Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 14, Decatur, Adams County, 16 January 1931 — Page 1

WEATHER cloudy: p 0S ’ ’ ”' n ’ be 9" ■ i.<» to ' i,ght ?h v I " EOt " ’

kEAPPORTIONMENT BILL IS INTRODUCED

hn-TWO MEN |e presented [diplomas ■dilation Exercises Are Ufl Thursday byßeppert ■jctioneering School IsiDENT REPPERTi ■ MAKES ADDRESS Hty-two men, students at the! ■ rt Sc hool of Auctioneering Eeatur for the past three' ■ received diplomas at the ■i graduation exercises and ■et Thursday afternoon. The K j UB t completed was the By-s cend semi-annual meeting K school. ■ )U r-course dinner was served, ■ which each of the students Bailed upon for a short talk. B School instructors were then 11 to make a few remarks. , s were presented to the I two graduates by Fred Repfl president of the school. A I Lte list of the graduates folBrman Drew. Decatur. B Wood, Oakwood. Ontario, B a Bard Krueger, Malcolm. Nebr. fcrederickson, Bassett, Nebr. Bence A. Sandall, Bassett, B. Auck, Bucyrus, Ohio. B. Brumback. Middletown. Va.! Bten E. Anderson, Ravenna.! Bral T. Mitchell. Bryan. O. B Hansen, Plainview, Nebr. Brman E. Reno, Ottumwa, la. Kk Wilson, Smithfield, 111. | B S. Ruttier. Fayettville, Pa. , 81. Patzer. Galion, Ohio. Bird G. Ohmert, Davenport, K. Mitchell. Newark, Ohio. Bord M. Chambers, Walton, N. ■yd H. Evans, Winchester, 111. ■ionier Ingalls. Shelby, Nebr. K Newtson, Milford, 111. ■W Held, Syracuse, Ind. ■ry B. Tracy, Huttonsville, W. ftert M. McKinley, Kokomo. ms. E McClure, Georgetown, ■io, Canada. |p. Elam, Litchfield, Minn, fln H Salp, Narka, Kans, ■tries A. Dawson, StantonsI N. C. ■old W. Noble, Capron, 111. lando N. Olson, Artesian, S. ■liam Wendelin, Crete. Nebr. Baes Brownscombe, Mansfield, ■en P Fair, Orland. Ind. ■A. Brown, Carnation, Wash. Illiam H. Davis, Brook Park, ■TINUED ON PAGE THREE) I o RANCE WIZARD WELCOMES QUIZ kstigation of Scheme Ihich Pays 50% to InIvestors Is Divided llvidere, 111., Jan. 16—(U.R)— Bents of Belvidere were divid[oday in their opinions regard[he legitimacy of the business [h A. M. Benham transacts I’riously and which enables Ito pay 50 per cent interest to pns who lend him money. leading exponent of Benham |his business was Benham himI who worked for years as a |rv employe, then advanced Uy to a position that had made among the working people, east, the leading financier of town. inham had many backers, I of them factory workers who ! invested money in his khawk Finance Company and declare he has paid them |Ptly. lief opponents of Benham were town’s bankers, who started Negations of his business afinding that more than $310,000 iccounts had been withdrawn lersons who lent him the ey. ve been dealing in financial lpa for many years and I’ve r yet seen a legitimate entert that would pay 50 per cent ■est," declared Omar H. fht, president of the Second NTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 14.

Frank Lynch Escapes Injury In Accident Frank Lynch fortunately escap- J ed injury about 7 o’clock Thursday 'evening when his Ford coach was I forced into a ditch and struck a • telephone pole on the Winchester I road two miles northwest of Decatur. Mr. Lynch was returning to this city from Ossian, when hs was blinded by the lights from another car. His car was badly damaged, fenders, running board, springs ■bent, windshield ami headlights 'broken. The pole which the Ford struck was broken into several ! pieces. o LICENSE FUNDS SHOW INCREASE Despite Decrease in License Tags Issued, Funds Show Substantial Gain The amount of money received by the Indiana State Auto License Bureau tor passenger cars, trucks and other motor vehicles in 1930 showed a considerable gain over j the previous year. The total of i funds for 1930 was $4,428,643.50, while in 1929 the total was only $4 - 315,790. These figures were announced through the office of Frank Mayr. Jr. secretary of state. This increase is quite substantial in spite of the fact that 8,807 less passenger plates were issued tha.i I for the previous year. This is exi plained by the fact that several manufacturers improved their cars Iso that they carry a heavier license I lee. In 1930, 746,354 passenger cars were licensed, while in 1929, 755,- ' 161 tags were Issued for pleasure i cars. A large decrease is noted in I the number of license transfers. In 1929,470,818 transfers were recorded and in 1930 only 106.585. Trans fer fees decreased form 8326,042.80 to $197,312.50. 1930 1929 Dec. Passenger 746,354 755.161 8,807 Truck 128,087 127,641 446 Motorcycle 2.862 2,983 121 Trailer .... 12,900 9,928 2,972 Semi-Trailer 746 479 261 Dealer 2,760 2,794 34 Bus 1.012 1,062 50 Tractor .... 310 228 82 Free 5.409 4,965 444 Total 900,400 901,241 4.801 Transfers 106,585 170,818 64.233 Chauffeurs 58,847 55 164 3,683 In Adams County License tags issued in Adams county for 1930; passengers 3.894: trucks. 584; trailers. 455. 0 Paul Graham Had Charge of Program Paul Graham had charge of the program at the meeting of the Decatur Rotary club last evening. Mr. Graham presented a program on education in Rotary and in connection therewith pased sheets of paper to the members to write Rotary week the Rotary chib will meet at , Monmouth in the new auditorium there, joining the farmers at the , annual farm club banquet and program. ——o Equivalency Test Here January 31 The high school equivalency test, under direction of the state board ’' of education, will be held at the of- ’ fice of County Superintendent C. , E. Striker on Saturday, January 31. s Anyone is eligible to take this test j except students in regularly accred- , | ited high schools. i Erhart Funeral Is Changed To Sunday , Funeral services for Julius Erhart, well known French township [ i farmer who died at his home Thursday afternoon, will be held Sunday afternoon at one o’clock at th > > home in French township and at i 1:30 o’clock at the Vera Cruz Rel formed church. The services were i changed from Saturday, as prevI iously announced. J Rev. H. H. Meckstrath will ofl ficiate and burial will be made in •ithe Decatur cemetery. ) — —o — L Prince of Wales And Brother At Paris 1 Paris, Jan. 16—(U.R)-The Prince ’ of Wales and Prince George arrived by airplane today from London, the first stage of their journey to i South America. I The prince’s private plane land-j I ed at Bourget at 3:15 pm.

FaralabMl By Laltrd l-n-O

Father, 91, Swears in “Alfalfa Bill’’ Ullßh aWSK- .1 ExK hSS - I*--— * uflKu k . Z iSißSaii , —l—..3E7' — — William H. Murphy, the famous "Alfalfa Bill" of the Middle West, supporting his 91 year old father, U. D. T. Murphy, as the latter administered the oath of office at his son’s inauguration as Governor of Oklahoma. Alfalfa Bill is hailed as a true friend of the poor. He starts his term in a pennile s condition after campaigning with a SB7 ctamipaign fund and credit at the grocery. I

[two PERSONS UNDER ARREST Danty Colza And Richard Gerber Pass Counterfeit Money in Michigan St. Joseph Mich., Jan. 16—(UP) — The men believed responsible by police for the recent flood of counterfeit bills in southwestern Michigan and Northern Indiana, were arested here, caught through the quick thinking of a theater ticket seller. Danty Colza, 35, Michawaka, Ind., [and Richard Gerber, 23. Breman, lnd„ are the pair held. They were arrested in Benton Harbor, Michi- | gan last night. Government Agents said Gerber admitted to them today that Colza hired him to Um spurious bills. Gerber tendered a S2O bill for a I 59-cent movie ticket and when he I failed to enter the theater aroused suspicions of the girl on duty. He] and Colza both were followed and 1 arrested. A second counterfeit bill' was found, ofifeers said. Colza's bank book showed daily deposits ot I I from $125 to S2OO in a Mishawaka ' 1 Bank. 0 Stockholders Will Meet Next Monday The annual meeting of the stockholders of the American Security company will be held Monday. January 19 at the company’s office on Monroe street. Seven directors will be elected. o— BANDITS SHOOT HOTEL GDESTS Young Yeggs Wound Man And 10-Year-Old Girl in Attempted Hold-l p Los Angeles, Jan. 16. — (U.R) — Shooting into a group of hotel guests who resisted them, two young bandits last night probably fatally wounded one man and injured three others, one a 10-year-old girl. I Both bandits escaped, although one was known to have been injured in the battle of guns, chairs and . fists with tne guests. Carrying revolvers in lx>th hands, ■ the bandits entered the hotel lobby while four guests were playing Bridge and three were looking on. One man covered the clerk, L. E. Jarrett, while the second forced the others into an anteroom. Angered because the bandit shoved him roughly, J. H. Thompson, 58, whirled and grappled with the man. Thompson was dropped with bullet wounds in the chest and groin. As he lay groaning, the bandit placed the gun against his temple and prepared to fire. The other guests, angered at the , brutality, disregarded their own safety and charged him. Raleigh Cronin, 21. grabbed the gun by the muzzle just as the bandit pressed , the trigger. The bullet went ( through Cronin’s hafid. < Dan Lewis, negro elevator operator, was on the balcony and saw ■ the second bandit threatening Jar- ■ rett. He dropped a heavy chair on the bandit’s head. Stunned the I man staggered to his feet. Waving their guns the bandits'' j,. —-— 11 ' (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) ]

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, January 16, 1931.

c I [ Would Change State Flower I Indianapolis, Jan. 16.—(U.R) — The Zennia (eleganai will be j the official flower of Indiana if | a bill introduced in the house today by Representative Mar- | tin T. Krueger, democrat, Michigan City, becomes an act. His bill was designed to re- | peal the act of 1923 which des- | ignated the blossom of the Popj lar tree as the stat? flower. Krueger said few persons had ever seen the Poplar blosI soin, which appears high in the tree tops for two weeks in I | June. The Zennia .he said, is | a well-known flower. The bill also proposed that the tulip tree (Ldrlodenderon | Tulipifera) be the official state I J ree - WHITE'S DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL — President of Armour & j Co., Fell From Seventh [Story Apartment Window Chicago, Jan. 16. —(U.R) —Philip D. Armour HI and Philip L. Reed were the men most prominently mentioned today to succeed F. Edson White, 57, as president of Armour and Company. White was killed last night in a fall from his seventh floor apartment at 70 East Scott street. Relatives, company officials, and police agreed that the fall was accidental. Reed, who has been treasurer of Armour and Company, one of th? largest packing concerns in the world, was the last person to see White alive. He agreed with others that the financier probably had fallen through a French window while leaning out to get air or had toppled through it when he fainted. Evidence that White was ill and subject to fainting spells was seen (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) Clara Bow Removed From Movie Cast Hollywood, Calif.. Jan. 16 —(U.R) —Clara Bow today was withdrawn from the motion picture “City ’ Streets" in which she was to have co-starred with Gary Cooper. Officials at Paramount indicated that the reason for the move hinged on the present Daisy DeVoe trial. Miss Bow, it was said, is in a highly nervous condition and will leave Hollywood as soon as the DeVoe trial is finished. Sylvia Sidney, a New York stage actress, will take Miss Bow's part in “City Streets." 0 Senate Will Probe Cost of Bread, Sugar Washington, Jan. 16 —(UP) —The Senate today authorized the investigation of Bread costs as compared with wheat prices. Senate’ Wagner, Democrat, New York, offered the resolution which was adopted unanimously. It also authorizes inquiry into the prices of various kinds of sugar and flours to determine why some lot the less refined grades are more expensive than the highly refined product.

PRINTINGOF I BALLOTS STARTS — Ballots For Special Election Jan. 22 Will Be Printed Saturday I Printing of ballots for the special election which will be held Thursday, January 22, will be started ia the printing department of the Daily Democrat Saturday morning. 8.600 official ballots will be printed and 500 sample ballots. , Printing of the ballots will be under the supervision of Miss Bernice Nelson, Adams county clerk, and Raymond B. Kohne and Harry Essex, Democrat and Republican election commissioners, respectively. 1 The only names to appear on the ballot will be those of Virgil M. Simons, Democrat, and DiUlon Myiers. Republican. The special elecition is to name a successor in the | Indiana house of representatives to ! George L. Saunders,’Bluffto neditor, i who died suddenly in Indianapolis on the eve of the convening of the legislature. ' 1 The name of Virgil Simmons Democrat cauidate, will appear in the first column of the ballots this election. This change in colums is made .because Frank Mayr, Jr., a Demo? , I erat. and head of the state ticket, I was elected to office at the last reg[ular election. The name of Dillion •'Myers, Republican, will appear in i'the second column. I o WOULD LEGALIZE RACE BETTING Fees YVould Pay For New f Grandstand and Legalize Pari-Mutuels — j Indianapolis, Jan. 16. —(U.R)’ —The' ‘ state board of agriculture’s long ' i search for means ot financing al ' I new grand stand at the state fairj 1 ‘ ground would be answered by en■jactm?nt of a bill, now being pre- ■ pared, to legalize pari-mutuel bett- ' ■ lug at horse races. ‘j Under the measure, horse raci ing promoters would pay to the j state board of agriculture $2,500 license fees for each day's racing, ! plus 20 cents on each gate admis-' t sion. From the pari-mutuel cashier's cages, promoters might retain ) an amount not to exceed six and 1 onte-halt per cent of the wagers, as r commission. 5 The bill would authorize the board of agriculture to have a rep ■ 1 resentative at the track invested, ' ■ with power to inspect gate receipts ’[and progress of wagering. The state’s receipts would go [ into a "state fair premium” fun 1' to' support expenses of administration of the act and for “any other , purpose in connection with tho t state fair which the board of agriculture may deem desirable." E. J. Barker, secretary of the board, expressed favor of such a b 11, but the board is not expected to support it openly. A bill to repeal the Indiana driv1 ers' license law as it applies to ‘ privately-owned cars, is proposed ’ in a bill to be introduced by Representative William E. W’ilucn, Greenfield. The requirement for 1 licensing of chauffeurs would be ( retained. Introduction of an anti-lynching , bill, in which the sheriff would be , neld guilty of neglect of duty in '] (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

stale, National AH luleraalloanl Newe

EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE GRADUATED Commencement Exercises Held This Afternoon At Central School WILL ENTER I). H. S. SECOND SEMESTER Twenty-nine pupils have complet- 1 ed the work of the Bth grade at the Central school building and were graduated to th ■ Freshman B. clasu at the Decatur high school at the 'Commencement exercises which were held at the Central building this afternoon. Principal P. B. Thomas presented •he graduating class members with I diplomas and the pupils will enter I the Freshman B. Class at high I school at the beginning of the sec-' ond semester, Monday, January 19 At the special exercises held this I a ternoon, the pupils also received their writing certificates and a- ! wards. Those who were graduated to the high school this afternoon are: John Bouman, Louis Cook 'Howard Elzey, Paul Gramelspacher, Chalmer Hart, George Heare, Paul Hendricks, Jacob Hodlo, August Kelley, Jr., Edgar Kiess, Harold Kolter. Charles McGill, Lawrence lichel, Jacob Moyer, Frederick i 3. hroyer. George Secour, Carl Sheets, Dick Sheets, Doyle Smith Clark W. Smith Herman Burkhead, Etta Anspaugh. Catherine Brown, Martha Christen, Fern Irwin, Marcella Rupert, Helen heets, Mary Catherine Tyndall, Leonia Venis. The class members enjoyed a soial hour in the high school gymnasium Thursday evening, after which .iey were Invited to the domestic ’fence room, where large tables .vere arranged. The pupils found their places, which were marked with place cards of snow man de:ign on a black background, and the snow men ha hats of green. The tables were centered wtih a large snow man made of cotton, wearing a green hat. The dinner was served in two delicious courses, and included pork enderloin, mashed potatoes and ;ravy, baked apples, salad, hot rolls and coffee, and ice cream and cake. A number of social games were also played at the tables, after which Principal Thomas presented [the group individually to Principal !w. G. Brown of the high school [with a clever talk on each member 'of the class. Mr. Brown accepted the class and returned them to Mr. Thomas until the beginning of the second semester, Monday. Mrs. Loren Yager, formerly Miss I Naomi Gilbert, teacher of the eighth ! grade, was presented with a lovely I gift of silver. o Franklin National Bank Pays In Full Franklin. Ind., Jan. 16—(UP) — I Voluntarily liquidation of the Franklin National Bank, in which all des positors were paid in full in Cashiers’ checks, had been announced here by the board of directors. Directors explained that since reorganization a year ago the bank has barely been meeting expenses. Other banks in the city have agreed to honor the cashier’s checks. Attend Indiana Health Conference Mrs. George Myers county attenance officer. Mrs. Charles W. Knapp county probation oficer, and Super- [ intendent of Schools M. F. Worth|ma are attending the Indiana conference on child health and protee I tion at IndianapoHs. I Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of Hy[geia and the Journal of the American Medical association, spoke at the conference last night. Escaped Convict Dies At Father’s Home Indianapolis. Jan. 16 —(UP) —Exposure reduced to three the ranks of Jour convicts who escaped two weeks ago from the Indiana reformatory at Pendleton, when Harrison Powell, 23, died at the home of his father in Indianapolis late yesterday. Bruce Scott, sentenced on a charge of hank robbery one of the escaped convicts, had been sought for several days of a charge of murdering Henry Millikan Indianapolis ‘ireman. The other two who escaped were Samuel Saunders and Edward Flhif, serving on holdup charges.

Price Two Cents

Flint Paper Shows Accident Pictures Copies of a Flint, Michigan news paper show pictures of the cars in ithe collision near that place last Thursday in which Ora Dykeman, former Adams county man me' death. DyKeman was crushed against Ithe steering wheel of his car which was hurled a hundred feet. The car I went through fence and into a nearby field. His car and one driven by J. E. Sims, a Detroit salesman colilided. Sims was thrown from his car into the doorway of a filling [station and suffered a fracture of the skull. Relatives of Mr. Dyko inan from this county attended the funeral last Sunday. SCHOOL FUNDS DISTRIBUTED Auditor Harlow Makes Distribution of School Funds to Trustees County Auditor Albert Harlow ihas completed the distribution of Ithe common school funds and the congressional school fund interest jto the townships and school corporations. The county received $11,042.16 from the state school fund and $557.29 was received in congressional school fund interest, making the total distribution $11,599.45. The funds are distributed accordI ing to the number of children of school age in each township and school corporation. Adams count; is credited with 6,010 and the per | capita was $1.930025. The amount received by each taxiing unit follows: Blue Creek $457.42 I French $542.33; Hartford $490,20; Jefferson, $389.86; Kirkland, $592. 52; Monroe $1,142.57; Preble $615.- ' 67; Root $611.51; St. Marys $455.49: [ Union $548.65; Wabash $1,217.85; Washington $930.28; Berne $903.25; Decatur $2,597.82. Mr. Harlow stated that the checks I would be ready in a few days ami I that they would be mailed to the trustees of the funds. Special Meeting At U. B. Church Sunday The evangelistic services in the United Brethren Church are still |in progress. Sunday afternoon at 12:30 o’clock Miss May Paul, one of I he evangelistists, will conduct a : special meeting for the women and girls. All women and girls of the thty are invited to this special | meeting, which will be of great | interest. o ATTENDANCE MARKS BROKEN 5,546 Attend Agriculture Conference at Purdue; Busche Honored Lafayette, Ind., Jan. 16.—<U.R) — All previous attendance records at the annual agricultural conference • at Purdue University had been broken last night when registration totalled 5,546. Members of the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association elected Claude Harper, Purdue, president; Claude Wickard, Camen, vice-presi- , dent; W. O. Mills, Purdue, secretary: Fay Gaylord, Purdue, treasurer, and the following directors: [ Roscoe Frazier, Monticello: Frank . Anderson, Frankfort; Leroy Hoff- . man, Purdue; Frank Kirkpatrick. .' Frankfort, and Herbert Watson, Tipton. Diplomas for distinguished work . in farming were presented Harry - )F. Caldwell, Ccr.nesville, and John A. Randall, Pendleton. It was the thid certificate for Caldwell. J. M. Evans, Russiaville, was chosen president of the Indiana , | Dairy Association; C. Y. Foster, | Carme, vice president, and E. A. Kannon, Purdue, secretary-treasur- • er. Paul Newman, Culver, received , the trophy as outstanding Purdue .' student judge at the National ■; Dairy show. ;! Mrs. J. E. Baer, Warsaw, was •; chosen president of the Indiana | Economics Association; Mrs. Mei Kinley Vance, Washington, vice- ‘ president; Miss Aneta Beadle, Purdue, secretary-treasurer, and Mrs. ■ Floyd H. Gross, Richmond, new ' executive committee member. The conference will close tonight • with a banquet in honor of Indiana I (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

ADAMS COUNTY TO REMAIN IN STH DISTRICT Al’en. Dekalb and Steuben Added; Madison And Delaware Dropped UTILITY REPEAL BILL TO COME I P — Indianapolis, Jan. I<>. (U.R) i A bill to repeal outright the I state utilities hiw. which [would automatically abolish [ the public service commission. will be introduced in • lie house of representatives Mondav by Representative Edward C. Simoson, Rocknort, and Jacob Reisinger, E'">n«ville. both Democrats. Should the bill be enacted, the old railroad commission would b« I revised and powers in utilities ! matters reetored in local govern- ! ment. — Indianapolis, Jan. 16 —(U.R) —Numerous bills of unusual importance i were crammed into the hopner in I the house of representatives today Iss the Indiana Legislature comi pleted its first week of biennial j activities and adjourned until 2 p. , i m. Monday. Twenty-three bills were intro- • i duced in the house making a total ; of 103, and 7 were introduced in I ' the senate for a total of 37. Three banking bills; an unem- • I ployment relief measure; a bill for : legalizing pari-mutuel betting, and -a reapportionment bill were among I those of importance laid before I both houses today. The reapportionment plan was • 'he first to make its appearance in 'he present session, and is expect;s “d to be succeeded by several ; ' others unless the assembly leader ' moves to bring about concerted > 1 i.nd harmoniou= action, as they i I have on tax problems. ■; The unemployment measure was i introduced by Senator C. Oliver | Holmes. Republican. Gary. It provides for a fund from collection upon employers, with payment of a maximum of $lO weekly for a [ neriod not to exceed 13 weeks a ’ ’ year. I I Two of the banking measures - w-ere those drafted by the state 1 bank association. One would emI { power the state banking commisI I toner to regulate the ratio of paid ! ; up capital stock, to surplus and deposit, and make all share holders • in state banks liable in case of failure. The present law exempts shareholders whose shares are I held in a holding company. Another would make banks and trust companies post bonds as ad- | ministrators on estates, and guarantee protection in case of failure I, of in titutions. Adams in Eighth The reapiortionment plan was '[ (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) SDBWAY TRAIN WRECKED TODAY 1 Nineteen Passengers In--1 jured When First Car of Train Leaps Switch New York, Jan. 16.—(U.R) —The first car of a train in the Hudson . tubes leaped through an open ! switch today at the Manhattan terminal, crashed into a dividing wall, and Injured all of the 19 passengers. Five hundr •<’ persons in the ter- ! minal at 33rd street and Sixth ave- | nue were endangered by choking , smoke which spread through the underground tunnels after the ! crash of the car sent electric sparks into the air. Police said the switchman, who presumably was responsible for the J open switch, disappeared iinmedij i ately after the accident. They declined to reveal his name. The train was approaching th Manhattan terminal on the regular run from New Jersey points. The j Hudson tubes are a subway sys- | tem, running to Newark, Jersey [City and other New Jersey point',, i after dipping beneath the Hudso? river. Eye witnesses said tl.j front car of the train shot through the open switch and pounded its 1 way into the dividing wail. The air was blue with electricity and dense smoke gushed out into the tunnel.