Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1918 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

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“A STRENUOUS LIFE” INDEED

Was that of the Student Depicted in the’ Annual Class Play. "A Strenuous Life/’ was the title of the play given at the Gaiety airdome Friday and Saturday evenings by the Senior class of the Rensselaer high school, and the piece measured up to its name in every respect. The production was built around college life and was full of heart Interest and merriment, and each part was so well handled as to bring forth many favorable comments. While the piece may have been a trifle far-fetched in some respects, it was never-the-less quite true to life, depicting the trials and tribulations of the nfodern student who is wont to forget the more serious phases of life until it 's too late Co retrench. Taken all in all, the production was on a par with any previojisly produced and mantains the high standard established by previous graduating classes.

WILL GET BUSY VERY SOON

Says Contractor for Rensselaer Street Improvements. Township Trustee A. S. Keene of Wheatfield, who was in town Monday attending the county hoard of. education meeting, informed The' Democrat that he expected to get busy and complete his Rensselaer street contracts very shortly. He said that the Monon stone plant had been dismantled and he did not know where he could get stone to ( ship in, but that he was going to lease the crusher at the Conrad Kellner place at the south side of town and get out the rock at that quarry for the completion of these contracts. He said that he had. about two weeks work yet on a ditch contract up about Demotte, but that he expected to have everything in readiness here to go to .work as soon as he finished up there. I This will certainly be goods news . to Rensselaer and especially to peo-j ’’•'pie residing on the streets that are. to be improved.

ORGANIZATION OF CHILD WELFARE WORK STARTED

The work of organizing the county for carrying on the child welfare work under the auspices of the county council of defense was begun Saturday afternoon. A committee representative of the various pro-. sessions and callings that have to; do with the various phases of child life was called by the county chairman, Mrs. J. I. Gwin, and the fol- • lowing members were present: Mrs. Ora T. Ross, representing the county council of defense; Dr. F. H. ( Hemphill, county health officer; -Miss Hemphill, superintendent of the county hospital; Miss Ryan, of the county hospital; Miss Simpson,* of- the Monnett school, and Mrs. R. ( L. Budd, chairman of Union township. To this committee also belong ex-officio the judge of the circuit court, the secretary of the board of children’s gtiardians, the probation officer, city health officer, the county and city superintendents of schools, and physician and nurse who will volunteer some service for the improvement and wellbeing of the children of our county. It was planned to appoint a chairman in each township who would in turn select a helper' in each school district, so that information may be distributed to even the remotest parts of the county.

JASPER COUNTY SOLDIER IS WOUNDED

The name of “Albert H. Rosing, Wheatfield, Ind.,” appeared tn the American casualty list issued from Washington May 6, as among the slightly wounded. Young Rosing was employed by the Northern in-, diana Land company on their ranch near Demotte and was among the volunteers from this county. He is a native of Holland, is 24 years old and unmarried. The Clifford H. Ogle of Idaville, mentioned elsewhere as among the severely wounded, is a former resident of Milroy township, Jasper county.

COMMENCEMENT NOTICE. Owing to the lage class and the demand for tickets for the commencement exercises to be held at the high school auditorium last night, the place of holding the same was changed to the Christian church, which has a larger seating capacity.

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Intonstlnt hnpphs Frem till Various DtpafimMts OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. “Commodore” O’Connor was down from Kniman Saturday. —s a— John Shirer of Kankakee township yas a business visitor in the sCity Saturday. Former Judge T. F. Palmer of Monticello was in Rensselaer on business Saturday. Myrt B. Price of near Remington was shaking hands with old friends in Rensselaer Saturday. Miss LaVerne Geyer, accompanied by Miss Helen Kessinger, went to South Bend Saturday and spent Sunday with her parents. At the meeting of the county board of education Monday (’. M. Sands was elected county truant office rto succeed C. B. Steward, who has held the office for several years.

Marriage licenses issued: May 3, Walter Peer of Hamlet, Indiana, aged 27 July 3 last, farmer, and Louise Catherine Lake of Kniman, aged 26 April 5 last, teacher. First marriage for each. In response to an official call recently Solomon Yoder and Fermon A. Schultz, both of Union township, left yesterday on the 1:57 train for Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, where they will receive training in the U. S. army service. At the special meeting of the county council Monday, petitions signed by hundreds of taxpayers of the county were presented asking the council to appropriate $7,500 through the county council of defense to pay Jasper County’s allotment in the present Red Cross drive, and the council made such appropriation. At the last meeting of the county council of defense the secretary was directed to extend an invitation to Michael E. Foley, chairman of the state council of defense, to make an address here. A resolution was adopted also urging the passing by congress the bill now pending extending the franking privilege to state and county councils of defense. The council also endorsed the drive of the K. of C. to raise their allotment of $2,000 in Jasper county. =■ Unless later reports change the standing of counties in the Third Liberty loan drive, Jasper county will stand second, the per cent of our over subscription being 250 of the quota of $170,000. Dearborn county stands' first with 270 per cent; Lake Newton sixth, 199 per cent; Porter twelfth, 164 per cent; Benton fifteenth, 159 per cent; White thir-ty-second, 139 per cent; Pulaski, fifty-eighth, 109 per cent, and Starke sixty-eighth with 100 per cent. Charles Marlin, charged with shooting at with intent to kill Nightwatch Frank Critser, is still confined in jail. It was practically arranged to turn him loose and send him to the military service, but objection was made by some to this procedure of filling up the army with men charged with crime, and the matter is now held up and it is probable he will have to lay in jail all summer, until the Sei»tember term of court. Something should have been done with Marlin before our term of court ended. Tn the Democrat’s mention of this shooting affray in Saturday’s Democrat, we stated that the trouble first started at the Central garage, when it should have read the Main garage. The county commissioners met in regular session Monday but did not finish up all the business of the term and, as yesterday was the psii .... -

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THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1918

GUARD BATTALION COMPLETED

Fourth Company for Jasper County Organized Sunday. The organization of the “Fourth Provisional Company, Jasper County Liberty Guard,” was completed Sunday by the election of officers. The new company completes the formation of a battalion for Jasper county, putting us “over the top’’ in things military as well as in other war activities. The new company starts out with about sixty members and bids fair to keep pace with the three companies previously organized. The following officers were elected: Captain, Max Kepner; first lieutenant, Rex D. Warner; second lieutenant, Lesley Miller. J. M. Sauser, county organizer, whose efforts made possible the new company, was unanimously chosen drillmaster, and Friday evening of each week at 8 o’clock designated for the regular drill. ■ >

STRUCK IN EYE BY STAPLE

Orbin Warne Receives Injury in Peculiar Manner. Orbin Warne, youngest son of Drayman F. E. Warne and wife, had his right eye badly injured Friday evening. Young Warne was hauling rock for Road Superintendent W. 8. Parks and with some of the other men stopped at the Bell I Center school house just north of town to get a drink. In trying to .climb through the barbed wire fence I the wires were top close together to 'allow them to crawl through and Orbin kicked the lower wire to loosen it, when a staple which held the wire in place flew out and struck him squarely in the right eye, the prongs sticking in the eye ball on each side of the pupil. The staple was pulled out by Jake Gilmore and others who were there with him and he was brought to town by Leo Worland, who hap- [ pened along just at that time, and taken to the county hospital. He is resting quite easy now and the doctors think there are hopes of saving the eye sight, as the pupil was not penetrated.

HELD LAST MEETING FRIDAY

A called meeting of the Ladies’ Literary club was held at the library auditoruim Friday afternoon for the purpose of transacting some unfinished business and receiving the delayed report of the delegates to the district meeting held at Hammond a few weeks ago. Mrs. J. D. Allman and Mrs. Clara Andrus, the two delegates, gave a most interesting account of the Hammond meeting, declaring it to be the most, inspiring and helpful one of its kind they had ever attended. The committee having the picture show benefit in charge was enlarged, and a committee of which | Mrs. H. E. Hartley is chairman was, appointed to conduct a market, the proceeds of these endeavors being to buy a bond and help in the support of a French orphan adopted by' the club and for which fund each member is asked to contribue $L Those who were not present at Fri-

day’s meeting are asked to hand their donations to Mrs. J. B. Fleming at their earliest convenience, that 'one more little child of the warstricken country of France may be [helped to maintain life. It is hoped ' that not a single member will be indifferent to this call. Mesdames S. P. milliard and M. L. Sterrett were elected to membership. The programs for next year, which have been prepared by the woman’s committee of the National Council .of Defense, were distributed. The outlines and materials for these subjects may be obtained- at the , public library by any one who wishes to prepare their work during the 'summer vacation. I

ATTENTION, WAR MOTHERS.

To the War Mothers of Marion township, there will be a meeting at the M. E. church Saturday afternoon, May 11, at 2 o’clock, and you are urged to be present. Miss Faye Crooks of Neodesha, Kansas, will render several vocal selections, and there will also be a reader and selections on ths pipe organ by | Mrs. M. D. Gwin. —Advt.

THE COMMUNITY AUTOMO-

BILE SUPPLY COMPANY of Rensselaer, Indiana, will sell you a guaranteed tire for $1 profit each. Any sixe. Also gasoline at 1 cent per gallon profit—Advt ts

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. FARMERS’ TELEPHONE CO. WINS The Farmers’ & Merchants’ Cooperative Telephone Co. of Boswell has been granted by a decision of the Public Service commission, handed down yesterday, the right to unrestricted use of all lines of the I. U. T. & T. Co., the Central Union Co., —all the Bell lines —-through its exchange at Freeland Park and outside the town of Boswell. The commission held that no public carrier can discriminate against any person or* any other carrier.—Benton County Republican.

K. OF C. WAR DRIVE ON IN EARNEST.

Sunday was the opening day of the Knights of Columbus war drive. Reports from the local committees show that on the opening day SBSO was subscribed. The drive will continue until next Sunday, May 12, and throughout the week the official committees will make a complete canvass of the county and intend putting Jasper "over the top’’ as has been done in all the other drives. Everyone should help this worthy cause. The Jasper county council of defense by motion unanimously carried endorsed the effort of the Knights of Columbus to raise $2,000 in this county for their war relief fund, and the council urges all citizens to co-operate with the organization aid all our peoplo contribute to said fund. Therefore when you “are solicited do your bit, give. When vou help the K. of C. war fund you are helping America win the war. xx

NOTES FROM COUNTY HOSPITAL

i Bert Overton, who has been in quite poor health for some time, entered the hospital yesterday for medical attention. A daughter was born at the hospital to Mr. and Mrs. James Karp of Monticello Monday. Dollie, the little 9-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carey Low- ' man, was brought to the hospital Sunday suffering from pneumonia. Addison Burton, who underwent an operation recently for appendicitis, was able to go to his home ' near Brook yesterday. I Mrs. Stewart Learning is getting along nicely from her recent operation. Wilbert Mackey is getting along nicely from his recent operation for appendicitis. > Howard Green's condition remains about the same. We ask those wishing to visit friends at the hospital to please 1 time their calls so as to come during visiting hours. Quite liberal 1 hours have been arranged for such 'visits and it is necessary that we j adhere to them, in order to give the care and rest that sick folks comd to the hospital for, and ’have a right to expect. In behalf of the sick we kindly ask you to remember this. The visiting hours are 10 to 11 a. m., 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 I p. m.—SUPERINTENDENT.

LADIES COMMITTEE APPOINTED

To Assist in the Knights of Columbus Campaign Drive. Rensselaer—lst district, Nell Drake and Pauline Hordeman; 2nd district, Mrs. Jos. Hallagan and Mrs. Ed. Lane; 3rd district, Mrs. Ed. Kanne and Mrs. John Marynell; 4th district, Mrs. L. Harmon and Mrs. C. Kellner; sth district, Mrs. John Eigelsbach and Mrs. Frank Kresler; 6th district, Mrs. Ed. Lane and Inez Kiplinger; 7th district, Luella Robinson and Jane Parkinson; Bth district, Mabel Worland and Mary Wagner; 9th district, Mrs. Vern Jacks and Pauline Marion —Mrs. John Martin, Mrs. Harvey Messman and Angella Kolhoff. Other parts of county—Mrs. Geo. Eck, Mrs. John Kolhoff, Alice Ryan, Mrs. Overy Waymire, Mrs. Tom Walter, Mrs., J. E. Murphy, Josephine Thomas, Mrs. Pinter and Mrs. M. Jungles.

DIED WHILE SITTING IN CHAIR

End Came Suddenly for Mrs. Lucy Clark Last Friday Evening. Mrs. Lucy Clark died Friday evening about 6 o’clock at the home of Mrs. Winona Dunlap on Weston street. Mrs. Clark had been in very poor health for several years, but had been about as usual and her death at this time was quite a shock, she having been found dead in her chair when she was called to supper. Deceased was born in Ohio May 6, 184 0, being seventy-seven years, eleven months and twenty-seven days of age at the time of her death. Her husband died about thirty-two years ago. She is survived by two sons, James Clark of this city and Wilson Clark of Emporia, Kansas, and one sister, Mrs. Robert Yeoman of this city. The funeral services were held at the home of James Clark on Weston street Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock, services being conducted by Rev. J. Budman Fleming of the Presbyterian church, and burial made in Weston cemetery Monday, the burial being delayed on account of her son Wilson not reaching here in time for the funeral.

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Another Letter Front Corporal Leatherman. David Leatherman received another letter Monday from bis son, Carrol W. Leatherman, the first conscripted soldier in Jasper county, which we are permitted to publish in full: * On active service with the American Expeditionary Force, Somewhere in France, April 17, 1918. / Dear Father and All: Well, I will make another effort to write you. This is the third letter I have written and have not got mailed. Each time I have changed places or somethlhg hindered me from mailing thehi. I was assigned to the 163 infantry, but before any one goes to the trenches they give them an examination. I had an examination -of my feet, resulting about the same as when I was first examined; was rejected for active service for the present at least. The rest of the bunch I as with left the 163 Inf. yesterday for the trencher, of course in the rear lines. But about ten or twelve of us were rejected and gent to another camp. That is where I am now. I don’t know what they will do' with me, but suppose I will be put in some kind of a place where I will not have to be on my feet so much, unless I jfet able to perform the duties of a soldier soon. My feet are not much worse than they have been, but they bother me in long marches pretty bady. I have seen and talked with several U. S. soldiers that have been to the front and sent back becauseof wounds, mostly of gas. That seems to be the* worst thing they have to contend with. You often hear of sunny France, but I have not seen much sunshine since I have been here. It has been rainy nearly all the time and cloudy. This will be the second Jetter I have sent you. Since I first wrote I have travelled a long way on both land and water. You ought to get my other letter soon now if nothing happens to it. (This letter was received O. K. and was recently I published in The Democrat.) I I will have to say that the U. S. are treated real good here. The French people are very friendly and will do most anything for them. It seemed strange to me at first not to be able to talk to them or understand them. Maybe if I am here long enough I will learn to talk to them. Well, there isn’t much that I can write. We have plenty to eat and I am O. K. so don’t worry about me. With best wishes I am as ever, Your son, Cpl. Carroll W. Leatherman. Co. I, 163 Inf., A. E. F., France, A. P. O. 727.

Vern Davisson Writes from the । Battle Front.

' Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Davisson have received the following letter from their son Vern, who is with the French forces as an ambulance driver. Vern also sent them a certificate of his appointment to something in this unit, but as our French vocabulary is somewhat limited we will not try to say what it is. The letter follows: Frontier, April 1, 1918. Dear Father and Mother: Owing to the fact that this Is April fool day I will fool you and | write a letter. I The allies hawe the •Boche" stopped now and I guess the worst |is yet to come,* if so, let it come and be over with. This is probably the last big battle, except'the. one the Huns are preparing for on the Italian front. It’s ill off with the

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Vol. XXI, No. 11

GERMANS ARE PUSHED BACK

On Morlancourt Line By the Australian Forces. ALLIES ADVANCE 3-4 MILE As Result of Two Assaults Allies Have Advanced Three-Quarters of a Mile—Canadians Reinforce British in Arras Sector. With the American Forces on the French Front, May 6.-—The Germans launched a heavy gas attack against the American troops on the Picardy front during the night. Early in the evening they sent over 15,000 shells, composed chiefly of mustard gas, within a brief period. These shells were followed by an intense artillery iflre at midnight, several hundred gas shells being dropped into the American lines.

Australian and Canadian troops are in action on the British lines along the vital sectors pf the battle front in France. The, Australians have struck the Germans near Morlancourt, between the Ancre and Somme rivers, east of Amiens, and have advanced their lines upward of three-qparters of a mile as a result of two assaults on the Teutonic positions. Hold Important Line. The Canadians have appeared in the Arras sector, further south than they have been since the battles in this region began March 21. This part of the line is most Important, as it defends Arras to the southwest, and includes localities such as Neuville-Vltasse, Mercatel and Boisleaux-St. Mare, there has been bitter struggles si bee the Germane launched their great offensive. Italian Front Duiet. Along the rest of/ the front in France there have been no engagements of unusual ynaracter, nor has the Italian Wont been attacked as yet by the Austrians who have assembled there. The British forces which have been holding the town of Es-Sault, east of the Jordan and northeast, of Jeriobo, for about a week, have been compelled again to abandon the place before superior forces of Turkish and German troops. The British, however, are, still maintaining their control of the crossings of the Jordan further south. Allies Hold Vantage. From the pffleial reports and special dispatches filed by correspondents at the front, there come intimations that heavy fighting may be resumed at any time. The fact that heavy rains are falling may have a great deal to do with the delay in the German drive, but the allies IhoJd high ground from which they can observe the German positions, which are generally in the and have kept up a heavy artillery Are in sectors where the Germans hawe been assembling or have been at work in bringing up guns for the battle which is virtually, certain to come.

Expect Triple Attack. There is a feeling along the French front that the Germans may attack in the Ypres, Arras and Amiens sectors at the same time. These blows, while carried on independently, would really be phases of a new attempt to cut through the high ground to the southwest of Ypres. ■ It has been pointed out by observers that an attack on the Arras sector, either on the apex between Arras and Lens, or on the sides of the allied lines as they stretch back from those citiefj must come before the Germans can hope to carry their advance in either Flanders or Picardy much further. It is reported that heavy forces are being assembled before Arras for the expected attack. Little news relative to the internal situation in Austria has come over the cables, but from Serbian sources it is learned that on at least two occasions there have been fights between the Slovenian population of that, countfry and the Germans. The methods by which the German military authorities have dealt with the Ukrainians have been denounced in both Berlin and Vienna by socialist leaders. . ,