The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-29
CIVIC CLUBS
DEMAND END
0FDUvALL|SM
Removal of Mayor and Wife
Is Urged by Service
Organization.
kIWANIANS GET PLEA
Action to Await Return of
Officers From State
Convention.
BULLETIN

Inc indianapolis Real Estate
Board at luncheon today adopted
a resolution demanding resigna-
tions of Mayor and Mrs. Duvau.
Movements to crystalline the pub
lie demand that Mayor John L. Du-
vail get out of city hall and ap-
point a citizen in whom there is
general confidence as city con-
troller to succeed to his Office, were
under way today in two strong civic
clubs Of Indianapolis.
The action is prefaced upon Du-
wallis conviction upon charge of
violation Of the corrupt practices act
and his subsequent appointment of
Mrs. Duvall as city controller.
The controller automatically sue
ceedS the mayor in the event the
mayor leaves Office before his term
expires.
The Service Club, at a closed
meeting Monday, instructed it's Of
f1cers and executive committee to
prepare and publish a resolution
setting forth the clubs belief that
the time has come to take some &C
ton to rescue the city government
OF Indianapolis from collapse.
At its meeting today, the clubs
committee adopted the following
resolution, according to Philip G.
Lewis, president.
"The Service Club of INDIANAPOLIS
fully recognizes the disgraceful, de-
p'orable, and humiliating state to
which the city government has
sunk. 1t has with difficulty held
its peace rather than interfere with
or make more difficult the orderly
processes Of legal prose se,ution.
Praise for Jury
"The club has nothing but high
est praise for the fearless manner
in. which the Marion County grand
jury has brought our local political
situation into the open. We strong
ly commend the prosecution and
the members of the jury in the
trial of Mayor Duvall.
"But the time for action has come.
The courts have condemned and
found guilty, but the root of the
evil remains in full and arrogant
power.
"The Service Club of Indianapolis
therefore unanimously and earnest
ly urges every legal means for re-
moval of Mr.. and Mrs. John L. Du-
vail without delay, and if this fails,
1T demands the resignation Of Mrs.
John l.. Euvall as city controller, the
appointment Of a man as city con-
troller whose ability and standing
IL the community are beyond re-
preach, and the resignation of John
l.. Duvall as mayor.
"The club pledges its full support
to the working out of such program
and calls on officers and directors of
every civic organization in the city
for similar action"
Kiwanis Action Urged
Action upon motion of Dwight
s. Ritter, former city purchasing
agent, that Kiwanis Club directors
consider resolution demanding the
resignation of Mayor John l.. Du-
vail "in the name Of civic decency,"
today awaited return of Kiwanis
officials from the State convention
at Lafayette.
A special meeting of directors will
be called, it is believed.
Ritter made the motion at the
club luncheon Wednesday, saying:
ut is the policy and duty Of the
Kiwanis Club to interest itself in
any good, non-political movement"
I believe 1t is a non-political mat
ter to clean any stain from our
city's name. believe the Kiwanis
Club should adopt a resolution ask
ing the mayor and city controller to
resign and I move that we ask the
board of directors to meet and dis
cuss such action"
Lawyers Talk Over Case
Meanwhile, lawyers continued to
discuss means of ousting Duvall,
but no definite action was agreed
upon. Marion County prosecutors
said grand jurors had discussed the
situation, but there was no truth
in printed report that the Jury
considered starting action.
Special Prosecutor John w. Holtz-
man said that, in view of the failure
of city council to act, law under
which a citizen might file suit in
Circuit Court to inpeach Duvall
would be operative.
A report was current that the
mayor intends to resign before the
date for his sentence, oct. 8. 1t
was rllmored that he had talked
with several citizens about taking
the controllership.
CounciImen Active
Majority faction city council mem
bers we're mysteriously active around
city hall today. They declared they
were going to do nothing while the
matter is in the courts hands, but
the council will name the next
mayor"
These councilmen hold the opinion
that the debarment Of the mayor
from Office for four years from Nov.
2. 1925. imposed by the Criminal
Court jury, renders him ineligible to
make appointments. They contend
Mrs Duvall is not legally city con-