Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 13 January 1922 — Page 1
THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER IN DELAWARE COUNTY THE MUNCIE POST-DEMOCRAT
tOL. 2. NUMBER 2
MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1922
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
Senator Harrison Thinks Willie Hays New Movie Job May Pot the Industry In Politics; Wishes to Know Reasons For It
Washington, Jan. 11 — Protesting against acceptande by PostmasterGeneral Hays of the tendered position as head of the motion picture industry, Senator Harrison fDem., Miss.), declared in the senate Saturday, that ff the motion, picture producers “get the biggest politician in the Republican party to head that industry, we must look upon it with suspicion”. Asserting that he had no doubt Mr. Hays would accept the offer and retire from the cabinet. Senator Harrison said he Was “fearful” that if the former Republican natiqnal chairman “becomes the head of the motion picture industry he will place a censorship upon some Democratic pictures that should be shown”. After describing the size of the motion picture business and its influence and freedom from politics up to this time. the. Mississippi senator said that should the United States Steel Corporation come to Washington and make an offer to a cabinet member of a salary equal to that reputed to have been tendered to Mr. Hays to direct its policies and be accepted it, “not only would he be condemned, but the administration to which he belonged would also be condemned.” Senator Harrison referred in condemnatory terms to the offer which Judge Landis accepted from organized baseball and asked: “Why is Mr. Hays selected by the motion picture industry to accept a fabulous salary? What is the purpose of making this tender? Is it because he is close to the powers that be? Is it because he- controls four or five hundred thousand postoffices throughout the country and the mails? Is it because he has the ear ( of the president of the United States ' and sits in the circles of the admin- ! istration? Is it because he helped to | elect the house of representatives 1 whose duty it is to fram tax laws and tariff measures? Is it because he played such a large part in the election of senators who control the i poliev of the administration in this body?” Senator Harrison, speaking at times facetiously, said he could not imagine that the industry sought Mr. Hays as a star to shq^w with Mary Pickford. j Douglas Fairbanks and Fatty Arbucle. “Thew have chosen him because , they think he can do the work,” he continued. “Is it because of any exceptional ability which he has shown ns postmaster-general ? Is it because he can elevate the morals of the industry? No. These are not the qualifications that have caused, the tempting oTer. There is more significance to the offer being; made to the postmaster-general than to any other cabinet officer. He came intq prominence because he was a great • organizer and politician. “Many questions come up in the senate and the house that affect the motion picture industry.” the senator said as he referred to the tax on it, which had been proposed, as well as to items in the tariff bill now pending, which might be of importance to it. VI do not know whether they think that through his closeness to certain senators here or because of his attachment to the president he can work wonders in the new tariff bill or the supplemental tax bill that will he presented”, the senator said. Senator Sutherland (Rem, W. Va.) suggested that William G. McAdoo former secretary of the treasury, l;ad accepted an offer from the same industry. Senator Harrison rejoined that the nature of the employment was different in that Mr. McAdoo represented three or four stars and not the whole industry and had accepted the tender after he severed his official connection with the cabinet. “t believe the motion picture people are making a false step,” the,senator continued, “when they get the big'gest politician in the Republican party to head that industry, we must look upon it with suspicion. I know the attractiveness of this man. I know he is smart and is a good organizer. As one who desires to have the industry kept out of politics, I regret
the tender. I am sorry to see the industi-y come into the cabinet and get a membei who was chairman of the Republican national committee. The industry is hurting itself when it stirs up politics like that.”
FOREIGN NEWS
London—The illness of Viscount ^..*cs is not Serious enough to rfere with plans for his forthoming marriage to Trmcess macy, hys dans announce. The Viscount s been bedridden with a severe chill. Henry George Charles, Viscount Lascelles, is the eldest son of the Earl H ewood. He is 39 years old and fought through the World War, being wounded twice and winning) the Croix de Guerre.
Paris—America’s unwillingness to cancel European debts has caused a setback to the project of Lloyd George and Premier Briand for a settlement of the reparations question, the “Matin” declares.
Belfast—Belfast went through another night pf terror. Three deaths, including that of a baby recently shot, were recorded. A soldier was killed and seven persons wounded. Repeated volleys of machine-gun fire and heavy explosions, which shook the city, about kept the inhabitants in a state of panic. A girl, leaving a motion picture house, was hit in the face by a sniper’s bullet.
Warsaw—Secret police are investigating the American associates of Wolf Lindenfeld, the man who confessed to advance knowledge of the Wall Street bomb plot, before deciding the next step in his case. After hearing reports on the American investigation, the Polish police will decide whether Lindenfeld Should he returned to the United States for trial.
IMPORTANT NOTICE Somebody, evidently with malicious intent, has informed certa'n public officials in Delaware County that the publisher of the Post-Democrat does not care to receive and publish certain legal notices, notably the annual report of township trustees, and that there would be no request made this year for that business. ! i ■ The law provides that these, as well as other legal notices, shall be run in two newspapers of opposite political faith in the county. We had thought that all controversy as to the status of the Rosit-Demdcrat ]in that particular had ended, but some one, with the idea in view, no doubt, of doing us a financial injury, started the above absurd story. The Post-Democrat is the only democratic newspaper in Delaware County, has been running over a year, and it is therefore not a question of choice.but one of law, with all public officials in the city and county, in the matter of the publication of legal notices.
! The City Administration A The new republican city administration is possibly just a little bit too frantic in its effort to show phenomenal results at the very start. It is a big job to run a city the size of Muncie, and few people have even the slightest idea of the perplexities which constantly harass the minds of city officials who are Conscientiously endeavoring to perform their duties in an honest manner. Frequently their motives are misconstrued by the general public. One preacher, for instance, draws the conclusion that the city officials are to blame because the new police force, in its strenuous effort to locate law violators, have apprehended various offenders, having caught them, red handed, with contraband liquor in their possession. He seems to draw the conclusion that things are bad here, on that account, and rather hints that a whale will swallow the officials somewhat in the manner that the backsliding Jonah was gobbled up by an ocean monster, after Jonah had booked for Ninevah and then took passage for another seaport. If the officials had failed to find violatij ns of the law, it is fair to draw the conclusion that he would have complained that the ofr'cers had purposely overlooked law violations, which goes to show that you stand to catch . t coming or going, if you are a member of the police force. There are others who are complaining that the police are too active. These are the ones who have long been permitted to do just about as they pleased in the matter of violating state and national liquor laws and t hose who were engaged in the profession of gambling, under official protection. They .ire not satisfied, at all, with the way things are going, and threaten to leave town unless i he hard hearted police force lets up on its relentless pursuit of the ungodly. It is possible that in their zeal to catch all offenders, some will be suspected and searched who are not guilty. Several places have been raided in the past week or two where liquor was not found. Quite likely none was found because the police happened to come at the wrong time. Since the new chief took hold the liquor dispensers have received such a. jolt that not many of them were willing to take a ch ance on being caught, and it was due to that, no doubt, that some places suspected of being bootlegging joints, were able to show a clean bill of health. While some, no doubt, h ave been unjustly suspected, the widely prevalent violations of the liquor laws in the past justified the new r administration in taking it for granted that those who openly a old booze before, might still be engaged in their favorite pastime. While some are inclined to deride the police for their intense activity, the general public, who neither sell nor drink the poisonous stuff that bootleggers are pleased to call liquor, are anxious to see the traffic in wood ilcbhol, valley tan and white mule broken up forever, and are encouraging the police in their rather sensational aud incessant efforts to catch the offenders. The city administration has announced that it expects to put the city on a “sound business basis,” and to that end will, they s ay, abolish useless offices and economize in •every way possible. This sounds good and the people here hope that the administration will be successful, but the powers that be must not confound economy with niggardlyness. Useless offices should be abolished, of course, and every ci . y employee should be compelled to do an honest day’s work, but those who are employ ed should receive adequate compensation. In the police department the men have ^ one back to the two platoon system, which means for them much longer hours. The f ree has been lessened in numbers eleven men, which means a great saving for the city, b t the men wlu se hours of work were lengthened received no increase in pay as an onset tor their increased labor. The policemen could have received increases in salary and still there would have been a saving of several thousand dollars a year. It is said that there has been some questions as to whether or not the new council will name a deputy controller. Failure to do this would practically put the office on a starvation basis. In Fort Wayne the controller receives $3,000 a year, his chief deputy $1,800 and two assistants $1,200, with no provision, as yet, for any help. Under a silly law passed by the last legislature, which is honored elsewhere in the breach, rather than the observance, the new city clerk, Maynel Dalby, is being required to attend all sessions of the city Court, as clerk of the court. If we had a city building, which housed all city officials, there might be some sense in forcing Mr. Dalby to serve as clerk of the city court, but with the two offices several squares apart, it is an awkward and expensive arrangement for the city clerk, who is being forced to attend morning and afternoon sessions. At police headquarters Ira Coons, day captain, like the old time “trouper,” who “doubled in brass,” is required to act also as court bailiff and Day Sergeant Seldomridge is serving, in addition, as secretary of the board of safety. Other so-called “economics” are being nracticed which are not economics at all. The new city administration has many apportunities to save money for the tax payers, but it will not be accomplished by under paying, or overworking, city employees. The evident intent of the new administration to give Muncie first class service at a minimum of expense, is commendable, and s hould be encouraged by every citizen, regardless of politics. But this can be done w ithout being parsimonious or creating a spirit of dissatisfaction among faithful city employees who desire to give honest service and receive therefor adequate compensation. Please, gentlemen, do not be “penny v/ise and pound foolish.”
New-Beverage Conflict Is Starting Here With Both Sides Simply R'arin' To Go
* i
t ♦ * 4> * 4 «• • • • • * • • «• • •
Now that the city campaign is over, the new republican city officials in- • *l stalled, and peacefully, or otherwise, *' i pursuing the even tenor of their NewE ! Beveridge scrap comes to a focus. • U Councilman Roy Friedley has been £ | chosen to lead the Beveridge forces, A j while Billy Williams, the wily and rejf*! sourceful stand pat leader, and re- ^ j publican county chairman, is the j major general in command of the le- ❖ ; g^ions of Senator New. % j Right on the face of it, one might imagine that the fate of the two individuals, Senator New and Albert Jeremiah Beveridge, is the only thing involved. As a matter of fact, New and Beveridge thenfiselves will be almost lost sight of in the ruckus that is heading this way. The primary taki.-» place Tuesday, May 2, and candidates for the various 4 j county offices are announcing them- ! selves every day. Or. to use the hackI neyed phrase, they are “throwingy 4 their hats in the ring”. 4 I The big outstanding feature of this 4 | hat throwing ceremony. ( is the fact ❖ i that the voters will scrutinize said ^ ! hats carefully, and will determine for 4! themselves whether they are Bever- * ! idge hats or New hats. In other words % i the hide will go with the taller. If 4 Beveridge cake walks across the line
in Delaware county ahead of Harry New, there will be a Bull Moose line up on the official republican ballot next November. If New wins standpatters will get the nominations. President Harding is for New, the republican national organization is for New. the “senatorial oligarchy” is for New, the republican governor of Indiana and the republican state organization is for New, and Billy Williams and his Delaware county legionaries are for New. The big machine is oiled and repaired and a new thousand horse power steam roller with spikes in the wheels is all ready to leave the round house. The bull moosets, on the other hand, are in a truculent and defiant mood. They are simply honing for a scrap and declare that they will send Billy William’s machine to the scrap heap. They admit that the stand patters have the organization, but assert that they have the numbers, and that they have no fear of the result. Both sides are claiming the victory by large majorities. It is going to be another case on May 2nd of an irresistible force coming in contact with an immovable body. It makes us shudder to thjink of the awful consequences of this ■cruel, cruel war.
U. S. ENTERS NEW YEAR AS RICHEST NATION IN WORLD
Selecting Road Supervisors
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPER-ATION IS IN NEED TODAY
Winds Up Its Affairs with Cash Balance of $475,000,000 in Treasury, While Public Debt of $23,462,000,000 Has Been Reduced About $450,000,000. United States governhient. with a monetary wealth j of $8,224,000,000, entered the new year j as the richest nation on earth. The g-overnment wound up its 1921 affairs with a cash balance of approximately $475,000,000 in the treasury. At the same time the public dent stood at $23,462,000,000 a reduction of about $450,000,000 being effected dut-
ing, the year.
Treasury department figures showed that $5,518,000,000 of TJncM Sam's monetary wealtii was in actual circulation, the remainder being hold in the treasury as guarantees for silver certificates. Subsidiary silver coins total $272,800,000, of which about $260,000,000 are in circulation. There is also $272,800,000 in subidiary silver of which approximately $260,000,000
is in circulation. Wealth In Notes
Included in the nation’s monetary wealth are $346,000,000 in United States notes $2,796,500,000 in federal reserve notes; $116,600,000 in federal reserve bank notes and $749,700,000 4 j in national bank notes. Some of these ' hank notes are held in the treasury but the amount in actual circulation totals approximately $3,642,000,000. There are also in circulation gold and silver certificates, backed by the de-
posits held in the treasury.
During the year the government paid off more than $3,000,000,000 on the public debt, but created new debts totalling approximately $2,550,000,000 in round figures. This accounted for a reduction of $450,000,000 in the total
public debt.
The reduction was effected by an
The treasury department report held an optimistic note with indications of better economic conditions during the new year.
FRED BUNCH SUCCUMBS LIFE SACRIFICED ON ALTAR OF HIS COUNTRY
Dr. Fred Bunch, died Tuesday morning after a lingering illness, caused it is believed by falling from a horse Avhile serving as captaiin in a hospital unit in the world war. Fred Bunch was loved by all who knew him and his memory w ill be kent green by those who honor the young soldiery who faced death on bloody European battlefields. He was one who knew^ the veal Mr-ors of war, having served on the front where the fighting was the hardest. Soon after his return from the army he began to fail in health and for some time it has been apparent that the end was near. Munpie mourns the death of a war hero who gladly made the sacrifice for his country, being one of the first of the Muncie volunteers to respond to the call for help beyond the sea. Tans for a brave comrade, a loyal American and a true friend!
LO, THE BRITISH EGG! London—The Agricultural Organization Society has launched a cooperative plan for egg production, which has for its purpose the retention here of some $40,000,000 spent annually abroad for eggs.
Francis Sisson, Famous Banker, Holds Our Economic Basis Rests with World.
Claims High Tariff Destined Cause Serious Injury to Commercial Life.
The county commissioners met a few days ago and deposed Borter || Ross as county road superintendent, naming his deputy, Mr. Yoakem, in his place | Mr. Yoakem is a good man for the place, and if he is allowed to !• serve as road superintendent, insteafi of director of a political machine £ made up of district road supervisors, he will be of great service to I Delaware county. If n6t, it would be better to abolish the office. I* Withfn a few days the county commissioners will meet to name the * various road supervisors w r ho will serve under the new superintendent. |- It is known that a group of unscrupulous republican politicians, who t do not have even the slightest interest in good roads, have been working I* on a “slate” of supervisors, the idea being to select men who will work * politics for the machine, rather than the roads for the people of Delaj, ware county £ The people of Muncie and Delaware county should not go to sleep g. and permit this crime to get over. Thousands are spent yearly on the J* roads and only capable men should be selected to carle for the various | Mghway districts. •> Good roads and politics do not mix. Any farmer can tell you that £ the roads are sfmply rotten in those districts in Delaware county that have been looked after by petty country political bosses who have I been named because they may he of assistance to some biggtet boss. We have heard considerable of the efficiency and economy pro4 gram inaugurated by the republican city administration. We suggest £ that some of these efficiency experts stroll over to the coutt house 4 some day to find out what real, for sure rotton government under re- * publican rule, means. Muncie pays half the bills of Delaware county, 4 once in awhile.
vice-
By Francis H. Sisson
Editor’s Note—Francis H. Sisson is president of the Guaranty Trust Company of New York City, one of the largest and most important banking concerns in the world. He is a student of international economics as well as being thoroughly familiar with internal economics and the financial and industrial situation in the United States. What he has
to say
from his viewpoint as an economist and banker hnd not from the viewpoint of a politician.
case of better team work within and without. It is futile, for instance, for one branch of the Government to endeavor to facilitate the granting of credits to prospective foreign buyers grants, of our raw materials when another 1
export trade, is destined to cause serious injury to our commercial and in-
dustrial life.
It is estimated that, prior to the war. European capital was invested in
American securities to the appro>:i- | excess of that amount in the ordinary
of $6,000,000,000. The ! receipts over ordinary expenditures.
mate amoutn
net payments of interest and dividends on this capital, after deducting the amount owed to citizens of the United States on account of their foreign investments, required the annual remittance abroad of between $175,000,000 and $225,000,000. Other payments, such as expenditures of American tourists, remittances hy immiPBpWB freight, insurance, etc., brought the total up to about $500,
branch of the Government insists on 1 000,000. In order that these myments making it impossible for those buyers ! might be met, it was necessary that
to pay us their debts and liquidate the ~ credits they obtain here. While the
extent to which the War Finance Corporation can aid American and foreign interests in its commendable efforts to supplement private sources of credit in promoting our foreign trade may be questionable—in view of the abnormal world situation and its
r. m me umted states, wnat ne nas j colossal demands, its services must of tariffs and similar questions comes i unavoidably be negatived. t.o a consid-
erable degree by the enactment of a
permanent high tariff act.
Consider Tariff
Consideration should be given to the effect of a high tariff not only upon particular industries, but upon the welfare of the country as a whole. We should not lose sight of the difference between conditions when the Payne-Aldrich law was enacted. The effect of the adoption of a high, protective tariff today may be quite un-
While economic depression prevails throughout the world, as the inevitable aftermath of the most destructive of all wars, America can no more hope to solve its domestic economic problems alone than the world can reasonably expect to cure its multifarious economic ills by some magic panacea. In the final analysis, we were drawn into the European struggle because of the economic interdependence of all civilized nations; and the only possible way we can fully recover from the effects of war is by international economic co-operation. Our complete realization of that dominant fact is the paramount need of
the hour in this country.
But we cannot effectively co-oper-ate abroad until there is more efficacious co-operation at home. It is a
our merchandise exports should exceed our imports by approximately the same amount. And ’ii fact the ! average excess of exports over imports for the years 1911 to 1914, inclusive, amounted to approximately
$550,000,000.
Status Reversed
Our pre-war status has been qom- . plctely reversed. From 1915 to 1917. I inclusive, the demand of European i nations for goods was so great that at I the time of our entrance into the war I our indebtedness to European in- • vestors has been more than balanced ; by the excess of our exports over imI ports. After we entered the war we ! loaned approximately $10,000,000,000 to the Allies, but up to the present time they have not been able to pay even the accumulated interest thereon. In addition to this amount, we have put billions more at the disposal of Europe through the repurchase of
■■P Received $2.250,000,000
From all revenue sources, the government received $2,250,000,000 during' the year (approximated). This in-
cluded taxefe customs and tolls.
Expenditures for salaries and other ordinary disbursements totalled $1,850,000,000. These figures do not include foreign loans, public debt funds or any extraordinary receipts or expenditures merely the usual run of routine business. On the whole the government had a prosperous year.
TO SELL SOVIET’S FLAX Moscow—Moscow merchants have . formed ah organization to take over the ghverfiment’s sunoly of flax and barter it for the goods of foreign nations. The Soviet government will be paid a commission of 15 per cent. THE VOGUE FOR BLACK London—A society leader who was asked to explain the recent vogue for gowns of black material said: “Black can be worn again and again without attracting notice—it’s economical.” Delhi—The Prince of Wales made a big hit with his native guides during the jungle hunt at Jodhupe. “He was always calm”, was their report a
I
like the effect of the adoption of the ! large quantities of American securi-Payne-Aldrich law and similar meas- ties held there and by large private ures passed before the war. 1 investments in foreign currency and Prior to the war, the United States ! dollar bonds, as well as short-term ex-
was a debtor nation and compara- j P°rt cedits.
tively little thought was given to the effect of a protective tariff on our ex- i port trade. Today, an altogether dif-! ferent situation obtains and the adop - j tion of a tariff law, with rates high enough to interfere seriously with our
The United States has thus become the leading creditor nation, and as soon as foreign governments are prepared to pay interest on their indebtedness, we shall be entitled to
(Continued on Page 2)
THAT FISH STORY A local preacher, 1 ; Jonah aVid the whale as his text, took a hack at law enforcement last Sunday. He told how Jonah took passagfe for Ninevah under 'command of the Lord to clean up the town, morally, but took another bonf, charted in another direction and was swallowed by the whale because of his failure to keep his campaign promise to* make the Ninevites - c ip and take notice. It may be that we nusunderstood the good brother, hut there seemed to be a note o± disapproval of the manner in which the present city administration was suppressing law violations. The very fact that numerous persons been arrested by the police during the past two weeks, charged witfi) violations of the liquor law, seemed to give him great pain, and there was implied criticism of the administration because of the tact that the law violators were here to be arrested. The law violators who were arrested did not spring up, over night, since the new administration took hold. They had been here for some time, doing business at the old stand. They are fast disappearing. The good brother does not seem to sense the fact that we had an election last November which broke the back of organized gambling and bootlegging. It is now merely a question of picking off the men who/ persist in taking a chance with an administration which offers them
no protection.
The Post-Demociat is strong for the preachers, and for the whales that swallow men who go back on campaign promises, but 5f you really want to know what is happening here to the underworld, ask the first bootlegger or gambler you happan to meet, and not the preachers.
iqrtons-v 02-102.