Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 15, Number 305, Decatur, Adams County, 27 December 1917 — Page 1

Volume XV. Number 305,

KINGS OF FINANCIAL WORLD ARE PLEASED APPROVE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF RAILROADS BORING THE WARGOES INTO EFFECT TOMORROW—DOES NOT AFFECTTRACTIQN LINES

4* THE OPERATION PLAN. + 4* 4* + Hallroads will pass under gov + + eminent control at noon toraor + + row with Secretary of the Treas + 4* ury William 0. McAdoo as "di + + rector general of railroads" 4. + The United States will admin + + Ister twenty billion dollars + + worth of railway property. + + He will retain his treasury + * post, calling upon practical rail + + road men to aid him in his + + transportation task, allowing ex * 4* isting Organizations to continue + 4> for the present. 4. 4> All rail lines and all coast- 44* wise steam lines together with 44> electrified rail lines, terminals 4 1 4* and appurtenances of the rail- 4 1 4* roads will be taken over. 44> Railroads will receive com- 4 1 4* pensation on a basis of average 4* 4- three-year earnings ending June 4 1 4* HO, 1917 —two lean years and one 44* good one. + 4* President will ask congress to 4 1 4> guarantee this return and to 44* maintain railroads in good re- 4* 4 1 pair and equipment. 4Action is for the period of the + 4* war. * 4*4* 4•4 , 4•4•4•4•4•4•4•4•^■^• Washington. D. C.. Dec 27—(Special to Daily Democrat)—The great est network of railroads in the world will be linked tomorrow in America's war machine, under government control. Government assumption of railroad dictatorship means the United States henceforth will practically control every industry and every business ot its citizens, through its hold 011 the vital arteries of commerce. President Wilson’s proclamation 'naming Secretary of the I reasurj McAdoo the supreme railway magnate of the nation is the most revolutionary step yet taken to ke> tl\e nation's energies to the utmost pitch of efficiency in the win-the-war propram. Congress has already author ized government control of food, ot fu“l and of foreign commerce. '' control of railways, authorized b> th legislators and now assumed by the president, thus puts the government absolutely in dominance of even onuce of America's energv Foremost among the immediate problems of this gigantic task now facing the government supiem railroad controller, as Washing ( saw it today, was solution of 1 1 plexing labor problem. President Wilson is to confer ■■ railroad brotherhood chiefs <> ■ presumably to straighten 0,1 question of demands for ■ "Today also, Secretary McAdoo is to confer with railway executives Dve to the compensations » 111 ‘ government is to pay the toa< •• ed on a three-year average he. '"sboS'lt be found roach an agreement " u ' , w m c n this basis, a h | {, ' ,arate j"l the difi,aYe to be calM m ident „„r ficulty as neither the P com . congress can arbitranl} pensation. nro claniatlon p r-»»,v fir railroad control v fonge stion Increasing ht ab out in railroad operation fu . by uncertainty over v j g . lure, led him to act fol,(,^ n * irman its at the white house of Ch Willard of the and members of merce commission. roa ds beActual operation ot confusion gins January 1 t 0 aCCountingand effect economies 1 W*hile all boat lines and ot sessions of the ra.itoads wf(h federal control simul a erurba n» the roads themselves- tjffle ar e and street car lines 1 arise, exempt. Should nere»«ty ,

DAUaY DEMOCRAT

• however, the president will take • these over also. federal railroad control regarded ■ as the most tremendous war stroke ■: 'he president has yet made, will he ■ - promptly followed by a series of econ--1; omies. Systems, terminals, equip- ' I mem and revenues will he pooled and ’ -searching inquiry started immediate- ' l.v designed to eliminate non-essential ' Passenger and freight traffic. 1 1 The president will devote the roads I primarily to actual war service, I I equipment not needed for this being j the only service which will he utilized for other purposes. Much of this has been accomplished already under the direction of the ■ railroads war board. This board will act as the agency through which McAdoo will direct the roads at least for the time being. Fairfax Harrison is chairman and is expected to become a permanent assistant of McAdoo in the work. Today the president will take up with the railroad brotherhoods questions of labor affecting all employes from the engineer to the track layer. There are pending demands for increased wages by employes and it is understood some increase will be | granted immediately. At the same time demands of the roads for increased rates and opposition of shippers to such Increases are involved in the countless problems confronting McAdoo in assuming control. The president through McAdoo, can sweep away for the period of the war all ruling by the interstate comerce commission on rates, service, etc. McAdoo will retain the services of the interstate commerce commission in an advisory capacity to assist in adjusting existing difficulties. The president acted to free the arteries of trade. There is expected to be an immediate accelerating of men and supplies to the seaboard, delayed during recent months by the inability of the railroads to cope with the problem because of lack of power. Bv his action also the property ot hundreds of thousands of American investors in railroad stocks amountlM to more than J 20.000.000 comes a'nder the protection of the governd«.»«« »'■ ut. lv .. «'» <» “ “ trading in these stocks temporarily. ‘ nt ] the flurry following the governKent’s action is over, Approximatelv 234.000 miles of railroad tracks Le under McAdoo’s s.pervia om From railroad presidents all ovei th countrv today messages reached " h L house assuring the pres.Tt of their full approval and cod in the government's treoperatton in mendous move. 27 _ (Spedal , 0 NeW '°' ’ Fastern rail neads "f today c son’s decision to take ove railroads. wa3 especially n ’ed S as'SnrinS i“ sl!ce ,hC * zzXzszx : *’ id IdM'I*l 1 * 1 R SJriSH'“ors NOTICE 1 ... meeting ot There will »- j gb t. import- , t ant business vv. ?urprise , an( , • there will be will he a Picnic »“PJJ e ' . Neighbors are ln--1 charged. A December asJ viteti- Alit n h d OSe due , are requested to sessments an same, come preparedtoP®- . '■ — — ~ A cORRECTIOi-I " . d A he pai ,er yeßtfcrdaV ' It was state „ urch was m 'that the P'' eßb o er : rC cnt. This was J the Red Cross 100 {hurfh cwnmit . not authorise • >phe church is , about 90 P er fent '

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, December 27. 1917 ~ *

XMAS IN CAMP 1 Reuben May Tells How He Spent Holiday—Warm Like July Ith. WORKED TILL LATE Die Nifrht Before as Kitchen Police to Get Dinner Ready. Camp Pike, Ark.. Dec. Daily Democrat. Dear Friends:— Just a few lines to let you know how e I spoilt my Christmas in Arkansas. I i did not enjoy myself as well as I d might have, hut we will not dwell on the blue side. R , I was quarantined on this Christmas i day. There isn’t any snow here but in--1 stead, it is cloudy and raining. I shall not forget this day for 1 was 1 kitchen police the day before and s worked until midnight preparing the , good tilings we had to eat. Will not ' j mention our menu for it was very | much like our Thanksgiving dinner. The Red Cross made things happy here. We each got a nice Red Cross I package so it was not so had after all, - only 1 would have liked to seen a little snow so that it would not seem 1 like Fourth of July. I suppose all are happy on this day. 1 I wish 1 could he with you all hut duty calls. i Wishing you all a Happy New' Year, PRIVATE REUBEN MAY, Co. 15. 336, M. G. IS. N. Camp Pike, Ark. SUDDEN DEATH Comes io Mrs. Minnie Kelly Boehm While She Was ATTENDING CHURCH On Christmas Nijrht—Was a Sister of Jesse Kelly. For the second time in three months Mrs. C. H. Ford, of Fort Wayne, form-' er Decatur woman, was called on ac-| count of the sudden death of a nearj relative. Three months ago her brother, James Kelley, dropped dead at] 1 Muncie of heart trouble. On Christmas night, her sister, Minnie, wife of j O. Boehm, of Jay City, dropped dead at church at New Corydon, this county ' which is located a half mile from Jay City. Mrs. Ford passed through this i city this afternoon, in company with Miss Bessie Reynolds, to attend the • funeral which will be held tomorrow [ morning. 'Phe deceased who was also a siu- . ter of former Deputy Sheriff Jesse Kelley, of litis city, now of Salem, wp.s about fifty years of age. The husband » and three children survive. “BACK AFTER 11 YEARS Mr. and Mrs. Wash Pyle, of 616 Indiana street, had a most agreeable surprise Monday morning when their son, Ed Pyle, of Marion, 0., arrived home for a few hours’ visit. His parents supposed that he was dead as they ’ hadn’t heard from him for 7 years ami • had not seen him for 11 years. He left Monday morning for Delphos, ()., ’ io visit a sister, Mrs. Frank Burns. Ed is doing well at Marion and is looking well. GET TO COME HOME Word has been received by relative-; I and friends that Leon Meibers and I Raymond Kohne. meml>ers of Co. "O’ . H3th Signal Corps Hat., would arrive home tonight or tomorrow from Cam) - Shelby, Miss., for a short visit wltl i their parents and friends. OFFICE MOVED Dr. C. V. Connell, the veterinarian ~ ] iaß moved his office from the Webe i building on North Second street to th* s Decatur Horse Sale barn on Firs - street. The building in which Di s Connell hail bis office was condemne by the state fire marshall.

w •{, •]• ,1. 4- 4* 4* q. 4, 4* 4* 4* *]. :+ BUTTONS ARE HERE. 4* 14* - 4]4* A supply of Rod Cross buttons 14* have been received and can be 4 1 + iccured by thus who have join- 4> I 4* od und have not received a hut- 4* ♦ ton by calling on Mrs. S. I). + i + Beavers, Mrs. Fred Heuer at. the 4 1 4* Holthouse Drug store or at the + >► office of the Bowers Realty com- 4* i] ] + patty. 4* 4>4>4-4>4>**4«** + * + * BABE IN UHL HOME Mr. and Mrs. John Christen received announcement today of the bir’li of a girl baby born to their son-in-law and daughter, the Rev. and Mrs. IS. it. Uhl, of Toledo, O. The babe was bmn ’ last night and Is the third girl and fourth child in the familv. GROCERY RULES i Mr. Hoover Requires Ac- ‘ curate Record be Kept Showing Every Sale of 1 FLOUR AND SUGAR The Amount You Can Purchase—The Articles Cannot be Advertised. Retail grocers will be held responsible for Ihe equal distribution of sugar in their hands. They will be required to keep an accurate record ol’ all sales made, commencing today. The following rules were received from Mr. Hoover this morning, superseding all previous orders: Sugar should be sold to consumers in towns and cities in from two to five pound quantities; to farmers a.id rural communitiec in from five to ton pound quantities. Flour should be sold in towns and cities in one-eighth and one-fourth barrel quantities; in rurai and farm communities in quarter and half barrel quantities. Advertising by grocers or others handling flour or sugar is prohibited on these articles. I request that you follow these instructions. S. E. HITE, Food director for Adams county. GETTING DESIRED RESULTS Indianapolis, Dec. 27 (Special to Daily Democrat)—Reports from hotels, (restaurants, boarding houses, dubs and other public eating houses in Indiana, indicate that for the first •j month of the meatless and wheatless day regulations 696,000 pounds of ■meats and .511,000 pounds of flour were saved. The federal food admin yistrator has no way of estimating the saving through substitution of perisbI ables for staples, in private kitchens. Altogether the showing is considered -1 “satisfactory.” WERE A SUCCESS Red Cross Booths at the , Stores Take in $122 During Week. IN MEMBERSHIP FEES [• Monday’s Receipts Amounts ed to s37.oo—Did Good Work. d 0 The Red Cross l>ooths in the stores where membership fees were receiv--8 ed during the past week proved very efficient. The total of $122 in member ship subscriptions was taken in, be sides a twenty-five cent donation. !’t The total came from the booths in ( 1 the, following stores: Schafer hard ware store, $26; Boston store, $47; e Winnes Shoe store, sl6; Niblick's 1> $18; Runyon-Engeler, sls. 1> Monday was a vary good day, tin subscriptions totaling $37 for that da; alone. These were taken in as t'ol lows: Schafer store, Lueile Butle n, and Veronica Anker, nurses, $4; Bos 3r ton store, Marcella Kttebler, sl6 te Winnes Shoe store, Ruth Aurand atfi 3t May Baker, $10; Niblick & Company li-. 'Mrs. Burton Niblick, Mrs. I)iek Long shore, $8; Runyon-Engeler, Katherim j Kocher, Mary Suttles, $5.

; CHILD IS BEAD Y j» i. Chester, Six-year-old Son !] of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus ’ Lehman ! DIED ' AT BERNE • j From After-effects of Diphtheria—Other Cases Doing Well. Chester, the six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Lehman, died yesterday morning at three o’clock from the j after-effects of a siege of diphtheria, i Funeral services were held from the ■ porch of the home yesterday afterj noon at three o’clock. Death was not due directly to diphtheria. The child had just recovered from a case of the malady which had left the stomach in a weakened con- j <1 it ion. Diagnosis had disclosed the fact that the symptoms of diphtheria had developed in the stomach. From this weakened condition yellow jaundice developed whiqh was directly accountable for the death. The quarantine had been lifted front the home and a part ot the house already fumigated. The child Is survived by its parents and a sister. Violet. Other cases of diphtheria are reported as getting along quite nicely and no serious results are anticipated. —Berne Witness. ROYAL NEIGHBORS. The Royal Neighbors will have a business iind social night, Dec. 27. A meeting of great importance to all members. A surprise is in store for all. Members are requested to be present. TO HAVE DEBATE The Christian Brotherhood Will Debate This Evening at BRENTLINGER HOME The Y. M. C. A. and the Red Cross Benefits to the Soldier. The Christian Brotherhood will hold an interesting meeting this evening at the home of A. L. Brentlinger on North Thirteenth street. Another debate will tie held it. which time the matter to be discussed will be "Resolved, That the Y. M. C. A. Is More Beneficial to the Soldier than the Red Cross.” Those taking part art: Affirmative, Dr. Burt Mangold, Dr. (’. R. Weaver, G. T. Burk; negative, J. E. Anderson. V. C. Knepper and Rev. W. Paul Marsh. Strong points are being arranged on both isdes and the debate promises ' to be a very Interesting one. INCOME COMING Postmaster Bosse has been officially notified that a special representative front the office of Peter J. Kruyer, will I be in the Decatur from January 2nd to 19th, with forms for reporting income taxes and able to give you any infer ' mation you may desire. You must attend to this and you will do well to soe tills gentleman If you are in doubt about any part* of the law. There will be no charge for his services and ho b sent out for the sole purpose of giv s ing the information so there may be - as few errors as possible. V n SWALLOWED CHRISTMAS RING ” William, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs W. W. Welsell. yesterday swallowei II a small signet ring which his mothe had given him ns a Christmas gift : The ring was not tight upon his fin s ' ger and he got it in his mouth am swallowed it while he was trying to gi ie to sleep for an afternoon nap. Th< ty r j n g was swallowed without, difficult; and it is not thought that it will cause 'r trouble.—Bluffton News. c -r, BUFFALO FOR PET. M One of the tnnay animal pels al the }'■ farm of Colonel Fred Reppert. east of ,’T- the city, is a Buffalo calf, six months ie old, presented to him by a friend in Texas.

NO CALLTO THE COLORS j BEFORE FEBROARY 15TH THE THIRTY-FIVE PER CENT ARE DROPPED - GERMANY WILL AGREE TO PEACE WITHOUT ANNEXATION IF AIL AGREE.

(United Press Service) Indianapolis, Ind.. Dec. 27— (Special to Daily Democrat) — No more men will be called to service under the conscription act, except in special cases, before February 15. This information was contained in a dispatch from the war department received by Robert Baltzell, the state conscription agent, today. It was suspected that the call of the remainder of the men in the first draft would be in a few weeks. The dispatch gives no explanation of this delay. The final .‘ls per cent of draft will be done away with, and all men not in service will be called according to their deserved class. London, Dec. 27—(Special to Dally Democrat) —Some hostile artillerying northeast of V’pres was all Field Marshal Haig reported from the west front today. Amsterdam, Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily Democrat) The Brest Litovsk I cace conference between Russian ams German delegates were resumed today, according to Berlin dispatches ! received here today. Previous re norts had Indicated a postponment of the meetings. Amsterdam, Dec. 27 (Special to Daily Democrat)— Germany will agree to a peace without annexations and without indemnities hut only if ail belligerents pledge acceptance of that policy, according to an announcement by AiAtro-Hungarian Premier (’zerniu. received today from Vienna. He said the Central Powers favored an immediate peace. “However.” he added. “Germany does not propose in her ar eeptance of the policy of no annexations and no indemnities to he tied to one side without any guarantee that Russia's allies will fulfill the same conditions.” The Austro-Hungarian spokesman declared that the Central Powers “do

HOW YOU ARE CLASSIFIED

Over half of the questionnaires have been mailed to registrants and rapid headway is being made by the , local military board in the claasifica- , tion process. Questionnaires were I mailed today to the men within the numbers of 769 and 846. Those clas ; silled by the hoard are: ■ John W. Kline, jr„ Kentland. Class 4. Floyd F. Marbaugh, Pleasant Mills. Class 1. George H. Sprague, Eaton Rapids, j Class 1. Frank Myers. Berne. Class 4 1 Ottis Exley, Decatur. Class 4 ’ Harvey Lewis, Decatur. Class 1 Irvin L. Merry, Decatur, Class 1. Ernst Burkhart, Decatur. Class 1. I Luther M. Wolfe, Wiltshire, Ohio. ■> Class 1. t Ralph Robert Bolinger, Pleasant It Mills. Class 4. s Roy Ellis Heller. Monroe Class 4. v- Boyce C. Teeter. Geneva. Class 4 ,e Jesse E. Williams, Decatur. U !aBS 4 Ivin C. Talbott, Decatur. Class 4. Ira Jones, Decatur. Class 1 1 James C. Wade, Monroe. Class 4 Samuel D. Nussbaum. Berne Class 4; non-combatant, II Herman Bultemeler, Decatur. ' Class 1. James W. Hood, Fort Wayne. " Class 4. 1(1 Cecil Gause, Decatur, Class 4. :<) Ray '/■ Teeple, Decatur, Class 4 ie Earl Martin, Decatur. Class 4. y ciaude C. Gay. Decatur. Class 4 e Fn ,,| c. Weidler, Decatur. Class 1. Joel Sprunger, Berne. Class 1; non combatant. Kobe K. Walters. Decatur. Class 1. e Chas. F. Zimmerman, Decatur, if Class 4. s John Zurcher. Decatur. Class 4. n Otto Heuselman. Berne. Class 4. Ross F. Duff. Berne. Class 1.

Price, Two Ceni

not intend forcibly to annex the re- • eupled regions or to deprive the pollt- ■ ieal Independence to annex any nation 1 now enjoying that independence." He anounced the belief that each belligerent should pay not only the expenses of war prisoners, but should grant full compensation to civilian prisoners. BULLETIN Petrograd, Dee. 27 (Special to ' Daily Democrat i The Ukrainian rada today announced capture of the Ron--1 manian front staff headquarters of the ( fourtn and eighth armies. The Maxi- ! mallst forces were disarmed, j Headquarters of the eleventh anny I has also been occupied. Word received front Tomsk today reported two days fighting at Irkutsk 'with alternating success between the ■ cossacks and military cadets on the * one hand and the bolshevik! garrison on the other. Foreign Minister Trotsky today tele- ' graphed Ensign Krylenko, bolshevik! I commander In chief, urging him to < ome to terms with the Ukrainain di- : visions so that the Ukrainians and bob ! sheviki “might cut off Kaledine.” BULLETIN Copenhagen. Dec. 27 (Special to Daily Democrat) The central powers ’ are willing to make an Immediate peace on the basis of no annexations and no indemnities, according to an ' official received from Vienna via Berlin today. All tlint is asked Is that other belligerents pledge the same policies. The proffer of such a general peace was made in the formal reply to the Russian separate pence overtures. I>on(lon, Dec. 27 —(Special to Daily ! Democrat) -American army privates ■ ] can no longer < limb into first class • compartments on British railways and J ride with officers. One of the British army regulations 1 (Continued on Cage Four)

Paul r>. Yoss. Berne. Class 1. Win. Fred Glaus. Geneva. Class 1. Fred U. Smith. Decatr. Class 4. Emil Graft, Decatur. Class 4 Jos. L. Buyer. Berne. Class 4. Wilbert Beer. Monroe. Class 4. Jacob C. Heiman. Decatur. Class 4. Fred 11. Koeneman, Decatur. Class 4. Wm. A. Kidwell. Monroe. Class 4. Charley H. Hoker. Decatur. Class 4. Oscar Sprunger. Berne. Class 4; non-combatant. Noah Zurcher, Berne Class 1; non-combatant. Amos llnser. Berne Class 4. Rbeuben L. Habnert. Decatur. Frank A. Knittle. Decatur Class 4. Russell Acker. Decatur. Class 4 Noah A Soldner, Berne. Class 1; non-combatant. John R. Wemhoff. Decatur. Class 1. Then. Koeneman. Decatur. Class 1. Geo. W. Simmers. Decatur. Class 4. Lawrence Carver. Monroe Class 4. Edwin L. May. Decatur. Class 1. ' Lafavette Swygert, Decatur. Class 4. Daniel H. Smith. Decatur Class 4. ' John Gerber. Manley. Class 1. j Harley M Tumbleson. Monroeville. Class 4. I Hubert Habegger, Berne. Class 4. 1 Ernst It. Reicheldeffer, Denver, Colo. Class 4. Carl Adler, Decatur. Class 4. The following have been referred to the district hoard because of occupational or agricultural claims: Class 1- Edwin Krueckeberg, Herlicit Reinking. I’hilip A. Rash. William Watkins. Joel Schafer. Calvin Oren Dubach, Ralph S. Krill. Joim Dee Matter. Edward E. Davison. Fred Fuhrer. John H Habegger. Peter Clarence Miller, Herman Scheiman. Class J- Charles Betning, Ralph Chrisly.