a
new and expensive commission"
Claude Cline. Huntington. another
Republican candidate for representa-
tive voting for civil service regula-
tons for police and prison officials
and employees. opposed the central
lied state department Of correction.
I believe the head Of each inSti-
tuition should be held strictly re-
SpOnsible." he said, Ind that en-
ployes should be on the merit
basis"
John w. Mertz. Corunna, Demo-
cratic candidate for representative
favors a nonpartisan state depart
msnt Of correction having direct
authority over all penal institutions
state and county, as we'll as civil
service regulations for police and
prison officials and guards.
Urges Merit System
County penal cases, aid Mr..
Mertz. have local interests and
often may be served best by local
people. Correctional work is very
difficult. Each case is different. ]
heartily agree that the promiscuous
association Of inmates is perman-
emily harmful in most cases"
Another Democratic candidate for
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES A. Gutz-
willer, MISUNDERSTANDING the pro-
gram. declared he is in favor of the
state department making appoint
T..ents on a merit basis only and
that only persons qualified for the
positions should be selected.
Another article disclosing Opin-
ions Of other legislative candi-
dates on the program TO eliminate
politics from the operation of
penal institutions will be pub
listed tomorrow.