South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-29
SHANK, FEARING
ANOTHER STRIKE,
QUITS AS MAYOR
Indianapolis Official Resigns
When Business Men Threat
en- to Impeach Him if Team
SterS Go Out on a Strike.

INDIANAPOLIS. Nov. 29.-Rather
than face impeachment proceedings,
samuel Lewis Shank resigned as
mayor Of indianapolis Friday after
noon and was automatically succeed
ed by Harry r. Wallace, city con-
troller.
4 committee of business men had
prepared proceedings to remove
Shank from Office in case of any
further labor trouble in the city, and
when the mayor was told by labor
leaders Friday afternoon that a strike
of union teamsters was imminent he
sent his resignation to the city clerk.
4 feel that I did everything on my
part TO be fair TO both sides during
the recent street car strike" Mayor
Shank said in announcing his resigna-
ton, but, after the criticism that
has been heaped on me by the safety
board of the Chamber of Commerce,
I feel that L probably could not re-
tain my position and do my duty to
the general public as mayor on &C
count of the bitter feeling that has
grown out Of the labor controversy.
Mayor Wallace said the police stu
alton is so critical that he Will take
personal charge of the department
for a time. The new mayor has been
prominent in republican politics for
sometime. He served one term as
county auditor and is on his second
term as county chairman.
AS soon as Mayor Wallace took the
oath of office he named a new board
of public safety. The members are
| Hugh NJ. Love, Schuyler G. Haas and
| Edwin II. Enrich. all well known
| business men. Fred b. Akin was
named city controller. The mayor
| then went at once to police head
/ quarters where ne said he would put
| forth every effort to reorganize the
force. which has become demoralized
/ during the last few weeks.
Many Minor Disorders.
| For practically four months the
| Indianapolis police have had TO deal
| with many minor disorders growing
out of labor troubles. During all of
this disorder the police were receiv-
1 ing orders from former SHpt. Of Po-
lice Martin Hyland to suppress the
disorder, but on the other hand were
| ordered by Mayor Shank not to in
| terfere in the labor question.
Thomas ]. Farrell, general organ
izer in charge Of the Transfers and
Chauffeurs' unions, in this city. said
| Friday night that a meeting Of the
two organizations had been called fol-
! Sunday afternoon when they would
vote upon the question of calling a
strike.
While the teamsters' demands were
being considered the union organizers
have been at work uniOniZing other
crafts here. The hotel and restau-
rant workers. the department store
employees and laundry workers now
are being organized.
II &c a p q
figure that ever occupied the mayors
office in indianapolis. He achieved
| considerable notoriety by his handling
of the saloon problem early in his
administration. Saloonkeepers who
, violated the law were taken before
the mayor and in many instance:
their licenses were suspended fol
periods varying from a few hours tC
60 days. one saloonkeeper's license
was suspended until he could show
the mayor a certificate, signed by {
/ minister, that he had attended
church.
Nationwide Fame.
| 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 Origina
: purpose to bring the producer anC
consumer together and imported II
carloads Of potatoes. which he re
tailed at 10 cents a bushel Potatoes
then were retailing at $1.40, bu
prices tumpled over night and did no
regain their high mark during the
season. He also sold fruits, vege
tables and poultry in competition
with the city market.
; He made fight on insurance rates
; in the city which was successful il
causing a reduction totalling 5000,
! GEO a year. He took great deligh
in performing a marriage ceremony
} and always turned whatever fee hC
! was given over TO the bride as
present.
The former mayor served one tern
| as recorder of this (Marion) county
and before entering politics was az
: auctiOneer and storage house pro
| prietor.