Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1918 — STATE NEWS ITEMS [ARTICLE]

STATE NEWS ITEMS

The Doings of Hoosierdom Reported by Wire. LAUGHS AT HIS OPPONENTS Big Fight on to Keep Alien Enemy Out of Mayor’s Office at Michigan City —Restraining Order Is Sought. Michigan City, Jan. 4.—The untikalserites of Michigan City will not allow “Big Fred” Miller, the German enemy alien, to take office as mayor on Monday, without a battle. Acting on the tip by Federal Judge Anderson in Indianapolis, Mayor Martin T. Krueger filed in the superior court of Laporte county, a petition for a restraining order to prevent' Miller from acting as mayor until quo warranto proceedings can be filed and decided. The petition probably will be heard by three judges sitting en blanc. Both sides are arrayed for a hard tight. Miller, the mayor-elect, says his opponents cannot bar him from office. The laws of Indiana give any man the right to vote on application for first citizenship papers, and any elector may hold public office. Tlie new move was taken by Mayor Krueger after Federal Judge Anderson decided the United States district court had no jurisdiction in the case at the present time. He advised two courses as a solution. One was to institute proceedings against Miller and refuse to turn over the mayor’s office to him. The second was to ask the United States marshal to revoke Miller’s alien enemy permit, allowing him to enter the city hall. Miller laughs at the efforts of his opponents. “Bali! They can do nothiftg,” he said. “They would have to change the laws of Indiana to keep me from office. And the legislature does not meet until January, 1919. Under our law any elector can hold office and any man with fust papers may become an elector.” A slight German accent is noticeable in Miller’s voice when he becomes excited, which is seldom. He is the typical, politician—genial, a studied restraint that probably passes for shrewdness. *