Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 7, Number 39, Decatur, Adams County, 15 February 1909 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

Volume VII. Number 39.

A BUSY WEEK The Legislature Proposes to Rush the Business THE KLECKNER BILL The Democrats Getting Together for Its Passage Indianapolis, February, 15.—(Special to the Dally Democrat) —Both the house and senate convened promptly at ten o’clock this morning and began what will no doubt prove the busiest week of the session. Speaker Honan seems determined to cut down debate and will in this manner provide much of the time for the pushing of the real work of the session. Indianapolis, February 15—(Special to the Daily Democrat) —There is some talk among the Democrats, both repealers and anti-repealers,that since the Proctor-Tomlinson bill has passed the house that good party politics demands that the Kleckner bill also pass that body. It may be that they will get together and pass the bill by a strictly party vote, in order that the option plank in their platform be kept. The sentiment is growing for this bill, especially among the piajority of the house. Indianapolis, February 15. —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —The Democratic majority in the house began the work of the week full of energy and with a disposition to get right j down to business, and to make it a ■ week of good wholesome legislation, especially along the lines of the Democratic state platform. To better marshal their forces in this respect a caucus will be held in the house chambers this evening, and at that caucus bills will be discussed with the eye single to the pledges made by the party to the people in the last campaign. The remainder of the session ■will likely be busy ones, mixed up ■with a round of night sessions, as well as long ones during the day. Indianapolis. February 15. —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —It seems to be an uncertain quantity whether or not the senate will take up the Proc-tor-Tomlinson bill this week. If they do it win likely be the latter part. It seems that the committee on public morals to which the bill is referred, are not of one mind on the merits of the bill, and it seems probable that it will be amended not a little before it sees the light of day outside the committee. Indianapolis, February 15.— (Special to the Daily Democrat) —The senate finance committee have agreed to give the governor his special counsel, (Continued on page 3.)

TIME FOR ORGANIZATION. The City Election in Indianapolis Comes Next. Indianapolis. February 15— No efforts have yet been made by the chairmen of the Republican and Democratic city committee to get together and fix a date for holding primaries forth ere-organization of the two committees. A rather unique situation presents itself. Chairman Raub of the Democratic committee refuses to go to Chairman Chi of the Republican committee about the primaiies and Uhl shows no inclination to come tc Rauh. The precinct committeeman who compose the two city organizations must be elected under the general primary election law. The election is held on the same day but in different places. The committeemen within five days after they are elected meet and select a chairman and secretary. — o THE RAIN AND ICE — t Frozen Element Plays Havoc With Our Lighting System THE INTERURBAN People Were Incapacitated —A General Calamity Another of nature’s peculiarities has presented Itself to the gaze of Decatur people in away that will not soon be forgotten by those substantially affected. A north wind, rising early Saturday morning, soon faded into insignificance the warmth of the atmosphere which had prevailed for twen-tv-four hours and with it came a drizzling rain which froze as it fell. The rain continued throughout the night, the freezing continued likewise and Sunday morning the trees, electric light wires, telephone lines and all objects without shelter were literally covered with a frozen element The rain did not cease falling, but continued until Sunday noon, when in its stead came torrents of sleet. The wires were heavily laden with the frozen element and early last evening the electric light system was so impaired as a consequence of the breaking of wires over the city that It became necessary to cut off the current, and the city was in darkness, the people who used the convenient way of lighting at once getting busy resurrecting their kerosene lamps. There was scarcely a circuit in the city which was not rendered defective as a consequence of the prevailing conditions and this morning, Electrician Mylott and a corps of co-workers loaded their tools and themselves in a wagon and drove over the city, repairing here and there that those using the power would not be inconvenienced. So efficiently and rapidly did they work that at 8:30 o’clock this morning the circuit on the business section was in working order. All day these men labored and there is still much to do with the possibility of many more breakages being reported. The trolley wire was completely covered with ice and the cars could be operated only at a very low rate of speed during the most of the time. At several times the cars were stuck on the track in the city and even this morning a team of horses were hitched to the 8:30 car to rescue it from a predicament it had gotten into in the vicinity of the Monroe street crossing. By the hundreds limbs broke from trees and fell to the ground over the city, so heavily was the ice accumulated on them and in several instances accidents were narrowly averted where large limbs broke and fell, missing pedestrians but a few feet. Even the town clock refused to tick, the hands on the dial registering 7:32 since that time yesterday morning. We are victims of a sad plight, that is sure, but worse than that there are no indications of effecting permanent relief. It is up to us to do as they do in Germany, take what comes in the weather line. — Harry Ehrsman has resigned his position as operator at the Grand theater and he is suceeded by Vaughn Murray who began duties today. Mr. Ehrsman has accepted a position as traveling salesman for an art company of Fort Wayne.

A STICK IN METER Prompted the Arrest of Charles B. Schmuck Saturday HE PLEAD GUILTY Cfiystal Theater Proprietor Paid Fine of $15.00 For the first time in the history of Decatur, a patron of the municipal electric light works has been found guilty of manipulating hjis electric light meter in a manner that the city was defrauded out of payment for such service, C. B. Schmuck, proprietor of the Crystal theater, being the one against whom an affidavit was filed Saturday with such charges contained therein. Electrician Mylott in his last two readings of the meter noted a decided decrease in the amount of electricity used. The meter registered such a small amount for December that he was prompted to make an examination of the mechanism, thinking that a defect may have been caused in some manner and the meter was not registering properly. Mr. Mylott took the meter to the city offices to make an examination and to his great astonishment he found a piece of wood placed in such a position in the mechanism as to prevent it from registering. He at once filed an affidavit against Schmuck charging as the city ordinance provides, the offender with robbing,cheating and defrauding the city of Decatur by meddling with his meter. The warrant was placed in the hands of Marshal Butler, who arrested Schmuck Saturday afternoon at four o'clock. The offender was arraigned before Mayor France, where he plead guilty to the charge. He was accordingly fined $5 and costs, amounting in all to sls, and he paid into the city treasury the amount of $16.75, the amount he was alleged to have defrauded the city out of. The fine was also paid and he was released from custody. Q—LIKE ROOSEVELT The Catholic Church Thinks Well of President Roosevelt HAS BEEN FAIR New York Priest Advocates the Election of a Roman Catholic as President New York, Feb. 14.—-Mgr. George W. Mundelein advocated the election of a Roman Catholic to the presidency of the United States in a speech at a dinner of the alumni of Manhattan college at the Hotel Knickerbocker. “There has never been a president in the white house,’’ he said, "who has had more regard and fairness for the Catholic church than President Roosevelt. He has shown it by his fearless appointment of Catholics to high offices” As to the possibility of a Catholic being elected president of this country the speaker said: “Give us a Catholic able and honest and just, and give him the solid support of .a united party, and I believe he would be elected hands down, even now. The American people are just. We

are the only people who have never dragged religions into politics. The Vatican trusts that it will never see the day that such is the case. We want our rights and nothing more. We want and demand the privileges granted to us by tbe constitution.'We •are fourteen million strong and all we ask and what we want is the free exercise of our faith, no discrimina tion against us and a square deal. And the man who gives us that, we will vote for in the future as in the past be he Catholic, Protestant or Jew."

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, February 15, 1909.

HAS FIGURED IT OUT. Portland Sun Tells a Few Truths About Newspaper Publishing. But few people have an definite conception of the work necessary to produce a country town daily newspaper like the Daily Sun, and how the reporters must search the highways and byways to fill the news columns each day with a readable grist of fresh news. The following will give a faint idea. Each <*fey the news columns reading matter, if placed end to end. woflld make a string of type one column wide and 40 feet long, 240 feet per week or more than 20 miles of reading matter each year. Each day the paper contains more than 3,300 lines of reading type, 19,800 per week, of 10,329,000 lines a year. If these lines were placed each to end they would reach a distance of 687 feet per day, 4,122 feet per week or 233 miles in a year.—Portland Sun. o WANTS ANEWCOURT The Judiciary Committee Listens to Appeal of R.»S. Taylor NO STATEHOOD Senator Beveridge Against Statehood this Session Washington, Feb. 15. —The house committee on judiciary approved the plan devised by Judge Robert S. Taylor of Fort Wayne for the creation of a court of patent appeals. This is a reform in the patent system for which Judge Taylor has labored in season and out of season. The bill provides for a court of five members to sit in Washington, four of the membeis of which are to be designated from among the circuit and federal judges by the chief justice of the United States supreme court. The chief justice of the court is to be appointed by the president. Washington, February 15. —Senator Beveridge gave expression to his views in regard to statehood legislation. He told a delegation of New Mexicans that he is not in favor of legislation at the present session. The delegation, which was composed of a dozen of the leading citizens of that territory, with Governor George Curry at their head, waited on the senator at his committee room. Washington, Feb. 15. —An interesting session of the house of representatives was held today to consider the bill that is intended to make Senator Knox eligible for secretary of state. That the speaker, aided by “Whip’’ Watson, has votes enough to pass the bill is almost certain, but the legislation will call forth protests by several of the best constitutional lawyers who will declare to the house that no sort of legislation by congress w’ould make Mr. Knox eligible. — HELD INDIGNATION MEETING The Antis in Marion Are Mad at the County Council. Marion, Ind., Feb. 15.—Citizens interested in ousting the fifty-four saloons from Grant county held an indignation meeting Saturday following tbe refusal of the county council to make an appropriation to cover the expenses of the special election to be held on Feb. 23. A committee was appointed to draft resolutions paying the respects of the “drys” to the county council. Although the council refused to make the appropriation the “drys” declare the election will be held on the date set, and that action will be taken in court later, either before or after the election to cause the council to provide the money. • — o P. W. Smith, of Richmond, president of the First National bank, was in the city today on business. Mr. Smith will go t< Fort Wayne before returning home. Mr. Smith reports that a heavy snow had fallen in Richmond, and that no ice or sleet had fallen whatever.

COURT HOUSE NEWS The Johnloz Perjury Case Being Tried by Jury NO ’ DECISION The Bremerkamp Guardian Case Not Yet Decided The circuit court began the grind of state cases today, the perjury case of Julius Johnloz being the case at issue. A jury was empaneled without much time or trouble. The case is brought upon a grand jury indictment of false testimony in a saloon violation case at Monroe. Quite an array of witnesses and others were in court, and the case seems to be of considerable interest to many people in and around Monroe. Prosecutor Heller is vigorously presenting' the issues for the state, and L. C. DeVoss is defending Mr. Johnloz. Special Judge Peterson has rendered no decision in the Bremerkamp guardian case. The weather being so bad Mr. Peterson failed to venture out today, and it is likely that a final action may be taken tomorrow, F. S. Armantrout has been appointed administrator of the Hubert Tapp estate, letters ordered issued and confirmed and bond approved. Fruchte & Litterer has filed a new case entitled Kirsch, Sellemeyer & Sons vs. Fannie and John J. Meyer, suit for foreclosure of mechanics lien, demand SIOO. Summons ordered returnable March 2. A marriage license was issued late Saturday afternoon to Earl Bowman and Jessie Beery. The groom is a son of W. A. Bowman, is a well known young man. Real estate transfers include a deed given by Otis Riley et al to Jeremiah Draper, lots five and six, $32.50. o WAS IN RUNAWAY Dick VanTilburg Seriously 11l at Portland TWO RIBS BROKEN Is Father of Mrs. John Reiter —He Lived Here Dick VanTilburg, of Portland, father of Mrs. John Reiter < f this city, and who for some time was a resident of this city, is confined to his home as a consequence of figuring in a runaway at Portland last week. Mr. VanTilburg, who is the driver of a dray for the Hood wholesale house, was leading goods at the G, R, & I. tracks and had his wagon setting close to the car when an engine backed on the switch and moved the car. The horses became frightened and started on a dead run down the street, the driver being hurled to the ground with great force. He sustained two broken ribs and was injured internally. Mrs. Reiter has returned from Portland, where she was at the bedside of her father, and she states that his condition is serious. A letter from Portland today is to the effect that he is no better. The many Decatur friends of Mr. VanTilburg are hoping that he will recover without inconvenience. o_ A rumor gained circulation on the streets today to the effect that Frank Albright, a brakeman on the G. R. & I. railroad was the victim of an accident in which he suffered the loss of a leg, but it could not be verified by those who are in a position to know.

HABEAS CORPUS PROCEEDINGS Friends are Bound to Have McCoy Released. Laporte, Ind , Feb. 15. —Attorneys representing Thomas J. McCoy, the Rensselaer banker and former prominent Indiana politician, who is serving a term in the state prison for wrecking his bank by using funds in speculating, brought suit before Judge Tuthill in the Laporte superior court against Warden James B. Reid to release McCoy through habeas corpus proceedings. McCoy was convicted in June, 1906, and sentenced to an indeterminate term of from one to three years. It is the custom, if the prisoner has been a model convict and it is so recommended, for the authorities of the county to parole him soon after the minimum term has expired but all of McCoy's applications for parole have been refused by the board although he has been a model prisoner. o — OPTION BALLOTS The Election Commissioners Had a Meeting this Morning IT IS MISLEADING The Form of the Ballot is Slightly Misleading The election commissioners for the local option election, Auditor Michaud, P. K. Kinney and D. N. Erwin had a meeting this morning and arranged for the tickets, that will be in use one week from tomorrow. The genuine ballot will be printed on white paper, and you simply vote “yes” or “no" on the question of “Shall the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage be prohibited.” As a little preliminary instruction we will say that if you do not want the traffic continued vole “yes,” and if you want it continued vote “no.” The wording of the form of the ballot is slightly misleading, and unless considerable explanation is done, there is a chance that many mayvote contrary to the way they intend to vote. The question on the ballot is whether or not you want the traffic prohibited, and that is what you vote for or against. The election commissioners will have the ballots printed Wednesday and on Saturday they will be delivered to the vaiious inspectors selected last week fly the board of county ccmmissioners The election is on Tuesday of next week, February 23. o WILL NOT BE TRIED THIS TERM Crum Murder Case Postponed Until Next Term. The case of Frank Brown, jointly indicted with Orville Clum for murder in the first degree for the killing of Peter Poffenberger, which was set for trial Monday, will not be tried this term of court. It was agreed be tween attorneys this forenoon that the Brown case will go out of the trial calendar for the February term, which means that he will not get a trial before April. It is felt that the further action in the Brown case will be determined to an extent by the verdict in the Clum case, on which the jury retires this evening to deliberate. Brown is connected with the case from the fact that the state has charged that he incited Clum to the act, but his connection with the case has not been gone into deeply in the Clum case and it will require a trial for Brown to show how deeply he was connected with it. Acquittal for Clum would likely mean the dismissal of the Brown case. —Bluffton New-s. o A SPEECH THIS EVENING. Myron A. Waterman at the Court Room This Evening. Arrangements are complete for the opening of the campaign by the drys in this city at the court room this evening, when Myron A. Waterman, of Kansas City, Kansas, will appear as the speaker of the evening. He w-ill endeavor to warm up the campaign and as it is the opening gun, much interest tenters around his address. The time i5~7:30 and the place is the court room, and the press committee extends an invitation to the public to hear this discussion and the effects I it would have upon any community. |

Price Two Cents

ARE GETTING BUSY Legislature is Showing a Disposition to Do Something WILL BE AMENDED Proctor-Tomlinson Bill to Be Amended in the Senate (Indianapolis, February 15.—The general assembly came nearer getting down to business during the last week than it has since the session began, and the indications are that the people of the state may expect henceforth to learn that things)are happening at the state house. Practically no legislation has been completed for the governor’s signature. The senate during the week passed a total of thir-ty-one bills and the house passed seven. And still a roll call in either house of the assembly brings forth a harvest of many new bills. Some of the members appear still to be burdened with the idea that the fellow who can offer the most new bills is the best lawmaker. During the week past the Democrats of the house, with the aid of four Republicans, passed the Proctor-Tomlinson bill increasing saloon licenses In some parts of the state, substituting town and ward option for county option, but with an amendment to nullify the provision of the bill that was aimed at the roadhouse. The leaders in the house believe that the Democratic platform option measure substituting township and ward option will squeeze through the house this week, having failed last week for the want of a constitutional majority. The Sunday baseball bill also passed from the house to the senate during the week, so that the senate now has for its consideration both the big moral issues of the assembly, the county option and Sunday baseball questions. In the meantime the senate has passed over to the house for its consideration the Merchants’ Association public accounting bill and the bill for the medical inspection of schools. The two houses have joined in the passage of the Stotsenburg cities and towns bill, though it has not received the approval of the governor. A saloon regulation bill that would really regulate with a genuine high license feature, is what the Republican leaders of the senate are planning to pass back for the consideration of the Democratic majority of the house when the Proctor-Tomlinson bill leaves the senate. The Republicans propose to take their time—to keep the Proctor-Tomlinson bill in the committe on morals until the time is ripe for it to come out, and then to give the Democrats of the house a good chance to go on record as to saloon regulation. The Republicans now expect to amend the bill in several w-ays, the main amendments suggested being Providing for SI,OOO license; restricting saloons to one for each 1,000 or 1,500 people. Restoring anti-road house feature; eliminating county option repeal; providing for license revocation for law violators. The house presided at the funeral of thirty-seven bills Saturday, some of which died hard. A number of others showed such evidence of vitality that they refused to be killed and stay killed. Among the dead ones buried were seven liquor bills, touching upon the county option, the blind tiger and the practice of “boot-legging.” A number of the liquor bills put under the sod were bills whose provisions are embodied in the Tomlinson bill, which passed the house. o HE WANTS A DIVORCE Walter J. Lotz Files Divorce Action in Circuit Court. Muncie, Ind., Feb. 15. —Walter J. Lotz, one of Muncie's prominent attorneys, and twice defeated candidate for attorney general of Indiana, filed suit for divorce Saturday in the circuit court against Bessie G. Lotz, alleging’ cruel and inhuman treatment He avers that his wife abused and cursed him on frequent occasions and followed him to his place of business as well as upon the streets of tbe city. It is said a counter suit will be filed by Mrs. Lotz Monday and embodied lin the complaint will be alegatlons of the most sensational nature