Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 130, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 October 1928 — Page 2

PAGE 2

CITIZENS DEMAND PERU MA YOR RESIGN IN UTILITIES WAR

POWER PLANT CHIEF IS FIRED; CITYJNUPROAR Mass Meeting Is Called; Four Councilmen Also Are Targets. TWO SUITS ARE FILED Ousted Superintendent Asks Showdown in Wabash Circuit Court. BY GEORGE SCHOFIELD Time* Staff Correspondent PERU, Ind., Oct. 19.—This little city is engaged in a bitter verbal battle that has split its citizenry and "resulted in a public demand that the mayor and four city councilmen resign. The town's half million dollar power and light plant and its recently deposed superintendent, , B. H. Freeland, are the source of the trouble, which threatens to assume greater proportions. One faction, lined behind Freeland, director of the plant for the last five years, charges Mayor Thomas O. ; Keller and four councilmen with engineering Freeland’s discharge to . undermine the power plant, with the ultimate aim of selling it to power interests. The other, and apparently much , smaller, faction, backs the mayor in his move ousting the Riant superintendent. Freeland Files Suit The latest development in the tease was the appointment Thursday of Judge Frank Switzer of the Wabash circuit court as special judge to try the two suits filed by Freeland against the mayor and ■ council as result of his discharge. He seeks full reinstatement and demands a “showdown.” ' Meanwhile, the town lias forgotten business, football, and politics—this isn’t a political fight—and has settled down to the battle. It is literally true that Peru has little time for anything but its own private war. Charges are hurled right and left, threats of drastic mea.ures against the mayor are made. Mayor Keller has barricaded himself in his offcie and is “out” to all callers. He has refused to talk to newspaper men and has refused challenges from the opposing city council faction to “come out in the open.” The resentment aganist Mayor Keller and the four councilmen Supporting him, smouldering for nearly two years, was fanned into fame with Freeland’s unexpected discharge last month, and Monday night a demonstration, in the form of a mass meeting, was held in protest to the ouster ruling. 2,000 at Protest Meeting More than 2,000 persons, the largest crowd of Peru taxpayers ever assembled at a similar meeting, attended and voted unanimously, to demand the resignation of Keller and his four aids and reinstate Freeland. The meeting was called by Michael Young, president of the Peru Labor Trades council, and six speakers, among them Councilmen Aaron Zook, William Daniels, and U. G. Hippensteel, talked in opposition to the mayor. Direct charges that Mayor Keller and his factibn of the council planned to deliver the power plant 'to “the Interests” were made. The mayor was quoted as saying “the city has no business operating such a plant,” and his entire cbnduct in the matter was assailed bitterly. The mayor’s councilmen, Alden Foote, Warren Tracy, H. L. Fawley , and Charles Whittenberger, like the mayqr, refused to see newspaper men Thursday. Councilman Tells Story Members of the opposing faction, however, were not so reticent. Councilman Aaron Zook pointed out that Freeland had been discharged without warning, for “incompetency.” No definite charges were made, he said. He told of how a move to discharge Freeland two years ago was spiked. He declared the light plant, under Freeland’s direction, has increased almost twofold in value. Only $40,000 of bonded indebtedness on the plant remains, he said, and SBB,OOO cash surplus from light plant profits are on hand. “There is something definitely wrong with this administration,” he asserted. “Everything connected with this matter has been conducted behind closed doors, with the mayor and his four henchmen conducting the business and then jamming .their measures through in council meeting.” Branded “Robbery” Oliver P. Mohler, contractor and former high school instructor, one of the instigators of the mass meeting, was even more specific in his denunciation of the administration. “They are trying to rob us of our light plant, a paying institution, which has progressed amazingly under Freeland’s direction,” he declared. , “They are attempting to make a political football of the plant, trying to undermine it, so that the citizens will lose faith in it and ultimately sell it to the power interests.” Meanwhdel, the citizens eagerly await the next city council meeting, when it is rumored another mass session will be held, to demand Freeland’s reinstatement. Anderson Students for Hoover h'u Tima Special ANDERSON, Ind., Oct. 20.—Andenon senior high school students vot£d as follows in a straw ballot on Candidates for President: Hoov-—.lo-ici prnHh. 818.

New York Pays 'Tribute to Zep

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LESLIE ECHOES DAILEmEDGE Cleanup Urged in Speech at Anderson. Bm Times Special ANLERSON, Ind., Oct. 20.—Taking cognizance of charges of corruption against , Republican officeholders, Harry G. Leslie, Republican nominee for Governor, echoed the “clean-up” pledges of his Democratic opopnent, Frank C. Dailey, in the course of a speech here Friday night. "Good government calls for an application of old-fashioned honesty and patriotism,” Leslie said. “I despise the grafter. I hate dishonesty.” Before the primary election, in which he ran fourth, Leslie was roundly criticised by Republicans and Democrats alike for his silence on dishonesty in government. Insisting again that he opposed “bipartisan Stephensonism” as Speaker of the house, Leslie referred to- the former klan dragon, now a life prisoner at Indiana state prison as “the evil genius of skullduggery, who is precisely where he belongs and precisely where he will stay if I have my way.” The G. O. P. noqiinee renewed his personal attack on Dailey, describing him as the "Tammany candidate for Governor.” e defended his action in blocking the legislative investigation of charges of corruption on the ground that the allegations were not supported by affidavits. . As in all his previous speeches, Leslie declared “I stpnd with oover” on prohibition and immigration questions.” DRY AGENTS TO GET SECOND TRY AT QUIZ Sleuths Who Flunked Exam Given Another Change. Indiana federal dry agents who “flunked” the first civil service examination took hope today with announcement of a second examination because of shortage of eligibles. The first examination in June, 1927, was taken by 104 applicants here, and a large number in other Indiana cities. Only five or six ol the agents taking the examination weer certified. Entrance salaries for agents range from $2,300 to $2,800 a year. They must be at least 23 years old and less than 67 years old. Applications will be received until Nov. 20. Fingerprints of applicants will be taken t , check accuracy of their statements as to arrest, indictment or conviction for crime or misdemeanor. Bit Opponent’s Thumb B.y Times Special FT. WAYNE, Ind., Oct. 20.—Leo Miller, New Haven, convicted of malicious mayhem because he bit a thumb of Lester W. Heine during a fight, was fined S2OO and costs and sentenced to the penal farm sixty days by Judge Sol A. Woqd in Allen circuit court here. The farm term was suspended. Three Fish Weigh 171 Pounds Bu United Press SHOALS. Ind., Oct. 20.—White river continues to produce record size cat fish here, according to Lavere Inman, local telegraph operator. He is exhibiting three catfish of the finny tribe which weigh a total of 171 pounds. Two of the fish weigh sixty-two and a half pounds each and the third forty-six pounds. He used carp for

The canyons of commerce of lower Broadway, New r York’s financial district, w r ere magically changed into a festive scene when Dr. Hugo Eckener, commander of the Graf Zeppelin, and his crew rode up from the Battery to City Hall to receive New York’s Official welcome. Paper and ticker tape came hurtling down from the skyscrapers as though- a snowstorm were raging and there were mighty cheers wffien Dr. Eckener’s car passed. FLIER IS GIVEN UP Almost All Hope Gone for Daring Briton. By United Press LONDON, Oct. 20.—Almost all hope had been exhausted today that Lieut. Commander H. C. MacDonald had lnaded on some part of the British Isles. The former naval officer started from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, Wednesday in a Gypsy Moth airplane with the intention of flying across the Atlantic. Only once on the long trip was his, airplane sighted and that was about 700 miles east of Harbor Grace. Stiff breezes were blowing from mid-ocean to the Irish coast about the time that MacDonald was scheduled to arrive on his adventurous flight and some optimistic friends believed it possible that he might have landed either in Ireland or the northern tip of Scotland. CHURCH WINE STOLEN Three Barrels Taken From Kendallville Freight Station. B.y Times Special KENDALLVILLE, Ind.. Oct. 20.-r Three barrels of wine being shipped to a church at Decatur for sacramerital use were stolen here. The wine, shipped from a warehouse at Sandusky, 0., was stolen frpm the Pennsylvania railroad freight station after being transferred by truck from the New York Central station. Thieves broke a window and carried the wine out through a door they unlocked from the inside. pick^marTann’cast Five City Youths Selected for Purdue Play. Five Indianapolis students at Purdue university have been seelcted as members of the cast of the musical comedy, “Mary Ann,” an all-male production to be staged by the Purdue Little Theater Players Noy, 21, 22 and 23. The quintet, all members of the “chorus,” are John A. Henman, 2960 South Meridian street; P. C. Baker, 5155 North Capitol avenue; John D. Burgess, 3630 North Meridian street; Charles M. Traylor, 145 West Fortyninth street, and Clarence Wacker, 3228 Central avenue.

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INDIANA'S CORN SAFE IN FROST Purdue's Earlier Crop Forecast Stands. Bu United Press LAFAYETTE. Ind., Oct. 20. Frosts late in September and early in October failed to alter prospects for Indiana’s corn crop from condi- | tions reported Sept. 1 because of the i ckcellent dry weather the following ! two weeks, according to the Pur- | dhe university department of agrii culture. j M. M. Justin, head of the depart- ] ment, estimated Sept. 1 that dry weather in August had cut at least 9.000,000 bushels off the state yield. For the entire United States the probable yield dropped 1 her cent, Justin said. Estimates made this month place the oats yield for the state at thirty-, seven bushels to the acre, a bushel below the earlier figure, but even though this yield is not as large as in some of the past years, the largest acreage will produce the state’s record crop. Later growing crops such as buckwheat, potatoes, sweet potatoees, tobacco, soybeans and cowpeas all declined during the September dry weather. The'condition of pasture dropped fifteen points during the same time because of drought. Fights Glaring Auto Light* By United Press CONNVERSVILLE, Ind., Oct. 20. —A special headlight testing officer Tias been assigned here to inspect the lights of all automobiles until the menace to life caused by the glaring rays is ended. This is the announcement of Police Chief Poe in calling attention to the fact that two women were killed recently in an automobile mishap caused by glaring front lights.

NOT ONE DULL MOMENT In the entire 24 hours —fun and thrills all the time AT THE MARATHON

COOLSDGE TAKES BRIGHT VIEW OF CONTENTED U.S. President Back in Capital After Speech Dedicating Battle Memorial. Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.—President Coolidge was back at the White House today after a brief visit in Fredericksburg, Va., Friday, where he delivered an address at the dedication of the Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania county battlefield memorial. A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered to hear the President describe some of the Civil war battles that took place on or near the battlefield being dedicated. The President painted a picture of a contented nation, “its prevailing atmosphere marked by progress, peace and tranquillity.” “Industrial conflicts have almost ceased. Her territorial integrity is secure. Her constitutional liberties are protected by the eternal vigilance of her people,” Coolidge said. “Our country is still worthy of those who have made such great sacrifices in its behalf, still determined to improve the opportunities whic hthose sacrifices created, still loyal to the faith of the past, still inspired by the hope of the future.”

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT October 5, 192 # of the • Jfletcfjer failings anti Crust Company AND ITS AFFILIATED BANKS Broad Ripple State Bank Irvington State Bank Roosevelt Arena* State rank Sixteenth Street State Bank Estt BTathington State Bank South Side State Bank

BANKING DEPARTMENT Resources Cash $3,726,795.83 U. S. Securities 3,372,976.18 Loans and Other Investments 21,739,712.07 Buildings and Equipment 1,014,147.06 $29,853,631.14 Liabilities Deposits—Commercial, $12,069,187.54 Time 14,001,586.27 $26,070,773.81 Due Other Customers 138,250.00 Reserves 382,273.65 Capital Invested by Shareholders 3,262,333.68 , $29,853,631.14 TRIJST DEPARTMENT Trust Funds Invested $10,496,599.33 Trust Funds Uninvested 182,674.00 Customers’ Securities 3,042,280.39 Corporate Trusts 19,916,000.00 Real Estate Trusts 6,877,000.00 FLETCHER JOINT STOCK LAND BANK Owned by Fletcher Saving? and Trust Goropary Resources Loans • ••• ••• ••• ••• •• $15,493,967.46 Other Resources 769,090.34 Cash on Hand and in Banks 245,701.84 $16,508,759.64 Liabilities Invested Capital $1,517,396.07 Bonds 14,675,300.00 Other Liabilities 316,06357 i v $16,508,759.64

HENRY C, ATKINS President E. C. Atkins & Cos. FREDERIC M.AYRES President L S. Ayres & Cos. ALBERT BAKER Baker Ir Daniels VINSON CARTER Company’s Vice-President ALLEN W. CONDUITT John A. Boyd Motor Cos. CARL C. GIBBS Manager National Malleable and Steel Castings Company ALBERT S. GOLDSTEIN President Goldstein Bros., Ine.

CAPITAL AND SURPLUS THREE MILLION DOLLARS

Venus Again Is Seen at Twilight in Western Sky

Star to Grow Brighter and Brighter for Months to Come. By Science Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 20—The planet Venus, closest neighbor of the earth among the more important members of the solar system, has returned to view’. It can now be seen as a brilliant star low in the western evening sky at twilight. From now on it will continue to brighten, getting higher and higher in the western evening sky for months to come. By next March it will be brighter than any other heavenly object, except the sun or moon. It will be bright enough even to cast a visible shadow on a dark night, away from lights of a city. Os all the planets, Venus most nearly resembles the earth in size, for it is 7,575 miles in diameter, as compared with 7,918 miles for the earth. Mars is only 4,216 miles in diameter. The density of Venus is also nearly as great as that of the earth. Venus comes even closer to the earth than does Mars, for when Mars is closest, it is 34,600,000 miles from us, while Venus comes withirt 26,000,000 miles occasionally. Even though Venus Is so bright;, and comes so close, it still is largely an astronomical puzzle. It seems to be covered always with a layer of clouds that prevents us from

•DIRECTORS WILLIAM F. HAYES Capitalist CHARLES W. JEWETT Elliott. Weyl & Jwett ALFRED KAUFFMANN President Link Belt Cos. Hugh McK- landon Chairman Executive Committee and Vice-President ALBERT E. METZGER Company’s Vipe-Presi(Jnt SAMUEL D. MILLER Miller, Daily Sc Thompson

seeing its actual surface. Consequently no markings ever have been observed that can be taken as showing an Indication of life. Perhaps there are people on Vemjs, but if so. they live in a world continuously cloudy, and are proba* bly unaware of anything outside their own planet. Since there are no permenent markings on the planet, it is uncertain Just how long its day is, or how long It takes the planet to turn once on it* axis. It has been thought that it does so once in 225 days, the same period in which it revolves around the sun. Observations made with the spectroscope, however, combined with recent researches at the Mt. Wilson Observatory by Prof. Frank Ross, of the University of Chicago, seem to indicate that its day is equal to thirty of ours. s2ooT6ocTtheft bared Chicago Brother Held at Michigan City in Bond Case. MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., Oct. 20. —Michigan City police today placed under arrest Edward J. Sweeney, 35. Chicago investment broker. The officers said they desired to question Sweeney concerning $700,000 in bonds allegedly stolen in Baltimore, Cleveland, O. and Chicago. Sweeney is said to be one of the most prominent Investment brokers in Chicago.,

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NICHOLAS H. NOYES Treasurer Eli Lilly & Cos. ALMUS a. RUDDELL President Central Rubbfr and Supply Cos. Joseph h. spellmire CHARLES N. THOMPSON Attorney I GEORGE M. WILLIAMS President Harmon Motor Car Compppy EVANS WOOLLEN Company’s President

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OCT. 20, 1928

SANTA FE BUYS KANSAS-MEXICO RAILROAD LINE Sale Price $14,500,000; English Holders Get 40 Per Cent. By United Press KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 20.—The Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railroad was sold here Friday to the Santa Fe system for a total of $14,507,500. The sale of the road was completed in the offices of W. T. Kemper, retiring president of the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient. Os the total purchase price 40 per cent will go to English note holders and the remainder to Kemper and his associates. The road will continue to be operated separately by the Santa Fe under the general management of E. H. Chaufler, Wichita. Kan. Os the purchase price $8,537,985 was paid to Kemper today to be divided among the owners of the line. Thieves Like Official’s Car MT. VERNON. Ind., Oct 20. Thieves favor the Ford sedan of County Treasurer Casey J. Martin. They were thwaTted in their latest effort to steal the car because rain put the motor out of commission. The car was stolen several months ago on the same night that three safes were opened.

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DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES Commercial and Checking Interest paid monthly at 2% on the minimum balance, provided it is no* less than SSOO. Savings 4% is paid May 1 and November 1 m balances from $5 upward, beginning monthly. Demand Certificates of Deposit Payable on demand with interest at 3% from date to payment. Twelve-Months’ Certificates Interest at 4%. Checks for interest mailed; renewed automatically. Loans Commercial loans. Loans on improved real estate in Indianapolis; monthly or semi-annual payments. Loans on farms in Indiana. No commission charged. Trusts Trusts of every description—personal and corporate —ut Executor, Administrator, Guardian, Trustee under will or agreement, Escrow Agent, Attorney in fact; as Trustee under bond issues, Registrar of corporate securities and Transfer Agent. Investments Tax-exempt Farm Loan Bonds of the Fletcher Joint Stock Land Rank. Fifst Mortgage Real Estate Certificates. Government, gravel road and municipal bonds. Real Estate Trusts Subdivides and builders relieved of details. Improved property managed and subdivision project* developed. Real Estate Purchases, sales, leases and exchanges of lots, homes, apartments, business property and farms. Insurance Write all kinds of insurance except life. Rental and Building Management Rental properties managed. Safe Deposit Boxes (ground Boor yaults. Customers* private rooms. Main Office, East Tenth Brfnch, Thirtieth Street Branch, Broad Ripple State Bank, Irvington State Bank and South Side State Bank. Foreign and Travel Steamship Tickets for any port in toe world. Travelers’ Checks, Letters of Credit and Foreign Draft*.’ Bai\ks Specialized service to correspondent banks. Branch Offices Neighborhood banking convenience provided through twelve branches and affiliated banks located over Indianapolis.