The Topeka state journal. [volume], February 08, 1915, HOME EDITION, Image 1

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
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HOME EDITION
MONDAY EVENING.
TOPEKA. KANSAS. FEBRUARY 8, 1915.
MONDAY EVENING.
Tma EDITION 2 CZITT3
ttl PAGES
I READ IT
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1 1
HARD FIGHTING
IN MOUNTAINS
Russians Win Important Suc
cesses in the Carpathians.
Austrian Resistance Broken at
Three Different Points.
mm victories claimed
In East Prussia and Northern
Poland by Muscovites.
Torpedo Boat Destroyers Bom'
bard Choppa on Black Sea.
Fetrograd. F b. 8. Hard fighting
continues in the Carpathians with suc
cesses of considerable importance for
the Russian troops, according to an
official communication issued here to
day. A pursuit of the Austnans. after
their resistance had been broken at
three fortified positions near Mezo
laborcz. is said to have resulted in the
capture of more than 2,500 prison
ers. The capture of additional troops
after a retreat north of Usssok Pass
also is recorded, while it is stated
Austrian attacks were repulsed at oth
er mountain passes.
Minor Russian victories are claimed
. i xrnwfeon Pnlnnn.
in Kast Prussia o.uu "''"r i
The text of the communication foi-
10 "On the right bank of the Vistula
some skirmishes favorable to us have
taken place. On a broad front near
the village of Nodror Cossacks attacked
a squadron of the enemy supported
by infantry, capturing twenty Hus
sars. . .
"Our cavalry at 3 o'clock in the
morning dislodged by a bayonet at-
(Continued iB Twl
30-MINUTE LIMIT
House Voted to Limit Debates
to Each Member Today.
More Than 500 Original Bills
on Calendar Jfow.
The house today voted to get busy, i
. Debate on at' biJIs. not.oii special or
ders bills on which committees have
not directly recommended passage or
bills on which majority ' consent is
given for prolonged consideration,
will be limited to thirty minutes at
tention by house members.
Jocelyn of Sedgwick county today
pointed out the need of more haste
in house deliberations. In a resolu
tion he called attention to the fact
that the house now has more than 500
original bills -on the calendar or in
the committees and that the disorgan
ized manner which has characterized
ponsideration of proposed legislation
will block passage of many measures.
Mis resolution called for a limitation
of fifteen minutes on all bills not on
special orders or on which a majority
of the members voted for extended
consideration.
Bird of Shawnee county wanted to
limit debate to ten minutes. Hen
dricks of Jlawlins wanted the lid off
and free and unlimited coinage of
oratory. 'i he house finally compro
mised on thirty minutes debate of any
bill not on special order or which did
not carry a direct committee recom
mendation.
FAIRlKYjfRAMSAS.
And Weather Man Promises More bt
Spring Variety.
This has been the kind of a day
that reminds one that spring is really
not far off. The clay dawned clear
and a light southerly wind caused a
steady rise in temperature. The
weather prophet has ordered a con
tinuance of tair skies and a slight rise
in temperature Tuesday.
Some the coldest weather of winter
comes in February, but the cold
"spells" are generally of short dura
tion as compared to those of January.
The normal minimum temperature is
now 18 degrees as compared with 15
the middle of January. From now
on there will be a steady rise in the
normal. March and dog tooth violets
will soon be here! But in the mean
time there may be some cold weather.
The highest temperature on this
date in the twenty-eight years that
the local records have been kept was
68 in 1898; the lowest was 10 below
aero in 1895.
Shippers' forecast: "Protect thirty
six hour shipments north against
temperature of twenty degrees; east,
south and west, 25 degrees."
ine nouriy readings:
7 o'clock 20
11 o'clock 32
12 o'clock 35
8 o'clock 20
9 o'clock ..... 23
10 o'clock 29
1 o clock 38
2 o'clock 40
BRITISH LOSE 104,000
English Casualties Show Tremendous
War Penalties.
London, Feb. 8. Premier Asquith,
speaking in the house of commons to
dav. said thnt RiHrlah Minuiiiu ;
all ranks in the western arena of the
war from the beginning of hostilities
xo reuruary , amounted to approxi
mately 104.000 men. This includes
killed, wounded and missing.
SOLD IE KS SAVE MONEY.
Berne, Switzerland. Feb. 8. Ba
varian troops serving on the west
ern front sent home 15.500,000 of
their pay for deposit in savings
hanks during the five months of
the war, according to postal statis
tics published in Munich.
i:i am ho testc.ct
Sensational John Collins-Theodore
Hammatt Case la On.
Examination of Jury Took . Entire
Morning Session.
TALE OF CHUNK OF MUD
Cake on Motorcycle Wheel Has Bear
ins on the Case.
Attorneys Hinted at Testimony In
Question in Panel.
Should the state be successful in its
attempt to connect John Collins'' with
the alleged attempt to obtain $15,000
from Theodore Hammatt, a Topeka
miller, with the use of a blackhand
letter September 23, 1914, circum
stantial evidence will undoubtedly be
an important factor in the testimony
given by witnesses for the state.
Proceedings in the Hammatt alleged
blackmail case began in the second di
vision of the Shawnee county district
court before Judge Whitcomb at 10
o'clock this morning. All the momine
session and part of the afternoon's
were devoted to arguments of counsels
and the examination of the jury.
The examination of members of the
Jury was rigid by both the attorneys
lor me state ana tne plaintiff.
"Are you opposed to convicting a
man on circumstantial evidence should
such evidence satisfy you beyond a
reasonable doubt that the man is
guilty?" was the gist of a question
asked every Juror by W. E. Atchison,
f Continued on Pake Two.)
PANIC IN MEXICO
Zapata's Army Is Closing In on
the City.
The Banks and the Principal
Stores Are Closed.
Washington, Feb. 8. Zapatista
forces are gradually closing in on
Mexico City again, today's official dis
patches report and the apprehension
is daily growing more acute. Prac
tically all the foreign diplomatic rep
resentatives have asked their home
governments for instructions, as to
what they should do in certain con
tingencies, and are hoping to be per
mitted to use their discretion as . to
abandoning their legations.
Demonstrations continue by the
populace, which has been affected by
the. nullification by Carranza authori
ty at paper currency iim)i hy.pre
vious administrations' and "theScA'rcity
of food is-causing grave anxiety. v An
official summary of other conditions
issued by the state department today
follows:
"The department is informed that
the banks and principal stores in the
City of Mexico remain closed on ac
count of the order nullifying the
Villa currency. Gen. Carranza is re
ported to have telegraphed that relief
will be furnished the poor, but there
are no indications that this relief will
apply to the middle class and to com
merce generally. There is a con
tinued scarcity of bread in the city.
It is said that the constitutionalists
have confiscated a number of horses.
"According to the deDartment's ad
vices, the Carranza administration is
shipping its own supplies out of the
city and articles of prime necessity
are daily getting scarcer. The de
partment is advised that Felicitas
Villareal is still in prison in Mexico
City."
EVERETT AKERS DEAD
Well Known Topekan Dies After One
Year of Falling Health.
Kverett Akers. for many years in
charge of the business office of the
State Journal, died early Sunday
morning at the home of his mother,
Mrs. W. C. Campbell, at Los Angeles,
California. Mr. Akers had been ill
for more than a year and had spent
nearly that length of time in the west
in search of health. The notifica
tion of his death was a shock to rela
tives and friends here who had hope
of his improvement. O. J. Wood,
father of Mrs. Akers, left last night
for Seligman, Ariz.-, where he expects
to join his daughter on the return
journey. It is probable that the fun
eral will be held here Friday.
The death of Everett Akers is felt
as a personal loss by more than the
usual number of intimate friends and
business associates. He had barely
reached the prime of manhood when
stricken, but he had long before es
tablished a reputation for efficiency,
integrity and quiet geniality which
commanded the respect and affection
of all those with whom he came in
contact. His struggle with ill health
commenced before he gave up his
duties. A Journey to Arizona failed
to bring the desired relief and he
went thence to California several
months ago.
Recent attacks of pleurisy and grip
hastened the progress of the tubercu
lar affection which caused his death.
Mr. Akers was 37 years of age. He
is survived by his wife, who was Miss
Mabel Wood, and their two children,
Jane and Robert, who have been liv
ing with their grandparents. Mr. and
Mrs. O. J. Wood of 1217 Tyler street.
A sister, Mrs. Carroll Hill, who was
Miss Roberta Akers, lives at Los An
geles, while a brother. Warren Akers,
resides in Washington, D. C. All for
merly lived here and have many
friends in Topeka. Mr. Akers was a
student at Washburn college but left
before graduation for the employ of
the State Journal with which he was
connected for 17 years. .
He was an active Mason and was
past master of Siloam lodge 225 of
Topeka.
Back on Full Time
Elizabeth. N. J.. Feb. 8. The as
sembling department, one of the larg
est at the Singer sewing machine
works, has announced a return of all
men on a full time schedule-, beginning
today. At the office of the manage
ment it was said that the entire plant
will be back on the old -schedule with
in another month. Early last fall
about 50 per cent of th 9,000 em
ployees was laid off.
STATE POLICE
MARSHAL ASKED
Representative Lamb of Dickin
son Has New .Measure.
State Organisation to Capture
Burglars .and Thieves.
HAVE UKSE JUnlSDICTIO:!
Rewards Could Be Offered for
Criminals in Kansas.
Headquarters of Department in
State House, Topeka.
Creation of the office of state police
marshal, whose duty will be the hunt
ing of burglars and thieves, is pro-
COUCT ZEFPEUH OA"ZEF?EUr' THE CCB'ITS INTERVIEW ft STATE JOUm TODAY.
mi M8K4l-.JWm9im. . 1 : ... . Jfl.
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Iy -f S i i w 'yi:" S
J iyly--- iy'T- " "
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Top. Zeppelin hovering over British warships at Kiel before outbreak of the war; German airship Ha
turning to Potsdam after a raid: Count Zeppelin (photographed since outbreak of war).
posed today in a bill in the house by
Lamb of Dickinson county. The bill
carries an appropriation of $20,000.
Lamb's bill provides that a state
police marshal, a resident of Kansas,
shall be appointed by the governor for
a term of two years. He would re
ceive a salary of $2,000 a year and
would have at his disposal the ap
pointment of five deputies, each of
whom would receive $1,500 a year.
Traveling expenses and hotel bills
would be included in the. expenses of
ths state marshal and his assistants.
The chief duty of the department
would be to seek arrest and conviction
of burglars.
Rewards for arrests and conviction
of burglars might be offered by the
department under terms of the Lamb
bill. Offices of the department would
be provided in the state house by the
executive council. The state police
marshal and his deputies would have
state wide jurisdiction to investigate
all cases of robbery and burglary and
to make arrests. It is provided in the
bill that the state marshal and his
deputies shall devote their entire time
to work of the department. The mar
shal would be subject at all times to
removal by the governor for cause.
The appropriation of $20,000 pro
posed under terms of the Lamb bill
would meet expenses of the depart
ment and all rewards. ,
TWO KILLED III FIRE.
Man Entered Burning 'Building to
'.Rescue Child But Never Returned.
Skidmore, Kan.. Feb. 8. William
Boyd, a pit boss at a slope mine near
here, and his five year old daughter
were burned to death in a fire which
destroyed their home at 3 o'clock this
morning.
Boyd arose to build a fire under the
engine boiler at the mine and before
he went outside started a fire in a
stove in the house. When he returned
from the mine he found the bouse on
fire.
Mrs. Boyd and two other children
were aroused and rushed from, the
burning structure. ..Then it was dis
covered that another child: was still in
the house. Boyd rushed into the
flames and failed to return. ' His body
and that of the child he sought to res
cue were found in the ashes. It is be
lieved the house flue was defective.
VCI ZEFFELq CErlDS
Declares England. winM.fJse Them if
She Had Them.
No Worse Than Other" Engines of
War. He Declares.
IT HAS COME TO STAY
Aerial Warfare as Potent a Factor as
-j Subsainlncs.'. -. ;
May Create a Tendency Toward Peace
In the Future.
(By Carl H. Von Wiegand.)
(Copyright, 1915. by United Press.
Copyright in Great Britain.)
Berlin, Feb. 1, via The' Hague and
London. Feb. 8. '"Does any one for a
moment believe that .England in her
determination to crush Germany by
every means in her power, even at
tempting to starve - women and chil
dren would not use Zeppelins if she
had them?" U i
It was Count Von Zeppelin, creator
of Germany's dreaded fleet of aerial
battleships, that spoke. This was his
answer to the protest raised by Ger
many's enemies against the use of
Zeppelins and the dropping of bombs
on unfortified places, killing women
and children. And his answer was a
justification of what had taken place;
what will continue to take place while
this world war goes on.
"No one regrets more than I do"
and here the voice of the aged soldier
(Continued on Page Two.
ATTACK RUMANIA
Anstrians Attempt to Cross the
' Frontier Near Turnserrin.
Furious Fight Follows and
They Are Turned Back.
Paris, Feb. 8. Austrian troops
have violated the Rumanian frontier
near Turnsevrin, the Journal is in
formed in a dispatch from its Nish
correspondent. The Austrians are re
ported to have fired on frontier
guards who attempted to oppose, their
passage and a furious fight followed.
Strong reinforcements came to the
help of the Rumanians, and after a
three . hours" struggle the Austrians
are reported to have been driven back
across the line with a large number of
wounded.
If the Austrians had captured Turn
sevrin, the correspondent says they
would have had complete command of
Kladovo, the only place in Serbia on
the Danube permitting communica
tion, with Rumania. The Incident
which occurred several days ago, has
not been followed by cither side, the
Journal report states. - -
- Chicago. Yardg Reopened. .
Chicago, Feb. r. 8. The Chicago
Union stock yards, which have been
under partial federal quarantine since
January 29 because of a threatened
outbreak of .foot and mouth disease,
were reopened today for the interstate
hlnmftnt nf inttl NTr, rail If i,iw-
! ikvpr. mv lw liAlri f ot- more tbflm 48
hours. Government inspectors . have
been authorized to slaughter cattle
held in violation of this order. '
MAY CONTEST
SENATOR VOTE
Congressman Neeley Expects to
File Proceedings Soon.
Rumor That He Will Try to
Take Election From Curtis.
TOFErXl IS READY FG3 Z
"Let Him Contest," Declares
Warrior of Many Senates.
Has Everything .to Win and
Nothing to Lose.
Rumors, which may or may not
come direct' from Washington, indi
cate that Congressman George A.
Neeley, Democrat, expects to file con
test proceedings in the United States
senate this week against Charles Cur
tis, Republican, who on the sena
torial erection over Neeley in Novem
ber. There . is a wide difference of
opinion among 'Kansas Democrats con
cerning Neeley's plans and his chances
of success. ,
In his petition, it is claimed, Neeley
will allege that illegal . methods were
used by friends of Senator Curtis and
that marked sample ballots were fur
nished voters in a manner contrary to
the provisions of the Massachusetts
taw. Senator Curtis has refused to dis
cuss in detail the possibility of a con
test. "Let him contest," has been the To
pekan's declaration, "I am ready for
him."
That was, all. The well known po
litical warrior is keeping his own coun
sel as to his plans. That he is ready
to meet a contest, there is little doubt
among Curtis followers.
"Neeley will never contest." de
clared a widely known Kansas Demo
crat today. "If he does, he will do so
without the support of a majority of
the Democrats of the state."
It is believed that Neeley's threat to
contest has been the more loudly pro
claimed since the seeming defeat of
any chance to create a new federal
judgeship in Kansas. The action of
the Democrats in the house of repre
sentatives last week was a severe jolt
to Neeley's well known ambition to be
come a federal judge. The house un
animously adopted the Doerr resolu
tion declaring that the state needed
a new federal judicial district about as
badly as Topeka and Lawrence needed
river - fortifications. The resolution
was a direct slap at Neeley.
Now there is seemingly but one
course open to the Seventh district
congressman. In a contest he has
everything to win and nothing to lose.
The proceedings would be brought be
fore a Democratic body and the report
which has found its way to Topeka
is to the effect that Neeley plans to
oppose the seating of Charles Curtis
in tne unitea states senate In March.
The Day In Congress.
Washington! Feb. 8. The- fight
over the administration ship bill was
resumed in the senate. House rebate
was resumed on the sundry civil ap
propriation bill. The judiciary- com
mittee considered charges against
Federal Judge Dayton of West Virginia..-"
" '
l!E VhLL QESTI2ATE
ATTITUDE CF CTSEIS
Senator Logan sees Strong Bridge
Lobby in Topeka.
County Commissioners Aiding the
Plan, He Charge.
ALLEGES BRIDGE COMBINE
He May Call County Officials In for
an Investigation.
Present Method Most Costly to Tax
payers, He Declares.
That the legislative committee-of
the County Commissioners' associa
tion is working band in hand with
the bridge ' companies, and that the
bridge companies are paying the ex
penses of the commissioners' commit
tee during the session for the sake of
the lobbying that is being done, is the
charge of Senator K. C. Logan of
Mitchell county, who says he will in- !
t reduce a resolution asking for an in
vestigation - of the commissioners'
lobby.
The Mitchell county member of the
upper house threatens to do worse
than that, and demand that the at
torney general, by authority of the
senate resolution providing the inves
tigation of an. alleged bridge combine,
call the members ot the lobby in and
examine them as to their con
nections with the bridge companies of
the state, or those doing business in
Kansas.
When the highway and bridge bills
come up for passage in the senate
Senator Logan is primed for them
with a variety of information and sta
tistics, tending, he declares, to prove
conclusively the existence at least of a
"gentlemen's agreement" between the
companies. He declares that the pres
ent manner oi nananng nnage con
tracts is costing the taxpayers ot the
state hundreds of thousands of dol
lars every year in excessively high
bids on which contracts are let, made
possible by an understanding between
the companies he charges exist where
by a certain company, no matter how
high its figures, is the lowest bidder in
given counties
"The most reprehensible lobby ap
pears to be that alleged to be repre
senting the county commissioners,"
Senator Logan says, "but which in
reality is being manipulated and con
trolled by the bridge companies. - I
shall demand that it be investigated.
PREXY GETS CUSY
Western League : Head Takes
Hand in Topeka Sttnatfon.
He May Transfer Franchise to
Colorado Springs. '
Chicago, Feb. 8. Western League
magnates have renewed their task of
arranging a 1915 schedule, xney
hoped to have one satisfactory to all
clubs by tonight but the possibility of
a change in the circuit may delay the
adoption of any schedule.
President O'Neill announced he
would mo to Colorado Springs tonight
to look over the ground, as there is a
chance a team will be installed in that
city should the efforts to keep a fran
chise in Topeka fail.
It is possible that H.' H. Meyer, the
Webster, S. D., capitalist, who is
seeking a franchise, will meet O'Neill
in Colorado Springs. It was decided
that the league should be prepared for
any outcome in the Topeka affairs,
hence O'Neill's trip. S. J. Baer, a
director in the Topeka club, joined the
meeting today. f '
FEE FOR TOVIES"
State License for Motion Pic
tures Provided in BilL
Heavy Fines for Displaying Im
moral Films In Measure.
State licenses for moving picture
theaters and fines for displaying im
moral pictures is provided in a bill in
troduced in the house today by Rep
resentative Pierce. The measure pro
vides a state license of $300 a year for
each moving picture theater and a
fine of not more than $200 for dis
playing immoral pictures.
The bill provides that the movie
license shall be paid to the county
treasurer and that $250 of the amount
shall go into the general revenue fund
of the - county, while $50 of the
amount shall be used for county road
purposes. Failure to procure a license
shall subject the owner to a fine of
not more than $500 and summary
closing of the theater. All licenses,
under terms of the bill, would expire
June 30 each year. Licenses would
not be transferrable.
For displaying immoral pictures,
owners of a picture theater might be
fined in any sum not exceeding $200
and upon order of the court the
license might be cancelled.
UIIDEfl "raCMI FLAG
The Lnsltania Arrives Flying the
Stars and Stripes.
London, Feb. 8. The news of the
arrival at Liverpool, under the Amer
ican flag, of the Cuhard line steamer
Lusitania is given much space in the
English papers today. The informa
tion twas received too late to permit
of much editorial comment, as yet.
but enough has been printed to show
the incident - is regarded as one of
great importance. It is not generally
expected that the British govern
ment will take further action unless
Washington, requests an explanation.
Carranza Takes Monterey.
Laredo, Feb. 8.- Carranza troops
have recaptured Monterey, the con
stitutionalist consul here announced
today. No details were available.
Telegraph communication -with Mon
terey via El Paso was Interrupted. . - -
BUSIEST UEEK
IN LEG1SLATUHI:
Today Begins Fifth Perto4 of
1915 Session In Kansas.
Many Platform Pledges Coming
Before Lawmakers.
CO FUTFO FtOS FiSS
But Wednesday Has Been Made
Amendment Day. '
Sight Sessions to Relieve Bur
dens of House Calendar.
With the opening today of the fifth
week ef the session, the Kansas leg
islature faces the busiest week since
the organisation of the house, and
senate In January. Many platform
pledges will be considered during the.. -week
and administration leaders are
clearing the decks for early action. on
appropriation bills. In the midst of
troubles comes rumor of a special
ssion. The house convened this
morning at 11 o'clock. . The wesk's
session in the senate .will begin at 4
o'clock this afternoon. .. . .
The efforts of leaders of both par-" .
ties will be directed toward the work
in the committee rooms. Several hun
dred bills are now tied up in the va
rious committees and the members
who have already begun to think of
spring plowing and an early adjourn
ment do not want to leave town until -their
bills have had a fair considera
tion. It is for this reason that tiro
house will begin its daily sessions at
11 o'clock each morning this week.
This plan will allow time for two or
three hours' work each morning by
rceatlnusd on Page Two.
SAVAGE IS C0"K:G
Kansas City Man Beady to Take
Over Baseball Club.
Meeting to Close Deal Will Be
Held Tonight.
Chioago,',' jfeh.' 8 -fopeka's future -f
Jie'KlVeatern League srobably jritT ,
be decided at a meeting here tomor
row In which the several interests wilt
be represented: '. President' O'Neill to- '
day wired the Topeka bank which
held a mortgage i.on the club and a
prospective purchaser of the franchise
who hails from Kansas City to meet
the league magnates and Simeon
Baer, a Topeka director, here tomor
row. The call for the meeting follow
ed a consultation between Baer and
O'Neill, which resulted also In the
postponement of the latter's trip to
Colorado Springs. The name of the
Kansas City man who' wants to buy
the franchise was withheld.
Little progress wss reported on the
schedule. It probably will be tomor
row night before any of the proposed
charts are adopted.
The Local Situation.
Over the long distance telephone
this afternoon, O. P. Benson, who
represented the German-American
bank In Chicago at the meeting Sun
day, stated that he was In Kansas
City and that he and John Savage,
secretary of the Kansas City Blues,
would arrive in Topeka this after
noon at 4 o'clock and that Mr. Savage
was coming for the purpose -of ac
cepting the proposition made- to him
by the old directors of the club soma
time ago.
Arch M. Catlin. president of the
old baseball corporation, said that the
option given him and his associates
had expired and that he did not know
whether or not the original deal with
Savage could be closed as the mat
ter is now in the hands of the lank.
Meeting Tonight.
However, a meeting of the old di
rectors of the club, the bank officials
and Mr. Savage will be held at the
bank tonight at 7 o'clock for the pur
pose of getting together on some prop
osition. The plan Is that If some kind of a
deal can be closed with Mr. Savage,
he will leave at once for Chicago and
will assist in making out the schedule
after giving the assurance that he will
keep the team In Topeka.
It Is understood that Mr. Savage
has made all necessary arrangements
with Charles Tebeau, president of the
Kansas City club, and that Mr. Tebeau
will give him all the assistance possi
ble if he takes over the local organi
sation. ALL WHEELS TOO
Illinois Steel Company Now Ranntng
Fall Time With Full Force.
Gary. Ind.. Feb.'$. With the start
ing -this morning of the rail mill all
departments of the Gary- plant of the
Illinois Steel company are in opera
tion. The rail mill has been boarded up
for three months. . Only old hands
returned to work. Within the past
ten days two thousand men have re
turned to their jobs, making a total
of 4,600 men at work by today.
Weather Forecast for Kansas.
Fair tonight and Tuesday; slightly
warmer.,-- ... '- .
CAT6 TO PROTECT GRAIN.
Cairo, Feb: 8. The Turkish au
thorities have issued orders for the
commandeering of several hun
dred cats in Syria. They are need
ed to protect the vast stores of
grain and provisions- in - the - mili
tary depots from the Incursion of
mice and rats... - '.