Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 14, Number 306, Decatur, Adams County, 27 December 1916 — Page 1

Volume XIV. Number 306.

ON TO TAMPICO Villa Believed to Have Sea- « port of Tampico as His Objective. ADMINISTRATION BUSY Formulating New Plans to Meet Any Eventuality— Situation Tense. (United Press Service) Washington. Dec. 27—(S|>ecial to Daily Democrat)—Two new developments today thrust the Mexican situiition to the foreground here.

The first was a statement from the state department that unrest in northern Mexico is growing and that as a result administration attention once more is foreused toward larder. The second was announced by the secretary of the interior Lane that he had issued a call for a conference of the American members of the Amc.-j---can-Mexican commission. Men in touch with the state department affairs believe todays emphasis on the Mexican situation was intended as a preparation*of the public for possible serious developments, expeci illy as Carranza, so far as is known, has not signed the American-Mexican withdrawal protocol. (By Wehb Miller.) El I'aso, Texius, Dec. 27 (Special to Daily Democrat) —That Villas objective is Tampico and that the bandit leader is preparing for an attack upon that Mexican seaport war. indicated in reports obtained today by UnPed States agents. Although no official confirmation has been received, authorities believe the report that Villas forces are now in the possession ot San davis Potosi, cutting off communication between Tampico and the west, is correct. Fuel for the English fleet is drawn from the oil fields in the Tampico region and Villa believes that England would immediately force the Unit’d States government to act if the oil supply was cut off. (By Cad D. Groat) Washington. Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —The United States government will wait a day or two longer for Carranzas answer on the troop withdrawal protocol. Though yesterday as the last day in which he could sign, authorities ex plained today that transmission difficulties may have delayed his reply. For that reason the government refused to consider formulation of any new Mexican policy until they were certain he had ignored it. A general feeling was still that Carranza would come to terms in an eleventh hour tyessage. If he does rot the American-Mexican peace commission will automatically be ended. Then, according to views of array men. General Pershings forces will rc main in Mexico and the seventy-five thousand guardsmen will be retained on the border. INSURANCE COMBINATION. (United Press Service' Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —That a combination exists among fire insurance interests in Indiana to fix rates in violation of an injunction issued six years ago. is stated by H. H. Klayer. special investigator employed by the state, in a report to Attorney General E. B. Stotsenberg. The attorney general announced that he will take no action on the report, as his term of office expires shortly, but will turn all evidence over to his successor. Klayer declared conditions are identical with those before the injunction was isseud in 1910.

o WOODS HAS EVIDENCE. (United Press Service) Washington. D. C„ Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat)— Representative Woods’ search for evidence regarding the rumored leak to Wall street of advance iformation on President Wilson's peace note led him into diplomatic circles and into the homes of relatives o( officials high in the administration, he stated today. "I am informed that a relative of a high official in the brokerage business is alleged to have profited immensely by the advance information on the president’s message,” said Wood. “I may reveal his name at any time.”

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

| PRESIDENT SIXTY TOMORROW. 1 (United Press Service, Washington, D. C„ Dec. 27—(SpecI ial to Daily Democrat)—The president • of the United States’will be sixty years of age tomorrow. At this, the beginning of his second term as president, th executive shows his years much more than he did al the begin- ! nlng of his occupancy of the white ! house in 1912.. Do is a bit more ! stooped than then and the heavy lines | in his face are much more sharply drawn than they were before he came through the international crises that have confronted him since the i war begfm. He is, however, strong ' I and well. Letters, telegrams and remembrances from friends and rela-! lives began pouring into the white house by scores today. PREPARING NOTE

■» j ( Allies Believed to he Preparing Answer to Wilson’s Peace Note. GIVING THEIR TERMS And Aims for Which They Are Fighting—lssue Believed Imminent. (United Press Service) Ixmdon, Dec. 27 —(S]>ecial to Daily Democrat) —The allies are now formulating a reply to President Wilson’s peace note which will probably clearly outline the objects for which they are fighting, it was learned on high authority today. A ministerial conference on the international situation was held at premier Lloyd Georges official residence today. London, Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—The allies will not accept Qermanys peace proposals in her note to America for an immediate peace conference. That was made entirely clear today. But the Teuton reply to President Wilsons note was hailed here as affording a splendid opportunity for England and her allies to se before the world a statement which would establish the aims of the entente powers in the war. England holds that Germany lacks sincereity in her peace offer. Strong influencses were at work today urging that Great Britian made this insincerity more striking by substituting a statement of the ententes’ fighting principles. (By Robert J. Bender.) Washington, Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Despite a general: feeling of hopelessness among government heads for prospects of peace, men closest to President Wilson believe today he will strive to the utmost to prevent the situation getting beyond his grasp. Two reasons they said for the action are: A desire to end the war and a desire to avoid having to break relations with Germany should she over-

step her submarine pledges. Officials made no secret of their pessimism over the probable allied rejection of the German proposals for a conference. London, Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Sweeden has joined with America and Switzerland in peace | suggestions the Daily Telegraph asserted today. According to their information a Sweedish note similar to the Swiss statement has been presented to the beligerents. FARM LOAN BANKTI. (United Press Service)- .| Washington. D. C., Bee. -7 (Special to Daily Democrat)—The federal

farm loan bank board today announced the folowijg cities in whirfh farm loan banks will be located: Spring-1 '.field, Mass.; Baltimore, Md.; bia, S. C.; Louisville, Ky.; Naw Or-) leans, La.; St. Louis, Mo.; St. Paul, Minn.; Omaha, Neb.; Wichita, Kans.; | Houston. Tex.; Berkeley, Cal., and Spokane, Wash. The bank which Indiana was trying to procure was given to Louisville. JOINT INSTALLATION. The W. R. C. has voted to hold a joint nistallation, with the G. A. R. Saturday, January 6. A box of goodies will be distributed after the I holidays.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, December 27, 1916.

SALES REOPEN I January Fifth First Sale of Series Will he Held at First Street Stables. FOUR HUNDRED HEAD Will he Offered at This Time — Practicaly all Home Raised Horses. Adams county, as Indiana’s great-1 est horse market, will come into her! own on January fifth, when the first! sale of a series will be held at the 10-i cal sales barns. At this sale the management expects to offer from three 1

hundred and fifty to four hundred horses, practically all of which have been raised in the county. Buyers for the firm have been scouring the county for the past thirty days buying good marketable horses, and this stock will be offered at the sale on January fifth. The Adams county horse sale company enjoys a reputation for fair dealing, won through years of honest dealing, and in turn they have given this county the honor of being the first' horse market in the state. The market in this city sells, handles an 1 ships more horses than any other market in the state. READ jONTRACT Buyers of Nursery Stock Warned to be Careful of Whom They Buy. i ’ FRAUD CONTRACTS Have Been Signed by Indiana Farmers—Tells How to Guard Yourself. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —A warning to buy-' ers of nursery stock in Indiana to beware of a new system of fraud dis-, covered in some parts of the state, I was discovered today by B. F. Kindig' deputy state entomogist. -The state-' ment follows: "Recently evidence of illegal work 1 on the part of a fruit tree agent in j Franklin county came to the notice of State Entiinologist Frank N. Wallace. An investigation and a subse-j quent plea of guilty showed an agent was selling nursery stock without a license. "Contracts which were shown bypersons who purchased from him i showed this agent used two contracts that one of them it said: ’lt is agreed that the entire contract is written and printed hereon and that co verbal agreement or alteration in the: printed matter of This contract is > . binding and I agree not to coutner this

order. “In another part of the same contract the buyer agrees to pay for the stock upon delivery. In the second contract which the agent and the buver both signed it was agreed that the stock would be paid for by a note due I in three years, while further on in I the same contract it is agreed that the buyer shall give the nursery com-1 pany one of the fruit gathered from' s the trees and plants for a period of three years and that the nursery company agrees to accept the fruit in full payment of the contract. It was admitted that the second contract mentioned was used simply as a bait for catching the order and that it s really was not binding upon the comI rany or the purchaser.

Buyers should be careful about 'signing contracts with unknown par-' ties. All persons buying should de- ! mand to be shown a valid license.” o FATE A MYSTERY (United Press Service) New York, Dec. 27—(Special to the Daily Democrat)—The fate of the Maryland, reported to be sinking about three hundred fifty miles off 1 1 Sandy Hook was still a mystery early today. Nothing has been heard from r the vessel or from government cut- ■ ters rushing to her assistance for nearly twenty-four hours.

ONCE WEALTHY, NOW WARD OF COUNTV (United Service) Brazil, lnd„ Dec. 27 (Special t1 Dally Democrat) Once the owner of fiOO acres of land, which he divided among his children, A. J. Woolfs, 78, was taken to the county farm to spe .d his remaining days. Woolfe became a ward of the county after a quarrel among his children as to who should keep him. A suit in which he asks the restoration of the old homestead by his son is ponding in the Clay dr--1 cult court. o MODERN WOODMEN TONIGHT. The regular meeting of the Modern ! Woodmen of America will be held at the hall this evening. All members i are requested to be present at the meeting. Business of importance. FOR STATE PARKS A. .1. Smith Subscribes $25 to Start the List in Decatur. IT’S A GOOD WORK Adams County Asked to Give S3OO of \yhich S2OO is to be Raised Here.

A beginning was made in Decatur today in behalf of the movement for the maintenance and preservation of a system of 200 state owned parks. The Turkey Run and McCormick's! Creek Canyon tracts will be presented through the legislature to,the state 1 of Indiana this winter as the “cen*ennial gift of grateful Hoosiers to their state.” It is hoped to present them fr;ee of indebtedness, although a de*’i«cit of $15,000 exists and this first must be wiped out. A. J. Smith led the subscription li t in Decatur with $25. Adams county has been asked to contribute S3OO to the movement, of which S2OO, it is believed, can be raised here and the rest in Geneva and Berne. Subscriptions will be received and acknowledged through the columns of The Democrat. Checks will be payable to Sol S. Kiser, Treasurer, Meyer-Kiser Bank Indianapolis. For The State Park Movement. I A. J. Smith $25.00 i Mr. and Mrs. John Niblick.... 25.00 FEED BARN SOLD Fred Lininger Buys Ernst Schlickman Feed Barn and Delivery System. POSSESSION JANUARY 1 Lininger is a Well Known Farmer and no Stranger to Decatur Merchants. A business deal was closed last I evening whereby Fred Liniger became the owner and manager of the Ernest ' Schlickman feed yard and merchants ! delivery system. The deal has been brewing for some time but the con- ( tract of sale was not made until this morning. Mr. Liniger is well known in this city, being a farmer in Adans i County a good many years. He will I strive to please everybody who pat-1 ’! ronizes him and assures the merchant a promt and efficient delivery system, i j Mr. Liniger will take ]>ossession of 1 the feed yard January Ist. LOWER EXPRESS RATES ——— (United Press Service) . | Indianapolis, Dec. 27 —(Special to i Daily Democrat) —The public service

I commission today approved the ex- ' press rates scheduled recently adopted by the federal interstate commerce commission. The new rates will mean a decrease of from fifteen to twenty cents on intra-state express shipments weighing less than fifteen pounds. — o CENSUS REPORT A fine girl baby was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Leßrun yesterday at their home on South Third street. A nine pound girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Will Keller.

A HOME WEDDING ■ ' • Rev. F. 11. Harman Officiated at Wedding of Josephine Pennington and CHARLES ROBINOLD ■ ■«■ .J Quiet Wedding at 3:30 Yesterday Afternoon—Will Reside Here. « - I A very quiet home wedding,*attepd-J ed by only a few of the nearest friends and relatives, characterized the nuptials of Miss Josephine Pennington, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Will Bminington. ami Mr. Charles Robinold, an enterprising young man of Craigville. The wedding took place at the home of the bride's parents on First street,' the ceremony being at 3:30 o'clock. Rev. F. 11. Harman, pastor of the United Brethren church officiated. After the ceremony light refreshments were served. Mr. and Mrs. Robinold will make their home with the Penningtons un- ! til spring. The bride is a graduate of the De-' catur high school. For the past few weeks she has been a clerk at the Baughman store, dur-

ing the Christmas rurh. Both are excellent young people. I A SPECIAL MEET Board of Commissioners Accept Four Roads and Eight Bridges. ALLOW THE BILLS And Finish Up the Business of the Year—ln Session Yesterday. The county, commissioners held a special session of court yesterday, when they allowed bills and finished up the business for the. year about to close. Auditor T. H. was authorized to transfer the balance left in j the special macadam road construe-j I tion funds to the bond levy found in! the townships in which said road has been built and constructed. The board of commissioners exam-j ined and accepted found roads. They are the Fred B. Hoile, John Pearson, ' Frank Hisey and Elmer Eley roads, i Eight bridges ♦ere also accepted, they being the Fred Isch, Bethel, Frank Roop, Monmouth, Luginbill, Jacob Graber. George W. Gales and Burk bridges. WAR’S WOMEN

While “War’s Women” at the Crystal theater. Friday, is strictly a ,var production, not one single battle scene mars or deflects from the purpose of the plot. The producer decided against any fake battles and concentrated his ef(forts in conveying a weighty impres- i I sion of the horrors borne by the fem-; ) inine population in time of war, without burdening the beholder with a maze of artificial conflict. • Frank Keenan and Enid Markey head a superb cast. It is a preparedness picture. _ o— ELMER FRIEND TAKEN (United Press Service) Bluffton. Ind., Dec. 27 (Special to , Daily Democrat) —Elmer Friend, 27, , forger, who pleaded guilty to forge’-y of checks on Geneva and Bluffton business houses was taken to Jester- , sonville prison today to start serving [ his sentence of from two to fourteen , years. —o — I ELKS' INITIATION. i The Elks will have initiation on Thursday evening, followed by a soI cial session. The attendance of nil , ' is desired. t ~~ BOY IS BORN. William Robert is the name of the ten-pound boy born to Mr. and Mrs. William Lose.

SALESMAN LOST IN FIRE (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Dee. 27 (Special to; Dally Democrat) It. H. Burdick, it salesman for an automatic fire extinguishing company was trying to sell a sprinkling device to owners of the building occupied by the Central Supply company when fire broke out in the basement of the building today. Burdick in trying to escape lost Ids way and was rescued from the burning building. The loss was $25,000. TODAY’S HOOSIER ODDITY (United Press Service) Columbus, Ind., Dee. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —A window raised six inches provides an opening through which the cat enters and leaves the home of Charles A. Soanebarg at will. The window stays open no matter how cold the weather. THE COURT NEWS Ru pel-Adams Case Set for Trial January 18th—A Quiet Title Decree. MOTION IS FILED To Retax Pontius Divorce Costs—Hide Theft Case

Set for January Bth. The report of sale of clover seed in the estate of Frank Lord was ap- j proved. One of the affidavits against Jay Snyder was dismissed. The remaining. being an identical charge, was set for a hearing January Sth. Snyder is charged with stealing skunk and muskrat hides. The case of Anna L. Kiel vs. The City of Fort Wayne was dismissed and costs paid. In the divorce case of June Pontius ' vs. Ellis C. Pontius, a motion was made by the defendant to retax costs. In the divorce case of Robert A.: Andrews vs. Della A. Andrews, a counter showing was made by the plaintiff. The application for an al-1 lowance by the defendant was overruled. A quiet title decree for Josepr L. Hook vs. Clementine Hook et al. was rendered. J. C. Moran was appointed i commissioner to make deed. James Rupel et al. vs. George Adams. Case set for January 18. — The People’s Loan & Trust Com-j pany vs. Francis M. Gossard et al. Appearance by Peterson & Moran j and Hooper & Lenhart for Louis Coni rad, James A. Steele, Charles Liby. | : Rule to answer. The claim of Albert F. and Barbara i Adams against the Jacob N. Rian es- ' tate. was dbcketed to be heard as a . case in court. '! Albert B. Riley, guardian of Leah ’! Porter, was authorized to pay a $75 doctor hill for the ward. Real estate transfers: John I. Fos-

ter to James B. Clark 18.50 acres of French township, SISOO. o ■ THE LINE-UP. The line-up for the two alumni vs. high school basket ball teams to be held tonight in the Weber hall is as follows: k Girls. High School Alumni. Smith F Frisinger FrisingerLeonard F... Glenys Mangold Dugan C OlivU Perkins Smith-Leonard ~C.. Bieneke-Schnitz Fuhrman G R. Hammell Gregory d.... Faye Hammell Boys.

Snyder t.F.> Macy.. Beery-Myers . ...F Smith; i Ball C Everett-Falk; J Gay G Peterson Linn G Lose I Roop Sub.. Miller, Christen Referre, Girls—Miss Dugan. . Referee, Boys—Mr. Beery. The public is invited to attend these games. First game called j promptly at 7:15. Some fast playing) is scheduled. o 1 STEAMER AGROUND. , (United Press Service) 1 Tokio, Dec. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The steamship Sankaku is aground with crew and passengers totalling four hundred. The position e of the vessel was said to be hopeless, s. Two Americans were aboard the vessel.

Price, Two Cents

WITNESS DEATH • Mr. and Mrs. Lew Lesh, of Chicago, Witness Tragic Death of — MRS. ROY DUNKIN Who Was Waiting to Take Same Train to Rochester for Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Low Lesh, of Chicago, 11 I who came Saturday evening to spend ' Christmas with the (’. C. Schafer family. witnessed a tragic death while 1 walking in the train shed to their train 1 in the Dearborn station at Chicago. Mrs. Roy Dunkin, one of a party taking the same train as were the Lesli's being instantly killed under a truck. A second fatality occurred between < town Point and Hammond, when their train struck a speeder, killing an Italian workman. The accident which brought a pall ) of gloom over the entire party, delayed their arrival here from three o'clock Saturday afternoon until 9:!‘,0 , o’clock that night. The Dunkins were enroute to Rochester to spend Christmas. She was

but twenty-six years old. The Rochester Sentinel says of the tragedy: “Five-year-old Alta Dunkin and her brother. John Leroy, two years old. of Chicago spent Christmas in Rochester with their grandmother, Mrs. John Toner, as planned, but they did not ! seem to realize the cause of the pall of gloom which hung over the home. "Their mother. Mrs. Roy Dunkin, the last one of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. John Toner of the Grand Hotel, was instantly killed Saturday afternoon in the Chicago Darborp street station as she with her husband and two children were about ! to take a train to Rochester to spend I Christmas. Mrs. Dunkin was leading herdaugh- ’’ tet through the train shed, while her husband followed with the hoy and , the baggage. “A train just starting from the station threw a loaded baggage truck i aganist the train on the adjoining tracks and Mrs. Dunkin was crushed to death. Mr. Dunkin ran forward and dragged his daughter out unharmed. The high truck had missed her. but his wife was held fast between the truck and coaches, buried under the load of Christmas packages from the truck. The body was badly mangled. “A few minutes after the accident, i (about 4:45 p. m.) John Toner received a telegram, telling of the dreadful news. He left at once for Chicago. The children were brought to Rochester Monday by Edward Hayward, a friend of the Dunkins, while the husband and father remained in the city to attend the inquest which was held sometime Monday.” "LOVES LARIAT.” Bluebird Photoplays, Inc., in fulfilling their purpose to make the play indeed “the thing”, have selected "Love’s Lariat” for presentation at . the Crystal theater tonight with Harry Carey at one end of the lariat and Olive Fuller Golden at the other, Dan Cupid doing some fancy stunts in “roping and throwing” his sujects. There is an immensely humorous ser- . ies of incidents, showing the transition of a bunch of cowboys from the open prairies to the confines of a ] Fifth Avenue mansion, with eight ■ clever interpreters of western characters employed in the funmaking. I But the abrupt twist of the story to t sensationalism and romance, keeps !j the photoplay from being broad farce, 1 and turns It, with amazing abrupt1, ness, into a gripping drama that will awaken the emotions of all classes of

"picture fans.” BOWLING ALLEYS OPENED. The Knights of Pythias have opened their three new howling alleys, and the knights and their friends are ' enjoying them most of the time. 1 Three new sets of pins and six new balls were received yesterday, and all three alleys are now in operation. They are not operated as public alleys. SUFFERS ANOTHER RELAPSE Judge Heller became much worse i at six o’clock last evening and for ; several hours was very low. Opiates i hypodermically injected revived him and he was resting easy this morning | but with but little hopes of perma- | nent improvement.