Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 29 April 1932 — Page 1

FEARLESS

THE POST-DEMOCRAT “HEW TO THE BLOCK; LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MIGHT/’

TRUTHFUL

VOLUME 12—NUMBER 16.

MUNCIE, INDIANA, Friday, April 29, 1932.

PRICE 5 CENTS

Torment

By Helfur Surton

REACTIONARIES APPLAUD REACTIONARIES Applause was freely passed out the past week in the editorial columns of the two local daily papers, commending Governor Rolph of California for his “fearless” stand in denying a pardon to Tom Mooney. Both of these papers offer the opinion that inasmuch as the case has been reviewed by several governors there can he little doubt of the guilt of Mooney, and that anyone not living in California was not qualified to have an opinion on the case anyway and should permit the governor of California to do the thinking for the rest of the country.

LET THE “GOV” DO YOUR THINKING! It. is not r 's-nde for everyone to reside i" : fr>rnia hut anyone interested i; ' istice can read the transcript of tins case and enough contemporary literature has been published that the simple advise to depend on th^ governor of California for an opinion is sheer non-

sense.

The witnesses that helped railroad Mooney td'~a prison cell have long since been repudiated. They were so filthy that the prosecution itself withdrew them from subsequent trials of persons jointly accused with Mooney, and as a re

suit the state failed

POUCEMAN BRINGS SACRIFICE ON ALTAR OF STERN DUTY

Special Program Arranged by I. N.

Delaware county’s high school pupils will be entertained .Saturday (May 7) in a special state high school day program at Indiana University, according to plans announced here today. President William Lowe Bryan, of the university, has sent an - invitation to the high school pupils through their principals and indications are that the attendance from many parts of the state will reach 1,000. A special program is being arranged to include university sightseeing through the observatory, library, medical school, scientific laboratories and other points of interest. The University band will play and various \deans and stu-

FOUNDATION OF SAFE RAILROAD

these other defendants.

ALL AGREED BUT THE “GOV”

The fact that the trial judge, the attorney-general of the state of California, at the time of the trial, every living juror, now declare that Mooney is innocent, and could not have been convicted withqut the perjured evidence of Oxnam lias no weight with these two dailies in applauding the imprisonment of an innocent man. If Tom Mooney can be held in prison for his opinions—no one is safe on the outside, unless he be willing to let the “Gov.” or these two dailies do all the thinking— and with that sort of a thing hanging over him, a man may as well

be in the lock-up.

tr. rrmvicJdent leaders will welcome the vis-

itors at a reception in the new Union building. High school Readquarters will be in the new building. All high school pupils will he guests of the athletic department at the Ohio State-Tndiana Big Ten baseball game in the afternoon.

Safe Track Represented By Safe Material and Safe Men SECTION HAND IS SAFETY KEYSTONE Standard of Fidelity and Intelligence Has Risen Rapidly

In view of the phenomenal safety records of American Rail roads during recent years and especially the constant and radical decline in personal injuries to

Each spring large numbers of | P aseen gers in train accidents, it Hoosier high school pupils visit ! see ™ s appropriate to accord a the camflus, including many senior , clt ^ tlon to one certain class ot classes. Last year 850 high school! employes whose faithful pupils came in two groups, one for. 3 : 11 ^ enthusiastic discharge ot duty the state Hi-Y day program and done so much to accomplish the other for the Illinois Central thl A S f a lfying f tuatl0 "’ f .

■ A background may be found in

J Tea» o&, P R:. P h* r s2PEVR0LET WINS DELAWARE CO.

Down By Assassin-Dying He Tried to

Put No a Gun Battle.

REVS.

THOMAS AND KING GIVE EULOGY AT FUNERAL

VICTORY AGAIN STUDENT AT 1.0.

Mrs. Lola Lawrence Drove To T ? k e Pa . r t !. n ..?P enin K

Car Over 200-Mile Course

Greatest Tribute in History of Muncie Paid to Martyred Patrolman—Was Second Victim of Perjurers and Hoodlums—Miss Parkhurst First Lamb Led to Slaughter.

of New Buildiing

May 11

Delaware county’s student delegation of. Indiana university will help celebrate .the 112th anniversary of the founding of the university in exercises here May 4, which will *mark the opening of the new

railroad’s educational tour to the | university. This year both events! are to be merged in the all-state

high school day program. o '

AT LAST! THE CORNER HAS BEEN FOUND. At a recent hearing before fi Senate committee, Secretary of the “ TroasTffy Mtlis " nitficateifbthe corner around which prosperity has been hiding. Amoitg other things he told the senators was that the only way for this country to enjoy prosperity was for the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few. From the experiiences of Mr. Average Man in the past two years, that is rapidly coming to pass and prosperity should be here any minute now. One of the senators interrupted him long enough to ask how business could operate without a buyer, and was promptly answered by the very intelligent secretary that that was not an issue. At last this bluestocking Hoover administration is going to show the yokles something worth looking at—prosperity with wealth concentrated in a very few pocketbooks.

DOC MILLS, THE BLEEDER. Such statement coming from a spokesmen for the administration reminds us of the ancient habit of bleeding for pernicious anemia. The ancient bleeders acted without scientific knowledge—and our present financial doctors seem to be a little hazy on the cause of our present difficulties and seem to know less . than nothing about diagnosis and cure.

VATICAN ROAD

600 FEET LONG “Tom Thumb” Line Has

One of the Finest

Trains r~

a statement showing the total number of passengers who lost their lives in train accidents on steam railroads of * the United States for comparable periods as

follows:

Some Statistics

Passengers who died within twenyt-f^ur hours following accidents numbered 261 in 1918, 83 in 1925, 7 in 1930 and 4 in the first eleven months of 1931. Passengers who died after twenty-four hours numbered 16 ’ Ifi T9T8, IT in 1925 and one in 1930. Figures are not available for the first eleven

months of 1931.

Everyone recognizes that, unless there is safe track, neither passenger nor freight trains can move promptly and at the high

The distinftion of being “the speed demanded by the public, smallest railroad in the world” ap-Safe track is represented by two pears to be settled for all time. It. qualities, both of which are neces-

is the Vatican railway—only 600 ‘ feet long— vdiich runs from St. Peter’s in Vatican States to the frontier of that tiny domain. Although the entire line is just a little longer than the average city block, the road is a distinct system of its own It has a station that would be fitting for a 600-mile railroad, and what is probably one of the world’s finest trains. This train is the “Pope’s Special” and consists of three steel cars —one for his throne, anoher con-i taining a chapel and the third a' private dining and sleeping coach. All of the cars are of a magnificence unsurpassed in the history of

railroads.

The road was completed and Pope Pius road on the first “test

sary: safe material and safe men.

Watch As Comparison

The railroads Tjave met the first requirement in the expenditure of billions of dollars for larger rail, better ballast, Unproved drainage, more dependable power and cars, automatic signals and train conti’ol mechanism, but even theee enormous expenditures would be unavailing if it were not for the ability of railroad engineers to install and maintain the equipment as intended and supervise and inspire the different units of employment all down the line so that man failure in track maintenance

is practically negligible.

A Section Foreman, speaking to his associates at a recent Safety meeting of his Brotherhood, used the followin.g illustration to em-

train.” It will not be f° rrr J a lly d ec bjpi ias i ze responsibilities of his icated for several months, h° w ~ craft for the safety of travel and ever, after which it will serve as men T a ]d n g his watch in hand and the connectiong link between Vati-jj n g a j. {^ g f ace i, e said: can State and the railroads of Paly, j “Why does my watch remind us

Memorial Performance for Muncie Police Martyr, Ovid McCracken Special Show for Patrolman’s Family to Be Given by Publix Theater in Muncie—Lost Life by Assassin’s Bullet.

In respect and honor to Ovid McCracken, Muncie patrolman who was fatally shot by bandits who held up and fobbed bank messengers of the Rivoli and Wysor Grand Theatres last Sunday night, a Memorial performance will be given in Muncie at the Rivoli Theatre on Saturday night, April 30th, at 11:30 o’clock. Special screen attraction, “Cock ’0 The Air,” starring Chester Morris and Billie Dove, will be the feature attraction of the Memorial show. All proceeds from the’ show will be turned over to the dependents and family of Patrolman McCracken. An especially attractive program of novelties will be included with the feature attraction. Was Loved By All Citizens of every city and town surrounding Muncie are invited and ui-ged to attend the show. In this manner the public, of towns other than Muncie, can show their gratitude to Ovid McCracken who died in the performance of his duty and who, during his service on the Muncie police force, was regarded as one of the kindest, efficient and most beloved men in the department. Publix Theatres officials in Muncie suggest that those from out of town arrive at the theatre early as it is anticipated that thousands from Muncie and surrounding communities will attend. The performance will begin promptly at 11:30 P. M.

of our railroad? Because the face of the watcji represents our record, written by our personnel. The big Iriving wheel is our President, other wheels fitting into the cogs of that wheel are the Vice-Presi-dents; still other and smaller wheels enmeshed in the guiding power sent down by the big wheel may be likened to the Superintendents, Mechanical Officers, Division Engineers and others, and way down here in the back corner of the whole works we find a little wheel that looks like half a wheel, and I am going to call that the Section Foreman; hut, fellows— that little half a wheel is just as much a part of the works; and must do its part just as faithfully as the big driving wheel near the face of the watch; otherwise, no worth-

while record will be made.” The Lowly Section Hand

That is one of the reasons why the railroads have been able to

(BY GEO. L. DALE) The most impressive funeral ever held in Muncie was that of the late James Ovid McCracken, martyred policeman, who was shot down Sunday night by ruthless assas-

sins.

I just can’t bring myself to believe that Ovie McCracken is dead._ Ovie, the hero of the baseball diamond, run - the idol of the men, women and children of Muncie; the policemen who was true to his trust and kind and courteous

to all, under the most trying circumstances.

His death was almost instantaneous. The shots came without warning. The murderers had decreed his execution

and gave him no chance.

The old head that had controlled Mac’s perceptions and muscular action on a hundred baseball fields availed him

nothing.

Yet, as the vicious slug struck a paralyzing spot, he mustered up the fighting spirit for the brief second or two that conciousness remained. As he lay sprawling on his back on the street, mute evidence of his courage and fight wg spirit lay beside him.-—~ Officer McCracken carried two guns, a heavy duty pistol carried in a holster and a small automatic in his right hand trousers pocket. Lying on the street, within a few inches of his right hand, was the automatic pistol. The old head had functioned in the split second that remained, but the great, brave heart of Obie McCracken was stilled forever, ere he could pull the trigger. He died like the hero he was, fighting, undaunted, and with his face to the foe. It was my great privilege Wednesday afternoon to stand by his bier in High Street Methodist Church and deliver a three-minute funeral oration, as a tribute to his worth and courage. v I followed the Rev. Eddie Thomas, whose prayer was a tribute to the dead and an inspiration for the living. The funeral sermon by the Rev. Claude King, was one long to be remembered. “He died for his country,” declared Dr.

King.

There was a tremendous outpouring of citizens of all walks of life. The church was crowded and thousands gathered in front of the church and lined the sidewalks as the funeral cortege passed through the city. Hundreds of police officers from other cities stood at attention, with heads bared. His fellow officers of the Muncie police department and his devoted friends of the baseball diamond were there to pay their last respects. Unbidden tears welled from pyes that were unused to tears* x And above all was the spirit of grim determination to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly crime to the bar of justice. Jesus died on the cross to save sinners. Obie McCracken was crucified. The loss was great. It is almost irreparable. Yet the consoling thought conies to me that the death of this brave officer may awaken the people of Muncie to action. As Dr. King truly said, the actual murderers were not the only ones to blame. He said we are all to blame. I doubt if he excepted himself. I doubt if he excepted me.

Repeating hpr victory of 1930, lx>la Lawrence, driving a 1932 Chevi’olet coach, captured first place in the fourth annual Gilmore economy run, winning both the

sweepstakes prize over all entrants iTnion huUding

and first place in her class event. , rp^p new mem ^i a l auditorium of Mrs. Lawrence piloted her t hev- u n km building will be used for rolet over the 200-mile course, j ts j-j rS { asse mbly and all parts of which climbs from sea level to the ,bunding will be open for in6,000 foot elevation ot \\ rightwood S p fiC fj on Dedication of the buildin the Sierra Madre mountains as one 0 p principal with a record ot 39.(8 ton miles commencement ceremonies on

per gallon. The Chevrolet used j une 13

just 9 and 1-10 gallons of Gilmore Dr John A Mnieri head G f the blue-green gasoline, and no oi» gp rou i Observatory of Swarthmore consumption whatever was per- College aml g raduat e and former ‘..''P 1 *‘,X e fiats ot water ,e ' faculty member of Indiana uriiverlilled the radiator at the end of the g j t y j ^.jn p e t p e principal speaker ru J‘V , at the Founders’ Day exercisqs in 1 he Gilmore economy run, staged new union building, yearly by the Gilmore Oil Com- Muncie Students in List pany, which has taken place as the q,j ie following Delaware county

premier economy event ot the g f uden f S ar e registered at Indiana \\est, this year attracted an entiy im i ve rsity this semester: Albany; list ol 3a cars. Staged under the uelen Stone: Daleville; Malcolm strict supervision ot the Amencan ii a iii n g e r; Eaton; Eleanor Ebrite Automobile Association, an observ- an( | j ames Rearick: Gaston; Herer rode with every car, and attei p er ^ Bradfield: Muncie; Harry Althe run the winning cars were p red i] a ] dw i u> Robert Butterthoroughly checked by the A. A. A. fj P Rj Ralph Carmichael, Josephine mechanical experts as to then qjevenger (social service, Indistrietly stock construction. anapolis), John Coffin, Elvan Encounters Bad Detour ^Combs, Donald Covalt, William

Deutsch, Robert Hill, John Hillery,

The course of the run between Los Angeles and Wlrightwood travels from sea level at Palos Verdes wit through Santa Ana Canyon, and up the long grade through Cajon Pas and Lone Pine Canyon to 6,000 feet at Wrightwood. A bad detour in the Cajon, due to a washout from heavy rains added an unusual difficulty to thfi dun this year. The weight of the winning Chevrolet, with its full load of passengers was 3,620

pounds.

In addition to Mrs. Lawrence’s first place, Chevrolet made a clean sweep in its class, winning second and third place as well. Besides the two sweepstakes victories at Wrightwood which Chevrolet now has to its credit, a Chevrolet Six last summer won the Seattle-Lake Cresent economy run, a summer evept staged in the northwest by the Gilmore Oil

Company.

Fable: Once a buyer was offered $10,000 a year to accep bum material, but he waa satisfied with his salary of $50 a week. Do the rich dictateto he government? Well, who has a right to call the time if not the man who

pays the fiddler?

George Jewett, Nila Kirkpatrick, Dainty Lennington, John Long, Floyd ' McCammon, MahTAff MU Gammon, Corbett McClellan, Sidney McClellan, Horace Martini Frank Moore, Dwight Overcash, Ralph Rector, Charles Reece, Frederick Surber, John Surber, Nihil Venis, Elaine Vlaskamp, Grover Voyles, Robert Zimmerman (imedical school, Indianapolis): Selma; Forest W'arner: Yorktowri; Theodore Wright. oNEW YORK MAYOR SIGNALS LIMITED FOR FIRST TRIP

New York, N. Y., April 29. — Mayor James J. Walker, waving a gloved hand at the engineer, sent the “new” Twentieth Century Limited on its way to Chicago at 4 p. m. Sunday, for its first 18-hour run between the two cities. The train’s departure was somewhat of a social event. In addition o the mayor, there were present on the decorated platform: F. E. Williamson, president of the New York Central; Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, P. E. Crowley .retired president of the railroad, and dozens of lesser social and business

figures.

I will go further and from my own viewpoint will particularizes and I believe from the bottom of my heart, that Dr. King will agree

with me.

It has been tritely said that public officials are true to their vows of office only to the extent that the citizenship demands. That may be true in other cities,

partment was to put a stop to the pool hall card games. This was (Continued to Page Two.)

Washington’s Rules of Civility

, . „ „ 1 but in Muncie the police, under the write such glorious Safety records direction of chief Massey and myin passenger travel—because the L elf) have paid n0 att ention to what Section Foremen and their gangs ig errone ously termed “public opinhave a deep sense of loyalty tol ion >. but forged ahead with’but one cause, fidelity to th'eir superior of^ 0ib j ective( namely to enforce the ficers and responsibility of their, j aw> wbetbei . it was popular or not. obligations to mankind, and arej Unfortunately Hie daily newsrarely known to falter in their p apers of Muncie, in attempting spheres. They feel that the lives of t Trmlf i nuhlie oninion to suit

passengers and employes are de- t|10se wh „ P secretly conlrol tlieir , ""l’“rtance t.real [ n o Jest P Pn «“,,.?. 0 J 6 k 7^ Policies. Have made martyrs ot the ,f y ° U

Take all Admonitions thankfully■ in what Time or Place Soever, given but afterwards not being culpableTtake a Time or Place Convenient to let him know it that

gave them.

Mock not nor Jest at anything of

the condition of their track and the manner in which that track is kept

lawbreakers whose strangle hold on the city has been broken by

Deliver

anything witty and Pleasant abstain from Laughing thereat your-

in line and surface. y. 11 L11C , ‘TJl- ^ ‘ J se ^-

There is no single class of rail- th ® r P res ® n ^ administiation. Wherein Wherein you reprove road men whose standard of intel-' When I became mayor of Mun-| Anotber be im blamable yourself; ligence and fidelity to duty has cie tae law breakers and pnvi-i for example is more prevalent than

risen more rapidly during the last ^ e S e seekers banded themselves j p rec epts.

two decades than among the Sec- together as a committee of thei Use no Reproachful Language tion Foremen. In their conception whole and decided upon my down-| a g a i nvS t any one neither Curse nor

of the railroad’s interest and its fall. It was agreed even before Revile.

obligation .they are more than the I took office that I was to be Be not hasty to believe flying Section Foremen—they are the framed and sent to prjeon. Reports to the Disparagement of

railroad itself. 1 The first act of the police de-any.

Address by Mayor Dale at Funeral of

James Ovid McCracken

As chief executive officer of your city I esteem it a rare priviledge to voice my sentiments on this sad occasion. I have no hesitancy in saying that Ovie McCracken was the best loved man in the police department of the city of

Muncie.

His assassination at the hands of cold-blooded murderers has not only made the city hall a house of mourning, but has united us all in one great community of grief, forgetful of petty differences, united as one loving family, here this after noon to minute our tears with those of the stricken family of the dear departed. It is my earnest prayer that the Lord of Hosts, to whose pitying eye the secrets of our hearts are as an open book, will bring comfort to the bereaved, and enlighten the understanding of out peaple and gather to His bosom the spirit of this splendid young man who so freely gave his lige is defending you from the enemies of organized society. When Ovie McCracken enlisted as an officer of the city of Muncie, he, like others of the devoted group who offered themselves as guardians of your homes, your lives and your belongings, was well aware of the hazards of his perilous undertaking, which included not only the bullet of the assassin, but the ever present menace of unjust accusation by agents of society, misled by cruel and designing men who hate the law and seek to despoil you. In these trying days when iniquity abounds and false prophets seek the destruction of all that is good, all that is holy, and all that you hold dear a* Christian, home-loving citizens, let us all read more closely and more understandingly the amazing message of the New Testament and bind our cSvic conscience to boldly meet the obligations and injunctions of the inspired words. And now, bidding an earthly farewell to this pulseless clay, whose spirit har departed to the realm of deathless life, let me again remind you, as citizens of Muncie, that we, who yet live, should repose generous confidence in the surviving members of the Muncie police department, until the time comes, if ever that we are convinced that such confidence is misplaced. On behalf of the city admihistration I wish to extend thanks to this great multitude who are here to pay their last respects to James Ovid McCraacken, officer and gentleman, and also to express gratitude to his brother officers from other cities who are here today with their flowers and their tears.

Here, There Everywhere

Local newspapers seem much gitated over the coming primary election in Delaware County, and are attempting to create a sentiment among the voters in favor of the election of men of “intelligence” for the varibus offices. It appears strange, to say the least, that the voters of Delaware county would fall for this kind of bunk as it is a well known fact, if such a test could be applied, it would be done by a few of the same old gang of political mis-fits who have ruled the Republican party for years, and the voter would have but little to say in making the test This the sarn old “slate plan,” in use by the political tricksters for years, and right now, If the truth were known, certain men have been picked for the various offices in Delaware county, and there will be a big surprise party thrown by the defeated candidates immediately following the primary. It looks very much like it might be a good thing for the candidates to get together and investigate the investigators, and to see that not only a test for “intelligence,” be required, but a test for honesty and integrity as well. It might also be remembered, that several office holders heretofore selected by this same old gang for their “■intelligence”, have turned out to be the biggest rascals in the county.

Well, the big show' is over and Max Smellem has departed and so have five hundred and eighty dollars of good, old American money, which is the sum paid to Max as an entry fee No one expected more than an exhibition and that is what they were treated to and if Max could have been paid in German marks instead of dollars, many would have been better pleased.

President Hoover, so the newspapers tell us, is strongly in favor of everyone purchasing a new automobile, all of which appears fine until we consider that about eight million people are now out of w T ork, while thousands are living on charity Besides, other thousands are “thumbing a ridde,” in an endeavor to find employment and havenT the price 01“ a “ShdVe, and how these people could meet the monthly payments on a new automobile; is one of the mysteries.

Muncie, the best city in Indiana, is the home of the finest people in the world—people who would be regarded as an asset-in any community—but, oh, what a number of liabilities these good people come in contact with in their every day life.

A gentleman who asks that his name be withheld, requests the followling informtion: fDdd Herbert Hoover ever make a report of the monies received and expended by him n the old world”? We really know little about the matter. We presume however, that such a report was made, probably, “all paid in” and “all paid out,” would cover it.

Cicero, Illinois, is wet so long as intoxicating liquors are sold in a “respectable” manner. Cicero, Indiana, probably wants to be wet, but in reality is as dry as gunpowder and it don’t make a dura bit of difference how “respectably” jit’s handled, they won’t let them sell it. Both towns are under (conrol of the same prohibition officials. How do you explain this? Our old friend, Andy Mellon, with his Scotch cap, knee panties, silk hose, low shoes with buckles, and who was said to be thu “best Secretary of the Treasury we ever had,” is now our Ambassador to Great Britain, and seems to be getting on admirably with the boys Andy has laid in a supply of wet goods and is enjoying life to the fullest extent and accordjing to reports is doing fine He jhad better watch his step as he jis liable to get into a muddle and I might get ’it on the ’ead with a 1’ickory ’ammer ’andle, all of which I might bring on another war, a thing we do not want until after John Bull pays us what he owes

us for the last one.

We wonder what the ministerial association thinks of those parents who permit their young sons and daughters to attend the Sunday free for all dances, now being held in Muncie? What is their opinion as to the attitude of the local newspapers, who by the publication of letters, and in other w r ays, indirectly sanction this Sunday evening pastime?

Breeches were worn by the ancient Creeks as a badge 'of slavery, but any married man in the United States will tell you they are sill a badge of slavery, except when worn by the better half of the family.

If the silk high hat i,s 150 years old, how old are some of the newspaper jokes about A1 Smith’s brown derby?