Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 108, Decatur, Adams County, 6 May 1931 — Page 1

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INDUSTRY IS CHARGED WITH SOLUTION

J MIISSIONERS Wgetbids d||T JONE MEET / I Roads And Five Eges To Be Sold; to ■ Gt' Other Bids .1 Hesi ki ace |Ke( <>m> street ■op L’s l """ eon t roc tors •he Sclieimann KT jin Treble township. three road iniTT uihl five other E, improvements will be H' h by Hie board of /d>^HLoin | iiissimuTs ;it the improvements on H ill received are the township; -“■Jlbii i Gus Bohnko, _ K, l: . H E#" " lH *‘‘ l bv 11:111,11 ordered sold were the 9’ By :..O!II. I’rel'.e town- ' township ]>.<>:>••. Wabash township. will be improved thi" ■ Improve Second Street be possible to improv" >)X^B\ir.' Decatur under ' nob' road law and the ' yesti 'h. pi' lmimiry bom! ordiwMt!:. he MjrDl.lli Glow Washington street .. K: n: D included - v* ment. Bids will I.• received on the imInly and if suftiavailable in th.' a road mil the improveI,, made this year, the Bfciiioners stated. Bnmiary bond ordinances stall a l | !.d on the Monee a 'tm nt in Hartford and the Huser road in ■I Two Petitions d Bfe petit im tot the improveJMt tlj ml through. Monroe, SSHU^E■ 1 3 rftate road number 27. B&tied for under the name of road, was filed m for a road runM*'"i. at: east and west of Mm.toe township under i. Ileusser road, was ami approved. Both ■ STINTED ON PAGE SIXI i — o — ■ ns County Men Are M iblican Club Speakers 8 111 Ma ii. republican county HB itui oi :!h S (.jty, F re d Rohrer, MB I>ie"aac'. |. Dr. Harry Jones ■I 1 I.' i' Berne, were sehed- !■ 0 di'ii.or talks at the Young Kepiildican club dinner in today noon. Mr. GraiHß'iii mt as chairman of the ;8B am, introduce the Adams men. Mr. Rohrer was soiled NH (I ''''liter the principal addthe meeting. MfERS gives ■OMEN CREDIT B Party Suecess Is Due ■rgely To Women ■Jemocrats of State tal< en by women in politics ■»"”! years Indicate their equalmen in leadership and |y' |,; . Peters, Fort Wayne, ■■eratic state chairman, told Democratic Women's today. the sweeping victory in Indiast year," Peters said, “no su.' passed in importance the of woman, and since the on no group has been more ■2 ' l,l upon a strict accounting officials.” BB e rs outlined the part played E,£°®[ en ‘n Democratic activity. MB 6 i‘ tetl them with bringing addK,| ' '’Bence, integrity and industhe party. In addition, Petwomen have contributed ■T', 1 lnue d harmony among party I

DECATUR DALIA DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 108.

Prize Winner S Jr mb ♦ □s Mrs. Margaret Ayer Barnes, Chicago novelist, whose book, "Years of Grace,” was awarded the Pulitzer prize as the best American novel of 1930. Despite her literary work, Mrs. Barnes finds plenty of time to devote to her husband and three sons, and is one of Chicago's best known society hostesses. M.E. WOMEN TO HOLD MEETING < - Foreign Missionary Societies Plan Group Conference at Tocsin A group meeting of the Women's Foreign Missionary Societies of the Methodist Episcopal Churches in Monroe, Bluffton. Montpelier, Ossian, and Decatur, will be held in the Methodist Church at Ossian Thursday, May 7. The meeting will open at 10 o’clock Thursday morning, with a luncheon served by the ladies of the Ossian Church, at the noon hour, followed with the afternoon session at 1 o'clock. Miss Clara Merril of Flint, Michigan, a returned missionary from China will give the principal talk at the meeting, which will be carried out in a school room manner. The programs bearing the outline of the activities of the day are designed to resemble red school houses, and each item of the program is reminiscent of school. Mrs. Delton Passwater of this city will have charge of the devo(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) PASTOR SCORES DIVORCE PLAN Sees Destruction of Nation if Reno System Begins Spreading New York, May 6. —(U.R>~ Dr. Christian F. Reisner, noted Methodist pastor of the Broadway tabernacle, today characterized Reno's high-geared divorce mill, wheie marriage ties are being broken at the rate of one every five minutes, as “alone consistent with the Godless soviets.” Dr Reisner and Michael wll- - editor of “The Commonweal,” leading lay Catholic publication, in branding the Reno spectacle, used terms like “vulgar, “a disgrace to the nation," and “drearily comic." The Methodist minister expressed the belief that, if the Reno system is permitted to take further root in the United States, it will result in the ultimate destruction of the nation. He saw in Reno, a rebirth of Rome, in the voluptuous days before her tall. These opinions of the Reno situation were given the United Press in the course of a survey, which, though showing sentiment against the Nevada divorce system, nevertheless registered a sharp dilleience°£jriews. (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

I'liriilah<<l By Injted I'reaa

HEALTH BOARD ORDERS HOUSE CLEAN-UP HERE Several Residents Get Orders to Clean Premises at Once REPORT MADE TO COUNCILMEN Dr. J. M. Miller, secretary of the City Board of Health and Dr. P. B. Thomas, a member of the board, appeared before the city council last evening and informed the body that they had ordered several residents in the southwest part of the city to clean up their houses and premises. Dr. Miller stated that an Inspection of the houses was made by members of the city health board and Mrs. Faye Smith-Knapp and that conditions were deplorable. Orders were given to the owners to clean-up. Dr. Miller told the council that the suggestion had been’ made to him that a city-wide sprinkling ordinance be passed. It would be the purpose of the ordinance to have every person in Decatur sprinkle the streets in front of their premises. The matter was referred to the judiciary committee. Councilman Fred Linn reported that the Erie railroad had repaired its crossings on Mercer avenue and Thirteenth street. Mayor George Krick and several of the councilmen stated they would appear before the Indiana Public Service Commission on May 12 in behalf of D. F. Teeple, local truck operator who wishes to secure a franchise for a truck line south of Decatur to Portland. The application of Paul Phillips for appointment on the regular fire department was filed and referred to the committee on Public Safety. Bills were allowed by the finance committee and the meeting adjourned, committee meetings being held later. MISSING MAN'S BODY IS FOUND Illinois County Auditor Is Suicide Victim; Funds Had Shortage Chicago. May 6.—(U.R)—A man hunt that had extended throughout Illinois was ended today with the finding of the body of Fred A. Butke, Kane county “honesty” auditor, who had committed suicide in a loop hotel rather than face charges of embezzling $64,904 11 in poor farm funds. Physicians said Butke had killed himself Monday night, just a few hours after he' established a trust fund of $83,000 or his wife, specifying she was to receive a net income from it for the remainder of her life. This fund, as well as Butkp’s $25,000 home in Aurora and his 16-cylinder automobile, were attached yesterday by Kane county officials who charged Butke with embezzlement and forgery. Butke's body was found by hotel employes. The auditor, registered under the name of F. M . Beebe of Aurora, had shot himself in the head muffling the revolver report with a pillow. Butke had been auditor of Kane county for 13 years and also operated a private auditing company. He was iprominent in bis section of the state as an 'honesty' official. Suspicion first was directed toward him when Frank Averill, superintendent of the county farm, discovered that checkjs which he had given to Butke had not been received by the county. — —o Death Summons Former Adams County Resident Word was received here today that Mrs. Elizabeth Kirby, 72, of Nebraska, formerly of Adams county, died at her home Tuesday morning'. Details of the death were not given in the telegram. Mrs. Kirby was a sister of the late John Hoffman, who died a few weeks ago. She moved from thin county to Nebraska several years ago. Funeral services will be held next Friday, thft telegram stated.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, May G, 1931.

Tri-County Meeting of Pythian Sisters Planned A tri-county meeting of the Pythian Sister lodges will be held in the Knights of Pythlae home in y sin Friday. May 8. Members of the lodges at Bluffton, Montpelier, Roll Ossian, Decatur and Tocsin, representing Adams, Blackford and Wells counties, will attend the meeting. A pot-luck dinner will be served at the noon hour, and an interesting program has been planned for the afternoon session, with each county presenting a feature of the program. U. B. WOMEN AT CONVENTION Local Members At Fort Wayne Meeting; to Adjourn Thursday A large number of members of the local United Brethren Church are attending the sessions of the fifty-third annual convention of the St. Joseph Branch Woman's Missionary Association of the church, which opened at the Calvary United Brethren church in Fort Wayne, Tuesday afternoon. The convention will close Thursday noon. At the meeting Tuesday afternoon the worship service was in the charge of Mrs. J. Hall Smith of Dayton, Ohio, special foreign missionary secretary of the church, (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) DENTISTS ARE MEET GUESTS Local Men Attend Meeting At Bluffton; Hear Huntington Plan Three Decatur dentists Dr. Roy Archbold, Dr. J. G. Neptune and Dr. Fred Patterson attended a meeting of the Wells County Dental Society, at Bluffton Tuesday night. Dr. Fred R. Houck of Huntings was the chief speaker at the session and he explained what is known to the dental world as the Huntington Five Year plan of dental hygiene. The system of examining children’s teeth in Huntington county is regarded as one of the best in the middlewest. Both Adams and Wells counties are expected to adopt the Huntington plan soon and at the Wells county meeting it was decided that the members of that society would make an effort at the state dental convention at Indianapolis June 1820 to have the state organization adopt the plan. The plan calls for a systematic examination scheduled for all elementary grade pupils in the county. Dr. Neptune is chairman of the Adams county dental hygene committee. o AGED MONROE WOMAN DIES Mrs. Mary Hair, 81, Is Victim of Death At Home of Her Son Mrs. Mary M. Hair, 81, died at the home of her son, William C. Hair, residing west of Monroe, Tuesday afternoon, May 5, at 3:30 o'clock. Death was the result of a complication of diseases. Mrs. Hair was born February 25, 1950. in Greenville, Illinois, the daughter of Elmer and Ellen Jackson. She was united in marriage to John W. Hair, a Civil War Veteran, who preceded her in death 40 years ago. Four children were born to the union, two of whom are deceased. Surviving are the daughter, Mrs. Maude Hair-Perry of Texas and a son, William C. Hair, Monroe. Mrs. Hair resided in Smithborough. Illinois, until three years ago when she moved to the home of her son near Monroe, where death came. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Smithborough, Illinois. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 9:30 o'clock at the home, and at 10 o’clock at the'Zion Church at Honduras. The Rev. C. O. McKean will officiate, assisted by Rev. J. E. Smith. Burial will be made in the Beery cemetery, west of Decatur.

COUNCIL CALLS ' SPECIAL MEET To Confer With Engineering Concerns on Local Problems John Gillig. well known architect and engineei of Lexington, Ky., will be in Decatur Monday toj confer with the city council to discuss informally the securing of an increased water supply for Decatur and to talk over with the councilmen certain engineering problems. Mr. Gillig is a former Decatur' resident and is famous in Ken-1 tucky and the Central West as an i engineer and architect, being in charge of the building of several ; of the new state buildings in Ken-' tucky. He is also a sanitary, engineer. The city is seeking advice on j drilling another water well, the one recently drilled on the city | lot on North Seventh street almost being a dry hole. Mr. Gillig,; through his interest for his “old home town" offerer! to come here, and discuss certain engineering j problems with the councilmen and Mayor George Krick. To Meet Monday The council will meet Monday j evening to receive propositions. from engineering firms relative to' drawing plans for the new electric distribution system to be con-1 structed in Decatur. Letters informing the engineers , interested in securing the job' were mailed this morning to firms ; in Toledo and Indianapolis. Tho council wishes to know before I hand what the engineer’s fee will (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX. O T Green Denies Rumor Washington, May fi.--‘U.R)' —A report that William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, was about to retire, and that Matthew Woll, vice-president of the federation, would succeed him, was denied formally last night in a joint statement by Green and Woll. o COOL WEATHER HITS MIDWEST Other Parts of Nation Have Heat Wave; Damage Is Reported Chicago. May 6 —(UP) —Winter returned to scattered areas in the Mississippi Valley today causing damage to orchards, gardens and early crops. Temperatures throughout the territory bAgan a slide downward late yesterday and still cooler weather was forecast by C. A. Donnel, weather bureau forecaster. While snow and hail storms touched sections of the midwest yesterday, a heat wave swept the Lake Michigan region bringing temperatures that ranged from 70 to 85 degrees. Frank Brongel, 39, the year's first heat victim in Chicago, fell dead while spading a garden. Policeman Thomas O’Malley collapsed while on duty. Storms were reported in the territory from Colorado to lowa hnd from Kansas to Minnesota. A Kansas Hailstorm caused an estimated loss of 20,000,000 bushels of wheat. So severe was the storm that it virtually mowed down thousands of acres of grain* Tzirge stones shattered windows and killed jackrabbits. Leadville, Colo., reported two Inches of snow and other cities in the North and Eastern parts of the state were hit by rain and sleet. In Denver, the snow climaxed a day of Sunshine, rain, and hail and strongwinds. Traces of snow and temperatures in the 20s were reported in Minnesota, and North Dakota while freezing temperatures prevailed in lowa and western Illinois. oScientist Is Sinking Pasadena, Cal., May 6. — (U.R) Dr. Albert A. Michelson, veteran scientist, who has .been suffering from a nervous breakdown since March, was slowly losing in his fight for life his physicians admitted today. Dr. Michelson's condition has not been good the past week, and because of his age, 78 years, the doctors feared he might not recover.

fftnte, Nnflonnl And I iifrrnn (Imnil

I CITIZENS JOIN TO END RIOTS IN MINE CENTER Five Killed In Strike War; Officials Make Effort For Peace i“LEFT WING” TO BE DRIVEN OUT Harlan, Ky., May 6.—(U.R)i— I Loyal miners, citizens, and 'sheriff’s deputies combined i forces today to put down open warfare which already has taken a toll of five lives and ito drive from this strife-torn • community roving bands of , so-called “left wing” union ; workers. Four men met death and two •others were wounded seriously in I the latest outbreak in Evarts, 10 miles from here, when a mob of | 100 men ambushed three automobile loads of sheriff's deputies and residents yesterday. A second outi break later in the day resulted in the attackers being put to flight. I No one was injured. The dead were James Daniels, 39, . and Otto Lee, 26, both deputy sherliffs; Howard Jones, 25, a store [clerk, and Carl Richmond, one of I the ambushing party. Shepherd Purciful, a mine guard, suffered wounds from which he is , not expected to recover. He was ] shot seven times. Estes Cox, an- ; other mine guard, was severely wounded also. Five other persons met death in the same region yesterday, three [ in a slate fall in a mine and two in a shooting affray, which brought the total deaths to 12 over a period of ten days of fighting and dis--orders. Sheriff John’ Henry Blair took stern- measures to bring peace to this vicinity. He has deputized about 50 citizens, armed them and ordered them to shoot to kill in the event their lives are endangered. He has scorned all suggestions that the state militia be called in to aid his forces, declaring he will stop the outbreaks by armed force. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o - Commissioners Buy Two Trucks For The County The board of county commissioners gave orders yesterday for two three ton trucks to be delivered to the county highway departemnt. A three ton Dodge truck was purchased from the Saylors Motor company I and a three ton Reo Truck was purchased from T. J. Durkin. The price of the Dodge truck, including balloon tires was $3,544.00 less a credit of S7OO for the old truck, making the net price of $2,844. The price of the Reo truck was $2,239.25 less a credit of $650 for the old truck, net price, $2,589.25. The trucks will be delivered immediately by the two auto dealers. o POLICE SEEK MADMAN TRACE Tied Two Boys to Railroad Track; Maniac Still At Large Detroit, May 6—(U.R)-r-The madman who tried to kill two small boys Monday night by tieing them to a railroad track, still was at large today. Every police agency in the southeastern part of the state has been enlisted In the search for the demented man, who is armed with a revolver. The two boys, Edward Spoutz and pis brother, Charles, 14, were rescued by their mother, who found them bound to the track near Mt. Clemens, shortly before a train passed over the spot. The (bearded maniac, clad in a long coat and a straw hat, was reported seen near Monroe late last night. The state police said the man had caught a ride with a motorist bound toward Toledo. The (Spoutz boys, after they had been discovered by their sister, Dorothy, and released by their mother, told officers the maniac mumbled and talked continually while trussing them up. “There is no reason for you (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Price Two Cents

Flees Prison » f /f i Lydia Southard. Idaho's most famous woman prisoner, escaped from the state prison near Boies. Tuesday morning. She was con-[ victed at Twin Falls, Idaho, in [ November, 1921, on a charge of poisoning Edward M. Meyer, herj fourth husband. During her trial; the prosecution charged she was a "woman Bluebeard," and that she was responsible for the deaths of three former husbands. ARTHUR CLARK IS APPOINTED I F o rm e r Firemen Gets Night Police Job; Roy Steele Named Arthur Clark , for several years a member of the Decatur fire department, has been appointed a city night policeman by Mayor George Krick and will go on duty probably tonight, he having filed his bond today with the city clerk. Mr. Clark, who serve.: on the police force before succeeds Gro-' ver Cottrell, who was named to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna-, tion of Roscoe Elzey. Mr. Cottrell I has served on the night beat with [ Burg Womack for the past four months. Roy Steele a mejnber of the volunteer department wps named a member of the regular department, succeeding Clark. He will begin his duties Thusrday, Jack Friedt, chief of the department stated this afternoon. There were several applicants for tlie tire department appointment. A number of applications were filed with the city council and several applicantions were filed with Chief Friedt. The appointment was made by Chief Friedt with the approval of the committee on public safety of the city council. o Fliers On Last Lap Miami, Fla., May 6.—(U.R)* —Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon, Jr., left here today for New York on the last lap of their “blind" flight from Roosevelt Field to Porto Rico and return. Herndon and Pangborn. accompanied by Capt. Lewis A. Yancey, arrived here late yesterday after a flight from San Juan. They left Miami for what they hoped would be a non-stob flight to New York. o k BULLETIN Water Valley, Miss., May 6 — (U.R? —A precautionary guard of special officers was on duty today to frustrate threats of mob violence while deputies continued their questioning of two negroes held in connection with the axe slaying of Will Wagner, wealthy Mississippi banker, and his wife. Sam green, 19, negro house boy at the Wagner home, was said to have confessed killing the banker and his wife Monday night. Green implicated tnree white men and three negroes in his confession. o Seeks United Party Paris, May 6—(UP) —King Alfonso, after a series of consultations, decided today to ask the Madrid Monarchist parties to unite in presenting a consolidation ticket of six candidates tor the parliamentary elections. The proposed ticket would be headed by Jose Louis Sanchez Guerra, former premier, and it would Utke the place of the many separate tickets which would divide the monarchists’ strength.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

‘UNEMPLOYMENT IS INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM'.SWOPE General Electric Head Is Speaker at International Commerce Meeting SAYS PROCESS STARTED SLOW By Thomas L. Sokes, UP Staff Correspondent. Washington, Mav 8. — (U.R) —An aroused public opinion must insist that industry solve the unemployment probI lem for the protection of the I worker and society, Gerald | Swope, president of the Geni eral Electric Company, declared in an address today before the International Chamber of . Commerce. Swope emphasized that industry I itself must meet tile problem by j stabilizing employment. He said I "distribution of the sums raised by • taxation or charity can never be effectively done and is at best a makeshif, a method as bad as the community as it is often harmful and not desired by the recipient." He said that where a seasonable variation in employment "is inherent in the character of production, this factor shall also be included in the cost and be borne by the I users of such articles.” He said ' also that the employe must be a contributor to any benefit plan devised to take care of unemployment in times of emergency. I Swope spoke at the general sessi ipn devoted to unemployment, I wages, and problems of production *ut -which Aloyse Meyer, of Luxemburg, president of the Enrojienii Steel Cartel, told the International Chamber in effect that the American wage scale was out of proportion at the present time. “This problem of regularization of employment,’’ Swope said, “must be studied for each trade or industry and, in fact, in every company I with its different methods of manl agement and operation. The recogI nition that the problem exists and that it must be solved, either in part or in whole, is the beginning of the solution of the problem. “The insistence of a solution (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) Q Parent, Teachers Meet The meeting of the South Wanl Parent-Teachers Association which was held in the South Ward school Tuesday afternoon, following school was largely attended by patrons and members of the association. Mrs. C. O. Porter, newly chosen president of the organization, presided over the meeting. Interesting talks were given by Mrs. William Linn and Mrs. W. Guy Brown. .Mrs. Brown gave the report of the Dental Association examination which was held recently, and stressed the importance of the care of children’s teeth. Mrs. Linn talked on the proper sleep and rest for children. During the meeting yesterday, costumes for the South Ward play to be given Thursday evening. May 14, were displayed. BANQUET HELD FOR MOTHERS 'DecaturLionsClub Is Host To Members' Mothers At Chicken Dinner Memliers of the Decatur Lions club entertained their mothers at a banquet held last night at the Christian church dining hall. Attorney C. L. Walters of this city delivered ttie chief address. Following a chicken dinner, a Decatur high school girl's quartet presented several musical numbers. The quartet included the Misses Edwina Shroll, Louise Haubold, Sara Jane Kauffman and Betty Franklin. Miss Gladys Schindler, supervisor of music in Decatur schools sang a solo. Mrs. W. H. Leatherman presented a number of entertaining readings. Carnations were presented to each mother as a favor by the club members. The Itinquet is g'iven annually on the Tuesday before Mother's Day.