Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1920 — ENDORSEMENT IS BOOMERANG [ARTICLE]

ENDORSEMENT IS BOOMERANG

Says Staff Writer for Chicago Paper in Discussing McCray Ad. Sunday’s Chicago Herald and Examiner contained an article on the Indiana g. o. p. gubernatorial race from the pen of Homer Hogan, a staff correspondent of that paper, under a Kentland date line, which will no doubt be of interest to Ren publican voters all over the state. The principal part of the article follows: With only 10 days of the Republican primary race left, the fight for the gubernatorial nomination has attained a stage of heat unparalleled even in this state of hectic politics. Newspaper advertisements answering alleged attacks on the character and reputation of Warren T-. McCray, one of the candidates, have proved a boomerang, and are having the effect of bringing to pubHc Ajew the very issues they sought to Fill off. J. W. Fesler and Edward C. Toner, Mr. McCray’s rivals in the primary election to be held May 4, have made no attacks on him through their publicity or speech making campaigns, according to their maxagers. The following is part of the advertisement appearing in several Indiana newspapers at the instigation and expense, it is said, of citizens of Kentland, Newton county: “It has come to our attention that there is being organized a state-wide circulation of malicious propaganda in an effort to undermine and injure the candidacy of our fellow townsman, Warren T. McCray, Republican candidate, for governor. \ “Regardless of party affiliations, the undersigned citizens of Kentland bitterly resent these unwarranted, unfounded and vicious attacks and deeply deplore the unscrupulous methods being employed.” The advertisement then proceeds to extol Mt. McCray as a man of “the highest ideate, .Clean and courageous,” and calls'"attention to his war activities and his honesty and fair dealing in hte business relations. The advertisement was signed by more than 200 citizens classified aS clergymen, officiate, professional men, farmers, newspaper men, business men and women. Many of ’the signers said today that they were ignorant of the charges at the time the petiion was signed. Others said their names were affixed without their knowledge. “I tried my best tq find out what they . were driving at,” said T. H. Dixon, councilman, “but no one could enlighten men. C. W. Roe, who circulated the petition' here, said he had been asked to do so, but knew nothing of the charges. Mr. McCray must have paid for the advertisement. I know I was not asked to help pay for it.” A. J. Reames, manual training teacher, was among those whose names appeared without their consent, according to his statement to friends. Editorials appearing in several Indiana newspapers have demanded a “showdown” in commenting on the appeal. The Ft. Wayne News in a recent editorial says: “What is this malicious propaganda that has been directed against Mr. McCray? And who is spreading it? It occurs to us that there are other interests besides those of Mr. McCray to be considered, and justice to all demands a prompt investigation of the whole matter.” The advertisement appears to have proved a boomerang, for many of the voters of Indiana in their eagerness to know just what it was all about have heard and repeated stories which the McCray managers, the .wise ones contend, hoped to forestall. stories are said to be based on / , personal property tax retufns *of Mr. McCray, millionaire banker and broker and owner of the

nationally known Orchard Lake farm here, with its great herd of prizewinning cattle. The gossip also centers around several lawsuits involving Mr. McCray. Tax reform is the main plank in Mr. McCray’s political platform, and his critics here agree with him on that issue. The article then goes on to state that McCray gave In for assessment for 1917 -265 head of cattle at his Orchard Lake farm at but $13,000, while one month later 75 head sold at $131,000; that in 1918 235 head of these cattle were given in at $35,400, when at the May sale following 75 head sold for $204,175; that his tax return of 1919 gave a value of $57,800 on 417 head, which was apparently boosted $3,000 by the assessor, and on May 21 and 22 of the same year 75 head were sold at $426,250. “A detailed account oi these famous sales, embodying the figures cited above,” says the article, “appeared in the Breeders’ Gazette of May 24, 1917, May 30, 1918, and May 29, 1919. “The sale prices were also published by the Newton County Enterprise. In addition, Mr. in his booklets and advertisements points with great pride to the huge amounts which his bulls brought him at these sales.” The article then quotes from a recent mention in The Democrat ot the McCray bank’s subscription of but $2,000 for U. S. treasury certificates issued in anticipation of the Third Liberty loan, a smaller amount than any other bank in Newton county—except the Lyons bank of Brook, which took not a dollar. ' ''

“In this connection,” says the article, "it Is also pointed out that Mr. McCray’s personal property tax return for 1919 shows that he is the holder of - Liberty bonds valued at $1,800.” Monday’s and yesterday’s HeraldExaminer contained further articles by this correspondent relating to some of the lawsuits mentioned in the first article and the refusal of W. H. Ade, brother-dn-law of McCray, to sign the endorsement which

was published broadcast over the state and which has proven a boomerang and Inspired these articles In the Chicago paper. Yesterday’s article also referred to the opposition to McCray by the Red Cross women in Newton county, who accuse him of playing politics in the manner of handling the Red Cross funds there.