Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 99, Decatur, Adams County, 27 April 1917 — Page 1

MW

Volume XV. Number 99.

DEBATE ON DRAFT BILI Fate of Selective Draft Bill Approaching the End in i House Today. KAHN SUPPORTS BILL Vote in House Scheduled for 6 O’clock Tomorrow Evening at Latest. (United Press Service) (By J. I*. Yoder) Washington, April 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The fate in the house on the conscription bill approached its end this afternoon when Representative Kahn, of California, in dosing denounced the volunteer system and begged the house to stand by the president. Kahn, a republican, but leader of the democratic administration forces,! received a rousing welcome of cheers as he arose. Chairman Dent of th“ military affairs committee, was to follow hint, closing debate for the volunthat he would ask the house to sit this evening and that he hoped to get a house vote by six o’clock tomorrow evening. “In all our wars,” Kalin said, "we [ have had among us those who opposed our entrance into the struggle and who put every obstacle in the way to prevent us from properly waging warfare in the defense of the rights of the United States. “I have no doubt our former volunteers were indeed as brave and courageous as any that fought for their country’s honor. But the system, which permit the shirker tn remain ft! home is neither fair, just or democratic. “We who believe in selective draft feel it the duty of the individual in a, republic to respond whenever and however the nation decrees it. Every individual who enjoys the blessings of civil and religious freedom granted by] this government, owes it in return the duty to serve when called. “Obligatory universal service puts all citizens on an equality. “We propose by selective draft to place the burden equaly on the shoulders of all males of military age. Nor is the universal obligation to serve a new proposition in American history. Loud applause greeted Kahn’s remark that he was opposed to the patriots and volunteers shoulder the bin dens of war while the timid and the cowards Blinked behind. Kahn plied to charges that the draft plan would bring boys into 'he army byreading an official war department statement showing that in ’l ,( < >''• war a total of 778.309 soldiers out of. 1,008.180 were between 19 and .1 teat - of age. Senator New. of Indiana, asserted there is a joker in the present ; bill—that certain states might be nquired to furnish more men than their share. He announced he would support the measure but would offer an amendment providing that ta< > • furnish its quota of men based on the; population. dal to Lily Goodrich today hastened plans for organizing of forces in Imßanato take * nil mpn of niildary < a census or an in the state as soon as the const ri tion bill is acted on in c ° n^ e8 a d «•>«' boards will be neiu next Monday, providing t e < tion bill Passes, according to five arrangements made oi . governor will probably anno . „ membership of the <om< boards and call the meeting tomor ’°The boards will probably be composed of the county clerk an,laPr °:TX e e n enw-ered to ty The sheriff will be P serve summons on slack not register on the & that purpose, the (leia position to keep records of the scriptionists. London. Apr. to Daily Democrat)—Shells from a .erman destroyer raiding squat ion n Ramsgate killed a man am ■ injured three other P« 80n9 . aged twenty-one houses and two

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

(T4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4- + * WILL BE MUSTERED IN. + * + * Major P. A. Davis of Indian- 4 f apolis will arrive in the city this + h evening and will at ovice muster + > in the local company. All those + ♦ who successfully passed the ex- + ♦ amination and have signed the + j+ muster roll will report at head- + + quarters above this office to be + + mustered in. + * Let everybody be on time at 7 4 + o’clock p. m. + +++++++ + + + + + + + blns, according to official statement today. The Gorman warships were driven oIY by British patrol vessels. A number of their shots fell in the open country. Washington, D. C„ Apr. 27—(Spe I cial to Daily Democrat) —The first i chapter of America’s part in tin world war was penned in black and , white here today by British Foreign Secretary Arthur J. Balfour when he <abled to his home government his initial report of agreements at the greatest war parley in American his tory. Balfour's report will tell our European allies that the first problem settled was shipping. London. Apr. 27—(Special to Daily I Democrat)—From north of Arras down to the Champagne today the Franco-British offensive and the German defense had developed into a titanic “'push of war” —not a tug of ! war. The only major infantry operations on the British front were of huge bodies of men on both sides gripped jin hand to hand conflict. The most modern of all weapons, the perfected artillery pieces still gave bar rages of fire, but the actual movement of the British forces forward was almost always by use of the most ancient of all fighting weapons the steel blade. Wfashington. D. C., Apr. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Selective draft will be the means whereby the United States will raise her armies. This was assured today as house and senate neared the close of many hours’ debate. The forces opposing the administration bill and favoring instead the ■ volunteer system were weaker than | ever before and it was freely admitted that the selective draft plan. i practically as shaped by the army general staff, will he enacted into law. The house may vote late today. The senate is under agreement to vote not later than midnight Saturday. As the house now lines up it will probably have a leeway of around 50 votes in passing the draft scheme, while the consfcription forces in the senate expect a majority of 15 to 18. _ o ill "MUSTER IN" New Company of Militia to be Given Oath at Seven O’clock Tonight. PUBLIC IS INVITED Minimum Number Secured —Hon. C. .1. Lutz to Make Short Address. The new militia company will be ‘ mustered in” at seven o’clock this I evening, the ceremony to be performed by Major P. A. Davis of Indianapolis. at that hour in front of the soldiers' monument, west side of ! the court house. The affair will be a public one, and J you are cordially invited to be presi i ent. The city band will play and . i,Hon. C. J. Lutz will make a short adj dress. The entire ceremony will not . require more than half an hour. Be i j sure and be there. ~ The following men passed the phy-i---.ical examination last evening and this morning: Lloyd Beery, Irvin Butler, Jess L. i | cole. Melvin F. Gallogly, Frank John- ■ son, Lee May. Jefferson Brinneman, > Gus M. Borne. Earl Grossman. Ira Mil- > ler. Russell Sonday. Total, sixty-sev-r en. i No better argument that the United |- states needs a selective conscription law, could be advanced than the rec- . ord here. After three weeks of hard * work 131 names were secured. Os these half have passed and of the ba! , ance more than forty failed to be ?x i’ amined. At this rate it would require (.'several decades to raise an army.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday Evening, April 27, 1917.

• WILL FARM PLOT 1 >— ■ —< ► Boys and Girls of the West ► Ward Will Raise Beans, J Beets, Etc. ► JON SMALL TRACT N * Proceeds to go to Equip the Play (.round—Enthusiastic Meeting Held. The west ward boys and girls are going to serve their country by raising food, as well as serve the community in helping with the play gruund equipment, by doing a little agricultural work. At a meeting of the West Ward Par-; ent-Teacher club last evening, the committee on real estate, comprising O. P. Mills, William Archbold and A. I L. Brentlinger. rejtorted that they had leased an acre an a half of ground, south of the old Ward Fence Factory,] lying between ninth and tenth streets.] This will be planted principally in ! beans, although there will be a space] for sugar beets and two or three other! vegetables. The proceeds will go fori play ground equipment. County Agricultural Agent Overtoil! will be asked to meet with them at the next meeting and explain the system of culture to be adopted. The committee on play ground reported that a half dozen or so of the equipment features are finished and will be installed on the grounds at the! west ward school about next week. The baseball committee reported that so far, they have not been able; to seaure a diamond for baseball, but hope to be successful soon. The meeting was quite an enthusiastic one ami all the patrons seem ready and willing to co-operate. II STRONG PLEA For Greater Brotherhood is Made by Judge J. T. Merryman in A FINE ADDRESS At Celebration of Ninetyeighth Anniversary of Odd Fellows. Fully one guest for every year that the order is old attended the celebration of the ninety-eighth anniversary of the founding of the Order of Odd Fellows, given for the members of the order, the Rebekahs and their families last evening. The festivities began at six o’clock with the serving of a fine dinner in the dining room. A patriotic atmosphere prevailed, small flags being ; given as favors. While the dinner was in progress and the guests were arriving, the Christian church orchestra played, a patriotic medley being one of the host received numbers. At eight o’clock, the assembly was called to order in the hall by Olen ' Baker, presiding officer, and the pro--1 gram opened with a prayer by John ' Merriman, followed by the singing of “America” by the congregation. Mrs. Chestline, of Marion, gave a reading f that pleased so that she was obliged to respond with another, Mrs. Chqstline also gave two other readings d.trI ing the evening. A piano solo by Miss Portia Thomas showed much t natural ability, as well as exquisite , training, as did the two vocal numbers by Miss Hope Hoffman, with piano ;. accompaniment by Miss Celia Ands rews. Miss Martha Tucker’s reading, and its encore number, were very well given and show very marked abil- . ity in this line. All numbers received deserved tpI- plause. The address of the evening was given by Judge J. T. Merryman, himil self an Odd Fellow, and member of n the local organization for forty years. He paid a high tribute to the order d when he stated that lie was a very f young man when he united with the I- order and that whatever there is ii t- him of moral strength and worth, he e owes in a very large measure to the principles and practices of this order.

• and the example set by (he brethren thereof. He paid a strong tribute to brotherhood and the plea for an even greater fratornalism. Speaking In relation to the great war now raging, Le ‘ said, “The world needs a stand for universal brotherhood.” Among the out of town guests at the celebration were Mrs. Wisehati) 1 . |of Kingsland; Mr. and Mrs. R. ,1. I Lyon, of Fort Wayne; Mrs. Chest - ' I line, Marion: Mrs. Norman Stalter, ' of French township. ■ ■ , DR. JAYNES WAS DINNER GUEST Dr. Jaynes, of Wabash who delivered th<’ commencement address nt Monroe last evening, was entertained while here by the six members of his Scottish Rite class of which he is the ' president. The six members were C. IE. Peterson, Oscar Hoffman, Harry ’ Fritzinger. A. D. Suttles, Daniel Sprang and Ray Teeple, Invited ' guests were Judge I). E. Smith and J. ;H. Heller. The affair was a most <:•’• I lightful one. o THE com NEWS Frank Shaner and Mrs. Belle Wolfe Arrested— Fail to Give Bond AND ARE IN JAIL | Series of Troubles—Probate Court Notes—Real Estate Transfers. Sheriff Ed Green, Deputy Shetiff L. D. Jacobs and Marshal Meichi went 1 i out to St. Marys township last night I at ten o’clock and arrested Frank I Shaner and Belle Wolfe, each on the' charge of adultery. The affidavit was! made by Joe Burch, and recited that Mrs. Wolfe and Shaner were, on April ! 26, living in a state of adultery with ; each other. They failed to give the ! S2OO bond and are in jail. This mornI ing they were represented in court by, I Attorney R. C. Parrish, each pleading j not guilty. The two have been in a series of troubles. Not long ago Shaner was brought into Justice Kintz’ court, on a charge of tresspass, this case now pending in the circuit court, to which it was sent. A charge of assault and battery was also fil'd against the woman some time ago. nut no action has been taken in that. Mis. Wolfe also filed a suit for divorce from Solomon Wolfe, this case still pending in court hehe. Shaner is a married man, and formerly lived at Salem. His wife, Eva Shaner, is said to have gone back to her Kentucky home. Since the separation of both families. Shaner and Mrs. Wolfe are said to have been staying with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mose Hamrick, in St. Marys township. They had been at Salem yesterday i and it is said were enroute to the Hamrick home when the officials' from this city arrested them 'last! night. A petition was filed by Harry Hotrs, husband of Daisy Houts, to have pro ! perty of the estate of Daisy Houts, now in the hands of Elizabeth Robinson, administratrix, turned over to him. The case of the Cox Multi-Mail 'r Company vs, The Journal Gazette, ct al was left off the trial calendar. In the assignment of Jacob A. Coolman, report number one by the assignee, was approved. Upon petition the assigner was authorized to pay to the assignee the sum of $172.35 balance due to make up the sum of S6OO exempt from execution. i Miss Vera Hower is an extra assis- « tant in the county treasurer’s office i during the rush incident to the last > days of tax paying. The last day for - paying taxes without the penalty is , Monday, May 7. Real estate transfers: Paul G Hooper, commissioner, to William Zimmerman, part of lot 159. Decatur " $666.75. o s WILLYS-OVERLAND FILMS. f Four reels, showing the assembling of the Willys-Overland and Knight automobiles and the big convention 1 held at the Overland factory last winter, will be shown at the Crystal e theater tonight and Saturday after 1 noon in connection with the regulai e show. The pictures are good and e full of interest, and go into detail ’, about the making of Overland cars

SCHOOL CIRCLES ■ i. Spelling Match This Evening Attracts Attention— Track and Field Meet r. AT GENEVA TODAY r High School Boys Give Dance—Dr. Smith Ex- ’ plains Red Cross Work, s The spelling match of the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, of the city I schools, to be held at the court house, 0 this evening, beginning at 7:30 o’clock is attracting much favorable attention. The proceeds to be derived i from tlie tickets, selling for ten cents II each, will go to play ground equip-i \ inent. Everybody should go. Fourteen boys of the Decatur high school went to Geneva this afternoon to take part in the countv track and I field meet, which opens at two o’clock.! ] Berne, Geneva and Decatur high | schools will be represented. A number of the high school boys ! will give a dance this evening at the ; Masonic hall. This will be well chap- ■ eroned and there will be good music. ! The proceeds will be used in school; I work. Tickets sell for fifty cents for! ! gentlemen, ladies being admitted free.! Miss Betty Boyers conducted the! chapel service at the high school this morning. She asked Dr. W. E. Smith, ] chairman of the Red Cross committee,: of the Adams County Physician’s Nzt- 1 | ional Defense League, to tell of the ! Red Cross work, which he did, explain-1 j ing it fully. SUSTAINED ACT Appellate Court Affirms Action of Special Judge D. B. Erwin in AN INTERESTING CASE Clerk Bleeke Did Right in Ignoring Attorney’s Mere Filing of Lien. The appellate court has sustain d the action of Special Judge D. B. Erwin in the Adams circuit court m ! which he sustained a demurrer to the complaint in an interesting case,! I which was without precedent, so f ir] ' as known here, in the state. This is the case in which Mock, and other Bluffton attorneys, who had an attorney's lien against judgment! rendered in the famous Faylor-Stude-' ! baker case, brought a friendly suit I against Ferdinand Bleeke, then coun-! ity clerk, who ignoring their notice of! lien, paid out the money to others who . j demanded it. The appellate court ruling notice. says: “State ex rel. Mock et al. vs. Bleeke let al. Adams C. C. Affirmed. Batman, J. (1) Relators composed a firm of atI j torneys who assisted in recovering a ’ judgment for $2,000, in which their ' client had a one-fourth interest, and ; they entered their notice of lien for $2,000 upon the judgment. Other attorneys in hte case ordered execution ? I and levy was made and the money , paid appellee, who was clerk, and h“ II paid tlie money over to the other atr t s ' torneys and to relators’ client. Re- | lators filed a complaint on the theory that appellee was liable to them on his t. ] bond for ignoring their notice of lien n and paying the money to others. The r, Appellate Court holds that the clerk was not bound to take the mere notice of a lien into consideration, as the relators should have brought proceelg ings for the determination of the vait iidity of their lien, as the mere notice n on the margin of the order book was it exparte and bound no one to its truthtl fulness in the absence of some pro’■•jceeding and determination of its /a---r i lidity." d o ——— il' The Ben Hurs will have initiation s. this evening.

j + 4- + + 4-4- + + + 4-4-4-4-4- | + CHANCE FOR FARMERS. + + County Agent Overton has re- + + ceived a telegram from Michigan 4> ■ + university and will be glad to + + hear from any farmer who de- + + tires help for the summer. These + + men have had considerable ex- + 4- perlence and will prove valua- + + ble. Please communicate with + 4- Mr. Overton at once. The tele- 44- gram reads as follows: 44- Ann Arbor, Mich., April 26. + 4- Michigan university granting 44- full credit for farm work. What 44- will be chance for you to place 4- + ten fellows in Adams county at 4- ] 4- once. Please wire collect at once 44- what you can do to put deal +j 4- across. State probable wages 4- + and time for reporting. 4> 4-4-4-4'4-4-4-4-4-4<4-4-4 > 4AWARD DIPLOMAS t Nine Graduates of Monroe High Finish Course and Receive Reward. : — ’ THE COMMENCEMENT Held at Monroe Last Night —Splendid Address by Dr. Jaynes, Wabash. 4-4-4-4' + 4-4-4-4 , 4 , 4 , 4-4-4-4- CLASS ROLL. 4j ♦ ♦ 4- Don Andrews. 44- Chelcie Leo Strait. 44- Prior Gilbert. 44- Marion Watkins. 44- Ralph O. Stogdill. 44- Hettie Louden. + 4- Lucile Thomas. 44- Cecil Rickford. 44- Miriam Thomas. 44 , 4-4-4 , 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-With the auditorium and Sunday I I school rooms of the Monroe Methodi of ! church filled to more than its seating | capacity, the annual commencement | of the Monroe high school, was a most j impressive and pleasing one last eve- [ ning. ! The class colors of green and white 11 . were displayed prettily, and a proi'u I ! i .-ion of potted plants and blooming i flowers, added to the beauties of the | scene. There were nine graduates,! . five boys and four girls.who have completed the course of this excellent , school, and for whom the commencement last evening marked the transit ; into a new life. , The Savage orchestra, of Bluffton, , played during the evening, and the music was exceptionally good. Re”. Pinlips gave the invocation, and the : address of the evening was by Dr. I Frank Jaynes, of Wabash. It was :i ; scholarly one, full of live issues ’n every sentence. It spoke of the how and when and where of opportuniti I s, the making of the most of opportuni-! Sties, and their bearing upon the pro-! I gress of the world. The presentation of the diplomas; was made by County School Superi.i- 1 I tendent E. S. Christen. He preceded s ; this with an excellent talk, in which | I he compared the schools of the early! ! years, of the county, with the present i great system, and touched also f i their possibilities in the future. The 1 I diplomas themselves, were of distinci tion. being in the class colors. The class is one of the largest grad- '' uated from the school and has an excellent record. The senior recepti >n I was given the evening before. '■ _ 0 a MAYOR CHRISTEN IS HOME Mayor C. N. Christen returned this morning from Indianapolis where he; attended the meeting of the mayors of Indiana. The meeting was called; by Governor Goodrich, who addressed, them concerning tlie war problems.; S He favors the conscription bill and ' said that he expected within twentyfour hours to notify each mayor to] ' prepare for the work of registration of men of required ages. He also urged more planting and told of progress being made In parts of the state. \t lndianai>olis 10,000 lots are being cut- ? tivated and several leading citizens S are planting potatoes and other garden produce in their front yards. Lots on Meridian street valued at thou-1 sands of dollars are being planted. lie asked the mayors to see that every i; available foot of space is planted. Get | busy.

Price, Two Cent*

; ON THE MONGOL# . Francis Howard, This City, Reported to Have Been One of the Gunners TO FIRE FIRST SHOT Sank Submarine— Letters to Wife Indicate He is at Norfolk, — Was Francis Howard of this city a i gunner on the steamer Mongolia whicli fired the first shot of the war on the 19th when they sunk the German U-boat ? This question is bothering people here, considerably today. Calls from various metripolitan papers last night gave the information that lie was and all the leading papers this morning carried the story that lie was one < t tlie seventeen gunners. Francis Howard is a son of Sam Howard, custodian of the Schaf>r ] block, and has been a member of the ! navy for a year and a half. He was home a year ago when he married Miss Ethel Bunch, and has been here once since then on leave. His wife and parents have been receiving letters from him regularly twice a week and a letter mailed at Norfolk last Monday, the very date the Mongolia landed at lyindon, indicates that be i is still on another-boat, a battle ship. Notwithstanding the complicat’d reports indicating that young Howard was on two continents at the same ! lime, we believe he was one of tlie ; gunners who fired the first shot of tlie great war. Tlie Mongolia is a steam shi)> armed and manned by seventeen 1 American seamen under command o* ; Lieutenant Bruce Ware. These men were no doubt chosen from tlie battle 1 ships and Howard was included. His I let-home it ia believed were written and left at Norfolk for mailing at. regular intervals. The information that lie was abroad the Mongolia is reported officially and is no doubt true. We are all proud of Francis Howard and we believe he fired the shot. In his last letter to his wife, mailed last Monday. Howard says he believes the war will be over in from three to six months and that he will then get a thirty day furlough. —. — n . COMMITTEE MET AGAIN Those interested in the building of a modern high school building in Decatur, met again last evening at the city hall and heard a report from the legal committee, C. J. Lutz, H. B. Heller and C. L. Walters, who said that in their opinion the organization and work contemplated can be legally ; done. It was decided to await the new legislative acts however and in the meantime to investigate the probabilities of making the necessary loan and to meet again soon. It was sugj gested that the citizens debt be taken I care of ahead of the bonds and this ; may be carried out. PARCELS POST AND SUPPER ] From the large numbers, of parcels J that are coming in. the parcels post ! sale of the St. Agnes Sodality, given ;in connection with the supper next. Wednesday evening at tlie K of ('. hall, will lie a great success. Arrang- ! nients are made to begin serving the supper at six o’clock and this will conI tinue during the evening. The par- ! cels post sale will begin at i..>o ! o'clock. A large number of parcels will make up the stock, these selling for ten cents each. The supper will | consist of a variety of sandwiches, ! salads, ice cream, home made cake, t coffee, etc. Everybody is invited Io | come. TO APPOINT COUNTY BOARDS Governor Goodrich has his plans set for action following the passage of the conscription bill, expected this week. He will appoint boards in each county, two of the political party in control in that county and one of the opposite, a county physician and a registrar for each precinct. These men will make a complete report on all men between the ages of 19 and '.5. The registration will require one day and those who fail to appear will ha.-e Ito stand a severe penalty. The governor has not decided whether or not he will call a special session Os the legislature to plan for meeting the expense.