The Topeka state journal. [volume], January 23, 1918, HOME EDITION, Image 1

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

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

                
w 1
WEATHER FORECAST for Kansas:
Generally fair tonight and to
morrow. Wanner tonight, colder
Thursday.
JfCEti Dictator Danner of Topeka Is
a former railway conductor. He
should have been a fireman.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 23, 1918-EIGHT PAGES
THREE CENTS
HOME EDITION
5
9
0
1
si '
BUSINESS MEN
LOOK TO CAREY
IN FUEL RELIEF
Topeka Merchants Seek Way
Out of Danner Servitude.
Meeting Tonight To Suggest
Practical Methods.
MEETING AT NOON WAS TAME
Topekans Disposed To Co
Operate Best Way Possible.
Each Business Will Be Repre
sented This Evening.
Emerson Carey of Hutchinson, state
r-uel administrator, is coming to To
peka in an effort to iron some of the
wrinkles from the Danner closing
order. Carey will attend a meeting
of Topeka business men at the Cham
ber of Commerce at 7:30 tonight
when free, unlimited and unrestrained
speech as provided under the consti
tution will be permitted. At this meet
ing Administrator Carey will probaoly
hear a few tender sentiments con
cerning the supreme intelligence evi
denced in preparation of provisions of
the order regulating business hours.
While the Topeka business men are
going to the meeting Chas. II. Danner,
who wrote the local closing order, has
selected and carefully laid aside a nice
little alibi. The alibi will be offered
to Boss Carey at the most opportune
hour of the session. Danner's defense
is to the effect that it might have
been different if the merchants had
s.-id something about it. He will ex
plain to Carey that Topeka merchants
failed to call on him regarding the
c'osing order. So Danner wrote an
order that gave him the liveliest social
week of his life.
Ask Carey for Relief.
Business men will ask Carey to step
into the local closing muddle and
provide an intelligent method of fuel
regulation. It is quite probable the
business interests of the city will ask
protection thru recognition of an ad
visory board. Carey will be told that
continuance of the existing order will
result in business depressions, heavy
losres and genuine opposition.
It is not the spirit of the closing
order which will be attacked t to
night's meeting, many business men
exolained today. The opposition to
the order will concern the lack of
knowledge of business and economic
conditions which resulted in some of
the provisions of the closing rule.
Carey will be told that the order in its
present form practically means a shut
down for a number of business houses.
Nor is that all. A number of firms
affected by the closing order will tell
the state administrator that the fuel
conservation cannot enter into the
closing of their shops. They will
state that the same amount of fuel is
used when the store is closed as when
it is open to the public.
Representatives of the Kdison com
pany and the street railway will tell
Carey just what the Danner order has
done to these industries. Manager
Purdy recently issued a statement to
the effect that Danner's order result
ed in an enormous business depres
sion, disturbed conditions to their
foundation and failed to save fuel and
added only to the disturbance of in
dustrial conditions. Since the order
became ellective. Kansas avenue is
practitnlly as deserted as a country
lane after the last picture show closes
at 9 o'clock. Now the street railway-
company plans to' reduce its service
to the minimum. Manager Patten ex
plained the company did not wish to
disturb the slumbers of the sleeping
village.
Meeting This Noon.
Little and big, great and small
about 60 of the merchants of Topeka
gathered at the Chamber of Com
merce at 11:15 o'clock this morning
to crystallize the plans for a new set
of closing hours to be presented to
the state and county fuel dictators at
the joint conference' of the dictators
and the merchants at the Chamber
of Commerce at 7:30 o'clock this even
ing. President McKntire called the meet
ing to order, and, after again dis
claiming sponsorship of the Chamber
of Commerce, he proceeded to tell
what the committee that waited on
Director Dan npr Tuesday noon accom
plished. It seems that Danner ex
pressed doubt as "to whether the meet
ing: or conference tonight was a wise
move." Previous tn the issuance of
the closing order, Danner, thru the
newspapers and by letter to certain
prominent merchants, asked that the
retailers of the city meet him in a
conference for the purpose of striking
an equitable basis for issuing the
order.
Danner Muchly Abused.
McEntire in the opening speech also
indicated that while the committee
was In attendance on Danner Tuesday
noon, one woman of the city called
Danner on the telephone to express
the sentiment "You ought to be hung."
According to the statements of Mc
Kntire, Danner complains that his
telephone and mail have been ready
avenues, fully utilized by the citizens
of Topeka, for heaping abuse on the
uel dictator's head.
Merchants Said Utile.
; cKntire failed on the merchants
present to taVe the floor. Not one of
the merchants present at the meeting
showed any special inclination to start
the ball rolling, and finally McEntire
was forced to call on WiMam Green,
'of the Green Grocery companly, for
his views on the closing order as it
affected the grocers of the city. Green
did not seem to be enthusiastic to air
his ideas in public meeting, but he did
say, "Mr. Danner is entitled to the
greatest consideration in this matter,
and I, for one, am fully convinced that
he is trying his level best to be fair
to everyone." This struck the key
note of the whole of the open meet
ing, which was pacific in the expres
sions of fault-finding:. There seemed
:jL? ir:,:',?::::
menva iiuiu v...... j
Edison company, there is a lot or mis
guided dictation in the matter of fuel
conservation in Topeka. It Is very
evident that Administrator Danner,
sincere as he may be in his efforts to
relieve the coal shortage, has over
looked several opportunities to make
a real saving in coal. It appears, too,
that he has overestimated the amount
of fuel that can be saved in the closing
of legitimate business.
For instance, take the city schools.
There are twenty grade schools in To
peka. These schools at this time of
the year burn eighty tons of coa! a
week. Think of it! Eighty tons! This
coal could be diverted to other chan
nels or at least the cars could be used
for domestic coal and the city would
be greatly relieved. If the grade
schools were closed for only two weeks
beginning next Monday, we will say,
and two weeks were added to the term
in June, when it is not necessary to
furnish heat, the children would not
suffer and Topeka would have an op
portunity to procure at least 160 tons
of coal for the small consumer. This
would take care of at least 350 faini- !
lies undoubtedly more.
Instead of making an order of this !
kind, Dictator Danner shortens busi
ness hours to the detriment of legiti
mate trade and necessary trade
down town. This, despite the assertion
of Manager Purdy of the Edison com
pany that the order is of no relief to
this lighting and heating plant.
The churches of the city are real
izing the duty that confronts them
now. Evening services will be dis
continued and prayer meetings, din
ners, entertainments and meetings of
aU kinds will be postponed until after
th-i fuel situation is cleared.
The only inconvenience in connec
tion with the closing of the grade
schools is the postponement of vaca
tions for the teachers and principals.
It has been customary for many of
them to go away to eummer schools
immediately after the term terminated
here. But it must be admitted that in
the face of a fuel famine and suffer
ing among the poor, educational trim
mings and polishing can be set aside
for a paltry" two weeks. At Kansas
City, Mo., the grade schools are closed
now on this plan to save coal.
Everyone in Topeka is willing to co
operate with the fuel administrator on
suggestions that are practical and in
telligent. Topeka, in the last few
months of .war work, never has fallen
down in the patriotic test. In fact this
city has exceeded every quota and has ;
aone just a little more than she was
called upon to do. Mr. Danner can
not lay a lack of patriotic attitude at
the door of any business man here.
His statement to the effect that the
local merchants "Shout patriotism
and groan when their pocketbooks are
a little bit hit" is untrue and uncalled
for. Mr. Danner is in no position as
an office holder, as representative of
the fuel administration, as a citizen, to
make such a charge against what has
been proven and accepted as the most
patriotic city of its size in the United
States.
Everyone must make a sacrifice in
this war It has reached a point where
everyone is willing. All anyone asks
is an exhibition of sound judgment and
sense when a city's commercial and ,
social life is at the power of one man.
The State Journal pledges its sup
port to Mr. Danner in any intelligent
conservation plan he may attempt to
enforce.
De no disposition among the mer
chants to "howl" about the order.
Mitchell Gives Views.
Charles L. Mitchell, who was chair-1
man of the committee that arranged
tonight's conference, took the floor,
and with his dynamic energy forced
the meeting to a head. "What ought !
to be done tonight is this," said Mitch- I
ell, "talk the matter over in a busi-!
nessiike way and don t take advantage
of the occasion to throw abuse at Dan
ner." Mitchell, too. said that Danner
was laboring under difficulties when ,
iic iura ine oraer. Danner in re- i
sponse to his appeal to the merchants
for advice received telephone answers
only to his appeal, and that from only
four merchants of Topeka."
Mitchell then caused the meeting: to
De oroKen up into its component parts,
the drygoods and clothing merchants
in one (cruup to tnemseives aione, tne
meat and grocery men to themselves
and the various branches of business
in their own particular groups. These
groups were to nominate a spokesman
for each business to represent that
business at the meeting tonight with
definite ideas as to what that particu
lar group hought equitable in modi
fying the present closing order.
Th nrnhihit cnnirocn-n
various classes of merchants at the j every night lightless order is illegal,
conference with Emerson Carey, state Following his drastic fuel order as
fuel dictator, and C. H. Danner, affecting Topeka mercantile estab
county fuel dictator, which will be lishments, Danner supplemented the
held tonight at the Chamber of Com
merce will be: Fred Voi land for the
Kansas avenue merchants; William
Green for the grocers; O. L. Hooper
for the theater men; Harper Rigby
for the pool and billiard halls; and
some prominent barber to be selected
for the barbers.
Just after the noon hour. C. W. Mag
gart, president of the ministerial union
announced that an agreement had
been reached with Dictator Danner
whereby the churches will abolish all
services except that Sunday morning.
Under this agreement, it is understood
that the churches of the city will cease
to have Sunday evening services and
will stop the Thursday night prayer
meetings, as well as the other gather
ings that are held from time to time
on week days and nights in the
churches of the city. When asked con
cerning this Danner said, "That is cor
rect. The churches will hold no meet'
ings except that one on Sunday mom-
ings. There will be no definite order
issued to this effect."
SHIP BUILDING
THREATENED BY
RAILROAD TIEUP
3IcAdoo Orders Freight E m-
bargo on Three Railroads.
1,000 Cars of Steel Plates on
Way Since December 20.
17 YARDS AWAIT MATERIAL
Garfield Appeals to McAdoo.for
General Embargo.
Unessential Freight Delays Pri.
ority Coal Shipments.
Washington, Jan. 23.- The embargo
on three eastern railroads ordered to
day by Director General of Railroads
McAdoo, came as an anticipated step
to clear the way for vast supplies,
Particularly steel and fuel, for the
ship building yards. The embargo !
restricts shipment to food, fuel and
war supplies and munitions. The des- j The action was taken on reconr
perate need for material in the ship . mer.dation of A. H. Smith, assistant
yards was threatening to force a sus- ; director general in charge of trans
pension of these industries temporari- i Prtation in "e east. No reference
H ! marlp tr thn rpfnmmpnriAtinn for
Than just such a blow, nothing ;
could be a more drastic delay in the
prosecution of the far at this time.
One thousand cars of plates, practi
cally all of which have been in tran-
I sit since December 20 and before, are
storm bound. Trace of hundreds of
the cars has been lost in traffic of the
shipping board. Meanwhile steel sup-
plies in the constructing yards are
aiminisning rapidly.
Shipbuilders Idle Already
In nearly all of the seventeen ship
building yards where steel ships are
under construction, many men are idle
as a result of cold and lack of ma-.
terl-1- J
The shipping program is far behind
schedule and new delays in obtaining i
....... u.hu.lo j
keeping up the stream of troops and
suDpiies to the war zone,
it was ex-
plained.
Should the plants be forced to sus
pend --operation, thousands of em
ployes will be idle with the govern
ment paying the bill, officials said.
In these circumstances the fuel ad
ministration has appealed to McAdoo
to call for a general embargo on all
freight shipment aside from that of
vital war supplies and fuel.
Coal Priorities Continue. -
Altho the priorities .section of the
coal yard shipments is still effective
and will remain so until otherwise
ordered, no great headwav can be
made unless the rails are relieved of
thousands of cars of unessential
freight. Administrator Garfield be
lieves. Continued cold weather to
day brought with it reports of critical
suffering in many communities and a
situation at some points worse than
that which existed before the Gar
field order went into effect five days
ago. '
The only marked relief was that ac
corded ships at a number of ports.
Bunkering was materially Increased
during the industrial suspension.
Plan Future Shut Downs.
prospect. It is pointed out that .Industries Halted by Fuel Or
Washington's birthday falls on Fri- .
day. February 22. with Saturday a der Resume Operation,
half holiday and Sunday and Monday
quests to industry and business to
close entirely on those four days
would serve to give another breathing
spell at what is usually the bad
weather zenith in the east.
Lincoln's birthday falls on Tues
day, February 12, and a four-day sus
pension might he brought about then
with less annoyance man me recent
- if T 1 . .
r i Lll l 1 1 cot uaica a.i c vtziiik, uuii
sidered as timely for launching an- ,f adverW weather conditions.
th.eleneral,CO1n1T trlctlo.n ordr- . At the same time Mr. McAdoo, of
Addition of 200 locomotives from:.. .. . . ;j . 1
Baldwin shops within thirty days will
help the situation, the railroad ad-
ministration declared.
These locomotives were built for
European service but cannot be
shipped now because lack of tonnage
prevents.
KEEP LIGHTS ON
Government's Electric Sign Or-
der Remains in Force.
Danner Backs Up OH His Total
Darkness Decree.
T,n,fei ctrnt 'iff hor lirrhtn
only two nights each week, according
to an order from J. J-i. uanner, local
fuel administrator. The announce
ment this afternoon is based on a rul
ing from S. X. Hawkes. assistant at-
tornev general, to the ettact that tne
original order with a decree that all
unnecessary lights must be turned out
every night until further orders. This
order is recinded. Topeka may now
use her white way. The stores may
light their buildings. Electric signs
may be displayed. The shut down will
occur only on Thursday and Sunday
nights. All other nights. Topeka may
forget the gloom and depression and
at least let the world know she is on
the map.
HUNS GRAB DUTCH SHIP
Seize Vessel laden Willi Sugar for
Sweden.
Copenhagen, Jan. 23. Thecapture
by German warships of the Dutch
stAamaVin I llTlrt 1 . 2 fi 9 t Otl S FrOSS. f TD TT1
ulhrd for Sweden with a carero of
i sugar, is reported in a Stockholm dis-
patch to the National Tidende. The
I Luna was taken into Swinerauende.
M'ADOO CLAMPS
EMBARGO ON 3
EASTERN LINES
Only Food, Fuel and War Muni-
tions Can Be Moved.
Affects Only Penn. Lines, B. &
, O. and P. & R. Railroads. .
WEATHER IS RESPONSIBLE
Emphasizes MoTe Is To Spe-
cialize on Goal Shipments.
Says Tieup Is Worst Thruout
Allegheny Region. .
Washington. Jan. 23. An embargo
on all freight except food, fuel and
war munitions" on the Pennsylvania
lines east of Pittsburg, Baltimore &
Ohio east of the Ohio river, and the
Philadelphia & Reading was au-
thorized today by Director General
McAdoo.
an embargo submitted last night by
Fuel Administrator Garfield. The em
bargo is temporary and is- expected to
last only a few days.
Acts on Smith's Suggestion. - :
"On account of the extremely severe
weather which has particularly af
fected operation of railroads crossing
ln Aiiegneny mountains, saio. me
"Director General McAdoo, upon the
recommendation of Kegional Director
Smith, has authorized him to place an
embargo upon all freight except food.
fuel and such war munitions and war
supplies as are specifically approved
by the war department upon the
Pennsylvania lines east of Pittsburg,
Baltimore & Ohio east of the Ohio
river, and the Philadelphia & Reading
ior tne purpose ot enaoung inosennes
to continue specializing upon coal for
the double purpose of supplying th
acute conditions in New England and
the harbor of New York add else
where and in the provision of empty
cars for mines and coke ovens." -
The practical effect of this order
will not greatly change condition of
the last few days, it was stated by
railroad administration officials, since
local embargoes already have been de
clared by many eastern railroads
. MoAdoo Cbnci Mia MUXl.'
An embargo on everything buWoodJ
fuel and munitions has been under
consideration for several -days. Up to
last night, however, the director gen
eral was not favorable to a general
embargo, believing that railroads soon
would be able to move the entire vol
ume, of accumulated freight, This
hope was shattered last night by the
continuation of bad weather and snow
almost everywhere east of the Missis
sippi. A threatened serious coal shortage
in few York also is said to have has
tened the decision.
SHUTDOWN ENDS
4-Iaj fcUSpenSIOll .tailed lO
Clear Congested Railroads.
Washington, Jai. 23. America's in
dustries, idle for the past five days
under the fuel administration's closing
order, resumed operations today in
the face Qf a conffestea transportation
situation east of the Mississippi
. . - j
.h. rWS admfnTiiiion to
f Jf'ieht een? coal and
S thl rVt of thf w?ek at 1 ealrt
f00 ?thaenr enuSe movement f
to insure an adequate movement or
those commodities.
Shortage Still Serious.
Chicago, Jan. 23. Illinois industries
resumed operation today after the
five-day shutdown decreed by Fuel
Admin'strator Garfield, still facing a
serious coal shortage.
The recent blizzards, with the at
tendant tie-up of transportation
created a shortage of a million tons
in the state, according to State Fuel
Administrator Williams. "We are
rapidly approaching normal condi
tions, but at the same time we are
facing a coal shortage .of a million
tons, whereas a shor time ago we
estimated our deficit would be only
half a million," said W'illiams.
Was Sal vs, tion of Chicago.
"Cars that were held up in Chicago
bv the storm have returned from the
mines. The circuit is complete and
the railroad situation is getting bet
ter every day. I am confident that
the five-day shutdown wa? the salva
tion of Chicago."
The schools will remain closed an
other week, it is believed. If they
reopen next week it will be with only
one-half day sessions.
5-Day 'Tieup Didn't Help.
Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 23. Traffic
conditions in Indiana today are in the
same congested condition that they
were five days ago. when Doctor Gar
field's closing order went into effect.
The coal movement has not been
speeded up.
This was the statement today of
J. W. Coneys, federal railroad rep
resentative in Indiana.
But Seaboard Got CoaL
At the end of the five-day- restric
tion period no official could say today
just what were the effects of the in
dustrial shutdown except that it had
got coal to seaboard for ships.
Horn 's in many parts of the country
still were without fuel, altho at the
fuel administration it was said that
comDlaints of lack of coal for house-
, holders were fewer than they had
, been for weeks. Railroad congestion
I (Continued on Page T.)
MORE THAN A
MILLION PEACE
f STRIKERS STICK
Later Reports Indicate Disor
f ders Are Being Suppressed.
Censorship Prevents Real Con
. ditions From Being Known.
PEACE MEET FAILURE CAUSE
Bring Extreme Pressure Against
German Annexation Alms.
Hunger and War Weariness
Overwhelm Austria-Hungary.
Under the influence of the govern
ment's reassurance regarding Austria-
Hungary's peace attitude and promises
of measures to alleviate the workmen's
grievances, the strike movement in
Austria which involved approximately
1,000,000 persons, has been halted lor neve railroad congestion, was sug
the time- at least, according to Vienna Ke8ted today by Samuel Gompers.
.e8 'd .Tr.Sf.
several days' suspension, and the ma-
jkrity of the factories are said to have
resumed work.
Alarm over the indications of Aus
trian unrest ' continues in the central
empire, however, it being notably re
flected in the Uerman press comment.
Resentment against Austria for what
fsP a0edbeinheroeakfentb S atUU"de
SSnS rZ,,l,?LZeZB:
pers, and comment of this sort is ao
parently not objectionable to the Ger
man authorities.
(By the Associated Press.)
"With more than 1,000.000 workers
on strike and widespread reports of
disorders in Austria and Hungary, the
situation in the dual monarchy is be
clouded, the censorship having stifled
all news. The German censorship also
has prohibited perman newspapers
from telling of the situation in Austria.
fcfforts of Austrian statesmen to
quiet the hungry people in their de
mand for peace apparently failed of
their purpose, and the censorship
which permitted the promise of the
government's spokesmen to reach the
outside world, again has resumed its
vigor. The trouble is said to be deep
seated and is a mixture of war weari
ness, hunger and anti-Germanism.
No Peace With Ukraine Yet.
Seemingly the one -strong hope of
Austrian leaders in quieting the tumult
is in the success of the negotiations
at .Brest-Utovsk . with Itussia and
Ukraine.-- The German attitude on' oc
cupied territories hua balked the con
clusion of peace with Russia and the
central powers have been unable to
agree to a treaty with the Ukraine. A
peace with the Ukraine would open
the food producing territory of little
Russia to the Austrians, who have
been refused food by Hungary.
Little news has come from Germany
on the political situation there, but it
is indicated that the Austrian emperor
is not unmindful that the trouble in
his own land may force Emperor Wil
liam to change his attitude toward the
peace negotiations. It is reported that
further pan-German attempts to hold
meeting3 in Germany have been
broken up by peace adherents.
The refusal on the part of Germany
to give a guarantee of the evacuation
of occupied territories is emphasized
in a long statement- dealing with the
peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk is
sued thru the Bolsheviki telegraph
agency. The statement speculates on
the attitude of the Germans during
the negotiations and adds that the
SjS ! pour pariers is that
it stripped the imperialists of their
raise pretensions to democratic prin
ciples. Xo Changes on Front
on the fighting fronts the situation
is unchanged. Small raids and spirit
ed artillery actions at various points
are the only activities on the western
and Italian fronts. There have been
no further Bulgarian attacks in Mace
donia, but in Albania tm French have
repulsed enemy reconnaissances in the
Skumbi valley.
Two Meatless Days for Britain.
Tho British Labor party opens its
annual conference at Nottingham to
dary. Labor's attitude toward .the
carrying on of the war and peace aims
will be discussed. The food situation
in England, which has resulted in the
ordering of two meatless days a week
by the food- controller, is expected to
be the subject of several resolutions.
CENTRAL POwSs" ON BRIXK.
Are Stirring a Revolution.
London, Jan. 23. The peace agita-
tion in Austna-riungary is receiving
a great deal of attention in Germany,
The Socialists newspaper Vorwaerts of
Berlin, emphatically declares the so-
lidarity of the German proletariat with
Austrian labor in the peace struggle
ana maintain mat events in tne aual
monarchy must have a deep reaction
in Germany.
"We have been Walking on the edge
of a precipice in the last few days,"
it says, and goes on to demand that
the German government resolutely
takes its place by the side of its Aus-
trian ally. j
ganda", it continues "we are menaced
not only witn tne wrecking of the ? " X. , f
peace negotiations with Russia but Hou8e nas offered the suggestion that
also with complete political isolation." the trrocery stores might get relief by
I installing a couple of pool tables in
ALLEN SPEAKS IN K. CP
'I would not by word or deed do
anything that would hurt the cause,"
Kansan Addresses !- . O.KS.K
"America's Task in France". t tration order as it is applied to To-
i peka is mostly camouflage." 4
nansas v. i lj. , ..1 .... ian. 40. wtin
patriotic songs attesting their loyalty,
members of the Southwestern Lum-1
bermen's association today . opened -
their "war session" at the Hotel r., .sn c,
Muehlebach. The convention will Germany Retailing Submarines Ma,
continue thru Friday and the lumber- Substitute Larger Ones
men will discuss vital war questions 1 '
and their relation to the lumber in- j Paris. Jan. 23. Germany is recall
dustry. ' In; her submarines to their bases pre-
D. Bolman, Leavenwortn, Ivans.,
f.4 a? .Via nm nrvatlnn nnnimiwl
-k.i- .v,- r.t tam
nrnCTam was an address bv Henry J.
Allen. Kansas, on "America'! Task in
France," scheduled for this afternoon,
GOMPERS WOULD
SOLVE PROBLEM
BY 7-HOUR DAY
This Preferable to Closing In-
dustries, Says Labor Chief.
I
Railroads Lax Because Ham
i pered by Anti-Trust Law.
NO NEUTRALITY IN THIS WAR
Labor Must Mate Victory Sure
for Democracy.
Calls L W. W. "Bolshevik! of
U. S.w and Warns Workers.
Indianapolis, Jan. 23. A universal
seven hour day during the period of
the war in8tead of present spasmodic
. . . . - ,
suspension of industries by the fuel
administrator to conserve coal and re-
PWent of the American Federation
of Labor in a speech, to the conven
tion of United Mine Workers.
Mr. Gompers's speech to the miners
was regarded as labor's message to the
country on the action of the fuel ad
ministration. He prefaced his declar
ation for a seven hour day with a de-
1 fane. ; V ! V- -,or.t,,l
" who ay havm; mistake!
They are promoted, he said, by the
patriotic purpose to win the war, ana
to think that the great transition from
jeace to war could be made without
mistakes was asking the impossible.
Continuing he said:
Closing Order Was Necessary.
"The order issued a few days ago I
regard as an absolute necessity. You
know there is now a discussion to re
peal or modify the Sherman anti
trust law. I am not going to offer any
excuse for the jrailroads; they have
been lax so long, but the Sherman
anti-trust law forbade them to do
what now the director general of the
railroads has the right to do. The
jam had occurred and was increasing,
and something had to be done to re
lieve the situation,
"I think there is one mistake in the
making, and I trust it will be changed
or modified. I refer to the closing of
tho Industrial and commercial plants
of our country one additional day each
week. 1 think it is a mistake to have
a whole day such as Monday idle and
involving from Saturday afternoon un
til Tuesday morning. I believe if the
order were changed eo that instead ef
their being ten, nine or eight hours as
a day's work, the same power pro
claim a universal seven-hour day dur
ing the war better results would fol
low. "We would have practically the
same results in the conservation of
fuel and all other needful commodi
ties. It would not do vlbience to the
history, the traditions, the work and
the practical operations of industry
and commerce.
"I trust that the suggestion may
find lodgement somewhere and bring
about that change; but if it doesn't, I
am going to obey like a soldier of
America, I am going to yield my
judgment to the judgment and the ac
tions of the men in whose hands the
destinies of our republic are placed."
Autocracy or Democracy!
Mr. Gompers said there can be no
neutrality in this war. "You have got
to be either for autocracy or democ
racy," he declared. "Labor must make
victory sure for democracy but sound
' surrender the standard's 0 !
cept to save the republic; that no
sacrifices would be made solely to fill
tne pockets 01 the rich with large
profit."
It was here that he defended men in
high places. On the train from New
York to Indianapolis, he said, he heard
the names of many men suggested to
take, the places of those in responsible
governmental positions, but not one of
the men named, he added, has ever
done a public service or expressed a
word or thought in behalf of labor.
He mentioned no names.
Bolsheviki Dreamers,
Mr. Gompers defined Bolsheviki to
mean a group of men who are the ex
tremes of extreme Maximalists, men
who want all their dreams to come
about in one fell swoop.
After declaring that th mr in hia
palmiest days never did more harm
! than the Bolsheviki has done he re-
j inhls country1 Hjaid8 therewaa
power to make a showine. rm.rh i
a- fight. While Mr. Gompers did not
name tne organization, delegates said
he plainly meant the Industrial Work.
ers of the World.
i "
IT'Q RHIUlf QAVC UOIICC
O DUI1Iy unl O nUUOL
Munp rtalia nnn. x. -i
I "Mostly Camouflage."
I
j Topeka business men today are
! taking an unusual interest in the fuel
situation. The fact that food stores
are allowed two hours less a day than
"oo1 hal,s has aroused the ire of both
NEW U-BOAT SCHEME
paratory to aaopung a new pian 01
Mmnllllfn. BRCOrdinr tO renOrtJI r8ffh. !
in. h. tndsLv. One sueiTftstinn was
that the older submarines were to be
replaced by new armored U-boat
j cruisers, armed with large guns.
MOVE ALL SCH30L SOUTH
BECAUSE OF FUEL FAMINE
Greenwich, Conn., Jan. 23. J
Shortage of coal has caused the
faculty of Rosemary Hall to de
cide to transfer its 150 students
to Florida. where the school
courses will be continued during
the rest of the term. The school
has leased two apartment houses
in Miami at a cost of about $25,000
for three months. The students
and faculty will leave for the
South next Wednesday and Thurs
day., Rosemary consumes about one
thousand tons of coal during the
Winter. Other schools are looking
for quarters in the South.
PUSH R. R. BILL!
Success of ext Liberty Loan
Depends on It, Says McAdoo.'
I GoT't Must Raise 10 Billion
Dollars Before End of June.
Washington, Jan. 2S. Ten billion
dollars must be raised before June 30,
Director General McAdoo testified be
fore the house interstate commerce
committee today.
Congressional delay in passing tne
railroad legislation will seriously
hamner this gigantic work and is en
dangering flotation of the next liberty
loan, he warned.
"The savings banks and other de
positories of the average man hold
more than $4,000,000,000 in railroad
securities, sufficient to spell failure
for the next liberty loan unless the
holders are assured by legislation that
the government is guaranteeing these
securities," he said.
"I therefore must earnestly beg you
to expedite this measure."
Cut Passenger Traffic.
To curtail travel on the National
railroad during the war. Director Gen
eral McAdoo may soon increase pas
senger rates. Passenger trains also
may be further reduced rater.
"Before the passenger service can
be reduced much more, in order to
prevent many disturbances, the great
amount of travel must be decreased.
When that time comes I think the
rates ought to be raised."
Representative Winslow, Massachu
setts, charged that many railway em
ployes, believing they are in the gov
ernment's employ, are growing lax in
their work.
McAdoo sharply denied the charge.
saying his reports indicated the con
trary. The spirit ot both officers ana
employes in this respect is most grati
fying the director-general said.
RUSHING TROOPS
Twice as Many In France as
Originally Planned.
President GiTes Assuring Re
port on War Dep't Efficiency.
Washington, Jan. 23. America is
sending troops to Europe far more
rapidly than originally planned. .
It is now estimated, barring disas
ter, that fully twice as many Sam
mies will be training under Pershing
by June than early estimates pro
vided. This fact has been assured mem
bers of the senate by President Wil
son as an example of the war de
partment's tremendous work. Under
the circumstances. the president
holds, some mistakes were inevitable,
"bu the same mistake, has not been
maae twice.
A fair proportion of actual fighting
men are included in thi contingents
already gone and this government has
furnished in addition a goodly num
ber of badly needed stevedores, en
gineers, foresters, flyers and other
non-flgh,ing forces.
Act on Col. House's Advice.
At first war departmetnt officers
felt that the United States ought not
to send any troops abroad short of a
year. Then the allies began pressure
for some for psychological effect. This
resulted in dispatch of the Pershing
expedition and the Rainbow division.
Conflicting requests as to men and
supplies came from time to time, but
with culmination of the Inter-aflied
conference. Colonel House recom
mended ' that transport of men was
perhaps the most crying need.
Lack of bunker coal has been a
deterrent factor, but this is now being
overcome and the transport service is
expected to improve considerably, the
war department is considering mvi
and means of increasing the transport
! ' men-
COLD SPELL BROKEN
Morcury droing Vp Rapidly Today
Meteorologist Flora Saw Meteor.
Temperature readings for the day
furnished by the local office of the
United States weather bureau:
7 o'clock 1 7 j 1 1 o'clock .32
8 o'clock 2012 o'clock 35
9 o'clock 2 4 j 1 o'clock 41
10 o'clock 28 2 o'clock 43
The temperature today reached the
highest point touched since January 4.
Temperatures for the day averaged 4
degrees above the normal for the date.
The wind at 2 o'clock- this afternoon
was blowing 12 miles an houP from
the southwest.
Night temperatures in Topeka are
slowly rising, 15 degrees being the low
temperature for the last twenty-four
hours, recorded at 6 o'clock this morn
ing. .This is a rise of 4 degrees over
the 11 above lw temperature for Mon
day night, but whether or not the rise
(Continued on Page
APPROVE PEACE TERMS
Labor Conference Welcome Statements
of Wilson and IJoyd-Geonre-
or Muson ana uoya oeorge.
Nottingham, Jan. 23. The labor
conference unanimously adopted a
resolution welcoming the statements of
Premier Lloyd-George and President
Wilson and calling upon the allies to
formulate their war aims at the - ear-
jliest possible moment-
II
DEMOCRATS INTO
LINE BEHIND HIM
Chamberlain Will Go Limit la
Fight for War Cabinet.
Is Primed With Data To Prove
Mis-Conduct of War. '
SAYS PRESIDENT IS MISLED
Ready To Show Up Baker's
Rosy War Statement,
Plea for Harmony Will Defeat
Measure Is Prediction.
BY C. L. MARTIN.
Washington, Jan. 23. Under th
lash that "without harmony the war'
will be lost," Democratic leaders in
whipping into line party legislators
wavering on the Chamberlain "war
cabinet" bill.
Today it appeared likely that tha
storm which has broken between tha
White House and congress on th
measure may be tempered with com
promise. The presence of Theodurt
Roosevelt on the battle ground hafl
done much to consolidate the Demo
crats back of President llson
wishes on the pending legislation.
There was even talk of a "get to
gether" meeting shortly between tha
president and Chamberlain.
The telling argument advancea Dy
the Democrats is that a bill, as re
pugnant as this one is to the admin
istration, "would, if passed, hamper
war efforts even tho an efficient meas
ure itself.
Meantime, however. Chamberlain
is prepared for a real fight.
Has Popular Support.
Backed by letters of soldiers' moth
ers and fathers anent camp conditions;
armed with data on what was regard
ed as misleading senate testimony of
Secretary of War Baker. Chamber
lain proposes to go ahead with his
war cabinet bitl and hts compulsory
training law. Popular support of
these measures 'grew, despite the ad
ministration's very strenuous efforts to
kill them, particularly tne war cabi
net bill.
The fight will develop in earnest to
morrow over reference of the war
cabinet bill to committee. Senator
Swanson, for the administration, will ,
try to have it sent back to both the
military and naval committees. Were
it sent back to the military committee
alone, action on it would be favorable.
With the double reference, it would
b caught in the jam, henoe if Swan
son wino, the bill may die.
Swanson's move to refer it will be
the signal for Chamberlain to go over
the top. He has his bayonets ready
and he proposes to submit data tend
ing to prove that tho president has
been mislid into thinking war condi
tions are better than they really are.
Kuker Misstated Facts.
He also will submit evidence in an
effort fo prove that Secretary Baker
incorrectly testified before the mili
tary committee as to camp clothing
P ortages. The committee probe testi
mony will be on every senator's desk
as supporting evidence of Chamber
lain's charges and as reasons for sup
port of his bill.
Chamberlain plans to submit proof
that the war department, as at pres
ent organized, has failed to meet tha
situation. He and his supporters as
sert this is the sole reason they are
advocating a change thnt will co
ordinate and centralize authority and
provide legal authority to get thing
done in the place of volunteer advice
and suggestion.
The administration forces will lay
emphasis on harmony and on the fact
that the war cabinet as proposed,
would have direction of naval policies.
They will argue that the navy proved
itself critic proof and hrnce should -not
be meddled with. In this they will
be supported by some Republican
senators.
This point is likely to cause the de
feat of the war cabinet measures tn
the senate where it will take prac
tically all the Republicans, plus five
or six Democrats to pass it.
Democrats Who Support It.
Democrats who are for the measure
include Chamberlain. Hitchcock. Me
Kellar, Hardwick, Gore and Reed.
Senator King, Utah, looked on as like
ly to support it, is non-committal.
Senator Hiram Johnson. California,
is one of the few senators who think
(the war cabinet bill stands a chance
nocura Ho will vote for It.
Ken-
, ator Borah, also a strong advocate of
I it. believes it would be rendered non.
effective by administration opposition
even were it passed over "the presi
dent's veto.
That the president would veto It If
tt passes congress la considered cer
tain and even its most optimistle
friends agree that it could not b
passed over the veto.
KooeveIt Kxerts Influence.
Chamberlain is preparing to brlnff
in his universal military training bill,
which h discussed yesterday witn
C3lonel Roosevelt.
Republicans and Democrats In both
houses will caucus today to consider
their action on the Chamberlain bills,
r'nlnnpi Rrinftpvlt hajt thrown the
full weight of his influence into the
ficrht nfprrinz until late last night
with . Renublican leaders in both
branches.
SUFFS WIN IN AUSTRIA
Political Contfdoni Said to Have
Condoned Ocneral Peaoe Strikers.
Copenhagen. Jan. fS. The Austrian
government has accepted the Social
ists demands as to food, communal
wnmcn'i, suffraee and non-militarism
of war Industries, according to a Vien"
na dispatch today quoting the Tae-
" KHsche Rundschau. The government.
it was declared, had added that it
aims at a speedy general peace and
does not desire annexation of Russian
territory.
i "On these statements," the dispatch
I asserted,
J day."
"all strikes ceased on Moo-