Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-09

The Governor was virtually a prisoner
/ in his office. Sheriff Mester announced
! during his 'watchful waiting" that the
moment Governor Small leaves his office
he will be placed under arrest,
DETECTIVES
GUARD EXITS.
Every exit to the capitol building was
guarded by armed detectives. The sheriff
also is armed.
An elaborate system of signals has
been established to be used by the
sheriff in case a bodyguard to the Gov
ernor attempts to usher him past the
post he has taken on the main floor
Governor Small ate no lunch today
The guard was posted by the sheriff az
the time the executive usually leaves for
his monday meal but on their arrival he
locked his doors and was imprisoned
within his private chambers.
I'VE have extended every possible
courtesy to the Governor and now we
will take him by fOrce-if necessary,'
the sheriff said
The Governor launched a sensational
offensive IN the siege of Capitol Hiln
by creating war board" Of five mem
bers to act as his military advisers
The order unprecedented in the his
tory Of the Illinois National Guard, was
taken as a preliminary to the use OF
State troops to prevetn the Governors
arrets by Sagamon County officials. In
creating his war board" the Governor
entirely ignored Adjutant General Dick
son, active head fthe State troops, and
invoked his constitutional powers y as
commander-in-chief Of the NationSk
GuRrdy
The "war board" comprises: Brig
Gen. o. p. Yeager. Col ID. S Myers,
Jr.; Lieut.. Col. A. z. Inglesh: Capt. Car
los E. Black and Capt. Percy B. Coffin
Inglesh Black and CONN were elected
to cOlonelcies in the executive order
Yeager was reinstated from the retired
list
The Governor issued a public state
ment explaining that the board was di-
rected to investigate the condition of
homeless World War veterans through
out Illinois. He ordered the use of State
armories to care for the veterans.
The wording of the document, which
created q sensation here, was looked upon
merely as a "veil' TO its real motive. The
Governor refused TO discuss the order
His friends admitted it was Significant"
Throughout the capital it was looked
upon as war move"
An actual clash between sangamon
County authorities and the military
looms strongly for Sheriff Henry Mester
yesterday gave the Governor a verbal
ultmatum that force would be used" to
arrest him. The warrants. issued by
Judge L. S. Smith of the Sangamon
County court, charge the Governor with
misuse of State interest funds while
State treasurer.
ORGANIZE BAND
OF PICKED TROOPS
Two meanings were given the order
by persons close to the Governor. One
was that the war board would be used
to supersede Adiutant General Dickson
as head of the State troops In event mar
tial law IS declared. The second and
more feasible is that the war board"
will organize a band of picked troops"
all World War veterans, to guard the
Governor in event Sheriff Mester attempts
to storm Capitol Hill"
The fact that the Governor gave his
war board" unlimited powers and the
use OF State armories was taken to in
dlcate that the picked troops" might bs
quartered in the State armory here pend
Ing an executive order calling them into
service. Such an action would not neces-
CARLY mean declaration of martial law
which has been attacked on legal grounds
by the Governors political opponents He
would simply name the picked troops"
his personal bodyguard, it was pointed
out.
Added impetus was given the war
talk here when 1t became known today
that armed guards patroled the grounds
of the executive mansion three nights
of the week during which Judge Smith
held a hearing on the Governors i'm
munity" plea. The guards, armed and
uniformed, were under orders to halt
all trespassers. The guards, it was said,
spent last night within the Governors
mansion ready to repel any surprise at
tack" of Sheriff Mester