Decatur Democrat, Volume 53, Number 35, Decatur, Adams County, 1 September 1910 — Page 3

Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 25—(Special to Dally Democrat)—lt is impossible in Indiana for tbe general assembly to make an unjust apportionment for legislative or congressional purposes. This Is acknowledged to be a fact by art rair-mlnded men, and is clearly shown by Judge Charles E. Cox of Indianapolis, democratic candidate for the supreme bench. “The republicans are making much ado by word of mouth and through the newspapers over the fear that the election of a democratic general assembly would bring about the enactment of legislative and congressional apportionments so unfair that the republicans could never again elect a majority of the legislature or more than one congressman, and the attempt is made by this bogey to hold their broken ranks together," said Judge Cox. “That the people do not let an unfair apportionment stand in the way always is evident from the tact that the democrats carried a majority in the last general assembly and eleven of the thirteen congressmen under republican apportionments- not wholly fair. “It is true that the duty will devolve upon the next general assembly to make a reapportionment for.legislative purposes and probably for congressional purposes. But it is also true that it has been settled in Indiana that grossly unfair apportionments cannot stand. The courts stand be tween such a purpose and its accomplishment and it must be remembered, incidentally, that as we elect but two supreme judges this year, that court k will still have a majority of republican judges on it if it-needs such assurance, although democratic judges have united with the republican judges in holding grossly unfair apportionment acts invalid. “Section 4 of Article 4 of the State Constitution provides that the general assembly shall, at its second session and every six years thereafter, cause an enumeration of all the male Inhabitants of the state over the age of twenty-one years. “Section 5 of the same Article provided that at the session of the general assembly next following each period of making such enumeration, the senators and representatives shall be apportioned among the several counties according to the number of male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age. tn each. “Section 6 of the same Article provides that a senatorial or representative district, where more than one county shall constitute a district, shall be composed of contingtious counties, and no county, for senatorial apportionment shall ever be divided. "The statute now In force providing for the enumeration of voters was passed by the general assembly in 1865, and was amended in 1871 to Include colored males over the age of twenty-one to conform to the amendment to the federal constitution, enfranchising the negroes. “The Constitution of the United States leaves to the states the manner of Apportioning and selecting the number of representatives allotted to assigned to each. After the taking of each census congress fixes the basis of representation in the house of representatives and upon that basis the number of representatives' slotted to each state is determined. It has been the practice in Indiana for the general assembly, at its first session after congress has fixed the basis of representation following the decennial cenus, to apportion the representatives to congress allotted to this state to certain districts designated by law. “The power to apportion the fixed number of members of the general assembly and also of representatives in congress was long regarded as a political power residing without restrain or review in the general assembly of the state. This conception of the power early in the history of the country led to gross abuse of it for unfair political advantage. This was done in Massachusetts, When Elbridge Gerry, afterward the fifth vice president of the United States, was governor of that state, and from this came the approblous term "Gerrymander.” "The Practice of unfair apportionment was resorted to by all parties and became so offensive and scandalous that in various states, notably in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Michigan and Indiana, the courts were appealed to and the principle was enunciated and settled that while the legislature alone had power to apportion the state for legislative discretion in grouping counties and shaping ■ districts, yet the courts would take jurisdiction and determine whether the action of the legislature was within the constitutional limitations placed upon the power of the legislature. In short that the power to apportion for legislative and congressional purposes resided in the legislature solely, that the power to determine the constitutionality of such legislative action was lodged in the courts. "In the case of Parker vs. State, ex rel. Powell, 133 Ind. page 178, this was the decision of the supreme court

■ -Vs'. " >”? -J ''r' W* ' of Indiana in which apportionment acts were held unconstitutional and void, the court being composed of five .republican, judges. This decision was followed in the case of Denny vs. State, ex rel. Basler, 144 Ind. page 603, the supreme court then being composed three democrats and two republicans, and a democratic judge, Howard, writing the opinion of the court. These cases both Involved the validity of democratic apportionments. Subsequently the democrats appealed to the courts to assail the validity of a republican apportionment made after their complaints of democratic apportionment. This was the republican apportionment made by the act of the depublican legislature of 1903. The sit preme court, composed of five repurcS can judges, sustained the democrats and held that the act was unconstitutional and void. This was the case of Brooks vs. State, ex rel. Singer, 162 Ind. 569. “It is true that the duty will devolve upon the next general assembly of making a reapportionment for legislative purposes and probably also for congressional apportionments. But it is also true that it has been settled in Indiana that unfair apportionments cannot stand.” u — 1 Little Lavina Ehrsam, three years old, daughter/ of Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Ehrsam, who reside on the Wash Kern farm, four miles south of town, had a terrible experience Thursday night, one that caused her parents and famlly much anxiety and distress, as well as the many neighbors of that community. Thursday afternoon the little tot, with a five-year-old brother, was playing in a ten-acre corn field just west of the house. The children were running from one com stalk to another, grabbing at the silk corn tassels, when they became separated. The boy looked for his sister in vain, called to her and getting no response, went to the house where he reported to his mother. That was at 3 o’clock and than began a search which continued for eighteen hours before the childwas finally clasped again in her mother’s arms. At first it was only thought the child had wandered into the field and could easily be found, but an hour’s search by the oluer ones of the family failed to find her, and then a neighbor or two joined in the hunt, finally eight or ten men began a systematic search for her. All night long they hunted, up and down every row of corn in the big field, but not a solitary trace of her could be found. At daylight this morning the alarm was sent around and a hundred or more men and boys from that locality and from Pleasant Mills gathered at the home and continued the search. The territory for a mile around was carefully gone over and unsucessfully. The parents of the child and the brothers and sisters were distracted. Finally at 10 o’clock this morning, Mrs. Ehrsam went to the home of Oliver Lizar, a mile away, to telephone to her relatives of the terrible affair, and when central was called they were notified that a child had been found by Frank Everett. They hastened to his home and there, sure enough, was little Lavina, safe and well. She had spent the entire night, from 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon until 8 this morning in the corn fields and had been found at that hour by Mr. Everett on the farm of Marcellus Davison. Everett had not hdard of the lost child and was out looking for some lost turkeys. He had just climbed over a fence when he heard a queer noise, sounding like a kitten in distress. He searched for it and found little Lavina seated on the ground, her face buried in her hands, sobbing her little heart out. She had wandered all night long, through the muddy fields, had been soaked with the heavy rain Thursday evening, chilled through and through, and had apparently given up and sat down to rest. She was bare-footed, bare-headed and dressed only in a little light slip, and the searchers had expected to find her chilled to death. Frank carried her to his home, where she was given drink and food, and soon became better. Her face was swollen from the hours of weeping and she was badly frightened. She had wandered south from her home, from one corn field to another, until when found she was a mile and a half away from home. In the meantime the searchers were Still at work, when the news came along that the girl had been found, and" they all gathered in front of the Ehrsam home. Soon afterward a rig came along in which were the motherwith her child 1 in her arms, and with Mr. Everett driving. A shout that came from the hearts of all who were present went up. The story was soon told and the party dispersed. A Daily Democrat reporter was on the scene and the home-com-ing of the little girl was one of the happy kind that makes a fellow feel like crying and in fact there were many with wet eyes. The Ehrsam afmlly has had much bad' luck. Mr. and Mrs. Ehrsam are the parents of seventeen children, six of whom have died, the last one, a babe, about six months old, having died only last ;,■' ‘ ..... . . ■ . ■■ .'JE*-**-*•

week., Little Lavina could not speak any language but Swiss and tor this reason the Everetts could not tell who she was. o — , — Attorney A. B. Bailey of Monroe filed two cases in colurtXexactly similar, in each of which the sum of |l,ooo is demanded from Rudolph Bowman. The plaintiffs are Benjamin Brandyberry and Levi Johnson, the two young men whom it will be remembered were arrested about three weeks ago on a charge of criminal provocation, it being alleged that they had called at the Bowman home and made Indecent proposals to Mrs. Bowman. The complaint says that on August 7th last (the defendant falsely and maliciously and willfully and without any reason or cause, appeared before ’Squire James H. Stone and had him issue a warrant for their. arrest, that they were falsely imprisoned in jail, required to employ an attorney at a cost of thirty dollars each, and to lose five days* time. All this they claim greatly damaged them in credit and reputation, brought them into public scandal and disgrace . and caused them suffering and great anxiety and pain in body and mind. To repay them for this they demand each the sum of one thousand dollars and all other proper relief. o— MARTIN MY4-OTT SLIGHTLY HURT Mis-step on a Ladder Caused Ankle to Turn and He Got a Fall. Martin Mylott, the well known and popular city superintendent, met with a slight accident Thursday afternoon while out on his monthly meter reading trip. He concluding the reading of the meter at the Breiner feed barn on Monroe street and was descending the ladder. Thinking he had reached the bottom he mis-stepped and his foot turned, spraining the ankle and he rolled over on his head. He was helped to the office of a physician, where he had, his ankle bandaged, and hl was able to hobble around. .— o ■ 11 ■ 1 — Linn Grove, Ind., Aug. 26—(Special to Dally Democrat) —David Meshberger, aged fifty-eight years, one of the leading men of this vicinity, and well known all over the county, died very suddenly Thursday evening. He had been in very good health and suddenly suffered an attack of some kind of lung trouble, resulting in his death within fifteen minutes. The news was a terrible shock to this community. He was the owner of the large stone quarries here and a contractor of much prominence. He was born in French township in 18b2 and was reared there. In 1877 he was married to Jane Heller. He is the owner of a large tract of land in the south portion of the county, about 400 acres in all. He has been engaged in the stone business for about twenty-five years and has been very successful. He is survived by the wife, eight children, four brothers and three sisters.’ Three children have preceded the father in death. The funeral arrangements have not been announced. . “—o """ » Mrs. Magdeline Bremerkamp, one of this city’s most estimable ladies, and without doubt the oldest person residing in Decatur, is in a serious condition at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. X. Ehinger, with whom she has been making her home for a number of years. She will be enlghty-nine years old on her next birthday, which falls in October, and has been enjoying excellent health, but owing to her extreme old age her condition is becoming weak and enfeebled. She is the mother of Mrs. U. Deininger, H. H. Bremerkamp, Mary Fiiilenkamp and Mrs. E. X. Ehinger. Her husband owned the store now being operated by the Fullenkamps and had been in business for nearly seventy years and was known by nearly every person in the county. Her children were all called to her bedside Thursday, and this morning her Condition was about the same as Thursday. She is receiving; the best of care from members of the family, but as she suffers from no ailment other than the infirmities of old age, not much can be done for her. The result of her Illness is being anxiously watched by her many friends. — o— ———— CONFERENCE. The ministers of the Zion Lutheran churches of Adams county held thir monthly conference at the First National bank today. The meeting consisted of devotional exercises, discussions on topics pertaining to both the church and the Bible, and a social time. The following ministers of Adams county were present: Revs. Dornsief, Koch, Wehmeyer, Preuss, Nees, Bauer and Deltrich. Rev. Hoile of Schumm, Ohio, and Rev. Fuelling of Chicago were also present ■I ■ —■ O 1 1 I ■■ o ' Charles Voglewede, the receiver appointed by the court for the defunct Decatur Packing company, who some time ago tried to dispose of the same at receiver’s sale, but no terms could k *

be agreed upon, has Issued a call for a special meeting to be held on next Monday. It will be held at I'o o'clock at the law office of D. B. Erwin, and only the thirteen stockholders, who hold a mortgage on the plant, will attend. At this meeting it will be decided as to how they shall dispose of the plant—whether by selling the various fixtures separately or to sell the entire plant to any party who may wish to operate it. Several parties from out of the city have been here to look over the plant and see what kind of a proposition can be made. A gentleman who operates a similar plant at Kokomo and another at Muncie was in the city Thursday and called on the receiver for information and if a suitable agreement can be made to suit all concerned he would operate the Decatur plant to accommodate his increasing business. It is a plant that Decatur needs, and if run on the right basis would mean much to the city of Decatur. . a——...— o " Ohly a few more days and the school nouses over the city and county will again open their doors, and then away will go the little tots, and big ones, too, to their respective places with: their books under their arms. But while the bells in our own county are pealing forth their joyous command to the hundreds here, some of the county will hear the chimes of bells away from home. Decatur and Adams county have never been behind in furnishing those who seek higher education, with an intention of entering the professions, business, or some other useful occupation. This year is no exception to the rule. While only three members of this year’s graduating class of the Decatur high school intend to go away to college this fall, nevertheless the class is making an excellent showing. Out of a class of sixteen members, thirteen of the class of 1910 will not attend college this year, but out of that number eleven have attended school during the summer and will teach this year, and every member has an ambition to attend college some time in the future. The following are the names of as many young people of the county as we have been able to secure, who are attending college or intend to dq so, and in some Instances the number of years they will go and their chosen prrfessions are mentioned: Marie Allison, National Park Seminary, Washington, D. C.; three years. Frances Dugan, Vassar College; two years; will specialize.in English and German. Bessie Boyers, Illinois Woman’s College; one year;,* Columbia; one year. Fred Meyers, Indiana University; four years; will specialize in English. John Powell, graduate of Ann Arbor Law School; will study for the ministry at DePauw. Walter Baltzell, Indiana University; is studying law. A Elizabeth Fruchte, Indiana Normal School; two years; will specialize in German. Mr. and Mrs. Luther Boyers, Leland Stanford University; Mr. Boyers is now studying medicine; three years. Don Burk, DePauw four years: seminary, three years; will study for the ministry. Robert Schrock, a graduate of Wabash College, Cornell; is studying medicine. Free Frisinger, Wabash College; four years. Carl Weidler, mission school, Franklin, Wis.; will study for the ministry. Irvin Case, Law School, Scranton, Pa. Almon Case, Indianapolis. Ralph Moser, Indianapolis; studying music. Arthur Holthouse, Joe Didot, Francis Schmitt and Felix Holthouse, Rens salaer. Grover Miller and Fred Engle, Marian Business College. Leo Sprunger, Ralph McCrory and Hugo Reinking, Fort Wayne Business College. Amos Kohne, Sacred Heart Music Academy, Fort Wayne. Benjamin Beavers, Wabash College; three years; Rush Medical College; four years. Louis Dornsief and Mr. Lindemeyer. Concordia College, Fort Wayne; will study for the ministry. Messrs. Stoppenhagen and Busse, graduates of Concordia College; studying for the ministry at St. Louis. Burton Niblick, Gem Business College, Quincy, Ill.; one year. The many friends of Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Mershon will be sorry to learn of their intention of leaving the city, which will be in a few weeks. Mr. Merahon, being a minister of the gospel, was engaged in religious work for a number years before coming to this city. He has accepted a charge at Riverside, Mich., and will take up the work there temporarily until further arrangements can be made. Mr. and Mrs. Mershon left this mornig for that place, where the former will remain and make the necessary preliminary arrangements for holding regular services. Mrs.. Merahon will re-

main in that city for about a month, when they wHI move their household goods to that place to make their future home. Mr. Mershon is an able speaker, having addressed audiences here on several occasions, and is known for his winning and Instructing delivery. He has been a resident of this city since last April, coming here from Howard City, Mich., where he has been engaged in this work, and it is desire of returning to the work again. While here they have made a wide acquaintance and their friends will regret to hear of their leaving. Mr. Mershon will return here ip about for weeks to arrange for the shipping of their household goods. ■—l i ()*HI I—> Persa Bell of Fort Wayne has invented a monoplane, and those who have seen it believe it will be a winner. He is well known here, his father, Dow Bell, having Worked at this office for several years previous to his death about two years ago. His home was formerly at Portland. Persa is a genius and has been employed for some time as a monotype operator at Fort Wayne. He will become famous if his air ship floats when the trial test Is made in a few days. His car was partially destroyed Tuesday in a fierce wind storm and it will require several days to mend it. He expects to make a flight this week. His secret is in the balancing device on which he is obtaining a patent. His ship is fifty feet long and almost weighs 1,400 pounds, with two passengers, and has twelve-foot wings. His Decatur friends hope he will make a success of his new invention. He has already excited the populace of Fort Wayne and is receiving many press notices each day. o — Postmaster W. A. Lower is in receipt of a letter from the fourth assistant postmaster general at Washington, regarding a pension act, No. 281, approved on June 25, 1910. The act calls for the making of appropriation for payments of invalids and other pensions for the fiscal year ending June 30,1910. The following rule has, been adopted: Hereafter, besides the many officers holding the power to administer oaths in such cases, the rural free delivery carriers are required to administer such oaths when the occasion offers and are to receive for their labors a fee of not less than twentyfive cents, and to be paid by the pensioner. They ar« also bound and requested fill out vouchers for these requirements whenever asked, but are not allowed to do when on duty, unless all their required work has been fulfilled, and then they may be permitted to do so at any time. Rural carriers cannot fill out their own vouchers, but will have to receive the assistance of another carrier before same can be done. Rural carriers who are appointed temporarily have not this power, nor has a substitute the right to do so. When this act is fulfilled by the carrier he is to sign his signature to same and send it at once to the pension agent immediately at Washington for further execution. This rule is one that has never been allowed previously to a carrier, which gives him considerable power in hfs position. 1 o-- — Have you looked through the premium list of the Great Northern fair for this year? If not you should do so, for therein will be round a bunch of information that will be of much interest to you. C. |D. Kunkle is the superintendent of the speed department and he and Secretary Magley, as well as several others, have been hustling for some time in their efforts to present the best race card ever given here, and they have done it John P. Steiner will have charge of the horse department, and he knows his business. The cattle show will be in charge of William Miller, an experienced man. Jernes Foreman will look after the sheep and swine, and M. Augsberger of the poultry and pet stock. Thomas Perkins has the agriculture and fruits, Mrs. J. S. Lower the canned fruits and culinary articles, while John Broadbeck is the superintendent of the art department, with Mrs. C. D. Kunkle as assistant. You will find that the fair this year will be as we have promised you, the best ever. GASOLINE EXPLOSION. The fire alarm sounded Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock and the blaze was found to be at the home of Aaron Stevens on Elm street. The hired girl had gone to the summer kitchen to start the gasoline stove and owing to the accumulation of the liquid an explosion followed when a match was lighted. No one was hurt. The room was badly scorched and a small hole burned in the roof. —o The republicans of Adams county held their convention here Friday, adopted a platform and nominated a county ticket complete. The day had been rather extensively advertised and the crowd, which gathered at 10 o’clock, the hour named, was about the

usual one, numbering, according to the vote taken for representative, an even 140. County Chairman-P. L. Andrews called the meeting to order, and the permanent organization resulted in the selection of French Quinn of this city as chairman and E. B. Adams as secretary. The resolution committee appointed consisted of Fred Rohrer, Dr. Aspy, J. D. Beery, John Haugk and F. L. Litterer. They reported a platform, reaffirming faith In the republican party and their doctrines as taught from the time of Lincoln to Taft; endorsed the administration of President Taft, without referring to the Payne-Aldrich law; endorsed likewise the work of Senator Beveridge, and Instructed the representative, If elected, to vote for him; gloried in the stand taken by republicans along moral lines and instructed the representative, if elected, not to for any proposition calculated to impair or repeal the present laws. The selection of delegates to the congressional convention, to be held at Bluffton next ’ Tuesday, followed and resulted in the selection of the following: Delegates Alternates French Quinn M. F. Aspy Sam Butler J. D. Beery w W. H. Teeple John Brodbeck Emory Mallonee John Evans E. W. Johnson ,G. A. Barnett Paul Girod Charles Jones J. E. Martin J. H. Nash C. Egley John Brown This was followed by a call for the nominations for representative. The names of Adam J. Smith and John Everett, both of this city, were presented, and a vote resulted in the selection of Mr. Everett, the vote being 71 to 69. The rest of the ticket was select? ed within five minutes, there being no opposition to any of the names first suggested. The ticket as chosen is as follows: Representative—John Everett, Decatur. Prosecuting Attorney—P. G. Hooper, Decatur. Clerk —W. L. Ray, Monroe Township. Treasurer —Paul Girod, Monroe. Sheriff —George Brewster, Jefferson. Surveyor—Jesse Buckmaster, Jefferson. Coroner —Dr. W. E. Smith, Decatur. Recorder —William Edwards, BlueCreek. Commissioner, Ist Distrist —C. D. Kunkle, Root. Commissioner, 3rd District —William Farlow, Monroe. The matter of selecting candidates for the county advistory board was referred to the county central committee, with power to select. Short speeches were then made by Finley P. Mount of Crawfordsville, candidate for attorney general; Ed Fitzpatrick of Portland, candidate for clerk of the supreme court, and John Reed of Indianapolis, candidate for state auditor, and the meeting adjourned at noon. o- ■■■■■—.— Des Moines, lowa, Aug. 26 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —lowa is today entertaining Colonel Roosevelt and the remarkable ovations paid him both in lowa and the middle west, convinces the political fence builders of this section of the country that Roosevelt is the most popular and distinguished citizen. The receptions given him are perhaps the greatest of their kind ever given to any one by the people of this state. The travels of Mr. Roosevelt throughout the west and middle west will beone continuous ovation, and judging from the start already made he will have something important to say about what he thinks of many things of public importance. Cheyenne, Wyo., Aug. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Cheyenne is on the tip-toe of , expectancy today. Colonel Roosevelt will arrive' here at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning and will immediately review the’biggest parade in the history of Wyoming, the line-up including regular troops of cavalry and infantry under command of General Hoyt, several hundred cowboys, a hundred real Indiana tnd two or three thousand members of civic societies. George proprietor of the pool room here, and also one at Kokomo, was in the city today looking after business affairs and shaking hands with his numerous friends. Mr. and Mrs. Alden Coulter will leave the tally part of thp week for Rushville, where they will take a two weeks’ vacation. Mr. Coulter is the agent for the Raleigh Medical company in this county and has been putting in some very hard work during the past year. Ralph Moser, who has been attending the conservatory of music at Indianapolis, arrived home last evening for an over-Sunday visit with his father, J. E. Moser. Ralph likes the place very much, but was glad to see his Decatur friends again after several weeks’ absence. — o--— ———— Children Cry FOR FLETCHER'S I CASTOR I A