The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-10-21

DEFENSE OF
POLICE DEPT.
U. S. Commissioner Makes A
Whale of a Political Ad-
dress At KIP. Hall

What are you wearing that button
for?"
This little query. heard so often on
the streets OF Hammond these cam
paign days. started verbal duel the
other day between Charles Surprise
and leading democrat The demo had
put the question and Charles came right
back with some anwsers. The demo
switched to his favorite topic. the
corruption of the Hammond police and
the terrible moral conditions which
prevail
Well, you all know Charley. He's the
U. S. Commissioner. teacher OF one Of
the largest Sunday school classes in
town and interested in everything tina;
looks toward the betterment of the city.
He just couldn't keep still and what he
said was aplenty.
HE WAS RIGHT MAD
He was boiling with wrath when he
rushed into Republican headquarters
and demanded that he be given chance
to speak in public. He had never tried
political speaking before, but he knew
that he could tell a crowd some facts
mighty quick.
He did. Last night he was one OF
the speakers at the K Of P. hall which
vas jammed to the stairs for the meet
ing.
He told the crowd Of that little pre-
liminary spat with the prominent dem
ocrat and Of some Of the questions he
had asked the demo.
BIG wHY7
IF the Hammond police force is 50
orrupt, why is it that the u s. Sec
ct Service, the U. S. Department of
Justice. the L. S. Internal Revenue
Department, the federal prohibition
Increment officers, all have such
aigh respect for the Hammond de-
,artment?" he demanded. Why is II
hat they tell me that Hammond's
orce IS different from any in the coun-
rv and that it is the best in the state?"
Then he told of the frequent state
nents of an old Secret Service opera
we who frequently comes to liam
nond
BRINGS PRISONER ~
Whenever that officer finds that
an he wants is in Hammond he just
alks into the office Of Chief Austgen
I'd tells him that he wants him. Then
hangs around until the patrol brings
he fellow in He knows that If that
GLOW is in Hammond. Austgen's men
III get him. He never worries about
tip-off as in other cities. In cities
he size Of Hammond it is generally
4ecessary for him TO take his opera
IS with him and make the catch
mself"
NO SCANDALS HERE
Surprise pointed to the fact that
hammond has had no great scandals in
diving violation of federal statutes.
ou haven't seen any twenty or thirty
4 our citizens picking up hurriedly and
eading for Mexico or Cuba as happen
d out in Nebraska town the other
lay" he said. You haven't seen the
ity officials Of prominent citizens in
dcted for conspiracy as has been the
ase in some Indiana cities in the last
ew years. Terra Haute. Evansville.
Iuncie and Indianapolis for example.
You never have any trouble in voting
i elections. No sluggers cause trouble
It the polls"
WANTED TO OPERATE HERE
Here he let the public in on some in
orma ton which was new to them. The
AXE horse race swindle which was op-
rated at Muncie and other places might
ust as we'll have centered in Ham
aond. The promoters of this swindle
anne to Hammond and asked Mayor
'rown's permission to put up their
blackboard showing race results In a
DOM in Hammond The spokesman then
Ldded that all he asked was fifteen
minutes notice before the police raided
he place when one of the victims
O get across the state line
BE LEFT IN a HURRY
Dan Brown laughed at such a sug-
-estion and ordered them out of his
fice," said Surprise "A little later
mother representative Of the clique
anne to Hammond from East Chicago
nd put the proposal to Chief Austgen
gain, stating that the first proposition
ad probably been misunderstood. He
hen whispered that there would be
l. 600 in it for the chief. That fellow
eft the police station in a hurry"
II don't believe you folks realize the
emptations that beset policeman in
hese days OF prohibition continued
he speaker. 'I know that certain
hammond officer has on several oc-
asions been approached by represen-
atves of the liquor interests and Of
cred $1,000 a week If he would merely
AXE a list of automobile numbers and
ot modest the cars bearing them when
hey came through Hammond. know
hat that offer has been refused sew
raj times. Do you think it would
ave been turned down in some other
tiles that we know of?
HAMMOND THEIR BAUE
That's why a young booze runner
gently made the statement in court
hat his father had warned him Ham
lond '1s a He'll of g. place to go
trough"
The speaker then took up an i'm
ortant lead. 81 recently asked Chief
trong of the ]. H. B. police if at any
me he had been hampered by orders
rom higher officials while he was cap
lin on the Hammond force. Ben Strong
not on the force and would have no
eason TO conceal anything now. He
I'D me that he was never told to keep
is hands off Of any place or person
Y the mayor. chief, Board of Safetv
Continued on page nve.S