Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 23 January 1925 — Page 1

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

VOLUME 4—NUMBER 51.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRIDA ", JANUARY 23, 1925.

STILL WONDERING AHOUT MUNY COURT

Fines Assessed And Money Reported do Not Hang Together

DEATH MINORITY REPORT FOLLOWS LENGTHY DEBATE

Majority Members of Committee Say Assembly Sidestep Religion.

TEN CENTS A COPY—$3.00 A YEAR

What Is the Reason for the Poor Showing Made j in<ii.napoii S , jan 23 -By a vote « jt TkM * ! I i of 40 to 6 > and after a debate lastBy tn0 Municipal LrfOUrt. ! ing more than an hour, in which the

Newark, 0., Jan. 23.—No explanation has yet been | made of the apparent discrepancy between fines assessed j and money reported by Clerk Keller of the municipal - court. No charges of dishonesty have even been hinted at, 1 but the people feel that some explanation is due them.

o-

The report says there were 165 li- r

quor cases. At $200 a case that would mean $31,200. This does not include the numerous $300 and $500 fines, to say nothing of several $1,000 fines. And yet the total amount reported received by the clerk is $28,623.66. There were 300 cases of intoxication. No drunk got off with less htan $10 and costs, that would be $3,030. There hav e been at least a thousand arrests for alleged traffic violations. The lowest fine assessed for this offense is $10 and costs, which would amount to $10,000. From these three sources the receipts should have been $44,500—a very conservative estimate. And yet the clerk reports $28,623.66. Here is a difference of $25,876.34. That’s rather a nice little bundle of change

wandering around looking for a place to lay its headPossibly if Clerk Keller would ask Judge Kollier, the latter would provide some expert assistance and a careful examination of the books would locate the $15,000 odd, or at least explain why it ain’t where it ought to be at/' Of course Clerk Keller’s experience with large sums of money may have made him careless of small sums like $15,000, and a little ‘‘looksee’’ will probably locate it and settle all arguments.

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KLITCKER RED SCOTT TO HEAD BOXIXG COMMISH H. H. Scott, the well known sporting writer and authority, is hot under the collar, because of what he fContinued to Page Two)

Billy and Harry

The licking administered to ’the Billy Williams machine in the legislature by Cal Faris will go down in history as one of the epics of the new republican state administration. The redoubtable Billy and his right bower, Sheriff Hoffman, chart man of the republican county committee, sensing in Faris a possible rival of John Hampton for the mayoralty nomination, went to Indianapolis and gave out the word that if Faris was named house par liamentarian the republican state administration would hereafter be compelled to wiggle along without the support of Delaware county. The state house politicians were not impressed. They gathered around Billy and Harry and inspected them much as a group of urchins would assemble in the sideshow to gaze in fascinated wonder at the Wild Man from Borneo and Joj, the Dog-Faced Boy. Failing to inspire fear by their awful threat to break away from the state organization, these bush leaguers from the sticks who had ventured into big-time spotlight, pulled a real line of comedy and the galleries roared. “If Cal Faris gits this here job the big manufacturers of Muncie won’t give up nary a dime in the next campaign, so put that in your Coolidge upside down pipe and smoke her, dern ye,” recited Billy and Harry together.. “Aint they good!” exclaimed one long, lean statesman. “Boys, you said yer piece fine. Now sing it to us and we’ll have the orchestry play the dirge that goes with it. “Let’s check up on these chesty dudes!” exclaimed another. “Mebby them Muncie captains of industry will really hold out on us. We can’t afford to take a chance.” So, the telephone was used and the Muncie manufacturers assured the Inquiring statesmen that the y didn’t give a dam, tinker’s or otherwise, whether Cal Faris got to be parliamentarian or not, and the “get-the-money-boys” didn’t need to worry about the usual dough, and wot t’ll is a parliamentarian anyway? So Billy and Harry got Hie horse laugh and a big write up in the Indynoplus papers and Cal got to be whatever it is that he wanted and Billy and Harry didn’t want him to have. It took exactly six days for Billy and Harry to get their licking. During that time, and pending the appointment of Faris, the house of representatives had no parliamentarian. A governor had been elected, the members were in their seats, a speaker had been chosen, and for six days nothing could be done, just because the six syllabled job had not been filled. For a time it appeared that Billy and Harry had hopelessly deadlocked the session and that the governor, or Lew Shank or somebody would have to tell everybody to go home and call it a day. But Cal was named and Billy came home and Harry came home and they sung, ^Oh How Dry I Am,” and it will be some time before they again leave their dinky political frog pond and try to swim in deep water. When Billy got back to Muncie^he felt so blue that he told Harry between sobs, he had a notion to quit politics and go to work, and asked Harry if he knew where the postoffice was. He was ’pinted pustmaster here a year or so ago and has been threatening ever since to find out where the danged thing is and go to work. ‘‘You know, Harry, I don’t live here and haint very well acquainted around Muncie. I live in Selmy and haven’t been in Muncie. often enough to find out where the postoffice is.’’ Harry told him for Gawd’s sake ot to do anything rash and for fear Billy really meant what he said took him around to the Cargenie library and told t him it was the postoffice and left him there wandering around trying to find ! the cash register and wondering why the thunder they needed al them books i in a pustoffice and why his skeleton key didn’t fit the front door. Harry got back just in time to get the news about the police catching Charley Chaplin and made a great hit by running over an old woman with his automobile on High street, right in front of the Methodist church where he went to meetin’ once and heard himself praised as being one of the foremost fellers in Indianny in putting down Demon Rum. That is not putting it down himself, but in making the other fellers quit putting it down, for everybody knows that Harry woudn’t swallow any of it for the world unless he was alone or with somebody.

name of the Ku Klux Klan was on the lips of many members, the Senate yesterday killed the Sims bill, which would prohibit the wearing of any distinctive religious garb or symbol by a teacher in the public schools of Indiana. Representative Cooper of Terre Haute introduced a bill in the House yesterday prohibiting the wearing of a religious garb, uniform or symbol by teachers in public schools. It is similar to the bill which was killed in the Senate. Death of the Senate bill came on adoption of a majority committee report, signed by Senator Sims, favoring passage of the bill, was discarded after a roll call, which was demanded by Senator Daily of Indianapolis. , iParliamentary Battle. Action on the question of substitution of the minority for the majority report came after a battle of parliamentary procedure and after accusation following accusation as to the influences of th e Ku Kux Klan in Indiana politics and the propriety of injecting questions of religion on the floor of an Indiana lawmaking body. Senate observers declared the roll call result wa§ an indication bqfih of th e strengfffi o| the leadership of Senator Nejdl, president pro tern., and of the strength of antiKlan legislators in the upper body, as well as a test of the Senate opinion on such questions. Proponents of the hill, however, discounted the effect of the Senate action, claiming the real test of their side was not displayed in the encounter. Throttling of the measure followed another divided committee report of the committee on education in regard to a measure, introduced also by Senator Sims, which would require the reading, without comment, in the public schools of the state of the Bible. A minority report sitrned by Senators Sims and Dickerman, favored passage; while the majority report, signed by Senators Nejdl, Brown and Shank, favored indefinite postponement of this measure. After a short debate on the provisions of the bill and what it would require, the Senate postponed consideration of the divided committee report until this morning, when copies of the printed bill and the committee action are to be laid on the senators’ desks. The motion for postponement was made by Senator Cravens. Debate on the religious garb bill was started by Senator Sims, who arose to speak to the minority report and explain the measure. “In introducing this measure,” he said. ‘‘I want it understood that I have no objection to any one religion. but I do object to the continual parading before pupils and displaying of religious garb, which is in violation of the constitution. ‘T believe that the state board of education will back me up when I say that a condition exists in Dubois, Spencer and other southern Indiana counties, that should not !*?, wicere public school pupils are tt^uivod to attend parochial schools ‘•arfesrs such garb is worn.” Speaking for th e majority report, Senator Nejdl voiced the first outspoken objection to the discussion of religious issues in the Legislature. “This is one matter that above all has no place on the floor of this Senate.’’ said Senater Nejdl. “It goes to the extreme in every respect, when you attempt to dictate that school teachers can not wear any pin indicating their religious sect affiliation. “Why I have a boy in Purdue university who will graduate next Jufie who wears a pin given by his Sunday school class for an attendance record. Now, you would attempt to say that he couldn’t teach in a public school because he wears that pin.

Billy Williams Gang Licked

~ Irii ! ’

! The following from the Indianapo- | lis News, relates the sat Mate of the i Billy Williams gang, who went to In- | dianapolis to skin Cal Faris and got

skinned themselves:

“When the house of representatives was called to order Weooesday, second and third “termers” in the body settled back with a sigh of relief. They had won a fight against politicians, based on political differences back in a home county, and Cal Faris, for many terms pax liamentarian ! of the house, was in his accustomed

j place beside the Speaker.

| “For seven days the fijfht to “beat ! Faris” for appointment as house par- ; liamentarian was waged in the lower ! branch. Threats were passed back I and forth, it is said. The “acid test” | was put to certain representatives, in

.that they were threatened with de-j ^e country’s drv sleuth are already feat if they ever “showeu themselves” j s iipp ing in and 0 ut of suspected disi again as candidates. Ail the wires j pensaries at the present time in the j which are at the command of a polit- | gr e at metropolis, the traveling list ical organization were hulled. Far-• at federal prohibiti0n headquarters

is’s record and his experience, and j here d j sc i oses

! Particularly his friends’ kept Faris | Jf ’ Now York COuld be dried up> f j from being the victim of the. attack, j ig be iieved That most any city could.

| There has been no indication of | what city would be selected as the i second point of attack, but from the

DRYS TO POUNCE UPONWET CITIES New York Slated for Assault By Combined

Prohi Forces.

Washington, Jan. 23.—Concentration of dry agents upon the “wettest” spots of the country—a hazy designation if some reports are to be believed—is under consideration by federal enforcement chiefs here, as a resuit of a recommendation by Senator Couztns of Michigan, who has been looking into this prohibi-

tion situation a bit of late.

New York city, where liquor flows perhaps most freely, according to everything one hears, is slated to be the starting point of this reinj forced, flying wedge, frontal assault, j it is understood. It should be a powerful movement, as 10 per cent of

Complaints From Muncie.

| '“The scrap began when Faris, . whose home is in Munhie, came to i ( Indianapolis at the call Of others just , I before . the legislature convened- i ; When it became knowij. that Faris j . was the unanimous chprfe for house i parliamentarian, a protest? was lodged j with the Renublican stat§ committee, | it is understood. Thfs [protest had'j

the backing of Harry Hoffman, sher- , . vkon iff of Delaware county u|nd Republi- 1

can county chairman, arr Billy W41-jV“l°. .““T*

ir ■ . , ... IS. going, to Strike next. He is silent

TiHins, posuiiasier atr Mvacie. 7 , , ' ' .

records there are many rivals for second place. None of these, however. has as yet submitted its re-

quest formally.

Commissioner Roy Haynes is known about these parts as the most secretive man in the world— it comes to telling where the lightning force under his command

iins

“The protest against the appointment, it is said, grew out of some differences in organization matters in Muncie. It is said the protest went through the hands of Lawrence Cartwright, Eighth district Republican

^ chairmam.

The pressure against Faris became | so strong, according to those who told the story, that the patronage committee, of which John W. Thiel (Lake, Rep.) is chairman made no appointment as house parliamentarian. i : "^ipr

Faris Needed.

| “Exertion of the pressure brought a strong reaction among house members who have watched Paris’s work for a number of sessions- They be(gan to fight back, on the basis that ! Faris was needed in the house, and that his experience and training were valuable to that body. While Harry ( G. Leslie, Speaker, said nothing, there is reason to believe, that he realized the value of Faris to the assembly, having been a member himself of for-

mer sessions.

| Tuesday afternoon the fight on the parliamentarian came to a show- ! down. There was need of a parlia-

about this reported new drive. That

is expected.

His lieutenants about headquarters here, too, are like unto him. But the storm of dissatisfaction that has come fropi those who claim the prohibition law is not being enforced as it should be is beginning to stir officials here, is “getting under their skins.” A concentrated drive at this time, in face of the numerous protests, would have a satisfying effect, it is believed. SEEKS REDUCTION OF LAWSUIT LIMIT Bill Cuts Legal Filing Date Against Officials To Five Years.

mentarian, and something had to be done. It was then that the patronage committee took action, and Faris

was appointed.”

Arms Conference Urged By Sena In

Washington, Jan. 23.--President Coolidge is advised am". requesUt kc call a second arms conibfence under an amendment to the naval appropriation bill approved yesterday, by j the Senate without either discussion of a record vote before that measure ; was passed. i At the same time, Senator McKel1 lar (Democrat, Tennessee) offered a ; resolution requesting the President 1 to inform the Senate if the last arms conference treaty limiting the nav1 ies of the great powers was violated ‘ by Great Britain in the construction ' of the Rodney and the Nelson which i have been described in the Senate as combination battleships and air- ! craft carriers. The resolution went i over under the iviles, but Senator i'McKollar said he would press for early action on it.

Lack of rest is as much a cause for malnutrition among children as improper food. Flooding lowlands with fresh water is an effective way of getting rid of malaria.

Indianapolis, Jan. 23.—Reduction of the time limit for legal action against public officials from fifteen years, as is the present law, to five years is incorporated in a bill introduced by Representative H. O. Barr of Fort Wayne. « Sportsmen are interested in the measure of Representative Murden of Logansport, asking for a five-year closed season on quail and Mongolian pheasants and prohibiting their possession during that time except for breeding purposes and under a permit from the state department of conservation. The purpose of the hill, Representative Murden said, was to restock Indiana with these two- types of game birds. Representative Hull of Hanna and Summy of La Porte introduced a measure designating the Dickson W. Place canal as the boundary line between Laporte and Starke counties instead of the Kankakee river, j as the river is meandering and | some confusion exists among peace j officers as to the correct boundary

line of each county. Saturday Half Holidays.

County officials and their emI ployes in counties having 100,000 or j more population are to have Saturj day afternoon holidays throughout the year, according to the bill introduced by Representative Elliott of Indianapolis and Bernhardt of

South Bend.

— o Fifty-nine mental clinics for children are now in operation in the state of New York. Minnows introduced into a pool of Avater cause a large decrease in the breeding of mosquitoes.

Bottlegger Escapes From Bluffton Jail Bluffton, Jan. 23.—Frank, (Curly) Thorp, convicted by a jury in circuit court and n-vraiting transfer to the state penal farm to serve a 60-day sentence, and fine and costs of $140 imposed for liquor law violations, escaped from the county jail Hare last night, by sawing two one-inch iron bars and crawling through a window. The escape was not discovered until yesterday morning, shortly before the time set for Thorp’s departure for the farm. When the door to the cells was opened, Niole Smith the only other prisoner in the jail, informed the sheriff’s son, Herman, that Thorp was gone amf held up the two sawed off bars.

Remove Wheeler Case To Capital Washington, Jan. 23. —Several witnesses who appeared in connection with the indictment of Senator Wheeler, of Montana, last spring in Great Falls, Mont., have been summoned to appear before a Federal grand jury here early in February, according to word reaching the Montana senator.) It is understood that all the evidence upon whifrh the indictment of Yheeler was b^?ed will be aired before the Federal grand jury here, which will result in transferring the case to this city. It will amount to re-opening of the case from the beginning, and if the jury finds another indictment, will bring trial of the case here.

MUNCIE POLICE FIND CHAPMAN ROBBERY PLOT B/ndit Had Planned To Loot Bank; Stolen Car Is Recovered. Muncie, Ind., Jan. 23.—The alleged workings of Gerald Chapman,, who until his arrest here Sunday was the most searched for criminal in the country, increased yesterijnjp; as the result of further investiga^Afr tions by officers working under Police Captain Puckett. The authorities yesterday obtained information from a reliable source that the notorious bandit, with his accomplices, had made plans to blow the safe In a local bank last Sunday afternoon and to break into “the largest jewelry store in the city” Sunday night. They also learned plans had been made to loot the home of a wealthy resident. That a bank robbery had been planned here was substantiated by ! the finding of one and one-half pints of nitroglycerine in Chapman’s suitcase, together with tools and dozens of skeleton keys and “freak” keys. Stole Motor Car. Chapman now also is credited with stealing the Chrysler coupe from the Walnut Motor Company’s salesroom, 218 North Walnut street, Dec- 21. The machine when stolen from the local sales room had been run (Continued to Page Two)

The I'epublican city central committee has been reorganized with the express purpose in view of putting John Hampton across in the May primaries as the republican nominee for may of the city of Muncie. Regardless of the fact that Hampton is wet by principle and personal habits and that he had been a frequent participant in political booze parties, a conspiracy is on foot to secure for him the support of the drys and ths bootleggers. Playing both ends against the middle has been reduced to an exact science by the corrupt political organization that is conspiring to make John Hampton mayor. Hampton and Sheriff Harry Hoffman are close political cronies and it has already been agreed that if the former becomes mayor Hoffman is to be named chief of police. We believe that the people of Muncie do not care to take a chance on John Hampton for mayor. As for Harry Hoffman he has served for over three years as sheriff of Delaware county and the people have had enough of him. Neither the wets 'hor the drys could hardly feel that their interests were safe in such hands. The system of protecting bootleggers who play the political game with the republican organization and prosecuting liquor law violators Avho oppose the gang because of their hypocrisy, would continue in operation and Muncie would retain its reputation of being one of the Avettest cities in America. It is certainly time for the decent people of Muncie to wake up and make themselves thoroughly acquainted with the situation. If they want proof of every charge against this corrupt combination, it can easily be secured. In order to discredit the present pity administration and to create a favorable reaction that would redound to the political advantage of Hoffman and Hampton, an ill advised and inept grand jury, made up wholly of women, signed their names on the dotted line of a report submitted to Judge Dearth which declared that the police were lax in the enforcement of the liquor law and that Sheriff Hoffman was doing his duty in every respect. This was a part of the general plan of hypocrisy and deception which was meant to influence soft headed and easily deceived citizens into believing that the Hoffman-Hampton combination is all right from a dry standpoint. * When it is remembered that John Hampton, the announced candidate for mayor, is the jury commissioner who drew the names of the six Avomen who signed a report that was calculated to advance Hampton’s political fortunes, and to create favorable sentiment for the man he hopes to thrust upon Muncie as the next chief of police, the entire proceeding takes on a decidedly sinister aspect. Last Aveek the Post-Democrat discussed the grand jury report and declared that it Avas hardly likely that Judge Dearth could fail to understand what has been happening here. That Ave were not mistaken in this conjecture is indicated by an address made by Judge Dearth last Friday night in the Normal City Methodist church. According to our informant Judge Dearth told his audience that the grand jury report assailing the police department was procured and caused to be made by what he termed a “gang of wet politicians.” Of course it was a gang of wet politicians, and if Judge Dearth will just keep up the lick they won’t last as long as a snowball in Hades. It takes some courage for a public official who has been tied up Avith a political faction to break with his former political cronies, but unless Judge Dearth makes it plain to the public that he has wholly separated himself from these consorts of bootleggers, booze fighters and crap shooters, it will be folly for him ever to think of asking the public for further consideratioa at the polls. The Post-Democrat has always been perfectly sirjeere in its attacks on the corrupt Billy Williams organization, and, without malice, he have heretofore always included Judge Dearth in our frequent arraignment of the “system” in Delaware county. If Judge Dearth has the moral courage fo come clean and use his poAverful influence in exposing and destroying this criminal conspiracy, the PostDemocrat will have words only of encouragement and commendation. We have no personal grievance against Judge Dearth or any other man living. Our policy is to serve the people, and to sacrifice, if needs be, for the common good.