The sun. [volume], September 21, 1919, Page 14, Image 14

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920

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PEACE SOUGHT
BYPETROGRAD
Copenhagen Hears City Soviet
Has Authorized Plea
to tho Allies.
Deaths now boo daily
Bolshevik Bobbers Loot State
Bank, for Third Time,
Get $1,000,000. x,,
Copenhagen, via Ldndon, Sept. 20.
Tho city Soviet of Petrograd has em
powered the People's Commissaries to
begin peace negotiations with the Al
lies on (he basis of conditions fixed by
the allied Powers, according to reports,
received hero from Petrograd. Peace
Is wished at any price by the Petro
grad Soviet, the reports declare.
Washington, Sept. 20. Nb peace of
fer to the Allies has been reported from
the Central Soviet Government at Mos
cow, and an offer by the Petrograd City
Soviet would therefore appear to be In
the nature of a separate peace proposal
by the Petrograd district
Swedish press reports from Petrograd
by way of Helslngfors to-day say deaths
at Petrograd from cholera and dysen
tery have risen to 200 to 300 a day.
panltary conditions are reported Intol
erable and many of the hospitals have
closed for scarcity of food and medicine.
I A band of Bolshevik robbers for the
third time In a short period have sacked
tho Russian State Bank, taking more
fthari 1.000,000 in cash and many valu
ables. J According to another report from Hel
Ingfore, Admiral Kolchak's headquar
ters liave been moved from Omsk to
JNovo Nlkolajevek.
I According to the Stockholm press a
manifesto by tho Moscow Soviet calls
Supon the Red Guard and workmen to
jpbserve the -utmost vigilance to protect
JUie city. A state of siege was to be pro
claimed. It was stated, .and all youths
'from ,15 to 17 years of age had been
rcalled to the colors by the Bolshevik
government.
bA cable from Omsk received at the
uaslan Embassy to-day said Admiral
olehak's offensive against the Bol
Ishcvlk forces In western Siberia was de
veloping successfully, but that It was
piol prudent to give details. Many
prisoners were reported taken by Kol
chak's forces.
' The Petrograd section Is the most Im
portant region of Soviet Russia exposed
,o hostile attack, and it has been under
ithreat for ft considerable period through
Operations by the Esthonlans, Letts,
(Lithuanians and Finns. At one period
a. hostile attacK was driven to within
little more than fifty miles of the city
oh the east, and for n time there seemed
Kt possibility that the campaign against
the Bolshevlkl In north Russia might
Soear down upon the former Russian cap
ital. The decision by the British, hdw
Jever. to withdraw their forces from
orth Russia apparently eliminated this
Hatter possibility, although It was hinted
Jin London that there might be a plan
pinder way for the British to "withdraw"'
through Petrograd. Vrhls suggestion was
a-evlved as recently as yesterday, when
a. London despatch summarixlng a War
(Qnice statement which reported a suc
tcesetut operation by British, Serbian
and Russian troops on Lake Onega,
Jitxnit 2.10 miles northeast of Petrograd,
tntlded that the allied activity was re
Sgarded In some quarters as Indicating a
Jnovement toward Petrograd, and possl
))' confirming the suggestion that it
was the intention to evacuate the Arch
angel district by that route.
1,230 V. S. Troop Lfhtc Siberia.
Dt the A$$ociated Pren.
i Vladivostok, Sept ,11 (delayed).
jThe transport Logan, with 1,250 Amerl
an troops, principally member! of the
JTwenty-seventh Infantry, left for the
'United Stiites to-day by way of Manilla
And should arrive in San Francisco
Sibout October 27. Replacement troops
Arrived here on September 6.
GERMANS TO QUIT LETVIA.
J3iftern I'rnaalnn Frontier Is
Closed to Volnntcera.
fi Berlin, Sept, 20. The Lettish
frontier of eastern Prussia has been
jelosed to volunteers enlisted In Cr
nany, according to the Vorwaerti. The
jGerman troops on the frontier have
prdcrs to stop, by use of arms if neces
sary, all attempts tocros into Letvla. ''
i At Mitau. the General commanding
jLhe German troops called together the
fieads of the units In his command and
pointed out to them the difficulties which
Would arise If German troops remained
Jin Letvla, contrary to the expressed
avishes of the Allies. He requested ab
solute obedience from his troops and
Outlined plans for the evacuation of the
fountry. the newspaper adds,
:berlin to annul article ei.
tlaetrln Will Have o Ilepreaen-
tatlve In ItelchataK.
Paris, Sept. 20. Paul-Dutastn, secre
tary oi ine i'eace uonierence, nas re
ceived a long note from the German
delegation at Versailles advising the
conference of the acceptance In the name
of the German Government of the de
mand for a declaration annulling Article
JL.XI. of the German 'constitution, which
would glvo Austria representation in the
Herman ReictiBtag.
. Kurt von Lersner, head of the Ger
inan delegation, says in the note he has
fjcen" authorized to sign the declaration
Jthat Article LXI. Is null and void, but
Sakes occasion to complain at what he
Characterizes as the "Ironical tone" of
jhe last note rrom tne entente rowers.
! '-
MOTOR CARS HURT CHILDREN,
JThree Injured In Ilarlentl Aged
r
J( Woman Knocked Uonn, .
I Three children were Injured yesterday
jif temoon In automobile accidents in
Jlarlem. Milton Kehlmann, 4, of 19
Went 119th street wan run dnwn In
"front of his home by a car driven by
Ivan Holmes, 2104 Seventh avenue, and
Injured Internally. James Morris, 5. 1427
Amsterdam avenue, was, cut about the
face and body when he was knocked
jdown by a car at Convent avenue and
P,J0th street. He was taken to Knicker
bocker Hospital. The driver was Alex
ander Lang t)f 117 West Tenth street.
Harold v. Brinck. 6, 533 West 133d
street, was struck at Broadway ahd 133d
street and attended for scalp wounds.
The car was driven by Louis Ttetzen' of
I3i East 179th treet Loretta Flynn,
65, of 1925 Seventh avenue, was struck
while crossing Seventh avenue at 116th
street, and taken to Harlem Iloepltal
Buffering from shock. The car was
driven by Abraham Chapoff, 503 West
l7th street.
Krntnrli) Koelallata File Ticket,
Khanuwrt, Ky Sept. 20. The So
cialist party filed to-day a list of can
f?ld8tea for all State offices In Kentucky
tt the November election except for
Attorney-General and superintendent of
public Instruction.
14
$15J34,546 SALE OF
FURS SETS 'RECORD
Final Day at Auction Totals
$1,209,331.
Special DttpatcK to Tni Six.
Sr. Louis, Sept. 20. A total of 1,209,-
S1 for the final day's selling of the
ten day auction on the International
Fur Exchange brought the grand total
to 15,334.546, setting a record both
for quantity and total sales of any
former auction In tho history of' the'
fur trade.
The sale - onened with 280.000
opossum. The early bidding was cautious,
buyers waiting to see If manufacturers
would bid heavily. The average quality
opossum was better than, In the April
sale. Forelm buvers boueht well. South
America taking an appreciable amount.
The opening bid was $2.05 for first extra
second extra. Medium seconds brought
90 cents and smalls TO cents.
Third grado sold for 30 "to 50 cents
and fourth grades 3 to 5 cents. One lot
of extra largo fours went at 90 cents.
The opossum totalled approximately
1365,000.
A collection of 40,000 nutria attracted
much attention, with keen bidding. The
opening price was 11.80 and It was In
creased to $3.50 for large pelts, while
$4.10 was paid for large dark fancy
furred. Exceptionally choice lot went to
$4.60. Tho bulk of the selling was
aronnd J 1.75 to $3.25 the pelt: all grades
selling well.
The lot totalled approximately $96,500.
More than 250 buyers participated In
the sale of 21,000 beaver. The opening
bid was $31.60 for ex.tra large Cana
dians, and extra large black Canadian
sold from $30 to $40. The top price was
$44.60 for unusually large and dark
eastern Canadian; western and north
western Canadians went around $20 to
$30. States beaver sold from $15 to $20
for fine goods and lesser qualities from
$8 to $12, and around !5 for third nnd
fourth grades mixed. Fourths sold low,
$1 to $2.50, and cubs around $4. The
lot totalled around $450.OCO. .
Thirty thousand Russian ponies sold
In Jots of 300 each. Opening at $14
long strings went swiftly with slight
variations in price for first grades;
mostly at $14.50. Seconds went rapidly
around $10 and third grades around $5.
Five minutes selling brqught $298,915.
These are the first Russian ponies to
be-received In five years. The fur trade
took them eagerly, believing they will
afford handsome garments for those or
moderate purse. It was remarked that
twice the quantity would havo sold as
readily.
LIMIT INTEREST ON
U. S. CERTIFICATES
Rate Not to Be Higher Than
4 1-4 P. C, Officials. Believe.
Washington, Sept 20. Unless all
signs fall. Treasury certificates of In
debtedness hereafter will not bear a
higher rate of Interest than U per cent
Is the belief of the Treasury officials. It
was learned to-day.
If purchases keep pace with the recent
rate of disposing of the certificates It Is
assured that that lower rato Will be
maintained. The closing of the last Is
sue of certificates was done very hur
riedly, because there was found to be
on" September 18 a net balance of
$1,145,931,000 In the geReral found of the
Treasury, and the Government had
no Immediate use for more money. On
that day there were no outstanding 4V4
per cent certificates to be redeemed.
They were selling Bt a premium.
It was pointed out to-day that the'lnst
sale of one-year certificates outsold , the
six months' certificates six to one, which
is credited to the fact that the long
term certificates carried 4U per cent
Interest, and In Treasury circles It Is
believed that the public conviction Is
that no more than 4Uper cent Interest
need be paid by the Government here
after.
It has been carefully noted at the
Treasury Department that since an
nouncement that the Government has
passed Us peak loan nnanciauy was
made. Liberty bonds have Increased In
market value. It Is believed firmly hers
that those prices will go higher. Baylntf
Is due. It Is believed, to conviction of
careful Investors that those bonds can
be bought In the market to pay almost
5 per cent. A gradual rise In the value
of all Issues is expected confidently here.
CARDINAL MERCIER ,
WILL TAKE REST
Crowds Cheer as He Departs
for Baltimore.
Cardinal Mercler of Belgium left this
city for Baltimore yesterday morning
and will rest there for a day or two,
after which he will attend the conference
of American bishops, which will-be held
in Washington tnis weeK.
Cardinal Mercler left the Pennsylvania
Station at ten minutes after 11 in a
special car attached to the Washington
express, and f,or a half hour before tho
departure of his train was shown about
the station by William Egun, the station
master. His presence about the station
was the occasion for a small ovation,
hundreds of persons cheering and salut
ing him. ,
He had left the residence of Arch
bishop Hayes on Madison avenue a little
after 10, and there, too, a large crowd,
which had been waiting for him to ap
pear, acclaimed him enthusiastically.
The police escort provided to accompany
him to the station had difficulty In clear
ing a way for the automobile which car
ried him, and men and women crowded
about the car so closely that its chauf
feur was unable to start It until the po
lice Induced the crowd to fall back. As
the car made Its way to the station peo
iple waved and called greetings from the
sidewalks all along the way.
The Cardinal's arrangement to take
the train ho did made It Impossible for
him to be present yesterday at the ordi
nation of twenty-nine young priests, who
were received Into the priesthood at St
Patrick's Cathedral, and made It Impos
sible also for Archbishop Hayes, who of
ficiated at the ordination, to accompany
Cardinal Mercler-to the station. From
Washington Cardinal Mercler will begin
a tour of this country, but In the course
of it he will stopn this city again on
October 5.
TENNYSON MAKES PORT AFIRE.
British Lner Lands Faaaengers'
and Cargo at Ilarhadoea,
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Sent. 20.
The British steamship Tennyson.
bound from Brazil to New York, arrived
at Ilarbajloes on September 17 with
her bunkers afire. It was learned here
to-day. The flames have spread to the
cargo In No. 2 hold. According to last
advices, the cargo was being discharged
and the 'passengers landed. V
Ths Tennyson has been beached to
avoid her total destruction. Tho British
light cruiser Yarmouth assisted In the
work.
The Tennyson, 3,900 tons .gross, Is
owned by the Lamport & -Holt Line,
owners of the Vesorls, which put Into
St. Lucia last week with Are In her
hold, while on tho way from New York
to South America with more than 400
passengers and cargo.
Representatives here of the line said
the average number of passengers car
ried by the Tennyson on her north
bound trips Is between thirty and fifty,
and the cargo consists mainly of coffee.
KM ALBERT ffiGER
FOMGHTS IN D. S.
- x
Believes Much to Aid Belgium
Can Bo Learned on Second
Visit Here.
WILL START T0-M0RE0W
Queen Will Accompany Ruler
on Voyngo on tho Goorgo
Washington.
t Bt the JLnoclattd Frea
BnussELs; Sept 20. King Albert re
ceived the correspondent of the Asso
ciated Press at the Laejcen palace to
day and talked with much Interest of
his trip to tho United States, on which
he and the Queen will start on Monday.
The King, wearing tho field uniform
of a Belgian General, recalled that ho
visited tho United States twenty years
ago and spent five months travelling
from, the Atlantic to tho Pacific coasts.
AC that time ho was Interested In all
he ruw, but he said that now he was
going to return the visit of. President
Wilson, to thank the people fo the
wonderful help they gave the Belgians
and to learn those things which will
be useful "to the Belgians In building
up their country.
Many questions were asked by the
King concerning the United States and
tho American people. Ho said he hoped
that because of the food scarcity there
would not be mnjiy banquets, but when
asked If h.e would rather go Incognito,
he declared that the news service of
the country was so well organized that
he soon would be found out.
"There Is a happy medium," he added,
"which, while allowing Us to see many
things In which we are Interested and
of which we desire to learn, will not be
too ceremonious. Tour Industries are
so vast and so well organized and the
relations of capital and labor are-so good
that there Is much for us to learn.
"Our country Is small," the King went
on, "and many things are done In a
small way, but we believe wo will be
able to apply many lessons from the
people of America, which Is always ad
vanced and Is always doing things.
"Our people greatly appreciate the
help given by the American people dur
ing the war and the splendid service of
the American army. Your soldiers are
tine fighting men and their deeds will
lever be forgotten.
your educational system has always
been most attractive to me and I want to
know more about It. You not only look
after the mental but the physical well
being of youth through your sports and
training. I saw a baseball game at
Chaumont when fully 20,000 soldiers
were present, all of them cheering at
once. It gave evidence of great force
and was most Inspiring.
"In the late war your people did
wonders. In creating an army In a year
and sending it to Europe, Surely there
have been many changes In the United
States since my last visit and I am
prepared for surprises.
Asked If he would make an airplane
flight while In the United States King
Albert smiled, but did not commit hlm
self., He expressed the opinion, how
ever, that the view from a New York
skyscraper would be an Inspiring sight
King Albert nnd his party will start
from BruRsels -on Monday morning for
Ostend. where they will board an Amer
ican destroyer, which Is to convey them
to the George Washington, lying threo
miles out Rear Admiral Andrew T.
Long, Naval Attache of the United
States Embassy In Paris, will accom
pany the party, receiving it officially
aboard the George Washington.
BEER SMUGGLERS
HELD IN CHICAGO
Federal Judge Calls State
Utficials to Hear Proof.
Chicaoo, Sept. 20. Federal Judge
lanuis nem sixteen men to tho Grand
Jury to-day on bonds of $15,000 each
In smuggling cases which arose from
the alleged transportation of beer across
the Wisconsin nnd Illinois line. The
rase is the first sweeping effort to .stop
the sale of alcoholic drink In Chicago.
Included In the list of men held was
"Jim" O'Leary, famous Chicago saloon
keeper and bookmaker. The other men
'are drivers of trucks In which beer was
transported and saloonkeepers and bar
tenders Implicated in the seizure of
thousands of bottles of beer at Zion
City.
The court Issued a subposna for Pat
rick .T. Carroll, af former State Senator,
arrested at Zlon City last week when,
It Is charged, beer was found In his
automobile. Subpoenas also were Issued
for more than fifty saloonkeepers, who
wers alleged to-have, bought beer from
Milwaukee breweries.
Judge Landls summoned Chief of Po
lice Garrity and States Attorney Hoyne
Into court and when Gafrlty appeared
Judge Landls said:
"I have just stumbled onto some
thing very Interesting, Chief, and I
think you ought to know about It 'That
Is, the Importation of beer in Chicago."
He said (later :
"You see here to-day In the court
what made this country dry. This utter
disregard for tho law Is what put the
brewers out of business."
Jacob Frank, one of the saloonkeepers
held, admitted he had sold beer, where
upon the Judge addressed Chief Garrity:
'"Stand up. Chief."
Then to the saloonkeeper:
"Jake, I want to Introduce you to the
Chief of Police."
The Judge asked the Chief how It
happened that beer could be sold with
policemen on patrol duty. The Chief
said the saloonkeepers hid the beer
when the policemen entered the bars.
Chemical analysis of ' the beer seized
Showed that It contained from 2.98 to
3.31' pes, cent alcohol.
DRY 0. S. BIG FACTOR
IN SHRINKING FRANC
Wine and Brandy Figure
Largely in American Imports.
Special Cable Detpatch to Tos Sck from the
London Timet Service.
Copyright, lli. alt righte rteened.
London, Sept 20. Tho United States
going dry Is an important new factor in
Jhe recent heavy depreciation of francs.
French wine and brandy are always nor
mally a very substantial Item of French
produce for export, and' "the Tact that
American purchases, which used to be
very considerable, direct or Indirect, have
received this serious check Is a pecu
liarly embarrassing matter for the
French balance of trade.
It has been notioed lately that the
monthly totals of French exports to the
United States have fallen below
even what they had been a year or so
previously, when the war was raging,
and now that the war Is over It is pe
culiarly In France that one of Its staple
Industries for export should have met
with this additional blow. The pussy
tooting of the franc In New Y)rk Is un
doubtedly a very serious blow to Frehch
trade.
THEO. P. SHOHTS DIES
HAD LONG BEEN ILL
Conflrtucd from First Page.
Idea that when you learn tho conditions
under ' which I am willing to become
chairman of ths Isthmian Canal Com
mission you may withdraw your offer.
With a body composed of so many dif
ferent members with diversified duties
that are likely to conflict on occasion,
there 1 bound to be friction so long
as responsibility Is divided. I should
not care to accept the chairmanship
of this commission, therefore, unless It
Is understood that I am to have abso
lute authority as to both men and
measures In tho work of the construction1
oftho canal subject to your sfpproval,
of course."
President Roosevelt's response was to
open the doors of the chamber In which
they were conversing. Invite several
newsnaDcr .men who were waiting to
see him to enter, and to say, "Gentle
men, allow me to Introduce to you the
chairman of the Isthmian Commission,
who la to have absolute control of the
construction of the Panama CanaL"
With his wide acquaintance among
railroad men Mr. Shonts was ablo to
pick to aid blm In his task a wealth
of talent and genius. Because of the
men that he picked the second canal
commission became known as the
"Railroad Men's Commission."
One of the greatest results of the
Shonts rule at Panama was the elimi
nation, of yellow fever and the cutting
of the death rate, in wnicn no was aiaea
by Col. William C. Gorgas, later Sur-
eon-General of the United States Army.
Although throughout the length and
breadth othe United States tho cry was
going up t6 "set the dirt flying," Mr.
Shonts firmly believed that before set
ting the dirt flying he should make the
Isthmus habitable to tho persons who
were to .work there.
No hero of Greek mythology ever
faced a more perplexing task. There
were no systems of waterworks, of
sewerage or of drainage on the entire
Isthmus nt the time. The people de
ponded for their water largely upon
unprotected cisterns filled during the
rainy season and on barrels supplied
from nearby streams, all of which were
breeding places for mosquitoes. In de
scribing conditions as he found them
Mr. Shonts wrote t "The filth of ages
had accumulated around the dwellings
and In the streets, undisturbed except
when washed away by torrential storms.
Pools of stagnant water had existed for
years In proximity to dwellings, and In
sect breeding swamps lay undralned ad
jacent to the cities and many of the
towns."
Health Considered First.
Mr. Bhonts declared that Vto make
the dirt fly', under such conditions would
be criminal as well as uneconomic. De
spite criticism he adhered to the deter
mination to render the Isthmus habitable
before beginning to dig rather than
bring workmen there to die.
At his Instance and under direction
of Col. Gorgas the work of cleaning up
the Isthmus began. Panama, Colon nnd
the towns, villages and labor camps In
the Canal Zone were fumigated over and
over again. They were fumigated house
by house and later villages and towns
at a time. Thirty-five hundred men
worked'unceaslngly at this task, and as
a result yellow fever was extirpated In
less than four months, after which it
never returned.
The succera of this sanitary accom
plishment 19 best shown by a compari
son of the death rate under the French
regime and later under tho commission
headed by Mr. 'Shonts. In August, 183:'.
the secoifd year of French occupancy,
with a forco of nineteen hundred men,
the death rate was 112 a thousand. In
August, 1905, with a forco of 12,000
men, there were only eight deaths, or
two-thirds of a man a"thousand.
The establishment of a hospital ays
tern. Including large hospitals at Colon
and Panama and a number of smaller
hospitals along the line of the Canal
was another of Mr. Shonts's accom
plishments. President Roosevelt In a. special mes
sage to Congress lauded this work and
fcald of the accomplishments of the
Shonts regime: The results have been
astounding. The conditions as regards
sickness and the death rate compare
favorably with reasonably healthy lo
calities In the United States."
Another feature of his canal work was
the conversion of the City of Panama,
which had been without pavement sew
ers or water supply, into the best paved,
the best watered and the best sewered
city In Central America.
This was accomplished largely by the
construction of a great reservoir and
the Installation of an up to date Are de
partment which, on two occasions saved
the .city from destruction.
Another great reservoir was con
structed at Colon, with a capacity of
COS. 000. 000 gallons. The main street of
Colon was 'paved nd the surfaces of
tho other streets raised. During all of
this work observance of the panltary
laws was rigidly enforced. Whenever
an employee of the commission was dis
covered with too high, a temperature ho
was compelled to"" go to the hospital
whether he wanted to or not
For the triumph of science over dis
ease on the Isthmus Mr. Shonts gave
full credit to Col. Gorgas ; nevertheless
without 'his own support and the re
sources that'he was able to put at the
disposal of thit army officer the effort
to clean the place up would have been
a failure. It was his determination to
make the place healthful nt all costs
that really brought the Improvement
about
Traction Snnrla Solved.
,It was his remarkable success with
the problem on the Isthmus that caused
Mr. Shonts to be picked by Thomas F.
Ryan and other traction heads In New
York for the task of unravelling the
snarls In the transit systems ,and de
veloping the present elaborate system of
Interborough subways.
AgaHn Pauh Morton played an Im
portant part in Mr. Shonts's life drama.
Mr. Morton was then president of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society, and
after a conference ' with the traction
heads he went to Washington to see
the head of the Canal Commission.
"They want you up in New York,"
he said.
"Who wants me?" asked Shontu
"The men who control the New York
traction Interests."
"What do they want me to dot"
J There Is a desperate traction prob
lem up there Mr. Morton told him- "It
Is the biggest transportation proposition
In the world. It Is a man's Job, and tho
traction owners want somebody big
(enough to coordinate the whole situa
tion." "I can't touch It now," Mr. Shontn
declared ; "I haven't finished the work I
started to do In Panama. Besides, I
nould not undertake the New York posi
tion unless I were given absolute au
thority." "It Is because you demanded auto
cratlo power In Panama that they want
you," Mr. Morton replied. "The trac
tion people In New York have been
watching tho1' things you have done
down there.
Mr. Shonts was firm In his refusal. "I
promised to stay with the canal until the
worlc was being carried forward In all tain difficulties that unthinking passcn-
departments under full headway," he gers had never before realized,
said, "so I .don't see how I can go up to These papers also at times contained
New York," . bits of advice on street enr courtesy, for
"We'll wait for you," was Mr. jfor- Mr. Shouts believed that politeness
ton' promise; and wait the traction should lie exercised In the subway as
heads did until Mr. Shonts was fully well as In more elaborate surroundings,
satisfied that work on the canal had. He Urged patience with his workers, and
been launched bo well, that the Intricate vigorously rebuked tho cranks who crltl
syatem bad been so perfectly organized, cleed the costumes of the conductorettes.
JNDAy,EP!rBMBSRt 2l 1919.
th pentlUncn so completely overcome
that 'It was perfectly safe for him to
quit tho job and entrust Its continuance
to other able hands.
Then in 1907 ho became president of
tho Interlocking companies controlling
tho billk of the city's traction lines-at a
salary of $100,000 per year. He was al
ready a man of wealth, however, having
made his fortunejn his earlier railway
enterprises.
In -undertaking tills task-Mr. Shonts
again frankly admitted that he was em
barking upon a strange course. "I know
nothing about the New York transporta
tion system," he said to an Interviewer.
"When I get there and get a chance to
look things over I'll bo able to talk."
Although his experience with steam rail
roads had been broad,' he had never been
connected with a city railway system In
any capacity whatever. The traction
heads took him on his demonstrated
ability as an executive, financier and en
gineer. Studies Problems First.
Mr. Shonts set out at first to study
his new job. He went down Into tho
subway, where 700,000 people wore light
ing to ride on a railroad built to accom
modate 400,000. Ho explored the under
ground lines, after which ho travelled
all over the routes of the elevated and
surfaco lines. He also put a corps of
his own Investigators to work to look
tKe proposition over and report to him
on the Immedlato and futiire needs of
the system.
Mr. Shonts faced criticism and ridi
cule from thoso who expocted Immediate
tangible results. The first few months
were very trying Indeed, with the pubfio
clamoring for better accommodations,
the cars packed and tho surface lines
bankrupt But the former canal builder
did not give up.
His flrat work was to centralize the
organization of the Interborough-Mctro-polltan
organization and Its various sub
sidiary companies'. He swung tho axe
freely, nnd one after another the heads
of the various departments that had
been tugging In opposite directions In
tho post, the "Jarring, discordant ele
ments, went Into tho scrap heap.
He was opposed by certain directors
who favored the men that he was elimi
nating, and .fntngs came to a crisis when
some of them Intimated that he would
resign before he would be able to over
come their Interests. But In the strug
gle that followed these directors resigned
and Mr. Shonts remained supreme ruler
of the traction lines. From that time
he had wielded undisputed authority.
It was his autocratic rule that en
abled Mr. Shonts to accomplish s6 much
with the city railways In so short a time.
That enabled him to evolve out of the
old chaotic organization a traction sys
tem which has drawn tho attention of
the wholerallroad world to New York.
Legal Lnxnrlvs Abollaheal.
Among tho luxuries abolished by Mr.
Shonts was a costly legal staff. On
hearing that one prominent lawyer was
receiving $25,000 per year and $600 ad
ditional for every day of court work he
sent for him and was Informed by tho
attorney that he could not work lor
less.
"I don't want you to," said Mr.
S.honts; "I am dispensing with your
services entirely."
From his office on the twelf'h floor
of the building at 165 Broadway Mr.
Shonts directed the work of enlarging
the subways and other transit systems
to meet the ever Increasing demand,
and engineered a plan which would per
mit still further development as time
went on. He revolutionized the algnil
system on the city's railroads In cder
that a larger number of cars and trains
might be operated safely upon the same
tracks. By this means he miie It pos
sible for the express trains In the sub
way to operate In rush hourj within a
minute and a half apart Many a time
his Innovations have prevented serious
accidents. '
Mr. Shonts was always an .untiring
worker. His hours of business raA far
Into the morning In times of .nres3.
With big problems on hand ho could not
be Induced to rest until lie hnd battled
with them and completely overcome
them. e specialized In the difficulties
and the creative work, leavln? 'he rou
tine to subordinates.
Tho relations between Mr. Shonts and
his employees have been most amicable.
While there was a strike about two
years ago, his employees have cenerallv
expressed perfect satisfaction with his
arrangements. W. Leon- Pepperman.
formerly of the Canal Commission, and
associated with Mr. Shonts In the Inter
boroush. declared to a representative of
The Sun that one of Mr. Shontfe's
greatest accomplishments had been his
humanizing of the Bystam. Tho interest
that he has taken in his employees Is
evidenced in the organization of the
welfaro department At the time of
their strike his train and car workers
broke away from the American Federa
tion of Labor and set up a union of
their own, and Mr. Shonts approved
their action in so doing.
His 'views on the capital and labor
problem are set forth fairly In an ad
drees that he delivered some time ago.
In which he declared that both workers
and employers In railroad strikes should
consider the Interests and safety of tho
public before their own wants or
grievances.
He suggested the three following
principles for guidance of both capital
and labor in nil disturbances :
"That In any conflict between the
officers and men of a public service cor
poratiou the rights of the public are
paramount.
"There can be no permanent benefit In
the triumph of cither capital or labor
In such a conflict If the strugglo leaves
scars and wounds or bad blood. Unless
good will based on Justice and right is
restored and made permanent the
struggle Is a loss for nil.
"Nothing must be done to Impair any
of the fundamental rights belonging to
nny man to work or not to work for
or with whomsoever ho will and under
conditions satisfactory to himself."
Ilia Advlrr to Unloiia.
Speaking of unionism he said, "If
unionism Is to succeed It must do so by
promoting tho prosperity not only of the
men, but of the companies or and with
which the men work."
During the war many of Mr. Shonts's
employees "went overseas with the army
and navy, and many of his technical
workers obtained, commissions. All
found their Jobs waiting on their re
turn. Making both ends meet has been one
of his big problems, and he has had a
a severe struggle to continuo the de
velopment and operation of the railways
In spite of the ever Increasing cost of
things and the opposition of public sen
timent to any increase of fare.
Speaking of the extravagance of
Government operated railroads he said
that whero It is possible to make up
all deficits by taxation thp Incentive to
economize Is naturally eliminated and
extravagance Inevitable.
Mr. Shonts believed In educating tho
public regarding the transportation prob
lem, and for the purposof presenting
his side of the eternal traction argu
ment caused the publication of thoso
three papers. The Subway Bun, The
Elevated .Express and The Oreen Car
Traveler.
Through tho medium of these papers
he caused the .various critics of the sys
tem to be publicly answered. He en
lightened the passengers regarding the
Increasing cost of coal and other ne
cessities of operation. He explained cer-
?Ta hnntif ha T.thftrtV and VlO-l
tory (Loans, and many worthy drives
through those papers.
Called Greatest Deed.N
Asked what he thought to be Mr.
Shohts'a greatest accomplishment with
h Km York Railway system. Mr. Pcp-
kiorman said : "I believe that his greatest
accomplished nere was me Dringins
about of partnership betwen tne munici
pal government and private capital.
There aro great future possibilities In
this plan."
Mr. Shonts was born in Crawford
county, Pennsylvania, on May 6, 1856,
son of Dr. Henry Daniels and Margaret
"Nevlns Shonts, Both parents traced
their American ancestry back to tho
early, colonial days. His mothor was of
Scotch extraction.
During his boyhood he moved 'with
his parents to Appanoose county, Iowa.
Ho received the degree of bachelor or
arts at Monmouth College in 1876. After
graduation ho became an accountant
and In a short time was' employed by
national banks to standardize and sim
plify their systems of bookkeeping. He
took up the study or law ana pracusea
for several years at Centorvllte, la.,
where he became associated with Gen.
Drake, who had large financial and rail
road Interests, and who placed much of
the work of management and construc
tion In his hands.
Ho had a part In the construction of
the Iowa Central Railroad, and after
ward built the Missouri. Iowa and Ne
braska Railroad, of which he was the
controlling owner. With associates ho
obtained control of tho Toledo, St Louis
and Western Railroad and rehabilitated
It He was president of this line, the
Chicago & Alton, Minneapolis & St
Louis and several other companies, and
director of many more before he tackled
the two blggeBt problems of' his life:
the canal and the Now York subwnys.
Mr. Shonts was a member of the
Metropolitan, Union League, Recess and
Sleepy Hollow Country Clubs of New
York, the Metropolitan and Chevy Chase
of Washington, the Chicago Club of
Chicago and Alton, Minneapolis) and St
Mrs. Shonts was beforo marrlogo Miss
Harriet Amelia Drake. She was the
daughter of Gen. Drake, who became
nnvarnn, nf .inwiL nnit fthrt wan married
to Mr. Shoots during the period of his
associations' with her father In his first
days or raliroaa management
He Is survived by wo daughters, ono
of whom Is the Duchess Emmanuel de
Chaulnes. The other daughter la Mrs.
Marguerite Bingham, wife of Rutherfurd
Bingham, son of Gen. Theodore A.
Bingham. r
NAVY YEOMAN HELD
ON GRAFT CHARGE
Took Money From Men Who
Wanted Shore Duty, He Says.
Andrew Branlgan, 27, a chief yeoman
of the naval reserves, before1 a court
martial In the Brooklyn navy yard yes
terday pleaded guilty to two specifica
tions charging him with accepting mon
ey from men who wished to be enlisted
and assigned to shore duty, and pleaded
not guilty, to a third specification which
charged him with accepting a bribe of
$500 Ho also pleaded not guilty to cer
tain parts of a fourth specification
which charged conspiracy with Lieut
Benjamin S. Davis, formerly a lieuten
ant in the medical corps.
The alleged offenses took place while
the war was on. In tho first two
charges Ralph F. Mulligan, an nrtlst of
152 West Fifty-eighth street and Harry
Puck, a song writer, of Freeport, L. I.,
were named ns the men who offered the
persuasion money, Mulligan $500 and
Puck $300.
The specifications and pleas were
forwarded to Washington at the close
of the hearing by Judge Advocate L.
J. (Matteson with a request for Instruc
tions as to proceedings. Lieut. Davis
has already been convicted In the naval
graft Investigation.
NAVY SEEKS LOST STEAMSHIP,
Lake Conpay Left Philadelphia for
Havana September S.
Washington, Sept. 20. The' Ship
ping Board steamship Lake Conpay,
which sailed from Philadelphia Septem
ber 2 for Havana coal laden, has not
been heard from since her departure.
The Navy Department was requested to
day to make search for her. The Lake
Conpay carried a crew of 31.
WEALTHY MOTORIST HELD.
Former Unllrond Jinn Accused of
Manalanghter.
Providence, R. I., Sept. 20. Timothy
B. Byrnes, formerly vice-president of the
New York. New Haven & Hartford Rail
road, was arraigned on a charge of
manslaughter at East Provldeno to
day following an automobile accident In
which two girls were Injured, oris fa
tally. He was driving his car up War
ren avenue. In East Providence, when
a heavy moving van turned across his
path Into a sldo street In order vo
avoid n collision Byrnes drovo his car
into the side street and against a retain
ing walk on top of which Ethel L. Ray;
6, and Eva Read, 9, were playing. -
The forward wheel of the machine
was forced up tho wall, striking the
children and dragging the Ray girl back
to the pavement She died later In a
hospital. Byrnes and his wife were not
hurt He pleaded not guilty and fur
nished $5,000 ball for trial October 4.
FRENCH CANALS OPENED.
Communication Alonn Waterways
la Iteeatabllahed, Report Says.
Paris, Sept 20. Water communica
tion between Belgium and the liberated
regions along the old battlefront may be
considered as reestablished, according to
a report made to President Polncaro by
M. Clavellle, Minister of Public Works
and Transport The report states that
navigation is almost normal once more
along the Aire, Deule, Sensee, St Qucn
tln and Somme cabals; that since the
armistice approximately 350 miles of
double track railroad and 300 miles of
single track line have been reconstructed
and only twenty-nine railroad stations
remain to be opened to traffic Among
other workB completed, It Is stated, are
367 bridges which were destroyed dur
ing the war.
"77
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COLDS
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early stages of a Cold, Grip, In
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to get best, results. Take it early
and take it often.
If you wait' till your bones
begin to ache, it may take longer.
Small vial of pleasant pellets,
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At all Drug and Country Storm.
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VALBABERA ISSUE;
488 BELIEVED LOST
No Traco Is Discovered of Pas
sengers and CroAV of
Spanish, Liner.
Ket Wsst, Fla., Sept 20. Inspection
of the vessel lost between this port and
Havana In tho recent hurricane to-day
convinced Read. Admiral Pecker, com
manding this naval district, that she Is
tho Spanish steamship Valbancra. which
carried 400 passengers and a crew of
elghty-clght No, survivors have been
found.
Confirmation of the sinking of the
steamship Valbanera, apparently with
the loss of every passenger and member
of her crew, 460 souls In all, reached
yesterday the Arm of Plnlllos, Izqulerdo
& Co. of 80 Wall street, owners of the
vesseV-
A message from their agents at
Havana was received, reading as fol
lows: "Steamship Valbanera sunk near Re
becca Shoals, thirty miles west of Key
West. No trace of passengers or crew."
Desplto this news members of the firm
refused to give ud hope for the boat,
missing since the Gulf storm of last
Sunday. .They pointed out that a year
and a half ago the vessel disappeared
for two weeks during a tremendous
storm, but made port successfully. The
ship, of 6,099 tons, twas ouut in uias
gow In 1906, was 399 feet long and was
bound from Barcelona, Spain, to Ha
vana, Galveston and New Orlefcns.
Madrid. Sent 20. Despatches received
here from Havana confirm the loss of
the Spanish steamship Valbanera In the
tropical storm which raged over the Gulf
of Mexico and adjacent waters last week.
She carried four first class passengers,
Anastaslo Saenz, a Havana merchant,
who was accompanied by his children,
Marie, Terese nnd Jesus. There were
Ave second class passengers and sixty
four third class.
.The captain of the Valbanera was
Ramon Martin, and the ship's comple
ment Included three officers, a chaplain,
six under officers, four doctors, five en
gineers, seven sailors, seven stewards,
nine electricians, one chief steward, eight
cooks, twenty seamen and two maids.
The majority of the passengers were
from Malaga, Spain, on their way to
employment abroad. Tho ship belonged
to Plnlllos, Izqulerdo & Co. of Cadiz.
ENTIRE NATION AIDS
GULF GALE VICTIMS
Need for Funds Has Not Been
Met, However, It Is Said.
s
Corpus Cristi, Tex., Sept. 20. Ac
tual funds or assurance of financial
support for rehabilitation of storm
swept Corpus Chrlstl are coming in
from every part of the country, with of
ficials estimating that the total at the
present rato might reach $6,000,000.
Roy Miller, chairman of the Citizen's
Relief Committee, said tho countrywide
response to the appeal for aid had ex
ceeded expectations but cautioned
against any Impression that the need
for funds had been entirely met
Washington, Sept 20. Army relief
work In the Corpus Chrlstl, Texas, storm
Is, or will soon bo turned over to civil
control, a mcsaige received to-day by
Quartermaster-General Rogers reported.
Conditions are Improving rapidly.
NC-4 STARTS TO-MORROW.
Seaplane to Make Flrnt Iicgr of
It ecral t Inir Trip.
The naval seaplane NC-4, first across
the Atlantic in the air, will fly from
the Rockaway Point Naval Air Sta
tion to Absccon Inlet, Atlantic City, to
morrow on tho first leg of a recruiting
trip which will take her to most of the
Important seaports from Maine to
Texas.
Her crew will be composed of seven
rn.en. Of these Lieut-Commander A. C.
Read. Lieut. Walter Hlnton. pilot.
Lieut. Herbprt C. Rodd, radio man, and
f'hlef Machinist's Mate lugene C.
Rl.odes wefe aboard when the NC-4
made the transatlantic flight Tho other
members are Lloyd B. Moore, chief ma
chinist ; Lieut Peter Talbot, pilot, and
Omrles J. Kesslcr, machinist.
Itelnlnni Take French Leader.
Paris, Sept. 20. Belgium has agreed
to the proposal of France that a French
general have supreme command of
Allied forces on the Rhine, according
to the Journal.
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r r r r HTIT r
VILLA PLANS HEW
WAR ONCARRANZA
Americans' Hear Ho Hns Been
, Actively Accumulating
Munitions.
Washington, Sept. 20. American of.
flclals aro greatly Interested In nt,
indicating that Villa Is planning a n
campaign against Carrnnzn which ac
counts for the activity ho has illsplayed
during the last few months accumulator
munitions and men In northern Duranro
It Is said he contemplates a drive soutli
from his present headquarters, and wil
keep away from the border so that k
no act of his can the American Army be
sent across the Rio Grande, as was th
case recently at Juarez.
Villa released a short time ago 2,100
Carranza prisoners which his troops hw
captured, cautioning them to keep out
of tho KedorHl aimy nnd urging them
to turn over to him all the rifles snd
equipment they could get. Many otthtm
enlisted at once In tho Villa army while
others returnsd to their homes on parole.
Six hundred men from the Santa Kos
Ha garrison and 300 from the Chlhuahm
garrison have recently deserted and
Joined tho Vllllstas, according to these
reports.
It is said here that Gen, Francisco
Gonzalez's transfer from Juarez to Tan.
pIco was caused by threats against his
life by his own troops because of hli
acquiescence In the recent crosslnj of
the border by American troops.
Further testimony Intended to show
Mexico's determination to force for.
felture of oil lands owned by foreigners
was given to-day by Ira Jewel WillUmi
a Philadelphia lawyer and an officer of
tne xanuco uosion uu Uompany, before
the. Senate committee Investigating the
Mexican situation. Two of the com
pany's properties havo been denounced
by Mexicans under provisions of Cir
ranza'S oil decrees.
Williams declared that Americans irtu
remained at work had realized the neces
sity of maintaining uninterrupted flow
for tho allied navies.
"ElevenN of these men," he Bald, "hav
paid the supremo sacrifice."
Government patrols as well as rebel
bands contribute to the disorder of the
country, Williams said. Before ship,
ments of money for the payroll axe sent
an exact statement of the amount is de
manded by the Government officials.
There have been cases, Williams said,
where the amounts demanded by bandit
were exactly the same as reported to the
authorities. -
Replying o charges made earlier In
the Investigation by Dr. Samuel Inman
that the oil men were endeavoring to
bring about lnterventlon-tn Mexico, Mr,
Williams gave the committee a copy of
a letter he had written to. Dr. In.uan
Indignantly denying any such Intention
on tho part of the Association of Pro
ducers of Petroleum In Mexico.
, Chairman Fall; reminding the wit
ness of a recent statement by President
Wilson that much of his Information
concerning Mexico had been obtained
from "liars." asked him if ever he had
discussed Mexican conditions with the
President.
"No," replied Williams, adding that
so far as he knew none of the oil men
had talked of Mexico with the President
Text of a message sent by President
Wilson under date of September IS to
President Carranza expressing congratu
lations to the 'Mexican people on thlr
independence anniversary day was made
public to-day by the state department
"I take pleasure," the President said,
"In extending to youc excellency on this
anniversary of the Independence of Mex
ico my cordial felicitations and best
wishes for the peace, prosperity and
progress of the Mexican people "
$750,000 WILL GO TO U. OF P.
Wllllnin Irvine, Kx-Trcnuurer f
Phllndelphln, Willed I'ciml.
Philadelphia. Sept 20 Throuqh the
will of the late William Irvine a forme
Treasurer of the city of Philadelphia,
the Unlveisdry of Pennsylv una is tc re
ceive a gift of almost $7 i0.nn
This iinouncemcnt was nude bv
Provost Edgar F. Smith The mi've1
sity comes into possession ei t u .un
through the death of Miss Marv Irvln'
on September 17. She was' hi Mfter
and only heir of Mr. Irvlno, iho die I
about five years ago. Mr Irwi.e willed
his estate to tho university wrh the
provision that during the life ' hia sis
ter the Income should go to hi-t Ml?'
Irvine also left her estate to the univer
sity. The will gives the university the al
ternative of using tho fund either for an
auditorium or a school of mine Tin
former will probably be sanction! b)'
the trustees.
J JJJl
BrooklTn, .
connect
Department
3.
... . .