The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-09

Conditions among the col
ony of truck drivers and Ia
borers reveal that the roads
are being constructed with
men undergoing hardships
and miseries that border on
slavery.
Wedeking to Inquire"
First asserting the highway COM
mission couldn't do anything about
it," Chairman Albert J. Wedeking
of Dale, late this morning said he
had decided" to conduct a personal
probe of conditions near Green
castle.
Wedeking had been asked about
the situation by The Times and
replied that since the roads were
being constructed under subcon-
tractors agreements, no steps could
be taken in the matter.
However, shortly after this, Gov
ernor Harry G.. Leslie summoned
Wedeking to his Office.
Returning, he said:
ION my way to the Governor S
Office, I thought that I would con-
duct a personal investigation of the
situation in Parke and Putnam
counties"
He denied Leslie had talked over
the matter with him, and Leslie
also denied making any statements
to Wedeking, although Leslie said
he had heard" of the horrible con-
ditions to which the road workers
have been subject.
Road SO runs from cambridge to
Rockville and Road 43 north from
Greencastle.
Truck Firm Crashes
The crash that has affected the
hundreds of men came with the
insolvency of Clyde Johnson of the
William G. Johnson Trucking Com
pany of Indianapolis.
This firm hired individual truck
operators, fleet truck operators, and
brought some of it's own men and
equipment to the field to transport
thousands of tons of store and con-
struction materials for miles over
small roads.
Johnson went into receivership
and Subcontractors were left pen
niless, unable to pay the men they
had hired. The crash had the eff
feet of Wall Street smash and,
due to alleged improper bonding
practices, other contractors and sub
contractors held back their money
from laborers.
Although truck drivers are sup
posed to be paid by the load, la
borers are hired on a day basis and
are supposed to receive $3.50 and So
day. However, workers charge,
their days often are heightened to
last from dawn until IL at night.
Because the men have been I'M
able to obtain board and room for
less than 81 day those who have
been working for an average of 81. rs
daily have, when paid, averaged IS
cents day for hours of toll.
Their only recourse, they said, was
to seek strawstacks, barns and
shackS for shelter and obtain food
as best they could.
Evicted From Houses
Laying of the roads, with
trials and miseries, involves a pam
Drama of unpaid bills, threatened
strikes and a maze Of broken prom
Uses and hardships.
1t is picture Of misery I'M
equaled in the years that the In
diana state highway commission has
been directing construction of roa6 rs.
Evicted from houses where they
were boarding weeks ago, laboreres
and truck drivers now seek shelter
at night in Shacks, barns, tents and
an old farmhouse that has been
rented by Subcontractor, who pays
the bin out of his own pocket.
He is Andrew Alexander Jr. of
indianapolis, who now is owed more
than $4,000. He has taken his claim
before the highway commission,
while other subcontractors have
laid their claims before M. D.
Abrams, Putnam count prosecutor.
From personal fund Alexander
is feeding his own men and giving
money to other men who are fight
ing starvation.
Many Leave Job
Their backs to the wall, many of
the out state lahorers have left, in
desperation, to seek relief at the
homes of relatives and friends far
from Indiana.
Saturday few dollars were dealt
out on pro-rated basis to some
Of the men. but this served only as
a temporary relief to those who are
owed hundreds instead of a few
dollars.
Alexander. with other subcon-
tractors. is preparing to file suits
against the contractors s4d the