Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 83, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 August 1928 — Page 1

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WATSON AND k SLACK GREET WARVISITORS Senator Urges Fervor and Patriotism in Time of Peace. DELEGATES CROWD CITY Initiation of Cooties Will Be Held Tonight; Parade to Be Held. “Great triumphs will be scored by the United States if its citizenry strives with the fervor and patriotism of war during peace times,” Senator James E. Watson today told Veterans of Foreign Wars, holding their twenty-ninth annual national encampment at the National Guard Armory. Twenty-thousand delegates were expected. “In that way,” said Watson, will peace, the thing we fought for, be realized. This morning members of the ladies auxiliary met with the organization. This afternoon the auxiliary met in the Claypool. "Our national and international policies alike are based on peace and a state of universal tranquility is essential if man is to develop into his full stature and mankind reach the highest goal es its collective ambition,” stated Watson. Watson reviewed past wars of asserting that a keen observer has renewed faith in his counti-y despite reports of unrest and bad conditions. He s&id the future depended on the preservation “in peace what our soldiers have so valiantly won in war.” Mayor Slack Speaks “Let it be inscribed upon every heart, let it be impressed upon every mind, let it be taught in every school, Jet it be preached from every pulpit that liberty and order are the inseparable indispensables to just Government, that liberty without order is license and that order without liberty is tyranny,” he closed. Mayor L. Erf Slack welcomed the veterans to the city declaring he had ino keys to hand out. but if any of the veterans “get in any place where you can’t get out wejl give you a key.” Slack stated that peace was the goal of humanity and that insidious efforts within the country against peace should be blocked. He said he believed residents of the country liad no regard for “socalled higher educational teachings that question the fundamental on which this country is based. He said without the influential power of this nation, European and other nations would be like ships without rudders and compasses. Plan Reception Tonight A reception of officers of both organizations will be held at 8 tonight in the Claypool. Drill team contests will follow. The annual parade of the Military Order of the Cootie, the fur. degree of the Veterans, will be held at ~9 p. m. The Cooties with red hats and sashes and white shirts and trousers present one of the most unique costumes of all Veterans organizations. An initiation of Supreme Scratch of Cooties will be held at 11 tonight at the Denison. The Veterans will be inducted into the order with weird rites and incantations. Indianapolis streets were thronged early Sunday with arriving delegates and visitors, Parades and band concerts were held throughout the day and stopped only during the annual memorial service at the armory at 3 p. m. Memorial Held Veterans oi all wars were given triDute by Indianapolis ministers and officials of the V. F. W. and auxiliary. And with the tribute to the dead was joined pledges that “they shall not have died in vain.” Word was received Sunday that Congressman Melvin J. Moss, Minneapolis. Minn., will fly to Indianapolis Thursday in his own plane. He is a delegate from Post No. 5 of St. Paul. „ . Millard W. Rice. Cincinnati. Ohio, national commander of, the Disabled American Veterans, was to arrive today as a speaker at the opening session. George Cohan's Mother Dead MIDDLETOWN, N. Y„ Aug. 27. Mrs. Helen F. Cohan. 70. mother of George M. Cohan, actor and play- * wright, is dead at her summer home, Sunnycroft, in Monroe.

C4et Results Like This— Mrs. John Ward. 633 W. 30th St., ran the three want ads below in The Times: DIAMOND RING—2 stones: cost SIOO. Will sell for SSO or trade for Rood used Ford. Ha. 1593-J. BED AND SPRINGS—AIso 2 kaltex rockers cheap Ha. 1593-J. LADIES - dark blue suit and 2 blouses, cost $75; only worn 6 times; $lO. Ha. 1593-J. “Had wonderful results from all three ads. and I am certainly well pleased,” Mrs. ~ Ward said when cancelling her ads. Such results stories from want ads in The Times are of daily occurrence. # ‘CALL RILEY 5551 Order Your Ad Today.

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The Indianapolis Times Mostly fair, somewhat warmer tonight; Tuesday probably showers.

VOLUME 40—NUMBER 83

$25,000 Prize Auto King Offers Award for Best Plan of Dry Enforcement.

By United Press "M-EW YORK, Aug. 27.—A 525,000 prize for “best and most practicable” plan to make the United States bone dry has been offered by W. C. Durant, millionaire automobile manufacturer and stock manipulator, in a cabled statement from Europe. The prize is the largest cash award offered by an individual for a scheme that would affect the general public since Edward W. Bok’s famous SIOO,OOO prize peace plan competition in 1923. The latter brought 22,165 plans to insure world peace. Durant sees the United States “imperilled by the widespread violation of the liquor law embodied in the Eighteenth Amendment, he says. The big business man turns upon his fellows in “big business” and accuses them of leading a revolt against their own best interests. “Big business leaders, who have the largest stake in law observance, publicly and privately violate this law and countenance its violation by others.” he says in conjunction with his prize offer. “Instead of using their wealth and influence to create public opinion demanding law enforcement, our business men of character are the chief support of the master criminal class, the bootlegger.” “It is not surprising,” Durant also cabled, “that the flagrant example of lawlessness on the part of the men highest in their respective communities has undermined respect for law in their children, their servants, their employes, and all classes of citizens, including public officials and judges.”

AIRPORT ROARDS MEETJUESDAY Cleveland Airplane Expert to Address Group. Glen L. Martin, Cleveland, one of the Nation’s leading airplane manufacturers, will address members of the citizens’ municipal airport committees and city officials Tuesday at a luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce. Martin, head of the Glenn L. Martin Company, manufacturers of Government and commercial airplanes, was invited to come here by Col. E. S. Gorrell, Stutz Motor Car Company vice president, and a member of the airport equipment and maintenance committee. Members of the three airport committees, Mayor L. Ert Slack, city councilman and ten or fifteen prominent business men interested in aeronautics have been invited to hear Martin by C. L, Harrod, Chamber of Commerce general manager. The equipment and maintenance committee, of which George T. Whelden is chairman, will meet Tuesday afternoon to consider reports on cost figures obtained from municipal airports. Paul H. Moore, chamber aviation secretary, will present data obtained on a trip to St. Louis. Councilman Edward Harris and Frank. H. Sparks, member of the committee, will report findings of their airplane trip Sunday and today to Cleveland and Buffalo.

VARE PROBE OPENED Senate Committee Meets for Hearing. • . \ Bj/ United Press PITTSBURGH. Pa.. Aug. 27.Forces of the United States Senate and representatives of two individuals involved gathered here today for the opening of the Senate subcommittee hearing in the WilsonVare senatorial election of 1926. William B. Wilson. Democratic candidate for Senator from Pennsylvania in 1926, who has waged a bitter fight against Senator-Elect William S. Vare. his victorious opponent, arrived in Pittsburgh Sunday and held conferences with his attorneys and advisers. POISED FOR SEA HOP Two French Planes Ready for Westward Flight. Bn United Press PARIS, Aug. 27.—Two French airplane crews were ready for a westward trans-Atlantic flight today and awaited only favorable weather before departing. The teams of Assolant and Lefevre and Costes and Bellone have their planes at Lebourget field, and said they would leave as soon as possible. Pastor’s Pocket Picked A pickpocket robbed the Rev. I. E. Guinin 775 Indiana Ave., he told the police Sunday. The missing purse contained $29 and some foreign coins. Hourly Temperatures 7 a. m.... 66 11 a. m.... 82 Ba. m..,. 69 IS (noon).. 83 9 a. m.... 77 1 p. m .... 84 10 a. m.... 81

NATIONS SIGN AGREEMENT Til OUTLAW WAR World Powers Pledge Selves Against Conflicts of Aggression. GERMANY’S NAME FIRST Paris Gay With Flags of Many Nations as Rites Are Held. BY RALPH HEINZEN Inited Press Staff Correspondent PARIS, Aug. 27.—Representatives of world powers agreed to renounce war today. At a simple ceremony, solemn and busjness-like, foreign ministers and delegates of fifteen nations affixed their names to a document which pledges them against wars of aggression and denounces war as a national policy. Germany, the common enemy of most of the other signatory nations in the World War, signed the historic document first. As Gustav Stresemann. German foreign minister, arose from his place at the horseshoe table and advanced to sign the document, cameras clicked under powerful flood lights, and the combination of photograph and phonography recorded the ceremony for the eyes and ears of the whole world. The signing took place in the great clock room of the French foreign office, the Quai D'Orsay, where the Versailles treaty ending the World War was negotiated. The keynote was dignity and lack of the lavish display which usually is associated with such a gathering of high international diplomats. Paris Gay with Flags

Paris was gay with flags and the colors of the signing nations floated over the Quai D'Orsay. A great crowd gathered outside and Prefect of Police Chiappe ordered street traffic stopped. Fifty Republican guards were held in reserve to supplement the efforts of 550 fcotguards and gendarmes in keeping toe crowds back. Frank B. Kellogg, secretary of state of the United States, who, with Aristide Briand, French foreign minister, conceived the treaty, came half an hour early. He was accompanied by Mrs. Kellogg and Myron T. Herrick. United States ambassador to France. The crowd broke into prolonged cheering and Kellogg was obliged to stand haticss, smiling and bowing, for four minutes while he acknowledged the demonstration. Briand’s address of welcome contained glowing praise for Kellogg and a w-arm and diplomatic welcome to Germany. The fifteen men representing their various nations struck boldly at any further attempts at armed differences by agreeing to this pact, the first two paragraphs of w'hich read: Article 1. The high contracting parties solemnly declare in the name of their respective peoples that they condemn recourse to w r ar for the solution of international controversies, and renounce it as an instrument of national policy in their relations w'ith one another. Art. 2. The high contracting parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means. Signers of Treaty The signers of this treaty are: Germany, Dr. Gustav Stresemann, foreign minister: United States, Frank B. Kellogg, secretary of State; Belgium, Paul Hymans,.minister of foreign affairs; France. Aristide Briand, minister of foreign affairs; Great Britain, Lord Cushendun. acting secretary of State for foreign affairs; Canada, Premier William Lyan Mackenzie King; Australia. Senator Alexander John McLachlen, a member of the executive council; New Zealand, Sir C. P. Parr, high commissioner for New Zealand in England; South Africa, Hon. Jacobus Stephenus Smit, high commissioner for South Africa in England; Ireland, Patrick Macgil‘ligan, foreign secretary of the Irish Free State; Italy, Count Gaetano Manzoni, ambassador to France; Japan, Count Uchida; Poland, A. Zaleski, the minister of foreign affairs: Czecho-Slovakia, Dr. Eduard Benes, minister for foreign affairs. Dry Raiders Arrest Ten Bji United Press KOKOMO. Ind.. Aug. 27.—Federal prohibition officers and local police made a series of raids her* over the week-end. Ten persons were arrested and charged with operating blind tigers. Large quantities of whisky and home brew was confiscated.

ALL KIDS KLUB SET FOR CLOSING PICNIC TUESDAY

Everything is set for the big picnic of The Indianapolis Times-Broad Ripple Park AllKids Klub which will be held at the park at 9 a. m. Tuesday, according to James Makin, manager. This will be the closing picnic of the season for the club.

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, AUG. 27, 1928.

Ruins After SIOO,OOO Downtown Blast

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Ruins of the front of the Em-Roe Sporting Goods store (above) and the rear of the Traugott clothing store (center), showing force of the SIOO,OOO explosion. Harold Libowitz. 22. terribly burned in the explosion (below). Libowitzs face is charred, his hair burned off and most of his body burned.' City hospital doctors, however, say he has a chance to recover.

COUNTY TEACHERS MEET TO TALK OVER PLANS W. P. Deering Opens Five-Day Session Here. Marion County teachers were urged to “cast aside the vacations and get the spirit of the teaching mood,” at the opening of the annual county teachers’ institute today by W. P. Deering, president of Oakland City College, in Criminal Courtroom. The same theme was to be stressed this afternoon when Deering resumes his address. Prior to his taking the stand the Rev. M. A. Farr, Broad Ripple, spoke. Superintendent Lee Swails is presiding for the five-day session. RUM RUNNERS LOST Four Pursued: Jump Into Gulf; Believed Dead. 81l United Press KEY WEST, Fla., Aug. 27.—Four men—part of the crew of a rum runner captured near here today—were believed to have drowned when they jumped overboard as Coast Guard cutter No. 225 towed the craft into port. No trace of the men has been found. WALES MAY MARRY London Sees Hope in Visit of Swedish Princess. Pji United Press LONDON, Aug. 27.—The possibilities of marriage for the Prince of Wales again were under discussion today when it was learned that Princess Marthe of Sweden would be the guest of King George and Queen Mary at Balmoral Castle in September. She is a sister of Prince Ingrid, who recently married the Crown Prince of Belgium.

All rides in the park will be free to kids, and all members will be admitted to the swimming pool free. Bring your own suits. A program of athletic events will be held on the dog track, and prizes will be awarded to the winners. All the eats for the

NEW EDITOR NAMED Birmingham Post Position Is Filled. By United Press BIRMINGHAM. Ala., Aug. 27. Announcement was made here today that W. L. Sturdevant will become editor of the Birmingham Post. He will succeed Jack Bethea, whose death occurred, July 2. Since Bethea's death. J. W. Foster, assistant to G. B. Parker, editor-in-chief of the Scripps-Howard newspapers, has been in charge of the editorial department. Sturdevant waj formerly managing editor of the Cleveland Press, and editor of the Youngstown Telegram and New York Telegram. DANCE IN 350TH HOUR Two Couples Still Survive in Marathon at Casino. Passing the 350-hour mark at neon, two couples still survived in the marathon dance which started at Day’s Casino. Emerson and Southeastern Aves., Aug. 12. Those in the contest after more than two weeks of nearly continuous dancing were Edward Dunlap, 224 Shepard St., and Miss Emma Alwes, 724 S. East St., and Hugh Hendrixson, 244 S. Gray St., and Miss Myrtle Goolsby, 333 S. Rural St. The dancers keep moving for forty-five minutes of each hour and are allowed one hour's rest in each tw - enty-four. FOUND DEAD ON FLOOR “Asleep” Visiting Friends Told by Wife. Albert Abraham. 2749 S. Meridian St., was found dead on the floor of his bedroom Sunday. He was found by John Dohany. 101 Pleasant Run Blvd., and Frank Henry, 251 Bakemeyer St., w'ho called him several times after Mrs. Abraham told them he was asleep.

picnic are free. Ice cream will be | given by the Ballard Ice Cream Company. One of the features of the day will be the speeches by Lieut. Frank Owens of the police Accident prevention bureau, and by M. M. Mahoney, Loyal Order of

JEutered as Second-Class Matter at Postofflce, Indianapolis

WAR MARSHAL DIES \ French General Succumbs at Age of 76. By United Press PARIS, Aug. 27.—Marshal Emile Fayolle, one of the commanding generals of the French armies during the World War. djed today after an illness of several weeks. He was 76 years old. He won the Croix De Guerre, Grand Croix of the Legion of Honor and the Medalille Militaire. BOMB TWO BUILDINGS Newspaper Plant and Grill Wrecked in Chicago. By United Press CHICAGO, Aug. 27.—The entrance of the Wacker Grill, near the loop on North Clark Street, was wrecked by a bomb explosion early today. Police found- a large quantity of beer, ale and whiskey in the place. Sam Steffen, the ow'ner. is sought. In another bombing, the front of the plant of the Chicago Heights Star was torn out Sunday. The only explanation Xing Williams, the editor, could give was his campaign against liquor runners.

Moose, according to Sidney Jerome, managing director of the klub. The free entertainment is open to members only. All required for membership is to sign the coupon printed in The Times today and bring it to The Times for a membership button.

KEY TO BLAST-RAZED STORE IS FOUND IN POCKET OF MAN FOUND ABLAZE NEAR SCENE Important Clews to Cause of Explosion Are Discovered; Padded Brick Used to Gain Entrance Through Skylight. SUSPECT DENIES SETTING FIRE Strong Fumes of Gasoline Leads to Theory of Incendiary Origin of Flames That Damaged Downtown Shops. * Proceeding on the theory that the *IOO,OOO explosion and fire in the Traugott clothing store and Em-Roe Sporting Goods store, 209 to 217 W. Washington St., Sunday evening deliberately was set by someone bent upon destruction of the Traugott institution detectives and firemen today disclosed these important clews: 1, Police Chief Claude M. Worley announced that a key which fitted the front door of the Traugott place was found in the pocket of Harold Libowitz, 22, of 39 N. Jefferson St., whose flaming body was found behind the store by firemen from Engine House 13 as they rushed to the blaze. 2. Battalion Fire Chie* John J. O'Brien and Detective Fossati reported that one of O'Brien’s men from Engine House 13 saw a second man run from an enclosure two doors west of the rear of the Traugott place just after the explosion. . 3. Evidence around a skylight inset in a well so it was in the roof ot the Traugott store showed that a padded brick was used to break out one of the glasses through which a match or torch might have been dropped to gasoline soaked clothing into the store. The brick was found bv the skylight. The first was hottest under this skylight. ’ 4. Scraped marks on the roof of the one-story building between the Traugott store and the yard through which the man the fireman saw fled, and a bent place in a slanting tin awning in the rear of a building in front af this yard indicated that the firebrand had leaped on it and slid on to the ground. .. . 5. Merchant Policeman James H. West, 119 E. Vermont St„ said he had seen two men in the Traugott store about 7:30 p. m. but thought nothing of it as they appeared to be working and store employes often Acre there at night. The blast occured about 8:50 p. m.

These clews and the statement of Libowitz, in city hospital with terrible burns, that he was just walking in the alley when he was struck on the head. Just before the explosion constituted a puzzle which Worley, Detective Chief Jerry Kinney. a dozen detectives. Fire Chief Harry Voshell, Harry Gates, deputy State fire marshal, and Jhn Willis. Criminal Court investigator, were attempting to solve. Worley ordered Libowitz charged with vagrancy and his bond fixed at SIO,OOO so he could not be removed from the hospital. Seize Firm’s Books Meanwhile Worley announced that the books of the Traugott store would be seized and held for examination so no possible explanation might be missed. Worley also planned to interview Edward Traugott. one of the owners, as soon as he returns to Indianapolis. Traugott’s family reported he left for New York Sunday afternoon. Efforts to reach him up to noon had failed. Harry Sussman. Traugott’s partner. was in Union City Sunday. He rushed to Indianapolis soon after the explosion and talked readily with police. He insisted that he knew little about the affairs of the store, having been inactive in the management for the last six months. From the best evidence available Chief Worley adduced that the explosion resulted from fumes of a large quantity of gasoline which was poured onto piles of clothing in the Traugott store. Apparently it had been the intention o; the firebrand or firebrands merely to make sure that the place was burned but they waited so long after distributing the gasoline that the fumes filled the comparatively small room and the explosion when the fire was applied was something like that which takes place in an automobile cylinder. Wall Is Blown Down The blast blew out the rear wall of the Traugott place and part of the rear of the Em-Roe store. It blasted down the reinforced plaster wall between the Traugott and Em-Roe stores and flames swept through both places. Firemen were able to confine damage to the first floor and basement of the building. Plate glass from the fronts of the stores and glass from windows in upper stories was blown across Washington St. as far as the Statehouse lawn. When Worley and detectives attempted to question the suffering Libowitz at city hospital Sunday night he said: “I am a victim of circumstances. Talk to me when I am feeling better.” Then he became unconscious. Detectives had been at his bedside since. Today Worley announced the finding of the key in Libowitz’s clothes and that when he was questioned about it said that Traugott had given it to him, that he had had it for some time. He said, according to Worley, that he traveled quite a bit and Traugott permitted him to keep a trunk in the store and go to it. day or night, whenever he liked. Employes of neighboring stores said Libowitz frequently had been seen around the Traugott store. Extensive Preparations Firemen said that preparations for the blaze were extensive and methodical. Some of the piles of clothing were so well saturated that the odor of gasoline was noticeable far down in the stacks. The finding of libowitz. a human torch in the alley beyond the wreck -

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age. was an unexplained angle. Some officials thought it possible that, If his story of being slugged were untrue, he had been working with a confederate who climbed to the skylight and dropped the match or torch into the room believing Libowitz had gotten out. Other officials contemplated the theory that the marks on the roof had nothing to do with the explosion and Libowitz might have been working alone and lighted a match, not realizing that the gasoline fumes would explode. Merchandise in the clothing store practically was a total loss—that not being burned being badly damaged by water and smoke. Safe Found Untouched It was at first believed that an attempt to blow the safe in the store was responsible for the explosion, but the Traugott store safe was found untouched. Chief Worley said. Stock in the Em-Roe store was scattered by the explosion and thrown into the street. Glasses was broken in a number of buildings in the vicinity. The explosion disabled The Times telephone switchboard. Display dummies in the Traugott store were beheaded and thrown into the street. When Lieut. Fred Drinkut and the emergency squad arrived at the scene the dummies appeared to be the bodies of persons killed in the blast. Two Firemen Injured

A near panic occurred in the | Gem Theater, two doors to the west. Several persons were said to be injured in the scramble. Miss Marietta Kiser, 6, of 4200 W. Michigan St., bruised in the jam, was treated at the city hospital. Employes of the theater reported they smelled gasoline before the blast. Two firemen received minor cuts in fighting the flames. They were Cecil O. Richardson, 261 N. Addison St., and R. C. Wallace, Spink - Arms Annex. Principal damage to the $125,000 Em-Roe stock was from water. The goods on the second floor, occupied by the Em-Roe Company, were not seriously harmed. The Em-Roe Company carried $115,000 insurance. A. J. Coughlin, 914 W. New r York St„ Em-Roe watchman, narrowly escaped death. He was locking the front door when the blast occurred. Water and force of the blast was responsible for the Em-Roe Company’s heavy damage. Fire did not touch its stocks, but the sprinkler system was set off by the explosion and showered costly merchandise on the shelves and in broken and overturned show-cases. Shotguns, valued as high as SI,OOO each, were buried under watersoaked piles of sporting goods. Twenty or more high-priced motion picture cameras and projectors were ruined. Sportsmen’s watches and compasses were showered. Costly fishing rods w'ere broken. Hundreds of high-grade reels were drenched. Long shelves lined with sweaters, sport uniforms, shoes, etc., w’err soaked. Damage Is Heavy Office employes dug into refuse at the rear of the store to recover correspondence and records and opened temporary headquarters on the second floor, not reached by the flames. Impact of the explosion loosened the copper corner strips on plate glass windows in the Federal Jewelry store, adjoining the Traugott store on the west, and the United Rug and Linoleum Company store, adjoining Em-Roe’s on the east. Windows above the door were shattered at the jewelry store, while one plate glass window w'as broken at the rug company’s place.