Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 152, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 November 1928 — Page 9

Second Section

6.0. P. PLEDGE MEANS CUT IN PRIMARY LIST Far Fewer Candidates to Be Named on Ballot If Promise Is Kept. BACK'TO CONVENTIONS Old Party Parley Would Be Returned to Power Under Plan. BY ROBERT BEARD Indiana voters will not be confronted by such an array of primary candidates in May, 1930, as they mere in May of this year, if the Republican party carries out, in the coming session of the general assembly, the platform pledge made in the recent campaign. Despite many threats at revision, the present primary election law survived the 1927 legislative session without alteration. Proposals and counter-proposals for drastic or moderate changes were heard about Btatehouse corridors. However, both parties seemed content to stand by the existing statute, rather than risk revision when there was no agreement as to what the changes should be. Charges Are Pledged Now Republicans, holding an 80 to 20 majority in the house and a 38 to 12 majority in the senate, and with a Republican again in the Governor’s chair, are pledged to make these changes: 1. To take the nominations for United States senator and Governor out of the primary election and transfer them into the state convention, where all other state offices, other than Governor, are made under the existing law. 2. To take the nominations for representatives in congress out of the primary election and have these nominations made in district conventions in the thirteen congressional districts of the state. 3. To do away with the "presidential preference" feature of the present primary law, thus leaving to state convention delegates the expression of Indiana’s presidential preference. Democrats Are Silent The Democratic state platform made no reference to the primary law. Democrats and Republicans showed a wide divergence of opinion with respect to revision when they addressed the Indiana League of Women Voters at its annual convention here last March. Candidates of both parties at the time professed alarm at “return to the old boss-ridden conventions," while others advocated revision. None came out boldly for repeal, possibly having an attentive ear for the statement of Mrs. T. J. Louden, who presided, that “Our organization stands for the direct primary; but don’t think we do not have an ear for convincing arguments.” Both parties, apparently, were happy to leave the primary law out of the campaign. How the women will regard the Republican proposals for alterations remains to be seen. They are understood to be doubtful if they can wield -the influence in convention that is theirs with the ballot. The proposed changes would reduce the number of candidates to be voted upon to a larger extent, proportionately, in less populous counties than in Marion county. Scores of Names Listed In the primary last May, the Republican ballot handed Marion county voters carried 124 names, in addition to those of candidates for precinct committeemen and for delegates to the state convention. The Democratic ballot presented seventy-five names, plus the additions named above. Had the changes now proposed by the Republican party been operative last May, the number of candidates on the Republican ballot would have been reduced by twentytwo, by the elimination of two candidates for President, three lor United States senator, ten for Governor and seven for congress. The proposed changes would not disturb the method of nominating candidates for state representative and state senator, and would leave them in the primary balloting. The large number of these candidates in Marion and other heavily populated counties is responsible to a large degree for length of the ballot. With four state senators to be nominated from Marion county alone, the Republican ticket offered sixteen names. Fifty-two candidates were on the ballot for state representative from Marion county, with only eleven to be named. Similarly, Democrats offered six candidates for state senator from Marion county and twenty-four for state representative. Cite Recent Election Leaders of the minority party would like to see some revision of the general election laws to prevent county candidates being swept into office on a state ticket, or state candidates on a national ticket. Their desires in this line were heightened in the last general election, when Harry G. Leslie, Republican, was carried into the governship, although he ran approximately 120,000 votes behind Herbert Hoover, and Frank C. Dailey lost to Leslie by some 44.000 votes, while leading Governor Smith by approximately 128.000. Separation of state from national elections, separate ballots or separate divisions on voting machines would hvae returned Dailey the winner and insured Democratic victories in many normally Democratic counties which were lost, Democrats

Entered As Second-CHass Matte': at PostoSice. Indianapolis.

Mount Etna, Mother of Sicily, Exercises Right to Take Toll in Sunny Isle That She Built

Most Deadly Volcano in World Is Guilty of Many Deaths. By XLA Service ROME, Nov. 15. Mt. Etna, creator and destroyer of the island of Sicily, is subsiding after another of its periodical rampages. The old, familiar story of destruction and death, rolling forth from its fire-stained mouth, is getting another retelling. For nearly twenty-five centuries Etna has taken a more or less regular toll of the lives and property of the people who live near it. The poet Pindar, writing nearly 500 years before the Christian era, spoke of the violence and destructiveness of its eruptions; and since then the story has been repeated more times than anyone can count. Owns Right to Destroy Yet if Etna turns parts of Sicily, now and then, into scorched, lavaburied desolations, Etna perhaps has the right; for it was Etna that built Sicily in the first place. Long, long ago, probably before men appeared on the earth at all, there was no land where Sicily now is. The sea rolled there unbroken. Far beneath the bottom of this sea, subterranean fires were generating a long series of explosions. They forced the sea floor up, and little by little thrust a cone-shaped, rocky islet above the surface—the summit of Mt. Etna. This new islet was as active a volcano as the world had seen. Its eruptions were violet and frequent. Builds New Island Each one poured forth anew stream of molten lava, building the cone higher and higher, and each time adding a little to the black beach that began to take form at its base. In the course of thousands of years, the entire island was built up in this way. The lava cooled, disintegrated in suh and wind and rain, becarrie rich black soil. But the people who live on Sicily never have been free from the menace of the towering mountain. In the year 122 A. D., for instance, the Roman empire remitted Sicily’s taxes for a decade because of damage caused by an eruption. Hundreds Are Killed Again, in 1169 a flood of lava destroyed the cathedral at Catania, chief city of Sicily, killing hundreds of worshipers. Five hundreds years later a tremendous wall of lava came down on the city like a moving mountain. Twenty thousand people lost their lives. A score of years after that there came a terrific earthquake that killed many more. In 1769 another eruption nearly destroyed the entire city, taking 15,000 lives. Then followed a number of relatively quiet years, with no disturbance of real size until 1879, when another violent eruption took place. 20 Villages Engulfed In 1910 Etna renewed its activitity with a series of earthquakes and minor eruptions that culminated in an earth-shaking catastrophe in 1914, when a score of villages were destroyed and 200 people were killed. The loss of life would have been many times greater in the 1914 disaster had not a group of minor earthquakes given advance warning. Then, in 1923, came another catastrophe, destroying the homes of 30,000 people and taking many more lives. Since then Etna has slumbered, until now. Vesuvius is probably the bestadvertised volcano in the world, but for destructiveness it never has compared with Mt. Etna—nor, for that matter; has any other volcano. UTILITY VALUE BOOSTED Tax Board Increases Estimate on Indiana Electric Corporation. Following review of valuation of the Dresser power station of the Indiana Electric Corporation, an Insull utility, made by Vigo county authorities, the state tax board increased the $1,100,000 value by $900,000. They also added to the $2',000,000 valuation, $251,430 for material and supplies. Total valuation of company properties in the state is $8,196,000.

DISABLED VETERAN DENIED CLEMENCY

By Times Special MUNCIE, Ind., Nov- 15.—Judge Clarence W. Dearth of Delaware circuit court interprets patriotism in terms of obedience to the dry law. Alonzo McShirley, World war veteran, who was wounded in action and is now suffering from tuberculosis, received no clemency from Judge Dearth after pleading guilty to being drunk. “They gave him whisky in the trenches.” Clarence Benadum, attorney for McShirley asserted in asking clemency. “Now, because he comes back and takes a drink, they send him to jail. Times certainly ha- 3 changed.” “The last election showed that. Iti showed that the country is against the wets,” the court replied. “Well, anyway,” Benadum retorted, "it showed that the country is satisfied with its bootleggers.’^

The Indianapolis Times

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This striking picture of a volcano in eruption shows Mt. Etna in action. Deep, rumbling explosions accompany the flow of lava from the smoking crater. The lower picture shows a wall of moving lava, pushing irresistibly onward at a speed of about five miles an hour and burying everything in its path.

COUNCIL MOVE ON AIRPORT FOR CITY IS REPORTED NEAR

Poor Audience! By United Press KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 15.—Stating that the marathon dances are "inhuman and cruel,” Mrs. Henry B. Ess, heading a delegation representing six organizations,, appealed to city authorities to prevent a marathon being staged here. Final action on stopping the marathon was withheld until city officials could consult backers of the contest.

PUSH HEALTH BILL Proposed Law Sent Out to Clubs of State. Copies of a bill to empower cities and counties to employ a full-time health officer are being sent out to women’s clubs and others interested by Dr. William F. King, state health board secretary. Included with the bill also is a terse presentation of budget requests to be made to the legislature by the state health department and a chart showing appropriations for health departments in other states. In twenty states listed, Indiana, with $180,500 annually, has the lowest appropriation. The health officer bill provides for creation of a health commission in fill counties, and cities of 40,000 or more. A full-time health officer would be employed by the health commission at a salary not to exceed $4,000 annually.

Judge Dearth ended the passage of words by saying: . “The soldier who has fought for his country should br more patriotic than anyone else about obeying her laws.” McShirley was fined $lO and costs and sentenced to thirty days In jail.

FINAL CHAPTER FOR HOOSIER BELIEVED CANNIBAL VICTIM

By Times Special PERU, Ind., Nov. 15.—Appointment in Miami circuit court here of an administrator for the estate of Ira C. Sparks is the final chapter in his colorful life which included packing himself in a box labeled merchandise which was loaded on a Pacific ocean liner. Sparks, a carpenter here, said he had a divine call to preach

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, NOV. 15, 1928

Resolution Providing for $675,000 Bond Issue May Be Offered. Reports that city council may be asked to adopt a preliminary resolution for a municipal airport Monday night were current at city hail today. Mayor L. Ert Slack, who has been silent about airport activities, was out of the city on a hunting trip and could not be reached. Councilmen Herman P. Lieber and Edward W. Harris, Frank H. Sparks, Norman A. Perry, H. Weir Cook and Edward B. Raub Jr., park board attorney, compose the mayor’s airport committee. Members said the committee had held no meeting since the Chamber of Commerce citizens’ committee recommended Site 30, north of Ben Davis, more than a month ago. Some committee members have conferred individually with the mayor. It was indicated the ordinance will provide for a $675,000 bond issue, the minimum stipulated by statute for an airport. The bond issue would be ample to put the field in shape, build approaches and hangars, it was said. City officials are said to be agreed generally on Site 8, south of Ben Davis, rather than the one favored by the chamber. Council finally will determine location of the proposed landing field. Reports indicated the resolution will include specifications and prices on four sites. The other locations probably wll be No. 7, adjoining Mars Hill airport, and No. 15, northwest of the city. The price aslked for No. 8 was $299,000, compared with $388,000 for No. 30. START SKATE MARATHON Grind on Rollers to Begin at Germania Hall; 30 Pairs Entered. Another marathon starts tonight. This time its a roller skating grind, and will be held at the old Germania hall, 37 South Delaware street, under auspices of the Convention City post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Thirty couples have entered. They begin skating for $1,500 in prizes at 7:30 p. m. *

throughout the world, and in 1924 left for the Pacific coast, where he enacted the oox episode. Discovered on the vessel. Sparks was put off when it reached Honolulu. Still persisting in his desire to preach, Sparks built a small boat and set out for the Holy Land from the Hawaiian island city. Months passed and no word came from Sparks. 'Then his boat

BIDS OPEN ON 67 MILES OF ROADNOV.27 State to Make Start on 30CMile Program as Soon as Possible. TWO GRADING PROJECTS Some of Most Important Routes in Indiana Systepi Included. Bids for 67.5 miles of the proposed 300-mile paving program for 1929 will be opened by the state highway commissioners Nov. 27, it was announced today by Director John D. Williams. First letting includes some of the most important roads in the system, Williams says. In every instance these projects are a continuation of pavement which eventually will extend across the state or are necessary trunk connections, he asserts. The November letting also includes two grading projects. The 67.5 miles will be awarded in eight construction projects, ranging from five to eleven miles in length. One Along South Shore They are by Williams as follows: State Road 49 from Valparaiso to Chesterton, 5.5 miles in Porter county. Thus road joins U. S. 20 opposite the Dunes State park entrance on the Lake Michigan south shore. State Road 53 from Remington to Rensselaer, eleven miles in Jasper county. The road is paved from Chicago to Rensselaer and this project extends the pavement south to the intersection with U. S. 24. State Road 24 from Wabash to Huntington, sixteen miles in Wabash and Huntington counties. This is the last gap under contract between Monticello and Ft. Wayne. Includes Greensburg Route State Road 29 from Shelbyville to Greensburg, twenty miles in Shelby and Decatur counties. The road is paved between Indianapolis and Shelbyville. State Road 45 from Huntingburg, Jasper, to Haysville, 13.5 miles in Dubois county. This is the last gap between Evansville and French Lick and West Baden via Roads 62 and 45. The heavy grading and bridging of the Patoka river valley, between Jasper and Huntingburg, was completed more than a year ago and the embankments have settled sufficiently to permit paving next spring. Grading Projects Heavy grading projects were described by Williams as follows: State Road 37 across Clear Creek valley, near Harrodsburg in Monroe county, for a distance of a half mile. Grading was held in abeyance until this time, to complete the big bridge over Clear creek and to bridge the Monon railroad. New grading to bring the highway to these bridges will proceed. State Road 67 adjacent to Eel river bridge, just northwest of Worthington. This project is about three-fourths of a mile long and on relocation to avoid a steep hill and one very dangerous turn. Each grading project and relocation of the highway in order to make travel safer, means abandonment of one of the few remaining covered bridges on state roads in Indiana. DISCUSSES FAR EAST College Professos Speaks to Men’s Club of Carrollton Church. Mysteries of the Far East and customs of Jerusalem were discussed by Prof. John J. Haramy of Indiana Central college before the Carrollton Avenue Men’s Club, at Carrollton Avenue Reformed church, Wednesday night. Haramy was born in Jerusalem and is a graduate of Indiana University. Following service in the American army during the World war, he was a newspaper correspondent in Egypt, Palestine and Syria, returning to the United States in 1924. The Sahara Grotto glee club sang. SEEKS TWO SONS HERE Father Fears for Safety of Pair, Missing Since Oct. 31. R. L. Follett, Boswell, Ind., today is making an effort to locate his two sons, Stanley, 27, and Charles E., 21, here. The two young men last were heard from at Tipton, Ind., Oct. 31. At that time they were selling envelopes and letterheads. They were driving a Ford sedan and were reported en route to Indianapolis. Follett said his sons carried more than SIOO in their pockets and he feared something had happened :to them.

was found moored on the shore of an island in the Philippine group, known to be inhabited by cannibals. No trace of him has been found since. Frank H. Sparks, a brother, has been appointed administrator of the estate, consisting of personal property valued at $2,000, which will be preserved for the wanderer’s children, Thorman, 11, and Donald, 9. ....

‘OH, TAKE A JUMP!’ Renigs on Leap Out of Parachute

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Lester C. Nagley, secretary of the Kiwanis Club, just before he decided not to make his death-defying parachute jump from an airplane and (inset) Colonel John S. Fishback, talking to the Kiwanis Club by radio from a height of 1,000 feet.

NAB THREE AND SOLVEKJLLINGS Captured and Confess 15 Minutes After Murder. By United Press CHICAGO, Nov. 15.—Within fifteen minutes after three Negroes held up and killed a druggist here last night, they were captured, had confessed to that killing and another, and were booked for both murders. The holdup and capture climaxed a night of police activity that included clearing up of a third murder and the Sherman hotel robbery last week. Peter Lucas, 45, was killed last night in his South State street drug store by the Negroes, Morgan Sevan, 22; Napoleon Grover, 19, and Van Dontaerax, 22, when he offered resistance. A squad of police was on the trail in a few minutes and ran down the trio in an apartment house. After a brief gun battle, the three Negroes surrendered and confessed. At the police station they ad mitted killing Matthew Luck, Negro, in a. drag store noldup Sunday night. Luck was a bystander. The third murder cleared up was that of Roy A. Flynn, shot to death in a West Side saloon Nov. 22, 1927. Mike Quirk, 40, had been sought as the slayer. He was seized last night as he returned to his home in Forest Park. Frank Colosimo, 19, former bus boy, admitted tipping off a bandit gang which obtained the $6,922 payroll in the Sherman hotel. MAILMEN TO ELECT Officers of Letter Carriers’ Body List Nominations. Hoosier city branch, No. 39, National Association of Letter Carriers, have nominated officers for the coming year. An election will be held at the December meeting at the Denison. Those nominated: Lowell Wadsworth, incumbent, and Edward L. Minish, for president; John Stettler, recording secretary; William McCutchecn, corresponding secretary; and Charles R. Shellenberg. treasurer. Shellenberg. city hall postman, has served as treasurer for five years.

DEMOCRAT CHIEFS REFUSE TO WORRY

By United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.—Democratic leaders assembling here for the opening of congress are manifesting no chagrin at the political outlook. Generally they are not talking about reorganizing or overthrowing, but speak both publicly and private’y of building up from the 14,500,000 vote basis provided by Governor Alfred E. Smith. For the present, leaders indicate

The missing man’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Sparks, live here and his sons make their home with them. Despite the legal steps which make her son dead, at least in the eyes of the law, the mother has not lost hope that some day he will return and spends many hours watching for him from a window of her home.

Second Section

Full Leased Wire Service ol the United Press Association.

Kiwanians Are Addressed by Radio From Plane at 1,000 Feet. "Ladeees and gentlemen—introducing to you the peerless, fearless, daredevil parachute jumper, Mistah Lester C. Nagley. "Mistah Nagley will thrill you, chill you, astound you with his death-defying leap for life from this plane. "Are you reafiy Mistah Nagley?” "Yes.” The answer came w;akley, and then the peerless, fearless parachute jumper, better known as the secretary of the Kiwanis Club, strode forth. He was greeted with cheers by the more than 100 Kiwanians at the Indianapolis airport for the club’s ‘ aviation day.” Nagley, a parachute strapped on his back and a flying helmet fitted on his head, prepared to enter the plane. “Poor Lester* “Poor Lester, I knew him well.” "I feel sorry for his children. Too bad, to be left without a father at their age.” “He has a chance, though. You know those parachutes do open sometimes.” Nagley paused uncertainly and felt the parachute, then the chorus was resumed. “This will give the club a fine chance to hold a memorial service.” "But what a messy way to commit suicide.” That was enough for Nagley. He unstrapped his parachute, “Jump” Only One Feature Nagley’s parachute “leap” was the big feature of the afternoon, but other features were plentiful. A flying circus was staged and the club members heard a message from the sky. Colonel John S. Fishback, executive chairman of the Indianapolis chapter, National Aeronautical Association, speaking on a radio sending set in a plane more than 1,000 feet up, addressed the club members, who were grouped around a receiving set at the airport. More than fifty club members took plane rides over the city. Lindbergh Poem Wins By United Press VALPARAISO, Ind., Nov, 15. Mrs. Margaret Ball Dickinson, member of the English department at Valparaiso university here, has been awarded first prize by the British Poetry Society for the best poem on Lindbergh.

they will leave matters as they are. No active campaign work will have to be undertaken until the congressional campaign of 1930, and this will involve no activity on a national scale. National sentiment of the pa-ty will not be tested until 1932. There is no concerted demand for the scalp of John G. Raskob, chairman of the Democratic national committee. His activities were criticized by anti-Smith groups and others in some normally Democratic states of the south which bolted th Smith ticket. Some demands have been made for his resignation, but Smith people say he does not con template resigning. Most of the Democratic senators who have returned thus far have expressed belief that the party is ir. better shape than it was after the John W. Davis defeat in 1924. It gained large numbers of votes in cities usually Republican and its leaders do not profess to be worried by the bolting of Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas.

STATE PRISON NEEDS PUT AT HALFMILUON Legislature to Be Asked for Large Sum to Erect New Buildings, PROBATION PLAN URGED Penal Population Could Be Reduced, Secretary of Board Believes. Indiana legislators will be asked to appropriate nearly $500,000 for new buildings at the several penal institutions, according to budgets now on file with the board of accounts. Yet *an increased adult probation program might curtail the constantly growing penal population so that such huge expeditures would be unnecessary, in the opinion of John A. Bromn, secretary of the state charities board. He cites the case of Massachusetts, where no new prison buildings have been necessary for twenty-five years. That state leads all others in the matter of adult probation, he says. Penal Population Drops Asa result, the penal population has decreased from 6,877 in 1914 to 5,373 in 1927. During the same period in Indiana, the number of prisoners has increased from, 3,114 to 5,738. A similar increase is noted in the majority of other states, Brown declares. “From a social standpoint, adult probation is very advisable,” he asserts. “It is not entirely a matter of the saving of dollars and cents to the taxpayers, although that is obvious. “There is no reason why a saneminded first offender should be sent away without giving him or her a chance to try again. Oftentimes they learn things by contact with hardened persons behind the prison walls that cause them to continue on the downward path, with great detriment to society. Probation Is Advised “Could they be saved by a single chance, surely it is advisable to give it to them. "No state of society shoutld imprison persons out of a mere spirit of revenge.” That the building programs asked by the several penal institutions are needed sorely is shown in please attached to the budgets by the superintendents. Warden Walter H. Daly of the Indiana state prison at Michigan City requests anew cellhouse to cost $159,800 and a $30,000 factory building. He points out that 415 prisoners are sleeping in factory buildings, two-thirds in dormitories and only 570, fewer than one-third, in proper cells. Buildings Are Needed At the Indiana state farm, Greencastle, two new dormitories to cost $25,000, an $18,500 industrial building, and a $25,000 chapel are requested. Here also attention is called to overcrowding. Superintendent Andrew F. Miles asks a $45,000 dormitory and $40,000 trade school at Indiana state reformatory, Pendleton. Adult probation has been a slow process in this state, according to Brown. In Massachusetts officials have been working at it for more than fifty years. Under the present plan in Indiana a state department head Is appointed by the Governor and local courts may have their own probation officers. In Massachusetts the probation is in charge of experts, employed by a nonpartisan board, which selects the department head without political consideration. SUGGEST” NEW“ JUDGE Letters Besiege Jackson Over Vanderburgh Bench. Dozens of letters and telegrams are coming daily to the office of Governor Ed Jackson in the interest of candidates for the seat on the Vanderburgh superior bench to be vacated Dec. 1, by Judge Edgar Durre. The Judge is to retire to head the trust department of the Old National Bank. The county bar association recommended John Brady as first choice and E. C. Henning as second choice to the Governor. No action will be taken until Durre leaves the bench it was announced. 100 COMMUNISTS SLAIN 200 Taken Prisoner In Battle With Chinese Nationalists. By United Press HONG KONG. Nov. 15.—One hundred communists were killed and more than 200 taken prisoner in a two-day battle with nationalists advices to Hong Kong said today. The battle began at Shektong City in the Fayuen district. The communists have had a stronghold there for more than a year and recently the radical leader was ordered to retreat to Chingol, from where he was routed. Orders Economy Campaign By United Press BUCHAREST, Nov. 15.—Premier Maniu, launching a drastic economy campaign, ordered the sale of 200 automobiles belonging to the various ministries. In the future, Maniu said, each minister will use one government automobile each.