The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-01

The wealthy musical instrument
manufacturer, who two years ago
staged the famed grass roots con-
ference, sold the townspeople on
the idea that golden harvest
awaited them.
The tens of thousands of visit
ors which he promised came, but
they didn't spend, and the only
harvest Elwood reaped was a flock
Of unpaid bills.
Capehart was irreSistibly per-
suasive. "If you folks have any get
up" he prOdded them, you can
make yourselves some real money.
There will be a half million visit
Ors here, so don't be afraid to
spend a little getting ready for
them.
'The way to make money is to
spend some. If you've ordered ten
thousand buns, double it. You'll
get your profit in volume"
Elwood took this advice to heart.
Buns, bread, hot dogs, hamburg
ers, pies, melons, soft drinks and
ice cream were ordered by the
mountain load. There were enough
edibles for a half dozen armies.
The armies came, but they did
MT eat. What happened was that
the visitors who Travelled by train
ate on the train, and those who
drove to Elwood either brought
their lunches or ate somewhere
else. The Republican National
Committee had a contract with
the Robertson Catering Co. to
supply all persons coming on the
special trains of the Pennsylvania
Railroad with one meal on the
train and box lunch in Elwood.
BILLS, BILLS, BILLS
Capehart left town after the
notifications, and Elwood was left
holding the bag. With thousands
of dollars of unpaid bills, the FL
wood Notification Committee has
only $13 in the treasury. Glenn
Hills, wealthy Kokomo attorney
and COP nominee for governor,
contributed $4,000 to pay the most
pressing bills.
Largest unpaid accounts are
owed to an Indianapolis decorat-
ing firm, which has placed its bill
in the hands of an attorney; to
an Elwood electric company, which
is talking of legal action if its
bill isn't paid soon; to an Elwood
restaurant; to an Elwood five
and-ten-cent store; and to a ball
loon company in northern Indi-
ana.
Among the loudest complainers
are unpaid laborers and special
policemen. One special policeman,
Leslie Stone, finally got the SIS
owed him when he told harassed
Mayor G. M. Bonham he had
Joined the Navy and needed the
money before he left home.
Ray Snipes, an unemployed
WPA worker with five children
in school, hasn't been SO lucky.
He stilI is waiting for the s. he
claims is due him. Snipes wrote
Willkie in Nashville, but hasn't
received an answer yet.
Louis Moschell, 62-year-old job
less, estimates the loss of himself
and his brother-in-law at $500.
They were left with $50 pounds Of
hamburger, 5000 buns, 200 pounds
OF C0ney Island sandwich supplies,
and $500 bottles Of milk. Moschell
paid his bills by borrowing $120
on a 90-day note from the local
bank.
He feels that Capehart or the
Republican organization ought
to reimburse Elw00dians for
their losses, and there Is talk Of
getting up a petition to demand
this.
The Braun Bottling Company
estimates Its losses from $500 70
$1,000. The firm emptied 1000
cases OF q specially-prepared
"yvillifie Day" souvenir drink into
the sewers. The owners Of the
Willkie birthplace painted the
house and placed o tarpaulln on
the floor 70 visitors could be
shown through at 10 cents . head.
They took IN Approximately sfs.Se.
BRIGHT SPOTS
Before Wllikle left RushyiIle, q
commlflee from the lifks Lodge
interviewed tlie nominee and told
hlm o. hla homo towns eeononlc