The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-01-17
SLACK CUSTER
THWARTED IN
I. COUNCIL VOTE
dWo-Hour Argument Over
i Procedure Fails to
n Unseat Mayor.
CoFFIN'S HAND is SEEN
SpringSteen and AIbertSon
! Prevent Full Success of
F* Surprise Attack.

Mayor l.. Ert Slack today calmly
ignored a move to unseat him
started by city council Monday
night.
II do not intend to do anything
about it," said Slack.
Administration lawyers, however,
huietly prepared to resist legally the
Republican councilmen behind the
resolution to unseat Slack whenever
the situation reaches the point
where they believe Stacks power is
seriously threatened.
The move came in the form of a
resolution to rescind the council res
olution of Oct. 81 declaring the
mayors Office vacant, and to de-
clare void the election of Slack as
mayor on Nov. 8.
The resolution was introduced by
Councilman Walter r. Dorsett, Re-
publican, whose vote on Nov. 8 broke
= deadlock and put Slack in Office.
Would Correct Injustice"
While the resolution states that
the councilmen believe they did an
injustice to John L. Duvall, whom
they ousted as mayor: his wife, Mrs.
Maude Duvall, who was city con-
troller, and Ira M. Holmes, who was
contender for the Office of mayor,
Dorsett said his chief object was
to hasten, if possible, Supreme
Court decision upon the two suits
over the mayoralty.
Political observers, however, saw
the resolution as Comeback"
move of George v. Coffin, Republic
and county chairman. They based
this belief upon the fact that Coffin
passed out word Monday morning
that the council would take this
action Monday night.
The plans of the Republican coun-
cilmen struck a snag be-. use Robert
i. Springsteen, Democrat, and 0.
Ray Al0ertson, one of the six Re-
publicans, voted against suspension
of the rules.
One negative vote will prevent rule
suspension. Rules must be SuS-
pended before resolutions or ordi-
nances can be voted upon the same
meeting they are introduced.
Enough Votes Almost Certain
Meanwhile the resolution hangs
over Stacks head. The Republicans
can call for a vote ON it at the next
special or regular meeting. If the
five Republicans other than Albert
son hang together and vote for the
resolution they can pass it. In that
case a legal battle TO determine
whether the council can rescind &C
ton of this sort would result, it is
said. just who would be mayor in
the event Slack we're ousted would
be problematical, although the
resolution declares Ira Holmes
should have the job on the grounds
that while the council was declaring
John L. Duvall out of office Duvall
had resigned. making Mrs. .Duvall
mayor, and Mrs. Duvall had named
Holmes controller and then re-
signed, passing the mayoralty on to
Holmes.
The resolution declares the council
did Holmes, Mrs. Duvall and Duval
"a grave wrong" and It was desired
to right it.
Wrangle Two Hours
The resolution attempts to justify
itself legally through quotation Of
statutes to the effect that pending
appeal judgment is stayed. This
friends of the resolution contend
gives the council the right to recin6
ats action at any time before Su-
preme Court finally rules on the
mayoralty suits.
These suits consist of Holmes ap-
peal from the county court in
junction preventing him from in
,terfering with Claude E. Negley, al
the time Negley was mayor pro tenn
before Slack was elected, and the
petition Of Joseph L. Hogue to bC
declared mayor on the GROUND
Duvall was not legally elected.
Hogue was city controller in the
Shank administration. He contend,
that if Duvall was not legally elect.
ed, Samuel Lewis Shank was mayor
until his death this fall, and that HI
(Hogue) became mayor when Shanl
died.
The council wrsngled for two anC
a half hours over parliamentar.
procedure before the motion to sus
pend rules was put and lost.
Councilman Edward B. Raub ant
Willard w. Ferguson, Democrats
were absent.
Corporation Counsel John w
Hoffman said: Stacks election
ended the matter so far as tn,
council is concerned. Any such con
templated action would be illegal,
believe"
Purdue Enrolment Gains
By United Press
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Jan. IT,
Seventy-one young men from al
parts Of Indiana we're. enrolled to
day in the annual eight week.
winter course in the Purdue Schoo
OF Agriculture. This is Slight gain
over the number registered las
year. Several more are expected tt
enroll during the next few days al
though class work began today il
I'll departments .;,.sm.;........L.