Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 22 July 1926 — Page 1
THE POST-DEMOCRAT
VOLUME 6—Number 26.
MUNCIE, INDIANA, THUT'SDAYY, JULY 22, 1926.
Price 5 Cents a Copy—$2.00 a Year
CONTEMPT CASE TO THE HIGHEST COURT
-Er—r—
GREAT METROPOLITAN NEWSPAPERS DECLARE THAT TRUTH IS DEFENSE
Edict of State Supreme Court Which Muzzles Press Arouses Wide Interest in every Section of the United States.
All the great newspapers of the T : nited States have actively interesed themselves in the Dale contempt case. Correspondents and staff artists from the metropolitan papers visit Muneie almost daily. A hearst man from New York spent two days here this week securing pictures and data for a page story. The New York World will feature the story Sunday with many illustrations. The Post-Democrat receives letters and telegrams from every state in the union. The New York Herald-Tribune writes that every newspaper in New York is solidly behind the defense for “all it is wodth.” Thursday the editor of the PostDemocrat received a telegram from the New York World advising that “the World will publish editorial Friday in your behalf.” Aided the Cause When Judge Dearth refused to permit George R. Dale to offer any defense in the contempt cases he started a fire that all the hair splitting lawyers in America will be unable to quench. Four weeks ago the Post-Demo-crat prophesed that every newscrat prophesied that every newsfray using the slogan “The Truth IS a Defense.” We underestimated the situation. Like a resistless tide every newspaper in America has taken up the fight. Muneie is the storm center of
Klux Klan to destroy an editor who stood his ground and fought to defend constitutional government. Unintentionally Judge Dearth performed a great service for humanity when he rushed the editor of this newspaper to jail and to the penal farm without permitting him to make any defense or even o call a lawyer to represent him in court. i Oud Boosted Liberty If a judge can do such a high handed thing as this and get away with it, then human liberty is at an end, is the conclusion of the millions who are now reading and studying this case. People are touchy about the question of free speech. Every fellow down in his heart wants to feel free to speak his piece, stand on his hind legs and tell everybody I to go to hell, if he thinks that’s where they belong. Carl Magee, an editor out in New Mexico, was rammed and jammed by the courts for libel and contempt, but his case did not become a nation-wide issue because
Even the Klan Relented
Promiment members of the Ku Klux Klan even came to us and volunteered to intercede with Gov. Jackson in our behalf. They recognized the awful injustice of the acts of the flunkies of D. C. Stephenson during the three year reign of terror in Indiana while Stephenson "was THE LAW in the state and were willing to perform this
tardy act of restitution.
But we felt that it was a greattion of a ninety days penal farm sentence. The great question of free speech was involved and the question of whether “the truth is a defense,” nerved us to carry on and get the question before the highest court of the land. The editor of this newspaper would have been a traitor to the newspaper fraternity and to all friends of free speech if he had cravenly sought an individual pardon. Instead we put the question squarely before the people of America and a flood of sentiment has been turned loose which will
make for democracy.
of the fact that the governor par-
doned him every time the sheriff’s We had done nothing to be parofficers could even get to the jail doned for. We. had told the truth with him. land the highest court in thek state
said the truth was not\ h
It might have been possible for the editor of the Post-Democrat to have secured executive clemency even from Indiana’s Ku Klux governor but even after the state supreme court had turned down our motion for a rehearing we resolute-
the greatest question now before ly refused to listen to the advice rt’e . A -"•’I . T-all.-light is being turned on the sordid ed to present a mammoth petition crew of traitors who used the Ku j for a pardon.
was not\ ft de-
fense. It was our duty to humanity to carry this, to the highest court. All knowledge is based up-i on truth. Truth is the one thing! in the world upon which the hope) of democracy depends, ,'f truth is to be suppresed anarchy will fol,- ' f-w—*>7 ■-T .' > ,— Af .- - ■ tr. ■ > <• /fCu ' rumbling of constitutional govern-
ment.
U.S. COURT RUM CASES INCREASE DESPITE LAWS
Most of Time Occupied by Liquor Prosecutions; Con-
victions Mount.
Indianapolis, July 22.—Prosectiion of liquor law cases have occupied most of the time of the United States District court during the past few years, despite stringent Indiana prohibition law and the Federal statutes, according to the annual report of Albert Ward, United States district attorney for Indiana, for the iiseal year ending June 30, 1926. The report lists 147 cases started and 137
closed in that period.
In the preceeding year the court started 148 cases and closed VIOS, and during the last fiscal year conducted fifty-six abatement cases as
compared to twenty-eight for 1925. A gradual increase lias been noted since 1921, and there also has been an increase in the number of convictions and pleas of guilty. In (lie year ending June 30, 1922, the I court terminated 134 cases of which only eighty-five were convictions; in 1923 seventy-two cases were terminated with thirty-two convictions, and n 1924, 122 cases were terminated with 107 convictions. Only six acquittals have been recorded over a five-year period with one in 1922, two in 1925, and three in 192(5. Ten cases reached a jury in 1922, four iu 1923, eight in 1924, twentysix in 1925, and nineteen in
1926.
The outstanding liquor prosecution cases this year were the the Squibb conspiracy, involving twen-ty-six persons, including a former collector of internal revenue at St. Louis, Mo., and the Vincennes conspiracy in which the Knox county prosecutor and the sheriff were implicated, the prosecutor being acquitted and the sheriff convicted. The report commends state and local officers for their co-operation in enforcing the liquor law. It shows an increase in narcotic convictions, although not the steady
rise that marked liquor prosecutions. in 1922 there were fifteen convictions; thirteen in 1923, thirty in 1924, thirty-eight in 1925 and $ twenty-four in 192t5. White slave convictions in 1922 were three, two in 1923, nine in 1924, nine in 1925, and eleven in 1926.
—o-
Chesterfield Opens
Anderson, Ind., July 19—The thirty-sixth annual camp meetiivg of the Indiana Association of Spiritualists opened Saturday at the Chesterfield camp of the associa-|£| tion, five miles east of Anderson, ' and will continue through August 29. All the camp cottages were) occupied and the two hotels, which have a capacity of 225 persons, | were receiving persons who will be there during the meetings. —, o—
The American Bar Association meeting in Denver elected Charles S. Whitman, former governor of New York, as president of the association to (succeed Chester I. Long of Kansas City.
FATHER OF THE MOVEMENT
Vincennes, Indiana. July 21, 1926. George R. Dale, Muneie, Ind. Dear Mr. Dale: When you met me, a stranger, at a country home of a mutual friend in Wayne County, on the afternoon of Sunday, June 20, 1926, I was shocked at your story of wrongs heaped on you and could hardly believe the story. I made up my mind that I would act in some way that would reach out and get relief. I appealed to the powerful metropolitan press and urged Mr. Evans p of the Chicago Tribune, to go at once to you and study | the situation. They sent Mr. Dwyer. I also made a strong appeal to the Chicago Herald-Examiner. In all common sense I appealed for an interpretation of real liberty in a democracy of helpless people. The response was instantaneous and the question is now a national one. You are protected now in your opportunity that was denied you in Delaware county when you were in jeopardy. I am anxious that the last analysis of the case may be made and the U. S. Supreme Court appeal result in an adjustment of all the issues in this case W'hich I deem as far more debatable than any other case I have ever known. The response moral and financial of the great people is most gratiflying to me. I append herewith, Editorial in my paper of July 17, which emphasized my position. With kind regards, I am, Sincerely yours, THOMAS H. ADAMS.
BIG HEAR'H 0 CHICAGOAN STARTS DALE DEFENSE FUND.
EMMET CAVANAUGH.
Emmet Cavanaugh, well known Chicago wholesale meat dealer, has taken the lead in Chicago in raising funds to meet the expense of taking our big contempt case through the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Cavanaugh last Saturday at Chicago handed the editor of the Post-Democrat a cashier’s check for $500, this being the first advance contribution of a total of $5,000 which he expects to secure with ease from patriotic Chicago people as their contribution towards the great cause of free speech and a free press. A1 Baensinger of the Chicago American and a staff photographer from that paper were on hand and a snap shot of the Chicago man handing the editor the contribution to liberty, was featured in the next edition of the American. Mr. Cavanaugh and another Chicagoan, Judge Francis Houlihan, have organized the “Dale Defense Committee,” and appeals for contributions are being made to the citizens of Chicago*. Circular letters have been sent out, each ward has been supplied v/ith subscription blanks with appropriate headings. These are being liberally signed and Mr. Cavanaugh was confident that his committee would have but little difficulty in “going over the top” in a very few days. One of the features of the Chicago drive for funds was the distribution of large circulars containing the inscription, in large, black type: “No Jail for Dale.” The day after the first Orville Dwyer story appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Cavanaugh wired at length to the editor of the Post-Demo-crat asking him to come to Chicago at once. Mrs. Dale went at once and was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh and daughter over Sunday, returning home a day or so later. Mr. Cavanaugh and Judge Houlihan explained their purpose and' then proceeded to put in execution. It is simply impossible for the editor of the Post-Democrat to express in cold type how it feels to be treated the way we have been by strangers in every part of the county who didn’t know us from Adam’s off-ox, two weeks ago. Overwhelmed by letters containing offers of assistance, financial and legal, telegrams of congratulation over our appeal to the highest court and letters containing contributions to the cause arrive in such profusion that answering them all promptly is simply out of the question. I am going to send a marked copy of the Post-Democrat to every one of them this week so when they see this they will know why they have not been answered. One of these days I am going to take a day off and answer every one of them, God bless ’em.
GRAND JURY DISBANDED, HOLADAY’S SCALP SAVED Supreme Court of the United States Will Review Decision By State Court—Ultimate Decision Will Affect Every Publication in America.
Monday was a Ted letter day for the Post-Democrat. On that day, to use the words of my beloved friend, Jim Doherty of the" Chicago Tribune, I “packed up my troubles and carried them to the supreme court of the United States.” That morning in the office of William V. Rooker, in Indianapolis, I was handed a document by my lawyer, signed by Chief Justice David A. Myers of the Supreme court of Indiana, which automatically transferred my contempt case to the highest tribunal in the land, the supreme court of the
United States.
I had spent Saturday and Sunday in Chicago conferring with newspaper men and with Emmet Cavanaugh, a prominent wholesale meat dealer who has generously and patriotically undertaken the task of raising a fund in Chicago to be devoted to the defense of the greatest question before the American people today—free speech and a free press.
The grand jury adjourned Thursday noon, effectually preventing a continuation of the investigation of Alpha Holaday, arch swindler. Slimy Ryman, the long nosed, bald headed kleagle, who was left by Prosecutor Ogle to prevent the Holaday exposure and all that goes with it, took his first long breath for a week when the grand jurors filed in and presented their
final report.
The members of the grand jury are mad clear through. The two witnesses examined last week had told them enough, it is said, to blow the town up. They wanted to go on but Judge Dearth put up the slop sign and told them to quit, although the term lasts an-
other week.
Several of the persons fleeced by Holaday have told the Post-
Democrat of large sums
alleged to have been paid by Holaday to protect him from prosecu-
tion.
The name of Ryman and Proseicutpr Ogle always appear in some manner m tnese statements. The grand jury a week ago threw Ryman out of the grand jury room and demanded in a petition, exclusively published last week in the Post-Democrat, that a special pro-
secutor lie appointed.
Nothing Doing
Judge Dearth pocketed the petition and the grand jury was adjourned until Thursday of this week and ordered by the judge to make their final report on that day
and adjourn.
In their report the grand jury
said they were prevented by conditions over which they had no fontrol, from concluding the investigation of an important matter. The matter they referred to was
the Holladay investigation. One woman grand juror is con-
vinced that a deliberate conspiracy
power to appoint a special prosecutor. , 1 Attorneys Think Differently Attorneys say he could have appointed a special prosecutor and the county council could have later made the appropriation to pay him. Those who have been swindled by Holaday are sore clear through. Dr. Dunn, one of the victims gipped by Holaday since the latter served his federal sentence reluctantly admitted to .the Post-Democrat that his losses were “seven or eigh thousand dollars.” Others place the amount of Dr. Dunn’s loss at aT'higher figure, the ampunts named ranging from fifteen to twenty-five thosuand. It is believed that Holaday has possibly grabbed off as much as a quarter of a million dollars from var-
T" r.nevU ous victims in Muneie and surot m ne. T roum ]j n g territory during the year
and a half that he has been out of
prison.
There is talk of the investigation being resumed in September. Keeping iu mitjd Prosecutor Ogle’ c amazing heart, which turned a flip flop when the present grand jury was assembled, the peop3& here are wondering what will happen In
September.
In the meantime Judge Dearth is all set for a trfi) to Canada. A group of special writers representing Chicago’s great dailies accompanied me to Indianapolis and were present in Mr. Hooker’s office when the announcement was made of the successful effort to have the case transferred to the highest
tribunal for a final review.
Thomas H. Adams, editor and owner of the Vincennes (Commercial, the grand old man of Indiana journalism, who has led the fight In Hoosierdom for clean politics, honest government and a free and unbought press, towered in the group of newspapermen who offer-
exists to protect Holaday. She i ed heartfelt congratulations, says frankly that Ryman is crook-1 iSo, at last, after a weary fight, I ed, and nobody in Muneie is going am to have my day in court and to dispute her word (upon me is conferred the tremenIn finally excusing the grand dous anfl momentous privilege of jury Thursday, with another week bein S the tumble instrument of of the present term left, and with testing hefore the greatest tribunal a score of witnesses eager to tell ™ Vw ^ ? ° ^ all they know about the Holaday that the truth ls no de * conspiracy, Judge Dearth explain-, This will be the tegt case which ed that lack ot funds to pay a wiU decide definitely whether the special prosecutor .impeHed hmi toj press of Am e ri ca Is to be throttled, disband the inquisitorial body. I muzzled and deprived of its priceHe said the county council i esis privilege of speaking fearlessly
in .behalf of the people.
would have to make the appropriation to pay the special prosecutor and that it required a seven days’ notice before they could meet. His earlier excuse was that he had no
Great questions are involved: Freedom of the press; have courts “inherent” powers; is a judge real(Continued to Page FourJ
THOMAS H. ADAMS.
Are Planning To Take Pistols From Gunmen In U. S.
New York.—The gunman’s open sesame, the revolver, is the target of a formidable combination of officials who administer the laws of America and those who make the weapons, about to be brought together by the national crime commission; These groups, whose representatives held a preliminary session in Denver, July 12, and will hold a. business meeting in Nek York, on
July 24, plan to wrench the small firearm from the fist of the man who makes his living behind its muzzle by standardized legislation to be offered in the various states. The organizations represented in the committee, which met at Denver include the association of states’ attorneys-general, the small arms manufacturers, the American Bankers association and the National Rifle and Pistol associations. — o URGES U. S. CONFERENCE ON MENTAL DISORDERS
Washington.—“Lack of comprehensive study of mental disorders is < >sting the nation and the states uni Id wealth in the upkeep of in-
sane and penal institutions,” Representative Black of Brooklyn (New York, Democrat) said in explaining a bill he recently introduced to create a United States board of alienists. “I believe a conference by leading experts of the country under Federal auspices would mean a great scientific advance in th)is tremendous problem,’ he added. “The cost of treating nervous disorders in private sanitariums is almost prohibitive. I believe a form of insurance can be devised by which a person can Insure himself proper treatment and support for dependents in case of breakdown. Insurance companies could provide sanitariums or pay for treatment in private sanitariums.’
Protected Chapman Here. Jacksonville, Florida. July 19, 1926. Mr. George R. Dale, Muneie, Indiana. Dear George: fr Yesterday morning gave me quite a surprise when I saw your picture on the front page of the Times Union. Of course I have thought of you a great deal in the past but neglected to write. Now George, I hope that you will continue the fight for a free press, for God knows that if the press can not publish the truth about public officials, we might as well put the constitution in the trash heap. If possible send me some information so that I can be of some intelligent assistance to you, as the article in the paper, which I enclose, did not go into any detail whatever. What ever you said must have been true as there can be but one reason for a man of the type of Gerald Chapman to seek refuge in the Muneie district, but we who have been away from Indiana for some time can judge conditions only by such facts. Hoping this will find you and your family all well und my sister, Dr. Julia Larmoyeux Kline wants to je remembered to you and your family. Your friend as of old, PJDL-c PIERRE J. O. LARMOYEUX.