Hammond Times, Volume 4, Number 109, Hammond, Lake County, 25 October 1909 — Page 1

MM ml mi SVIMHG WEATHER, Partly clondy tonight and Teaday stationary tempcra- !. -re. EDITION VOL. IV, XO. 109. HAMMOND, EvDIANA, MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1909. ONE CENT PER COPT.

H n

hTEEN Years?

sec er tor

ill

TIMES

Ji. J 1 J 1 iA

Hr LJ JL J JLL Ji.

. Iili liyiijljlLiylil

Times Secures from Him Affidavits Dealing: With His Investments, But Not His Holdings

STATEHTS 51 W

Mayor Swears He Owes Money to Railroad Man Interested in Company to Wl-ich City Gave Franchise. Lawrence Becker has admitted the truth, and his organ has admitted the truth. A trap has been laid hy Thb Times, and It has caught them both. Both, have admitted the very things that Thb .Times has been trying to prove regarding Becker's fortune. This admission will defeat him at the polls a week from today. When the campaign started The Times knew that Becker had manifold interests In tile Calumet district and elsewhere. It was generally known that many of these interests were secured by Becker only because of the friendship of Individuals and the officers of corporations, many of whom have received priceless favors at the hands of the present Becker administration ring. Ilet-kor Swears to It AIL. Xow The Times has Becker's own afdavit that he has secured the financial backing in his extensie enterprises in return for favors which are known to have been granted to certain corporations. The great question, when the investigation started, was "How can the facts be ascertained?" Had a reporter been sent to Mayor Becker's office before its aeries of articles was published and asked, "Mr. Becker will you please tell Thb Times jnst how much you are worth, where the money is Invested and how much are your liabilities?" he would have quite probably been forcibly ejected from the office. How the IM:ia Worked. But the great question was how could out problems. Tun Times started out to 'make an investigation regarding Mavor Becker's holdings. The deeper the investigation went the greater was the astonishment of the investigators. As this investment and that investment was discovered, the figure grew from thousands to tens of thousands. But the great queptionw was how can Becker be compelled to admit the facts. He could not be mandated to give the people the information regarding the mayor to which tiiey are entitled. Taxpayers Kutitled to Fnrta. And by way of digression, the public is entitled to the facts which Mayor Becker has been forced by Thb Times to give. If a clerk in the employ of a bank is making extensive investments, none of which are revenue producing, and his employer knows that his salary ranged all the way from $r.00 to $1,200 a year; he lias the right to inquire into the nature of those investments and to determine whether or not that the bank clerk is goirg to need some of the bank's funds to pay the interest on the money lie has borrowed. If he sees a diamond pin on that young man's crav at he has a rif.ht to be curious about Its cost and how the young man happened to afford such a luxury on so small a salary. People Should Ivuovr. Mayor Becker is the servant of the city of Hammond. As such he has a great deal to say regarding the spending of over a million dollars of the taxpayers' money in the last six years. It is Hammond's business to know how Becker, a poor m:in six years ago. comes to be worth a great many thousands of dollars today. We still insist, "Where did he get it." and his lengthy affidavit, which we publish with pleasure, does not clear up this mystery by any means. In fact, it says nothing, about some of Becker's holdings, for instance, it does not deny that the Becker-Tapper company does r.ot hold jjto.0t.t0 worth of municipal bonds. So Tub Times got at the facts to the " ln-st of its ability; The records at the recorder's office at the city ha.ll. Porter county, and elsewhere, were ransacked. Kvery effort was made to discover the number and nature of his varied interests and to place an estimate on (Continued on page five.)

1U UL IIU-U

0 All Doubt Dispelled as to Polls in Gary Being Open on Regular Voting Day Town Board Gets Together. Following close upon the action of the town board Saturday afternoon In announcing the number and locations of the wards in the city of Gary,, tha republican city central committee announces the holding of the primaries for the selection of the councllmen in each ward, tomorrow. The call was issued Saturday night at a hurried meeting so as to give the candidates ample "time in'whichr to"prepare to have thdr names placed on the ballot. After tomorrow, therefore, the republicans of Gary will have an opportunity to work for the ticket complete and know whom each of the candidates will be. Open From 2 to 0 p. m. The polls will b open tomorrow from 2 to 6 p. m. In wards where only one candidate has qualified the selec tion will be made by a mass meeting at 7:30. The polling places tomorrow will be located as follows: First ward Gary buijding, Fifth avenue near Broadway. Second ward 120 West Fifth avenue. Third ward 1327 Washington street. Fourth ward Hall on south side of Sixtenth avenue between Broadway and Ma-ssaohuetts street. Fifth ward 2261 Washington street. The vote in the wards where there is a contest is expected to be heavy, considering the fact that the candidates hav rot had ver' nluch t,m to work in their prescribed territory. All of the candidates qualified today at 10 o'clock. LOSE iiniGHIER Baby Girl of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Ryan Dies After Short Illness. Elizabeth, the two weeks old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Ryan, 30 Wil liams street, was buried this morning at Oak Hill cemetery, the infant having died yesterday afternoon. The sickness extended over a short period. The bereaved parents have the sympathy of their many friends, many of whom had been anxious inquirers at the home for a number of days. Mrs. Ryan, the- mother, is reported to be as well as can be expected under the circumstances. GBIPAl C0L05 ABOUND Changeable Weather Brings Train of Ailments in Its Wake. The recent changeable weather has been responsible for considerable sickness among old and young. Grip and( bad colds were generally prevalent, but not in a serious enough form to be termed an epidemio. As a result the doctors have been quite busy. With the improvement of the weather during the last few days there is also a noticeable improvement in the general health. See Gary, Tnd., from new sight-seeing automobll of United Stat" Tab4 company. It meets all trainr

What About This, Mr. Taxpayer? Mr. Taxpayer: Becker swears that he owes $1,000 to C. W. Hotchkiss, of the Indiana and Chicago Traction Co., which was given a franchise by the city of Hammond. C Do you think Mr. Taxpayer, that THE MAYOR OF HAMMOND OUGHT TO BE INDEBTED TO MR. HOTCHKISS, who is interested in a franchise grant for a public utility YET TO BE BUILT? Mr. Taxpayer: Becker swears that his -investments amount to $32,076.76. T Do you, Mr. Taxpayer BELIEVE FOR A MINUTE that he would take twice or thrice that amount of money for his holdings? This paper never said that his investments cost him $32,076.76. We said his holdings were worth over $100,000. WHO IS RIGHT? Mr. Taxpayer: Becker swears that he owes $25,528,35. The interest on this amount 7 per cent, is NEARLY $2,000 per year. With taxes, living expenses and but a salary of $1,500 per annum, who Mr. Taxpayer is going to pay THAT INTEREST FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS if Becker is reelected? Mr. Taxpayer: Do not the records show that Becker-Tapper Realty company owns nearly $6,000 worth of municipal improvement bonds? CI You will notice that Becker omits them from his schedule. Has he then, Mr. Taxpayer as he swears he has, given an exact list of all his holdings? WHAT LEGAL RIGHT HAS HE TO BE INTERESTED in a company which purchases municipal bonds? Mr. Taxpayer: Becker swears that his piano was bought in Chicago for $375. Mr. Taxpayer, do you think that a mayor loyal to Hammond's industries could not have bought his piano from the Straube Mfg. Co., a HAMMOND CONCERN EMPLOYING HAMMOND MEN AND ON WHOM THE BUSINESS MEN ARE PARTLY DEPENDENT?

EIGHT ARRESTS IRE. IDE

In the effort to clean up the blind tigers and houses of ill-fame In Gary, there have been several raids a-nd eight arrests. The raids have all been conducted on the order of Prosecuting Attorney Charles K. Greenwald and have been carried out by Sheriff Thomas Grant and his deputies. Those who have been arrested so far and against whom cases have been filed in the Lake superior court are: Frank Llebert, charged with selling liquor without a license; Andrew Ivish of Tolleston, charged with selling liquor without a license; Zenon Burdowski, against whom two charges have been filed for selling liquor without a license; Mary Roe, Sarah Roe and May Roe, whose true names are unknown, who are charged with frequently a disorderly place; Phillip Casner, who is charged with running a blind tiger, and Jacob Labonich, who is held on the same charge. AYDR GOES Saturday in the Standard Steel car district three men were arrested for rioting. They were not tried before Judge William W. McMahon, as usual, but were taken before Judge Frank I. Brest, where two of them were found guilty and were fined a dollar and costs, amounting to $17.90. At the instance of ward heeler John Papp. a. cog in the Becker machine. Mayor Lawrence Becker was brought to Judge Prest's office and signed the three 50 bonds on Sunday morning. Becker was seldom ever known to do a thing of the kind before, and it is apparently one of his campaign stunts. Andy Krupa and Mike Kusminski were each fined J17.90. The fine would have been only $11 in the city court. Occurred at SHdnlgnt. Stanislaw HIntick was found not guilty and released. The riot at the Standard occurred at 12 o'clock Saturday night. The men were arrested at 10 o'clock on Sunday. Mike Jockman and his friend were the complaining witnesses. The trouble started as a saloon quarrel. Mike Kusminski was hit in the back with an article supposed to be a beer bottle. It should be noticed that this fact oc curred at 12 o'clock, when the saloons are supposed to be closed. They were closed everywhere at that hour until Rocker got control of the police force. It is said that Mike Kusminski retaliated by hitting Andy Krupa with a pop bottle and then kicked him after he was down. No matter how the riot started the facts are that the two men were found guilty and that Mayor .Becker went on their bond.

BO! or 3 RIOTERS

OLD RESIDENT OF HfflOfID DIES Peter J. Golden Passes Away After Illness Extending Over 6 Years.

LEAVES WIDOW UNO TWO SONS Deceased Has Been Prominent Business Life of His Adopted City. In Peter J. Golden, for twenty-five years a resident of Hammond, died last Saturday evening at his home, 338 Kast State street, shortly after 9 o'clock. Burial will take place tomorrow afternoon under the auspices of the Calumet lodge, I. O. O. F., of which the deceased was a member. Mr. Golden had been confined to his home for the past six weeks. Much of tliis time he spent in bed, he having been afflicted with kidney and stomach troubles. His deatli was not unexpected, and at the time it occurred he was surrounded by his family, his wife and two sons Emery and Levi. Mr. Golden was born 66 years ago at Gettysburg, Pa. It was here that he and his brother, Charles, who died here last Christmas, joined the Ninetyeighth Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry. Both he and his brother having been members of company C When Mr. Golden first came to Hammond he engaged in the grocery business. Later he was a government inspector at the G. . H. Hammond Co., and when he gave up that position he organized the Golden Bros.' Praying. Storage and Express company, for his sons. Mr. Golden was universally liked in Hammond and his death is regretted by a wide circle of friends. REPUBLICANS ARE BUSY (Special to The Time?.) Whiting, Ind., Oct. 25. The Whiting republicans are getting busy now and in the course of the next week will hold two meetings. One will take place on Wednesday night and the other on Friday night. Another big mass meeting will be held on Saturday night, Oct. 30, and this promises to be a monster affair. One of these meetings will be held in Frankowski's hall, one in Leibert's hall and one in Goebel's hall. The republican candidates are around campaigning every night and are meeting with great success. Williams Improving. William Williams, the negro who Is at the hospital suffering from a gunshut wound inflicted by William WonZer, another negro. Is reported to he showing good improvement. lir. Schleiker. his physician, is hopfrl of having him up and ar r:id within aj weak unless complications set :n. For a tme his improvement wan at a stand-j still and a rri?i1Qe wss feared. Since j then ther has ben a change for the ; better. I

CASE DRAGS TO ITS END . IN. COURT

The mandamus proceedings In the Take superior court are dragging wearily to a close. There have been five more of the Knotts witnesses heard. These are H. F. McCracken, Harvey J. Curtis, C. Oliver Holmes, White and Louis I. Gottlieb. There are seven more Knotts witnesses to be called. There has been nothing new in the evidence, and the case has settled down to a question of getting through with the witnesses. The crowd of Garypeople has dwindled until now there are only a dozen or so In the court room, while during the first days of the trial the court room was packed. It is not thought that the case will be finished until late today or possibly not until tomorrow. Then it is not known whether or not Judge V. S. Reiter will render his decision immediately or take it under advisement. It is pretty generally conceded that the trouble has so split the democrats of Gary that Brennan's election is assured. ALL SITS FAIR II uumi mmn cmiou After Two Weeks' Run Big Bazaar Draws to a Close. MISS SHERBY IS A WINNER Mrs. A. F. ladies' Knotts is Victorious in Contest For Dinner Set. A .whirlwind finish marked the close of All Saints" church bazaar which had been on for two weeks. The excitement for the various contests grew with eveiy day and Interest was maintained to the end. Miss Lulu Sherby was declared the successful winner in the young ladies' diamond ring contest against Miss Marie James. Both worked hard for the prize, and while it could only go to one the management of the bazaar will attempt to show its appreciation to the losers. Mrs. A. F. Knotts was successful against Mrs. Bergman in the ladies' contest for a set of dish.es, while William O'Rourke carried oft the prize ring aeainst Arthur Wright in 'ho men's ring contest. Thf attendance on the who!.- w:. sat isf.ii. tory. hat v. eat her having interfered with the crowd on Ftvera! nights, however. The irt profit, of tli fair will bp applied toward th liquidation of the church ciebt. A detailed ncconnt nf the h7na- will be givfn to the parish

ARE RUSHIHG 1HE WORK Grading for Car & Equipment Co. Is Almost Completed.

Work on the site for the Chicago Car & Equipment company, on the north side adjoining the state line north of Winslow street, is being rushed. John Prohl, who has the grading contract, expects to finish his part of the work this week. The balance of the construction work will follow immediately after the site has been graded, as the company is anxious to open their factory as soon as possible In Hammond. TIMES BVREAl IX STATE CAPITAL. Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 25. For the first time in many weeks Governor Marshall and Thomas Taggart met yesterday afternoon and talked politics. They discussed the reports that Marshall was planning to "put the skids under Taggart" and take the control of the state committee away from him. Marshall told Taggart the report was not true, and this gives the situation a new kink. The two men met by chance In the Denison hotel lobby, where Governor Marshall had gone to meet former Governor Van Sant of Minnesota. Taggart and Marshall stepped aside and Taggart told Marshall he had heard several times the story that Marshall was preparing to wrest control of the state committee away from him. He said he had received many letters from friends throughout the state, informing him that they also had read the story and wanting to know whether it was true. Taggart told Marshall that he had answered them that as far as he knew there was nothing in the re port and that he did not believe the governor was trying to do anything of the kind. He said he told them also that Governor Marshall had never done anything displeasing to him. Known Nothing About Machine. Governor Marshall told Taggart this was true and that there was nothing in the statements. "1 am not trying to gain control of the organization, I know notm. about a machine and would rn.w know what to do with one If I had it. I am only interested In seeing the party In Indiana organize,! into the interests of the democracy, i do not wnt the party to be made the catspaw of the brewers, the Anti-Saloon league, the ministers or any other class. I am interested in the democratic party. I do not want you to think I am opposed to you or to any so-called Taggart element." Taggart said he was very well pleased with this attitude on the part of the governor and the conversation, which was entirely friendly, ended. .Statement Klgnlflrnnt. When it is remembered that Taggart is the man to whom the brewers or the state look for guidiance In their political affairs and that Taggart represents the brewers in all things political, the significance of this statement by the governor becomes apparent. It Is a warning to Taggart and the brewers that if they make any effort to get control of the state organization for the purpose of using it they may expect to find a fight on tiiei'r hands. This is exactly wiiat the story about the fight for control has meant all along. It has been known that Governor Marshall Is opposed to boss control of the party, and that he has said ever since he jumped into state politics that he was tired of the brewers trying to run things. So, even in the face of the pleasant chat which the two men had, it is be lieved here that if Taggart still seeks to control the state committee there will he a big fight over the proposition. Want Toons: Blood. The demand among the majority of the democrats seems to be for a reorganization of the committee and the instillation of younger and more active blood into the work. One well-known democrat in speaking along this line, said: "We are going to ha-e the fight of our lives next year and we need a strong, hustling young man at the head of the state committee. Stokes Jackson is all right and a good fellow, and so is Sam Ralston, but I believe they have been at the head of things long enough and that some newer man should be given a try out. There was no gringrr In the campaign last year. t was a lifeless effort, and I btlievtthere ou-l.t t' bn a change. What we ought tu have is a lively young chap whu would go right out into the counties and line tip the fellows and msk" them get to work. A state campaign cannot be run from an office in this city without some good hard work on i the outsidf."

SftI IE THINGS 10 EACH OTHER

DE IDS

REMCTIO Engages Counsel to Prose-j cute Publisher for Libel; Proceedings Because oj Slanderous Article Pub lished in Daily News, J Roscoe E. "Woods has today retatoeaf! Attorney Joseph Conroy to represent j him in an action for criminal llbel against S. E. Swalm & Co., publlsbersyj and S, E. Swaim, editor, of the Ham-i mond Dally Xews, as the result of thaM printing of libelous, defamatory ad derogatory statements In the Saturday Issue of the Hammond Daily New. j The article was a vicious attempt tar-' Involve Woods and Schaaf In a ques-M tionable deal, and so far has Editor Swalm overstepped himself In his ef-j forts to vlllify the reporter for Thb Tives that now, unless he prints a full! and complete retraction within threap days, he will be amenable to the law. , Under the caption, -This Man Wants? to Be Mayor," the Hammond Daily ! News prints the following: 1 "The Indiana and Chicago promoters introduced a franchise in Hammond Roscoe E. Woods went to Chicago tosee the officials backing the enterprise. I He said he and F. R. Sohaaf wanted; to be taken In on the deal and give the: job of getting the franchise from thai city of Hammond Here was DlckH Schaaf entering into a partnership with' Woods to get a franchise? What did' he expect to get for his services? If he wanted a chance o 'graft' .as a pri: vate individual what would he do a an official? If he took Woods as a partner in 'shady' deals before, what would he not let Woods in on he got to be .mayor. "If Schaaf wanted ttwt franchise f or the people of the community why did he have Woods go secretly to the promoters? Why did he not publicly advocate the franchise not having Woods approach" the promoters in secret, if he was Interested in the public wel-; fore or was he working to get 'easy money for himself and Woods?" These Are the Idbelons Statements. The following are the statements te; which Woods most emphatically objects: Roscoe E. Woods did not tell pro; nioters of the Indiana-Chicago Traction, comrany that he and F. R. Schaafi wanted to be taken in on the deal. Roscoe E. Woods did not ask to ba--j given the Job of getting the franchise i from the city of Hammond. Dick Schaaf and Woods did not enter! into a partnership to get a franchise ltii Hammond. Woods never talked with Dick Schaaf about the Indiana-Chicago Traction, company franchise or any other fran-. chise. ' Schaaf did not want a chance to, "graft" as a private individual, for he' never took up the matter, with Woods, or any other person, of getting the In-j (iiana-nicago j ra iiun company j franchise in Hammond; so far as Woods)' knows. i Woods was never a partner In anjfi "shady" deal. ; Woods was not -asked by Schaaf t; go secretly to see the promoters. Woods was not asked by Schaaf t; "approach" the promoters in secret. ; Woods was not working to get "easy'i money for himself and Schaaf. ; ACCEPT THE CONTRACT Board of Public Works O.K.? Papers. The hoard of public works held V short meeting this morning at Avhie'v the contract and bond of O'Shea As Shea for the Hyslop street swer was accepted. Bids were asked for on a" sewer in Lewis street. Lafayette Parents to Meet. The Barents' club of the Iafayetta school will meet i'l the I-afayettj school building Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. A large attendance, is expected. A program by the children C the kindergarten will entertain those who attend this meeting. Crazy Man Taken Away. Wilfred McComas. the night agent of the Wabash, who went in?an a week ago and sine has been violent, was today taken to a private sanitarium at Indianapolis, where he -nil! be kept until he has improved. There was consitletable excitement It the vicinity of the police station today when he was tal:jri out. of the policy station on a stretcher and was carricl to the raiirocd staton.

MIT1CK TO :1'KM C.It. Wanted ali t ains to b at Uoth'U hall. Stat- street, on Thuvyi.ay vening. the 2th. Important, businesx t. if r.ttendfd to and ptivker stftf-rwanis to make H interesting. This is lmIrtsnt to you tnP rrstorj 2n-ot. THOMAS HAKBF.. P and Trea j