Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 185, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 December 1930 — Page 17

Second Section

TAXATION TO FIX OUTCOME OF 1932 VOTE Hoosiers Expect Democrats to Make Changes at Assembly Session. G. 0. P, TOLD TO HELP j Governor Leslie Intimates That Hindrance Would Be Futile. BY BEN STERN That the political balance in the ! 1332 election will be tipped by one j factor—taxation—is the opinion of j every man and woman who come j in contact with the current thougnt in the state. Certain tax reforms have been promised by the Democrats, and the people will look toward the ession of the general assembly, which convenes within a month, to see whether that party delivers. Republican leaders who are sensing the public temper are urging the legislators to go along with the other party on every tax relief measure which has no political '■onnotation. At a meeting here Thursday of the Republican representatives, who will be in the minority, Governor Harry G. Leslie stressed the futility of a program of obstruction, and asked that there be co-operation whenever possible. The tax issue was brought to the fore with the report of the state conference on taxation this week. Sales Levy Opposed While several of the recommendations contained in the report are viewed with favor, there is a strong tide of opposition toward a sales j tax and tire doubling of the auto- j mobile license fee. Certain Democratic leaders today j expressed themselves as being absolutely opposed to the sales tax, which they claim “will, of course, be placed upon the purchased article and that will mean that every man, woman and child in the state will have to pay increased prices for whatever they buy.’’ There is no doubt that the recommendations advanced by the survey i commission resulted from comproraises among the members. Only on two points does there j seem to be any agreement. These J are: That the state levy on property should be discarded and for an income tax. So far there has been no organized opposition to an income j tax. Students of government feel that it is the fairest means of defraying governmental costs and there is no doubt that such a measure will be passed. Whether it will run the gauntlet of constitutionality is another ques- j tion. . Any attempt to abolish the office of township assessor as recommend- | cd by the commission, wall be met : with determined opposition from J those officials and they will j probably have the aid of the In- ! diana Association of Township j Trustees, who feel that if the office j of assessor is done away with, the j trustee will be next. There seems to be hesitancy on j the part of the Democratic leaders 1 1o go along with the Republicans on the tax survey program. Although Elza O Rogers. G. O. P state chairman, subscribed to the recommendations, the Democratic •hies. R. Earl Peters, asked for a delay before he signs the pledge. Sec G. O. P. Control Hr pointed out that there is a distinct feeling in his party that the tax conference is Republican ontrolled because the members were appointed by Leslie. You musn’t forget, - ’ Peters told the survey committee representa- ! ives, “that .when the Republican chairman approves something the members of his party follow his leadership, but in my party every Democrat feels that he is a leader and we have no followers. So ii l would sign or pledge our support i here would be a great howl raised. If the coming legislature passes no tax relief measures, those held responsible will be in public disfavor. The Democratic house will feel the weight of this if it fails to propose reform, and if the senate, which is Republican, does not join in such a program, that party will hear much about it in the 1932 campaign. Governor Leslie is willing to sign any measure which is based upon sound judgment and will prove efficacious, he has indicated. Age Tensioning Popular Another problem which the Dem- I ocrats have to face is that of an old ! age pension law, pledged in the party platform. Many of them feci that It will place too great a burden on the taxpayer and the cost will be enormous, but such a measure must be introduced, is the dictum of party leaders. Popularity of an old age pension was proved in the Sixth district, where William H. Larrabee, Democrat, defeated the incumbent and j popular Richard Elliott for congress. Larrabee is a member of an organization which has waged an active campaign for an old-age pension. As the Democratic platform i promised enactment of such a law Larrabee in the campaign made I much mention of it. The Republicans had no such plan. There are 4.000 members of the organization in the Sixth district. The Republican. Elliott, was defeated by 3.500 votes. "Draw your own conclusions,one G. O. P. leader said today. Whether Leslie will sign a pension bill remains to be seen, but It is up to the Democrats to introduce It At least there are no differences on this point—the tax burden must be lifted from real estate—no matter by what means.

Full Leased Wire Service of the United Press Association

Heads of Accused Firm

jjtk ' '*%?*s(' / ,y / •/

William M. Dozier

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Michael J, O’Keefe

Lot buyers, salesmen and creditors today were seeking this trio of officials of the Indiana Estates Company which blew up Thursday after the Better Business Bureau and The Times disclosed its sales tactics. William McElroy Dozier and Michael J. O’Keefe were partners in the company, and James F. Huteson was the financial backer.

400 SIGMA CHIS GATHER IN CITY Tri-Province Convention to End Saturday Night. More than 400 members of Sigma Chi college fraternity this afternoon were registered at the Columbia Club for a tri-province convention ending Saturday night. Delegations from nineteen activechapters in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana colleges, and alurrini from the same region were present. Rho chapter, Butler university, and the Indianapolis alumni chapter are in charge of the conference. At a. dinner in the Columbia Club tonight Attorney-General James M. Ogden and the Rev. William H. McLean. Bloomington, will speak. Boyd Gurley will be toastmaster. A dinner and ball at the club on Saturday night will follow business sessionc.

Governor-Elect Feels Fine; No Time to Bathe

T TARTFORD. Conn., Dec. 12. Governor-Elect Wilbur L. Cross attributes his good health during the ordeal of the campaign to the fact that he was too busy to take a bath. The former dean of Yale graduate school, noted for his research in literature, entertained 500 persons at a Democratic “victory” dinner here Thursday night with a dissertation on the historical aspects of bathing as connected with politics. While associates who feared he might suffer a breakdown suffered minor ills during the strenuous campaign. Cross said he enjoyed perfect health. “Looking back, I can see it was because I failed to take a bath,” he added. a a a WHEN he returned home after a rally, it? would be too late, he said, and when he arose the next morning, it would be too late again. “I looked up the subject historically.” the Governor-elect continued. “and found there never was a bath tub in the White House until the administration of Fillmore, who first was a* Whig or ’Know Nothing’ and later deteriorated into a Republican. “Fillmore asked the senate for a special appropriation for a bath

JOY AND DOUBLE JOY! CLOTHE A SCHOOL CHILD FOR CHRISTMAS AND GET IT

T TEELS of his tennis shoes flapped as he walked. A bent wire held his trousers together. He was tagging, half-running, to keep up with the strides of a paunchy man who clasped him by the hand. He was winded, but smiling. He was laughing for almost the whole street. The boy and the man entered a city department store. The lad was shown a bluestriped shirt, “O-o-o-h, looky at the funny doo-hickeys,” was his exclamation at the stripes in the shirt. Shoes were fitted on him. The ragged tennis slippers discarded.

The Indianapolis Times

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James F. Huteson

COLD RETARDS. ROAD BUILDING Federal Aid Coming Too Late, Says Brown. : While Indiana stands a chance of getting $2,045,929 when the federal unemployment road relief fund Is passed by the present congress and signed by President Hoover it is coming a bit late to do the greatest good both for the unemployed and the state highways. Winter weather will retard road building. This was the opinion expressed by highway engineers today. Director John J. Brown of the state highway department said he didn’t know anything more about getting the funds than had been reported in the press. Under the present plan the states would get the money Immediately to use for road work, without matching it by similar amounts of state road funds or going through the process of having expenditures or roads approved before grants are made. o. e7s. club in play Organization to Aid in Furnishing New Home on South Side. The Dramatic Club of Prospect chapter, O. E. S., will present “The Kentucky Belle” Saturday night at 8 in school No. 34 auditorium, Wade street and Bloyd avenue, in Brightwood. Proceeds will be applied to the furniture fund of the newly dedicated Masonic temple on the south side. shoots seTf~7n — park Cracks Target in Gallery Once Then Uses Gun in Suicide. By United Press LONG BEACH. Cal., Dec. 12. Asked by the operator of an amusement park shooting gallery, if he “wouldn’t like to take a shot,” Oscar E. Mayhugh, 52, shot once at the target, then turned the gun and j killed himself. Blast Foils Cracksmen By United Press BELLEVILLE, N. J., Dec. 12.—A charge of nitro-gylcerine so powerful that it jammed the safe door tighter than ever instead of blowing j it open, early today drove two rob- j bers out of the offices of E. G. I Steadman, Inc., into the arms of j police. !

/ Gov.-Elect W. L. Cross tub and specialists told him it would be dangerous to bathe between Oct. 1 and June 1, but he finally got the appropriation. But what about the Presidents of pre-bathing days?” he demanded. “Was Fillmore greater than Thomas Jefferson?” he quizzed.

He pranced up and down in the bright black boots. “Golly, is these mine?” he asked. ‘"Sure. Sammy, and the shirt, too, and the blue tie you liked. and the mackinaw, and the ” but the boy interrupted, with an act that gets brusque men's goats. a a tt HE literally leaped up and hugged the paunchy man's shoulders. “My daddy’s dead, but you—you—been mine tkis Christmas. What do you want fyr Christmas? I'll write Old Santaf” The paunchy inaa clasped the boy close,. Maybe hit; eyes blinked

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1930

FINANCE MAZE LAID BARE IN REALTY CRASH Lawyers Call Conference to Find If Investors Can Get Refunds. PROMOTERS ARE GONE Employes Will Be Quizzed on Methods of Indiana Estates Company. A maze of high pressure finance surrounding activities of the defunct Indiana Estates Company, 601-15 Meridian Life building, faced investigators today. The “company,” exceedingly active of late among widows and elderly women in Indianapolis, blew up Thursday. When the dust had settled, among the missing were James F. Huteson, financial backer, and his Rolls Royce; William McElroy Dozier, one of the partners, and his Packard sedan; Michael J. O’Keefe, the other partner. Likewise listed were the hopes of many lot buyers who were promised refunds; the expectations of the many employes that their two weeks of salary and commissions would be forthcoming, and the anticipations of several score of local creditors that the morning mail would contain checks in payment of overdue bills. Lot contracts held in the sheriff’s office indicated lot buyers had turned $119,000 into the firm in down payments. How the company was progressing until .disclosures of its sales tactics brought the blowup, was indicated by deposits in a downtown bank: Dec. 1, $885; Dec. 2, $2,165.43; Dec. 3, $700.62; Dec. 4, $206.12; Dec. 8, $3,379.12, and Dec. 10, $450. Attorneys to Confer These developments were scheduled for today: A conference of attorneys to determine just how far financial responsibility extends in the purchase of lots in the Morningside addition, for which the Indiana Estates Company was sole sales agent. This is to ascertain whether there still is a possibility, through a joint civil suit by complainants, to collect for their losses. Completion of attachment proceedings on a $636 deposit found in the Continental National bank. In these proceedings an attempt wall ba made .to obtain wages due some minor employes. Legal action to open a safe deposit vault located Thursday, but against which no official move has been made. Contents of this box, held in the name of the company, are unknown. Employes to Be Quizzed Taking of statements of former employes and salesmen of the company who have revealed a willingness to tell what they know of the operations of Huteson, Dozier and O’Keefe. Examination of the extensive files and records of the concern, seized in an attachment raid on the company's offices Thursday afternoon. Completion of plans to assure official investigations, both federal and state. An intensive search for the three missing officials. Closing of the out-of-town offices of the concern. Contract Is Canceled Thursday’s happenings included: Cancellation by Sidney Weinstein, head of the Citizens’ Co-Operative Realty Company, 722 Consolidated Bank building, owners of the Morningside subdivision, of the contract between that organization and :he Indiana Estates Company. - Revelations that several down payments on lots, aggregating several thousand dollars, had been made by purchasers who have not received contracts. A complete housecleaning of the company’s offices by creditors, deputy sheriffs with attachments, and furniture dealers. Disappearance of several salesmen and “financial managers” for the concern. Os these are several whose names repeatedly appear on contracts in which purchasers now charge fraud and deception. At the close of business Thursday night,-in the offices of the Better Business Bureau, Inc., whose investigation, with revelations published in The Times, bared the company’s operations, fifty-one unsatisfied complaints from lot purchasers were on file. In each case money already obtained from buyers ranged from S3OO to $2,000. „ Students Aid Farmers By Times Special : GREENSBURG, Ind., Dec. 12. Farmers of Jackson township, Decatur county, will make no drive for farm bureau membership for 1931. At the request of the senior class of Jackson high school they have turned the work over to students and the class has blocked off the township and arranged for an intensive drive this week-end.

a bit. We don’t knew 1 , for we turned away. It was his Christmas and .. Sammy’s. Just those two and one would not want to intrude. And that's just one scene that's occurred in The Times campaign to “Clothe a School Child” for Christmas” that’s typical of all the rest of the scenes as men and women of the city answer the call to clothe a city’s youth. Other donors to the “Clothe a Child” movement here felt like the paunchy man did and have had a Sammy or a Mary Lug them. Perhaps they whistled at their work the next day at the knowl-

Artists View of Pryor Trial

l\ \ \w£m /( / 11 / x the Ernest Pryor' IYPICAL OFTHE FEMALE CONTINGENT WHIPPED HE SCRNTOiEiy j'] By curiosity hisbacic J These sketches by Lee Williams, Times staff WiTH V / artist, were made in criminal courtroom of persons [VI AhTY’ “TJ'KAFS ‘Yr * \ connected with the murder trial of Ernest Pryor, 32, • / ' ' *2l \ Martinsville, charged with poisoning his wife. \ jA \ After selection of a jury in criminal court Thurs- j & / • J day, counsel began opening statements and presen- / tation of evidence. / -1 / The defense charges village prejudice is at the ul \i\Fl—l J/f \fj base of charges against the Martinsville man. ———&/'' y '

RANKS OF IDLE REDUCED IN FOUR INDIANA CITIES

Work for Six Months Will Be Given 1,000 in Riant at South Bend. BY CHARLES C. STONE State Editor The Times Gains in employment in four cities were 'noted in a busmess and industrial survey of Indiana for the week ended today. At South Bend 1 000 men will be given work at the Oliver Farm Equipment Company plant, beginning Monday, with assurance that the employment will continue for at least six months. Those to be given work have been idle a month. The Oliver company has an order from Russia for $12,000,000 worth of its products. A financing plan has been worked out whereby an extension of $22,000,000 credit to the company results. Muncie Products, a General Motors unit, has re-employed 150 former workers, John G. Wood, general manager, announces. After being idle nine weeks, the Boss Glove Company plant at Lebanon has been re-opened, providing work for 100 persons, w’hich W. M. Lyle, manager, announces will continue through the winter. This week the McLoughlin Manufacturing Company, Kokomo, announced its force had been increased 100. L. T. Dwyer, manager, says orders on hand assure steady operation for at least four months. Encouraging reports came from the furniture manufacturing industry, during the week. W. Edward Showers, president of the Showers Brothers Company, with plants at Bloomington and Bloomfield, said: “Our business is picking up gradually. We are constantly adding more men in the factories and while we can not foresee any great rush to normalcy, yet we feel encouraged that the furniture business is coming back.” Furniture manufacturers at Shelbyville believe their business will be nearer normal by early in January

edge that a boy or a girl somewhere in this city was whistling also, because someone was good enough to provide his clothing that other children wouldn’t poke fingers at and make fun of. nan npHE Clothe-a-child editor got a letter from a girl today. It’s drama, leaps in these lines: . I got no clothing muck. My mama’s sick all the time with worry. My little sister hasn't got no underwear. Her dress is torn. She cries sometimes when she comes home from school, because boys and girls make t in of her...” Those are the girls and boys

Tom Mix Charged With Cruelty in Divorce Suit

By United Press LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12.—Tom Mix, cowboy, screen actor, was named defendant In a divorce action by Victoria Forde Mix on file today in superior court. Mrs. Mix charged the actor'with mental cruelty in acts extending over the last five years. - The former soldier, sheriff, Texas ranger and champion cow- | boy was married to Mrs. Mix, * then a noted film actress her- ! \ self, in Riverside, Cal., May 5. da a 19l8 ‘ They separated last ] husband remained home only Mix Frightened his wife at t*h x that time, she charged, by drawing a loaded gun from his pocket, twirling it on his finger, and in a “loud and boisterous manner” announcing that he intended to leave her permanently. While no alimony or property settlement was mentioned in the complaint, it was pointed out that a settlement was made some time ago when Mrs. Mix visited Paris. Mix is in New York.

than at any time in recent years. It is pointed out that holiday buying of -furniture will deplete stocks, necessitating manufacture to replenish them from late winter and spring buying. Factories are now busy preparing samples for the furniture show to be held in Chicago and Grand Rapids, beginning Jan. 5. Reopening of the Franklin Manufacturing Company plant at Franklin, a desk factory, is set for early next month. The plant, which employs about 150 men, was purchased recently by E. Vernon

that entries in The Times campaign are helping. Early today a check showed that 160 children had been cared for by Hooseir men and women. All you need to do to enter the campaign is to pledge yourself to clothe one child. We give you the name of the child. You make your own personal Investigation of the needs and worthiness. Each child’s request has the approval of the Christmas Clearing House, to insure against duplication. No one can do again what you have done and no one will get his Merry Christmas, but YOU. Persons and* organizations pre-

Second Section

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice Indianapolis

Knight, New Albany furniture manufacturer. A. R. Erskine, president of the Studebaker "corporation, South Bend, announces that its sales of automobiles during November were 2,441 as compared with 1,839 for the same month last year, a gain of approximately one-third. Robber Sentenced By United Press LOGANSFORT, Ind., Dec. 12. William Klise, 23, was sentenced to the state farm for one year after a jury found him guilty of robbing a filling station.

viously reported aS donors to the “Clothe-a-child” campaign totaled 158. New pledges received are: Employers of the Indiana Electric Corporation. 800 Traction Terminal bnildinr (two children). Pen Unlimited Clnb of WFBM (cared for fire children and took four more). Two mothers, two. Petite Club. Don’t want name published (two boys). Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Schlensker, 4790 North Illinois street. Employes of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad (eared for two children and want another). Downstairs store employes at L. 8. Ayres Cos. (three hoys and three cirls). Employes of the eity engineer's office. Room 207. city hail. Friendly Ladies’ Club (two

BORAH FEARS VAST LOSS IN SOVjETTRADE Criticises ’Wreckers’ of Business With Russia in Interview. PREDICTS U. S. DOLE Aims Shaft at Treasury’s New Regulations to Bar Reds’ Goods. BY LVLE C. WILSON United Pres* Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.—Chairman William E. Borah of the senate foreign relations committee warned today in an interview with the United Press that if the “wreckers” of Soviet-Russian-Amer-ican trade relations have their way this country will suffer vast economic loss. And he warned, too. that the United States is approaching the dole. The seantor s shaft was aimed at the treasury, which has just Issued trade regulations which he believes are designed to ruin Soviet trade with the United States. His remarks were prompted partly by the interview recently given by the United Press in Moscow by Joseph V. Stalin, so-called Soviet die* tator. U. S. Needs More Markets * Borah feels the Stalin statement merits consideration regardless of what may be thought of Stalin’s policies or methods. Borah is one of the outstanding advocates of recognition of the Soviet Russian government But in his discussion of Soviet problems today Borah limited himself to the economic aspects of the situation. “Everything possible is being done in these days, ’ he said, “To break down our trade with Russia—agitation, and attacks, and treasury regulations, all calculated to interfere with and embarrass trade with Russia at a time when, above all things, we need foreign markets. "Russia has purchased of our people, in the last few years, nearly eight hundred million dollars’ worth of goods. That gave employment to a great many American workmen Some One Will Get Trade But the extent of our trade with Russia in the past, unless the wreckers have their way, will be greatly increased in the nt tow years. "The Russian trade is theft* Someone is bound to enjoy it. in spite of everything wc may do, the Russian trade will go on. We may succeed in sending it to other countries. But we can not destroy the market itself.” "We have close to five million men out of work for some time. We are approaching the saddest and most condemnatory spectacle of a free people—that is the dole.” Recognition Fight Foreseen It is a humiliating and demoralizing thing in this country ot stupendous wealth to have a part, of the fine citizens of the country going daily to get something to eat.” Notwithstanding this condition of affairs, the treasury regulations, whether so designed or not. are aiding greatly those who would stop all trade with Russia. "For every dollar’s worth of goods Russia sells to us, we sell $5 worth, of goods to Russia. And most of the commodities sent to this country from Russia arc not produced here.” If recognition agitation developed it would be on some such argument as the foregoing, that it would be urged on President Hoover. Huge Trade With Russia Borah is not alone In the senate in favor of recognition. Notable among those who agree with him on this matter are Senator Cutting (Rep.. N. M.) and Senator Wheeler (Dem., Mont.), but there appears no possibility of any action soon. ’ “It Is only a short time ago ” Borah continued, “when one of our distinguished American statesmen declared that Russia was an economic vacuum and would be so long as the present regime controlled Russia. “After making that statement, he sank back in his chair and, no doubt, dilated on the marvelous display of wisdom which had just taken place. “Nevertheless, the foreign trade of Russia last year was something like $890,000,000. And it is estimated that by 1933 it will run to $1,500,000,000. “Tills economic vacuum now is buying something like $150,000,000 from the people of the United States, $126,000,000 from Germany, and something like $120,000,000 from England. Dealing With Emergency ' “At present we are doing the best we can to deal with an emergency - at least that which we regard as an emergency-voting great sums of money to give people a chance to work on public buildings, public works, road and so on and so fo.th. “But I am wondering what we will do when the public buildings are built and the roads are completed and the treasury has been drained as low as we dare drain it. “Unless we secure markets for our goods, the unemployment will continue. We ought to be deeply concerned in extensding our foreign trade in every way possible. “The two countries where we find the greatest undeveloped markets in the world are China and Russia —400.000.000 people in the one country and 1501)00,000 In the other. No country is in so advantageous a ; position to develop them as Is the ! United States.” SI,OOO to Aid Needy PERU, Ind., Dec. 12—Tfie Peru j city council has appropriated SI,OOO j to be expended for relief of the unemployed.