Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 4, Decatur, Adams County, 5 January 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 4.

THE LEGISLATURE CONVENES Secretary of State Ellingham Opens the 'Session, Administers Oaths to Members

VENEMAN SPEAKER Selected on Second Ballot at Caucus Held Wednesday Evening. GOVERNOR’S ADVICE Is Long and Strong—Covers Every Question of Vital Importance. (Unlteo rr«e* Service.) Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. s—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The Indiana legislature convened at 10 o’clock this morning, the seats in both house and senate being well filled when the gavels of the presiding officers called the members to order. The galleries of both houses were well filled, many | of the wives and daughters of the leg-1 islators being present to witness the ceremony attendant to swearing in the new law-makers. The secretary of state, Lew Ellingham, presided in the house. After the opening prayer by Rev. Edward Neville of Muncie, Mr. Ellingham called the roll of members. In groups of about twenty they were called forward to the speaker’s desk and administered the oath of office. I Following this the secretary of atate' called for nominations for speaker. Albert J Veneman, the democratic caucus nominee, was placed in nomi- ( nation, and Jesse Eichbach, the republican nominee. The balloting, a perfunctory affair, of course, resulted in the election of Veneman, he receiving the entire democratic vote. The republican nominee, Mr. Eichbach, will be the floor leader of the minority. I In the senate the ceremonies were much more simple because of the fact that Lieutenant Governor Frank J. Hall immediately took the chair and proceeded to swear in the new members of the senate. Lieutenant Governor Hall also announced his committee appointments. The senate then adjourned until Friday morning. The assembly will adjourn tomorrow until Monday, when the real work of law-making is expected to begin. j Albert J. Venneman of Evansville was chosen speaker of the house of representatives last night after one of the most perplexing contests in the History of Indiana politics. Veneman was named on the second ballot in the democratic caucus held in the agricultural room of the state house. Adam E. Wise of Plymouth. Adolph Seidensticker of Indianapolis. Joseph M. Cravens of Madison and Michael Thornton of New Albany were the opposing candidates. Harry G. Strickland and J. B. Faulkner withdrew from the race. Charles McCullough of Brazil was elected chief clerk of the house on the fourth ballot, receiving thirtyone votes. Mark Fippen of Salem was elected assistant clerk on the first ballot Fippen was journal clerk of John Walsh, of Indianapolis, a prominent labor union man, was namas chief doorkeeper. A resolution was adopted unanimously that the chief doorkeeper employ Bert Hendron of Linton as postmaster of the house. Hendron had no opposition. Charles Leib of Ropkport, representative from Spencer county, was caucus chairman. John J. Keegan of Indianapolis and Charles M. Prlsse of Evur Ville were secretaries. On ‘ v second ballot six votes from the Fifth district went to Veneman which had been cast for Seidenstlcker on the first ballot, thus giving Veneman thirty-one votes, the necessary majority, if »U the members of the house had been prssent. The first ballot resulted at follows: ▼•Wman, IM; Wise, 14; Steidan-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT.

. sticker, 10; Cravens, 6; Thornton, 4. t On the second ballot Veneman received 31; Wise, 18; Craven, 2; Seidensticker, 5, and Thornton, 2. Folowing his election Mr. Venetnan sent word to a friend on the outside to telegraph his wife In Evansville of his election. In a short speech to the democratic representatives he thanked the party for his election and promised to discharge his duties as speaker to the entire satisfaction of the democratic party and the people of the state. Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. s—(Specials—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Governor Marshall appeared before the joint sesion of the house and senate today and read in person his message to the legislature, which was loudly and frequently applauded. The governor’s message was long and strong. It covered everything advocated by the democrats in their platform, and stated the governor's views decisively on all questions of importance. Addressing the gentlemen of the sixty-seventy general assembly he said: You are here convened as the representatives of the people of Indiana, to thoughtfully consider and wisely i enact such legislation as in your ' judgment will be for the interests of the whole citizenship of the state. Your success or failure will be rneas--1 ured by this standard. If personal interest be permitted to thwart the public will, you will be justly condemned. If logrolling and swapping of I votes be allowed to pass pet meas--1 ures, you will be charged very justly as being spilsmen rather than legislators. , i To prevent the voting of foreigners and other illiterate persons the governor recommends an amendment to the constitution so as to forbid any one from entering the polling place! with the voter unless the voter be, incompetent from physical defect to mark his ballot. I recommend also the passage of what is popularly called “A Corrupt Practice Act.” Bv these enactments, you will, so far as the law enables, have driven evil from the ballot box and will have furnished the honest voter with a flaming sword to prevent its re-entry. May there be Kzave hearts and stout arms willing and ready to wield that sword. If there be not, you. at leas*, will have done your duty. To do away with incompetent officers he recommends the following change of the primary system: That 1 a primary election law be enacted providing, in substance, that at the time of the six months’ registration, the registration officers shall hold a primary election for precinct committeemen of all parties: these precinct committeemen to constitute the county central committee: and that the several county central committees of a congressional district shall meet and elect a member of the state central committee. At this election all county and township officers should be nominated and delegates to the state conventions to nominate candidates for state offices and to endorse candidates for the United States Senate should be chosen. The governor advises that the legislature take such steps necessary to make the county offices all fouryear terms, establish an industrial court for hearing accident cases, abolish the offices of state factory inspector and state labor commissioners and establish a department of inspection. On the local option question the governor says: I recommend the amendment and modification of the present county option law so as to make incorporated cities, towns and the territory and townships outside of such cities, the unit of election, such amendment and modification to be drawn as not to affect but to preserve the remonstrance laws of this state and to provide that the territory voted dry under the present option law shall remain dry for two years ■ fro mthe date of the election. This ' recommendation is made because of : my belief in the doctrine of local self-government. It Is not made to CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO. J

A NEW BUILDING Was Discussed by School Board Last Evening at Meeting. THE HIGH SCHOOL Will be Even More Crowded Next Year Than This Urgent Necessity. The city school board, comprising A. H. Sellemeyer, O. L. Vance and F. V. Mills, met Wednesday evening in regular session. Prof. E. E. Rice, superintendent of the city schools, also being In attendance. The regular business matters were given attention and several bills allowed, after which the evening was given over to the discussion of the much needed new high school building. While arrangements have been made temporarily for the accommodation of one of the lower grades, who have taken quarters in the library building, for this term of school, the opening of the term next year will bring up the same old question, with even greater difficulties. For while a large class will graduate from the high school this spring, there will be a still larger one entering next term, and there will be a still greater number to find accommodations for than there were this term. The necessity for a new building is a self-evident fact, the only thing preventing the immediate decision to build one being the wherewithal, as the cost of a high school building will be about $40,000. AH efforts to provide for the sum will be made, and If the board should decide to build, work on the new building would begin next spring. .The central building, which is now given to some of the. grades and high school, wouM be given over to the grades alone, and the new one to the high school. While there would be room enough on the old lot for another building, it would not be advisable to place ft there, as it would not only spoil the looks as a whole, but would interfere with the light of the old one, as it is conceded that it is already dark enough. The new building would be heartily welcomed by the majority of the Decatur citizens. COURT HOUSE NEWS i ' I The Bittner Partition Case Heard—Dore B. Erwin the Commissioner. WILL SELL PROPERTY New Quiet Title Case Filed —Frank Smith Now a Full-fledged ’Squire. Attorney D. E. Smith filed a new ' case entitled Ira Steele vs Ebenezer I Jessup et al. suit to quiet title to real ' estate. — Alice M. Bittner vs. Bittner et al., partition, submitted, finding for plaintiff, that she is owner of one-third and Charles Bittner one-third subject to liens of various portions. D. B. Erwin appointed commissioner to sell property. Bond fixed at SB,OOO. Frank E. Smith has received his commission as a justice of the peace for Washington township, to serve four years. The commjission is in regular form, signed by Governor Marshall and Secretary of State Ellingham. Judge Merryman is conducting court at Bluffton today, serving as special judge in various cases. < .--o— —— The seat sale for the play, ’’The Rosary,” which will show a*, the opera house this evening, is very good and by the time the curtain rises a full house will be present to witness the performance. The company Is an excellent one, coming here highly recommended, as having a first class show from start to finish.

Decatur, Ind. Thursday Evening, January 5, 1911.

TELL MANY TALES. There is so mifeh general talk about "How cold is it," that a party on the way down town at 7:30 today I thought she would take a look at. the thermometers she passed—just to be able to give some definite statistics on this, at present, very much-dis-cussed question. The first thermometer said “Zero." The next one, only a few doors beyond, stood at four - above zero; the next rated the weath-, er at six above; and then one dropped down to zero again. Still the next one was frozen up or the tner-: cury scattered so it didn't register anything, while the last one showed six above. Moral: If thermometers can’t tell a story straight, how can you expect people to do so. THE GENEVA NEWS | Elmer Streicher Home from North Dakota—First , Vicit in Ten Years. ■ lll — HAS MADE MONEY — Protracted Meetings Are on —Business Houses Close —Other Doings. I Geneva, Ind., Jan. s—(Specials—(Special Correspondence to Daily Democrat) — Elmer Striker an old Adams county boy who went to North Dakota in 1900 is now visiting with his brother and family, Mr. and Mrs. Warren ■ Striker living west of Geneva. This ‘is his first visit to the county of his I birth since leaving and the changes he says are many. Mr. Striker is i now living near Dunseith, N. D., and has 320 acres of land. He is winter- . ing fifteen head of horses and 25 head of cattle. He harvested 2400 bushels, I of wheat, 1800 bushels of oats and 700 ! bushels of barley last fall. A part of his land, about 35 acres is well timbered and is growing in value very j , fast. Mr. Striker is located at the [ foot of a mountain, from which he is furnished with good spring water, all the year. Mr. Striker will visit' with other friends in Adams county and Michigan before returning to i i his home. ) The Pollock Players played to a! fair sized audience at the Coliseum. I Wednesday evening. They will be here for the rest of the week. The series of meetings now being i held at the churches are moving along ; nicely and much interest is alreadybeing manifested although the weather has been rather cold. AH business houses are closing promptly at 7:30 giving all a chance to attend.: that so desire. I Mrs. Dr. H. J. Templeton and child-, ren Homer and Tresa have gone to Marion, Ind., for a visit with her sister and family Mr.jind Mrs. A. J. Bixler. Mr. Jesse Billman of Flora, Ind., but formerly a resident of Pleasant I Mills and Decatur was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Fristoe Wednesday. Mr. Billman is now a traveling 1 salesman representing the Northwestern Harvester company. Mr., Billman has been engaged in this business for the past ten years and has met with success. John C. Curran of Linn Grove was 1 a business visitor in Geneva Wednesday, returning home on the 2:30 car. j | H. A. Fristoe, H. A. Baird and Jas., Kelly were business visitors in Decatur Thursday, returning home on the ' afternoon train. RED CROSS CHRISTMAS SEALS. Sale in Decatur Thought to be Heavy —Return* Not Yet In. The committee In charge of the disposal of the Red Cross Christmas seals, which were placed’ for sale with the business men of the city, the proceeds to be used in combatting the white plague, has not yet completed the gathering of the returns, but It is thought that the sale in the city has been a heavy one, and that the sum to be contributed by this city to the great fund will be an admirable showing

THEPOULTRY SHOW Six Hundred or More Poultry Entries, With Many Pet Stock Exhibits, AND CORN DISPLAYS Delight the Many Visitors at the Seventh Annual Show at Berne. Those'who have returned from the ' seventh annual exhibit of the Adams [ Cbunty Poultry and Corn Growers' I association held at Berne in the MorI rison building are very loud in their i praise of the excellence of the ex- . hibit. Six hundred or more entries in , the poultry department alone, are a delight to the lovers of the best in ; this line. The exhibits are of fancy | chickens of all kinds, geese, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and present the finest aggregate of birds ever shown at one time in the county. While the greater number of the exhibitors are Adams county people, those from other towns have also en- , tered the show, exhibits being on display from Portland, Poneto, Fort ; Wayne—and in fact from all the I towns of the surrounding counties. The pet stock department is also well represented and many fine dogs, fancy cats and rabbits greet the visitor in their characteristic ways. The corn display is a remarkably fine one, aid it Is said that there are at least one hundred fifty entries in this line. A Mr. Johnson of Farmland has been secured as poultry judge while Fred Kell of Huntertown is the judge of the corn displays. The judges had nearly completed their work Wednesday afternoon, and finished in a very short while this morning. | The attendance at the exhibit is j very large, the building being thronged at all times. Friday and Saturday, the two remaining days of the show, promise to be equally attractive —more so, perhaps, because all the ribbons will be in place. Mrs. B. E. Parker and children returned to their home at Hartford j City after a visit here over Christmas and New Year's with her par- ‘ ents, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hale. SUFFERS A SPRAIN! Andrew Welfley Slipped on Ice and Fell Down Ten Foot Embankment. SPRAINS HIS KNEE I -■ * Is Confined to His Home at Present—lnjury is a Painful One. — Andrew Welfley. recorder-elect of Adams county, is confined to his home in the south part of the city, suffering from a very bad sprain of the knee and right leg. The injury was sustained in a fall on the ice Wednesday evening about 5 o’clock, when Mr. Welfley went to attend to some chores. He had gone to the pig pens and was endeavoring to put the mother pig in one pen and the little ones in another when he slipped in some way on the Ice, spraining his , knee and leg. In the fall Mr. Welfley fell in such away that he rolled down a ten-foot embankment, and this no doubt added much to the injury and the painfulness thereof. He | is confined to his home today and it will doubtless be some time before he can have the full use of his limb restored to him. Mrs. Welfley had Wednesday received word that her sister, Mrs. Florence Bradbury, who had been 111 In an Indianapolis hospital for several weeks with typhoid fever, had recovered sufficiently to come to her relatives In the northern part of the state. She (has arrived at Fort Wayne and Is now at the home of her brother, A. V. Powers. She Is still very weak and Mr. and Mrs. Welfley had planned to go to Fort Wayne today to accompany her here, but on account of the accident to Mr. Welfley will be prevented from so doing.

f ABOUT THE SAME Change in the Condition of Joe Wetzel i* Very Slight. Friends of Joseph Wetzel who returned from the St. Joseph's hospital in Fort Wayne where they made a short stay with him report that his condition is of a much more serious Ing no change in a/iy respect. His condition is of much more serious nature than was at first thought to be and the length of time which he will be required to remain at the hospital is not known at present. His brother Edward and Fred Schurger will leave this evening for a short stay with him and a more correct report of his condition wfll then be obtained. SURPRISEWEDDING Harry Starr of Bluffton and Miss Florence Sprunger of This City Are THE PRINCIPALS Go to Michigan to Wed— Not Exactly an Elopement —No Objections. » Miss Florence Sprunger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Sprunger, one of the most prominent young ladies of the city, and Mr. Harry Starr, one of ■ the most popular young men of Bluff- ; ton. are by this time man and wife, ! having planned to give their friends a little surprise by slipping away to Michigan Wednesday, where the wedding knot will be tied, the groom having relatives in Detroit and vicinity, to which place they went for the wedding. The wedding cannot be sailed strictly an elopement—though on first thought it seems such to their friends who had no intimation of the affair —as there were no objections to the marriage by either family. Miss Sprunger’s parents knew of their departure and intended wedding. The wedding cannot be called from the happy young couple, which; is expected at any time, though at the time of going to press this afternoon no word had yet come, sir none of the details can be given. The bride is a very accomplished j voting lady, being highly talented in I music, in which she has had excelI lent training. She is a graduate of the Decatur high school and has also been a student in the conservatory of , i music at. Oberlin, Ohio. She is prom-' inent in church affairs, also, and is ' a member of the choir of the Presbyl terian church, where her musical tal- ! ent is highly appreciated. The groom who is a member of one of Bluffton’s best families, is a substitute clerk in the postoffice there, and is also connected with his father in conducting a large ice cream manufactory at | Bluffton. He is well and favorably ', known to many here, where he has visited frequently. — The announcement of the elopement and wedding will come as the entire surprise to their friends, which was as the young couple intended. While -the parents of the young lady —Mr. and Mrs. Eli Sprunger of First street —knew of their intentions, not one of their friends in general knew of the affair. It was only the evening before—Tuesday evening—that the bride had appeared in the home talent play, the mock court trial presented by the Elks, and nor one had the least intimation, that while she was thus taking part in the mock love .affairs of others, her own love affair would come to a happy culmination on the morrow—with a much happier ending, however, than that of . the play. j Miss Sprunger gave a New Year’s ■ party Saturday evening, and had planned at that time to make an announcement of the coming wedding to her friends —still keeping the date a secret. A classmate at Oberlin college, Mies Lola King, of Glenford, Ohio, who had been her guest during the holiday week, and whom she had hoped to have with her at the New Year’s party, could not remain for that event, owing to the fact that ' the school board would allow her no longer respite from duty as a teacher, so Miss Florence decided to do away i with even an announcement of the i approaching event, thus giving her • friends even the more complete sur- . prise.

Price, Two Cents

THE CAPITOL NEWS Lew Ellingham Tells Us About Events of Interest Around That Place. I , VISITORS ARE MANY ! State Oil Inspector Fry is on the Job —Has Been Having Troubles. Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. s—By the time this is neing read the Indiana general assembly will have become real. The organization of the house falls to the lot of the secretary of state, wtho calls them to order, sees that a representative of cloth prays for democratic wisdom and light and inspects the credentials of the members by having them sworn in. Thl* duty will this time be performed by Judge Leander J. Monks of the supreme bench. The speaker's gavel is not relinquished until an election of a speaker is accomplished and this is done after more or les sky-rocket oratory and a roll call. Then the speak-er-elect has to subscribe to another oath, the exact language of which we are not at this time on familiar terms with, but you can get this wisdom from any good lawyer—if he belongs to the union—for a ten-dollar William. From this time on the speaker is the whole thing, and if you are interested in any particular legislation see him. After the election of the speaker comes the election of the other officers of the house, and then wihen this is accomplished the ball opens for real business. That first 1 business is the reading of the governor’s message, which, with the appointment of committees will end the first, day. That is enough. Every member will have earned his salary and the right to rest for the balance ' of that day. ! The senate caucus, held in one of ‘ the parlors of the Denison was a tame affair. Not even one fight and . every one on good terms with himself. The officers elected for places , all slipped through as slated; and j peace, harmony and good fellowship was noticeable on every hand. Senator Fleming, representing the joint district of Adams-Allen counties, just reached the city in the niche of time and was present at the caucus. They settled many things including legislation and their action upon important matters coming up later during the session. The election of a United States senator will come up in joint session of the house and senate on January 17th. Each house will ballot separately on the 16th and then the following day they get together and officially declare that they meant what they did the day before. Hon. John W. Kern will receive the unanimous democratic vote, and is spending no sleepless nights in uncertainties. Senator Beveridge will receive the complimentary vote of the republican members, although there are some who would be wicked enough to deprive him of that empty honor. i Hon. Richard Kenney Erwin of Ft. Wayne is mingling with the boys. Other big democrats are here, John E. Lamb of Terre Haute, S. M. Ralston of Lebanon, a car load of them from Evansville, Hon. T. Taggart, and enough others in the lobby of the Denison hotel to carry Indiana democratic any old time. All were busy—one way or another —and there is not an Idle moment for any one. They were all giving good advice and hoping that those in charge of the legislative program will cinch the opportunity presented to make Indiana I democratic two years from now—- ' and perhaps for a longer period— I who knows? County Assessor Gentis attended a meeting of the county assessors, and a splendid meeting they had, at least is the verdict of those who ought to know. The absentees were few and far between and it was easily the i best meeting In point of attendance i ever (held. Fifty-one of the ninetyi two assessors are new and fresh on : the job, there having been that num- > ber elected in November. • State Oil Inspector Fry is in town. > He just arrived and says he proposes • to stay and hold down the lid. It - may be good news to some of the CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE J