Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 182, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 1927 — Page 1

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BOARD HIT BY ‘ROTTEN COAL DEAL/CHARGE Central Hospital Trustees Revolt on Purchasing y Agency’s Contract. " OTHER ‘BUYS’;ASSAILED Protest Meeting Is Called; Link James Jackson With Activities. Revolt against the coal contract foisted on the institutions by the Joint Purchasing Board was voted yesterday by trustees of the Central Hospital for the Insane. Coal "so rotten that it burned holes in our boiler grates and caused damage of SSO a day to our equipment" was shipped by the E. H. Rolf Coal Company of Ft. Wayne, which hold the State contract, aciording to Paul G. Davis, an attorney with offices at 1117 Fletcher Trust Building, and secretary of the Board. Not only did the Hospital Board go on record regarding its coal contract, but expression was given to other materials and supplies purchased by the board, of which Daily McCoy, campaign manager for Governor Ed Jackson, is secretary. The trustees state that Governor Jackson and McCoy assured them shortly before noon today that they ■ would get the kind of coal they want. Many Carloads Rejected Under the terms of the coal contract, the hospital on W. Washington St., is supposed to get “Fourth Vein” coal. Dr. Max Bahr, super- , intendent of the institution, and its engineers rejected many carloads because it did not meet specifications. In one instance when seven carloads were rejected they were reshipped to the School for FeebleMinded Youth at Ft. Wayne,.home city of the Rolf Coal Cos., James Jackson, brother of the Governor, is head of that school. James Jackson was very active in support of the Rolf company when the contract was let. The concern does not own mines of any kind and is reported in Ft. Wayne to be merely a jobber of coal. Need Different Coal Differences in the heating equipment of the institutions make various kinds of coal mandatory. Under the contract, it is said, bills of lading must show the name of the mine from which the coal is shipped. This then is supposed to be checked with maps and data in the office of the State mine board, which indicates the “vein” of the mine. Under agreement with the joint purchasing board, the hospital board bought coal in November from the Ogle Coal Company, which held 1 the State contract last year. A better grade of coal was bought for $2 a ton than the contractor furnished for $2.06 a ton, Davis said. “In November we saved sl4l on coal, not much in itself,” Davis said, “but think of what our equipment was saved by not having to burn rocks and gravel and clinkers.” Protest Meeting Called “That joint purchasing board sends us stuff that costs more than we can buy better quality goods ' for,” Davis continued, “but we submit to it because we respect the law. But the coal business got the best of us and we had to speak our minds.” That other State institutions feel the same way about the State purchasing situation is seen in the call for a meeting at the Central Hospital Jan. 27. “The the best interests of the people of Indiana subserved by continuing the State Joint purchasing ‘ committee,” will be the subject discussed by trustees from each of the State institutions. Davis, in commenting on the meeting, said: “Frankly, we will say that the people’s interests are not being subserved and we believed many others feel the same way •bout it.” No copy of the coal contract is available at present, said Dailey McCoy, who explains that it has been sent back to Rolf for some changes to eliminate the Indiana School for the Deaf. No Duplicate Copies Nor has the hoard any duplicate copies of the shipments to various institutions. Those must be had from the State institutions, says McCoy. When bids were asked for coal, specifications required that duplicate copies of all shipping bills be promised by the contractor, one to go to the institution and the other to the purchasing board. The bids also required that the contract name specifically the mine from which coal was to be provided, so that the quality could be checked from records in the bureau ,pf mines. Members of the board of trustees are Bert E. Page, Mellott; Mae B. Helmer, Terre Haute; Charles B. Jenkins, Noblevllle, and Paul G. Cavia,

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The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and Friday; somewhat colder tonight with temperature about zero, continued cold Friday.

VOLUME 39—NUMBER 182

City in Polar Wave Clutch; Mercury Near Zero Tonight; Violent Storm Strikes Suburb

Wins Fame; Back Home

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From Main St. to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in less tlian twelve years. That’s the record of Ruth Page, Indianapolis, who has danced herself into the hearts of the people of this country, as well as South America. In the summer of 1915, Miss Page made her first appearance in Chicago. In 1917 she toured South America with Pavlowa and for years she has been associated with Adolph Bolm and his ballet. season, Miss Page was honored by being selected as a chief dancer with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Her season there this winter will begin in February. She has danced to fame on her toes and she comes home today to appear in a dance recital with Adolph Bolm at the Murat tonight.

NEW WARRANT MAY AID BOOZE RAIDERS

Working with Police Chief Claude M. Worley Deputy Prosecutor John Royse today prepared anew search warrant, which he declares will permit police to make a successful preChristmas drive on Indianapolis bootleggers. In a brief presented Municipal Judges Pltul C. Wetter a fid Dan V. White, Royse argued the validity of the new warrant and attacked current interpretation that under the Wallace case decision search warrants can only be issued when the person swearing out the affidavit has direct knowledge that the person whose home is to be searched is violating the dry law. The Supreme Court only held that the person, swearing £sit the affidavit must have a "reasonable belief” that the law is being violated, the brief contends.

Breezes In Door Slams Shut, Pen Point in School Girl’s Mouth Swallowed.

E'STHER HAVENER, 12, of 329 W. Twenty-Eighth St., swallowed a pen point today when wind blew riiut a door at School 36, Twenty Eighth St. and Capitol Ave., while she was entering the building. "\ She had placed the pen point and holder in her mouth while opening the door, according to Miss Vivian Reinkin, principal. The wind blew the door against the penholder, forcing the point further into the girl’s mouth. She swallowed the point. An X-ray taken at St. Vincent’s Hospital revealed that the pen point was Hn the girl’s stomach, making an operation inadvisable. CAR INJURES WOMAN / 1 ■ - Mrs. Louise Rudolph Struck While Crossing Street. Mrs. Louise Rudolph, 60, of 803 N. Talbott St., was injured on the head Wednesday when she was struck by an automobile at Delaware and Nineteenth Sts. The car, driven‘by Dr. Frank C. Tinsley of 2858 Central Ave., was going north on Delaware St. and struck Mrs. Rudolph as she was crossing the street. She was taken to St. Vincent hospital.

Miss Ruth Page

Facts on which a reasonable belief that the dry law Is being violated might be based, according to Royse, include: That the person has seen liquor bottles and containers about the premises; that he has heard loud and hilarous talking at night; that he has seen intoxicated persons going in and out; that he has smelled the odor of liquor coming from the premises. The new warrant which Royse prepared for issuance to police squads will be the same as the old, except that a paragraph is inserted to be signed by the court, setting out that the court has had a hearing on the evidence and that the judge has “found that probable cause exists for believing that intoxicating liquor” is being kept, sold or manufactured on the premises.

J.'L. MITCHELL DIES Woodruff Attorney Is Victim of Apoplexy. James L. Mitchell, 59, of 558 Middle Dr., Woodruff Place, attorney in Indianapolis for thirty-five years, died of apoplexy today. Though in poor health for the last year, he continued practicing law until Wednesday afternoon. His father formerly was mayor of IndianapoUs. He was graduated from Indiana University in 1889 and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1891. Private funeral services will be held at the residence at 10:30 a. m., Saturday. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Surviving is Ws widow, Mrs. Brooks Griffin Mitchell.

Hail —The Heroes!

Dick Miller

READ THESE TWO INDIANA SPORT FEATURES

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 8,1927

Temperature Goes Rapidly Down Toboggan; Low . Is 7 Above. TWO INJURED BY GALE Terrific Wind Sweeps Over Liberty Gardens, Taking Property Toll. BUisard Kills 111 Starr on Fife 8. HOURLY TEMPERATURES Wednesday and V. M 48 10 T. M 19 7 F. M 32 11 P. M Id 8 Pi M 27 12 M 12 • P. M 22 . Thursday IA. M It 8 A. M * 7 *A. M 19 9A. M.,....... 8 8 A. M 8 19 A.,M......... 8 A. M 7 11 A/M....X... 9 5 A. M. 7 12 M 9 dA. M 7 1 P. M 10 1 A. M 7 The cold wave which rode into Indianapolis on a forty-six-mile an hour gale Wednesday evening and brought temperatures down to 7 degrees above zero here early this morning will bring zero weather tonight, Weather man J. H. Armington predicted today. The gale from the northwest struck the city between 6 and 7 p. m„ bringing a 16-degree temperature drop. The heavy winds, which rose to "near tornado force in some parts of the city, injured two women in Liberty Gardens, east of the city. Cold to Continue Friday Temperatures dropped steadily after 6 p. m. to 7 degrees above zero at 4 a. m., and stayed there until 8 a.m. when the United States Weather Bureau thermometer rose to 8. The 1 p. m. temperature was 10. It will continue cold Friday, according to Armington, weather bureau head, but there is a slight possibility of relief Saturday. The effect of the cold wave was felt generally over the State, according to Armington. Ft. Wayne recorded the lowest temperature In the State. 4 above. It was 12 above at Evansville and other Ohio River points. x No Gas Shortage Rail and street car traffic was reported normal today by railroad, and Interurban lines and the Indianapolis Street Railway Company. The Citizens’ Gas Company announced there is no gas shortage, normal pressure being maintained. Wires of the Indianapolis* Power and Light Company were broken in many scattered points about the city, most of these being caused by limbs of trees being blown down on the wires. Lights were out in many places in the east side of Indianapolis where trees are numerous. Long Distance Lines Snapped Cold snapped sixteen long distance lines radiating from Indianapolis, but service at all points affected was expected to be restored by noon today, according to J. W. Ha'hnon, general superintendent of plant, Indiana Bell Telephone Company. Several lines to Moores Hill were out. Long circuits out of commission were four to Pittsburgh; three of five circuits to St. Louis; two lines to Cleveland; four of five to Chicago; and three to South Bend. Omy two delays on interurban lines and railroads were reported to Indianapolis offices from over Indiana today. Interurban ' cars from Terre Haute were delayed on the T. H., I. & E. at Brazil, Ind., where a trolley was down. This was soon repaired, however. A small freight wreck at Sheridan, Ind., Wednesday caused detouring of trains to and from Chicago. All other railroad and traction lines reported trains maintaining schedules Woman Hit by Beam Mrs. Charles Steinbaugh was struck on the head by a beam blown through the window of the living room of her home where she was seated, and Mrs. Roy Abbott was cut about the arm by glass from a window which was broken during the storm in Liberty Gardens Wednesday evening. Mrs. William S. Steinecker warned her husband and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Karl Stienecker, who were in the Stienecker greenhouse, of the approaching danger ar and they sought refuge in the engine room. Police patrolled the storm area. The near-tomado damaged the property of eleven residents of Liberty Gardens.

The Times—today and tomorrow—is presentingtwo notable Indiana sport feature?. On today’s sport page is announced the first winner of The Indianapolis Times Trophy to be awarded annually to the Indiana high school football team whose season record best entitles it to “State champion” laurels. Tomorrow, The Times’ All-State High School football team will be printed. Dick Miller of The Times sports staff, selected both. Miller Is president of the Indiana Officials’ Association and officiated at jrtventy-five State grid games this fall. His All-State Collegiate teams are the only ones printed in Indiana which are recognized by Spaulding’s Intercollegiate Football Guide and Rule Book.

VARE BACKERS START BATTLE TO SEAT HIM \ Support of G. 0. P. Senators Given Pennsylvanian in His Fight. ‘FAIR TRIAL’ IS ASKED Edge and McLean Rally to His Aid; Claims Rapped by Caraway. B\l United Press WASHINGTON. Dec. B—Rallying to the defense of Senator-Elect William S. Vare (Rep.), Pennsylvania, in the Senate today, some Republicans made a serious effort to get him seated. Senators McLean (Rep.), Connecticut, and Edge (Rep.), New Jersey, demanded that Vare be administered the oath of office despite his large primary campaign expenditure They contended the Senate had no right to deny the oath to any man who comes with valid credentials. Only one Republican Senator, Deneen, Illinois, defended SenatorElect Smith (Rep.), Illinois, who was refused the oath yesterday, but Vare leaders announced many had asked the opportunity to speak for Vare. • Vare cannot get a disinterested trial in the Senate, McLean argued. Entitled to Trial “Under the Constitution that we all love and sometimes obey, Vare is entitled to a disinterested trial,” he said. “But we all know that we have made up our minds about his case one way or another and he can’t get a trial.” Edge also took up the battle for Vare. “States are entitled under the Constitution to have their representatives received here with courtesy.” he declared. “Wfe are the judges of whether their representatives are qualified to remain in this body, but we must receive whoever is sent, in an orderly constitutional way.” Senator Caraway <Dem.), Arkansas, taking up the debate in opposition to Vare, said it was absurd to consider seating a Senator-elect simply because he presented a certificate of election in proper form. “Such procedure would give a Senator-elect greater privilege than Senators themselves,” he said. “If a certificate of election is all the Senate can consider, Samuel Insull might buy one for the King of England and leave it to Mayor Thompson to get him expelled from the Senate after he was sworn in.” Amendment Offered Senator Robinson, Arkansas. Democratic floor leader, presented and amendment to the Norris resolution providing that Vare’s case be referred to couunittee for further investigation. A similar amendment was adopted yesterday to the resolution refusing Smith his seat. Senator Reed (Rep.), Pennsylvania, defender of Vare, requested additional amendments to eliminate the word “fraud” from the Norris resolution and to provide that the committee to which it is referred must report back in sixty days. A recess was taken at Robinson’s request to consider incorporating Reed’s suggestions in. his amendment. $200,000 FIRE SWEEPS ' EAST CHICAGO STORES Flames Subdued After Six Hours’ Fight by Two Departments. Bit United Press EAST CHICAGO, Ind., Dec. B. Fanned by a high wind, Are spread ‘through the business district of East Chicago today, causing damage estimated at $200,000. Firemen of East Chicago and Indiana Harbor fought for six hours before the blaze was stopped. Meanwhile the fire had destroyed three mercantile buildings. FERRIES OUT BY FLOOD No Detours on State Roads 57 and 61 Over White River. Automobile communications between Petersburg. Washington and Vincennes has been interrupted with the cessation of operation by ferry lines operating across White river on State Roads 57 and 61, because of flood waters, it was announced by the State Highway Commission today. \ White river is rapidly rising and no detours are available on either highway. STEVE GRANTED DELAY Time Extended for Filing Appeal Briefs in Supreme Court. Attorneys for D. C. Stephenson, serving a life term at the Indiana State Prison for murder, late ■Wednesday were granted an extension of time until Jan. 7, in which to file .reply briefs in the appeal ,to 'Supreme Court.

HENRY FORD TELLS ‘WHY AND HOW’ OF HIS NEW VENTURE Abandonment of Old Model T Planned Five Years Ago, He Says; Model A Cost Hundred Millions, ‘But It’s Worth It.’ BY ROBERT J. BENDER Copyright, 1927. United Press DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. B.—Henry Ford reached down into the pants pocket o£ his motor company for one hundred million dollars to make the new Ford automobile.

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• Henry Ford

spired the Fords—Henry and Edsel—to abandon production of the old “Model TANARUS,” so the United Press obtained an exclusive interview with the one man who could say the final word on the subject. Some guesses have been made that building the new car has meant an expenditure of approximately $250,000,000. But Ford figures differently. “All I knew,” he said in his interview, “is that when we started actually to work ouit this change of models, we had $350,000,000 in the bank. Now we have worked it out and we have $250,000,000 in the bank. That means we have spent $100,000,000 in the operation. “But,” he added, “what’s the difference? Money does its part in the production of anything, just the same as ore in the bin, coal or any other materials going into the car.”

Huge Cash Surplus Is Being Built Up

This great expenditure of money was made possible without outside financing, simply because Ford believes in building up and maintaining a tremendous money surplus—and today he is continuing to

build that surplus for his next change in production. “We actually started planning abandonment of the old Model T around five years ago,” Ford said, teetering backward and forward in his chair in one4>f the offices of his laboratory building. “Meantime, however, people continued to buy the old models and our plant was devoting one-fourth of" its work to producing replacements, from which there is an income of around $10,000,000 monthly. Finally we decided that we’d simply have to stop production of the old Model T if we ever were to get going on the new models. “So we stopped production of the old cars, continuing to operate the plant at one-fourth capacity on replacements. And let me say this As long as there is a Model T on the road we will keep up the business of producing repair parts; and we will produce them better than ever before.” . “We stopped making the Model T because times have changed. The old model belonged to another age. It was responsible for good roads In this country.^

“Gcx>d roads'and prosperity have come along. Anew refinement in motor manufacture has been made possible by the very conditions which the first cars created. So we produced the new cars because they belonged to the new age. They are not a repudiation of what went before, but an outgrowth of it.”

Ford Seems to Grow Younger Year by Year

Henry Ford is 64 years old. Slender, with a spry step, keen and kindly eyes which light up with a caressing gleam when he looks at a motor or talks of the performance of one of his cars; he appear? younger year by year—and more philosophical. The conversation turned to installment selling. “It meanfdebt, Hasn’t it?” asked Ford. “Still, the only questionable thine about debt is the * lement of uncertainty. If everyone was certain of employment, everybody could go ahead and pledge the future for “When our economic machinery becomes stabilized enough for that, debt will cease to be that and take its place as a method of exchange. If you want times to be good, everybody must be sure of work.** Ford revealed that he and his son, Edsel. passed personally on everything on the car. And any apparent delays that occurred were due entirely to the fact that they always were finding new ways to make a better car. "As for the so-called secrecy and mystery about the price of the new models, we told friends at the outset that we didn’t know what the price would be, but thought it would be somewhere close to the old* catalogue list,” he said. “We made no secret of that. Asa matter of fact, we actually didn’t know what the prices would be until the day before they were announced. “Edsel and I sat in the hall there in the shop and went over the figures. In half and hour we agreed upon the prices and that was all there was to that except the announcements the next day.

Eager to Help Everyone to Have Work

Asked if he would make an effort to campaign the markets of foreign .countries with the new cars, Ford explained that, of course, his company would sell cars wherever there was a market. “Transportation is the thing everyone arid every country must have,” he said. 4 “We will do everything possible to contribute to terjnination of idleness everywhere,” he continued. “Idleness is the cause of all evil, including war. The greatest sin, if there is such a thing, is for people not to do things when they can do them. When Ford came into the office for his interview he was smiling. “I just have been looking over the new Ford airplane motor,” he said. “I think you ought to see it. Come on.” Delightedly, he explained the workings of the huge engine being tested on a block In the laboratory. A little later he was called on the phone and left it radiant. "I just have had a phone call,” he said, "from one of our men, driving to Los Angeles in a car right off the line. He left Friday morning and he was away out in Arkansas Saturday. He says he did 100 miles in 93 minutes on one stretch.” He rubbed his hands. Ford, after all, is just a youngster at play among the tools he loves. A motor to him is all that a fine painting is tfi the artist, what a sweet melody is to the music lover, and what a fine book is to the litterateur.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at l'ostoffice, Indianapolis

Today he is producing a few* hundred ears each twenty-four hours. He expects by January to'manufacture them at the rate I of T,OOO every turn of the clock. After the first thousand, then faster. The time will come when, if there are six persons in a family, there will be six cars for the folks, says “the boss,” as Ford is known at Dearborn. First, the big problem is to make the car rapidly and cheaply. If it is found necessary to charge the customer 15 or 20 cents more, Henry Ford thinks the customer will pay it with a smile. There have been many, many stories in receht months on what in-

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Edsel Ford

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BEAUTY KIUS RICH HUSBAND WITH HAMMER 21-Year-Old Wife Calmly Tells of Brutal Slaying, Puffing Cigaret. AT PARTY AFTER CRIME Mate’s Body Found in Home, Terribly Beaten; Is Strapped to Bed. Bit Vni'cd Press PAINESVTLLE, Omo, Dec. B. Trim, smartly dressed, blue-eyed, beautiful Mrs. Velma West, 21. daughter of a prominent East Cleveland family, awaited arraignment today for the hammer murder of her husband, Edward. The woman might have passed for a coed or a society debutante as she sat in her cell in county jail. Her blue eyes- looked out from under trim eyelashes, contrasting with the carefully reddened lips and rouged cheeks. She seemed tired, but showed little concern over the death of her husband. With a cigaret tilted between her Ups, Mrs. West told her story to County. Prosecutor Seth Paulin. Hits Made With Hammer "I accompanied my husband to the family physician late Tuesday,” she declared. ‘‘He had been sick and was not feeling well. When we got home we broke into a quarrel. My husband said something I didn’t like. “I saw the claw hammer lying on a shelf. It riled me. It cut me to the bone, the statement he mad ■ T struck him on the head—once, perhaps many times. “Then I strapped his body to the Bed and tied his hands and ftft. The blood was streaming, but I went into the washroom and car-'’idly obliterated the stains, later changing into a smart party dress.” When first questioned by authorities, Mrs. West had maintained a steady alibi. She was not at home Tuesday night and knew nothing of the murder. She had attended a bridge partly in Cleveland. Breaks Down Suddenly “But why did you leave the back door open?” the prosecutor sharplyqueried. v With, the simple question she broke down and admitted the murder, afterward calmly asking for a cigaret as she related the happenings of the previous evening. "I went out the back door and got out the automobile,” Mrs. West contined, between puffs. “I drove to Cleveland and there attended a bridge party with twelve other girls. I won in bridge, but occasionally regret came over me and I went to the piano to play “Blue Songs.” Body Terribly Battered West, wealthy nurseryman, was found murdered in his home, early yesterday. His body was battered almost beyond recognition. A deep gash was on his forehead. Mrs. West was found in her mother’s apartment in East Cleveland yesterday afternoon. She went shopping with her mother yesterday morning and bought a dozen handkerchiefs as a Christmas present for her husband. “He needs them, and ties, and a scarf,” she told her mother. She saw a gaudy scarf on a display table. Shrieked at Picture "Eddie would go crazy about that,” she said, “I wish I had the money to buy it.” The father, B. L. Van Woert, wealthy East Cleveland salesman, believes that only insanity could have caused his daughter to commit the act with which she undoubtedly will be charged by county authorities. Mrs. Van Woert,. prominent East Cleveland society woman, said she didn’t believe that Velma committed the murder and although suffering partly from collapse from the shock of having her daughter in jail, helped her husband in arranging for counsel. Not Socially Popular Neighbors and residents of Perry, acquainted with the girl, said Mrs. West, although vivacious, personally attractive and a good mixer, was not socially popular in the town. Her husband was the youngest son of T. B. West, was well liked, and was considered socially prominent. He was associated with his father in the tree nursery business in one of the richest farming districts in the United States. The Wests were said to have been tight-lipped about the bride of their youngest son since she was brought to their home as a bride. She had citified ways, she smoked, and a gulf appeared. INJURED IN AUTO CRASH I Driver, Blinded by Rain; Steers Car Into Track Abuttment. William C. Cook. 53, of 1434 W. Ohio St., was cut on the face by flying glass when his automobile crashed into a railroad elevation abuttment at Missouri St. and Kentucky Ave., Wednesday night. He said be was blinded by lights of an approaching automobile and rain. * 4