The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-06

That the Governor did so was not
made public, however, for he went
into the matter at the executive
session Of the state liquor control
commission last Wednesday. A dele
cation of Indiana hotel men was
present, but newspaper men were
barred
1t was in addressing the hotel
men that the Governor cracked
down" on one of the stories going
the rounds since the 1888 legisla-
ture. At that session, completely
dominated by Governor McNutt and
operated by legislators later re-
warded with administrative posts,
bills were drafted at the Indianap-
oils Athletic Club by group which
became known as the Boy Scouts"
They were close to McNutt and
prepared and pushed through the
administration measures. Included
on the list, in addition to the legis-
lature, were Virgil NJ (Skits) Sim
mons, now state conservation COM
missioner; Bowman Elder and At
torneys Frank McHale and Robert
Baton. The latter was appointed
chairman of the state commission
on financial institutions.
McHale Moves Offices
Mr.. Elder is secretary treasurer
of the Indianapolis Office Furni-
ture Company, which has re-
furnished the statehouse. while Mr..
McHale moved his law offices here
from Logansport and now is located
in the Chamber of Commerce build
ing, where Mr.. Elder also has of
fees, being the building manager.
Il want to know if you have ever
been told that you should have
certain attorney to represent you
hotel men if you wanted to get
places with the administration? ?"
Governor McNutt is said to have
asked the delegation generally and
Alfred Thornburg, Marion, in par
ticular.
Ali said that they had not, but
Mr.. Thornburg then went on to say
that while the beer bill was being
drafted, Mr.. Baton, also of Marion,
advised him that it might be we'll
to employ counsel to represent your
interest"
lie denied that Mr. McKale. or
any other attorneys name was sug-
gested, the Governor reported in re-
latihg the affair today.
Stories GroundIess'
The incident was similar to the
one arousing the Governors ire.
which was to the effect that it had
been suggested that having the
right attorney" would facilitate the
hotelmen's plea for more liberal
liquor rulings.
Mr.. Baton had a right to offer
suggestion to any group interested
in Legislative processes" Governor
McNutt asserted. But that is vastly
different from suggesting names
and fees"
He said that he did appear vexed
when making these inquiries, be
cause I am sick and tired of ground
less stories of this character"
The session also developed some
heat when the chairman of the COM
mission, the Rev. John w. Cava-
naugh. South Bend. is reported to
have complained of unsatisfactory
liquor regulation there. Father
Cavanaugh is former president of
NOtre Dame university.
Reporter Is Elected
According to one of these present,
Paul Fry, state excise director, COM
planned that he had difficulty in
getting responsible citizens" to sign
affidavits or report such places.
Then it turned out that Father
Cavanaugh himself had made pre-
vious reports.
Father Cavanaugh grew irate
when The Times reporter entered
the hearing room under the impress
sion that it was public. He ordered
him out forthwith.
With the collapse of a year. "the
heat" has died down somewhat. and
by and large the beer business, at
least, is being taken as a matter of
course.
Hotel men want to sell liquor by
the-drink or blythe bottle. 1t was
reported that the commission had
asked for an opinion from the at
torney-general, but Attorney-Gen-
eral Phil Lutz Jr. denied today that
any formal request had been filed.
Two of the ten importers and
eight Of the twenty-five breweries
have thus far paid their $500
license fee for the year which starts
tomorrow.