Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 315, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 April 1927 — Page 1

Home Edition If your Times is not delivered to you promptly call the Cir culation Department, MAin 3500.

VOLUME 37 —NUMBER 315 *

SUIT ATTACKS ‘MAYOR SAVIOR’ LAW ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® ® @ ® ® ® 33,629 Signers to Petition for City Manager Election

WORLD WAR AIM, CHARGE BY RUSSIAN Premier Rykoff Cites Pow- |>' ers’ Consent to Raid on Embassy. Bu United Press MOSCOW, April 11. —Soviet Russia will retain consular contact with the northerh Chinese government despite withdrawal of her embassy staff from Pekin, it was emphasized iiere today after an impressive speecli by Premier Rykoff charging that the powers were attempting to foment anew world war. The Soviet government took pains not to refer to any “rupture” in its note to the Chinese mission here, announcing that the Russian charge d'affaires in Pekin, head of the embassy in the absence of the ambassador. had been recalled. It was made clear that the soviet s government regarded the raid on the embassy at Pekin and picketing of the Shanghai consulate on orders of the municipal police as deliberate attempts by the powers to provoke Russia into a war. Although they Embassy staff will be withdrawn, consulate staffs in various Chines cities will remain on duty, it was announced. Addressing 15,000 delegates to the provincial Congress of soviets, Rykoff charged insults had been deliberately offered the soviet government. He referred to the recent raid in the soviet embassy at Pekin, as "an unprecedented phenomenon, unparalleled in the history of the rela tions of friendly states.” A “it is especially -peculiar Uiat all PJthe raids were made with the cooperation of the diplomatic corps, ’ he said.

SHANGHAI GUARD REDUCED Cantonese General Sends Crack Troops Against Northerners. Bu United Press SHANGHAI, April 11. The Chinese defense of Shanghai was reduced to a skeleton guard of youngsters today as all of Gen. Chiang Kai-Shek’s crack regiments were withdrawn from the city and sent to the Nanking area to reinforce the defeated Southern army there. Reports from the interior indicated that the battle Saturday, in which the Northerners, hard pressed by the Cantonese, made a last desperate stand and won. was the most severe engagement of the entire revolution. Five hundred wounded, presumbably Nationalists, were reported to have been taken from Pukow to Nanking. Field guns and cavalry were taken across the ngtze from Nanking. In Hankow the situation was understood to be growing increasingly threatening. The municipal police guard continued to surround the Soviet consulate here. One hundred and fifty Nationalists were reported to have been executed at T.-ingtao, where all ships and particularly those from Shanghai, y,c a being searched. Eighty-five Americans remained aln the increasingly dangerous ■llankow region. The United States "consul general chartered a steamer to shelter them. The eighty-five, mostly business men, indicated they expected to stay on the ground unless some new untoward incident occurred.

WEBSTER, EDITOR, IN SLANDER SOU Elmer Eddy Charges Weekly Journal Attacked Him. The case of Irving Webster, 46, of 811 W. Thirty-First St., editor and publisher of the Indiana Journal, charged with slander, was continued until April 20 in Municipal Judge Dan V. White's court today when Elmer Eddy of 2346 Dearborn St., did not appear, Webster was arrested late Saturday on a warrant sworr out by Eddy. Eddy charges that Webster slandered him in an article in the Journal, a weekly political paper. Webster was released after his arrest upon his own recognizance. Contrary to police custom the initials of the officer upon whose order the defendant was released without bond was not placed upon the turnkey’s Town Marshal Wounded Bu Times Special ORLEANS, Ind„ April 1L— Citizens are offering a reward for the capture of the man, who shot and seriously wounded Town Marshal 'William Guthrie here, Saturday night.

The Indianapolis Times COMPLETE REPORT OP WORLD-WIDE NE W S Jj| SERV IC E OP THE UNITED PRESS

Entered as Second-Class Matter at I’ostoffice, Indianapolis

Document When Filed Bears 14,000 More Names Than Law Says Is Needed. VOTE APPEARS CERTAIN City Clerk Boyce Starts Checking at Once—Battle Foreseen. With fourteen thousand more names on file than is required by law to compel the calling of a special election Indianapolis today appeared certain to vote upon the adoption of the city manager form of government this summer. Frank E. Gates, chairman, and Claude 11. Anderson, executive secretary of the city manager campaign committee, filed the petition for the election, signed by 33,629 voters, at the city clerk’s office this morning. Only 19,185 bona fide signatures are required to compel the city council to call the election. City Clerk William A. Boyce. Jr., began checking the names this afternoon with a force of special deputies. City council failed to ap-

Well, Looks Like the People Want It In the final drive for city manager petition signatures one of the campaign workers unknowingly visited the home of .George V. Coffin, Marion County Republican chairman and city hall “boss.” according to Claude I-I. Anderson, manager drive executive secretary. Coffin came to the door. The worker asked him to sign, and Coffin replied: “Inasmuch as I'm Republican county chairman, I don’t believe I’d better sign the petition, but I’m in favor of whatever the people want.”

propriate salaries for these deputies, but Boyce announced he was able to obtain public spirited volunteers who will serve as deputies and take their chance of being paid. Boyce said lie would begin a check of the petition at once. Headquarters Swamped Manager headquarters at 520 Illinois Bldg, was almost swamped with petitions. It was necessary finally to stop tabulating and take the petition to the city clerk’s office. Hundreds of names were arriving at that time, by mail and bearer. It was planned to tabulate them and send them to the clerk’s pflice later in the day. The manager committee originally set out two weeks ago to secure only additional signatures to the petition circulated two years ago. As the names began to pour in, however, it was decided to discard the old petition, so the names filed today are entirely new, “Citizens of Indianapolis have won the first skirmish, but the battle lias just begun,” said Executive Secretary Anderson. "We will know that we are going to have to have a well organized and thoroughly workable organization and that is the task that now confronts us. It will, of course, be a non-partisan organization. The citizens of Indianapolis should remember that the filing of this petition Is Yiot the celebration of a victory, but a declaration of war. "For every person who has signed the petition, wo must have at least five who will vote ‘Yes’ in the election. We could have had five signers for every one that has signed at this time, if we had had time to secure them. Let all those citizens who did not have an opportunity to sign remember that they will have an opportunity to vote and that they must do so. Fight Begun "Our opponents could not, of course, offer much opposition to the signing of names to the petition, but from now on it may be expected that all those who prefer Inefficient and bad municipal government, for reasons which most every one knows, will be organizing against us. ■ "You will be told what a mistake (Turn to Page 5) THOMPSON AWAITS JOB “Big Bill” Ready to Astunie Duties as Chicago’s Mayor. Bu United Press CHICAGO, April 11. William Hale Thompson probably will become mayor of Chicago today for the third time. Election commissioners have announced the canvass of votes from last Tuesday’s election, in which Thompson was elected by a large plurality over Mayor William A. Dever, has been completed. The election proclamation will be issued today Mayor Dever has expressed a desire to turn over control of the city government to Thompson as quickly as possible.

ASPHALT PLANT TO • BEJPENED Street Repair Costs Too High on Contract, Says City Engineer. Declaring the city can repair streets with its own workmen cheaper than contract with asphalt firms, City Engineer Frank C. Lingenfelter today planned to reopen the city asphalt plant within a month with gasoline funds. Lingenfelter declared he did not know who would head the plant, idle since the beginning of the Du vail administration. The budget ap propriation was cut by the present board of works. Engineers admit operation of the asphalt plant is a great saving to the city. New Gangs Busy Two gangs of Indiana Asphalt Company workmen began work on Indianapolis streets today under contract with the city to lay asphalt for $21.75 a ton. City Purchasing Agent John J. Collins declared the Indiana Asphalt Company underbid the J. M. Morgan & Sons Cos., whose figure was $23.40 a ton. Collins said all companies were asked to bid, but only two entered estimates. Ligenfelter, who recently succeeded Chester Oberleas, ousted by Mayor Duvall, would not estimate the cost of repairing streets with city asphalt plant material, but said it could be done "much cheaper." Superin tendency in Doubt Politicians speculated as to who will be named superintendent of the plant. Edward Itochat, superintendent of outside -'onstrucLop, was mentioned as a possible appointee. The Indiana Asphalt Company will put on additional workmen in a few days to fill the multitude of chuck holes which have been neglected for months. Cutting was begun by the two games. Two city gangs have been working under Rochat, using materials purchased from the McNamara Construction Company. Lingenfelter announced he would open the asphalt plant as soon as possible after the State board of accounts informed him it would be legal to use a part of the $75,000 gasoline tax fund appropriated by city council. Roy C. Shaneberger, works board president, said Lingenfelter had been authorized to open the city plant.

SAPIRO WINS IN SIOOBFEE TILT Books Fail to Show Payment for Colorado Speech. Bu I nitej Prttx DETROIT, Mich., April 11.—At the invitation of Gov. William Sweet of Colorado, Aaron Sapiro made his first speech before Colorado farmers in 1923, he testified today 'hs the fifth week of his million-dollar libel suit against Henry Ford began. “Weren’t you paid SI,OOO for this speech?” demanded Senator James A. Reed, resuming cross-examina-tion. “Not that I can recall,” the witness answered. At Reed's suggestion the Sapiro books were brought out, but failed to disclose any charge either for the trip or speech. Cross-examination of Sapiro, now in its third week, and his redirect testimony was expected to take up the greater part of the week, making it unlikely that Henry Ford, announced as the next witness, will be called before Friday or Saturday. Baltzell in Evansville Judge Robert C. Baltzell and United States district Attorney Albert Ward will hold Federal court in Evansville this week. All Federal civil cases here have been postponed until after the May terra of court because of lack of funds. Bandit Suspect Held Bu United, Prm ELKHART, lnd„ April 11. Thomas Goldsberry, 36, has been returned here from Toledo to answer charges he and another bandit raided the home of former State Senator A. H. Beardsley and robbed him and eight guests of $3,700 on Nov. 16, 1925. Lowden Boom Aided Ba United Prr* DES MOINES. lowa, April 11.— Middle Western elements of the Progrtssive party of 1924 were active today, as Republicans, in organizing to support Frank O. Dowden for President in 1923.

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY. APRIL 11, 1927

PRESENTING CITIZENS’ PLEA

'5- , " • : , ‘i '■-■>'- * v ?3KhSMr?- *■£?£ |wagfWi -4- * '.rr-cuMtfgffl ; >-"W * H| TFI JGSm** <'Jmmm'- k J& jpg? , : <s§§§?? x , MPnHBII §HT >||p & :: ' I&&33SSP jy <X^F;: 4 M " r Jp

Frank E. Gates (center) and Claude H. Anderson (right), filing the city manager petition with City Clerk William A. Boyce Jr. The 1,186 page edition contained 33,629, 14,444 more than needed to insure an election on the city manager form.

ORAL SPELLING BEES DETERMINE ROOM CHAMPIONS IN INDIANAPOLIS

ARMAMENT CRISIS APPEARS AVERTED British Find 'French Viewpoint Well Supported. Bu 17nited Press GENEVA, April 11.—Collapse of the League of Nations preparatory disarmament commission, threatened for a time today when English rejected the French formula ter naval limitation, was believed to have been averted when it developed that France's proposals were widely supported from other quarters. The break became imminent when Viscount Cecil, speaking for England, turned down the French suggestion that naval armament be limited by total tonnage instead of classes of ships. The discussion revolved around President Coolidge’s proposals for disarmament. Cecil insisted that the French should defer pressing. Their program until the Coolidge conference met. Sacco-Vanzetti Case Probe to Be Asked Bu United Pres* BOSTON, Mass., April 11.—Fighting against time, the Sacco-Vanzetti defense committee today was preparing to petition Governor Fuller to appoint a special commission for an impartial investigation of the case that has aroused interest on three continents. Such an investigation, the committee believed, would produce facts that would save the lives of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, who Saturday were sentenced to die In the electric chair during the week of July 10 for a double murder committed nearly seven years ago. A resolution to provide for a commission to examine and review all proceeddings of the State In the case was filed in the Legislature today by Representative Roland D. Sawyer of Ware. Loses Fight for Life Bu United Press WASHINGTON, April 11.—Ellsworth Kelley, convicted of murdering a Salem (Ore.) State prison guard in an escape attempt, lost today in United States Supreme Court his action to escape the hanging ,sentence imposed upon hint.

HEARERS FLEE NOISE OF MODERNISTIC MUSIC ‘Ballet Mechanique’ Fills Carnegie Hall, New York, With Ear Splitting Crashes.

Bu United Press NEW YORK. April 11.—A riveter, perched atop an embryo skyscraper in noisy Manhattan today, listened to the soul-wrenching clatter of his trade, grinned appreciatively, spat into space and remarked to his companion: "We artists are getting appreciated at last.” He referred to the formal apotheosis of the machine age in Carnegie Hall last night, where three thousand persons heard the ultimate in cubist music—George Antheil’s “Ballet Mechanique.” A score of men and women sat on

Winners to Be Announced This Week Next Meet April 27. Indianapolis today has 648 grade spelling champions The champ.rnship list was made complete today When oral contests were held in a number of the eightyone grammar schools competing in the spelling bee, being sponsored in Indianapolis and in Indiana by The Times. In numerous classrooms of fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade pupils, teachers found it necessary to hold extra sessions to determine the grade champions. Those competing in each spell-off were pupils who had tied in the grade written bee last Thursday. Ties in the various classrooms were eliminated today through oral spelling of words chosen by school principals and class teachers from the McCall Speller. This speller Is being used in the contests in all Indianapolis schools enrolled in the competition. Only 648 of the 20.000 school children participating in the grade spelling bee remain eligible for further participation. The names of the winners in the various classrooms will be reported, not later than Wednesday, to Miss (Turn to Page 13) Burglar Turns on Gas; Then Flees i An old-fashioned gas jet and a burglar might have caused the death by asphyxiation of Miss Helen and Lucile Hogan, rooming at the home of J. D. Dutton, 1818 Park Ave.. early Sunday morning, -had not the intruder's noise awakened one Os the girls. Entering the room through a window, a white man of small stature, wearing a tan slicker and a light hat, attempted to turn on the light. He opened the jet and fumes were escaping when one of the girls awakened, just as the intruder found the electric light switch and the light flashed on. The man jumped through the window and fled. Search of the - neighborhood failed to find him. To Discuss Used Cars A “Used Car Sales Talk” will be the topic of Lloyd Allen, chief of the General Motors Company sales advisory staff, Wednesday night before the Indianapolis Auto Trade Association, 338 N. Delaware St.

the stage and released an indescribable, crashing uproar through the medium of whistles, bells, sheets of tin, ten hand-played pianos, a player piano, base drums, cymbals, six xylophones and a clattering windmachine like an airplane propellor, making 1,200 revolutions a minute. The effect was devastating. Here and there men and women rose and fled precipitately, to be followed by jeers from hardier souls from among the Greenwich Village modernists, who were luxuriating in the heavenly harmony. Boos, stamping of feet and shouts arose from parts of the bouse, but, contrary to expectations, there wae no rioting. ,

Outside of Marlon County 12 Cents Per Week. Single Copies

COLLEGE BRIDGE BONO SALE WAITS City to Advertise $70,000 Issue Beginning Tuesday. I The $70,000 bond issue for repair- | ing College Ave. bridge, which sunk I iuto Fall Creek, March 11, will be ( advertised Tuesday, City Controller j William C. Bvser said today. During the twenty-nine days re--1 quired before sale of bonds will be I legal the works board will advertise for bids concurrently, seeking to speed up repair of the span, Roy C. Shaneberger, board president, said. Shaneberger declared Corporation Counsel Schuyler Haas informed him it would be legal to advertise for the bids and reject them if the bonds are not sold. A few days will be saved by advertising concurrently, ’, Shaneberger said. MANAGER SOUGHT AT EVANSVILLE Petition With 13,000 Names Filed. Bu United Press EVANSVILLE, lnd., April 11.—A city manager petition containing more than 13,000 signatures', twice as many as are necessary to force a city manager election here, was formally filed with City Clerk Louis Sarlls here today. Sarlls indicated he might not certify the petition to the city council within five days, as provided by law, because he could not check the names in that time, CITY BEGINS IT S CLEAN-UP DRIVE | Sanitary Commission to Collect Refuse From Curbs. The two weeks’ "Clean-Up, PaintUp" campaign sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce started today when Mayor Duvall superintended the flushing of Monument j Circle pavement. ! Civic organizations, city officials and schools have pledged cooperai tion to the campaign which ends j April 23. All rubbish placed at curbs will be collected, except straw, paper, leaves, tree limbs, plastering, cement, brick or other building material refuse, sanitary commissioners announced. Reports $250 Watch Gone Mrs. E. E. Oates Jr., 2842 WashI ington Blvd., reported to police that a $250 platinum v/rist watch, set with diamonds and sapphires, which she left for a few moments in the ladies’ parlors at the Columbia Club Saturday night, was gone when she discovered the loss and returned to look for the watch.

THREE CENTS

Measure Wliich Would Permit Duvall v to Escape Ouster by City Manager Vote in Question BILL TO JACKSON LATE, CHARGE Must Be Given Executive Two Days Before Assembly Close, Attorneys Say A suit to prevent the amendment to the city manager law. proviidng that the city manager form of government can not be instituted in a city until expiration of the term of the mayor, from becoming a part of the law was filed in Circuit Court today. The suit, seeking to prohibit Secretary of State Frederick E. Schortemeier from publishing the amendment, thus making it part of tli? law, was filed by attorneys for Franklin Vonnegut, Vonnegut Hardware Company, and W. 11. Insley, president of the Insley Manufacturing Company, plaintiffs and leaders in the city manager movement.

Band on Constitution I The shit is based on the provision | of the State Constitution, whiefy declares: “But no bill shall be presented to the Governor within two days next previous to the final adjournment of the General Assembly.” The suit is back by the committee in charge of the city manager movement and was decided upon after an argument by Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom, Saturday in defending Jackson’s “pocket veto” of a number of bills passed by the last Legislature. The amendment to the city manager law was forced through the Legislature by friends of Mayor John L. Duvall and Mayor Herbert. Males of Evansville arid provides that present mayors can serve out j the terms for which they were electI ed in spite of a vote for adoption of the city manager form. The measure was opposed by champions of the city manager movements in both cities. It was received by the Governor during the last two days of the session and was signed by him after delegations of citizens had appealed for a veto. Delivered Late, Charge , The petition for the suits sets up that the city manager amendment was delivered to the Governor within the two days before the General Assembly adjourned and that this is in direct violation of the Constitution. p It is therefore maintained that the J law is "unconstitutional, illegal, in- | valid and futile.” | According to the suit, the Gov- | ernor did not sign the bill until ] March 10. | The suit asks an injunction be | issued restraining Schortemeier from indexing, binding and publishj ing the bill as a law’, j Attorneys for Vonnegut and Insley j are Harvey Hartsock. Claude H. AnI derson and Charles F. Coffin. Durj ing the closing days of the. session : over 150 bills were sent to the Gov'’ ! ernor and the validity of these would j also he in question in the event. ; that the Supreme Court decides that i the "mayor saving” measure is inj valid. Some Already in Effect Some of these bills contained emergency clauses and are already in effect. The majority however are in the hands of the secretary of State and do not become effective until publication. Among the measures passed in the final two days of the session and in a similar position to that of the city manager amendment are: Raising salaries of Supreme and Appellate judges to SIO,OOO. Raising salaries of Marion County judges to SIO,OOO. Raising salary of Madison County judge to $6,000. Creating a bureau of criminal identification under secretary of State. Adding a half mill to tax levy for ! forestry bureau.’ | Fixing a 2-cent levy for State uni- : versities. Increasing legal advertising rate. Extending budget to townships. Compelling the rock dusting of mines. Jail Quarantined; Visitors Barred The “No Admittance” sign has been hung at the door of the county jail. It applies, however, only to the public. Prisoners still are received. | The “Welcome” mat was removed from the prison door today when the county bastile was placed under quarantine. Tho 228 compulsory residents of the barred “hotel” may not receive visitors. The jail W’as quarantined as a precaution against spread of smallpox, which broke oufMast week in "Federal Row." Only one case was reported. All prisoners have been vaccinated. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 36 10 a. m 49 7 a. -m....... 38 11 a. m...... 51 8 a. m 44 12 (noon) .... 52 9 a. m 4b 1 p, m...U. 66

Forecast Unsettled with showers tonight, nnd Tuesday; somewhat warmer tonight.

MAKION COUNTT

TWO CENTS

WRIGHT APPROVES COLLINS’STAND Father of State Bone-Dry Law Backs Criminal Judge. Approval of the stand of Judge James A. Collins in scoring Federal dry agents for bringing liquor cases into Criminal Court was expressed today by Representative Frank Wright, dry leuder In th# lower House of the Indiana Legislature and author of the Wright "bone-dry” law, under wliich prosecutions were brought. "When raids are made by Federal agents those arrested should be brought Into Federal Courts,” Wright declared. “I know that Judge Collins’ docket is crowded and there w’ill be enough prosecutions under the State dry laws to keep him busy.” Collins last week expressed indignation when twenty-seven indictments were returned by the Marion County grand jury on liquor evidence procured by the Federal raiders. GRAMM LENGTHYSESSIOI! Investigators Deviate From Usual Procedure. Marlon County grand Jurors wero in session longer today than they have been since the proiie into political corruption was resumed several weeks ago. Monday, usually a day for the jury to probe jail case-, brought no jail case witnesses. Prosecutor William H. Remy and Deputy William H. Shoaffer were with the jury until adjournment at 12:20 p. m. The jury is reported to have been probing for two weeks affairs surrounding the last election. Certain definite lines of investigation are believed to have been followed with the recalling of several persons who testified before the former Investigating jury last fall.

Bridge Contest A novel bridge contest in which you and your friends may participate is described in the column of Milton C. Work, America’s foremost auction bridge expert, on The Times editorial page today. If you are, a regular reader of Wdrk’s column in The Times you know the value of his lucid explanations of means of improving your game. His contest idea is simple, but requires enough application to make it a twain teaser for even the most blase bridge player. Turn to the editorial page and enjoy the contest. " “