Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 May 1936 — Page 1
p——— pra—— fr—
SCRIPPS = HOWARD
ne India
FORECAST: Fair tonight and tomorrow; somewhat warmer tomorrow.
VOLUME 48—NUMBER 68
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1936
Imes
.
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.
&
TERROR CULT HEAD
HUNTED IN DETROIT; LOCAL PROBE OPENS
Michigan Authorities’ Hunt Directed Toward Men ‘Higher Up.’
‘SMALL’ LEADERS FOUND
One Declares Black Legion Was Organized by Samuel Adams.
Forrest Davis is in Detroit investigating the character, scope and politi-co-economie background of the Black Legion, reputed Fascistic terror band. This is his first dispatch,
BY FORREST DAVIS Times Special Writer
DETROIT, May 29.—Samuel Adams, Boston book-sell-er and a father of the American Revolution, must, as the hoary saying goes, be whirling in his reéversed grave. He was claimed today as the founder of the Black Legion, secret cult of “patriots,” which is alleged to have terrorized groups in the Michigan automobile cities, enlisted officials and police, and proposed its own Tascistic dictatorship. A week’s investigation by Detroit and Michigan authorities has failed to disclose der Fuehrer of the Black Legion. Authorities, uncertain whether the movement arose spontaneously on the ashes of the Ku-Klux Klan or was inspired by a sinister, self-con-scious leadership still unidentified, concentrated today on solving that riddle. Adams’ fancied link to the
masked brotherhood emerged as a by-product of their inquiry.
Higher-Ups Hunted
Unwilling to believe that the Black Legion sprang from the undirected zeal of pool-hall loafers, dissatisfied auto workers and neighborhood bigots, the search—directed by Circuit Judge Charles E. Chenott’s one-man grand jury—turned to the men “higher up.” So far the investigation has uncovered leaders of small magnitude. The chiefs are Dr? William J. (Shotgun) health commissioner of Bellaire, O., and Virgil F. Effinger, an electrical worker, “joiner” and one-time candidate for Sheriff at Lima, O.
Credited With Directing Work
These small-town lodge workers, neither of whom bears, according to neighbors, any outward sign of prosperity, are credited with directing “bullet clubs” numbering in Michigan alone several thousand members and said to control the administration of the typical city of Pontiac. Atty. Gen. David H. Crowley and Prosecutor McCrea refuse to believe that the answer is so easy—that either Shepard of Effinger qualifies
as der Fuehrer. 1 talked by telephohe with | er today. Affable, uncomm ae
and humorous, it was Ahe Lima “major general” who pinned the Black Legion's fatherhood on Samual Adams. Effinger solemnly asserted that the Black Legion was old as the republic.
‘Started by Adams,’ He Says
“The society,” said Effinger, “is older than you and me and some more put together. It was started back yonder before the Revolution by Sam Adams and the Liberty boys who put on Indian regalia and dumped the overboard in Boston Harbor.” He declined
4
say whether the - Black Legion had continued from the 1770s intact, and under that name. He would not specify the official name of the body which has spread into industrial cities of Ohio and Indiana, replacing in method and objectives the white-
hooded Ku-Klux Klan. He claimed |"
6,000,000 members, disavowed the Poole murder, and laughed off a suggestion that he was the “big shot” of the order. In literature seized by Prosecutor McCrea, reference was made to the “staff headquarters.” The headquarters staff consists, the pamphlets said, of 13 “major generals.” I asked Effinger where the staff has headquarters and for the name of his ranking colleagues. “That,” replied Effinger, “is a personal question.”
Proceedings Considered
Two prosecutors today considered |
+ Jeoustdings against Effinger under the Michigan Syndicalism
organised “bullet clubs” in Wayne County (Detroit) and Jackson County. Atty. Gen. Crowley doubts that the syndicalism
Dr. Shepard has been hailed as ‘(Turn to Page Three)
+ Car Loadings Up Again By United Press
Shepard, $25-a-month
Investigation Launched by Prosecutor Spencer and Police Department.
DOCUMENTS STUDIED
Chief Morrissey Puts Homicide Squad -on Alleged Clews. Chief Morrissey and Prose-
cutor Herbert M. Spencer today began an investigation
into alleged local activities of
the “Black Legion.”
As a basis for their investigation they had three sets. of six typed documents from the alleged Black Legion, discovered on the near North Side. Chief Morrissey said: “We will do ail we can to suppress the progress of the Black Legion in Indianapolis. If our investigatioun calls for more men they will be supplied. The matter certainly merits investigation.
Thorough Probe Promised
“We are going .ahead on indtructions from Prosecutor Spencer and will give this matter a thorough investigation. I am turning the information over to the homicide squad under Lieut. Roy Pope; since it seems that the investigation may lead to homicide cases.” Prosecutor Spencer said that any further information discovered would be turned over to the grand jury along with the alleged documents found by The Times and now in his hands. Meanwhile in Detroit Duncan McCrea, Wayne County prosecutor, said evidence has been turned up in the last 12 hours that leads investigators to believe that Vern F. Effinger, Lima, O., has been active in organizing the Black Legion in Indiana. McCrea said the Départment of Justice, which yesterday agreed
| to asign him agents for the case, had now decided to withhold co~}
operation pending developments. Miss Helen Bonham, 656 E. 12thst, told police she found a calling card in her mail box last night on which was printed, “Black Troops Capt., Agent 37.” This card did not resemble the other notes discovered elsewhere Wednesday night. A seal was stam on the back of the card and inside the seal in red ink was stamped “N 28. Other numbers on the back but not in the seal were “XX 9” and “N 28-27.” She told detectives she did not know who could have put the card ere.
ORDER CONNECTED
WITH SHRINE BLAZE
Coughlin Agrees Fire Was . Not Due to Wiring.
By United Press DETRQIT, May 29.—Investigation of the burning of Father Charles E. Coughlin’s Shrine of the
Little Flower was intensified today after Prosecutor Duncan C. MecCrea disclosed that in the last 48 hours sufficient evidence has been developed to connect the Black Legion with: destruction of the famed structure. He revealed that his inquiry into the destruction of the shrine last March 17 was being accelerated. : “Of course, none of our evidence connecting the Black Legionnaires with the destruction of the shrine is conclusive, but it is strong enough to satisfy us that the Black Legion is involved,” he said. Father Coughlin agreed with the prosecutor that “defective wiring was not the cause of the blaze.”
COMMITTEE TO REPORT COMPROMISE TAX BILL
New Measure Includes Increase. on Income Surtaxes. By United Press WASHINGTON, May 29.—The Senate Finance Committee voted today to report the new compromise tax bill, including a 1 per cent increase on income surtaxes starting at $6000 and extending up to $50,000.
Morgan Puts
WILBUR SHAW TUNES UP HIS CAR FOR BIG RACE TOMORROW
burned the “midnight oil” last night putting his
Wilbur Shaw, populat Indianapolis race driver, which Shaw and his mechanic, |
Gilmore Special,
Myron Stevens, designed, in shape for tomorrow’s 500-mile speed classic. one of the favorites in this year’s grind.
Shaw, . second last year, is
Landon Tells Platform; Borah i Hints He May Bolt
Specific on Six Points, but Shies Away From Four Questions.
By United Press TOPEKA, Kas, May 29.—Gov. Alf M. Landon announced today that John D. M. Hamilton, national committeeman and the Governor’s campaign manager, will make the speech placing the Kansan in nomination for the presidency at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
This is the fifth of a series of articles, “Smoking Out the Candidates,” written by Frazier Hunt; world famous reporter, for NEA Service . and The Indianapolis Times, in- which are presented the response of Republican presidential possibilities to the same 10 questions on the vital issues of the day.
BY FRAZIER HUNT (Copyright, 1936, by NEA Service, Inc.) OVERNOR ALF LANDON shied a little at my list of ten questions. But he was perfectly frank about it, A thousand and one special writers and trained observers of all kinds and descriptions had journeyed to Topeka and attempted to smoke him out on his views of every conceivable problem of American life. Most of their questions he hadn't answered because he insisted on playing rigidly fair with all writers — and secondly, because he simply hadn't figured out the final answers to some of them. He didn’t purpose to go off halfcocked. Of course if you wanted to be a hardened old political cynic you could wink your left eye and give a so-called “Yeah!” cheer. You could add that this side-stepping was part of-the build-up of the great Landon myth—the strong, silent man of the broad prairies— the Kansas Cal, with a little porch-rocking thrown in for good measure. Or you might even call it the wisdom of the inexperienced.’ Certainly it is evident that Gov. Landon’s appetite has grown considerably with eating, as the French say. He has enjoyed the various sensations of an extraordinary and unprecedented boom. It is distinctly something to be a way out ahead in a pre-conven-tion presidential - nomination popularity contest. The fact history proves it to be the most dangerous of all positions is forgotten in the pleasant smile of the steel-tired bandwagon. o 2 wy “ LL, a good deal of water has run under the mill since I saw you a year ago,” the Governor said as we shook hands. That time he had taken me into an
inner adjoining office, and while old (Turn to Page 11)
Roosevelt to Speak in Ohio. WASHINGTON, May 29—President Roosevelt will go to Ohio during August for a political address, probably at Columbus, Gov. Martin Davey said today after a White House visit.
Acceptance
in Hands of Gates’ Bloc
Ivan .C. Morgan, Austin, former
Mr. Irwin's offer to resign came after he had conferred with Mr. Morgan and state committee members who supported him in the bat-
Ralph | tle over the chairmanship.
-| state committee
A few days ago Mr. Irwin said no would be before the state convention,
Today it was believed that differbetween the two factions might be adjusted and a state committee 1g called by Mr. Irwin - Mx. Mors 1 as chairman.
Conclusion Drawn From Speech in Which He Attacks G. 0. P.
BY THOMAS L. STOKES Times Special Writer
WASHINGTON, May 29.—Senator William E. Borah left little
| doubt today that he is through with
the Republican Party and all its works. Whether he actually will bolt with a dramatic gesture at Cleveland; or whether he will retire to the fastnesses of Idaho and there, by silence, give aid and comfort to the New Deal, seems now to be merely
3a matter of procedure that does not
affect the conclusion that he finally has decided to depart from the party he. has.followed so long. . .. This conclusion is drawn—and Senator Borah no doubt would ratify it—from his speech here last night in which he condemned the party for its tieup with big business and monopoly and, by saying that the people, no matter what their dissatisfaction with portions of the New Deal, will never go back, tacitly acquiesced in that sort of political philosophy. He further accepted a philosophy of many New Dealers when he emphasized the inconsistencies of those
who shout so loudly about the Con-|
stitution and the ‘sacredness of Supreme Court interpretation of it. “Will we long, as a people,” he
‘asked, “be able to maintain a situa-
tion under a Constitution which declares you may not fix prices on the farm or in the home because of (Turn to Page Three)
TRANSFER MADE IN CITY STREET OFFICES
Steeg to Direct Work on Paved Thoroughfares.
In an attempt to solve the city’s chuckhole problem, the Works Board today transferred the paved street division from the street commissioner’s office to the city engineer’s office. The move makes City Engineer Henry B. Steeg responsible for maintenance of all paved streets and operation of the city asphalt plant, it was explained. Fred Eisenhut, street commissioner, formerly directed both jobs. His office still has charge of unimproved streets, street cleaning and sewer repair and cleaning. One hundred temporary employes were shifted to the city’s engineer’s office by the move. The board named A. E. Sutherland assistant superintendent of the Municipal . Airport at a salary of $180V a year. He has held a post at the airport for some time.
HOOVER ACCEPTS BID TO G. 0. P. CONVENTION
Favorable Reply Received From ExPresident, Flelcher Says. By United Press WASHINGTON, May 29.—Chairman Henry P. Fletcher of the Republican National Committee an-
nounced today that former President Herbert i
essere mn
sess enes
Books Bridge Broun das acnnll
Clapper sesnsnel} Mrs. - 8 Comics .......19| Pegler ........11 Crossword «.. 30} Ses se Bea 12 World 5 Ri de ousdd
Tenses 6
Mrs.
‘been addressed. by parole and pro-
Merry-Go-R'd 11 | Ferguson 12 Roosevelt
BATES UPHOLDS PAROLE SYSTEM
Lack of Adeguale Funds Is Big Handicap, Says U. S. Prison Chief.
The four-day Central States Probation and Parole Conference closed
this afternoon at the Claypool following the principal address by Sanford Bates, director of Federal Prisons. “There is nothing wrong with the parole system,” Mr. Bates said. “The fault lies with those people who administer it without the necessary intelligence or devotion to the public interest.”
Several hundred delegates have :
attended the convention which has _ (Turn to Page Three) eet
ARRANGE RITES OR
BALL, GRASH VIGTIM
Wealthy Muncie Flier Dies in Blazing Plane.
Times Special
MUNCIE, Ind, May 29.—Funeral |
services were arranged today for Frank E. Ball, wealthy young Muncie manufacturer and sportsman, who was burned to death yesterday when his cabin plane crashed near the Findlay (O.) airport. While relatives prepared for the funeral, aeronautic officials. probed the cause of the crash. Mr. Ball, according to witnesses, was approaching the airport for a landing and was about 500 feet from the ground when the plane’s right wing buckled suddenly. The plane whirled into a spin, plunged to the ground, and then caught fire. Mr. Ball was trapped in the cabin. Last rites for Mr. Ball are to be held here. Mr. Ball, 33, was the son of Frank C. Ball, president of Ball Brothers Co. He was president of the Indiana Aircraft Trades Association and had been a pilot six years. Surviving, in addition to the ‘mother and father are a brother, E Arthur , and three sisters, Mrs. Alexander Bracken and Mrs. Fred Petty, Muncie, and Mrs. - Alvin Owsley, wife of the United States minister to the Irish Free State. George A. Ball, Republican national committeeman, is an uncle, Mr. Ball was president of the Muncie Aviation Corp., operators of the airport here.
Aged Prisoner Dies in Cell By United Press . MICHIGAN CITY, Ind, May 29. —Franes Imel, 76, ‘Madison, was found dead in his State Prison cell today, a victim of heart disease. He
RACE FANS CROWD CITY;
MEMORIAL DAY RITES HELD IN GARFIELD PARK
Ceremony in Grove Marks _ Start of Tributes to Honored Dead.
“We must wring the profit out of war. The veterans gave their lives to speed the return of peace. We must dedicate ourselves to peace to keep faith with those who died.” With these words, while school children decorated the trunks of 387 trees. with flowers in the Grove of Remembrance in Garfield Park, Howard M. Meyer, Indianapolis attorney and member of the American Legion, opened pre-Memorial Day rites here today. Tomorrow a parade and services in seven cemeteries are to be held as city and county honor their war dead. Mr. Meyer urged adequate arming in defense of the nation.
Favors Adequate Defense
“Those who would deny adequate national defense are following the road to war,” he declared. He advocated enforcement of the neutrality laws and universal service act to draft capital, mgnpower and industry in time of war. Other features of this afternoon’s rites were the singing of “Trees,” by children from School No. 18; a talk by Hilton U. Brown, and songs by choruses from Schools 34, 35 and 18; with an invocation by the Rev. C. A. McPheeters, North Methodist Church pastor.
Graves. to Be Decordted
Graves of the soldier dead are to be decorated in Crown Hill, New Crown, Round Hill, Mount Jackson, “| Ebénezer, ‘Anderson and Concordia 4 Cemeteries tomorrow. The ; led by James c Mangus grand marshal, is to begin at 10 a. m. at 9th and Meridian-
The line of march is south on Meridian-st to Michigan-st, east on Michigan-st to Pennnsylvania-st, south to Vermont-st, west to Me-ridian-st, south to Monument Cir-
-jcle and then around the Circle to
disband in front of the Columbia Club. Services at Monument
Patriotic groups expected to par ticipate include the Grand Army of the Republic, American Legion, United Spanish War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Sons of Veterans, Disabled Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, Girl Reserves, R. O. T. C. units, Woman’s Relief Corps -and auxiliaries of the organizations. Charles R. Michael, state adjutant of the V. F. Wars,, is to be in charge of the, rites at 10:30 a. m. at the Soldiers and Sailors’ Monument. The Rev. Abraham S. Woodard and the Rev. Ira Willlams are to speak.
JUDGES RULE BACK WAGES MUST BE PAID
List $15,037 Due Present and Former County Employes. Three special Circuit Court judges
.| today ruled that back salaries, rep-
resenting wage cuts below the 1933 salary reduction act levels, must be paid county employes and former county employes in the total amount of $15,037.90. Juvenile Court, Criminal Court, the prosecuting attorney’s and Municipal Court employes were affected., Special judges were Edwin Steers, Paul Rhoadarmer and William R. Wringer.
; $200,000 Fire at Paducah PADUCAH, Ky., May 29 —Fire of undetermined origin swept through the business district of Paducah early today causing damage esti=
was sentenced in June, 1935.
mated in excess of $200,000.
WPA Worker Is Killed in Fall Under Truck Wheels
Wheeler Cheeks, 48, Negro WPA
the influence of liquor and failure to have a driver’s license. Finegold lay for more than two Tous Of She floor of = city prison be-
Record Crowd Expected to Witness Annual Event Here Tomorrow.
GRIND STARTS AT 10
Petillo, 1935 . Winner, Missing; Mays Holds Pole Position. |,
Is
BY HARRISON MILLER The automotive cavalcade
| of America’s premier speed
spectacle today awaited the starting bomb for the annual Memorial Day 500-mile race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway tomorrow morning at 10. Thirty-three of the nation’s fastest racing cars are to line up in view of ‘one of the largest crowds in the history of
the famous event.
The chosen field was named yesterday afternoon at 4 when the bar dropped on the final of seven qualification periods in which pilots were permitted to pass the speed and gasoline requirements. Six chauffeurs scurried to the starting line during yesterday’s three-hour session with three of them being successful in hurdling the barrier made difficult this year by a more
| stringent restriction of fuel con-
sumption. The assembly of speedsters which will line up in 11 rows behind the pace-making Packard 120 sharply at 10 tomorrow is a fraction slower than the 1935 field, but the difference may be attributed to the fact that many of the foremost drivers did not qualify until late and were concentrating on a conservation of gasoline rather than registering high speeds. The average qualification speed of the cars in the race
last year was 114.942. This year it
wis 114.728. Included in the array of current
th §’ pushers 4ré 25 of the driv-
ers who started last year. All of the first 10 to grab places in 1935 are back for additional fame and riches with the exception of Champion Kelly Petfillo, whose winning charger will be guided by George (Doc) MacKenzie, Eastern champion. > Rex Mays, the 23-year-old daring Californian who held the pole position in 1935 and paced the race through the early stages, again holds the coveted position in this year’s roster. Since qualifying his Gilmore Special at a speed of 119.642 on the opening day of trials, the gaunt Pa(Turn to Page 14)
£67,000 6OT JOBS IN
APRIL, GREEN SAYS
Gains Largest for Farm Workers, He Reports.
(Local Jobs Conference Story on Page 3)
| By United Press
WASHINGTON, May 29, Nearly three quarters of a million Americans went back to work last month, President William Green of the American Federation of ‘Labor reported today. The decrease in the number of unemployed from 12,183,000 men and women in March to 11,506,000 in April was due, ne said, to “the striking rise in production and in business activity.” “Employment gains were larger for farm laborers than any other group,” said Green, “since the improvement of farm income has made it possi-
ble for farmers fo employ more help|
this spring than during depression; 208,000 found work on farms during Ap ”
MARKET FEATURED BY STRENGTH IN STEELS
FAIR WEATHER FORECAST: 33 DRIVERS ARE READ
Thousands Arriving Hourly by Train, Plane, Bus and Auto.
ALL ROADS ARE JAMMED |
Many Notables Included Among Visitors for Annual Grind. Official race lineup, Page 14,
“Thumbnail sketches” of drivers, Page 10.
Thousands of visitors from practically every state today poured into Indianapolis to
pay their annual Memorial |
Day. visit tomorrow to te 500-mile auto race.
Under the most favorable weather. |
conditions possible—bright skies. no chance of rain, cool Brocone they. will see the 1936 edition of the fae mous race on a renovated track. : The official forecast reads fair toe night and tomorrow, and somewhat warmer tomorrow. - Unofficially, it was explained that a high pressure barometric area around the Great Lakes had been responsible for the
cool breezes and that they probably |
will last until late tomorrow’ after= noon.-
Arrive by Plane, Train:
Taking advantage of these holj- i day weather conditions, thousands wandered downtown streets today, Every train, plane, bus and traction: car brought new visitors. 3 iy Moreover, the highways were $7
crowded with cars, and will be un=
til race time tomorrow. Many prie vate planes were scheduled to ars rive at Municipal Airport, Nish Dienhart, manager, said. - Meanwhile, Be over the garages at the Speedway as drivers and car owners set about their final checkup. The starting field was filled yesterday with the conclusion of qualie ficatipn trials. Officials of leading automof manufacturing plants and their par~ ties; leading sports writers from the big Eastern and Western da celebrities from the stage, screen, business and literature; all male ner of people are gathered here. Visitors were asked by police to observe traffic rules and thus keep accidents to a minimum.
Visitors Ask Directions
“Can I tell tomorrow is race day?” a policeman directing trafic om Washington-st grinned. “You bet! I've had hundreds of inquiries about hotel and club directions and road conditions out of the city, but you know, I haven't had very many about how to get to the Speedway, I guess most of ’em know their way : there.” Cars bearing licenses from British Columbia, Pennsylvania, Flo i Oklahoma. and practically evel 4 state contributed to the traffic prob= 3 lems.
Many Visit Monument
The Soldiers and Sailors’ monue ment attracted visitors and many groups climbed -the long’ steps to take a bird's-eye view of the city. Visitors and Hoosiers alike halted in front of downtown windows to study pictures of race drivers and their cars and views of former races. The Peoples Motor Coach Co. ane nounced that busses direct to the
Speedway are to leave Monument °
Circle every few minutes all day tomorrow. More than 75 busses are to be in operation tomorrow. £0 Service is to be provided throughe ; out tonight for Speedway workers who must be at the track several hours before the race begins. :
SAFETY CHIEF PROBES RACE STAND DISPUTE
Optimistic Outlook Eificted in| 30d
By United Press NEW YORK, May 20. — Strength in steel issues stood out in a firm, dull stock market in the early aft-
found to be the best in six years.
PASSAGE OF POLLUTION BILL URGED BY W’NUTT
a tenseness settled os