Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 10, Number 157, Decatur, Adams County, 1 July 1912 — Page 1

Volume X. Number 157.

WILSON FORCES ARE LEADING

Indiana Cast Twenty-nine Votes For Wilson And One For Kern

ON TWENTY-EIGHTH ' Speaker Clark Losing Steadily on Every Ballot Being Cast. BOTH SIDES FIRM Bryan's WithDrawal from Clark’s Support Causes Slump in Following. (United Press Service) Baltimore, Md., July I—(Speciall—(Special to ' Daily Democrat) —Ineffectual balloting marked the efforts of the democratic national convention to choose a presidential candidate up to the thirty-fist ballot. The first noticeable break in jtbe ranks of the candidates came on the twenty-eighth, when Indiana swung from Governor Marshall, i and passed twenty-nine of her thirty votes for Governor Wilson. The remaining vote was cast for Senator Kern by Major G. V. Menzies of North Vernon, Ind. On the twenty-ninth ballot, Indiana cast twenty-six votes for ; Wilson and four for Kern. Indiana gave Wilson 28, Speaker Clark 1 and Kern 1 on the thirtieth ballot. Wilson went in the lead on the thirtieth ballot for the first time during the voting. He received 460 votes to 455 for Clark. This was caused by Vermont passing all of her eight votes for the New Jersey governor and lowa giving 14 of her 26 votes to him. lowa had been j previously voting solid for Clark under , the unit rule. The lowa vote was j claimed by the Clark leaders, but a poll of the delegation resulted in it be-[ ing allowed to stand. Announcement | that they had at last secured the lead, I caused the W:tson supporters to start on a noisy demonstration, and the leaders redoubled their efforts to get Illinois into line for Wilson. They boasted that if they could get Rodger Sullivan and his men, in the wind-up they would stampede the convention for the New Jersey executive. When

JOHN W, KERN W K V .. 4 * IF Sb. i B \ -^W - , ~ aww* j j>WiL I r ■ . . I • •/ .* ;' . W J||k * k /tv ' '-' ;W - L-jf AVMpSi ■£ i s3&i'' If will, ’ ■ W --'"'S .< ;. .:/■ ■ Who has been prominently talked of as a “Dark Horse” Candidate. i

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

California was reached on the twentyninth the chairman asked that the state be passed. A dozen of the delegates were on their feet in protest. “The majority of the delegates are for Wilson," the member shouted. “But there are interests here trying to interfere with their honest expression." The thrust was directed at Theodore Bell of California, who was whispering to members of the delegation. Despite the long and contested protest of the delegates who objected to polling being done. The vote was 13 for Wilson, 6 tor Clark and 1 absent. Chairman James then declared that under the unit rule of the sixty-second congress, under which the convention was working that the two-thirds meant in the resolutions would only mean twothirds of the delegates present. He directed that twenty absent votes be cast for Wilson amid tremendous cheering. When lowa’s vote was announced in the thirtieth ballot, showing Wilson’s majority, Acting Chairman Henry D. Clayton of Alabama stated the the chairman in charge of the lowa delegation questioned the vote as recorded, and directed that it be verified. Clayton said that as some of the delegates held votes and others ' only a half each must announce just how much of a vote he was casting. When this was going on Bell of California and Francis for the Clark I forces and Congressman Palmer of , j Pennsylvania and Congressman i Hughes of New Jersey, for the Wilson forces, gathered on the platform. The Clark men wanted the chair to rule that the lowa unit rule must remain in I force, and that he state would cast | her vote for Clark, until two-thirds had . deserted the speaker. Clayton then . stated that the vote should recorded as cast and refused any argument.! The thirty-first ballot resulted as j follows: Wilson, 475%; Clark, 446%;' I Underwood, 116%; Harmon, 17; Kern, j 2; Foss, 30; absent, %. j- | Baltimore, Md., July I—(Special to i Daily Democrat )—The democratic national convention was called to order at 11:03 o’clock this morningjo-rrr-sume its efforts to select a presidential candidate. The major portion ot the visitors were women. No tickets were required for admission today and the great convention hall was filled when Chairman James let his gav-

Decatur, Indiana, Monday Evening, July 1, 1912.

el fall. Up until the very moment of the convention being called to order conferences were being held. There were no results as could be ascertained. Supporters of majority leader Underwood were trying to make a deal with other candidates but they apparantly made no headway. Governor Foss of Massachusetts called on William Jennings Bryan at the latter s hotel tor conference. Foss told Bryan that he was making no efforts to get delegates at the present time, and that he would not become an active candidate unless a hopeless deadlock existed. o NOTES FROM COURT HOUSE. Judge J. T. Merryman will leave next Monday for a two weeks' vacation and has appointed the Hon. D. E. Smith special judge to serve during his absence in case any matters should come up during vacation for immediate attention. Judge Merryman, who has been suffering from th- effects ol grip, will probably go to Mt. Clemens, Mich. County Clerk Bleeke announces the clerk’s office will be closed all day the Fourth, so any one contemplating mat rimony on that day should take time by the forelock ana secure the marriage license before. This is the only holiday in the year allowed the clerk by law, except Sundays. If it should rain. Mr. Bleeke said, and his pleasure outside should be spoiled, he will keep the office open, holiday or no holiday. L. C. Hessert, German Reformed classis clerk, filed with the county recorded notice of the election of the | following classis trustees, elected at the recent classis held here June 1, 1912: Ernest Buecher, Ft. Wayne (3 years); Calvin Schneider, Decatur (2 .years); B. Ruf, Fort Wayne (1 year). Real estate transfers: Rufus Flory . et al. to Charles E. Sullivan, lot 351, i Berne, $800; Robert L. Springer to Menno S. Liechty et al., real estate ! $700; Levi A. Springer trustee, to Pete.r Hilty, cemetery deed, $lB. V o The S. S. Magley family of Monmouth were guests Sunday at dinner of the J. J. Magley family, this city. o ASKS A DIVORCE Mary Opliger Brings Suit Against County Superintendent L. E. Opliger. MANY ARE CHARGES Asks Divorce, Custody of Children and Also $3,000 Alimony. D, B. Erwin, attorney for Mary OpJiger, filed today in the Adams circuit court a suit for divorce from County Superintendent L. E. Opliger. She also asks for the custody of the two minor children, Velma M., born February 18, 1907, and Faye, born October'll, 1911, an additional sum for their support, and also alimony in the sum of $3,000. The complaint recites that they were married February 8, 1906, and lived together until May 3, 1912. The charges are cruel and inhuman treatment, and many instances are specified. ’ The plaintiff sets out that before their marriage, Mr. Opliger professed great love for her and for her mother, a widow, with whom she lived before her marriage; but that shortly afterward he exhibited the utmost con* tempt for her and her mother, which has constantly increased until’during the last two years he has been constantly in a sullen, ugly and mean mood toward the plaintiff and especially when her mother was visiting at their home. At these times, she says, Mr. Opliger would be angry with his wife, the plaintiff, without cause and refused to speak to her tor a whole day and for several days would speak to her only in an angry or sullen manner. Mr. Opliger’s parents live -in Linn Grove, as does her mother, but when they would go there to visit, she recites, he would insist on her temain-

ing at his parents’ home, instead of going to her mother's. On one time when she insisted oa visiting ner mother, she says, he threw her suit case and clothing out of the buggy in a rude and angry way and drove away without speaking to her. On one occasion, the complaint sets out, she gave a portion of a house plant to her sister, and when he learned of it, he became angry and compelled her to recover it. She states that he has frequently tried to compel her to turn against her relatives and at one time tried to have her sign a written statement that she would do so, and that they were at fault causing unpleasant domestic relations between them. When she refused to do so, she says, he became angry and sullen. Jealousy in the past two years is another one of the charges against him. She states that on numerous times he has returned home in the night after the plaintiff had retired and crept noislessly up to her room without removing his overcoat and hat and search her bed and adjoining rooms under pretense of CONTIN treri! on page two. A JULY SESSION Os Commissioners a Busy One—Several Road Superintendents Resign. THE ECKROTE DITCH Ordered Constructed—Two I New Roads Ordered Constructed. ' County Commissioners James Hendricks, Henry Zwick and Christ Eich- ’ er opened their July session this ’ morning, a large amount of business being disposed of. The report of County Treasurer Charles W. Yager of taxes collected ’ for June was approved. > Henry Stettler resigned as superintendent of the Lenhart macadam road. E. Wood was appointed to succeed him. The auditor of Wells county filed a copy of the contract for the construction of the John Schafter macadam II road, which is a Wells-Adams count, 1 . , line road. s - C. C. Ernst, engineer, and Charles Chrisman, superintendent of the ■ Meshberger road, filed their written acceptance of said road, which the board also accepts as completed. The petition of Ferdinand Bleeke, county clerk, for a remittance for fees , erroneously paid, was granted. > A report of engineer and superintendent of the Magley macadam road, [ and also objection by E. Woods to the acceptance were filed. The matter of the petition of Joseph N. Eckrote et al. for a ditch, was referred to the drainage commissioner, no remonstrances having been “ filed. Charles Armstrong w r as apr pointed drainage commissioner to f qualify July Bth at the office of Henry 3 Dickerson, J. P. r * J. M. Haggard resigned as superin- • tendent of the Braun road. A. R. Bell resigned as superintend- ? ent of the A. R. Bell road and James 1 N. Fristoe was, appointed to succeed 3 him. Several extras to be used in the ' construction of this road, at a cost of ‘ slll, were ordered, these to be paid “ for out of the construction fund. 1 The Bluffton, Geneva and Celina 1 Traction company was ordered to rc- ' pair and place in proper condition the crossing of said road over the Aeschli--1 man macadam road in Hartford town- ’ ship to a width of twenty-four feet, and plank to be long enough for a dou--1 ble track. The auditor is ordered to notify said traction company of this 1 order. 3 Viewers and engineers’ reports and i profiles in both the William Burke 3 and the August Conrad roads, were ' approved and the roads ordered established. Bids will be received Au--1 gust 6th. t 3 A petition for the Charles Zwick CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE

A NEW PASTOR Greeted Every Congregation of Protestant Churches of the City ON SUNDAY EVENING General Exchange—Sunday _ Services Rendered Especially Interesting. A new pastor greeted every Protestant congregation in the city Sunday evening and the evening services in , the city were especially interesting, because of the interchange of pastors. While the committee making the interchange knew of the appointments of the pastors to the different pupllts, none of the congregations knew which pastor it would see in its pulpit until the hour tor the services and the event took on very much of the exciting interest of the old-fashioned game, “fruit-basket upset." All the services were well attended, and each congregation was well pleased with the appointments and the sermons heard. The following was the assignment: M. E. Church —Rev Goodwin of the United Brethren. Christian —Rev. Gleiser of the Presbyterian. United Brethren —Rev. Semans of the M. E. Presbyterian—Rev. J. H. Rilling of the Evangelical. German Reformed—Rev. George Owen of the Christian. Evangelical—Rev. T. L. Jones of the Baptist. Baptist—Rev. L. C. Hessert of the German Reformed. o TO MOVE COMMISSARY It is said that plans are under way for the closing of the commissary con- ■ ducted here in the automobile sac-• tory building, and the removal of the , fixtures to Chicago again. o U. B. MEETING There will be a meeting of the official board of the U. B. church this i evening at 7:30 o’clock. All of the members please be present. Business of importance totransact. AGED LADY DEAD Mrs. Christian Annen of Magley Succumbed at Early Hour Today. AGED SIXTY-EIGHT ; Had Been Ailing for Some Time from Complication of Diseases. i 1 Mrs. Rosina Annen, wife of Christian Annen, of Magley. one of the > i , high’y esteemed and prominent ladies o r that community, passed away this morning St 3:40 o'clock at the family . home after an illness from infirmities of old age and a complication of diseases, Mrs. Annen, who was sixty-eight i years of age, was born in Switzerland, I February 11, 1844, and was a daughter . of David and Anna Moser. She came ' to America when nine years of age, [ living at Vera Cruz, Ind., until her marriage December 5, 1867, to Christen Annen, since when she has residi ed in Adams county. Surviving are . the husband and the following chil- > dren: Aldina, at Magley; Leopold C., - Decatur; Edd C., Columbus, Ohio; Al- - bert F., Hope, Ark.; Frank D., Oak , Park, 111. One sister, Mrs. Mary Rani- . seyer, of Lima, Ohio, also survives. > Mrs. Annen was a lady highly belov- < ed, and there is much grief over her demise. She was a member of the German Reformed church at Magley, I where the funeral services will be > held, the time to be decided later. . Burial will take place in this city. The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. John Bailey of the north part of the city, was buried Sunday afternoon, inter- : ment being made at Ceylon, near Geneva.

'TRUSTEES MET TODAY. The Adams county township trustees' association held its regular monthly meeting today in the office of Trustee Samuel Butler, this city. Present were Trustees O. J. Suman, Frank Wechter, Charles Magley, J, A. Fleming, C. C. Beer, John Cowans, George M. T. Houk, J. T. Kelly and Samuel Butter. The discussion of roads, ditches, etc., was in order. Charles Dirkson of Root township was a business visitor here today. Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Erwin were guests Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. George Dull, at Wren, Ohio Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Walters visited • Sunday with their daughter. Mrs. Mose:, at Wren, Ohio. The Misses Agnes Meibers and Mar-1 garet Clark spent Sunday at Rome I City. THE HOT AND COLD — Weather Will be Dished Up for July, Says ehe Rev. Irl Hicks. TO PLEASE US ALL This Will be Seasoned With Electrical Storms at Several Periods. The Rev. Irl Hicks, weather prognosticator, is out with the July weather forecasts, and he gives promise of I a mixture of not and cool weather, with electrical storms at several periods. His predictions read as follows: “A reactionary storm period centers on the 3rd, 4th and sth. The last stages of a regular storm period starting the closing days of June, will barely have subsided before the ba- ! rometer will again fall, the temperj ature rise, cloudiness ensue, and showi ers will pass eastwardly across the country. These conditions will be prolonged, culminating in excessively high temperature, with thunder storms in many sections, on the 6th, on which date the moon crosses the celestial equator. A brief change to cooler, with moderate rise of the barometer, will follow these disturb | ances. “A regular storm period is central ' on the 9th, involving the Bth to 12th, 1 in-clusive. The center of a mercury I period falls on the 12th, extending from about the sth to the 19th, and this fact will increase probabilities of rainfall during this period. On and about the 10th, 11th and 12th, a series cf sharp thundergusts, with black, blustering clouds, will be general over most parts of the country. Some localities will get heavy downpours, but we figure that moisture will fall short of the general necessities of growing crops. A very low reading of the barometer during this period should be regarded and heeded as a danger signal. The barometer will reach to higher, and change to cooler will follow behind these storms. “A reactionary storm period is central on the 14th, 15th and 16th. The oncoming Venus period blends with that of mercury at this veriod. The mooli is also at perigee and new on the 14th. Very warm weather, low barometer and blustering, menacting* storm clouds will result at this time. The hygrometer will indicate unmistakably whether much rain will fall during these storms. A few days partial relief from summer heat will come, with rising barometer after the eastward passage of these storms. *'A regular storm periom covers the 19th to the 24th, being central on the 21st. Falling barometer, high temperature and electrical storms will develop in western sections at the begin- ■ ning of this period. The Venus influence, and the moon being on the equator on the 19th, will insure thunder storms on ana next to that date. the 22nd, 23rd and 24th, will bring a culmination of blustering, ominous storm clouds, with violent summer gusts of wind and local showers in scattering localities. Those who have been students of our forecasts for any length of time, know that extremes of temperature, with vicious lightning and thunder, are characteristics of the Venus periods. Look for such phenomena at the fust stages of this period followed by a drop in temperature that will be very grateful to sweltering humanity. “A reactionary storm period centers on the 27th and 28th, the moon being (Continued on Page 2)

Price, Two Cents.

THE WORST STORM EVER Cloud Burst Saturday Night Floods Country Six Miles North of Here. WASHES OUT BRIDGE On Interurban--Many Families Visiting Here Forced to Remain All Night. What was without doubt the worst electrical and rain storm ever witnessed in that section of the country, and which was no doubt the summer solstai'e storm being also accompanied with a cloud burst, struck the north part of the county, Saturdaj’ night about 10 o'clock. The rain and electrical storm also occurred here, and while the winds blew, the rains fell and beat upon the earth, the storm was not more severe than is usuallyexperienced at this time of the year. Six miles north of the city, however, a cloud burst let down great volumes of water, and flooded the couu.-y. Probably the worst damage dine wan to the interurban bridge across MfcKnight run, six miles north of the city, which was washed away. The north abutment of the bridge of the wagon road at its side was also washed away, and the gravel from the interurban road bed was washed into the field fifteen feet away. For probably four hundred feet wide on either side of the road the water stretched away 1 through the ravine and the water stood about six feet over the road. The floods carried so far, that the fence rails were found in trees after the waters subsided, which they did quickly. Charles Bultemeier, one of the farmers in the flooded district, found that his hay fork had been carried about three quarters of a mile away by the flood; and another found a large twenty-five-inch tile, weighing I about 175 pounds, about the same dis- ■ tance away from its former resting place. Many chickens and minor live creatures of the farm, which had not reached secure shelter, were drowned. One farmer looking forth between the flashes of lightning, saw his frightened horses, which had been driven to the highest part of their pasture field, standing on the height of a hill, on a little island, totally surrounded by water. The horses of Fred Melcher, of north of the city, which had been left in the pasture, stampeded during the storm, and running into the fence in their madness, were torn and bruised, and it was necessary to have a veterinarian from this city go out and sew up the gaping wounds and attend them. Many of the telephone lines were burned out, including many of the local farm lines, as well as the toll lines at Preble, Fort Wayne and Van Wert, and communication between these places Sunday was out of order. The lines have nearly all been repaired, however, and the service was good again today. The storm came up so unexpectedly Saturday evening, just when many of the farmers, who had delayed coming to town until the good day's work was over, were preparing to return home. Many of them had started, and were unable to reach their homes before the storm burst in fury. Some living near Monmouth got as far as the William Smith farm, north of this city, when the flooded condition of the roads and the wind which tipped the buggies, standing them on two wheels, much to the terror of the occupants, caused them to halt and put up there for the rest of the night The William Smith barn is equipped with a bed and the tired travelers put up there for the night. The Willis Fonner family, which returned home bj- automobile, had an exciting experience. When they reached the Clark home beyond Monmouth, they found the road covered with four feet of water and impassable. They then turned around and proceeded to take the north road. On arriving at the Concord church they found that road flooded also, and were obliged to abandon the automobile and walk down the railroad track which took them into their back yard about 3 o’clock in the morning. (Continued on Page 2)