The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-10-08
MORAY CAMPAIGN
FALSELY ADVERTISED
Series Of Articles Disprove Claim
That Republican Nominee is
Farmer Known in Home
County as Beard Of Trade
Candidate.
WAR RECORD UNDER FIRE


all doubt that Warren T. McCray the
Republican nominee for governor, has
been falsely advertised by the Repub-
lican state committee as a farmer
candidate
The articles. based on facts pre-
sented by McCray's Kentland neigh
bors, show the following points:
l. That he is not a dirt farmer"
as advertised, but that he is a stock
broker, banker and grain dealer He
was born on a farm, but has resided
In the town of Kentland since early
youth and has never followed a
plough"
The Board of Trade Candidate.
2. McCray is known in Newton
and surrounding counties as the
Board of Trade candidate" He is
vicepresident OF the Sawyer Grain
Company, a firm that deals in grain
futures on the Chicago Board OF
Trade, and according to his neigh
bors much of his huge fortune was
hSblSu III lllo DuolltOo.
3. The tax sheets in Kentland
show that the Republican nominee
has little cause to be disgusted with
the Goodrich tax law. The assess
ment of his personal property on his
great Orchard lake farm, including
his fine herd of cattle, stands at $780,
325, yet one month later he sold a
part of his stock for $225,O0O. One
of his prize bulls brought $4,000 at
the sale, or twenty-five times more
than ii was listed for taxation pur-
poses.
4. McCray was credited in the
1919 assessment with holding $500
worth of Liberty bonds. More than a
year later he filed an affidavit declar-
ing the assessor had been mistaken
and that he had purchased $4,000
worth Of bonds during the war;" and
three months later the assessor filed
a similar affidavit Before the aft
davits were filed, however, some one
had mutilated the records in the
county auditors Office by adding an
other cipher to the $1,000 worth Of
bonds credited to McCray.
5. The Discount and Deposit Bank
OF Kentland, controlled by McCray,
purchased only $4,000 worth of treas
ury certificates of indebtedness when
the government was preparing for
the Third Liberty loan. His compel
ing bank bought $4,000 worth of the
same issue and every bank in Newton
county lead the McCray institution.
Ped Cross Society Stirred.
.. McCray was chairman Of the
finance committee of the Newton
County Red Cross society and col
lected all the subscriptions through
his bank He is said to have sent the
money to the national association
with his personal check and as a re-
suit his home county is not credited
with it's quota. Members of the So
ciety have repeatedly requested that
he give an accounting of his transac-
tions, but to date the records do not
show what has become of the funds
No one, of course, questions Nc
Cray's honesty in the transaction, but
the fact that he has refused to make
a statement on the matter has lead to
much adverse comment in his own
neighborhood.
McCray's tax records contain much
illuminating information. For in
stance in 1917 he listed 265 head Of
cattle, four horses and twelve mules.
yet he had on hand only $500 worth
of oats to feed them. The same year
he listed his harness for SIS. In 1918
it had risen to $50 and in 1919 it was
overlooked. This year, however, he
valued it at $500
Lists a Billiard Table.
In Kentland. where McCray has re.
sided all of his life, he pays taxes on
$500 worth of furniture while at his
farm he has only $40 worth of house
hold goods. Among his possessions
in Kentland is a billiard table which
he valued at $40.
1t is interesting to note that while
the total assessment of his personal
property on the farm is given in for
taxation purposes at s120,325. he car
rieS $4,000 worth of insurance.
In connection with McCray's rela-
tions with the Chicago Board OF
Trade it is pointed out by Kentland
people that the manager of the Raub
Grain Elevator Company lost nearly
$4,000 specializing with the Sawyer
Grain Company. The attorney for
the Raub concern refused to allow the
payment of the debt on the ground
that il was incurred in gambling
transactions"
II is worthy of note that the Saw
yer Company has not taken steps 10
collect this debt. although reports
here are 10 the effect the matter will
be taken up after the election.
Many of the facts relative to Nc
Cray's business methods" were ex-
posed in two articles, said 10 have
been inspired by James w. Fesler.
his primary opponent, last spring in
the Chicago Herald and Examiner.
McCray has been campaigning ever
since. yet he has never denied a
single one Of the allegations.