Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 225, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 January 1923 — Page 5

7 AN. 29, 1923

Keep Their SPIRIT ALIVE

TWO THINGS put INDIANA on the lips of the world —our SOLDIERS —and our SPEEDWAY. Now they propose to take our Speedway away from us and to take the MANHOOD out of Memorial day. If this idea of APATHETIC PATRIOTISM gains headway, we will be compelled to use soft needles when we put the Star-Spangled Banner on our Victrolas, and deaf and dumb bands will be playing America ON THEIR FINGERS. When that time comes —take me over to Russia and SHOOT me. it# A bill to abolish the GREAT INDIANA SPEEDWAY is about to become alaw —it has ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE. The thinking people of the state can not conceive how such a measure could possibly pass our present law-making body. • • • The net of it is simply this: A few professional REFORMERS (the class of people, you know, who have FAILED at everything but RUNNING OTHER PEOPLE’S BUSINESS) have run out of RED FIRE, and have seized on the 500-Mile Race as a means for GETTING BACK IN THE LIMELIGHT. Reformers DIE, if they can’t stir up something to KICK about. Patriotism means nothing to them. When it comes to digging up our dead and using them for TOM TOMS, professional reformers have no scruples. They will even WAVE INDIAN A’S OLD SHREDDED BATTLE FLAGS to ATTRACT ATTENTION to themselves. THEY are the REAL DESECRATERS. • • • The 500-Mile Race is a MANLY EXHIBITION of simon pure AMERICANISM. The entire world hangs on the wire to hear how it comes out. Every state in the Union WATCHES it. The most impressive memorial ceremony in America is held AT THE SPEEDWAY before the race. Law and order are preserved before, during and after the race, by SOLDIERS IN THE AMERICAN UNIFORM. After the Memorial day ceremony, live Americans, for approximately six hours, LAUGH AT DANGER, and SHOW THE SAME STUFF that Americans showed at Valley Forge, Gettysburg and the Argonne.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

By Homer McKee

THE BEST WAY TO DO HOMAGE TO AMERICA’S DEAD IS TO KEEP THEIR SPIRIT ALIVE. • • • I challenge any man opposed to the 500Mile Race to equal Carl Fisher, Jim Allison and Arthur Newby in PURE PATRIOTISM, or to sit in a race car with Howdy Wilcox, just FIVE MINUTES. God help us if we ever have to depend on a degenerate type of manhood that thinks COURAGE is uncomplimentary to our soldier dead, or that SPEED is UN AMERICAN. • • * The INDIANA MOTOR SPEEDWAY is one of America’s BEST RESERVOIRS OF FEARLESS MANHOOD. Out there, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker tempered the steel in his heart that made him the “Ace of Aces.” It served America during the World War as an invaluable aviation post. It has written ITS SHARE of American history. • • The 500-Mile Race is a WORLD’S CLASSIC. It draws people from everywhere. It is TOO BIG for any day but a holiday. The official body, controlling automobile racing in this country, reserves Memorial dav EACH YEAR for INDIANA. The race CAN NOT BE SUCCESSFULLY HELD ON ANY OTHER DAY. The passing of five proposed bill means THE END OF THE 500-MILE RACE-the passing of the SPEEDWAY from Indiana. • t • The men in our Legislature have HEARD ONLY ONE SIDE OF THIS THING. They are sincere, and will DO THEIR DUTY as they SEE IT. • • • If you want your CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS taken away from you—go on keeping still. But if you value the liberty our soldiers FOUGHT' FOR—SPEAK UP! Let your representative know in UNMISTAKABLE terms that THINKING MEN HAVE NOT YET LOST CONTROL OF INDIANA. There is no time to waste. Write, wire, or phone—AT ONCE. • • • No! Carl Fisher, Jim Allison, Arthur Newby or anyone interested in the Speedway DID NOT pay for this advertisement —they know nothing whatever about it.

The Homer McKee Company, Inc* Kahn Building . ... . IndianapolU

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