Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1915 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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JUST CAN’T GIVE IT UP.

Railroad l*romoter s Want .Another Try for That $61,000 From Rensselaer and Marion tp.

Chief Engineer Shelihous of the so-called Lafayette & Northwestern paper railroad, with several other “disinterested'’ parties, including Perry O’Connor of Round Grove tp., White county, Mr. Lux of Wolcott, an'd a few others from other sections of the country, were in Rensselaer Thursday endeavoring to interest our people in calling another subsidy election to try again for that $61,000 which the promoters of this proposed road seem very loath to give up. A meeting of business men was called in the circuit court room, piesumably by Mayor Spitler, who acted as chairman of the meeting, and the matter discussed pro and con for two hours or more without reaching any conclusion, and another meeting was called at the same place, for last evening.

The general sentiment of the people present seemed to be that a subsidy would not carry here; that the people had become thoroughly disgusted with the subsidy scheme and scores of those who had heretofore voted favorable thereto had expressed themselves lately as now being opposed to the proposition and would never vote another one.

Talks were-made by the “disinterested’’ parties who had left their work and came here at their own expense to help Rensselaer and to tell us what we- would miss if we didn’t vote this s6l,ooo—because we would be left out in the ly and the road would built on another line, through Goodland and Kentland, etc., if we didn’t come across. While this matter was not explained, we presume that they will hoist the road up in the air to get across Carpenter township and. over Remington, for by no hook nor crook can they get the subsidies voted in White county—and subsidies seem to be what they are after—unless the road passes through the townships voting the aid. In fact, it is just the same old dodge of railroad promoters.

If the road is at all, as The Democrat has frequently stated, it must be built through the townships that have voted the subsidies and on indentically the same line as that shown in the blue print filed by the promoters in White, Jasper and Newton counties in order to collect the subsidies previously voted. Of course a new line might be selected and new elections held, but the chances of the proposition carrying again in the townships having voted favorably, are very remote. Mayor Spitler stated that the parties were not interested in any way except in desiring to secure the road for their locality and to help Rensselaer. Yet a few questions that were asked by some of the perhaps 25 people who were present at the meeting brought an admission from Perry O’Connor that he "had some stock” in the proposition, and it is probable that all or nearly all of the “disinterested ones,” if questioned, would have had to reply in the same way. Another question which seemed to cause sbme consternation and the disinterested parties hardly knew how to answer it, was that of who was at the head or president of the company. It was finally stated that Charles Stockton, a farmer of Round Grove tp., White county, was the president. This will probably be news to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, as a committee of that body in making its report to the Chamber of Commerce a few days ago, in fact Only Tuesday of last week, referred to O. L. Brown as president of the company a number of times in said report. Mr. Brown, for some reason, was not here with the other disinterested boosters of the road, and there was no denial on the part of anyone that Mr. Stockton was the president. In fact, it was the first time that the people here have had any assurances from anyone in a position to know just who was at the head of the company at the present time or who has been since the resignation of Dr. Pettigrew of Logansport, nearly a year ago. It is certainly useless to call another subsidy election here to vote again on this proposition in September, as these people would like to have us do, and The Democrat advises all its readers to refuse to sign any petition for such an election. We have been hounded enough along this line.

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COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. Six divorce cases have been filed in rhe Jasper circuit court since June 16. This is going some, surely.

W. F. Smith & Co., who have the contract for building a strip of road over in Carpenter tp., have nearly completed their contract near Rochester and will begin the work of gra.l- - the Carpenter road next week.

Ross Ramey was fined the first of the week $ 1 and costs, amounting to $9,40 in all, for exceeding the automobile speed limit in Rensselaer last Sunday. The affidavit was filed by Mayor Spitler. Others will be given like treatment it is announced, unless they have a care.

B. D. Comer and Clyde Gunyon of the Rensselaer Dredging Co., were over al Danville, 111., the first of the week where they bid on a smatH dredging contract. While really the low bidders, another contractor had a clause in his bid that he would take the contract at %c per yard less than the lowest bid, and they do not know yet what'the result will be.

John McCurtain of Parr, who recently made his escape from the insane asylum at Longcliff, has written bis wife from Streator, ill., and asked her to reply to the letter. Mrs. McCurtain called up Prosecutor Sands and told him of receiving the letter. So long as John stays across the state line, it is not probable that any effort will be made to go after him.

County Road Supt. Sylvester Gray informed The Democrat Thursday evening that, owning to the non-ar-rival of two carloads of screenings which should have been here early in the week, it will be impossible to open the College avenue road th's week as expected. The screenings will probably arrive soon, how’ever, and but a few days delay is anticipated in opening the road.

Township trustees should bear in mind that they njust publish their notices of annual tax levies in the first issue of August in the two leading papers representing the two dominent political _ parties in the county, and also in a newspaper of their own township, if one be published therein. Copies of such estimate of tax levies and expenditures must also be posted as the law directs, in each township. The Democrat has on hand a limited supply of estimate blanks and can furnish same if any trustee has neglected to supply himself with same.

\ W alter Morris, whose home is said to be at Elston, Tippecanoe county, is wanted for the alleged forging of a couple of checks in Jasper county. Morris is about 23 years of age and had been working for Fred A. Schultz of Union tp., and one,of the checks was alleged to have been signed by Schultz. The Schultz check, for sl2, was cashed at the Traub clothing store, and a check for $lO, on B. D. Comer, also of Union tp., was cashed at the Main Gdrage. Both were passed Saturday night but the forgeries were not discovered until the checks were sent to the First National bank Monday. Sheriff McColly went to the young man’s home in Tippecanoe county Tuesday evening but found that he had not yet shown up there, and he is still at large at this writing.

New' suits filed: No. 8453. J. C. Gwin and John I. Gwin vs. A. P. Swartzell et al; action to foreclose mechanic’s lein. Demand SSOO. No. 8454. Georgia Wesner vs. William Wesner; suit for divorce. The complaint alleges that the parties were married Jan. 7, 1895,

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY. JULY 24, 1915

and separated on July 19, 1915. Cruel and inhuman treatment is charged, in that defendant denies plaintiff his society, love and protection, the privelege of attending church or visiting her neighbors, refuses to talk to plaintiff about the home, and curses her and calls her vile names. Two children, Eva, aged 18, and George Lee, aged 9, are the fruits of the marriage. Alimony in the sum of SI,OOO is asked for. The parties reside in Gillam tp. No. 8455. Fayne Bla.ck vs. Charles Black; suit for divorce. The plaintiff in this case alleges that the parties were married on -lay 7, 1905, and that defendant deserted plaintiff on Dec. 1, 1908. One child, William Black, aged 9 years, is the fruits of this union, which plaintiff asks to retain the custody of. Plaintiff’s home is now in Rensselaer and her maiden name was Fayne Nelson. *

W. J. Wright Buys Furniture and Undertaking Business at Morocco. W. J. Wright has been in Morocco a few days this week closing up a deal for a furniture and undertaking establishment there and also a variety store. The business was purchased of J. H. Knickerbocker, and the building and lot of Louis Porter. It is a fine two-story brick building, 27x100 feet, with basement. Clint

Colvert is over there now in charge of the business, but Mr. Wright’s brother-in-law-, V. H. Hancock, who has been in charge of a department in a big store in Kansas City, will be here next week and take active charge of the business.

% This is the only exclusive furniture and undertaking business in Morocco, and Mr. Wright will give the people of that city an up-to-date store and the very best of service in the undertaking line. The variety store, which is in a rented building next door, he will probably dispose of soon and retain only the furniture and undertaking business. With the splendid country surrounding Morocco, they should do a fine business there.

Wheat Thrashing Has Begun. Wheat thrashing has been begun in several places in the county, Firman Thompson of Parr, probably being the first. He begun early in the week. His wheat is very damp and he has been mowing it and hauling it right to the machine, then loading the grain on cars at Parr and shipping the same day to Chicago where it can be dried out. It is understood it is running 33 to 36 bushels to the acre. Up to yesterday morning two cars, or about 2,000 bushels, of Firman’s wheat had been shipped by Babcock & Hopkins. Dave Yeoman and Fred Schultz, also of Union tp., are thrashing at this writing. Alex Hurley has thrashed some 7 or 8 acres that yielded about 40 bushels to the acre.

W. C. Babcock, of the Babcock & Hopkins elevator, tells us that he thinks the wheat in shock will grade No. 3 to No. 4, as it is sprouted a good deal and generally in quite bad condition. However, if we get no more rain, it may grade a little better than this. That cut this week will probably grade No. 2 easily. The only wheat they have taken in at this writing is that of Firman Thompson’s which was shipped right away to Chicago.

Mrs. I. F. Meader Operated On Tuesday.

I. F. Meader and family of Union tp., drove to Chicago Monday by auto to be present Tuesday morning when Mrs. Meader, who has been at a hospital there for several weeks preparatory to undergoing a severe operation for cancer of the womb, was operated on. She was on the operating table two hours and forty minutes, and the surgeon stated that it Was one of the most difficult operations he had performed for som? time. She came out from under the anesthectic in quite good shape, however, and Thursday noon' was pronounced out of danger. Mr. Meader and family returned home Thursday afternoon, and Mrs. Meader will be brought home as soon as she recovers sufficiently to stand the* journey, which will probably be within the next few weeks.

Grove Meeting July 25.

There, will be an all day grove basket meeting held in John E. Alter’s grove near the Rosebud church, in Union township, on July 25th. Bring your baskets and we will furnish the tables. Everybody invited. Baptismal service In the afternoon. —COMMITTEE.

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic ReportiFrom Many Parts of the Country. ; SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. TO PROBE STOCK SELLING DEALS Utilities Commission Issues Summons for Officers of Lafayette ANoithwesteiu Railroad Co. Indianapolis, Ind., July 21.—The public service commission of Indiana has issued an order citing the officers of the Lafayette & Northwestern Railroad company to appear before the commission at 10 o’clock a. m„ July 24, 1915.

A hearing is to be held in response to the selling of stock in the railroad company without the consent of the commission.

Summons for many persons as witnesses have been sent to the sheriffs of Tippecanoe, White and Jasper counties.

It is said that the action of the commission is based on information that the company has been selling stocks and bonds without first obtaining the consent of the commission, which is in violation of the law.

What Sam Is This?

Indianapolis, July 21.—Sam Marlin, 22, of Rensselaer, was arrested by Bicyclemen Schlangen and Sheean today charged with having stolen a watch a year ago from Carl Henderson, chef at the English hotel. Marlin said he had returned to Indianapolis only a few days ago from North Dakota.

Monticello's Experience in “Buying” Factories.

The Democrat recently received a notice that the printing machinery of the W. D. Pratt Co., of Indianapolis, and its building, 3 acres of ground in Monticello’s factory addition and 600 feet of private switch on the Monon railroad, etc., would be sold by the bankruptcy trustees of said concern. And now application has been made in the White circuit court, in two cases filed there, tor a receiver for the Schultz Manufacturing Co., a new factory recently “bought” by Monticello, and which is alleged to owe the parties asking for the receiver each quite a sum of money, and is alleged to be insolvent, having a large indebtedness a large, portion of which is borrowed from the State Bank of Monticello. The Pratt Printing Co. was “located” at Monticello a few years ago at an expense of about $15,000 to the Monticello Commercial Club. Its machinery was moved from Indianapolis to the modern building erected for its reception, but little if any work was ever done there, the company being in financial difficulties, and the machinery was later shipped back to Indianapolis. The Schultz Manufacturing Co. is a recent purchased factory by Monticello. It took over the old auto truck factory building—the auto truck people never locating there even after a building had been erected for it some years ago—a nth a great deal of stock in the concern is said to have been sold in and about Monticello. Whether cr not the company i insolvent or whether misrepresentations were made in the sale of s o k when the factory was located there will be determined in tho courts.

One thing stands out prominently, however, th the above experience of Monticello in “buying” factories, and that is, that people should be a little slow to take hold of these propositions that ask for big bonuses. Monticello has been stung considerably worse than Rensselaer, and, with us, could have spent the money lost in rainbow chasing to much greater profit in developing its natural resources.

This Is Partly Right, But Considerably Wrong.

The Jasper county board of education Monday denied a petition for the removal of Ernest Lamson from the office of county school superin-

tendent. Charges of incompetency iavoritism. failure to employ local teachers and importing teachers front outside of the county inferior to home teachers. neglect of business and other charges were preferred against Lamson and a hot tight for hjs removal was waged by the Rensselaer Republican. State Supt. Greathouse was present a- the hearing befpre the board of education Monday and evidence was heard from■.■a number of witnesses. While there is much dissatisfaction in Jasper county with the. manner in which Lamson has conducted the superintendent’s office, it is natural to infer that the trustees who put him in office would be slow to coincide with his accusers. Hence the decision leaving him in office is not surprising. Whether the fight has seen its conclusion in this decision of the board of education remains to be seen. The above item is fro mhte Monon News, and it seems that the News, as well as several other newspapers in this section who have resolved this “inspiration" from the columns of the Rensselaer Republican, is considerably in error as to the facts. State Supt.' Greathouse was not present at the hearing before the board of education, and the board hearing the case was no- the board that put Mr. Lamson in office. The present board of education came into office January 1 of this year.

No petition whatever was filed with the board asking for Mr. Lamson’s removal and the only "charges preferred” were made by the Rensselaer Republican. As to "whether or not the fight has seen its conclusion in this decision,” it is rumored that the Republican will be asked to prove the truth of some of the more serious charges it has made. Mr. Lamson's friends think, that he has been irreparably injured by the attacks of the Republican and believe that he owes it t<> himself, his family and his friends, to seek vindication in the courts. They say that scores of the charges made by the Republican are unquestionably libelous if not true, and as they were kept up after the decision of the board of education, especially is it therefore incumbent on Mr. Lamson ot seek further vindication.

To Remain in Hands of the Machine.

Members of the state committee met at French Lick this week and discussed party affairs. The new primary law vacates the office of chairmen holding any public office, either through election or appointment, and as seven of the thirteen chairmen had been given fat jobs at the pie counter, there were only six legal members of the committee to do business. However, all the "ex’s’’ were present, including cur own "Boss” Murphy of the Tenth district. State Chairman Korbley will appoint new chairmen in place of those whose offices have been vacated as above stated, in the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Thirteenth districts, within the next few weeks it is a safe bet to say that Korbley will only consult with the machine politicians as to who shall be appointed chairmen, and it is very probable that in our own district at least "Boss’’ Murphy will dictate who is to succeed him, notwithstanding the fact that 90 per cent of the Democrats of this district have no use for Murphy. However, the machine material in some of the districts will probably be a little shy, in view of the fact htat quite a number of the former members are now sojourning at Ft. Leavenworth and scores of other members are under bond and awaiting trial for alleged election conspircounties of the state.

These new chairmen should be 'selected by the county chairmen of the districts interested or by deleg selected by the people, rather than by the machine head.

F. P. Huntington, of Near Mt, Ayr, Dead.

Franklin p. Huntington, who has been sick for some time with malerial fever, died at his home near Mt. Ayr Thursday evening, aged 63 years. The funeral will be held at Mt; Ayr today at 10 a. m., and burial made at Earl Park, which was the former home of the Huntingtons. Undertaker W. J. Wright, of this city, has charge of the funeral and the remains will be taken to Earl Park in his automobile hearse. ’

t, >— Buy envelopes at The Democrat office. A large number of sizes, styles and colors, both bond and plain finish, to select from, at 5c per bunch of 25. Call in and see them.

Vol. XVIII, No. 33

RUSSIANS TO BURN CITY OF WARSAW

To Apply Torch Minute Last Defense Is Taken. ASSIGN MEN TO THE TASK Czar’s Commander Is Determined to Leave Nothing Behind for the Teutons—Civilians Now Fleeing City, Is Report at London. London. July 23. —Ivangorod, the great Vistula fortress and key to Warsaw and Lublin, has been invested by the Germans. Already the German siege guns have been brought up and the Teutons are trying to rewrite in the east the story of Antwerp and Namur. If Ivangorod falls, the Russians will be forced to evacuate all Poland. Windau, the Baltic port, has been laid waste by the retreating Russians. The harbor works have \ en destroyed, according to dispatches reaching Libau, and the torch has been applied to the buildings and houses of the city. On their whole line of retreat the Russians have commenced to make barren the country behind them. Cities and villages are being burned and crops confiscated or destroyed. Following the tactics of the Slavs against, Napoleon, the Grand Duke Nicholas is leaving not an ounce of food nor an inch of shelter behind for the legions which are driving his troops further and further into the interior of Russia.

Warsaw to Be Burned. Following the example of Windau, it is reported here that the grand duke has given orders that when the last defense of Warsaw has been taken, flames are to be spread in the Polish capital. The Russian commander is said to be determined that the great government buildings and churches shall not fall Into the hands of the conquerors unscathed. Men have been assigned, it is stated, to the task of applying the torch to all quarters of the city when the Russians are ready to evacuate.

All the archives, court records and gold in the banks have already been removed to the eastward, it is reported. The Germans, it is stated, will find the most beautiful city In Poland a heap of charred ruins if their drive carries them within its gates. The fall of Warsaw* seems certain. The Germans and Austrians already are within thirteen miles of the heart of the city, having forced a passage of the Vistula east of Blonie. In the south, along the Lublin-Cholm railway, the Russians are fighting furiously In their last defenses. According to advices from the Austrian field headquarters, the fighting on this front has now reached Its decisive stage. On a greatly shortened front the Russians have concentrated the flower of their army, while the Austro-Germans under supreme command of Field Marshal von Mackensen also have been greatly strengthened by large forces released from other points. The Teutons have pressed their advance through a most difficult country, the ground being sandy and in parts swampy, until they havej-eached the last Russian lines. Their artillery has been brought up under tremendous difficulties, the men in many cases being forced to put their shoulders to the bogged wheels, and now being poured upon the railway, effectually blocking the reported Russian efforts to remove the great stores of war material they had gathered at Warsaw.

According to the last Austrian reports, breaches had been made at several points in the Russian defenses, and if these can be widened, the last obstacle to a German sweep upon Warsaw from the south will be removed. Civilians Flee Warsaw.

Following the example of the populace of Riga and'Lublin, it is reported that the civil flight from Warsaw already is under way. The few remaining railroad lines out of the Polish capital, it is stated, are jammed with great transports of supplies and war material being removed hastily to In-‘ terior Russia, and that the great portion of the refugees have to take to the roads, walking or with whether pack animals they can obtain. M ith the latest reports of captures by the Austrian and German troops, ft is estimated that more than 100,000 Russians have fallen into the hands of the Teutons within the last four days. This more than anything else has caused British military critics to become blackly pessimistic over the outcome of the grand duke’s campaign, as it indicates that the Russian morale has been shattered by the long series of reverses and defeats they have suffered.

Methodist Church Notice. Sunday school, 9:30 a. m.; preaching at 10:40 a. m.; League, 6:00 p. m.; union vesper service at 7:00 p. m., sermon by Rev. Green.