Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 94, Decatur, Adams County, 19 April 1916 — Page 1

V olume XIV. Number 94.

ULTIMATUM FORWARDED TO GERMANY

PRESIDENT IN MESSAGE TO JOINT SESSION SAYS PRESENT MODE OF WARFARE AGAINST MERCHANT SHIPS MUST CEASE AT ONCE OB BELATIONS WILL BE I SEVEBED. Washington, I). April 19—(Special to Daily Democrat)— ft’n less the Imperial German government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its present method of warfare against passenger and freight-carrying vessels, this government can have no choice but to sever diplomatic, relations with the government of the German Empire altogether.”

f This declaration was made by Presiden’ Wilson to congress this afternoon as the climax of a message in which he indited in severest terms the German submarine campaign. B "This decision 1 nave arrived at." the president added,, "with the keenest regret the possbility of the action contemplated I am sure all thoughtful Americans will look forward io with unaffected reluctance.” ‘ The president made no request of ccngre s. He simply fullfilled a promise that he would advise congress in case he toSk action such as he reported today ft have taken. The president’s message reviewed broadly the history of submarine warfajo from its beginning in February ISIS, whan the German government ahounced the creation of a war zone about the British Isles, up to the present time. He told of the original protest of the United States gqvernnieiit that such a policy could not be pursued without the “ practical certainty. of gross and palpable violations of the' law of nations, particularly if sub-; marine crjrft were to be employed." ; How the German government, over the protest of our government at once proceeded to carry out its announced policy was told by the president, though it gave assurances, he said, it would take every possible precaution to respect the rights of neutrals and safeguard the lives of non-combat-ants. ‘ln pursuance of the policy of sub-1 marine warfare against the commerce of its adversaries thus announced and entered upon by the Imperial German government, the commanders of German .under-sea vessels have attacked merchant ships with greater and greater activity — wherever they could encounter them, in away that hasgrown more and more ruthless and more and more indiscriminate as the months have gone by. less ob- ■ serving restrictions of any kind, said the president. Ites< ' 'mg the result of submarine warfa- . the president said: “Trag . edy has followed on the seas in such n fashion and with such attendant circumstances, as to make it grossly evident that war of such a sort, if warfare it can be, cannot be carried on without the most palpable violation of the dictates alike of right; and of humanity.” 'The president then told of the latost German order authorizing submarine commanders to sink all armed vessels, and how even unarmed meicb.ant vessels and liners have been sunk since then. The president then said that the Sinking of the channel steamer SusS g ex was "one of the most shocking Instances of this method of warfare. ’ "It must stand forth,” he said, “as the sinking of the steamer Lucitania did, though singularly tragically and | jpij’ustiaflable as to constitute a truly terrible example of the inhumanity of submarine warfare as the commanders of the submarine vessels have for the past twelve months been conducting it.” “If this incident stood alone, the president said, some explanation might, be sought or entertained, but unhappily it does not stand alone." “The government of the United States has been very patient, he said, “at every stage of this distress, experiencing tragedy after tragedy in which its own citizens have been involved, it has sought to be restrained from any extreme course of action

DECATUR DAILY DEMO' RAT

or of protest by a thoughtful consideration of the extraordinary circumstances of this unprecedented war and actuated iti all that it said or did by the sentiments of genuine friendship which the people of the United States have always entertained and continue to entertain toward the German nation. It has of course accepted the successive explanations and assurances of the German Imperial government has given in entire sincerity and good faith and has hoped, even aganist hope, that it would prove to be possible for the German government so to order and control the acts of its naval commanders as to square its policy with the principles of humanity as embodied in the laws of nations.” “It has been willing to wait until the significance of the acts become absolutely unmistakable and susceptible of but one interpretation. That point has now unhapply been reached. The facts are susceptible of but one interpretation. The imperial German Gov- | ernment has been unable to put any i limits or restraints upon its warfare ■ aganst either freight or passenger ships. It has become painfully evident that the position which this government took at the very outset is Inevitable, namely that the use of submarines for the destruction of enemle’s commerce is— incompatible with the principles of humanity.” The president then delivered his ultimatum as quoted. Washington. D. C.. April 19—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Bitter comment fell from the lips of Republican Leader Mann following the president’s submarine message to congress this afternoon. “It is a hypocritical speech, probably for campaign purposes. The president has been pro-English all during the controversy. I said at the time of the McLemore resolution that the president wanted to get us into i war with Germany and I say the same thing now.” 1 Washington, D. C., April 19—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Secretary Lansing this afternoon decided to give out the president’s note to Germany (mediately. It was expected to be made public before 4 o’clock p. nt. (Dy Carl W. Ackermann) Berlin, April 19—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The foreign office today delivered to Ambassador Gerard a , second memorandum on the sinking of the French channel liner Sussex. BULLETIN. 1 Washington, April 19, —(Special to ■ I Daily Democrat)—President Wilson 1 today will serve notice that Germany must stop her submarine campaign 1 immediately or diplomatic relations 1 will be severed. The note to Germany * has gone. ' These two facts became known tof day following a conference between President Wilson and members of the 1 Senate and House foreign relation! committee. President Wilson has sent an ultimatum to Germany calling upon her to t stop her submarine warfare immediately, if friendly relations between j the two countries are to be maintain (1 ed. No time limit is fixed, it is said. . Chairman Stone and Senator Lodge of the senate foreign relations comb mitte and Chairman Flood and Representative Cooper of the house foreign n (Continued - on Page 4.)

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, April 19, 1916.

DECATUR WINS — I Over Bluffton in Musical Contest in Matter of Points Secured. IT WAS A TIE . In Matter of Events—Each ■ Won Two—Contest Was Held in This City. I The musical contest between the Decatur and Bluffton high schools, held in the auditorium of the Decatur high school last evening, was an ’ interesting one. In the matter of events, there was a tie, each school winning two. In the matter of points ’ ' Decatur won. having thirty-five I I points and Bluffton thirty-one and a I half. Mrs. Sara Bristol of Portland was the judge and the contestants were graded on the scale of ten. The first event was a piano duet. . Decatur contestants were Thelma Houk and Ireta Butler, who were giv|en eight points. For Bluffton Miss Troutman and Robert Baumgartner were given eight and a half. In the violin soloist’s contest Miss Thelma Williams, Decatur, given nine and a half points, won out over Wendell Smith of Bluffton, who received eight points. The vocal solo event was won by Bluffton. Howard Walser of that city scoring nine points, and Miss Hope Hoffman of this city, eight. Miss Celia Andrews of this city, with nine and a half points, won in the piano solo event, over Robert Baumgartner of Blpffton, wRh six points. It will be noticed that Decatur, with I two students in two events, making nine and a half points, made the highest score in individual events, Bluffton’s highest being nine in one event. A. G. Morris, principal of the Bluff- . ton schools, with about eight rooters, besides the contestants, were here. inWoOrolic Indoor Picnic and Field Meet Announced by Epworth League of THE M. E. CHURCH For Friday Evening—The Events Will Furnish Fine Contest. I A novel entertainment is announced by the Epworth League of the Methodist church for Friday even- ‘ ing. April 21. This will be given in the church parlors and will be an in- ! door picnic and field meet. Admission will be, ten cents. The field meet will have a number if interesting contests, the events ber t ng as follows: ; One-yard Dash. Tug-of-war. Hurdle Race. Drinking Race. ' Cracker-eating Contest. 1 Parlor Football. r Potato Race and other contests, i t, s EASTER SUPPER. ’ The public should bear in mind the Easter supper- to be served by the ' Presbyterian ladies in the church par- ’ lors Saturday evening from 5 to 7 R o’clock. The business men, whose s Saturday work keeps them sustling. will especially appreciate the quick '■ service the society will render them, o Supper will be served for twenty-five ’• cents. Q — O — DANCE IS MONDAY. 1 The Moose opening dance which e was scheduled to be Wednesday in '■ last night’s issue will be on Monday. ’’ April 24. Arrangements are under n way to make it one of the feature dances of the season.

| I WANT ARMOR PLATE PLANT. || (Unite.l Press Service) I Evansville, Ind., April 19 —(Special to Daily Democrat —Evansville busi- . ness men are awaiting a signal that • will send them in swarms to Washington. The signal will come when the fight for the location of the proposed $U,00(\000 government armor plaie factory in Evansville reaches a climax. One hundred local men ’ w’ill make the trip and they propose by demonstrations and an effective lobby to make Evansville's place on I the map more secure. A CREDITABLE MEETING. (United Press Service) Rushville, Ind., April 19—(Special to Daily Democrat)—-Credit, more particularly as regards the man with- ) out credit, was considered in its . many phases here today by business - men from cities who gathered at (he i invitation fit the newly organized ! Rush County Business Men’s associaI tion. Credit organizations of suri rounding cities responded to the invi- > tation, sending delegations, ; o ■ -——— POST PARCELS Show Increase Now Over Half Year Ago—Count and Weigh Completed FOR FIFTEEN DAYS Report is Made —Were 377 Pieces More Now Than Half Year Ago. A fifteen days' count of parcels handled at the local postofflee shows | an increase over the bulk at the time of the semi-annual report a half yea: ago. The count just completed is foi fifteen days,.from April 1 to April 15 while that of a half year ago was for the same length of tme, beginning or. t October 1. The total number of parcels delivered according to the October report was 3268; the April report, 3615 showing an increase of 377 pieces. The total number of pieces dispatched from the local postoffice, in the October count, was 532, weighing 1741 pounds. For April, 667 pieces, weighing 2057, showing a big increase. These are parcels handled by both rural and city carriers. Q, ,■ ,- 7 OPENS EIGHTEENTH STORE. Columbia City, Ind., April 19—Thf Morris five and ten cent store con cern. with headquarters at Bluffton which has a chain of stores operating in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, have added their eighteenth establishment at Findlay, Ohio, and Austin Over deer, manager of the local store, will be absent from this city ten days while assisting in preparing for the opening of the Ohio establishment LOST BOTH LEGS L - And Also an Arm—Clover Leaf Railroader Has Frightful Loss. NEAR SCOTT, OHIO Claude Fettig is Unfortunate —Engine and Seven Cars Run Over Him. 3 Claude Fettig, a young Delphos. ’ Ohio, railroader, known to Decatur • railroad men. lost both legs and an 7 arm in a terrible accident on the 1 Cincinnati & Northern at Scott, Ohio, • Monday. Fettig was riding on the c pilot when his hat blew off and he • lost his balance in the effort to catch 3 it. He grasped the headlight and it gave way beneath his weight, allowing him to fall to the track where the engine and seven cars passed over i him. He has been removed to his a home at Delphos, but with very slight •. chance for his recovery. The injured r man is a brothqr of “Weedy” Fettig, ea member of a Clover Leaf switch- | crew.

DOLPH MUST DO 1 Was Denied Another Ex1 tension of Time for Payment of Balance 3 1 ON THE RAILROAD 1 —— The C. B. & C Line—Junk Dealers Have Been Ati tracted There. > . Fred A. Dolph, who on October 15, i 1914, bid in the C. B. and C. railroad > for $350,000 and has since made payI ment of SI,OOO on the agreed price, - was denied another extension of time ■ for the payment of the balance due in the Huntington circuit court Monday and his bid was set aside for failure to pay. The next bid accepted on the short line must be accompanied by $5,000 m cash and payments of $2,000 month'y must be made until January 1, 1917, , when the balance of the purchase pree must be forthcoming or such otteer arrangements must be made as can be sanctioned by the court. His bid will be permitted to stand but in order to make good with it. le must pay the sum of $4,000 into court before June 12, 1916. The receiver has been ordered to re-advertise for bids. A junk dealer from Cincinnati was -n the ground Monday figuring on lidding in the road and junking it, provided the court set the Dolph bid aside absolute. At the same time Pennville and Bluffton citizens, who interested, in geeping the road fn operation, were in attendance at the ourt proceedings and it is claimed, would have placed a bid rather than permit the road to sell to junk dealers. Pennville citizens interested in seeng the road operated insist that others who may be likewise interested ■hould become active in the formulaion of plans and means to bid in the (Continued on Page 4) grWWcels Grand Master and President of Indiana Odd Fellows to Come ON APRIL 25TH To Assist Local Odd Fellows to Celebrate Anniversary Day. Mrs. Mary E. Stipp, Rebekah President, and Jesse E. Mcßeth, grand master of the independent Order of Odd rel lows, will be in Decatur Tuesday April 25th to hold a special round table meeting during the afternoon rnd in the evening to assist the local lodge in exercises commemorating the ninety-sixth anniversary of the found ing of the order. The remittees in charge have provided a program for the evening in- - luding speeches by both the grand officers. The round table meeting in , the afternoon is for members of the order only, but in the evening the public is invited and urged to come. The evening session will commence promptly at seven-thirty o’clock the afternoon meeting is scheduled for one-thirty or two o’clock. Berne, Geneva and Linn Grove lodges, both Rebekah, Subordinate and Encampment have been invited to bring big delegations and attend both the meetings. Preparations for the entertainment of two hundred guests will be made. GOLDBLATT BETTER. 3 c The condition of Jacob Goldblatt, of s Cincinnati, a promnent horse buyei t who was in an auto accident east oi 1 the city one week ago today is con ;, siderably better. It is thought by i- those atending him that he will be able to be out within the week.

I EVANGELICAL CHURCH. An effort is being made to have every member present Easter Sunday morning at the morning worship at _ 10:15. This will not only remind us of the risen Christ, but of the great meeting we had one year ago when sixty-four united with the church. Sunday evening a fine Easter program will be rendered by the Young People’s Alliance. Plan to be pres- ) ent. Time, 7:30. Mid-week service this evening at 7:30. This is the passion week of L our Lord. Let us appreciate the The choir will rehearse the Easter great sacrifice made for us. sopgs after the above service. Every member of the choir ought to be present. Let us plan and pray to make EasI ter Sunday a great day J. H. RILLING, Pastor. REPORTS FILED Street and Sewer Commiti tee Reported on Many Improvements. • SEWERS APPROVED Petitions for Sidewalks and Curbs in Hands of Committee —Busy Time. Street and sewer and sidewalk Improvements were the main topics of discussion at the regular session of’ , the city council last evening and as I , about as fast as the street and sew ' [ er committee made its report on one of the improvements, new matters in the line of petitions were referred to them. The proofs of publication in the matter of the Joe Tonuelier and Wagoner sewers, giving notice to property owners to appear or file remonstrances against the improvements were filed and placed on record. As no one objected to the improvements the final resolution adopting same and authorizing the clerk to advertise for bids for their construe- ■ tion were passed and adopted. The prayer of Mrs. Sellemeyer, asking for the Tonnelier sewer, was granted. The proof of publication in the matter of the improvement of South Fifth street with a sidewalk was filed. As the council and property i owners desire to improve the street j with a sidewalk and curb also the clerk was ordered to draw up general specifications, including the curbing and to giye another notice to property owners to file remonstrances. No one objected to the West Monroe street sidewalk improvement known j as the L. W. Frank petition, so the final resolution adopting the improve-1 ment was approved and spread on record. The sidewalk will be built at once. The street and sewer committee, to which had been referred the South First and Rugg street sidewalks and the Line street improvements, together with the W. J. Barrone sewer, reported that the prayers of the pe-I titioners be granted and the improve : ments made. The preliminary resolu : tions adopting the improvements and' setting the next regular meeting night at the date on which objections would be heard were passed and adopted. The petitions for a sidewalk along Eleventh street from Mon- j roe to Adams street and for the improvement of West Madison street from Eighth to Thirteenth streets, with sidewalk and curb and for the improvement of Ninth street with tarvia instead of brick were filed and | . upon motion referred to the street j , and sewer committee. The petition . from property owners asking for the extension of the electric light line so that an arc light could be erected at the Clover Leaf railroad, and at the High street crossing was referred to 5 the electric light committee. ’ A communication from J. C. Tritch of Fort Wayne, relative to the Mon--1 roe street sidewalk, was placed on >• file. The waterworks commitee reported as having entered into contract ,f with Charles Roop for the hauling of r coal for the year 1916. The street and sewer committee, to 3- which was referred the street comy missioners’ quarterly report, reporte ed favorably on same and ordered it (Continued on Page 4.)

Price, Two Cents.

WAR FILMS HERE “On the Firing Line With the Germans” Thrown on Screen Today. AT CRYSTAL THEATER Pictures Are Marvelous— Be Sure to See Thein— Are Educational. At eleven o’clock this morning the first picture of the great war movies "On the Firing Line With Germany’’ was thrown on the screen at the Crystal theater and as the many people who took advantage of the morning matinee marched forth from the theater they pronounced the show the greatest they had ever seen. The Daily Democrat under whose auspices the pictures ary being shown recommends them as being "marvelous” and we do not for a single moment hesitate in urging you to spend a slim . two bits to see the greatest war picj tures brought to the United States. After you see them you’ll say tho same. Harry Mack the war film man, who is in charge of the show here today will leave with the films early in the morning for Chicago where they will be shown for two weeks at the Colonia theater. "On the Firing Line With I the Germans" were shown in Chicago I scon after their arrival in this connI try as the LaSalle theater at the price !of a dollar a seat. Be sure to see tligse great pictures today. You’ll enjoy them and find them very educational. HER DEBT OF HONOR Valli Valli, the star of ‘The High Road”, “The Woman Pays” and “The Turmoil”, three Metro screen masterpieces, will be seen again as the star in the next Metro release, “Her Debt of Honor”, which will be shown here at the Crystal on Thursday. This five part wonderplay was produced by the Columbia Pictures Corporation for Metro, and directed by Wiliam nigh, who also directed the Metro classics, "A Yellow Streak,, and “Emmy of Stork’s Nest.” Mr. Nigh is the author of "Her Debt of Honor,” an orii ginal protodrama full of surprises and thrills. An unusually strong cast will be seen in the support of Miss Valli, among whom .are William Nigh, the author and director, David Thompson Frank Bacon, Wiliam Davidson, John Goldsworthy, R. A. Bresee, Dean Hume and Mrs. Mathilde Brundage, whose notable characterzation of Mrs. Si Stork in “Emmy of Stork’s Nest” brought her such fame. 5 and 10 ctt. BEAUTIFY CHURCH GROUNDS A loyal band of workers already busy is the flower committee of the Reformed church, of which Mrs. Fred Heuer is chairman. The ladies met yesterday and made several fine flower beds and set out iris and hardy hydrangea plants which about tho church will bloom into lovliness soon. Later species wli be set out. Jacob Schaler assisted in the making of the j beds. Not all of the ladies on the i committee were able to be present, and Mrs. L. W. Stolte was an extra helper. The committee comprises besides the chairman, Mesdatnes Peter and Otto Kirsch, Ida Schlickman, Harry Cloud and Martin Miller. The comi mittee grew out of suggestion of the j Woman’s Civic Improvement society, , with whom they work. CARD ■ We desire to express our sincere > thanks to all the neighbors and friends who so kindly and faithfully i i-■ during the illness and • death of our loving husband and fai • ther. We are very thankful for the beautiful floral offerings, which were - so greatly appreciated. t MRS. HORNADA AND CHILDREN, f " NOTICE. ’ All members of Class No. 18 of the ' Methodist Sunday school are request- ' ed to meet at the home of Miss Lois t Peterson Thursday evening at seven o’clock. Fine program. Be there.