Indiana daily times. [volume], April 22, 1920, Home Edition, Image 1

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
THE WEATHER
Tonight, probably a thunder shower,
cooler; Friday, fair and cooler.
vol. xxxn.
NEW CAR FARE
SYSTEM WAITS
ONLY ON DETAIL
Valuation, Rate of Return and
Manner of Administration
Being Planned.
$6,000 JOB AN OUTLOOK
The Indianapolis Street Railway
Company and the city of Indianapolis
are not far apart on the plan for
street car “service-at-cost,” it was
indicated at a preliminary hearing
before the public service commission
today.
MtjCho main differences appear to lie in
r tbe valuation of the property of the
company, the rate of return to be al
lowed the company and the manner in
which the proposed street car commis
sioner who will look after the interests
of the city will be appointed.
The city, in its petition to the public
service commission, agreed that the val
uation of the property of the company
Should be placed at 515.000.000.
Ibis figure is more than $5,000.0(Xt above
♦he valuation originally contended for by
the citv in the rate cases.
COMPACT ASKS FOR
*16.500.000 VALUATION,
The car company is asking for an
agreed valuation of *16.500.000. the val
uation fixed by the state tax board.
This i3 the valuation placed on its
property by the state board of tax com
missioners.
The proposal of the city provided for a
maximum return to the company rang
ing from 6H to 7 per cent in Inverse
ratio to the rate of fare.
The company contended it should be
guaranteed at least 7 per cent and should
have a reward for efficient service.
The city suggests the appointment of
a street car commissioner at a salary of
$6,000 a year by the board of works to
represent the city in the affairs of the
company.
Commissioner Fred Rate* Johnson
ponnted out that such a Job would be an
exceptional political plum and that the
character of the official would change
with every administration, with the pos
sibility of the appointment of someone
entirely undesirable.
Samuel Ashby, e.ty corporation coun
sel, declared that the place mest be kept
out of politics at any eost.
APPROVAL ASKED
FOR .APPOINTMENT.
H. H. Hornbrook. one of the attorneys
fo> the company, suggested that the ap
pointment be made with the approval of
tb* commission.
Ferdinand Winter, another of the cc-m
---oany's attorneys, suggested that the ap-
be made by the public service
commission.
Mr. Ashby said be would agree to the
former proposal, but not to the latter.
Another feature of the hearing was the
request by Mr. Winter that if the pub
(Continned on Page Five.)
FREE CAILLAUX
ON CHARGE OF
HIGH TREASON
Former Premier Acquitted by
French Senate, Sitting as
Curt, 213 to 28.
PARIS, April 22. —Former Premier
Joseph Caillaux was today acquitted
erf high treason against France and
of communicating intelligence to the
enemy in vaYtime.
The vote of the senators comprising
the high court of Justice was:
r acquittal, 213; against acquittal.
Following the verdict of acquittal on
the first two charges the court began
deliberating the charge that the former
premier had correspondence with the
enemy.
Caillaux was placed on trial Feb. 17.
From the beginning It was apparent
that the government had a weak case.
The contention was made by the ac
cused statesman and his counsel that he
was the victim of a political plot.
RADICAL KILLED
IN PAPER OFFICE
Sixteenth Montana Strike
Casualty ‘Accident Victim.’
BUTTE, Mont„ April 22.—Hugh B.
Haran. 19, was shot and killed in the
pressroom of the Daily Bulletin.here to
day.
The Bulletin is the organ of the strik
ing miners.
Joe Pabst, 23. arrested on a charge of
shooting Haran, claimed it was acci
dental.
Both men belong to the radical group,
many of whom, heavily armed, assembled
In a mass meeting at the Bulletin office
last night, following rioting yesterday
afternoon' in which fifteen men were
seriously wounded.
A general strike throughout the state
was orewing today.
U. S. troops from Camp Lewis, Wash.,
have been ordered to Butte.
Body of Hicks Taken
s* to Hendricks County
The funeral services for James L.
Hicks, 68, who died Monday night at bis
honie. 4336 East Tenth street, were held
at the residence this afternoon.
The body was taken to Hendricks coun
ty for burial in Shiloh cemetery.
Mr. Hicks served as an inspector in
the city engineering department under
the administration of J.ew Shank.
The widow, a son, Horatio Hieks. and
a daughter, Mrs. Della Kleifgen, of In
dianapolis survive.
Nearly Cause Enough
MILWAUKEE, April 22.—Frank Wll
lisma admitted he had been drunk.
"But, Your Honor, I had just cause,”
be pleaded, "I was celebrating because
I found a house to live in.”
-
Open Season for
Fish Stoi 'ieSy Next! j
WINSTON. Conn.. April 22. —Anglers
here reported seeing a trout leap from
‘the waters of Sucker brook, snatch a
worm from the beak of a robin flying
low over the stream and dive back
to safety.
Published at Indianapolis.
Ind., Daily Except Sunday.
Foiled Slayer
f''*
MYRTLE ROBERTSON.
She is the 12-year-old girl who was ac
costed by William Ray. confessed slayer
of Martha Huff, 14, at Arsenal avenue
and Seventeenth street, Saturday morn
ing.
Myrtle identified the Huff girl s slay
er at noon.
“He’s the man,” she told Detectives
Dugan and O. Simon. Myrtle is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rob
ertson, 1662 Arsenal avenue.
Mrs. Robertson trailed her daughter
when she learned that a negro had en
ticed her away with the promise of
clothes.
She called out to her as she pursued,
just after the negro had taken the child
through a weed natch and had crossed
the Big Four railroad tracks in the vi
cinity of Rrookside park.
The child broke away from the negro
and ran back to her parent
This happened just after Helen Mc-
Caffrey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Henry
McCaffry, 1610 Roosevelt avenue, told
her mother a uegro wanted to give her
some nice things to wear.
Mrs. McCaffrey went with Helen to the
corner, where the negro said he would
wait, but he was gone.
FEE GRAFTING
DESIGNED TO GO
AT COUNTY JAIL
Committee Also Considering
Plan to Move Prisoners to
Old Workhouse.
Abolition of the fee system, under
which the sheriffs of Marion county
have received large profits for feed
ing jail prisoners, and the transfer
ring of prisoners to the abandoned
Marion county workhouse may result
from a conference of state, federal
and county officials at the criminal
court today.
County Commissioner Joseph Haye* fa
vored the county paying for the feeding
of all prisoners by moving the jail pris
oners to the old workhouse, on North
western avenue, where the prisoner* could
work in a large garden.
“This would make the institution near
ly self-supporting and would stop this
fee system.” said Hayes.
lIAYES’ P LAX
BEING CONSIDERED.
The opinion of Commissioner Haye*
was considered by Floyd Mattlce, deputy
j United States district attorney who rep
resented the federal government at the
, eonference; Claris Adams, prosecuting at
torney; Russell T. Byer* of the county
council, Mrs. Joseph B. Keallng nr.d
Rev. Morris M. Feuerllcht, all of the
! county board of charities; County Com
missioner Carlin Shank, Harry Hendrick
| son, county attorney; Judge James A.
| Collins of the criminal eonrt, Amos But
ler and Demarchu* Brown of the Indiana
state board of charities, George D. Thorn
ton and Frank Brown of the county
board of charities.
Judge Collins called the conference.
The conference resulted in the lollop
ing action being decided upon :
1. That the county commissioners at
once determine by estimates the cost of
fitting rip the Marion county workhouse
! as a jail.
2. That representatives of tbe state
; and couuty board of charities with a
; representative of the federal government
personally inspect the workhouse.
3. That Dr. Henry C. Wright, an ex
pert of New York City, who will arrive
here Sunday to begin an official survey
of all county institutions, be instructed
to inspect the Jail and workhouse first.
WOULD PUT *
PRISONERS TO WORK.
4: That a program be outlined so
county prisoners can work in a garden at
! tbe workhouse and raise produce with
i the idea of making the institution as
near self-supporting as possible.
J 5. That the state and county board of
charities co-operate so a better under
standing of the aims of both boards can
: exist.
( 6. That the entire system of housing
and feeding prisoners at the jail be
changed.
7. That the county commissioner* de
cide to abolish the fee system of feeding
prisoners and that the commissioners
take charge of that by paying tbe exact
cost of Jail food and preparation.
Commissioner Hayes declared that the
| workhouse, if used as a jail, would make
i it possible to give each prisoner a sep
! arate cell to sleep in ; a separate building
for women prisoners: a large dining
room; a power house: a hospital; a sep
! arate building for insane patients; a
large garden tract and sanitary condi
! lions.
! SAYS PRISONERS
I COULD GARDEN.
| “If the county fed the prisoners, as
many other counties do,'' % sald Commis
sioner Hayes, “we could have a large
garden tract there to be worked by pris
oners.
“What prisoners would object to work
ing in the open each day ?
"It certainly would be much better
to have them do that than stay locked
up in the Marion county Jail,” continued
Mr. Hayes.
Mr. Brown asked Mr. Hayes if the
•'ommissioners had the right to abolish
tbe fee system.
Mr. Hayes said, in reply: “Tile
statutes do not say that the sheriff has
to feed the prisoners, but this system
of letting the sheriff do it has been go
j ing on for years.
“We pay 60 i *nts a day Jo tbe sherifi
and nil above the actual cost of feeding
i the prisoners goes into the pocket of
■ the sheriff.
1 “Last week Commissioner Shank and
, myself were In Pittsburg and the coun-
I ty, not tbe sheriff, fed their prisoners
j last year at the rate of 13 cents a day
(Continued on Page Two.)
Entered as Second Class Matter. July 25. 1914, at
Postoffice. Indianapolis, Ind., under act March *, 1879.
GIRL’S SLAYER
UNDER GUARD
IN COUNTY JAIL
Negro Degenerate Confesses
He Stabbed Martha Huff
When She Screamed.
GIVES DETAILS OF CRIME
William Ray, youthful negro per
vert, killed Martha Huff, innocent 14-
year-old west side girl, and threw her
.body into Big Eagle creek, because
she screamed when he attacked her.
Ray made this admission, the de
tectives say, early today after he had
been subjected to a vigorous grilling.
The negro was positively identified
by Nora Smock. 11-year-old stepsis
ter of the slain girl, soon after'he
was arrested close to midnight last
bight.
A pocket knife spattered with dried
blotches of blood, taken from Ray's
clothing, mutely testified to the fiendish
1 attack.
Confronted with these incriminating
facts the negro slowly unfolded the de
tails of the crime which has horrified
Indianapolis.
In his original statement Ray denied
he mistreated the Huff girl before he
killed her, but in an appendixed confes
sion he admitted he was assaulting her
a second time when he stabbed her to
death.
Most of the clothing had been tom
from her body in the first assault, he
said, and her cries were beepming so
alarming when he made the second effort
that he repeatedly plunged the knife
into her throat.
He said he threw the fragments of her
clothing into the creek.
Ray was lodgeo in a closely guarded
solitary cell after being bound over to
the grand jury in city court before noon.
He discoursed freely about the crime
with interviewers.
The girls body was taken from Big
Eagle creek late Tuesday.
The clothing, with the exception of
shoes and stockings, had been ripped
from her slender form.
There were thirteen stab wounds in
the left side of the neck.
TELLS OF MEETING
AT RIVER BRIDGE.
Ray, the detectives say, toid how he
had uict Martha Huff and Nora Smock
at the east end of the West Michigan
street bridge over White river.
In detail he related how he had en
ticed the Huff child with the promise of
clothes from a charitable woman.
'lbis was Monday afternoon at 4
o’clock.
He toid bow they had walked west oa
Michigan street to Tibbs avenue an!
then to the Danville interurban bridge
across Big Eagle creek.
The child followed hita in her inarch
to death up the creek
He said Martha and biraself sat down
after going a distance up stream and ate
apples nnd' oranges he had bought.
Then he claims, according ro the de
tectives. he put his arms around the girl.
"She screamed.” be *aid.
"It alarmed me, and when she contin
ued to cry a* I stayed with her I atabbed
her.
I had my knife out peeling the fruit.”
GIRL DEAD WHEN
THROWN INTO STREAM.
Deputy Coroner George R. Christian,
who conducted an autopsy on tbe body
a short time after it was found tossing
about at the edge of the stream at 5
o'clock Tuesday afternoon, twenty-four
hours after the murder, said life was ex
tinct when the child wa* thrown into the
wafer.
Two of the knife wound* penetrated the
jugular vein, and the girl bled to death
Bay. who sars he i* 19 year* old. and
married, was taken info custody by three
negro officers—Detective* Edward Tra-
Ime and George Sneed and Patrolman
C M. Carter.
They had worked tirelessly with other
members of tbe department In running
down ciew*. ,
It was on the information of Pauline
Jackson, 14. and Elsie Jackaon, 12, both
colored, of 836 West Walnut street, that
the detective* obtained their first im
portant “lead.”
Paulino Jackson told them that a ne
gro answering the description of the
man who killed the Huff girl had de
signed to assault her.
He is supposed to have trie 1 o entice
her Into a vacant house.
When she failed to follow out his in
structions to go into the house he gave
her a telephone number and asked her to
call him.
This number was for the telephone In a
negro rooming house at 1321 Columbia
avenue.
Detectives Traube and Sneed and Pa
trolman Carter went to the address.
Ray was not there.
They waited.
Shortly before 11 o'clock be entered
the house, whistling.
The officers rushed in and told him he
was under arrest.
Ray did not resist
Mrs. Ray wns taken to headquarters
with him and detained on a vagrancy
charge.
Satisfied he was the man, the de
tectives immediately sent an automobile
to get Nora Smock to identify hirr.
•'Yes, he's the man,” she said, trem
bling.
Kay maintained his innocence for an
hrur or more.
Ilis movements, as he gave them, cor
responded identically with the informa
tion of those who had seen him leading
the girl away.
The detectives are satisfied Ray had
attempted to lure several other white
girls away from their home# and attack
them.
Descriptions given by them tally with
those of the negro.
These children also identified him.
Ray said he came to Indianapolis about
three weeks ago from Chicago.
This the detectives questioned, as they
bad evidence which associated him with
attempted assaults as long as six weeks
ago.
TELLS OF LEAVING
WORK MONDAY NOON.
Later he admitted he had lived here
all his life.
Waiters’ Jackets found in bis room
show be once worked in Louisville.
Ray says he has been working- at the
National Malleable Casting Company
plant, Michigan and Holmes avenue.
He left his work at noon Monday, he
said, because his wife had phoned him
she was ill and wanted him to come
home.
A white man accompanied him for a
short distance, he told the detectives, ns
he walked toward the downtown district
on Michigan street.
He must have spent some time en
roiite. ns it was close to 4 o'clock when
the Huff girl was lured away.
He explained that he engaged Martha
Huff and Nora Smock in conversation nt
the White river bridge and that after a
short conversation he told Martha he
knew a Mrs. Quinn who had some
clothes to give away.
i Than came the details of the long
(Continued on Page Two.)
INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 1920.
Why, Mr. Adams?
One week has elapsed since
five members of the grand jury,
Prosecutor Claris Adams and
Deputy Jones petitioned the
criminal court to cite 'The Times
for w’uat they asserted was a
contempt of the criminal court
in the utterance of an article
alleged to be ‘‘false, libelous,
defamatory and contemptuous.”
One week has elapsed since
Judge James A. Collins instruct
ed Mr. Adams to "file iu this
court, proper specifications of the
charges made.”
Mr. Adams has neither filed
the citation ordered nor other
wise acted to discharge the rule
of criminal court.
WHY?
The Times believes in the ne
cessity of upholding the dignity
of the courts of this community.
It called the attention of the
bar association and the public to
the practices that Mr. Adams
was tolerating in the grand jury
room because it believed such
practices to be in direct con
travention of the spirit of the
law and contrary to the public
welfare.
Mr. Adams said in his petition
to the criminal court that the
statements made in The Times
were “false, libelous, defamatory
and contemptuous.”
Nothing has transpired to give
these statements a different
meaning today than they had a
week ago.
Mr. Adams has been called
upon to prove that these state
ments were as he described
them.
He has had plenty of time in
the week that has elapsed since
he was ordered to prepare this
citation to attend a political
meeting and conference with
Mayor Jewett at the Columbia
club and elsewhere.
Isn't it time Mr. Adams came
into criminal court and either
made good his assertions or ad
mitted his inability to make
good?
If there has been a contempt
of the criminal court it is up to
Mr. Adams to bring the party
who uttered the contempt before
Judge Collins and prove it to be
a fact.
Mr. Adams has taken an oath
to do hia duty aa prosecutor of
Marlon county.
It is his duty to uphold the
dignity of the criminal court
If there has been a contempt
of the criminal court why isn't
there a citation of record?
WALKOUT STOPS
STREET REPAIRS
75 City Employes at Asphalt
Plant Quit.
The work of repairing improved
street# in Indianapolis was entirely
stopped today on account of a walkout
of city employes at the aapbalt plant, ac
cordin gto A. O. Meloy, street commis
sioner.
The asphalt department employ* sev
enty-five men, all of whom quit work
when no action waa taken by the city
on their demand for an increase in wages
from 10 to 15 cents per hour.
Asphalt employes expected an or
dinance for a salary increase to be pre
sented to the city council last Monday
night and a committee attended the meet
ing to see what action would b# taken.
When they reported to the other work
ers that nothing had been *aid about iu
creased pay, all of them decided to quit.
Members of the board of works and
other city official* were today preparing
a wage scale providing for increases in
the salaries of city employes that will be
placed before the council.
A request may be made for a special
meeting of the council.
Practically all departments of the city
were short of labor today.
The street-cleaning department, which
employs from seventy-five to 100 men,
is operating with qnly about half of the
usual force, on account of the laboi
shortage.
The municipal garage was short or
skilled mechanics.
50 FATTIES RACE
TO CUT WEIGHT
Chicago Health Commissioner
Aids in Experiment.
CHICAGO. April 22.—Fifty fat men
and women started a race here today
to see who could lose the most fat.
Approximately six and n half tons
of human beings received instruc
tions from Dr. John Dili Robertson,
city health commissioner, at the city
hall, where the ‘‘race” began.
The contest Is an experiment on
the part of Robertson, who believes
he can bring happiness and thinness
to the fat.
AII the science and resources of
Chicago’s health department will he
thrown into the fight, said Robert
son. The women, according to Rob
ertson, will be expected to wear over
alls and exercise on all fours In
their back yards.
Each patient will be given a paper
containing instructions. They will
bo required to spend a number of
hours a day in the open air and all
meals must be prepared under direc
tion of the health department.
Says Carranza Seeks
Peace With Sonora
WASHINGTON, April 22.—President
Carranza is attempting to make peace
with the Sonora revolutionary forces, ac
cording to Gen. Alvarado, representative
here of the Obregon revolution.
CENSUS TO PUT
POPULATION OF
CITY AT 314,000
Supervisor Speigel Hints at In
crease to Be Made Pub
lic Soon.
CENTURY OF GROWTH
The United States census of In
dianapolis will show approximately
314,000, according to figures which
The Times has obtained, and which
are believed to be within a few hun
dred of the exact total for the city.
John E. Speigel. census supervisor for
this district, says that the estimate of
310.000 by 8. O. Dungan, which was
made public recently, is “warm,” but a
little short.
Mr. bpetgel says he expects the totals
to be announced In Washington very
shortly.
The increase of population In In
dianapolis lias been marked for the past
several decade*, with a steady, healthy
growth, made up largely of Indiana peo
ple who have taken advantage of the
many opportunities in the city and es
tablished homes here.
Even during the years of adverse
conditions, which have been few In
Indianapolis, the increase in popula
tion haa kept steady pace until xt l res
ent the city Is prohahlv the largest in
land commercial center in the United
State3.
The average growth in population for
ten-year periods has varied from forty
to eighty thousand and the development
of natural and commercial resources
has kept pace with the population.
HALF MILLION IN
NEXT TEN YEARS.
I is predieted that by the od of the
next ten years the population Al reach
a half million.
At present Broad Ripple. Beech Grove.
Speedway City, Mars Hill, Maywood. Ben
Davis. Miilersville and other suburbs,
having a population of approximately 25.-
000. are being closely crowded by the
ever-growing city proper, and It appar
ently is only a question of time when
they will be annexed as a part of Indi
anapolis
Broad Rinpie now has a population of
approximately 3.000.
Ten years ago its population numbered
1,500, showing a twofold increase.
Beech Grove grew from 300 to 1,800 in
ten years.
Both of the** suburbs should n<vw be
a part of Indianapolis and will no donbt
be among the first annexed as a part of
the city.
In territory the city ims grown ten
square tulles during the last ten years.
It now occupies an area of forty-two
square mile*
In 1910 the area was 30.77 square miles.
It la said, however, that the Industrial
growth of the city ha* been far greater
in proportion to that of the population
or the ares.
At th present time it is rated aa cne
of the largest automobile centers in the
world, and it is estimated that $850,000,-
000 worth of automobiles and accessories
will be manufacture! in the city this
rear
BECOMEB GREAT
Ll\ K STOCK CENTER.
lntli tQApoli* ranks aw one of the great
lieu stock of the country, and em
ployment is given to 3,983 person* in the
slaughtering and meat packing industry.
Live stock, however, has always been
a great asset to the city a* has farm
ing products, due to the rich agricul
tural districts 'n surrounding territory.
Approximately $500,000,000 worth of
farm product* irw handle! here yearly
The city is known as the distributlo.)
center of the middle wear, being equip.
(Continued on Page Eight.)
BRYAN WILL GO
TO CONVENTION
AS A DELEGATE
994 Precincts Out of 1,849 Show
Him Running Third in
Nebraska Primary.
LINCOLN, Neb.. April 22.—WUIlkm J.
Bryan will be a delegate to the national
democratic presidential convention at
Pan Francisco, in June, returns from 1.05*
out of 1,849 precincts In Tuesday's presi
dential primary indicated today.
These precincts gave Bryan. Berg and
the two Hitchcock candidates--Neville
and Khallenberget —the lead.
Bryan's vote was third.
Senator Hiram Johnson of California
continues to hold his lead in the presi
dential primary vote.
Returns indicated he had carried the
state by 25.000, with Gen. Wood second
and Gen. I’ershlng, “native son” candi
date, a poor third.
Pershing barely carried bis home coun
ty of Lancaster.
Latest returns from 1,034 precincts,
covering 65 per cent of the state, gave
Johnson 41.754; Wood, 30,354, and Per
shing, 19.860.
Senator G. M. Hitchcock apparently
won the democratic indorsement for pres
ident.
He had little opposition.
DOCTOR IN CELL
AS BOOZE SELLER
Freed After Four Hours Fol
lowing ( Wild* Party.
Dr. Frank A. Bray ton faces two charges
today as the aftermath of an alleged
“wild” party in his office In the Bank
ers’ Trust building.
The party culminated in his arrerst at
2:30 this morning on charges of drunk
enness und operating a blind tiger.
Karl Caster, 29, a landscape gardner,
3424 West Washington street, arrested
with him, is charged with drunkenness.
Dr. Brayton said he was 30 years old
and lived at 2125 Broadway.
At 2 o’clock this morning Sergt. Chit
wood was baited by Tom O’Neil, 42, of
3125 West Michigan street, at Illinois
and Ohio street, and told of a fight in
Dr. Brayton’s office, which O’NeiU said
was the climax of a dice game in which
several men took part.
O’Neil accompanied the sergeant to the
Bankers’ Trust building and they met Dr.
Caster at the corner of
Pennsylvania and Ohio streets.
Both the men are said to have been
under the influence of liquor and when
Caster was searched the police say they
found two bo-btles of alcohol in his
pockets, which ho denied having pur
chased from Dr. Brayton.
’ONeil, it is said, then declared Caster
had bought the alcohol from the phy
sician and Sergt. Chitwood said be was
forced to hold Dr. Brayton, who, he
alleges, made an attempt to attack O'Neil.
Dr. Brayton and Caster we locked In
a cellroom at police headquarters for four
hours before they were* released'on bond.
)By Carrisr, Week, Indianapolis, 10c; Elsewhere. 12c.
Subscription Rates. j Ey M> „ 60c Per Month; , 5 . 0 0 Per Tear.
In Legion Limelight Here
p£s&? a&jllPfe^
•4ll*''' Jft'WSßm '
■ ' ■/ . • , \ ’ .f, .
Left—Franklin D’Olier of Philadelphia, national commander American
legion; center, Lemuel Bolles, national adjutant; right, L. Russell New
gent, Indiana adjutant, photographed just before they entered the meeting
of national adjutants and national officers of the legion at the Washington
hotel today.
D’OLIER FAVORS
FOURFOLD PLAN
Urges Legion to Back Con
gressional Program.
Franklin "b'Olter, national commander
of the American legion, urged the im
portance of al! departments of the or
ganization lending support to the four
fold compensation plan for soldiers, now
pending in congress at the conferees of
Mate adjutants at the Washington hotel
here today.
The conference will last three day*.
Forty-four states are represented
Mr D'Olier said the experience of the
last few month* had convinced official*
of the legion that no mistake had been
made by the Minneapolis convention
when Indianapolis waa chosen as the
location for national headquarters.
Mayor Jewett had welcomed the vis
itor* with a brief address in which he
expressed the pride Indianapolis feels in
having the national headquarters.
Mr. D’Olier laid the difficulties of the
American Legion Weekly before the ad
jutant* a* the chief problem of the con
ference.
1 be publication ha* never been a flnan
ctal aucetJ*. Even under the present ex
pert magazine management, Mr. D'Olier
•aid, great difficulty haa been experienced
In getUsg paper.
“Name* at the rate of 90,600 to 40.t>00 a
week are coming In to be added i the
subscription litt *nd thl* 1* a problem
in itself,” h# said
"We could not cut the addressing sten
eiis rapidly enough," he added.
Robert H. Tyndall, national treasurer,
offered a report on finance*; Oe-sld J
Murphy reported on service, and Harold
Ross, editor, and A. R Whlton. clrcula
tion manager of the American Legion
Weekly di*cu#*ed the magazine'* condi
tion
Lemuel Bolles, national adjutant, an
nounced that the visiting delegates
would be guests of the Indianapolis
Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon an 1
motor tour tomorrow.
Ice Cream Prices
Due to Soar Here
Retail druggist* and !<* cream manu
facturers of Indianapolii will meer. to
morrow afternoon at the Chamber cf
Commerce to discus* the sugar situation.
It i* understood ice cream manufactur
er* are preparing to lgsue anew higher
pries list for various kinds of ice cream.
Stanley Wyckoff, fair price com
missloner, will address the meeting.
"I will tell the druggists that they mav
prepare to operate their soda fountains
with substitutes for sugar or close down,”
said Mr. Wyckoff today, “because of the
scarcity of sugar.”
City Health Board
May Borrow $125,000
A temporary loan of $125,000 with which
to meet curent expenses of the city board
of health was today authorized by the
state tax board, according to Robert H.
Bryson, city controller.
We Have With
Us Today
THE TIMES ho* prepared a qnes
tionr.Hlre consisting of ten ques
tlons, which it submits each day to
some well-known Indidiinpolls per
son.
Introducing
John C. Rookelshnos,
President of the Columbia Club.
Q. What is your name in full?
A. John C. Ruckelsbau*.
Q. Have you ever had a nick
name?
A. Jack.
Q. What wa* your favorite sport
when you were a boy ?
A. Baseball.
Q. What athletics did you engage
or excel in when you were in
school?
A. Football.
Q. How did you happen to meet
your wife, and where did yon
meet her?
A. Through a kind friend in In
dianapolis.
Q. What is your hobby today?
A. Making the Columbia club a
popular place for all republic
ans.
Q. What was your ambition when
you Tvere a boy?
A. Didn’t have any until I was 19,
then to be a lawyer.
Q. What event in your life caused
you to choose your present
profession ?
A. Tired of clerking in my father's
grocery.
Q, If you had your life to live
over, what profession would
you choose ?
A. Same thing, the law.
Q. What would you do with a mil
lion dollars if you had it to
give away ?
A. After buying my wife a tai
lored cites* and spring hat the
balance I would spend in the
behalf of the poor young boys
and girls of our country.
HOME EDITION
2 CENTS PEE COPY
GOODRICH SITS
IN HIS TENT;
BACKS NO ONE
Aloof in Indiana Presidential
Primary Fight and Candi
dates Are Puzzled.
Where does Gov. Goodrich stand in
the presidential primary fight in Indl
ena V
Curiosity regarding his stand is being
expressed by friends of various can
didates seeking the nomination for the
presidency.
The gorern<ir, usually so active in
every political fight, has thus far not
openly shown Lis hand.
There is a question as to whether he
is doing this intentionally or whether
his Influence is so undesirable that no
candidate wishes to have him openly
aligned with hi* campaign.
HE SAID HE'D
STAY OtT.
Under the circumstances it appesrs
entirely possible that the governor spoke
more truth than he knew when he stated
early in the campaign that he would
stay out cf it entirely and sit by watch
ing the other fellow fight it out.
There is every indication that he is
doing this verr thing, although perhaps
not entirely voluntarily.
Under ordinary circumstance* candi
dates in the primaries are glad to have
the support Os the administration in
power.
The support of the administration
means the support of that administra
tion’s following, and if the administra
tion ha* been successful In any particu
lar this following amounts to a great
deal in the primary.
But an administration without a fol
lowing and at the same time burdened
with the opposition of nearly all it* own
party i* something else again.
Early in the campaign it was rumored
that Gov. Goodrich was friendly to Gov
Frank O. Lowden of Illinois.
Conferences between Lowden managers
and the governor, when the managers
first took up their work in Indiana, added
strength to this rumor.
But there ha* been no move on the part
of the governor to assist the Lowden
organization.
The Lowden managers in Indiana ap
parently quickly fixed up the situation
sad informed the governor that they
would appreciate it If he would keep htk
hands off, or words to that effect.
GOODRICHISM NOT
AFFECTING WOOD BOOM.
The rapidly dying Wood boom is ap
parently succumbing from something be
sides Goodrichism.
Friends of Gen. Wood aided in forcing
Gov. Goodrich out of the presidential
race and they have never sought his as
sistance.
There has been no evidence that be is
for Senator Harding.
Os course. Senator Johnson may be
open to receive the support of the gov
ernor.
He appears to have every manner and
description of support from Indiana re
publicans, a part of which is somewhat
undesirable.
But. at the same time, desp'te his as
sociation with “the great little har
monizer,” Gov. Goodrich has never been
known as a progressive and it is almost
too much to believe that he will become
one at this late date.
In fact, it begins to appear as if ‘the
great war governor” actually is neutral
so far as the presidential race is con
cerned.
TAXPAYER MAKES
PLEA TO CANDIDATE
George M. Speigel. candidate for the
democratic nomination for treasurer of
Marion county, who is making his cam
paign on a pledge to do the things that
the republican treasurers have neglected
in recent years, received a letter a few
days ago from a taxpayer who asked
him if he thought he could correct an
evil that has cost the taxpayers of the
county much annoyance and consid
erable money. The taxpayer wrote:
"I went to the treasurer's office to pay
my taxes last spring and was informed
that there was nothing charged against
me.
"I knew I owed taxes and insisted that
the bill be found.
“After I had waited almost an hour
the clerk assured me that my taxes had
been paid.
“I had been ont of the city and think
ing that perhaps In my absence some
member of the family had attended to
the matter, went away.
“I had no further opportunity to pay
taxes until after the time limit was
passed.
“Several months later a delinquent tax
bully came to my house and threatened
to take the furriiture away.
“I was out of the city and when I
got back I found that I not only had
to pay the taxes I bad tried to pay,
but 1 also had to pay a lot of penal
ties which I tow understand were il
legally collected from me.
"I have never been able to make up
my mind whether this wak due to an
honest error in the treasurer’s office or
whether tho clerk deliberately refused
to give me my tax bill la order that
my taxes would become delinquent .-andr
(Continued on Page Six.) *
NO. 298.
FEDERAL JURY
NET READY HERE
FOR PROFITEERS
Government Agents Gather
Evidence on Coal and
Potato Prices.
PROFIT ON SPUDS GIVEN
Evidence which may lead to In
dictments under the Lever act for
exacting exorbitant prices on pota
toes and coal is now being gathered
by representatives of the department
of justice, Charles Tighe, U. S. de
partment of justice agent here, as*
nounced today.
For several weeks the department mr
Justice has been conducting an investi
gation of wholesale coal prices, accord
ing to Tighe, and the results probably
will be placed before the federal grand
July, which is now in cession.
“At to whether we have enough evi
dence to warrant indictments is, of
course, a matter of law,” said Mr. Tighe
in discussing the coal situation today.
He would not predict what action will
be taken by other government depart
ments on the coal pri-e situation.
. The investigation of wholesale coal
prices has been conducted along with
the work of gathering evidence to be
used in the trial of coal men now held
under a federal indictment.
TELLS OF LARGE
POTATO PROFITS.
Potato prices have also been under in
vestigation during the last week.
Tighe said that several wholesale men
are making profits of from 20 to 30 per
cent on potatoes.
He also said that retailers add about
25 per cent gross profit, which amount,
he said, has been authorized by Stanley
Wyckoff, fair price commissioner.
Representatives of the department of
Justice made an investigation of a re
| port that several carloads of potatoes had
been sidetracked at Beech Grove, but
failed to find any evidence of the cats.
Railroad reports of potato shipments
are now being considered in an effort to
! locate any unknown supply of potatoes
| which may be In the city.
Operatives from Mr. Tighe's office vis
| ited the city markets early today to
gather information as to the potato sup
| ply. and it was learned that farmers are
| bringing few potatoes to market.
In fact, it was found that many farm
ers are buying their potatoes in the
! city.
CRAN'D JURY MAY
GET EVIDENCE.
The federal grand jury -will continue
In session probably all of next week and
It is said evidence of supposed profiteer
ing may be considered by the present
panel.
No plans have been made as yet for
the convening of a special Jury to delve
Into rhe price situation in regard to coal
and potatoes.
The coal price investigation is being
conducted in all parts of the country by
the department of justice, according to
reports received here.
Potatoes dropped 50 cents a bag to
?11.50 for a 150-pound bag, on commis
sion row today.
The reason given by dealers was that
1 the railroad situation is clearing up, a*4~
I potatoes are being received from Chi
cago. the principal potato jobbing point.
Dealers say there will be no marked
decrease In price.
WILL FIGHT TO TRY
ISDICTED MEN HERE
The first proceedings for the removal of
recently indicted coal operators and min
ers from states outside of Indiana to the
Jurisdiction of the Indiana district court
will be taken up In the United States dis
trict court at Chicago Monday, according
to L. Ert Slack, special assistant to the
district attorney, who assisted in the fed
eral coal probe.
Dan W. Simms, special assistant dis
trict attorney, is in Chicago preparing to
bring the removal proceedings.
The federal court Indictment of 125 met
Included only fifty-two in Indiana, tbs
rest being residents of different states.
It is said that all those living outside
of Indiana are planning to fight removal. 1
HIGHER BREAD
U. S. PROSPECT
Government Reports Give
Wheat Shortage Cause.
WASHINGTON, April 22.—Bread price*
will be increased again, following rising
flour and wheat quotations, government
reports indicated today.
Wheat, now selling far above the gov-,
ernment guaranteed price, has not yet
reached a high level, according to the
crop estimate bureau of the agriculture
department.
"The 1920 crop will be short, not only
in the United States, but throughout the 1
world.” said Statistician Nat Murray.
"This will affect prices Inside the
United States.
"It means what She trade call* a.
‘healthy marker.’ It spells the revers|
of reductions, a fluctuating market, and,
perhaps also further advances In prices.’’
Other signs also point to a rising mar
ket.
One is dissolution of the United State*
Grain Corporation Jnne 20.
The grain corporation, through its.
ability to buy, sell or store large quant!-;
ties of wheat, has power to control prices
to a large extent. Many farmers contend
it deliberately has held down wheat 1
prices.
University Honors
Pershing, Crowder
COLUMBIA, Mo.. April 22—Honorary
degrees of doctor of laws were to be
conferred upon Gen. John J. Pershing
and Ma.l. Gen. E. H. Crowder, native sons,
at the University of Missouri ceremonials
here today.
About 300 students also were to re
ceive degrees.
White River Falls
From Flood Stage
White river is falllhg after a swift,
rise.
The highest stage reached by the river ’
was sixteen feet late yesterday, two feet
below the flood mark.
< yj
Better a Little
Fuzz Than Blood
i
LAWRENCE Kas.. April 22.—A ftUr ,
co-cd at Kansas university decided to ,
climb over the only obstacle prevent
ing her wearing open work hotsery.
She shaved her ankles with a razor.
The story came out today when j*l
surgeon told of being called to dressy
the wounds.