The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-29
LEW SHANK
SPEAKER AT
CENTERvILLE
Fine Weather, Large Turnout
of Veterans Make Celebra-
ton Successful Mayor
Discusses Billy Sunday.
KLAN VISITS CRAVE
Especial to the Palladium)

Ideal weather conditions and large
ans of the wars OF 81, '9S and '18 com
bined to make the celebration of Me-
mortal Day held here Sunday after
noon, highly successful affair. The
speech of the afternoon was delivered
by Mayor Lew Shank Of Indianapolis.
Interspersed with his more serious
remarks Mr.. Shank gave his opinion
on a number of subjects, including
Billy Sunday, political strife in In
dianapolis and William Howard Taft.
BILL is fine judge" he said, but
put him on one of the finest farms in
Center township and he would starve
to death"
Mayor Shank spoke under the au-
spices of Paul Hunt Post, American
Legion. Speaking Of Billy Sunday he
said:
Billy Sunday is a wonderful man,
but he is no better than these right
here" said Mr. Shank, indicating mem
bers of the audience. There Is no
difference between Billy and other
ministers except that the others do
not make as much money as he.
Uses Tin Pans.
He is a wonderful preacher. l
went to hear him once. He didn't do
like most preachers, pass the basket
around. No, he passed tin pans and
you could tell whether a button or a
nickel or dime fell in.
Bill used language that night that
used in politics later,-till Sarah
stopped me. She said it was too
rough for politics.
Later Bill asked me what thought
of him: l said Bill do you want the
truth? He said sure so | told him:
Bill you have Barnum and Bailey
backed off the mat
He does a wonderful lot of good.
There is not another man in the Unit
ed States who could use the language
he does and get away With it. But
when he goes, another preacher will
have to tell how good he was and he
VIII have passed on to the other side
just the same as you or or any other
man"
Look for Good, Urge
'I try to see the better side of life"
said Mr.. Shank switching to another
subject with characteristic rapidity.
II know Indianapolis isn't clean moral
ly: she never will be and she never
has been. But you go to Indianapolis
looking for the good things, the play
grounds we have, the fine residences
the monument, the state house, and
don't go looking for the bad.
I'VE have foot-pads, murderers, safe
blowers, and all the others in Indi
annapolis, butw it'll all the hardships OF
being mayor, try to keep a smile on
my face Once in a while the Indi
annapolis News tries to wipe 1t off but
it always comes back.
The highbrows in Indianapolis dc
not like Lew Shank. Whenever l see
man with a plug hat I know he
didn't vote for me. Not long ago
was called to a church to make
speech. 1t was one Of these churche'
where all the women wear gloves anC
they gave me just the faintest kind O
applause when l entered.
II was warned before | went in. 4
politician told me: Lew, don't go il
there. They are going to burn yol
up"
Il said I want to be in at the burn
ing and | went in.
81 saw I was first on the program
asked to be chaged but they said no
So got up to talk l told them abou
how l had visited French Lick sever
years ago, and again at intervals sine
and how they were still gamblin,
down there. Then l said:
If Governor Hanley with tn
whole state of Indiana behind him
can't stop that game at French Lich
how can you expect me to shut up 20
of them in Indianapolis?
Lett indianapolis Alone
We'll, the speaker of the evenint
got up and he never said 2 word abou
conditions IN Indianapolis. He COY
cred the whole United States but b
OF TD6ianan nOliS
when I first went into office a
mayor of Indianapolis I tried to pleas
everybody the first year. There wer
700 saloons in town that year an
we had lot of ministers too. The rt
suit was that | pleased about half {
the people.
The next year I tried to pleas
only half the people. and succeeded
little better, but l still had lot {
kiCkers
Finally. l tried to please Just m
wife, and boys. after 60 years, more {
less. of married life; I have decide
that that is a full round years worI
just keeping your wife satisfied &c
days in the year. It's a tough jo1
boys"
Mayor Shank said he used to hav
beautiful head of curly hair but ma
ried life and politics had proved il
ruin.
Tribute to Soldiers.
In his opening remarks. Mayo
Shank paid tribute to the men
uniform. There is no badge in II
world like the uniform" he said.
have few gold medals at home. b,
they don't amount to that!" snappir
his fingers.
Me and Sarah. she's my wife, yc
know; me and Sarah travelled a fe
months, after I was elected mayo
We went all over the United State
But when we left Chicago on the WE
back. I said to her: What a wonde
tul place We live in, Indiana
illinois street. il indianapolis, wit
all its chuck holes. looks better to Il
than the finest street in Pasadena. v
ought to be thankful to live in India1
among these good people
When l look in the faces of the
people and see the War Mothers al