Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 15 April 1926 — Page 2

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THE POST-DEMOCRAT

THURSDAY, APRIL 15,1926.

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

A Democratic weekly newspaper representing the Democrats of Muncie, Delaware County and the 8th Congressional District. The

only Democratic Newspaper in Delaware County.

Entered as second class matter January 15, 1921, at the Postoffice at

Muncie, Indiana, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

PRICE 5 CENTS—$2.00 A YEAR.

Office 733 North Elm Street.

GEORGE R. DALE, Owner and Publisher.

Telephone 2540

Muncie, Indiana, April 15, 1926.

(Continued from Page One) destiny and to express their own

will.

“It is not only as to this question of sumptuary legislation that that danger manifests itself. We find it developing in our educational fields, in economic fields, in almost every manifestation and relation of life, this tendency of giving to our national Government full authority to do with our destiny as it pleases. And are we so far lost to selfrespect that we do not appreciate the value of home government and local self-government? Is it not time that we arouse ourselves to the issues, not of the wet and dry issue, because that is submerged in the greater issues that confront us, the moral, political and economic life of our people. Let us go forth with those greater issues in view, and let us in the constitutional way, call conventions of the people of our States throughout the nation, and discuss these greater problems, and let us protest the continuance of these tendencies which threaten the life and liberty of our country and its peoples. “I can’t help feeling that tne modification of the Volstead Act is nothing more or less than giving to the people a return at least of some degred of rights heretofore enjoyed by them and by a combination of Congress \,and State Legislatures taken away from the people unconstitutionally. Because in our urging for modificaton, willingly ,or unwillingly, wittingly or unwittingly, we do affirm that greater crime committed by the Eighteenth Amend-

ment.

“It is, of course, a measure of relief. It is a relief that should be had and now. And it will be had when we have elected honest, fearless American citizens to represent us^ and Congress, when sitting on the Hill, will not look to the ballot box, but will express the convictions of free men and Americans,, as originally conceived by our great Government. • . • “Let us modify, the Volstead Act now, but let the voice of liberty, of freedom, for the perpetuity of inalienable rights, be heard throughout the land, in the women’s clubs, churches, labor unions, chambers of commerce, rotary clubs or groups of any and all kinds, and preach the doctrine of true Americanism, the rights of the peoples to govern themselves, not to be tampered with or interfered with unless by the express will of the people themselves.

Labor Saw Danger.

“The American labor movement has clearly visioned the consequences which have come and which have followed this most pernicious and fallacious enactment of Constitution and law. We, too, in the labor movement were inspired by the same ideals, by the same principles as so well expressed and enunciated by the previous speakers. We, too, were engaged in the cause of tem-

> How many people in the state of Indiana will sub-L perance ’ both J n ottering the condiscribe to the sentiment that “the truth is no defense” if (in lifting our nation as a whole, its publication serves to hold the judge up to the con- throush the development ot ' ntel

tempt of the public? A fair, honest, incorruptible judge should be proud to have the truth told about him. The

STAND BY YOUR ALLIES.

Last fall three thousand Muncie republicans risked their party standing by voting for Milt Retherford, democratic candidate for mayor. Many misguided democrats participated in the primary and election which seated Mayor Hampton by a narrow margin. It is said that .hundreds of democrats in Delaware county, mindful of the help the democratic party received from the other side last November, will participate in the republican primary May 4 in order to insure the defeat of the republican stand pat, Ku Klux machine. Under ordinary conditions the Post-Democrat would advise against such a procedure, but good citizenship should rise above party expediency. There are practically no contests on in the democratic ranks in the coming primary, consequently there can be no moral wrong in lending our allies enough votes to turn the trick. The Billy Williams machine is a menace to society and should be stamped out of existence by a coalition of voters, regardless of

party lines.

A RISING POLITICIAN.

Lon Thornburg, manager of the Roberts Hotel and chairman of John Hampton’s board of works ,who pulled the stunt on Harry Harrington in the twentieth precinct, is himself a Harry Hoffman candidate for committeeman in his own precinct, the fourth. As a comparatively new shooter in the machine crowd Thornburg’s rise in the local political puddle has been rapid. He is opposed by Frank Greenwalt, pledged to Fred Reasoner for chairman. The voters of the fourth precinct should take great delight in walloping Thornburg, whose idea of decent politics is to threaten a merchant with boycott because one of his clerks happened to be a candidate for committeeman on the other side. If they should happen to forget everything else when they go to the polls, the voters of the fourth precinct .should remember one thing, and that is to vote for Frank Greenwalt for precinct committeeman. If we had a yaller dog that would vote for a man like Thornburg, who jeopardized the job of a working man, with a family to support, in order to make sure of a vote for Harry Hoff man,^ we would fill his rotten carcass with buckshot.

TRUTH A SLANDER?

PEOPLE XEYEB HAD

HIGHWAY BOARD’S WASTE OF STATE FUNDS IS RAPPED

Needless Purchases Pointed to; $50,000 Refund Is Ruled Reclaimed.

Indianapolis, April 15.—Finances of the state have suffered from lack of careful supervision of highway commission affairs by members and John D. Williams, director, according to a report of the state board of accounts which figured in the decision of the Marion county Court of Claims, Saturday, refusing refund of $50,000 to Otto F. Schlensker, automobile parts dealer. Schlensker was alleged to have overcharged the state in his dealings with the commission. The case in which the ruling was made was to regain a $50,000 deposit paid by Schlensker to the state. The accounts board report, filed by Lawrence F. Orr, chief examiner, was recalled in comment on the decision. The report covered the activities of the commission from May 13, 1921, to the close of business April 30, 1924. State Interests Secondary The report alleged that the state’s interests were'made secondary to other interests and cited prices paid for materials used by the commission. Extracts from the report q£-the board of accounts follow: “That the state's finances have suffered for want of careful supervision by the commission and is director in the expenditure of the foregoing sums is clearly shown by the following facts disclosed by an ipvestigation of the district garages. Authority for the expenditure of these various sums of money was delegated to the chief of the division of equipment as shown by the purchase orders who is without experience as a business director and acknowledges he is not a mechanic. ‘‘Winamac Garage—This garage was stocked in May and June of 1923, with $13,045.87 worth of truck parts, $3,790.54 of which were parts for Nash Quad trucks, $4,028.86 of which were parts for Liberty trucks and $5,224.47 of which were parts for Four-Wheel Drive trucks. In May 1924, just one year after this garage was stocked a check of the stock of this department disclosed that practically all of the Liberty and Four-Wheel Drive truck parts amounting to $9,253.33 were still on hand and we were informed by the .mechanic in charge that there had not been a Liberty truck in the garage for repair in that period of time. In other words, $9,000 of the state’s money was tied up for a year in material the state had no use for in this district.

Volcano Erupts

lect, the appeal to the conscieuce, and the educated mind ofTnaU. “The labor movement saw the dangers ahead by such legislation,

truth about him could not possibly hurt him nor could {heretofore unknown in this country, it in any way hinder or prevent the administration of ?®!l ro Ji e „ d ii~ by Ti5!

justice, for of such a judge nothing truthfully could be said which would make him an object of contempt. And what can be said of a judge who is rendered an object of the contempt of his fellow man because of the publication of a truthful editorial or news story concerning his conduct on the bench? Which one is more entitled to run at large, the editor who writes truthfully concerning an unworthy judge, or the judge who is held up to public scorn because of a truthful editorial ? If the time has come in Indiana when the dungeon awaits those who dare to criticize unworthy public officials, democracy is dead and our boasted liberty of speech and

press a ghastly mockery.

Senators Arthur Robinson and Jim Watson hurried back to Washington by request of a presidential proxy to vote for the unseating of Senator Smith Brookhart, a republican. The vote was so close that the votes of Watson and Robinson seated the democrat, Daniel Steck, Mayfield, Texas, klucker democrat, voted with republican kluckers Watson and Robinson to throw Brookhart out of the senate. The excuse of Watson and Robinson was that Brookhart hardly ever voted with the majority in the senate. In the eyes of Watson a republican who does not think and act like Watson is not a good republican and should be thrown out of the senate. Jim has his paddling coming next month.

CHEERMAN HOFFMAN.

If the republican machine wins a majority of the forty-two precinct committeemen in the coming primary Harry Hoffman will be re-elected republican county chairman. _ The defeat of the machine slate will insure the election of Fred Reasoner, a square shooter who plays honest politics^ Voters who believe in fair play and decency in politics should go to the polls May 4 and make sure the election of committeemen who favor the selection of Fred Reasoner. Votes should keep Harry Hoffman m mind when they enter the booths on elec-

tion day.

REWARD WAS DISMISSAL. Of the quartet of Muncie plain clothes men who captured Gerald Chapman, only one was retained. The other three were discharged from the force because they opposed the election of John Hampton. One of the four was permitted to keep his job because he “threw in” with the successful candidate. Puckett, Brown and Goodpasture, who risked death to capture the famous outlaw alive were rewarded by dismissal from the service. There’s gratitude for you!

MAY TAKE THEIR TERBACKER AWAY. The dismissal of Councilman Replogle from the staff of the Muncie Star is said to be deeply resented by the city administration and is reported to have led to a council of war in the city hall at which it was decided to inflict some sort of punishment on the Star. No doubt when John C. Shafer hears of this, he will tremble in his boots. £*.

perceived the danger. We voiced protest against the Eighteenth Amendment when adopted, against the Volstead Act. Unfortunately, the labor movement, like all patriotic groups, were concerned with the winning of the war, concerned with the safeguarding of democracy, interested in promoting those principles and ideals which are the high-

est in all the whole world.

“While all patriotic citizens were thus engaged in responding to this nobe appeal the Anti-Saloon League saw its opportunity, and like thieves in the night, went into our political arena and put upon the American people the greatest constitutional fraud ever perpetrated. Now they would have us abide by law and order, v/ithout realizing that legislative decree doeg not of itself make law. Law must be founded upon reason, and supported by public conscience or else it is not law. The very fact that prevailing conditions are becoming more numerous, more impressing everywhere, is the best indication that the Eighteenth Amendment with fits Volstead Act is not an incentive to law and order, but is a true cause for chaotic conditions in all parts of the land, for disrupting our homes and calling for

disorder and lack of law.

“On this occasion it is for us to consider how to bring about a condition among our people first, that we will reflect upon the principles of our Government, that this is a free land, a home of the brave, a land where the people have not yet fallen to that degree where they have to be clubbed into doing certain things by the police powers: second: that there may never come to us again such an experience as we have passed through, where the rights of the people may be so flagrantly pushed aside by the pretenses of those who call it Christianity, not because of its appeal to the conscience, but because of the great rewards in political favors held out to those who sponsor it.”

A service of prayer for the success of prohibition and for law enforcement was held simultaneously in churches and meeting places of thirty states Sunday in connection with the convention of the Women’s Ntional Committee for Law Enforcement. At the headquarters of the convention r, the national praye meeting was led by Mrs. Robert E. Speer, president of the national Young Women’s Christian Associa-

tion.

Thomas H. Balsley, Ludlow, Ky., cashier of the Farmers and Mechanics bank of that city, shot and killed himself in the basement of the bank Monday after having admitted that he was between $30,000 and $40,000

short in his accounts.

Attorney-General Sargent has advised Representative LaGuardia, of New York that in the recent checkup of liquor held by Federal authorities in Indiana and formerly belong ing to George Remus, revealed that 330 cases of the liquor has disappeared. The department of Justice is investigating the matter.

LUTHER BURBANK DIED SUNDAY AT CALIFORNIA HOME

Plant Wizard Fights Valiantly Against Death; 111 From Overwork.

Santa Rosa, Cal., April 15.—Luther Burbank, withered by age, died here early Sunday amid the flowering fruits and blooms that he created for mankind’s benefit. The noted horticulturist passed on to the great adventure of a hereafter in which he had no faith. Only a few weeks before the end he had declared that he could not believe in a life after death. And as life ebbed away and he stood at the brink he did not falter in his convictions. Infirm and worn after years devoted to developing and guiding plant life, the controversy started by his pronouncements on religion and reincarnation, contributed to his last illness. A storm of protest came from religious leaders after Mr. Burbank gave out his statement declaring himself to be an infidel. His home here was swamped with letters and telegrams condemning his stand. The stress he was subjected to in defending and explaining his beliefs brought on a nervous condition that his 77 years could not survive. Becomes Semiconscious. A few minutes before life fled the aged patient lapsed into semi-con-sciousness. “Oh, doctor, I am very sick,” were his last words. They were uttered to his physician, Dr. Joseph H. Shaw. Gastro-intestinal complications and violent hiccoughing had weakened Mr. Burbank. All hope for him was given up last night, after a two weeks’ struggle by physicians to prolong life. At the bedside were his wife and his sister, Mrs. Emma Beeson of Healdsburg. Fortified by a vigorous constitution, which had its roots as deep as the flowers and plants he tended, he put up a valiant struggle against his illness. Mr. Burbank always declared that his object in increasing the yield of plants was to better the condition of his fellow men and he died believing we must look for survival only in the spirit of the good we have done in passing through life. If it has been a good life it has been sufficient. There is no need for another. Once here and gone, the human life has served its purpose.

Farm relief legislation hearings were closed Monday by the Senate agriculture committee, while indications were that testimony would be prolonged for a day or two before the House agriculture committee, which had expected to conclude its hearings 'Tuesdays night.

The Rev. Martin H. Luecke, writer and educator, who has been active in the Lutheran ministry since 1881. and president of Concordia College of Fort Wayne, since 1900, died at his home in Ft. Wayne early Tuesday morning o a heart attack.

At Hilo, Hawaii

Hilo, T. H. April 15.—The volcano Mauna Loa begaa erupting early yesterday. The flow of lava appears to be concentrated three miles southwest of the summit, terminating in one big fountain from which lava is shooting high in the air. Preceding the eruption several earthquakes rocked the island of Hawaii, with tidal waves on its eastern side. Prof. Jaggar «• estimated that the point of eruption was 12,000 feet above sea level. The summit of Mauna Loa is 13,675 feet. Jaggar said he would not be surprised if Kolauea, largest active volcano in the world, began erupting, although its activity did not necessarily follow. There was a four-foot tidal wave at Hilo.

SIX ARE KILLED IN KLAN BATTLE AT HERRIN. ILL

Election Day Brings Outbreak of Old Feud; Troops Arrive.

Herrin, 111., April 15—The military authorities were in control here last night after a Wild day of rioting. Six men are dead and one other fatally wounded. The rioting was incident to the election and was an outbreak of an old feud between the Ku Klux Klan and the anti-Klan. The dead are: Alderman Mack Sizemore, Ben Sizemore, Arnold Ford, Noble Weaver, deputy sheriff, Brown; one unidentified man. Col. Robert W. Davis of the 130th Illinois National Guard Infantry arriving here shortly before 5 o’clock with the Carbondale company of the state militia. He immediately took charge of the militia. Smouldering hatred between friends and enemies of the Ku Klux Klan was fanned into flame by Tuesday’s primary election and six men, four of them klansmen, were killed in the outbreaks which followed. Several others were wounded. John Smith, a klan leader and one of those wounded in the later fighting, was challenging the votes of Italians down in the Fourth ward and had been attacked by an antiklan precinct worker. Police and deputy sheriffs restored order. But apparently this episode had been enough to bring back all the old enmities. A few hours later the town was plunged into rioting which broke out sporadically in various parts of the down town district. The fighting is said to have grown out of the. fiercely disputed contest over the Republican nomination for sheriff. One klan indorsed candidate # was opposed by six others. The war between the klan and anti-Klan started two years ago when Glenn S. Young was the Klan leader. Young claimed to be a twogun man, with a reputation as a killer. —— o The peace of Herrin, Illinois, is disturbed again and as a result six are dead and one other fatally woujaded. The rioting was incident to the election and was an outbreak of an old feud between the Klan and the anti-Klan. State militia troops have been sent to Herrin to restore and maintain order. Trouble will lurk about Herrin a long time if they do not learn well the new commandment given by Jesus, “That ye love one another as I have loved you.” t The probable consolidation of the railroads of the country into a few big systems advanced a step Tuesday when the senate interstate commerce committee favorably reported the Cummins bill. This measure would allow a period in which to encourage voluntary consolidation, and then compel mergers of those roads not voluntarily consolidating.

SHORTAGE OF 330 CASES IN SQUIBBS LIQUOR REVEALED

Representative LaGuardia Gets Disclosure; Jury Probe Forecast.

Washington, Aptfl 15.—RepresenKs't, N a e G w Ua ?o? k ,, <Pr S S S e a y S h 0 e' had been advised by Attorney General Sargent that 330 cases of liquor held under court order by the United States marshal at Indianapolis, had disappeared, and that the Department of Justice is investigating the matter. LaGuardia recently charged that liquor held by Federal authorities in Indiana and formerly belonging to George Remus, the Ohio bootlegger king, had been removed unlawfully Blames Not Fixed. The attorney general’s letter, as made public by Mr. LaGuardia yesterday, said that the department has not yet been able to fix responsibiilty for the disappearance of some 330 cases of liquor and is still engaged in investigation of the matter The recent inventory at Indianapolis by Examiner Signaigo showed, Sargent wrote, a total of 1,123; cases, whereas “an accurate return based on a careful inventory dated July 28, 1923, showed 1,445 cases, containing: twelve quarts each, and eight cases, each containing fewer than twelve quart bottles. “The number chargeable is 1,453 cases, or a difference of 330 cases, Sargent said. “A copy of the examiner’s report was forwarded to the United States attorney at Indianapolis advising him that the report disclosed that a considerable quantity of liquor held by the marshal under court order, had disappeared while in his custody,” the letter continued. He was instructed to review all the acts and to obtain such other information as was possible and if he felt that the situation warranted criminal action against any person or persons, he was to take steps to that end immediately. o Of all the queer gifts that one might receive for a birthday it seems to me that this would be the limit. Porer Jones of Philadelphia, eelebrated his forty-sixth birthday a few days ago ad his brother, Pete Jones, undertaker at Wabash, Ind., sent him a six-foot black casket. He told him that it was a useful gift but he hoped Porter would not have te use it for a long time.

Union City Chosen By Pythian Sisters

Kokomo, Ind., April 15.—One hundred and seventy-five delegates from twenty-one temples registered at the nineteenth annual Sixth district convention of Pythian Sisters here. The counties represented were Madison, Hamilton, Tipton, Howard, Delaware .Henry, Randolph and Wayne. A program of music and readings and exemplification of the ballot by the Muncie degree team and a school of instruction by Mrs. Grace Cliffbrd of Kokomo, grand. chief, occupied the afternoon. A banquet and temple meeting was held in the evening with the Elwood staff giving degree work. Union City was chosen as the place for the next convention.

She will no doubt be well married. Peggy Joyce is about t 0 stage her fifth matrimonial venture. This time she will marry Stanford E. Comstock, wealthy Miami, Florida, real estate man.

THOMAS V. MILLER. Thomas V. Miller, candidate for nomination for the office of Prosecuting Attorney within and for the 46th Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana, at the Republican Primary election to be held May 4th, 1926, was born in the City of Muncie, and has resided in Delaware County durirkr all his life. He has always been a Republican, and an active worker for the success of his party. Mr. Miller was admitted to practice at the Delaware County Bar in 1913, and ever since has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. If nominated and elected to said office Mr. Miller promises a clean administration of the affairs of the office, and to enforce the laws fearlessly, fairly and impartially.

Land Auction! (44 Acres) ^ SUBURBAN HOME SITES ~ The undersigned will sell, without reserve, on the premises located two miles east of the Courthouse in Muncie on Jackson Street and on State Road 33, on

TUESDAY, APRIL 20th ;j Beginning At 2 P. M. This farm ig to be offered in tracts or as a whole selling in the manner which brings the most money. TRACT NO. 1 will contain 14 acres of good level land improved with a new seven-room bungalow; large veranda; electric lights; gas available; driven well; milk house and windmill. Barn, 40x60, two-car garage; double corn crib; cow stable with cement floor and twenty-two stansions; poultry house; good little orchard and nice sugar grove. TRACT NOS. 2 TO 7 INCLUSIVE have no buildings. All of them contain approximately five acres. Each tract has an east front, splendid soil, fine building sites and some of them have three acres of fine sugar grove, where the building sites are located. This is a splendid opportunity to seure one of the finest country home sites close to Muncie. Don’t fail to see these wonderful home sites to be sold ’at your own price. a Terms If sold as a whole $1,000 down on day of sale. Purchaser will assume a mortgage of $2,500.00 due in about three years. IN PARCELS: 25% cash on day of sale and the balance in.thirty days. Immediate possession.

GEORGE H. ABSHIRE, Owner. R. C. Poland Auction Company, Noblesville, Indiana.

Human Factors in Railroading Railway transportation commonly is thought of in terms of machinery, while in reality the human organization behind it is far more important in the production ot service. There are three fundamental factors in railway service—patron, owner and employe. The first demands service, and the second and third produce it. Patrons put in their money by paying rates, and they deserve to receive in return the satisfactory transportation they must have in order to exist in our modern civilization. Owners supply the investment required to build and equip railroads, and they deserve to receive in return dividends comparable to those which investments in other fields would yield them. Employes put in the labor necessary to make the machinery provided by the owner produce transportation, and they deserve to receive in return fair wages and reasonable conditions under which to work. Railway managements now are much closer to their patrons and employes than ever before. With the government as final authority on rates and wages, it is the duty of managements to provide efficient service under proper working conditions, pay all operating expenses, taxes, rentals and interest on bonded indebtedness and still have something left for dividends and for investment in the property in order to expand for future needs. In order that the management may carry out its duty, it is necessary that it shall be allowed such reasonable rates as will enable it to function as nearly perfectly as possible. Such performance on its part means untold profit to the shipper and satisfactory conditions for the employe, all, however, being conditioned upon honesty and efficiency of operation. W. J. HARAHAN, President, The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

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