Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 311, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1918 — Rumor Mongers Busy; Practice Should Be Stopped [ARTICLE]

Rumor Mongers Busy; Practice Should Be Stopped

It would seem that the rumor mongers are now having their inning and that the great world war is providing them with food to start their groundless statements. Some of the statements made are as . base and venomous in their character as those originated by German propogandists. A number of our young men are now in Europe and apparently this has acted as a stimulant to the tongue waggers and given them a chance to make their awful tales strike home. Saturday afternoon there was a rumor afloat to the effect that Verne Davisson, a Rensselaer boy and an, ambulance driver in the French army, had been killed. The rumor had it that the French authorities not knowing address of Mr. Davisson’s parents had cabled Frank Goff an uncle at Fair Oaks, Ind., that be had been killed. When interviewed on the subject, Mr. Goff stated that he knew nothing at all of the matter nor knew from whence the tale Came. There have been other tales within the past few months telling of the loss of an eye, limb or arm by some Rensselaer boy in the service. Such stories as these should be stopped as they only serve to cause worry to Hie relatives and friends and of the boys. If your tongue must have some exercise, just wag in on some other subject that is less harmful.