Muncie Post-Democrat, Muncie, Delaware County, 26 May 1939 — Page 1

THE POST-DEMOCRAT

VOLUME 18—NUMBER 52.

MUNCIE, INDIANA» FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1939.

PRICE: FIVE CENTS

Greenlee Slated For Internal Revenue Job

Earl Peters, Former State Chairman, Mentioned As Likely Candidate for Governor In Order to Mold State Democratic Organization Together; McNutt for President Movement Expected to Benefit From Harmony Gestures by Chairman Bays.

GEORGE REIGNS AS KING DURING CANADIAN VISIT

Statute of Westminster Changes Crown and Dominion Status.

Under the leadership of state chairman, Fred F. Bays, who is capable of selling a big bill of goods, Hoosier Democracy is rapidly organizing a united front for the next campaign which will elect a President, a U. S. Senator, twelve'members of the lower house of Congress, and a number of county officials throughout the state in 1940. It is practically assured now that Pleas Greenlee, former patronage secretary to ex-governor Paul V. McNutt, will receive appointment as internal revenue collector to succeed the present incumbent. Will H. Smith, since Bays has announced that he will fully accept the recommendations of both Senators and the five Democratic Con-

gressmen.

Greenlee has heen serving as a member of the Federal Bituminous Coal Commission but this commission is expected soon to be abolished and placed in the hands of the Interior Department. Senator Sherman Minton, a close friend to Greenlee, has promoted this appointment and gained the support in favor of the Shelbyville applicant from Senator VanNuys and other Indiana delegates in Washington. Greenlee resigned from the governor’s secretaryship at the end of 1935 to become an active candidate in 1936 for the nomination of Governor against Clifford Townsend and E. Kirk McKinney. Governor Townsend who was nominated and elected in 1936 was basked by the state administration and organization headed by fornffiPi'Id'iTg McNutt, presentHigh Commissioner to the Philippine islands. McKinney was a candidate backed by Senator VanNuys and Greenlee held the support of & host of friends throughout the state but an insufficient number of delegates in order to win the convention nomination. In 1934, Greenlee had organized among the convention delegates in full support of Minton for the U. S. Senate and was accredited with having gained this nomination which resulted in the election of Senator Minton at the polls in the fall of that year. During that primary campaign, Earl Peters who had been retired from the Democratic state chairmanship in 1933, was also a candidate for the U. S. Senate but defeated by the state organization headed by McNutt, his secretary Greenlee, and state chairman Omer Stokes Jackson. Mayor Reginald Sullivan of Indianapolis was a third candidate in that convention backed by Senator VanNuys. Now, Peters is mentioned as the possible candidate for Governor next

year.

Both Greenlee and Peters have been listed among the non-visitors at Democratic state headquarters

since their defeats for nominations in 1934 and 1936 until recently since the election of Bays as state chairman six weeks ago. Both leaders have been frequent visitors with Bays at state headquarters during the past forty-five days and harmony has been restored among them. It is assumed that state administration leaders are favorable to the policies and actions of State Chairman Bays since Governor Townsend preferred his selection to succeed Jackson at the helm of

the party.

The statehouse has retained control of state patronage instead of permitting the state chairman to assume this responisbility such as Bays would like to perform but to “ftateTT appears that no action isr to be taken in patronage without the friendly consent of the state chairman. It is generally concluded that all the responsibilities of political organization have been left with Chairman Bays whose duty it is to sell harmony regardless of existing conditions in any one community. The harmony movement is expected to aid the campaign of McNutt for President. Both Greenlee and Peters were turned down for their respective Governor and Senate nominations by the McNutt state administration but the choice of Greenlee to be accepted for perhaps the best political appointment in the state and the friendliness for Peters to become the candidate for governor next year has brought both leaders into line for a united Democratic front in 1940. Paul V. McNutt is on his way home now from the Philippine islands where he has served as High Commissioner since early in 1937. He is expected to remain here and personally conduct his campaign for the Presidential nomination. The former governor of Indiana was named to his federal post by President Roosevelt and while the Chief Executive has not com(Continued On Page Four)

CELEBRATIONS ARE NOT FREE It has been announced by the park board and city baseball association that the Fourth of July celebrations in Muncie will continue at least for this year. During the past nine years the city administration has sponsored a large celebration at McCulloch park for Independance Day. Throngs of visitors from surrounding states and communities have joined with the citizens of Muncie in making this celebration a success. A full day’s entertainment has been provided and heretofore the festivities have been ended with a large display of fireworks. The Fourth of July celebrations in Muncie were started during the Dale administration and were so successful that they have been continued each year since. Public contributions were accepted for funds with which to furnish the fireworks display while receipts from the concession stands at the park were used to provide other entertainment costs. It is announced this year that no funds will be solicited from business firms. It has not been stated just how such costs will be rafsed but the program is promised to be fulfilled much the same as in former years. It has been mentioned that in past years solicitations from the public were nearly mandatory. This was not true at least during the Dale administration although sums enough were received merely by asking to guarantee payment for a fireworks display. It is gratifying to learn that donations will not even be requested this year so perhaps some other plan has been devised to raise funds for the celebration. The law does not permit the use of taxpayers money for such occasions although a reasonable sum would seem justifiable. The concessions stands at the park have been leased to individual operators so revenue from this source has been excluded. We sincerely hope the Fourth of July celebration is a success, both in entertainment and financially but we wonder how it will be paid for.

London.—For the first time in history, if one excepts the unfortunate Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, the North American continent will have a reigning monarch over one of its countries when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit Canada and the United States during Mav and June. It will be the first time a reigning British monarch has visited the United States. Also there will be an actual monarch in the New World, because George VI automatically will become “king of Canada” when he alights from the liner Empress of Australia. When he enters the United States on June 7 for his five-day visit to President Roosevelt, he again will become king of Great Britain, since it was as such he received the President’s invitation. Such constitutional technicalities are the direct result of the Statute of Westminster, enacted in 1931 to give effect to the resolutions of the Imperial conferences of 1926 and 1930. It changed the whole relationship between the crown and the empire. In effect, it made the king belong to his dominions, not the dominion^ to him. Each dominion was designated a self-governing member of the commonwealth and the king is the head of each state individually. There have been suggestions that the trip was designed to enable King George and President Roosevelt to confer on the international situation; that the king would go with a pact of alliance in his pocket for the President to sign; that the king’s instructions would be to get the United States into the next war on Britaih’s side. British sources declare that no such ideas have been or are being entertained. The British government, however, would be the first to admit that from the point of view of propaganda for democracy, nothing better could have been de-

signed.

Nothing in the shape of any pact, alliance, or joint statement of opposition to the totalitarian states will result from any private talks King George and the President may have. Under the British Constitution, King George could not make any such gesture. It would have to be negotiated by his ministers and approved by parliament before he could give his royal assent. The crown may not interfere with the policy of its ruling government. About the only official act of the king while in the United States— and that already has the approval of the British government—will be when in replying to President Roosevelt’s toast at the state dinner at W’hite House on June 8, the king will formally invite the President and Mrs. Roosevelt to pay a return visit to London. Whether the President will make the visit—he will, of course, formally accept the invitation—while he is still in office, it is impossible to say. It is thought here that he might make’t when his term ends. o Drilling for Oil and Gas Slowed By the Weather Oil and gas drilling throughout (he southwestern part of the state has been slowed up in recent weeks by wet weather and minor floods in some areas, Virgil M. Simmons, commissioner of the Department of Conservation, reported

today.

Among the major developments of recent weeks has been the opening of a potential oil field southwest of Rockport. The two producing areas are approximately five miles apart with the oil field near the Ohio river. Leasing of land for future drilling is continuing in an eastern and northeastern direction from producing areas. Since the first of the present year fifty wells have been completed in Indiana, twenty six of which have been producers. A number of the non-producing wells were “wildcat” ventures in unproven areas. o GOOD THOUGHTS

There are hut two ways of paying debts; increase of industry in raising income, increase of thrift in laying out.—Thomas Carlyle.

Use Precaution Memorial day will bring thousands of cars on the roads. Most of them pleasure bent. Statistics show that an appalling number of these cars will be wrecked—so many people will be killed—so many will be injured. Will you be among these casualties? Will you come back?— alive and well ? Drive carefully—safely—slowly—cautiously—that is the secret of a safe return. If you should meet a reckless driver on your way, stop—let him pass—avoid him as you would a rattlesnake for he is just as deadly! Some won’t come back—drive carefully—make sure that YOU do.

Reemployment

A Proclamation By the President of the United States of America. I As industry and business make substantial progress toward recovery there are ever-increasing employment opportunities for all groups. It is important to our social equilibrium that these opportunities be equitably shared, and that no group in the population shall feel itself discriminated against in hiring policies. It is particularly important that those men and women who have reached the age where their family responsibilities are at a peak receive their fair share of the new jobs, and are at least allowed to compete for these openings on the basis of their actual qualifications, freed from the handicap of an unfounded prejudice against age alone. I am mindful of the fact that among those over 40 years of age are a great body of our most experienced, able, and competent workers; that this group as a whole is not sharing as fully as other age groups in the employment revival; that many of those over 40 have lost their jobs through no personal failing but because of circumstances over which they, and their employers, had no direct control; that among those over 40 and still actively in the labor market are practically the entire group of World War veterans (whose average age is 46), a group that is surely entitled to look to our society for security and economic independence. A committee of distinguished representatives of industry, labor, and the public has recently issued its report to the Secretary of Labor in which it analyzes the factual basis for the alleged prejudice against hiring middle-aged workers and finds no good reasons that would support the continuance of this prejudice. In view of these considerations, I should like to ask employers throughout the country to give special consideration to this problem of the middle-aged worker, to review and reexamine their current policies in order to determine whether applicants who are over 40 years of age are being given a fair opportunity to qualify for jobs, and to study their various departments and processes with a view to seeing where the qualifications and abilities of these older applicants could be utilized. I want to urge social agencies, labor organizations, and the general public to join in giving this problem their earnest consideration. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.

A Voice From the Tomb

Before paying too much attention or giving too much attention to the United States Chamber of Commerce, which at its national convention, demanded the repeal of most New Deal legislation, it may be well to ask what that body represents. As an example, its members of the board of directors from Indiana is a banker who is also the treasurer of the Republican party, in the forefront of those who raise the funds which places that party in bondage to the forces of privilege. The Chamber demands that the wage and hour bill be repealed instantly, that the measure which places the sale of stock under government control and prevents it from swindling the widows and orphans, the relief policy which gives work instead of dole to the workless and unemployed, be ditched. Yet the greatest protest received by Congress when it reduced the funds for the unemployed, came from real business men, the small merchants in communities to whom the sale of food and clothing to these same workers, was important. These small merchants, and surely they are much more entitled to speak for business than the great enterprises, are /ery certain that business depends upon customers and that my movement which restricts buying power is a very definite blow to all business. They see no profit in dealing with pau>ers. Republican Congressmen who voted to reduce the funds 'or this work are now trying to explain that it was not neces:ary to take the 400,000 men off the WPA rolls, when they ucceeded in choping 50 millions from the appropriation bill —an explanation which is promptly answered by the NonPartisan Labor league as false. So small business men and workers have every cause ;o scrutinize this association with a high sounding name that oretends to speak for business. They will find upon its rolls Lhe directions of the six cigaret companies, which reported, at about the time the resolution of condemnation was adopted, that in the year 1937 they had made a combined profit for me year of 200 million dollars. The president of one company had been paid a salary of $380,976. He will probably receive more in 1939 as buying power increases. Yet these are the men who object to paying a WPA worker $50 a month, with which to keep his family and support himself. You can easily figure how long it would take for this worker to earn what the president of one company received. What these men who meet and columnly denounced the New Deal and all its policies do not realize is that they belong to a past age, an age where greed and selfishness no longer dominate. They are the last of a passing dynasty, and theirs is the hollow voice from a tomb. For like the Bourbons, they never learn and never forget. But the people have found a better way.

Labor Enters Candidate For School Board Member

Delaware County Students Honored Bloomington, Ind., May 26.—Wilbur S. Harrison and John A. Holdcraft, of Muncie, today were named winners of the state scholarships from Delaware county to Indiana University for the coming year. Fletcher McDowell, Muncie, graduate of Royerton high school, and John F. Phillips, Muncie, were i named alternates for Delaware county. Mr. Harrison, Mr. McDow ell and Mr. Phillips are now enrolled at I. U., while Mr. Holdcraft will enter for the first time. The scholarships each carry with them the remission of contingent fees for the year, in addition to the scholartic honor involved in successful competition in a field of 988 selected candidates. Choice of winners was based strictly upon scholarship shown in high school and college studies and in competitive written examinations. Two hundred state scholarships were awarded, including two in each county except in five counties of large population where the number of awards ran from 4 to 7. An increase of 129 more contestants this year than last was reported. In addition to the 200 scholars named, 195 won the honor of election as alternates. Eightyeight scholars will be freshmen next fall, while 112 are students now in college. Men number 109 and women 91. Half of the 88 freshmen stood first® in their high school graduating classes and all but two ranked in the upper ten per cent. The average score of the winners was approximately 95 per cent. “The committee feels that the scholastic ability of the scholars selected this year was unusually high,” said Dr. Frank R. Elliott, chairman of the committee, in announcing the awards. He cited data to show that state scholars maintain superior grades in the University. On the committee with Dr. Elliott were Prof. H. T. Briscoe, head of the Chemistry Department, and Prof. Edgar L. Yeager, psychologist and chairman of the Two-Year Elective Course. o Fire Fighting Equipment for Home Is Cheap A recent bulletin of the National Board of Fire Underwriters deals with the immensely important subject of “Fire Equipment in the Home”—and that is something that comes straight home to everyone. Adequate home fire-fighting equipment is simple and cheap— in fact, you probably have most of what you need on hand now. Many a potentially destructive fire has been quickly extinguished with a garden hose. Short pieces of hose kept inside the house near faucets may come in mighty handy. And that simplest of all protective devices, a pail of water, may be a lifesaver in an emergency. Water is obviously the agent to use for most fires—but it shouldn’t be forgotten that in some cases water will spread, not quench a fire. In the instance of kitchen fires involving grease, for instance, the application of water is likely to result in a sudden burst of flame that will send the fire to all corners of the room. A fire of this kind should be fought by covering receptacle in order to shut off the air supply, after turning off all heat. Closet fires can often be smothered by simply closing the door. In any event, no matter where the fire is, close all doors that will tend to confine it. Every householder will do well to buy one or two home extinguishers of an effective and inexpensive type, of which there are many approved makes on the market. Foam and gas extinguishers are the most efficient agents for quenching oil fires. Lastly, the National Board’s bulletin offers a number of suggestions for home fire fighting which should be kept always in mind; 1. Never attempt to fight fire in a smook-filled room or basement—poisonous fumes may overcome you. 2. Never enter a room where much fire is in evidence. 3. Women should not attempt to fight fire, wearing cotton or silk dresses—a human life is worth more than property. 4. See that everyone is out of danger before you fight the fire. 5'. Money spent for fire prevention, such as approved electrical appliances, repairs to chimneys and heating plants, fire stops, etc., is more worth while than that spent for extinguishing equipment. —o The Shy Widow Who Turned Out to Be a Queen of Crime! Modern Love Letters That Talk! Two of the Manly Interesting Features in The American Weekly, the Magazine Distributed With the SUNDAY CHICAGO HERALD AND EXAMINER.

City Council Faces Choice At Regular June Meeting; Dodd and Murphy Continue Active Campaign for Election While E. B. Hubbard, Ball Bros. Employee, Receives Endorsement By Local Labor Union; Winner of Post To Succeed Vernon Davis, Democrat, Whose Term Expires.

Contending that the working people of Muncie constitute the majority of school patronage, the Muncie Central Labor Union endorsed one of their organization members Thursday night for selection to the city school board which will be elected by the city council at their regular June meeting. E. B. Hubbard, 1422 South Macedonia avenue and an employee of Ball Brothers company, was chosen as the labor candidate for the school board membership.

. The present school board is composed of E. Arthur Ball, Vernon Davis, and Joseph Davis. The term of Vernon Davis expires this year and since he is a Democrat and the majority of council members are Republicans, it is conceded that the new member will be a Republican. Ball has served since 1935 as a Democratic member ^pf the board and Joe Davis is the present Republican member. The new board member to be chosen by the council will change the political control to the Republicans. Active candidates for the school board position are known to be Horace Murphy and John Dodd, both local attorneys. Dodd is a resident of the south side of Muncie and is being promoted by former mayor, John Hampton. Dodd is also thought to have the support of the local Republican organization headed by City Controller John Lewis. Murphy is soliciting support for himself as a candidate on the grounds that he is better qualified due to his previous experience with school activities. He was connected with the local college before it became the Ball State Teachers college. It is to be recognized that the laboring class of citizens in Muncie do constitute the greater majority of school patronage and for this reason it may be rightfully considered that they are entitled to school board representation. Also, the consideration of a south side resident is reasonable and just. With all due respect to Mr. Hubbard as the labor candidate, it has been already expressed that since the Ball Bros, factory is now represented on the school board a more favorable representative of the working people might have been selected from some other in-

dustry in the city.

It has also been mentioned that a woman should be made a representative on the local school board but at present there are not known to be any women candidates being considered. Mr. Hubbard, the labor candidate, is a member of the Green Bottle Blowers’ Association and has been active in labor movements in Muncie for a number of years. His endorsement by the lo-

cal labor unions should qualify him as a worthy school board representative but it is likely that the Republican organization will chose to patronize one of their more prominent political workers. Other possible prospects for the school board membership which have been mentioned are Dr. Will C. Moore and Will White. The latter has served as member of the school board previously. Both Joe Davis and Arthur Ball, present members, are residents of Westwood. At present, the council members are thought to be divided between Dodd and Murphy but the recent proposal for the labor candidate may alter this line-up. o FORMER MUNCIE BOY ON WLS “Bunkhouse” Bob Thornburg, versatile young imitator, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, will make his first appearance over WLS, Chicago, Saturday, June 3, when he will be a guest of the Keystone National Barn Dance party, 7:30 to 8 p. m., daylight saving time' (6:30 to 7 p. m. central standard time). Bob made his first public appearance in 1936 in a WLS amateur show at Muncie, Indiana, the town and state of his birth. Thereafter he “walked away” the winner in many amateur performances, and can now be heard regularly over station WKZO, Kalamazoo. His outstanding features are: Milly, the singing hen, created by Bob’s trick voice, and the characterization of Elmer, The Half Wit of Dim Wits. o Cleveland Red Cross First Cleveland, O.—Cleveland is the No. 1 Red Cross City in the nation for 1939. Membership here exceeded 110,000. Cleveland displaced Buffalo for the honor. o Smithy at Forge 77 Years Richwood, O.— Nathan W. Spratt has been at a blacksmith’s forge for 77 years, it was made known at his 89th birthday celebration. For 75 years he hfts occupied the shop here.

GRAND JURY CONTINUFS SESSION The county grand jury began its session of investigations last Monday in Delaware county and is expected to continue for perhaps another two weeks. During the past week a large number of witnesses have been heard concerning the Freda LaDuron case but to date no public announcements have been made as to the evidence compiled. This is the first grand jury investigation concerning the disappearance of Mrs. LaDuron on September 16, 1937. To date no trace of the missing woman has been found and the case has remained a mystery to the public although state and local authorities are reported to have made a diligent search for her. It is widely believed among citizens that the wife of Dr. Jules LaDuron, former health officer of Muncie, is not still alive. The present investigation is expected to record all the available evidence obtained from local citizens, officers, and state police. Results from the investigations are unknown to date. Whether or not sufficient evidence may be secured in order to solve the mystery cannot be learned but at least a long overdue inquiry is being attempted and someday it is believed that the true facts will be established. During the last political campaign, accusations were made to the effect that marijuana cigarettes were being sold in Muncie. A previous grand jury called failed to investigate these charges principally because the witness wanted had left the city. It is noted that Fred DeElliott, police captain of traffic, who offered such charges m political speeches last fall is one of the witnesses to appear before the jury 1 this week. Any indictments that may result from the grand jury investigations are reported to conclude the session which is expected to last at least all of next week. The public eagerly awaits any and all evidence which may help solve the LaDuron case and which may establish the truth or falsity of a drug menace in this community.