The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-06-24
Mayor of indianapolis Tells
Home Folks He Meant
What He Said.
THIS COLD, CRUEL WORLD
He INFORMS REPORTER ON HIS
RETURN FROM RICHMOND
CAN'T SEE HOW HE CAN RENE.
DY "DRY" SPELL.

Indianapolis, June 24.-Mayor Shank
on his return from Richmond. Ind,
last night, defended himself against
criticism Of discrimination which was
directed toward him following his
famous "ice box speech at the ban.
quet of the Indiana Municipal League
Wednesday night. At the banquet the
mayor declared his sympathy for folk
who have no ice boxes these hot Sun
days, now that Indianapolis is dry"
and he recited an incident of his own
refrigerator which arose only last Sun
day.
Il had a few friends out here last
Sunday and happened to have few
cold bottles In the ice box" said the
mayor. II spoke OF this incident in
my after-dinner speech at Richmond
and 1t was at the Y. M. G. A.. too.
simply told them that l felt sorry for
those people who have no ice boxes,
now that Indianapolis is dry on Sun
days.
1T Is too bad" the mayor contin-
on the South Side who have to go up
and down the streets and can't get a
drink anywhere. and other folks can
have It in their ice boxes"
well. what are people who can't
afford to have Ice boxes going to do
Just stay 'dry?" he was asked.
well, I don't know, suppose So"
he replied. The mayor said further
that he does not believe he is dis
eliminating against any one in hav-
ing his own ice box on Sundays while
others have to wait until Monday or
60 without liquid refreshments all
day.
Cold, Cruel World.
This is a cold, cruel world" he
said. Some folks can have ice boxes,
while others can't afford it. am sor-
~ for those who can't, but I can not
help them. I started out to close up
the saloons on Sundays and am going
to keep 1t up If can and that's what
told them at the banquet in Rich
mond. It's all right. think for those
to have their own ice boxes who can
afford ot.'
Mayor Shank said he was much i'm
pressed with the spirit of the Munich
pal league, which favors the initiative
and referendum. and that he would
like to see that plan of government es-
tablished In Indiana, and especially in
Indianapolis.
Il believe the people should be given
the right to say whether bonds should
be issued for q given purpose, and
they should be allowed to vote on any
question OF public improvement. Near
ly all Of the various city onicials who
attended the meeting favored the ini-
tiative and referendum and l am in
favor Of 1t myself"
So far as the commission form OF
government Is concerned, the mayor
said he does not believe that plan is
altogether q proper one. Some OF the
officials Of Des Moines, Ia, where the
commission form now is in vogue, at
tended the Richmond meeting and he
said after making an investigation OF
the merits of the commission form
he does not believe 1t is a practicable
method. His reason he says, that it
does not eliminate politics from mu-
nicipal affairs.
Another matter which came before
the Municipal League. which the may
or favors. is. comforting upon various
cities greater borrowing powers. He
says he believes Indianapolis could
proceed with more track elevation IL
its bonding powers were increased
and that he would like to see statute
enacted which would give to this city
the right to issue more bonds.