Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1917 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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COUNTY CONSCRIPTION BOARD

Is Composed of All Republicans in Jasper County. According to the list published In Sunday’s Indianapolis Star, Dr. C. E. Johnson of Rensselaer has been appointed on the selective draft registration board in place of O. K. Rainier, in compliance with the national order that the third member of the board be a practicing physician. It was stated that the physician shoula be of politics as the member of the board he succeeds, and it was therefore expected that Dr. Rainier of Remington would be appointed. But Dr. Johnson is a Republican and the present county coroner. Of course, there is not the slightest objection to Dr. Johnson serving on this board, except that the physician, it was supposed, would be of the same politics as the retiring member, bnt now the Republicans have all three members of the board, and these boards were supposed to be non-partisan and composed of but two members of the dominant party—the /sheriff and clerk, the two other members of the board, in our county both being Republicans, thus the third member should be a Democrat.

INDIANA GUARD CALL DELAYED

Troops Will Not Be Mobilized Until August 5. At a general staff conference held in Washington Friday it was decided to call the national guard to the colors in three installments, beginning on July 15, for early service in Europe. The units in midWestern states will be called out on the following dates: July 15, lowa, Michigan and Wisconsin; July 25, Illinois; August 5, Indiana and Kentucky. The first orders issued were for the Indiana troops to mobilize at their company rendezvous on June 15. This was the order received by Captain Tuteur several days ago, and as yet he has not received any rescinding order. However, be is of the opinion that an order Will reach him in a few days conforming to the decision of the general staff. This means that Company M will not mobilize here until August 5. Orders will then be issued for their next move, which in all probability will be to proceed to a concentration camp, probably Fort Benjamin Harrison at Indianapolis.

DEFENDANT WINS DAMAGE SUIT

Ocbs vs. Zimmerman Case Results in Latter’s Favor. The $5,000 slander case of Jacob Ochs, Jr., of Remington, a rural mail carrier out o*f that place, vs. William Zimmerman, nightwatch at Remington at the time, in which the latter wrote a letter to the postal authorities at Washington, it was alleged, attacking the character of Ochs, which was tried in the New’ton circuit court the last of the week before Special Judge Berry of the Benton-Warren circuit, resulted in a verdict for the defendant. There was quite an array of legal talent engaged in the case and it was no doubt quite expensive for each of the parties to the suit.

POTATOES AT $2.25 A BUSHEL

Medaryville Commercial Club Takes Steps to Reduce the Price. The commercial club of Medaryville bought 200 bushels of potatoes in Michigan and sold them out at cost, or practically so, to the public last week. The sales were limited to two bushels to a family and customers were served in the order of their reaching the car. The price they were sold at in Medaryville was $2.25 a bushel. The commercial club is trying to secure more potatoes to -sell to the public at the lowest possible price. It might be noted in connection with the above that Rensselaer people were compelled to pay $3.75 per bushel last week.

H. S. CLASS PLAY NEXT WEEK

“Diamonds and Hearts” at Opera House Monday and Tuesday. Each character in this play is original *and life-like. Bernice Halstead, a young lady of 18, has a burning desire to meet Dr. Burton, a young physician who has just moved into her home town and she _ has a brilliant idea by which this may be brought about. she tells her plan to Amy Halstead, her

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C OURT 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. Attorney J. A. Dunlap and wife drove to Lafayette yesterday in their auto. New suits filed: No. 8772. The Grant-Warner Lumber Co. vs. Emma Herr. Action to foreclose mechanic’s lein. Demand $75. J. P. Ryan and William and A. D. Hers'hman were among the Gillam and Walker township people in town Monday on the Ryan ditch matter. Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Learning and Carmen Learning, Jr., and wife of Romney, Tippecanoe county, were Sunday guests of County Agent Learning and family. The will of the late Dr. Lewis N. Wells of Demotte was filed for probate in the circuit court yesterday. Everything is left to the widow, except $25 bequeathed to William H. Wells, an adopted son. The widow ; is named as executrix of the will, to serve without bond. Marriage licenses issued: May 21, August Emil Rosentreter of Tracy, Indiana, aged 34 June 14 last, occupation farmer, and Susan Jane Alexander of Gillam township, aged 28 May 17 last, occupation housekeeper. Second marriage for male, first marriage dissolved by death in March, 1914. First marriage for female. County Chairman Welsh of the Democratic county central committee has recommended the appointment of F. E. Babcock as the Democratic member of the county board of registration, and J. A. McFarland as the Democratic clerk. Everyone must register to vote in the constitutional convention election in September, both men and women, must register with the county registration board at the county seat within twenty-nine days preceding the election, at which time the board's duties end as such registration board, but the same board now comprises the board of election c mmissioners and must arrange the ballot and canvfWs the vote after the election is held. The registration board is in continuous session for sixty days preceding the twentynine days before election.

The practically impassable sandhill cuts on the north Union road in the vicinity of the Schultz settlement; —which road is to be improved with macadam some time, contract having been let but on account of alleged inability to get the stone, it is said, the work of spreading rock may not be started this season —can be avoided, the writer found by accident Friday afternoon, by continuing north from Rensselaer fourteen miles on the Burk bridge road," straight north until just west of Kniman, then going west 1 % miles to the south end of the Keener township stone road, from which point a good road connects with all the other improved roads in the northwest part of the state. The reverse route can be followed to Rensselaer. Of course, the road is not extra good from the Burk bridge on north, but it is solid and there is no danger of getting stuck in the sand or miring down in the mud unless we have an unusually wet spell.

NOTES OF COUNTY HOSPITAL

Harrison Timmons of Benton (Harbor,. Michigan, who is visiting relatives here, -had his tonsils removed at the hospital Monday. Mrs. John Rusk, who was operated on one day last week at the county hospital, was taken to her home in Barkley township Monday. A Rensselaer girl, who was employed as a domestic in a family here, gave birth to a male child at the ebunty hospital last Thursday. No particulars' have been made public as to who is responsible for the accident. I

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1917

SCOTT CHESTNUT ACQUITTED

Monday of Charge of Stealing J. C. Gwin’s Automobile. Several Rensselaer people were called to Kentland Monday as witnesses in the case of the state vs. Scott Chestnut, charged with the theft of J. C. Gwin's automobile recently. The court had appointed John A. Dunlap of this city to defend Chestnut when he was arraigned in court when first arrested, defendant being unable an attorney himself, and he handled the case so skilfully that Chestnut came out of the trial unblemished, the jury finding him not guilty. It will be remembered that this car was taken one night recently from Mr. Gwin's garage at his lumber yard and was found next afternoon in Chestnut’s possession a few miles west of Fair Oaks, where the car had gone ‘‘dead’’ on him during the early hours of the morning and, after tinkering with it until late in the , afternoon, he had ’phofied to the Rhoades garage here and asked them to come up and haul him in. Deputy Sheriff Robinson accompanied K. T. Rhoades when he went after the car and placed Chestnut under arrest. It was learned that Louis Payne had been with Chestnut and that they had driven the car to Demotte and purchased booze there. Payne left Chestnut some time next morn-

HENRY H. WATSON IS DEAD

Former Well-Known Resident Dietl at Chicago Heights Sunday. Henry H- Watson, a well-known resident of Rensselaer and Marion township for sixty-five years, died Sunday evening at the home of fyis daughter, Mrs. Jeannette McAvoy, at Chicago Heights, where he had gone about three years ago to make his home. Mr. Watson was born in Tippecanoe county Italy 10, 1840. When he was 9 years of age his parents moved to Jasper county and located on the Watson farm a mile south of Rensselaer. The journey here was made in wagons in the midwinter when it was necessary to break the ice and ford the Tippecanoe river. During the war of the rebellion Mr. Watson enlisted with the 87th Indiana volunteers and served three years until the close of the war. He saw much service in the South and was with Sherman on the famous march through Georgia. Upon his return from the war he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shortridge and they established their home on the farm. To this union eight children were born, as follows: D. E. Watson, now’ deceased; Mrs. Daisy Abraham of Rockford, Illinois; Mrs. Bernice Kohler of Chicago Heights, Illinois; Frank Watson, who went West several years ago; Harry Watson of this city; Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp, Charles Watson and Mrs. Jeannette McAvoy of Chicago Heights. They continued to reside on the farm until the spring of 1898, when they came to Rensselaer. Mrs. Watson died May 9, 19Q4. The body of the deceased was brought here on the 11 o’clock train yesterday and taken to the home of Frank Haskell on Park avenue. Funeral services will be held at. the Methodist church at 9:30 o’clock today and burial will be made in Weston cemetery, beside the grave of his wife.

ABUNDANT RAINFALLS COME

The drought was broken in this section of the state by lo£al showers Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Monday evening it started raining again about 8 o'clock and continued practically all night long and* it was still raining at intervals yesterday up to the hour of going to press. While we needed rain quite badly, we have now a sufficiency for the present and it has done a tremendous amount of good to wheat, oats and grass, but one extreme of weather frequently follows another, and it is hoped we will not now get too much of a good thing. Most of the corn is planted in this it was put in with the ground in splendid condition, A much larger acreage than usual has been planted and if the weather conditions are favorable thousands of acres more will yet be planted and Jasper county will produce the hugest corn crop in ito history-

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GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention from Many Places. FOOD FIGHT IN THE SENATE Speculation and Prohibition Are tho Points of Contest. Washington, D. C., May 21. —The senate today took up the administration bill, providing for a federal survey of food supplies, stimulation of production, prevention of hoarding, licensing of dealers and authorizing mixing of flours. Chances were that consideration would develop strong fights over the question of prohibiting use of grains for liquor during the war, to be proposed in an amendment by prohibition senators, and the amendment which Senator Gore, chairman of the agricultural committee, offered to give the President power to promulgate regulations preventing gambling in foods.

THREE HURT IN AUTO CRASH

Benton County Car Sideswiped by Speeding Stranger. Mrs. G. S. Posey of Fowler and Mrs. John Ditto and daughter Cecil of Earl Park were injured near Lafayette Saturday evening when the auto in which they were riding was sideswiped by a speeding stranger. Mrs. Posey’s skull was fractured and her condition is serious. Mrs. Ditto was bruised about the head and body and her daughter was injured about the shoulders and hips. Mr. and Mrs. Posey and Mr. and Mrs. Ditto and daughter were enroute to in a five-passen-ger touring car. The men members of the party were riding in the front seat and the women in the rear. Mr. Posey was driving and as they neared a bridge he saw an automobile coming toward them. Thinking he could get across the bridge before the other machine got there he speeded up a trifle. The auto crossed the bridge in safety, but the other car was coming at a terrific rate of speed and sideswiped the Posey car. The impact threw the three women out of the car.

RETAIL DRY GOODS MERCHANTS

To Meet in Indianapolis on Tuesday, June 12. Indianapolis, May 22.—A convention of unusual interest to retail dry goods merchants of Indiana will be held in Indianapolis Tuesday, June 12, being the third annual convention of the Indiana Retail Dry Goods association. . The association will depart from its usual rule and will omit the formal banquet. In its stead will be given a sm®ker, the entire convention being given over to the discussion of the business problems of the retail dry goods and ready-to-wear merchant. At the smoker a question box will be conducted to which the dry goods merchants of the state have been asked to submit questions relative

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RAIN HALTS PATRIOTIC MEET

Weather Kept Many at Home Who Planned to Come. A large number responded to the call for a mass patriotic meeting here. Monday night. However, the threatening weather kept many more away as practically all of the neighboring towns had planned to send delegations. The meeting opened in the court house yard with a few selections by the Rensselaer band. The rain then came and the assembly repaired to the Christian church. Mayor Spitler presided and introduced Hon. Ed. Jackson, secretary of state, who delivered a stirring and patriotic appeal to the young men to respond to the call for troops. Mayor Spitler was delegated to select a committee, one person from each township, with the chairman in Rensselaer, whose duty it will be to utge desirable young men ip their respective communities to enlist with Company M.

ROAD SIGNS TO AID TRAVELERS

When Bridge Repairs or Road Improvements Are Being Made. Wheriever it is necessary to put in a new bridge, repair an old one or improve any part of any of our highways which render them practically impassable for travel and making a detour necessary, why not. have some guide boards posted at the intersection of the road informing the traveling public of the fact and giving the necessary information as to the detour, thus: ***««*** * * « *. * '♦ ♦ BRIDGE OUT * ♦ Go West 1 Mile, North 1 * * Mile, Thence Back East * * 1 Mlle. ♦ «**•«.•***•*** * Or—■ *»»«•♦***»♦«♦♦ • ROAD IMPROVED * ♦ Go East 2 Miles, South 4 ♦ * Miles, West 2 miles. * This Would inform strangers just what was necessary for them to do in detouring and would indicate that the route given on the guideboard was one that was the best for use under the circumstances. Such information is a duty owed the public and is something that would be appreciated by strangers at least. It would leave a good Impression of our county and Its road officials instead of a bad one, such as they have had for the past few years, and would cost practically nothing to put Into effect.

JUNE 5 IS REGISTRATION DAY

All Men Between Twenty-One and Thirty-One Included. President Wilson issued a proclamation Friday night designating Tuesday, June 5, as registration day and on Saturday signed the selective army draft bill, thus making it a law. The proclamation orders the registration of all men in the United States who have passed their twen-ty-first birthday nut who have not passed their thirty-first birthday. The registration must be made in the registration place of the election precinct of which the man is a legal resident. The only men who need not register are those who are already in the military service of the nation. There are no other exemptions, married men being required to register the same as single men. The law says: “Every such person shall be deemed to have notice of the requirements of this 7 act upon the publication of said proclamation or other notice as aforesaid given by the President or by his direction; and any person who shall wilfully fail or refuse, to present himself for registration or to submit thereto as herein provided shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction in the district court of the United States having jurisdiction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, and shall thereupon be duly registered, provided that in the call of the docket precedence shall be given in courts trying the same to the trial of criminal proceedings 'under this act.’’ " - The law further provides “that persons shall be subject to registration, as herein provided, who shall have attained their twenty-first birthday and who shall not have attained their thirty-first birthday on or before the’day set for the registration, and all persons so registered shall be and remain subject to draft into the forces hereby authorized, unless exempted or excused therefrom as" in this act provided. Provided further, that in the case of temporary absence from actual place of residence of any person liable >tO registration as provided herein, such registration may be made by mail under regulations to be prescribed by the President.”

FIRST BAND CONCERT TONIGHT

As was announced in our last issue, the first band concert of the season will be rendered tonight. The band boys have been practicing faithfully all winter and the band being larger than ever is expected to render even more satisfaction than in years past. The program this evening will consist principally of high-class rag-time music.

PROTECT YOUR BUILDINGS FROM LIGHTNING by having them properly rodded. Sixteen years’ experience in the business and never .have had a building damaged from lightning that I rodded. Best and heaviest rods used. ' Call and see me or ’phone 135 or 568.—F. A. BICKNELL, Rensselaer, Indiana. -ts Subscribe for The Democrat.

TROOP DIVISION TO FIGHT ABROAD

General Pershing Io Command First Relief Expedition ABOUT 25,000 MEN TO SAIL Will Probably Be Fighting Under the Stars and Stri|>es .in France in the Near Future. Washington, D. C., May 19. — President Wilson last night ordered a division of 25,000 regular troops commanded by Major General John J. Pershing be sent to France at the earliest practicable date. This is the answer of America to France’s plea that the Stars and Stripes be carried to the fighting front without delay to hearten the soldiers battling there with concrete evidence that a powerful ally has come to their support against German aggression. Even before the army bill was signed the war department announced that the full strength of the national guard would be drafted Into the United States army beginning July 15 and concluding August 5. Orders to bring the regiments to full war strength immediately accompanied the notification sent to all governors. A minimum of 329,000 fighting men will be brought to the colors under these orders, supplementing the 293,000 regulars who will be under arms by June 15. It Is from these forces that the first armies to join General Pershing at the front will be drawn, to be followed within a few months by recurring waves from the selective draft armies, the first 500,000 of whom will be mobilized September 1.

RYAN DITCH CASE CONTINUED

To Monday, July 9, at 10 A. M.— Will Then Be Threshed Out. Special Judge Elmore Barde was over from Fowler Monday, the date set for hearing the Ryan ditch case. Several interested parties were down from Gillam township, an<f as Judge Barce had some cases pending in the TTenton circuit court next week and could only give this week to the case at this time and some of the attorneys had cases pending in the Nowton circuit court gnd could not continue the hearing at this time until it was finished, Judge Barce continued the cause to Monday, July 9, at 10 a. m., and said he would take the matter up then and thresh it out regardless bf whether all the parties were ready for trial or not. This ditch cause has been pending in the courts since October, 1909, and has been down to the supreme court once. It is one of the largest drainage projects ever started in Jasper county and is destined to drain many of acres of land that is greatly in need of relief.

347-ACRE FARM FOR SALE WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1917 „_ ■ i I will offer my farm at auction, consisting of 347 acres, all tillable, on Wednesday, May 23, at 2:30 p. rn., at the farm, 4 miles east ot Rensselaer, Ind., Marion township, Pleasant Ridge, station and. stock yards at corner of farm. This farm, is improved with two houses, 2 barns, 2 double cribs, stock shed, stock scales, granary, tool house, wind mill, 2 good wells, 2 water tanks, one never-failing , flowing spring in yard, walnut grove in front yard, land all in a body and fenced off in 4 0-acre fields, mostly new fences of barbed and woven Wire, hog-tight fence only two years old on three sides of farm. The soil is good and land lies a little sloping mostly to the north. About 30,009 tile in land, working good. Np incumbrance. Title will be. free from ditcfh or road assessments, if any. Possession given at once. Buyer carrying out the lease with tenant and receiving owner’S share of crop and cash rent and come in full possession of the farm March 1, 1918. TERM'S OF SALE—WiII sell on time if so desired. One-fourth down, one-fourth in one year, balance three to five years at 5 per cent. Parties wishing to look farm over call Fred Phillips, auctioneer, or C. H. TRYON, owner, Rensselaer, Indiana. m - s A new supply of vegetable parchment butter wrappers just received <at The Democrat office, 30c per 100.

Vol. XX, No. 16