davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
WRIGHT OPERA
HOUSE IS LEASED
Alma Masonic Lodge Leased
House for Lodge Rooms and
Starts RemOdeling.

Wright Opera House, which has
been doing duty for the past thirty
years as place of amusement and
entertainment in this city, ceased to
be an opera house when the new
month was ushered in Monday. the
house having been leased to the Ma
sonic lodge Of Alma, for term of
years.
The Masons of Alma will convert
the opera house into lodge room,
and when the work of remodeling the
house is finished the Masonic lodge
will move its quarters from the Sec
ond floor of the Church block to the
new location.
For a number OF years the Wright
opera house was Alma's only place of
entertainment and continued to be
SUCH under various managements for
years, with varying success.
Until the movie came into being
here and became the center of at
traction, the opera house enjoyed its
best business, the coming of the movie
with its popular prices, causing the
same decline in the show business
which has been experienced in all
parts of the country, and of late
years the opera house has been far
from "A paying investment to the AL
ma Realty company, which owns the
structure in which the house has been
located.
A number of opportunities have
come up for the company TO lease
the house of late months. and after
some weeks deal was closed with
the Masons of Alma, whereby they
leased the place for a term of five
years.
The work of remodelng the opera
house has already been started and
will be rushed to completion JUST -
rapidly as possible and it is very
probable that the next sixty days will
see the Masonic order located in its
new quarters in the Wright Opera
House block.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
RED CROSS BENEFIT
High School Society Will Give Benefit
April 10.

The Athena Society of Alma High
School will present Rosemary" at
the high school building Wednesday,
April 10th at 500 p. IN. The proceeds
of the evening will be given to the
local branch of the Red Cross.
The setting of the play is in Boston
at the time Of the Civil War An ad-
mission of 20c will be charged The
cast Of characters is as follows:
Rosemary-from North Carolina
-Winifred Fookes.
Aunt Hephzibah-a Boston Gentle
woman-lsabel Watson
Cousin Keziah--from Vermont
-Lorene Smith.
Grandma Enderly-Beulah Strong.
Kate-Rosemary's chum
Esther Rhodes.
Laura-engaged to Augustus
Vera Archer.
Gwen--a secessionist
Dorothy Jackson.
Lucilla-a volunteer nurse
Marie Knudson.
Fanny-the sergeant's sweetheart
Margaret Drake.
Marthy and Mary-The Twins
Margaret Barry and Mary Barry.
Norah-a housemaid- Mildred Smith.
Aunt Jinny-Rosemary's nanny
dorothy Mason.
Juno-a runaway slave
Margaret Holmes.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
Capt. U. S. Army, Ret
Recruiting officer
COAL ZONES
Reasons Why Michigan Cannot Get
Certain Coal are Given.

The zone system for distribution Of
Bituminous coal has been put into ef-
feet by the Federal Fuel Admins
TRAITOR This predicts that this section
Of the lower Peninsula Of Michigan
will receive its coal from Ohio. East
ern Kentucky, and higher Volatile
fields from West Virginia. 1t is pa
officially predicted that no pocahontas
Goals or other smokeless Goals from
West Virginia, shall come into this
section. The object of this ruling is
to void transportation
1t is predicted that the supply OF
hard coal for Michigan will be much
less than the demand. The Fuel Adj
ministrator says:
Consumers in Michigan will suffer
a serious shortage next winter unless
they begin to fill their bins at once
and continue to accumulate their win
ter supply during the summer
The mines in these states can fill
the normal requirements of these con
sumers if they are kept running every
day Of the week. winter and summer. -
Referring to the zone system he
says:
"The patriotic cooperation Of the
many interetss ana individuals who
may be affected by this cutting ou;
of unnecessary transportation is CON
iidently hoped for. When a consum-
er finds that he no longer has the op.
portunity to get his coal from a dis
tant mine according to his custom. il
is hoped that he will realize that his
using another sort Of caol is essen
tial part of the cheme of conservation
in the interet Of the national defense.
A leading authority on coal dis.
tribution says that 5000 tons of Goa
must be moved to householders every
day during the summer if the short.
age. possibly more serious than that
of last winter. is to be voided.
AS measure Of self-protection 81
well as a patriotic du,y, people should
put in their supply Of coal for mex
season at the earliest opportunity.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
GOOD MEETING
Substitute Called for Gunner Depew
Who Was III Sunday

With Gunner Depew, scheduled to
speak at the First Presbyterian church
here, i'll Sunday, it became necessary
to call in substitute to take his
place, and Louis D'Harcklay, Bel
gium, did the relief work and gave
the large audience fine talk on the
conditions in Europe, which has grown
out of the war crazy minds of the
Germans
He told in vivid colors of the tort
ures, which the Germans had been in-
flicting, not only on captured soldiers,
but on the innocent women and child
rem of the provinces which they were
holding, or which they have held at
some time or other during the grim
struggle which is now going on a
gainst German autocracy.
His audience was carried along by
him. and it was easy for anyone in
the large church to picture in their
minds eye, the stories of torture as
he related them, so vivid and real
were they.
William A. Bahlke of this city gave
d short talk during the evening OF
the Third Liberia Loan. and made
an urgent appeal to the men, womer
and children of Alma to support the
loan, and aid in defeating the Ger
man military system which has giver
rise to this greatest of all wars, anf
which without defeat will over rur
the entire world.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
LOAN DRIVE WILL
START SATURDAY
Chairman Robinson Will Have
Committees in Shape for
Great Campaign.

County Chairman j. W. Robinson
of the third Liberty Loan. is contin-
uinuing to be active in his appoint
ment of committees and vice-chair-
men in hopes of getting the county
thoroughly organized for the opening
of the Third Liberty Loan campaign,
which starts next Saturday, the day
being the first anniversary of the
declaration OF war against Germany.
Nh. Robinson has appointed vice
charmen in each of the three largest
places in the county. l.. A. Sharp is
the local chairman, DR.. A. K. Wheel
er in ST. Louis and Gaylord Nelson in
Ithaca.
On the county executive committee
he has appointed L. A. Sharp and
William A. .Bahlke of Alma, A. B.
Darragh Of ST. Louis, "A. +. Craw-
ford of Breckenridge. r. Price of
Ithaca and John r. Hudson of Middle
ton.
Mr.. Robinson expects TO start a
county wide campaign with the open
ing gun on Saturday and continue the
drive throughout the month in the
hope that Gratiot county can hit way
over the top and make bulls eye
this campaign. Every possible effort
will be used in securing subscriptions
to the Third Liberty Loan, and can
vassers will be working throughout
the county practically every day dur
ing the month.
Gratiot county has big quota
again for this campaign and it will
take the united action Of the entire
county to make the grade and equal
the quota which has been set.
The city of Alma in particular
promises to be the scene of an active
campaign. This city has been partic-
ularly well organized and everything
is ready for the opening. One
thousand dollars worth of bonds have
already been taken in this city, this
by the Episcopal church, and it is
probable that this was the first sub.
scription in the state for the Third
! Liberty Loan.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
BOSTON CREATES
A NEW RECORD
Local Recruiting Office Secured
Over Sixty Men During
March.
HUNDRED IN TWO MONTHS
Alma Office is Made Central Auxiliary
Station and Corporal Boston
Promoted to Sergeant.

The Alma recruiting officer, under
the efficient direction of Corporal Tom
Boston, has showed up peg, having
been created Central Auxiliary Re
cruiting station, as the result Of the
great campaign which Boston has
waged during the past two months.
TO become central station it is
necessary for recruiting Office to Sc
cure forty of more enlistments for
two successive months, and Tom went
clear- over the top in his campaign
here, having forty-two enlistments
during February and then coming
right back in March with a grand
total of 90, making the best record
for any single month since the Office
was opened here His total for the
two months is one hundred and four
enlistments. exceeding Muskegon,
Lansing, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek,
Cadillac, Ludington, Niles and other
stations out from the central station
at Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is
the only station in the district to
show more enlistments than Alma
for the two month period.
For his good work Corporal Bos-
ton has been promoted to the rank Of
sergeant, this being his second pro-
motion i'm less than three months. 1t
shows that Boston is doing things
around here in the number of recruits
which he is securing.
The following extract Of orders
No. 7S, will prove interesting to Alma
people IN this connection: "In com
pliance with instructions dated A. G.
O., Washington, d. c., March 10Th,
1918, the Auxiliary Recruiting sta
tion at Alma, Mich. having been des-
ignated Central Auxiliary Recruit
ing Station, the following appoint
ments are hereby announced:
To be sergeant: Corpl Thomas Bos-
ton, c. S. Infantry.
H. NJ. FALES.
Capt. u. S. Army, Ret
Recruiting Officer
Among the new enlistments Of the
past week are Gerald d. Bates of FL
sic, Clarence Waldo of Alma, Leon
ard Doyle of Alma, Charles Davis OF
Alma and Arthur Shores of Vesta-
burg.
Attention is also called to the fact
that any previous service man with
an honorable discharge from the army
who wants to enlist for the service
may apply at the station here.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
WAR LECTURES
ood Lecture Tuesday on General
Science Course at College.

he course of general science lee
turcs applied to war conditions which
being given at the college this
semester enjoyed two lectures recent
ly by Professor Stearns of the BIZ
oiOgy department These lectures up
on the general subject of Camp Sani-
tation were not only interesting but
q o of value to the boys who may be
soon leaving for camp.
When one considers that the annual
loss to the conutry due TO insects Is
io-tenth the total value of the crops,
and that the majority of the diseases
in camp are due directly or indirectly
10 insects, the need of insect control
during this crisis is manifest. Typus
ia er which causes so much trouble in
up wherever overcrowded, unhy
.rie mic conditions exist, is carried by
tha body louise or "Cootie" as it is
ca led in the trenches. II is estimated
tnat 95 per cent of the men in the
r., inches are infected with these in
sets and that the only way to control
them is by thoro cleaning or disinfect-
ing Of the clothing Diarrhea and dys
emery as well as Asiatic cholera, all
II estinal diseases OF bacterial origin,
are carried and spread by the com
mon house fly. and the most effective
n cans OF preventing epidemics of
these diseases is 10 control the hy
Tie bubonic plague is spread in the
s'ne way way by the rat flea, max
iny it necessary to exterminate the
rat;
Prof. Stearns advocated the attach.
inent of an etomologist to each army
division to cooperate with tho medical
staf in supervising sanitary meas
ures relative to insects in protecting
sgainst disease carriers and in pro.
tecting the foods of the army.
His second lecture dealt more spe.
cincally with the location of camp
rite IN reference to its sanitary quail
ihcations. such as; high, well drained
ground, and ample water supply; and
Nth its internal arrangement so as L
q lure the most possible sanitary con.
ditions. He made sketches of several
OF the camp plans now In use. show
ing how the location Of various por.
tions of the camp is conducive e
health and cleanliness.
The water supply is a very impor
tant feature in locating a camp since
Continued on page Hvs)
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
HELP RED CROSS
Donate Old Newspapers Next Tues
day and Aid This Good Cause

Next Tuesday afternoon has been
set apart by few of the live hust-
lers of the city to gather up the old
newspapers from the homes of Alma,
which will be sold and the proceeds
donated TO the Red Cross, for use In
the work of the local branch.
Mr.. Collins, manager of Swift &
Company, is behind the move to save
this waste paper which is usually
burned in the spring. He has gener-
ously donated one of the motor trucks
of the plant and has also secured the
use of another, which is donated by
the Republic.
He asks that the people of the city
who have such paper, to tie 1t up and
place it on the front porch Tuesday
noon, so that the truck drivers and
their assistants, can get it during the
afternoon without the bother Of
knocking at the door and wasting
time, as they must cover the entire
city. A generous response from the
residents of the city in the matter Of
donating this paper, viii mean large
addition to the fund of the Alma
branch of the Red Cross.
Five, ten or fifteen cents worth of
old newspapers from every home in
the city will mean IA large amount of
paper in all, and would yield a hand
some sum Of money for the Red
Cross. Everyone get behind the
move
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
COMMISSION FORM
CARRIED IN ALMA
Over Hundred Majority Rolled
Up for Change of the City
Government.
DEFEAT GAS PROPOSITION
Carried in Ithaca and Breckenridge,
Lost Out i'm ST. Louis and
Alma.

Three special propositions relating
strongly to the city of Alma came be-
fore the electors of the city Tuesday.
two of which, the commission form
of city government for the City OF
Alma was carried by large vote,
and nine charter revision commits
sioners were elected The third
proposition, the franchise rate raise
of the Gratiot County Gas Company
was defeated.
The proposed commission form OF
government for the City of Alma is
one of the most far reaching peiccs
legislation, locally, which the voters
of Alma have had opportunity Of ex-
pressing themselves upon in years,
and while the vote was very light, II
is noteworthy that it carried in each
ward. The mojority, 1873 votes, IN
favor of the proposition leaves no
doubt as to the wants of the voters IN
Alma They want business manage
ment and efficiency if it can be Sc
cured
The names Of nine charter revision
commissioners were also submitted
for election to do away with special
election later, if the commission
was adopted, and every one of the
nine for whom petitions were sub
mitted to the city clerk were elected,
although during the course of the
day many names were written on the
ballots, but not numbers sufficient to
defeat any Of the men for whom 20
titions had been regularly submitted.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
KING AND MURPHY
STAGE HOT RACE
Republican is Elected Mayor
Again, Getting Fifteen Vote
Majority.
VERY LIGHT VOTE WAS OUT
x Dublicans Retained All Offices Ex-
cept an Alderman in the Second
Ward.

:, With one Of the smalles votes in
years at the polls Monday, Francis
King was elected mayor OF Alma for
the third time, he having served
alrna twice in the past in this ca
aacity. That many of the voters
Who failed to express their desires
on the city head, were Republicans
"a evidenced by the fact that Mr.
King had only a majority of fifteen
votes over his competitor Charles r.
Murphy, Democrat.
The Record does not wish 10 de-
act in the least from the run which
v as made by Mr. Murphy, it having
en- brilliant one, made the more
so as Mr.. Murphy, like Mr.. King, did
not put forth an effort to win the
election. He ran far ahead of his
tic Set and indicated that he is one
Of the leading Democrats of Alma.
A hot fight developed for the elec-
ton on Justice, Ralph Goggin and
William Rogers staging pretty
rht, which was finally won by the
e mocrat nominee with majority
of % votes.
y. w. Adams, r., and Carl Gal
agher, d., were unopposed for the
election as treasurer and clerk.
In the wards only two good fights
were on. both being staged over in
the Democratic second. where Nick
Sad, r. and Fred Bradford, d.,
W. re fighting it out for Supervisor,
aaI Edwin McDougal, r. and Frank
smith were staging scrap for al
d, rman. The Republicans grabbed
o. the Office OF Supervisor and Mr..
NTH, the democratic nominee won
4 aldermanic honors from McDou-
ral. Mr.. Smith will be the only new
member of the council, to go into
Office with the coming of May, unless
Alderman Adams resigns in time so
Lat successor may be appointed
tefore mayor-elect King goes into
ofce.
Full county returns will be found
a page four.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
v. G. GRIFFIN WAS
CONVICTED FRIDAY
Former Manager of Alma Grain
< Lumber Company to Face
Sentence Today.

William g. Griffin, former manager
of the Alma Grain & Lumber COM
pany, who was arrested some months
ago charged with embeZzlement of
funds from this company, was con-
victed in circuit court last Friday, and
will be up before Circuit Judge Monet
today for sentence.
Griffin, who had been manager OF
the company for about two years, was
released from employment there last
fall when suspicious are said to have
first been aroused and shortly after
this, it was discovered that there
were irregularities n the books OF
the company.
When the first alleged shortage was
discovered "A warrant was secured for
the arrest of Griffin on "A charge of
embezzlemeat, which was served on
him a few days later.
He quickly secured bonds and was
released pending his trial. The trial
was started the fore part of last week
and continued for several days, the
evidence pointing strongly to the fact
that Griffin had been relieving tbs
company of funds at various times
The jury, after being out fifteen min
utes, returned verdict of guilty.
Judge Monet deferred sentence un.
til today to give Griffin time to
straighten up his affairs as much a.
possible.
The Record has heard rumors thai
an appeal will be taken from the yer.
dict that has been rendered in circuit
court, and that notice of the appea
will be filed today, when Griffin ap'
pears in court for sentence.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS

The city of Alma will have the city
teams gather all rubbish. such as tin
cans. glass. broken dishes, ETC., from
April 18th to April 30th and all per-
sons having any rubbish to be re-
moved. must have same at the street
line or alley or any suitable place
where city teams can get rubbish. All
ashes must be in piles at alleys.
Please put all rubbish in boxes or
barrels so that same can be easily
removed. Persons not complying with
the above, will be asked to haul their
own rubbish at their own expense.
BY order of street commissioner,
Site. II. j. voller.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
SECURES PIANO PLAYER

The management of the Idlehour is
fortunate indeed in having secured
the services Of Mr.. Victor Gipe of
Cadillac to play in this theatre begin
ming Sunday. Mr.. Gipe has had seve-
raj years experience playing for pict-
ures and is considered one of the best
in the state. Mr.. Gipe will receive
what is doubtless the largest salary
paid any picture player outside of De-
troit and Grand Rapids. but this is in
accordance with the Idlehour policy
that nothing is too expensive for their
patrons There will be music here
after at all matinees.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
POLICE REPORT

The monthly police report submit
ted to the city council Tuesday even
ing by Chief of Police Oscar Vibber
shows eight arrests during the past
month. Four Of these arrests were
made under the city ordinances and
four under the state laws. In addition
there is statement in regard to an
investigation and the rounding up Of
nine boy burgulars,. for whom no
warrant was issued as they came un-
der the jurisdiction Of the probate
court
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
BANQUETS OFFICIALS
City Clerk Gallagher Tenders Banquet
to Retiring Mayor Tonight.

Tonight, the Paris cafe will be the
scene of a banquet which is being
rendered by City CicrK Carl f. Gal
lagher to Ira II. Mckinney, retiring
mayor Of the city of Alma.
The present officials of the city;
the aldermen, City Engineer Smith.
City Treasurer Montigel. and Deputy
Clerk Grow, will be guests at the af-
fair.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04
ANNOUNCEMENT

wish to announce that on earnest
solicitation Of friends. that | am {
candidate for nomination for sheriff
on the Republican ticket at the pri-
maries August 27, 1918. Your sup
port will be appreciated.
Adv. A. L. Willert.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

| wish to announce that will be a
candidate on the Republican ticket
at the August primary election for
the nomination of Register of Deed
Thanking you in advance for your
support. ! am
Sincerely yours.
37-2t, Bird j. Tucker.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

The voters of Alma for some rca-
son turned down the Gratiot County
Gas Co.. which had asked for an in
crease in its gas rate on sliding
scale basis. The proposition was
voted upon as follows:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

1t is interesting to note that the
proposition was carried in both
Ithaca and Breckenridge by far more
than the required three e-fifths vote.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

Mrs r. A. Gill and daughter. Miss
Cleo, spent Sunday in Saginaw
guests at the home OF relatives in that
city.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

Eat Victory Bread its good to
eat 36-4t-c. NJ.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

Douglas Fairbnks in "The Modern
Musketeers" ldlehour-Sunday and
Monday. Adv.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

"The Guilty Man"-Idlehour Thurs
day. Adv.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

Both Ithaca and Breckenridge
carried the gas proposition by ar
overwhelming vote, while St. Louis.
like Alma, defeated the proposition.
The votes i'm these places follow.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-04-04

Next Friday Jack Pickford in "Huck
and Tom"-Idlehou of course. Adv.
El Nuevo mexicano., 1918-02-21
PUERTO DE LUNA
DITCH DISPUTE
NOW SETTLED

Agreement was reached Saturday
in Las Vegas in the case Of the
West Puerto de Luna community
ditch against Jarrett o. James, an ac-
ton to condemn a small area of land
upon which the plaintiff wished to
construct a dam and diversion ditch
from the Rito de Aqua Negra creek,
near Santa Rosa. The action was
instituted in Guadalupe county and
was transferred TO Las Vegas for
hearing in chambers by Judge Leahy.
e. r. Wright, OF this city, represent
ed the defendant, and Frank Fair
cloth, of Santa Rosay the plaintiff.
A decree was agreed upon between
the parties, that plaintiff should pay
to- defendant $50 for the land upon
which they wish to construct their
dam, and that the dam to be built
be constructed of cement, so as to
prevent further erosion of lands OF
defendant, and the plaintiffs were
giving a perpetual right of way over
a strip of land 20 feet wide by 1858
feet long yer and GRO the lands
of the defendant for the maintenance
of the dam and acequia. Thereby
the parties settling by agreement
what might have been a long and
expensive case.