Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 69, Decatur, Adams County, 20 March 1908 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VI. Number 69

TO PUSH IT ALONG — Richmond Business Men Interested in (Extension of Traction Line TO THAT CITY Will Hold Meeting Tonight to Raise Preliminary Funds —lt Looks Good Richmond, Ind., March 20.—(Special) —A special session of the commercial club of this city has been called for this evening, when the committee. which recently made the trip to jDecatur will report and a general discussion of ways and means for placing stock in a new traction company to b e called the Richmond and Fort Wayne, and which will be contributary to the Fort Wayne and Decatur line will be discussed. The Richmond and Fort Wayne traction company will be organized at a meeting to be held by committees of business men from towns along the proposed route. ■frrom Fort Wayne to Decatur the new company will use the line of the Fort Wayne. Decatur and Springfield. Work on building the line from Decatur to Richmond will be started as Boon as all th e stock has been placed. It is estimated that to build the proj posed line it will be necessary to raise 11,500,000. The Fort Wayne. Decatur and Springfield company has as- , tpred the promoters of the new company that it will furnish of this amount. This makes it necessary for th<, promoters to place $1,000,000 in stock. To do this it is planned to solicit business men in every town and city along the proposed line. The various committees who are ■posting the project, want to have the B" preliminary work, such as securing opy". tions on property for the right of way ’ of the line and the making of surveys started as soon as possible. To do |BBus work money must be raised immediately. At the meting to be held tonight by the local commitee the ■best means for raising the city’s share ■ of the amount necessary for the preliminary work will be discussed. It is probable that the committee will de. k -pide to solicit contributions from local business men with the understanding 'th.-r what they subscribe will be applied to stock they will be asked to take in the new traction company. i. • The local meh who attended the DeI catur meeting were Cash Beall Chas. <t;fianer. John Hasemeier and George R Dilks. There were also present at this meeting committees representing Fountain City, Lynn, Winchester. RidgeviX! e end Chester. Mr. Beall states that all of those who attended •*“ the meeting were enthusiastic over the organization of the new traction company, and predicted that in their Brapspective towns there would be but little difficulty in placing stock. n o SOMETHING ABOUT LECTURE. Hon. George E. Clark Will Please All Who Hear Him. His lecture was called “An Untitled Adventurer.” and treated of the life of Napoleon. In scope of treatment, in masterly diction, in close, clear-cut argument, the subject stands T.-ithout a parallel in lecture form. In dignified bearing, in manly physique E in impressive personality, the lecturer stands a peer in his own realm. In a voice clear and ringing, with sonorous major tones and conveying ma- ■ jesty of expression, and tender minor S cadences telling of pathos, Ah® speak- ■ <er shows the perfect control, the su- ’ . mastery he has acquired over the Bwnost important of all vehicles in oraBgSitory, vocalization. Not a syllable, nay S not even a letter of a single word, that ifeid not fall full and perfect chiselled HE>n delighted ears. History, biography Kwtnecdotes and poetry, well-balanced interwoven, and graceful alMjusions and wholesome lessons were Hhll at the command of Mr. C larke. and ■pound after round of the most enBlhusiastic applause greeted his admitKkble delivery. The theme, the lec■mirer, and the lessons will remain inBjelibly in the minds of those who had Kuie privilege of listening to Mr. Clarke ■knd a real privilege It was in the Bfruest sense of the term Terre Gazette.

THEY WANT MACADAM ROAD. Information About Part of the Adams Wells County Line. A letter received by County Auditor Garrett from Adams county farmers residing in Kirkland township indicates that another effort Is to be made to have a portion of the county line road graveled the coming summer. The letter in question asked as to the state of indebtedness of Lancaster and Jefferson townships, and said that if those townships are not above the debt limit a petition will be circulated to present to the commissioners of Adams and Wells county asking that a strip of road about two and one-half miles in length be graveled. There is now pending asking for the improvement of a strip of over eleven miles of the county line road, but it tas been held up since last fall, because of the refusal of the Adams county board of commissioners to meet with the Wells county board to consider the petition. w The claim was made that one of the Adams county townships interested was above the debt limit. —Bluffton News.

FOUND HIM INSANE F. L.Watkins is Insane from Worry About Religious Affairs STRANGE ILLUSIONS He Thinks He is an Agent of Providence—Was Lodged in Jail Assuming the position of an agent of providenc e and thinking that he is gifted with the power of the holy spirit that authorizes him to kill people who are not firm believers of God, Fred L. Watkins, who resides in Cooktown, is charged with being insane and a dangerous person to be at liberty. Insanity proceedings were instituted this morning by Henry Krick, for demented man has worked for more than a year, charging that he has made repeated threats against the lives of certain people and that hfs unreasonable utterances are conclusive evidence of his insanity. During the course of the past few’ days he has seized his wife, who is a frail woman and shaken her unmercifully, stating that he would break every bone in her body. For ten days past Mr. Watkins has acted strangely and his friends have been alarmed at the peculiar things he has done and said. A few days ago he came to the business section of th e city, where he searched for a man w’hom he declared the Lord told him to kill. He thinks that every person who has not the power of God should be put out of the way. The demented man has been watched day and night to prevent any violence that he may attempt and his admission will be asked to East Haven asylum. Hrs. J. M. Miller, W. E. Smith and P. B. Thomas held an insanity inquest over the man this afternoon and found him insane. Dr. E. H. Leßrun filed an affidavit before Squire J. H. Smith alleging that the demented man was Insane and unsafe to b e at large hence he has been taken to jail to await his committment to East Haven. Mrs. Watkins was afraid of her husband and sh e is at ease since he Is locked up.

HAVE GONE TO OSSIAN. Twelve Decatur Ladies Will Take in Lodge Event. A large company of ladies of the Pythian Sister lodge, left this morning on the 10:10 train on the Erie for Ossian, Ind., wher e they will attend the Pythian Sisters convention, which is being held there this afternoon and evening and Friday. The members who took the opportunity to attend were the Mesdames Fred Vaughn, George Houser, J. D. Meyers, D. H. Hunsicker, George Henneford and baby, J A, Smith, Jacob "Yager, Dore B. Erwin, John Lachot, Fred Linn, /James Bain, Joseph Frank Foreman, of Berne, F. F. Cottrell, of Berne, Samuel Shamp, Misses Vade Martin, Marie Meyers. . o— Miss Jean Lutz is rapidly recovering from her sickness and she will soon I return to the city.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening March, 20 1908.

ONE OF THE BEST Congressman Adair is Strong With Republicans as Well as Democrats MAKING A RECORD His Latest Attack on the Trusts Made Many Friends in District Muncie, Ind., March 20.—Th e one thing that may unite the republicans of the Eighth district and cause them to support the man who js nominated at the congressional convention in Anderson a week from today is the knowledge that Congressman J. A. M. Adair is by far the strongest congressman that the district has had in many years. It is shrewdly conjectured that Adair is playing the best kind of politics by pretending not to play any and by posing as a "Roosevelt Democrat.” whatever that is. but there is no doubt of his hold on a large percentage of the republicans in a district that is normally about 7.000 republican. Adair went into office not so much because of his own strength as because about half of the republicans desired to express their disapproval of the political machine manipulated for so many years by former Congressman George W. Cromer. Now, however, Congressman Adair seems to be strong because of his own merits. For instance, his speech in congress yesterday when he vigorously attacked the trusts was designed to catch th e votes of the Roosevelt republicans, so politicians believe. Mr. Adair set forth that the corporations were after him and his seat in congress because he had spent his time since entering on his term in flaying “predatory wealth,” especially the lumber trust, but if the trusts are after his scalp in particular, there is no tangible proof of It as far as politicians of all parties are abl e to gather. But there is one thing that every democratic and republican politician of the Eighth district gives Mr. Adair credit for, and that is being the best politician of both parties. Knowing that the district was almost hopelessly republican, he neverheless turned a 7,000 republican plurality into a democratic plurality of more than 4,200 by advocating in his speeches the policies of the president and promising to uphold them, while charging his opponent, Mr. Cromer, then the. congressman from this district, with being opposed to the president.

COURT HOUSE NEWS Nuisance Case Postponed One Day on Account of Illness of Alfred Elzey ONE OF THE JURORS A Divorce Case—Two Marriage Licenses —C. J. Lutz Appointed Special Judge Alfred Elzey, one of the jurors in the State vs. Kalver and Hurst case, is suffering from acute indigestion and stomach trouble and was unable to report for duty, consequently the case was postponed until 3:30 Saturday morning, when it is believed Mr. Elzey will be able to be in court. The evidence was concluded Thursday evening and the arguments will begin at the convening of court Saturday, two hours being allowed to each side. The case will go to the jury about four o’clock tomorrow afternoon. John W. Brown vs. Noah Mangold et al, to foreclose mortgage, C. J. Lutz appointed as special judge to hear cause and assumes jurisdiction. B. W. Sholty vs. Samuel Tumbleon et al, note SBS, demurer overruled; absolute rule to answer absolute. John Amspaugh vs. Noah Mangold (Continued on pace 2.)

HELD IN JAIL AS WITNESS. Held in jail as a witness in a criminal case and unablj, to return to work so that he may send money to his wife and' three children at Detroit. Mich., Frank Gary, the former C. B. & C, section man, from whom Roy Mock is charged with stealing S3O in money on the night of January 11, is making a pitiful appeal to Prosecutor A. G. Emshwiller, begging that he be released. Emshwiller, however, is afraid that if he is turned loose, Gary will not remain in Bluffton to testify against Mock at the calling of the latter’s trial at the next term of court, and will not permit him to go unless a cash bond is put up for his appearance. Gary is without any money whatever, having sent his last- dollar to his wife and babies, and is consequently helpless. It is believed by some that the stand Emshwiller has taken is an unjust one and that habeas corpus proceedings would accomplish Gary's liberty—Bluffton Banner. SOCIAL f SUCCESS Large Attendance at Apron Sale Given by the Presbyterian Ladies THE HELPING HAND Enjoyed a Delightful Afternoon With Miss Weatter —Other Society News Over fifty ladies responded in a graceful manner to the call given by the Ladies’ Aid society of the Presbyterian church for an apron social given at the home of Mrs. John H. Heller assisted by Mrs. T. M. Reid, yesterday The president of the society presided during the business session, after which the guests were shown into the apron room, where dainty aprons and large kitchen aprons of all sizes were for sale, then while the ladies were enjoying a social hour a refreshing luncheon was served by the hostesses. The amount for the afternoon came to $20.55, which speaks well for the society and hostesses who so royally entertained them.

The Pocahontas lodge had a very pleasant meeting last evening at their regular session. One candidate was initiated into the mysteries of the order, after which a social period followed, which was thoroughly enjoyed. The Helping Hand society of the German Reformed church spent a most delightful afternoon at the home of Miss Letta Weatter on Fifth stret, Thursday. The ladies made one dozen bonnets and one comforter during the sewing period. The one feature of the afternoon which was so much enjoyed was the dainty refreshments which were served by the hostess. The were made during this meeting and the previous meetings are for sale, and any on e who wishes to purchase the same can do so by calling on the Mrs. C. L. liessert or Mrs. John Spuhler, who have them at their home. Mrs. George Barbier and Miss Mabel Rausch, of Fort Wayne, were entertained by Mrs. Nat Hull, Thursday at her home on south Third street. The ladies of th e Euterpean society met and spent a delightful evening at the home of Miss Mary Miller on Winchester street last evening. “Tentoretta” was the great artist which was studied during the evening and Miss Hattie Studabaker had very clevery arranged the program for the few pleasant hours. Several of Tentoretta’s famous pictures were shown and discussed. The members were nearly all present. The next meeting will be with Mrs. John Niblick in two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Peters celebrated their first wedding anniversary this evening at a six o'clock dinner at their home on Marshall street. Mrs. W. H. Leas and Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Peters are the complimentary guests. (Ccn tinned on pace 3.)

IT WORRIES TAFT If Not Taft it Will be Me is Causing Trouble HIS MAIDEN SPEECH Representative Rauch Has An Inning—An Attack on President Washington, March 20. —The recent declaration of the president to callers that “If you do not take Taft you will get me,” is causing a good deal of uneasiness among the managers of the Taft campaign. Nothing is so distasteful to them as to hear a revival of the third term talk. And this talk keeps breaking out daily. Every politician of consequence from out over the country, who comes here has something to about Roosevelt being the real choice of the states and districts that ha»e chosen socalled Taft delegates. The Washington newspapers which make a specialty of getting interviews on the existing sentiment, keep on printing stories to the effect that there Is comparatively little real Taft sentiment —that when the real sentiment in what has come to b e known as Taft territory is sounded, it is found to be for Roosevelt. Washington. March 20. —Representative Rauch, of the Eleventh Indiana district, in his maiden speech before the house, attempttd to show that the republican majority of the house is not with the president, that certain elements of the party ard so hopelessly in opposition to other eltments that it is impossible for the party to carry into effect the recommendations of the president; that if the people of the country ever expect to see these recommendations carried into effect they must look to the democratic party, the party that gave them birth. Washington, March 20. —An attack on President Roosevelt for the manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the Panama canal zone was made in the house of representatives by Mr. Harrison, of New York. His remarks were based on a resolution repoted by the committee on interstate aIR * foreign commerce, which called on the president to inform the house by what authority of law he had exercised the functions of government on the canal zone since the expiration of the Fifty-eighth congress.

A ROAD 5 PETITION Asking to Have Archbold Road Macadamized TOWNSHIP ASSESSORS They Are Making Progress —Treasurer After the Delinquents A petition for a macadamized stone road over the Archbold road in Root township, will be presented to the commissioners at their April session. The improvement begins at the old Patterson mill and intersects with the Elzey macadam road. The township assessors are making headway with their work. The Berne meeting last Saturday showed even more than usual progress. Tomorrow they will report the work done up to date, and at this time County Assessor Gentis is well pleased with the showing made. Treasurer Lachot is busy with the tax delinquents. Stacks of letters are going out of his office conveying the information that there will be something doing should the cash for this delinquency be not forthcoming. He will make a red hot campaign, and will be content with nothing less than th e candy.

HARRY MOTE IS RELEASED. Declared Helpless, But He Recovered Anyway. Harry Mote, “the booster from Bar tlesviile, Okla,” who became violently insane and was placed in the Richmond asylum last August, was released Wednesday afternoon. He returned to Montpelier with his brother-in-law, Frank McDorman. Harry was confined in the Blackford county jail for some time prior to being admitted to the state institution for the insane. Dr. Smith announced his condition as helpless, but in spite of the physician’s statements Mote improved, and it is said, that he is now in better condition, both mentally and bodily, than he has been for years. Mrs. Mote and children have been staying at Bluffton. Harry and his family expect to return to Barties ville, wher e he will again enter the barber business—Hartford City News. Th e funeral services for Mrs. Ernst Buuck were held this afternoon at 1:03 from the Freidheim church and were attended by a large number of relatives and friends.

CLOSE PASTORATE Rev. A. B. Haist Will Depart from This City Within Four Weeks HERE FOUR YEARS And Was a Faithful and Efficient Christian Worker —Attend Conference Rev. A. B. Haist, who has most successfully conducted the Decatur and Calvary charges of the Evangelical churches for four years past, will clos e his pastorate in this city March 30 this year. During his stay in our city Rev. Haist has enjoyed the sincere friendship of the people in general responsive to his faithful and efficient work for the betterment of U. community. He is possessed of a striking personality and js a forceful speaker. The Decatur Evangelical church has been greatly strengthened during his pastorate, largely due to his increasing efforts in behalf of the congregation and Christian cause. The people with whom he has been affiliated will be caused much regret to learn that he will soon depart from their midst but as a law of the church limits the time in each town to four years, it is necessary that he leave. The relations of Rev. Haist and the congregation were nothing but pleasant during the entire four years and it will be a difficult task/to fill his place. On the thirtieth day of this month, Rev. Haist will leave for Huntingburg, Indiana, where conference convenes the second day of April. He will go via Indianapolis from where a special car furnished by the Pennsylvania line will convey him and many other ministers to Huntingburg. The many friends of Mr. Haist and family wish for them all the success the future can hold, wherever they may cast their lot. The family will move from Decatur in about four weeks. o— DITCH CASE TO BE APPEALED. Famous Little Case Will Go to Higher Court. Plans are being made by petitioners on the Little River ditch to carry to the spate supreme court the litigation which has been pending since 1901. and on which Judge O. N. Heaton of Fort Wayne, with some uncertainty as to th e exact intent of the law, made a ruling adverse to the petitioners, holding that under th e law of 1907 the court had no jurisdiction. Thirty days are given for an appeal, and already papers are being prepared to perfect the appeal to the higher courts. A decision there will probably not be reached for several months. ———— o AN INFANT CHILD IS DEAD. An infant babe, son of William and Stella Rowlin, of Monroe township, died yesterday morning and was buried dtiring the afternoon at the Smith Chapel cemetery. The records show that death was due to prematurity. Mrs. Rowlin is recovering.

Price Twt Cents

SAN LUIS POTOSI An Attractive City and Her People Described by Mrs. Morrison DECATUR TRAVELER Old Mexico—Some Notes of History and Interesting Facts of Today Mexico, City, Feb. 28. 1908. Dear Folks:—Another attempt to write. I gave you a very brief account of our mp as far as San Luis Potosi. Os course I omitted a hundred things there was no time to mention, and I shall have to do the same tn this. San Luis Potosi, the capital of the state of the same name, is a very beautiful and clean city, situated in a wide plain, encircled by mountains with mines that yield an annual output of silver that runs up into millions of dollars. Long before the advent of the Spaniards in 1521 the mines here were known to the natives. and they are still very productive. It is said that silver is found In every on e of the twenty seven states of the Republic of Mexico, and in every hill and mountain, and there are plenty of the letter. Little iron has been found in Mexico, except in the state of Durango, wher e there is a mountain of it from 75 to 90 per cent pure metal. There is some gold, lead, quicksilver, salt, alum, coal and other mines in the republic. I am told there are the most primitive methods of mining in use in Mexico, but modern machinery is being introduced. Some of th e drafts hundreds of feet deep are worked with a windlass and mule power. In some places the miners pass up and down on ladders, or steps cut in the side °f the mountain. A gentleman told me that in his mines the peons hold the lad der for him and one step amiss means destruction. The peon Indian does not mind the heat or water, and works for a very small sum. But the owner of the mine must not do a thing for himself. < - the peon loses respect for him, ant! he cannot be controlled. But to return to the city. It is very clean and attractive. The city council has an ordinance which requires the people to keep their houses in repair, and keep everything neat, and clean. The streets are attractive with frequent parks, or plazas as they call them here. Plazulas are very small parks. There are seats unde-r the trees, and in the larger parks (about a square in size), is a pagoda, where a band paid by the state, plays every Sunday forenoon from nln e till one. The best band is usually in the cathedral plaza, and they play all during services. Then Tuesday and Thursday night are band nights. There are several bands in every city. The larger the city the more bands. The nights the bands play, the parade of young people in opposite directions around the plaza goes on for two hours, as I wrote you last winter. There ar e many flowers in bloom, hibiscus, with their flaming red bells, bougainvillia growing thirty and forty feet high full of bloom. In fact a solid mass of violet flowers. Passing along the street the wrought iron doors leading into the patios or inner courts of the houses are open, as well as the heavy doors six and eight Inches thick, studded w’ith nails with heads as big as the old fashioned copper cent. Thus we can see little gardens full of flowers, and singing birds in cages. The people on the streets are so curious and the loads the cargardores carry (common carries) is astonishing. We saw four men (Indian, of course) with an upright piano on their shoulders and carrying the stool trotting along like four little donkeys without any load. I saw an Indian woman swinging along the street in bare feet, arms and head with a row of chiokens hanging around her waist as thick as they could hang, and another row* about h*fr neck. She swmng along as if she was wearing a silken scarf. She came in from the mountains and was on her way to the market. Nearly all Mexican markets are very interesting, but I must not give more time to San Luis Potosi. We were a night and a day coming from the latter city to the City of Mexico, capital of the republic. (Continued on page 2.)