Miscellaneous Mentions

In Missouri William T. Findly, secretary of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, told businessmen that the only way to get action out of the state legislature was to send a "gladhander with a copperlined stomach" to drink the lawmakers' liquor. Twenty-four hours later, Mr. Findly was ousted from the Chamber of Commerce.

In Indiana, land of mystic fraternizers, some Indianapolis politicians founded the Order of Elephants to promote "Republican principles." It will have an initiation ritual, but otherwise will bear "no resemblance to the Ku Klux Klan." Question: Is Senator James E. Watson an honorary member?

In Oregon it was announced last week that September was the best month for slaughter. Numbers killed--predatory animals: 579 coyotes, 45 bobcats, 8 stock-killing bears; non-predatory: 188 porcupines, 139 badgers, 60 skunks . . . and many another species.

In South Dakota, after ten years of getting along without it, the legislature restored capital punishment for murder.

In Texas a bundle of $1,000 in marked bills was handed to State Representative Dale. He accepted it gladly. Half of it was for his friend, State Representative Moore. Forthwith, Mr. Dale was arrested, was expelled from the legislature along with Mr. Moore for accepting a bribe. Speaker Bobbit and ranger officers had hatched the trap. Messrs. Dale and Moore, expectant of reward, had previously promised to kill a bill taxing optometrists.

In New York last week began the second conspiracy trial of one-time (1921-24) Attorney General Harry Micajah Daugherty and one-time (1921-25) Alien Property Custodian Thomas Woodnutt Miller, who are charged with accepting part of a $441,000 melon as a reward for allowing the transfer of the seized $7,000,000 American Metal Co. stock back to the original German owners. The first trial of these gentlemen miscarried last October when the twelve jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict (TIME, Oct. 18).

In Washington, D. C., Senator Caraway of Arkansas opened his morning mail, found therein a check for $10. The sender congratulated Senator Caraway for his "magnificent speech" in behalf of William G. McAdoo, asked that he transmit the $10 to Mr. McAdoo's Presidential campaign managers. The check speedily went back to the sender with the words: "You are barking up the wrong tree." Senator Caraway, as everyone knows, is an enemy of Mr. McAdoo.