Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 6, Number 165, Decatur, Adams County, 11 July 1908 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VI. Number 165.

BIG CONVENTION IS OVER Democrats Closed Harmonious Session Last Evening

AT 4:23 O’CLOCK > Kern’s Nomination Was by Acclamation, Band Wagon Affair TICKET IS STRONG Says Walter Wellman and Louis Ludlow, Newspaper Writers Denver, Colo., July 11. —(Special to Daily Democrat) —It’s all over and the big crowd has already dispersed. The greatest and most hormonious democratic national convention ever held adjourned at 4:23, Denver time, last evening, and immediately began the departure of the hundreds who had been a part of the week’s affair, which attracted attention all over the world. John W. Kern, of Indiana, had been nominated for the vice presidency by acclamation a few moments before that His selection was a most wonderful event. Two hours before he was not even mentioned, but w’hen the Hon. Thomas Marshall, proposed his name, told his qua) ificat tins and insisted on his selection, his boom grew rapidly. New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois. Pennsylvania, the solid south joined in. Towne and the other candidates saw the trend and w„hdrew. and only a motion that Kern’s nomination b e made by acclamation was necessary and it came from Connecticut, being carried with a demonstration of several minutes.

That the convention was a genuine one, representing the people is shown by th e stories sent out by the greatest newspaper writers of the age. Walter ’Wellman says the hope of democracy is high, that the ticket is a strong one and adds: That Bryan enters upon his third battl e for the presidency better armed, carrying fewer weaknesses, less open to serious attack, more aggressive and less on the defensive than in either of his previous contests is not only the belief of his friends and representatives her e but of a majority of the neutral observers. Louis Ludlow, of the Indianapolis Star says: Th o Democratic national convention has put Into the field a ticket that will appeal with force and effectiveness to the masses of the people. Equally satisfactory to th e rank and file of the nation’s citizenship is the platform which, while unnecessarily prolix and rambling, nevertheless rings clear and true in its championship of popular rights. The Denver convention enthused with militant spirit and in a fine condition of harmony.

Those who predicted that this convention would become, by reasons of bickerings and dissensions, a slaughter house through which the party would march to an open grave, are amazed to find here at Denver a demonstration of unity and harmony that is real, not simulated, and that speaks elpquently of trouble for the Republican’s in the pending campaign. The Democratic party has wandered twelve years pi the wilderness without a gleam of light to relieve the oppressive darkness of the night. Looking backward upon the work of the convention just closed, and making note of the many and unmistakable manifestations of the old fighting spirit that in the former days made the Democracy Invincible, the discerning person wonders whether the dawn is not near and whether the party of trials and tribulations is not about to enter th e land of milk and honey. Any one who cannot see in the rehabiliation of the Democratic party a forewarning that there is going to be a gigantic struggle in America this year of grace 1908 must be blind indeed. A real fight is on and Indiana,

once more is regarded as debatable ground and will be the very vortex of country wide political agitation. The candidates, Bryan and Kern are worthy to bear Democracy banner un or which is emblazoned the new party slogan, “Let the people rule,” both “"e pre-eminently men of the masses both have the same political creed, what Bryan stands for is the very essence of Kern’s political belief. What Kern thinks about public questions is law and gospel to the Nebraska commoner. Nor is it a ticket that is likely to frighten th e business world to any alarming extent. I have had the honor of a personal acquaintance with Mr. Bryan extending over twelve yea -s and embracing three national campaigns. When he wag in the center of th e spotlight. After making close range observations of the commoner during a week's visit at Lincoln and gathering information about him from many sources, I am convinced that the Bryan of today is not the Bryan of 1896. He is sobered and seasoned. While still putting the dollar above the man he has greater respect for property rights than ever before. On his home life there is not one blemish. In quarters where he once was regarded as a demogogue h e is now looked upon as astatesman of rare devotion to duty and strength of purpose of our own John W. Kern, kindly lovable and true. I shall attempt no eulogy, but I wish to go on record to the effect that the Democrats have nominated a clean and good ticket on a platform that compels respect, and if I am a judge of conditions there are breakers ahead for the party in power that will test the strength of the timbers jn th e old Republican ship.

John Worth Kern was born in the village of Alto, Howard county, Indiana, Dec. 20, 1849. The town is four and one-halt miles southwest of Kokomo, at that time a very sparsely settled region. His father, Dr. Jacob W. Kern, tvas born in Bottetourt county. Virginia, in 1813, where he died eight years ago. Mr. Kern moved to Shelby county, Kansas, in 1836, where he lived until 1846, at which time the family moved to Howard county. Three years later John Worth Kern was born, and in 1854 the family moved to Warren county, lowa. There Doctor Kern practiced medicine and farming ,and in 1864 the family returned to Howard county, Indiana. When young John returned to APo there was no school in the neighborhood sufficiently advanced for him, and he was sent to Kokomo, where he attended the Indiana Normal school of Kokomo, a private school. When not quite 16 years old John taught a district school three and a half miles east of Alto. He had determined to become a lawyer and went to the University at Ann Arbor, Mich. for additional schooling. He remained at Ann Arbon for three years, one year in the literary department and two years in the law department, graduating from this school in March, 1869.

He returned to Kokomo and entered upon th e practice of law', opening an office for himself. He soon associated himself with J. F. Eliott, and this partnership continued for two years. Following this he had several partners in the law, among them L. J. Hackney. N. R. Lindsay and Col. N. P. Richmond. He was nominated as the Democratic candidate for th e legislature in 1870, but was defeated. Tn 1872 he was elected city attorney of Kokomo by the council and served until 1884. In that year he was nominated by the Democrats for reporter of the supreme court of Indiana and was elected, serving for four years. He removed to Indianapolis in 1885 and has since resided in this city. In 1892 he was nominated by the Marion county Democrats for the state senate, was elected and served four years. lu 1897 when Thomas Taggart was elected mayor of Indianapo is he appointed Mr. Kern city attorney and Mr. Kern was re-appointed ci*y attorney in 1899 with the re-election of Mr Taggart as mayor, Mr. Kern serving in this -capacity until 1901. In 1900 the Democratic state convention nominated Mr. Kern for gov-

ernor, but he was defeated by Col. Winfield T. Durbin, the Republican nominee. In 1904 Mr. Kern was again nominated for governor by the Democrats and in the election was defeated by J. Frank Hanly, Mr. Kern has been twice married. His first wife died in October 1881. His second marriage was to Miss Araminta Cooper, daughter of Dr. Willkam Cooper of Kokomo, in December, 1885. He has three children, Miss Julia Anna, a daughter by his first marriage, J:<d two sons by his second marriage, John Worth Kern Jr., age 8 years, and William Cooper Kern, age 5 years. Mr. Kern’s mother died when he was 9 years old and in 1860 th e father r ?- married in Virginia. The second wife of the father died three yeajs ago. Dr. Kern returned to his old home in Virginia when his son John was 22 years old. Dr. Kern died in April, 1900 at th e age of 87. Both of John W. Kern’s grandfathers, Jacob Ko’a and George Liggett, died in Van Bu’’en township, Shelby county, this state. Nicholas Kern, the oldest brother of Mr. Kern’s father, was one of the early settlers of Marion county, and for fifty years lived ten miles east of Indianapolis on the old nation il road.

WILL BE A TREAT Judge Brown’s Lecture at the Presbyterian Church SUNDAY EVENING On the Boy Question, an Important and Interesting Subject Judg e Willis A. Brown, of Salt Lake City, Utah, will lecture on the “Boy Problem” at the First Presbyterian church in this city at 7:30 o'clock Sunday evening. Hear him. It will do you good. It will help your boy. Judge Brown is a believer in the truth, that the way to make our country better, raise the standard of civilization is to pay more attention to the boys, and he’s right. He says that nine out of every ten boys are honest and can b e trusted if placed on their own honor. No lecturer on the American platform is more in demand and Decatur people should appreciate th e treat in store for them. He will give but one address here and that one in the evening at the Presbyterian church, where the big auditorium will be thrown open. Be sure to go and take your boy along. It will do you good as well as him. Judge Brown is on his way to Winona Lake, where he will conduct the boys’ city again this year.

AB ELZEY TO ERECT BLOCK Contracts for New Store Building at Ossian, Yesterday morning the News was authorized to announce that a contract had been entered into by the Rector Bros, and A .S. Elzey for a store building which will be 85 by 100 feet. The building will stand on the old Hatfield store site and will be two stores in height, the use of the upper story of which is not settled as yet, but negotiations are pending. The structure is to be completed by Nov. Ist and possibly sooner. Mr. Elzey is making preparations to put a large force of men at work immediately on the now building. J. E. Plummer wi’l have charge of th e brick work. —Ossian News. — o THEY WILL HOLD SOCIAL. M. E. Epworth Leaguers Have Planned Event. The members of the M. E. Epworth League have decided to give an ice cream social next. Tuesday night for th 0 purpose of raising money with which they will pay their share for foreign missionary work. The Fort Wayne district supports Dr. Ernsberger. who does missionary work in India. The leaguers should be well patronized next Tuesday night for their cause is indeed a noble one. Dr. Ernsberger, who is a brother of J A. Ernsberger, of Celina, who formerly lived here, and he is doing great work in the far off land.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, July 11, 1908.

■'FAMOUS PEOPLE"’ BY FANNIE M LOTHROP < -g' J® "’•ft M yx / Gertrnde Atherton. Photo by Rudolph Eickemeyer, Jr. GERTRUDE ATHERTON’S LITERARFSUCCESSEST - ONE of the most successful of American women novelists is Gertrude Atherton. Her work has strength, individuality, life and color; the work of one who has lived intensely and studied the world. Dr. Nicoll, the eminent critic, whose specialty is discovering the greatness of writers before the general public wakes up to the angels it has been entertaining unawares, says of her: "Mrs. Atherton is, in my judgment, the ablest woman writer of fiction now living.” Gertrude Atherton was born in San Francisco, the eldest daughter of Thomas L. Horn and Gertrude Franklin who was great grand-niece of Benjamin Franklin. When a mere child at school, she planned her life and dreamed of the days when she would be a great author. It absorbed her whole thought; she wrote stories and even ventured upon a play and shortly after her marriage, which was when she was but a young girl, she published her first novel, “What Dreams May Come.” She now asserts it was trash and it would be generous courtesy to dispute this estimate. Trashy, too, was her next book “Hermia Suydam”; but both revealed evidences of talent, rough, raw and rudimentary; but the untrained struggling toward expression of one who had not yet come to herself. She has dealt courageously and fearlessly with social topics in her novels and they reveal a vitality and purpose that is unusual in current fiction. Like many of our best American writers Mrs. Atherton won recognition in England before the real value of her work was justly appreciated here. She is a lover of travel, finding the restrictions of continued life in one place irritating. Her novel "Senator North” was written in ten weeks, though the story was working itself out in her mind for more than a year. Every day for three months she sat in the Senate Chamber, listening to the debates, studying chafhcter and growing familiar with legislative routine. She even waded heriocally through many months of the Congressional Record, the dryest periodical printed in the English language. Os the dozen or more books written by Mrs. Atherton her favorite is “The Conqueror” in which Alexander Hamilton proudly holds the centre of the stage, and in the writing of which Mrs. Atherton made an exhaustive study of all that had been written of her hero and also spent much time in personal researches, making the book in reality an historic biography seen through the roseate glow of fiction. Copyright transferred to Wm. C. Mack, 1906.

COURT HOUSE NEWS Squire Smith Performed Marriage Ceremony this Morning AT CLERK’S OFFICE Another License Issued— Real Estate Transfers— Other Items Earl Wagers, aged twenty-three, an engineer, and Faster Sacker, aged just twenty, both of Adams county, were granted a marriage license. Another license issued was one to Glenn Hinton, aged twenty, a farmer, and Elnora Hart aged twenty-one, both of Union township. They were married at 10:30 this morning at the clerk’s office, Squir e James H. Smith speaking the words that made the happy couple man and wife. The application. for the admission of Henry C. Peterson to the Newcas'le home for epileptics was filed at the clerk’s office today, but cannot be sent in until Monday as the Judge is absent. Judge James T. Merryman is bearing a damage suit at Winchester this week. Martha McKean et al have deeded lot 210. Decatur, to Lydia Vogt for $2,500. D. N. Erwin gav e L. G. Ellingham a deed for lot 953, Decatur, for $225. ———o Every lodge of Oil Fellows in the state of Ohio, ar e now working under an entirely new ritual since Tuesday. This is the fust lime there has been any change in the ritualistic work of th e order in the last 20 years. The new ritual was adopted at the last session of the grand lodge and about a car load of the old rituals have already been received at the office of Grand Secretary C. H. Lyman ,in the I. O. O. F. building in exchange for newrituals. No lodge is allowed 'o work under th e old ritual after July 1.

LAID DOWN ON TRACK. Hartford City Man Had a Thrilling Experience. “Bob” Armstrong the veteran scout, who is enroute from somewhere up the Wabash river down the river to Arkansas, had an exciting experience while going through Peru a few days ago. He stopped at the home of John W. Rush, in Washington township, Cass county, for a few days and walked to town to make some purchases. He was on the trestle across the river leading to Keinley’s island and was caught in the middl e of it by a limited car. The motorman thought the fellow would get’ on a pier, which he had a chance to do, but to his surprise Armstrong suddenly laid down in the middle of the track. The car, which was a new one and built higher than the old, passed over without touching him, and Armstrong got up unhurt, to the surprise of the trainmen, who had stopped and backed up. The old man is an eccentric individual and seemed not to mind his close call. He continued his journey the next day. o ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Held at Evangelical Church Last Evening. The young people of the Evangelic 11 church met at the church lasi evening for the election of officers of the Y. P. A. for the next six months. The election resulted as follows: President —Mr. Clyde Leiter. Vice President —Miss Lydia Drummond. Recording Secretary—Miss Vernia Smith. Miss. Secretary—Mr. A. Van Camp. Corresponding Secretary—Mr. T. Cramer. Treasurer —Mrs. Eugene Runyon. Organist —-Miss Vernia Smith. Chorister —Rev. D. O. Wise. Mrs. G. E. Corvill and cnildreu from Hoagland are visiting her sister, Mrs. Wm. Biggs for a few days.

LEAVING THE INDIANA FIELD National Supply Company Have Sold Geneva Store. The National Supply Co., have sold their store room and stock to The Producer’s Supply Co., of this place and an invoice of the stock is being taken this week. The business has so fallen off with the company in this state that they deem it unprofitable to continue their store here. Mr. Bert Reddout has charge of the business here, and is at present undecided as to where the company will station him, but for the present he has gone !to Lima. Ohio, where he is taking the place of one who is away pn a vacation. One of the National men told us Tuesday that he thought it was probable that inside of a year the National would have disposed of all its stores in Indiana, thus indicating how the oil well supply business has fallen off in th e state. They have stores at Parker City. Montpelier and Van Buren. Mr. Allen Meeks, of Van Buren, is here this week assisting in th e invoicing of the stock. Some of the members of the Producers’ Supply Co., who purchased the store are Messrs. Green and Kraner. —Geneva Herald.

MOTHER IS DEAD Was Text of a Sad Message Received by Rev. Richard Spetnagel LEFT HERE RECENTLY Sad News Came Unexpected —Pastor and Family Leave for Chillicothe Mrs. Theodore Spetnagel. mother of Rev„ Richard Spetnagel of this city, died very suddenly at her home at Chillicothe. Ohio, at five o’clock last evening. Rev. Spetnagel was sitting at J. C. Patterson’s Western Union office about 7:30 last evening, w’hen the operator exclaimed, “Why, here's a message for you.” Two telegrams cam e at the same time, one saying, ' Mother is in critical condition,” the other, “Mother died at five o’clock.” That was all, heart breaking messages which bowed the head of Rev. Spetnagel in deepest grief, almost unbearable in its suddenness. Mr, and Mrs. Spetnagel were here for a two W’eeks’ visit with their son and family and were met by a number of Decatur people, who join the loved ones in their moments of sorrow’. They left here for their home at Chillicothe only a few’ days ago. While here Mrs. Spetnagel suffered a severe attack of heart trouble and while the messages conveyed no information It is presumed death was caused by a similar attack. Rev. Spetnagel, wife and son left at five o'clock this morning for Chillicothe, where they will attend the funeral services. On account of this sad occurrence, the communion service. which was to have been held at the Presbyterian church Sunday morning has been postponed one week. There will be no services tomorrow’ except Sunday school and th e lecture at 7:30 p. m. by Judge Brown. —o— THINK BELL GUNNESS IS ALIVE Authorities Go to Hillsdale for Investigation. Laporte, Ind., July’ 11. —Deputy’ Sheriff Antiss and Chief of Police Cochrane have left for Hillsdale, Mich., to idenify the woman arrested at that place by Sheriff Wilkins. The woman is believed by the Michigan authorities to be Mrs. Belle Gunness, the Laporte murderess. The trip is the result of a long and heated discussion between the county commissioners and Attorney H. W. Worden of counsel for Ray Lamphere. under indictment for arson and murder of th e Gunness family. Attorney Worden presented to the commissioners facts which proved that communications relating to the possible apprehension of Mrs. Gunness were ignored completely by the local authorities and not given the proper attentioa. The board finally agreed to send the two men to Hillsdale to give the story rigid examination.

Price Two Cents

CLEVELAND’S WILL Was Probated Yesterday— Gives Each Child Sum of SIO,OOO GIVES MEMENTOS To Friends and Relatives, With Concurrence of His Dear Wife Trenton, N. J„ July 10—The will of ex-president Grover Cleveland was probated today. The probating took place at the hom e of Mrs. Cleveland, in Princeton. Surrogate John W, Cornell went there for that purpose. Mrs. Cleveland arrived in Princeton from New Hampshire today. The will is in Mr. Cleveland's own hand writing and makes no disclosures as to the extent of his wealth. After some minor bequests and the creation of a fund of SIO,OOO for each of the four children, the remainder of th e estate is left to Mrs. Cleveland. In the will Mr. Cleveland expresses the desire that he be buried in the place where he should die, and that his body be not removed unless it should be absolutely necessary to have it repose by the side of his wife’s body. Mrs. Cleveland is made executrix, and Frank S. Hastings executor under the will. He provides for the payment Os a’l debts, the erection of an appropriate but moderately expensive monument; gives his niece Mary Hastings $3,000; gives Richard Watson Gilder, a watch his watch and chain; to each of the four daughters of his nephew Richard Hastings $2,000; to Francis S. Hastings, a seal ring given him by his wife and with whose concurrence this gift is made; to each of-his children SIO,OOO and the income therefrom, when they become twenty-one years of age. The rest of the estate gees' to Mrs. Cleveland. The will was written February 21, 1906. o ONLY SIX WEEKS Fair Managers Are Busy Getting Everything Ready WILL BE GREAT SHOW Every Department of the Great Northern Looks Prosperous The Great Northern Indiana fair is only six weeks away and from now on every citizen in this part of the county should boost. The committee in whose hands the success of this year’s fair rests, are doing all in their power to give the people a fair that they will enjoy and one to which they may invito their friends to with full knowledge that they will enjoy every moment of the time spent at the beautiful park. Work on the new grandstand is progressing and this addition will be ready in ample time. Inquiries from all over the country are coming in regarding the races and every class will be filled. There will b e free attractions, for young and old and th© privileges in every line are being taken at a rate which proves again the succss of the 1908 fair. The premium lists have gone out all over the country and as a result many people are getting ready to send exhibits. The main thing just now is to boost and keep on hosting and your efforts will be duly appreciated by the association who are devoting their time and spending their money. 0 —— Cash Andrews transacted business in our city today. The Maple Grove Park people are planning to give a big free attraction at the park two weeks from tomorrow. Martin Andrews was a visitor in our city today. He Is engaged in business at Van Wert and fe meeting with much success.