Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1917 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

$2.00 Per Year

FURLOUGHS BEING GRANTED

Many Soldiers Will Visit Homes During the Holidays. So many conflicting reports have been made concerning- the granting of holiday furloughs to soldiers that it is difficult for one to tell jnst what the plan is. But the latest “dope” from Camp Shelby follows; The exodus for the north began from Camp Shelby today. General Sagd, camp commander, has rescinded the order prohibiting leaves of absence and furloughs. The latest order gives five per cent, of the officers and men at the camp the privilege of being absent for ten days. After their return five per cent more may go. None may go after January 2, 1918, and all must he back by January 12. This gives a large number of Indiana men a chance to be at home on Christmas. And from Camp Taylor it is said that furloughs are being issued also.

EVERYBODY KNITS, EVEN‘DAD’

Local Red Cross Gives Uniqne Knitting Demonstration. It Is probable that no local Red Cross headquarters in the country is as busy a place as that of the Jasper county headquarters in the K. of P. building. A bunch of ’tomen are busy there every day and evening and a report of the total work done is astonishing. Many of the women, including the president,_ Mrs. Ora T. Ross, and the secretary, Miss Ida Millikcn, are giving practically their entire time to the work and they have accomplished wonders.. Among the wor£ sent out from the headquarters since August 1 are 62 mufflers, 103 sweaters, 154 pairs of sox, 53 pairs of wristlets and seven helmets. Over 200 pounds of yarn has been used, and lots more articles are in preparation. This does not include, of course, the many sweaters, helmets, etc., that have been knit by individual ladies rnd sent to relatives or friends in the army service. Wednesday evening a* unique knitting demonstration was given in the large window of the headquarters that attracted much interest despite the inclemency of the weather. Both sexes were represented in the knitting, as were all ages. John Holden, sexton of Weston cemetery, represented the male sex past the half century age. and Jack Grant and Paul Robinson the boys; while Mrs. Frances Hopkins, seventy-eight, and Mrs. Charles Platt represented th r c’der and middle-aged ladies, Miss Katherine Watson representing the young ladies, and Misses Marjorie Hill, Margaret Myer, Virginia and Ruth Thompson, ranging in age from ten years to five years—-little Ruth Thompson, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Thompson, being the youngest as well as one of the busiest, fastest and most efficient of the knitters-—rep-resented the female juvenile. Mr. Holden was knitting on a sweater, and had it almost done, .but most people who observed him at work were cruel enough to suggest that he must have begun on it at least two years before the war started. "Uncle" an aged German citizen who is said to bo an expert knitter, was to have been one of the knitters, but he concluded it was too bad a night for him to come out, much to the disappointment of everyone. The demonstration was indeed interesting and a photograph should have been taken of it and preserved that future generations of our people might see what their ancestors did to help the cause of the C. S. in the greatest conflict in the world’s history.

A MOST USEFUL XMAS PRESENT

Having had people call on me for Christmas orders for glasses, has suggested the idea of a very useful gift, and in order to help carry out the useful gift proposition, which should be observed this year if ever, I have on sale attractive Christmas orders which may be had at different prices either by mail or at the office. They can be presented to a friend in need o»? good glasses, the name of the friend to be filled in blank space left for that purpose, and blank space left for the signature of the one who gives it. This, when presented at my office, entitles bearer to examination and glasses. ■—DR. A. G. CATT, Rensselaer, Ind.

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Intwresting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized —Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. Former Sheriff John O'Connor of Kniman was shaking hands with friends here Thursday. A couple of field examiners from the office of the state board of accounts came this week and are checking up the various county offices. The regular meeting, of the city council will be held this -Saturday evening instead of Monday evening, on account of Monday being Christmas eve.

Attorney John A. Dunlap went to Montieello Wednesday evening to sit as special judge in the hearing of the Hancock ditch on trial in the White circuit court. Marriage licenses issued: December 19, Abram Combs of Round Oak, Illinois, aged 45 August 1 last, farmer, and Maud R. Turner of Gray’s Lake, Illinois, aged 38 March 14 last, housekeeper. First marriage for each. Married in the clerk’s office by Rev. J. Budman Fleming. . County Food Administrator John Eger received the following dispatch from State Food Administrator Barnard this week: ‘‘Bread wholesale 7, retail cash, carry 8, wrapped, delivered, 8 y 2,” which means that the Federal wholesale price is 7c per loaf —government regulation size—and 8c ilf you pay cash and carry it home, or 8y 2 c if wraipped and delivered in Rensselaer. A dispatch from Camp Taylor, Kentucky, says: ‘‘Men of this district passed in the draft for the 84th army division, \sho have not yet been placed under arms, will be called to the camip as soon as sufficient clothing and equipment accumulates in the quartermaster’s storerooms. Thirty-five per cent, of the first quota remains to be called. It is said the provost mar-shal-general hopes to have the entire quota in camp here some time in January. The war department is said to have asked information concerning the amount of clothing needed.”

Mrs. Ruby Zillhart, who is employed as a maid at the county hospital, has announced her marriage to Louis K. Zillhart, which took place at Wheaton, Illinois, on September 8 last, since which time they have kept their marriage a secret from their friends here. Mrs. Zillhart is a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John N. Baker of Barkley township. Mr. Zillhart’s home is also in Barkley township, but only a couple of weeks ago he enlisted in the U. S. service and is now stationed at Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs. Zillhart left yesterday for Louisville to visit her husband a few days, after which she will resume her duties at the hospital. One of the Rensselaer doctors a few days ago made the statement that the Democrat’s reports of the receipts and expenditures of the county hospital month by month is not correct. Now these reports were taken from the books in the county treasurer’s office, which shows the receipts and expenditures by .items and we have published the totals, and these totals are absolutely correct. The total receipts up to December I—since, the hospital was opened, last February—have been $6,619.29 and the expenditures, less $1,024.07 balance paid to Medland Bros, on building contract, have been $12,411.84, making a net deficit tfor the ten months of $5,792.55 —practically S6OO per month. The total cost of the hospital, ground and equipment and operating expenses to Jasper county to December 1, 1917, was $31,639.40, with an income of but $6,619.29. In the

7 RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1917.

figures of expenditures is included, of course, any new equipment that may be added, from time to time, but this is an item of expense and properly belongs in this item, f The Democrat has no desire to place the county hospital or the management in a wrong light before the people, but the latter entitled to know what this institution is costing them and we believe that the individual items of expenditure should be J published the same as are other items which come from thq county revenue. We believe that under the present superintendent the institution is being -managed as economically as possible; that no more efficient person could be secured for the place; but it has not’ for a single month since it was opened been self-sustaining, as shown by the books in the county treasurer’s office, and neither does The Democrat believe that it ever will be self-sustaining. It must be remembered that a great deal of the equipment of this institution was donated by the various lodges and individuals, and that had it all been purchased and paid for out of the county revenue the showing would have been a much greater deficit than that now given.

JASPER COUNTY SOLDIER DEAD

Earl W. Caster of Milroy Township Dies at Camp Taylor. Private Earl W. Caster, only son o)f George W. Caster of Milroy township, is the first Jasper county boy to die jn the service of Uncle Sam. Young Caster died of pneumonia in the hospital at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, at an early hour Wednesday morning, and his body was brought to Rensselaer on the early train from Louisville Thursday morning and taken to the home in Milroy township. The young man had been complaining for three or four days and had not done much of anything during this time. Sunday he was sent to the hospital and his parents were telegraphed Tuesday that he was in a serious condition. They left for Louisville on the 11 o’clock train Tuesday night, reaching there next morning, but it was after 10 o’clock before they were able to get out to the camp, only to be greeted with the sad news on their arrival there that their boy had died at 1 o’clock Wednesday morning. His death was a great shock to the parents, relatives and many friends of the young man, who had left Rensselaer for Camp Taylor with the third contingent Of conscripted men from Jasper county on October 4.

The young man was born in Milroy township December 13, 1895, and was therefore twenty-two years and six days of age at the time of his death. He leaves a father, mother and one sister, Mrs. Virgil Ganders of Rensselaer. The Vfuneral was held from the home of his parents yesterday at 10 o’clock and burial made in the Crockett cemetery southeast of Rensselaer. The bereaved parents, relatives and friends have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community in their affliction.

NOTES FROM COUNTY HOSPITAL

Georgia, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Smith of Barkley township, was brought to the hospital Thursday for treatment. Mrs. Harvey Lowman is taking medical treatment at the hospital. The little month old babe of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Luers of south of town is suffering from pneiSmonia and is being cared for at the hospital. It was a little better yesterday. - Mrs. A. J. Bissenden was able to go to her home Thursday. H. E. Parkinson, who underwent an operation recently, returned to his hpme yesterday. There are now thirteen patients in the hospital.

LATE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS ' . •- December 14, to Mr. and Mrs. iHarve J. Robinson, now of Liberty, Mississippi, a daughter, which has been named Virginia Lea. December 14, to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Bristow of Ilgona, lowa, a son. Mrs. Bristow was formerly Miss Grace Reed of this city.

Sale bills printed while you wait at The Democrat office.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. “ ... SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL in the Nearby Cities and Towns —Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. ACQUIT FRENCH OF MURDER Man Who Shot Ray Elston Was Found “Not Guilty.” Montieello, December 18. —Edward French, charged with the murder of Ray Elston at Brookston on the morning of July 23, was acquitted here this afternoon after the case had been in the hands of the jury three hours. The verdict was announced shortly after 4 o’clock and there was no demonstration. After the verdict had been announced French jumped to liis feet and thanked each of the jurymen as they filed out of the jury box. He then accompanied liis wife and daughter to his home in Brookston, French shot Elston in the former’s soft (lring establishment when the latter refused to leave after being ordered out, and Elston died in a Lafayette” hospital a few hours later.

HALF MILLION DOLLAR ESTATE

Left by the Late John C. Van Natta of Brookston. The will of the late John 0VanNatta of Brookston was filed for probate in White county Tuesday. It disposes of one of the largest estates ever administered upon in White county, consisting of stocks, bonds, money and securities, lands in Indiana and Florida, two apartment buildings in Chicago and $54,000 life insurance. The total value of the estate is over $500,000 and it will pay an inheritance tax of over $5,000. Under the terms of the will all of the real estate and property of the deceased was given to his wife, Mary K. VanNatta, except some bank stock and some other specific bequests. A life estate in IGO acres of land in Round Grove township was given to his brother, Joseph VanNatta of Earl Park. His wife, Mary K. VanNatta, was given seventeen shares of stock in the Bank oif Reynolds and forty-three shares of stock in the Bank of Brookston. His son, John C. Van Natta, Jr., was given eleven shares of stock in the Bank of Reynolds and forty-two shares of stock in the Bank of Brookston. His daughter, Gertrude was given eleven shares of stock in the Bank of Reynolds and twenty-two shares in t.he Bank of Brookston. His daughter, Agnes VanNatta, was given eleven share in the Bank of Reynolds and twenty-two shares in the Bank of Brookston. The special bequests included $2,000 to the American Bible Society founded in New York in 1816, to remain a permanent fund, that organization to have the use of the income only, the fund being known as the Peter It. VanNatta Fund in

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HELPING DEFEAT THE KAISER

Local Patronage Should Be Given the Iroquois Roller Mills. The citizens of Jasper county and adjacent vicinity are beginning to realize that flour, and mighty good flour, too, can be made trom home grown wheat. A glanee at the names on the exchange book at the Iroquois Roller Mill will show that farmers are coming here from all directions and sometimes as far as thirty miles to have their wheat made into flour. John Merritt, bookkeeper at the mill, is authority for the statement that during the last month the mill put out 49,000 pounds of Blue Ribbon flour to the farmer trade alone, and that fully seventyfive per cent of them were “repeat’’ customers. This does not include sales of flour. In addition to their flour business the mill also does an enormous business in feed. They also make other brands of meal and have ea-

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FUTURE PUBLIC SALE DATES The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Thursday, December 27, Elzy Coffey and W. H. Craig, 2 miles northeast of Wheatfield. General sale, including 9 horses, 100 head of hogs, implements, etc. Thursday, December ’27, Mrs. Eva Fred, administratrix, 6 miles south and 2 miles east of Rensselaer. General sale, including 13 horses and mules, 8 head of cattle, shotes, chickens, farm implements, household goods, etc. Thursday, January 10, J. J. Fliginger, 1 miles north and 1 miles east of~ Rensselaer. General sale, including 10 head of cattle, 6 hogs, 6 dozen chickens, farm tools, household goods, etc.

MRS. D. D. ZOOK IS DEAD

Keener Township Lady Died Thursday Night At for Long Illness. Mrs. D. D. Zook of Keener township, who has been in poor health for some time from liver and stomach trouble, passed away at midnight Thursday night, aged thirtysix years, eleven months and twentythree days. She leaves a husband "and two sonsr The funeral will be held at the Barkley church at 2 p. ni. Sunday.

TAX COLLECTOR COMING HERE

Will Be at the Postoflice in Rensselaer January 21-31. In a communication received by The Democrat, Collector of Internal Revenue Peter J. Kruyer announces that a federal income tax collector will be sent into this county on January 21, 1918, and will be here until January 31. He will have his office in the postoflice building in Rensselaer, and will be there every day ready and willing to help persons subject to the income tax make out their returns without any* cost to them for his services. How many income tax payers will there be in Jasper county? * If you can guess how many married persons living with wife or husband who have net incomes of $2,000 or ovpr and how many unmarried (persons with net incomes of SI,OOO or over this year, then you know. The collector of internal revenue estimates that there will be 434 such taxpayers in this county. Returns oif income for the year of 1917 must be made on forms provided for the purpose before March 1, 1918. Because a goon many people don’t understand the law and won’t know how to make out their returns, the government is sending in this officer to do it for them. But the duty is on the taxpayer to make himself known to the government. If he doesn’t make a return as required before March 1 he may have to pay a penalty ranging from S2O to SI,OOO, pay a fine or go to jail. So If you don’t want to take chances on going to jail you had better call on the income tax man. If you are not sure about being subject to the tax ask him and make sure. Whether you see the income tax man or not you must make return if subject to the tax. Of course, persons resident in other counties may, if they want to, come in and see the income tax man while he is in Rensselaer. . The collector suggests that everybody start figuring up now his 'j income and expenses so as to be ready with the figures when the expert arrives. Expenses, however, don’t mean family expenses, money used to pay off the principal of a debt, new machinery, buildings, or anything like that. They mean what you spend in making money—interest, taxes Raid, hired help, amount paid for goods sold, _ seed stock bought for feeding, rent (except your dwelling), etc. Income 1 includes about every dollar you get.

CHANGES IN CITY TEACHERS

Miss Marie Winn of Indianapolis, teacher of the first grade in the city schools, will not return after the holidays, Dan Cuipid having interferred. phe will be married Monday, it is understood, to Mr, Richard A. Rice of Lafayette, who taught in the commercial department last year, and they will reside at Plymouth, where Mr. Rice is now' employed. Her place will be taken by Miss Laoma Aikens of Mt. Comfort, Indiana. Harry Forster, industrial arts teacher, enlisted as a machinist in the aviation section of the army service a few days ago, and his place is to be taken by a young man from Muncie whose name we did not learn.

NEW NOTES BARE LUXBERG PLOT

Germany Planned to Align South America Against U S. TREACHERY TO ARGENTINA Charge at Buenos Aires Promotes Treaty “of Rapprochement” With Chile mul Bolivia. Washington, Dee. 21. —Evidence oi a German plot to align the nations of South America against the United States Is revealed in telegrams sent to Berlin by the notorious Count von Luxhurg, former German charge In Argentina, made public by the state department. In one of the messages Luxburg reports that he induced President Irlgoyen of Argentina to enter Into a secret agreement with Chile and Bolivia, a “mutaul rappronchinent for protection versus North America," and did his utmost to have Peru Included In such an agreement. The German charge’s messages were sent during last July, August and September. All are addressed to Berlin and signed “Luxburg.” The disclosures complete the story of Lnxburg’s Intrigues, which began when the state department gave out the famous “spurlos versenkt” (sink without a trace) messages. They are of Importance, chiefly because of their bearing on various heretofore unexplained activities In South America, and are particularly interestJpg at this time, when Luis Cabrera, ■invoy oi President Carranza of Mexico, In on his way to Argentina to attend a so-called neutrality conference. The correspondence deals largely with efforts made by the German minister to prevent nny rupture of relations with Argentina, and throughout the dispatches there was a wnrnlng tC his government to flatter the Argentinians and to word the note in reply to the Argentine protest agaftist the linking of the steamer Toro in such way us not to offend them. Shows “Insane Cunning." The texts of the messages follow: “July 7, 1917. “Minister foreign affairs, who Is a theatrical person, has shown an Insane cunning In preventing me from having an Interview with the president. He sent me a copy of the note and declared in accordance therewith that Argentina could not consent to all the products of the country being treated as contraband. “The pressure of North America in regard to shipping iron, coal and paper Is great, but not irresistible. What la lacking Is strength of will. "If the president, whose action It la Impossible to foretell, changes ministers a postponement of the crisis, or a settlement Is possible. “If the answer Is unsatisfactory there Is to be a rupture of relations.

“LUXBURG.” South Americans Are Indians. “July 7, 1917. "Our attitude toward Brazil has created the impression here that our easy-going good nature can be counted on. This Is dangerous in South America, where the people, under thin veneer, are Indians. "A submarine squadron, with full powers to me, might possibly save the situation. “I request instructions as to whether after a rupture of relations legation is to start for home or is to remove to Paraguay or possibly Chile. “The naval attuche will doubtless go to Santiago de Chile. “LUXBURG.” American Fleet Coming. “July 19, 1917. “Visit of American fleet (s expected next week, probably for five days. After that a change of ministers is probable. “Recommend delaying answer till end of month and when it is given going fully into the Toro case in language, emphasizing contraband, cruiser warfare, and expressing regret at the necessity for sinking her. “LUXBURG.”. Telia of Wireless Plant. “July 20. “First —Receiving plant erected, according to instructions. When does Nauen send at greatest strength and which Is the wave length? “LUXBURG.” Secret Pact. “August 20, 1917. “The president has at last made up his mind to conclude a secret agreement with Cliile and Bolivia for protection vis-a-vis North America before the conference idea is taken up again. “Saguler, with friendly under-sec-retary of state and full powers, is on his way to Santiago. LUXBURG.” Envoy's Fears Told. “September 1, 1917. “A friendly minister regrets very much the communication made at Berlin to Molina to the effect that telecrarhic Instructions to me were con-

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Vol. XX, No. 75