Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 31 March 1922 — Page 1

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

OL. 2. NUMBER 13 Safety First Ought to be The Motto of Those Who Are Dodging From the Law ■*-'

The Post-Democrat has not the slightest interest in the outcome of the contest between Senator New and Albert J. Beveridge, but when it comes to using the senatorial contest as a basis of political trading which threatens to turn the democratic county organization over to the Billy Williams outfit, we reserve the right to make a few remarks. Week before last we called attention to the fact that a few men here who had been threatened with indictment in the federal court, were being forced into aligning themselves with the New forces in this county, and that there were indictments leading to the suspicion that somebody, not necessarily connected with the department of justice, but somebody, nevertheless, who had assumed to promise these men protection from federal prosecution, in return for the efforts they might put forth in behalf of Senator New and the entire Billy Williams slate in Delaware County. During the past four years a large group of men claiming to be democrats have consistently taken part in republican primaries and have, at the same time, attempted to dominate the demccratic party. We have no objection, whatever, to democrats taking part in a republican primary, but after they vote in a republican primary, calling for republican ballots, thus identifying themselves as republicans, let them stay in that party, where they belong, and let them, and their masters thereafter confine themselves solely to the affairs of the party to which they assert they belong when they calf for republican ballots. We do not object, either, to these men, democrats and republicans, who are threatened with imprisonment in federal prison, using every effort within their power to avoid prosecution, as long as that effort does not mean the commission of some other crime. If they find a republican organization here so corrupt and so abjectly sabr To die TI^Tres' ox the' stant republican national administration that they will dicker with criminals for New votes, then we can hardly blame them for grasping at the straw which providence sends their way. We do object, however, to the efforts of these same democrats to not only deliver to Harry New and the Billy Williams slate, but also to say who shall compose the democratic organization and the democratic county ticket. It seems to the average democrat that these discredited democrats, who disrupted the democarcy last fall by forcing their will upon the party, ought to be satisfied to deliver to the New outfit, without attempting to work both sides of the road. If safety lies along the road traveled by Billy Williams, why not travel that road alone, Ninstegd of wandering off on other paths which may be beset by snares and pitfalls which will cause their downfall? Keeping out of the penitentiary ought to be enough in itself. These individuals are taking in too much territory. It may be that the publication of this may cause another band of outlaws to hold up, and attempt to murder, the writer, but fear of attack by masked thugs will not prevent us from presenting facts to the public that they ougfht to know. The Post-Democrat would like to see the democratic party in clean hands and would like to see the right kind of a ticket nominated, and those who are shuddering in their time, between shudders, trying to cowardly hides with fear of federal prosecution, and who spend their fix up a democratic “slate” might just as well make up their minds that they

simply cannot accomplish their entire program. TEN BABIES DESERTED

Buenos Ayres—During the last two months ten babies have been abandoned on the steps of local churches.

“MOURNING” FOR BUSINESS New Orleans—A firm here sent out black-bordered letters to its “dead” accounts soliciting business. It got a large response.

AGED RECTOR’S TRAGEDY Norwich, Eng.—Supposedly recovering from influenza, Rev. Charles Alexander Hope, 80 years old, escaped from his nurse and drowned himself.

Slump Revealed In Personal Tax List

Table Prepared by State Officials Shows Marked Decrease in Livestock

Ohio’s slump of $65.635„19 in rural personal tax valuations for 1921 is graphically shown in a table prepared by Secretary F. M. Butler of the state tax commission during the past week. The complication shows the marked decrease in the number and value of horses, cattles, sheep, hogs, poultry and mules on Ohio farms in 1921 as compared with 1920. In 1921 there were returned for taxation 744.577 horses with a valuation of $62,673,832, an avearge value of $24.17. In 1920 there were 800,013 horses, valued at $72,375,486, an average of $90.47. The figures for cattle ate: 1921—1.673,382, total valuation $66,-

549,566; average $52.57.

Sheep:

1921—1,723,377, total value $7,-850,-

164; avetage $4.56. 1920— 1,780,360, total value $17,282,350: average $9.71.

Hogs:

1921— 2,162,855, total value $21,531,233; average $9.96. 1920— 2,431,964, total value $34,518,231; average $14.19. Poultrv: 1921— 12,854.887, total value $11,307,823; average 88 cents. 1920— 12,883,743, total value $13,294,371; average $1.03.

Mules:

1921— 32,767. total value $2,974,745; average, $90.78. 1920—33.986. total value $3,380,350; average $99.46. Other factors enter into the situation, to be sure, but the table just r.hown accounts for $58,248,983 of the total decrease.

TWINS BORN AT SEA ARE NAMED “SINK” AND “SWIM” Hongkong—While traveling from

Manila to Hangkong on a liner Mrs. Wu Lingi, a Chinese woman, became the proud mother of twin boys. The passengers decided a christening party was in order, so they collected a purse of $500. presented it to the mother, and christened the babies Sink Ling and Swim Ling.

GIRLS’ PLOWING MATCH Kirkstead, Eng.—Miss Janet Jackson of Lincolnshire has challenged Miss Jean Hutchinson of Northumberland to contest for the world’s plowing championship. IT-1—- _ ■ - -■ '■ "■ ■ ■ —Lx

Break Up the Dance Halls There is a strong possibility that the police will put a stop to the lewd dances which take place nightly in all parts of the city. These dances are a disgrace to a civilized community. Sodom and Gommorrah would have turned green with envy if the denizens of those busted communities could rise from their graves and witness the lascivious contortions of the < boys and girls who engage in these so called dances. They are ruining more boys and girls right here in Muncie than all other agencies of evil combined. These dances are open to the public and no matter how innocent the boys and girls may have been before they began attending them, their morals are bound to give way before the indecent contact incident to the writhings and contortions which the promoters of this growing enterprise are pleased to call dancing. Girls from thirteen years of age up attend these dances and many of them, whose minds should be pure and free from thought of evil, are more versed in the ways of immorality than older women who have openly lived lives,of shame. Something should be done at once to curb this growing evil. Parents should concern themselves more over the doings of their boys and girls. If your child is attending these dances, he or she is in danger of ruin.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1922

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Assassins In Black Mask Last Friday night a band of armed thu gs, with their faces completely obscured by black masks, jumped from an automobile on North Mulberry Street and murderously assaulted the editor of the Post-Democrat and his eighteen year old son. Another automobile accompanied the death car, but the skunks occupying that car did not get out. Guns were stuck in the fac es of the editor and his son and they were 01 dered to throw up their hands. Th$ form er grasped the gun and succeeded in discharging it at the thug who held him up, possibly wounding him. Just as the shot was fired, one of the g angsters struck the publisher a severe blow with a blackjack and at the same time-one of the scoundrels beat the boy over the head with the butt of a revolver, after the oy ha d shown resistance. T(he gangster^ then jumped into their car and drove away, accompanied by the other car. Before leaving, however, the assassin w ho had beaten the defenseless youth, took deliberate aim at him and shot, the bullet going wild, however. The attack was cowardly, and was evidently the work of men who would fear to show their ugly faces in open combat. It wa s very evidently the work of men who fear the Post-Democrat, and who took that meth od of attempting to instill fear into the heart of the publisher. It was along the same line as that adopt ed by the scoundrel who threw a brick through the window at police headqua ters, and the cowards who sent Ku Klux messages to police officers. I; The Post-Democrat wishes to ser e noti ce, here and now, to those who hope to intimidate us into servile felar of reprisals, that they have picked the wrong bird. The rule of the blackjack, the automatic, the bla(k mask and the dark lantern, never works. It might be possible for these dastardly cowards,-who did not hesitate to beat up a boy because of their hatred and fear of his father, to inflict some serious injury on .their victim, or even murder him but sure and sudden punishment awaits the perpetrators. This is a civilized community, populate d by people who believe in law and order and who abhor crookedness either in business or politics. Muncie has a population of nearly forty thousand people but out of that number not one per cent condones an action similar to that pulled off last Friday night, j Muncie is not going to submit to the rule of such a small majority. If bands of gangsters are allowed to go unpunished, then law and order ceases and every man should carry a gun to protect his life. The Muncie Press was the only one of t he two dailies here to find fault, editorially, with the vicious assault of the masked assas sins. It very truthfully said that the mep should be apprehended and given the maximum punishment provided for by law. It might have gone farther and said tha r the c owards who hid in their obscure offices and inspired the attack, should also be dealt with as severely as the men who wore the masks. | i ■ The Star did not consider it worth whi le to make editorial comment on an act which was meant to strike at the very heart, of th e freedom of the press. The Star evidently fears to antagonize the thugs. , Poss bly the editor would be afraid to go home in the dark if it said naughty things about tie rud e thugs who wore terrifying masks and carried pop guns. ■ mjlt There- are some who seem to thinkithat t he attack was made by common, ordinary gangsters, working under orders issue ft by some common underworld boss. We are inclined to believe that the to will be somju surprises when the real facts are known and when the dirty skunks are compelled stand before the bar of justice with the masks stripped from their engaging maps. W The Post-Democrat does not .niterk to be throttled by fear of personal violence. It will continue to tell the truth about th:t activ ities of crooked politicians and their lawless understrappeis, in spit < program which seems to have been inaugurated *111 Muncie. '-A. . Citizens who believe in law and order, and who do not want to. see the city turned over to scoundrelly Apaches with masks ove r their faces and murder in their hearts, should stand behind fhe Post-Democrat in its efforts to promote decent government and to expose crooked politics.

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LEGION FOR PEACE, SAYS VETERAN HEAD

Hopes to Bring Ail Nations Together in Lasting Friendship

An Appreciation of Marshall Foch Voiced in Message to All American People

By Hanford MacNider Editors Note—Hanford MacNider, head of the American Legion, while voicing an appreciation of our late distinguished visitor, Marshal Foch, also gives an outline of what the American Legion hopes for the future and most significant is the strong note expressing hope for an eternal peace, a hope by the men who above all others have the right and the knowledge to speak.

“It is not things I want to see, it is the men, women and children, esnecially the children for there lies the future of America.” This statement characterized the Marshal’s visit to America, where he came to pay his respects to the men who served under him and to the great American nation in which is mixed the blood of every country in the world. He wanted to see the American people in times 01 peace and as a great soldier who hates war to promote'a real and just peace which will make future wars impossible. The great Marshal represents to us nc/t only his own country, but every allied country whose armies fought under his command. It was France, Great Britain, Belgium, Italy and our Allies who, fighting for their very existence held back the enemy while we, unprepared, stove to build our armies that we too might do our duty to civilization, and they are grateful and they do not forget that we did add the men and ships and material which inspired by the leadership of the great Marshal made victory possible. The very presence of this man who commanded the greatest armies in history, those of our own men among them, did more to inspire the American people and to bind together the great friendship of the Allies than could have been accomplished by any international agreements. To Him—Our Love I To every American who served unI der his command, to every American who saw and heard him or even read his messages to our people has come

the realization of the high integrity and fine, simple greatness of the man. To him went at once our love and a silent pledgie to do our part to carry out his deepest desire—a just peace and a safe peace for all the world. Legion are proud and happy that we His comrades of the American could bring him to our people, that this greateful nation could learn to know him as we do; to appreciate him and to appreciate our allies, who still sore and bleeding from their defence of the civilized world, are proving that their spirit is indomitable. The American Legion is pledged to carry on the battles for the principles for which our buddies died. We feel that this would be their wish, and we shall not forget. A Force For Good Composed of men and women who know what war means and not as pacifists, but with open eyes and hard earned experience, we intend to do everything within our power to cement together the great allies who fought that war might not come again. There is no surer guarantee to the peoples of the world that our- victory may indeed be victorious and bring security to those who come after us. Every man and woman in the American Legion has no other desire than to build our organization into such a wonderful force for good and tie it so strongly into our national existence that it can accomplish these things. The strengjth of the Legion is in the individual post and the men who compose it. It is to do them honor that this great leader of men came to their communities. It has naturally been our duty in fighting the battles for the disabled veteban and for all the ex-service men and women to ask things of the American people. We have now brought them something that we hope and believe will be of the greatest inspiration toward their future welfare. The simple, wonderful character of this man whom we brought to you we believe has impressed itself upon America. - He has looked into the faces of our people and found them good, and he has taken back the message he read there that the allies of yesterday-are the allies of to-day and that they shall be the allies of tomorrow.

WFST VIRGINIANS PLAN TO OPERATE SOFT COAL MINES

Head of Logan County Association Says He Anticipates No Trouble

Huntington, W. Va., March 28— Walter Thurmond, president "of the Logan Coal association, while here last Sunday, declared there is not the slightest feeling of alarm in anticipation of labor troubles in the mines of Logan county on account of the “strike call” issued by the United Mine Workers of America. “The whole action and purpose of the International Union is directed against the progress and prosperity of the coal industry in West Virginia,” said Thurmond. “The six-hour day and five-day week is one of the schemes aimed at West Virginia. The purpose is to lessen the output of our mines so there may be more work in the mines of the Central Competitive fields.’’

YUKON TERRITORY MINERS DISCOVER RICH SILVER ORE

Engineer Declares Pay Dirt Runs as High as $200 to Cubic Yard

Dawson, Yukon Territory, March 30—It is reported that rich new silver strikes have been made in Keno Hill. P.ecent arrivals from the district report high-grade veins having been opened on the Croesus, Crystal Gulch, Gambler Gulch, Slate Creek and Stone claims. It is expected that Athe population of Mayo Camp, 'which has already nearly half the population of the Y ukon Territory, will be doubled this summer. The White Pass company is starting construction of a new steamer at Mayo, to help handle the ore and other business for the camp. BARNYARD GOLF HAS MILLION DEVOTEES

The Horseshoe World, a monthly publication for horseshoe pitchers, estimated that there are now one million pitchers in the United States and that before the year is over, the number would be doubled. Women’s clubs are to be formed in all parts of the country, it is announced, and the “barnyard golf” game is scheduled to become one of the leading sports of America.

SHE’S PROLIFIC COW

Regina, Sask., March 30—A purebred Jersey, owned by Hollis Williams, a farmer at Estlin, Sask., has pViven birth to five calves, all normal, weighing about thirty pounds each. This same cow last year gave birth to three normal calves.

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE

Obeyed Kilgore, Disorganizer, Named by Few Menas Head of Democratic Committee — (.

HOW FAST IS A BLOW London—Moving picture -fnachines recorded the blow by Georges Carpentier which knocked out Pugilist Cook as traveling at the rate of a mile a minute. Scient’sts dispute this, saying that 1,320 feet per minute is unusual.

CHATTY WOMAN JUROR Exeter, Eng.—Ignorant of her duties, Mrs. Lawrence Hulme, a woman juror, chatted during court recess; with one of the parties in a case she was hearing. She was reprimanded and sent home.

A a meeting of a few members of the county central committee, held on the night of the 24th, Obed Kilgore was elected democratic county chairman to succeed J. Cooper Props, who, for some reason satisfactory no doubt to himself, resigned as the head of the county .organization. Kilgore, it will be recalled, was the valiant commander of the Bunch forces in the city election last fall, and succeeded in leading his forces to one grand and glorious defeat. In that campaign, it will be recalled, the chief lieutenants of Jigadier Brindle Obadiah were the two redoubtable Bills— Daniels and Finan.

UNIQUE MARRIAGE CASE London—Eighteen years after his wedding Maurice: Ashby, a wealthy mill owner, sued his wife for nullification, alleging the .marriage had never been consummated. The case was decided against him.

America Sends Second Note on Rhineland Claims

Allied Governments Are Told That It Is of No Concern How Books Are Kept

Washington, March 30—The American government moved swiftly to pi event the validity of its claim for $241,0|0,000, due for keeping the American expeditionary forces on the Rhine from becoming involved in the intricacies of allied bookkeeping). There was handed to the foreign offices of each of the allied powers abroad a second American note bearing on the subject of reimbursement. It stated, in effect, that it is of no concern to this government how the books are manipulated to show who

has been paid in full and who has not,

but the validity e>f^ the American j were uncalled for.

Kilgore was acting chairman of the democratic organization in the election of 1920 and about all that was left to remind the- democracy of Delaware County of his superb leadership was an unparalleled licking, a bad taste in the mouth and a lot of unpaid bills, one of them being six hundred dollars for advertising in that grandly glorious democratic sheet, the Muncie

Star.

The precinct committeemen to be elected at the May primary will be called upon to elect a county chair man who will have charge of the coming campaign. If the Bunches, and the Finans, and the Kilgores are to assume leadership, the party might just as well go into the hands of a re-

ceiver and be done with it.

Decent, self respecting democrats will not be caught in such company. This outfit was thoroughly repudiated at the polls last November and their impudence in thrusting themselves

forward at this time is sickening.

It was Kilgore, it will be recalled, who, upon assuming the acting chairmanship of the democratic city campaign last fall, attempted, but miserably failed in his attempt, to remove the publisher of the Post-Democrat from the city board of election commissioners. Following the example of his yoke fellow, Bill Daniels, who thought he could secure votes for his candidate by calling the editor of the Post-ftemocrat names, Kilgore, speaking from the same platform w itR the socialist Daniels allowed his imagination to run riot and made chai'ges against us that were as untruthful as

claim remains unaffected by any agreement which the allies may make between themselves on the side. The second or supplementary note v/as made necessary by an agreement between the allied powers concerning

He is now the Finan candidate not only for county chairman, but as this is being written, he is the Finan choice for prosecuting attorney. Finan himself is urging the democracy of the county to elect Finan as president of

French payments, which officials of j Delaware County democratic club, tins government feared might lead to ; Bill believes that he is especially fitquestioning the accuracy of the orig- ted to come t6 the fl . ont as the peer-

mal note. The first American communication stated that France had

I'een paid in full up to ‘May, 1921, for keeping! the Frencn occupational troops on the Rhine, whereas the American government has never received any reimbursement. Law Manipulation After the dispatch of the American communication the state department learned that the British and French had got together and decided to credit the transfer to France of the Saar coal and iron mines to the 1922 books, instead of those of 1921. The transaction was merely one of bookkeeping. as the French have had control of the mines since the war. Foreseeing that the allied reply might point out .this seeming inaccuracy in the American note and raise the argument that the records :-.how that none of the allies had received full payment for their occupational expenses, the state department deemed it expedient to right the matter before the allies send their reply.

less leader of Delaware County democracy. but fortunately there are very few others who agree with him. It is extremely important that committeemen be elected in the coming 'primary who will keep the organization out of the hands of those who have been trying for the past four years to wreck the party and make it ; merely an adjunct to the Billy Wil1 Hams republican machine organiza- ! tion. It seems ridiculous that even a j small section of the county committee i would think for a minute of placing ! Obed Kilgore at the head of the or- ! ganization, even temporarily. The rank and file of the party do not wgmt him at the head of the organization. He has failed miserably every time he has tried it and will fail again. *The democrats of Delaware County have a good chance to win if they go at it in a sensible manner, but unless they kick the disbrganizers out, and let them join the republican party, where they belong, defeat is as cer-

tain as death or taxes.

ITC A BATTLE ROYAL The New and Beveridge fight in Delaware County is going to be one of the lieveliest local contests ever witnessed here. The Beveridge people have headquarters at the Kirby Hotel, with Councilman Roy Friedley in charge. The New headquarters is located in rooms over Manok’s shoe store on East Main Street. Billy Williams was first chosen as the New leader, but owing to the rather unpleasant notoriety which fell to the lot of Williams as a result of a report made by the state board of accounts concerning the manner in which he had been blowing in money at he county infirmary, he was side tracked and Charles Van Matre took command. This was decided upon at a meeting held in the Roberts Hotel some time ago, which was attended, it is said, by Harry Long, Billy Williams, Van Matre, Philip McAbee and other New men. At this meeting the choice lay between Van Matre and MeAbee, it is said, but Van Matre was finally chosen. The big outstanding feature of the contest is the tremendous bid that is being made by the New crowd for the votes of the law breaking element of the city. Men who were always known as gamblers and bootleggers are working openly for New and in some way the word has been passed around that Muncie will be wide open if the machine slate goes through. The funny thing about it is that many respectable republicans are working hand in hand with Billy Williams and his cohorts. But you never can tell.

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