Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1918 — Page 1

No. 11.

PATRONS FAVOR SIX DAY PLAN

VOTE SHOWS OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IN FAVOR OF SIX SCHOOL DAYS. A straw vote, engineered by the school board and superintendent C. R. Dean, shows the patrons of the Rensselaer public schools to be overwhelmingly in favor of-six school days a week until the close of the present school year. The vote was ' recorded Monday and showed that over ninety-five per cent of the patrons were in favor of the movement. The action on the part of the local school authorities follows that of several other schools of the

state, which have decided to abandon the idea of giving the pupils two holidays a week as has always been the custom. In practically every city in the state where the question has been brought to a vote, it is has been acted upon favorably. The action of the board of education was not arrived at hastily. The question was discussed from all angles and it was not decided until last . week to ask the patrons to vote on the project. Slips were mailed to. each patron, asking them to vote on the subject and return them Monday morning. “The vote was. surprising and expresses beyond the least doubt the opinion of the patrons in the matter,” said superintendent Dean. “In the high school there was four votes against the proposed movement and in the grades there were but a scattering few who opposed the plan. Especially among the rural patrons was the vote in favor of the adop- * tion of the . plan pronounced, although' the towns* people generally were in accord with the change,” added Mr. Dean. The primary object of the movement is to permit the closing of the schools a few weeks earlier in the spring, in order that the boys and girls from the country may help in the spring farm work. The few who protested the six day plan, in the majority of the cases, were of the belief that the fuel situation should be taken into consideraI tion, and that the school authorities , should aid in the conservation of the city coal. However, Mr. Dean in a conference with C. S. Chamberlain, city engineer, was apprised by ths latter that as much coal is used on the days that school is not in session, as when it is. The exhaust steam is I sufficient to heat the school build- | ings, according to Mr. Chamberlain. | The school board will take action |on the matter at once. There is I scarcely any room for doubt that the I six day plan will be adopted. If I this is the case it will go into effect I at once.

John Moore Home On A Few Days’ Furlough.

John Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Moore, arrived home Monday evening for a few days’ furlough. John is a member of an engineering corps at Camp Logan, Texas, and has been located there since last summer. He is in splendid physical condition and is well pleased with the soldier life. He states that his division has received no indication as to when they will be ordered to Europe. Although his furlough ends Sunday, it is probable he will be granted a few more, days’ leave. So far as is known, John is the only Jasper county boy in his division.

* WOOD CHOPPERS WANTED We are paying ?2 per cord for cutting 4-foot wood. Phone James E. Walter. Phone 887. Another onion sale Saturday afternoon, January 26. Forsythe Storage. For you that haven’t teeth—Call Sone 647 for your beef. C. H. avel.

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE lOwing to the new ruling that theaI tres remain closed Tuesdays instead lof Mondays, there will be lie show I tonight.

TOMORROW JANUARY 23. Matinee 2:15 - ' Night 7:00 ANTONIO MORENO and EDITH STAURT . . in “THE TURANTULA” Also Comedy. 7 Acta in All. 10c and 15c. • -

L An attempt will be m*d* to «•* Kfout. Patrick O’Brien, to appear at th. Prince*. wm. time next w«fExcellent Program. Arranged tor the Balance of the Week.

The Evening Republican.

Momence Celebrating Return of Favorite Son Friday

Lieutenant Patrick O’Brien, member of the British flying corps, arrived in Chicago Monday, showing little effects from his experience. Lieutenant O’Brien, who declared his dislike for vegetable?, but whose food during the seventy-two days he spent in journeying from Germany into Holland consisted of beets a la Hun and cabbage ala more Hun, lost fifty pounds in weight during his experience, including the weight of his long beard, which grew undisturbed because he had no means of'shaving. A delegation appointed by Mayor Tiffany, of Momence, among them which was his brother, John O’Brien and James J. Kirby, president of the First National bank, received' the aviator at the LaSalle street station and took him to the, Blackstone hotel after he had timidly faced a battery of cameras.

All Momence will turn out to greet Lieutenant O’Brien when he arrives there today. Mr. Kirby declared the town’s citizens had decorated “everything except their noses.” O’Brien received his first flying experience at West Pullman. He enlisted in the British flying corps last spring. , On August 17, while he was flying over Flanders with seven British airplanes, his division was attacked by twenty German planes. While O’Brien was 8000 feet above the ground he was shot. He remembers nothing until he awoke in a German emergency hospital, where a surgeon extracted a bullet, which had entered his upper lip from his throat. His head was bruised and he was shaken up, but otherwise was not seriously injured. “I was treated fairly well at the hospital,” he declared. “The surgeon said I was probably a good sportsman, but he considered me a murederer for coming over there from America. He told me I was cut from the- machine, and when they first found me they believed I was dead.”

When he was sufficiently recovered the Lieutenant was taken to the intelligence department, where he was questioned by officers who spoke excellent English. The aviator declared he couldn’t even swear in German. “Officers told me they did not believe many Americans werg coming over,” he said. “I told them they would know how many were there before the war was over.” He was next transferred to a prison camp, where he was served with black bread, “hard enough to kill a horse,” sugar beet jam, vegetable stew, coffee, a substitute tea and “some kin'd of pickled meat” and a little butter.

“The talk among the prisoners was chiefly of food and means of escape, and we had little of either,”- he said.

O’Brien was being taken to the interior of Germany when he made his escape. He said he coughed and complained it was stuffy until* he was permitted to open the window, the only railrbad window he had ever seen that could be opened. He stood up, pretending he was about to reach into a baggage rack, and jumped through the window. He” was stunned by the fall. The train stopped within threequarters of a mile from where he had made his escape. He hurried away and traveled at night 250 miles into Holland, using seventy-two days on the trip. “I slept a delirious sleep during the daytime,” he said. “I hid in oushes. I was close to detection many times in Belgium.” When he reached the Dutch border he dug his way beneath a charged electric fence in plose proximity to a German guard, after he had received a shock in attempting to climb over the fence with an improvised ladder. “In Holland the whole town turned out to see me,” O’Brien said. “I had discarded my uniform. By degrees I acquired clothes which made me look like a tough Belgian.” In Holland he. was taken care of by the British consul and sent to London, where later he was received by King George. He declared he did not know what his immediate plans were. He is now engaged in writing a book on his experiences.

Notice To Members Of The Telegraphy Class

The instruments for the telegraphy class, which have been loaned us by the war department,have arrived. All who have signed to take this course are asked to be present tonight® _ „ C. R. DEAN. ‘ The telegraphy class' was organised several weeks ago and has been under the direction of Miss Elizabeth Spaulding. The class consists of about twenty members, whose work so far has consisted chiefly of studying the*code book, owing to the lack of instruments. Although the class thus far has been handicapped by the lack of instruments, it has acquired a knowledge of the fundamental- principles of telegraphy and the progress from now on id expected to be rapid.

■ January 22, 1918. —Raymond H. Hine, b6rn at San Pierre, Ind., May 14, 1900. Present residence, Wheatfield, Ind. Occupation, laborer. Being under the legal age father gives written consent; and Carrie Williams, born in Wolcott, Ind., Oct. 10 1899. Occupation school teacherFirst marriage for both parties.

Marriage License Issued.

RENSSELAER, INDIANA. TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1918.

Politics Dragged Into War Situation by Stone Speech

There is a season for silence and a time for speech and certainly the present was about the most inopportune period that Senator Stone could have chosen for launching his tirade against the Republican partjfr in general and Colonel Roosevelt in particular. The administration had plenty, of trouble on. hand without precipitating a political riot to 'distract attenton for the work of winning the war. The Missouri Solon accuses the Republican party of playing politics and calls Roosevelt “the most seditous man of consequence in America.” Colonel Roosevelt has already gone to Washington and no doubt there will be some developments from time to time that will not add to the peace of mind of the men-who must assume the responsibility for the conduct of affairs. ,

If party and personal government chooses ,to fling a challenge into the face of its political opponents at a time when the best thought of the entire nation should be devoted to war interests then it is probable that the result wifi be all that could have been anticipated. ;

The Republican party has lent every aid possible to the administration in providing the legislation needed to make the war a success. -In numerous instances it was republican votes that gave the president the things that he asked and could not have got at the hands of his own party alone. Meo have voted to vest vast power in the hands of a few meir, voted thus perhaps against their better judgment, but with the belief that .if the power were properly employed it would facilitate the work of the administration. No sacrifice was considered too great undgr the circumstances That mistakes have been made is admitted on every hand, and that some of them should not have been made would seem to be assured from the fact that criticism is so hotly resented in every quarter. The fuel administration has broken down under the responsibility that was placed upon it and the business of the nation has been brought to a standstill in an effort to let the crippled department catch up. ,

We have been at. war nearly ten months and yet we are importing coal from England, and our troops in France are dependent upon our sorely pressed allies for guns and ammunition. The lack of equipment for men in the cantonments is a matter of common knowledge, the vast delays that have taken place under the bureaucrats is known to all and yet President Wilson declares this morning that Secretary-Baker is one of the most efficient public officials he has ever known. Mr. Wilson has the sympathy and the good wishes of the people, but in view of the things that have happened before and are happening from day to (day he cannot make the public believe that Mr. Baker or Mr. Garfield are big enough for the positions they are attempting to fill. Against his comfortable assurances stand the records of the shortcomings of these departments. The president is demanding much more than he is apt to be granted when, in view of the record of the past ten months, he asks that criticism be stilled. It will-not contribute to the nation’s success for the people to attempt to ignore the truth. The logical, sensible thing to do is to remedy the defects whereever they are fopnd. There is presidential opposition to the proposal that a war cabinet be created and the bill that has been introduced providing the necessary legislation will doubtless be a matter for much controversy. But until there is more evidence of departmental competency the legislative branch of the government is very apt to look with uneasihess upon the entire situation and will not be quick to extend more power than is already vested. This war is a bigger thing than any man or party. The fate of the entire people is at stake and much as we should all like to see events move in orderly procession to our ultimate good, that is quite too much tb expect. The greatest evil that has been done is the shattering of the public faith and this will not bfe best mended by attempting to distract attention by accusing the opposition of playing politics. This is the people’s war, not the war of the Democratic or Republican party, and there isn’t the least doubt upon earth-but what the people will be able to place the responsibility for mistakes where it properly belongs. The fat is apparently in the fire and politics is to divide honors with war measures to. a degree that is to be regretted. Although no legislation that should be enacted will be withheld, there will be an inclination to insist upon a. little more strict accounting of the trust that is vested in individuals. So far as Colonel Roosevelt is concerned, he will be quite able to take care of himself whatever develops, and if it does not develop fast enough he will probably give it a' shove. While none of us may be termed pioneers in the preparedness movement because we slumbered too long,' it is a fact that Teddy was calling for action wheri other prominent men were assuring us that there was no danger. Such a scandal as this was inevitable and it is just as well that it should come before we get further into the business of war when the effect would be even more detrimental. —Lafayette Journal '•

Date Of War Rally Changed To January 29.

The County Council of Defense was informed through the State Council of Defense that the War Rally will be held in Rensselaer on Tuesday, Jan. 29th, instead of Feb. 13th as previously arranged. The first general meeting will take place in the Methodist church at 1:30 p. m. Following this general meeting there will be sectional meetings. Each chairman of his respective committee will be held responsible for a program to be rendered before his own interested group. B. Fendig and John Eger will hold a joint meeting in the east room of the court house. Mr. Fendig is chairman of the fuel committee and Mr. Eger is chairman of the food committee. Mr. Sterrett as .chairman of the education committee, Mr. Learning as chairman of the agricultural committee and Harve Wood, Jr., as chairman of the Boys’ Working Reserve will hold a joint meeting in the offices of the county superintendent, and the county agricultural agent in the basement of the court house. The section of Women’s Activities, headed by Mrs. Ora T. Ross, will meet in the west court room. Rev. Fleming, as chairman of the Morals committee, will meet in the Sunday School room of the Methodist church. Mr. Sauser, as chairman of the Military committee will hold a meeting at the Armory. Mr. Leatherman, as chairman of the Liberty Loan and Mr. Spitler, as chairman of the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A., hold a joint meeting in the directors’ room of the bank.

The College Band and High School Orchestra will furnish music for the occasion. The speakers are men of national and state reputation. They will present the war situation before the people in a way that will make this the greatest day that the county has experienced. Every true American citizen of the county is not only cordially invited but earnestly solicited to attend as much of these meetings as possible.

Corn Crop In Danger Say Five Governors

Lafayette Journal:—Washington, Jan. 21.—Telegrams from the Governors of Indiana, Illinois, lowa, Ohio and Kansas, declaring that unless the corn crop is moved within the next few weeks much of it will be lost, were laid before Director General McAdoo today by Representative McCormick of Illinois, who requested that a practical railroad man be appointed to take charge of moving it. Governor Goodrich of Indiana sent word;that only 5 per cent of Indi-ana’s-corn crop has been moved and that 60 per cent of Indiana’s crop of 2,000,000 bushels still was on the farms and only 1 per cent in the courttry Governor Lowden of Hlinois telegraphed that practically 80 per cent of the Illinois, corn crop will have to be moved within the next few weeks or there will be serious loss.

From lowa Governor Harding telegraphed that practically no corn in his state had been shipped or even stored in elevators. “We should have every car possible in the state for moving corn,” he added. -Ohio, according to Governor Cox, has marketed 20 per cent of its corn crop, and 75 per cent is still on the farms. Governor Capper telegraphed from Kansas that only 10 per cent of the state’s merchantable corn crop has been moved and less than 10 per cent is in the country elevators, which must be moved before March Ist. Nebraska is the only state where the corn situation is normal, according to these reports.

Keep Governmental Departments Distinct.

When we went to school we were taught that it was one of the fundamental ideas of those who wrote our constitution that the three departments of the government were to be kept apart and distinct from one another. When we read of a‘president trying to dictate to congress/ what laws they may not pass and what laws to enact, we find it difficult to square that with our civic training when attending the common schools. We were taught that it was the president’s duty to execute the laws and that congress was the law making body. We have a faint recollection of the professor saying something about tjie freedom of the press, also. But, maybe the old professor didn’t know anything about the constitution. • Public pressure can remove a chancellor in autocratic Germany, but, Gum Shoe Bill Stone says it is treason to object to the blundering of a Democratic Cabinet member, even if his inefficiency is a great assistance to Germany.

Small Pox At Newland

Edith Rees, the seventeen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Rees, has a very severe case of small-pox. She had returned from Indianapolis a short time ago and it is supposed that she contracted the disease there.. A great many people in around Newland have been exposed and there is danger that the disease may be pretty widely spread. Many have been vaccinated, but this may have been done too late.

See Chas. PefiOy for trees, vines, and shrubs of all kinds Guarantee stock to grow or replace free of charge. For spring delivery.

More Confidence Needed.

Former President Taft voiced an imporant truth when he said: “Were Mr. Garfield a coal baron or some official who is considered an expert on coal and transportation problems, I do not believe there would have been half of the storm of protest that has arisen since the fuel conservation order of the United States fuel administrator was issued.” In other words, the people did not have confidence that the proper course had been taken. They felt that possibly Mr. Garfield had made an unnecessary move that might have beenavoided under more skillful management.

A similar lack of confidence is back of the sentiment that previals concerning Secretary Baker, Secretary Daniels and Secretary McAdoo. The navy has come up to expectations in spite of rather than because of the secretary, according to the belief of those who are in a position to judge. In the very nature of things only technically trained men could have charge of ships. Those men had worked out a program of action and were prepared to do something when called for service. It might, at least, be said to the credit of Secretary Daniels that he apparently has not seriously interfered with those experts who knew what, should be done. But even he has ndt the confidence of the public that should be reposed in the head of our navy. He is classed with Secretary Baker by the members of the Senate military affairs committee, which has prepared a bill to take from both of them practjcally all authority in the management of the war. A bill Will be presented by the committee this morning providing for a war cabinet of three to control the general direction of the war. As originally drawn, it included the secretary of war and the secretary of the navy as members ex officio. Those two lave been deliberately eliminated by he .committeemen. Democrats and Republicans alike voting for the change. Such a move in Europe would be ooked upon as a lack of confidence demanding resignation from a selfrespecting Cabinet officer. The proposal of a war cabinet to take charge n itself shows a lack of confidence in those who are now responsible for war activities. The overyhelming vote of the Senate asking that the fuel administrator’s order be delayed five days for an investigation was nothing but plain declaration of a fear that a mistake was about to be made.

If, as Mr, Taft says, Dr. Garfield were a coal baron or some official who is considered an expert on fuel and transportation problems, his ultimatum would have been accepted without protest. The people are ready to submit to anything that is needful. If Newton D. Baker and Josephus Daniels were considered as authorities on military and naval affairs or as expert executives, the Senate would not today be considering a bill to create a new board to do what they are supposed • o do. If Secretary McAdoo were looked upon as an expert there would be none of the present anxiety and criticism regarding the government’s control of the railways. The trouble is that the public his not confidence in them. The attitude of members of Congress showa that thq feeling is neither partisan nor sectional. It is widespread and real, and as such is serious. The morale of a people in war is little less important than that of the’ men at the front. The soldiers in the trenches may be depended upon to obey orders, just as will those of us ~ who have remained behind. Who doubts that soldiers will fight better and larder if they feel that the plan of campaign has been worked out skillfully and that the officers in command know their business?

The people of this country have responded nobly to every call that las been made since the war was precipitated. Their attitude has been that of unquestioning sapport of their leaders. It should continue to jw such, and if it does not the fault be with the leaders and not with 4he people. It is a grievous mistake to permit any lack of confidence to develop. The people have a right to feel that the best and ablest men in the nation have been picked to direct our war activities. Ability to command the confidence of the people is almost as essential now as is technical skill or executive capacity. Secretaries Baker, Daniels and McAdoo may be stronger men than any who could be named for their places, yet, if the people do not believe in them their usefulness as leaders is seriously impaired. Enough has developed recently to demonstrate, conclusively that they have not that degree of confidence either from the public or from Congress, that men in their positions should command. —Indianapolis Star.

Tuesday Hospital Notes.

Mrs. George Reed is improving very satisfactorily.' t , Mrs. Leßoy Anderson find baby went to their home on .College Ave., today. Harvey Lowman entered the hospital today. y Jas. McGuire, who has the fingers on each of-his hands bady frozen, was taken to the hospital today.

a - - • Another onion sale Saturday afternoon, Jan. 26. Forsythe storage. Anyone wishing to see mo win fin< me in the Trust A Savings Bank on Saturday afternoons. —EL O. Harris, phono 184-

ONE HUNDRED LOADS OF WOOD

TEAM NEEDED TO BRING WOOD ALREADY CUT INTO * THE CITY. Eighty loads of wood have been cut in the Vance Collins timber.. Only about twenty of these loads have been brought into the city and teams are needed to bring in the balance. Those who have been hauling are Frank Haskill, Ed Grant, Abel Grant, Frank Donnelly, Rice Porter, Frank King, E. C. Maxwell, Honry Amsler, Jos. Nagel, Everett Warne, Charles Cain, D. S. Makeever and Frederick A. Phillips. A large number of men have worked faithfully in the timber to prepare this wood and it will be quite easy to get men to saw same as soon as it is brought into the city. The most difficult part to get done now is the hauling. It is hoped that a number of people who have sleds and team will help out in the matter at once. Those who have worked so hard on this job deserve the hearty thanks of the community.

WAR SUMMARY

The internal situation in AustriaHungary may force Hindenburg to •take all upon a premature drive in the west. Some military experts in London believe he will do just that, in order to save Germany from an uprising so industriously “nursed” by the Bolsheviki. More than a quarter of a million Teuton reserves are said to have been massed in Belgium, particularly in the Province of Limburg. A large part of these troops are reported to be Austro-Hungarian. This is doubted,, but, if true, may be one of the factors behind the Austrian unrest, Austrian feeling being unequivocally against conquest offensives.. There is reported little, if any, increase in fighting on the western front, but both side* are keeping up trench raids. In some quarters it is thought the British and French may endeavor to start an offensive of their own before the Gorman blow falls and thus upset the Teuton plans.

Entertain In Honor of Recent Bride.

The following article is taken from today’s Indianapolis Star: A. delightful party was given by Miss Velma Rich and Miss Marie Hamilton at the home of Miss Rich, 3342 North New Jersey street, yesterday afternoon in honor of • Mrs. Robert Bundy Ransom who was Miss Helen Marsh before her marriage last week. Roses were used as the decorations and the ices and cakes were in the red heart designs. The guests were Miss Eleanor Rollick, Miss Gertrude Hecker, Miss Hope Bedford, Miss Helen Morgan, Mass Frieda Steinman, Miss Lois Blount, Miss Margaret Rose, Miss Louise Stewart, Mrs. G. C. Thomas, Miss Dorothy Allen and Miss Miriam .Buttweiler,

Rural Mail Being Delivered.

All the carriers out of here made attempts to get their patrons their mail Monday. It is understood, that CHd Faithful Harry Murray made his entire trip. The other three made about twenty miles each. All are expecting to make full trips today. The rural route is certainly, a great convenience to the farmer over improved roads. These roads should je gravel or stone and all parties along these lines should take a very’ great interest in seeing that they are kept in the very best condition possible.

LYCEUM DATES.

Lotus Company, Feb. 6. Harmony Quartet, Feb. 21.

Basket Ball TONIGHT CHALMERS H. S. VS. , R. H. 6. Admission 25c. Game Called 8 p. m. 1 Curtain raiser between teams rspres? enting Sophomore and Freshman classes.

VOL. 21.