D.C. Stephenson Behind Move Which Brought 15 Absent Senators Back

From The Indianapolis Times, Friday, February 27, 1925:  Because of promises by Republican political boss D. C. Stephenson, Indiana Democratic state senators are back in their seats after bolting to Dayton, Ohio over a gerrymander bill that would have made the second Congressional District safely Republican.  Their action denied a senate quorum and left hanging pet measures backed by the Ku Klux Klan.  If the Democratic senators remained on strike and the legislative session adjourned sine die on Monday, March 9, and a special session had to be called to pass the appropriation bill, the Klan leadership saw little chance of getting its legislative program through.  Stephenson promised the Democrats immunity from arrest for bolting and killing of the gerrymander bill, which Lieutenant Governor Van Orman in a signed telegram confirmed he would “do everything in his power” to defeat.    

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“D.C. Stephenson Behind Move Which Brought 15 Absent Senators Back,” The Indianapolis Times, 27 February 1925, p. 1:7

Exposition Building Large Enough, Belief

From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, February 19, 1925:  The state fairground Exposition Building has ample room for the crowds expected to attend the state basketball finals next month without the crowding of aisles and passageways according to authorities.  This determination was expressed following a statement issued yesterday to high school officials by Dixson Byrum, chair of the state industrial board, that they would be subject to prosecution if overcrowding was allowed in halls and auditoriums where basketball games were in progress.  The Exposition Building has actual seating for 13,500 people and, to prevent crowding at the entrances, there is a platform at the north end of the playing court for standing room of an overflow crowd that will hold an additional 6,000.  Mayor Shank assures there will be ample police and fire protection forces on hand to regulate the crowd.   

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“Exposition Building Large Enough, Belief,” The Indianapolis News, 19 February 1925, p. 4:4

Lack of Lincoln Memorial Cited

From The Indianapolis Times, Thursday, February 12, 1925:  The lack of a suitable memorial to Abraham Lincoln in Indianapolis was today, the anniversary of his birth, occasion for discussion of the late Henry C. Long’s bequest of $10,000 (2023:  $181,770) to the city for a memorial to the Great Emancipator.  When Long died in 1901, his will provided funds for the “erection of a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln” near the southeast corner of University Park.  However, E. Walter Jarvis, parks superintendent, said the park commission regretted very much the memorial cannot be built because the site is now a part of the War Memorial Plaza.  Paul Comstock, Indiana World War Memorial Commission secretary, said he knew of no reason why the commission would object to the erection of the statue as the law provides University Park remain a park.   

“Lack of Lincoln Memorial Cited,” The Indianapolis Times, 12 February 1925, p. 7:2