Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1910 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

91.50 Per Tear.

MERITS NOT TESTED.

Alleged Juggling of Figures In Bridge Graft Case As Much In the Dark As Ever It is to be regretted that the evidence in the hands of, the State regarding the change in the figures in the Milroy tp. bridge matter was not made public : that the jury was not permitted to examine the figures in that bid and determine whether or not they had been tampered with. Xo honest man wants any person convicted unjustly, but that there was other graft in the construction of this particular bridge has been conclusively shown in court and a conviction resulted. What the taxpayers wanted to know was whether there was more graft than was unearthed at the trial resulting in the conviction of Mr. Bader. They only wanted the case tried on its merits. If the figures had been changed from 51.240. as several were ready to testify they were read off when the bids were opened, to $1,400, they wanted to know it. That they were so changed many people who have examined the figures, know. Who changed them or when they were changed they do not know. It is certainly a peculiar coincidence that if they were not read off 51.240 that Mr. Marshall and several other bidders should have taken them down at such figure and that this was the only mistake they made in putting the bids down of' the five different companies bidding—their figures agreeing precisely as to amounts of all other bidders as they apfr pear on the county records today, and only differing as to the Winamac Bridge Co., bid. A number of disinterested people who have carefully examined the figures would be willing to testify that they had been changed from 51,240 to 51.400. The erasures in the “2” and ‘“4" are like a puzzle picture—-they are a little difficult to see at first, but when once seen they stand out as prominent as the wart on a man's nose. The writer first saw this bid in court last April when his attention was called to the erasures, Wallace Marshall and others saying that the bid was originally read off 51.240. We examined the bid then with others, under a magnifying glass. We examined it in court again Monday afternoon when it was lying on the court reporter's desk—he having had possession of the paper since it was first used in the Bader trial —and there is absolutely no question but what the original figures were $1,240. We don't know who changed the figures—the\- are in pencil. sl,24o—nor when they were changed. It was this that Prosecutor Longwell was trying to find out. and six attorneys, including the attorney paid by the taxpayers of Jasper county, used all their wits and legal knowledge to keep him from finding out. and fought even* inch of his progress toward shedding light on the question. Xo one ever saw in any court a stronger fight made to keep evidence from going into the hands of a jury to examine for their own satisfaction, than was made by these six attorneys last Monday and Tuesday to keep that bid from that jury. If the figures had not been changed why did they object so strenuously to the jury taking in its hands and examinpublic can draw its own conclusions as to why this Was done. That there has been graft on other bridges in Jasper county as well as this particular bridge, has been testified to by Prof. Smith, head of the engineering department of Purdue L niversity, who was employed by Prosecutor Longwell to make measurements and comparisons with specification of bridges put up by the sarnie company in this county, resulting in six more indictments, in the prosecutor's efforts to sift this bridge graft to the bottom. We do not know whether Prof. Smith is a republican or a democrat. and we don’t care. \\ e do not believe, however, that he would deliberately perjure himself even to help the republican

Con tinned op FW 4.

MR. GUTHRIE’S ACCEPTANCE.

Nominee for Joint-Representa-tive Outlines His Position ON THE LEADING QUESTIONS. Favors More Thorough Trial of County Option Law Because the Voters of Jasper and White Counties Have Expressed Themselves for It.—A Straight, Square-Toed Position by a Square Man. Capt. William Guthrie of Monticello, Democratic candidate lor joint-representative of the counties of Jasper and White, was In the city a few hours Thursday. Capt. Guthrie has written a'letter accepting the nomination recently made here, in which he sets out his position on various matters of public interest, including the county option law. He does not desire to stand in a false light before the people and defines 'his position plainly and in the straight-forward 'honest manner that always charachterizes him. - The letter of notification to him by the officers of the convention and his reply follows: Letter of Notification. Rensselaer, Ind., Sept. 28, 1910. Capt. William Guthrie, Monticello, Ind. Dear Sir:—We have the honor to inform you that at a convention held in Rensselaer, Ind., on September eighth, Nineteen Hundred and Ten, you were unanimously chosen as the Democratic candidate for Joint Representative in the Legislature from the District composed of the counties of Jasper and White. Very truly yours, E. P. HONAN, Chairman. F. E. BABCOCK, Secretary.

Capt. Guthrie’s Acceptance. Dear Sii^:— Your communication of the 28th inst., notifying me that the Democratic party* of Jasper and White counties had selected me as its nominee to represent the people of these two counties in the next General Assembly, is received. Regarding the will of the people as my master, their will as my own will and myself as their servant, I accept this unexpected honor, believing the Democratic doctrine that: “A people are the governed that are the least governed.” And the Maxim; “That regard be had to the public welfare is the highest law,” and that the people themselves know best what the public welfare needs. In -this connection I beg to remind you, and the Democratic party and the voters, through you that the people of Jasper and White counties have indorsed the countyunit local option law by solemn elections; that it is now the law and is on trial and in practical operation in both counties, that your convention nominating me made no request of me and passed no resolutions, asking for the modification, amendment or repeal of this law. *

I, therefore, assume that the broad Democratic doctrine of “Local self government” and “The consent of the governed,” is the will in this case and that the people of these two counties desire the law to remain in full force and effect, and if elected I will express their will by voting against any and all propositions for its change, modification, substitution, amendment, or repeal. With this exception I am in hearty accord and earnest harmony with the state Democratic platform and greatly interested in all progressive legislation, much of which is nowin the public mind, notably: Direet primary election laws; a satisfactory registration---of voters; Cprrupt. Practices Act; The Initiative and the Referendum; the “Recall;” government of cities by non-parti-san commissions; * better opportunity for women to defend their rights and assert their governmental powers; a better practice act and amended rules of procedure; an act establishing titles to real estate;, a more practical and economic ditch law; revision of Corporation Laws and Probate laws; the conservation of forests and water powers, Double track railroads; more economy in public affairs. - These and other vital questions are in the public mind and require the attention of the next legislature.

Believing that our free institutions' are both our heritage and our hope, designed and builded by our fathers, With brain and hand* in toil and blood, and bequeathed to us as our birth-right of freedom, remembering the words of Washington: "Lett" there be no change by usurpation,” for though this in one

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY. INDIANA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER. 1, 1810.

instance may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which ifree governments are destroyed.” ; V ' ,- • _ V And the words of Jackson: “You have the highest of''human trusts committed to your care,” * And the words of Lincoln: “Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better hope, or equal hope in this world?” And the prayer of Jefferson: “May that Infinite Power which rules the destinies of the Universe lead our councils to what is best.” Believing that right will prevail and thanking you and the party placing me in nomination. I am, _ Your obedient servant, WILLIAM GUTHRIE. To the Hon. E. P. Honan, Chairman, Rensselaer, Indiana. Monticello. Ind., Sept. 28, 1910,

TRAMP SETS FIRE TO BARN

Dr. Clayton's barn at Monon was burned Tuesday night, having been set fire by a tramp, it is alleged. The tramp had been, working at the Taylor livery barn >ve understand, for about a week and Tuesday night wanted a rig, hat Taylor wouldn’t let him have it. ; The fellnw was much incensed at the refusal and is said to have threatened to “get even,” and as Taylor was using the Clayton livery barn while some repairs were being made to the livery barn, it was later found to be on fire. Xearlv all the contents were saved, buj the barn was burned to the ground. The tramp was captured and is now in jail, we are told, having confessed to firing the barn. y

HORSE SHOW OPENS.

Large Number of Entries and Some Good Stock is Shown. Rensselaer’s second annual horse show opened Thursday with fine weather and a very good attendance. There were over 287 entries in the -different classes, yesterday morning, a large number of which came from and near Remington. Messrs. Peck and Washburn of Remington have 20 Shetland ponies on exhibition, while Cyrus Rice of south of Remington has a dozen entries in the light harness, draft horses and mule classes. Claude May, also of near Remington, has a fine team of draft mares on exhibition, oruTweighing 1700 and the other 1600 pounds, that were raised by Charles Pullins of Barkley tp. Rice and May both won prizes at the Goodland show recently. In Thursday’s show the following prizes werebrsesßhETA lowing award's were made, prizes all S 3, $2 and ribbon unless otherwise noted: Special Prize. Best 1910 colt sired by X-Ray, t.I. Hinkle, owner) Chas. Cain Ist; E. Damson, 2nd: E. F. Pullins, 3d. Prize $lO first; service second. Class A—Light Harness Horses and Saddlers. Best stallion 3 years and over, J. Hinkle, Ist; Chas. Steel, 2d; Hugh Gaffey, 3d. Best mare or gelding 3 years or over, Chas. Steel, Ist; Cyrus Rice, 2d; John Kolhoff, 3d. Best colt, any sex, 2 years and under 3, J. Hinkle, Ist; Roy Donnelly, 2d. Best colt, any sex, over one year and under 2, Chauncey Wood, Ist; H. Churchill, 2d; J. U. Iliff, 3d. ' Best single driver, any age, Cyrus Rice, Ist; John Kolhoff, 2d; Frank Hill, 3d. •• \ Best' double drivers, any age (owned by one person) Cyrus Rice, Ist; John O’Connor, 2d; Frank King, 3d. Best single driver, lady driven, Mrs. Jesse Nichols, Ist; May Brenner, 2d; Mrs. Robert Davisson, 3d. Best double drivers, lady driven, Frank King (Mrs, Jesse Nichols driver) Ist; Mrs. M. L. Ford. 2d; Mrs. Cyrus Rice, 3d. Best saddler, lady ridden, daughter of Cyrus Rice, Ist; Maude Hudson, 2d; - Marjorie Loughridge, 3d. Best saddler, geritleman ridden, Wade Laßue, Ist; Amil Hanley, 2d. Best general purpose team (owned hi* one person) Geo. Terwilliger, Ist; Frank King, 2d; John O’Conhor, 3d. Best surrey horse or mare, Frank King, Ist; Ralph Donnelly, 2d; Cyrus Rice, 3d. Best matched team (owned 1 by one person) John O’Connor, Ist; Harvey Pierson, 2d; Geo. Terwilliger, 3d. i (Sweepstakes) Best sucking colt, Charles Cain, Ist; Amil Lehe, 2d; Roy Parker, 3d. Prize, $lO, $5.

The bakers use the Home Grocery’s celebrated A. & K. flour, which is surely a strong recommend. Every sack fully guaranteed, at only $1.50 a sack, i

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About the County Capitol. Xew suits filed: Xo. 7654. - X 'ajiev Knight vs. Sarah A. Platt. et al.: action in partition, . The condition of “Shorty” Adams continues to grow worse dav by day and he is kept in the padded cell at the jail all the time now. Attorneys for the appellant, Mr. Bader, have petition for additional time to reply to the brief of the state in the bridge case of the State vs. Bader from this county, now pending in the supreme court. licenses issued: Sept. 2/, Alfred E. McCoy, of Jasper county, aged 54. occupation farmer. to Emma Josepninc Davis, daughter of James Davis of Jasper county, aged 38, occupation housekeeper. Third marriage for male, his first wife having <Jied -March 18, 1896, and second marriage dissolved by divorce in September, 1907. First marriage for female. Jay W. Stockton filed an affidavit in the clerk’s office Thursday afternoon, to replace an affidavit which he made Sept. 6 but which has come up missing, charging that the report in ■ the A. C. Pancoast ditch had been changed in many respects after it was originaly filed, April 18. 1 he matter of determining who changed the figures in this report between the time of its being filed and its coming before the court at the present term will likely be investigated. The changes are very material, Mr. Stockton alleges. As the Democrat never made the charges that the figures in the Milroy tp., bridge bid had been changed, they having been made by representatives of other bridge companies and to Prosecutor Longwell, the public will not readily discern where the Democrat had anything to do with influencing Mr. Longwell in the matter. The Republican’s idea of justice, however, will not admit of a republican prosecuting a republican, no matter how serious the alleged crime may be. Would that our narrow-minded contemporary codld imbibe a little of that good old democratic doctrine of "equal justice to all and special privileges to none:” There are no new developments in the Wheatfield school board muddle, caused by the alleged scandalous conduct recently of Ray G... Anderson, secretary of the board. Anderson is still standing pat on the efforts to get him to resign, and rumors, of court action are still rife. There will be another term of court here beginning the second Monday in Xovember, and the matter may then be put before a g.and jury and inquiry made into the truth of the current allegations against Anderson. If innocent he should court such an investigation. for no man of principle and good would want to rest under such charges as are current about him. “Shorty” Adams, who has been confined in jail the past two weeks or more, waiting for the officials at Longcliff to make room for his reception, was examined by a couple of alienists from Chicago Wednesday, who were brought here by the chief surgeon of the C. & E. I. railroad, in anticipation of possible suit for damages for the alleged injury to his head in being struck by some object while looking out of the caboose window of one of the trains on said road, on which he was braking. According to these learned gentlemen “Shorty” is incurably insane, caused from cigarettes ancl Other forms of disathe injury had nothing to do with his present condition. He will. be taken to Lpngcliff as soon as there is a vacancy 'there. ■ For a young attorney with the limited experience of Prosecutor I-ongwell, alone and single-hand-

ed to stand up in court and foaten or twelve hours fight inch by inch the six attorneys on the opposite side (some of whom are considered the best in northern Indiana) to get his evidence in the alleged bridge graft before the jury, as he did last Monday and Tuesday, was certainly a remarkable case of genuine honesty, nerve and perseverance such as is seldom witnessed in any court. Opposed also by the attorney of the taxpayers of Jasper county—-not merely the commissioners’ attorney, if you please, but the county attorney—who ought to have been by the side of the prosecutor in ferreting this thing to the very bottom and thus serving the people who pay his salary rather than the individuals who, at his own behest, employed him as “county attorney," we repeat that Mr. Longwell made a valiant effort against tremenduous odds to have this case tried on its merits. If the figures in that bid were changed between the time of the opening of the bids and the time it reach-. ed the auditor’s hands, (which could have scarcely been done without the knowledge of the commissioners) the taxpayers had a pght to know it and to try to fix the responsibility for the change. « Regardless of technical failure, we say, all honor to Prosecutor Longwell for his efforts to bring out the truth in this matter anti to serve his constituents as the statute contemplates he should serve them. Although opposed by his party’s machine here and fought by its organ, he has gone ahead and tried to do liis duty regardless of political consequences. Would that more judicial circuits in Indiana had Fred Longwell prosecutors.

McCLANAHAN IS TURNED LOOSE.

The case of the. State vs. John E. McClanahan of Rensselaer, charged with stealing an overcoat from a car rack on the Motion milk train last Saturday evening. came up before Judge Hanley Wednesday. Defendant entered a plea of guilty, and the Court fined him $25 and sentenchi mto one year in the penitentiary. As he‘had heretofore bourne a good reputation the sentence was suspended during good behavior. McClanahan alleges that he was intoxicated when he took the coat and thought it was his own.

THEY DIDN’T LIKE IT.

Speech of ’Surgent Senator Clapp a Little Too Hard For Standpatters. Some of the old line stand-pat republicans who attended Senator Clapp speaking Wednesday night, say it was about the most socialistic speech they ever heard. Clapp as a ’surgent seems to be trying to out-surgent Beveridge. ~ -- That the speech did not; set well with all of the perhaps 150 men. women and children in attendance is evident from the remarks heard on the street Thursday regarding it. 'The republican party organ did not like it, either, for its editors, think all republicans, both past and present, have been paragons of honesty amTaß—demoerats are d—rascals. It says: “There were others who believed that his attitude against' the party leaders and in favor of factionalism is calculated to stir up strife that it will take some time to overcome. All are not willing to concede that all, of a sudden the republican party has found itself contrbled by rascals and plunderers. It was probably unfortunate that Senator Clapp was sent to Rensselaer, for his speech was not calculated to harmonize but to aggravate.” It- is an old axiom that a wounded bird does the most fluttering, and we are' not surprised that a speech against grafters sftmild not be favorably received by most of the fraternity in Rensselaer. Neither does the old wheel-horses of the party favor the new order of things or have any confidence in sudden ov-er-righteousness of the new would-be leaders.

-.1 The first cranbemes, Home Grocery. t ' ■ ”' ‘ i

BROOKINS VICTOR IN LONG AIR RACE

Daring Aviator Flies From Chicago to State Capital. WINS SIO,OOO PURSE OFFERED Birdman Cheered by 50,000 People at State Fair at Springfield on Arrival from Chicago—ln Air 6 Hour*, 41 Minutes. Springfield,, 111., Sept 30.—Walter R. Brookins, the young aviator, landed at the state fair grounds Thursday afternoon at 4:25 o’clock, and was cheered by the 50,000 spet tators after he had finished his flight of 185 miles from Chicago, lie left Chicago at 9:16 a. m. The time, including stops, was 7 hours, 10 minutes. The actual time In the air was 5 hours 41 minutes and his average speed for the distance, with stops eliminated, was about 32 miles an hour. Brookins arrived in Springfield two | minutes ahead of the special train with which he had raced from Gilman. 1 In accomplishing this feat he won the SIO,OOO prize for which he was striving, and demolished two records, one I of them the world's record for conj tlnuotis cross country flights, and the i other the American record for susj tained flight. Another record, that of the longest sustained flight ever made in the world, barely missed being set by the young man from Chicago, a piece of bad luck forcing him to descend to the ground a second time just beyond Mount PulaSki. This was 88'miles from Gilman, where, a first stop was made, and 169 miles from Chicago. Brookins’ second stop of the day at Mount Pulaski, was a brief one, the aviator being down only 25 minutes. No harm had befallen the Wright aeroplane he was driving, and the flight to Springfield was resumed after 25 minutes. It was 3:19 when the descent near Mount Pulaski was made, and 3:44 when the flight from the capital was resumed. At this point he was orly 18 ml|es from the capital. In reaching Mount Pulaski only a little over six hours had elapsed since the young aviator left Washington park in the morning. One hour of this time had been lost „&t Gilman, eightyone miles from Chicago, and his average speed, while traveling, had been 33 miles an hour. This was better progress than Brookins had predicted before his First of the records to he demolished by Brookins, was Hamilton’s American cross country record from New York to Philadelphia. * This was surpassed when Brookins went over Mt. Pulaski, eighty-eight miles from Gilman, this dastance being two miles greater than the mileage record of Hamilton. The second record was hung up by Brookins when his total distance travelled from Chicago exceeded 141 miles, set up by Glenn Curtiss In a flight from Albany to New York as the world’s record for a continuous flight between two geographical points, including necessary stops. It took Brookins only 1 hour and 51 minutes to fly from Gilman, eightyone miles from Chicago. where he was forced to stop to replenish his supply of fluel. to Berbeck. sixty-three miles farther on the way to Springfield.

RAWN BRANDED AS GRAFTER

H. O. Ostermann Given Details in I. C. Graft Trial.

Chicago, Sept. 30.—Henry C. Ostermann, who is giving the municipal court the details of the way In which Illinois Central officials held up his corporation for $1,550,000 admitted that he was promised immunity. “Why those men held me up just as strong as they did the company,” he said. “Ira G- Rawn. vice president, first asked through Joseph Bucfeer, $5 a car, then $lO and $15,0n every car I repaired Besides I paid him SI,OOO a month and 26 cents a month on 2,700 shares gt

JOHN T. HUYLER IS STRICKEN

Millionaire Candy Manufacturer’s Life Is Dispaired Off. Rye, N. Y,, Sept 30.—John T. Huyler, the millionaire candy manufacturer, is critically ill at his country house. It is reported he is suffering from stomach trouble in a complicated form. / It is said two New York specialists have been in constant attendance during the past two weeks. Members of hlB family have been summoned to his bedside.

A large number of Democrat subscribers have taken advantage of that free offer of the National Monthly for renewals beyond Jan. 1, 1911. Have YOU?

VoL Xm. No, 50.