Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 35, Decatur, Adams County, 31 October 1907 — Page 6

THEIR' RELATION WITH CHIEFS Convention Closed at Chicago Yesterday and Was a Most Sucessful One. • Chocago, October 26. —Leaders of the Nations! Civic Feredation movement see as one of the groat results of he National Conference on Combinations and Truest, which closed here yesterday, the completion of a long s ep forward in their plan for relations of amity with the chiefs of the American Federation of Labor. As an aid to the federation's aim for close relations with the big labor body headed by Samuel Gompers it was decided rt he opening of the conference in Chicago not to encourage attacks in the convention on the “labor trust.” with result that a number of delegaes who had planned speeches against the closed shop land the methods of organized labor materially modified the tenor of their remarks. When the conference was planned it was deemed fitting to recognize labor's interest in the trust question by making President Gompers vice-chairman of the governing committee. His presence at the gathering led to the appearance there of the presidents and executive officers of the national union of machinists. miners, carpenters, printers and long-horemen. besides the leaders of numerous smaller unions. Labor’s represents ives took an active part in the discussions affecting the railroads and th oil, steel, tobacco, lumber, rubber and beef combinations. During intermissions of the conference he labor leaders in attendance he'd a number of mee.ings to consider the industrial future and make out a political course for their organization. President Gompers being present at mos T of the meetings. The non-appearance at the conference of T 'dent August Belmont of the Na’io al Civic Federation has led to a di cussion of rumors that Mr. Belmon ■ is to retire from the leadership of he organization. It was authoritati ly stated, however, that President n elmo..t was unable to leave NewYork because of rhe financial situation there. His associates express con r d f> ice that he is not losing interest .n th organization. It is said that ?■!.. Belmont will make early’ reply o the critics of his administration because he secured from public utility companies funds to defray’ the federations municipal ownership investigation and report. Tb° conference just closed did not de '-o any political action within th * ■■ deration. The majority of the 400 d legates were not members of the fed a ion and the conference itself h’d no jurisdiction on qustions of polic- affecting the central body. F m conferences of the executive ofi cers of the Civic Federation after adjournment of the national conference word was given that Secretary R’lph Easley will issue calls for early meetings of special committees on the recommendation of legislation in congress that the committees may complete heir work before the end of the year. SEE MANY IMPROVEMENTS HERE Te'ls of Early Days—Has First Ballot Box Ever Used in Root - Township. William Rice, of Goodland. Indiana, a former resident if this county, who “a b >rn in Root township sivty-nine years ago, is in the city making a visit with his brothers, M. F., B. J. and James Rice. Mr. Rice lived in Adams comfy when not a road was laid out except one that was known as the Piqua thoroughfare, and he states that he. improvement of Decatur since his last visit here is remarkable. His father B. J. Rice, was one of the first settlers in this county and he has cut timb r where the Wabash depot and the court house at Fort Wayne is located. Mr. Rice has in his possession the ballot box in which the first vote in Root township was . cast and he prizes it very highly. He has had several good offers for this relic but he will not dispose of it at any pric«. Accompanied by M. F. Rice he went to Berne this afternoon to make a short visit with Edward Rice and family after which he will return here for a short stay before leaving for his home. e The heating plant at the Murray hotel is being overhauled and put in shape so that heat may be furnished as soon as possible. During the summer when the building was undergoing sme repairs it was found necessary to tear the' plant out and as the plumbers have been so busy during the summen the heating plant was forced to wait. Mr. Murray fully expects to have the plant running full bla- r m a few days.

DOUBT THE STATEMENT Bureau of Labor Making Doubtful Claims—Oklahoma Constitution to Stand. Washington, October 26. —Senator Elkins, of West Virginia, who was among the president's callers, said on leaving the White House that he hoped and expected that some financial legislation would be enacted at the coming session of congress. He was not prepared to suggest the character of legislation that should be enacted, but he said that the business of the country had, in his opinion, outgrown the present financial system. Speaking of politics he said that it was not possible to get the people of West Virginia interested in presidential candidates so long as the third term talk I continued. "The Republicans of the state have been disposed to take President Roosevelt at his word.” said he, “but they are now waiting to see whether he is to take another term. It is not possible to get them interested in anybody else until they learn what he intends to do.” Washington, October 26. —A good many persons are declining te accept as reliable the statement recently put forth by the Bureau of Labor that the purchasing power of wages is keeping pace with the increase in the cost of living. Undoubtedly the bureau made a careful investigation as far as it went, but in view of the fact that the in’quiry was limited to a comparatively few trades, men who have felt an unusual drain on their pocketbooks the last two years are not disposed to accept the findings of the bureau as final. The investigation did not cover salaried employes. It had to do with wageworkers in the principal manui’ac turing industries. Forty industries with 4.035 establishments, were covered. Critics of the report would like to see an inquiry conducted that would take in all the salaried employes of the country, and would take a wider range in considering the cost of articles of householding. Washington, October 26. —The president will not be moved from his decision to promulgate the constitution of the new state of Oklahoma. Senators Long and Curtis, oi Kansas. Governor Frantz, of the territory of Oklahoma, and several other Republicans from the new’ state, saw the president and asked him not to approve the constitution. He said to them that his mind is made up. and that no amount of argument will cause him to change his views. He indicated that the proclamation promulgating the constitution would be issued shortly.

WAS SEEN LAST EVENING Two Young Men Beheld H“r a Moment Then She Hastened Down an Alley. The lady in black, after an absence of several months, has again made her appearance in Decatur, and was seen Friday night by couple of young men in the west part of the city,when they were going home from the show. The boys were walking along in an unconcerned manner talking over the merits of the show, when a woman dressed from head to foot in a flowing gown of black, stepped from behind a tree and carefully senned •he countenance of each of the boys and without uttering a word or sound silently disappeared up an alley. The occurrence hapened betw-'ei Eighth and Ninth streets and at the time the boys were so frightened that they wer? unable to say a word The woman, whoever she was, seamed to be look ing for some one and when she discovered her mistake made hasty tracks and was swallowed up in the darkness. The boys made no effort to follow her as they were too badly 'tightened and were mighty glad when she left them. The boys desired that we not publish their names at this time, hut they firmly vouch for what they saw and are firmly convinced in their own minds that the famous woman in black is among us again. o NEARLY A KNOCKOUT BLOW. Al Buhler Just Dodged a Horse’s Hoof. Al Buhler, the blacksmith, had a very narrow escape from a probably instant death a few days ago while shoeing a horse. The animal was of a nervous disposition and as Mr. Buhler stooped over to raise its hind leg to shoe it the animal kicked and in so doing just grazed the top of his cap. knocking it from his head. Had he received the full force of the blow on the skull it would undoubtedly have been crushed.

SENT HERE THROUGH MISTAKE Tells of How Young Man Named Cotton Supposed to Live Here Was Killed in Indian Territory. About a week ago we published a message received by J. C. Patterson, Western Union agent here telling of the death of a young man named Cotton at Keirer, 1. T. and addressed simply to Mr. Cotton, Decatur, Indiana. Mr. Patterson was unable to find the man and the matter was not explained until yesterday when he received the following fro man old Decatur boy: the following from an old Decatur boy: of papers from home and inclose a clipping from one of the papers. 1 knew this Mr. Cotton well and he was in the store just about four hours before he got killed. This Mr. Griffin who signed the telegram is a contractor and Cotton was working for him. The way this fellow met his death is reported like this: He and a bunch of o hers were having a good time in one of the pool rooms at Keifer and when the clerk made change w-ith Cotton the clerk claimed that Cotton kept out 15 cents, so they got into it and the clerk told him if he didn't comb up he would shoot him. so I guess be didn’t come up. The U. S. marshal arrested the fellow who shot Cotton and took him to Tulsa before a commission and that is the last we heard from that fellow for he got away some way; it is claimed by some that the marshal himself let him loose, and I wouldn’t doubt it very much at that, for that is all the law is out in the place graft. They telegraphed all over trying to locate his people, and word just came today that they live in Ontario. He has been buried in Sapulpa, because they couldn’t hold him any longer. Well I guess this will straighten things out for you. so be good to yourself, as always, yours truly. Clay Wertzberger. Dal is in the store and sends his regards.

TO MEET NOVEMBER FIRST Will Fix Date for Democratic Primary and Adopt Rules and Regulations. John C. Moran, county Democratic chairman, has issued a call for a meeting of the central committee, to be held in this city on Friday, November Ist. At that time the date for holding the Democratic primary election will be fixed and rules and regulations governing same will be adopted. It is probable that the date will be set for not later than the middle of December. Already the candidates are busy, several having already made a trip or two to various parts of the county and the old familiar hand shake is as popular as ever. The nominations this year will include candidates for auditor, treasurer, surveyor, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, representative and county commissioner. The sheriff and prosecuting attorney race is for the second term. BOTH FORMERLY LIVED HERE Believed They Will Both Recover Though Murphy’s Wound Was .. Quite Serious. ' * A letter from James Murphy, who with John Long left this city about one year ago for Lorain, Ohio, states that he and Long were stabbed by two strangers about a week ago, because they refused to permit them to sleep in the railroad yards at orain, and were watchmen. Messrs. Murphy and Long are employed at watchmen in th railroad yards at Lorain, and about a week ago two strangers approached asking if they could sleep there for the night. Murphy explained that they were allowed to permit any one to enter the yards without a pass. At this one of the hobos stabbed Murphy in the back and as Long stooped to help the wounded man, he was stabbed in the stomach by the same man. Murphy, however, was not seriously hurt and as the men were escaping he took a shot at them and the bullet took effect in the leg of one of the desperadoes. A nearby policeman heard the report of the revolver and hastened toward the scene in time to capture the fugitives and they were lodged in jail. Both Long and Murphy were taken to a hospital and are improving nicely, although was thought for a time that Murphy would die. The tramps are being held on the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill and their trial will ensue as soon as the victims of their k ■ have sufficiently recovered to te ” • • o

DRIVER ORDERED TO MOVE ON Refused to State Who He Was, Where He Came from or Where He Was Going. A nitroglycerine wagon carrying a load of this highly explosive stuff passed through our city Saturday enroute to some point south. Where his destinatln was, however, the driver refused to state. The wagon was first discovered in the south part of the city by several citizens who seemed to know what it contained and immediately notified Policeman Bohnke, who rode out on his wheel and questioned the man concerning whom he was and where he was going. The driver refused to fell his name and also refused io state where he was going stating that he didn’t think it was anyone's business. He admitted however, that he had several hundred quarts of this explosive material on board and that it was to be used for oil well shooting purposes. The man had a wagon regularly equipped for this purpose, the bed being partitioned off into little cells in which cans were secreted and which carried the nitroglycerine. Mr. Bohnke ordered the man to leave the city at once and followed him to the corporation line to see that he complied with the order and when last seen the man was still driving south. It is possible that the explosive material was being trans ferred from some factory to the oil field south of us and was to be used for shooting wells. Not many people were aware of the fact that we were harboring a man with such a load of explosive material and Mr. Bohnke was very careful in not telling any of the citizens in that part of the city. There is a heavy penalty attached to eases of this description and Mr. Bohnke declares that he will investigate the case carefully and endeavor to ascertain who the man was and make him suffer the consequences.

AFTER FIVE WEEKS SUFFERING Well Known Young Lady Died at Portland, Where She Had Recently Moved. Portland, Ind., Oct. 26.—Miss Myrtle Light, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Light, died at 3:30 o’clock Friday afternoon at the home of her parents. 912 west Arch street, this city. Her death was due to typhoid fever, with which she was taken ill about five weeks ago. Miss Light was aged about eighteen years and had moved to this city from Decatur, about seven weeks ago. Besides the father and mother, four brothers survive to mourn her departure. The funeral services will be conducted at Salem church, near Decatur Sunday afternoon at two o’clock and interment made at the Salem cemetery. Miss Light lived here for a number of years and was a beautiful young lady. The news of her death will cause sadness to her many friends and acquaintances here.

FROM SQUIRE JOHNSON’S COURT The Teeple Ditch Referred to Commissioners—The Smiths Will Fight Big Damage Case. On appeal from the court of Justice Johnson, a new case entitled Edward Hamil vs. Otto Bolds, to replevin a power house and contents, in Hartford township, has been filed in circuit court. ♦ In the case of Mini Laisure vs. William and Mary Smith, 110,000 damages for alienating his wife's affections. Heller and Son and R. O. Johnson, have entered appearance for the detfendiants and were ruled to answer. Horace Kohn vs. Joseph W. Hakes, suit on note and account, answer filed in two paragraphs, rule to reply to second. Ten days having elapsed and no remonstrance being filed in the petition of Henry Teeple et al for a drain, the petition was found sufficient and referred to L. L. Baumgartner, James Willey'and Henry Steele, who were ordered to meet October 29th and report November 28th. John W. Poling vs. Peter Holthouse, no e S9OO. answers filed by defendant to the interrogations, recently submittd by the plaintiff. o

TO WABASH VALLEY ’ Says Overtures Have Been Made — Superintendent Takes a Vacation. The fact that officials of the Fort Wayne and Wabash Valley traction company, right on the heels of a visit to the city of Col. J. Levering Jones, the company s present, went before the mayor ana noara o. public works members yesterday and urged a six-teen-foot clearance of proposed elevated tracks at Calhoun street, gives color to a strong rumor that the local company has nego iations on for the purchase of the Fort Wayne and Springfield railway company’s Forb Wayne-Decatur road. Os course, the officials of neither company are doing any talking about any such move and information seekers are met with denials but rumors in local financial circles have it tha the sole object of the visit here, on Friday; of Colonel Jones, was to discuss the purchase of the Decatur line Fort Wayne’s new- j est interurban line will, when its ex-i tensions are completed, be a valuable piece of property and its acquisition by the For* Wayne and Wabash Valley system would be an important bit of expansion. It is no secret that the policy of Fort Wayne s big interurban company is one of extension and whether the rumor of the purchase of the D* catur line be time or not such a move would not be an unexpected one. —Fort Wayne Journal-Ga-zette. President W. H. Fledderjohann, of the Fort Wayne and Springfield line (was seen by a representative of this paper Monday morning in relation to above article and gave out some information in the interview that was very interes ing and which the public should know. Mr. Fledderpohann acknowledged the fact ihat for the past six months, and in fact since the line was started several years ago, the Wabash Valley trac ion company has been negotiating the purchase of the line running between this city and Fort Wayne, but that everv overture made by them had been urned down, and the proposition for the time being is dead. The selling of ihe Fort Wayne and Sprinefeld li le is possible and should the Wabash Valley traction companv make the right price and meet the demands ,-f he local company a deal might be consummated. However, with the price as fixed by the local company now stands, it is not likely that the line will be sold. Mr. Fledderjohann would not state as to what the stockholders valued the line but intimated that the p-ice was quite large and the prosp°c s for a sale to the Wabash people was practically out of the question. Another thing to be taken into consideration is he fact that the big bulk of the stock in the Fort Wayne and Springfield company is held by Decatur people and it is a fact that they would not desire to jeopardize their interests at this time and we are confident that the stockholders have unlimited faith in W. H. Fledderjohann’s ability to handle the reins of this line in a proficient manner. When it is taken into consideration that during the past summer this line had a pay roll reaching five thousand dollars a month, and during that time employed numerous Decatur laborers, that their running expenses amount to nearly four thousand dollars a month during the winter and the bulk of this money is left in our city, do you think that the Decatur stockholders would consent to let loose? The line as it now stands is one of the best paying institutions ever promoted in this section of the state, and from a laborer’s standpoint is one of the best institutions Decatur has ever had for their benefit and as the line is in excellent shape financially, we do not think that .he Decatur people interested will let go so easy to a concern that would undoubtedly make their headquarters at Fort W ayne and let us hold the sack. The article was published for a purpose! ‘and that purpose the management of the local line is well acquainted with ‘and when the same was shown to President Fledderjohann he had a hearty laugh over the matter, and seemed not the least surprised over the same. President Fledderjohann’s demeanor in this matter is plain and it is an evident fact from the manner in which he talked that he was perfectly honest in his argument tha" at the present there was nothing to the proposed deal and would not be unless the figure asked by the local stockholders was reached, which under the existing circumstances he did not think it was possible for the Wabash Valley traction company to comply •with. President Fledderjohann desired to be plain in every respect to the public, and in return says that all the stockholders ask of the citizens of Decatur is that they assist them in every manner possible and that they speak a good word for the line to their' friends. The line is a good

thing for Decatur and the ing community and the have been working so nara in the past should be enco Un J company ' during the past * 'heir axtetence have furnish for have paid out t J 0 H dO t7 ( hiCh haS ' city. Ud.this feature alone them 'as ’something to be T. W.JShelton who for the Z* has served in the capacity O s in'endent of the local line, 1J tendered a proposition from th Bluff and Little Rock, Ark e ' line, which will operate betw» two above mentioned cities. h s been granted a leave of local company for two mouths ® which time he will j ounie y J and look the proposition, . r Shelton has not resigned an not do so as he is finacially int ete in the local line and his interest, here, and he will return at the a tion of his leave and again $ his regular dudes. Mr. Shelton leave for Little Rock. Arkansas, vember first and expects to be in catur again by the first of j JBI attending to his regular rou’ine work. A Delivered by the Evangel at the Methodist Chiird Sunday Evening. Selecting as his theme the wn contained in the twelfth stanzad thirteenth chapter of Genesis® reads “And Lot dwelt in the ® of the plain and pitched his | toward Sodom," Rev. Obon,! evangelist, who has been engagi assist in rhe series of revival; vices at the Methodist church K ered one of the most powerfih dresses that has ever been had our city. After dwelling on tbei Heal constructions of the text, k lined his speech by stating that! are three distinct roads to Sd and that he would picture eaa them as nearly as possibly. Tin road.” he said, "is the heater.l then proceeded to describe each every feature of the stage ani con tftuerJs, testing that he construction of most every t house signifies immorality, expiai that almost invariably boohs | built on the stage where ma women changed their costumes! out even a door to the booth, women as well as men cast modesty to the winds. He close this phase of his address by ei sizing that there are not half a* opera troops on the road that cob a good clean show from first to “The next road to Sodom. Oborn, “is cards.' He sp^ e length about card games being pl in the parlors of fashionaL e w and gave illustrations of their h ence and the speaker shocked c person in the crowded audit' ■* relating of a card party m s « towm where the picture oft Christ was put up as a pri* then exclaimed in eloquent M that he had always ’hough! i lowly’ enough for the Romir to gamble for the garments of Christ, after he died on the c.M he said he would rather taU hat to the soldiers than to th’ ionable ladies who played ca his picture. o I “The third road to Sodom, » ed by the speaker “is dancW delineating the features of dan made the statement that any, be popular on the dancing . either consciously or uncons®, arouse the passions of th e 0 . sex. He further stated that i morality would be elimina- | the dancing hall, th ere nothing left. For more than and a half the vast cro«d spellbound by the plain an ( remarks from the lipa 01 ( t gelist and every sentenc e e I contained something to ’ ‘ Rev. Oborn will remain her the evangelistic services preach each evening. ANOTHER DEATH FRO’’ 1 n f JR Miss Mayme O’Donnell. Township Died Su«W’ — Miss Mayme O'Donne. ■■ years old, daughter of ■ John O’Donnell, of • TetferS ° eel .. il died Sunday after a six ( with typhoid fever. She ular young lady in ber The funeral services the St. Marys Ca'holic c • New Corydon, The Studabaker sale to month promises to be a every respect and be i= quiries daily as to the 1 A large crowd prom l se M td and will no doubt be tne held in or about Decatur.