The Topeka state journal. [volume], December 30, 1908, LAST EDITION, Image 1

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LAST EDITION.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, DECEMBER 30, 1908.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
TWO CENTS.
MOST APPALLING.
Disaster in Sicily Has Seldom if
Ever Been Equaled.
Horror Added to Horror as Re
parts Come In.
HALF OF THEM HEAD
Oth -r Half of the People in
Eastern Sicily Weeping.
Wounded in lluins Perish for
Want of Aid.
KUJIBEll OF VICTIMS
Is Estimated From 100,000 Up
to 200,000.
Ruined Cities Still Burning in
Torrential Ilain.
American Consul Cheney and
Wife Among the Dead.
Rome, Dec. 30. The details of one
of the most appalling disasters record
ed in the history of the world, are be
ing unfolded in the dispatches coming
In today from Calabria and Sicily. It
is a story of indescribable horror and
calamity. The earthquake of Monday
morning wrought havoc and destruc
tion that can not be estimated. Italy
is stunned by a visitation described as
the greatest disaster in the memory of
living man. Yet the full measure of
the catastrophe has not yet been taken.
The calamity grows with the receipt
of every fresh dispatch from the
south. Ca'labria is dotted with small
towns nad villages and new localities
are reporting almost hourly casualty
lists that run from the hundreds into
the thousands. It is still impossible
to reach any accurate estimate of the
dead, but the total number is placed
anywhere between 100,000 and 150,
'00. In some quarters it is declared
that the final numbers will be as high
as 200.000 persons. One-haif of the
population of Calabria and eastern
Kicily apparently has perished.
Countless thousands of wounded
men, women and children, are lying
in the ruins. It is impossible to suc
cor all. Numberless wounded of the
survivors who have made their way to
ther cities are still without medical
attention. The facilities for proper
care even in the cities that did not
puffer are inadequate. The devastated
district is still filled with half dement
ed survivors, starving and wandering
aimlessly in the rain. The ruin are
Ftill burning. King Victor Emmanuel
and Queen Helena arrived in Messina
this morning. They both personally
went to work to aid the injured. Their
example has been a wonderful in
spira ion to the whole country. Kvery
possible thing is being done to forward
' the work of relief, but the railroads
into the afflicted sections have been
put out of operation.
Bagnara. a town of 10,000 people,
north of Reggio. is reported as annihi
lated. The entire population is said
to hive perished. Reggio, a city of
B0. 000 people, has been practically
demolished.
The detailed stories of the refugees
only add horror upon horror to the
calamities of the fateful day.
Fresh earth shocks were exper
ienced last night at Pizzo. in Calbaria
and Palermo. Sicily, last evening. They
were not severe.
Cable Is Broken.
Rome. Dec. 30. Cable communica
tion with the Aeolian islands. 25
miles north of Sicily, is interrupted. It
s evident that the line is broken, and
it is feared that the islands also have
been devastated.
The largest of the group is the
Island of Lipari, and the capital town
has a populationof 12,000.
Consul Cheney Among: the Iead.
Washington, Dec. 30. A dispatch
received at the state department today
from American Consul Gale, at Malta,
confirms the reported death of Consul
Cheney and his wife at Messina. The
bodies, the dispatch says, have not
been recovered.
c;r-atost Tragedy in History.
Chicago. Dec. 30. TheTribune today
under a Rome date says:
The earthquake which has devasta
ted the Italian departments of Calabria
and Sicily has wrought the greatest
tragedy which ever has befallen the
Christian world. Its measure cannot
yet be calculated.
It is known in general terms that out
f a population of 1,750.000 in the de
vastated area, at least 125.000 perished.
latest reports received here state that
4.000 soldiers in the various barracks at
Messina were buried under the ruins.
This makes no account of a dozen
towns near the center of the disturb
ance, whence no word comes and where
there is only too good a reason to
fear that there are no survivors to
describe their fate.
The destruction of property cannot
be as great as at San Francisco, for
Messina and Reggio, the two principal
titles destroyed, were not rich or mag
nificent from the metropolitan point of
view.
As a great cataclysm of nature, how
ever, this disaster is on a far vaster
scale than the California phenomenon.
The whole face of the country and
the coast line have been altered. Even
Scylla and Charybdis have chaned the
positions they have occupied since
Aeneas' legendary voyage.
Merchants Are AVorried.
New York, Dec. 30. Impressed not
only from humanitarian reasons by
the earthquake in Italy, merchants
and importers in this city who had
relations with the stricken districts
are greatly worried at their inability
to get into communication with cor
respondents there. It is estimated
that of the $50,000,000 worth of mer
chandise imported to this country
from Italy, at least ten million dollars
worth came from the district now
practically in ruins. Messina is a
great depot for olive oil and wines
and a great variety of food stuffs
comes from Calabria. The effect on
trade will evidently be far reaching.
Am fax as can be ascertained no steam-
ships which run from this port to the
Mediterranean were any nearer the
earthquake zone than Naples, hence
sustained no damage.
Xo News of Consul Cheney.
Rome, Dec. 30. No news had been
received here un to 1 o'clock this af-
ternoon regarding the fate of A. S.
Cheney, the American consul at Mes
sina, and his wife. All private and of
ficial efforts to ascertain whether Mr.
and Mrs. Cheney are still alive have
resulted in failure. Ambassador Gris
com received a telegram this morn
ing from Reichenberg, Austria, signed
narris, making anxious inquiry re
; warding the couple. The message add
ed mat Mrs. Cheney s parents were at
Reichenberg.
J. Pierpont Morgan has sent $10,000
for the relief of the earthquake suf
ferers. Royal Rescue Workers.
Catania, Dec. 30. King Victor Em
manuel and Queen Helena, who arriv
ed at Messina today, immediately join
ed a rescue party and labored as unre
mittingly as the others. The king per
sonally extricated several injured per
sons pinned under the ruins.
The queen devoted her attention prin
cipally to little children. She rescued
with her own hands a 3-year-old boy
w no was bleeding trom many cuts and
wounds. She herself carried him to the
dock where she handed him to members
of the hospital corps. At the dock were
many small boats sent to take the
wounded out to ships in the harbor.
Ever-- available steamer in port was
filled as a temporary hospital. Signor
Orlando, the minister of justice who is
with the roval party, has described the
catastrophe Jn a telegram to a friend
memory" of maT An overplweHng
stench is beginning to arise from the
ruins of Messina. Ten thousand soldiers
will be required to bury the dead there.
It was learned today that General
Colli lost his life at Messina.
Chicagoans in Quako Region.
Chicapo, Dec. 30. The work of
providing Chicago's share of relief to
the earthquake sufferers went forward
Yi-itVi i I ..... . 1 ... J ... . t..i.i.t.i
r;o-i,r t
the pope permitting him to order a
general collection throughout his
archdiocese for the benefit of des-
titute Sicilians. Orson Smuch, Illinois
treasurer of the Red Cross society,
reported a flood of letters containing
contributions; Italian societies in Chi -
caso and viefnitv cnntinneri the
gathering of funds, and several news
papers announced that they would re
ceive contributions.
Among the Chicagoans believed to
be, or to have been, in the danger
zone, are the following:
Air. and Mrs. O. Eiger, Paul Sarber
Dr. Charles A. Logan, Miss Magdalena
u.i.,. rr. r!i j j
4.vi.ij, a. .n. uiiiuu, ttnu unu
Mrs. Jacob Baur. who were on their
honeymoon trip.
Mrs. Baur before her recent mar-
vioo-A m .- i . i, .. 1 .
tary of Postmaster Campbell and said :
to have been the highest salaried
woman in the government employ.
Philadelphiuns in Quake Zone.
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 30. Grave
fears are expressed for the safety cT
a number of Philadelphia people who
are-known to be .within the zone of
tire greatest damage in the Italian
earthquake. Among these w-ere Mr.
and Mrs. Herbert Norris, who had
been spending the last month at their
winter villa in Taormina. Others
thought to be in Taormina are Miss
Mary Moss, a writer; Miss Florence
Kane and Miss Louise Wood, an artist.
Miss Frances and Miss Bessie G.
Bockius, Miss Emily Croasdale, an
artist and her aunt, Miss Estelle Fa
gal, all of this city, are also supposed
to have been within the earthquake
region when the calamity occurred.
Half the Population Perished.
Rome Dec. 30. Half the population '
it seems impossible to exaggerate the
horrors which have followed it. The
of Calabria and the pntsetm nnrt f x .i . i v. . . , . , ,
bicily is dead; the other half is weep- his face was drawn. We went to a Haas an ex-convict, whose past record
ing. As the great extent of the terrific hotel and had dinner with Thornton. waa exposed by the prosecution after
seismic disturoance becomes apparent t haH a talk with Thnmtrm 3nd tv. TT v. j v. or,t a member
calamity which has overwhelmed Italy an(j njg eyes stared."
is -almost beyond the grasp of the im- Major Hains said ' that the next day
agination, not only because of the dead nis brother started to tell of his marital
now- known to number tens of thou- troubles, but suddenly stopped and,
sands but because of the innumerable putting his hand to his head, said:
wounded hurled in the rums, many of, ..j can.t tnink. i can-t think any
whom will perish because it is impos- i more
sible to rescue them from the wrecks The witness told of the captain's ac
of their former homes. The whole of tions that day gaying that Captain
Italy is absolutely stunned, and at the Hains jumped and pulled his hair, at
scene of the disaster the bulk of th--; the same time saying: "My God. this is
people are literally demented with the awfuI. This man Annis has ruined mv
suddenness and extent of the blow. The
total number of victims is variously
estimated from 50.000 to 150,000.
King Victor and the queen arrived at
'"c",a i.v.oj.. i.i.r.v inauc inc.i
way into the ruined town the scene of
uisusier aim nurror aa too mucn iur
the queen, who almost swooned.
Crowds of terror stricken persons
swarmed aDout the royal party, tnrow-.
ing themselves in the mud and scream- j
ing tor pitv ana aia. j courSed down his face.
Many terrible stories are related in i During the examination of Major
connection with the rescue work. The Hains Mr Mclntyre complained of ill
rescuers had to contend with a super- ness and he asked for an early ad
stitution so deep rooted in the Sicilian iournment, for lunch, which was grant
mind that in many instances injured
men and women clung to crumbling rj,he Hains case was adjourned this
walls, refusing to let go their hold and aftern0on until tomorrow on account of
seek a safer position. As further facts the juness of Mr. Mclntyre, chief of
curnjerniiig iutiu-ii mrewna oec-umc
avnuduj l 1 1 y (:"j i win'i .ui; in every u
tail the worst fears heretofore ex
pressed. The cathedral, municipal
buildings, barracks and prisons are all
destroyed and presumably all the
smaller buildings shared the same fate.
Of 2S0 railway employes in the station
at Messina, only eight are known to
have survived, while at Reggio, the
silence of death still reigns, leaving to ted for relief or tne sufferers in soutn-
the imagination the terrible havoc Winnipeg, Man., Dec. 30. A severe ern Italy. This money will be trans
wrought by the catastrophe with the blizzard is raging all over western : raittea tomorrow through the state de-
horrible inrush or the sea. the swallow- ;
ing un of the boats, the crushing of ,
"J? a
an T walls.. The ? Fea became almost in-!
Shore Line Changed
When the day dawned the entire
shore line of the surrounding country
was utterly changed in appearance.
The coast line was greatly altered
while of all the magnificent houses
along the shore only a few tottering
ruins remained. From these ruins
from time to time there sprang jets of
flames and smoke.
King Victor Emmanuel and the
queen who left yesterday for the scene
queen wno lert yesterday ror tne scene
of the disaster have won. the hearts of j
their subjects by continuing in this
noble manner the traditions of the
house of Savoy, which makes the sov
ereign actually share in all the suffer
ings of his people. People with tears
in their eyes watched the departure of
the king and oueen, while a veteran,
pointing to his majesty, said:
"This is worthy of the son of King
Humbert, who, I remember, risked his
life amid the ruins of Casa Niccola
when it was destroyed by an earth
quake and stood at the deathbed of
(Continued on Page Eight-
stantly covered with debris after the . the air is so tnicK un snow mat n is is -'"
upheaval, containing refuse of every j almost impossible to face the wind. The Italians to have such contributions
description dotted w ith human bodies. mercury is down to zero and going lower i transmitted through the regular Amer-
THEY TOLD MAINS
' Former Sprvnnf a In th llrmp.
,xwrmer Servants m U18 llOUSe-
hold of the Captain
Testify Regarding the Tales
They Bore to Him.
FROTHED AT MOUTH
W hen Informed That the Child
ren Went Without Food.
A Brother Testifies That Peter
Pulled His Own Hair.
Flushing, N. Y., Dec. 30. Further
testimony regarding the marital trou-
hloa f f Pontdin Da4-a tTnln. 4 I ..
tv, nt rn, T t,. . .
e trlal of Thton J. Hains, his
i Brother, was heard today. This tes-
timony waa by servants in the cap
tain's home, and was brought out by
the defense to show the mental con
dition of the army officer's mind,
when he learned of the alleged hap
penings in his home.
Minnie Rohne, the cook of Captain
! Hal"'s h"hd. recalled
Etand. She said she made a mistake
t last night when she said she told Cap
tain Hains the night of his return
from the west of the happenings of
the household, that it was two days
later. The witness said she overheard
at 2 o'clock Sunday two days follow
ing Captain Hains's return from the
west, a confession of Mrs. Hains to
her husband. The witness further ri- I
! f1!11 etd at Mrs. Hains told her of a
j to llew ork Iast "Pring. Captain
Hains. the witness said, broke down
' wnen told. of the New York trip to
j f56. a Pnycian. He wrung- his hands
i ang. crled'T "cant be true.'
,. Emma ye"e- a former servant in
Lpiajn .tiains, related
certain statements she made to Cap
tain Hains relative to Mrs. Hains. The
witness said:
"I said to the captain that his wife
stayed away two or three times a
week. I said that I called up Mr. An-
nis by telephone and told him that
: J. re , on tn carpet for
: him today.'"
Miss Lavelle said she also informed
the captain on his return from the
west that half the time the children
"ttu 1 1 1 ' i 1 ' ' f-, iu eat ana max ir anv-
s a,PPneditllem she would not
know where to find Mrs. Hains.
Hains Frothed at the Mouth.
The witneses further declared that
! she told Captain Hains of an alleged
conversation between Annis and Mrs.
Hains. She said that Mrs. Hains re
proached Annis for breaking an en
gagement with her because he had an
appointment. with hia wife.- The wit
ness declared that Mrs. Hains, in her
Quarrel with Mr. Annis. lit a cigarette
and said.: ,,fVm ,more.to ,yu th.a"
?"r ,wlfe? . Mr. Annis replied
that he would "go a thousand miles j
with her."
On cross examination the witness !
said that when she told Captain Hains .
these things he frothed at the mouth.
Major John P. Hains, a brother of
the defendant, was called.
Major Hains told of his meeting
with Captain Hains last June.
I met him at the station. He
grabbed my hand, but spoke no word.
captain would interject remarks. He
nulled hia hair hi mnnth iwit.
home and driven me mad."
Major Hains, relating further his con
versation with his brother, said that
in g01j-s WOrld tor that woman, ana
tnis is what sne has brought me to.
ghe was a goo,j woman until Annis
dragged her down.
During the recital of the conversa-
tions with nis brother. Major Hains'
volce broke frequently and tears
counsel for the defense.
BLIZZARD IN NORTH.
Mercury Down to Zero in Minnesota
and Going Lower.
Canada xoay. i.. i
tion i3 at a standstill.
XT' Trai! Minn. Tvc. an A fierce
snow storm is raging here today and
A NEW YEAR'S PRESENT.
Siiaron Springs Will Become tnion
Pacific Division.
Sharon Springs. Kan., Dec. 30. The
change which will make this city a
n rmitit rtn te T ' n Inn Pnpifip
---- ,
railroad will take P ace on New Year's
uay oi U4j iyii.s. .ii.c u: ,
brick roundhouse, the new coal chutes 1
and the machine shops are receiving
the finishing touches. Charles Hall,
who has been with the Union Pacific
at Cheyenne Wells for some years, will
be the first foreman, and he is now
here. Thirty-five machinists will be
employed in the machine shops. The
new improvements are bringing many
people to this city, and while there are
dozens of dwellings going up, the new
comers, are having difficulty iu getting
I places to live.
I . . . - -..- nmiT- I I' cwi i . i v. . - - - i - i
COLD WAVE BEHIND TIME.
Switched Off and -Swept Through the
North.
The cold wave which was advertised
for this part of the state for today did
not come up with the notices sent out
by the eastern weather bureau press
agents. There waa a decided drop in
the temperature reading during the
night, however, and the promise is
made that there will be an even great
er drop during the jiext 12 or 18 hours
when the mercury will drop to some
where near 14 degrees above the zero
'mark. ;
The storm was headed in this direc
tion all right but went to the north of
Kansas and at 7 o'clock this morning
the Dakotas and Minnesota were in the
throes of a genuine blizzard. The mer
cury was below zero and snow falling
while a fifty, mile an hour wind pre
vailed. The wind has blown from the
northwest in Topeka since morning
and at 7 o'clock this morning the mer
cury was three degrees below the freez
ing point. It has gradually risen since
that time and the un has been shin
ing, but in spite of all of this the wind
has been cold and biting. Fair weath
er with a rising temperature and a
severe wind may be expected for
Thursday. The following were the
temperatures since 7 o'clock this morn
ing:
7 o'clock 29
11 o'clock.... 40
12 o'clock 40
1 o'clock 40
2 o'clock. 40
8 o'clock 30
9 o'clock ...34
10 o'clock 36
RUEF GETS 14 YEARS.
Execution of Sentence Checked by No
tice of Appeal.
San Francisco. Dec. 30. Abraham
Ruef, former political boss of San
Francisco, has been sentenced to 14
; years in the state penitentiary at San
Quentin prison. Sentence was pronounc
ed by Judge William P. Lawlor, who
presided over Ruef's trial on the charge
of bribing a member of the Schmitz
board of supervisors in the award of
an overhead trolley franchise to the
United Railroads. The trial, which end.
ed with a conviction on December 10,
was one of the most celebrated in the
history of the city.'
Judgment was pronounced at the
close of a day devoted to a legal bat
tle, wherein the defense sought to in
troduce manv reasons for a new trial.
When Judge Lawlor had denied this
and other motions involving delay, the
defendant arose at the court's command
and stood unmoved through the recital
of Judgment. i
There was no demonstration on the
part of the spectators during the pro
ceedings in the court room nor later
when Ruef, having- entered the prison
van, in the custodyof a deputy sheriff,
started on his long, ride to the county
jail. Before the adjournment of court
notice of appeal had been filed on be
half of the defendant and the court had
signed a writ of probable cause, which
will act as a stay (of execution in the
case. i.-
In a trial that was prolonged through
a period of nearly four months, Ruef
was convicted on December 10 of brib
ing John J. Furrey, a former supervi
r faxrni- the award of an over-
head trolley franchise to the United
Railroads. This was one of the 114 in-
dintmcnts returned against Ruef by the
Oliver grand Jury, which heard the ton-
fessions of 16 supervisors who admitted
the acceptance of bribes in several mat
ters involving public service corpora
tions. .
One of the many incidents that tend
tn mote the trial of Ruef remarkable
'was the shooting of Assistant District
i
of the jury in Ruef's second trial. Haas
subsequently committed suicide in the
county JaiL
GOLD SHIPPED IN.
Precaution Against Possible Invasion
of Pacific Coast.
San. Francisco, Cal., Dec. 30. Ac
cording to a story printed in this
morning's Examiner. $222,500,000 in
gold coin has been shipped from the ;
local mint to the mint at Denver since j
last August. It is said that the ship- !
ment was made as a measure of pre- ,
caution against a possible invasion of j
the Pacific coast by a hostile power, j
The shipment or ine treasure waa m
charge of United States Marshal El
liott, assisted by a number of Wells
Fargo special messengers.
HAS $5QdQ0 FOR SICILY
lied Cross Appropriates That Amount
From Frisco Surplus.
Washington, Dec. 30. The executive
committee of the American National I
Red Cross today decided that as the
California relief work of the society will
terminate tomorrow $50,000 from the
surplus fund for that work now in the
hands of the Red Cross be appropria-
fl, t t th Itallan Red
t qi o
Cross at Rome. It also was decided to
request the governors of all states aid-:
Washington or in the states, as the
only recognized national relief agency
for the distribution of such funds.
Nothing is know-n at the war depart
ment concerning the report that Major
General Charles D. Hall, retired, U. S.
A., was sojourning in southern Italy at
the time of the earthquake disaster.
Sale of a Wieliita Hotel.
Wichita, Dec. 30. George E. Theis,
mirohased the Toneka avenue
fc' Ufi7ty foot fronTagt on Xh"ch
u stands for $21,000. This real estate
was owned by Judge Haymaker and
Mr. L. W. Clapp. Mr. Theis -will not
disturb the Topeka avenue hotel for the
time being. Having bought the prop
erty as an investment, he will await
developments before determining defi
nitely what to use-it for. , .
Weather Indications.
Chicago, Dec. 30. Forecast for
Kansas: Fair tonight and Thursday.
Colder tonight and rising temperature
Thursday.
POLITICALGOSSIP
Guaranty Law for Kansas All
Im port ant , Topic.
Governor Hoch Says Plank Sav
ed Kansas to Republicans.
POINTS TO NEBRASKA.
Attributes Sheldon's Defeat to
Silence on This Question.
Torrens System Is Attracting
More or Less Attention.
A couple of representatives and two
or three other visitors were present in
the reception room of the governor's
offices today and the conversation
turned to guarantee of bank deposits
with the result that manv intereMnsr
observations were made on this all im
portant question in Kansas policies.
Both representatives had made a care
ful study of the proposition and they
went on record as standing for a law
that will guarantee deposits and make
the bankers toe the mark. A law that
will be fair to the bankers" might onlv
allow these bankers to form a giant
corporation and be very unfair to the
people and the smaller smt.
Kansas has protected her state bank3
until there are now eight hundred of
these institutions in the state as
against some three hundred national
banks. A strict and effective guaran
tee law will affect the national banks
to a greater degree than it will the
state banks.
Governor Hoch made the rather
startlino. statement that if the Repub
lican party in Kansas had not adopted
the guarantee of deposits plank in its
platform it would have suffered defeat
at the polls last fall, and cited the case
of the defeat of Sheldon for governor of
Nebraska. "They are giving credit to
Bryan for that Democratic victory in
his state," said the governor, "but I
want to tell you" that I spent a part of
last summer lecturing in Nebraska and
I found that Sheldon was regarded as
a popular and able governor in that
state. He would have been re-elected
sure as the world had the Republicans
not failed to insert the guarantee de
posit law in their state platform. The
state demanded that plank, and the
party went down to defeat up there on
the euarantee of deposits issue."
None of the group favored the un
limited liability clause of the Oklahoma
law, but they wanted a million guar
antee fund and restrictions thrown
about the measure that would make it
effective and prevent combinations on
the part of stronger banks.
A large majority of the members
elect of the next legislature have al
ready declared themselves for the
guarantee . deposit law. square deal
ers and machine men alike, but
the bankers and their friends are
apt to hold a wide difference of
opinion with ' other members as to
what constitutes a fair and con
servative measure. The discussion
of this question is apt to be long and
warm before it is finally written on the
statute books. The conservatives and
radicals are a long ways apart at pres
ent and there may be difficulty in
reaching a compromise.
Real estate men in many sections of
the state are now working for the
passage of a law embracing the Tor
rens system of land registration and
transfer and such a measure is sure
to come before the next legislature.
The Wichita Real Estate Exchange is
especially taking an active part in
this campaign for a change in the
land laws and is mailing out circulars
dealing with the subject to all the real
estate men in the state. The law is
said to have proved a success in
Illinois.
TVia "Mow Vnrk Tribune is respon
sible for the following joke on Gov-J
ernor-elect stuDDs: w. k. otuoos, a
leading Republican of Kansas, took
his little son to Washington Recently,
and visited the senate gallery with
him. Rev. Edward Everett Hale es
pecially interested the boy. Mr.
Stubbs explained that Mr. Hale was
the chaplain of the senate. 'Oh, he
prays for the senate, doesn't he?'
asked the lad.
' 'No,' replied Stubbs; he gets up
and takes a look at the senate, and
then praj-s for the country.' "
So far only the allegations of Sen
ator Getty have been made public in
the senatorial contest case in Wyan
dotte county, but now comes counsel
for the defendant and also the senator-elect
and after declaring that the
method of conducting the contest to
deprive T. A. Milton, Democrat, of his
office after he was elected by a large
majority on the face of the returns,
to be a disgrace to the state, says:
"So far the contest is a farce. There
has not been a shadow of evidence
that a single illegal vote was cast,
and from what I can learn the
prosecution has examined all of its
strongest witnesses. It is simply an
effort to slur and stigmatize the
Croatian voters."
Adjutant General Hughes, who has
been sending out invitations to mem
bers of the legislature to attend the
inauguration ceremonies and take !
part in the automobile ride, is getting j
some odd replies. Among them is one j
from an Iola man who hair Jokingly
remarks: "I will attend the in-'
auguration but don't count on me for
the auto ride. I have ridden in them
before. We have them here in Iola."
Now as General Hughes says, this man
has missed the idea of the invitation
which was extended with the object
of showing the visitors beautiful To
peka rather - than to give them an
automobile ride. Kansas farmers who
were raised in a dugout own auto
mobiles now. WTiat's an auto in
Kansas? One crop of alfalfa hay will
buy a standard touring car.
The Kansas penitentiary investiga
tion began today. The Kansas mem
bers of the committee met with Gov
ernor Hoch yesterday afternoon and
received instructions to make a com
plete investigation of every charge
made by Kate Barnard of Oklahoma
and to even go outside those charges
and investigate the prison manage
ment and report wherein it could be
improved upon. The governor laid
it down plain that he wanted nobody
shielded.
"I know that you gentlemen will
not whitewash anybody," said he,
,"and that you will get at the bottom
I of facts."
j The Kansas members include Pro
fessor Frank Blackmar, F. D. Coburn,
! Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, Dr. S. J.
Crumbine and Frank Gilday, state
j mine inspector. They left here this
morning and reached the prison at
i noon. They will be joined there by
the Oklahoma members, appointed by
Governor Haskell. What plan of or
ganization will be "made will not be
known until the joint committee
meets.
The indications are that each com
mittee will effect an organization and
that the two will then effect a joint
organization to hear tho testimony.
Whether they will decide to simply
make one Joint report, or whether
eacn will make a separate report to
its respective state is a question also
to be settled. The Kansas commission
may go even further than the Okla
homa commission. Oklahoma is in
terested oniy in the treatment of its
own prisoners, and the testimony on
the Kate Barnard report will call out
all that information. The Kansas
commission will likely go still furth
er and make recommendations con
cerning the future management of
the prison.
Kate Barnard will be called as a
witness before the committee. She has
made certain charges and the com
mittee wants her to appear and tell
it who to call as witnesses to prove
those charges. Dr. Sheldon says she
will be a very important witness. AH
witnesses will be put under oath. At
torney General Jackson of Kansas
and Attorney General West of Okla
homa will attnd the hearings.
IN BLIZZARD'S GRIP.
Entire United Kingdom Under a
Mantle of Snow.
London. Dec. 30. The. whole of the
United Kingdom is in the grip of a
blizzard of exceptional violence es
pecially Scotland and the north of
Ireland. It has raged for the past
48 hours, accompanied by very low
temperature and a driving wind that
has completely disorganized the
northern railway service and caused
suspension or delay to all street car
traffic.
Many towns are isolated and
numerous accidents ana deaths from
exposure have been reperted. There
also have been several shipping
casultles but fortunately these were
not attended by serious loss of life.
London Is in a mantle of snow sev
eral inches in depth while in Scotland
in the north there are snow drifts sev
eral feet in depth which have
blocked roads and railways. The
cross channel passenger service and
the telegraph and telephone lines in
all directions have been suspended
and all outdoor labor has ceased.
Farmers are suffering severely in the
loss of live stock. The Scotch ex
press bound for London is snowed up
12 miles from Aberdeen and the
passengers were forced to spend the
night there on board. The London
express for Aberdeen also had a
similar experience.
HE LEFT $50,000,000.
Will of Clans Spreckels Is Filed for
Probate.
San Francisco, Dec. 30. The will
of the late Claus Spreckels, which
was executed in New Tork, May 11,
1908, has been filed with the county
clerk. Under Its terms, the widow,
Anna Christina Spreckels is given a
life interest in the estate which af
ter her death is to be divided between
her three children, Claus A. Spreckels,
Rudolph Spreckels and Mrs. John
Ferris of Kingswood, England, for
merly Miss Emma Spreckels. The
testament recites that the other two
sons, John D., and Adolph, have been
liberally provided for during the life
of the testator. The value of the es
tate is not given, but it has been es
timated as high as $50,000,000. Claus
A., and Rudolph Spreckels are ap
pointed executors and trustees of the
estate without bond.
ANNA GOULD WINS.
The Court Awards Her the Custody of
Her Children.
Paris, Dec. SO. The petition of
Count Boni de Castellane that the cus
tody of his three sons be given to his
mother, the Marquise de Castellane,
was denied today. The court ruled
that the children remain in the custody
of their mother. Princess de Sagan,
formerly Miss Anna Gould of New
York.
The court ruled further that the
children should not leave the continent
without its permission. Beginning
October 19, 1909, they are to be placed
at a college situated within 100 miles
of Paris.
REDUCES LIVE STOCK RATES.
Santa Fe Slakes Big Concession to New
Mexico.
Albuquerque, N. M., Dec. 30. As a
result of the protest made recently by
Albuquerque shippers to the head offi
cials of the Santa Fe traffic depart
ment, the railroad has made what is
believed to be the first of several im
portant rate concessions which may be
made in the near future. It is learned
that the representations made to the '
railroad officials by tne Commercial i
club and individuals have been care- ;
fully considered ana that other reduc
tions may be made.
Music Teachers at Wichita.
Wichita, Kan., Dec. 30. About 75
music teachers from over the state are
here to attend the meeting called to
reorganize the Kansas State Music
Teachers' association. More teachers
are expected, when the adoption of
a constitution and the election of offi
cers will take place. The teachers
were entertained last evening with a
concert.
A Bis Pile or Corn.
A pile of corn 115 feet long, 20 feet
wide and eight feet high, is a sight
which may be seen on the Glnn farm
in Saline township. Hoxie Sentinel.
Teachers' Party to Europe.
Summer 1909 combining culture
and recreation. Write the Chautauqua
Tours, Appleton, Wisconsin. - -
NEW MANJN RACE
Former Lieutenant GoTernor
Warren G. Harding of Ohio
Enters Contest for the Foraker
Senatorial Seat.
MACHINE FOR TAFT.
Senior Senator Tiews the Situa
tion Complacently.
Content to Let the Others Fight
Among ThemselTes.
Columbus, O., Dec. 30. The senator
ial fight which is being waged here with
Representative Theodore E. Burton, of
Cleveland; Charles P. Taft, of Cincin
nati, brother of the president-elect and
Senator Joseph B. Foraker, as the cen
tral figures, is in many ways one of
the most interesting political struggles
the country has ever witnessed. . The
complexities of the situation are such
as to cause the oldest of the political
leaders to hesitate about predicting the
outcome. Mr. Taft and Mr. Burton are
doing the bulk of the fighting, while
Senator Foraker is looking on with no
small degree of satisfaction over the ac
tive hostilities between the two met
who are opposing his re-election. Senn
tor Foraker hopes the fighting will con
tinue for some time yet and Is opposed
to a caucus of the Republican members
of the legislature prior to January 12,
when the first ballot for senator will be
taken at the state house. Mr. Burton
has also announced himself as opposed
to a caucus at this time, but Mr. Taft
and his adherents are still hopeful of
bringing matters to an early issue be
fore a binding conference of the Re
publican state senators and representa
tives. In the shadow of the senatorial
struggle all of the old differences of
the Republican party in this state are
being threshed out. Mr. Taft is sup
ported by the "organization" and con
sequently is opposed by the men who
for years have been fighting the organ
ization. President-elect William H.
Taft, whether he would have It so or
not, is a dominent figure In the strug
gle and oddly enough friends of both
Mr. Burton and Mr. Charles Taft. are
claiming their sympathy with - their
cause. The Vorys-Hitchcock incident of
the national campaign is by no means
forgotten by the opposing forces in the
present fight and in fact if there is any
incident in state or national politics of
the past decade which has been over
looked by the politicians it is but an ev
idence of the weakness of the flesh
where the spirit Is willing.
Claims of victory continue to issue
today from the headquarters of Messrs. .
Taft and Burton while there was much
discussion of the new comer among the
candidates, former Lieutenant Gover
nor Warren G. Harding of Marion. Mr.
Harding-was first brought forward as a
candidate last night and today was re
garded as one of the favorite "dark
horses" in the contest. The fact that
Mr. Harding had a number of confer
ences with Charles P. Taft before al
lowing his name to be used, lent added
interest to his candidacy and there was
also a report that Mr. Harding was
not unfavorably regarded at Foraker
headquarters.
The expected return from Augusta,
Ga., today from General Wade H. El
lis, who it is thought discussed the slt
nation in this state with President
elect Taft in detail offered a wide ran
of speculation as to what would be the
fruits of his mission. . General Ellis,
Myron T. Herrlck, Arthur L Vorya.
Henry A. Williams, chairman of th
state executive committee; Walter
Brown, chairman of the state centra.!
committee, and others in the state or
ganizations are actively supporting Mr.
Taft.
MAY HAVE BEEN HIS WIFE
Who Killed Captain Erb Says tlvo
District Attorney.
Media, Pa., Oec. 30. The assertion
of District Attorney McDade in hl
opening address to the Jury In the trial
of Mrs. Florence Erb and her sister.
Mrs. Catherine Beisel, for the murder
of Captain J. Clayton Erb, the well
known Philadelphian, that the wife,
and not the sister-in-law, may hav
fired the shots that killed the captain,
has added Interest to the already very
Interesting case. The district attor
ney's declaration caused a sensation in
the court room 8 it has ail along
been alleged that Mrs. Beisel had held
the revolver when Erb was killed. Mrs.
Beisel is alleged to have made a con
fession to this effect, pleading that sh
had done the killing to save the lives
of Mrs. Erb and herself.
LONG YAQlll WAR ENDS.
Mexico and the Indians fUgn a Treaty
of Peace-
Nogales, Ariz., Dec. 30. The long war
witr Taqul Indians In Mexico, In which
scores have .been killed at different
times, including many Americans, has.
been terminated in a treaty of peace
agreed on by the three Indian chiefs
and 166 of their followers and the gov
ernor of the state of Sonora, Mexico.
The scene enacted at the treaty agree
ment was a remarkable one concluding
with the Mexican soldiers embracing
the Yaquis and participating In a Joint
celebration lasting all night.
EVlDEHCTALrHL
Taking of Testimony in Rate Cases Is
Concluded.
Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 30. All the
evidence in the Missouri river rate and
passenger rate cases involving 18 rail
roads has been submitted today. The
court said that each side wou'd be
given ample time to present Its argu
ment. It is likely that Attorney Gen
eral Herbert S. Hadley will lead for
the stat.