South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-26
MOTOR SCHOOL To
Be OPENED HERE
ABOUT DEC. |
Republican Senators Fail in
Plan to Keep Congressman
From Getting Military
Contract Awarded.

Through the efforts of Con-
gresham Henry A. Barnhart,
and over the opposition of In
diana's two United States Sena-
tors. James E. Watson and Harry
S. New, ST. Joseph county will
get the government motor train
ing school, according to official
word received from Washington
Friday night.
Despite the opposition of Sens.
Watson and New, the motor
training school, with 1900 stu
dents, as originally planned, will
open at Springbrook park Dec. /.
New Contracts on Way.
According to the information re-
ceived from Washington. new con-
tracts between the government and
the St. Joseph County Fair &
Amusement association are now on
their way to South Bend for the
signatures of the officials of the or
ganization.
Two months ago it was announced
that the government would establish
a motor training school in st. Jo-
seph county if a suitable location
could be found.
Representative of the govern
ment visited the county and through
the efforts Of the Chamber of Com
merce the St. Joseph County Fair
< Amusement association was in
duced to permit the use Of the fair
grounds and the buildings by the
government for the school.
Officials of the association entered
into a contract with the govern
ment. The county commissioners
recommended the appropriation of
$4,000 as a loan to the government
10 esta blish the school, and upon
the recommendations of the COM
missioners the county council APP
propriated the money.
Everybody connected with the ne
gotiations believed that the matter
had been definitely settled. The
contracts signed by the officials of
the fair association were forwarded
10 Washington for the necessary sig
nature of the proper government Of
fcials.
New and Watson Oppose
Then the committee appointed by
the Chamber of Commerce to take
charge of the matter from the
county's end became impatient at
what seemed 10 the members as un-
necessary delay in the arrival Of the
contracts. They wired and wrote
Sens New and Watson. Soon they
received kilograms from the two
senators. who are republicans. that
the government had abandoned the
St. Joseph county project.
Congressman Barnhart was then
appealed to. Congressman Barn
mart is "a democrat. Word from
Washington indicates that Sens.
Watson and New had made every eff
fort TO prevent the location of the
training school in st. Joseph county
i'm an effort TO injure Mr.. Barnhart' 8
campaign for reelection TO congress.
Then later two representatives
from the cantonment at Valparaiso
visited the county, and viewed the
fair grounds. and highly recon-
mended them as a site for the motor
training school This had been done
before. Still later word was re-
ceived from Washington that If a
school was TO be esta blished in the
county. il would have to be half the
size originally proposed.
G.. O. T.. Plays Politics.
Word reached here that Congress
man Barnhart was doing everything
in his power TO secure the estab-
lishment Of the school. Sens. Wat
son and New in their messages to
the Chamber of Commerce commit
tee had discouraged any further at
tempts upon the part of the county
20 secure the location of the school
at Springbrook park.
Then Friday night the news
reached here from Washington that
the school with an attendance of
1900 students would be ready for
opening at SpringbrOok park Dec. 1.
Immediately following the receipt
of this news from Washington came
a confrmatory telegram from Con-
gresham Barnhart at his home in
Rochester. Ind, 10 The News-Times.
It read:
Field Of the war department
wires me that new contracts, similar
10 the first ones for a training
camp in st. Joseph county fair
grounds have been prepared 10 take
effect Dec l and are now on their
way 10 the fair ground officials for
their signatures. Immense demands
for trucks overseas necessitates de
ferring date 10 Dec. I. when camp
will positively be established.
(signed) BARNHART.