Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 1, Decatur, Adams County, 1 January 1916 — Page 1

Volume XIV. Number 1.

PERSIA IS SUNK ■ • • —• —« British Liner Sunk in the Mediterranean Thursday Afternoon. MANY LIVES LOST American Consul Believed to Have Been Aboard and Perished. i _ BULLETIN. London, Jan. 1, —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The Peninsular and Grontial liner Persia flying the British flag was sunk In the Mediterranean by a submarine on Thursday. Dispatches received here indicate that many lives were lost. Only four boatloads of pasengers and members of the crew cleared the sinking liner. The Persia was enroute from London to Bombay. She was one of a great fleet of liners owned by the Peninsular and Orental company of London, engaged principally in trade between English ports and the far east. The Persia displaced 7,964 tons, being only slightly smaller than the Italian liner Ancona, which was sunk by a submarine. She was built in 1900. Except the Lucitania and the Arabic, the Persia is the largest British liner to be sent to the bottom by a torpedo. She was the first large passenger carried to be sunk in the Mediterranean. Washington, Jan., I,—(Special to 'Daily Democrat)—Robert M. McNeely United States consul to Aden, Arabia, was on the liner Persia, sunk in the Mediterranean it was learned by the state department today. McNceley’s home was In Monroe, North Carolina. He was on his way (Continue* >n Page 4.) MANYJTTENDED Two Hundred Attended the First Annual Ball at the Masonic Hall. WAS GREAT SUCCESS Seventy-five Happy Couple Dance Old Year Out and New Year in. B With merry peals of laughter, han-, j py greetings for the New Year, and exchange, of best wishes, seventy-five Mouple danced the old year out and the New Year in at the assembly room df the New Masonic hall last night. | 7 lt was the first annual ball given by the Masons and it was a complete success. The guests included visit- ( ers from many cities including Chicago, Fort Wayne, Winchester, Bluffton, t Portland, Berne and others and the i event was declared by all a delightIfUl one. The house committee were In charge. Will P. Schrock acting as Ifoor manager and the grand march IE 8:45 was led by Robert Peterson ■Bd Miss Ruth Patterson and Mr. Dan Shdaii and Miss Katherine Egley of Srnc. The music was furnished by & Kohne and Mr. Elmo Smith. A feature of the evening were the solos by Mr. Smith and Miss Egley. During intermissions, Mr. Alberdt Sellemeyer gave concerts with an Edison phonograph. wfrinch was served in the reception room and during the evening the ladi& Os the Eastern Star served light lunch in the dinninfg room. At a few mlhittes to twelve the lights were turned low while the dance proceeded and at exactly twelve the lights were snapped on while Dr. Fred Patterson greeted the guests with A Happy New Year. Another dance will be given by the Masons about the 20th hnd those present last night have promised to be there. The total at tendance last evening was 200. those from out of the city Who attended were Clarence Nachfrleb, Dallas, Texas; Mr. Harry Dan iel and Mr. Morton, Chicago; Mr Hartman of Winchester; Mrs. Chas Pierce Goodrich, Mr. Ruby and Mist Wentworth, Cincinnati;; Misses Luel isMjjorgman, Flora Byer, Marie Me Mr. John Leach, Fort Wayne; Miss Nelson of Conington, Ind; Mis; *wKerlne Egley of Berne,

DECATUR DATEV DEMOCRAT

f MERRITT-SMITH. I Earl Merriett, of Columbus, Ind., and Miss Orpha Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Albert Smith, liv--5 ing three miles cast of the city, were quietly married yesterday afternoon at the Evangelical parsonage by the Rev, J. H. Rilling. They will have their home at Columbus. Both are fine young people. GOES TO° Mrs. Lillie Mann and children reI turned to their home at Liberal, Kansas, after a visit here with relatives. They were accompanied by Mrs. Mrs Mann’s sister, Mrs. Peter Gaffer, who goes west for her health. She will be gone three months or more. o : NEW YEAR’S WISH 1 Expressed by Father Seimetz at Closing Christmas i • Tree Entertainment. HELD LAST EVENING Big Crowd Listened to Address by Scholarly St. Mary ’s Pastor. “Let ‘Peace on earth and to all men, good will’ be your slogan for the year 1916,” said the Rev. Father Seimetz last evening as he concluded his address to the hundreds who gathered for the closing exercises of the municipal Christmas tree. “While our cousins across the Atlantic are frantically tearing at each other’s throats, we are assembled in happy peace. No difference what our religion, political 'or other beliefs and difference there is one common ground upon which can I all meet and that is the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. This is my message to you, my fellow citizens, on this happy New Year’s eve. May God bless you and keep i you.” The address was a happy and delightfully interesting one and the fifteen minutes were only too short for those Who listened to the able man. He was Introduced by Chairman C. E. Bell and he Drought closer together the men and women who heard him give forth his New Year message. He spoke of the past and its joys and sorrows, of the burdens and pleasure of life and wished for all our people in the best little city of its size this side of the Atlantic, all happiness for the- ' coming year. He concluded by stating ‘ that as he stepped upon the platform Mr. A. R. Bell told him that when he had finished, he (Mr. Bell) wanted to ‘ sing a solo and concluding, Rev. Sei- . metz said, “now make him do it,” but ■ Alex was gone, having slipped quietly away in the crowd and he refused to answer the numerous calls. I The music of the occasion was fur-1 nished by the ever ready drum corps I and following the address of the evening the committee passed out a large number of sacks of candy to the chil- ! dren present. i The event last night concluded the i ' Christmas tree exercises, each numi ber of which as planned was a suci cess considering the weather. The ’ tree has attracted much attention. • having been lighted each night, and , it is to be hoped that it will be re- ; peated each year in the future. WITH GALLOGLY & JOHNSON. i L. L. Baumgartner, who retired with the close of the year, having j served most efficiently for four years as deputy for County Clerk Ferdinand t'Bleeke, will on next Monday begin k . work for the Decatur Insurance come pany, of which Gallogly & Johnson , are the members. Mr. Baumgartner will atten dto the clerical work in s _ • the office. e >■ OPEN HOUSE TODAY 0 h The Masons and Eastern Stars are e holding open house today at their nwe t . l quarters in the Schafer block and the I public are invited to call between two y 'and nine o’clock. Phonograph music, i_ 1 dance if you wish, a general good v time. Come and say “Howdy." Committee. r ’ o 3 - ANOTHER arrival IS 1- Ida May Steele arrived at the home c- of Chas| Steele last night to gladden i;ithe hearts of the proud parents, is'Father reports the girl and mother • doing well.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday Evening, January 1, 1916.

“The Heart of the Bells” Will be Given by Sunday School OF REFORMED CHURCH u Sunday Evening — Silver Offering for the Piano Fund. A sacred cantata will be given by members of Zion’s Reformed Sunday school at the church Sunday evening, at 7 o’clock. Cast of Characters. Ben Hur. of the Plain People—Leo Kirsch. Orpha, his sister —Marie Gehrig, Esther, a lady in waiting—Mrs. B. Elzey. Children of the Court of AugustusMinerva, Ruth Mayer; Flavia, Anna Wagner; Vesta, Lydia Kirsch. Claudius, the king’s courier— Brodbeck. Valeria, the rich man's daughter— Naomi Mayer, Hercules, the palace guard—Clifford LaDelle. . Gift Bearers —Gladys Loffman, Stella Limenstall,, Frances Limenstall, Rhoda Lammert, Hulda Lammert, Marie Weidler, Dessie Shaw, Grace Shaw. Choir Girls —Opal Robinson, Eleanore Reppert, Juanita Cloud, Florence Moyer, Hazel Hofstetter, Helen Swearenger, Mary Callow, Marcia Helm. Temple Boys—Lawrence Beel, Harry Yahne, Frank Yahne, Charles Kel- ' ler, Richard McConnell, Richard Meyer, Lester Hofstetter, John Kies. A silver offering will be lifted at the close of the services for the benefit of the piano fund. ELECTS OFFICERS The Ben Hurs Elect Officers to Serve for Next Six Months. PLAN DEGREE WORK And Special Class for Spectacular Degree Here This Month. The election of officers for the coming year for the Ben Hurs was held last nignt and resulted in the selection of the following for the respective offices. Chief—Russel Acker.

SACRED CANTATA

BEGIN THEIR mj-. ■ iiii Kmc fl’ Geo. E. Kinzle, who enters upon his £ 5 duties as county treasurer, was born 3 at Convoy, Ohio, March 19, 1870. For j twenty years he has served as super- . intendent of the Citizens’ Telephone j ; Company, continuing in the employ of that company until last night. He is efficient, clever and honest and will make good as custodian of the coun-, ty’s funds. I

e Aa. C. Augsburger, who today became the recorder of Adams county,is a deserving and worthy citizen, n He was born on French township, January 3, 1867. For twenty years past he has lived in Berne, where he was s. engaged in the jewelry business. He served as truant officer several years ago and in everything he has done r he has proven himself worthy. He will take good care of the public papers entrusted to him and ho will make every effort to transact the public business correctly.

Judge—Goldie Hilliard. Teacher —Ruby Baker. Scribe —Mary E. Artman. Keeper of Tribute —Emma Burk. Captain—Martha Burk. Guide—Millie Weis. Inner Gate —Cora Worden. Outer Gate —Joe Palmer. Pianist—Goldie Closs. Drillmaster —Adam Weis. Janitor —John Burk. A decision was also reached to secure one hundred candidates for the spectacular degree, to be given here in the opera house the last of January. A special agent from the home office will arrive here next week to aid in this work. On the next meeting night the degree work will be conferred on several candidates now awaiting the work, and during the week several other meetings of interest and importance ' will be held. wTroWweds Will Bowers and Miss Florence Leahey, Trained Nurse, of Fort Wayne TAKE LIFE VOWS Groom is Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Bowers—Will Live in This City. A marriage license was issued at Fort Wayne yesterday afternoon to William S. Bowers, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Bowers of this city, and Miss Florence A. Leahey, a trained nurse, of Fort Wayne, who is well 1 known here. The wedding does not come as a surprise to their many friends here. They will make their home on First street, where they have their home already furnished. Mr. Bowers, who is a high school graduate, is an excellent young man, well and favorably known. He has been employed for some time at the ■ Lee Hardware store. The bride is i a trained nurse, who is popular with' Decatur people, having been engaged here for some time at her profession. When the J. S. Bowers home was called by telephone this morning for an interview, it was stated that nothing was known of the wedding plans by the young man’s family. POLICE COURT NEWS Mayor Christen, Fines Cover McClure for Assault and Battery. Facing the court on a charge of assault and battery, Cover McClure was fined ?1 and costs on his plea of guilty by Mayor Christen last night. McClure whipped Floyd Enos in the Smith restaurant the other night and was arrested by Night Policeman Joel Reynolds shortly afterward. McClure settled his fine and was released. He may file counter charges. 1

I TERMS OF OF I ’’lf AJA . “Billy” Hammell became clerk of Adams county today. He was born in Washington township and is one of the youngest men who ever filled a county office here. He graduated from the Decatur high school in 1908, read law with Judge Smith and later opened an office for himself. He is I well prepared for his office.

TRADE AT HOME Start New Year With Resolution to Patronize the Local Merchant. WHAT IT MEANS Daily Democrat Will Run a Story Once Each Week Showing the Answer. Start the New Year right. Make a resolution that you will trade at home, that you patronize those merchants who help to pay the taxes, to keep up this city and county, who are here to make good each and every agreement they make with you. Start today to trade at home. During the next six months, the Daily Democrat is planning to run a series of strong educational stories on this subject, which will, we believe, prove to our readers the feasability of patronizing home trade as against foreign trade centers, especially the mail order houses which are invading every community in thb land. Such concerns buy nothing from their customers, invariably exchanges goods for money but never money for goods. They employ no labor in this community. They buy no farm products, own no real estate and pay no taxes. They have no money on deposit in the local banks. They never give credit and they never pay the freight. They do nothing to keep up the expenses of our schools, churches or charitable institutions, our roads or our public buildings. They take the money out of the community and return none. For the next six months the Daily Democrat is planning to run an article on this important subject once each week. Watch for them and get post(Coutlnuea on Page 4.) RE-ELECT STAFF . • Reformed Sunday School Re-elects Old Officers to Serve for New Year. MATHIAS KIRSCH, SUPT. Cradle Roll Will be Organized—Graded Lessons Introduced. At the annual business meeting cf the Sunday school of the Reformed church last evening, the very efficient officers who have served this year, were re-elected for the coming year: ■ They are:

FICE TODAY . • • William Reppert succeeds himself as county commissioner for the sec ond district. He is a man of excellent judgment, always clever and cour teous and always watchful of the best interests of the people of his district and county. He begins today a three year term, after completing fourteer months, for which he was appointed

• Superintendent—M. Kirsch. ‘ Secretary—Lewis Fruchte. ’ Treasurer —J. Shaffer. The pianist, Miss Lulu Gerber, who is appointed, will also serve for this year, Two features will be introduced in the Sunday school this year. A cradle roll will be organized, and the deimrtmental graded lessons will be introduced in the elementary grades. ’ FORMER RESIDENTS ILL Word reached here yesterday of I the serious illness of Mr. and* Mrs. Scott Bixler of Delphos, Ohio. They were former residents here, going to Delphos to live a few years ago. While here Mr. Bixler worked for the Clover Leaf. , wasguesFday 11 I. ■ I II | Historical Club Lays Aside Its Lessons to Accord Its Friends A GOOD TIME Entertained at Delightful Holiday Party at the Dan Beery Home. Holiday cheer and the beet good wishes of the season were extended by the twenty-five members of the Historical club to fifty guests yesterday when they gave their “guest day” entertainment at the spacious Dan Beery home. The assembly numbered fully seventy-five and was one of the big events of this holiday season. The Beery home was festive with its Christmas decorations of red and green, the Christmas colors. With these were vases of many dozens of I hot house carnations and roses in pink i, and white, the club colors, which made the air fragrant and were pret-; ty to look at as well. In the receiving line were Mrs. Dan Beery, Mrs. W. E. Smith. Mrs. S. E. Hite, Mrs. Charles Downs, Mrs. Jesse Dailey. While the guests were gathering the victrola furnished music and for a while the ladies crocheted and sewed and had a cozy time chatting. Mrs. J. O. Sellemeyer also sang. Mrs. Jesse Dailey playing the piano accompaniment. A novel contest was the writnig of New Year’s resolutions in rhyme, on cards adorned with a New Year's motto. The rhymes were very clever and it was very difficu 1 for the three judges v finally decide which was the best. The judges were Mrs. D. D. Heller, from the Shakespeare club; Mrs. Eugene Runyon from the Euterpean, and Mrs. Mary Eley from the Research. f They decided that Mrs. Charles Bell I of Fort Wayne and Mrs. S. D. Beavers should share equally in the honors, which materialized in the form i ’ of a bouquet of lovely roses. The sup- [ per was an appetizing one in two , courses and consisted of pressed j ' chicken, marshmallow salad, cran- j berry sauce, pickles, rolls, cottage i cheese, peas in patties, preserved cherries, fruit salad in molds, with whipped cream, cake, coffee. This, was nicely served by Mrs. Charleri Downs, Miss Etta Mallonee, Mrs. S. E. Hite, Mrs. Jesse Dailey, Mrs. John T. Myers, Mrs. Harve Smith? Out of town guests were: Mrs. Charles Bell, Fort Wayne; Mrs. Tay- 1 lor, of Chicago, who is the guest of her sister, Mrs. C. F. Davison, and | Mrs, B. B. Uhl, of Tdledo, Ohio, who is the guest of her mother, Mrs. John Christen. The ladies of the entertainment committee, who planned the social, and carreid it out with the help of i all the club members are Mrs. Charles I Battenberg, Mrs. Dan Beery, Mrs. John T. Myers, Mrs. W. E. Smith, Miss Etta Mallonee, Mrs. S. E. Hite, Mrs. Charles Downs and Mrs. James Fristoe. They are to be congratulated for their success, and for the pleasant time which they accorded their guests. The club is a study club, but lays aside its lessons now and If then to indulge in “play.” TO MEET FRIDAY NIGHT. 1A meeting of all persons who have attended Indiana university, whether !t you have graduated or spent only a ; ‘ L portion of a year there, and all friends e- or persons interested in the unlvern slty, will be held at the office of Dr. j, S. P. Hoffman, M. D„ on Monday - night, January 3, 1916, at 8 o’clock. The purpose of the meeting is to arrange a program for the celebration of Foundation Day and for the election of officers for the ensuing year. COMMITTEE. *

Price, Two Cents.

OLD YEAR TO NEW

OLD YEAR TO NEW > F A Little Advice from the Old Year to the New Received Today. I THINK OVER IT “And Dont Get Excited” Proves a Worthy Summary of Advice. (United Press Service) Eternity City. Eternity, Jan. 1— A copy of Folonius Old Year’s advice to his son, Laertes Nynetean Sixteen, was presented to the United Press correspondent by Father Time here late today. It reads: “My son, I stand upon the threshhold of Oblivion, wherein I soon shall vanish never to return. My legacy to you is a sadly disorganized world; and I trust that you will faithfully and better administer it than have I. You will have many things to contend with, but take them easy. A menagerie, led by Donkey, an Elephant and a Bull Moose will chase the Winged Rooster of Victory up and down your days to the jaws of November. Heed them not Men with peace missions they don’t know what to do with will try to settle a war being fought for reasons no one has discovered. Let them go. The Panama Canal may slide all over South America and Colonel Goethals conversation will sound like a frequent reference to the Gatun Dam. Let him alone. Cupid may pretend to scorn Romance and be engrossed in Eugenics. Tell him that Europe needs babies. Let the War Dogs chape their own tails until the Peace Dove sheds some of its court-plaster. Then (Continued on Page 4.) they Board of Commsisioners Met Today and Rejected Mr. Eicher President FOR ENSUING YEAR Assisted by G. Ineichen and Harve Smith Are Invoicing County Farm. The board of county commissioners met this morning, January 1, 1916,. as provided by law, for the purpose of reorganization. All ihembers were | present, Chris Eicher, of the Third ’district and president; William Rep pert of the Second, who today began another term, and David Dilling, of the First. The reorganization took but a few moments, Chris Eieher being again chosen as president. The cigars were passed and the board then ' went to the county farm for the purpose of invoicing that valuable propI erty, the members of the board and I Sunperintendent Laughlin being as- . sisted in this duty by George IneichI en of Wabash township and Harvey I Smith of Washington township. The I board will meet next Monday for the ■ regular January session, WORD FROM PALM BEACH. Is That Hattie Studabaker Obenauer Is Holding Her own. John Niblick received a letter today from Mrs. Niblick, from Palm Beach., Fla. She states that her sister, Hattie Studabaker Obenauer, is , holding her own, that she is taking nourishment now, but still has some fever and is very weak. Mrs. Morrison arrived from Los Angeles Tuesday, hut neither of the sisters has seen the sick woman, her condition being so w'eak that it was feared the excitement would be too much for ■her. She was. however, told that Mrs. Morrison was coming to spend the ’ winter with her. PECULIAR FACTS ABOUT WELL KNOWN PEOPLE. (United Press Service) . Washington, D. C., Jan. I—(Speciall—(Special ’ to Daily Democrat)i—Senator Till- . man’s voice has become so feeble ■ that he can scarcely be heard in the i senate chamber. He leans wearily ■ against his desk as he speaks. TiU- . man’s once energetic manner earned him the title of “Pitchfork Ben." j