The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-11-29
MAJOR S. L. SHANK
RESIGNED HIS OFFICE
Picturesque Official in indianapolis Omit
Rather Than Face an I'm
peachment

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. %
hather than face impeachment proceed
lngs Samuel Lewis Shank resigned as
mayor OF this city yesterday afternoon
and was automatically succeeded bv
Harry r. Wallace, city controller. 4
committee of business men had pre-
pared resolution to remove Shank from
office in ease of any further labor
trouble in the city and when the mavor
was old by labor leaders that a strike
OF union teamsters was imminent he
sent his resignation to the city clerk.
/ feel that | did everything on nv
part to be fair to both sides during
the recent street ear strike, = said Nav
or Shank in announcing his resignation.
= but after the criticism that has been
heaped upon me by the safety board
of the chamber of commerce, | feel that
| could probably not retain my position
and do my duty to the general public
as mayor on account of the bitter feel
ing that has grown out of the labor
controversy. Mayor Wallace issued
g statement in which he said: = shall
10 my duty impartially and fearlessly.
Life and property must be protected al
whatever cost and the fair name of our
city restored. Every person has
right to conduct his own business in his
own way so long as he does it lawfully
and | will not tolerate any interference
with it by others Mayor Wallace
said the police situation is 50 critical
that he viii take personal charge of the
department for time. The new mavor
has been prominent in Republican pol-
itics for some time. lie served one term
rs county auditor and is on his second
term as county chairman.
Shank is probably the most noH el
figure that ever occupied the mayor 5
office in indianapolis. He achieved
considerable notorietv by his handling
Of the saloon problem early in his al
ministratlon. Saloon keepers who vio-
lated the law were taken before the
mayor and in many instances their
licenses We're suspended for periods
varying from a few hours to 60 DAYS.
One saloonkeeper S license was sas-
pended until he could show the mayor
a certificate signed by minister that
he had attended church.
Shank also gained nationwide fame
in 1911 by his fight on the high cost Of
living, He found that the city market
was failing in its original purpose 10
bring the producer aud consumer to-
gether, and imported l6 carloads of
potatoes, which he retailed at 75 cents
bushcl. Potatoes then were retailing
ut Sl.49, but prices tumbled over night
and did not regain their high mark
during the season He also sold fruits.
vegetables and poultry in competition
with the city market
lie made a fight on insurance rates
in the city. which was successful in
causing q reduction totaling 5000, 600 a
year. He took great delight in perform
ing marriage ceremony and always
turned whatever fee he was given over
to the bride as present. The former
mayor served one term as recorder Of
Marion county and before entering
politics was an auctioneer and storage
house proprietor.
Mayor Shank 5 attitude during the
recent street-car strike, when he let
it be known that he did not wish police
men to ride in ears manned by strike
breakers, caused the resignation of
superintendent of Police Martin J. Hy-
land and President W. f. Davis of the
board Of public safety. At the first
police rolI-call after Superintendent
Hyland resigned Mayor Shank made a
speech in which he said he did not wish
the patrolmen to ride on wagons driven
bv nonunion teamsters if n strike oc
CURED This statement, it is said. re-
suited in the beginning of preparations
to file impeachment proceedings
against the mayor.