Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 26, Decatur, Adams County, 30 January 1923 — Page 1

v\’l Number 26. Y? inmeXAi.

senate kills 111 AIMED AT health board ’ school Houses legion fight grows Opposition to Commander Faulkner Increases in Marion County Posts Halted Service.) ■ Jan. 30.-(Spedal to i Democrat)— The senate, today. LkHied the bill which would have de- | Ltf the State board of health of ’ ‘pr to condemn school buildings, j | t voted 28 to 18 in favor of the eduction committees report for its in ieflnite postponement. Two democratic measures were haltriuben the senate concurred with th<. gjjority committee report to indefinitely postpone two bills Introduced Batt of Terre Haute after a sharp debate. Tho bill to abolish the office of county highway superinundent was indefinitely postponed by i vote of 29 to 14. A measure to relove the power of local taxing units n d to fix the rate and to give the r 0 counsel, was indefinitely post potted. The bill to force Indiana cities tc employ women police was introduced by Senator Buchanan, and indefinitely postponed. The re organization of the personnel rfthe state board of education would be made, in a bill introduced by representatives Levceron and Murden. Trappers of wild game and fur-bear ing animals would be required to pay a annual $lO fee under a bill introduced by representative Wm. Johnset. A certificate of vision would be re guiretl of all who drive automobiles by s Mi introduced by representative Stdhorn. These certificates would be obtained from the county clerk after tn examination. Establishment of township boards of education composed of township trustees, two citizens and the super tadeot of county schools as advis-1 ms, is provided for in a bill introfaced by representative McCloskey. Indianapolis, Jan. 30 (Special to My Democrat)—Definite assurance that the bill to prevent the annual 500-mile automobile sweepstakes and other commercialized sports events in Indiana on Memorial day will pass the nite house of representatives war L™ today by Ralph Updike, who presented it in the house. “Out of the 100 members, 72 have pledged themselves to vote for the Measure as it stands and to resist expected attempts to push through vit lating amendments,” Updike declared. “The hill will come up for second read ing tomorrow and I’m going to make > speech supporting it to prove that I'm not yellow.” Legion Fight Grows Indianapolis, Jan. 30. —Revolt of American Legion posts in Marion (Continued on page five) O — - IS, TEAM TO GO TO AUBURN There Instead of at Home; Dedication Game on February 9 Arrangements were completed this afternoon whereby the high school tsketball teams, boys and girls, will 80 to Auburn for games on Friday ni Bht instead of Auburn coming here on 'hat night. The Auburn teams will fo ®e to Decatur on Friday night ot n(, xt week. The change was made at e request of the local officials on Recount of certain parts ot the new and auditorium not being Bea( l> for the dedication. The date lui tlle ca tl°n has been set definy now for Friday night of next **•*, February 9. co'w^ 8 h° ne< l that arrangements th) U * >e ma^e t 0 hold the dedication or/ b Ut ,his was impossible. In * r t 0 have a home game for the t|) <ation, it was necessary to change Auburn games. The Auburn oti 3 an d the board of control of the ' a. a. agreed to this change.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

MAYOR THOMPSON BLAMED l Juvenile Protective League Blames Chi-' cago Mayor for Vice Conditions — (Unite.) Press Service) Chicago, Jan. 30. —(Special to Daily Democrat) Mayor Thompson, chief of Police, Fitzmorris and other city offi cials were blamed for vice conditions declared to be the worst in the United States in the annual report of the Juvenile Protective league made public today. The report declared that vice of every description was uncurbed and under the protection of the police. KLAN AT WORK IN BLUFFTON Members of Invisible Empire Conduct Services in Church of Christ Bluffton, Jan. 30 —Five knights of I the Ku Klux Klan garbed in the full' regalia of white robes, produced a surprise on the congregation of the Church of Christ, located at the cor-| ner of Johnson and Cherry streets.' when at the beginning of the evening services Sunday evening at 7 o'clock,' they filed silently down the center aisle to the altar, where they con-; ducted brief ceremonies and presented the pastor. Rev. J. E. Pritchett, a member of the Klan, with a letter containing $25. The following note was enclosed: ‘•For your excellent work in expounding the principles of pure Americanism, we congratulate you, sir. Please accept this contribution from the Klansmen. who, because of conditions at present must mork secret to perpetuate the ideals of our forefathers, the founders and saviors of this glorious country of ours.” “Klansmen of the Invisible Empire Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Bluffton Klan No. 7 Realm of Indiana. It was the first instance in which the Ku Klux Klan made such a de-] monstration at a Bluffton church, al-’ though one night last fall" forty anto'j mobiles laden with Klansmen paraded through the city and gave many Bluffton citizens a thrill so far asthe “Invisible Empire” is concerned. The Church of Christ building wa ■ unusually crowded Sunday night, which gives one prominent official of the church reason to believe that word had been passed around to the ' effect that the demonstration was to] take place. It was reported a number present I in the audience other than those in' the Klan regalia were Klansmen. Upon approaching the altar one oil the Klansmen, who acted as the lead-] er, stepped forward and presented an udvvzqt UlpGodlth kr-guT6ts vehig envelope to the pastor. Rev. Pritchett a Klansman Rev. Pritchett, whose pastorate includes both the churches at Bluffton and at Domestic, stated to a News representative today that he was undeniably a member of the Ku Klux i Klan and that he was willing for this I fact to be made public. He added that he had belonged to the “old Ku Klux Klan of the south.” The sub-; ject of his Sunday night's sermon, of a series, was “Why I Oppose Rome," in which he said he “brought out principals for the separation of the church and the state." Among the spectators was Sheriff Noah Frauhiger who tdok no action in connection with the affair. Thus for the local officers have not peen troubled with the problem that has confronted many other cities in the j state —whether masked parading and ceremonies should receive a stamp of approval, and it is a matter of conjecture among Bluffton residents as to what policy the city administration will adopt in case the "invisible Empire” followers become more prolific, in their public demonstrations. It is reported that a delegation of the Klan members called at a home on the west side and left a bundle of whips. —o I BIRTH Mrs. F. V. Mills has received the announcement of the birth of a girl baby to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Van Auken, of Spring Valley, New York, on January 20. Mrs. an Auken is a niece of Mrs. Mills and the daughter, of the Rev. and Mrs. C. G. Reynolds, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE Wheat: May, $1.17; July, $1.12*4: Sept., sl.lO. Corn: May, 72%c; July, 73 J 4c; Sept., 73c. Oats: May, 44’4c; July, 4214 c; Sept., 41%c.

SAYS SHE WAS COMPELLED TO DO FARM WORK Mrs. Cleo R. Mercer Files Suit for Divorce From Jesse L. Mercer SUIT TO FORECLOSE Bank of Linn Grove Brings Suit Against Pearl and Amos I). Buckmaster In a complaint for a divorce filed in the Adams circuit court today, Cleo R. Mercer, of Blue Creek township, says she was obliged to and did work on a farm and husk corn because her husband, Jesse L. Mercer, failed and refused to provide for her. Mrs. Mercer demands alimony in the sum of ! SI,OOO, the care and custody of their ' two minor children, and the sum ot , $25 per month for the support of the two children. One of the children is | seven years old and the other four I years. Mrs. Mercer says she was married ito Jesse Mercer on September 4, ■ 1915, and that they ceased to live together as husband and wife on Jantt- ; ary 17, 1922. She says the whereabouts of Mr. Mercer are not known to her at present. The plaintiff says the defendant cursed and beat her and threatened to do her bodily harm. In addition to the cruel treatment and failure to provide, she says he was builty of committing adultery with women unknown to her. The cass was filed through the law firm of Lenhart & Heller. Suit to Foreclose Mortgage Judgment in the sum of $1,700 is demanded in a suit to foreclose a mortgage filed in the circuit court by the Bank of Linn Grove against Pearl Buckmaster and Amos D. Buckmaster. It is stated in the complaint that the I defendants gave to the bank their promissory note for SI,BOO and that ' the note >ad"'SWUW<t try a mortgage on two lots in I Ann Grove. It is stated further that the sum of SSOO has been paid on the note but that the balance remains unpaid. The firm of Lenhart & Heller and Dore B. Erwin represent the plaintiff BASKETBALL IS POPULAR HERE Total of Eighty-three Teams Playing the Great Boos ier Pastime Decatur has the basketball fever just about as bad as any town in the state. At present there are eightyI three teams using the two gymnasiums. This Includes high school boys’ i and yirl teams, factulty teams, proses sional teams, grade school teams, parochial school teams, and team representing the various factories, lodges and other organizations, making a total of more than four hundred persons taking part in the great winter pastime of Indiana. Since the new high school gymnasium has been completed the facilities for handling the many teams has been greatly increased. Lectures and other entertainments can now be given in the new high school auditorium, thereby giving the use of the gymnasiums entirely to. the basketball teams. City school superintendent, M. F. Worthman, has been arranging a scredule of practice hours for the two gymnasiums and he has found that it is I one big task to arrange the schedule ' in order (hat all teams may have their , share of the time. The Athletic hall! is in use from 12 o’clock noon until I 9:30 and 10 o’clock each night of the! i week except Saturday and Sunday; 1 on Saturday the afternoon from 1 until 4 o’clock is taken up. ABOUT THE SICK Relatives and friends received word today that Mrs. Ruth Patterson Rapp, of Syracuse, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Patterson of this city, is recovering very nicely. ,♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ + WEATHER ♦ INDlANA—Unsettled tonight and Wednesday; rain in south and rain or snow in north portion; colder Wednesday in and west portion tonight.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday Evening, January 30, 1923.

ANTI-LYNCHING CAMPAIGNj —— Protectant Churches to Conduct Na I tion-Wide Campaign Soon ■ (United Press Service) Washington, Jan. 30. —(Special to Dally Democrat)- A nation-wide campaign against lynching will be undertaken by i he federal council of churcher, representing nearly all t-he Protestant denominations it was announced here today. The movement will he inaugurated with special service in the churches on Sunday Feb. 11- the Sunday before Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. PREPARING FOR SECOND TRIAL » Federal Prosecution Looms in Second Herrin Mine Massacre Trial I (United Press Service) ’ Marion, 111., Jan. 30 —(Special to ■ Daily Democrat) —Federal prosecui tion of the men accused of murder ■ in connection with the Herrin massacre loomed today sis Williamson I county officials made preparations for the second Herrin riot trial, which will open Monday, Feb. 12. . i Government agents have been in-. . ■ vestigating the records of the Lester, i strip mine, destroyed during the riots , of last June by a mob of union mlnI ers, and may take charge of the pros- , ecution on the theory that interstate I commerce was destroyed by the ma«- . sacre, according to Assistant Attor- ! ney General G. Middlekauff. Middle- , kuff was in charge of the prosecution in the first Herrin trial in which five men were acquitted of murder charges. Officials of the Lester mine, who were attempting to mine and ship coal in the face of the nation wide . miners- strike last June, have indicated they were planning to file a suit for damages against the United Mine Workers of America because of the riots. Their suit would be 1 j filed in federal court and would be based on a plea that the mob, in 1 ' destroying the mine, interferred with 1 interstate commerce. Federal prosecution of the murder cases as suggested by Middlekauff, however, would be considered a new move against the miners' union which has been defending the men indicted for murder. o OPEN AIR SONG SERVICE . Men's Chorus to Sing in Front of Court House Tomorrow Eve. The men’s chorus will give an evan- ’ gelistic song service in front of the court house tomorrow evening and also on Thursday and Friday evenings. The service will be short, snappy ami interesting and you are invited to attend. Spend twenty minutes and enjoy it. The recent Evangelistic service was enjoyed by a number of men and women and the men have decided to give these three meetings this week. The service will start promptly ’ at seven o'clock tomorrow evening and you will enjoy it if you are there. There will be no sermon, just the music and a few announcements. Please come. ENTERTAINMENT IN AUDITORIUM Number of Lyceum Course to Be Given in New High School Auditorium Although certain equipment for the new high sohool auditorium has not j arrived yet, it was announced definI itely today that the third number of . the high school Lyceum course would ; be given in that room next Saturday night. The enterainment will be furnished by the J. Coates Lockhart company. Mr. Lockhart and his Scotch Lassies are noted for their singing, instrumental music, readings, and stories. Mr. Lockhart has the honor twice of , singing for Ills Late Majesty King , Edward XII and Queen Alexandra at Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, and he has sung tor the present King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales. The instrumental music will consist of selections on the piano, violin and saxaphone. o C. C. Pumphrey made a business ' trip to Geneva this morning.

BORAH AGAIN ASKS HARDING TO CALL MEET I Introduces Resolution Requesting Calling of Economic Conference FACES OPPOSITION Administration Followers and Harding Oppose Par-1 ley at Present (United Press Service) i Washington. Jan. 30—(Special to Daily Democrat) —In the face of certain administration opposition Sena1 tor Borah today introduced a resolution urging and requesting President Harding to invite all the nations concerned to an economic conference to attempt settlement of the reparation! and kindred problems. Borah’s resolution was identical - with the exception of one word, with . the one he presented as an amend--1 nient to the naval appropriation bill i and which he withdrew when admin- , istration spokesmen in the senate assured him that a foreign policy was ■ 'being outlined which the resolution ■ might embarrass. i If he is to get an expression from • the senate on his resolution, Borah ■ will have to employ strategy, he ad- ■ niitted today. With the administra- ■ tion opposed to it and determined to ■ stick to a program in which consid- • oration of international matters has i no place, it would be difficult for > Borah to have his proposal consider- • ed. Borah's purpose in introducing it i was two fold —first, to keep the econ- > omic conference idea before the pub- > lie and keep public opinion alive on ■ it, and second tq be ready should an i opportunity appear for senatorial acI tion on the question. So far as Is known President Hardi ing and Secretary of State Hughes i are no more in favor of Borah’s plan i today tKan were previously. II Taking their cue from the executive j departments, senate leaders therefore • will try to stifle Borah’s resolution. , For the present, Borah will let the ■ resolution lie on the table, to be 1 (Continued on page two) NORR FUNERAL HELD AT BERNE Mrs. Anna Norr, One of Oldest Ladies of Berne, Died Saturday Funeral services were held in Berne today for Mrs. Anna Norr, age 80 years, who died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. P. L. Amstutz, in that place, Saturday evening. Death came after an illness of six days with gall stones and Bright’s disease. Heart failure also developed. Mrs. Norr has used crutches for the past eighteen years as the result of an injury to one of her knees, received in a fall. Mrs. Norr was one of the oldest ladies in the Berne community. She was eighty years old on the day preceding her death. She and her husband, Gottlieb Norr, have been residing with their daughter for the past eleven years. Mrs. Norr was born in Germany and came to this country when twenty-five years old. Besides her husband, there are four children surviving. They are: Mrs. P. L. Amstutz, and Wm. Norr, of Berne: Rev. Oto Norr, of Grabill; and The-! odore Norr, of Piqua, Ohio. Two sons and two daughters died in infancy. A sister, Mrs. Katherina Klingman, aged 87, of Fort Wayne, is still living, also a brother. Andrew Schlagenhauf, aged 74, of Litin Grove. One of her I brothers, Wilhelm, died in Germany | in 1914 at the age of 75 years and another brother, John, died in 1919 on his eighty-first birthday. o Britain Appeals to League of Nations Paris, Jan. 30.—Britain today asked the League of Nations’ council to hold ] a special meeting to take up the question of Mosul. The Earl of Balfour, placing the request before the council, asked that! Turkey be invited to confer with the' major powers of the league. If the' Angora government refused, he said,' England would ask the league to take' action to safeguard world peace.

TAKE UP HIBLE STUDY Boys Os Peru High School Vote To Take Up The Course (United Press Service) Peru, Ind-, Jan. 30—Boys of Peru 1 high school have voted to become I members of u Bible study class us | suggested by the state board of education. Eight. 40 minute lessons will j complete the course for which a half '! school credit will be given. High schools of Indiana are taking up study of the Bible and will compete for u silver cup to be awarded the best informed pupil in Bible subjects. MARRIESGIRL HE BETRAYED Wells County Youth Weds Adams County Girl After Being Arrested J Clarence Roth, a son of Christopher Roth, living east of Bluffton, was arrested by Sheriff Noali Frauhiger late Saturday afternoon on a bastardy charge filed against him by Esther I Biberstine, a daughter of Frank Biberstine, of Adams county. The case was settled by the marriage of Roth and Miss Biberstine, performed by Justice M. W. Waibert, of Bluffton. Saturday night. Roth returned from a naval station in West Virginia Saturday morning in response to a telegram sent him tell- | ing of his mother's illness. His mother was not seriously ill, however, and , the real reason for sending the telo- . gram was to bring him back to face . i the paternity proceedings. Roth and Miss Biberstine were to be married three weeks ago on Sun- . day, and full arrangements had been made for the wedding, but the groomi to-be left on tlie Friday preceding i and enlisted in the navy at Fort . Wayne. He was sent to West Vir- | ginia. . ( As soon as the girl heard of his i move, she filed the charges. Tho i young couple obtained the marriage license here on Saturday afternoon. ■ TWO KILLED IN STREET FIGHT i Corbin, Ky„ Jan. 30.—Two men i were killed in street fighting between L. X- L. Railroad employes and special police here today. Two others were wounded. The shooting started when they tried to find out who had fired shots at them. The guards charged and , opened fire. EXPLOSION WRECKS PLANT (United Press Service) Shelbyville, Ind., Jan. 30. —(Special to Dail) Democrat) —A mysterious ex- ! plosion and fire wrecked the plant of j the Kennedy Car Line and Bag Co., with a loss of $200,000. Thousands of dollars worth of paper was stored in the main buildings of the plant and this was destroyed along with all equipment except records of the company. The plant covered fifteen acres. Flames spread to all parts of it after ] two night watchmen heard the ex-1 plosion, about 2 o’clock this morning. Ladies of Cu Clux Clan Begin Activities (United I’res.M Service.) Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 30. — (Special to Daily Democrat)—Ladies of the Cu Clux Clan prepared for a active campaign against immorality here, today, following their parade on down town streets last night. The parade "officially" launched what the “ladies” announced will be 'the greatest clean-up campaign ever attempted in the southwest. One hundred women, dressed in full regalia, consisting of blue robe, white cape and white peaked hood, silently marched in single file through the streets. Traffic through the business I section was stopped for thirty minutes while the “ladies" marched. :—o Administration Senators Rebuke Harding Today (United Press Service) Washington, Jan. 30.—(Special to Daily Democrat) —The call of Presijdent Harding to administration senators for a determined effort to put through the ship subsidy bill before March 4. met defiant rebuke today. ■The strong anti-subsidy it , be known that if any attempt is made to limit debate or force night sessions of the senate, it wiii only lead to a ! more spectacular outbreak against the 'administration program.

Price 2 Cents

FRENCH HOLD FIRM IN RUHR VALLEY TODAY Each Instance of Sabotage by Germans Met With Firm Military Grip IN A STATE OF SIEGE Ruhr Cut Off From Communication with Germany; Officials Deported (United Press Service) Berlin, Jar.. 30.— (Special to Daily Democrat) —Huge anti-Frcnch demonstrations throughout the Rhineland and the Ruhr, this afternoon, answered the tightening grip of the invaders. Hostile outbreaks at Bonn, Dortmund, Bohum, Manheim and other Rhine centers followed announcement of drastic measures or repression to be inflicted by the French army of occupation. German Inhabitants of the Ruhr and Rhineland paid heavy today for their “weaponless guerilla warfare” on France's army of invasion. Each instance of sabotage was met by the French with firm tightening of the military's grip. Officials who refused to recognize the martial authority were promptly deported from the occupied areas. Towns where resistance had been offered were put under martial law. Curfew and early closing hours were meted out to communities where inhabitants, by passive sabotage, were violating French orders. The Ruhr was cut off from communication with Germany, even official wires being taken over by the French. The whole district was in a virtual state of siege. The Quai d’Orsay today issued official denial of a report that 20 Germans had been shot in street fighting at Boppart. Calmnetis of the invading troops in the face of antagonism on every side alone prevented bloodshed. General Weygand and Minister of Public Works Le Trocquer went to Brussels for a final conference with the Belgians before establishing permanent martial law in the Ruhr. Guerilla Warfaire Berlin, Jan. 30 —Guerilla warfare without weapons — Germany’s name for the passive sabotage of the Ruhr —met French coercion in the occupied areas at every turn today. The invasion extended the zone of martial law until virtually the entire Ruhr and most of the Rhineland was under military rule. Moers, Homberg and seven other cities were declared in a state of siege. Wholesale expulsion of German officials were under way. More than forty burgomasters and local authorities were sent under guard to unoccupied territory. Antagbnism of the) populace increased with each new aggressive act of the invaders. Telegraphers and telephone worki ers struck or mixed up French lines j of communication so that they were useless. Correspondents of Berlin sent bitter dispatches to their offices The French warned - them to use (Continued on page five) TOMORROWLUST DAY TO ENROLL Registration in Hoosier Ton Litter Club Closes on January 31 According to the county agent tomorrow will be the last day on which enrollments can be taken for the Hoosier Ton Litter Club contest. According to the rules which are in force throughout the state entries in the contest close January 31st. The requirement for membership in the contest is to become a member of the Indiana Livestock Breeders’ association by paying the 50 cent fee. Thus far the enrollment is not as large as it was expected it would be although a goodly number, repesenting Poland-Chinas, Durocs, Spotted Poland-Chinas and Chester Whites are entered. Anyone wishing to enter the contest should immediately get in touch with tlie county agent. Rose Leyse returned last night from a several <l«. vs v ‘ * n Fort Wayne.