Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 211, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 December 1926 — Page 1

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VOLUME 37—NUMBER 211

13 KILLED IN INDIANA MINE BUST

ANTI-MERGER EVIDENCE IN CLARKE ACT City Light Offer Seen as Showing Consolidation Is Under Way. RUCKER MAKES CHARGE Says Chicago Man Proceeded Without Authority. Appearance of Harley L. Clarke, Chicago utilities magnate, before the board of works Wednesday in behelf of the Merchants Heat and Light Company is evidence of an attempt to carry *ut, in effect, merger of the two Indianapolis light companies in advance of its legalization, Corporation Counsel Alvah J. ltucker charged today. Clarke, unheralded, appeared before the board and offered to reduce the city's light bill for 1927 front $400,000, the amount stipulated in the contract with the city, to $250,000. “To'a man of ordinary judgment, this would appear as conclusive proof that Clarke believes it will be only a matter of time until hia crowd owns the Merchants company as well as the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company,” Rucker said. Option Reported Clarke is said to have obtained an option on the stock of the Merchants Heat and Light Company pending the outcome of proceedings to authorize the merger. Clarke exited hastily from the board meeting and was reported to have left the city last night by George B. Rubens, assistant to the vice president" of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company. Rubens said ho is expected to return to Indianapolis Friday. Rubens was not impressed by the fact that Clarke, a stockholders of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company, represented a rival company before the fcoard. ‘‘What the hell? It’s just as broad as it is long,” he said. What Theory? Rucker said he will ask Clarke, when he appears as a witness in the city’s injunction suit to prevent the merger, on what tiieory he represented the Merchants Company. ‘‘l am surprised at Mr. Clarke's lack of judgment in thus revealing his hand,” he said. “But maybe the old adage is true that ‘they whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad'.” That Clarke “had made a deal with L. B. Andrus, Merchants Heat and Light president was an opinion exiTum to l’age 2) REED WILL PROBE INDIANA ELECTION Plans to Be Made Also for * Quiz on Other States. Bu United Pro** WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—Determination of the course to be pursued in probing senatorial elections in Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Maine, will-be settled tomorrow by the Reed special Senate investigating committee No decision was reached at a meeting of the committee today. The corrupt elections issue was thrown before the Senate today when Senator Bill (Demo.), Washington, introduced a resolution to bar Senator-elect William S. Vare (Rep.), Pennsylvania, and in a speech, attacked Vare’s expenditure of in the primary. Dill’s resolution would declare Vare “disqualified as a Senator,” and prevent him or any one else from presenting his credentials of election. Che resolution is couched in the same words used in the resolution adopted by the Senate several years ago in condemning expenditures of $200,000 by Senator Truman Newberry, Republican, Michigan. Resolution to bar Senators-elect William S. Vare, (Rep.) Pennsylvv nia, and Frank L. Smith (Rep.), Illinois, were introduced today by Senator Dill (Dem.), Washington Dill attacked Vare's expenditure of SBOO,OOO and smith's of $400,000 in their primary campaigns, and also assailed Smith for accepting $125,000 front Samuel Insull, public utilities magnate, for his campaign fund. WATSON ATTENDS SENATE Hoosier Takes Place After Absence Due to Carbuncle. Bu TJnitrd Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—Senator Watson of Indiana, who has been in bed for a week with a carbuncle on his knee, was at his place in thp Senate today.

The Indianapolis Times

Entered a* Second-Class Matter at Poatoffice. Indianapolis.

STATE VOTE SORRY SHOW, SA YS WISE Disappointment in Indiana’s refusal to unseat Senator James E. Watson and reactionism in the last election; doubt as to whether or not the votes were honestly counted, and a crocodile tear for the political pass ing of Clyde Walb were registered by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, New York City, spokesman for American lib eralism, in an interview with The Times Wednesday night. Dr. Wise was in Indianapolis to address a ladies night gathering and Klwanis Club dinner at the Columbia Club, where he spoke on the sub ject, ‘‘ls Life Worth Living?” “Many of us,” Dr. Wise told The Times reporter, “were deeply disappointed in the outcome of the election, so far as Indiana is concerned. Democrats generally, and Liberals oL all parties,.had hoped, and even con(Turn to Page 2) But the Foam in Tub Was Minus the Kick \ ——— ‘Oh, boy, jest you look at them suds; ain’t they creamy and nice?’’ A Negro janitor today thus ruminated over a suspicious looking tub on the first floor of the city hall. But disillusionment came when he stirred up the suds with his pencil and found not beer, but only soaped water. Plan Body’s Florida Junket Expense Paid A breath from --sunny Florida wafted over the city hall today when Mayor Duvall signed an ordinance to transfer SI,BOO to the city plan commission to defray costs of a junket the commission enjoyed to the national plan convention in Miami. City Controller William C. Buser had withheld payment of members’ expenses for many months, but city council celebrated its burial of the hatchet with the plan body Monday night by adopting an ordinance for the transfer. Duvall signed seven other minor transfer ordinances. Borah Suggests New World Court Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—A new international court with a nt>w international code of laws was suggested in a resolution introduced in the Senate today by Chairman Borah of the Foreign Relations Committee. The resolution also would outlaw war, providing for settlement of international disputes through his new tribunal. The Trammell resolution to rescind American adherence to the World Court was referred to the Foreign Relations Committee.

Happy Christmas Assured Four Families Times Santa Claus Club Starts With a Bang, but There Are Many More Unfortunates in Indianapolis Who Need Your Aid This Year.

“Knew I’d hear from Indianapolis right off the reel!” remarked old Santa Claus up at the North Pole today. He had just got word that The Indianapolis Times Santa Claus Club, launched only twenty-four hours ago, has swung into action with a hang.

The first big-hearted folks to call in and ask for a family were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Maloff, 1664 Columbia Ave. They selected family No. 4 to make happy Christmas day. This was the family, you remember, whose father has a heart condition which will not permit him U work. The mother does what she can to help along. To Cheer Boy “I want to take care of that family because they have tha little 3-year-old boy,” said Mrs. Maloff. “We shall make up a basket of groceries and include a little suit and toys for the child.” “That's fine!” we were remarking when the telephone rang again and Mrs. C. R. Lydick, 2247 N. La Salle St., asked to have che name of fam ly No. 7. “I’ll get som hing pretty for the little twin gfrls to wear,” Mrs. Lydick said. “And 1 have a lot of canned fruit, so I'll make up a basket of real good Christmas food.” The Sunshine Club, of which Mrs. Edward Rothkopf, 1012 Tabor St., is president, will take care of family IS T o. 6. The club members will give h Christinas party at Mrs. Rothkopf’s house, Dec. 18, and the club members will bring canned fruit and other contributions. They will fill a big basket with good things to make glad the heart of an invalid woman whose support is a husband with failing eyesight. In this family there is also a little child, 4, and he will have toys from the Sunshine Club. Aid for Aged Mrs. S. H. Joy, 630 Bell Ave. will take family No. 3. “As this is an old couple, I think they will en-

ORMISTON OF AIMEE CASE IN CUSTODY Harrisburg (Pa.) Officers Start Back to California With Man. i LENGTHY SEARCH ENDS Fugitive Hunted Over Entire Country.Bu United Pres* HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 9.—Kenneth G. Ormiston, the long-hunted radio operator in the Aimee Semple McPherson kidnaping case, was found here during the night, arrested. and today started back to California, where he is wanted as a fugitive from justice. Ormiston was traced for weeks over the country. From one place to another. Finally last night officers caught up with him here in a modest apartment, where he said he had been living for some time, under an assumed name, but making practically no other effort to cover his identity. He had moved about tWs and other cities; rubbed elbows with detectives —even to the extent of being in an Atlantic City, N. J„ hotel while a detectives’ convention was being held; passed the Harrisburg police station almost daily, but never had been recognized. When first arrested it was understood he refused to waive extradition, but later changed his mind and a few hours after being taken into custody boarded a train with detectives and started back for California. CLUB CONCERT DEC. 29 e*Harvard Organization Scheduled to Present Program Here. The Harvard University Instrumental Clubs, composed of fifty musi cians of the undergraduates body of Harvard University, is scheduled to appear in Indianapolis Dec. 29. The Harvard Instrumental Clubs are made up of four separate organ izations, the Banjo and Mandolin Club, the Vocal Club, made up of thirty trained voices, and the Gold Coast dance orchestra. The differ pnt classes of talent which make up these clubs makes for a well-bal a need program.

joy good sybstantial food and that is what I will put in my basket,” remarked Mrs. Joy. From now until Christmas, the Times daily wifi publish lists of needy families. If you want to have the happiest kind of Christmas for yburself, by making one (or more, if you wish) of these families happy, just call The Times Santa Claus editor, Main 3500. or cal! at The Times office and ask for your family by number. t You then will obtain the name and address of the family whose needs have appealed to you and you will have all the joy and satisfaction* of being a sure-enough Santa Claus to folks who might otherwise have a bleak and cheerless day.

Opportunities

Ilere is the first list of needy families for The Times Santa Claus Club to care for this year. No. 1. Colored boy, 14, whose father is recovering from an accident needs anew suit. He will graduate from grade school in January. The mother takes in washing and has "been the sole support of the little family for several months. Girl, 13, would appreciate any gift. Christmas baskets recommended also. No. 2. aged couple, brother and sister, who are very proud but needy, would like a nice basket, a (Turn to Page 2)

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 9,1926

Thirty Years on One Machine, He Moves to a New One Today

■ W 'Tcfe. -vy 'j. •%* ■ rag? * > * *^3^.***^

Willis C. Mann setting his last lines on the linotype niaehie he has operated for thirty years.

EARLY RETURN OF JURY TO GRAFT PROBE INDICATED Quiz Body to End Investigation of Routine Cases in Few Days. Almost imiuoUate return of the Marion County grand jury to the probe of alleged graft and corruption in Indiana politics was forecast today when Deputy Prosecutor Wil liam H. Sheaffer announced that the probe body will complete its Insti tutional visits and the investigation of jail cases within tiie next few days. Judge James A. Collins of Crim inal Court asked the jury to report on these matters by Dec. 22. Sheaf fer did not disclose whether the jury will report at the close of the' work or wait until the date set and continue the graft probe in the Interim. Gathering Data Prosecutor William H. Remy prepared to present further graft evidence, anticipating the close of the regular routine of the jury’s business. The jury returned twenty-two negular jail case Indictments and dismissed seven cases today. Karl Russell, 1060 Eugene St., was indicted for the alleged murder of his wife, Kstella Mae Russell. He is charged with cutting her throat. The grand jurors left to inspect Julietta county hospital for insane this afternoon. They have already inspected the county jail. Reid Heard Wednesday th 6 *grand jury had as its only corruption quiz witness Harry Reid, president of the Interstate Public Service Company, an Insull utility. Lawrence Lyons, Brook, Ind., former Republican State chairman, has said he talked to Reid about campaign contributions from the Insull interests to the Republican party in 1924. Lyons already had testified before the grand jury. Reid also was questioned about campaign contribution it is believed. Remy did not disclose whether or not he planned to call former Mayor Lew Shank before the probe body. Shank has declared that Clarence Geist of Philadelphia, owner of the Indianapolis Water Company, offered to give $40,000 to his campaign fund if he would run for Governor.

MA YOR A WAKENED TO STREET NEEDS Duvall Acts After Months of Rebellion Against Bad Paving Condition —Orders Immediate Repairs.

■Awakening to the public rebellion against the bad condition of city streets, in progress for many months. Mayor Duvall today called Assistant City Engineer Arthur F. Haulier on the green carpet and ordered immediate repairs. “He told me plenty,” Haufler sail Haufler called Edw’ard Rochet, su perintendent of city yards, into conference and announced that, repair ing of improved streets will be resumed Friday with the celebrated crushed stone and tar compound as the piece de resistance. The crushed stone is sold by Lawrence Cartwright, member of the

Times Linotype Operator Separated From His t ‘Old Friend.’ A friendship of man and machine which has endured for thirty long years came to an end in The Indianapolis Times composing room today. For Willis C. Mann, the veteran of Times printers, parted with his beloved linotype machine. The worn old mechanism, dinky compared with the modern type, was rolled out and replaced with one of five latest type linotypes which The Times Is Installing. Bill Mann became a printer on the old Indianapolis Sun in 1893. For three years he set type by hand, then the machine pictured above was install'd in the old Sun Bldg., in E. Ob'j St. Bill learned bow to operate it. He stuck with it until ttvlay. No other operator ever was permittee; to defile the sa cred contraption by having a steady job on it. Bill and that machine stuck together when the Sun moved to the Murphy Bldg., in E. Georgia St. They went together to the Indiana Daily Times Bldg., which stood on the site of the Banner Furniture store at Meildian and Pearl Sts. Together they came to the present In dianapolis Times Bldg., in W. Mary land St. Bill's hand has worn the steel operating lever down an eighth of an Inch in these thirty years. His foot has worn the foot rest oft a quarter of an inch. Averaging 1,500 lines a day it is estimated Bill has set more than 13 000,000 lines of type on his old machine. Deaths of thfee Presidents, two wars the big sporting events of three decades, murders, marriages, fires, tornadoes, mine disasters. ail news of thirty .■ears has flowed into eoUl type through Lift's fingers nimbly playing over the w T orn keys. Mann is married, has three children and lives at 926 Congress Ave. He is a member of Typographical Union ICo. 1, North Park Masonic Lodge, Knights and Pythias and the Red Men. Pioneering doesn’t nppeal much to Bill. He bought one of the first automobiles in Indianapolis, a one ;ylin(Ver Cadillac steered i •tiller.” He stuck by it until It almost fell apart. He isn’t much on ‘getting off.” He hasn’t missed many days for Illness. The union thought some of holding a meeting to observe the event. CLARK BEFORE K. OF C.S. R. N. Clark of Eli Lilly Company will speak at the Knights of Columbus Friday luncheon at the SpinkArms. Thomas E. Shea, appeariflfe at Keith’s Theater, will be a guest.

Republican State central committee. To test their service, the Hays Construction Company offered to pave without cost .With the compound, Delaware St., between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Sts., and Pennsylvania St. north of ,-ixteenth St. Haufler accepted the offer. This was taken as an indication that the city might return to the system instead of doing the work with city employes. HOURLY TEMPERATURES 6 a. m .31 10 a. m...... 34 7 a. m 32 11 a. m 34 8 a. m 32 12 (noon) .... 36 9 a. m 33 1 p. m 34

Outside of Marlon County 12 Cents Per Week. Single Conies

MOVETO REWARD G. 0. P. WORKER MAYBEHALTED Plan of Senators to Give George M. Foland Customs Job Is Blocked. By Roscoo B. Fleming, Time* Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—Efforts, of Senators James E. Watson and Arthur R. Robinson to reward George M. Foiand of Crown Point, Ind., Tenth district Republican chairman, may be thwarted by an Intangible boundary line, It was indicated today. The Tenth district includes Lake County, whose 12,500 Republican majority in the last election wiped out an anti-Watson majority in the rest of Indiana and re-elected the senior Charges have been made of irregularities in the county. * Watson and ISbinson have been seeking to reward Foland by making him customs collector of Indiana, with offices at Indianapolis, to succeed John A. Royse, who has resigned, effective Jan. 1. They have been told, however, that the customs collector must be a resident of his district, and the northern line of the Indiana customs district runs across the State about at Delphi, excluding Crown Point. ' This would make Foland ieligible, and lose him a nice fat job as a reward for his sterling Republican leadership. The Senators today are seeing what they can do about it.

News for Desperate Daddies There comes a time in the best regulated families when father, comfortably settled for an after dinner session of the “hot stove league” or more Sedate perusal of the editorial columns, tosses his paper high in the air, grips a handful of hair and ejaculates in desperation; “Won’t you kids ever stop that racket?” Hearken ye desperate daddies! You hold in your hand—or did before you tossed it in the air—the solution to the problem. Get the kids interested in the Tinymites—the latest addition to The Times Family. Just now the Tinymites are visiting Santaland. There’s a story in rhyme and a picture to he colored eaeh'day. Turn to Page 8. give the youngster’s that page and settle back to blissful peace.

three Cents

Twenty-Three of Seventy-One Men Trapped by Explosion in Shaft Near Princeton Still Unaccounted For. BU United Press ** PRINCETON, Ind., Dec. 9.—Thirteen are known dead and little hope is held out for rescue alive of ten others entrapped by an explosion at the Francisco mine No. 2 this afternoon. At 2 p. m. forty-eight miners had been taken from the wrecked shaft. Twenty-three were still in the workings. Bu United Press PRINCETON, Ind., Dec. 9.—Death toll of the explosion which trapped seventy-one miners in the Francisco mine No. 2 near here this morning, mounted rapidly at noon today as rescue workers penetrated debris that chocked the shaft. Five are dead. Two others are not expected to live. All live in Princeton. Although mine officials at first said only sixty-eight men were in the mine at the time of the blast, an official list showed thirty-five men taken out and thirty-three still in the mine. In the list only two names of the five dead appeared. Confusion was such that the discrepancy could not be checked.* Work of bringing the-injured to the surface was rushed. 1 he dead were left below until others who appeared to have a chance lor recovery were given medical attention. Officials said they were not certain whether gas or dust was responsible for the blast, hut the theory that a gas pocket exploded was most favored by those who knew conditions at the mine. I he mine was known particularly for the dangerous pockets.

Tlic (lend were: Henry Turner, colored. George Black. Warren Byrd. William McCannon. William .lames. The two not expected to live were; Omar Reinhart and George Bristol). Ambulances and automobiles volunteered for the work were racing between the mine and the Methodist Ilospitai. All physicians and nurses who could be spared from the city were rushed to the mine where a base hospital was Improvised. Among those rescued were seven who were badly burned. The men are Henson Bouyer, Jess James, Jacob Shafer, Will Phillips, Jack Wilson, Louis cker and Roe Hughes. Many Crushed Most of the miners brought to the •surface were suffering from burns. Some had been crushed under falling debris In (he mine shaft. Most of the injuries were said to be more painful than dangerous. Some of the miners les3 seriously hurt were taken to private resito make room for the others at the hospital, already filled almost to capacity, Partially Blocked Rescue workers brought injured to the surface rapidly. The shaft was partially blocked, but there was-suf-ficient opening to allow the work to continue withbut digging. Progress was hindered somewhat by the con dltion of the shaft. On the surface, physicians, nurses and volunteers administered first aid as soon as the injured were brought up. The rAost seriously hurt were rushed to the hospital. Those with only minor bruises and burns went (Turn to Page 15)

Fifty- One Killed in Last State Disaster

Indiana's last great mine disaster occurred at the city mine Sullivan on Feb. 20, 1925. Fifty-one men were killed in an explosion and days elapsed before all of the mangled corpses were dragged to the surface. \ This disaster was msdered the OLSON EMPLOYE' FACES GRILLING Farm Hand of Erdman’s Father to Be Quizzed. B VrA IRiETdU CIIIEN, Wis., Dec. 9.—Edwin Knutson, hired man on the farm owned by/Erdman Olson's father, will be brought here today to be questioned concerning the murder of Clara Olson, according to announcement made by Sheriff Harry Sherwood. The sheriff said he fishes to determine whether or not Knutson is the “mysterious stranger” who was seen with Erdman at a dance at Seneca a few hours before the latter it alleged to have killed his sweet heart. Jury Again Filled at McDermott Trial Bu nnltrii Prc* . CANTON, Ohio, Dec. 9.—Just before the court adjourned for the noon recess today another full jury had been tentatively selected to hear the evidence against Patrick McDermott, on trial here for the murder of a Canton newspaper editor, Don R.-Mellett, who was shot down on the nijfrit of last July 16 by underworld assassins. With the seating of the twelfth tentative talesman. seventy-eight prospeettive jurors had been called in. There were five women in the box when court adjourned.

Forecast Cloudy tonight and Friday; probably rain or snow; not much change in temperature; lowest tonight about 30.

MARION COUNTY

TWO CENTS

List of Rescued Is Given

Bil United Pres s FRANCISCO, Ind., Dee. 9.—Up to noon today the following men had been taken from the wrecked Francisco No. 2 mine: , Harry Swan, Mark Fields, Abe Voting, Jess Clark, Willis Furman. Marvin Scolt, Albert (Bouyer, Charles Powers, Alvis Ilea)), Ed Pancake. John Wilson, George Bristell, George Coomer, Waite Seales, Vic Haley. Manford Selby, Charles All, Basil Radford, Fred Jumes, Radford King. Roy Atkinson. Jess James, Rarr.v Singleton, P. E. Wilson, Eugene Case. Roe Hugh, Albert Feldman, Burley Reel, Jake Shafer. M. J. Shafer, Vcrd Hooker. Jos Williams, John Conley, Rupert StcinhaH. Oscar Reinhart. Those known to be still in the mine were: W. L. Phillips, Lloyd Jenkins, Lee Whitman, W. M. Slater. William James .dead), Wess Ixnvls, Rex Renby, W. IT. McCannon (dead), J H. Tenner, Alley Roil. John Lehman, W. J. Cassidy Sr., J. S. Gates, S. J. Roll, Claude Wright. J. 11. Greek, W. P. Ratliff, Charles Cooper, Emory West, Earl Gates. Harry Slater. Claude SCone, Vie Hubert, Clifford Ball, Watt Thomas. Orvil Slater, Louis Bailey, Frank Ilelsley, John Ireland, M'lo Dossett. W. F. Barr, Everett Saddler and Roy Shaw.

worst in the entire history of Indiana coal mining. It was caused by a spark from an electric motor Igniting a pocket of giis. There were 735 men at the mine, when the explosion ccurred shortly before noon. Eighty-four men, bleeding at the pose and with blackened faces, crawled from the shattered shaft alive and exhausted. The remainder v.ere trapped. Weeping wives and mother gathered about the pit to spend long hours of waiting, in which hope for their loved ones reaching the top alive, grew dimmer and dimmer. Rescue parties worked like mailmen, hours upon hours, fighting the poisonous gases back in an effort to penetrate into the locked chambers, where the men weer buried. Many fell exhausted, but when revived refused to quit the shaft and continued to carry on. JACKSON ON TOUR Governor Ed Jackson was in Evansville, Ind., today on an inspection tour of the State Insane Hospital". New building projects are under way there.

What a Christmas This Would Be! Bu t nitea Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—Every person in the United State* could have S42JS2 in his pocket and nearly two quarts of genuine pre-war liquor on his hip (assuming the hip was big enough), if all the money and bonded liquor in the country were distributed equally—and what a Christmas it would be! Total money now in circulation, as announced by the Treasury, is $4,949,247,261, Total liquor in bond, as announced by the Interna) Revenue Bureau, Is 57,000,000 gallons. Population Is estimated by the Census Bureau at 116.114,300.