Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 16 September 1921 — Page 1

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THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER IN DELAWARE COUNTY

THE MUNCIE POST-DEMOCRAT

VOL. 1. NUMBER 36

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1921

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE

Red Hawkins, Gambler,

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Punished For Standing i» , Pat on the City Manager

There have been strange doings in the “underworld” of Muncie since Dr. Fred Bunch, brother of the nominee for mayor, and George Klein, the returned prodigal, were appoined to membership on the police board a few weeks ago. 1 Simultaneously with the sudden accession of power on the part of former Mayor Bunch, the word went down the line that gamblers who were “right” could get out the old crap layout and other paraphernalia of Lady Luck and proceed to work. Those who were not “right” were told to go get a job on the section. In the recent primary, the gambling fraternity were rather split up among the candidates. Among those who refused to support Dr. Bunch was “Red” Hawkins, who is supposed to run a craps emporium on North Mulberry street between Washington and High. Red was told during the primary either to geet “off” the candidate he was supporting, or find himself in hot waller later on. Red .Refused to be bluffed and on election day his automobile was not adorned by Bunch banners. With the return of normalcy in police circles, that is, after Dr. Bunch had gained control by persuading Mayor Kelly to name two men on the police board suggested by himself, the gamblers, or, in the parlance of those who court the goddess of chance, the “thin skins,” began operations in a businesslike way. Red said that meant him too, but Red hadn’t counted on the things that happen to those who rebel against the awful majesty of the law, and law in Muncie seems to be right nc\v that it is lawful for some to run gambling houses and a crime worse than the Tucker lav/ for others to take money from easy marks. Others of the gambling fraternity who were not infatuated with the thought of Bunch as mayor, ran hastily to cover and concealed their insurgency by becoming non-committal and awaiting developments, but not TTe- otit that he would gamble as long as anybody else gambled, and he would be gol durned if he would give up the regulation twenty five per cent or even twenty five cents, for the privilege of operating. It didn’t take Red long to find out that he is not doing business in the protected zone. Minions of the law kicked in his front door last Saturday night and as a result fourteen men are slated on charges of gambling and visiting a gambling house. The raid occured a couple of days after a meeting of gamblers in a local hotel for the purpose of making a protest against the tax levy. At this meeting resolutions were adopted abolishing the twenty five per cent levy and making a flat price for each of the gambling houses of twenty five dollars a v/eek. It was also concurred in, by a majority vote, that the collector was persona non grata with the full membership and that a new collector be appointed. The appointment was made, but the old collector refused to quit. Things began to get into a distressing state. No well regulated gamblers’ organization can work successfully with two collectors. The new man was ready to go to _ work and the old man refused to quit. Confusion reigns and on top of all this’ comes the raid on Red Hawkins. Red is not a very humble person. His idea of true democracy is that all men are created free and equal and that it is no more of a crime to shoot craps on Mulberry street than R is to play African golf on South Walnut street. Likewise he is a free trader. He does not agree with Joe Fordney on the high tariff question, as it relates, at least, to his partifcular line of business. Red says he has not read much law lately, but as he remembers it the statutes fail to make any distinction between gamblers who pay for protection and those who do not. He says he may look into the thing and

find out.

PHOTO WAS TOO GOOD TO PLEASE THE GROUP London—The members of the Butchers’ Association,of a town near Manchester decided to be photographed in front of the rather finely sculptured portals of the locaU abattoirs. The result is a distinct credit to the photographer, but nevertheless there is a demand that the negative should be destroyed. The likenesses are perfect, the sculptured details are clearly de-

fined. but so, alas, is the carved scroll

above this particular door, which bears the inscription “Pigs.”

WORE 3 PAIRS OF EARRINGS Paris—Three pairs of earrings were worn by a woman attending a Horse Show. Set in the ears were rather long diamond pendants, and round them were two pairs of very large jet rings, one within the other. The largest was about two inches in diameter.

Jitney Ordinance Not Popular But Look Out for Boomerangs

The anti-jitney ordinance, passed by the democratic council, is lacking in popularity in Muncie, but we fail to see why Dr. Bunlh should attempt at this time, or any other time, to “promote” himself at the expense of

the. democratic council.

We fail to see where the good doctor comes in. A1 Bingham, the democratic councilman against whom the spleen of Dr. Bunch is especially directed, as well as the other councilmen, were elected four years ago backed by the O.K. of Dr. Bunch, the

head of the ticket.

A1 Bingham became a candidate at the express invitation of Dr. Bunch. Councilmen Kleinfelder and Shad Cunningham, the only members voting against the jitney ordinance, were not elected on the Bunch slate four years ago, both having been appointed to

fill vacancies.

If Dr. Bunch is such a powerful figure in local Democratic politics, why did he not exert his vaunted power by controlling the vote of at least one of the nine members voting for the ordinance and thus prevent its passage over the mayor’s vote. When he is seeking something for himself, Dr. Bunch is one hundred per cent efficient, but seems to be lacking in the punch when the other fellows asks him to help. Instead of appearing before the council himself to protest against the jitney ordinance, he sent Bill Daniels, a socialist, who poured out a tirade against councilmen, not one of whom he had voted for, knowing that the appearance of Wild Bill before the council fould be about the same as shaking a red shirt at a Jersey bull. If any one of the nine councilmen against the ordinance, Bill’s triade certainly prevented it and Dr. Bunch knew, when he sent Bill on his mission, what effect Bill’s harangue would have on any reasonable set of men who would natuyally "resent being bullied by an irresponsible wind jammer lile Bill Daniels.

TRIPLETS IN RELAYS Berlin—Triplets in relays. This remarkable event is chronicles in the official birth returns for the quarter ending March 25, which have just been published. The wife of a wording man gave birth to two healthy girls on January 18. Mother and babies were doing weel, when, to the surprise of the father and the tors, a third girl was born on March 8, seven weeks later. The newest arrival is also a lusty infant, and according to the latest reports, the whole family is in excellent health.

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The law clearly states that the election of any person having been convicted of a crime against the United States and sentenced to federal prison for a period of over six months, “shall be absolutely void.” This renders Dr. Bunch ineligible to hold the office to which he aspires. The best lawyers in the state, including practically every lawyer in Muncie declare the law to be contitutional. In his speeches he constantly reiterates that he will be elected and hold his office. If he is so sure of this why does he refuse to test the case NOW, instead of waiting until after the election when it will be everlastingly too late for the democrats to prevent a republican from becoming mayor, by default. If the law is unconstitutional after the election it is unconstitutional now. If Dr. Bunch has the courage of his conversation he ought not hesitate to put the law to the test immediately. He is running as a democratic candidate and owes something at least to the party that has honored .him so often. He has put out the argument that by his popularity he will pull the rest of the ticket through and insure a democratic council even if the law does finally disqualify him. Fine business! is the democratic party so vitiated in Muncie that it has to use Doc Bunch for a brass band to lead it to victory? And what would be gained by a democratic council alone? The mayor has the appointment of the chief of police, city attorney, board of works, board of safety and every other appointment of importance and it takes a two-thirds vote in council to pass an ordinance over his veto. The Post-Democrat, as a democratic newspaper, is not seeking that sort of a victory.

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DEMOCRACY IN STRANGE HANDS

Events which have taken place, in rapid succession, within the past few weeks, have made it absolutely impossible for the Post-Democrat to support the candidacy of Rollin H. Bunch for mayor. This newspaper is a democratic publication, but that fact does not necessarily imply that it w T ill surrender its independence in the matter of the support of individual candidates, who, in our belief do not represent the true spirit of democracy. To begin with, Dr. Bunch selected, as the head of his personal organization prior to the primary election, Bill Daniels, a social list who had never voted the democratic tick-

et in his life.

Daniels was made president of the “Bunch for Mayor Club,” and in that capacity spoke from the same platform with the former mayor at every one of his meetings. Speaking under the auspices of a democratic candidate, this socialist was permitted and encouraged, at these meetings, to assail many democrats of known standing. The socialists, no doubt, would vigorously resent the idea of any democrat or any republican, forcing his attentions upon their party and attempting to have any part in the proceedings leading up to the naming of their party candidates. By his actions Daniels has alienated himself from the socialist party in Muncie, and instead of leading the socialists, body and britches into the camp that is paying him for his services, his didoes have caused the opposite effect, insofar as the socialists are con-

cerned, and have digusted democrats who sti : l believe that each party should settle its

own primary contests without interference on the part of rank outsiders. Bill is a deserter from his own ranks and God knows the democrats of Muncie do not want him, nor do they want to see a candidate for mayor elected who will place Daniels in some authorative position in the city administration in the event of his election. The political history of former Mayor Bunch is such that he should be the last man* in the world to criticize any democrat who w’ould refuse to support some democratic candidate in the final election. In the general election of 1918 Dr. Bunch’s personal organization supported Horace G. Murphy, a repub lican, for prosecuting attorney. Meetings were held before the primary and instructions were given to the law breaking element of his organization to see to it that all voters they could control should call for republican ballots in order to insure the nomination of Murphy'. Murphy was nominated and in the fall e lection he was supported by the same organization. They were told to vote for Murphy a id most of them voted the entire republican ticket, thus defeating not only J. Frank Man a, the democratic nominee for prosecutor, but the entire democratic ticket as well. Nobody knows this better than Billy Wil liams, the present republican county chairman, who at that time worked in complete ha rmony with that section of the Bunch democratic organization. Billy did not have any use for Murphy, but he was interested in the success of Sherman Shroyer, a candidate for the nomination for county commissioner, and by making a nice little trade, he threw his support to Murphy and Shroyer was put on the “slate” with Murphy, by that part of the Bunch organization which plays practical politics in return for privileges which law abiding dt mocrats are not looking for. These are facts which, can be proved. Th ey are matters of common knowledge. They should be weighed by democrats who have the real success of the party at heart, and who believe that their party is greater than the pc rsonal greed or ambition of any one man. As all will remember, the former public/ tion edited by the publisher of this newspaper, supported Rollin Bunch in his last campaign. Dr. Bunch had been indicted on charges of taking graft money and was tried in the circuit court, but the state failed to convict, "he jury disagreeing. The bitterest enemy that Roll Bunch had before and during this trial, v as Horace G. Murphy, and it was largely because of the attitude of Mr. Murphy, in who h the Post had no confidence, that we attack;cd the motiv6s”6f-tho{5B'' It’did not seem possible to us that the re could be any merit in any charge against any citizen of Muncie, that was made by Horace G. Murphy. We were for everything he was against and against everything he was for, on general principles. Since that time we have seen no reason to change our mind. In the city campaign of 1917 Horace G. Murphy took the stump against Dr. Bunch. He made speeches against the candidate containing charges of a serious nature. Indictments were then standing against the mayoralty candidate and Murphy repeatedly made the statement; “For God’s sake, people, do not elect a man to the office of mayor, whom I, in my capacity as prosecutor, will be required to prosecute and send to prison” Murphy did not send Dr. Bunch to prison, but accompanie d him there. The things that Horace Murphy said about Dr. Bunch in the 1917 campaign should have been sufficient to have forever disqualified him as a political associate, but suddenly, after Dr. Bunch’s election, he and the speech, making Horatio began to have many things in common, and many friends in common. When Horace.ran the first time as the reform candidate for prosecutor in 1916, he was hated, loathed and despised by every gambler, and bootlegger in Muncie. Later they learned to love him. To the horror and disgust of practically every real democrat in Muncie, it became apparent that Roll Bunch and Horace Murphy w ere forming some kind of an alliance. In the campaign of 1918, aftbr repeated solicitations on the part of Dr. Bunch, the publisher of this paper reluctantly became a candidate for the nomination fgr county clerk. And when we say reluctantly we mean it, for there was nothing farther from our desires than the thought of “running for office.” It was done wholly because of Dr. Bunch’s urgent and repeated requests and his assurance that he wo uld get behind the candidacy with every re-

source at his hand.

On primary day it developed that the fr iend whose newspaper had battled with him for his freedom and election as mayor, was sacrificed for Horace G. Murphy, a republican, and the man whopi the Post had used as an “awful example” to make votes for Bunch. It was almost inconceivable that such an act of political treachery could have been contemplated and carried into execution. It h as been frequently demonstrated that when Dr. Bunch runs himself as a candidate, that o ne hundred percent loyalty and work is demanded upon the part of every voter whom h e regards as a follower and he has been given the loyalty and support he asks. If there was any democrat is Delaware county to whom he owed more in a political way, than the publisher of the Post, we do n ot know who it would be. Surely not Horace Murphy, the republican, who warned the people here that he would have to send him to the penitentiary. The editor of the Post was defeated in the primary about three hundred votes, only carrying the city of Muncie by a scant seventeen votes. Dr. Bunch will either have to adrpit that his energies and those of his “organization” were more devoted to the success of Murphy than to the s uccess of Dale, or to admit that his power as a political leader was not what he claimed it to be. It may be noised about that this is merely the plaint of a “sorehead” who was defeated for nomination, but such a charge would be far from the truth. We are merely relating these facts in order to make as clear to the public as possible, that the PostDemocrat can still be a democratic newspaper without supporting Dr. Bunch, who has demonstrated that when his own interests are at stake he can work with just as much ease in republican politics as he does in the ranks of democracy. | If the democratic party expects to survive in Muncie, as a party, it must purge itself of the domination of Dr. Bunch, who seeks not the success of the party except as it redounds to his individual benefit. There are other reasons why Dr. Bunch should not again be entrusted with the office of mayor, and these reasons will be clearly stated as the campaign progresses.

Dictator Attempts Removal of City Chairman Andrews and Election Commissioner

Ray Andrews, chairman of the democratic city central committee, and George R. Dale, democratic member of the city board of election commissioners, have both been ordered to resign from their respective positions. The order was sent out from the headquarters of Doc Bunch and Bill Daniels, and is therefore highly offi-

cial.

Up to date, neither the party chairman nor the election commissioner have jumped their jobs, regardless of the ukase of the kinglet. The objection to Andrews was that he was not devoting enough time to the campaign and to Dale that he might refuse to sign the election certificate of Dr. Bunch, in the event of the latter's election. With such a powerful organizer as Bill Dasiels at the helm, and surrounded with such adroit politicians as Billy Finan, Horace Murphy and Elmer Gentry, what need has the

if any one involved feels like “coming back” at the editor, the columns of

the Post-Democrat are open to them. This newspaper does not desire to be unfair or to misrepresent any individual, and it insists on fairness on

the part of others.

THIS SOUNDS STRANGE IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES OF GREED, GRAB, GRAFT!

Editor Post-Democrat: In the dispatches of a few days ago, we read the following very amazing, queer and astonishing paragraph, which is self-explainatory and veryremarkable, and we wish to follow it up a litte by some conclusions in these perilous times by your generous per-

mission. It reads:

. “Sidney, New South Wales, Sept. 5, 1921—A country without an army.

without a navy, without a national

doctor for Ray Andrews or any other i debt and without an income tax; where city chairman, for that matter? ! the romance of the South Seas still Bill Daniels has already secured , the age of 16 years must own eight eight thousand pledge cards (this Is and one-quarter acres of land to susofficial for Bill says so himself, so tain his own family—a statute obli-

why need to worry, Bill can easily go out some rainy afternoon and get seven or eight thousand more and,

presto, the trick is turned!

It is believed that the real reason

gation which is fulfilled by a magnanimous government granting him

the land gratis.”

Paradise on earth! But so far

XL is oeneveu mat uie real reason away. Can it be, is it true that there tor demanding the resignation of Ray I i s s tiH one little spot on God’s footAndrews as city _ chairman r. ji not! stool, the boinie terre of the earth, that he is not serving acceptably, but !-where man is not a hog? Wonder if that he is in a position of power they read the 20th century edition

which makes him dangerous to the

Bunch steam roller.

It is conceded by all persons who have given the matter any real study, that Dr. Bunch cannot legally serve as mayor of Muncie. The law is plain and supreme court decisions make it clear that the democratic candidate cannot serve if elected and automatically become mayor, that Dr.. Quick, republican, would In the event of the resignation from the ticket by Dr. Bunch, the law provides that the city chairman shall appoint some person to fill the va-

cancy.

The sudden and violent demand for the resignation of Ray Andrews has a very significant look. To a man up a tree it looks like Dr. Bunch is getting ready to withdraw from the

of the Bible; that portion called the

have.

Golden Rule? It seems as if they the earth, up in South Wales, a happy Then, sire, if in a remote spot of clan can survive and be free from debt, no navy, no army, no “income” tax, no “wars to make the world free” everybody, doubtless, on equal footing, qo “multis” no Schwabs, Rockefellers, Fords, Goulds, Vanderbilts, or Astors, Newberries, Smoot, Gamaliels, or even Republican small fry who yell “Normalcy—Prosperity” in their ears, while twelve million true-blue Americans today face a long winter and no work, with bayonets glittering to “keep the peace” Private homes guarded as in time of insurrection and pedestrians un-

race and that he wants Andrews out safe after sundown, with homes, shops

“SURPRISE” FROCKS Paris—A device of the spring season is the “Surprise Frock”. This may serve for mornings and afternoons, cunning transformations making the elaborate afternoon robe unrecognizable as the plain dress of the morning. The latter is buttoned up the back with a high cqllar. For the afternoons, the corsage is thrown open, revealinxg a nice fitting) tunic of crepe de chine.

MUST MARRY JEWESS

London—Jacob Marks, a Birming-

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ham furrier, who left an estate valued at over $125,000, gave his shares and interest in the business to three sons, but directed that “until my son Sam-

son shall marry a Jewess of the Jewish faith and born of Jewish parents the foregoing bequest in his favor shall not operate.’

£3,835 TO FELL TWO TREES

Sydney—It took twenty men seventeen days, working; eight hours a day, to fell two trees. Two motor cars were hired to take the men to work. The total cost for the work was $3,835. ' M S .

$11,060 FOR A SHAKESPEARE

London—A first, folio of Shakespeare was sold at auction here for $11,000.

BABY TO EUROPE

New York—Phyllis Ruth Tocque is only four, but she started all alone on a trip to England on the Saxonia. She is the daughter of F. A. C. Tocque of Louisville, and is going to visit her grandfather, Capt. C. E. Tocque.

MODERATE MODESTY

Montreal—Two thousand women in the province of Quebec have joined the Christian Women’s League organized in protest against immodest dressing. No standard length of skirts or sleeves is prescribed, but members are expected to use moderation.

of the way in order that some man may fill his place he will name a candidate who, if elected, would mere-

ly be a proxy for Dr. Bunch. The objection to Dale was that he

had expressed himself as believing the Tucker law would eventually disqualify Dr. Bunch from holding office and that such a statement was evidence that Dale would refuse to certify Dr. Bunch’s election, in case he secured more votes than Dr. Quick. A veiled threat was also made that the Post-Democrat would be penalized by an action to prevent it from qualifying as a democratic newspaper, that Controller Michael would be induced to withhold payment for legal advertising coming to it as a demo-

cratic publication, and that Republican County Chairman W. H. Wil-

liams Jr. would cooperate by indue ing the commissioners and trustees to refuse rpayment for legal advertising on the same grounds. In other words the Bunch-Danieis-Finan-Murphy crowd, speaking for democracy, seem to believe that no man may dare to speak his own mind in Muncie, and that the nev/spaper that has an opinion of its own, is to be immediately disowned and driven into bankruptcy for trying to save the democratic party from the folly, greed and stubbornness of those who are heading the party directly for th rocks. ' The Post-Democrat is not publishing these matters because of any ill feeling tov/ard any of those where names have been mentioned. But inasmuch as they are all public characters, actively engaged in the attempt to dominate the political situation in Muncie, they must expect to hear the truth, as nearly as it is possible for the Post-Democrat to

tell it.

sight. In that little South Wales hambanks, offices being robbed daily, and the end not in a half thousand miles of let, where God reigns and perhaps the Bible is seldom read, but where conscience, the greatest booh from Almighty God, rules the hour, tfyey set a righteous pace which vulnerable, grafty, greedy, conscienceless old America, where the Dollar makes the man look like an unwashed penny and a supplient tool at its masterful behest, one man can look at another without the air, taunt or accusation,

“he’s crooked.”

We send missionaries to convert the heathen to God, and we use foully dollars to gain the end that God declares must come from pure hearts tainted, evily-obtained, extorted,' filthy and clean hands. Is it a wonder, after nineteen hundred years of “christian era” we fought the greatest war of alii All under the banner of “Onward Christian Soldier?’ The Bible is infallible, Christianity is imperishable, but when they both fall at the behest of greed, lust, power, farce, hate, then the climax then the beginning of the new regime, the new world, and the Masses, not the unspeakable, greedy classes will rule, as God o intended,'and then, for the first time, in fact and full force will be proclaimed: “On Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men.” Then the Republican “leaders” will look like “trailers”.

Amen!

Charles N. Mitchell,

New York—Alleging that his wife and her guests played leapfrog on the lawn of their home in the wee _ small hours of the morning, Frederick P. Clove, architect and engineer, is pre-

pariitg to fig;ht her suit for separation. She based the suit on allega-

If any misstatements are made, or tions of cruelty. _

THE KEEPER OF THE FAITH

One of the peculiarities of the political campaign now in progress is the desperate effort being made by Dr. Bunch to discredit practically all of the leading democrats of Muncie, and to proclaim himself as the only keeper of the faith.

Among those assailed by the candidate are Mayor John Kelly, whom Dr. Bunch repeatedly declared in his primary campaign as having sold out to the commercial club and having failed to keep his pledges to the people; Milton Retherford, present member of the board of works, and practically the entire membership of the city council, eleven of whom are democrats.

Privately he assailed many others, among them being John Carey, chief of police, who refused, prior to Dr. Bunch’s successful coup in securing control of the police board, to permit the doctor to control the activities of the police. One of the favorite boasts of the candidate was that he would wield “a bloody axe” at police headquarters after the first of January.

Practically all of the men attacked by the candidate were his i | former loyal supporters. The council, whom he now denounces, was | | elected on the same ticket with him in 1917. Mayor John Kelly whom | | the doctor publicly denounced from the platform time and time again, | | was a former close political friend of Dr. Bunch and was appointed | | city controller by the latter when the city went to the second class. | It seems strange that only one democrat official and that democrat I | one who had the disastrous experience in office that Dr. Bunch | | went against, should now annoint himself as practically the only 1 | democratic keeper of the faith in Muncie. iniiiiiiiiniiiiuiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiniiiininiiuiiiuiiiiiiiiiniiuiiiuiiiiuiuuiiuiiiiuiujiuiiiiiiiiuiuitiuiiiiiiiiiiniuiuimuiiiiuiiiiiiniiiiiiiuuiiuuuiuiimiiiiKiiiiuiiiiiiniiiiiMmuniiiiuiniiniiiiuuniuiuiii