Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 150, Decatur, Adams County, 25 June 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 150.

PROBE OF PUBLIC UTILITIES STARTED

VERINA MILLER IS NAMED MOST POPULAR GIRL Wins First Prize In Firemen’s Queen Os The Carnival Contest Here CARNIVAL HAS GONE Firemen Realize Profit From Carnival; No Arrest Made During The Week Miss Verina Miller won the first prize in the popularity contest conducted last week b? the Great White Way Shows, in connection with the Firemen's convention, and was awarded the one hundred dollar diamond ring. Miss Miller received a total of 15.288 votes, 5,286 more than her nearest rival. Miss Catherine Nichols, who won the second prize a wrist watch, with 10,002 votes. The other winners in the contest were MTss Gladys Gilpen. third prize, a diamond lavallier, and Miss Marjorie McCormick, fourth prize, a lavallier Miss Gilpen received 2.602 votes while Miss McCormick had a total of 1.066. Miss Miller, the winner, was entered in the contest by her friends in the employ of the General Electric company, and was backed by the employes of that organization. There were seven young ladies entered in the contest and Miss Geraldine Smith withdrew from the contest last Wed nesday. Mr. Snyder, advance man for the show company ami manager of the popularity contest, left a beautiful lavallier, set with stones at the city hall with instructions that it be given to the first daughter born to one of the firemen. Shows Left Sunday The Great White Way Shows left Sunday on a special train for Geneva where it will show during the week. The firemen wish to call attention to the fact that not a single arrest was made during the week or on Firemen’s convention day, and that the police were called only once to settle a little disturbance over the erection corner of Madison and Second of a belt and novelty stand at the streets. The crowd during the week was orderly and law abiding, they state. No disturbances of any kind were caused by the show men and i the firemen are well pleased with the treatment accorded them. Made a Neat Sum The firemen received $312.62 from the Great White Way shows, this be ing their share of the prorts. Out of this the firemen must pay the light and power used by the carnival and for the city and county licenses. It is thought that the receipts from the carnival will net the firemen about $260.00. Firemen are Thankful The firemen wish to thank the business men who contributed to- > wards the convention. The sum of $1,071.25 was obtained from the business men. exclusive of the money paid for advertising in the convention program book. The firemen must pay all expenses Connected with the <on vention. The prizes awarded in the different contests 'on Thursday [ amounted to four hundred dollaisAdvertising, banners, decorations and everything incident to the conven tion will be paid by the local firemen and if any money is still left on hands after bills are paid it will divert to a reserve fund and he used by the fire men as called upon Just| recently the firemen purchased n<" blue shirts for the members of the department. -o — Championship Rtogue Warsaw, Ind., .lune 25.—Chester Zimmerman, Warsaw, formerly of Goshen and Leesberg. will on July 4 defend his title to the state rouque ] championship. On that date he "ill meet the challenger, W. L. Hines, champion of Indianapolis, on an Indi anapolis court. The contest calls for the four best games out of seven am will be staged at Garfield park in the capital city.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Buys Land To End Fight Milford, June 25—W. (’, Redmon, wealthy Peru furniture manufacturer, has purchased of Tom Nye, auditor of Kosciusko county ami Tom Parker, agricultural agent of Kosciusko county, a strip of land 40 feet wide and certain other land near Dewart Lake, east ol Milford so. $6 000. The deal ends controversy that recently resulted in the dynamiting of a dam constructed by employes ot Redmon to raise the water of the lake to such an extent as to inundate the 40 Loot strip and bring the water to the I dge of Redmon's property. HOSPITAL DRIVE OPENS TUESDAY Already For Campaign For The Riley Memorial Hospital Fund — Everything is ready for the drive in Decatur for the Riley Memorial hospital for children fund, which will start tomorrow and terminate Wed nesday night, according to C. E. Bell, Adams county chairman for the drive. Soliciting of Decatur citizens will start tomorrow. The Tri Kappas and Psi lota Xis will assist in this city. People who wish to give, and do not care to sign the four-year pledges can give cash contributions. Mr. Bell I said this morning, while outlining the plan. Voluntary contributions will be accepted all this week at the Industrial rooms over Graham and I Walters office. It is probable that boxes will be placed qn the streets Thursday. Friday and Saturday for small contributions. Mr. Bell said. It is the desire of the Adams county organization to ra'.se as much money as neighboring counties have, regardless of the tact that the County hospital was recently furnished by voluntary contributions. Statistics, will be carried by the solicitors, telling the facts of the Riley Memorial Hospital for Children, explaining the methods of contributing. and showing how easily a person of moderate means can give $25 or SSO, by the four-year pledge system. No effort will be made to solicit everybody in the city, it was explained this morning, so those whom the solicitors are unable to see, can send I their contributions to the headquarters or telephone for someone to come after them, if they desire to give. The hospital will be ready for patients in February df next year.[ Charity cases will be treated in the | i same manner as other casts are, and ;no preference will be shown to any certain case. The local W. R. < ■ gave the first contribution of $lO, followed last Friday night by the SIOOO p’edge from the inv.didual members of the Decatur Rotary club. — Will Dedicate New Court House Sept. 3 Celina, O, June 25-Monday. September 3, Labor Day. has been agreed upon as the date for the dedication of the new court house. July 12 had been previously fixed upon but the county committee, made up of a chairman from each township [expressed a preference for the later date. The building commission who ( had first advised July 12 as the date when the new building would be ready for dedication, met Friday and agreed it would be satisfactory to postpone the dedication until Labor Day the first Monday in September.) The new building will be ready for! occupancy as soon as the electric fixtures are installed and the work of ( making the final clean-up has been done. Abbott Improving Edgar Abbott, who was injured in, the automobile accident one ,mile ( north of Monroe last Thursday eve-, ning in which Orin Baumgartner, of | ■«!“*«■ • greatly improved and has been disused by the Physician. The soreness has nearly all left him and he will soon be able to resume work.

HARDING TALKS IN REHALF OF VOLSTEAD LAW —— Declares That Prohibition Amendment Will Never Be Repealed — SPEAKS AT DENVER President, On Western Tour Urges Enforcement Os Prohibition Law (United Press Service) Denver, Colo., June 25 —(Special to Daily Democrat) — Those political i forces that are seeking to make capi [ [ tai out of moves to repeal or weaken) I the prohobition laws are penetrating I “one of the historic blunders in po- [ litical management," President Harding declared in his address here today . Appealing to the "broadest and; bert sentiments of law-abiding Americans everywhere, the president predicted that the prohibition amendment to the federal constitution will never be repealed. Mr. Harding foreshadowed contemplated changes in the Volstead act however, stating that “doubtless" there w'.ll be changes in details of enforcement policy. He quickly ad ded though that these would be towards “effective enforcement, rather than moderation." Urges Law Enforcement The president spoke on the question of “Law fenforcenient” and made one of the most remarkable addresses of his tour so far. He came out flatfootedly in calling on the country to observe the prohibition laws to the letter. He gave no quarter in condemning all who wink at these laws and severely criticizing states who do not meet their full duty in carrying the proportionate share of enforcing the laws. President Harding struck out with full force in taking to task the state of New York for repealing its prohibition enforcement law. Mr. Harding did not mnetion New York or Governor Smith by name, but he left no doubt that he was referring to the passage of the Mullen-Gage law repealer and its signature by Al Smith. “There could be no more complete (Continued on page six) CHINCH BUGS ARE APPEARING Vanguard Os Pest Is Showing Up; Farmers Urged To Take Precautions Chinch bugs, probably the worst pests farmers have to combat during the past two or three years are again to be numerous in this county according to all indications. Several farmers have reported their presence in considerable numbers on the roots of wheat and rye, near the surface of the ground. Reports from southern Indiana state they are now migrating from (wheat to corn and wherever precautions have. 1 not been taken they are ' doing much damage. Although they are being found in this locality their seriousness cannot be determined yet. since they will not migrate for [several days. According to Information from the County agent’s office cresote barriers I have proven effective during the outbreaks of the last two years. One 'barrel of this material, costing about fifteen dollars, will maintain one-half mile of line between corn and wheat stubble containing the bugs. In many cases two or more farmens have pur--1 chased barrels in partnership. | Farmers would do well to watch 'wheat fields closely for the insects 'and if they are found, take immediate 'precautions to protect their corn. Complete information regarding the creosote and its use can be obtained at the county agent’s office.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, June 25, 1923

LEVIATHAN’S MATE

Ol

"BILL" HIGGINS New York —A former Boston, [ Mass., butcher is a mate of the LeviI athan, Uncle Sam’s luxurious liner. J He is "Bill" Higgins, second officer I of the big ship.

PLENTY OF ICE ~ AND WATER HERE • Decatur Citizens Fortunate; Officials Urge All To Be Conservative lee and water, two of the blessings given mankind and about the only thing that ean be used to advantage during these hot days, are being supplied and consumed in abundance these days by Decatur people. Ed Whitright, who supplies artificial ice , to the residents of Decatur, states that he delivered 11 tons of Ice last Saturday. Three to four times a week this amount is delivered by Mr. , Whitright, while on about two days . a week the consumption drops to nine or ten ton. The Mutschler Pack , ing company is manufacturing be- , tween 11 and 12 tons of ice a day and an extra car is shipped in every week , for their use and Mr. Whitright’s , customers. At the city power plant the maximum pumping of water reached 414.000 gallons last Saturday, the minimum pumping early in the week I being 342,000. With the exception of I ten or twelve thousand gallons, the entire amount is consumed by Decatur people. The city plant is keeping ahead of the demand for water, but in order to be ready for emergency cases the officials urge that the people be as conservative as possible with its use. Weather Partly overcast tonight and Tuesday with probably local ' thundershowers; not so warm in north Tuesda y. WILLIAM BERGER EXPIRED TODAY Aged Kirkland Township Farmer Died Early This Morning; 111 3 Weeks i ... . ... i William Berger, age 72 years, a res- ■ ident of Kirkland township for the lust six years, died at his home : two miles south of Magely, at 3:45 , o’clock this morning following a three ■ weeks’ illness of kidney trouble and ■ a complication of diseases. ’ Mr. Berger was born in April, 1851. ’ He was married to Miss Emline Bill--1 man who survives. Several children ’ were born to this union, the following of who survive : Catherin Berger, at > home; Mrs. Thomas Gritiith. Mrs. Ro- > hert Sivine, of Kirkland tp.; Mrs. • William Jackson, of Wells county. ? The following brothers and sisters al t so survive: Ed Berger, of Wells conn f ty; Jacob and Samuel Berger, of t Kirkland township; Mrs. Rose Wolt. / of Tocsin; Mrs. Charles Bryan and • Mrs. Frank Arnold and also Mrs. Christ Menky, of Kirkland township, i Funeral services will be held from s the residence at 2 o’clock Wednesday d ' afternoon. Bttrial will take place in .[the Pleasant Dale cemetery. 9 —_ —• — ] Mrs. C. V. Connell went to Ft Wajlne to spend the day.

BALDWIN SEES NO GROUND FOR PROTEST TO U. S. English Premier Not In Favor Os Protesting Breaking Os Seals FRENCH PROTEST All Liquor Removed From Ships And Stored By Customs Officials -[ (United Press Service) London, June 25. -(Special to Daily I Democrat) —Premier Stanley Baldwin announced in the house of commons today that he could see no grounds for a British government protest i against the breaking of its customs i :eal3 in American territorial waters ' by officials of the United States. Paris, June 25.- An official French ' protest against American seizure of lio'ior on steamers Hying this country’s flag will be dispatcher! to Washington, if the New York customs au- , thorities go through with their pror gram of greaking the French seals. Premier Poincare favors delaying anv other action until the next session - of the American congress, in the beI half that the law will be changed. ? Other officials are talking reprisals. i t New York. June 25. —Case hy case, ( beer, wine and liquors were taken from the Cunard liner Berengaria today and handed over by customs pffir ials to dry ageuts ashore. The stores of beverage liquor brought in under seal in defiance of I .he Volstead act as applied to the ; three-mile limit, were carried off the , big liner by hand, a slow process, while the Bcrengaria’s crew lounged . about. I Supplies of liquor known to have . been brought in on other foreign ves E seis would be dealt with, customs offlr elate said, after the Berengaria’s » booze had been removed. —,_o . ; Postpone Cult Probe t ■ ’ St. Joseph. MlSch., June 25—Re- ' sumption of the “one man” grand » jury probe of alleged immorality in the House of David religious cult ' was postponed today until September. ON AUTO TRIP TO NEBRASKA Rev. U. S. A. Bridge And ' Family Leave Early Today For Vacation Trip The Rev. U. 8. A. Bridge, pastor . of the First Methodist church of this city, accompanied hy Mrs. Bridge, and son and daughter. Gail and Miss Lucille, left early early this morning on an automobile trip to Omaha, ' Nebraska, where they will spend two ' weeks' vacation. Rev. and Mrs. 5 Bridge have a son, Vern A. Bridge. ’ who with his family reside in Omaha. 9 The official board of the local 1 church, granted Rev. Bridge a vacation during the latter part of July ■ and the first of August. He decided I- to take part of it now and make the ) trip to Omaha, and take the remain--5 der of it later, by spending a short I time at a lake, in August. >■ The automobile has been equipped i. with a camper’s outfit, and the • Bridges expect to camp each night I along the way. An enjoyable trip is > anticipated. With but little ex.ep>f tion. the Lincoln Highway will be t, followed between here and Omaha. <1 The son who resides in Omaha, is cir- ’• culation manager of the Omaha Morn- ). ing Bee. He and his family reside » at 4410 California street. y Rev. Bridge and family will be gone n two Sundays. The pulpit in the local church will be filled on next Sunday. July 1. by the Rev. I). V. Williams, of t. Geneva, and on July 8, by the Rev. J. O. Hochstedler, of Harlan.

Wheat Harvest Begins Blcknel, Ind . June 25- The harvest moon is shining by night time, and by day time the hum of the reaper sounds across Knox county. Stray fields had been touched by the reapers a week ago but the bulk of the' harvesting across the sands of lower Knox, and across the prairies around Oaktown, started this week. The harvest moon will be full next Thursday, and that day will find the entire county in the midst of a big grain harvest the busiest days of all the year. REJECT BIDS ON SCHOOL BUILDING Finance Board Os St. Marys Catholic Church Votes To Delay Building The bids submitted by the contractors last Friday for the construeion of the Decatur Catholic high ichool and grade building have been rejected by the finance board of the St. Mary’s Catholic church for the reason that tile prices were too high, and far above the estimated cost. The recent flurry in the price of steel, brick and lumber atid most every thing used in building, lias increased •onstruction costs as high as thirty or forty ]>er cent making it impossitile to proceed with the building of the school. It was hoped that the school house ■ould be contrueted ami equipped at t cost between $155,000 and $200,000. Mthough thi' figures were not given >ut it wns stated that the bids ran ■ between seventy-five ami one hundred thousand dollars over the estimate. As long as the high prices prevail, he contract will not be awarded. May Build Foundation Separate bids for the construction >f the foundation may be obtained and f the price is within reason a contract will be awarded for this part of the building this summer. Contactors are of the opinion that build ing Tost will take a decided drop during the year and if this is the case new bids will be obtained and the ■chool building may be constructed next year. — o — —— Boys Meet At Corner Os Corn-Crib; Bump Heads John ami Raymond Meyers, seven and five year old sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Meyers, who reside three miles louthwest of Decatur, met with pain I'ul injuries in an unusual manner late Sunday afternoon. The two lads were running around a corn-crib lon their father's farm, in opposite di ections. They met at one corner ind when they collided their heads struck together. Each received a cut | >n his forehead, three inches long which penetrated to the bone. One of them was thrown against a fence by the force of the collision. A physician was called and the lads were placed under the influence of ether while the wounds were closed. Neither of the lads was rendered uncons cions hy the collision ami neither suffered any injuries, other than the cut on the forehead, apparently. 0 Al Smith On Way Home French Lick, Ind., June 25—(Special to the Daily Democrat) —Governor Al Smith of New York, and his party were on their way back to Albany after a ten-day rest at the resort of Tom Taggart, Indiana political boss. The governor, mentioned as a presi- . dental possibility since his action in state prohibition enforcement laws , signing the repealer to the New York brought the endorsement of the wet , element throughout the country, I maintained up to the hour of his de- [ parture yesterday that his visit to .[Taggart's watering place hud nd pol ,; itical significance. He refused to talk politics through , out his stay. 1 It was noted that, contrary to ex pectation. few prominent | Hoosier f democrats had occasion to visit French Lick while Smith was a guest here. ■■ I

Price: 2 Cents.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS SEEKING DATA Action Said To Be Forerunner Os Sweeping StateWide Investigation AFFECTS LOCAL RATES Northern Indiana Gas And Electric Co., Included In Utilities Named (United Press Service) Indianapolis, June- 25 —(Special to Daily Democrat) — Investigation of revenues, operating expenses, rates, service and facility of twenty-five distributing public utilities of Indiana, was instituted hy the Public Service Commission today. The action was said to be only the forerunner of a sweeping rtate w de Investigation into the affairs of public utilities of all kinds. Demands that the companies provide inventories, reports and statements to the commission so that body may determine the advisability of holding formal hearings, were contained in orders sent out today to these utilities: Northern Indiana Gas & Electric Co., gas rates for Fort Wayne, Bluffton. Decatur. Lafayette, Logansport, Wabash, Frankfort, Lebanon, Hammond and South Bend, and electric ■ates for Lafayette. Woman Shop-Lifter Is Arrested In Bluffton i Mrs. Charles Kinkaid. alias Mrs. R. A. Thomas, alias Mabel Thomas and alias Mrs. R. E. Edwards, was arrested in Bluffton Saturday and a charge of shop-lifting was placed against her. She waived arraignment aid was bound over to the circuit court under SSOO bond. A pasteboard box and a travelling bag. which the woman carried, contained articles valued at $167, all of which are believed to have been stolen Frank Engeler of the Engeler dry goods firm in Bluffton, recognized several of tlte articles as some taken from his store, and other articles were wrapped in wrapping paper from the , Berne Dry Goods Company, in Berne. An extra suit she carried was ob--1 tained at Rink’s, in Indianapolis. She admitted stealing the dress, t o Ask Rate Increase i (United Press Service) ! Indianapolis, June 25 —(Special to Daly Democrat) -At the same time the Central Indiana Gas company was urging the Public Service Commission today to authorize increases n gas rates at Muncie, Hartford City and Fairmount, petitions were filed , to suri ended franchises of the comnany In nine cities and towns where the utility distributes. ( Franchises , were surrendered in Muncie. Alexandria. Marion. Elwood, Riverside City and Normal City. Anderson, Fairmount. Hartford City, John M. Maxon, president of the company, said the natural gas supply in the three cities was so uncertain that tile possibility of future service was jeopardized. He said the increases were necessary in order to ' prepare to supply artificial gas. _ —• Large Cargoes Captured i From Rum Runners Today i (United Press Service) New York. June 25 —Piled high on the decks ot 14 steamers, schooners, ‘land sloops. 12 miles off Ambrose S I light ship today, are 210,000 cases of ' rare Scotch liquor, rye, champagne, 1 brandy, cognac and fine liquors ’ brought from the West hides and Europe to be smuggled into the “ United States. i It is 30 miles from Broadway via | water to the nearest booze ship, but ’’ the speedy motorboats ot the big inI ternational smuggling combines cov er it in less than two hours. r -o —- It Linden—While speeding to the bedt t side of his sick wife, Robert Quinton, | of Green Castle was arrested. ...., j, -■ ■■■■'- ■■■-