The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-11
POLITICIANS
after SCALP
OF ENGINEER
less Murden Battles for
Titus Custer From
Highway Berth.
DEPENDS ON LESLIE AID
Peru Man, Power Behind
Throne CoIIides With
Road Board Head.
BY DANIEL hi. KIDNEY


Battle to Gust William J. Titus as
chief engineer of the state highway
department has reached what might
be termed an armed truce" follow
ing a hot engagement between Di-
rector John j. Brown of the depart
ment ard Goveror Harry G. Leslie.
Although this skirmish occurred
nearly a fortnight ago, no public
report was made of the matter, but
reverberations of the battle were
ringing today through statehouse
corridors.
Once more Jess Murden (Rep.,
Peru, member of the state highway
commission, proved to be the gen.
eral directing the campaign.
Murden made frontal attack at
a commission meeting by intro
ducing a motion demanding that
Titus resign. This brought instant
fire from Brown and Commissioner
Robert Boren Dem., Fountain
City,, it was learned.
Murden Makes Retreat
Following a strategy which he has
perfected, Murden Withdrew under
heavy fire.
But today the battle was said
to be but one in what may be a
long-drawn war.
Much of Murden'S success will de-
pend upon the final decision of the
Governor, if he ever makes any.
Brown took the offensive in this
quarter by going into conference
with Leslie and, according to re-
ports, he delivered the following
ultimatum:
eff Titus goes, I go also and
then"
Titus Is Warned
Various accounts are current as
to the strength of Browns proposal
as to what would happen if Titus is
removed and he quits in protest.
So far the palm OF victory re-
mains with Brown and Titus. But
the latter is said to have been
warned that there are strong in
tereSts seeking your custer"
This brings the matter back to
the age-old battle between the road
acknowledgements and black-top
Titus always has been listed as a
cement man, and A. H. Hinkle,
maintenance superintendent, a
black topper.
The report was current that
Hinkle would get the chief engineer
job, but Murden stoutly denied this
was the plan. But he also denied
that a move was afoot to GUST Titus,
on the very day he made the mo-
ton.
Gray Is Doomed
C. Dolly Gray has also been
mentioned as a possible Titus sue
cesSor. He is a personal friend of
the Governor.
Under the law, the chief engineer
can be ousted only by the director
and for cause.
In the background looms the
eternal governmental conflict be-
tween the technician and the poll
tician. Titus, under the law, has
qualified as the former and Muir
den, under Leslie's administration,
has 1oomed large in the latter role.
Brown, who admits that he does
not know everything about highway
construction, has sided with Titus.
On several occasions, he has pre-
vented road locations or changes in
department personnel proposed by
Murden and Chairman Albert j.
Wedeking (Rep., Dale) on purely
political grounds, it is said.
Sherwood Gets Reward
But he failed in opposition, if any,
to the paved road that is to 60 by
or through the farm of Senator
John G. Sherwood Rep., Lawrence,
Martin and Orange), near Mitchell.
This is to take the place of a
more scenic route established by
highway engineers. But Sherwood
was one of the most ardent defend
ers of the present highway COM
mission at the last legislative ses-
sion.
Murden said Sherwood twill not
get the road this year." but it never
was intended that he ever should
get it, according to the dotted line"
plan, as outlined on state highway
department maps for 1880 and for
1881.