Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 11, Number 99, Decatur, Adams County, 25 April 1913 — Page 1

Volume XI. Number 99.

TO REINSTATE COMMISSION State Board Accepts Offer Os Local Board to Build in Two Years

TO MEET TONIGHT Proposition Will be Accepted Thus Saving the Commission of High School. REQUIRED BY STATE Much Discussed Problem is Solved in Satisfactory Manner for Everyone. Decatur will have a new high school building in 1915. For months the proposition has been discussed more or less and with various guesses as to the result Some months ago, Mr. Kelley of Richmond and Mr. Study of Fort Wayne inspected the schools here, reporting that while the educational phases were high, the physical conditions were not so good as they should be, consequently the state board of education adopted a resolution revoking the commission of the Decatur high school to take effect June 30. The school board immediately got busy. While there were many suggestions from the outside, it required some effort on the part of the board members to meet the situation. They met the state board by appointment and succeeded in getting another inspection by the same members who reported last Tuesday. On the 18th of April the local board made a propositioa to the state board which was accepted in the letter received today and consequently the commission will be reinstated before the time appointed for its expiration. The members of the local board this morning told us in the presence of each other that action on this matter would be taken this evening, as advised in the letter from Mr. Greathouse, and the matter will thus be cleared, the local schools retaining the high standard they have heretofore reached and with the new school building they will progress many fold. The local board, while it has been criticised to some extent, has acted wisely. They preferred not to place a tax upon the people of this community, unless it was absolutely necessary, but the action of the state board left them no alternative. —Local Board’s Offer.

The local school board adopted the following, which was sent to the state board on the 18th: — Decatur, Ind., April 18, 1913. Dr. Kelley, Richmond, Ind.: Dear Sir:—We, the undersigned members of the Decatur school board, beg leave to submit the following: We have decided as a board to make a levy sufficiently large to raise SIO,OOO per year to be set aside for the new building, if it can be done under the existing conditions, which are as follows : Our present valuation of taxable property in the city of Decatur, Indiana, is $-.935,000, The civil city has a bonded indebtedness of $40,000, which makes it impossible for them to give us any aid. The school city has a bonded Indebtedness of $19,400.00. The present school tax levy Is as follows: Additional special $ Special school Tuition

Making a total of ,n which amount is necessary for the maintenance of the schools under the present conditions, but which amount will have to be increased next year on account of Increase of teachers’ wages to conform with the recent law passed. We have counselled three attornejs, as to whether or not we can increase the additional special levy to BO cents for the purpose of creating a sinking fund to be laid aside for the erection of a new high school building, but pl ' far they are unable to give us any definite statement regarding the matter. If It is lawful for us to do this we wil. do It. Please adviso us.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

| Respectfully submitted, O. L. VANCE. IRVIN BRANDYBERRY. J. F. FRUCHTE. Reply from State Board. The reply from Charles A. Greathouse, state superintendent, received today, was as follows: Indianapolis, April 24, 1913. To the Decatur School Board: Two representatives of the state board of education have recently inspected your school. They make a very favorable report upon the educational phases of your work. The schools are well organized and the teaching is of liiigh order. You have an excellent corps of officers and teachers. Attention needs to be given, however, to certain physical conditions in your schools. Some of your grade rooms have too many pupils. One of | your schools is located in the basement of the library, in a room not well suited for school work, with inadequate light, ventilation and toilet facilities. There is no general assembly room in your high school, and conditions there are quite congested. One room is used for the three sciences offered and no provision whatever Is made for double laboratory periods, as Required by this board. Your high school has doubled in enrollment during the past three years and there is every reason to believe that this growth will continue. Present unsatisfactory conditions should be corrected insofar as is possible and provision should be made for the future, as follows:

1. Your superintendent and principal should be instructed so to rear- ' range the schedule as to afford the greatest degree of relief for the immediate future. This they hold themselves in readiness to do if given tho authority to do so. All the recommendations made in President Kelly’s letter of November 26, 1912, should be carried out and proper toilet facilities 1 provided at the library building. 2. Your board should make a levy sufficiently large either to raise $15,000 'per year for a new building, or else to raise SIO,OOO per year for two years ' with the understanding that at the end 1 of two years bonds will be issued to 1 supplement the sinking fund thus provided and that the erection of the building then proceed. Either of these plans can be carried out under R. S. '*1505, 1908, as amended Acts 1909, page 124. It cannot be done as has been suggested by increasing the additional 'special levy, which can be increased 1 to but 25c. I The information Is given this de'partment that action has been taken by you as a board, enforcing the conditions named in this letter, I am authorized to reissue the commission for your high school. Very truly yours, CHAS. A. GREATHOUSE. — - ■ ... —.. EXECUTION STAY GRANTED To Ralph Hoover Until Appeal Motion for New Trial is Acted Upon. Says the Van Wert Daily Times: ■The attorneys representing Ralph Hoover are making a strenuous effort to save their client from the penitentiary, and to the end went to Findlay Thursday morning to argue a motion for a stay of execution before the court of appeals, which is in session in that ■city. Prosecuting Attorney Clark Good and his assistant, H. L. Conn, were also present at the hearing to look 'after the interests of the state. “At the conclusion of the argument the court held that it had always been the practice of that body to

. grant such appeals and that they saw i no reason why they should deviate , f rom their usual custom, and aci C ordingly granted a stay of executiop, pending the hearing of a motion for a t new trial on its merits. ‘■The costs in the case will amount up to a stupendous total ,and the end is not yet in sight, but it is believed it will be in excess of $12,000; the costs in the case for the state, so far, ■ total $4,013.74. “Os the above timount $1,528.07 , will be returned to the county by the state when the prisoner is delivered at the penitentiary, leaving the net amount to be paid by the county at this [time $2,485.07.

DR. HURTY COMING Noted State Health Board Official Will Address Decatur Citizens ON HEALTH ISSUES Will be Here Next Tuesday —Lecture in the Evening at the M. E. Church. Decatur citizens, who have long been familiar with the name of Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the state board of health, and the active campaign,he has waged for the health of its citizens, will be pleased to hear that his longpromised talk to Decatur people will be given next Tuesday. Dr. Hurty will speak in the morning to the high school students and some of the grade pupils on the y health issues and in the evening at 7:30 o’clock will give a lecture at the M. E. church, illustrated with stereopticon views. This lecture will be free. A general invitation is extended. Dr. Hurty’s lecture will come as a finale to the hygiene series inaugurated for the local high school, and which, is is assured, have been most successful in bringing a better view of right living before the young. The last address given by local talent was that of this morning, when Prof. E. E. Rice spoke on ‘ Eugenics.” He considered this from the standpoints of heredity and environment and gave an excellent talk. He was succeeded by Drs. Thomas and Boyers, each of whom gave talks, short, but to the point.

BIDS WERE OPENED At Office of Architect Hoffman This Morning for the Building OF SCHOOL HOUSE In Preble Township—Mann & Christen Were Awarded the Contract. Trustee D. W. Hoffman, with his advisory board, consisting of Louis Worthman, August Gallmeyer and Fred Buuck, met this morning at the office of Architect Oscar Hoffman and proceeded to open the bids for the building of a one-story brick school house to be erected in Preble township, Dist. No. 5, and for the installing of steam heat In same. Four bids were filed for the building of the school house. The contract was finally awarded to Mann & Christen. Three bids were filed for the installing of the steam heating system in the building. This contract was awarded to Christen & Smith. The bids for the school house were:

W. O. Newlin $7281.95 Mann & Christen 7075.00 (Old building, $75.00) Amos Gillig 7483.00 (Old building, $250.00) Linn & Patton 7263.00 (Old building, $150.00) The bids on the steam heatting system were: P. J. Hyland $768.00 A. J. Moser Co 677.00 Christen & Smith 675.00 The school building Is to be built as soon as possible and will resemble the Washington township and Blue Creek township buildings in design. It will be one story high, containing only room with enough seating capacity for fifty students, and basement under the entire building. o SENT CHECK BACK. Mary A. Johnson received a letter Tuesday from her'father-in-law, David Riter, who lives in Germany, containing a check for $20.00. She presented it at the banks in this city, but they would not cash it for her, as it was not properly filled out and she sent it back this morning, requesting Mr. Riter to send her the cash. The S2O was a part payment of Mr. Johnson's share of his parents’ estate.

“DECATUR CAN AMD WILL”

Decatur, Indiana. Friday Evening, April 25,1913

SENT FOR HIS TRUNK. Louis Scheumann Gives Michigan City Shops a Try-out. Louis Scheumann, motorman for the Fort Wayne & Springfield Railway company company, who took a sixty days’ leave of absence March 24, from duty here, began work in the car barns of the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend traction company, at Michigan City. It is not yet known whether he will relinquish his position here, as he has gone there only to try the place. He has made no denfiite decision regarding his future course, as he may decide to return here. He sent yesterday for his trunk from this city.

LARGE DEATH LIST Is Still Estimated for the Coal Mine Disaster at Finleyville, Pa. SUFFRAGE ADVOCATE Advises English Sisters to Bum Dinners to Get Into Politics. Finleyville.Pa., April 25—(Special to Daily Democratt)—The total number of dead bodies recovered from the Cincinnati coal mine was 52 early this morning. Wrapped in burlap and loaded in box cars the bodies were removed to Monongabelia City to a temporary morgue established in that city and where hundreds of women and children watched dry eyed during the night. The death list is still estimated at between 100 and 150. The second fire broke out in the mine which may yet contain live men. It may be a week before the rescuers will be able to reach the ol dworkings. Los Angles, Cal., April 25—(Special to Daily Democratt) —Rumors that Ortie McManigle would be freed were confirmed today when the Deputy District Attorney stated ‘‘McManigle is undoubtedly entitled to liberty and will be given it in a very short time. Indianapolis, Ind., April 25—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Officials of tthe Iron Workers Union declined to discuss the official statement of McManigle’s freedom. Indianapolis, Ind., April 25—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Lower rates on crushed stone as a fertilizer were ordered today by the railroad commission in which case the Winona agriculture college filed charges against all of the quarries in the state. London, April 25—(Special to Daily Democrat) —A house hold boycott is suggested to the English suffragette by Frau Duerrain, a prominent German suffragette, who advised the women to burn their dinners instead of houses. ‘‘Let the men get their own meals, look after their own children, attend to their own* clothing and in a few days they would yearn after the old half-authority in the homes and would be more than willing to give the women half-authority in politics,” said Frau Duerrain.

TROUBLE WITH SECTION MEN. f Seven section men employed by the Clover Leaf in Delphos have given up their work on account of a failure to receive an increase in pay they asked for Monday. The men have been receiving $1.50 per day and made a request to the company that the daily wage be increased to $2.00. The company agreed to increase their pay to $1.65 per day, but this was refused and the men of one of the section crews here quit work Wednesday morning. It is rumored that those employed on another crew there will quit. The section men at Ohio City are also out on a failure to receive the increase asked for and it is reported that all the section men between Delphos and Decatur will leave the employ of the company. It is understood that the men are willing to compromise and take $1.75 per day, but that they will not return to work at the advance in wages offered. — Bluffton Banner. o The different grocery stores were receicing a supply of crockery today for the coming season.

BEET LABORERS Are Arriving from Various Cities to Begin Season’s Work in Beet Fields. EARLY PLANTING Urged to Get Best Results— Plenty of First-class Seed on Hand for Market. With the first signs of spring and the with the ground rapidly becoming in condition to work up nicely, the sugar beet workers, whose assistance has been contracted for during the winter months by Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Wagner of the local office, are beginning to arrive. These workers have.been secured from Chicago, Loraine, Ohio, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Wayne, St. Louis, Mo., and other cities, and are selected and carefully picked families of the best foreign type, the greatest of care being taken to secure only the best workers. Any farmer who is contemplating raising beets this season and has not secured' his help should apply at the office immediately. Early planting is being greatly urged by the experienced men at the head of the industry and the best yield of beets, showing the highest percentage of sugar will go to the man that follows the advice of the men who Jiave made a life study of I the sugar beet industry, so when they advise early planting, get to it immediately, and don't let anything else stand In the way. A quantity of firstclass seed is now’ in the warehouse of the company for those in need of it.

YOUNG GRADUATE Don Walters, Grandson of Elijah Walters, Graduates 1 from High School AT AGE OF FOURTEEN I Grandfather Will Leave Tomorrow to Attend Commencement Exercises

Elijah Walters of First street, this' city, and his daughter, Mrs. Burt Miller, will leave tomorrow morning early for Defiance county, Ohio. They go to ' attend the commencement exercises of 1 the high school, their grandson and nephew, Don Walters being one of the graduates. A notable fact is that the ( grandson is only fourteen years old, and it is a very unusual occurrence for one so young to receive a diploma from the high school. It is significant, though, that his ap-1 titude for learning was manifest at a very early age. He could read when he was only three years of age, and his abilities have ran ahead of and out-' stripped his physical growth. He is the youngest one of his class. The lad is a son of Homer Walters, formerly of this city. —o SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT.

The school board will hold its regular session this evening and considerable business of importance is to come up. We are informed that the selection of teachers will not be made at this time, though this will be done soon. The board has required applications from all the teachers who desire I to teach here next year and these have been received from all the teachers now in the schools with but one or two exceptions, thus assuring that the present efficient corps will likely' be retained, thus continuing the high grade of work done this year. At the' meeting tonight the board will devote ! attention to the routine affairs, allowing of bills and take action upon the proposition from the state board con- ! corning the future of a high school in Decatur. — K. OF C. There will be a meeting of our council, Monday, April 28. All brothers having applications for membership will please bring them at this meeting. S- <j. r.

DEDICATION OF CHURCH. Monroe’s New Structure to be Dedicated May 18th. The new Friends’ church in Monroe is rapidly nearing completion and the date for the dedication has been set for May 18. The building is a frame structure and is being erected by James Stogdill. The minister is Rev. Andrew Davidson of Jay county, who will serve the remainder of this year. The new building is a handsome one and will be a most admirable church home for this flourishing congregation.

COURT HOUSE NEWS One of Men Drawn for Jury is Now Deceased—Another is WEAK AND AGED Special Judge Sturgis of Bluffton Here on Business Thursday. I ■j At least two vacant places will ap- ! pear in the jury as drawn by the com- ' missioners for the April term of court, due to appear next Monday. In serving the venire. Deputy Sheriff Kelly found that Henry Borne, whose name was among the list, was deceased. John A. Wheeler, another name drawn, proved to be that of a man seventy years of age, weakened by age and

rheumatism, his condition being such that he is even unable to dress himself. The drawing of the names for ‘the jury is quite an interesting thing I for consideration. The jury commissioners once a year take off a list of names of voters of the county, from I the tax duplicates. These are taken off and placed in the jury box, from i which the names are subsequently drawn at random for the several juries. jOften the names remain in the box for several years until being drawn, as th§ names added from time to time create 'a surplus from which the drawing can be made, still leaving a number in the box. Effort is made, however, to get a proportionate number from all parts of the county. About 120 names are added to the box here each year. Os jthis number twenty are taken from ‘the Decatur tax duplicates; eight from Geneva, four from Monroe, eight from Berne, six from each of the outer town-

ships, and eight from each of the center four townships. — j In the Adams-Pearson quiet title case by agreement of parties the depositions are ordered returned to the notary taking same for proper authentication and the same ordered returned to the files in the cause within ten days. i I Special Judge Sturgis of Bluffton was here yesterday when issues were made in the quiet title case of The Straus Bros. vs. Rhoda Rook, et al. I The separate and several demurrers 'of each defendant to the second paragraph of the complaint were over-rul-ed, to which ruling each defendant separately excepted. Rule to answer ' vs. defendants. Real estate transfers: Noah Baum- '

garner et al. to Emily A. Rohrer, lot' 287, Berne, $1600; Wm. Glendening, 1 , guardian, to J. M. Wheeler, 43.55 acres, ' Wabash tp., $1100; F. M. Schirmeyer to John S. Falk, realty, $170; Walter E. Thornton et al. to John Benton Roberts, 120 acres, French tp., $12,000. | I W. J. Bauman, guardian of Clement Mosser, reports deed, which is approved. J | j The papers in the case of The State on the Relation of Zola E. Charleston | vs. Joseph Teeple, bastardy, were received in the circuit court. The case icomes from the court of ’Squire Dickerson of Wabash township, where a .judgment was rendered for the relatrix. The girl is sixteen years old and is a resident of Jefferson township. , DECATUR CIRCUIT. ’ Preaching services at Beulah Satur- ■ day evening; Mt. Pleasant, Sunday - morning, and Washington Sunday ev- ’ ening. KARL THOMPSON, Pastor.

Price, Two Cents,

OFFICERS NAMED Miss Rose Lehman of Berne Ejected County President of W. C. T. U. THE VICE PRESIDENT Is Mrs. James Fristoe—The County Institute Closed Last Night.

Adams county now has an organized county Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the same having been effected yesterday afternoon under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth Stanley, state vice president, at the county institute held in the. Methodist church in this city. There have been five local unions in as many cities and towns in the county, but no county union existed during the past several years. The following county officers were elected to carry out the work and a systematic campaign in the interests of the cause: President—Miss Rose Lehman, Berne. | Vice President—Mrs. James Fristoe, Decatur. | Corresponding Secretary—Mrs. W. A. Lower, Decatur. i Secretary—Miss Dorothy Sprunger, , Berne. ; Treasurer—Mrs. B. J. Rice, Decatur. | The following departmental officers were also elected I Literature—Mrs. Ray. Berne. I Anti-narcotic — Mrs. Eugene Runyon, Decatur.

| Sabbath Observance—Mrs. W. J. Myers, Decatur. Flower Missions—Miss Dorothy Sprunger, Berne. I Scientific Temperance—Mrs. Chas. Hocker, Decatur. Medal Contest—Mrs. Bixler, Berne. Co-operation with the Missionary Societies—Mrs. Martin Beery. Mothers’ Meetings—Mrs. A. R. Bell. Red Letter Day—Mrs. Adel Neptune. | Physical Culture—Mrs. D. G. M. Trout. I Equal Suffrage—Mrs. L. W. Love. ! . The afternoon session Thursday opened with a prayer period, in which many ladies took part. This was followed by a symposium on "How to Enlist the Interest of the Women in the Work.” Mrs. John Niblick, who is president of the Decatur union, spoke on “The Best Plan for Tx>cal Union Work.” Mrs. Winona Yager of Berne, president of the Berne union of 150

members, talked on “Securing New Members:” Mrs. Stanley, state vice president, talked on “The Enfranchisement of Women.’’ ) Mrs. Stanley told of the prize of $25 offered by the state organization for the best essay written by a school boy or girl on the temperance subject. She also explained the medal contest. This is an oratorical contest, in which I readings on scientific temperance are given. A silver medal is given the best reader, and he is then eligible to enter the gold medal contest, this leading on up to the highest, the diamond medal contest. A medal contest will be inaugurated here after school is over. Berne will be here in the near future to inaugurate the contest and much interest, it is thought, will ■develop from this. A solo by Miss | Kathryn Egly of Berne was well received.

At 3:30 Mi*. Stanley gave a good talk on '‘Scientific Temperance” to the school/ children, who attended. Following the noon- day plan the ladles had supper at the church, and the evening session was taken up with great ( interest. The attendance was large and many came down from Berne by automobile for this session. The music by the Berne ladies’ chorus of sixteen voices was very fine and was a .special feature of the evening's program. They were forced to respond to many encores. Miss Jean Lutz also gave two pipe organ solos, which were pleasingly rendered. Mrs. L. W. Love gave a very earnest prayer in behalf of the work, and then, after introduction by the president ofthe local union, Mrs. John Niblick, who presided. Stanley gave the evening address ,on "The Emancipation of the Twentieth Century.” Mrs. Stanley has a splendid voice and her address came from a rich storehouse of her own personal knowledge. She urged equal suffrage rights for women. The question was thoroughly discussed much (Conttnueu on Page 2)