The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-28
SHANK STIRS
UP PROTEST
over MERGER
Mayor of Indianapolis to Lead
Parade to Statehouse Mon
day to Voice Complaint
Against Action.
DENY TROOPS READY
tBy Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 2S-Mayor
Lew Shank today declared a half holi-
Gay Monday for all city employees so
that they might join his protest pa
rade to the state house, where he
said he would voice complaint against
the action of the public service com
mission approving the Indiana Elec-
trio corporation consolidation project
on valuation basis of S17.5o0, 900.
simultaneously with his declaration
of the holiday the mayor sent tele-
grams to the mayors of Elkhart. Koko-
mo, and other cities. affected by the
consolidation inviting them to take
part in the demonstration which will
start with parade headed by Mayor
Shank
Announcement was also made b.
the mayor that he had received word
Governor McCray would use state
troops TO prevent the demonstration
but the governor said such action was
"unheard of and ridiculous" while
Adjacent General Harry B. Smith add
cd that it was absolutely absurd"
Mayor Shank said he had received
a telephone message from a person
representing himself as General
Smith, saying that state action would
be taken to prevent a "rowdy" dem
onstration.
Excitement Reians
Excitement reigned at both state
house and city hall, caused by the
mayors announcement Of possible use
of troops.
Formal notice was given Governor
McCray that a delegation of Indian
apOlis citizens would visit him on
| Monday 10 make known their stand
/ on rate increases for any public
utilities company The governor said
he would meet the delegation which
, it was said would be headed by
Mayor Shank
! Characterizing the merger of the
| seven Indiana concerns into the Indi-
! ana Electric corporation as the worst
| robbery scheme | have seen in so
years of my life" Mayor Shank an
| nCunced last night he will head the
| delegation of local citizens TO the go~
! eTnor's office Monday, TO insist that
! Governor MCCray demand the resigna-
| tion of members OF the public service
! commission for sanctioning the mer-
! ger.
The mayor made the announcement
! during meeting OF a local civic or
| ganization, the members of which an
! nounced they would join in the dem
! onstration. | want every man. woman
and boy in the city to meet me Mon
day, and | will hire a band to head
! that march on the state house. said
the mayor, and we viii show the pub
/ lie service commission where to head
in. | want to tell Governor McCray
Just how | feel about this whole thing
and demand that he ask their resigna-
tions.
Criticizes Mccray
What is the use TO pay Governor
McCray salary if he lets those men
sit there on the public service com.
mission and put such stuff as that
over on us?' demanded Mr.. Shank.
Another angle in the fight against
the merger was revealed in the an.
nouncement by Taylor E Groninger
city corporation counsel, that peti.
tion for rehearing on the merger
which was authorized to organize and
issue ST 600 in securities by the
commission Thursday, will be filed
with the commission early next week
Mr. Groninger made the announce
ment following q conference with Sam
uel Ashby, eX-city corporation coun
sci; Fred Bates Johnson, representing
several cities affected by the merger
and William l.. Taylor, Indianapolis
attorney, representing number O.
-