Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 123, Decatur, Adams County, 23 May 1916 — Page 1

Volume XIV. Number 123.

MEXICAN PEONS AREJTARVING Reports from Consul Letcht er Say That Mexico is Starving. FRANCE MAKES GAINS French Capital is in Gala Attire Over French Victory. (United Press Service) (By Carl G. Groat) Washington, D. C„ May 23 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The great underlying elements «f a nation's life -—money. Industry and food—are in a deplorable condition in Mexico. Reports today from one of the consular staff gave the administration men a distinct shock. The information contained in his latest message was before the president and his cabinet. The report pictured starvation. It declared flatly that economic condiitions are "very much worse; that the tlarranza fiat money is shaky and that the strike affecting a large part of Mexican transportation is presenting a grave problem from a commercial standpoint.” What the administration will do &>ward this problem is not yet announced. Added to the consular message was an expected personal report from Consul Letcher of Chihuahua City, due here from the border. Men in touch with his past confidential messages said his version of the situation would not be optimistic. Washington, May 23—((Slpecia to Daily, Democrat)— Thirty thousand Mexican troops—twenty thousand more than General Obregon promised to distribute —are now moving north from Saltillo, Durango, and elsewhere according to state department information received here today. Columbus. Nek Mexico. May 23— (Special to Daily Democrat)—Not one members of the New Mexico national guard has so far been mustered into the United States service although the ; president issued his call two weeks ago today. About one half of the New Mexican contingent, which was ordered concentrated-here, has been examined and about? forty persent of this number have been rejected as physically unfit and returned to their ' homes. NOTE IS READY. Washington. May 23—((Special to Daily Democrat)—President Wilson today completed his note protesting against mail seizures by Great Britain. It was sent to Secretary Lansing for the latters signature shortly before noon. Largely legal in character the communication closes with instructions to Ambassador Page to renew vigorously the complaints already made by the 'United States. The legal discussion relates to the practice followed by the British patrol cruisers in holding up neutral vessels, carrying United States mails. Taking them into British ports and there subjecting the mails to censorship. This practice, the American note insists, is essentially without the pale of international law and contrary to all recognized rules respecting the inviolability of neutral mails in times of war. Vienna. May 23—((Special to Daily Democrat)—ltalian troops have evacuated positions at Borg before the Austrian advance, the war office officially announced this afternoon. Geneva, Switzerland, May 23—Special to Daily Democrat)—Despite the most stubborn resistance the armies of the Austrian crown prince are pressing steadily forward against Vlcinza, the Italian "Verdun” on the first anniversary of Italy’s declaration of war. Austrian artillery have begun a bombardment of the snow capped peak of Monte Pasubio, 21 miles northwest of Vicenza. The position has been strongly fortified by the Italians. It bars the northern entrance into the valleys leading directly into the northern Italian plain, less than ten miles distance. London, May 23—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Premier Asquith moved in commons this afternoon a new war

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

■redit for $1,500,000,000, bringing the total appropriation since the beginning of the war to $11,900,000,000. In urging the passage of the new credit, the prime minister declared 'hat without English loans the allies would be unable to continue their combined operations successfully. He said that England cannot hope at . his time to even diminish her loans to the allies or to her dominions and declared it would bo unwise to count on England’s war expendiutres falling below $23,750,000 a day. The expenditures for the past fifty alone have been about $1,205,000.000, the premier said, an average of about $24,100,000 a day. Paris, May 23 —((Special to Daily Democrat) —The Tri-color of France fluttered evrywhere in the French capital today in celebration of the most (Continued on Page 2.) USEDJJYRENE Albert Beery’s Quick Action Saved O. L. Vance’s Auburn Car EARLY LAST NIGHT Car Caught Fire from Leaking Carburetor — But Little Damage. A Pyrene fire extinguisher and quick thinking on the part of Albert Beery probably saved the O. L. Vance Auburn car from total destruction by fire at 7 o’clock last night, when it caught fire from a spark. Mr. Vance had the car in front of the Kalver-Noble garage and was in the act of starting away when I. A. Kalver, president of the garage company, noticed that the car was on fire. He cried out a warning and Beery, one of the garage drivers, who stood close by, grasped a Pyrene extinguisher, and shot the fluid under the hood. One-half the contents of the entinguisher was used. Garage men examined the car and found a leaking carburetor. The spark from the carburetor ignited the fumes of the gasoline, causnig the fire. The car suffered but little damage. A—THE TRIAL DRAGS (Unftpd Press Service) Muncie, Ind., May 23 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Examination of veniremen for the trial of Gene Williams, deputy prosecutor, dragged slowly today. The state passed temporarily a tentative jury at 10:50 o’clock this morning after utilizing three of its allotted ten premptory challenges. A reexamination of the tentative jury, Harry Long# counsel for the defense, said was necessary. The defense may center its case around the fact that the identy of the persons from whom Williams is alleged to have solicited and accepted bribes will not be established. All the veniremen so far passed temporarily are farmers, save one, the owner of a general store. JUDGE SMITh“Y~DELEGATE (United Press Service) Indianapolis, May 23 —((Special to Daily Democrat) —More than 700 Masons Invaded Indianapolis today for the annual state convention of the Indiana Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The sessions will be continued tomorrow. Judge David E. Smith, Master of the local Masonic lodge, is the delegate In attendance in behalf of Adams county. FRED BENTZ BETTER The condition of Fred Bentz, cashier of the People's State Bank of Berne, who was struck by an automobile Sunday morning, is better. Dr. D. D. Clark, the attending physician, was to visit him this morning and ' found him much improved. He will no doubt recover. GIVE SECOND DEGREE At the regular meeting of the lodge ’ on Thursday night at Knights of Py : thias will give the second degree to a 1 candidate. The degree staff is espe--1 cially urged to be in attendance st this time. 3 O BAPTIST CHURCH NOTICE. 8 The board o the Baptist church re quests that all members be presenl y Wednesday evening at the regulai J prayer service hour. Business of im r portance will come up at this time.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, May 23, 1916.

NEW POSTOFFICE v 1 1 1 s Is Among Possibilities for Decatur—Question of Site is up Again. s 1 1 INSPECTOR TO COME According to Information 3 Recently Received—Others May be Offered. Reports received here and requests t for information assure the fact that the building of a postoffice building in Decatur is most probable. An appro- • priation for the purchase of the lot 1 was made a year or more ago, but ' was held up because it was known that the building could not be built for some time. It is now said that > the matter is to bo again brought up and that an inspector will be sent here soon to take up the matter of location. There were several proposed formerly, the John Niblick Jot, corner Court and Third streets, the J. D. Hale lot. corner Jefferson and Second, the Weber lot and lot, corner Monroe and Third, and the J. K. Niblick lot. corner Second and Jackson, the inspector reporting favorably at that time for the John Niblick lot. It is said now, however, that the proposition will be reopened as new and that others will have the opportunity to offer sites if they desire. If the lot is purchased at this time it is likely that the building would be erected in about two years. Congressman Adair recently introduced a special bill asking an appropriation of $60,000 for the building. HURT ATJIGHTS Eugene Bremerkamp Was Injured Severely at Fort Wayne. GOT IN MACHINE Causing Severe Contusions Over Entire Side of the Body. Eugene Bremerkamp, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Bremerkamp, of this city, who has been working at the General Electric Works plant in Fort Wayne the past three or four weeks as a machine hand, was severely injured yesterday morning when he caught his arm in some cogs upon his machine. Seven stitches were necessary to close the wound, and the entire side of his body was bruised and cut. Directly after the accident, which occurred in the morning, he was removed to the emergency hospital where first aid treatment was given him. He was later taken to the St. Joseph hospital. His condition, while not critical is serious. , His older brother, Bernie, visited him during the afternoon and even- , ing. He went to Fort Wayne three or 1 (our weeks ago to work at the plant 1 and has since been regularly on duty. He will return home as soon as he is discharged from the hospital for ref (operation. The Jolrnal-Gazette says: "Eugene Bremerkamp, an employe at the General Electric Works, was seriously injured shortly before noon yesterday when the sleeve of his jacket was caught and drawn in the t - gearing of the insulating machine he was operating. Before it could be ex- '' tricated the flesh from the upper right ’ arm had been torn away, leaving a ’ wound which required many 1 stitches to close. The injured man 1 was taken care of at the dispensary, where Dr. Schultz attended him. Bremerkamp will be disabled several weeks as a result of the accident, q and may consider himself fortunate that he did not lose his arm. George a Myers, another workman, was also painfully injured when a piece of ’ copper inflicted a deep gash in his 4 left hand at the base of the thumb. Dr. Schultz also attended him.” — o TWILIGHT SLEEP BABE. s " A “twilight sleep babe,” a girl, was '*■ born yesterday to Mr. and Mrs. Hen ir ry* Smitley, of Thirteenth street. Th< 1- babe weighed nine and a quartei pounds.

■ FOR NEW CONSTITUTION. ■ (United Press Service) Muncie, Ind., May 23 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The state of Indiana was given another boost to- * ward a new constitution when the State Wide Constitution Conference opened here. Hoosiers from all parts of the state who favor a new organic law were present. During the two-day session suffrage in all its aspects, taxation, labor, the short ballot, judicial reform and other movements will be discussed in an informal way. No I set and fixed program has been arranged but the conference Is divided into sections which will study separate topics. The city government section was scheduled to hear the following speakers: Theodore F. Thieme, Fort Wayne; William Dud--3 ley Foulke, Richmond; Spencer F. t Ball, Terre Haute; John W. Holtzman ) and Winfield Miller, Indianapolis. - Alvah J. Rucker, prosecuting attort ney of Marion county, was the print clpal speaker at this morning's sesi sion. Hon. Addison C. Harris, fort mer ambassador to Austria, and t Judge W. H. Eichhorn of Bluffton > will speak tonight. _o MUSIC AND SONGS Twenty-four Musical Numbers Will be Included in Operetta “Sylvia” ON THURSDAY NIGHT Costumes Have Been Secured tor Event—Many Tickets Sold. Another rehearsal of the entire cast i including the chorus for the operetta “Sylvia,” was held last evening at the Bosse opera house and those in charge of the directing say that after the production of the play they would not be surprised if some popular opera company would try to engage the entire troupe for a world’s tour, so ably did they take and act thier parts. Costumes of the eighteenth century have also been secured for the event ] and the stage will be specially decorated for the evening. In connection with the two acts twenty-four musi- ’ cal numbers will be rendered. “Sylvia is being given under the auspices the C. L. of C. and the ladies are using every minute to make it one of the most pleasant events of the season. All those who have tickets can get them reserved Wednesday morning at eight o'clock. CHANGES DECREE Supreme Court Reverses Decision of Adams Circuit Court IN BRANYAN CASE > Against Brookover—Deals i With Ownership of 263 Acres Near Huntington. 1 County Clerk Will Hammell has ' received word from the supreme . court that the decision rendered in the Adams circuit court in the case of Lucinda Branyan et al. vs. Aseal 3 Brookover et al. March 26, 1913, has been reversed. s This is a case that was venued here ? from Huntington county and related 3 to the title of 263 acres of land there. 1 The judgment given by Judge Merryj man in the court here was that the plaintiffs are the owners in fee sim- ( pie, subject to the life estate of Mary Ann Brookover, of the 263 acres of land in Huntington county, giving i them a decree of quiet title. The decision of the supreme court j reverses this. o B GO TO CLICK SPRINGS S. C. o f Word has been received by relatives s in this city that Mr. and Mrs. Philip ’’ Obenauer who have been at the springs at Austell, Georgia, will leave there today for Atlanta, and after i,s few days, will Ed to Chick Springs, S. n- C.. This is a famous mineral Springs le in the mountains and Mr. and Mrs. >r Obenauer will spend the summer at that place

SHE STOLE AWAY i Young Bride of Cy Fairfield, With Whom He Eloped to Hillsdale HAS DESERTED HIM Bride Married Five Times Before Believed to Have Wanted His Money. "Well, I made a mistake and that's all there is to it,” is what Cyrus Fairfield, 81-year-old bridegroom, told relatives Sunday in announcing that his wife, formerly Mrs. Mary Fogel, of Muncie, with whom he eloped to Hillsdale. Mich., on April 1, had deserted him last Friday. Where the woman is now no one knows, least of all the deserted husband himself. It was presumed at the time of the wedding that the woman, who is thirty-five years of age had been married five times before, was only after Fairfield's money. If she got any of it, Fairfield has noF confided the fact to relatives and laments only that he spent S2OO on the wedding trip and new clothing for his bride. Mrs. Fairfield disappeared from their new residence on Beaver avenue Friday morning after her husband had been absent from the house for two hours. —Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. n . BARBERS’ UNION MEETING. The Barbers’ union will meet at the Barney Wertzberger shop at 8:30 this evening. Please all be present. LESTER BAUGHMAN, Sec'y. IN LEAP YEAR A Girl Should Take Advantage of Her Privileges is the Resolution FOR A DEBATE To be Given This Evening by Epworth Lague at Their Social Meeting. “Resolved, That a girl should take advantage of leap year.” What do you think of that? Those who attend the Epworth League business social this evening in the Methodist church parlors at 7:30 o’clock will find out what the debaters have - say on the subject. Harvey Everett, Chalmer Porter and Bob Colter will take the atiirmative side, and Nola Snyder, Florence Myers and Martha Tucker the negative. An interesting debate is anticipated. The regular business meeting will be held at this time, including the election of officers, prior t othe social. ANOTHER DOLLAR CAME IN. Charles Hocker, the genial deputy postmaster, gave us a dollar last evening to help in paying the expense of putting up the slides for the children. The money has practically all been paid in and a check was fo l warded to the manufacturers in payment for the slides. The ladies in charge hope to provide other outdoor apparatus for the children and whethe, they do or not depends on how the children assist in taking care of the slides and the others now on hand. Be as careful as you can and help to /ivoid accidents. . M. E. JUNIOR LEAGUE PICNIC. Meet at the church Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. You will be kept guessing as to where you are going from the time you leave the church until you reach your destination. Come prepared to have a fine time. Mrs. Farr’s class is to bring sandwiches. Miss Mallonee’s class bring fruit. Miss Teeple’s class cookies or cake. Anita Swearenger’s class and boys’ class, pickles or sal ad. Let every Junior and “should be’ Juniors be there. o TO HAVE SALES. • I Section one of the U. B. churcl • young people’s society will hold a pae ’ try sale at the gas office, and a pat • cels post: sale at the old laundry build II ing on Saturday, May 27. The pub | lie Ms invited to both places.

fFOR PREPAREDNESS. (United Press Service) Seymour, Ind., May 23 —(Special to Dally Democrat) —What could Seymour's factories furnish the govern- ’■ ment in case of war? The answer to this question is being determined by M. E. Jennings, the local field aide of the committee on industrial preparedness of the naval consulting board. A complete census of Seyj mour’s industrial status is being taken by Jennings. WANTS A GAME 5 A letter from C. B. Foster, 804 Macedonia avenue, Muncie, manager of the Muncie Cannon Stars, a middle-weight base ball team, wants dates with any Decatur aggregation that thinks they s can beat a championship team They , claim to be the best traveling team out of Muncie and they want to hear from the best club in Decatur. ;i : LABORJS_SCARCE Govern Ralston Tells of the t Difficulties Gentry Dog ■ Show is Having. » 1 $ FOGARTY KNOWS NOW I What Republicans Meant i by Saying the Country I Would go to the Dogs. (By Willis S. Thompson) Indianapolis, Ind., May 23 —(Spec- , ial to Daily Democrat) —Goveinor , ' Ralston told an interesting story to the visiting democratic chairmen and . secretaries the other day, illustrating the prosperity of the country and , the fact that there are no unemploy- ( ed men. “Something happened in the governor’s office yesterday,” said the governbr. “which never happened before. One of the Gentry Brothers, located over here at Bloomington, came into my office to tell me that he had tried all sorts of schemes and all sorts of wage offers, and everything his whole circus family could think of. to find or locate men who would be willing to help them take their I dogs out on the show circuit. He ( said there was absolutely no chance to find sufficient force of workers in regular chaflnels. There were no men out of jobs or willing to quit what they had to travel. "Then he gave me his reason sor 1 , appealing to the state. He wanted to* know if there were not men at the' penal farm or in the reformatory at' , 1 Jeffersonville whom we could release ' to fill his quota of men to take out l his dogs. o“It was such a novel proposition ! that I hardly knew how to answer j ’ and I suggested that he see the superintendent of each of these insti- > tutions and have them call on me when they had considered the matter. From messages Whcih came to me today, I am advised that the Indi- ■ ana penal farm can supply six such , men and the reformatory is yet to ( be heard from. "Now, we shall have the novel spec- , taele of the penal farm and reformatory of Indiana conducting the Gentry dog show over the country be- , cause everybody else is too busy to do it.” A Ititle later in the evening State Chairman Bernard Korbly, who was presiding as toastmaster of the banquet at the West Shore club, intro- . duced William F. Fogarty, president of the Fidelity Trust company, who is the new treasurer of the state committee. In his response Mr. Fogarty said when Governor Ralston was telling the circus story he had recalled the old story that the republicans 1 had told the people for so many years. He said he could remember all his life that the republicans had said whenever the democrats got into r power the whole country would go » to the dogs. He never knew just what j the republicans had meant. Now it b was perfectly clear. Prosperity had i- done it. e Then somebody else remarked that g if the republicans who simply can’t ,s get the taste for office out of their 8 , mouths, must have something to do, 's they would have to start enough dog ,1- shows to go around. That in fact >» with one more walloping like that of 1912, it was doubtful if the whole party assembled in mass meeting would number enough to manage one , h full grown dog. •S- ” CIVIC IMPROVEMENT rd- The civic improvement society will b- meet Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the library. j

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METHODISTS ACT I On Important Matters—lndorsed Plans That May Lead to Unification OF THE CHURCH In North and South—Voted Against Abolishing Missionary Episcopacy. Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 23’— Action of widespread importance to Methodism was taken yesterday by the general conference or the Methodist Episcopal church, which by an overwhelming majority voted against abolishing the missionary episcopacy and later decisively endorsed plans that may lead to the unification of the Methodist church in the north and south before the next quadrennial session. Lively debate marked the proposal to advance all missionary bishops to the grade of bishops with full powers and to elect no more bishops whose episcopal authority is limited to the foreign mission field. J. Frank Hanly, of Indiana, introduced a resolution signed by himself and eleven others asking that a recommendation of the delegates and missionary representatives from southern Asia be Indorsed. The resolution urged that the election of missionary bishop for Singapore be indefinitely postponed, pending reassignment of the territory under the missionary bishops. The conference approved the postponement. Mr. Hanly also asked that missionary bishops John E. Robinson, stationed at Bangalore, India; Frank W. Warne, of Lucknow, India; John W. Robinson, of Bombay, India, and William P. Eveland. of Manila. Philippines, be elected general superintendents and that one bishop be chosen for Africa instead of two missionary bishops. The proposed change was characterized as radical and "almost revolutionary” by several delegates. Eventually, the resolution was defeated by an almost unanimous vote. In the selection of two missionary bishops for Africa, it was provided that one, who is to supervise the work in Liberia, must be of African lescent. A deadlock over both offices resulted on the first ballot but the withdrawal of a number of negro candidates, it was said, virtually assures •he election of Alexander P. Camphor, of Birmingham, Ala., today as bishop •or Liberia. The votes for the other missionary bishop were divided between Ebons Johnson of Sioux City, Iowa; L E. Crowther of New York, and Albert E. Smith, president of Ohio Northern college, Ada, Ohio. The board of bishops was given the power to decide if the present con’erence shall meet again in 1918 to consider the plan for Methodist unity. Otherwise the proposal will not reach rhe northern church officially until 1920, when the next general conference meets. Almost the only obstacle to the proposal was immediately removed by he action of Bishops Earl Cranston, Tohn W. Hamilton and Joseph Hartzell, who are to be retired at the end >f this session. If the session were prolonged until 1918 they could not be legally retired until that time. The three bishops in turn appeared before the delegates and asserted that if the movement for the union of Methodism would thereby be advanced they would willingly ask to be retired at once. The conference received the announcement with enthuiasm. William J. Bryan, former secretary of state, delivered an address yesterday in which he advocated woman suffrage, temperance and world-peace. He said that he had hoped that international disputes might be lifted from the field of force to that of negotiation, investigation and arbitration. INJURED MOTORCYCLE RIDER ’ Charles Bracht. 2228 Reed street ’ this city, reports to local police heads quarters that while driving his auto- , mobile near Magley, Adams county, ; Sunday morning, Ben Johnson, of De- > catur, ran into the Reed car and was thrown, receiving injuries to his legs, arms and head. Johnson was taken to Decatur tor medical attention. With I Mr. Bracht were his wife and Mr. and i Mrs. John Lindenberg—Fort Wayne j Sentinel.