Daily Democrat, Volume 2, Number 159, Decatur, Adams County, 16 July 1904 — Page 1

VOLUME II

EARLY HISTORY W. J. Craig Interesting Many Bluffton Friends He was One of the Most Influential Citizens of Wells County. W. J. Craig who is spending some tine at Bluffton among the friends of his early business career is furnishing the looul papers there with many an interesting leader about some of the campaigns in the seventies. Knowing Mr. Craig’s ability along this line we can already see the interested spectators enjoying the reminescenoe. He tells some good ones, the last one being about the shady transaction that involved him into stealing the resolutions or platform of the grange society, which was the rage in 1874 and which for a time looked like they might upset the plans of electing any of the democratic county ticket. This was important for Mr. Craig was the candidate for county clerk and A. N. Martin was seeking to represent that county in the legislature. The stealing ot all their thunder, however, put a quietus upon the campaign they sought to make and ended by the usual majorities being given the regular nominees. Jur’g ng from the frequency of appearance of these well written tales we are lead to conclude that Mr. Craig is thoroughly enjoying his visit in Bluffton, the first one in many years. COMMITTEE MET Convention at Portland September 7th A Short and Aggressive Campaign was Agreed Upon. The Eighth district Democratic congressional convention will be held in Portland on September 7. A short and aggressive campaign—that was the decision of the,district committee which met Friday afternoon in the office of Frank Feely, chairman of the Delaware County committee. The memebors f the district committee present were. J. A M. Adair, of Portland, district chairman; Frank Feely, Delaware county; 'Sparks Brooks, Madison county; A. C. Hindsey, Randolph county; W. 11. Eichhorn, Wells county. The Jay and Adams county chairmen were not present. The only business before the committee was the selection and the naming of a date, Portland, Anderson and Bluffton asked for the honor to entertain the convention and Portland won. The business was followed by a general discussion of the outlook and the probable candidates. Adams and Wells counties are counted upon as safely Democratic as usual and Chairman Adair told the committee that his county Jay would join the Democratic column this year. Chairman Hindsley of Randolph county said that, because of Republican dissension in his ooun ty he saw a good chance for a Democratic victory. Edward C. DeHority of Elwood is the only announced candidate for ♦he ’congressional nomination The pleaders in the city yes-, terday agreed that Judge Dick Erwin of Decatur would make a strong candidate and his boom may bo considered as launched —Muncie Star.

The Daily Democrat.

ARE THANKFUL —— The Ladies Aid Society Return j Thanks. The Ladies Aid Society of the ; Presbyterian church hereby present their thanks to those who participated in and made the Business Men’s Carnival the success it was. It meant, lot of work, lots of time and lots of real energy this warm weather to make the event a round of success and now that it is over the society feel that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who made it possible to carry out the program so completely. The church made a real handsome sum as their share of the spoils and this fact maxes them feel joyous. CLEAN UP Obey the Ordinance of the City The Good Health of Our Citizenship Depends Upon Cleanliness. It is high time that the citizens of our city should get busy and cut the weeds that line their premises and alleys and put their property into a presentable condition again. It is a shame to look at some of the streets and alleys that are within the corporation and many are the comments heard from the stranger who makes his first visit here and sees the condition of property and he leaves with this thought in mind that he would not live here for the world. There is a city ordinance to the effect that anyone who permits weeds or debris to lay about their premise are subject to a fine and the officials of our city should put the ordinance into effect hot and heavy. The appearance of your property adds materially to its value and you shculd pride yourself in build ing it up instead ot running it down The practice of letting weeds grow so near your home is also injurious to the health and to that of your neighbor as well, so let everyone who has the city's welfare at heart get busy and clean up and urge his neighbor to do the same and in a few days the appear ance of our pretty little city will be much improved. ANCIENT HISTORY John Yager the Fellow who Cut a Dee Tree. In the excavation tor the cement walk in front of the Yager furniture store, a stump of considerable proportion was unearthed. Its appearance now shows that it has withstood the stern and unrelenting dissipation of Father Time and is yet solid and good for many more centuries if loft undisturbed. Many ot the towns oldest citizens were taking a look at the old relic, whose history as given by them was that it was at one time a sturdy oak whose foliage had been the admiration of all Decatur. In 1846 John Yager, who was then but eleven years old, out down this beautiful mark of nature's creation. His wrath was not so much against the tree as it was his purpose to hive a few regiments of honey bees, who were industriously laboring in the far heights. He accomplished his purposes and can yet taste the sweet and lasting essence of the labors of those good old honey bees. This story is not published in the last edition of the Adams county history, which deals with noble deeds of noble men, but it has been fully verified and will now no doubt take its proper place in the historical class.

DECATUR, INDIANA, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 16, 1904.

NOW COMPLETE Semi Annual Distribution Complete Township, City and School Officers May Now Get Their Distribution. The auditor has completed his semi annual distribution of funds making such distribution to the liquor license fund, common school fund congressional school fund township fund, tuition fund, road fund, dog fund, township poor fund, township bridge fund, corporation fund and library fund. According to the figures Union township will get 13230.39, Root 14,110.68, Preble 14445.66, Kirkland 1243.58, Washington <7034.92, St. Mary,s <5415.47, Blue Creek <2323-74, Monroe <6233.83, French <1765.09, Hartford <5090.68. Wabash 4697.26, Jefferson <2317.99. Decatur school <*748.90, corporation <11,126.79. Geneva school <2375.78, corporation <2199.15 Berne school <2890.45 corporation <2759.61, total <79,231.97. The completion of the distribution will make things lively at the county treasurers office where this total of nearly <BO,OOO will be paid out. Tne various township trustees and officers of cities and towns and the school hoards will receive the amounts designated as belonging to each individual. A SNAG Bedford Grand Jury Will Adjourn Today Strong Evidence Against a Prominent Bedford Citizen. To a moral certainty the Liwronce county grand ju.iy knows the perpetraors—the principle and the accessory—of the murder on the night of Jan. 21 of Sarah C. Shafer. iTo a moral certainty it will not return an indictment against the persons it believes guilty. The deputy prosecutor said that the grand jury would certainly adjourn sine die tonight. He did not say however that no indictment would be returned but the half hearted manner in which he spoke of the progress made left the unmistakable impression. Many witnesses have been examined during the present wook —many clews have been followed —but in the main the grand jury has directed its attention to one clew and as one grand juror explained. “I feel sure we have the right person under suspicion. One is perhaps as prominent a citizen as Bedford has the other is a common laborer with a disposition to commit such a deed at the instigation of another especially when the other is a man of influence, as ho is. But, continued the juror, our evidence goes only so far. Everything we have points to a motive on the part of the prominent man and his actions about the time of the crime and since are suspicious. The murderer is under a very dark cloud of evidence and thus far every bit of evidence against the two mon fits |>erfectly, each with the other, but wo are unable to get. the clinching evidence which is {[necessary to warrant an indictment. It goes so far hut no farther.

ENTERTAINED Miss Lucile Bryson Gave a Party. Miss Lucile Bryson entertained a number of her young friends last evening at her homo on fifth street in honor of her cousin Miss Lula Friteline. Five couples were present and the evening was most en joyablely spent in playing croquet an old but faoinating game and by listening to a number of fine piano seclections rendered by different members of the party. During the evenings enjoyment a two course I luncheon was served and at a late hour all adjourned voting Miss Lucile as a fine entertainer. NEW STATISTICS The State Statistician Preparing Figures Going to Show Cost, Time and Conditions of Planting Various Products. “I am now preparing statistics on the cost, and time and conditions of the planting of various products of the state, ” says B. F. ' Johnson, state statistician. “I believe it is the first time such sta- j tisties have been prepared with thoioughness and I believe they will ie.‘ ult in a great deal of good for the farmer. “It is my theory that very little money is made by wheat raising in Indiana. I have been observing t his for at least ten years and doubt if there is much profit it. When the figures on this point are accurately gathered believe that they will bear me out in this opinion. The figures will show on what kind of land wheat crop is profitable, time to plant and cost of the other interesting facts on this point. “The figures will also show what crops are the most profitable. There are many farmers raising wheat year after year in counties where wheat is not profitably raised and neglect; ing to plant other crops which would he better adapted to the soil and bring profits." GOOD DEAL Grand Rapids Made Profit in Steel Rails. The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad have just completed putting in forty miles of new heavy steel between Kendalville and this city, which practically cost the company nothing. A year ago this road contemplated resteeling their line and at once put in a nice order tor rails, steele at that time being very low the order being made so that deli very would be made any time the company so desired. This spring te stock holders decided to commence work and ordived thenrails delivered which was promptly I done although steel in the mean time had greatly advance in price. The stock holders then taking advantage of the high price of stee sold their old rails at a higher price than their new ones had cost them thus paying tor their new rails and having a nice profit to boot. This was certainly a very neat move on the part of the company which will probably never work again in years. METHODIST CHURCH. We will not allow these warm days to interfere with <>ur religious duties and obligations. Give your effort and influence to the Sunday school in the morning, to the class service at noon and the preaching morning and evening. Subject, '“lnstrumentalities,” * ’ Prayer.” The young people should come to the Epworth League service at 6:30 in the evening. A cordial welcome will be given you at all these servi* oes. John C. White.

GOOD AGAIN Business Men’s Carnival Again a Success The Program Rendered in a Pleasing Way Before Appreciative Audience. The second production of the Business Men’s Carnival last night like the first was a howling success. The program was rendered without a hi'ch, each and every participant doing their turn according to tho card. We should perhaps lie pardoned for a little self praise, when we assume that Will Schrock was really the star of the evening. His deep and melodious basso tuned | to a fine key of harmony, rounded out the musical periods at a rate that even surprised the best of the singer’s friends. The subject, however, was one so near the hearts of the audience that they were easy of captivation. However, we desire to here publicly state that Mr. Schrock has a graat future no matter whether in high “G” or in his business calling. The entire program, however, bears no criticism and when the proceeds are figured out the Presbyterian church which is an important partner in the transaction, will have several dollars to its credit. Much praise i is being given Mrs. V. K. Patterson , under whose management the carj nival was given as the arrangement and rendition of each seleoion was ; perfect. The crowd was not so great as on the previous evening but the atmosphere around the i Bosse opera house was of the kind I that made fat people wish they were so thin, the wind could whistle between their ribs. NO RUSH Merchants not Doing Much Business Today The Farmers Have a More Interesting Subject to Discuss. The usual Saturday rush is not on . to any alarming extent the farmers preferring the association of their hay or wheat field to that of a day of shopping. The weather the past few days has been of that superfine quality that admits of no criticism unless it be from those who have not as much interest in the abundant crops as they have in trying to keep their avoirdupois at the proper cooling degree There is certainly no flies <>n the present supply of weather and every farmer you meet, can make you feel that his appreciation is not being wasted. In a few more days the hay and wheat will be properly cared for and saved even to the last straw, and then comes the pleasant hum of the old threshing machine. Good weather at this season the year is worth gold dollars to those interested in the pursuit of agriculture. At present writing it would seem that disappointments are to lie few and far between. Getting back to the interesting subject of Saturday trade, there was but little of it today, and from Conversation with several business men, but little was exjiectod so everybody is satisfied. The business men readilly understand that the farmer has to have his day then later the merchant has . his day. This is the kind of reciprocity that you read about and the kind you hear some statesmen tell ah out. At any rate it is the real thing.

NUMBER 159

DP CH REPOR T S David S. Mauller and Elizabeth Martin. Ditch Reports Filed. The viewers have made their reports on the David S. Manlier and Elizabeth A. Martin ditch petitions, the same having been filed with the county auditor. That official has designated Monday, September sth as the day to hear objections and disapproval of a continuance of proceedings along the lines as now mapped out. The Manlier ditch traverses Union township and is estimated to cost <SBO. The Martin ditch will belong to the assets of Hartford township and its estimated cost <574.15. Both are recommended as being of public benefit and utility and will likely meet but little objection when the time comes to pass on the validity of tha cause. GOOD SALE Johnson & Boch Give Sale at Erie Yards They Had a Good Day and Sold Some Good Horses. While the crowd on our streets was not very encouraging yet Johnson & Boch opened up their horse sale with a goodly sprinking of buyers. The sale occurred at the Erie stock yards, Fred Reppert and his tin horn making a street parade at one thirty. Thirty five head of ] good looking and good acting animals were offered and knocked off to the highest bidder. It was a good day for bargains and those in attendance seemed to know all about a good thing when they saw it never failing to take the advantage of a good horse for a little money. In the sales already givtn : Johnson & Boch have been unusually successful, selling everyone ion hand and in all things carried out their agreement as advertised. Their last and best sale was at Portland where they cleaned up the ! platter quicker than yen could say Jack Robison. They have also given sales at Redkey, Wincheser, Fort Recovery, Celina, St. Marys j and several other towns anil at each place they had a good sale. llf it is possible to get supplied with horses they will continue these sales all summer and fall. The horse market however is just j little bit squeezed making it difficult to keep a supply on hand. BANK INCREASE Parker's Nomination Said io be Having Good Effect. The bank statement issued from New York th's week show a decided increase in every commodity excepting the circulation which has fallen off considerable. This statement is one of the best that has been turned out in several months and show’s the enormous amount of business that, is being done by our eastern friends. Reserve increase < 8,545,000 Loans increase 9,233,900 Specie increase 12,205,000 Legals increase 1,595,400 Deposits increase 21,019,000 Circulation decrease 12,200. BADLY WANTED. Sheriff Butler is in receipt of information from the Wisconsin authorities offering u juicy reward for the murderer of Sheriff Harris an d also information leading to the apprehension of one Jacob Moss, who broke jail at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Both are noted characters and it | you see them just drop the word.