Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 79, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 August 1924 — Page 7
SATURDAY, AUG. 9, 1924
Greenfield Boys Abandon Old Swimmin’ Hole, Made Famous by Riley, for New Pool in Brandywine, Mecca of Visitors From All Over America
Town East of Indianapolis Points With Pride to SftatQe of Poet and to New World War Memorial Recently Completed, NOTE—The Indianapolis Times is maxing- an expedition of rediscovery in Indiana, g-.ving interestinf facts about our own State. Other articles about other places will follow. By JOHN L. NIBLACK ) ET out in Indiana and I find something of interest to write about!” Accordingly, J. M. Moore, the more or less amiable photographer of The Times, and I climbed into Galloping Henry, the ancient sliver, and started out to burn some gasoline on the company’s time. Some territory! Plenty of room to browse around in. Which way? Pointing Galloping Henry’s prow due east, J. M. and I sat back and steered our course by the various signs sprinkled along the route by hotels, the State Highway Association and the Hoosier Motor Club. Fierce head winds racked Henry’s frame for ■while, but he took the bit in his teeth, and we boiled on. east. t Sign Appears "Aha!” quoth J. M. after a season, "we seem to be approaching civilization again. Observe yonder sign.” “Welcome to Greenfield, birtlplace and home of James Whitcomb Riley. Greenfield Kiwarns Club,” read the sign. That was our introduction to the thriving little city of Greenfield, which proved to be the county seat of Hancock County, a city of some 6,000 souls. Not only was that the introduction, but also the parting reminder, as the city's slogan is “This is Greenfield, Jim Riley's home and ours,” according to Marshall Bussell, county assessor, who kindly fur-
MY OWN STORY LA FOLLETTE SCARES BOSS WHO TRIED TO BRIBE HIM — By ROBERT M. LA FOLLETTE *
“MY OWN STORY"’ is an exclusive newspaper version of one of the sreat autobiographies of modern times; La Follette's own story of adventures in politics as written by himself In 1912. together with an authorized narrative of his experiences in the years since then. SYNOPSIS or PREVIOX’S INSTALLMENTS La Folletle enters political life, immediately comes into conflict with Wisconsin polit’cal bossism: nevertheless is elected to Congress, and from the beginning opposes the onslaught of private interests in government affairs. In the fall of 1890. when a candidate lor a fourth term in Congress. La Follette is defeated as the State goes heavily Democratic. He returns to private law practice at Madison. One of the first acts of the Democratic administration is to sue all State treasurers of the past twenty years. Senator Sawyer, k Republican boss, attempts to bribe La Follette to talk to Judge Si checker off the bench in the interests of the treasurer*. He had his pocketbook in one hand and a roll of money in the other. For an instant I was dazed, and then the thing surged through me. I felt that I could not keep my hands off his throat —I stood over him, said the things to him that I have related and then left him. Six or eight years afterward, when I was a candidate for Governor, I stopped cne day in the little town of Sheboygan Falls. Among those who called on me was former Congressman Brickner. He had been on jthe Democratic side when I was on the Republican side of the House. He came into the hotel to greet me and while he was sitting there he brought up the Sawyer affair. * The State, of course, had been aflame after the interview had been published. Sawyer’s power over the Republican press of the State was very great and it was all turned against me.
Called Liar I was. denounced as a liar and assassin of character, trying to de stroy one of the great and goodjnen of the State. Brickner said: "Mr. La Follette. I knew which one of you told the truth about what took place in the Plankinton Hotel that day. I saw your face when you came down the stairs, with Sawyer following trying to catch up with you. I knew that there had been serious trouble.” After the Interview with Senator Sawyer at the Plankinton Hotel that day I disclosed what had transpired betwen him and me to a fewclose, personal friends, and told them I thought it my plain duty to report the matter to the court. Several of them took strong ground against this course. They pointed out the great power of Senator Sawyer, his corporation and political connections, his control of newspapers; they argued that he would utterly destroy me. I granted all that, but urged that as a member of the bar, an officer of the court. I could not be silent; that it was my duty to report to Judge Siebecker exactly what had occurred. Conferences of these friends were held from time to time.
MOTION PICTURES MISTER SMITH’S THEATRE A STORY OF BROADWAY UFE “THE GOLD DIGGERS” From David Belasco’s Stage Success Also a HAROLD LLOYD COMEDY ALL SEATS 15c ALL SEATS
ABOVE (.LEFT TO RIGHT) THE "OLD SWIMMIN’ HOLE,” IN WHICH J. M. GOLDEN, BETTE, M >NT.. IS WASHING HIS HANDS; HOUSE WHERE JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY WAS BORN iN 1849; STATUE TO RILEY’S MEMORY ON COURTHOUSE LAWN. BELOW (LEFT TO RIGHT). NEW SWIMMIN’ HOLE IN BRANDYWINE CREEK, DOWN STREAM FROM RILEYS FAMOUS POOL, IN PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION BY BOYS; RECENTLY DEDICATED HANCOCK COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL; MAIN STREET OF GREENFIELD. LOOKING EAST. WITH MISSOURI TOURISTS ADVANCING IN CENTER. THE STREET IS PART OF THE NATIONAL ROAD, PAVED TRUNK LINE
nishes us some valuable information. A trip through the horseweeds a quarter of a mile up the banks of Brandywine Creek, Just erjßt of town, revealed the site of "The Old Swimmin’ Hole,” made famous by the golden tongue of Indiana's sweetest singer.
they urging their views and I contending that my course, though the harder one, must be followed. It was finally agreg*! that the whole matter be submitted to Judge Romanzo Bunn, Federal judge for the western district of Wisconsin, whose home was in Madison, and who enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. I remember the afternoon when I saw him by appointment at his chambers in the Federal Bldg., in Madison. He listened with patience and understanding, his benign face expressing the utmost pain and sympathy. He did not speak until I had finished. Then he said: “Robert, have you told Judge Siebecker?” “No,” I answered. "And on the at a few friends I came to tell you about it and to ask your counsel." He said, “Well, you must tell Judge Siebecker. You cannot permit him to sit in the case without telling him all about it: I doubt very much whether he will feel that he can try the cases. That is for him to decide —but you must tell him.” Tells Judge On the evening of the same day ! in the privacy of Judge Siebecker’s j home I told him exactly what had i taken place. He was very much j moved. He decided immediately, -ef \ course, that, with the knowledge of Sawyer’s attempt to corrupt the court, he could not sit as judge in the cases. He said that if he caused Sawyer I to be cited for contempt, .the facts | would necessarily become public with the result that it would prejudice the cases. So far as either of us knew, many of the defendants probably were ignorant of Sawyer's action. At any rate, it was important that they be given a fair and impartial trial. Before I left him he had determined that he would promptly call together the attorneys on both sides, tell them that he would not hear the cases for reasons which were controlling with him, but that ! he would call in any other circuit I Judge in the State upon which they j agreed. Siebecker was then a young man—he had been on the bench two years and was making an excellent record as judge. These cases were certain to be important, and if he rendered a judgment which should ultimately be sustained by the Supreme Court, it would make a record in which any trial court could take just pride, and might prove an important factor in his Judicial career. Indeed, transpired that Judge A. TV. Newman, who was called in to try the cases after Siebecker's withdrawal, was elected to fill the first vacancy upon the suprefne bench of Wisconsin. I think it was on Friday that Judge Siebecker Informed the attorneys on both sides that he could not try the treasury cases. They were
ITE was about all there was left. The old swimmin’ hole * is not what it used to be, inspection by The Times explorers revealed. So observed J. M. Golden, Butte, Mont., whom Moore caught in the act of washing his hands in the pool wherein the youthful poet splashed long before Greenfield
amazed at his announcement and the news quickly spread. The cases were of such great public interest, involving so many prominent men and such large sums of moijrffy that the keenest speculation and excitement followedd Siebecker'ai withdrawal. By the following day newspaper correspondents. representing the principal papers of the State and leading dallies of Chicago, were rushed to Madison. Unable to ascertain any facts, a lot of newspaper stories were prediI cated upon guesses—some wide of j the mark and some shrewdly direct | in their shot at facts. Story Published On Sunday morning. Oct. 25, 1891, the Chicago Times printed a sensational story with the startling | query sis to whether there had been an attempt to "influence" the court ir the Wisconsin \ treasury cases, suggesting that if an effort had really been made to influence the court, causing Siebecker's withdrawal, that the guilty party was known, and stood in the shadow of the penitentiary. Here are the headlines fr.un the Chicago Times: BRIBERY"THEIR GAME Persons Interested in the Wisconsin State Treasury Suits Attempt j Desperate Means. An Effort Made to "Influence” | Judge Siebecker of Madison, Who 1 Was to Try the Cases. The Indignant Official Notifies the Lawyers That He Will Not Sit Daring the Trial. !He Refuses to at Present Make Public the Details of the Affair— Startling Disclosures Expected. From what followed I was led to believe that Senator Sawyer had read and been very greatly alarmed by. the matter published in tho Times. His home was in Oshkosh, where also lived former State Treasurer Harshaw. Sunday evening I was surprised to receive a note from Harshaw brrfught to me by a bellboy from the Park Hotel. The note, which was written on the hotel stationery, indicating that Harshaw was then in Madison, requested an interview at my law office on the following morning at 8 o’clock. I showed it to my law partner,' Sam Harper, who happened to be with me at the time. I suggested that Harshaw probably desired to see me regarding the matter; that as no witnesses were present when Sawyer made his proposal to me at the. Plankinton Hotel In Milwaukee, the time might come when the question of veracity would be raised .between us; that Harshaw’s proposed interview with me
MOTION PICTURES ISIS First Half Next Week FRED THOMPSON A " Seat " THE 101# DANGEROUS " . A the Tme COWARD” Eddie Lyons Comedy “The Wrong Groom”
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
thought of erecting monuments to his honor. Many tourists from other States along the old National Rd. I stop, even as Mr. Golden dkl, to ! view the swimmin’ hole and Riley's ! home. “That ol’ hole! Huh! That place j .ain’t so good to swim in,” replied two small boys, busy building anew * swimmin' hole farther down the
might result in some disclosure ward United States Senator, one of which would show conclusively that | the attorneys in tho treasury cases. Sawyer had endeavored to corrupt j They were shown into my private the court; and that I would consent I room. After formal greetings, Mr. to see Harshaw if he (Harper) would i Quarles made inquiry about Judge
f Nh. G - LA FOLLETTE SPEAKS AT COUNTY FAIR.
be present at the interview. At 8 o'clock the next morning Harshaw came to my office, accompanied by Joseph V. Quarles, aft.er-
BASY PEGGY " C aptainJarman/ " Laura E. Richard s Story of The Little Sea Waif Supporting Cart Includes HOBART BOSWORTH IRENE RICH V a tITT T"**HdC!T HARRY MOREY LINCOLN STEDMAN \\ IJA IJ I MUaKT Y fFILM OF 1000 THRILLS “THE CHASE” \w, y Tii .W PERSON/ AND TH£l DOYS/ V Baby Peggy will visit the jj a V • Circle Theatre on Monday, // ~ Jf \ Return of These \\ Tuesday and Wednesday, // 55 / jtu; &lI Yof Popular Entertainers V 11-12-13, to Meet il NNrZZ-fV With An All New V Her Many Little and // h) iff y PROGRAM w/ Blf > Indianapolis ([ Mzk 1 iHLJfoyea , \ Fnends - J OUR MAMMOTH Is Now " COOLING In Full Thousands of Dollars Spent in New, Modem Plant to S Y S T E M Operation Manufacture Cold Air for the Comfort of Oar Patrons
creek. “That’s only knee deep and mud bottom, and this’n is four feet deep—up to our chins,” said the urchins. Has Riley Statue In addition to the Ah courthouse, the town points with pride to a bronze statue of Riley on the courthouse lawn bearing the inscription
Siebecker and said he wanted to see him. I told him where the judge could be found and he thereupon with-
“Erected by the School Children of America.” Also to anew ’World War memorial buljding, dedicated two weeks ago to the honor of eighteen Hancock County boys who died in service. Also the Methodist Church, the Masonic Temple and the streams of tourists who daily pour through town.
drew. Harshaw remained. As Quarles left Sam accompanied him to the door of the outer office, leaving Harshaw In the private- office withr me. The moment we were alone, Harshaw leaned across the desk, and said quickly; “Bob, will you meet Sawyer at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago tonight?” (Copyright, 1924, NEA Service, Inc.) (Continued in Our Next Issue.) UNCLE SAM IS STINGY Refuses to Join in Improvement at Greensburg. Bv Timm Special GREENSBURG, Ind., Aug. 9. Greensburg thinks L T ncle Sam. with all his billions, is stingy. Years ago, the Government purchased a site hereffor a Federal building. Recently when sidewalk Improvements were order, the Fedproperty #as affected. Postmaster General New indicated that the Government would not put in the new sidewalks until the new building is built. Ijghtnlng Fires Garage B y Tim** special WARSAW, Ind., Aug. 9.—Fire started by lightning Friday night destroyed the Ruch garage at Milford. Ten autos were burned. Chemists are attempting to produce a substitute .for commercial turpentine now obtained from our rapidly disappearing yellow pine. MOTION PICTURES
"Looks like everybody East is going West and everybody West wants to go East,” said Mr. Bussell. “People from California and Maine stop and go through Riley’s old home, but I’ve never been down there.” T 1 HE assessor’s office is next door to that of Sheriff Claude New, the peppy little World War veteran now finishing his sec-
Old Time Gospel m * :■ 9 $ jB TL EVANGELIST JOHN TRAGER The olh-time gospel is being preached nightly at a revival service being conducted at the National Home Mission at 334 Blake St., by Evangelist Trager. Night services begin at 7:30 p. m. On Sundays he also speaks at 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon.
Only Two Prisoners Grace County Jail in Thriving Community—Banjo Orchestra Is Institution——Jazz Is Specialty, ond term. Sheriff New is just past 30 now, and was elected on the Democrat ticket. In fact, all the officials are Democrats, as we were informed, “She’s a Democrat county, and don’t you forget it.” Doesn’t Look Part Sheriff New afforded us quite a shock, looking so little like the sheriff usually encountered in Hoosier county seats. We expected to see a large man, rather well-fed, wearing a large Stetson cocked over one ear, instead of a bustling your.g business man. „• Only two people grace the county jail, according to the sheriff. They are two youths “in” for assault and battery. Quite a contrast to our county bastile, where the walls move in and out every time the 300-odd prisoners happen to take a long breath. By this time J. M. had "shot" a picture of Main Street looking east. I had learned the first settlers had moved in about 1819 and the first business was saw mills and grist mills, water-propelled. The ancient fliv had boiled most of the water away, so we pulled into a filling station on the site of the old Gooding tavern, where hostlers of yore U6ed to water the stage coach horses. Henry was watered, and quit snorting, after which we attempted to get into Riley’s old home, situated on West Main Street. However, Mrs. John Riley, the poet’s sister-in-law, who lives in the house with her sister. Miss Sue Wilson, was taking a nap, and we contented ourselves with a picture. Some motorists frojn Missouri also stopped to look the place over. So we left for Indianapolis, ushered out of town by the strains of | the Brandywine banjo orchestra, which was jazzing up Main Street at practice in a clubroom.
810 PICNIC ON ANNIVERSARY Victory of 1578 Will Be Commemorated, Hibernians and the ladies’ auxiliary) will observe "Irish day” with a picnic and outing in Columbia Park, Saturday, Aug. 16,-in commemoration of the Irish victory Aug. 15, 1598, in which the English 3 wafie completely routed from Irish territory. Boys’ and girls’ athletic contests will open the program at 1:30 p. m., followed by baseball games and contests for men and women. A mass meeting at 5 p. m. will be addressed by J. P. O’Mahony and Patrick H. O’Donnell of Chicago. Edward J. Sexton is chairman. Dancing will follow basket dinner. CHAIR CHOKES WOMAN Faints and Falls With Head Between Rungs. By Vnitcd Prc*s FRANKFORT. Ind., Aug. Mrs. Clarence Mathewson, 24, is dead here today from strangulation when she caught her head between two rungs of a chair as she fainted.
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