Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1906 — DIDN'T MINCE WORDS [ARTICLE]

DIDN'T MINCE WORDS

Mayor of Muncie Makes the Police Board Sit Right Up and Listen. KIND OF TURNS HIMSELF LOOBE Telia the Board It la Not Doing Things, and Has Work, for the Grand Jury—lndiana News. Muncie. liul.. Nov .TO.—The efforts of citizens of, Muncie to have the liquor mid gambling l.iws enforced, following 'lie declaration of the Rev. I>r. C. M. 'arson, i:t a public address, that the brvi vi" ci' was more “wide open” i: •w, so )k an uuexjiected turn vb .*. at the Joint meeting of the board of pill o ••ouimissioucrs, city pntrolinen, prominent ministers and others, then* appeared unexpectedly Lon A. Guthrie. Muncie s “boy mayor.” Not only did Guthrie go to the meeting, hut ho also remained there, and he made a speech that all but knocked the police board and others speechless. He Backs Ud the Clergy.| Mayor Guthriedeciared that not only did the ministers tell the truth when they said that Muncie was In the hands of a lawless political gnng, but that he was üble to prove It. and that he had enough affidavits In his j»ossession to show that practically no' effort was being made to enforce the laws. ' As mayor Guthrie proceeded in his speech he denounced in violent nnd almost intemperate terms the police commissioners, and his voice trembled with emotion as he spoke.

Then Tackles the Board. “You police commissioners know that the laws are not being enforced, yet you attempt to run a blufT on tlicse ministers and good citizens’!’ he shouted, pale with excitement. “I have ample evidence set forth in affidavits, and you could have It if you wanted it, but my evidence is going to go before the grand Jury. If you commissioners do not want to enforce the law, Why do yoi\,not hand in your resignations to Governor Hnnly? You may tell some of these men that you are unaware of the extent of the law violations in Muncte, but you know yon ennnof tell it to me nor to anybody else who has taken imlns to inform himself.” Somebody Held “Liar.” Mayor Qutbrlo then said that be Intended lo_ proceed, thropgh the rpedl-

um of the grand Jury, to see that the laws were enforced, since the commissioners would not enforce them. Once during Guthrie’s speech somebody shouted the word “liar," but just who it was nnd against whom It was directed. none in the conference afterward would say.