The Daily Herald. (Weatherford, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 283, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 12, 1912 Page: 3 of 4
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
icW*;r>2rMBv
mr. **
• *
TB»*‘*r'.fU N.'»' IIT'A
♦♦♦•••••♦•OOOOOO—OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
ii iefor4 buying ^our |j
;; Xmas Presents—
J
f Read
1^1
"ir
is liSt, it will be of assistance to >ou—
::
* ■> *
Ir Rifles
Dumb Bells
Roller Skates
Indian Chibs
Razors
Pocket Knives
Jerseys
Sweaters
Marbles
Z^nlnoes
53lklng Bags
Foot Balls
Basket Balls
Tennis Balls
Tennis Nets
Bicycles
Bicycle Bells
Electric Irons
Electric Percolators
Electric Chafing Dishes
Floor Pillows
Pennants
College Posters
Flash Lights
Boxing Gloves
Baseball Gloves
Playing Cards
Poker Chips
Tops
Checkers
Jack Stones
Baseballs
Volley Balls
Tennis Rackets
Tennis Shoes
Bicycle Lamps
Bicycle Saddles
Electric Stoves
Electric Toasters
Electric Hair Curlers
The above is a partial list of the goods I carry
in stock that will make suitable Christmas presents
for old and young.
They are all liigh-class quality goods.
Remember, with all electric heating appliances
sold this month I will give you a present of $1.
Chas. J. Clark
Sporting Goods
i )
i > 1
<>
< >
< >
i >
trouble in Illinois and Missi sippi, as
tW following extracts from t e Brook-
haven (Mfes.) Leader, will s low:
war**** •
I
.SfriS*:
[1
J
(Continued from Page One)
even intimated in high places that all
road improvements may have to be
suspended for a year or two on this
account. You will find that the taxes
The article in question, head and all
Is as follows:
BURKE ORDERS ARREST OF
IRON COMPANY PRESIDENT
ON CHARGE OF BRIBERY.
J. R. Finkelstein, Head of the Green-
berg Iron Company of Terre Haute,
Ind., Alleged to Have Bribed IV. G.
Ivoch, Highway Commlsioner of Co-
lumbus Township, Adams County,
While Latter Was Visiting Fair-
Check for •S-'-.-’iO Given County Dili-
cial Following the Placing of an Or-
der for $500.1(0 Worth of Material—
Officials of Other Illinois Counties
Involved.
Disclosures made by W. G. Koch, a
j highway commissioner of Adams coun-
| ty, to State Attorney Burke yesterday
J J j led tc the belief that corruption has
f j extended to even the lowliest of pub-
lic officials in Illinois and that whole-
some bribing of township officers
from many sections of the state took
place within the shadow of the capi-
tal during the week of the state fair,
! which closed yesterday,
j Koch alleges that he was offered
a | check for $82.50 by J. ft. Finkelstein,
j president and special representative
of the Greenberg Iron Company, of
Terre Haute, Ind., as a reward for
having purchased approximately S'-Oii
of the company’s wares in a deal clos-
ed Friday afternoon. Koch, who is a
road commissioner of Columbus town-
ship, Adams county, says that Finkel-
stein handed him the check without
other explanation than to say it was
“commission" and that it was “com-
ing to him.”
Koch held the check part of Friday
afternoon and Saturday morning and
then determined to hand it over to
States Attorney Burke. Acting on the
dorseinent which the people of my |
for this year will more than liquidate
the county indebtedness, so that there
will be no deficit. This is no new or
unusual condition. I have never rush-
ed into the paper to criticise any for-
mer emtinty administration, because I
"linowfthey were composed of honest,
intelligent men who did probably bet-
ter than I could have done under the
circumstances, but four years ago at
the close of the vear when I went
Into office, there was an actual defi- 1 alld 80 1 shaH strive to my ,ate8t day-
■cit, that is, the taxes for that year
were insufficient to pay the indebted-
any objection or opposition to the!
trip on the part of either of the other j
commissioners, if, in fact, there was
any. j
For my part, I invite the closest ' “ ‘ “V ......7
„. . , , , road commissioners information, Mr.
scrutiny of my every official act and T, ,
, ■ , . ..... Burke promptly caused a warrant lo
shall not complain at lair criticism.1, . , . , . _
, , .... „ be issued in Justice Connollvs court
I have never claimed to bo perfect,!, .
, r , , , . , , i tor the arrest of Finkelstein cm a
but I know I have tried to do my duty i , , ,
, , , , , , .charge of bribing a public officer,
to the public and have done the best ,
I knew how. I have gone in and out I A rest is Ordered,
before this people for twenty years, j d'^le "ararIlt was tinned over iO
Sheriff Werner, but Finkelisein elos-
and have done what I could for the
uplift of society and the good of my!ed his offices hcre an,i |,,ft ,he ci,y
fellow man, and the magnificent en-lfriday night for Indianapolis, Ind.,
and the local sleuths were foiled.
county recently gave me leads me to "ord was at once sent to the Indiana
believe that my unostentatious life capital, however, and t» Terre Haute,
and my feeble efforts to serve the peo-
ple are not wholly unappreciated, and
it certainly nerves me more and more
to strive to merit a generous share of
the- people's confidence and esteem,
F. O. McKINSEY.
We have read the foregoing and en-
nes8, and we not only had to conduct jdorse in ful1-
the business of the county on credit
the following year, but had to provide
tor a deficit as well. We have had to
spend a great deal of money for bridg-
es, repairs and improvements and ad-
ditions to our road forces, which will j statement of facts regarding the pur-
| not be necessary for the next two : chase of $8,000.00 worth of bridges
,‘years, and the incoming administra- , and culverts from the A. L. Greenberg
tion will have much better facilities Iron Co., of-Terre Haute, Ind., but
JOE W. NEAL,
E. A. OSBORNE.
The Herald gladly gives space to
Judge McKinney, in presenting Ills
differs with the Judge in regard to
Tor this reason to improve the roads
than we have had, although, for one,
I feel proud of what we have accom- : himself or Commissioners Neul and
pllshed in this line. And if you knew j Osborne. The fact is, the Herald did
that the iron company's president is
wanted here and word of his arrest is
expected hourly.
During fair week Finkelstein has
| been operating an office at 224 Sonih
Third street. The linn of which he is
president makes a specialty of man-
ufacturing implements for road work,
such as drags, plows, etc., and also
manufactures cuivi-rts and similar de-
vices.
The company's plan of securing
business is sabl to consist In mailing
letters to township officers notifying
them of the arrival of a representative
in a certain locality during a certain
period and Inviting their presence to
“look over the line.”
Such invitations were sent to pub-
, , ,, , , , . , ... lie officers all over Illinois, In advance
.Me lo learn the Cel. b, | ^ ^ ^ ^
Attorney Burke's information In a
the condition of the roads and bridges
tour years ago, when we took hold,
and should go over the county now
and note the great improvements in
not know of the trip until a day or
two before the Commissioners Court
adjourned for the week, and as the
Judge and Commissioners failed to
number of Instances the company of-
fered to advance a sum of money, gen-
erally $15, to defray the expenses of
the officers to the state fair. It Is
said that many accepted these dona-
tions. In the opinion of Mr Burke
this act in Itself constitutes bribery
under the statute.
Does Immense Business.
The volume of business said to have
them, although many of them need j make any record of the transactions,
work now, you, if you were fair mind- ;or to Inform the other members of the
ed, would be disposed to praise the ! court just what had been purchased.
Court instead of knocking on it as j we considered It useless to try to get
much as you do. One thing is sure, the desired information from them at
while we have made mistakes, (and that time. Acs, the Herald did coin-
who has not) I believe that no set of plain that no record was made of the transacted, by Finkelstein during
men ever tried harder to do their duty purchase; first, because the law re. Hair week is alleged to have amounted
and to conserve the interests of thejquires it; and second, because Judg. Ito $50,000. The question arised In th •
county than the six men with whom I I M( Kinsey was retiring (rom office, !mind of Mr Burke—if one officer is
sat and labored on the commissioners! and courtesy demanded that he ar- *82'50 Commission " on a 1500
court In the past four years, and I quaint his successor with contracts 0f j oi-rtor. what must have been the com-
havc often wondered why it is that the j this character. And while we did not mliislon8’ of the remaining township
Herald has found in their official acts I accuse the court of doing business in
so little to commend and so much to j a corner, or in a secret manner, ne
criticise when they at all times did must say, this deal bordered on see-
the best they knew how with the j reey.
means at hand, at the same time be- j The county may have saved money
lug probably as honest and as capa- on this purchase. We are not in a
tie as the editor of the Herald. position to deny or affirm it, for the
Adverting to the Terre Haute trip, prlw ** P«‘d "»e Greenberg to,
nothing was secret or done in a cor-!«r what has been paid other concerns
ner. It was talked over a number of ba* no* ffl’cn the public. If the
times In the commissioners court and j court had reason to believe it coaM
with others. Some of us even discuss- i uioney by baying of the«e people,
ed it with one Mr Harry, a culvert j why did they not make the trip before
manufatcurer of Dallas. He is the j the primaries and pwrb** these
name man who has corresponded with i kood*, l****** •( HI «HIB
a certain lawyer here and on whose PRICES, WITH INTEREST, to a Dal-
lnitiative Mr. -Phillips, the editor of i Arm I The Invitation to visit Tee-
the Democrat, approached with a I re Haute and Inspect the plant sod
▼lew of havingDemocrat raise the! material, together with expense
name bugaboo that the Herald is rais-! checks was sent them in March, yet
log. But Mr. Phillips respectfully de-
cHncd. AH three of those who went
talked the matter over with Mr. Guiles
on Tuesday before we went on Satur-
day, and he made no objection, stat-
ing that he could not get off then,
bnt could possibly go later. We were
then trying to start on Wednesday.
Mr. Frazier was here Saturday, tbc
day we started, and wished us a prof-j who had made tbc trip, and they re-
itabie trip and would have gone htm- j ported “every representation and
self, aa he stated, but for a slight ill-jguaranty had been made good.** Fer-
ness, his old age apd the uncertainty haps so, bit this sdme concern, the
of the weather. None of us knew of A L Greenberg Iroi Co, got Into
they waited until November to accept
the invitatioa.
The Herald Is not aafricndly to ei-
ther the Judge or Commissioner* in-
volved In this controversy, but It
doubts the wisdom el the purchase
from the Greenberg Co. The Judge
says they investigated the company
among other commissioners in Texas
offici rs to whom the balance of the
$5'.*,...... worth of orders is consigned?
To make things more interesting.
Mr. Finkelstein is said to have car-
ried on liis business along similar
lines in many states in the central
west, not to speak of Ohio and states
further east. Mr. Burke does not
know how far the scop»- of his Inves-
tigation will reach, although he will
endeavor to confine himself to the un-
earthing of Mr. Finkelstein* business
dealings during the week of the fair
Indictment Expected Monday.
The prosecutor statV-d last night
that he is not informed of the names
of any other township officers who
placed orders with the Terre Haute
man during the week, though he ad-
mits he has every reason to believe
that purchasers will be found in many
sections of the state. Mr. Burke stat-
ed that he will lay the evidences in
the Koch case before the grand jury
which convenes tomorrow afternoon,
and an indictment will probably be
returned without delay.
Mr. Burke holds the check which
Finkelstein presented to Koch. It is
drawn on the McKeene Bank of Terre
Haute.—Springfield (111.) Record, 1;>-
9, TO.
MOKE EVIDENCE FROM ILLINOIS
—TWO INDICTMENTS tfOUND,
The following letter and answer,
with reference to the article reproduc-
ed are self-explanatory and" need no
comment:
Brookhaven, Miss., .May 18, IP12.
-Managing Editor,
The Springfield Record,
Springfield, 111.
Dear Sir:—The Board of Supervis-
ors of Lincoln county, Miss., visited
Terer Haute, Ind., on money advanc-
ed by the Greenberg Iron Co., sceral
weeks ago, for an inspection of the
plant, with a view to purchase of ma-
terials, although not bound to do so
by the free expense money furnished
by the company.
An order for soemthing like $14,000
was placed and afterward counter-
manded on account of the hoard find-
ing that their act was contrary to the
Mississippi laws. One ear of this ma-
terial shipped before their counter-
mand is now in Brookhaven.
Please answer the following ques-
tions as near as you can by night let-
ter at my expense on Monday, May 20:
Was J. R. Finkelstein indicted and
what disposition made of the case as
per your issue of Oct. ft, 1910? And
is he the same man now at the head
of the Greenberg Iron Co? If not for
this case, state others, if any.
Does this company employ any trav-
eling solicitors at the present time?
Any Information of record in brief
that the public ought to know in deal-
ing with a public contractor, will be
appreciated.
Your prompt reply by wire in night
Liter as above outlined, will be ap-
preciated. Yours very truly,
THE LEADER,
By Paul M. Dobbs, Publisher.
Night Letter.
Springfield, III., 5-20'!2.
Paul M. Dobbs, Semi-Weekly Leader,
Brookhaven, Miss.:
.1. It. Flnkelst-'in indicted here on
two charges of bribery in connertlon
with road commission contracts Oct.
19. 1910, and Nov. 1, litln. Changed
trial through impossibility to extra-
dite from Terre Haute on account of
friendship with Judge Fortune of that
place. Said to have remained in Ter-
re Haute since, fearing arrest else-
where. Indictments here were strick-
en with leave to reinstate on Nov. 11,
1911. Don't believe company employs
traveling solicitors. Finkelstein him-
self was involved in Illinois.
H. L. REN NICK,
News Editor Record.
Rec'd 8:80 a. in.—21st.
The Leader's article of last Wed-
nesday reciting some of the opera-
tions of the Greenberg Iron Co., <n Il-
linois, where two Indictments were
found against the president of the
concern, has attracted attention and
comment, not only in this county, but
in states adjoining. Following is a
letter received from President Fin-
kelstein:
I'iiikelsteln’s Letter to the Leader.
Terre Hatue, Ind., May 24, 1912.
Paul M. Dobbs, Publisher Semi-Week-
ly Leader, Brookhaven, Miss.
Dear Mr. Hobbs:—I received one of
your papers this morning, dated the
22nd, which gave the writer quite a
lot of advertising with reference to
an indictment agalnct him, at Spring-
field, III.
I think it my duty to write you with
reference to this article,* not only to
protect mys-lf, but to protect your
County Board of Supervisors, whom I
found to bo straightforward men.
I fell info a trap at Springfield, 111 ,
set up by our competitors in business
throughout the country, but after th<'
proper authorities found out that It
was our competitors that pulled the
writer Into this trap, the case was
dismissed and taken off the docu-
ments
I attended the Illi: in State F'alr,
during the fall of 19P and sold quite
a lof of our culvetrs. road machinery
and bridges, and w> were doing so
much business that <,ur competitors
in the same line of business In tire
State of Illinois, sent a commissioner
to see me, who advised me that h-
wanted to act as our agent In hi*
county, and this gentleman in ques-
tion never advised me tie was a com-
missioner or any public official.
Now. we can sell all the man-rial
we can manufacture without bribing
public officials, as we have the test
corrugated culvert on the market,
and we do not have to do business
that way
FYir your information, will say the
party that called on the writer at
Springfield, lied when he told me he
was not a commissioner: of course, I
did not know the difference, and in
as much as he advisod me he sold a
bill of goods, and he wanted to be our
agent, I readily paid him the commis-
sion, which he was entitled to, and
which we paid other agents at that
time.
This is the reason why we have cut
out all our agents and the Boards
come to Terre Haute to buy our ma-
terial, and they can see Just what they
are buying.
We, however, convinced the proper
authorities It was a put up Job on the
part of our competitors, and the case
.V-1 N.fffTyTrttBf"
*
i* /
11 $p.ju5Mti*t,
met
Prices
CREAM
BAKING POWDER
A pure, healthful, Cream of
Tartar Baking Powder
When buying an article of food you are
entitled to know exactly what you are buying
—its quality and ingredients.
If this information is refused don’t buy it.
Some of the low grade baking powders are
advertised, but the ingredients of the powders
are scrupulously concealed.
A housekeeper would not use a baking pow*
der containing alum if she knew it.
It is well when buying to examine
the label on the can. Unless it shows the
ingredient cream of tartar, don’t buy it.
Dr. Price’s baking powder is absen
lutely free from alum.
was dismissed and taken off the docu-
ments. The writer lots the highest
regard for your Board of Supervisors,
and should we succeed in getting the
contract, sold your county at their
meeting, we will give them exactly
what they bought, and give them the
best culverts and bridges they ever
received In their county.
1 had the pleasure of being in your
city last mouth, and hope to return
again in the near future.
I am writing you this letter to give
you some facts ot the case anti wish
to close with my tx-st wishes.
Yours vi ry respectfully,
J. R. FINKELSTEIN, President.
Coni petit Imi Eliminated.
Since the article above referred to
was published, our attention has been
called to the advertisement of the
Board of Supervisors asking for bids
for certain culverts and bridge mate-
rial to he let at the June meeting of
the Board, the claim being made 'hac
the privilege of open competition was
eliminated in the spelcflcations on 111
with the Chancery Clerk, which speci-
fications, it will be borne In mind,
wen- written by the Greenbergs them-
selves
As I- now well known, a rurload of
eulierl* shipped by the Greenberg
people previous to the countermand
of u si |,ooo order placed with them, Is
now unloaded on the railroad siding
a block north of the depot, and Is held
subject to their order by the Board.
The Leader’s investigations with
reference to the elimination of open
competition on the culverts have re-
sulted In part In the Information re-
cited below:
specification* Were Wrlttlen by the
Iron Company.
To start with, the plans and speci-
fications on file, as stated, were fur-
nished and written by the A L. Green-
berg iron (<>, of Terre Haute, Irtd
All companion Is barred in the
first paragraph of the specifications
for culverts, which reads "All cor-
rugated culverts to to- made out of
“GALVINOUK rust resisting metal.
This Is a SPECIAL brand and will
last for years This is the brand
made by the Greenberg Iron Co.
3
Jan. 1, 1918, WITHOUT INTEREST,
anti the other hall’ Jan. 1, 1914, WITH*
OCT INTEREST.”
The above facts are public proper,
ty ami publicity is the gratest safe,
guard of the people and their Inter*
ests.
It is not tlie purpose of the Her.
aid to create a sensation in referenda
to the above transactions but as It !■
something out of the ordinary, (the
same methods liming been practiced
in several different states) It deem It
proper to exploit the whole matter.
The Judge sees nothing alarming 1*
the fact that the county is over $80,.
(MM) In debt, and says the taxes, when
paid In, will more than liquidate the
debts. Perhaps so, but the court rail*
<-d the lax rate this year 2A cents (Ml
the one hundred dollar valuation,
which will add $.-i.2*i2.7d to the
to be collected between tMV’and Feb*
rnury or .March. This amount, how*
ever, Is to pay the interest and create
a sinking fund to pay the Brazos rir*
er bridge bonds.
In 190S, the tax rate was 85e| li'-
1909, 45c; In 1910, 50c; In 1911, Me,
and 1912, 524c.
For the three years, 1909, 1910 and
1911, the court failed to levy the ip*.
rial tux for the bridge bonds, as they
say, the arm mutated amount was saf*
Orient to take rare of the Interest and
sinking fund, llowrever, they coatla.
ned to collect the same amount for
general and road purposes, so the tie
special tax this year Is an Increase to
that amount.
The Judge says there was an netnal
deficit four years ago, when he weal
Into offfre, and eompres the condition
of the roads then with the preseat,
and compliments himself and asee*
elates for the good work and great
Improvement made. We do not knew
what the court spent the past tout
years, hot we do know It spent Mi,*
5H2.05 from November I, 1911, to Not*
ember I. 1912, according to the treas*
iirer*. books for road and bridge
work. this amount Is perhaps
the largest of the fonr years, bat we
believe It Is safe to say $150,000 baa
The second paragraph on specifics- j been -pent during the four years,
lions for cuB-r's says: "The 1H an-! j ne submit that this amount is ejrt
20 inch cub- r - are to be madeoutof „f proportion to the benefits received.
1(5 gauge ma' - r. 11, and the 30 and
Inch culverts ’<> be made out of l i
and ne submit further, that a differ*
i nr system of w< Mnc fie made
gauge; all r - r*s to be made with a honld be adopted, n orJ<i.* that the
DOUBLE ANGLE FLANGF5. which ex-
tends 1 Inch above the culvert and
the joints aro io be connected togeth-
er with rust-restating bolts, so the
su I verts can be disconnected and the
lengths made longer or shorter, such
as the case may bo.” This, too, 1* a
feature of the Greenberg product.
work done should be of a more par*
nutrient nature.
FINALLY—We believe that under
the circamstances, and In view of thi
facts heretofore set forth in regard to
(he purchaslag of the bridge mote*
rial and culverts, that the present
same.
It Is claimed further that the cul-
vert material now in Brookhaven. is «ommlsslonen. Court should counter-
for sale to the county and yet is not mand the order, and refuse to accept
up to the plans and specifications fur-
nished by the men themselves who
manufactured It.
May be Thank Offering.
Perhaps aa a kind of thank offering
to the county for the privilege of writ-
ing its own plans and specifications,
the document from the Greenbergs
winds up with the rather unusual ap-
pendage for articles of this character
as follows:
• An l'n usual Clauso.
“It Is also understood that about
one-half of this account Is to be paid
READ THIS.
We, thg undersigned druggist! Of
Weatherford, have sold Hall’s T«Oi
yonder for years and recommend tt
to be the' besf kidney, bladder sad
rheumatic remedy we have ever sold.
60 days’ treatment for $1.00.
. • R. W. Klndel Drug Co.
*■. Reynolds Drug A Jewelry Co,
City Drug Co.
C. *6. Alexander Ok Co.
-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Daily Herald. (Weatherford, Tex.), Vol. 13, No. 283, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 12, 1912, newspaper, December 12, 1912; Weatherford, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth656056/m1/3/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .