Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 30 March 1923 — Page 1

THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER IN DELAWARE COUNTY THE MUNCIE POST - DEMOCRAT

VOL. 3 No. 10

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1923

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE

Dale Released From Penal Farm By Order of Supreme Court

DO THE SHOES PINCH? We do not desire to repeat any, ‘No knave ever felt the halter

opinion of the action in the con- j draw, with good opinion of the law’ tempt cases pending against George ; —and likewise those guilty either R. Dale, Editor of the Post-Democrat as accessories before or after the other than to say that if it was j fact always deplore any expected wrong, as many contend, for people j exposure. They have a true routine to discuss pending cases in a man -! they follow and Jeremy Bentham in

England centuries ago called this alibi the “Fallacy of the Anti-Reform-ers” and reduced 1 their entire formula to one set speech which he called the ‘Noodle’s Oration’. We quote some of it: “The measure implied a distrust of

nor likely to influence the results of a trial to be held in the future, then it is equally reprehensible to pass resolutions with the evident intent to disparage proceedings in any ! ether court contemplated or alleged to be scheduled to take place at 1

come later time. After passing the Government—their (official) disthrough the grilling Federal Invest!-, approval is insufficient to warrant opgations Muncie has hr.d in the past—if position—The measure is a boon to those who followed are above re- the Constitution but we will accept proach, as we hope they are, what no favor from such hands—Oppose could be more desirable than a the- ministers and you disgrace the Govrough searching inquest into the eminent; Oppose officials and you conduct of all officials in Muncie^— | disgrace and bring the whole social ! high and low? Would it not once' system into . contempt—We are fori for all prove to the public generally Liberty of the Press but oppose 1 that we are cleaning our own house? ‘hcentiousness of the Press’ and by! The pitiless publicity heretofore giv- licentiousness of the Press is meant '

' Higher Tribunal Requires Officials of

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on Muncie might be overcome by a clean bill of exoneration, intemperate statements current (hat trustworthy officials might be framed by the Federal People cannot be fairly asserted from past history and it is not likely that any such result will

occur now.

Many honest folk will always be found on both sides of most measures affecting the political and official interests of our city and it

any disclosure that brings to light any abuse or evil that concerns us— We believe in Reform--for the OTHER fellow—It is not the time to reform us—The people are satisfied—no complaints are heard—wait

—have a care! ! !”

Those States and Nations which deny the right to the subjects of criticism are the most despotic— those where complaints are tolei'ated are the most liberal. Corruption

seems likely that despite desires and always counsels and demands revereven requests we will have another ence for the so called ‘existing social federal investigation into our af- 1 order’. Condemnation of a venal offairs. If it is inevitable then why ficial does not extirpate the entire not let this action be determined by , government but preserves it. The the proper judicial tribunal and not | mistake the Sophists and Apologists

by resolutions or by the news

pers ?

It is an old story of Aesop’s Cock making the gentle request of the horses and other stock who were moving about a little restlessly in the stall where the Cock was trying to sleep. Tms grave faced fowl after many narrow escapes from being trodden to death addressed a remark to the whole stable. “Let us

make is in assuming that the “Office” is the “Man” who temporarily holds that public trust. We may have the most profound respect for the office itself and the deepest contempt for the man who attempts to .arrogate to himself the oracle dignity that will not tolerate even the feeblest protest against maladministra-

tion.

This would he an excellent time

have a care, Gentlemen,” said he,, for well meaning people to withold

“lest we tread upon one another.” judgment.

Last Week Against The Federal Probe, This Week They’re For It

The resolutiori mongers of Muncie have suddenly changed their tune, last week they were resoluting against the federal ihvestigation of alleged official rottenness here. This week at the commercial club a resolu-

tion was passed “heartily appPov- T ,

ing” the federal probe. . Johnny Thompson, a mild, That makes it' unanimous. LaW ri&TVMS «

ly respectable body forged to the

front as its sponsor.

DRUGGIST WHO SELLS BOOZE ALL RIGHT, BUT VICTIM

IS PENALIZED

week the resolutions declared that the investigation was brought on by blind tiger operators and the editor of the Post-Democrat, who would all he arrested for suboiunation of per-

jury.

Now that the tiger operators, the Post-Democrat, the preachers and the commercial club hlave agreed among themselves that the probe instigated by law violators is a thing to be “heartily approved” of, there should be nothing in the way of an immediate resumption cf the investigalicn; r.bw that the Gary trial, is out of the way. The resolution approving the investigation was inscribed on the minutes and record of the commercial club. It will be a splendid thing to refer to later, no matter how the investigation turns out, to show that the commercial club was right on the job. If the city and county officials are given a clean bill of health by the government the commercial club will produce the record to show* that it favored the investigation, knowing that its pets in office would be vindi-

cated.

If they are found guilty and sent to prison for conspiracy, the commercial club will be able to prove that it went on record as being opposed to venality in office, and will be able to prove by its own records that the investigation never really became a success until that eminent-

great humanitarian intitution, Indiana state penal farm.

John was sent to the farm by Judge Lance Coons for a third time

intoxication case.

The booze which sent Johnny to the unspeakable tortures of the penal farm was bought at a Muncie drug store. Johnny told Judge Coons the name of the druggist. The same druggist sold him the booze that caused his first offense and his second offense. Each of the three times he told Judge Coons where he had purchased the intoxicants, of the same man in every instance. The druggist is still raking in daily profits from the sale of liquor to other victims who will be sent to the farm to join Johnny. Judge Coons knows all about it for Johnny told him three times, yet there has never been any charge against the druggist, Johnny Thompson, Judge Coons and the booze selling druggist make an interesting trio. Johnny has no money and an aged mother will have to get along as best she can until the son gets back from the place of torment. Judge Coons and the druggist are prosperous, happy and well satisfied, the judge especially being sustained by the knowledge that the ministerial association is behind him and the druggist by the fact that the city council declares that law breaking has

ceased in Muncie.

Honest, reader, of the three people involved, which two ought to be doing time at the Putnamville inierno? • ~ ; . ■ - -teK j|i '■ — - — - --.—--—-a '. ~~

THANKS / The members of the editor’s family and Mr. Dale personally desire to extend through this medium their sincere thanks for the numerous letters of confidence and encouragement as well as other evidences of real support. Owing to the somewhat strained situation we wii! be unable at once to personally thank each of these friends where wo know the names and addresses, but assure you all that, like the man who was hanged in England described by Sanrale Pepys in his famous diary—-We are getting along as well as one conhl under the.circumstances.” Respectful ly, George R. Dale and Family.

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THE FUTILE SMOKE SCREEN An enterprising newspaper gent froni Indianapolis, or some other benighted seaport, who subscribes himself Maurice Early, has taken over the job of enlightening the dear people on that ever interesting subject, “What is the Matter With Muncie.” Maurice’s first essay appeared in the twin Stars, Muncid and Indianapolis, and, as I write this from the Delaware county Jail, Sunday, March 25,1 observe that the second spasm is to appear in tomorow’s edition of these two daily newspapers. By the time this is written his Sunday and Monday’s contributions to literature will have been read and digested by the people of Muncie, and if the first is any indication of future inflictions perpetrated by Maurice’s typewriter, we: predict a wholesale epidemic of stomach ache following in the wake of the digestive process. We don’t know who Maurice Early is, or where he came from, or who is paying him for his junk, but whoever and whatever he is and wherever he came from, and no matter how much he is being paid, and who pays' it, somebody with a foolish bank roll is being badly cheated. A man with an ounce of brains can see through that kind of stuff, engineered by the same adroit gang of barrel house politicians who play ball with the notorious Hugh Berry and Bob Graves and then change coats, turn their hats sidewise and show the ministerial association and the city council the dotted line. This journalistic carpetbagger, who fcame here and found out all about Muncie in thirty minutes has made the discovery that there is nothing at all in the persistent rumors that certain of our city and county officials are not all that they should be. He made his inquiries, he says, in widely divergent sources, but only names two of them—John W. Dragoo, president of the commercial club, (bless its little life) D. O. Skillen, a big manufacturer, and a certain unnamed proprietor of a cigar store. I like John W. Dragoo and I believe he is my friend if I am in jail. He is a man, every inch of him and if the Commercial Club was made up wholly of men like John W. Dragoo it would be a great asset to the city of Muncie, instead of a deadly liability. Liking John as I do, I here declare that I believe Maurice Early (that may only be his stage name) fingered the keyboard of his typewriter carelessly when he quoted that gentleman as saying that “the whole thing,” meaning the federal investigation now on, “is a flare up as a result of rigid law enforcement.” Mr. Dragoo was also quoted as saying that “in years past attempts have been made to divide the citizens by attempting to drive a wedge between capital and labor,” and that “recently attempts have been made tp set neighbor against neighbor by provoking religious strife.” [ Mr. Dragoo also said, according to Maurice, “We do not regard these charges (against the public officials) seriously.” ! Oh ye reader of the printed word, read and weep, that is if you can keep from

laughing.

Who 'are the men whb have befeh Trying to “set neighbor against neighbor by promoting religious strife?” Why bless your heart they are the very public officials whom the president of the commercial club is quoted as valiantly defending. The men who have at heart the redemption of klan ridden Muncie are not law violators. They are men with the courage of their convictions, who are willing to suffer persecution, false imprisonment and the danger of death itself for principle—for an ideal if you please. The men who are trying to rend Muncie asunder, through religious strife are benighted and bigoted members of an invisible empire. The men who declare that Muncie and Delaware county officialdom is rotten to the core, are fighting to free the city of its noxious religious strife. The officials under fire all belong to the ku klux klan, without exception. It is not strange that the federal government hearkened to the Macedonian cry for help. Wilbur Ryman was fired from his job in the federal building because he was a klansman and because he gave a practical demonstration at the Cahill hearing that a klansman’s oath take precedence over his oath of office or even his oath of fealty to the government whose flag protects his unworthy carcase. What happened in the Cahill case at Indianapolis is happening every day in Muncie. Klan offenders against the law are protected by klan officials, while men whose only crime is enmity to this deadly thing are penalized, persecuted and pauperized. The whole thing in a nutshell is this: A bunch of crooked officials, servants and liegemen of an Atlanta emperor, have pull ed the strings and a chorus of sob sisters, including Maurice Be Early, the common council and the ministerial association, are being used, in desperation, to halt a federal inves tigation, which, it is said has been under way for some time. A story is told (I will not vouch for this) that a delegation of women even called on Judge Anderson to tell him what lovely men we have on the board of safety, and that the wise and far-seeing judge rubbed his jaw contemplatively as is his wont and simply asked the good ladies why they wanted the investigation stopped if they had such nice men in office in Muncie. This story may, cr may not be true, for rumors fly wildly these days, but I will bet a dollar to a slick dime that if the ladies really did call on Judge Anderson with that sort of an argument that they received that sort of a reply. The innocent need have no fear of the strictest investigation, and right in that line why pick onto John Cox? Nobody denies that he has been a persistent law violator. He admits it himself. The star witness in the Gary case was a foreigner who was assassinated by hired thugs the day before the trial started. And it developed in the trial that the Gary highbrows and the big politicians all went to the front for the Gary crooks, just as they are attempting to do here. The chief witnesses and informants for the government in the Gary case were law violators. The star witness > for the defense was the city editor of the Gary Tribune and a member of the legislature was named as having offered a big bribe to a government witness to leave the country. It simply won’t work. The government has seen all these things work and if Maurice and the rest of the sob sisters expect to overwhelm Judge Anderson and Homer Elliott by Fecksniffian piffle, they are sadly mistaken, I believe. D. 0. Skillen, oh so respectable, because of his religious tendencies and his connection with a mammoth factory, is also represented as holding up his hands in holy horror over the “agitaion” which might disturb business as usual for some of his political

cronies.

I haven’t forgotten the time I saw Skillen go to the front for Jack Burke, son of the head of the General Motors, charged with ravishing a thirteen year old girl. Skillen went on young Burke’s bond and let Burke’s companion, Clifford Young, a working man, who helped assault the girl, go to jail. The pampered son of wealth, equally guilty with Young, was let off with a reprimand and Young went to prison for a period of from ten to twenty one years. A fine source of information indeed! 1 don’t know who the cigar store man was, but I’ll venture to say he was one of the many who supported Judge Dearth and the rest of the ku klux candidates in the last election and is now one of the dozen or more who are permitted to run card games day and night, in open sight of everybody, where money is wagered on every game. A few minutes ago a colored youth, in jail for violating the liquor law, told me that he was in Bob Graves’ gambling joint the other night and said B was two hundred dollars ahead of the “pique” game when he left. “They do suttinly play ’em high at Bob’s place ebry night,” he concluded. The people who are now so freely indorsing for Muncie and Delaware county officials have spoken out of their turn and the government investigators who have been here looking things over must laugh quietly o ut of the corner of their mouth when they read the resolutions of the Ministerial assonation and assimilate the output? of Maurice

B. Early.

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The Black Hole of Indiana to Surrender Custody of Editor of Post-Democrat™Wife of Publisher Carried Writ

To The Farm

In my years experience as a newspaper man it has been a part of my routine work on many occasions to lightly record the verdicts of juries, the sentences of learned judges and the commitment of men to prison for crimes and misdemeaners which they may or may not have committ-

ed.

Never again will I write of the conviction and imprisonment of any man or woman without a feeling of commiseration for the unfortunate who leaves home, wife, children and friends to begin a life of penal servitude. From the hour of noon, Monday, March 26 until 3 o’clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 28, I was without a name. 1 was recorded at the state penal farm as Convict No. 14,378. On Saturday, March 17, I was thrown in jail after being sentenced to pay a fine of .|500 and serve ninety days in prison, charged with being in direct contempt of court. My bond was fixed at $2,500, as it had been in the indirect contempt proceeding, which was appealed to the Supreme Court. Men who went on my bond and others who offered to were threatened with arrest and business persecution and a paid writer of the Indianapolis Star was brought to Muncie to discredit me and my newspaper and to harass and impede the activities of federal a cents. who were investigating the shady transactions of crooked city and county officials who fear to nave their criminal acts investigated. But there was one determined woman whom the rascally kuklux outfit had not taken into consideration— my wife. I was held in jail for eleven days, with practically no communication with the outside world, hut my wife hired the best lawyers obtainable and went direct to the supreme court for relief from a situation that was intolerable. As a result of her untiring efforts, this devoted woman 'Stepped from an automobile at the office of the superintendent of the penal farm at 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon and handed him an order from the Supreme Court of the State of Indi-

aident members of that glorified or-

der.

At the penal farm my own troubles and perplexities were soon submerged and forgotten as I mingled with this saddest and most hopeless body of men in the state of Indiana. It was with the liveliest sense of curiosity that I entered the dingy office of Captain Armett, the executive officer of the institution. Accompanying me were eight other victims, one of them an old man of seventy—all of them laboring men. “Empty your ptockets,” Was the first brisk order of a young subordinate .seated at a desk. I shelled out and he gave me back my tooth brush. Get over in! that other room and sit down,” he barked. I went over and sat. The other eight were “frisked!”, as I had been and came in and sat down by me. A sign on the wall said, “don’t smoke and don’t talk.” We were presently given cards bearing our prison numbers. Mine was 14378. I added the figures. The sum was 23. “That means skidoo,” I thought, but sternly repressed the idea, which certainly had begun to intrigue me. : I 'felt like running while I w r as all together. After waiting an hour we were herded together in double column by the brisk young man and marched to a large building, the young men repeatedly urging us to “step our progress being somewhat imp peded by the fact that one man limped painfully as he walked. Things came fast and furious then. Standing behind four stools were four young men armed with horse clippers. “Sit down there,” was the short command. I sat and in exactly ten seconds my head looked like a billiard ball. Hair was flying in all directions and the eight of us were shorn of our flowing locks in less time than it takes to tell it. “Strip and get under that shower,” was the next command. There were no ladies present, so I obeyed. So did the others. It took the man who limped longer. It developed that he had but one leg. By this time I was ready to quit and go home, and might have done so had it not been

ana, commanding my instant release from imprisonment and dis-

charge from the custody of the sher- ^at my clothes were all carried away iff of Delaware county. ; b Y some highwayman and locked up

I am now a free man, or at least f° r sa ^ e keeping,

am free as I wri*e this and am I 1 wa s then rigged out with a ragserving notice on the ku klux klan lot of junk prison apparel eleven and its miserable tools in office that s,zes to ° large, consisting of canthe conspiracy which was entered i vas underclothing, corduroy trousers, into, after my incarceration to keep overalls, hickory sffiirt, blue denim me in degraded imprisonment for I overjacket and a ragged, dirty, months, or possibly years, will be Patched up canvas coat, a pair of Y , hunted down until the last man who , coarse socks, one with the heel enparticipated in the vicious plot will tirely gone and a greasy, filthy cap

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be exposed in his infamy.

Mr. Stewart, the managing editor ^ might of the Indianapolis Star, denies that garbage

that smelled like sin and looked like it might have been fished out of a

can.

committee of Muncie citizens | B > the wa y the ca P B ran out wasted on his newspaper and caused Wednesday and a batch of sixteen the vicious lies to be published which new prisoners were given straw hats were designed by those back of to wear! Apparently the prisoners them, to discredit me and influence of toda y ^ re weajing the clothes the supreme court just at the time u3ed b y the first prisoners at the

my petition was filed with that tri- T

bunal asking my release from that . As . 1 was about to encase my man-

1- 1 T * 1

p that

dire and dismal hell hole and blot in the fair name of Indiana—the

state penal farm.

Mr. Stewart admitted to me, however, that J. Cooner Props was one of a committee that had called on the Indianapolis News and tried to get that newspaper to publish the rotten lies. To the everlasting honor of the News be it said that it refused to dirty its hands in this

rotten mess.

Imagine for an instant that paragon of virtue, morality and sobriety

iy form in these gorgeous habiliments, I was halted by a gentleman of color, who sneaked up on me, armed with a fruit tree sprayer, and proceeded to give me a thorough spraying, the superintendent fearing, no doubt, that I might be inflicted with San Jose scale, or some-

thing of that kind.

Fully dressed, and finally feeling like a convict and looking like a Damp who had slept in an ash barrel, I was scooted to the hospital ,-where a yoiffig (man w'hom some

—Cooper Props, passing himself off | there declared to be a veterinary as the spokesman of "decency and surgeon, proceeded to vaccinate me, good citizenship in the city of Mun-1 after which I was weighed, my height cie! recorded and my finger and thumb

Props is one of the charter mem- prints taken,

hers of the Muncie Ku Klux Klan | Meals in the mess hall are eaten and has been, and is, one of the most (Continued on Page Two)

CALLING THE TURN “Tfiere arc certain men in office who, in discharge of their functions, arrogate to themselves a degree of probity, which is to exclude 'all imputations and all inquiry. Their assertions are to be deemed equivalent to proof, their virtues are guarantees for the faithful discharge of their duties, and the. most implicit confidence is to lie reposed in them on all occasions. If you expose any abuse, call for securities, inquiry, or measures to promote publicity, they set up a cry of surprise, amounting almost to indignation, as if their integrity were questioned or their honor wounded. With all this, they dexteriously mix up intimations that the most exalted patriotism, honor, and perhaps religion, are the only sources of their actions.”—Bentham.