Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIII. Number 301

HOLIDAY ACCIDENTS TAKE HEAVY TOLL

CHRISTMAS DAY IS HAPPY ONE IN DECATUR HOMES Needy Families Made Happy By Charitable Organizations; No Accidents family dinners FEATURE OF DAY Decatur's whit* Christmas was greatly enjoyed by everybody, according to reports flooding the Daily Democrat office. Cliristnias day dawned while and cold and a flurrying snow made the day ideal. Two local organizations. Delta Thetn Tati sorority and the R. I*. O F-lks, made it possible for many of the needy families to celebrate the day. About a hundred kiddies were taken care of through the kindness of the Delta Theta Tans, and the Elks gave out more than 60 chicken dinner baskets to persons in this city. The Tri Kappas made their annual visit to the county infirmary. Churches toys to many children. No deaths were reported by local undertakers and no serious accidents occurred. The day was quiet in a business way. All local stores were closed at noon until evening and many remained dos. ed during the entire day-. Family dinners held sway and many Christmas reunions were observed. Church Services Held Churches held services either Thursday evening or Friday morning. Hows were beautifully decorated for th* happy occasions and the real Christmas spirit ruled. Yesterday afternoon, a dance was held by the college students at the Elks home, and several couples enjoyed the afternoon at that function. Shows were crowded. Other people chose to stay at home and enjoy the reunions. — No robberies were reported and the day was quiet for the local police force, no arrests of any sort being made. Cold weather set in late yesterday and last night the thermometer registered zero and lower. Business was light in most stores today, after the holiday, and Decatur was recovering from one of the most joyous Christmas days ever had. The joyful feast of Christmas was celebrated with appropriate services at the St. Marys-Catholic church yesterday. Nine masses were said during the morning, the first Christmas high mass being held at 5 o clock The Rev. J. A. Sehnetz, pastor, acted as celebrant of the mass, assisted by the Rev. Otto A. Peters, and the Rev. James Tekath, of Carthagena. Ohio. The last high mass was held at 4.> a. m. During the early morning masses, members of the congregation reced'd Holy Communion, it being an annual custom for the entire congregation to partake of Communion on Christmas day. The altars in the church were beautifully decorated with vigil liubi - and candles and at the south altai a manger containinng an image of Hi’ Infant Jesus was erected.

ZERO WEATHER STRIKES COUNTY Weather Ideal On Christmas Day But Mercury Takes Plunge In Evening Contrary to pTe'christmas report 9, northern Indiana had a win e mas. Snow fell yesterday morning and added a freshness to ' ha ready on the ground. 111 P ' , county was covered yesterday * several inches of snow am temperature until late yesterday ternoon was ideal. , Zero weather set in last nig today dawned the coldest day < present winter. The weather, ever, was about 16 degree 9 " than a year ago, when the e tur e fell to 17 degrees below ■ The coldest weather (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) f

BECATIJH daily democrat

16-Months-Old Lad Is A “Charleston „ Dancing Master” C.ilnmhus. Ind., Dec. 26 - (United Press.) — Columbus boasts of the youngest "Charleston darning mr ter" in the state and possibly in the entire country. The youngster is Donald, (Buddy I Stillahower, 16-month-old son of Mrs. Ruth Stillahower. People who have seen the youngster dance the intricate steps of the newest fad declare he is a master of the dance. A "school" of youngsters, all older, gather at Btuld'e’s home everyday to pick up the tine points of the dame from the youngster. ADVANTAGES OF MEETINGS CITED Benefits to be Derived From Simultaneous Evangelistic Meetings Stated The ministers and churches of Decaiur. through the Decatur Minis-j terial Association, have arranged for j a simultaneous evangelistic cam- J paign. Seven churches will hold services each night, except Saturday-j for a period of at least two weeks,] commencing January 10. The churches co-operating are: Baptist. Christian. Evangelical. Methodist. Presbyterian. Reformed and United Brethren. Several churches will | hold special services for the young people during the preceding week Each pastor will conduct his own seri vices or secure other pastoral assistlanco. Some will engage special song leaders. It is hoped and believed every member of the churches, including all tie young people, will co-operate with their own chinch ' program not only by regular attendance at each service but by personally "talking up” the services among neighbors and friends and by such other personal help as they are fitted to perform and may be asked to do. To help achieve this end, the Ministerial Association has requested the schools, clubs, lodges, and other social organizations, so far as possible, to recognize the hours of, the church services and so avoid conflicts. It is pointed out that the followpng advantages will be securest rom II IIVI IM I II OM PAGE I MADHOUSE IS SCENE OF FISHT One Man Is Shot at The Tavern. Located On DecaturFort Wayne Road Arthur Alexander, 23. a roomer at the y. M. C. A, *.n Fort Wayne, was seriously wounded by a 1,1,11 et ing a fight at the Tavern, a roadhouse !he n.eahir-F.rt W.yn. day night. Alexander is said to been accidently struck by a bul red from a gun in the hands of France Goss, of Fort Wayne, proprietor of the Tavern. Joss appeared at police headquai - ers early Friday morning and vol n ■ teered to report the shooting episod and he was released after being ques- , rnned by police officers. I Xs said that he ami Alexander U n ie roadhouse talking whe three men “Te us' start a threa ts are said argumen •, ■ three men, ,°”T » ** 1 ffle followed and Alexander is said „ Thp Elin "88 aiscnaift Goss. The g of the men ' hP t'*n r g ee the en trouble, according to n Jas Wilßani Chalkman. a room|er°at the Mack hotel, Fort was rushed to the Methshot’ “’tai Where he was Operodißt hospital. moved The ated on and t did not bullet enter ® organs- 'Although his Shion J''regarded as- serious, it is, thought he Will recover.

200 11. 8. MARINES ARE ORDERED TO SAIL FOR CHINA Detachment At Manilla, P. L, Receives Orders To Sail This Evening DESTINATION LIKELY WILL AE TIEN TSIN Manilla, PI. Dec. 26—Two hundred American marines received orders here today to call on the transpoit Chaumont at midnight for China. It was believed here that the destination of the marines is Tien Tsin China. Radio reports received here today indicate increasing chaos in conditions there. The Chaumont sailing date originally was Sunday, hut the time was advanced presumabily on receipt of urgent messages from Chfna. Peking.’ China. Dec. 2G—Communication with Peking has been restored following General Feng Cuh Slang’s decision occupation of the Tien Tsin area and his defeat of the forces of Li Ching Ln after a fortnight of varying fortune. Warfare in northern China is also apparently ended unless Feng decides to reinforce the Kuo Sung Lin troops against Chang Tso Lin. Tien Tsin. Dec. 26—Foreign guards and volunteers have been withdrawn from the city following the battle for its possession between Feng Yuh Siang and Lin Ching Lin National (Ferry troops, are now in full possession and Feng has captured great quantities of munitions and several thousand persons. London. Dec. 26—A Central News Tien Tsin message Christmas Eve (CONTINUED "V PACK TWO, RUM FLEET TO BE INSPECTED Assistant Secretary Andrews To Make 8-Day Cruise Os Southern Front Wilmington. N. Dec. 26. — (United Press)-Assistant Secretary of the treasury Andrews arrived here from Washington today and will embark this afternoon on the United States coast guard cutter Modoc for an eight day inspection cruise of the Southern rum front which will take him as far

as Havana. The cruise, which will also combine the features of a diplomatic mission. , will proceed by leisurely stages down the coas* and back with stops at Charleston. S. Savannah. Ga.. and Keywest. Fla., on the outgoing trip and Miami and Jacksonville, Fla., on th e return trip which is due to end at Savannah on January 4. , ThP dry czar will spend about 48 hours in Havana over New Years’ Day. and W ith William R. Vallence. assts‘taut solicitor of the state department who accompanied him, w-ill discuss with American and Cuban officials, , thP proposed smuggling treaty with the , island republic. i At the various stops along the coast. , Andrews w’U inspect customs and pro. u „ on the liquor problem along the southern shores. This has assumed largP proportions with the advent of the winter season and the movement of rum smuggling to warmer climes and smoother waters.' Business Is Dull To( J?y Following Christmas Rush One of the quietest Saturdays of] tllP year marked the day after ChristmaH’in Decatur. Stores were pracHcally deserted after ten days of L a w business. Only a tew persons who got the wrong size shirt or Rlo ves came to the stores today. Most local stores reported the heaviest pre-Christmas trading in recent years.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, December 26. 1925

Favors Spanking ■ MPSMAKY HAHII/TOK Girls from fourteen Io twenty tire blamed for ’’appalling vice" conditions in New York, according to Mrs. Mary Hamilton. head of the policewomen's squad. Vicious practices learned at schools anti colleges are back of it all. she charges. Spanking would cure' the evils, she holds. I TOHOLD~IOINT INSTALLATION Masons And Eastern Stars To Install New Officers Next Tuesday Night Public installation exorcises of Decatur Masonic, and Eastern Star organizations will be held at the Ma’sonic hall next Tuesday night. December 30. it was announced today. The Blue lodge, Chapter and Eastern Star officers for 1926 will be installed at that time. All Masons. Eastern Stars, members of the local Chapter and their families are cordially invited to attend the installation. Following the installation, a general social will be held, during which time dancing, cards and refreshments will be enjoyed. The three organizations have been holding joint installations the last several years and they are always largely The installation will start promptly at 7:30 o’clock and the social will follow immediately.

GRAIN PRICES ADVANCE AGAIN Wheat Leads Other Grains In Rise; New Top For Wheat At Kansas City Chicago. Dec- 26 —Grain prices registered advances of from % to 7’4 cents a bushel on the Chicago board of trade today with wheat leading the advance. Reports of unfavorable crop conditions in the Argentine were the principal factors in the rise. December wheat closed at $1.84% compared with Thursday’s close of $1.77. , , Corn and oats registered gains or as much as 2 cents a bushel.

Kansas City. Dec. 26-A new top price for the wheat crop was established on the board of trade here to-, day when December wheat reached $178%, five cents higher than Thursday’s close. Weather Generally fair tonight and Sunday except somewhat unsettled in south portion. Colder tonight. Continued I cold Sunday.

REPORTS FROM STRIKE REGION ARE OPTIMISTIC Hope For End of Anthracite Strike Early In New Year Increases WARING FACTION MEET NEXT WEEK New York. Dec. 26. —(United Press) Reports from the anthracite coal mining districts today told of increased hope that the coal mine strike which has been in progress since September 1, would end early in the new year as a result of plans for renewal of the wage conferences between the miners and mine owners. The committees representing the two sides of the controversy will meet in New York Tuesday, probably at the Union Tjpague club. Plans for the meeting have been completed and the negotiators are expected here some time Monday. It was understood that the mine owners would advance the plan originally proposed by the members of the Pennsylvania legislature from Luzerne county and the miners would present the so-called Plnchot plan of settlement, as the first proposals for the meeting to discuss. I Christmas in the coal fields was de- | scribed in reports from various mining centers. Charitable organizations were active in distributing food and clothing to the families of miners who are on strike and who have been unable to secure other employment and whose savings,have run low. In many instances suffering was reported. o —— Former Mayor Dies Wabash, Ind.. Dec. 26. — (United Press) —Joseph Murphy, a former mayor of Wabash, died suddenly at bls home here today. Heart trouble was believed to be the cause of his death.

SIX LOSE LUES IN STATE FRIDAY Trains Kill Five Persons; Autos Responsible For One Death; Many Hurt Indianapolis. Ind., Dec. 26—Christmas accidents took its lives in Indiana, reports showed today. Fourteen others were seriously hurt in holiday mishaps, seven so seriously they

may die. Three hunters were killed when j their auto was hit by an interurban car near Scottsburg. Two persons ( died in traffic accidents in Indianapolis and a motorist was killed at Bloomington when his auto skidded and overturned. The victims of the accident at Scottsburg wend .Hohn 21, Edward Burch. 20. and Earl Burch 12. McWilliams was killed outright and the two Burch brothers died a short time later. A Christmas visit with relatives in (Contini i:n ox I’ttu: twoi

First Commencement Exercises Held In Adams County During ear 01 18ba ' Over'll Well-known Decatur Residents Included In ( lass Os tn.r- The I de Rev. W. J. Mvers Was In Charge Os Sthool, Exercises Were Held In Old Frame School Building.

Perhaps the first commencement exlercise ever held in Adams county, was that of 1865, sixty years ago, in this city, and one of the class members told about it today. Os course. Decatur did not have a commissioned high school, but a special course in [advanced training was arranged and] I was in charge of the late Rev. William i J. Myers. The class included a number of well-known local people and about a dozen completed the course and graduated in the special exercises • arranged by Mr. Myers. r In the class were Fannie Kunkle, , later Mrs. Robert S. Peterson; Jennie 1 Hunter, later Mrs. W. J. Myers; Mary McLain, later Mrs. Barney Wemhoff;

Screen Version Os Mrs. Porter’s Last Book To Be Shown In This City Van Giant, manager of the Adams theater of this city, announced today that he had contracted with the Film Rooking offices to present the screen version of Gene Sratton Porter’s last book. "The Keeper of the Bees," at his theater next Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Mrs. Porter's book, bearing the game name, was completed just before she met with accidental death a year ago The moving picture coin's to Ibis city igllly recoin mended. 0 —

D. H. S, ALUMNI ARE RETURNING Old Grads From Many States Coming Back For Reunion Next Monday From many states, east and west, north and south, they are coming home Monday to attend the first big reunion of alumni members of the, Decatur high school and the event promises to be one of the most enjoyable ever held here. More than three hundred acceptances have] come in and a number of others have signified intentions of attending] Many from a distance have made! their reservations and almost every class since 1881 will be represented.' W. F. Brittson. of Dallas, Texas, former superintendent of the Decatur schools. arrived in Decatur this morning and will bo present at the alumni banquet. Mr. Brittson, who was superintendent of the schools from 1837 to 1899, will have a part in the program starting at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon, of which C. A. Dugan, also a former superintendent, will be in charge. Other former indluding II A. Hartman, of Sidney, Ohio, and ’William Beaehler, of Union City, will be present. The Rev. Edgar Jones, of New Haven, a graduate of Decatur high school, has sent word that he will be here for the homecoming and banquet. Rev. Jones will have charge of the invocations. Decorations Being ►’laced The decoration committee started work this morning. The school building Is lining trimmed with ever'CONTINI !•:>> ON I’K.i: TWO) POST OFFICE HAS , RECORD BUSINESS

Speed. Accuracy And Larg- ’ cst Business In History Is Record Made Here Speed, accuracy and the largest business in the history of the local postoffice. was the record made during the Christmas rush in this city this year, according to figures compiled by Postmaster Harry Fritzinger, today. The big rush started December 21. according to the report. A new record was made in the sale of 2-cent stamps in (CONTIM F.l> <>X I’XOE TWO!

David Myers. A. Mcßollman, D G M. Perhaps the first commencement exTroilt and a number of others, including the pastor of the Presbyterian church and his wife. The graduating exercises, whiqli were held In the frame school house, were quite largely attended and honors were awarded to t|ie various members of the class. Mrs. Peterson, who received a roll ot honor, showing the class members and their grades, as the prize for second honors, kept this until a few years ago, when it was lost in some manner. An effort was made to secure it i for the display at the D. H S. alumni home-coming and banquet Monday night, but It could not be found.

Price 2 Cents.

EIGHTY LIVES ARE LOST IN 27 AMERICAN CITIES Fatalities May Reach 100 Mark; Automobile Blamed For Major Portion GUN IS SECOND HEAVIEST OFFENDER (United PrMHI) Celebration of Christmas, the day of peart' and good will, cost a total of eighty lives in 27 American cities, a survey made today by the I'nited Press revealed. Fatalities in cilies and towns not included in the survey will probably bring the figure over the 100 mark. The automobile was responsible for the major portion of the toll. 5S persons having lost their lives in traffic accidents. 1 The gun was the second heaviest 'offender — 1-3 persons having been ! shot to death. Liquor ranked third, only seven [deaths due to liquor poisoning being ■ reported, although many cities told 1 (1 f hospitals having numerous case? 1 of persons suffering from the effects ' of the bad alcohol. | "Physicians have had a chance to gain much experience In handling poison liquor cases in the last year.' , a physician In charge of a New oYrk , I|osp*tah ‘YThis has resulted in development of better meUiods id treatment and accounts for the fact that deaths and serious illness from I such cases have been reduced " Outstanding in the results of the 1 survey was the reduction of serious accidents from burning Christmas trees —duo largely to the substituI tion of the electric light for the oldfashioned candle Only two major accidents of this kind were reported. , while in past years there have been . many. New York City went through • Christmas Day for the first time in history without a fire due to a burning Christmas tree. Chicago and environs head the list I of cities In number of casualties, ten ~ being killed In that territory, all in • traffic accidentsThe deaths from poison liquor were scattered over the country and none occurred in New York where warnings had been Issued and reiterated against impure alcohol. Many wero treated at hospitals in New York for I alcoholism, however. New York charged up to the gun the total of its Christmas deaths. In a dunce hall in Brooklyn a Christmas party ended with the murder of three men. Two other persons were shot to death in brawls over the holidays. .. o serious traffic accidents wero ■ reported. "Wl s St. lauds. Indianapolis. Boston and vicinity and Omaha. Neb., and vicin- • ity all reported five or more persons e killed in traffic accidents of various I- kinds.

HOC CALLERS TO HOLD ELIMINATION To Hold Tryouts at Banquet Here To Pick Entrants For State Contest As a means of determining who shall represent Adams county in the state hog calling contest, to be staged at Lafayette during Agricultural Confer ence week, an elimination contest will be conducted in connection with the Five Acre-Ton Litter Banquet which occurs the evening of January 4. Those who wish to demonstrate their prowess in the "gculle art" of calling hogs are hereby notified of the event, in order I that tiny may take any red steps toward the strengthening of the r voc.il chords or any other n.> *• •• hin :trparatus tbsy may t porkers from the fir H’d of a i • t»«yniivriMi t> os ru.i: TWO)