Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 13, Number 92, Decatur, Adams County, 17 April 1915 — Page 1

Volume XIII. Number 92.

WILL BUILD THIRD FLOOR Fred Schafer Lets Contract for Additional Story on Handsome New Block. — LEASED TO MASONS Who Will Furnish and Equip it in Modern and Comfortable Manner for Lodge. BUILDING COMMITTEE. Oscar Hoffman, chairman. John W. Tyndall. French Quinn. John H. Heller. TRUSTEES. John D. Hale. P. L. Andrews. L. C. Helm. The Masonic lodge voted unanimously last night in favor of a motion to authorize the trustees to accept a proposition made by Frederick Schafer to rent the third floor of the new Schafer block to the lodge for a period of ten years, witli a privilege of ten years longer on the same terms and they were ordered to enter into contract for said lease. There was a I large attendance of the members and I the sentiment was unanimous in favor, of taking over the new lease. This moans that the F. & A. M. lodge No. 571 will have handsome quarters, unexcelled anywhere for convenience or appearance. * Mr. Schafer last night gave the contract to Mann & Christen for a third story on the new block over the entire building and the necessary changes in the building will be made at once. Mr. Christen went to Fort Wayne today to place orders for the material and the work will be rushed as much as possible. The new lodge room will consist of over S,OOO feet of floor space, including a lodge room and a reception room, each about 39 feet by 66 feet, and with self-supporting roof, also a dining room, club and reading room, toilets, clothes rooms, etc. A building committee as named above was appointed to proceed with the plans for the interior of the building and the idea is to make the rooms as comfortable and inviting as possible. Members of the committee will visit other lodges before adopting plans and will then contract for the work. The lodge owns a valuable property on South Second street and it is likely since this new lease has been authorized, that the property will be offered for sale and the money thus derived used in equipping the new home, to make it a delightful lodge room. The Masonic lodge has been located in the Dorwin block for more than fifty years and though one of the substantial lodges of the city, has been necessarily content with the modest and somewhat cramped quarters. The new rooms will be commodious, comfortable and modern in every way and the third story will add considerably to the appearance of the new Schafer block, which will be one of the handsomest business blocks in this section of the state. It is likely that the new rooms will not be ready for occupancy before early autumn at which time the new lodge quarters will be duly opened and dedicated. —oWOODMEN CHANGE NIGHT The Modern Woodmen have changed their night of meeting from Wednesday to Tuesday night. This is made because Wednesday night in many of the churches is the regular prayer meeting night.

| SUCCESS OF THE SUGAR COMPANY Expected 1912 1913 1911 1915 . I ... 5J54 4,828 4,703' 8?907 Acreage contracted • „, 767 8 , 0 00 Acres harvcstec 30,885 4 96,000 > iel<l " tOn : 6.22 7.76 11.31 ’ 12. Yield per acre-tons gQ g 5 Money value per acre ......... g 57 Factory in operation— days 5W Average cut per daj 5 2g5 g g()3 9 2C4177 17i 600,000 Sugar produced x 433 , 496 2i09 6 4.000 Pulp produced ..•••• 285 230 279.535 527,000 1,080,000 and failure 1.. "Sueee.e never g ,ve. „. .idle Paliure ,«<.»• Hern F. H. H. ' '

DECATUR DAIZEY DEMOCRAT

MOVIE STAR NEARS DEATH. Picture show fans will be sorry to learn that John Bunny, comedian of the screen, is thought to be at death's door al his home in Brookyln. He has been ill for three weeks of a complication of kidney and heart aijments. Mr. Bunny, for many years known as the fat man with the movies, is fiftytwo years of age and has been on the stage thirty years. Many Decatur people saw the comedian in vaudeville at Fort Wayne a few months ago, and lie is a familiar figure on the local screens, playing witli Flora Finch. o _ MEN’S LEAGUE MEETING. Men’s meeting at the Presbyterian church Sunday afternoon at 2 p. in. prompt. Splendid speaker, fine music, a rousing meeting. Every man in Decatur and vicinity invited. Come. o HIT TRUCK John Brodbeck, Aged 64, Was Run Over by Lee Hardware Truck THIS AFTERNOON Crossing Second Street— Truck Was Empty and No Bones Broken. While crossing the street in front of the Democrat office this afternoon at 2:45 o’clock, John Brodbeck, aged 64 years, a resident of St. Mary’s township, was struck by the Lee Hardware company’s auto truck. The truck was driving north on Second street, and Mr. Brodbeck had just started to cross to the west side of tile street. Mr. Droubeck was first struck by the fender of the machine and thrown several feet in front of it. Before the driver of the truck could stop his machine, botli heavy wheels had passed across Mr. Brodbeck’s legs, just above the knees. A large crowd of witnesses quickly gathered around the victim and carried him into tlie Hunsicker & Miller bakery. A physician was summoned and after quieting Mr. Brodbeck’s heart action, which was greatly affected by the shock, made an examination. Fortunately the truck was running empty and the weight was not sufficient to break any bones. Outside of a very severe shock to the nervous system and several bad bruises, no serious injury resulted. Mr. Brodbeck was removed to the J. S. Falk home on North Second street, where sedatives were administered to him and it is thought that lie will be able to be removed to his home laier in the evening. 0 MAKES FOURTH AERIAL ATTACK London, April 17 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —A German taube flew over Selby in Yorkshire, fourteen miles from York, today on the fourth aerial invasion of England in the past sixty hours. Selby is 160 miles north of London. First dispatches to London indicated that the taube flew in ’rom the North sea from the direction of Hull. The taube was first sighted at 11 a. m., traveling rapidly, and at i great height. The German ship then tilted downward in a zig zag fashion, swooping close to the earth and circling the town. He departed in an easterly direction. The Selby authorities asserted they had heard of no 1 bombs having been dropped.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, April 17, 1915.

DIED LAST NIGHT Frances Steele Merryman, Former Decatur Woman, Died in Ft, Wayne. PARALYTIC STROKE Was Daughter of Wilson Steele of This City—Sister of Mrs. Lenhart. Frances Steele, former wife of Eli Merryman, formerly of this city, died last night between 12 and 1 o’clock at her home in Fort Wayne, according to word received here at that time by her father. Wilson Steele, and her sister, Mrs. John Lenhart. Death was due to paralysis, the fatal stroke coming last night a short time before her death. About two years ago the deceased suffered the first stroke, from which she later recovered. A week or so ago, she slipped and fell at her home and suffered what was thought to be a fracture of the leg. She was taken to the hospital where an X-Ray examination revealed no broken bones and site was then taken to her home on Main street a few days ago. Her sister, Mrs. Lenhart, visited witli her only a few days ago and although she was bedfast and disabled on account of the fall, she seemed to be well otherwise and ate a hearty supper. The word of her death was very unexpected to her relatives here. A son, Ralph, lived with his mother. Her only other child, a daughter, Effie, died about two years ago. The father, sister and two brothers, Chauncy Steele, of this city, and Harlan Steele, living in the east, survive. Her father, Mr. Steele, and her sister, Mrs. Lenhart, went to Ft. Wayne ( this morning to make arrangements , for the funeral. The mother is buried , in Fort Recovery, Ohio, and the daughter in Fort Wayne, and it was not , known this morning what arrange- , ments would be made for her burial. , The deceased was about forty-eight years of age. PROVES “ FATAL — Elmer J. Ray Succumbs Last Evening to Severe Attack of Pneumonia. WAS A RESIDENT Os Adams County During Entire Life—Funerol to be Held Monday. Unable to withstand the severe strain uixui his constitution, Elmer J. Ray, the well known and highly respected resident of Washington township, passed away last evening at six o’clock, death being due to pneumonia from which he had been suffering for the past two weeks. Mr. Ray, through his having been born and having spent his entire life in Adams county, had a large host of friends and acquaintances who are deeply grieved to learn of ills death. The deceased was born in Adams county December 15, 1867, ,being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Ray. His education was secured in the county schools and when a young man was united in marriage. To this union were born six children, a son, Roy, having preceded the father in death. The mother, together witli the live children, Mrs. Opal Bevington, of Logansport; Arthur, Francile, Florine and Raymond, survive to mourn the loss of the father and husband. Three brothers and two sisters also survive. Funeral services will be held Monday morning at 10 o’clock from the Monroe Methodist church, interment being made in the Ray cemetery. o HARD TIMES SOCIAL. The April section of the Evangelical Aid society will give a hard times social at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mat Breiner Tuesday evening at 7:30 o’clock. A cordial invitation is extended to all members and friends of the church. Refreshments will be served and a fee of 10 cents will be charged at the door. Come, dressed for the occasion.

1 THE CLOSING DAY There were one hundred twenty-five for the great feast spread by the patrons of the Mallonee school, district number seven in Root township, for its closing festivities yesterday. One hundred forty had assembled for the afternoon program,given by the children in charge of the teacher, Miss Irma Houk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Houk of this city. The program' consisted of recitations, songs and dialogues and was fiery fine. At its close and after a number of the patrons had spoken. Miss Houk was ready to declare the meeting adjourned. Little Miss Reba Roop, however, stepped out and said she had a speech to make also. She asked the teacher to be seated, and then made a very pdetty speech and presented the teacher with a set of fine silver pie forks, from the pupils. That Miss Houk’s services have been highly satisfactory and much appreciated, was evidenced by the fact that a petition signed by all in the neighborhood, was presented to the trustee asking for her return to the school next year. ACTS RECEIVED County Clerk Bleeke Receives Adams County’s Allottrnent of Books I OF THE NEW LAWS Adams County’s Share is 138 —The Books Contain ■ 813 Pages. i County Clerk Ferdinand Bleeke has • received Adams county's allotment ' of the books containing the acts of the sixty-ninth regular session of the general assembly, the shipment con- 1 tabling 138 books. The books are issued by the authority of Homer L. Cook, secretary of state. These, ac- 1 cording to the provisions of law, are 1 for the various officials, lawyers and 1 a few others. The book is of the average size, contains 813 pages and the acts passed number 191 with two resolutions. When word from all the counties has been received of the receipt of the books and the governor issues his proclamation, the acts will become effective except, of course, emergency acts that went into effect lyIt usually takes from a week to two weeks for all counties to be supplied and receipts acknowledged, hence between this ana the first of May, the laws will probably be declared in effect. , PAID IN TWENTY HOURS. Instead of being paid in twenty checks as stated in yesterday’s paper the life Insurance of the late John Myers was paid in full by the Lincoln Lite Insurance company of Fort Wayne within twenty hours after Mr. Myers was dead. It was a very quick adjustment. 0 4 DIED AT FREMONT Jacob Bogner, Former Adams County Man, Died This Morning of CANCER OF LIVER Has Many Relatives Here— Was Sixty-three Years of Age. Relatives received word today of the death of Jacob Bogner, 63, which occurred at Fremont, Ohio, this morning of cancer of the liver. Mr. Bogner resided in this county until eight or nine years ago and is known to many here, also having many relatives here. i The funeral will be held Monday and among those who go to attend the ■ funeral are a step-son, Andrew Foos; I a brother, Frank Bogner, and a sister, I Mrs. Charles Omler. A sister, Mrs. ! George Keller, has been at Fremont three weeks caring for her brother.

GIVEN SHOWER Miss Vernia Smith Who Will be Married Soon to Fred Bandtel is THE HONORED ONE Groom a Fort Wayne Young Man—Employe of Bowser Offices. The friends of Miss Vernia Smith of this city, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Smith of Fourth street, will be interested in hearing of her coming marriage which will take place soon to Mr. Fred Bandtel of Fort Wayne. The date of the wedding has not been announced, but the coming nuptials were made the occasion of n shower given her last evening by the members of her Sunday school class of the Evangelical church, which met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Fuhrman, north of the city, the Misses Ida and Ethel Fuhrman being the hostess. There were fourteen members present, including a number of oilier guests, and the party was conveyed to the Fuhrman home by Dr. and Mrs. O. L. Burgener in their automobile. The regular business pe.riod Was observed, and then there were games and contests and charades. It was during the playing of a blind-fold game that the shower was given Miss Vernia. During the game she was finally made "It” and while blind-folded the gifts were presented to her. The shower was a miscellaneous shower and the gifts were aluminum, linens, and many pretty things for her new 1 home. The shower came as a great surprise. Miss Smith is a popular young lady, and deservedly so, because of her 1 many pleasing traits. She is an active member of the Evangelical church 1 and of its many departments, and served for a long time as organist and 1 pianist. Socially she is also popular. I (Continued on Page 3.) o SUMMONS CAME I Death Called Mrs. Alpheus ■ i N. Acker, Peasant Mills, This Morning i AT SIX O’CLOCK 1 < Tuberculosis and Pneumo- ' t nia — Was Fifty-three I Years Old. i Mrs. Edna Acker, wife of Alpheus N. Acker, the well known grain dealer of Pleasant Mills, died this morning at 6 o'clock. She had benn ill for a i number of years of tuberculosis, but pneumonia was the immediate cause , of her death. ' Born in Ohio, near Piqua, her maiden name being Edna Faust, Mrs. Acker was at the time of her death, fiftythree years, nine months and twentyone days old. Since her marriage in 1884, she has been a resident of Pleasant Mills, and was one of the most valued members of the community. The husband and four children are living, two children having preceded her in death. Those living are: James Acker, of Texas City, Texas; Mrs. H. B. Cowan, Willshire, Ohio; Charles and Neva, at home. She has one brother, Homer Faust. The funeral will probably be held Tuesday from the Methodist church and burial will be in Pleasant Mills. o ZEPPELINS DID DAMAGE. Berlin, April 17 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Zeppelin airships did great damage on their recent raids of Englist coast towns, according to a private dispatch received today from Holland. Several officers of the British coast guard were killed or wounded and bombs were dropped on Brit- , ish ships. Bombs also fell on the Eng- . lish dock. This information is said ; to have been communicated to Holland in a cablegram from England.

IJ COMMUNITY BIBLE CLASSES. Ward I. Dtst. 1. Mrs. Win. Roe. Grant street, Wednesday, 2 p. in. Dlst. 2. Mrs. S. E. Shamp, 42! Mercer avenue, Tuesday, 2 p. m. Ward 11. Dlst. 1. Mrs. Durkin, South First street, Tuesday, 7:30 p. ni. Dlst. 2. Mrs. Carl Pumphrey, So. Fifth street, Tuesday, 7 p. m. Dist. 3. Mrs. Iziuis Gehrig, Eighth street, Thursday, 7 p. in. Ward 111. Dist. 1. No report handed in. Dist. 2. Mrs. Horace Callow, Fourth street. Tuesday, 7 p. m. Dist. 3. Mrs. Locke Bracken, Thursday, 9:15 a. m. Dist. 4. Mrs. Amos Biggs, Indiana street, Tuesday, 7:30 p. m. Notice: —Reports must be made to the general secretary not later than Friday afternoon in order that it may be printed in Saturday’s paper. Please have your report in on time next week. MISS BAKER WINS Miss Lucile Baker of Bluffton Will Represent District at THE STATE DEBATE Decision of Judges a Great Surprise to the Audience. Miss Lucile Baker, of Bluffton, repre-: sentative of Wells county tn the district debate held at the Methodist' church in this city, last evening, will represent the district at the state debating contest to be held soon at Bloomington. Such was the decision I of the three judges wiio gave Miss | Bakeijj first place in the list of four contestants. Judges were Prpfessor McMillen. Fort Wayne high school; County Superintendent Clifford Funderburg, Huntington; Prof. J. C. Black, Ander-1 son high school. Tlie grading was done according to directions of the university extension I ■ department and included two points: |' Argument and delivery. But four of, tlie six counties in the district were ' represented, Jay and Madison coun-, ties failing to send contestants. Prof. M. F. Worthman, chairman of the district, presided and after mak ( 1 ing a short statement that the contest ■ 1 was held under tlie auspices of the 1 Indiana University Extension depart- 1 ment, and that tlie contestants wen* 1 winners in county contests, he opened the evening's exercises. Eight minutes were allowed each speaker for 1 the constructive speech and three min- 1 utes for rebuttal. Miss Katliry Egly of Berne sang in 1 her inimitable way, her piano accompaniment heing played by Mrs. E. D. : Engeler. The debate then opened, the subject being: “How We May Secure Greater Administrative and Economic Efficiency in the County Government of Indiana.” Tlie debaters in the order of their speech, which was determined by the casting of lots, was: First —Wells county, Miss Lucile Baker, Bluffton. Second —Delaware county, Ralph Harlan. Muncie. Third—Adams county, Harvey Everett, Decatur. Fourth—Randolph county, Agnes Ross, Winchester. While the judges were making their decision, Miss Hope Hoffman sang in her pleasing way, and Miss Celia Andrews gave a fine instrumental solo. Tlie debaters were all of especially fine merit, the delivery good and the arguments they put forth were worthy ones. It seems to be the unanimous verdict of all here that the first place should . have been given Harvey Everett, of this city. Speaking for the commission form of government, he brought forth liis arguments showing that lie r has a thorough knowledge of the forms 1 of government, both realistic, practicEal and theoretical, and that he knew i his subject thoroughly. Having this i thorough understanding, his delivery • came as a natural sequence, convinc- ■ ing, clear and straight-driving in every - point. Self-possessed and confident. - yet not bold, lie presented his argu--1 ment in away that claimed the at- ■ tention and sympathy of hls audience (Continued on Page 3.)

Price, Two Cents

GAVE SMOKER LAST NIGHT Holland-St. Louis Sugar Co. Greets Large Number of Business Men. * NEW OFFICE ROOMS ■ A Served Doughnuts and Coffee—Plenty of Cigars, and a Genuine Good Time. In Receiving Line. F. H. Hubbard, manager. Will Kremers, superintendent. James Westvelt. Morton Stults. Charles Cooper. Frank Gordon. Clayton Schafer. Ed Boesse. The local officers and employees of tlie Holland-St. Louis Sugar Plant were “At home" last evening and their hospitality was duly and fully appreciated by tlie scores of business men who accepted the invitation to join them in a “Smoker” and housewarming in their new offices in the Fritzinger block over the postoffiee on Monroe street. The sugar company recently moved into the new quarters, which are convenient for the men who work there as well as the public. Tlie rooms are arranged in a very attractive manner, with handsome new desks, chairs and tallies of light oak and tlie place lias every appearance of I a metripolitan business office, which it is. There is a main office where the. general business is transacted and which is presided over by Mr. Schafer, u private office for Mr. Hubbard, a stock room and a large room for Hie checking force when the campaign is on. As the guests arrived last evening they were met at tiie he\l of the stairway by Mr. Hubbard who gave them the glad hand of welcome and the visitors were directed into tlie room of Frank Center where the coats and hats were left. As the men entered the rooms they were welcomed by other members of the force and every where was the effort to please and welcome and entertain apparent. Cigars, pipes and cigarettes on the tables were significant of tlie tone of the event and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed if tlie clouds of blue smoke were an evidence. Some one has said if you want to please a man, feed him, ami this tlie company did with home made doughnuts and coffee “like your mother used to make” witli delicious cream and sugar made right here at home, in “Tlie sweetest little city in Indiana.” And then came the cigars, good ones made in Decatur, and tliey were passed and repassed until a late hour. During tlie evening tlie guests were entertained by phonograph selections and by various talks and explanations of various questions by tlie members of the company. The company lias contracted this year for nearly 9,000 acres of beets which is almost double that of last yeal and the prospects for one of the greatest years in the history of the company are about as bright as they could he. “Nothing succeeds like success” and the local members of the company realize that fact. Tliey are happy and don’t mind showing it. all of which is mighty good for any community, more especially this of ours. If you will study the table published today showing the growtli of the company since 1912, it will give you some idea of what tliey have done. Mr. Hubbard Honored. Mr. Hubbard returned yesterday ■ from Indianapolis where lie attended ' a meeting of tlie Wholesale Grocers Association of Indiana, the annual bant quet held at the Claypool Thursday I evening and at which event Mr. HubE bard was one of the principal speak- - ers. He gave a delightful twenty minl ute talk on “The manufacture of sugar > in Indiana,” and he delighted and pleasi ed the members of that splendid asso- - elation who heard him. Three years ■ ago Mr. Hubbard addressed that assoi elation at a time when they were just entering Indiana and when tlie business was some what of guess in this state. Now Mr. Hubba.M .had the pleasure of telling them of some real successes, of how they had overcome obstacles that seemed impossible, of the fact that tliey now secure beets (Continuea on Page 3.)