Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-18
SUE MINISTER FOR DAMAGES
Pool Hall Proprietor Of Des Moines
Brings Action Against Pulpit
Orator.
RESULT OF POLITICAL SPEECH
CFrOm a staff oorrespondent.

From a Staff Correspondent.)
DES MONIES. March 1T.-(speciaI TeIe-
Eram.)-Dr. J. Edward Kirby, pastor OF
Plymouth Congregational church, was To-
day made defendant in a $4,000 slander
suit brought by Abe Zelcer, Des Moines
pool hall proprietor, who was bitterly
attacked by the minister last night in q
political speech.
zelcer's pool hall was raided by the
police several weeks ago and inmates
were charged with gambling. After hear
ing the evidence, Police Judge Meyer
acquitted the defendantA
Damage Case Affirmed.
Tho case OF John Gundram of Council
Bluffs against the Daily News Publishing
company in which Judge woodruff re-
fused to sustain the charge was affirmed
by the supreme court today.
Bryan 90 speak Here.
William Jennings Bryan will deliver an
address at the Coliseum here on next
Wednesday night on the War in Europe
and It's Lessons to Us" His coming IA I'm
the interest Of the peace propaganda. A
small admission fee will be charged. but
II Is In the nature OF a popular meeting
and Il Is thought large crowds will at
tend. The Des Molnes Federation of
Churches is responsible for bringing the
distinguished orator here.
Moral Patriotism.
In an, address here last evening Fred
B. Smith, International secretary OF the
Young Mems Christian association. de-
clared that the time was near at hand
when dcnominationalism will be done
away with and all denominations viii
merge. He declared further that patriot
ism will soon como 70 mean standing fun
and square for the great and powerful
moral Issues That u 70 be the new
Americanism. he said. mo nation ever
went down from guns pointed at It from
the outside" he declared. After this
war the map Of Europe will remain un-
changed"
High schOI Growth.
High school attendance in the accred-
iseo hlkh schools OF the state has IN
creased more than 5000 In the last year.
according to a report Just issued bv the
state Board OF Education. There are NOW
over 5000 pupils In accredited h,gn
schools. The work in domestic science
manual training and agriculture has bean
very much enlarged, the report SAW.
Taxpayers Form LeaRue.
senator Justin r., Doran Of Beaver
and Representative James +. johnson
OF Charlton are at the head Of the new
Taxpayers league. which will make a
hard fight against the building OF pcr-
manent roads In Iowa. johnson headed
the insurgents who fought good roads
in the last Legislature. The league was
organized here yesterday, with Senator
Doran as president. One of the frat
moves OF the league will be to establish
! a - ma. UII.a
Il 10 publish matters OF interest 10 tax
payers and win fight what the league
terms extravaganza in the handling OF
public funds.
Trolley Line Escapes Taxes.
little trolley line which operates be-
tween the -Swntown section of Colfax.
Ia. and Hotel colfax on the north edge
OF the city. has escaped taxation. 80
interested parties at the state house de-
clared yesterday. Not being clsssed az
an interurban. the state has not assessed
II aud the county authorities thought Il
was pp to the state to assess such lines
SO this particular piece OF property has
escaped taxation since the line was firsi
built. some eight years ago.
Traffic ordinances.
With the supreme courts holding thai
the Des Moines traffic ordinance Il
valid. thus setting the question as to
the authority OF cities to regulate park
ing Of automobiles. many OF the citie.
OF the state will enact traffic ordinances
limiting the area In which automobiles
can be parked. Frank @. Pierce Of Mar
shalltown. at the head OF the Iow'
League OF Municipalities. who was Il
Des Moines yesterday stated that man,
Iowa cities were only waiting for rul
ing on this question before enactinl
strict parking ordinances
High Power Lins Fight.
More than 800 representatives OF tele-
phone. telegraph and high power trans
mission line companies are attending th'
two days conference now being held a
the state house by the railroad commits
, sion. in which information Is sought Al
to the effect of high power Transmission
lines on telephone and telegraph service
Supefintendents. engineers and other
able 90 give authoritative Information OF
the subject are being questioned. So mucl
complaint has come TO the commission
20 the effect that these high power trans
y mission lines destroy rural telephon,
8 service when the lines parallel each othe
E on the same highway, and further tha
Z these transmission lines are dangerous
that the commission decided to call thi
meeting In order to set all OF the IN
. formation possible on these conditions
= The convention Of telephone men beinl
: held here this week brought a large mum
h Der OF those interested In rural line
: into the city. They are now giving thei
;. entire time TO the hearing at the stat
y house.
). Woman's RefOrmatOry Plans.
+ The state BOARD OF Control has adopte
: general plans for the laying out OF n
grounds and buildings at the state n
le formatory for women al Rockwell Cit
as prepared By r. +. Weirick. In sbo'