Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1918 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

$2.00 Per Year

SNOW IS FAS T DISAPPEARING

Rain Monday Night and Yesterday Causes High Water. .Following quite a severe electrical storm Friday night it became several degrees cooler Saturday when the mercury dropped below freezing, but Sunday and Monday were quite warm again and the snow melted fast. However, the melting was gradual and the warmer days of last week had caused the ice in the river to become rotted and considerably broken up before the water raised very much. Monday evening it started in raining, and rain continued to fall all during the night quite regularly and up to about 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. This rain melted the snow rapidly and the river was slightly out of its banks at noon yesterday, with the prospects that it would rise several feet more before the crest was reached. Practically all the ice had passed down stream, however, and the danger of a gorge at the old creamery bridge had passed. It is likely that many basements, especially in the Mak-em-self sewer territory, will be flooded before the water subsides. "Rain or snow and much colder,’* is the prophecy for today. In fact, the mercury had dropped several degrees and was only 8 above freezing as The Democrat went to press.

MRS. TRAUB DIED SATURDAY

Esteemed Lady Falls Victim to Dread Disease Pneumonia. The people of Rensselaer were greatly shocked Saturday alfternoon to learn of the death of Mrs. William Traub, which occurred at the county hospital at 12:45 p. m., after a short illness from pneumonia. Mrs. Traub had been suffering from a severe cold for a few days and Wednesday evening her husband insisted on having a doctor called. Her condition became so bad that she was taken to the hospital Friday morning, and Saturday morning tu?"iiepe of her recovery was abandoned, and she passed away shortly after noon Saturday. The body was at once taken to the home in the west part of town and the entire community mingled their tears with the heart-broken husband and little daughter in their sad affliction. Mrs. Traub had resided in Rensselaer only a few years but had made many friends here and was a splendid Jewish lady.* She leaves a husband, one daughter, aged about ten years, a mother and several brothers and sisters. The funeral was held at the residence on West Washington street at 2:30 yesterday afternoon and was conducted by Rabbi A". K. Messing of Chicago and Rev. Asa McDaniel of the Christian church. Burial will be made later in Weston cemetery. Among the friends and relatives Ifrom out of town who were here to attend the funeral were Mrs. Traub’s mother and brothers, Mrs. Selig and Samuel and Victor Selig of New York City; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Traub off Lincoln, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Simon Traub of Chicago; Mr. R. Fox of Pontiac, Illinois; Mrs. M. R. Strouse of Tomah, Wisconsin; Mr. Tim Schmith of Chattsworth, Illinois; Gertie Spiecel of Chicago; Mr. Guss Strouse of Delevan, Illinois; Mrs. Lafayette of Checotah, Oklahoma; Mrs. Charles Rosser of Dallas, Texas, and Mr. Hoak of Chattsworth, Illinois.

MRS. MARY MATHENA DEAD

Mrs. Mary Mathena, the aged, mother of the Mathena boys of this ’ city, died Sunday morning at her home on North Cullen street. She had been in poor health for the past year and for the past two weeks had been in quite a serious condition. Deceased was born in Lafayette June 22, 1840, and was seventyseven years, seven months and nineteen days old at the time of*her death. Her husband died in 1890. She is survived by four sons and one daughter, Ellis, Elmer and Earl, who reside at home, James of Cherokee, lowa, and Mrs. Lou Muster of this city, also two sisters, Mrs. Bicknell and Mrs. Prior Rowen. Arrangements for the funeral had not been completed,at this writing.

lATK BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS February 3, to Mr. and ‘Mrs. Kenneth Groom of Gary, a son.

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From hi Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomiaed—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. Attorney George E. Hershman of Crown Point was in the city yesterday looking after cases he has in court here. At the regular meeting of the city council Monday evening all members were present except Councilman Waymire. Nothing was done except allow claims. The local conscription board has received the new regulations regarding physical examinations and will resume the examination of registrants in Class 1 today. Yesterday was “call day” in the circuit court and a few attorneys from out of town were in attendance, looking after cases in which they are employed as counsel. Marsh Warner, who was taken to the county hospital last week, remained there only a few days. Uncle Marsh proved a sort of obstrepuous patient and was quite hard to handle, therefore he was sent back home. Attorney John A. Dunlap was home from Fowler over Sunday. He returned there Sunday evening, the evidence in the big damage case of Hoaks vs. C. I. & S. railroad company having been completed last week and arg : ment was made Monday and the case went to the jury late Monday afternoon. Up to yesterday noon a verdict had not been reached. An inquest was held last Friday by Drs. English, Hemphill and Kresler and Justice Dean over the mental condition of Omar C. Iliff, of south of town, who has been stopping over at Watseka, Illinois, for a few weeks and while there became mentally unbalanced. He was declared of unsound mind and application made to take him to Longcliff. Pending the return of the necessary papers he is being cared for at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. U. Iliff.

WEST CARPENTER FARMERS

Will Hold Regular Meeting Next Friday Evening. The West Carpenter Farmers dug will hold their regular meeting Friday evening, February 15. The following program will be given and all are invited. Song, “Old Glory,” William Ott, accompanied by violin. Reading, "How Father Snores," Burrington Jones. Debate —Resolved: That the tenant should feed his share of the crop on the farm, w’hile the landlord sells his on the. market—William Ott and Howard Jones. Reading—-“ Our Boy has Gone to War,” Winona Welch, accompanied by the song, “Just Before the Battle, Mother.” Incubated Chickens vs. Hen Hatched Chickens—-Mr. Snyder of Rensselaer. A good attendance is desired. The South Marion Farmers’ club will not hold its regular meeting for February on account of the fuel shortage at the school house.

NOTES FROM COUNTY HOSPITAL

Harvey Lowman, who recently underwent an operation, was able to go to his home Monday. Mrs. Daniel Boardwell, who has been very sick for some time with pneumonia, is still in quite a serious condition. * Born, to Mr. and Mrs. John Parkinson on Saturday, February 9, a daughter.

Have you secured your motor license for 1918? If not, better delay it no longer. Miss Mabel Nowels, notary public at The Democrat office, has all the necessary application blanks and will fill out and send in the application for you without expense to you aside from the fee to the secretary of state and 25 cents notary fee. Subscribe for The Democrat

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1918

SHOWER FOR MISS DAUGHERTY

A shower was given Thursday evening by Misses Lillian Waling and Ruth Daugherty at the home of the latter in honor of Miss Nora Daugherty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Daugherty, who will be married to Edward Parkinson some time this week. The home was beautifully decorated for the occasion and small hearts wrapped in napkins announced the coming marriage. Many beautiful and useful presents w*ere received by the bride-to-be. Mr. Parkinson is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Parkinson of west of town and is now in training in the aviation corps at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Miss Daugherty, accompanied by her mother, left Monday evening for Kansas City, Kansas, where the marriage will take place shortly after their arrival.

DEATH FOLLOWS PNEUMONIA ATTACK

Alden, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Luers of south of town, who has had a precarious existence since his birth five months and four days ago, having suffered two attacks of pneumonia, died at 4 p. m. Monday as a result of these attacks. The funeral will be held at 2 p. m. today from St. Augustine’s Catholic church, and burial made in Mt. Calvary cemetery south of town.

REPUBLICAN EDITOR IS IN BAD

Caught With the Goods He Attempts to Evade the Issue, The editor of the Republican uses nearly a column and a half of valuable space in NOT telling his readers whether he owns an interest in one or more Rensselaer coal yards or whether he does not, as The Democrat charged. On the other hand, much personal abuse was indulged in and the fact that he was "real mad’’ at having been caught with the goods is evident. The public at this time is not concerned in whether The Democrat man is a horsethief, a bigamist or a counterfeiter. But it is deeply interested in whether or not the editor of the Republican, who has given so much time and such close attention to the coal business, who has defended the hold-up prices here and has “helped the fuel administrator every way he possibly could,’* both with advice and accompanying him to Chicago to see one of the mine agents, is himself interested in a financial way in one or more of the coal yards that might benefit by his “help.’’ Mr. Hamilton doesn’t seem to grasp this fact, and perhaps we should be charitable and charge his lack of acumen up to nature rather than to the man himself. But the public knows this and has known it since The Democrat made the charge, and it is anxiously waiting for a straight answer from him before pronouncing judgment. Yet his evasion is to most everyone an admission that the charge is true. Of course, it is no crime to own an interest in any legitimate business, and it is not the fact of itself that Mr. Hamilton DOES own an interest in the retail coal business here that condemns him in public opinion, for scores of-people would like to own an interest in a business in which so much money has been made as Mr. Hamilton boasts he did make in the few years he was actively engaged in that line. But, still ownihg an interest in the retail coal business, should he attempt to advise and help the fuel administrator in his work or defend’ the excessive profits made here through his paper without telling the people that he had a personal interest in the matter and that the bigger profits made meant just that much more to him —in other words that he was getting his share of these profits? This is a public question, Mr. Hamilton, and it is not prying into your private affairs at all. Your action in defending the excessive profits made here on coal and yotir “unselfish” help to the fuel administrator —who, in justice, we believe knew nothing at the time of your private interest in the matter — makes it a question' In which the public has a right to know. It is up to you to speak out. This is not a personal matter and your undignified resort to personalities in squirming about only makes you

. (Continued on page three)

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Cl J . • Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. I _____ BUT STARKE COUNTY IS "WET” The first robin to be seen in this latitude was observed by the Republican editor and four* other persons' at 8 o’clock this (Wednesday) morning. The welcome harbinger of spring was calling merrily from the top of a tree near the W. A. Pierson home on Lake street. The Lord be praised!—Starke County Republican.

WANT HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTED

L. H. Wright, representing the Indiana Highway commission, .appeared before the board of commissioners on Monday in reference to reconstructing the Lincoln highway through Lake county, which the government has selected as a coast to coast military thoroughfare. Mr. Wright outlined the plan and made it known that the government was ready to expend $35,000 as its share of the improvement this year Ifor its partial completion through the county, but the commissioners rather favor completing the highway all at once instead of by piece-meal and suggested to Mr. Wright that he take steps to secure the full appropriation of $70,000, in order that the work can be completed the coming summer. The commissioners will appropriate a like amount which will be sufficient to improve the highway from Schererville to the Porter county line. In the event that the government will not appropriate the full amount the highway will be only partially built this year. It will be twice its present width and will be constructed of cement, made sufficiently strong to carry the heaviest army trucks. The engineering and construction work will be under the supervision of the highway corn* mission. —Crown Point Star.

RED CROSS BREAKS RECORD

Output of Garments Last Week ■ Passed All Previous Efforts. The Jasper County Red Cross chapter broke all its previous records in last week’s output of garments and surgical dressings. Scrutinize the following list and see what loyal women have accomplished in one week: 28 pairs socks, 17 sweaters, 12 helmets, 14 pairs wristlets, 1 braided rug, 25 suits pajamas, 40 hospital shirts, 10 pairs bed socks, 140 small gauze compresses, 220 large gauze compresses, 80 giauze sponges, 60 gauze strips, 5 3-yard rolls, 15 triangular bandages, 10 T bandages, 15 abdominal bandages, 15 4-tailed bandages, 15 scultetus.

RETAIL COAL PRICES FOR JASPER COUNTY

Linton No. 4 lump, delivered. $6.00 Minchell lump, delivered..... 6.00 Pocahontas lump, delivered... 7.50 Indiana mine run, delivered.. 5.50 Anthracite, nut, delivered.... 9.50 Anthracite, egg, delivered.... 9.25 Eastern coal, delivered. ..... 7.25 Brazil block, delivered....... 6.75 Deduct 50 cents per ton from each of the above prices where coal is purchased at bin and delivery is made by purchaser. The above prices have been fixed by the county fuel administrator and any charges in excess of the above mentioned prices should be reported to him. B. F. FENDIG, County Fuel Administrator.

FARM AND STOCK AT AUCTION

• I will offer at public sale on February 15, my farm of 160 acres, well improved and yvell kept up by stock. It is not a run-down farm. I will also offer horses, cattle, hogs and farm implements. For terms on farm write me or Fred Phillips, Rensselaer, Ind. —J. W. FAYLOR.

FANCY PRODUCE MARKET.

February 11. —Get the top price. Bring us your produce. We are paying today the following prices; Eggs, 45c; hens, 22c; springs, 22c; old roosters, 12c; ducks and geese, 17c; turkeys, 18c to 23c; butterfat, 50c. Have some duck and goose feathers for sale. Our place of business will be closed on Mondays until further notice. —C. E. PRIOR.

FUTURE PUBLIC SALE DATES The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Wednesday, February 13, Ernest Asher, 1 mile east and 1 mile south of Wheatfield. General sale, including 13 horses, 19 head of cattle, 21 hogs, chickens and ducks, 200 bushels seed oats, corn, farm tools, etc. Thursday, February 14, Ira Brown; on the Welsh Bros, farm, 6 miles south and % mile west of Rensselaer. General sale, including horses, cattle, hogs, a whole lot of nearly new implements, etc. Thursday, February 14, O. P. Braddock, 3 miles north of Gifford. General sale, consisting of 9 head of horses, 7 head of cattle, 16 hogs, chickens, ducks, 'farm Implements, some /household goods, etc, Friday, February 15, J. W. Faylor, 9 miles north and 1% miles west of Rensselaer. General sale, including 8 horses, 70 head of cattle, 18 head of hogs, farm tools, etc. Tuesday, February 1.9, E. L. & C. A. Fidler, executors’ sale, miles east off Rensselaer, on Pleasant Ridge road. General sale, including 7 horses, 43 head of cattle, hogs, chickens, stack of straw, farm implements, etc. Thursday, February 21, Norval Osburn, 4 miles east and 1 mile north of Moody. General sale, including 8 horses, 35 head of cattle, hogs, farm tools, etc. Friday, February 22, Otha Spriggs, 3 miles west of Gifford. General sale, including horses, cattle, hogs, chickens, geese, implements, 75 bushels of seed oats, some corn in crib, etc. Saturday, February 23, K. Zillhart, 5 miles north and 2 miles east of Rensselaer. General sale, including horses, cattle, 200 chickens, Studebaker automobile, farm tools, some household goods, hay, potatoes, etc. Thursday, February 28, J. W. Phares and N. Selby, on the H. O. Harris farm, 6 miles west of Rensselaer. Big general sale, including 19 horses and colts, 25 head of cattle, 35 head of hogs, a large number of farm implements, hay, grain, etc.

AGED LADY PASSES AWAY

luist Member of One of the Early Pioneer Families. Mrs. Alena Riley, perhaps the oHdest person in Jasper county, died at the home off her daughter, Mrs. Monroe Oarr, Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, death being due to old age. Mis. Riley was born in Ireland in April, 1823, and was therefore nearly ninety-six years old at the time'of her death. When a young woman Mrs. Riley came to the United States and some years later with her husband located on a farm in Barkley township, where they lived for a number of years. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Riley had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Monroe Carr, in the west part of town. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Hyatt Of Muncie. The funeral was held Monday morning at 9 o’clock at St. Augustine’s church and burial made in Mt. Calvary cemetery south of town. The death of Mrs. Riley removes the last member of five Irish families that came here in 1854, and stuck together. They first located in Vermont after reaching America, later locating at Bainbridge, Indiana, and from there came to Jasper county. The heads of the families were Edward Riley, Michael Shea, Miichael Brusnahan, John Ryan and Thomas and Patrick Murphy. When the first came here they worked at ditching the old Beaver lake in Newton' county for the second time —the first time it was ditched the work was done by Stephen Clifford, for whom Stephen Brusnahan of near Parr was named. They did the work for George W. Spitler and received, as near as The Democrat can learn, 50 per cent in land, 25 per cent in cash and 25 per cent in trade at the store. Edward Riley died in Barkley township at the age of fortyfive years, and his widow never remarried. The other families—or the older members, rather —have all long since passed to their reward.

DENTIST HORTON uses Novocain for the painless extraction of teeth. No additional charge for extracting when for plates. I make plates of any kind. Work guaranteed. Office opposite court house square.—J. W. HORTON. m-1 NOTICE All .lodge rooms in the I. O. O. F. building will hereafter be heated as usual for all regular lodge meetings.- ABOARD OF TRUSTEES, f-13

RUSSIANS TURN AGAINST ALLIES

Prove Trailers to Those Who Tried Io Help Them. GERMAN PROPAGANDA WINS Probably Means the Helense of a Million and a Half German Soldiers and Prisoners of War. London, February 11.—-A German government wireless dispatch received here this evening confirms dispatches received from Amsterdam during the day that Russia has ordered a cessation of- war and the demobilization of the Russian armies on all fronts. A dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph (from Amsterdam, says: “There is great enthusiasm in Germany over the reported end of the state of war between the central powers and Russia. Cities every where pre beflagged, and there is much rejoicing over Trotzky’a unconditional surrender. It has been arranged that the central economic commission now in Petrograd shall settle the details of the resumption of relations between Russia and the central powers.’’

Although no formal treaty has yet been signed between the Russians and the central powers the Bolshevikl government has ordered a cessation of hostilities by the Russians against Germany, AustriaHungary, Turkey and Bulgaria, and the withdrawal of Its troops from the trenches and fortified positions from the Baltic sea to the Roumanian frontier. It long had been foreseen that such an outcome eventually would follow upon the revolutionary movement in Russia, where for nearly a year civil strife and 1 war weariness generally proved most potent factors in weakening the battle front. Long ago the enemy forces began thrr'withdrawal of troops (from this front, and virtually only a handful of them have been faced by Russians there. Rumania in Dire Peril. Peace having been effected both by the Russians and Ukrainians with the Teutonic allies, the situation of Rumania becomes a most critical one. Entirely cut off now from her allies the Rumanians apparently are faced with the absolute necessity of effecting a separate peace or being overrun by superior enemy armies. Nothing has as yet come through to show whether another Rumanian cabinet to take the place of the one which resigned last week has been formed or whether any reply has been made ot the ultimatum of the central powers that peace negotiations should be immediately started. As bad been anticipated, the terms of peace between the Ukraine and the central powers contain the much desired clause providing for the immediate entering into economic relations between the contracting parties by which Austria and Germany may obtain much desired foodstuffs.-" Guns Roaring in Italy. On the various battle fronts, except that in northern Italy, operation by small patrols and artillery duels are in progress. On the Italian front enemy forces have heavily bombarded Italian positions and delivered attacks with infantry in the Frenzela valley region and on the new Italian positions on Monte Vai Bella, Col Del Rosso and Massasso Bosso. In all of the attacks the enemy was repulsed by the Italian batteries.

Almost simultaneously with the announcement by the Bolsheviki government that Russia is out off tho war and that a general demobilization along the entire Russian front is to be caried out, thus permitting the Teutonic allies to withdraw all their forces for use on other battle fronts, President Wilson has restated to a joint session of congress the fact that the United States is in the war to stay until those principles, which the people regard as fundamental to a permanent peace, are obtained. Our Whole Strcfngthh. "Our whole strength,” said the President, “will be put into this war of emancipation'—emancipation from

(Continued on page three)

Vol. XX, No. 91