Harrisburg telegraph. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, April 28, 1917, Page 13, Image 13

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    McILHENNY WANTED PART OF COMMISSIONS, ITTNER DECLARES]NEWS OF STEELTON
rContinued From First Pnsc.]
street. He says of conditions in
Harrisburg:
In all my long career as a
school architect in St. Louis and
in cities in various parts of the
country not only has no reflec
tion, not even the slightest, been
cast upon my reputation as
an architect and a gentle
man, but I have never before
been corruptly approached. And
never before have I found —in-
deed I did not think It could exist
—a situation so appallingly Cor
rupt as that heretofore existing
in your city.
President Stamm, in his statement,
goes at some length into the history
of the school board's effort to pro
cure a school architect of national
reputation to design the new build
ing unde- the $1,250,000 loan ap
proved by the vote last fall.
Mr. Stamin's Statement
Mr. Stamm's statement in full
follows:
"A popular American humorist
says: 'There's too many folks with
opinions an' no information.' That
has been the case in Harrisburg with
respect to many phases of public
school activities. It is clearly my
duty I think—and it cannot be made
an agreeable duty—to now present
to the public some information that
has recently come into my possession
with respect to one of those phases.
Mr. William B. Ittner of St. Louis,
amongst others, accepted the school
board's invitation to appear before it
in competition for the position of
architect in the building construc
tion which the board is about to be
gin. His selection was favored by
ail of the five members of a commit
tee of citizens invited by the un
animous vote of the hoard to advise
with it in the matter and by four
of the nine members of the board.
"{The school board has in its pos
session testimony from the highest
sources both to Mr. Ittner's pro
fessional ability and standing and
his personal integrity. In addition
the chairman of the committee in
charge of the recent campaign for
the school building loan of $1,250,-
000, has recently obtained a mass of
corroborative testimony—much or
all of which, I understand, has been
printed in the newspapers during my
absence from home as to Mr.
Ittner's pre-eminenco as a scliool
house architect and as to his high
standing as a gentleman.
"This evidence is in the form" of
letters and telegrams from leading
architects of the country, from the
superintendents of schools in cities
where Mr. Ittner has been employed,
from lawyers and businessmen of
high standing in their communities,
from officers and members of school
boards, etc., all of them, except one,
solicited by persons other than Mr.
Ittner, who were desirous either of
assuring themselves of Mr. Ittner's j
professional and personal standing j
or of confirming information re-1
celved on those two points, the one '
exception being a highly eulogistic]
letter and telegram from E. L. Mc- I
Clain, of Greenfield, Ohio, who pre- |
sonted to his town a $250,000 high!
school building, fully equipped and j
who selected Mr. Ittner as his areht- I
tect after an investigation of his fit
ness very much more thorough than <
is likely to be made by any school |
board.
The Mellheiiny Interview
"A few days after my return on I
the 11th of April, after an absence
ot some weeks, I was told that Mr. I
Ittner had been in conference with I
George W. Mcllhenny of Harrisburg. |
I could personally see no objection to j
this, but I was also told that an of- j
fort was being made by members of j
the board friendly to the candidacy ;'
of another architect to discredit Mr. I
Ittner in some way on acount of this'
conference, and I concluded'l would!
like to know the facts. As the regu- I
lar meeting of the school board j
would be held in four or five days at I
which the question of the selection j
of an architect would probably be
presented, I telegraphed Mr. Ittner j
and asked him in the event that he i
had met Mr. Mcllhenny to at once
write mo fully all the circumstances.
"In response to my telegram Mt. I
Ittner called at my office last Thurs
day morning, the 19th instant, tohl
me he had met Mr. Mcllhenny and I
til at he wanted to tell me every
thing that had transpired. He made
a verbal statement which, later in
the day, at my request, he put in
writing. This written statement I
read the next day, Friday, prior to
the meeting of the school board in
the presence of Mr. Ittner, Messrs.
Bacon, Enders and Yates of the
school board (who had previously,
with me, supported Mr. Ittner's can
didacy) Mr. Boyd and Mr. Petre, i
named in Mr. Ittner's statement, and '
Mr. Ogeisby, vice-president of the
Commonwealth Trust Company,
chairman of a committee of the
jjjjl I!!! | j l
i| | have the out-of-date highly var- ji (I If |
, nished or flat Mission finish; make .! k) j j,lj j I j INI
them modern and beautiful with
SATURDAY EVENING,
chamber of Commerce interested in
the selection of an architect.
The Board Meeting
i "At the meeting of the board Fri
day afternoon, a motion to elect Mr.
Ittner was defeated by a vote of live
to four. This was followed by a
motion, duly seconded, that C. How
ard Lloyd, of Harrisburg, be select
ed with C. Harry Kain as his assist
ant in the remodeling of the Camp
Curtin building for junior high
school purposes.
"Before this motion was put, the
board, at nty suggestion, went into
executive session at which executive
session I read Mr. Ittner's statement.
Jt was unanimously agreed that the
persons whose names were mention
ed in the statement should be asked
to appear before the board at orce
to be questioned with respect to the
statement, and, against my judg
ment and suggestion, the board, by
a majority vote, decided to hear the
matter in public rather than in
executive session.
"My judgment that the board hear
the statement and the witnesses be
hind closed doors may, or may not
have been sound, but I am not yet
convinced that it was not.
"When I accepted election to the
I school board a year and a half ago,
j I made up my mind that if the board
was to get the best results for the
j boys and girls in the public schools,
I indeed, if it was to accomplish any
thing of a truly progressive and
worthwhile nature, if it was to do
anything more than simply keep so
many schools open i)nd operated in
I just any sort of a way, the School
| Board must have the full confidence
of the people of Harrisburg—in any
event, a very much fuller confidence
than it had had for a number of
years. So important has this seemed
to me that I have never lost sight of
it for a moment in tne part I have
played in the activities of the board.
Indeed, there has seemed to be an
agreement amongst the members on
this point. There have been many
evidences, at least to my mind, that
the board was reinstating itself in
public confidence, not the least of
which being the approval by the
electors for school building purposes
of the largest single loan ever au
thorized in Harrisburg after two
smaller loan propositions had been
defeated.
Ittner's Standing
"Now, here was a statement which,
if published, promised to destroy
perhaps the most important work
accomplished during a year and a
half and to put us back where we
started, or even further back, to the
great injury of our- schools. I
hoped when the whole board knew
the facts, as Mr. Ittner stated them,
they would be willing to elect him
on his proved merit and integrity,
and that we could then go on with
; out prejudice with the important
! work we are charged with, free of
j scandal. However, now that Mr.
I Mcllhenny has seen fit to publicly
; attempt to discredit not only Mr.
I Ittner but as well the judgment of
j every individual and organization
I that has favored his candidacy, there
| clearly is nothing to do but to pre
! sent the facts, and they are pre
sented herewith in the form of state
ments, all of.which have been sworn
to, by Mr. Ittner himself, L. D. Petre
and T. M. Boyd, both of Chicago,
and William T. Stewart, of Philadel
phia, all of which, except his own,
Mr. Ittner brought here with him
yesterday.
"The public will reach its own
conclusions. To my mind it is clear
that Mr. Ittner was not in the
slightest degree concerned with any
Improper proposition, and that ho is
as clean as those who supported him
were assured he was and believed
him to be; and that even though it
may have been a mistake of judg
ment on his part to get in touch with
the man who now states that in the"
past he has been the boss of the
school board, it was a mistake that
can 'and ought to be excused be
cause of Mr. Ittner's lack of knowl
edge of conditions here. There
could be no more objection in itself
to Mr. Ittner's asking a supposed
friend of Mr. Mcllhenny to try to
show Mr. Mcllhenny that he should
favor Mr. Ittner's candidacy than
there was objection to members of
the Chamber of Commerce and other
citizens of Harrisburg trying to con
vince members of the board that Mr. j
Ittner should be selected or that Mr.
Lloyd should be selected. It Is also
clear that, no matter, how it came
about, an improper proposal was
conveyed to Mr. Ittner and he re
jected it. And also, at least an im
portant step has been taken in clear
ing up some other matters."
Mr. Stamm's statement is accom
panied by sworn statements by Mr.
lttner himself, I* D. Petrie and T.
M. Hoyd, of Chicago, and William
T. Stewdrt, of Philadelphia, all of
the American Seating Company, and
having to do with tne conferences
between Ittner and Mcllhenny.
Mr. Ittner's affidavit follows:
"Harrisburg. Pa., April 27, 1917.
"Mr. A. C. Stamm.
"President Board of Education,
"Harrisburg. Pa.
"Dear Sir. When I was in Har
risburg last week in response to your
request by wire to be advised of what
occurred in an interview I was said
to have had with Mr. Mcllhenny
and some statements that may be
I teli you the wfioie story, I made a
verbal statement and later, at your
request, I set out briefly as well an I
could remember the circumstances
leading up to my meeting with Mr.
Mcllhenny and the result of .such
meeting. Upon going over my state
ment and with time to refresh my
memory, I lind some inaccuracies
and soem statements that may be
somewhat ambiguous. To correct
these and also to add something
more, I beg to submit a new state
ment which I think does not differ
in any essential way from my form
er one.
"It" was on my last visit to Har
risburg, I believe February 18, at
any rate the day upon which the
Board failed to adopt the report of
its subcommittee, that I learned of
Mr. Mclllienny's supposed influence
with certain of its members. I
learned further that Mr. Mcllhenny
was credited with being an agent or
employe of the American Book Com
pany and the American Seating Com
pany. I have known T. M. Boyd,
President of the American Seating
Company, for a great number of
years. He and 1 and our families are
most intimate friends of long Stand
ing. I determined on my return to
St. Louis to ascertain if what I had
heard was true, and if so to solicit
the assistance of my friend to get
Mr. Mcllhenny, if possible, to favor
my selection. I accoi*dingly wrote
Mr. Boyd, giving a brief recital of
the situation at Harrisburg with re
spect to the selection of the architect
and told him that a Mr. Mcllhenny,
presumably an agent of his company,
was supposed to be endeavoring to
influence some members of the
Board against my appointment, and
if it was true that Mr. Mcllhenny
was one of their agents to let me
know and I would communicate
with him further regarding the mat
ter. It is not a fact that I wrote to
Mr. Boyd "can you get a line on
him?" as Mr. Mcllhenny stated in a
newspaper interview. I wrote him
just what I have said.
"I left St. Louis immediately there
after for a trip to Dallas and Port
Arthur, Texas. On February 23 I
received a wire at Port Arthur from
Mr. Boyd as follows: 'Very important
that I talk with you at earliest possi
ble moment, regarding matter you
wrote me about.' Shortly after,
about the end of February, I think, 1
stopped off in Chicago, as I recall on
my way to Erie for a letting, and
met Mr. Boyd and Mr. Petre.
Melllieniiy Subagciit
"In this interview Mr. Boyd stated
that Mr. Mcllhenny was not one of
their agents, but by inquiry through
the New York office he had found
that their business in Harrisburg was
transacted through Mr. Stewart,
their Philadelphia agent, and that
Mr. Mcllhenny had assisted Mr.
Stewart in Harrisburg and was in
reality a subagent, though not car
ried upon the books of the com
pany. Neither Mr. Boyd nor Mr.
Petre had had up to this time any
knowledge of or acquaintance with
him.
"Mr. Boyd stated further that
upon setting my letter he had asked
Mr. Stewart and Mr. Petre, the gen
eral sales manager of the company,
to go to Harrisburg and try to con
vince Mr. Mcllhenny that if he had
influence with any member or mem
bers of the Board he should use it In
my behalf. Mr. Petre reported to
me the result of this interview in
Harrisburg with Mr. Mcllhenny. It
was very disappointing. I was told
by Mr. Petre that Mr. Mcllhenny de
manded certain thirtgs in return for
any assistance that he might render.
He (Mcllhenny) was particularly
concerned in the selection of a cer
tain site (1 believe called the Hill
site) which he would expect me to
recommend.
Division of Commission
"He was also concerned about
what would be done with respect
to local materials and the awarding
of contracts, something being sug
gested about collecting commissions;
and I have an impression, although
it is not clear, that at this time Mr.
Petre told me that Mr. Mcllhenny
said something about a division of
my commission. y
"However, that may not have been
until later. But I hardly think it
was, for it was at this meeting in
Harrisburg Mr. Petre told me, that
Mr. Mcllhenny told him that it was
customary in Harrisburg for archi
tects to divide commissions and that
the school building architect had in
the past divided commissions with
him as well as collected commissions
from contractors for hi in.
"In reading over Mr. Petre's state
ment on the train coming out of Chi
cago day before yesterday—l had
not seen it before —I found he does
not mention this, but I cannot be
mistaken about his having said this
to me; and as a matter of fact Mr.
Petre confirmed this statement to me
in Chicago the beginning of this
week.
"1 was particularly impressed, ]
remember, by the interesting detail
stated by Mr. Petre as coming from
Mr. Mcllhenny that the architect
put cash in a drawer where Mr. Mc
llhenny could get it. Of course, I
could have no dealings with Mr. Mc-
Ihenny on any such basis, and 1 so
told Mr. Petre, and left, thinking the
matter was at an end.
The Chicago Meeting
"Sometime later, however, I don't
remember how long—Mr. Hoyd ad
vised me tnat he either had ar
ranged, or proposed to arrange, for
Mr. Mcllhenny to come to Chicago
to meet me. 1 demurred at meeting
Mr. Mcllhenny under the circum
stances, but Mr. Boyd thought 1
ought to. He thought that may be
he was not as ba* as he seemed to be
from Mr. Petre's report, and that
may be If he met me and talked to
me he might like me and get an im
pression of my ability and fairness
that would displace his cupidity, and
as he had long had some connection
with the business of his (Mr. Boyd's)
company, lie might teel as though
he would like to go back to Harris
burg and legitimately use any influ
ence he might have with any mem
ber of the Board in my behalf, with
out any money or other Improper
consideration.
"X yielded to Mr. Boyd's wishes
against my better judgment. We
both made a mistake. Mr. Boyd,
who is a gentleman of the highest
standing both personally and in the
business world, and who, J know,
would, under no circumstances,
countenance the use of improper
methods, regrets it more than 1 do.
"I met Mr. Mcllhenny sometime
in March In Chicago at the Illinois
Athletic Club. I spent about two
hours with Mr. Mcllhenny during
which time he explained at great
length his interest in the public'
schools, his connection with the
tire department, and other personal
matters; iic produced a map of the
city of Harrlßburg and at uorne
length explained the advantages of
the Hill site, the growth in popula
tion in that section of the city, the
location and growth of the populu-
HARRISBURG gjSSfe TELEGRAPH
tion of the outlying districts contrib
utory to the site In the future, and
finally touched upon the matter of
local materials and contracts, speak
ing of his concern that there be no
unfair treatment of either.
"I in turn explained my experience
as a school architect, dwelt upon my
particular fitness for the work con
templated, and assured him that if
I came into Harrisburg it would be
with a clean record, and with some
assurance that I could give Harris
burg value received. I was particu
larly guarded in my talk with Mr.
Mcllhenny, and nothing I said to
him could possibly be construed as
being in the slightest degree im
proper.
i Nothing About Commission
"Nothing whatever was said at
this time by Mr. Mcllhenny about a
division of commissions or anything
else improper. In fact his attitude
| was such that my impression of him
I was favorable and I had the thought
that he was maligned or misrepre
sented—until, as he was leaving, he
said that if I was elected he might
want to see me in Philadelphia. As 1
thought this over I did not like it.
"As to the site I assured Mr. Mc
llhenny that if the site was as he had
stated the case to me it would cer
tainly recommend itself to the
Hoard's favorable consideration, and
that if called upon to do so I would
give the matter due consideration
and investigation; and as to local
materials I told him that it was my
universal practice to investigate all
local materials to determine their
•Itness for use in the work, and to
admit all materials which were suit
able, not only as a matter of econ
omy, but as a matter of good busi
ness, and that X could assure him
that all tilings being equal local men
should have the preference in the
awarding of contracts as far as my
authority in the matter was involved.
No definite promise was exacted in
the matter was involved. No deli
nite promise was exacted from me
I nor made, except in the general term
above given. The interview termin
ated with a luncheon in company
with Mr. Petre, and the interview
ended.
Asks Division of Commission •
"That afternoon Mr' Mcllhenny
spent at the office of the American
Seating Company in conversation
with Mr. Boyd substantially the same
as held with myself, Mr. Mcllhenny
returning to Harrisburg that even
ing. 1 had no further word with or
from Mr. Mcllhenny at any time un
til about March 19 at which time Mr.
Petre told me he had received word
from Mr. Stewart that his friend in
Harrisburg (Mr. Mcllhenny) would
expect me to relinquish one-fifth of
my commission and that if ho (Mc
llhenny could get assurance from
me to that effect my election was as
sured at a meeting to be held on
April 6.
"This proposition I again declined,
and in order that there would be no
misunderstanding as to my position,
either upon the part of Mr. Stewart
I or Mr. Mcllhenny, Mr. Petre came to
Harrisburg March SI at my sugges
tion and told lr. Mcllhenny that I
would not agree to his proposition,
that if my coming to Harrisburg was
contingent upon such terms i would
be compelled to withdraw. I again
dropped the whole matter and heard
nothing further from it until I got
your telegram in pursuance of which
I came to Harrisburg and told you
the whole story. Indeed, I thought
perhaps my competitor had been
elected and wrote you several weeks
since asking whether such was the,
case to which letter I seem to have
received no reply.
"You have asked me why I was
unwilling to have my statement to
you read in puolic and why I stated
at the meeting of the Hoard of Edu
cation that 1 would rather retire
from the competition than have it
made public. I was taken complete
ly by surprise. 1 was in a situation
which in every respect was unlike
anything I had ever experienced be
fore. 1 had no idea of appearing
before the Hoard. 1 had made the
statement to you because you had
advised me as I understood it that a
report that I had met Mr. Mcllhenny
was being used in a way to reflect
on me and against the efforts of
those who thought I should be se
lected as the architect of the Board
and I made it in what I supposed to
be a spirit of fairness to those gen
tlemen as well as to myself. I had
no objection to the fact being known
by those who 1 thought at the mo
ment were entitled to know hem.
"The statement was actually read
to a half dozen or more gentlemen
who 1 was told were supporting my
candidacy, in advance of the meeting
of the Hoard of Education; and 1
was perfectly willing, and so stated
at the meeting of the Hoard, that 1
was willing to have it read to the
members of the Hoard for they all
were certainly entitled to know the
facts. But when you, as presiding
otticer, suggested that it be read pub
licly, I shuddered.
"My statement gravely reflected
upon, necessarily and unavoidably if
I were fair and honest, two persons,
one of them a member of my pro
fusion. 1 had never before been
called upon or found it necessary to
do such a thing even in private in
defense of my own integrity. The|
whole experience was distressing in
the highest degree.
For His Own Defense
"Then, too, 1 saw the members of
the press and, as I now analyze my
feelings. I saw a public scandal, in
connection with which my name
would be used, and 1 saw that peo
ple who might not have the oppor
tunity or take the trouble to get
all the facts, might be improperly
involved to my personal and profes
sional injury. But now that I have
been publicly attacked without prov
ocation, I must defend myself pub
licly, and the truth must be publicly
known, no matter what the conse
quences.
"I want to express my deep ap
preciation first to the members of
the Board of Education who have
been so partial as to favor mo with
their votes, and also the newspapers
of the city who have, I understand,
unanimously favored my selection
and also to the Chamber of Com
merce and all other organizations
end all individuals who have ap
proved the choice of my supporters
on the Hoard of Education. I am
just b< "Inning to learn how strong
was the sentiment among taxpayers
and citizens generally in my behalf.
As I have said, i am deeply grateful.
"Also, I would like the membem
of the Hoard, who could not see their
way clear to vote for me, to know
that 1 have no thought of criticising
them even to myself. They had a
perfectly good right, of course, to
their own judgment and convictions
and I never tried or hoped, through
Mr. Hoyd, Mr. Petre, Mr. Mcllhenny,
or anyone else, directly or indirect
ly, to secure their support for my
candidacy, unless upon their full
consideration of my work in other
places, and their investigation of my
reputation for ability . and integrity
they thought they ought to choose
me as their architect.
Speaks of Corruption
"But I desire to say this one word
more —if my continuing to be a
competitor shall in the slightest de
gree be embarrassing to the mem
bers of the Bourd of Education un
der the circumstances, 1 hope they
will feel free to eliminate my r.r.me
from the list of competitors, i have
been obliged, in self defense, to ex
pose the sordid methods that have
been used in school building con
struction in Harrisburg In the past.
"In all my long career as a school
architect in St. L6uls and in cities
in various parts of the country not
only has no reflection —not even the
slightest—been cast upon my repu
tation as an architect and a gentle
man, but I have never before been
corruptly approached. And never
before have I found—indeed, I did
not think it could"exist—a situation
obviously so appallingly corrupt as
that heretofore existing in your city.
"Mr. Mcllhenny in his interview
in the Patriot is reported as saying
that Mr. Petre and Mr. Stewart told
him that I told them that I could
not divide my commission with him
(Mcllhenny) 'because Mr. Stamm
had requested that he (Ittner) drop
one per cent, from his fee charges of
six per cent., so that he would be on
the level with his charges as the
other architects and the Patriot
would not have the chance then to
say that the lowest bidder was not
given the contract.'
"I told neither Mr. Petre nor Mr.
Stewart any such thing. The only
grain of truth in this statement is
that I did say to you that my charge
would be five per cent, if I got all the
work and six per cent, if I got part
of it.
"WILLIAM B. ITTNER."
"State of Pennsylvania, County of
Dauphin, ss.: s '
"On this 27th day of April, A. D.
1917, personally appeared before me.
William B. Ittner, who being by me
duly sworn according to law, did de
pose and say that the facts set forth
in the foregoing statement are cor
rect and true to the best of his
knowledge and belief.
"CHARLES A. FORNWALD,
"Notary Public.
[Seal]
"My commission expires March 9,
1919."
Mr. Petre'* Statement
Mr. Petre's affidavit is as follows:
"State of Illinois,
"County of Cook, ss:
"I, L. D. Petre, being first duly
sworn on oath, state that I am tlie
sales manager of the American Seat
ing Company and have held that posi
tion several years. Pripr to Febru
ary 22nd, 1917, I had never met Mr.
George W. Mcllhenny, nor had any
relations with him, direct or other
wise, although I understood that Mr,
Stewart, our Philadelphia agent, was
personally well acquainted with him.
"On February 22nd, 1917, I was In
Harrisburg, together with Mr. Stew
art, who was also there at that time,
and met Mr. Mcllhenny at a place
which 1 was informed was tlie Social
Club. This meeting took place early
in the afternoon in a small office room
on the second floor. There were pres
ent at that meeting Mr. Mcllhenny,
Mr. Stewart and myself. There was
no one else in the room. We were
together about one and one-half
hours, and during that time no one
else entered the room.
"For about one-half hour our con
versation was general, relating prin
cipally to matters affecting the school
furniture business. Finally I told
Mr. Mcllhenny that I would like to
know the reason of his opposition to
the appointment of Mr. ittner as ar
chitect in connection witli the erec
tion of the proposed new school build
ings in Harrisburg; that I had known
support of Mr. Ittner, lie said 'now,
school architect of more than usual
ability and in fact of national repu
tation in that line.
"Mr. Mcllhenny told me that he had
no objection to Mr. Ittner. Mr. Mc
llhenny went on to tell me something
of his past political activity in Har
risburg; of bis Interest in promoting
education and the welfare of the
schools; that the report that he was
opposing Mr. Ittner's selection was
without any foundation in fact; that
he had ceased his political activity
and had nothing to do with the elec
tion of the present Board; that his
supposed opposition was nothing but
newspaper talk.
"Mr. Mcllhenny then proceeded to
discuss the vote of the members of
the Board at its recent meeting re
jecting a resolution recommending
the appointment of Mr. Ittner, the
vote opposing such recommendation
consisting ot four of the members of
the former Board, who had been re
elected, and one newly-elected mem
ber, Dr. Keene, whom he described as
a reform member. In tills connec
tion Mr. Mcllhenny remarked as to
how well these members had gotten
together in their support of the op
posing candidate for the position, Mr.
Lloyd, without even a suggestion from
him.
Denies Obligations
"I then inquired of Mr. Mcllhenny
whether, inasmuch as he had no ob
jections to Mr. Ittner, he could take
any steps In his behalf, or whether
he" was prevented doing so by being
under any obligations to Mr. Lloyd.
He said that he was under no obli
gations whatever to Mr. Lloyd.
"Mr. Mcllhenny then branched out
and discussed the conditions sur
rounding the erection of school build
ings during what he said was his
active political Interest in Board mat
ters. lie told how he had always
made and held Uie confidence of his
friends in politics by seeing that they
were taken care of in the way of
commissions on contracts; that he
always looked after the collection and
distribution of the commissions ex
pected, and referred to a particular
instance in one connection, as he said,
with the last school building .erected
in Harrisburg, in which one contract
or was slow in making his contribu
tion until he (Mcllhenny) had called
the architect's attention to it. when
the commission was immediately paid.
Willi! Would Ittner Dof
"Referring again to his possible
Mr. Petre, that is the history of the
way these matters have been handled,'
and he inquired what 1 thought Mr.
Ittner would be willing to do. I said
I did not know.
"Mr. Mcllhenny went-on to discuss
a certain site for one of the buildings,
known as the Hill site of the liast
Side. He said that he considered
this property as best adapted of any
available in Harrisburg for this build
ing' that it was owned by a friend of
his who held it at $60,000, and that
lie thought the Hoard should pay SXU,-
000 for it, and that he would want
the architect to recommend it.
"Somewhere about March 19th, 1917,
1 received a letter from Mr. Stew
art, in which the latter stated 'his
friend' (Mr. Mcllhenny, as 1 under
stood it) would expect Mr. Ittner to
jrive up one-fifth of his commission
and that if he (ills friend') could get
assurance that Ittner would do this,
the latter's election as architect
would be effected at a meeting of the
Board to be held on April oxh.
(Signed) "J* PI'.TRE.
"Subscribed and sworn to before me
this twenty-fifth day of April, A. D.
1917.
(Signed) "G. H. Leuthstrom,
(Notarial Seal) "Notary Public.
"Cook County. Illinois."
Mr. Affidavit
Mr. Stewart's affidavit is as follows:
"State of Illinois,
"County of Cook, ss:
"William T. Stewart, of Philadel
phia, Pennsylvania, being duly sworn,
states that he has read the above and
foregoing affidavit of Li D. Petre, and
that In so far as that affidavit con
nects this affiant with the matters
and things therein set forth, the affi
davit of said Petre is true, save as
follows:
"Affiant does not r,e member the In
cident or conversation set out in Mr.
I Petre's affidavit in the following lan
| guage:
" 'He told how he had always
made and held the confidence of
his friends In politics by seeing
that they were taken care of in
the way of commissions on con
tracts; that he always looked aft
er the collection and distribution
of the commissions expected.'-. .
"Affiant ulao states that In the mat
ter of the discussion of the so-called
Hill site on the East Side of Harris
burg, he has no recollection of any
amounts as to the value or purchase
price of that property being mention
ed. Affiant states that during a good
ly portion of the time that he, Petre
and Mcllhenny were talking together
at the interview above mentioned Mr.
Petre and Mr. Mcllhenny were doing
most of the talking, and afliant did
not pay particular attention to all ot
their conversation. Afliant further
states that in one of his conversations
with Mr, Mcllhenny, the latter told
affiant that he had not discussed with
either Ittner or Perte at all or men
tioned the question of division of ar
chitect's fees, when Mr. Mcllhenny
was in Chicago. Further affiant says
that Mr. Mcllhenny told him (afliant)
that any moneys which he might re
ceive would be used solely for cam
paign purposes.
"Further afliant sayeth not.
(Signed) "WM. T. STEWART.
"Subscribed and sworn to before me
tills 25th day of April, A. D. 1917.
(Signed) "G. H. Beuthstrom,
(Notarial Seal) "Notary Public,
"Cook County, Illinois."
Mr. U'jr Aflliliivit
Mr. Boyd's affidavit follows:
"State of Illinois,
"County of Cook, ss:
"I, Thomas M. Uoyd, being first
duly sworn on oath, state that I am
a resident of the city of Chicago,
and am president of the American
Staling Company, a corporation.
"Mr. William B. Ittner, an architect
of tlie city of St. Bouls, Missouri, anil
1 have been warm personal friends.
Some time In the month of February,
1917, I received a letter from Mr. Itt
ner, in which he stated that he was
a candidate, or rather an applicant,
for tile position of architect in the
planning and erection of certain new
schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
and that he (ittner) was finding some
opposition to his appointment, which
he hud been informed emajiated from
one George W. Mcllhenny, of Harris
burg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Ittner also
stated that he was told in Harrisburg
that Mr. Mcllhenny was associated
with the American Seating Company
in some sort of an agency capacity,
and asked me to find out what I could
about the matter. Not having any
personal knowledge in the matter, I
made inquiry through our New York
office, and ascertained that our busi
ness In Harrisburg was transacted
through Mr. William T. Stewart, of
Philadelphia, our Philadelphia agent,
and that Mr. Mcllhenny at.times act
ed for Mr. Stewart in a subagency
capacity in Harrisburg, or something
of that character. 1 then by letter
requested Mr. Stewart to go to Har
risburg and ascertain what he could
with reference to the situation sur
rounding the appointment of the
school architect, and subsequently,
some two or three weeks later, at my
request. Mr. Stewart and Mr. L. D.
Petre, our sales manager, went to
Harrisburg to investigate the situa
tion as to any influence by Mr. Mc
llhenny, and in so doing did inter
view Mr. Mcllhenny.
I "Shortly before the first of March
| I made up my mind to ask Mr. Mc-
I Ilhenny to come to Chicago and have
ian interview with Mr. Ittner, with
j a view of finding .out what was the
| cause of Mcllhenny's opposition, hav
i ing him meet Ittner and to give him
i an opportunity to judge of Mr. Ittner,
his character and qualifications as an
architect. I arranged with Mr. Mc-
Ilhenny to come to Chicago, and later
sent for Mr. Ittner, and the two met
in Chicago on March 2nd, as I recall
it. Tills meeting in Chicago between
Mcllhenny and Ittner was brought
about entirely upon my own initiative
without either Ittner's request or
knowledge, and was purely the result
of my desire to help a friend, whose
ability as an architect in his particu
lar line, I both knew and admired. 1
was told that Mr. Ittner and Mr. Mc
llhenny had met and discussed the
situation at the Illinois Athletic Club,
and later I talked with Mr. Mcllhen
ny myself, urging 'upon hini the de
sirability of securing Mr. Ittner as
architect in Harrisburg, because of
his experience and ability in the con
struction if school houses. As before
stated, the meeting between Ittner
was arranged altogether by me and
Mr. Ittner knew nothing of the pur
pose of the meeting, or my idea in
regard to it, until 1 sent for him and
told him Mr. Mcllhenny was coming
to Chicago. All that 1 did was purely
out of my fast friendship with Mr.
Ittner. ®
(Signed) "THOMAS M. BOYD.
"Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 25th day of April. A. D. 1917.
(Signed) "G. H. LKUTHSTROM,
(Notarial Seal) "Notary Public."
STEEIiTt)N CHURCHES
First Methodist —The Rev. AV. H.
Shaw, pastor, wilt preach ut 10.30
a. m. on "Advanced in the Ranks"
memorial sermon to G. A. It.; Sun
day School 2.00, patriotic exercises;
7:30 p. m., sermon, "Reuben."
Centenary United Brethren —The
Rev. A. K. Wier, pastor, will preach
at 10 a. in. on "Christ's Message to
the Church of Today," and at 7.30
p in., on "A Noble Resolution."
Sunday School, 2; Mission Day, C. E.
C.30.
Trinity Episcopal—The Rev. David
Yule, rector, 8 a. in. communion; 10
a. m. Sunday Scliool; 11 a. m., morn
ing prayer and sermon, 7.30 p. in.,
evening prayer and serhion.
St. John's Lutheran —The Rev. G.
N. T,auffer, pastor, will preach at
10.45 a. in. on "Waiting Upon the
Lord," and at, 7.30 p. m., on "That
Rock Was Christ." Sunday School, i
9.30, patriotic service; Intermediate I
C. K. 6.30.
First Presbyterian—The Rev. C.
H. Segelken, pastor, will preach at
11 a. m. on "Protecting Invaluable
Men," and at 7.30 p. in., on "The
Greatness of Friendship" sermon to
J. O. O. F. Sunday School 9.45; C.
K 0.4 3.
Main Street Church of <!od—The
Rev. <!. W. GeU, pastor, will preach
at. 10..10 a. ID. on "Messages from
the Mountains" and at 7.30 p. m.
!on "National Prohibition as a War
Measure." Sunday School, 2; C. E.
fi; Senior C. R. t>.3o.
Central Baptist The Rev. 11. I),
flermer, pastor, will preach at 10.30
a. in. and at 7.30 p. m. Sunday
School 2; I!. Y. P. U„ K. 30.
Palern Lutheran, Oberlin—The
Rev. D. S. Dupley, pastor, will
preach at 10.30 a. ni. on "My Peace
I Give Unto You," and at 7.30 p. m.
on "Temptation of Jesus." Sunday
School, 9.30; C. E., 6.30.
First Reformed —The Rev. H. H.
Rupp, pastor, will preach at 10.45
a. m. and at 7.30 p. m. Sunday
School at 9.4 5.
Grace U. E.—The Rev. J. C. llofr
man, pastor, will preach a t. 10.30 on
"The Christian Nature of Young
Children," and at 7.30 p. m., the
Rev. C. D. Penterbaugh, of New
Kingston. will preach; Sunday
School at 9.15; K. IJ. C. E. 7 p. m.
Baptismal ceremonies will be ob
served in the morning. Mid-week
prayer service on Wednesday even
ing at 8 o'clock.
United Brethren, Mighsplre—The
Rev. H. F. Ithoad. 10.45,
From Nature"; 7.30, "The Preaching
of Stephen"; Sunday School, 9.30; Y.
P..S. C. at 6.30.
APRIL 28, 1917.
CANVASSERS ARE
MAKING PROGRESS
Secure Fifty-Seven New Mem
bers For Red Cross
Society
The membership of the Steelton
Branch of the Red Cross Society is
slowly climbing to 1,000. With the
fifty-.seven new members secured
yesterday the total membership is
now 72 4.
Complete reports are expected to
raise the membership considerably.
Mrs. W. H. Nell, chairman of the
publicity committee announced the
following names for publication to
day: E. B. Malehorn, John Male
horn, Mrs. 11. Prowl, Mrs. C. J. Gel
nett, Mrs. Arthur E. Halfpapp, Mrs.
C. Harry Daniels, Mrs. John W.
Beidel, Mrs. M. C. Zerby, Mrs. Lloyd
•\elson, M. R. Alleman, Miss Cath
erine Brown, Mrs. Thomas Davis,
George S. Gardner, Mrs. K. I. Gard
ner, Miss Emily I. Gardner, W. A.
Keister, Mrs. W. W. Lock, Mrs
OeorKe B. Byrod, John L. Grove
William F. Housman, John H. Gibb
Mrs. George R. Nauss, Mrs. T H
Schlessman, Mrs. John Sanders, Jas!
L. Dickson, Mrs. Chas. W. Green,
Jacob Shooman, John P. Shelley
Joseph C. Wells, Dr. C. H. Saul, Bud
T„ , nf i on ' Mrs - Frank Wells, I'lilllp
\\ aid ley, Mrs. Katharine Gilbert
Rutherford, Mrs. Chas. F, Saylor,
Mrs. Grace E. Taylor, Mitar
Kajganic, Simo Postic, Mrs. Julia
Shaffner, Mrs. Lee G. Wilt. Miss
Mary E. Brandt, Miss Lisle Brandt.
Miss Dorothy Vickey, Miss M.vra
Vickey, Mrs. Frank Brown, Miss
Marie Wise, Mrs. Frazier, Mrs. Wil
liam Smith, Mrs. Annie Carroll, Mrs.
C. E. Good, Mrs. E. A. Jenkins, Mrs.
S S„ Beck, Mrs. Gundell, Miss
Kathryn Etter. Mrs. Ellen Kalley,
Mrs. Anna C. Bamberger and Mrs!
Edwin Bodmer.
Patriotic Services
in Borough To-morrow
Patriotic services will be held in
the churches of the borough to-mor
row. An extensive program will be
presented by the firemen in observ
ing the annual memorial exercises in
the high school auditorium to-mor
row afternoon.
At St. John's Lutheran Sunday
School, a large silk flag will be un
furled, with special patriotic cere
monies. A ,flag will be presented at
the First Methodist school. In the
morning at 10:30 o'clock at the
Methodist Church, Post 351, G. A. R.
will hold the annual memorial serv
ices. Post Adjutant C. E. Scott as
sisted by Commander Frederick
Deugler will have charge of the serv -
ices The Rev. W. H. Shaw, pastor
ot the church, will preach on "Ad
vanced in the Ranks."
Slovak Committeeman
to Address Croations
Milan Marjanovich, of Washing
ton, D. C., a member of the Southern
Slovak Committee of London will
speak in Croatlon hall this evening
at 8 o'clock. Mr. Marjanovich will
speak on "Southern Slovak Unity"
This is the first of a series of meet
ings to be held to discuss the unitv
plan.
MARGARET KINNEY DOUGI,VSS
FORMER RESIDENT, I)Ii;s
Margaret Kinney Douglass, wife of
George W. Douglass, formerly of
Steelton, died yesterday morning at
Mt. Clemens, Michigan.. Mrs. Doug
| lass was a daughter of the late John
IP. Kinney, of the borough. She is
survived by her husband, a son, Rob
ert C„ and a daughter, Margaret A r •
her mother, Mrs. John P. Kinney of
Steelton; three brothers, Charles C.
Kinney, Frank D. Kinney and John
E. Kinney, of Philadelphia; two sis
ters, Mrs. Charles 8. Davis, of Steel
tcn, and Mrs. A. A. Rrehm, of Buf
falo, N. Y„ also survive. Funeral
services will be held from the home
of Prof. Charles S. Davis. 183 South
Second street, Steelton. Monday aft
ernoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be
made in the Baldwin Cemetery and
will be private.
lIIGHSIMItE!
Mr. and Mrs. David M. Diffenderfer
are spending some time at White
Plains, N. Y., visiting their daughter
Mrs. George K. Kapp.
Mr. andiMm. Bernard lioopes of
Mt. McGregor, N. Y„ have returned
home after visiting D. W. Yeager.
Leonard Wilson, og Boston, Mass.,
returned home to-day after spending
several weeks in town visiting his
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wilson.
SMAI.I, FIKK
Fire in an oil tank at No. 2 forge i
of the local steel plant early last
evening did little damage. The alarm
was sent in. from box 122, shortly
before 7 o'clock.
KKVIVAIj AT IIItKSSMCR
The revival services being con
ducted in the Bressler Methodist
Church by the Rev. R. If. Colburn
are being attended by large audi
ences. There were three converts
last night and the meetings will be
continued.
EXZEMACURED
FREE Proof to You -Ij^sreiusrs!
. ii trial of the wirnc trcatoiont whicli
RorordinßT to their own Ptatementß, han cured .ver four thousand men. woman and chlldJ
ran o 1 their torturing skin diseas in the s'-.ort time I have made this oiler public.
I f von are sufferer from Kcrema, Sal* Hheui.. Itch, Tetter - never mind how nad-try mv
treatment. It ha cured the worst cane* I ever saw. The wonders accomplished mvnur mn
cane will be p-oof. * " u
■ ■■■•■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ CUT AND MAIL TODAY •■■•■■■u nanilaa „ aulM
J. C. HUTZELL, Druggist,2467 West Main St., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Please send, without coat or obligation to me. your Free Proof Treatment for Skin Disease*
Name—'. - Ave
Post Office .I. StAte...
Street and No. .mi
I REO DUPLEX
Pleasure Cars and Trnctyi 4 -Wheel Drive Tmek
HARRISBURG AUTO CO.
THIRD AND HAMILTON STS.
ERECT LARGE
STEEL POLE
Monster Flagstaff Placed in
Position at Front and Swa
tara Streets Today
A large steel flagpole was erected
In front of the office building of the
local steel plant, Front and Swatara
Ktreets, this morning.
The jjiole was placed eleven feet in
the ground and stands nearly seven- .
ty-flve feet in the air.
The pole, which was made in the
pipe shop of the local plant, weighs
about three and one-lialf tons.
The day for holding the flagralslng
lias not been announced but it is
probable it will be held Tuesday at •
noon. A Hag- nine ami one-half by
fifteen feet will be unfurled under the •
direction of the steel company police.
A larger Hag will bo placed on the
pole later. The Steelton Band will
furnish music for the ceremonies.
Steelton Snap Shots
ICiitcrtiiiii Clioir.—Members of the
St. John's Lutheran Church clioir
were entertained by Dr. and Mrs.
•it. Miller, at their homo in Ilar
rishurg, Thursday evening in honor
of their daughter, Mrs. Charles
Lawrence. The Hev. und Mrs. G.
N. Lauffer were among the forty
guests.
Mrs Hcagy Hostess.—Mrs. J. M.
Heagy was hostess to members ot
her Sunday School class of Cen
tenary Church, Thursday evening, at
her home, ;S9 South Fourth street.
There were seventy-live guests pres
ent.
OIIKHI.I.V
Miss Catherine Butler was operated
<>ii Thursday afternoon ut the llar
risburg Hospital for appendicitis.
Miss Annie Stroup, who was badly
hurt in the automobile accident last
Sunday, while on her way to Shlp
pensburg State Normal school, whero
she is a senior, is improving, and Is
expected home soon from the hospital.
Mr. and Mrs lOliner Wagner and
daughter, Anna Wagner, are spending .
a few days with the former's parents,
at York.
A pleasant surprise was given to
Mis. Charles Suskey by the Women's
llome anil Foreign Missionary Society
of Salem Lutheran Church, of which
she is a member. A set of line dishes
was presented her as a token of es
teem on her recent marrl&ge. Those
presenj were: Mrs. D./R Knpley, Mrs.
Jos. Janson, Sr., Mrs. Harry Dickey, *
Mrs. Fred: Bachman, Mrs. Christian "
Heck, Mrs. Paul I'outle, Mis. Jos. Jan- J]
son, Jr., Mrs. Samuel Wilson, Mrs. ,
I'aul Suskey, Mrs. George Jeffries, •
Mrs. Harry Myers, Misses 101 tie M. *
ltupley, Grace Chintz, Mildred ISshen- *
our and Minnie Wuerschlnski.
A parcel post kitchen shower was #
given to Mrs. lOnos Aungst at her
home, near her, who was married *
a few weeks ago,
Mrs. Hannah Ludwig, of Annville, *
visited for a few days with Mrs.
Frank Blgler. . *
OPKN AIR CimCKIIT
The llighsplre Band will give an •
QjM-n air concert this evening, In •
Kaufman's Park, opposite the post *
office. The following program will i
he given: Overture, "The White crrj "
Angell: Mofceau characteristic, "For-
est Whispers," Losey; (a) "Cuban "
Dance: Rosemary," Jewell; (b) sere- "
nade, "Land of Dreams," Rarnhouse;
fantasia, "Qems of Stephen Foster,"
Tobani; paraphrase, "How Gentle God *
Commands," Nageli; mazurka eharac- "
teristique, "Amorosa," Navarro; waits
suite, "Language of the Soul," Seorl-
ton; grand American fantasia, Ben- •
dlx; tone pictures of the. North and *
South;."Star Spangled Banner."
MIDDLETOWN NEWS
Henry H. Shellenberger, aged 67,
ex-Sheriff of Dauphin county, and
widely known throughout the county,
died late yesterday afternoon at Ills
home, after a lingering illness of dia- •
betes. He is survived by the follow
ing children: Mrs. Elizabeth Hill, "*
Middletown: Mrs. Katherine Hershey,
Lancaster; Mrs. Susanne Seltzer, Mid- m
dletown; Mrs. Macon Albright, Henry
R. Shellenberger, Cleveland. 0., and "
Walter It. Shellengerbcr, of Middle- T*
town. Funeral services will bo held
Mondoy morning at 11 o'clock. Prl- ■
vate burial will be made in the Mid- M
dletown cemetery, the Rev. P. M. J5
Krayblll, pastor of the local Church m
of God, will oinciato. •'*-
Mr. Shellenberger was elected coun- **
ty sheriff in 1593, and for over forty J*
years conducted a harness store lii
the borough, lie was a director of >•
llie Middletown Fair Assoc'ation and "•
also a director of the Farmers' Na- **
tional Bank of Middletown. He was Jjj!
also a member of the I. O. O. F.
Ijiithcr Nauss left
South Dakota,, where he will engage 2
in agricultural pursuits.
Mrs. William Barly, who spent the >
week here as the guest of her daugh- •*
ter, Mrs. J. R. Geyer, returned to her •*
home at Palmyra.
The Middletown Tennis Club open- "2
ed up its season this afternoon.
One hundred members In a week
is the record for the local branch of "•
the American Red Cross Society. The **
society was only organized at the "1
beginning of last month.
Raymond Condran Is visiting nt Co- *•
lu nib ia.
13