Decatur Democrat, Volume 50, Number 41, Decatur, Adams County, 13 December 1906 — Page 1

ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME

VOLUME L.

PRAISE FOR OFFICERS THERE Asks for American Citizenship for the People of .Porto Rico—Marked < Progress Made. WASHINGTON, Dec. ll.—The president’s special message upon the island of Porto Rico, was transmitted to congress today. It contains much of interest and was closely listened to by both the members of the Senate and House. The message complete follows: Tq the Senate and House of Representatives: - ■ — On November 21 I visited the island of Porto Rico, landing at Ponce, crossing by the old Spanish road by Cavey to San Juan, and returning next morning over the new American -road from Arecibo to Ponce; the scenery was wonderfully beautiful, especially among the mountains of the interior, which constitute a veritable tropic , Switzerlaiw. I could not at San 'Juan because the harbor baa not been dredged opt and can not receive an battle ship. I do not think this fact creditable to us as a nation, and I earnestly hope that immediate provision will be made for dredging San Juan harbor. doubt whether our people .as a whole realize the beadty and fertility of Porto Rico, and thq progress that has J»een made under its admirable government. We have just cause for pride in the character of our represent ' Natives who have administered tWj tropfc islands which came under . flag I'esulc of the wav v and of no one of them is true; thfti, of Porto Rico. It wbnld W] impossible to wish a more faithful, Jd more effleifent and amore disinteteatel <ed public service than that now beingJ rendered in the Island of Porto Rleo-J by those in control of the insular gov-1 ‘ erriments. -'1 I stopped at fi'dozen towns all told and J one of the most notable features iga Arery town was. the gatbsrWjrfriM school children? The work been done in Porto Rico for edue^UOni has been noteworthy. Th ■ phasis, as is eminently wjse gfirgglfl er, has been put upon primarjf education; but in addition to this there is a normal school, an agricultural school, ] three industrial’and three high schools. Every effort is being made to secureJ not only the benefits of elementary -education to all the Porto Ricans of the next generation, but also Tar a» means will permit use train them so that the industrial; _ agricultural and commercial opportunities of the island can be utilized to the best possible advantage. It was evident at a glance that the teachers, both Americans and native Porto Ricans, were devoted to their work, took the greatest pride in it, and were endeavoring to train their pupils, not only in mind, but in what «OUnts tor far more than mind in citlthM is, in character. the excellent character both of the insular police and of the Porto Rican regiment. They are both of them bodies that re- , fleet credit upon the American adminisration of the island. The insular police are under the local Porto Rican government. The . Porto Rican regiment of troops must be appropriated tor by congress, I earnestly hope that this body vdll be kept permanent. There should certainly be troops in thd island, and It is wise that these troops should bfe themselves native Potto Ricans. It Would be from every standpoint a mistake not to perpetuate this regiment. ' In traversing the island even the most cursory survey leaves ~ the. beholder struck with the evident growth In the culture both of the sugar cane, and tobacco. The fruit industry is also growing. Last year was the most prosperous year that the island has ever known before or since the American occupation. The total of exports and imports of the island was fortyfive millions of dollars as against eighteen millions in 1901. This is the i largest in the island’s history. Prior to the American occupation the greatest trade was that of 1896, when it reached nearly twenty-three millions of dollars. Last year, therefore, was double the trade that there was In the most prosperous year under the Spanish regime. There were 210,273 tons of sugar exported last year, of the value of $14,186,319; $3,555,163 of tobacco, and 28,290,322 pounds of coffee of the value of $3,481,102. Unfortunately, what used to be Porto Rico’s prime ■crop —coffee —has not shared this prosperity. It has never recovered from the disaster of the hurricane, and moreover,“The benefit of throwing open our market to it has not compensated for the loss Inflicted bv the closing of the markets to it abroad. I call your attention to the accompanying memorial on this subject, of the Board of Trade of San Juan, and I earnestly hope that some measure will be taken for the benefit of the excellent and high grade Porto Rican coffee. In addition to delegations from the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce of San Juan, I also received delegations from the Porto Rican Federation of Labor, and from the Coffee Growers’ Association. There is a matter to which I wish to call your special attention and that is the desirability of conferring full American citizenship upon the people of Porto Rico. I most earnestly hope that this will be done. I can not see how any harm can possibly result from it, and it seems to me a matter of right and justice to the people of Porto Rico. They are loyal, they are glad to be under our flag, they are making rapid progress along the path of orderly liberty. Surely we should show our aprethatlon of them, our pride in

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W M» they have done, and our pleasur» in extending recognition for what ha» thus been done, by granting them full American citizenship. Under > the wise administration of the present governor and council, has been made in the difficult matter of granting to the people ieJand the largest measure of seR-government that can with safety be given at the present time. It would Mve been a very serious mistake to nave gone any faster than we have already, gone In this direction. The Porto Ricaaa have complete and absolute autonomy in all their municipal governments, the only power over them possessed by the insular government being that of removing corrupt or incompetent municipal officials. This power has never been exercised save on the clearest proof of corruption or of incompetence—such as to jeopradize the interests of the people of the island; and under such circumstances it has been fearlessly used to the immense benefit of the people. It is not a power with which it would be safe, for the sake of the island itself, to dispense at present. The lower house is absolutely elective, while the upper house is appointive. This scheme is working well; MW justice of any kind results from it, and great benefit to the island, and it .should certainly not be changed at this time. The machinery of the elections fiy Porto.RJean people themselves, thjgj ewemor and council keeping* ohlyMBM supervision as is necessary to an orderly el&Hfon. Any protest So Stactoral frauds is settled hearts. Hers again « be ■RRe to any change dftfoe presgOit system. Th? elections fhf» year - LfCTCAI " that is, based upon a rigid Inbfcervance of the principles of justice It has not been to ] instill into the minds of the people unI accustomed to the exercise of frqewKittrWo principleswww : American system; the principle that the majority must rule, and the principle that the minority has rights which must not be disregarded or trampled upon. Yet real progress has been made in having these principles accepted as elementary, as the foundations of successful self-government. I transmit herewith the report of the governor of Porto Rico, sent' to the president thru the Secretary of State. All the insular governments should be placed in- one bureau, either in the Department of War or the Department of State. It 4s a-; mistake not so to arrange our handling of these islands at 'Washington as to be able to take advantage of tpe experience gained in one, when deding with the problems that from time to time arise in another. In conclusion let me express my admiration for the work done by the ’ Congress when it enacted the law under which the Island is now being administered. After seeing the island personally, and after five years’ experience in connection with its administration, it is but fair to those who devised this law’to saw that it would be well-nigh impossible to have devised any other which in the actual working would have accomplished better re-, suits. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. The White House, December 11, 1906. —o- • STAHLEY CASE AT BLUFFTON A Highway Suit That Has Caused Trouble for Two Years. I Stahley vs. Glendening is the case now on trial in circuit court and it promises to occupy the attention of the court all the remainder of the week. The suit is venued here from Adams county and D. D. Heller and F. C. Dailey are for the plaintiff and Peterson & Moran and Eichhorn & Vaughn for the defendants. The plaintiff, Edward Stahley some time ago bought an eighty acre tract of land in Hartford township, but his farm had no outlet except across another farm. He fileff a petition for a road two miles in length across the north side of his farm, when every farmer on the road remonstrated. They alleged that they had roads on all sides of them and that the proposed road would cut through their farms and damage them greatly. The case has been pending two years and seven sets of viewers have made reports on it. —Bluffton News. • o JUDGMENT FOR SIX THOUSAND . '. 1 . LAPORTE, Inch, Dec. 12.—Judgment for $6,000 was given in circuit court here today against the United States Coaster company in favor of Alice Conderman and others. This decision means a forced sale of the miniature railroad, merry-go-’round, etc., now at an Indianapolis park.

DECATUR, INDIANA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13,

WAS ILL BUT TWO WEEKSU Popular and Accomplished Young Lady’ Dies From an Affectiortof thejteart, I I. Miss Zella Irene MillAr, onlyu child of Dr. J. M. Miller -<ied Tfifisdayo morning at the home of her tether on h Second street, at two thirty o’clock,’ after an illness of a Week’s duration, ! 1 death resulting from chorea or the r immediate cause being inflammation 1of the lining of the heart. She waOi born in Mendon, 0., sixteen years ago, p her mother dying within a short time! after her birth, and since that time she fl made her ’litfkie with her who g was again rqarried several years after fl her birth. She had resided in this city V and during that time a hos| of friends at£ was Wyed by g afi Vriip knew her. She .. Juskfi reached the age when she Biful id the home. Mr. and Mrair are grief thet<f ?h<> was a bright, intelligent|< at J dftiool dWfl high itt the estima- t gm of her inductors #d W jnetj she was will be sadly missed by knew her as her smiling w=. hold and especially u in the home circles, where she so h dearly loved. It seems hard that she |#hould thus be stricken in the bfopm U life when just stepAff |u.i&n Hie threshold of womanhdotfjjd 1 ty o’clock at rhe em»Wof ,| Which she was a deVtjtefl mettibiffiiy the I c. W ’r’l terment will be made in the Dblatur! 1 cemetery. Those desiring to view the ' remains may do so Werigesday'afternoon between the hours; of two and ' Tour thirty and in the evening from * • seven to eight. ;—.—o CROMER IS NOT A OWE” i - ■ : —— E. E. Hendee and Albert H. Vestal 1 Would Take a Chance, on the 1 .■- f Nomination for Congreaa. >■l (Muncie Etar.h Anderson, Ind. Dec. 11. —There are at 1 least two Republicans in the Eighth i district who are willing to make the • attempt to redeem it from the Democrats in 1908 by being their party’s i nominee for congress. Both of them live . in Madison county and in Anderson. ■ They are Former State Senator E. E. I. Hendee and Albert H. Vestal. Today 1 1 both of them told The Stars’ cor re- 1 . sponflent about the bees that are buzzi ing in their bonnets. It make a rather 1 ■ Interesting story. ■ Both men want the party nomina- ' tion but they size up the situation dis- 1 farently and have different ideas as to how to land the plum. Senator Hendee 1 for instance, wants all the factions to get together and adopt a perpetual peace agrement before they take up ■ the matter of nominating a congres- 1 sional candidate. Mr. Vestal, on the * other hand, proposes' to offer himself 1 as a compromise candidate for all sac- ' tions and to be a sort of political ' “healer,” whose object it will be to 1 bring back into the party fold every 1 voter who ever wore the Republican ' brand. But it will be a year, at least, and possibly longer, before the leaders 1 of the factions throughout the district 1 busy themselves, considering either ' ■plan, and in the meantime the chances 1 are that both Hendee and Vestal will ! go ahead promulgating their ideas and lining up support. Some of the Republican politicians here seem to think that Congressman Cromer will be a candidate for renomination in 1908, basing their belief on the statement he made at Washington the other day to the effect that he would return to the Eighth district when his tenure of office expires to ] see that “something is doing.” Cro- < mer leaders, however, some of them 1 I Cromer men, take the view that he I no hopes of getting it until the ‘ situation in the district becomes more i harmonious, and that would not be i next year. But practically all of them 1 expect/him to exert his influence in < future campaigns. A politician who has always oppos- 1 ed Cromer paid him the following com- ■ pliment today: “Cromer is not the i sort of a man to lie down and quit. On i the contrary he is about the gamest and shrewdest fighter the district has 1 ever had. I believe he would go after ,

the nomination again in 1908 if he saw the .slightest chance to be elected iVhen once nominated. But it is foolish to suppose that he will stay out He has a powerful organlization throughout the district, made up mostly of postmasters, and city and rural mail carirers, and it is to their duterestsc if they want to hold their Bobs, to get him back into congress, foregone conclusion that if an 'anti-Cremer man is ever elected from MKhftrtrict that the Cromer appointees will have to get out. So I {wouldn’t be surprised to see the old p romer crowd stick together in the mope that he will get back some time.” I The followers of Cromer in Madison joufity are still trying to find out “how it happened;’’ —They have the election Bairns for perusal, but during the Campaign and since there- have been Vitors that 'the Kn», had a secret organization. This Sas never, been proven, but.'-it looks! ■a little unusual, to the least, that lsoo men in the district should ■page their votes from without some sort of organized pressure being brought to bear. In Cromer was elected by more than jhooo. wtfUe in election Jotau .A. M. Adair, the Democratic congressional was elected by morel than 4,000. It Odon ill sides that j|r. dim npt feet out*and work agflinst Mr. Cromer's election, but. aa liras not asketp-to make speeches Wfanvass thf for the'nomlwee he remained inactive at home. ,;Tn Madisoij>ceiUnty, Adair’s plurality iJter Cromer was 1,127. In 1904 Cromer pc|sied the county & 1,984 and Lwlt by a little more than 3,000. The Mahge in from two ago shows to what extent, he knifed’’ this time. While he lost by 1,127, the §nttfe ReppbNKR county ticket withjkg exception. attij-liey and the pwwsntatives in.the legislature, was by pluralities ranging from 20 tq 230. On the head pf the State the Republican plurality was K o- 1• %AM BURDG BUYS A LOT ■fc"' — Earned the Money in the Many Ways That a Boy Can When He Will. • ■?■!. -"te- ‘ i^l£’ rably real ’estate in theclty. who has paid for the same by his own energy and industry is William Burdg, son Os A. L. Burdg, or “Billy," as he is commonly called. He purchased June 26, 1905, lot No. 959, in Daniel :N; Erwin’s subdivlson of outlot No. 81 in the city of Decatur, paying $5. cash and agreeing to pay SI.OO per week (er 162-3 cents daily) until the same was paid for, and 6 per cent interest from date. Each week from that date until the same was paid, “Billy” managed by some means to come into possession of his dollar and promptly applied it on the debt. Some weeks he earned it, as he will tell you, by shining shoes, sometimes by selling papers, and a few he made in the harvest field. “Billy” was but thirteen years old when he started on this undertaking. He now has the deed for his lot in his own name, paid for, interest and all and if he continues his habits of. industry and economy, he will undoubtedly make his mark in the world and become a man<>f usefulness and value to himself and the community wherein he may reside. His energetic nature will not. allow him to rest his boyhood achievements with this one accomplishment. It is to be hoped that other boys will learn the value of pennies and that pennies make the dollars and to save them while they, are young. _______oTHEY WILL FRAME A BILL Marion County Bar Association on Public Depositories. «A>law providing depositories for all public funds is considered one of the certainties of the coming session of the Indiana legislature. The necessity for such a law is generally agreed on. However, it is not unlikely that disagreements over the form of the measure to be enacted will be plentiful before it assumes final form for Governor Hanly’s signature. The Marion County Bar Association has, through a committee composed of Addison C. Harris, William A. Ketcham. J. E. McCullough, Frank E. Gavin, and Charles W. Smith, drafted a bill which it will support before the legislature as properly covering the subject of public funds depositories. f

THE CENSUS BUREAU | 1 -- - '*■ i ’j ” iF The Last Four Years Shoals an Enormous Increase in Accumulation of Property. ■ 1 —■ ■ « i WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.—According to a bulletin issued by the census* Bureau all property in Indiana is worth $3,105,781,739. Os this totaj estinpated true value of all property ik the jState $1,760,058,958 represents refl property and improvements. Other Sterns that go to make the totafcare thetftfllowing: Live stock, $151,798,200; fwm implements and ’machinery, m,3.74,682; manufacturing machinery, tools and implements, $84,079,065: gold’and silver coin and bullion, railroads and other equipments? »375,541,000; street railways, shippmi. waterworks, which also Include telegraph and telephone systems, el« stiife light and power stations, Pull ms 1 and private cars, etc., $110,075,967. All other properties, $542,716,094. The figures show an enormous crease tii the accumulation of property within the last four years. ‘ Thb 1900 census gave the tjne value -Of aR propbay State real property and improvementinit sl,live stock, y- V T ; implements and machinery, $27,manufacturing machinery, tools and iAßietnents, $65,046,72(1; gold and silver doin and bullian, $47,302.176; railroads and their $304,137,000; street shipping, water-works, telephone, telegraph etc., ’581,337,441; all pther 092,238. The figures estimate Aif sl--of real estate is $113,433,914 is exempt from the State. The average value al acre placed upon land in the State The estimated population of theWfcte oh June 1, according to the btflletin Was 2,646,086. The 1900 popula/ioA was 2,516,462. T THE RURAL SERVICE IMPROVED The Bankers’ Association Wanta|Currency Legislation at This Session of Congress. . WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.— Keeling, United States iMm nfij; conferred wtth the attorney general and the tiEW&SMfIN torney general in of the; antitrust campaign today. The department was pleased with the report which Mr. Kealing made respecting the progress of the suit dissolve the drug trust. It is barely possible that additional antitrust litigation may be started in the Federal Court of Indianapolis < withip the next few months. WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.—The advocates among congressmen of Federal child labor, legislation are much interested in the meeting of the National Child Labor Society, to be held In Cincinnati Thursday and Friday of this week. Senator Beveridge introduced his bill at the request of the society, and the society tried to dissuade Senator Lodge from introducing a bill on the subject. It is expected that the society will formally indorse the Beveridge bill. Senator Beveridge decided today to attend the convention. He will leave for Cincinnati tomorrow. WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.—The Postoffice department is slowly overhauling the entire rural delivery service. Inspectors are now gathering information on which to base changes with a view of bringing the service up to a higher standard of efficiency. Unnecessary duplications of service on roads traversed by star route carriers are to be eliminated and a special effort is to be made to ascertain the cause of the lack of patronage on many routes. WASHINGTON, Dec. ' 12.—Senator Bailey, who already has plenty of trouble on his hands in Texas, has received slap. It came from a member of the Texas delegation in Congress, Representative Randell. The two men have been political enemies for several years and neither has overlooked an opportunity to strike a blow at the other. Mr. Randell introduced a bill making it unlawful for any Senator or Representative to hold or take office or to receive a salary or fee as an officer, agent or representative of any national bank, railroad company, express company, or any public service corporation, or any corporation conducting business in violation of the anti-trust laws of the United States. WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.—The legis-

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(lative commission of the American Bankers’ Association, of which John Perin of Indianapolis, is a member, began work in earnest today in its effort to obtain currency legislation at this session of congress. The bill, on which it agreed some weeks ago, was formally presented to the bankers this forenoon. During the week members of the commission are to be heard in support of the legislation. The banking and currency com- < mittee is favorably disposed toward the plan which the commission has submitted, and will unquestionably report to the house a bill embodying substantially the commission’s recommendation. Whether the “powers, that be” will permit any banking legislation at this session is stlft a question. The outlook is not reassuring. Speaker Cannon ■is still miim on the subject. > MAY LESSEN THE DIVORCE EVIL . .. r ,. ‘ ; Richmond Judge Requires Defendants to Appear in Court and *■ ■f ' ‘■• I RICHMOND, Ind., Dec. 11—A divorce was granted Mrs. Louisa Williams of Indianapolis, yesterday, frqm Nathaniel Williams of this city.: The case attracted much attention by reason of the fact that when it was called last. week. William failed to* present present himself in court. The sheriff was ordered to bring him to the court [’Worn the following day unless he agreed to attend. He made his appearance and opposed the suit, saying he had contributed to her support as best he could. Judge Fox took the / case under advisement until yesterday, - when he announced that the divorce sbuld be granted. ‘ ’ As a result of the procedure In this case the attorneys of the Wayne county (>ar have had the fact made plain to them that in the future it will be more, difficult to procure divorces- then formerly. *The required presence of the defendants, when s they are residents of this county will be an ob- - staple (p many instances... Judge Fox, however, epof the rule of requiring, defendants to appear in person is-pot . done to throw obstacles in the way' of divorce plaintiffs who have I mate Cflise for seeking danger of granting decrees which might not be justified if all the facts were in the possession of the court. .—0 r . BIG CANNING PLANT IS BURNED •/. .. -aq- ■ . Was Biggest in State—Located at >t Greenwood and Employed Over 1,200 People. * 1 ' ► (Scripps-Mcßae Special.) GREENWOOD, Ind., Dec. 12 —Polk’s Canning factory, the largest in thf State and one of the largest in the entire country, was totally destroyed by fire this morning. The loss is $200,000, with insurance for about eighty per cent of its value. The fire was discovered at three o’clock this morning. As the town has no water protection or fire protection, the flames spread rapidly and it was soon evident that the entire plant was doomed. This was the biggest industry in Johnson county and this town was kept alive by this factory, which was operated the year around. Thousands of dollars worth of canned goods was ruined. J. I. Polk, who lives here and was principal owner of the plant announced that the plant would be rebuilt at once. The immense capacity of the plant can be imagined from the fact that over 1,200 people were employed. Frank Peak, a member of the volunteer fire department at the plant was badly injured by falling walls. The fire was of incendiary origin. o MRS. HARTJE WINS HER CASE Her Millionaire Husband is Refused a Divorce. (Scripps-Mcßae Special.) PITTSBURG, Pa., Dec. 12.—Mrs. Mary Scott Hartje won in the suit against her by her millionaire husband August Hartje, who sued for a divorce. Judge Frazer tins afternoon j held that Hartje was not entitled to a divorce. In view of the sensational charges made, the decision comes as a .vindication for Mrs. Hartje. She is now in a position if she so desires to press the suit for divorce from her husband. Under today’s decree she gets the children.

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