Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 28, Decatur, Adams County, 1 February 1923 — Page 1

ftlume XXI. Number 28.

I MOS BY DRY OFFICERS NET THREE VICTIMS Two Federal Officers and local Officials Conduct Raids Yesterday THREE ARB FINED 4 H Three Receive Minimum pine of SIOO and Costs; Other Raids Made HMilPd by two Federal prohibition Sheriff John Baker and Chiefo(.poliee Joel Repnolds conducted a number of raids in quest of liquor In, violators in and around the city „( Decatur yesterday afternoon. As a O f the raids, three men were fined and a large quantity of liquor and one still destroyed. The federal men were E. 11. K n i i and W. A. Ray. The men fined were Ed. Zesar. Alfred Fountaine and Edward Rumschlag. All three men pleaded guilty and either paid their flnw or made arrangements to do so. In the raid conducted on the Peter ZmW farm, two and one-half miles southeast of the city, the officers found two barrels filled with what the offij rers called mash, but what Zesar deI dared was hog feed, and fro*- twenty live to thirty gallons of wine. F<l Zesar, a son of the owner of the farm, came to the city with the officers md entered a plea of guilty to <•» chargi of illegal possession of Intoxicating liquor when arraigned in the court of Mayor Huber DeVoss yesterday evening. He was fined SIOO and costs amounting to $l3O. Find Still in Operation A raid on the premises near the park occupied by Alfred Fountaine, resulted in the finding of a large fiftygallon still In operation, two liarrels filled with mash, ten empty barrels, and a quantity of moonshine. Four, tainewas not with the still at the time of the raid but he was located in the park where he keeps race horses. He was ordered to appear in the Mayor's court at 9 o'clock this morning. Fountaine said he had the still there and bad liquor but that he was making it entirely for his own use and that he never had sold any liquor. He said It was his Intentions to make acer tain quantity more and then return •h® still. Fountaine entered a plea of guilty to two seperate counts and was fined SIOO and costs in each count. One count charged illegal possession of a still and the other, illegal possession of intoxicating liquor with intent to sell, barter, give away or dispose of in any way. His two fines and costs amounted to $260. Another raid was made on the farm of Edward Rumschlag on the Mud Pike » short distance from the city. The officers said they found Mr. Rumschlag in a shed breaking bottles and jugs when they arrived. Mr. Rumschlag strongly maintained his innocense in connection with possessing liquor, hut when he appeared in court this morning. charged with illegal possession of Intoxicating liquor, he entered a plea of guilty. He declared the federal officers threatened him in different *iy» if he did not plead guilty. The eourt fined him SIOO and costs amounting to $l3O. The fine in each case was the minimum fine for the first offense. Other raids were conducted yesterday, it is said, but no evidence of violation of the prohibition law was found and no charges were filed. o Many Unaccounted for in Big Explosion Springfield, Mass., Feb. I.—A terf'flt explosion occurred this afternoon at the plant of the Springfield G ’» Light Co. According to reports of the police many persons were unaccounted for ’nd scores are injured. Gvery ambulance, police patrol and many other motor cars were rushed t 0 the scene to carry the wounded to hospitals. AH the apparatus in Springfield was Sent to the gas plant which was a mass of flames. The firemen fought oaperatcly to keep the fire from apcwding. Man Z of the injured were cut by glass from windows which were •hattered by th. concussion, Arthur Sheets, of Convoy, Ohio attoday’ t 0 ,)usinesa ’natters here

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

RURAL CARRIER 19 YEARS James W. Andrews in U. S. Mail Service at Monroe Long Time Monroe, Feb. 1 (Special to Daily Democrat) —"Jim” W. Andrews, rural route mail carter of Route 1, out of Monroe, on Wednesday morning completed his 19th year in service for the U. S. mail service. Mr. Andrews began on April 1. 1913, and during that time has encountered many hardships in traveling the mud roads, on foot, horseback and wagon, and has had many experiences as mail carrier during that time. Mr. Andrews has the record of not being tardy a day in reporting at the local postofflee for duty during the last nineteen years. "Jim” is a faithful servant in the mail service and. as is usually the case, he lips undergone the ups and downs, and endured the “knocks” which go in the life of a rural route carrier. CUM CLAN AT BLUFFTON Lady Sends Out Cards and Oilers Information Regarding the Order Bluffton. Feb. 1. —What is believed to be certain evidences of the Cu Chi; Clan, the woman's organization of thx Ku Klux Klan, is found in cards set)', out to Bluffton women inviting them to call Room 55, at the Bliss hotel, for turther information. The cards are signed H. T.. but the register of the hotel shows that :i Mrs. Livengood occupies room 55. The woman, said to be Mrs. Livengood. and the organizer of the ladi> s' auxiliary, is, according to reports, the daughter of the man who is said to be the organizer of Bluffton Klan No. ", Realm of Indiana. Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. They are seen on the street together continuously. The success of the organizer of the women's organization is not know?., for nolA of the wotnen thus far Interviewed acknowledge they have anything to do with the organization! and in most cases there is a bitter denunciation. On one side of the card the woman organizer, who signed the card as "Mrs. 11. T." has inscribed the following note: ‘‘Your name has been handed to me by a representative citizen of you? city. I have a message I feel sure you will he glad to hear, if you will call at my room—No. 55. Bliss hotel, I will he very glad to go into this matter in detail with you, "1 am in from 9:30 a. m. to 11:45 a. m.; 1 p. m. to 5:30 p. m.; 7 p. m to 12 p". m. Will you kindly bring this card with you?" The printed card reads as follows. “Your friends state yon are a ‘Native Born’ American citizen, having the best interests of your Community, City, State and Nation at heart, owing no allegiance to any foreign Government, political party, sect, creed or rules and engaged in a Legitimate occupation, and believe in:—viz: “The Tenets of the Christian Religion. "White Supremacy. “Protection of our pure womanhood. “Just Laws and Liberty. "Closer Relationship of Pure Americanism. "The upholding of the Constitution of the United States. "The Separation of the Church and State. ‘‘Freedom of Speech and Press. "Closer relationship between government tind governed. "Preventing the causes of mob violence and lynchings. "The limitation of foreign immigration. "The much needed local reforms. "Law and order. “Higher moral standard. "Better understanding of relations of home and duty. "Real women whose oaths are inviolate are needed. Upon these beliefs and the recommendation of your friends you are given an opportunity to be come a member of this powerful secret, non-political organization. Present this card at door for admittance, with your name, occupation and address. Discuss this with no one. If you wish to learn more address . . . .” (Editor’s Note—No address was given.” — - —> o————— ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦+♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ * WEATHER ♦ ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Partly cloudy and colder tonight; Friday fair followed by unsettled in southwest portion, colder in east and south portions.

STORE ROBBED AT WILLSHIRE DURING NIGHT Clothing Valued at S3OO Is Taken From Buchanan Men’s Clothing Store NO CUTES FOUND Thieves Gained Entrance Through Warehouse in Rear of the Store Sometime during last night thieves entered the J. S. Buchanan clothing and men's furnishing store at Willshire, Ohio, twelve miles east of here and carried away what is estimated at about S3OO worth of clothing, including about 25 wool shirts, 25 pairs of men's trousers, three suit cases, caps and other wear apparel. Mr. Buchanan was unable to state at two o'clock today the exact extent of the robbery as he bad not completed an invoice of the place. He did know, however, that the thieves took three suitcases with them and from the amount of clothing taken from the shelves he surmised that they filled them with clothing and then "beat it.” The Buchanan store is located on State street and at the rear of the building is a building used as a warehouse. Entrance was first gained to the warehouse and then a window in the rear of the clothing store was broken and the thief reached around to the lock on the door and unlocked it. Mr. Buchanan did not know anything of the robbery until be entered his store this morning and noticed that someone hail been there before he was. He then discovered the robbery. The deputy sheriff from Van Wert was called but as yet no clue has been obtained. A farmer living east nt WillshTrw-MtrtFxh-Hxat he heard an automobile pass Itia J place about ! three o'clock this morning, going east, and it is thought that the thieves after robbing the Buchanan store made their escape in an automobile. It is believed that they were headed for Ohio City. Carl Boerger and sister, Bertha, of Madison township. Allen county, were visitors in this city today. SENO SPECIAL CAR TO AUBURN Basketball Fans Going to Game in Special Car on Tomorrow Night A special interurban car has been chartered to carry Decatur fans to Auburn tomorrow night for the basketball game between the local high school and the high school five of that city. If enough persons want to make the trip two cars will be chartered, Principal Paul W. Linton stated today. Nearly enough school pupils and teachers have already signed up to go to fill one car and it is thought that there will be enough others to fill another car. All wishing to go are asked to communicate with Mr. Linton as soon as possible. The round trip fare to Auburn will be $2.15. This is a rate of one and one-half fare, the regular round trip fare being $2.82. The return ticket will be good until Sunday evening. The car will leave the station here tomorrow evening at 4:30 o’clock. Decatur’s chance of winning the game became brighter yesterday evening when Donald Farr returned to the line-up for practice. Farr, who has been playing guard much of the time since Steele has been out of the line-up, injured one of his hands In practice Monday evening and it was feared that he would no be able to play Friday night. White, another guard, is still suffering with an infected foot and it is doubtful if he will be able to play at Auburn tomorrow night. He was out for practice last night but was unable to take part in the scrimmage. The girls’ team will play the Auburn girls’ team In a preliminary game tomorrow nigbt. The local girls ' suffered their first defeat of the season at Garrett last Friday night. The Auburn boys and girls will come to Decatur to play in the dedication games on Friday night of next week.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday Evening, February 1, 1923.

/ A . THE AGONY COLUMN A new feature. The Agony Column, has been obtained by the Daily Democrat and will appear daily on the editorial page. This column is filled with wit and humor, made up largely from clip pings from newspapers throughout the country. It's a cure for ihe I blues. Turn to page four and b< - come a reader of the Agony Column today. U > BOGNER FUNERAL FRIDAY To Be Held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 9 O’Clock A. M. Funeral services for Frank Bogner, well known Decatur citizen who died Tuesday evening, will be held at nine o'clock Friday morning from the St. Mary's Catholic church. Burial will be in the St. Joseph cemetery. RESUMEEIGHT HOUR DAY PLAN Railway Signal Men Get Short Day Again by Railway Board Order Chicago. Feb. 1. —Fifteen thousand railway signal men were on an eight hour day again today as the result of a decision of the United States railroad labor board. The restoration of the eight hour day was the result of negotiations started when the signalmen < refused to join the shopmen’s strike last yea . The decision stipulates that the men shall receive time and a half for overtime. Previously the signalmen did not receive overtime pay until after the tenth hour. HOME BUILDERS RENEW ACTIVITY Decatur Home Builders’ Association Plans to Erect New Homes The Decatur Home Builders’ association which has been marking time during the past two years because ot the general slump, will renew their efforts to build homes in this city. At a meeting of the board of directors it was decided to erect several houses during the coming spring if there Is a demand for them. The company owns thirty-four good lots, five houses, and the reports made at the meeting showed a splendid financial condition. They will build a house to suit you and will permit you to meet the payments in the manner most convenient to you giving almost any one an opportunity to own their own home and pay for it like rent. If you are interested and will see I). N. Erwin, president and manager, you can have any information you desire. Other officers are Hugh Hite, secretary, and W. A. I.ower, treasurer. The annual meeting of stockholders will be held in April and by that time the office/s expect to have plans tor the year definitely made. The company built a number of houses in 1920 and most of them have been disposed of. T. p.Tbanouet FEDRUARYI2 Annual Banquet of Post X to Be Held in Club Rooms of Masonic Lodge Cards are being mailed today by John S. Peterson to the ninety members of Post X, T. P. A., announcing the annual banquet to be held in the Masonic club rooms the evening of Monday, February 12th. A suitable program will be provided and the evening will be the usual happy one for the members of Post X and their wives or sweethearts. Each member is entitled to one extra plate and no more, and a return card is enclosed with the invitation, to be returned not later than next Tuesday so that all arrangements can be completed. Boys Iget ready for a fine dinner, a good evening and a lot ot fun.

TAKE SLAP AT , PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION I Bill Would Take Mutual - Telephone Companies From Its .Jurisdiction KILL SCHOOL BILLS ] I Five School Bills Killed in « House Today; New Bills Introduced I lilted I'rcMN Stun CorreMpoitdeiit Indianapolis. Feb. I—(Speciall—(Special to ( Daily Democrat) —A slap at the pub- l lie service commission, the recommendation for passage of a garnishee, bill and the lulling of five school bills were some of the accomplishments ot the state legislature today. The slap at the public service com- ' mission was delivered when RepreI sentatives Hammitt and Myers introduced a bill to take mutual telephone companies from the jurisdiction of the commission. A majority committee report recommending passage of the garnishee bill was concured in by the senate after a sharp debate. The bill would permit any person, firm or corpora-' tion to garnishee the. income of a> debtor. The five school bills which the lower house killed on recommendation of the committee on education , are as follows: Authorizing county superintendents to serve as attendance officers in ; certain counties, introduced by Representative Leveron. . Repealing the state probation law, . introduced by Representative Kenney, Abolishing the office of county tri-1 I ant officer and placing his duties in i the hands of the township trustee, introduced by Representative Myers. • Providing l for the establishment of a township board of education which wouliTtie composed of a trustee. two elected citizens and an adI visor, introduced by Representative McCloskey. Providing for township trustees to appoint a school township superin-1 tendent. introduced by Representative, Larrabee. One more step in the fight over the sale by the state of Lake county (Continued on page five) MANY LICENSE PLATES ISSUED Approximately Three-Four-i ths of Owners in County Have New Plates i According to the number of auto t license applications issued by Mrs. - Nova Yost, who is in charge of the 1 1 cal Hoosier Sate Auto License Bureau • in the Schafer hardware store, approx- - imately four-fifths of the auto owners r in this county have already secured ■ their 1923 number plates. This is . based on the assessor’s report for 1922 I when It was shown that there were 1 about 2,400 automobiles in the county. > Mrs. Yost has issued 1,890 licenses ' to owners of touring cars aad other t not classed as trucks and 170 license '■ plates to owners, a total of 2,060. The license plates for touring cars run from 218,001 to 219,891, while the truck numbers start with 35,001 and up until yesterday ran up to 35,171. Mrs. Yost stated that up to last eveI ning she sent $12,757.25 to the secretary of state, this being the total ' amount of money paid by the auto owners. Chief of Police Reynolds issued an - order sometime ago that every auto owner should have his 1923 license plates by February Ist and if they operated their cars without them they 1 ,• would be liable to arrest. Mrs. Yost stated this morning that , not all the licenses issued so far this j year went to auto owners in this f county, many coining here from Mon--3 roevillo and parts of Wells county - to get their licenses. Off setting this, i’ however, a number of Adams county r auto owners probably secured their r licenses in other counties and several ) sent direct to the Secretary of State 1 to get their new- number plates. t Within the last year, several hun- • dred automobiles were sold in the ’ county and it is estimated that the I total number of cars now owned Is near the three thousand mark.

MANY KILLED IN MINE ’ One Hundred and Sixteen Bodies Re-I moved From German Mine Berlin, Feb. L—(Special to Daily Democrat) One hundred and sixteen bodies have been recovt red from the Heinitr. mine at. Heuthen, Silesia, and at h ast sixty more dead lie inside the burning shafts, following one of tlie greatest disasters in German mining history yesterday. Six hundred miners were rescued after an explosion of fire damp imprisoned 800. Tlie remainder are believed to have perished. Fires still raged below ground today, and while all hope of rescuing any further victims alive was abandoned, crews sought to enter tlie pits to bring out more bodies. More than 100 of the men taken out alive last night were injured in the blast. WILL RECEIVE BIDS ON ROADS County Commissioners to Let Contracts for Two Macadam Highways Bids for the construction of two macadam roads will lie received by the county commissioners on next Tuesday when they meet in regular session. The roads on which bids will lie received are both in Monroe township they being the David J. Mazelin and Joel Lehman roads. The estimate on the Lehman road is $6,356.40, it being one mile in length while the estimated cost for building the Mazelin road is $5,908.87, the lengtli being 1.01 miles. Viewers Make Report Viewers on the David Zimmerman I road in French and Hartford town- ' ships, the Badertscher and Braun ! road in Monroe township, and the John Ludy road in Monroe and Blue i Creek townships have made their re- ■ ports recommending that the proposed highways be constructed as petitioned for. The commissioner will examine the reports next week and no doubt ' order the roads constructed ami will i receive bids next month. A number of other legal matters will come up before the county commissioners at their next regular meeting next week. ». ... — COMMUNITY CLUB MEETING Regular Meeting of Union Township Community Club Tuesday Night The regular Union township community meeting will be held Tuesday evening, February 6th, at the Kohr school house and an excellent program has been arranged. Beginning with this year the regular monthly meeting nights have been changed from the second Tuesday to the first Tuesday of the month. Meetings during 1923 will therefore be held on the first Tuesday of each month. Interesting programs have been given by the Union township community association and the public is invited to attend. EX-SHERIFF ARRESTED Eli Meyer Charged With Removing Timber From Farm Without Right Eli Meyer, of Decatur, former sheriff of Adams county, was arrested at the farm of ex-County Commissioner William F. Franke, near Hoagland, yesterday morning on charges of having removed timber from the farm without the authorization of the owner. Meyer was arraigned in the court of Justice Bullerman yesterday afternoon, but a continuance in the hearing was granted until Saturday morning. Meyer, according to Mr. Franke, had purchased timber from the tract, but had exceeded the amount called for in his contract. —Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. o THIEVES OVERLOOK SEED Attempt Made to Rob Burk Elevator at Monroe Sunday Morning Also Monroe, Ind., Feb. 1 (Special to Daily Democrat) —An attempt was made to rob the Burk elevator early Sunday morning, evidently, by the same persons that robbed the Monroe Grain company of 30 bushels of clover seed. They overlooked six sacks of seed which were hidden in the wareroom. Entrance was gained by prying a board from the big door to the drive-way.

Price 2 Cents

RUHR INVADERS GROWING MORE SEVERE TODAY French and Belgians Meet German Resistance With Drastic Measures RUHR IS ISOLATED Many More French Troops Move Into District of Occupation Today By Carl D. Groat I'nltcd I*renM Staff CorrcHpoudcnt Berlin, Feb. 1. — (Special to Daily Democrat) —Drastic and severe repression of German resistance in the Ruhr and Rhineland followed completion of the first series of France-Belgian measures to enforce reparations today. Forty more Ruhr officials were ordered expelled, including the burgomasters ot Herne and Cleve. Requisitioning of coal was started by French troops at Bochum. Two officials who protested were arreaed. The German miners struck in reprisal, whereupon troops cleared the Weit Mar mine and stood guard. The whole attitude of the invaders was reported as more severe than hitherto. Berlin. Feb. 1. —(Special to Democrat) — Franco-Belgian measures to enforce German coal deliveries readied compleiou of their first stage early today. The rich Ruhr valley, whence Germany ordinarily draws more than half her entire fuel supply, was completely cut off from the rest of the country. Not an ounce of coal was permitted to leave the district for German destinations. A the same time German customs station which had served for collections on goods entering the country from Belgium, France and Lnxumbourg were taken over entirely by the French. The latter replaced with troops and French civilians such as quit and proceeded immediately about the business of collecting customs. More Troops Sent to Ruhr More and more French trops moved into the Ruhr district today, until reports from certain districts made it appear as though the occupation had just, begun. Among the forces that were sent in. however were Included many troops trained in railroad work. Essen, central city of Ruhr fuel industry. bore the brunt of the invasion. Completely isolated from the outside world as far as rail or .wire communication were concerned, the city even began to feel the pinch of hunger. The entire Ruhr was not without a touch of tliis, in fact. With transportation disrupted, distribution of food stuffs was seriously hindered. The French are buying out private stores, sending prices rocketing. The German government js preparing to establish motor trucks to run food stuffs in and out of the Ruhr should rail communication be completely cut off. The shortage of milk is most severe, while meat grows scarcer daily in the occupied zones. With all these difficulties, the inhabitants of the Ruhr maintained a stubborn front and the French found it necessary to deport 15 more officials today, including the director of tlie Essen branch of the Reichsbank. Following receipt of a joint FrancoBelgian note finding her in default of January 31 payments and insisting upon a less recalcitrant attitude toward the invasion, Germany dispatched to Paris a hotly worded note, protesting against accusations of German breach of the Versailes treaty and demanding troops be withdrawn from the Essen hospital. A minor disturbance was reported at Aachen, here 25 students were arrested by the French because they cheered the district president when he was taken into custody, but for the most part there was remarkable calm throughout the Ruhr and Rhineland. Coal was choking up the pits of the Ruhr today with less than half the necessary number of cars available to move it. __o_ POPE ORDERS PRAYERS Rome, Feb. L— The pope today ordered prayers in all Rome churches for preservation of peace, owing to the ominous international situation.