Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 8 July 1921 — Page 1

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

VOL. I. NUMBER 26

MUNCIE, INDIANA, JULY 8, 1921

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE

Sweating Candidates Coining Down the Stretch Will Soon Know What Is in Store

The candidates for the various ciV y oftices are now coming down the stretch. Some are developing considerable speed while others are merely marking time. Up until Wednesday, at the time this is being written, the only democratic candidate for mayor who has been actively at work in the camp?Trn is R, H. Bunch, former mayor. The other democratic candidates tor mayor are said to be quietly organizing and that a real contest may develop in the final week of the campaign. The primary will be held Tuesday, July 19, one week from next Tuesday. There have been many calls for absent voter's ballots and the workers of both parties are confident that a big vote will be polled. There were a little over twelve thousand votes cast in the city manager contest and it is believed that the primary vote will reach the fifteen thousand mark. The republican candidates for mayor arc hammering away at each other with but slight regard for the rules laid down by the celebrated Marquis of Gooseberry. Hitting below the belt, rhumb biting* and eye gouging are being indulged in without restraint on the part of the referee and the embattled candidates have even been caught on several occasions, making faces at each other. Willard Bartlett is making a picturesque campaign for the nomination, backed by a miniature newspaper which relates conditions in Muncie as Williard sees them. His campaign is being operated under the auspices of an Organization entitled the Republican square deal ciub, composed of himself and another man. . Willard’s word pictures of conditions in Muncie presents our city as a rival of Sodom and Gomorrah/ He says he knows where all the blind pigs are located and is all set to put them out of business. It has been suggested by some that such valuable information ought to entitle its owner to a job on the police force instead of the diM. or ’ s office. — : JirWTTegSr'diHUis the organization candidate and he is receiving the support of George B. Locwood, of Washington, owner of the newspaper on which he is employed. Owing to the stand the Press took on the city manager question, it is said that Mr. Steele has lost considerable support, but he claims to have gained votes from other, sources to make up for this defection. Jack Fitzgibbons, who is making* the race on his labor record/having been a factory worker himself from the age of nine until long after arriving at manhood, is making a game fight against odds. Jack has always taken a leading part in republican politics and while, he has helped dozens of aspiring republicans into office, many of those whom he helped in times past have held aloof and compelled him to construct and maintain his own organization. Dr. Quick has developed unexpected strength and Dr. Coffman has a personal following which makes him an important factor in the race. The unknown quantity in the republican race seems To be Charley Watkins, who entered the race after the city manager election. Mr. Watkins is the only mayoralty candidate who supported the city manager movement and if he should happen to secure the cooperation of a large group of those who joined that celebrated crusade, he might become a formidable candidate. The republican candidates for mayor, practically without exception, have been encouraging the candidacy of Pen Nash, colored, who is seeking the nomination for councilman at large. There are seven candidates, six whites and one negro, with but four to elect, and the republicans of Muncie are being put on trial by the colored voters. The colored population declare that the defeat of Nash will mean that the republicans are insincere in their profestations of everlasting friendship for their colored brother and sister. As usual, there are dozens of patriots at work for the various candidates on both tickets. Some of these men and women are working because of personal friendship for the can-

didates, but the majority, as usual, i xpeci. to cash in on promises of appointments. The Post-Democrat knows of several candidates who have promised the job to two or more persons, but what is a promise between friends, and who ever heard of a political contest that did not develop astonishing examples of playing both ends against the middle. These “promising” candidates are like the man, possessed of a litter of four bull pups, who promised pups to seventeen different friends. Asked how he expected to perform the miracle, he said he didn’t intend to try. “It’s a dam mean man,” said he, “who wounldn’t promise a friend a pup.” If dog tax were paid this year on all the political pups promised in the city of Muncie, the township would have plenty of money

DRY LIFE FOR SEA LION New York—Unless Volstead, the sea hon pup barn at the Aquarium and the first to be born in captivity, is kept absolutely dry, he' will expire. That is the reason he is named Volstead. At first it was feared he would die anyway, but hope is now held for his life.

PHONE HEARING WILL NOT BE HELD IN THE EXCLUSIVE COMMERCIAL CLUB ROOMS The common council has authorized an appropriation to be used by the city to contest the demand of the telephone company for an increase of rates in Muncie. City Attorney McPhce was informed Tuesday that a public hearing of the case would be held July 18 in the auditorium of the commercial club, but owing to a press of city business and the fact that the primary election and other matters would interfere Mr. McPhee has requested that the hearing he postponed until September 15. It is not likely that the hearing will be held in the auditorium, (whatever that is) of the commercial club. The atmosphere of the commercial club is not the sort of ozone that the common people of Muncie regard as homelike, and the request will probably be made that the hearing be held in the court room or some other public place.

CLAIRVOYANT PREDICTS CARPENTIER WILL LOSE Paris—“Our dear Carpentier'’ will lose his forthcoming fight with Dempsey, declares a clairvoyant quoted by the Matin. She writes: “The fight will not be a very long one. I see him receive heavy blows in the chest and side and another in the face, on the nose, or near the ear. He will then fall and the fight will be lost.” MARRIED TO TWO BROTHERS London—Two brothers who married charged together with bigamy, told a the same woman, and the latter, strange tale of mixed marriage. John William Rowling admitted having married a young woman whom he met while in a military hospital. She John's lawful wife. was charged with marrying his brother Leonard and the latter was accused of aiding and abetting her All were remanded.

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POOR RICH CHILD Chicago—Pity the poor rich child of Chicago. The Infant Welfare Society finds the children of the wealthy 50 per cent below normal in weight, while in the tenements only 18 percent :ate under weight. “Poor mothers know more about children,” says Stipe 1'ini tondent Sarah B. Place. “Chidren of the wealthy get too much rich food.” FISH STOPS AUTO Nellsville, Wis—Running his automobile through a shallow stream while on a fishing expedition, Floyd Hansori found that the machine refused to move after reaching the opposite shore An examination revealed a large black bass wedged in between the accelerator lever and the frame of the car, shutting off the gass supply. DOG CATCHES FISH Green Bay, Wis—The two fish catching geese in Natches, Mass., have nothing on a Green Bay dog, according to those who have seen an English bull pup belonging to Jerome Villesse, a bay shore fisherman, in action. The dog swims about in shallow water and grabs the fish in his mouth, theft heads for shore and deposits the fish at the feet of his master. REAL BACKSLIDERS New York—Home brewers in. America are amateurs compared with the jungle blacks, says Rev. William G. Terrill, Methodist missionary in South Africa, Savages brew alcoholic drinks from anything that grows in the jung^ le—oranges, limes, lemons, sweet toes, roots and other plants. The liquor is so powerful it .makes the blacks want to walk backwards.

LITTLE PARK

Visalia, Cal—Visalia boasts the smallest municipal park in the.State. It measures eight feet square and com tains one large oak tree, symbolic of the “City of Oaks” for which Visalia was famed at one time. The park stands in the center of the city’s main thoroughfare and is under the personal

care of the Mayor’s wife.

NEEDLE IN JAW

Lebanon, Ind—Gardner White, a farmer, has been suffering for a year with intense pain in his jaw. A few days ago he went to a doctor who found a piece of needle imbedded in the infected jaw. This was removed and White is recovering. He recalls that about three years ago when he took a chew of tobacco he felt something pierce his jaw. BLUE LAW CLIMAX Detroit—The blue laws are in force in the town of Marlette by popular vote. The only movie in town must close hereafter Sundays). The fight over its closing had raged several months, when Harry Hobolth, the proprietor, suggested a referendum, and agreed to abide by the result. He lost by a vote of 270 to 70.

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mm. zmm mm;: PROFITEERS STILL AT WORK 1 i A studied effort is being made to educate the public that the cost of living has been 1 greatly reduced and that there should be a corresponding decrease in wages. | As a matter of fact the cost of living in Muncie has not been reduced to any noticeable * extent. Shoes are still ten or twelve dollars a pair, notwithstanding that the farmer does jl not receive enough for a hide to buy a dozen shoe laces. ^ The people are still paying fifty cents a pound for bacon from eight cent hogs. The N price of dairy cows has dropped to one third of the ruling price two years ago and the | farmer does not receive enough for his milk to pay for the feed, but milk is still twelve | cents a quart in Muncie. Wheat is lower in price than it has been for years but bread is still retailed in Muncie | at war prices. The saloons are out of existence and red eye whisky and lager beer are only procurable | at outlandish prices from bootleggers, consequently the thirsty ones are compelled to | patronize soda fountains where the prices of plain and fancy soft drinks and sundaes | are still being held to the top notch prevailing during war times. 1 Rent, the greatest of all family expense with the probable exception of food, has not |l been reduced in Muncie. In fact in many instances rentals have been advanced recently i both on business rooms and private dwellings. | Rent hogs are taking advantage of the scarcity of houses and notwithstanding the depression in business and industry which has been the means 01 throwing thousands of working men and women out of employment in Muncie, these grasping profiteers insist on the payment of rentals entirely out 0 f reason, considering the fact that wages and salaries have been reduced and business curtailed fifty percent or more. The candidate for mayor on either ticket in Muncie who is big enough to outline a program which will curb the rent hogs and put a ring in the nose of greedy profiteers could certainly make a hit with the voters of Muncie. There never was a time in Muncie when the people were in such sore distress. Hundreds of families are out of work and money with nothing in sight in the way of relief. Men by the hundreds are tramping the streets looking for work, many of them offering to take employment for a dollar and 'a half a day, or less. Their families are in need and their condition is desperate. With this-condition existing, the profiteer who deliberately keeps prices of neees- * sities at war levels is not a good American cit izen. The national administration is doing absolutely nothing to relieve the situation. The people last fall voted for a change and they got it with a vengeance. Instead of the sane and humanitarian policies advocated by Woodrow Wilson, they must now rely upon Warren Gamaliel Harding, who is surrounded and influenced by such men as Penrose, Watson Smoot, Lodge, Fordney and Harvey. These men, who are wholly committed to the interests of the railroads, public utilities and big industrial combines, have no sympathy with the worker and are coldly and unconcernedly viewing his distress from afar while they play the game of politics in the interest of the organized 'wealth of the country. The cowardly separate peace that was made last week by congress and the president is but a sample of the shifty policies of the administration. Had it not been for Senator Lodge and his gang of obstructionists, an honorable peace would have been made with GermanPKm^riea would have occupied a .pround place in the 'Teague of nations, and the world would have been prosperous today. As it is, the United States has been fenced in by political muckers who care more for the political fortunes of themselves and their followers than they did-of the welfare of the people whom they deceived in their campaign of misrepresentation. These so called statesmen now have the supreme impudence to propose a high tariff law as a remedy for the desperate disease with which our country is now suffering. What is to become of these people who are out of work and out of money? The PostDemocrat knows of one man, who secured temporary employment with a construction gang, whose pitiful lunch pail contained nothing but a few handfuls of parched corn. When his fellow workmen discovered the poor fellow sitting aloof from the others, devouring his parched corn, they offered to divide with him their own frugal fare. The man proudly declined, telling them mo urnfully that he would choke on the food they offered him because his family at home had nothing to eat but parched corn and that they had subsisted upon it for several days. Can the average citizen realize that such things are happening in free America—right here in Muncie, if you please? It is high time that the big financial eombin es get their ear to the ground. The people will not permit honest workmen and their families to be starved to death while selfish big money keeps the wheels of industry idle in order to force the workman to accept the wages that are offered to him.

Dynamo Club Celebrates at Expense of City of Muncie

The nruch heralded Fourth of July celebration, put on by the Dynamo Club, one of the offshoots of the Chamber of commerce, has left a bad taste in the mouths of citizens of Muncie and surrounding territory. The Dynamo Club, or rather its parent. the commercial club, put on the entertainment and obtained money under false pretenses. Hundreds of people from this city and surrounding cities went to the fair grounds Monday with the idea that they were to be given free entertainment by the city of Muncie. The advertising and literature used by the commercial club to herald the event was adroitly worded in order to create the impression that the club was speaking for the city of Muncie, and that the entertainment was distinctly a Muncie affair, instead of a commercial club stunt. When these people found that they were to be held up at the gate for fifty cents, automobiles twenty five cents extra and grand stand twenty five' cents more, their indignition knew no bounds. Many mothers took their children to the fair grounds and were unable to enter because they had no money. Efforts were made to drive from the public highway people who sought to witness the fireworks without being ginped out of four bits. There was nothing at all in the advertising of the event that made mention of its being a pay affair. The Wording of the dope put out by the chib made it appear that it was a patriotic event contributed to the citizens wf Muncie.and eastern Indiana as a # ee will offering of the Dvnamo Club. To show the civic pride of those who put on the stunt, it might be remarked that the advertising matter placed in the windows of Muncie merchants bore the imprint of a Cincinnati printing firm. Evidently the young men of the Dynamo club were badly advised by some of the seniors of the commercial club. The next time they attempt to put on a big show* they will probably take the people into their confidence before putting it oyer. WELL KNOWN GLASSWORKER DIES AT EAS7 HAVEN Harry Neuerman, a well known glass worker, who was taken two months ago to East Haven Hospital, at Richmond, died in that institution Saturday The deceased was a member of the Eagles and Moose. He leaves a wife and three children.

To Give Aid To Rural Homes

Washington, July 7—Development, of rural homes to the end that farm life may be more attractive is provided in a bill reported favorably to the Senate by Senator Smoot, of Utah, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Lands. This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the United States Reclamation Service, to make contracts, first, for the investigation, and later if found feasible, for the construction, of projects for the reclamation and development of lands in private ownership located throughout the United States. The proposed legislation is unique in that it does not call upon the Public Treasury for any funds, not even for preliminary investigations or for the time given by Government officials to consideration of projects. First, the estimatc i cost, and subsequently the actual cost, both for investigations and construction, must be deposited with the United States in advance before any expense is incurred by the Govern-

ment.

The Secretary of the Interior is empowered, after reclaiming and developing the lands, to provide for their sale to home seekers, and he is enabled to limit the returns of the original landowners to a reasonable profit definitely stated in advance in each contract providing for the development of a project, in this manner promoting and safeguarding the interests of the home seekers settling upon the land so developed. * ❖ '■** *$• ►!* •J* -p *£* *J* ►t* <■» ►!-* -j* •$* »ji { MUNCIE BRIEFS * * »p * v * **■> .j. .y n. >j< £ ►*« Bill Guthrie, the court house janitor, has cut his hay on the east forty and t|\e harvest will begin next week on Abe wpest .emL yard. The commissioners ought to have enough pride in the appearance of the court yard to secure enough help to keep it in shape and to spend a little money, if necessary, to beautify the grounds.

WON’T JOIN INCOME TAX, MAN WRITES OFFICIALS Washington—There is one rpan in the United States to whom the notice that the quarterly income tax was due didn’t bring a frown. Instead his letter of acknowledgment to the treasury officials says: “Dear Treasury—I received your application blank. But I already belong to several good orders and do not care to join the income tax at this time.”

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NEWS OF THE FINANCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL WORLD

Final settlement of the, British coal moderate only, this is in some restrike has been the outstanding econ- , spects .regarded as a beneficial factor m j n the situation on account of the

large carryover from last year. Agriculture is one industry in which readjustment has reached a fairly advanced stage, both labor and food sup-

v*jf «» ^ plies being lower than at any period effect upon foreign exchange has been j for a long time and in many regions good, although less • conspicuous than 1 being practically on a prewar basis, would otherwise have been the case ; The prices of the manufactured goods had not these events been so fully j the farmer must buy are not as much “discounted.” Lord Curzon’s address • reduced but are much more moderate

ornic event, in foreign affairs during the past w*eek. Coupled with the successful payment of Germany’s second instalment of her reparations bill, bringing the total now remitted up to a quarter of a billion marks, the

in the House of Commons relative to the conciliatory intentions of the British Government with respect to the mandate question also promises well for the adjustment of our larger economic relationships in foreign affairs.

A Better Feeling in Business Although it would be difficult to

give positive evidence in support of the more optimistic opinions expressed by business men, it is a fact that the past week has seen the development of a distinctly better tone in

than they have been. All this makes for a profitable year’s output in the

farming districts.

Railroad and Industrial Conditions Improving conditions on the railr roads are reflected in rather better current net earnings. Revision of freight rates has already progressed much- further than is realized, there being a serious attempt to get an adjustment of charges, especially on long distance hauls, including those on staples between the coasts. This

commercial UrcTes Not only is the should tend to relieve some of the banking situation increaMngiy strong j ^ngestioir qr la: k of adaptation thal but there are less idle cars on tlie •has-^isfepcLTrr a long time past ana railroads, and while general wiem-1 /’ le !” .manuiacturers 1 nloyment has been relieved conditions v ’ nJ I a y’ e be f I l. s . u k ie I m '’ y om hign in the agricultural districts are sea- materials ana finished goods. Mean-

sonally better and there is very fair demand at some manufacturing points

time the volume of business has held up well in those industries which

nlthmiP-h their number is limited The had shown a fair capacity to take a clop outlook is proving decidedly-Jar/ j start du . vin §g th . e s P ri . n &- ° nly Mactory, average condition of all sh ? ht seasonal reductions have been crops being nearly what it was a year witnessed m those cases, while m ago. While the yield of cotton will be otners there has been at least some

tendency toward actual growth of business with a view to the autumn trade. Continued passing of dividends has been observed during the week, though at a lower rate than heretofore; but it still remains true, as often stated in the past, that the number of companies regularly paying their dividends is far greater than the number of those which have suspended or cut them . While the prospect for the mid-summer period is therefore, as often happens, one of comparative dullness there is fairly general agreement that the autumn outlook is hopeful. Financial and Banking Outlook Much easier call money and far more abundance has accompanied the greater activity that has prevailed in stock 'market during the past two weeks. Time money also has shown the effect of the easier conditions by yielding somewhat in rate, notwithstanding the arrival of the mid-year dividend and interest disbursements made on the first of July. Exchange has been unexpectedly strong due to the hopeful European developments which have tended to sustain it for some time past owing to the confident belief of operators that they would take place. Accumulation of gold has continued in the Fedei’al Reserve sys-r tern, but in various parts of the country there has been an increase in the volume of bills held, which shows that the system is accommodating the community to a considerably larger extent than heretofore. These conditions show that our bankin' * 1 * * * * * - meehan-. ism is opr rating smoothly and that it is furnishing normal amounts of assistance to legitimate business. The adoption of the Penrose bill to permit the Treasury Department to fund Allied indebtedness, subject to its g*eneral discretion, is expected at an early date and should finally dispose of an important matter which has been overhanging the international finan-

RQW ON “LOVING SMILE” Berlin—The whim of a German to name his boat the “Loving Smile” (in English) has almost precipitated another international complication as a result of the appearance of the boat on the Alstcr Lake in Hamburg. Local Hamburgers warned the owner to change the legend to one more German. Instead the owner printed the words in larger letters. The proprietor and his brother were ducked in the lake and the name erased from the boat.

cial market for a long time. Market Review and Outlook Distinct improvement in activity in the stock market has been characteristic of the week, but there has been a tendency to price irregularity. The proposed import duty of 35 cents per barrel on crude petroleum naturally had a depressing effect on the shares of companies whose main production is in Mexico and South American fields. An impost such as this, added to the proposed Mexican export duty, would of course interfere very greatly with shipments of oil into this country; in fact would be almost prohibitive. Railroad shares have been favorably influenced by the bills under stood to be in progress at Washington 1 and designed to produce immediate relief for the roads through heavy payments to be made on the part of the Government in cash. This has also tended to help the equipfnent shares. The demand for stocks continues light, but as liquidation seems to have'run its course it requires less buying than formerly to bring about advances, and this is likely 7 to be a greater feature from now on, with the probability 7 of more extensive buying from the vcneral public if business .conditions' should soon give evidehe, of coming improvement. It is recognized, even by the bear element that values have reached so low a level there is not much room for further depression except in sperial cases where unfavorable dividend action may yet be taken, and even in such instances this has been pretty well discounted in the shrinkage which has already taken place.

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By the way, what became of that five thousand dollars appropriated by the county council to make a sort of a park out of the court yard?

The Dynamo Club believes in putting on a big show at somebody ele’s expene. All in favor of giving three rousing cheers for the Dynamo Club say aye. Just as we thought. Motio-r ’.ost by , unanimous vote.

People who drove here on the Fourth from surrounding towns to enjoy the Fourth went away mad When they were held up for fifty 7 certs at the gate they 7 reared, and roared plenty. Some say that they will never come back.

One candidate advertises himself as The People’s Choice.” Good Lordj won t some of those poor devils have a lot to take back after the election? fhe people sometimes fail to choose the people's choice.

. Confidentially, we herewith slipthj information that most of the talk you are hearing from candidates these nays along the line of what they with do for Muncie in case lightning .'trikes them is all pure bunk GHOSTS PLAY JAZZ Manchester, N. H.—Since the death ot George F. Posher, wealthy real estate operator, his house, occupied by three women ,has been visited nightlv by a ghost, until the women, in desperation, have appealed for police protection. The phonograph, without winding, started playing* a combinatio ot hymns and jazz, the clock fell to the floor, chairs danced about and a ghostly face peered through the darkness.

DIVORCED FROM HUBBY WHO CUTS INI i IauS oa uOIL Paris, 111.—Mrs. Jessie E. Forsman was granted a divorce from Glcnn_ B. Forsman, who recently was indicted charged with having carved his initials on the breast of Mrs. Bessie Rogers, a tenant farmer’s wife. Forsman is facing trial on six indictments growing out of the initial carving episode. CONVICTED, BUT FREE Easton, Pa.—Robert Loomis, former cowboy, twice convicted of killing Bertha Meyers in Easton in May, 1917, has been set free. Charles Shrapy, who at the two previous trials “confessed” to being an accomplice of Loomis, repudiated the confessions. SEERS TO- NEED LICENSE Louisville—Clairvoyants who, when their palms are crossed by silver, profess to pierce the veil that obscure.s the future will have to pay a license fee of $100 a year for the privilege, provided a bill offered to the Board of Aldermen passes.

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