Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 27, Number 81, Decatur, Adams County, 4 April 1929 — Page 1

WEATHER Mostly un»«ttled. .’ or thunder•bo*' tonlgh* <”• Cooler Frlnortn portion.

TWO CLAIM HIGHWAY DIRECTORSHIP

lELAY HEARING IN PETITION TO dredge river Special .Judge In Case Unable To Be Present I* or Hearing Here Today MOTION filed BY ADAMS COUNTY to the inability of Special judge Alonxo A. Hales, of Winchester. . be present in the Adams circuit rnurt this morning, the hearing on the report of the drainage commissioners in the matter of the proposed dffdging of the "abash river was !Xed. No date was set for the ''’word was received this morning that Judge Bales was serving as special judge in a trial at Anderson this week and could not be here for the hearing. Several interested property owners were here this morning to attend the hearing. The petition asks that the river be dredged from a point in Mercer county, Ohio, to the Jimuxn bridge, near Linn Grove, in Adams county, Indiana. County Files Motion A motion was filed by the Adams county commissioners, through the county attorney, Henry B. Heller, this morning, asking that a recent order of the court allowing claims for preliminary costs in the case, totaling $5,677.39, and ordering the claims paid out of the funds of Adams county, be vacated and set aside. The motion cited the following reasons why the court order should be set aside: that the commissioners were not notified that the matter of allowance or approval of the claims would be heard and consequently the commissioners were not present, either in person or by attorney; that the court has no jurisdiction on the person of said board of commissioners: that the court has no jurisdiction of the subject matter of the action: that the court lias no right, power or authority to order said claims or airy claims pa ! d out of the county funds; that there is no valid or existing law authorizing or permitting payment of said claims out of the county funds; '.hat no money lias been appropriated for such payment: that no money has been paid into the county treasury in pursuant of any assessment for the drain purposes; that there is no money in the county treasury available for making said payment; that the claims were not verified nor itemized by the respective claimants and were never filed at the auditor's office and placed on the claim docket of the commissioners five days before a regular session of the board; and that the claims were never presented to nor allowed by the commissioners. 0 Legion Notice There will be a special meeting of Adams Post, No. <3, American Legion, in Legion hall, Friday night at 7:30 o'clock. Plans tor the district conference here Sunday will be completed Md all members are urged to attend. o MK BEGUN ON FT, WAYNE ROAD Detour Signs Erected On U. S. Road No. 27; Pavement Ready July 1 "ork has started on preparing the road bed on Federal road number 27 north of the Adams county line to the Nine Mile house in Allen county, °r the hard surface pavement. The ;race (instruction company, contracors on the road, has started to excav ate north of the old power building “ nt the road from this point where the nvenient and at the intersection of "»use is closed to traffic. Detour signs ‘ Ve been erected at the end of the avenient and at the intersction of the ag and road. Detours can be made er over Hoagland road or the nver road. is a stretch of four miles to trartr> ProVeti tbis sprin S and the confor rS ln^ to have the road ready dais by May Highway offito trafr e , lbat road will be opened W h lc by July 1pleted”"'1 i? e fOU ’ mile str etch is comcatur ana 6 E> 6ntire roart between Deiced The° rt Waynß WiU be hard extend „ concreta pavement will line to p' th £lOm tbe Adama county read ? n Wayne T b* stretch of <*tur to a t e ° Unty ’ ' lorth fron ’ DepenetratertA \. COUnty li,le ls of the -t-a.ed rock construction.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVII. No. 81.

May Succeed to French Post L 1 ‘ i Tv. o diplomats have been prominently mentioned to succeed the late Ambassador Herrick as envoy to -France. Hugh Gibson (left), present Aiaoassador to Be'gium, and Henry P. Fletcher (right), who it is rumored, lias been eager for come t me past to change from his present post as Ambassador to Italy.

LEGION DRUM CORPS COMING Parade Sunday Afternoon Billed As A Feature Os Legion Conference Here One of the features of the Eighth I district conference of the American Legion to be held here next Sunday under the auspices of Adams Post No. I 43, will be the parade at 1:30 o’clock! in the afternoon, in which the Muncie Legion drum corps, composed of about ■■ sixty pieces. will take part. The Muncie -drutn corps is equipped with attractive uniforms. It is probable that one or two other drum corps including the Fort Wayne outfit, will be here. Plans for the conference, which will be held at the Country Club, have been completed by the local post. A large attendance of Legionnaires from all parts of the eighth district and from other parts of the state is expected. The principal speaker at the conference will be Perry Faulkner, of MontI pelier, Ohio, former commander of the I Indiana department of the Legion I Several state officers of" the Legion} will be present and make short talks, | also. WARD SCHOOL PLAY FRIDAY Pupils Os North Ward Present Annual Play At I). H. S. Auditorium Judging from the large number of tickets already sold, the annual play to be given by the pupils of the North Ward grade school in the Decatur high school auditorium Friday evening at 8 o’clock, will draw a capacity audience. The title of the play chosen for this year’s production is, “Peter Rabbit,’’ an operetta for children, written by Henry P. Cross. The cast includes all children of the school and the teachers in the school are directing the production. Admission charges will be ten cents for children twelve years old and under and twenty-five cents for , all others. A feature of the evening’s program will be music by the schools “Sym- ' phony Orchestra,” which includes 57 ’ youngsters The program for the play, together . with the names of the characters are } as follows: , Songs, “News for Gardeners,” ami "The Little Bird,” First and Second Grade children's chorus. Duet and chorus, “Buttercups” ’ Mary Pickford, Patricia Moser, and ’ Fjrst. and! Second Grade children’s chorus. Pantomine and chorus, “Daffy--1 Down-Dilly,” Kathleen and Pauline Acker, First and Second Grade children’s chorus. . Dramatization and chorus, “Three Little Kittens” Anna Jane Tyndall, Barbara Jane Burk, Eileen Mary Odle, Mother Cat, Jean Freeland, First and . Second Grade children’s chorus . Song, “Hush-a-By-Baby,” First and Second Grade children’s chorus. , Tambourines, Jean Freeland, Florence McConnell, Eileen Odle, Berniece ’ Krelscher. t< ONTINUEU ON PAGE FIVE)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

ktnte, Nntlonnl And Intcrnutluuul

No Possibility Os Tax Cut At Special Session Washington, April 4. — !U.R) —There is no possibility of tax reduction legislation at the special session of congress, high treasury officials said today. Asked if there might be a tax cut at the next regular session starting in December, officials said it was too i early to consider that possiility at I this time. o CHRISTEN BABY DIES IN ILLINOIS Son Os Ellis M. Christen, Former Decatur Man, Dies Os Pneumonia Edward Rogers Christen, two-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis M. Chris- | ten, of Springfield, Illinois, died at [11:30 o’clock this morning, Thursday | April 4, 1929 The child’s death follow|ed a 13 weeks illness of unresolved pneutnonFi and mastoid trouble, which developed following influenza. The youngster was born May 6, 1927 and lived the two short years of his life in Springfield. Surviving besides the parents are one sister. Harriet i Frances Christen. The child was an only grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Ed S. Christen, residing northeast of Decatur, Mrs- John Christen, residing north east of Decatur, Mrs. John Christen, of North Second street, is a great grandmother. Short funeral services will be held at 9 o’clock, Saturday morning, at the home at Springfield. The body will then be shipped to Jefferson, Pennsylvania, where services wil be held either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning, at the home of the mother’s parents. Burial will be made in the Jefferson, Pennsylvania, cemetery. The Rev. B. B. Uhl, of Seibring, Ohio, will officiate. Mr. and Mrs. Ed/ S. Christe nand Ferd Christen will leave tonight for Springfield, to attend the funeral services. o -— Directors Os Industrial Association Meet Tonight The regular monthly meeting of the directors of the Decatur Industrial Association will be held at the association 100 ms at 7:30 o’clock tonight. All members of the board are urged to attend. Plans for the entire year will be discussed at the meeting ' o Superintendent Os Wabash County Schools Is Sued Wabash, Ind., Apr. 4.— (U.R)—Suit for $1,250 damages is on file in Wabasii circuit court here against Howard Williams, Wabash county superintendent of schools, by Miss Kathryn O’Connor, near Somerset, as the result of his failure to grant her an Indiana university scholarship. It was alleged that two scholarships were provided yearly to the county high school pupils making the highest and next highest averages in grades, and that Miss O’Connor was second highest, but Williams refused to grant her a scholarship. She ’said she thereby suffered “great humiliation and distress."

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 4, 1929.

Women Begging Food In Wells County Reported To Be From Adams County Bluffton, Apr. 4.—Receiving a call that two women were going from house to house in the south part of Wells county begging for food supplies yesterday, A. N. Plessinger. Bluffton chief of police, made an investigation. He found -the two women driving in an open automobile about two miles south of Bluffton. Their automobile was well tilled with supplies which they had gathered in their canvas. Fur her investigation disclosed the information that tfie two women resided several miles west of Decatur, in Adams county. They said their husbands were out of work and they had decided to beg food for a living. The women were ordered out of Wells county. o —— DR.SHUMAKER IS RELEASED Superintendent Os Indiana Anti-Saloon League Liberated From State Farm Indianapolis, Apr. 4.—<U.R)~Dr. E. S. Shumaker, escorted by a cavalcade of automobiles, arrived back at his home today after being released at the state farm where he served a <erm for contempt of the supreme court. The trip from Putnamville was made during a heavy rain, the caravan traveling slowly. Most of the machines accompanied the dray leader to his home where he was accorded another warm welcome. The saloon league official appeared to breath a sigh of relief as he came into view of his own home. Many automobiles and persons were gathered near the Shumaker's house to witness bis home-coming. Hundreds Cheer His Release Putnamville, Ind., Apr. 4.—(U.R)—ln a down pour of rain and while hundreds of friends and co-workers cheered. Dr. E. S.-'Shumaker, superintendent of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League, today was liberated from the' state farm where he served a term for contempt of the supreme court. Having served 53 days of a 60-day sentence for contempt of the Indiana supreme court, the dry leader stepped from the blue denim of prison garb into civilian clothes and was escorted through massive iron gates where cheers went up from friends in a cavalcade of automobiles awaiting to escort him to his home, in Indianapolis. Dr. Shumaker, as prisoner 39,424, arose with o'her prisoners employed In the dairy barns at 5 a.m., the usual hour, today. Performing his chores for the last time. Dr. Shumaker was to receive friends at his home this afternoon. This evening his co-workers in the dry league will call on him. Friday evening the returned league superintendent will be the guest of honor at a banquet a;id reception given by his friends at the Broadway M. (CONTINUED <IN PAGE TIIIIHK) O Legion Posts Os Thirteenth District Convene Today Laporte, Ind., Apr. 4.—(U.R) —American Legion posts of the thirteenth district were in convention here today. Principal speakers were Dau Sowers, national Americanism director of the Legion; Fred A. Wrecking, Bluffton, state commander, and Pleas Greenlee, state adjutant. One of the features of the meeting was planting of 4,100 trees in Soldiers Memorial park here by the local post. Berne Factory Erecting A New Office Building Berne, Apr. 4. —(Special)— Work has been started on the erection of a new office' building for the Homer Manufacturing company of Berne. The contract for the building was let ’ recently to the B. & G. construction 1 company, of Berne. It will be a two--1 story tile block structure and will be ’ located near the factory in the north- ' east part of town. It is planned to have the building completed within thirty days. The new structure will be 50 by 60 1 feet in dimension. It will add 6,000 square fee’; of floor space to the sac- : tory, giving the plant a total of 25.000 • square feet Part of the first floor ■ of the new building will be used for offices and the remainder for a ■ shipping room. The second floor will ■ be used for storage of raw material and finished products.

PAVED ROAD TO HUNTINGTON IN 2 YEARS PROBABLE State Promises To Take; Over Road As Soon As ! Easements Are Secured EAST ROAD MAY BE BUILT THIS YEAR If the easements can be secured, granting sixty foot right-of-ways along the proposed route for stale road No. 16, between this city and Huntington. within the next two or three weeks, the road will lie immediately taken over and maintained by the state until such time as this stretch of road can be paved, which will probably be within two years. This was the promise of Mr. Titus, superintendent of construction, and Mr. Hinkle, superintendent of maintenance of the state highway department, in an interview Tuesday afternoon. Proposed Route The route proposed between here and Huntington is directly west on Nuttman avenue through Preble and on to Uniondale, there to cross the Erie tracks and go into Huntington, on the north side. When the road is paved the road from Uniondale to Huntington will go directly west through Uniondale and Markle. The surveyors on the branch of the road from here east to the state line have made their report and the plans are now being worked out. It is the opinion of Mr. Titus that the contract will be let some time in June with a possibility of it being completed this year. There should be no delays in securing the easements. If we want this east and west highway, right now is the time to secure it. WISCONSIN VOTE CAUSES COMMENT State That Voted 5 To 4 Against Smith Votes Wet Nearly 2 To 1 Washington, Apr. 4. —(U.R) —The fact that Wisconsin has voted nearly 2 to 1 against state prohibition five months after it gave a 5 to 4 majority against Gov. Alfred E. Smith, the wet in the last presidential campaign, was the subject of comment here today among political leaders. Senator Borah of Idaho and other supporters of President Hoover pointed to the political paradox as an in- • significant exception to the general dry attitude manifest in the last election campaign. Say Prohibition Was Not Issue Supporters of Gov. Smith such as Senators Caraway, Democrat, Arkansas, and Norris, Republican, Nebraska, asserted the Wisconsin results allowed prohibition was not an issue in the last campaign. Both Caraway and Norris are dry. Borah who led the dry campaign for Mr. Hoover and who looked upon the election as nearly a national referendum on prohibition, pointed out that “while prohibition may not have influenced the election result in Wisconsin there were certainly some places in which it had an effect,’’ in the last election. Taking the opposite view Senator Norris told the United Press: “I think the Wisconsin referendum demonstrated that the national election was not a national referendum on prohibition. The same voters in Wisconsin who elected Mr. Hoover have now declared for repeal of the state enforcement law.” Thinks Religious Issue Paramount Norris said he did not believe Hoover’s election was a mandate against the equalization fee method of farm relief nor against “any kind of municipal or public ownership of waterpower facilities. "So we still have the religious question,” he added, "that in my judgment was the preponderating influence in the national election." "The referendum result in Wisconsin,” said Caraway, “shows that, they were not voting for Mr. Hoover last fall; they were voting against the Pope. And they're voting for beer this spring.” Drys generally insist little significance should be attached to the Wisconsin referendum because the state generally has been accepted as a wet state. Legislature Gets Plea Milwaukee, Wis., Apr. 4. —(U.R) — (CON"TNi;ED ON PAGE THREE)

Furnished By United l*re««

Allen Kansas Senator .AWMMBWg' T” Hk Lj Vice-President Curtis has made it known that he will offer no objection to tlie appointment of his former political foe, Henry J. Allen, above, former governor of Kansas, as his successor as senator from Kansas. ROOT TOWNSHIP RESIDENT DIES Mrs. Sophia Hockemeyer, 76, Dies Following An Extended Illness Mrs. Sophia Hockemeyer, age 76, prominent resident of Root township, died at 1:25 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, April 3, 1929, following an extended illness of infirmities of age. Mrs. Hockemeyer was born in Preble township, June 18, 1552, and Ifveif her entire life in Adams county. She has been a resident of Root township, during her married life- Her husband Charles Hockemeyer, died April 6, 1918. The deceased is survived by nine children, namely, Fred Hockemeyer, Mrs. Minnie Reiter and Mrs. Lizzie Scheimann, of St. Johns; Charles Hockemeyer, Midland, Mich.; Mrs. Sophia Luttman, Mrs. Mary Whive, Mrs. Amelia Kiess and Adalia Reber, of Allen county; and William Hockemeyer, Staplehurst, Nebraska, One brother, Henry Doehrman, of Preble township, and one sister, Mrs. Fred Buuck, of Allen county, also survive. There are 27 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren living. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock at the house and at 2 o’clock at the St. Johns church. Burial will be made in the St Johns cemetery. o FINAL TRIBUTE IS PAID TO HERRICK France Holds State Funeral For Beloved Ambassador From United States Fans. April 4—(UP)—France paid a final tribute today to the memory of an Ohio farm boy, Myron T- Herrick, who served as American Ambassador to Paris during the most trying days | of Modern history. Marked by the simplicity which endeare dthe white-haired American diplomat to France, state funeral services were hel dat the embassy and the American Holy Trinity Cathedral before the body of the Ambassador was placed on a grey french cruiser for the last journey home. The bright flags of two countries hung from the pillars before which Premier Raymond Poincare, Gen. John J. Pershing, J. Pierpont Morgan, and many other distinguished figures of France and the United States stood in silence. o — Contract Let For Albany-Portland Road Indianapolis, April 4. —RJ.R) — The ' state highway commission today signed a contract with the D. A. Y. Con- ■ struction company, Franklin, Ind., to ■ pave 16 miles of state road 67, be- ' tween Albany and Portland. 1 The 16 miles stretch is the only unpaved section of the road which connects Indianapolis with the Ohio line, passing through Anderson, Muncie, Portland and Bryant.

Price Two Cents

WILLIAMS ANO JOHN J. BROWN CLAIM OFFICE Brown, Newly Appointed Director, Attends to Duties Os The Office Today WILLIAMS CONFERS WITH HIS COUNSEL — Indianapolis, April 4.—<U.R?— While John J. Brown, newly appointed director of the state highway commission, attended to duties of the office today, John D. Williams, ousted from the directorship, remained firm in his statement that “I am the director.” While Brown took care of the director's duties, Williams conferred with ■ris attorney, James Bingham, presumably on what action they planned to take in regard to the ouster proceedings. Indianapolis, Apr. 4.—(U.R) —lndiana today faced the possibility of having two claimants to the directorship of the state highway commisson. Both John D. Williams, who was voted ousted by commissioners yesterday and John J. Brown, secretary to Governor Harry G. Leslie, who was appointed to succeed him. said they would be at (he director’s desk today. Williams was discharged after he and his attorney, James M. Bingham, left the hearing on charges of inefficiency and neglect of duty brought against him by the commission. Brown Is Engaged Brown immediately was called before the commission and engaged as director, after providing $75,000 bond. Attorneys familiar with the proceedings said the ousted director's next move probably would be the filing of quo warranto proceedings. Such a case, they explained, would he filed in either circuit or supreme court. After Williams bolted the hearing, the commission heard witnesses to prove its allegations. Immediately after leaving the hearing, Williams went to his office. When approached by newspapermen in regard to what he planned to do he said, “I am the director.” His attorney termed the proceedings as being like a "landlord trying to oust a tennant from property, they have to go to court to do that.” Williams and his attorney upon their arrival at the hearing, filed i 30-page resolution, answering charges made by the commission. o Three Escape From Indiana Boys’ School Plainfield, Ind., Apr. 4. —(U.R) —Authorities today searched for three youths who escaped from the Indiana Boys School here. The boys, Joe Simicich, 17; Clare Evans, 17, and Carl Cooper, 17, were believed to have gone to Indianapolis. o GOMMENDEMENT DATES CHOSEN Plans For Graduation Exercises Os Rural High Schools Announced Dates for the annual contmencement exercises of the seven rural high schools of Adams county were announced today by Clifton E. Striker, county superintendent of schools- The commencements will be held on consecutive nights, starting with the Hartford township commenctement on Tuesday night, April 16. Hr. Willtam Wylie, of Columbus, Indiana, has been chosen to deliver the address at each of the commencements. Dr. Wylie has had wide experience as a lecturer and orator and he comes here highly recommended. The dates for the commencements are as follows: Hartford, April 16; Monmouth, April 17; Jefferson, April 18; Kirkland ,April 19: Monroe, April 20; Pleasant Mills, April 22; and Geneva, April 23. The commencement ’ exercises will be held, in the various high school assembly rooms The personnel of each graduating ’ class will be announced within a few 1 days, Mr. Striker stated. Plans are be- > ing completed for the baccalaureate ■ services for each class and for the other commencement week activities.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY