Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 41, Number 76, 8 February 1916 — Page 1

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HOME EDITION ho:.ie EDrnon VOL. XLI, NO. 76- E2SS?Jrtim n'mm RICHMOND, IN P., TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 8, 1916. SINGLE COPY, 2 CENTS

JEBESSITV OF ELECTION RAISED in COUNEGTION WITH PURCHASE DEAL

An ordinance recently -passed by council at a special session authorizing the city to obtain a temporary loan of a sum not to exceed $85,000 to be applied toward the purchase of the electric . plant of the Richmond Light, Heat & Power company, is illegal in the opinion of attorneys representing Richmond banking concerns. They are prepared to advise the banks not to participate in such a loan."' ; : - :- 1

. Clark Raises Question. Judge Clark of the Indiana Public Utilities commission has also intlma ted that council has no authority to authorise the proposed loan. He holds that under the state law the government of the City of Richmond proba bly will have to secure authority to obtain such a loan direct from the citizens at an election. He points out that the legal stumbling block for Continued On Page Eleven. COOK ACCEPTS PAPERS FILED BY CANDIDATES That Secretary of State Cook had acknowledged the receipt of the declarations of candidacies of himself and Denver Harlan, both of whom are aspirants for the Republican nomination as prosecuting attorney for Wayne county, was the statement made today by Frank Strayer. Strayer, Harlan and Ralph Ranck, all three of whom were seeking the O. O. P. nomination as prosecutor, by mistake filed their declarations with the county clerk Instead of with the secretary of state, and their error was not detected until late Saturday afternoon, the last day for the filing of declarations. Strayer and Harlan hurried to . Indianapolis and shoved their declarations under the door of the office of the secretary of state when they found that office closed, and this procedure took place In the presence of witnesses. Ranck was not In Richmond 1 Saturday and was unable to file his declaration with the secretary of state. Some Richmond attorneys are of the opinion that whether the actual act of placing declarations In the office of the secretary of state constitutes a filing of the same, will have to be ruled upon by the attorney general. . ,

CITY MANAGER SYSTEM ADVISED FOR RICHMOND BY OFFICER OF DAYTON

"Gentlemen you'll have to fight to get It and after you get it woull have to fight to keep It But go after It because you need it. Place Richmond among the best cities of the country." With these words, J. M. Switzer, a departmental head of the city managership form of government of Dayton, Ohio, concluded an earnest, forceful and interesting half-hour's address before the 12-6 club at a noon luncheon today in the Y. M. C. A. He urged that Richmond adopt the managership plan of municipal control.. Discusses Advantages. Mr. Swltcer's address was confined to the advantages, material, financial and personal which have accrued to the Ohio city since its institution of this form of civic management. He touched upon pertinent matters to each of the five departments, pointing out the success which had been achieved in each one. "The city form of government is based upon the same plan with which Industries through their board of directors and able managers get effic ient results," Mr. Switzer said. "The chief function of the city gov COUNTY AGENT DEMAND GROWS WITH RENEWAL

Fanners throughout the county are demanding that arrangements be made ' for the employment of an agricultural a cent as soon as possible. .In order to

brine the movement to a focus a pe titlon will be circulated within a short time asking the county board of education to recommend the appointment of an agent and asking the county council to approve the recommendation when made. Th. mioaHnti of the county agent appointment has been taken up by the Better Farming association, wnicn was organized three years ago under A. D. Cobb, the former expert. This organ ization, an officer said today,. is far from being dead. "Wayne county is falling behind In the county agent work, and we are not taking advantage of our opportunities," said H. B. Macy of Dalton township, president of the association. "Woyne county should be securing state aid for this work like other counties are doing. Even though the former agent was here only a comparatively short time great good was accomplished." i

COUNTY SETS TO SELECT

Agreeing that steps would be taken Immediately in making preliminary plane for the south side bridge and that work would undoubtedly be started In 1916, the county commissioners, after .' viewing ' the proposed sites for the structure, retired Into executive session late Monday afternoon and reported that next Saturday morning they would go on record In fixing the location of the bridge. County Bridge Engineer Mueller will be instructed at that time to go ahead with the plans for the bridge and to secure figures on the approximate cost at the various locations. " Pavor South Q Street. !

South G street Is favored by all of the commissioners, it is understood, and Questions affecting this location were given most consideration yesterday. The west approach to a bridge at this site will be outside the city limits and introduces legal entanglements regarding damages and benefits. A road would have to be built leading to the bridge, the land be purchased and legal action result from the condemnation. County Attorney Hoelscher advised the commissioners that he believed the benefits resulting from building a bridge would far offset the damages. It is probable that a petition will be prepared asking the city to in elude the territory around the west approach to the proposed bridge within the city limits. This action Till eliminate many legal questions, it is believed. .. J. Henry E. Bode, chairman of the committee from the Souti Side Improvement association and John Reed, chairman of the South West Improvement association committee, accompanied the commissioners to the site but made no suggestions. County Bridge Engineer Mueller believes that the South E street location is impractical because the approaches are bad. ; ernment Is look after the welfare of the people, their health, comfort, hap piness, safety and well-being. "Our city charter provides for the Initiative, Referendum and Recall, business-like system of the city's accounting, a continuance audit, the budget plan and a public hearing on each budget. "No bonds are issued for the pay ment of the city's weekly and dally operations. They are Issued, however, for improvements. "The establishment of the PurchasContinued On Page Eight. DR. KERR CRITICISES INDIFFERENT PERSONS ON CHURCH ROSTER "There are some people whose names are on the church records. They might as well be on fence post3 for all the good they do the preacher," as serted the Rev. H." W. Keer in his re vival sermon to an audience o 250 per sons at the Grace Methodist church last night. Women of the church attended last night's services in a body. Tonight the men are expected to attend the brotherhood services. Programs of musical numbers by the church chorus and orchestra will be features of the services. Announcements of the following prayer services to be held Wednesday afternoon, were made: Miss Georgetta. McWh'inney, .22 South - Fourteenth streets; Mrs. I J. Craig, 207 North Seventh street; Mrs. L. E. Turner, 104 North Twenty-first street; the Misses Cole, 42 South Tenth street; Mrs. Ora Martin, 425 Richmond avenue; Mrs. O. H. Wilson, 417 Kinsey street: Mrs. John D. Deem, 143 Bridge street. MAENUERCHOR GOES TO ANNUAL CONCERT Preliminary arrangements for the participation .of the Richmond Maennerchor in the annual Tri-State Sangerbund, wnicn will be. held in Cincin nati on Decoration day, will be begun soon by the local organization.

SATISFIED

WITH LUSITAIIIA CASE SETTLEMENT WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. Following a conference between Secretary Lansing and President Wilson at the white house this morning the announcement was seml-officially made that "the Lusitania situation looks very favorable." It was added that an early settlement of the entire controversy Is expected. Immediately upon " the conclusion of the conference the secretary of state and President Wilson went from the white house to the executive offices to attend the cabinet meeting. It was believed that a formal announcement would be made after the cabinet meeting. . . -. . : st -. .. .... SATURDAY BRIDGE SITE RUSHES ACTION IN CONGRESS ON DEFENSE PLAN WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. The administration's preparedness program is to be sent through congress at record speed. The opposition to the measure to place the country in a state of perfect defense will be steam rolled. The advocates of Immediate efficiency in the army and navy have at last discovered that they have the votes. And, spurned on by pressure from the white house, the naval and army bills are to be whipped into shape and pressed for action in the very near future. President Wilson was admittedly very much pleased by the demonstration of non-partisanship that, marked yesterday's passage. through the house of the bills' Increasing; the number "of cadets at Annapolis and making funds available to modernize Mare island and Brooklyn navy yards. v? He has all along realized that many Republican votes would be needed to overcome the. opposition of the south ern Democrats who have aligned themselves with the little army and navy men. Yesterday's demonstration has convinced him that the opposition was weaker than had been assumed, and he will exert all pressure possible to get his defense program through. FORMER GOVERNOR OWNS BALL TEAM rvo r. tvx&sfix executive trammg in running a state seems to be a prelude to executive work in baseball. The first great example, is of course, John K. Tener, president of the National League, who was -elected to that office while still governor of Pennsylvania. Now it is announced that David I. Walsh, former governor of Massachusetts, is vicepresident of the Braves under the new organization. Walsh owns a large share of the stock in the club. DID KNAPP ARRIVE AT STATE PRISON ? What has become of Ben Abbott? That is the guestion Sheriff Steen is asking himself, as he has not heard from Abbott, who is guard of prisoners on the roads, since he left Richmond last Tuesday with Arch Knapp, of Hagerstown, sentenced to the state prison at Michigan City. Abbott was accompanied by his faithful dog, and the sheriff said today that, he fears that he has been taken for a prisoner and taken into custody. Steen hasn't , heard from the state prison , authorities whether or not Knapp arrived there. ,

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Judge Gray is Peeved AAA " AAA AAA AAA AAA AAA. Lontz Assails Tactics

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A character without which no Democratic rally in the Sixth district is a complete success is -Judge George Gray of Connersville. The Judge moves about softly on rubber heels. He wears the long hair of the old school politician; a Jim Watson slouch hat. His face is shrewd, and crafty eyes peer from deep set sockets. He is cautious in speech. He will answer all questions -vaguely after ascertain ing the name, address and occupation of his questioner. And the Judge dotes on politics. If there are no Dempcratic meetings to attend he will attend a Republican or a Progressive rally and enjoy himself. ; : Of course the Judge attended the Democratic meeting held in the Coliseum last night. But for once in his WANT CROSSING GATE AT NORTH D STREET Need of gates at the North D street crossing of the C. & O. railroad to provide greater safety for pe destrians and vehicles was called to the attention of the city council by the committee on. public corporations last night. The committee's recommendation that the board of; works obtain the installation of these gates with assistance of the city attorney was concurred in by vote of council. TRENCH FIGHTING -NEAR SOMME RIVER BRINGS NO RESULTS BERLIN, Feb. 8. Terrifio fighting for the possession of trenches south of the Somme river has been in progress since Sunday evening. The German war office admitted today that a section of the trenches recently captured south of the Somme were taken by the French in a night attack. German aeroplanes have - bombarded camps in West Flanders. There is a lull on the east front. TRY TRIPLE OFFENSIVE. LONDON, Feb. 8. That Germany has determined to combat the effect of the allies' displomacy in Roumania with a vast military demonstration is reported in dispatches from Amsterdam and Geneva today. : These advices say that the Germans may attempt the most ambitious enterprise of the war a triple offensive. For some time vast numbers of troops and an enormous amount of fresh artillery has been massed on the western front and on the Greek frontier and now, it is reported, that the Ger man war office is preparing for a series of attacks against the Russians.

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"I LONTZ. AAA life he didn't get his money's worth. He made no effort to conceal the fact that he did not enjoy, the proceedings. . Lontz Spoils Pleasure. John M. Lontz Of Richmond, spoiled everything for the Judge. Lontz, a bit irritated over some actions on the part of a few henchmen of the Judge's brother, Rep. -Flnly. H. Gray ("Fin," the Jydge calls him) gave vent to his feelings in the course of his address, incidentally peeling & few yards of cuticle' from the congressman's , hide, only once1 mentioning - his victim's name.- It was a neat .piece of workAt' the conclusion- of Lontz's address the Judge eased himself out of Continued on Page Fourteen. ARMOR PLATE COMPANIES TO BOOST PRICES WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. The armor plate companies through Senator Penrose today served notice on the senate naval affairs committee that if congress passes-the armor , plate factory bill they will boost, the price $200 a ton on all armor needed to carry out the present building program. The Bethlehem and Mi.dvale Steel company will dismantle their armor plate plant and go out. of the armor plate business, Senator. Penrose said. The advance on the price of armor plate to - the government, will be imposed to create a fund to protect the stockholders. , . ? .. k The government is now on the market for approximately 120,000 tons of armor plate to carry out its present building program. By increasing the price $200 a ton the armor plate companies would compel the government to spend $24,000,000 more to complete the program. This threat did not deter the naval affairs committee from voting 9 to 3 in favor of the recommending for passage of the Rillman bill appropriating 11,000,000'for the purchase of an armor plate plant of not less than 20,000 tons annual capacity. REPORT OF M'MAHAN SHOWS $5,040 BALANCE Condition-, of the municipal pocket book as indicated by City Controller McMahan's report for January was received and placed on file by council last night. Mr. McMahan's report shows: Balance on hand January 1, $17,341.60; balance plus receipts, $19. 679.36; disbursements, $14,638.60; balance on hand February 1, $5,040.75. Balance on hand in the municipal light plant general fund was reported as $122,506.03.

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Four hundred militant Democratic workers, representing the eight counties of the Sixth Indiana congressional district, sitting at four large banquet tables in the Coliseum last night, listened with rapt interest to and enthusiastically applauded the utterances of three popular idols of the district Democracy, Representative John A. M. Adair, candidate for the gubernatorial nomination; John M. Lontz of Richmond, candidate for the congressional nomination, and State Treasurer George Bittler, the "boy wonder" of the Indiana Jeffersonial party, as he was referred to by the toastmaster, Joshua Allen. Among the banqueters were about twenty-five prominent Indianapolis Democrats, including state officials, the delegation being headed by B. B. Johnson of Richmond, secretary to Governor Ralston.

GOVERNOR AIDS RICHMOND WAR ON GAS RATES INDIANAPOLIS. Feb. 8.-Perhaps Mayor Robbins, President Bavis of the board of public works, and George Seidel ,a Commercial Club representative, could tell of the interest taken by Governor Ralston in the appeal they made to use his good offices in preventing the establishment of a temporary increased schedule of gas rates in Richmond. The two Richmond officials and the Commercial club representative called upon the governor yesterday prior to the meeting called by the Indiana Public Utilities commission for the purpose of considering the petition for establishing a temporary, schedule of increased gas rates. At the conclusion the three Richmond men departed with smiling countenances. ... . Action N0t Taken. . The contemplated action of the commission in approving the company's petition did not materialize. But neither did the commission approve the city's petition for the maintenance of existing rates until a permanent schedule, based on the actual used and useful property of the Richmond gas utility, could be formulated. The commission announced that the company's petition would be taken up for consideration again on February 18. W,0. JONES NAMES ROAD SUPERVISORS TO DIRECT REPAIRS Assistants have been appointed by Road Superintendent Jones for 1916. Each of the appointees will furnish $1,000 bond for. the faithful performance of his duties. Their pay will be $4 a day with team, or $2.60 without a team. As soon as the weather permits the road superintendent will begin work. Because there have been so manv thaws this winter the highways have been greatly damaged. It will take at least two weeks to place them in repair, Mr. Jones said today. The following assistants have been appointed: J. B. Burt, Fountain City; Herman Thomas, Fountain City; Luke Watkins, Williamsburg, Simon Atwell, Economy; Wayne Lamar, Hagerstown, Ray Ennis, Hagerstown; Albert Cranor, Greensfork; Ed Norrls Richmond; Walter King, Centerville; Frank Lutz. East Germantown; Albert Wilson, Milton; Frank Clark, Centerville; Ed Doran, Richmond; Frank Rife, Boston. Two more assistants will be selected within the next few weeks, making a total of sixteen men. Each worker will have an average of twenty-five miles of road under supervision. - CHARITY CANVASSERS RESUME CAMPAIGN Canvass for funds to promote the work of the Wayne County Social Service bureau for 1916 bearan thin morning by thirty men, who form fourteen committees ' making - personal solicitation to raise $2,500, bringing the total subscriptions to $6,000. The committeemen will not attempt to raise the entire amount today. The following are the canvassers: C. E. Thomason, A. J. Whallon; W. H. Romey, F. J. Bartel, H. S. Weed. G. H. Knollenberg, J. O. Edgerton.rDr. Conrad Huber, W. W. Reller, W. J. Robbins, Clarence Jessup, E. M. Learner, Turner Hadley, Rev. E. G. Howard, Harvey Wilson. O. D..Bullerdick, Howard Brooks, Rev. J. J. Rea, J. F. Hornaday, C. H. Kramer, C. W. Jordan, Lewis Bowman,' J. T. Giles, Paul Comstock, F. S. Bates, O. P. Nusbaum, Dr. L. F. Rons, Lee B. Nus-baum.

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Rep. Gray Is Absent. Conspicuous by bis absence fron the love feast was Rep. Finly H. Gray ' for six years a dictator of thing! Democratic in the Sixth district. But his absence cast no gloom upon th assembled party workers. They paid their enthusiastic respects to a man who has been hailed the Moses of his party in the district, to lead it out of the political morass into which it has strayed under the leadership of the Connersville politician. I pagesTand 9 of this issue. The address delivered by Mr. Lontz was his ."maiden" effort of the campaign. In his speech the popular RichContlnued on Page Two STIVERS DROPS FROM CONTEST FOR CONGRESS C. W. Stivers, editor of the Liberty, Ind., Herald, who made an announcement yesterday of his candidacy for the Republican congressional nomination today announced his withdrawal from the contest - 111 health and lack of time to make a campaign are assigned as the reasons for his action. Stivers also admits that he does not desire to interfere in the fight for this nomination now being waged between Judge Comstock and P. J. Lynch. His statement follows: To the Republicans of the Sixth District: "Yielding to an honorable ambition and the suggestions of kind friends I filed my declaraUon of candidacy for the Republican nomination for congress with the secretary of state. It was my intention to have done this some time since but illness prevented. "Within the past week I have been in six counties of the district and have learned that the stage is set for a very warm contest between Judge D. W. Comstock of Wayne, and Patrick J. Lynch of Henry with some degree of feeling because of what happened at the Cambridge City convention two years ago. "Suffice to say that what I have learned within a few days, and In view of the limited time to put my candidacy before the voters of the district I have decided not to enter the race, and my name will not appear on the primary ballots. Imperative necessity of a united Republican party in this campaign is apparent to every voter who believes in the principles of the party of Lincoln and McKinley. Let us clear the decks and insure our country's welfare by carrying our . standards to victory next November. With lftyalty to our party and its chosen nominees." JOHNSTON ACCEPTS JOB IN NEW YORK Donald Johnston, son of Dr. and Mrs M. F. Johnston, has accented a tbtion with the firm of Ferruccio Vetale landscape artists, of New York, with offices on Fifth avenue. Mr. Johnston has been connected with a firm at Minneapolis since his graduation from Harvard last June. Weather Forecast United States Report Cloudy and warmer tonight and Wednesday, with probably light rain or snow. Temperature. Noon Yesterday. Maximum ; 20 Minimum (below zero) 9 Local Forecast Unsettled and warmer tonight and Wednesday. Snow or rain arriving this afternoon. General Conditions The crest of the cold wave passed over Richmond at r "dnight, r-:th temperatures ranging from 8 to 15 degrees below zero in Wayne county. It was 9 degrees below zero at Earlham college. A great area of low barometric pressure covers the Rocky mountain states and is causing the reaction to warmer weather west of the Mississippi river. . It will be warmer here before the expiration of 24 hours. A genera? storm covers the west and is already Causing snow and rain over much of the Mississippi valley. W. E. Ilcore, Weather Forecaster.

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