Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 24, Number 84, Decatur, Adams County, 8 April 1926 — Page 1

Vol. XXIV- Number SL

CALIFORNIA OIL FIRES ARE SPREADING

RJVERS IN ADAMS COUNTY FLOODED If HEAVY RAINS st. Marys And Wabash Rivers and Tributary Streams Out Os Banks ■ —■ relief in sight AS RAINFALL CEASES Rivers and creeks in this vicinity have left their banks and have spread out over nearby fields and roads, since the recent heavy rains, according to ...pnrij received from all parts of Jhe county today. The Wabash river •t Geneva has risen steadily the last several days ami this morning it was reported to be over the road just north I of Geneva. Elcod waters backed over the road near Monmouth, three miles north of here. Automobiles were able to drive through the water last night and todty, but it was reported to be about hub-deep. Creeks all over the county are high and some have reached the danger point. Highest Point in Years Here The St. Marys river rose considerably in this city the last 24 hours and is at the highest • point recorded for several years. The low fields east of the city limits are covered with water, but it is thought that there is no immediate danger of further rising water. Decatur is located ala high point, and it would take much more rain to reach the danger point in the business section. The river is also high in the north part of the city, but it will take a rise of several feet yet to reach the flood stage on North Second street. Fort Wayne, Bluffton and other neighboring cities and towns report high water marks. The rain stopped in this locality early this morning, amj, in all probabilities, the flood waters will not rise to a much greater • CONTINUED ON' PAGE THREE) Presbyterians Postpone Congregational Meeting The annual congregational meeting of the First Presbyterian church, which was scheduled for last night, was adjourned for two weeks, owing to the inclement weather. The meeting will be called for April 21, at which time oficers will be elected for the present church year. — — o ELKS INSTALL NEW OFFICERS IL M. De Voss Assumes Duties As Exalted Ruler Os Decatur Lodge New officers of Decatur lodge. No. 993, of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks were installed last evening, D. M. Hensley, past exglted ruler being in charge of the ceremonies. H. M. DeVoss was installed as exalted ruler and took charge of the business meeting which followed the installation. Mr. DeVoss made a short talk and asked for the cooperation of all members. Other officers installed were: A. R. Holthouse, esteemed leading knight; Leo Ehinger, secretary; l.ob Meibers, treasurer; Ben Knapke, tiler. The exalted ruler appointed Albert Colchln as esqnire; Will J. Johns, inner guard, and Dr. G. F. Eichorn, chaplain, they taking their office last evening. The election of the loyal knight and the lecturing knight will take place at ’be meeting next week, the candidates elected tendering their resignation of these offices. bred T. Schurger, retiring exalted ruler, who presided at the opening of the meeting, was named delegate to ’he national convention of Elks, which be held In Chicago next June. b - J- Schmitt is,the alternate. he local lodge of Elk* has a mem- ./ rship of about 300 and a year ago he lodge purchased the beautiful Schaefer residence as a home. The , ge has occupied the home since last Jun e .

DECATUR DA IKY DEMOCRAT

John B. Stoll, Veteran Democratic Editor, Dies South Bend, Ind., April B.—(United Press) - Funeral arrangements for John B. Stoll, S 3, veteran democratic editor of Indiana, who died last night, were being held up today pending the arrival of a son. * Stoll died following an attack of pneumonia contracted after a meeting of the state prison board, of which he was a member. REV,BUXTON IS CALLED RY DEATH Former Pastor Os Christian Church In This City Dies In Oregon D. M. Hensley, of this city, received word yesterday of the sudden death of the Rev. A. G. A. Buxton, former pastor of the Christian church of this city. Rev. Buxton died suddenly at Portland. Oregon. The message received in this city was from Rev. Buxton's wife, and did not state the cause of the death. Rev. Buxton eame to this city as pastor of the Christian church in 1919. On December 13, 1919, he left this city on a trip to Honolulu and returned to Decatur in July, 1920. He acted as pastor of the local Christian church until October, 1921. Since that time. Rev. Buxton lias made several lecture tours. Rev. Ruxton made many friends while in this city. He was a member of the Decatur Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and was active in many civic and church affairs. ‘ Mrs. Buxton left Portland yesterday. ,accompanying the remains to Denver, Colorado, where funeral services will ,be held. Minister, Wife And Son Are Found Slain Wilkesbarre. Pa.. April B.—(United Press.) —Answering a fire call early today, firemen discovered the body of Rev. A. H. Nikola'in, pastor of the Russian Orthodox church here, his wife, Anna. 38, and their son, Alexander, 14, dead from bullet wounds. Each had been shot in the head. Nikolain returned a month ago from the Clifton Springs sanitarium following a nervous breakdown. Police believe that the priest, probably in a fit of insanity, killed his wife and son and then committed suicide. The firemen believed the family was overcome by smoke and carried the victims from the upper floor downstairs when it was discovered they had been shot to death. I o — Prosecutor Orders Magazine Suppressed Lansing, Mich., April 8. (United Press.) —Prosecuting Attorney Harry F. Hittie of Ingham county, today ordered all copies of the April issue of the American Mercury suppressed on the ground the story "Hatrack was a record of “deeds of lust and crime.” H. L. Mencken, editor of the magazine, was acquitted yesterday, in Boston of charges of violating a similar Massachusetts statute when he sold copies of the magazine in Boston. FARM WOMEN DISCUSS HATS Home Economics Club Leaders Os County Meet In This City Wednesday Despite the bad weather, the first meeting of the millinery project of the Home Economics Club leaders , was held Wednesday, at the Decatur Public Library, with a good attendanceAn all-day session was held. Miss Nellie Flaningham, of Purdue University, who has charge of the millinery project, was well pleased with the meeting. There were six townships represent- ' ed, namely. Root, Union, Kirkland, Washington, St. Marys and Monroe. Adams county compares favorably (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

Eugene Debs Pictures Self As “Man Without Country” Once Fiery Leader Os Socialist Party Writes Letter To Friend From Bermuda. Where He Is Resting; Still r Faithful To His Standards. . (By Max Buckingham, United Press Staff Correspondent) Chicago, April B—(SpecialB—(Special tq Daily Democrat) —Eugene V. Debs pictures himself in his retiring years us “u man wthout a country”—a twentieth century Philip Nolan —it was revealed today in a letter written to a friend in Chicago. The once fiery leader of the socialist party, many times socialist candi-

date for president of the United States is resting in Bermuda. Age Dimming His Eyes Advancing age has rapidly dimmed his eyes; his slender form is weakening; tiie voice that once rang to Ills “comrades” in eloquent appeals for socialist principles is cracking. Now in solitude and virtual retireI meat ou a tropical island in the T Atlantic, with only his wife—Kather- ■ ine—as companion, he looks back at i the land of his nativity, the scenes of t his nativity, the scenes of his many . conflicts, and feais that henceforth he may be forced to view the United . States "from afar through the wistful eyes of an undesirable alien.” t Still Faithful To Cause. The letter was addressed to "Comi rade George R. Kirkpatrick,” executive secretary of the socialist party. , It relates his difficulties with Amer- , ican and British immigration author- . ities since leaving the United States. I There is not the least suggestion in the letter that Delis is retracting . even the slightest from his socialist . doctrine or would disavow the policies for which he served penitentiary , sentences. Rather it is a note of sadness that the once fiery Debs strikes in this epistle. Not only is he confronted | with advancing age ami.the need for quiet hours but his wtfe also is ill and it was necessary to take her to Bermuda to regain her strength. After telling of being questioned at length by the British immigration officials at Bermuda, Debs wrote as > follows: “They then opened a ponderous volume and lead to me the law concerning the exclusion of undesirable immigrants, and 1 certainly could be excluded without straining its drastic provisions. “The immigration inspector then 1 served notice on me that if 1 attempt- ( CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) CONVENTION IS CLOSED TODAY Fort Wayne Church Gets Next Meeting Os Reformed Missionary Society St. John's Reformed church of Fort Wayne was chosen as the entertaining church for the 1927 convention of the Woman’s Missionary Society of the . Fort Wayne Classis of the Reformed church at the closing session of the fourth annual convention at the Zion Reformed church in this city this afternoon. The convention opened yes- ' terday morning and closed this after- , noon. The morning session today was taken up in the reading of reports of the various committees and the presidents of each society ina the classis. Conference of the W. M. S.. the G. M. G., I and the Mission Band were conducted I at the closing session this afternoon. The consecration service was conducted by Mrs. Charles Neireiter, of Fort Wayne. Officers Elected Wendesday The election of officers for the ensuing year was held during the afternoon session yesterday. Mrs. W. A t Alspach, of Bluffton, was elected f president, succeeding Mrs. William r Rippe, of Fort Wayne. Other officers r elected were: !• Mrs. William Rippe, of Fort s Wayne, first vice-president; Mrs. R. - B. Mechsroi.ii, of Hunington, second • vice-president; Mrs. C. H. Gumpper, i of Fort Wayne, recording secretary; Mrs. Albert Rhoutsong, of Goshen; - statistical secretary; Mrs. J. F. Tapy. , of Fort Wayne, corresponding secretary; Mrs. A. Simmons, of Bluffton, r treasurer; Mrs. Claude Newman, of (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 8,1926.

i Tests Law *■ * r -t J .98 IB r 4 —/A Ih.V mkncken H. L. Mencken, internationally known editor, submitted to arrest in Boston as a test case after a magazine which he directs was ordered off the newsstands as unfit to read. suppression of MAGAZINE ASKED ) Postmaster General New Asked To Bar American Mercury From Mails 1 Farmington, Mo., April B.—(United Press.) —Postmaster General New today was requested to liar the American Mercury from the mails and to suppress the April issue at an angry protest meeting of citizens here. The cause of the action, which was taken by the chamber of commerce and local ministers cooperating was an article entitled “Hatrack” telling the story of a Farmington woman. , “The chamber of commerce at a meeting held today unanimously asked that you suppress and bar from the mail the American Mercury Magazine," read the resolution wired to ’ the postmaster general. The reason X given in the resolution was "on ac--3 count of an article ‘Hatrack'’ by Her--5 bert Asbury as the same considered I obscene and generally untrue." s The resolution was also forwarded i to Congressman Keisher from this ■ district. I- o — FARMER FOUND. ■I DEAO IN DITCH I Coroner Investigating Death Os Fred Gerke, North f Os City Fred Gerke, 51, a farmer residing i- near the Adams county line, in Allen county on the/Fort Wayne road, was found dead this morning in a ditch d full of water near his home, Neighn bors were unable to tell whether the s j man had ended his own life or whethI er he had unintentionally fallen into t th water and drowned. I. Coroner Mendenhall, of Allen county, d was investigating the case this after- -, noon. It is thought by some that (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) Weather ‘j Mostly fair tonight and Friday. 1 Slightly warmer Friday in south portion.

MODIFICATION IS URGED AS AN AID TO ENFORCEMENT New York District Attorney Says Move Would Be Good For Prohibition SENATE COMMITTEE CONTINUES HEARINGS Washington, April 8. — (United Press) —Modification of the Volstead Act would be a good thing for prohibition enforcement, Ditsrict Attorney Emory R. Ruckner of New York, told ■ the senate prohibition investigating committee today. Ruckner argued that cooperation between states and the federal government was necessary and that he believed if congress would permit his state to define the alcoholic content of beverages the state would help enforce the law. "It would be a perfectly rational step in prohibition enforcement to modify the Volstead law to dangle such a bait before the states to get their cooperation,” he said. "If the one-halt' of one per cent provision of the Volstead act was intoxicating beverage, I believe you would develop the necessary partnership between the federal government and the state." Unless this is done, Buckner said, present court facilities in New York state alone would have to be increased $75,900,000 a year by adding 150 additional courts to handle prohibition cases. Gary, Ind., Aprd 8. —(United Press) —ls the new federal authorized 3.76 per cent tonic beer is sold here except under physicians' prescriptions, the dealer will be arrested, Mayor F. E. Williams told a W. C. T. U. delegation today. Williams said that if the tonic is sold as a beverage and not under specific prescription, the druggist making the sal ewill be arrested. Local druggists who have ordered shipments of the tonic are relying on the ruling of Assistant Secretary of • the Treasury Andrews and the federal food law to permit the sale. o LOUIS SAWYER EXPIRES TODAY Former Principal Os Monmouth High School Dies At Fort Wayne Louis Sawyer, former principal of the Monmouth high school and former resident of this city, died at the Lutheran hospital, at Fort Wayne, at 11 o’clock this morning. Physicians were preparing to operate on Sawyer when death came. Cause of Ihe death was an abscess of the brain. Mr. Sawyer was well-known in Decatur. He lived here for several years while teaching at Monmouth. Last December, he was married to Miss Lydia Boerger, of Monmouth. He was serving this year as principal of the Rockcreek Center high school in Wells county, where he and Mrs. Sawyer lived. Mr. Sawyer became ill of influenza several weeks ago and had never fully recovered. He was taken to the Lutheran hospital in Fort Wayne at 6 o’clock this morning and preparations were being made to operate to relieve the great pain, when death came. Louis Sawyer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Sawyer, of Bluffton. He was born in 1888. He received his early education in the Wells county schools and later made preparations to teach. He was interested in music and, while in this city, he was active in musical circles, playing in the Decatur band and several orchestras. Arrangements for funeral services had not yet been made at a late hour this afternoon. Burial will take place in the Bluffton cemetery.

Marion County W. C. T. U. Asks Andrews’ Removal Indianapolis, Ind., April 8. —(United Press)- Members of the Marion county W. C. T. I’., organization last night sent a telegram to President Coolidge, demanding removal of Lincoln Andrews as head of the federal prohibition department. The demand was made because of Andrews’ action in authorizing sale of the new tonic malt beer. GOSHEN TO GET M.E.CONFERENCE Invitation to Entertain 1927 Conference Os Church Is Accepted Newcastle, Ind., April 8. — (United Tress) —Gcshen was selected today for the meeting place of the Northern Indiana Conference of the Methodist church next year. The invitation of Goshen was the only one received at the annual conference session here. The first heated tilt on the floor of the conference came over the proposal to dispose of 160 acres of land given the conference by the late John W. ' Bashor, for an orphanage near Goshen. The proposal was finally tabled. At the annual meeting of the Ministers Aid Society, the following officers were elected: Rev. F. A. Hollcpeter, Huntington, president; Rev. W. W. Wiant, Fort Wayne, vice-president; Dr. C. U. Wade, Muncie, secretary. The officers and the following will constitute the board of directors: Rev. F. F. A. Hall. A.nderson; A. B. Cline, Everett Warner and B. F. Shroyer. ..... - . , rv . Newcastle, Ind., April 8. ■ — (United Press) —The Northern Indiana Methodist Episcopal Conference today swung into its third session, following a dramatic, plea for support of the present prohibition law. Routine business was again to be a feature of the sessions today. The conference, which so far has been one of the largest in the history of the organization, promises to have even a larger enrollment before the .day closes today. The plea for support of the prohibition law was made by Rev. R. V. Johnson, of Washington, D. C„ head of the National Temperance Society of the church. Johnson declared that the only foes of the present prohibition law are the persons who violate the statute. Governor Ed Jackson, a former resident of Newcastle and Henry county, also was a speaker at the session last night. — o Missing Airmail Pilot Lands Safely In Idaho Boise, Idaho, April 8 — (United Press) —Franklin Rose, air mail pilot reported lost since Tuesday landed safely near Juniper Mountain, Ore., he notified Charles T. Wrightson, route superintendent early today. Rose, who was piloting the first northbound plane on the New Elko Boise-Pasch route said he was forced to land after being blown 65 miles out of his course by a terrific storm. CAST FOR PLAY IS ANNOUNCED Approximately 100 Children In Cast Os Annual North Ward Play The names of the pupils of the North Ward school, who will take part in the school's annual operetta to be given in the high school auditorium Friday night, were announced today by Mr. John Parrish, principal of the school. Approximately 100 children will particiapate in the production. The title of the operetta is “The Magic Wood.” The pupils of the school are selling tickets for the play. Admission prices are ten cents for children under I twelve years of age and twenty-five CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

Price Two Cents.

AT LEAST TWO LIVES ARE LOST IN RAGING FIRES Loss Estimated At Nearly $20,000,000; Explosions Wreck Homes LIGHTNING FIRES MORE TANKS TODAY San Luis Obispo, Cal., April 8 (t'niled Press) — At least two, lives, have been claimed by the great oil fire raging in the I nion Oil company’s tank farm near here. Two more 1,200,000 barrel tanks exploded today, wrecking nearby homes and shaking the distric for miles around. The second blast demolished the home of \V. F. Seeber, killing Seeber and his son. A daughter was dangerously injured. Officials of the Oil company today set the loss at between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000. Lightning Fires Tanks Anaheim. Cal., April 8 — (United Press)—The Stewart tank farm of the Union Oil company near here was fired by lightning today. Two reservoirs containing 750.000 barrels of oil each were ignited by the initial explosion and the entire field, one of California’s largest, was threatened. San Luis Obispo. Calif.. April 8— (United Press)—Five blazing underground reservoirs of the Union Oil compny tank farm near here exploded totUky suUUut .Xire do-.the hLKlti . underground container. The boiling oil swept across the (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) Mrs, Sarah Beach Dies At Home In Ohio City Mrs. Sarah Beach died at her home in Ohio City, Ohio, Tuesday afternoon. following an extended illness of cancer. Mrs. Beach was the widow of Frank Beach, who met death in a railroad accident in 1922. Surviving are one son. Perry Beach, of Ohio City; one daughter, Mrs. John Black, of Middlebury, Ohio; three brothers, Chris and Jesse Roberts, of Van Wert Ohio, and another residing in Charleston, Illinois. Funeral services will be held from the Lutheran church in Ohio City Saturday afternoon, at 1:30 o’clock. LOCALPASTOR IS DELEGATE Two Adams County Ministers Named Delegates To Religious Conference The Rev. B. N .Covert, pastor of the Presbyterian church of this city, and the Rev. Mr. Arndt, pastor of the Evangelical church of Berne, were appointed yesterday to represent Adams county at the annual session of the International Religious Education Association to be held at Birmingham, Alabama, beginning April 12. The two county representatives will leave next Monday for the conclave. Thirty-five religious sects will be represented at the annual conference, and every Christian nation in the world will lie represented. The meeting will last the entire week, but Rev. Covert stated today that he probably ; would return April 17, in order to be ' in this city on Sunday. 3 Several noted speakers are soiled- ' uled to deliver addresses at the conference. President Coolidge has conp b sented to deliver an address during the session and several speakers from ' foreign countries also will deliver lectubes. The meeting is held annually and I there ate usually about 7,500 delegates in attendance. Rev. Covert and Rev. n Arndt will go from this city to Inr dianapolis. where a special train will 5 carry them and the other delegates direct to Birmingham.