Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 30 August 1929 — Page 1

THE POST-DEMOCRAf

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VOLUME IX—NUMBER 32.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, FRiDAY, AUGUST 30, 1929.

Price 5 Cents—12.00 a Year

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DEMOCRATS ELECT A NEW CITY CHAIRMAN ■ IF

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ASPHALT PAVING CHEAPER

HARTFORD

Offer Made By Prominent Paving Concern! to Resurface Streets of Neighboring Cityj for $1.35 Per Square Yard, 53 Cents Less

Than the Muncie Trust Price.

Being a colored voter here for many years and a constant reader of your fearless and truthful paper and admirer of your fearless fight i against high taxes and vice, at this writing the way things are stand-

A Hartford City friend of the editor of the Post-Demo-ling you will receive a large colored

vote this fall.

There is always a reason for everything. First many of the laboring men remembered you when you helped fight their battles when the Muncie foundry im-

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crat has written us a letter, enclosing a copy of a report made by the city engineer of that city, which report is incorporated in the records of the Hartford City common

council.

The report of the engineer shows that an offer has

been made by a nationally known asphalt company to resur- 1 p ° rted labor t . ake 1Q t 1 h 0 e b ^ ead , u °„ at

face some of the worn out streets ot Hartford City for $1.35 per square yard, which is 53 cents less than the Muncie trust price charged by the Birch Construction company, which has a monopoly here on that type of paving. The report of the engineer, copied by our Hartford City friend from the council records reads as follows:

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“REPORT OF ENGINEER.” “S'rtite of Indiana, Blackford County, ss: “In the Matter of The Proposition of The Andrews Asphalt Paving Company. “To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of The City of Hartford City, Indiana. “Gentlemen: “The undersigned Chty Civil Engineer, to whom was submitted the propositipn of the Andrews Asphalt Paving Company, for the resurfacing of Water street, from the east line of Walnut street to the west line of Mill street, in said city, respectfully beg leave to submit a report in said matter, as fol-

lows:

\ “Having met with 'he representatives of said Asphalt Company, I requested that said proposition be submitted i t u writing, in order to avoid any misuunderstanding, all of whch was*done as per request, the memorandum of same being attached hereto.

bemg attached hereto.

, a T>y sstpt company; fTTane^

we remembered you as a brave j warrior fighting alone when the |

Klan raised its head.

We remembered the Negro boy; tfhat they spirited away under a j republican judge and Mr. Van Ogle | No grand juries were ever called •

0 j to investigate the lawless crime.

| We remember the acts of the law-

that additional forty or fifty dol- less gang that shanghaied Billy lars, expertly extracted from the J Sims off the police force, pockets of the people, humorously | You have fought a brave and designated at the city, hall as “the fearless fight in our behalf. We customers,’’ ip a part of the price have no gold to repay you, but at they are paying for bad govern- the ballot box we intend to pay

ment. j y OU we u

If the customers do their tradin’ i have no(j forgotten when you at the same old stand on Noyem- 1 ^ere carried before Pilate, the bei 5, they must not complain if g rea t judge. I won’t say Pilate for p tb fJ continue^to get it in the neck P y ate h ad more principle than

i Judge Dearth for Pilate did pass i the buck and send Christ back to ! Herod to be tried and he wanted them to take Barabas in Jesus’s place, but Dearth and Van Ogle and their picked juries wanted to crucify you and shouted “away with you to the farm." But crush the truth to the ground, it will rise again. The prison did not hold you as long as it held the

good Rev. Shumaker.

To make the story short you are gaing colored voters every day. When I hear the gamblers and the red light are damning you, I believe that the good class of peo

four years longer.

Colored. Voters Organizing

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inistration. They point to the negthe streets and alleys of Whitely e kind of treatment that they have

NEW CLEANING FIRM RISES TO CORPORATION

1404-06

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based on a

fixed price of ten dollars per ton plus the cost of labor, overhead, depreciation and other incidentals in connection with said work. “Pi will also be noted that the saijl company agree to furnish any brand of asphalt that the Eggineer may select, and if the asphalt is to be selected by me, my preference will run to ei'iher Lake Trinidad or Bermudaz Asphalt, of which fact the said company have been ad-

vised.

“In regard to the tonnage, I beg to advise, that this is nofi to he considered, as the price stated in he proposal is fixed at $1.35 per square yard, and it is immateryil as to how many Inns will be required, so long as the proper proportions are made, and the depth of the hinder course and the depth of the top surface are maintained throughout the work. “I would therefore respectfully recommend that the proposition be accepted. “Respectfully submitted, “WM. HARLEY, “City Engineer.” August^ 17th, 1929. Our Hartford City friend, who is a reader of the Post-Democrat, writing in a rather facetious vein, indicated that our contention that the people here are being unmercifully gouged by the paving trust, is justified by the evidence presented by him. The letter follows: “Dear George: Just finished reading your article on the ‘Paving

Trust.’

“Stick to $1.40 per yard as a fair price. “To prove th ; |S I am sending you some duplicates in regard to price a'l Hartford City for genuine as-

phalt.

“If I was in the contract business and could get $1.88 per yard for asphalt, I would buy a new Packard. At Hartford the lots are generally GO foot front; and as the difference between $1.88 and and $135 per yard is 53c and Water street is 27 feet wide, three square yards to the foot, it would mean $1.59 per foot, which, divided by 2 means 79 l-2c per front) foot, or $47.70 per each 60 foot lot. “By Gosh, I believe I could buy two Packards. “Yes, more than that, as we have about 125,000 squar^ yards to build, if j,t cost 53 cents a yard more, it/ would be $76,250. “Gee, that’s more than I put in the collection box for ten years.’ This letter and the enclosures should set Muncie people to thinking. The specifications for asphalt resurfacing in Muncie are similar j to those required at Hartford City. They call for an inch and a half binder and a one-inch top. “Trinidad” the brand of asphalt used here is the same as that suggested by the city engineer a Hartford City, yet i'l costs Muncie people from $40 to $ l 50 more per lot to have their, stYeeTs resurfaced than it would if they lived in Hart ford City. 1 ' ■ And just try to Aefnember that

Dollar Cleaners Inc.,

South Walnut St., is a concern owned and operated by T. R. Alley and W. Gillioin, local young men. Their business has grown from a very small beginning to one of the most important enterprises south

of the railroad.

The good will, which this young concern enjoys has been develop

ad by an intensive desire on the »v, - “Tr i«miiiiii)‘li i n r n nr ft l© please .th'ftlrAjiFe hr« 1 tea**-

a town is in a had sftape when the

many customers, and by the courtesy with which all new pat-

rons are greeted.

Anyone who desires excelled cleaning at the most reasonable prices will do well to phone 637 and have one of the Dollar Cleaner drivers-to call at your door. This establishment also jcarriet a full line of made-to-order clothing or men. The new fall and winter samples from S. H. ChurchiT & Co., and M. Born & Co., Chicago, are on display now.

British Troops Kill An Arab Emir in Fight Today Jerusalem, Aug. 30—The British troops at Beinsart killed an Arab Emir today, causing terrific resentment among the Bedouins who have been threaten-

ing Jerusalem.

The slain leader was a member of the noted Arsalan family, members of which headed the Druse revolution in Syria.

crooked element outvotes the good. We glory in your spunk for ousting every traitor and crook in your camp. It is nothing to have a little battle in the court house to oust a crook when the Good Book tells us that they had war in h.eav- I en to oust the Devil aind ever since he fell to ear'ih we have been busy ousting him. I thank you for this space and shall wrijte you an article every week. My next article “Crush the truth to the ground and it will rise FROM A COLORED VOTER.

Wheat Situation Is Good Washington, Aug. 30.—An optimistic report on the wheat situation was given by Alexander Legge, chairman of the Federal Farm Board on his return from Chicago, where he and other members have sought to organize the grain dealers into a national marketing organization.

DIFFERENCE IN HORSES.

“Big Horse” Edwards, committed to the state penal farm July 2 by Judge Guthrie after the appellate court had affirmed his conviction on a liquor charge, is still enjoying the comparative freedom accorded him by Sheriff McAuley, who made him a jail “trusty” instead of taking him to the prison farm, after a physician had certified that the big boss was physically unable to go to the farm. Edwards is seen every day walking around the streets, enjoying perfect freedom, something that does not happen to ordinary small time bootleggers who are poor in purse and lacking in political pull. Tuesday Edwards was accorded the rather unusual privilege of helping a deputy sheriff escort three less favored victims of the liquor law to the state penal farm. As a trusty and a special deputy, the big horse drove in royal state to the penal farm, returning with the deputy sheriff to his technical imprisonment at the county jail, where, as a sort of a concession to the majesty of the law, he occasionally punches the clock and checks in for a night’s lodging in quarters especially prepared for one in such delicate health. The three prisoners that Edwards chaperoned to the penal farm were not big horses. They might aptly be described as small horses, or even Shetland ponies. No convenient doctor came to the front to save them from a close hair cut, a job in the shale pit and a Diet of Worms. No warm hearted sheriff came to their rescue and told them to “get to hell out of here and enjoy yourself and drop in occasionally when you feel like it.” Little horses are not treated that way by the powers that be in Muncie. It is only the big horses who handle it in carload lots and can afford an x-ray of their gizzards that get that kind of treatment.

The Independent Colored Voters’ Club organized recently pledges its loyal support to the democratic

ticket in the co ling city election.

The men aid women belonging to this organizations represent he highest type of colored citizenship. Most of them are republicans. Many of them are owners of real estate. The club will make a big drive for

membership. &

They fee! that their interests have been neglected

by the present ***'''

lected conditi as an example been getting. |

They complain of the administration policy of exposing the youth of their race to the debauching influences of opeh, protected liquor vending, gambling

and prostitution.

They remember, that the Fost-Democrat came to their rescue amj to the rescue of other oppressed minority units of %r citizenship when reason was tei “'pofarily shrMdeWa Xtifd

erance.

The editor of the Post-Democrat was not aware that such a movement was on foot among the colored citizens of Muncie until a committee called on him to inform him of the fact. “We are for you, Mr. Dale,” said the spokesman of the committee, “because you proved yourself to be our friend when our citizenship was threatened and our race ucnalized in order that selfish individuals might rise to political power and influence. “We want to make it plain to you, at the cutset,” said he, “that we are not asking for money or jobs. All we are asking of you is that after your election you will accord us a fair hearing on all matters affecting the welfare of our race and that we will be given fair treatment. As voters and taxpayers the law gives us full citizenship and we feel that since we are empowered to help decide, by ballot, who our officers shall be, that our citizenship should not end when the votes are

counted.

“We will vote for you,” he continued, “because you do not waver when a great principle is at stake. You have been tried as no other man in the city of Muncie has ever been tried, because of your convictions, and the things you advocated have come to pass. “You do not say one thing today and contradict yourself tomorrow. You were sent to prison repeatedly for exposing a corrupt judge, but the whip of that judicial Simon Legree failed to break your spirit. You came out of jail and back from the penal farm, where he had sent you for exposing him, saying the same things you said before and the people, being convinced, drove him from the bench. Concluding he made the confident prediction that the colored vote of Muncie would be cast for George Dale almost as a unit.

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Committeemen and Candidates Choose Tod Whipple to Lead Party Organization After Ousting Wilbur Sims—Handful of lAity League Agents Attempt to Disrupt Meeting But Failed In Their Purpose, Ip spite of the efforts of three agents of the Unity Iteagm- to disturb a meeting of democrat candidates and commirteemen held Friday night, August 16, in the superior court room, called by George Dale, democratic candidate.for mayor, The object of the meeting was attained when the committeemen by a unanimous vote ousted Wilbur Sims as * city chairman and by a similar vote named Attorney Tod

Whipple as his successor.

Two or three disturbers, claiming to be democrats, but who are in reality hirelings of the Unity League crowd, sought to break up the meeting but after their ejectment

the utmost harmony prevailed.

One of those who came without an invitation was Bob Acker, the gravel dipper from Perry township, who does not even have a vote in the city'election. He slunk out with | the others, feeling out of place, no doubt, among honest

! democrats.

j . Woman on Ticket

Afteplpe election of a new chair- 0 - j man, tc rake the place of Sims, the '' sa i d: “i expect to he absolutely icommitteemen filled the vacancy |fair. I realize that the successful on the ,.council ticket by naming can[ | idate should have the right to by a unanimous vote, Mrs. Pearl |name as secretary and treasurer Myers. ’'526 East Howard street, persons who a^e close to him polijdemocratic candidate for first ward ticaily. It would be absurd to 'councilman, to take the place of name a secretary and treasurer in ChaGes Indorf who has moved out!whom he had no confidence.” of thee ward to his new home in After the primary , in direct viol . Normal City, recently purchased ! ation of t h is pledge( Sims named . ! lie clef tion of Mi. \\ npple to | ag secretary and treasurer two inhead the local democratic city oi- dividualg who were then and are Igamzaqon has given general satis- now hig bitter en e mies . Since the j fact ion m Muncie. Mi. W hipple is j pr i ma Sims and the man he ,a square shooter who will devote named treasurer of the party comthe niojoi pai.. ot his time until m tttee have both openly declared ciection orgamzmg the party mto a| many timeg that they wil , not vote i :ea1 ’ '.C'ling unit. {for the democratic candidate for L rhfi ■■eiiioval or Sims was due to m and that t h e y will do evervthe he h f* b ^n entire y thi in their p0 wer to bring about I 00 ineiui y with the Unity hig defeat> The Unit * L e League a friendship which was! )wd tha t had employed him to first exiubited during the last days do ltg biddin backe d his refusal .»l tne primary campaign. to ^sign from the committee, i It developed, as primary ‘day jhoping that he could retain the •drew near, ..that Sims Was more in-j chairmanship 'and pack the elecj teres ted in promoting the candid-[tion boards in the November aey of the l nity .League candidate ^igction with friends of the Unity -°r than he wan. in ..looking ; League candidate for mayor. ! • '

He was entrusted with a sum of | bi * ^ £be

money placed at his disposal by Un- ra ttee Srnis decla'ed in newspaper ity League agents; which he used! nterviews that he would con mue to hire watchers and workers for to f se f rv f h as chairman and hat the the candidate of that organization. ac£o1 - the committee was illegal. He ilso endeavored to nromote dis- 1 He said the democratic candidate cord among democratic candidates, for mayor had ^ ^ht to stick his

for tlie purpose of disorganizing Sn" t h^

them and making them an easyi £ ^ cronies will find that they will have to rev ise their ideas as to i he

Called His Hand. rights of candidates. They are He failed, however, in his pur-j due for a rude awakening, posq. His hand was called f™'| The editor of the Post-Democrat mediately after the pnmaiy by the A as been fighting this gang too democratic nominee for mayor, h on g f 0 g 0 f 0 sleep at the switch and when the latter proved, to the ! al i d P einiit them to stab him in the satisfaction of all the candidates j ba ek. Every traitor will be sent that Sims was disloyal a unanim- ! pa cking. The gangsters are put-

ting up a plea for “harmony,” their idea of harmony being a state of affairs that will permit the Unity League to make all the

rules.

prey for the Unity League in

November' election.

ous vote was taken, demanding his

resignation.

Sims, however, refused to resign. His political creed was of such peculiar construction that he did not seem to comprehend the position that he was in. The very fact that he refused to resign after Hid candidates had ordered him to do so, was further evidence of his intention to disorganize the party

if possible.

Before the primary Sims promised all the candidates for mayor that he would wait until after the primary election to name the secretary and treasurer of the committee and that he would permit the successful candidate for mayor to name these officers. In a conversation with the candi date who won the nomination Sims

J. Frank Mann, democratic condidate for city judge, is the one and only democratic candidate who seems to have repented of his paginal opinion that Sims should resign. He left the meeting Friday night, along with the Unity League distrubers after making an insulting verbal attack on the chairman of the meeting, and after making a futile attempt to cause an adjournment, in order to save Sims from ouster. He left the meeting threatening to resign from the ticket, an action (Continued to Page Twoi

Our Readers’ Views

The Teachers’ Oath Dear Editor: You will appreciate the danger one feels when he undertakes to differ from the views of the editor. The editor has the last kick. The door of opportunity may be closeld against the poor intruder when he appears to least advantage. Nevertheless I take that risk. You complain because the teacher’s oath of office law “presupposes that school teachers are public servants, the same as other public officials’ etc. Why not? Is not the service that the teacher renders a public service? The salary which the teacher draws is from taxation. Nothing more was required to make the teacher a public official except the oath of office. Gan you give any reason why j the public official who has charge i.o,f the moral, educational and pat- ■ riotic development of our children should he relieved from the oath, while. all other officials many of them with less important duties, are required to subscribe to it? If there be no reasons why the teacher should subscribe to an oath, well and truly to perform his duties, then. the obligation to do ^o should be removed from the 'President of the United States, ■ the Governor, the Judges, Mayors

and all other officials. All officails should be treated alike in this matter. We never hear of any proposal to repeal the oath of office law as to other officials. No official objects to it. None of them consider that it reflects adversely on their loyalty or patriotism. It does not so reflect on the teacher. They all realize that it confers an honor. You must bear in mind that the subscribing of an oath of office is a part of our American system of government. The men who composed the constitutional convention in 1787 embraced the leading Jgures in the Revolutionary war. Washington, who was to be the first to take the Presidential oath presided over the deliberations. \11 of the states have followed the lead of the founders in the belief that an oath would tend to imlose an added sense of responsibility in the performance of public service. It is a promise to God, and ho man with a conscience will gnore it. That some officers do go vrong is no proof that others are not helped by the oath. Why does the law in every state ; n the union require a witness in lourt, before testifying, to render m oath that will tell the truth? foil know the answer. It is be(Continued to Page Two)