Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 9, Number 115, Decatur, Adams County, 16 May 1911 — Page 1

Volume IX. Number 115.

CITY HALL IS ASSURED Twenty-five Business Men Met Last Night—Organize Stock Company. TO BUILD AT ONCE Equip Fire Department and Sell Property to City on Long Time. A new city hall building that will be a credit to Decatur, a Are department, up to date, with an auto truck hose cart and chemical engine combined, was definitely decided upon at a meeting of twenty-five business men held Monday evening at the offices of the Ward Fence company. The building will be erected at once and the new equipment put In as soon as possible, giving our growing town the protection needed. The question has been up for some time and various; meetings have been held. The matter' was taken up with the state fire in- 1 surance rating bureau, who furnished the information that Decatur is soon to be re-rated, and that by adding a fire department the basis could be re- ■ duced about sixteen cents on the SIOO. They also furnished specifications, showing what Improvements would be necessary to get this reduction. This included the installation of a fire department with not less than four men, an auto or horse hose cart and chemical wagon, a better water supply, including a reserve reservoir, etc. The question had been discussed pro and, con and Monday morning a discus-i sion which arose in this office, soon lead to Messrs. Brackett, Waring and Schafer getting busy. With the assistance of several others interested, a plan was formulated and the committee called upon the business men, inviting them to attend a meeting at the Ward Fence company Monday evening. The men responded, to the number of and it was the livliest meeting held in Decatur for many months. C. A. Dugan was made chairman and W. P. Schrock secretary. Mr. Dugan announced that the plan as formulated was the organization of a stock company, who would buy the lot of the city on Monroe, street, 66x44, at a price sufficient to purchase the necessary equipment, the company will then erect a $10,006 city building, two stories, with basement, and will sell the property back to the city, the city to pay about the sum of $lOlO each six months. This will pay the debt off in ten years and in the meantime will have the fire protection. The city is to pay the taxes, keep up the property and th" equipment, pay the insurance, etc. City offices ana a meeting place for the council will be arranged. After the matter had been.-disc ussed thoroughly, Mr. Dugan asked for a vote ol those present and every man voted in favor Qf the project. Mr. Brackett then offered a resolution providing that the chairman appoint a committee to look after all the details and make the city hall a reality. Ihi du ties of these men will be to arrange the necessary steps with the council, the legal duties, the arrangement for the finances, the inquiries as to ■■■■ proper fire apparatus, prepaiing tit bonds or notes, in fact ma e al. a. rangements necessary to get tlle 1 sired results. Mr. Dugan announced the committee this morning, inc tn mg M. E. Brackett, L. C. Waring, E. Fritzinger, C. C. Schafer and .John Niblick. They held a meeting at once at the First National bank and will begin the real work at council meeting this evening. Those who attended and took part in the meeting were Messrs. Harry Moltz, O. L. A ance > _ • H. Sellemeyer, H. J- Yager, Dyonts Schmitt, Henry Bremerkamp, C J. Vogiewede, Jesse Niblick, C. N. > r 3 ten, J. S. Bowers. M. Kirsch. ( A. Dugan, Mayor J. W. Teeple, P. L. Andrews, E. Fritzinger, D. M. Hensley, E. X. Ehinger, b. C. Waring. • ■ Schafer, W. P. Schrock, M. E- Brackett, M. J. Mylott, Jacob Martin, J. D. Hale, G. T. Burke and J. H. Heller. The old plans prepared several years ago by Oscar' Hoffman wifi probably be revised and used at this time. It is not believed that any objections will be offered and that the city w soon have what we have so long nee ed, a city hall and a fire department.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS is What John Burris Wants From the G. R. A I. Company. —. Alleging that he was forced to , catch the last car of a Grand Kupids & Indiana train at the local station, after he had been told the train would wait ten minutes for breakfast, which it did not do, and when he did clamber upon one he was rejected by the flagman, who falsely charged him with having delayed in order to procure a supply of liquor, John W. Burris asks SIO,OOO from the. railroad company. He filed the suit in the circuit court, | with Attorneys R. K. Erwin and S. A. ;M. Butcher representing him.—Fort I Wayne News. o — ■ A MARSHALL BOOM Will Probably be Launched in Earnest Within the Next Few Weeks. BOEHNE WILL QUIT Congressman Doesn’t Like Public Life—Candidates for Governor Talked. Indianapolis. May 16 —The friends of Governor Marshall are seriously thinking of getting busy on a real live boom which will make him the central figure for the presidency. His friends in the state are of the mind that while other candidates for such honors are either traversing the country getting a chance before the peo- ' pie, or are working overtime with a press bureau, that something in the j form of the intentions of the Indiana 1 democracy should be given the public. Up to date no attempt has been ’ made by any organization to place the I governor before the people and the country as a candidate. The only thing done has been for some of the ' public men of the state to declare that such would be done. It is thought I that quite soon some informal gathering of Indiana democrats will meet and after considering the situation, will make the statement to the public press that the Indiana democracy would present to the next democratic l national convention the name of Governor Thomas R. Marshall. There is : no question that such a meeting will be held, and there is no question but j ! that they will make such a statement.' and that they will follow this statement with an organization that will properly reach every state in the union. What the Indiana democrats attempt they will never half finish. On the contrary they will make one of the best organizations, and they will show the next democratic national convention some real Indiana politics. As the situation now stands Governor Harmon can control more votes than any other supposed His most serious handicap comes in the fact that it takes a two-thirds vote to nominate in a democratic national convention, and it is freely prophesied that the time will never come when Governor Harmon can command that number of convention votes. Other systems of elimination makes other of -the candidates una- . vailable, and the matter will more than likely end in honoring Indiana and Indiana's governor in the next ' democratic national covention. When in Indiana a few weeks ago Congressman John W. Hoehne ol the First district, confided to a few of his friends that he would not be a candidate for the nomination for governor, ■ and neither will he be a candidate for congress again. This is no official ■ announcement, and it is not given as such. But it was the statement given • without instruction to conceal it from . the public. The reason is not one of i fear of defeat, on the other hand Congressman Boehne was never as cer- • tain of victory for the democrats in • the state and in the nation, as he is ■ in the next election. The real reason , is that he is a thorough business man. . a successful one, and in love with that ■ feature of life. He is not stuck on . public life and his two terms in congress has not appealed to him that it I is the sort of thing he likes, and he - is going back to his first love. That . is the reason and it is the best reason i he could assign. It also shows that 1 all Is not gold that glitters, and that • public life suits some but not all the CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR

Decatur, Ind. Tuesday Evening, May 16, 1911.

COMMITTEE MEET Rev. D. O. Wise, State Y. P. A. President. Meets District Committee. AT FT WAYNE TODAY Also With “Forward Movement” Committee—Arrange for Convention. Rev. D. O. Wise, pastor of the Evangelican church, left this morning for Fort Wayne, where he will meet with two committees to arrange for work in their several lines. Rev. Wise is state president of the Young People’s Alliance, one of the societies of the Evangelical church, and be met today with other members of the committee from the Fort Wayne district to arrange for the Fort Wayne district Y. P. A. convention. The place for holding this convention will be determined today and it is quite probable that Ft. Wayne will get the meet. The last one was held in this city last June. The Fort Wayne district includes Allen and Adams counties, a part of Jay, and various charges in Eastern Ohio. Another committee on which he will serve this afternoon is that having charge of the "Forward Movement,” an evangelistic work. Rev. J. J. Wise of Fort Wayne is chairman, and other members are Rev. Rarey of Fort Wayne, Rev. D. O. Wise, Rev. E. E. Miller of Markle. Included in this forward movement is mission work or the building of new churches. A new church is now being planned for Linn Grove, and another at Celina, Ohio, these coming in the province of the "Forward Movement” work. o—, STILL SELLING THEM. Frisinger & ssprunger soid and shipped another fine Belgian Monday, mahogany bay in color, and three years ' old. He was purchased by Watters ’ & Pfeneger of Bay City, Michigan, and is not the first horse to be sent up to ' this state, as most of the horses im- ' ported by this firm are sold to Michigan buyers. The Michigan market demands heavy draft horses to do the intensive labor in that region, and the demand has been so great that the lo- ' cal company has sold and shipped I nearly a hundred registered horses to I Michigan. Perhaps no firm in this I line is better known in Michigan than 1 this local company, which has always l done just what it has agreed to do. A NEW FACTORY] Silas H. Adams of Portland Here Closing Arrangements For NEW HEADING PLANT 1 5 Leases Two Acres Land of Mayer and Spuller For i the Site. i ■ S. H. Adams of Portland, owner and i operator of the stave and heading t plant at that place, was in the city this afternoon and at the time of going to press was closing the deal with > Henry Mayer and John Spuller for ’ the lease of two acres of their land, s located in the north part of the city, ■ near the Mayer & Lenhart sawmill, on , whch he expects, within the next • thirty days, to erect a- building and 1 establish a heading plant in this city. 3 The plant, will be run by an electric i motor, and Mr. Adams has made ari rangements for the power from the f city plant. The factory will employ ■ from twenty-five to thirty men and - will be a very good enterprise for the i city. Full plans for the building and 3 equipment have not been made but i work on the same will begin at once. ■ AY- - t ATTENTION, COMRADES! 1 On account of many going to the t state encampment at Richmond to--3 morrow, the G. A. R. has postponed its t meeting of Thursday evening until i next Monday evening. By order of t commander. t — s Sam Laman was a business visitor at Berne and Geneva today.

Sam Laman was a business visitor at Berne and Geneva today.

8080 LEAGUE INSTALLATION. 1 -— The Epworth League at Bobo bud a fine installation service Sunday, in charge of Miss Etta Mallonee of Decatur and Mrs. Brown of Bobo The service lasted the entire evening and was not only pretty, but very impressive. The church was tastefully decorated in league colors and flowers, and those present report a fine service. It was the twenty-seecond anniversary of the league and this subject was nicely handled by the new president, Oliver Brodbeck. The league is planning some fine services for the future. We invjte the young people to attend these services and help the Lord’s work. IT IS UNCERTAIN Are Unable to Forecast the Outcome of Meeting at St. Mary’s Today. OPINIONS DIVIDED No Definite Information Can be Had Until Close of the Meeting Tonight. St. Mary's. Ohio, May 16—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Over three hundred people interested in the river improvement met at the L. E. & W. bridge at 10 o'clock ths morning, but soon adjourned to meet with the commissioners at 11. A short meeting was had at eleven o clock, but the commissioners, desiring to organize, adjourned the meeting until 1 o'clock j this afternoon. A speech will be made ! by one of the commissioners, and some action will be taken, although any forecast as to results is impossi ble. The meeting is divided into two factions, and those opposed seem to be very set in their opinions. The meeting ts expected to last until late this afternoon. At St. Mary’s, Ohio, today the future welfare of this and the nearby Ohio counties will be to a great extent be moulded by the stand taken in the meeting being held there in reference to the proposed dredging of the St. Mary’s river. It is a proposition that means much to us. as without the river improvement we will see the Ohio river traffic go up the Minster canal to Defiance, Ohio, and ! there make the connections with the Chicago,New York canal, traveling I about 150 miles out of their way and losing valuable time. Our river is mapped on the government surveys ias a navigable river, which means I that the government will stand the I cost of the improvement to the permaj nent welfare of this locality. At Chicago on May 18th there will be held a meeting which will discuss ways and means of getting the ChicagoNew York canal in operation and I many of the people interested will meet in the chamber of commerce building to hear what the promoters have to say. The business men of Michigan City are enthusiastic over the project as that city is the logical terminus of the canal. They recognize the possibilities of the waterway and will do all in their power to boost the proposition. While we will not be on the direct line of the big canal, we will be on the greatest branch of it, as Pittsburg. Cncinnati, Louisville, and all the big Ohio river towns are wanting a waterway to Chicago and our river is the logical solution to the saving of several days' travel and the people hereabouts should not be slow in having the government know of this fact? To have the iron and coal, which is shipped from these towns to Chicago and other points by rail come through this city by water will mean that we will have an opportunity to get trade, and we will. At this time dredges are already at work on the tributaries of the St. Mary’s river, a dredge being in opera tion in Clear Creek, and another on Center Fork. A Toledo contractor is doing the work and over a mile of the bed has been excavated. “The Musical 'Girls’” made their first appearance at the opera house Monday evening, they having a three nights' engagement here. They were greeted by a fair-sized crowd at the initial performance. This evening they will present another program of fun and a good play is assured those who attend.

COURT HOUSE NEWS Amish Witnesses Refuse to Swear or Affirm in Blue Creek Trial. DELAY OCCASIONED F. S. Armantrout Qualifies as Executor of Jacob Butcher Estate. The first ripple tu several days in ' the trial of the big Blue Creek ditch case, which has been flowing along slowly and sleepily for several weeks, occurred this morning, when its smooth course was set aside for a while by the refusal of Joe Schwartz, of the Amish faith, who was one of the witnesses called, to take oath, either by swearing or affirming, and fully half an hour was spent in arranging matters suitable to all the parties. Judge Hartford finally wrote out a form for the witness' declaration to tell only the truth, and setting out his knowledge of the fact that he would be punishable under the laws of the state should he fail to do so. The declaration as first prepared by the judge was read to Mr. Schwartz, who took the same to three others of his faith —Rudolph Steury, Abe Inniger and David Nussbaum —who were also there as witnesses, and after a long discussion of the form among them, it was decided to ask the judge to make a slight change. This was done and the declaration made by the witness who thereupon took the stand and the trial proceeded. Sheriff Durkin and Deputy J. D. Merica went in the Holthouse automsbile this afternoon to the home of i Charles Brue Niblick, ten miles west , 'of this city, to bring him to this city, . in readiness to leave in the morning . for Richmond, where Mr. Niblick will enter the Easthaven asylum for treatment. In the three-mile stone road be- . tween Allen and Adams counties, the . commissioners received a preliminary . report from the viewers Saturday and ■ the building of the highway will pro- . ceed. —Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. I What seemed to be a new and bet- , ter looking deputy auditor, but whom | CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR | GO AS DELEGATES • . Rev. Snyder and W. H. Sellemeyer Attend General Synod of the 5 ! REFORMED CHURCH Convenes This Evening at i Canton, Ohio—Continue Until Next Week. ) — William H. Sellemeyer of Preble t township lett tnts morning for Canton, Ohio, where he goes as a delegate i ■ of the German Reformed church to! > attend the general synod of the 1 church, which includes churches I ' from all parts of the United States.! s The synod convenes at eight o'clock - this evening and will continue until > some time next week, according to i the amount of business which will' - come before the assembly. Rev. Snyi der, pastor of the German Reformed I church of Preble township, who is also I a delegate, left Monday with his family, and will be met at Mansfield by Mr. Sellemeyer, who will then make the trip together. These gatherings are held every three years, when busi iness of an extensive measure, peri taining to the gneral condition of the s church and various changes for its betterment are attended to. This is the first general assembly attended by ■ Mr. Sellemeyer, and the congregation > has made an excellent selection, as ■ he has represented the church at var- ■ ious other gatherings, and always car- ■ ries on his duties in a very satlsfac- ; tory manner. Both Rev. Snyder and Mr. Sellemeyer will remain there un- • til the close, which, it is thought, will run into the middle of next week.

OFF FOR RICHMOND WEDNESDAY I | Local Members of G. A. R. Will At tend State Encampment. A large number of the members of the Sam Henry Post, G. A. R.. will leave tomorrow for Richmond to attend the state encampment of the organization, which convenes there on Wednesday morning. On account of , so many members being at Richmond J the regular meeting of the local post baa been postponed from Thursday evening of this week until next Monday, when the program outlined by the committee on arrangements for the Memorial day services will be read j and acted upon by the order. COMMENCEMENT > Senior Class of the Decatur High School Upon Eve of Graduation. 1 i 1 INVITATIONS ISSUED ’ I 1 First Events of Commence- ' ment Calendar Are Friday and Sunday. The senior class of the Decatur high ■ school is issuing invitations and programs for tne annual commencement of the Decatur high school to be held Thursday evening, May 25th, at Bosse's opera house, the following program to be given: Music—Girls’ High School Glee Club. Invocation —Rev. L. C. Hessert. Music—Girls' High School Glee Club. • Address—Dr. E. H. Lindley, Indiana University. Music —Male Quartet. Presentation of Diplomas—E. E. Rice. Benediction —Rev. D. O. Wise. Invitations are neat, plain, threeleaf booklets, and following the program is given the class roll of eighteen members, as follows: Lewis Adler, Lawrence Archbold, Hulda Bauer, Alice Brandyberry, Matie Chronister, Earl Colter, Bernice Dailey. Marie Daniels, Ruth Gay, Ruth I Hammeli, Harry Hoffman, Martin I Hoffman, Roy Jahn, Dessie Mann. Ruby Parrish, Carl Smith, Clem I Steigmeyer, Edwina Van Camp. This class is one of the most pro-1 I gressive that has looked forth upon j ' the commencement of the real life I and their class motto, "We will find ! a path or make one," gives assurance of the good life to conte. Deep cream and olive green are the class colors, and the class flower, the white carnation. The commencement calendar of events, the first of which will be the junior reception, Friday evening ol I this week, is: Baccalaureate Sermon—May 21. Junior Reception—May 19. Planting of the Rose —May 25. Class Day—May 24. Commencement —May 25. Senior Reception —May 25. The baccalaureate sermon, "Vision and Vim,” will be delivered Sunday ' evening. May i2lst. at a union service at the Methodist church by the Rev R. L. Semans. The class day exei cises will be two class plays, “The Cave," and "The Woman’s Masquer ade,” written by Miss Nora Del Smith. I a member of the high school faculty. : These will be presented at Bosse's opj era house, Wednesday evening, May | 21th. The faculty under which Silis class has worked the past year includes Prof. E. E. Rice, superintendent: Miss Rose Dunathan, principal: I). A. Baumgartner, Clara H. Williams, Martin E Worthmann. Jonas C. Tritch, Nora Del Smith, Elizabeth Schrock, while the school board, comprising August H. Sellemeyer, Fred V. Mills and Oscar L. Vance, come in for a share of recognition also in making for the school its high standard. L. C. HELM HONORED. L. C. Helm of this city, who is attending the twenty-seventh annual grand Rebekah assembly at Indianapolis, was honored Monday by being appointed assistant secretary. Mr Helm has held a number of state positions and offices in the grand Re bekah and I. O. O. F. lodges. I <j Dr. McOscar, who was here on pro1 fessional business this morning returned at noon to his home.

Price, Two Cents

BIG SUIT IS FILED Mrs. Jacob Eady Demands SIO,OOO Damages For the Death of Husband. EMPLOYEE OF CITY Poor Wire Insulation and Failure to Shut Down Plant Alleged. Suit against the city for damages in the sum of »iu,wv was filed this afternoon by Attorney A. P. Beatty, representing Mrs. Jacob Eady, as executrix of her husband's estate. The suit is entitled Rebeca Eady, executrix. xs. the City of Decatur, damages, demand, SIO,OOO, and is the result of the death of Mr. Eady, a lineman employed by the city, which occurred on the afternoon of March 24th last. The complaint Is tn two paragraphs, the first claiming the right to recover because of the fact that the wires were not insulated properly, the coating having worn off and the second paragraph says the city is liable because the power at the plant was not shut ■ off while Mr. Eady was working among the live wires. The complaint shows that on the 24th of March the city owned and operated an electric plant, employing ten men, that they had poles over the city, over which were strung wires and over which were carried 3,000 volts of electric current, that Mr. Eady was an employee of the city, and that it was his duty to make such repairs on the lines as necessary; that on the day mentioned he was ordered by the chief electrician to remove a certain transformer from a forty-foot pole on North Second street, that while doing go, owing to the fact that the insulation was bad, the wires too close together, and the failure of the men to close down the plant, he was instantly killed. Owing to this negligence of the city, it is claimed the plaintiff in this suit is entitled to recover the sum of SIO,OOO for her loss. It is shown that Mis. Eady was duly appointed executrix for Phillip J Eady, who died March 24th, leaving a widow and three children: Cecil, aged seventeen; Irene, aged fourteen and Vera, aged twelve. The Eady family is well known and the unfortunate and sudden death of Mr. Eady will be remembered by all our readers. No doubt the law suit will be an interesting one, with the usual number of intricate questions in such cases. GOOD SHOW AT OPERA HOUSE. I A large audience saw the show at i the opera house Monday night and it is one of tiie best musical comedies 1 that has ever played Decatur, and I judging from the applause and outI bursts of laughter the show was a decided hit, and everyone who witness- ■ ed the show left the opera house very well satisfied.. Manager Bosse deserves credit tor securing this attraction. There was plenty of good singing, good dancing and the comedians kept the audience in good humor all through the show. The opening scene is at a country hotel, where a theatrical troupe, mostly girls, arrive, and for two hours make things pretty lively about the place. The chorus girls are all pretty, and can both sing and dance, and during the show they introduce a number of musical numbers, among them being an amusing and exciting base ball game. The vaudeville specialties are excellent. Al S. Weston, the German grafter, kept the audience in one continuous scream, and Whitney & Singer, in the cotton trust, proved to be a big hit. and Mr. Whitney’s eccentric dancing was very funny. The same piece will be repeated tonight, and if you are looking for a cure for the blues, you should not miss this show. The prices will remain the same, ten and twenty cents. ———n — At the Rebekah convention which is being held at Indianapolis yesterday and today this city was favored b.v the committee when Charles Helm was chosen assistant secretary. Today, when the sessions were brought to a close over thirteen hundred were in attendance, and the twenty-seventh assemblage will be one not soon to be forgotten.