The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-28
COFFIN DEAL.
Claimed WITH
SCHOOL. BOARD
Gains Control by Bargain
With Majority Faction,
Is Report.
BIG BOOST IN POWER
4 tker Would Give Boss
Influence Over 1000
Appointments.
BIG BOOST IN POWER

appointments.
George v. Coffin, Republican DO.
iitical boss of Marion county, has
broadened the scope of his power
to include the Indianapolis public
school organization through a deal
with the new majority faction Of
The school board, it was reported
today.
The majority faction, DESTROYS OF
Ee-election Of one Of their number
next November, or of naming a sue
cessor in order to continue in power
is reported to have made a patron
age deal with Coffin.
This belief is strengthened by re-
ports that Albert F. Walsman, pres
eut business director, is , ousted
april 0, when terms of five school
board major appointees expire.
a Wayne E. Zimmerman, Republican
county secretary, and Alder Losche,
Democrat, former COUNT clerk, have
been mentioned as the probable
successor to WaIsman in case of his
dismissal.
Both Zimmerman and Losche are
Close Coffin supporters.
1000 AppOintees Involved
Control of the city school system,
with nearly 1000 appointees, would
be an important acquisition for Cof-
fin, it is pointed out, because of his
recent loss of control over various
2 county and state offices.
At present his control in the
courthouse is limited to the sheriff's
office, treasurer'S office and the
county commissioners including the
surveyors and county roads depart
ments.
Even more recently, his supporters
in Statehouse positions have been
threatened with the AK by Cover
nor Harry G. Leslie, two having
been forced out, since Coffin was
successful in being reelected Re-
publican city chairman.
The present majority faction of
tie school board is composed of
5. Lillian V. SedWick, whose term
& N Tres Dec. 81; Lewis E. Whiteman
and Fred Kepner, holdover mem
bers.
Factions Are Bitter
Terms of President Charles w.
Kern and Theodore F.. Nonnegut,
who were in control until Whiteman
switched to the side of Mrs. Sed-
wick and Kepner three weeks ago,
expire at the same time.
The two factions are bitterly OPP
posed, i'll feeling following White
mans detection, resulting in quar-
rels at meetings and nearly leading
Tuesday night to fistic combat
between Kern and Carl Eurton,
building and grounds superintend-
, ent, who switched to the new ma
jority faction.
Observers we're unable to de-
termine, despite the majority
factions successful support of Eurton
Tuesday night when Vonnegut and
Kern sought to discharge him,
whether or not Eurton would be re-
tanned in his present position
April 8.
Candidates for Reelection
Reports have been prevalent that
Ed Castle, recently promoted to a
higher position in the school shops,
was to succeed Eurton.
Superintendent Charles f. Miller,
Luther L. Dickerson, librarian, and
Frank L. ReiSsner secretary, also
are candidates for reelection.
In some quarters belief is held
that Reissner, who has held po-
Sition with the board thirty-seven
years, is to be supplanted in favor
of LoSche.
Miller and Dickerson are believed
TO be practically certain of reap
pointnent.
Only three votes are necessary to
te-elect or dismiss any of the five
appointees.