Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 49, Decatur, Adams County, 27 February 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 49.

TEUTONS COMMIT THE OVERT

A CLEAN CUT CASE SAYSWASHINGTON SIX AMERICANS IN CREW OF LACONIA LOST THEIR LIVES—TWO CHICAGO WOMEN PASSENGERS BURIED AT SEA-WILSON HOLDS CONFERENCE

(United Press Service) Washington. I). C., Feb. 27— (Special to Daily Democrat)— The sinking of the Laconia, according to highest official interpretation, is a “clean cut case.” No investigation is necessary. This became known as the administration attitude following a conference at the white house between Secretary of State Lansing and President Wilson. Evidence now in hand, it was i stated, eliminates an.) necessity for further investigation. It was strongly intimated that the president has no immediate intention of again going to congress. The official interpretation of the Laconia incident as a “dean cut act” did not bring in the word “overt," but the manner in which it was described left the very strong impression that “overt act" was in the mind ot the official who interpreted it. BULLETIN. New' York, N. Feb. X- — (Special to Daily Democrat — Six Americans listed in the crew of the Laconia lost their lives when the vessel was sunk, according to the best information available today. (By Robert J. Render Washington, D. C.. Feb. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat)— Many officials here believe Germany has committed the “overt act” against the United States. With the receipt of official information today that the Cunard liner Laconia was torpedoed without warning by a German submarine and that two American women lost their lives. President Wilson was brought abruptly face to face with the most critical submarine case since the Lusitania incident. That the “overt act” which President Wilson said “I will recognize and so will the country recognize it when is comes" has occurred is the opinion in many quarters here today. Washington, I). C., Feb. -■ (Spec ial to Daily Democrat)— The house foreign affairs committee split on , President Wilson’s request for authority in the international situation fail-, ed today to report out the Hood m - I giving the president that powet. | Several committees sought to ma» amendments. The result «as t i the committee voted to sl 1,1 amendments to the president- ie main fight was against giving 1 president power to arm Ann t>< an ships carrying munitions. It is probable that the prem will inform the commitee of , ' v and critical developments ',slfrom the Laconia sinking and uige reconsideration of the resolution include exactly what he asks oi. In the meantime the same < >J' tions were met in the senate toieig relations committee’s session. After a two-hour session no <eflion had been reached. Berlin, via wireless to Saville. Feb. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)"Germany's peace conditions .it*

DECA*I ’ UR DAIL Y DEMOCRAT

ed on reparation for all wrongs suffered and guarantees for the exis. tence and future to a stronger Ger many.” Imperial Chancellor Von Bethmann Hollweg so outlined them in a speech before the Reichstag today. “There is only one necessity of the day.” he declared. “It dominated all questions of policy, both foreign and domestii —it is to light and gain a victory." (By Ed L. Klen) London, Feb. 27 —(Special to Daily Two American women ewre among the thirteen killed by the German submarines unwarned torpedoing of the liner They were Mrs. Mary Hoy and her daughter Elizabeth. They perished in open lifeboats from exposure after leaving the sinking vessel. Both were buried at sea. Eight others who left tne laiconia in lifeboats w%re picked up anil brought to Bantry, died of e\ppsure today, dispatches stated. Tiie izw-nnia sunk • without warning by the explosion of two or- ' redoes. American consul Frost reportI ed. The second was fired twenty I minutes after the first and in the 'twenty minute interval the thirteen lifeboats were launched. After the Laconia’s survivors ’tad been taken into lhe boats the submarine approached one lifeboat and inquired of the captain the nature of the cargo carried by the Laconia. Upon receiving this information the U-boat departed without offering assistance. CLOVER LEAF YARDS CONGESTED The Delphos Herald says: “A trip ' through the Clover Leaf yards right now will convince a person of what the railroads are trying to do in the way of handling freight. Two yard crev s are kept busy all the time making UP trains. As fast as a train is made up it is sent out, depending on ■ onditions along the road. If there is room on the line for another train the despatcher orders a train out, and if there Ls not room the train waits until there is. The remark is frequently made among trainmen that the Leaf has too much business for 'a single track road. I "For the past week there have been several loads of street cars in 1 the Clover Leaf yards for the Pennsylvania. but conditions along that line have been such that they could not take them, and the Leaf has been compelled to run the cars in on a sid- ' ing. where they will remain until the Pennsylvania can handle them. I "Conditions along the Pennsylvania seem to have been relieved to some extent during the past two or-three J days, and it has been possible to hanIdle more trains. During the first of I the week there were not many I freights running, and this fact was a 1 matter of wonder among people who 1 couldn’t understand that if the road has more business than it can take rare of. why there were not more freight trains being run. The trouble has been at terminals, where [freight is congested, and where no more could be handled until congestion was relieved.’ I — — WANT SHOT FIRERS. ’ nX’ Feb- 27-(Spec-ial to Daily Democrat)— The long 'fight between mine operators and 1 , miners over the employment of shot Iflrerswas expected to end today when 'the senate takes up the Mushett bill for final action. The measure provides that one man must be employed in each mine who will have no J ot her duty than the firing of shots.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, February 27, 1917.

jNAMETHEBOARDS I Demomratic Members of Election Boards for City Primaries Are Filed. ELECTION ON TUESDAY Republicans to Name the Judge, Clerk and Sheriff for Each Precinct. At a meeting of the city Central committee held last night, the democrats named the following officials for the election boards for next Tuesdays primaries: First ward “A” —H. S. Michaud, inspector; J. N. Fristoe, judge; C. C. Linn, clerk; Earl McConnehey, sheriff. First ward “B” —Frank Gass, inspector; T. S. Coffeefi judge; Frank Krick, clerk; John Kelley, sheriff. Second ward. “A”, Irvin Brandyberry, inspector; Fred Handier, judge: Dan Tyndall, clerk; Will Pennington, sheriff. Second ward “B,” Ed Kintz, inspector; David Steele, judge; John D. Stultz, clerk; Charles Melbers. sheriff. Third ward “A", J. T. Myers, inspector; F. A. Peoples, judge; Fred Jaebker, clerk; Louis Weis, sheriff. Third ward “B”, Herman Ehinger. inspector; E. B. Lenhart, judge; Lawrence Kleinhenz. clerk; John Jones, sheriff. The republicans will name a judge, a clerk and sheriff for each precinct, but the names had not been filed will) the clerk up to noon today and John M. Lenhart, the city chairman was out of the city. INTEREST GROWS Revival at Methodist Church Continues With Increasing Interest and Good. IS VERY INSPIRING Special Song Service Appreciated—Daily Prayer Meetings Are Heid. • The Methodist Epicopal church revival services continue to be inspiring and to bring souls into the kingdom. The Monday evening service was well attended. The crowds seem to increase, as the meetings continue. Last night’s service began with a male quartet, by Messrs. J. Q. Neptune. Henry Dellinger and Rev. Thornburg, which was appreciated by the audience. This was followed by a number of selections by the congregation under the leadership of Prof. W. F. Beery. The congregation join ed heartily in these songs. Another selection by the male quartet was sung and this song service was followed by prayers by some of the brethren and this by the sermon on the words of the Master to the scribe. ”Th<iu art not far from the kingdom." This sermon was a fervent appeal to men and women to take the final step necessary to bring them into the kingdom. This discourse was a direct searching inquiry to the unsaved to answer this night by giving their lives unreservedly to Him. After the sermon the testimony of those who have been converted within the past year was given in all parts of the auditorium and after these testimony was heard from practically eVery Christian in the church. Some brethren from Geneva, who have been converted recently in a glorious revival of religion in the meetings conducted jointly by the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren gave testimony in this meeting tb the goodness of God. The meetings will continue during the week. Prayer meeting each afternoon. See the schedule in this paper as to the place and time of these meetings and join in earnest prayer

I tor the unsaved of Decatur. Con II trlbuted. Prayer Meetings. I Prayer meetings for Wednesday J afternoon at 2 o’clock will be held in tlie following homes: Section 1. A tlhe John Rex home on North Second street. Sec. 2. At the home of Mrs. James Stults, 308 West Warshall street. Sec. 3. At the home of Mrs. W. J. ■ Archbold. 318 North Tenth street. Secs. 4 and 5. At the home of Mrs. Joe Hower, 343 South Eleventh street. See. 6. At the home of Mrs. Dallas Hower. 510 West Monroe street. See. 7. At the home of Mrs. A. J. Smith. 251 South Second street. Sees. 8 and 9, combined. At the home of Mrs. Charles Yager. 401 West Adams street. Sec. 10. At the home of Mrs. Elmer Archer, 833 Winchester street. Find a place in one of these homes and seek to get others in them. IS NEW OWNER Frank Gerard Buys Erie Restaurant and Takes Possession Today. MUCH * EXPERIENCE As Cook and in General Restaurant Lines —Will be Successful. A business change recorded today, is that in which Frank Gerard becomes owner of the Erie restaurant owned and conducted for some time by Jacob Myers. Mr. Gerard took possession of the. business today and will conduct a restaurant and ire cream stand. Mr. Gerard has served for many years as a cook, and lias also had much experience in all lines of (restaurant work. With his experience and capability he will undoubtedly serve the public at this place in away that has never before been excelled and will undoubtedly make this place a famous one along the line. o ARE GETTING UP PETITIONS. Fred V. Mills and J. O. Sellemeyer, candidates for the postmastership, are hustling for signers to petitions which are to be presented in due time to the proper authorities and each is meeting with success. Whether or not others will enter the contest is not known at this time and as the appointment is not likely to be made for some months, the developments will be watched with interest by the patrons and others. S. CRAMER DEAG After More Than a Year’s Illness Samuel Cramer Died This Morning OF PECULIAR DISEASE Funeral Services Probably Wednesday With Burial at Maplewood. Samuel Cramer, aged fifty years, died at 8:30 o'clock this morning at the home of a brother. George Cramer. three miles east of Decatur, after suffering for more than a year with a peculiar blood affection, resembling anaemia. Mr. Cramer was well known, having at one time been the head of the Christian Endeavor work, following school teaching as a vocation and living his entire life within this county. He taught, at the West Ward school for several terms, quitting that job to go west for his health. His health not being benefited by his stay in the west, he returned here last fall. One child died and was huried here last fall. Funeral services have not been definitely arranged, but burial, will be in the Maplewood cemetery.

TWENTY KILLED y. ■ - [Pennsylvania Wreck Causes Loss of Twenty Lives Early This Morning i. AT MOUNT UNION h Fast Freight Crashes Into s m Rear of Merchandise ExL press—Two Injured, e I (United Press Service) r Altoona. Penn., Feb. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Twenty persons, eighteen of them passengers, were kil-1 ed today when a Pullman sleeper in the Merchandise Express of the Penn- | sylvania railroad was struck by a fast | freight at Mount Union. Not one passenger in the Pullman escaped death. The express train had stopped at Mount Union and was about ready to • pull out when the crash came. The pullman which was the rear car received the full force of the blow. Chester A. Minds, coal operator, and former full back on the University of Pennsylvania, team was among those i killed. It is also believed his wife a baby and two relatives of the family are dead. They were on their way to Utica to attend the funeral of Mrs. Minds father. f Only two persons were injured—the engineer of the freight train and .he porter of another pullman. BONE FACTURED Fred Weber, of the Anker store, is carrying his right arm in a sling, hav- ■ had tlie bone .fractured while 1 cranking an automobile. KILLS HIS ®OO Indianapolis Man, Despondent, Shoots Three Childven and Himself. PROVED DESPONDENT Unable to Find Work and Unable to Buy Food— Prefers Death for All. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Feb. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Despondent because he was unable to purchase food for his three children Frank Stader, thir--1 ty-five, today shot and killed Tie babes and then turned a revolver upon self. The eldest child was eight and the youngest two years of age. His body was found lying across the bodies of his children. Helen Harlan, housekeeper for the family, jumped from the second story window of the home when she heard the firing. She told of Stader being unable ’.o purchase supfficient food for the family and the coal supply was exhausted. lie recently lost his position. POSTPONED AGAIN (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Feb. 27—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Consideration of the excise tax bill in the senate was 1 postponed until three o'clock tomorrow when the measure came up in the ■ senate this afternoon. Republican • senators made a final effort to swing i the entire republican vote for the ; measure at a caucus held shortly before the afternoon session opened but - were unsuccessful. It was then decided “to postpone the final vote. ’ The house, today passed the Mason ' bill which provides for registration nt ’ any time from April first to twentynine days before the general elections in autumn. ’ ► 1 NOTICE TO K. OF P.s. 5 3 All Knights of Pythias arerequestt ed to meet at the hall tonight at seveni thirty o’clock to make arrangements for the funeral services for Brother Samuel Cramer.

(SURPRISE DECATUR PEOPLE Frank Wemhoff Stops Off At Los Angeles To Visit. Miss Edni) Crawford is in receipt of a letter from her mother, Mrs. Mary Crawford, of Los Angeles, Cal., tell■Ml of the arrival there of Frank Wemhoff, who stopped off and surprised the Decatur colony, enroute for Sui Francisco He was most cordially ’ welcomed by the Decatur people and ihe arrived there just in time to join I the oilier from here in attending a ' surprise party at the Jerry Coffee home which had been arranged By tli“ Mrs. Cal Robinson. The Coffees wee more surprised to see Mr Wemhoff among tlie guests as they were over tlie general surprise arranged. The . visit with all was a mutiny pleasure. Mr. Wemhoff has already left Los I Angeles for his work at San Francis--1 c - . THE COURT NEWS Miller Divorce Trial Continues —Foreign Will is Probated Today. TRANSFERS ARE MANY Issues Made in Partition Cases—Bollenbacher Petions for Drain. William’G. Bollenbacher and oth rs have fifed their petition for a drain. I). B. Erwin is their attoiney. In the i.artititon case of Sarah Fox vs: Amanda Fox, et al. report of sale of real estate was approved, deed ordered. reported and approved. Victoria Stone vs. Ross C. Stone,, et al. partition case. Cross complaint of Ross Robinette; Rule to answer against Victoria, Frank and B. Stone. TheJcreign will of Truman Builthart ws admitted to probate in .his court also. In the estate of John Winner, inheritance tax report was approved. Finding is that the sum of $25.30 is due from the Eliabeth Erhart daughters. The counsel for the John B. Holthouse estate was allowed the sum of S6OO for services as counsel to be paid out of the estate. Level Front is the registered nartie of tl> eighty-acre farm of Orton Wheeler in Wabash township. Miss Marie Connell is assisting at the recorder’s office during the rush incident to the last day before the assessors' work begin. wheiVmany mortgage releases and transfers of real estate are recorded. ■■ — Real estate transfers: Christian Luginbill et al. to David Yoder. 50 acres, French tp.. $9000; David Yoder et al* to Noah Augsburger. 80 acres, Hartford tp.. $8300; Jephtlvi Liechty et al. to Frederick K. Leichty, 40 acred; Monroe tp., $7800; Gail A. Baughman et al. to Geo. C. McAlhany. 14.37 Blue Creel;, tp.. $2200; Otis Earl Shifferly et ar to Wm. Hart, 40 acres. St. Mary’s tp.. $1000; Lisettia Bultemeier to John A. , Mumma, lot 832, Decatur. $2000; Ru- • dolph Schug et al. to Hiram Liechty. lot 48. Decatur. $1; Hiram Liechty to Mina Schug, lot 48. Decatur, slj ’ Trustees of M. R. E. cemetery io Henry A. Meyer, lot 380, M. R. E. 1 cemetery, SSO; Jacob R. Grpber to ’ Jos. L. Graber, 17.57 acres, French ’ tp.. $1700; Wm. Scherer et al to Fred ’ Roth. 35 acres, St. Mary's tp.. $6000; 1 Katie Huggel et al. to Amos Shaffter. ' 80 £ii res. Hartford tp., quit claim deed. $5600. . — IN JOLICE COURT. ' i Otto Hildenlirand of Preble tov.’i- , ’ ship was fined five dollars and costs upon his plea of guilty to heavy hauling in Squire E. Burt Lenharts court this morning. He was hauling tour - thousand pounds of hogs when ar- • rested by James A. Hower, supervisor i for that district. Hildenlirand came ■ in and gave himself up without the I formality ot' actual arrest.

Price, Two Cents

ACT

'the senior play “The Colonel’s Maid” Will be Given at the Bosse i Opera House on 1 --- - _ i THURSDAY. MARCH STH 1 - Attend and Enjoy a Good Laugh—Seats Reserved Tuesday at 4 p. m. Laugh and the world laughs with you. Laugh and grow fat. The seniors of T7. being humanitarians and believing that life is what we make it. are going to give every “bean pole,” "fence rail.” or living skeleton a chance to acquire obesity and those troubled with roundness a chance to become more so. Tlie only stipulation is that you attend the senior play, which is to be given on March Bth. If you don’t acquire a couple of pounds of meaty substance while spectating the play your admission money will be cheerfully refunded. Every one remembers the "Dazzling Daisy and “Little Hemachus,” of the “Hoodoo." Well, they are going to play a return engagement, and you’ll want to see them. And there was susceptible "Billy Jackson.” who got into so many disputes and intricate tangles. This year he will have almost as hard a time getting out of scrapes as last year. Also several others of the characters of last lear are in the east of "The Colonel's Maid." The scene of the story is laid in North Carolina. The last, of characters is as follows: Colonel Robert Rudd, a widower, and sworn enemy ot Colonel Byrd - Bob Colter. Colonel Richard Byrd, a widower, and sworn mortal antagonist of Colonel Rudd Dortha Shady Marjorie Byrd, who thinks" that Bob Rudd is just "It.” and Colonel Rudd is an old dear—Eva Aughenbaugh. Boli Rudd, whose life seems made up of little talks —Roy Kalber. Mrs. J. John Carroll, whose kitchen never is supset like Colonel Rudd's was the day she arrived Vera Eady. Julia Carroll, who never disobeys mother—lda Gunset. Ned Graydon, a young man of exceeding faulty memory—Roy Goltlner. Mr. James Boshom. Colonel Rudd's lawyer—Hubert Gilpen. Ching-ah-laing, the Chinese cook, who thinks "Aunt Emma bigee stiff’’ - Bill Linn. If you want to see a red-headed Chipafnan getting breakfast under the kitchen table, see "The Colonel's Maid" at the Bosse opera house on Thursday. March Bth. You can buy your tickets from any member of the senior class and have them reserved Tuesday afternoon. March 6th. at four o'clock p. ni . at. the Holthouse drug store. Buy n ticket. o NOTICE, SKATERS! Ail roller skaters are hereby notified that tlie ordinance prohibiting roller skating on cement sidewalks -of the city is still in force and effect and that anyone caught skating upon then, will be arrested and prosecuted without further notice. SER/1 MELCHI. Chief of Police. Complaints about the skaters havfl been frequent to the police during the last warm spell. Fifth street, as usual, being the Mecca, as it gives a mile and a half speedway. Several citizens have been forced into the street on account of thoughtless skaters, and* i:ti::eiis along the street assert that they will tile affidavits if the skaters continue. Tlie ordinance covers the entire city and the police will arrest any skater found skating on any cement sidewalk. BUSINESS MEN TONIGHT. The Retail Merchants’ association will meet in regular session at the library at 7:30 o'clock this evening, s business of considerable importance is to be discussed it is tlie de- . sire that every member be present, if' | possible.