Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 284, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 February 1936 — Page 1

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Six Are Seriously Injured in Explosion at Bakery

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This picture, shows a irrecked bread slicing machine, newly installed in the Continental Baking Cos., 330 E. Mar-kcJ-sf, and mined, company officials sail, by a basement blast today that wrecked the first floor of the New Jersey-st aide of the building. Other machines also were damaged. a

FLYING SQUADS RULE IN PEKIN Troops Ready to Move in as General Walkout Nears Crisis. By I tilled Press PEKIN, ill., Feb. s.—Flying -squads of union pickets enforced ‘strike rule” in this industrial community today, halting deliveries of food and fuel. Likelihood of National Guard intervention became greater. A “general staff” of labor leaders, bustling about the dingy, halflieated quarters of the Pekin Trades and Labor Assembly, directed strategy aimed at paralyzing the community of 16,000 as a demonstration in behalf oi 700 striking distillery workers. Thirty-two unions are co-operating. A survey 26 hours after call for a “general strike" went out of union headquarters indicated the movement was far from 100 per cent effective. The town’s biggest factories—the Quaker Oats Cos.. Corn Products Cos. and Fleischmanns Yeast —were operating normally. 1500 Reported on Strike Strike leaders asserted 5000 were out., but State's Attorney Nathan T. EllifT said approximately 1500 workers participated in the walkout, including the distillery crew who have been out two weeks demanding a closed shop, collective bargaining, and elimination of the “speed up.” Fifty pickets maintained siege of the American Distilling Cos., scene of recent tear gassing of pickets, throughout a night in which the tcmjjerature dipped to 16 below zero. Squad l , watched the factory gates to prevent strike breakers leaving while others attempted to sleep in small tents pitched amid the snowdrifts. Strikers used an elaborate system of espionage and intimidation to prevent truck deliveries. Throughout the city, spies were posted. When a truck rolled into town the driver would be accosted bv a unionist and warned to turn back. If the trucker refused, the picket rushed to a telephone and reported to strike headquarters. Here his call was taken by one of the business-like “general staff" officers, who jumped from the phone, organized a “flying squad” and ordered them to intercept the truck and "persuade" the driver. No \ iolence Reported No violence has been employed so far. Strike headquarters was the busiest place in the city. With barber shops, beauty parlors and taverns closed by the strike, and food stores running short on provisions, few ventured out. At Peoria. 10 miles away, five companies of National Guard, including a howitzer company with guns capable of hurling tear gas projectiles 200 yards, stood ready to make a quick run to Pekin as requested yesterday by Sheriff Ralph Goar. State officials were believed postponing troop action until all hope of conciliation was over. The city council met this morning but took no action of the strikers' offer to halt the general walkout if Police Chief Harry Donahue were removed. Mayor W. E. Schurman asserted he would stand by Donahue. N. Y. Strike Called Off By 1 nite4 Pres* NEW YORK, Feb. 5.—A threatened itrike of elevator operators that would have inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of workers in Manhattan was called off today.

The Indianapolis Times FORECAST: Fair and continued cold tonight with lowest temperature zero to 5 below; tomorrow fair with slowly rising temperature by afternoon.

VOLUME 47 —NUMBER 284

SPECIAL LEGISLATURE SESSION IS INDICATED McNutt Declines to Reveal Date for Considering Security Law. Gov. McNutt today indicated at his press conference that there would be a special session of the Legislature soon. He said that the Federal social security bill has been received and that action by the Legislature hinges on the deficiency appropriations bill which has passed the United States Senate and goes to the House for reconsideration. “The Indiana law does not meet the requirements of the Federal act,” Gov. McNutt said. Asked as to the date he is to issue the call, he made no comment. It is believed by Statehouse observers that the date of the call is to be Feb. 14 or Feb. 24.

QUINS SOON TO TALK 'VERY BEST FRENCH' Pre-School Training to Be Given, Dafoe Says. By I nitrd Press CALLANDER. Ontario. Feb. 5. The Dionne quintuplets soon will be speaking “the very best French.” Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe stated today in announcing appointment of Jacqueline Noel. Montreal, as head nurse at the Dafoe Hospital. Dr. Dafoe said the babies were to be given special pre-school training and that appointment of Miss Noel as head nurse assured them expert instruction. The babies are to be taught English after mastering the native tongue of their father and mother, both French Canadian?. "Owing to the fact the Dtenne quintuplets have advanced iO 20 months of age. it now is absolutely essential that pre-school training be given them. This is just as necessary as good nursing,” Dr. Dafoe said. "The guardians, and particularly myself, feel fortunate in securing the services of Miss Noel, a graduate of Verdun Hospital, Montreal. KELLER SENTENCED TO DIE IN ELECTRIC CHAIR City Man Condemned for Murder of Cincinnati Laundry Owner. By Vkited Press CINCINNATI. Feb. s.—Richard Keller. 29. Indianapolis, today was sentenced by Judge Charles S. Bell to die in the electric chair at Ohio Penitentiary on May 26. He was convicted of the murder of Adolph Woest. Cincinnati laundry proprietor. May 11. 1933. Judge Bell overruled a motion for anew trial. THREE DIE IN FLAMES Fathpr, Children Perish; Mot ter Is Burned Seriously. By United Pres* MAUD, Okla.. Feb. 5.—A father and his two children perished in a fire at their home near here today. The wife and mother of the family was burned seriously, but may survive. The dead sre: Jack Washington, 26; Billie June Washington. 5. and Ronnie Boyd Washington. 3. Times Index Amusements 6 Births. Deaths 15 Broun 11 Comics .' 17 Editorial 12 Financial 13 Mrs. Roosevelt 8 Pegler 11 Radio 4 Serial Story 9 Sports 114-15 State Deaths 2 Want Ads 15-16 Woman's Pages 8-9 ,Ts

FRANK BUTLER DIES AT HOME Short Ilf ness Is Fatal to Columbia Club President. Frank A. Butler, Indianapolis industrialist and Columbia Club president, died- today in his home, 3060 N. New Jersey-st, after a short illness. He had been ill of pneumonia. Funeral services are to be held at 2 Friday afternoon from the Hisey & Titus Funeral Home. Burial is Ic follow in Plainfield, Ind. Born March 30, 1876, in Morgantown, Ind.. Mr. Butler was agent for the Big Four Route in that community when he was 17. Although he retired from active business life in December, 1934, he had been associated with the C. B. Cones & Son Manufacturing Cos. for 26 years and was a former secre-tary-treasurer of that firm. He also had been associated with the Merchan s National Bank and was a director of the Consolidated Finance Corp. Five Survive Him Surviving him are the widow. Mrs. Laura Josephine Butler; two daughters. Mrs. W. C. Byers, Columbus, O. and Mrs. Richard W. Fox, Indianapolis; a son M. G. Butler. Indianapolis, and a sister. Mrs. Jennie Hamilton, Morgantown. Mr. Butler always had been active in Columbia Club affairs and was president also in 1922. He was the only member of the Indianapolis Traffic Club to have served two terms as president and ivas a member of the Shrine, Scottish Rite and the Morgantown Free and Accepted Masons. He was a thirtysecond degree Mason. During the early part so his life, Mr. Butler lived in Washington, where his father served as a government pension clerk. Thomas Mahaffey Dies Thomas Mahaffey. 5324 Washing-ton-blvd. Consolidated Finance Corp. president, died today in his home of heart disease after an eight-weeks illness. Funeral services are to be held at 9 tomorrow in St. Joan of Arc Church. Mr. Mahaffey, who was 72 and for 50 years a resident of Marion. Ind., was director and vice president of the Marion National Bank, director of the South Marion State Bank and director of the Rutenburr Electric Cos.. Marion. He was a fourth degree Kinght of Columbus, a life member of the Elks Lodge and a member of St. Joan of Arc parish and the Indianapolis Athletic Club. He was born in Seneca, 111. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Katheryn Mahaffey: two sons. Fred L. and Thomas Mahaffey Jr.; a granddaughter, Ann Mahaffey, all of Indianapolis, and a sister, Mrs. Ann Smith. Ottawa, 111. Mr. Mahaffey lived in Indianapolis 13 years. Burial is to be in Marion. STATE POLICE BARRED FROM POLITICAL WORK Members Seeking Office Subject to Dismissal. Stiver's Orders. Orders were issued today by Donald F. Stiver, state director of public safety, that any state police officers who are candidates for office in he ccming elections are to be discharged immediately. Furthermore, no leaves of absence are to be granted any officer for political campaign purposes, he said. Mr. Stiver also announced that William E. Shaw of Winamac. a state policeman, had been discharged for conduct unbecoming an officer, namely drinking and the improper use of his police badge.

WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 5, 1936

Girls Trapped by Blast Restroom Lights Out, Young Women Recount Suspense While Awaiting Rescue.

BY HELEN LINDSAY RELEASED from a restroom in which they had been eating homepacked lunches, girl employes refused to give their names and described the exnlosion as thev waited to ?n hart tr,

MERCURY TUMBLES TO 4 BELOW HERE Cold Wave to Stay Until Tomorrow, Is Forecast. Hourly Temperatures .. 7 7 :30 a. m. —4.2 ! la. m 6 Ba. m —3 2a. m. 6 9a. m —3 3 a. m. 4 10 a. m —1 4 a. m 1 11 a. m 2 5 a. m. 0 12 (n00n).... 4 6a. m —2 1p.m.... 8 7a. m —3 2 p.m. ... 8 The temperature went to 4.2 degrees below zero this morning and the season's second cold wave settled on the city, not to lift noticeably until late tomorrow. One more Indianapolis person was killed as a result of the winter conditions, and two more died in the state outside the city. Meanwhile driving conditions remained hazardous on ice-coated highways north and side streets in the city, a:.d relief agencies continued to be pressed to provide for the city's indigent. When he stepped back from a switch from which he had been chopping ice last night, Gustav Christ, 51, of 1237 Beecher-st, was struck by a Belt Railroad freight train and was killed. The accident happened at the Madison-av crossing. The train was operated by Fred Blomeyer, 40. of 1150 Reisnei te conductor. Mr. Christ has been employed by the railroad for 30 years. He leaves his (Turn to Page Three l ‘KID CANN’ TO TAKE STAND, TELL ALIBI Accused Liggett Slayer Ready With Dozen Witnesses. By United Press MINNEAPOLIS. Feb. 5. Attempting to refute testimony that he killed Walter Liggett, militant editor. Isadore (Kid Cann) Blumenfeld today was ready to bolster his alibi on the witness stand. Defense Attorney Thomas Me- | Meekin said Blumenfeld himself and a dozen others would testify the liquor dealer was in a downtown barber shop at 5:41 p. m. on Dec. 9 when Liggett was slain. MICHIGAN MAN NAMED SUCCESSOR TO FEENEY| Leon C. Coller, Grand Rapids. Is New Milk Administrator. Appointment of Leon C. Coller of Grand Rapids, Mich., to succeed A1 G. Feeney as Indianapolis Milk Area administrator, was announced today by M. Clifford Townsend, Indiana Milk Control Board chairman. Mr. Coller formerly was Federal j administrator for Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Grand Rapids. SIDNEY SULLIVAN ILL Ayres Publicity Director in Hospital With Pneumonia. Sidney A. Sullivan. 5325 Centra 1av, taken to St. Vincent's Hospital yesterday afternoon when he contracted pneumonia, was reported to j be resting well today. Mr. Sullivan is publicity direc- 1 tor of L. S- Ayres & Cos.

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—Timps Staff Photos. Shown here is a victim of the explosion, lying on a stretcher ready to go to the hospital. He was treated by th Fire Department's first aid squad at the scene of the accident. Six other men were injured, and were taken to hospitals. Physcians say none of them will die.

~ w lucu vvl/iis. bUUtt,y in the Continental Baking Cos, “It was sudden,” one girl said. “There was a, hissing then, the explosion, and clouds of smoke. The glass from the windows fell over us, and the plaster from the ceiling. Some of the girls were knocked from their chairs by the impact. I have particles of glass all through my hair.” Another girl told how her lunch partner rushed to the fire escape door, was too excited to try it, and screaming, “It won't open,” hurried back into the smokefilled restroom to her companions. “I climbed up to the window, thinking I could jump out,” a tall, dark girl said. As she talked she rubbed shaking hands together, and pushed her hair back from eyes reddened from smoke and tears. “I couldn't get out that way. We couldn't see to get out—we couldn’t see to tell where we were. Then a man brought a flashlight and led us down a stairway and out,” she said. u n u T UNCHES were scattered over - L/ the restroom floor, and coats, hats and street shoes, discarded for flat-heeled work shoes, were strewn about. “I had some cakes, and they were knocked out of my hand and across the room,” a blond girl said. “I hadn’t had time to pay for them, either.” Girls who had gone to nearby restaurants and drug store lunch counters hurried to the building, anxious to see if their companions in the bakery had been hurt. “I hearc it in the drug store,” one of these said. “It sounded as if an automobile had run into the side of a building. I ran out, and saw that it was something that had happened to our bakery.” “I was eating lunch in the restaurant, and the explosion knocked pans and dishes off the walls.” another girl said. “I came out and sav? people rushing from the building." nan TpOR.CE of the explosion twisted handles on fire doors of elevators. and the girls stood watching bakery employes struggle with them until they were closed. Without their coats because they had been ordered to stay out of the restroom until it was determined there was no danger there, the girls huddled together for warmth in the cake room. Force of the explosion had blown out all windows, and cold air rushed into the mom, where odors of sweet cakes and smoke mingled. “I was just going in the dressing room door when it happened,” a young man in white uniform told the girls. “The force of the explosion blew me the rest of the way. I thought at first it was an elevator which had fallen when I heard screams. Another guy and I went all through the building—every elevator shaft door had been blown out.” “It's tough on that new maintenance man.” he added. “It probably would have happened anyway. but it’s pretty bad for him to have this happen the first week he is here.” The maintenance man is William Ingle who was not in the building when the explosion occurred.

Entered a Serond-Clasu Matter at Postofflee, Indianapolis. Ind.

LEAKING GAS IS BLAMED BY CITY OFFICIAL FOR ACCIDENT

The Injured

Seven men were injured, five seriously, in an explosion today at the Continental Baking Cos., 339 E. Mar-ket-st. They are: Frank DaVee, 34, of 2132 W. Mln-nesota-st, employe; burned on hands and face. Ernest Keith, 55, of 226 E. Ver-mont-st, employe; burned on face and hands. Louis G. Schmoe, 33, of 1927 Bloyd-av, employe; burned on feet, hands and face. William Baumgart, 35, R. R. 7. Box 70, Indianapolis, employe; burned on feet, hands and face. Alfred williams, 54, Sheridan, Ind., employe; burned on sept, hands and face. Stanley Bates. 44, of 320 Vi E. Washington-st, WPA worker, pedestrian; hurled to sidewalk, struck by debris; chest injuries, nervous shock. Ed Byrne, 26, of 2526 E. 16t,h-st. employe; first-degree burns on hands and head. All but Byrne were taken to Methodist Hospital. He was taken to City Hospital. BORAH OUT IN OPEN; ENTERSJHIO RACE Renews Challenge to Old Guard in Announcing. BY LYLE C. WILSON United Pres* Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Feb. s.—Pressure for political party realignment hit a new high today with Senator William E. Borah’s announcement of candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in challenge to old guard leadership of the G. O. P. Both major parties are under threat of bolts. Mr. Borah is practically committed to deserting the Republican nominee unless he is a liberal standing on a liberal platform. Senator Borah is to enter the Ohio presidential primary, May 12. with a slate of at least eight candidates for delegatfes-at-large to the Republican national convention at Cleveland. Some observers believe if Mr. Borah misses the nomination his convention strength will be shifted to Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg, a Michigan Republican. His Platform Is Outlined • Mr. Borah's platform as outlined on and off the Senate floor is substantially as follows: 1. Nomination of a liberal Republican candidate on a liberal Republican platform. 2. Orderly expansion of currency adequately backed by gold. 3. Federal responsibility for unemployment relief. 4. Budget balancing when feasible by economy. 5. Farm relief by curbing industrial monopoly, refinancing farm indebtedness, and improving the national distribution system. 6. Strict observance of the Constitution subject to amendment by prescribed methods. 7. Absolute non-interference in European affairs. 8. Unemployment insurance and an old age pension system providing S6O a month for each pensioner. Formal avowal of Mr. Borah’s candidacy was made yesterday after 20 years toying with the idea.

Ignited by Spark, Declares Hurd; Early Damage Estimates Range Between $60,000 and SIOO,OOO. BY HEZE CLARK An explosion today wrecked the basement, gas meter and pump room of the Continental Baking Cos., 339 E. Market-st, and seriously injured six men employes. Valuable new machinery in the bread-wrapping department on the ground floor was damaged. Physicians at the hospitals said that they believed none of the six men seriously burned were fatally injured.

NO UNDERWORLD IN CITY, MAYOR SAYS Kern Speaks at Meeting Marking Centennial. Indianapolis has no underworld and is not “cursed” like so many other cities by a political link between criminals and police. Mayor Kern said today. He made the statement at a luncheon in the Indianapolis Athletic Club celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Indianapolis as a town. Former living Mayors were guests for the celebration sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Kern briefly sketched the city's history, took pride in its accomplishments and forecast an even greater future. He paid tribute to its citizens, crediting the present “excellent condition” of the city to the “spirit of harmony we have here.” “Employers and employes get along well and the different races also get along peaceably,” the Mayor said. "Employers are quick to recognize the rights of labor and our union leaders have made a great contribution to our civic life. These men are conservztive and actually represent labor and in no sense can they be classed as racketeers.” Continuing, the Mayor said: “We have a well-balanced community life and our industrial future is bright. “While we can’t look forward to being the largest city in the world, we can look forward to being the greatest in spiritual values.” The Mayor said that the present and past administrations had made earnest efforts to cut down governmental expense consistent with governmental efficiency. As an evidence of the healthy condition of the city he recalled that during the last year several large industries had moved here and others had launched programs of expansion. POPE PIUS TO PRAY FOR PEACE TOMORROW Catholic Leader to Mark For/teenth Anniversary as Pontiff. By United Press VATICAN CITY, Feb. s—Pope Pius IX expected to offer special prayers for world peace tomorrow on the fourteenth anniversary of his ascension to the throne of St Peter's. Recovered from his cold, the Pope was busy today. Tomorrow he is to rise at 5, celebrate private mass and pursue a crowded schedule of activities until 10. Physicians who examined the Pope said that his health was excellent.

FINAL HOME PRICE THREE CENTS

Twenty girls, eating their noonday meals on the second floor, were knocked down but were not injured. Thirty more girls were out of the building at the time for their luncheons. No one was on the first floor, since it houses the bread-wrapping department and the crew works at night. A fire that followed the explosion was brought under control quickly by firemen. They poured 10 inches of water into the cellar. The water may have ruined scores of sacks of flour stored there to add further to the loss. Crowd of 3500 Gathers The explosion was heard for several blocks and attracted a crowd estimated by police at between 3500 and 4000. Poiice lines were formed immediately to keep the crowds back while rescue and fire-fighting work proceeded. While investigations of company and city and state officials still were in progress, the departments not crippled by the explosion resumed worl?. and company officials said they will have bread for sale tomorrow. despite the accident. Company officials and insurance adjusters would not make a direct statement as to the total amount of the damage until engineers had examined the structural weaknesses of the building. Early unofficial estimates ranged from $60,000 to SIOO,OOO. Ten new pieces of machinery, valued at SSOOO each, were damaged to such an extent they may have to be replaced. W. F. Hurd, city building inspector. said that he believed gas had accumulated in the meter room and was set off by a spark from the electrically operated pumps that force it into the ovens. Pedestrian Is Injured The meter room is directly under the sidewalk and the concrete pavement was shoved up, badly cracked. Stanley Bates, a WPA worker, was walking on thus section of the pavement when the explosion occurred. Before he collapsed of nervous hystera, he said he first thought there was an earthquake. He was raised up with the pavement, and staggered and fell. He received chest wounds and was taken to Methodist Hospital suffering from shock. Miss Josephine Rollar.d. telephone operator for the Hollenbeck Press, 338 E. Market-st, heard the explosion and ran to the window. She said she saw smoke coming from the windows, and immediately notified the Fire Department. Five Sent to Methodist When the firemen got there, they found six men burned, five of whom were sent in two ambulances to Methodist Hospital and one of whorp was taken to City Hospital. On a report that two others might be buried in debris in the basement, firemen and the Rescue Squad (Turn to Page Three)