Great Falls tribune. [volume], October 21, 1921, Image 1

About Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current

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MONTANA'S BEST NEWS GATHERER
THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR.
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 21, 1921.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
EFFORTS OF LABOR BOARD TO AVERT STRIKE FAIL
BRUMFIELD SLASHES THROAT IN ATTEMPT
TO END LIFE; WAITING DEATH SENTENCE
CONVICTED MURDERER
FOUND UNCONSCIOUS;
INSTRUMENT MISSING
Sheriff Finds Prisoner Lying on Cot With Blood
Pouring From Deep Cut in Throat; Doctors
Announce Slayer of Dennis Russell Has
Chance to Recover; Condition Serious.
Roseburg, Ore., Oct. 20.—Dr. Richard M. Brumfield, 'con
victed by a jury in the circuit court here Wednesday of first
degree murder for the killing of Dennis Russell July 13, cut
his throat shortly after 9 o'clock Thursday night in an attempt
to end his life. Sheriff Starmer found Dr. Brumfield lying
on his cot in the jail cell, his throat cut and semi-conscious.
A physician was hastily summoned to determine the extent
of his injuries. The instrument used by the dentist in
attempting suicide could not be found by the sheriff.
When found by Sheriff Starmer, Dr.3>
Brumfield was lying clad in his pajamas
on his prison cot, his head hanging
over the edge and blood pouring from
a deep slash in his throat. He was
only semi-conscious from loss of blood.
Blood covered the floor and he appar
ently had committed the act 13 or JO
minutes before.
Search of the cell failed to dispose
any trace of the instrument used in the
dentist's attempt at self-destruction.
It was believed that, the prisoner might
have used his glasses, but they could
not be found when the cell was
searched.
Will Recover
Examination by a physician showed
that the jugular vein had not been
severed, but the doctor had lost much
blood and was extremely weak. It
was announced that the prisoner had
a chance to recover.
• Immediately following the discovery
of the attempt at suicide, District At
torney Neuner visited Brumfield to in
quire if he wished to make a statement
concerning the murder of which he
stands convict»^ but Brumfield was
too weak to jtn™er, it was said.
The iron nerve of Dr. R. M. Brum
field exhibited during the trial which
ended Wednesday in a verdict convict
ing him of first degree murder for which
he will receive the death sentence, broke
for the first time Thursday morning
in jail when his wife arrived about 0
o'clock bringing with her a clean shirt
for him.
He could not speak to her.
"Brace up," she said with a smile.
"This thing isn't through. I'm a fight
er and I am going to fight it out."
Tears ran down the convicted man's
face. Ile told the sheriff he "couldn't
stand it any longer."
Brumfield's sole interest when he
was awakened about 8 o'clock Thurs
day morning was when he might see
his wife. lie declared that he had
slept well except for a sore throat
"Doctor," he was asked, "were you
surprised at the verdict'/"
"Well. 1 will tell you," he answered,
"I am just as innocent of that as any
body could be, but I was not surprised
at the verdict because I wasn't able to
help my lawyers and the evidence was
as damning as could be.
"But just, as sure as there is a God
in heaven I am innocent. If 1 thought
for one minute that I was responsible
for htat man's death I would have
said so.
"I know the story I told souuded
awfully wild, but it was the facts, the
thing I knew."
HIED BY USE
Two Former Officials of Pro
hibition Department Will Be
Arrested for Conspiracy.
Philadelphia, Oct. 20.—An alleged
conspiracy by which liquor valued at
nearly $15,000,000 was withdrawn
from distilleries in many states
through the issuance of fraudulent
permits was revealed Thursday night
by high prohibiiton officers, who an
nounced that warrants had been is
sued for the arrest of two former of
ficials in the office of W. C. Mc
Connell. director of federal prohibition
enforcement in Pennsylvania. The
warrants were issued at the request
of United States District Attorney
George W. Coles for A. F. Slater,
former secretary to Mr. McConnell,
and Hiram W. Banner, formerly agent
in charge of permits for liquor with
drawals. Both are charged with con
spiring with others to defraud the
United States by mea/us of fraudulent
permits.
According to prohibition officers
here, the permits were issued pro
miscuously when it became known in
Washington radical changes were to i
be made in the enforcement personnel
of Pennsylvania. Stores were said to
have been withdrawn from distilleries
in New York, New Jersey, .Maryland,
Kentucky, Illinois. Indiana and Penn
sylvania, some of which were cap
tured by New York and Philadelphia
enforcement agemts before they could
be delivered. Others known to be en
route are expected to be seized mo
mentarily.
—
n _ mm*
Request miners
to Return Rest
of Strike Fund
Pittsburg. Kan., Oct. 20.—Re
turn of approximately $43,000.
the balance left out of $100,000
loaned to the Kansas miners by
the Illinois district No. 12, United
Mine Workers, for use in fighting
the industrial court law, was re
quested in a letter received here
Thursday by Thomas Harvey,
former secretary-treasurer of
district No. 14, from Walter Nes
bit. secretary-treasurer of the
Illinois miners.
"In view of the recent action
taken by President Lewis in re
moving President Howat and the
executive board of district No.
14," the letter states, "I feel that
this money should be returned to
me for deposit in the treasury of
district No. 12. United Mine
Workers of America. I shall ap
preciate a prompt remittance of
this money so I can report to our
membership in connection there
with."
Kick of Flivver
Worth $5)000 Says
Damage Complaint
Chicago, Oct. 20.—George M.
Brenner tried to crank a small
popular-priced automobile when it
had an alleged defective spark
control rod and "as a result he
became sick, sore, lame and dis
ordered." according to his bill in
a suit for $5,000 damgaes filed in
superior court Thursday against
ths manufacturer of the machine.
"Divers of his muscles, tendons
ànd sinews became wrecked,
bruised, injured and contused,"
says the bill. Bones were broken.
"He sustained contusions about
his feet, legs, arms, knees, body
and head.
"He suffered great pain and
mental inguish and became greatly
and permanently crippled. His
internal organs were weakened
and injured and his nerves per
manently shattered and de
ranged."
The company manufacturing
the automobile was not repre
sented by any counsel and Judge
Joseph David notified it to be
represented Monday.
Federal Judge Held
for Failure to «Aid
Woman Hit by Auto
Pasadena, ' Calif., Oct. -20.—Federal
Judge Page Morris, of Duluth, Minn.,
who has been sitting recently in Salt
Lake City, was taken into custody
here Thursday after he had failed to
stop and render aid to Mrs. Elizabeth
Holmes after the automobile he was
driving had struck and slightly injured
her. "
Motorcycle officers made a chase of
seven blocks before catching up with
the jurist, they said. They took him to
the police station, where he was re
leased on $1,000 bonds, pending a
hearing Friday. The police said they
would file against him a charge of
failing to render assistance, failing to
report an accident, or both.
i
Exemption Clause
of Tax Measure
Is Voted Down
Washington, Oct. 29.—After a two
day fight, the senate voted Thursday,
30 to 30, to strike from the tax re
vision bfll the house provision defin
ing foreign traders and foreign trade
corporations, which under other sec
tions of the measure yet to be acted
upon would be exempted from taxation
on income received from sources out
side of the I'nited States.
Eleven Republicans joined with the
solid Democratic minority in defeating
the provisions, which were originally
proposed by the treasury department
and vigorously defended by members
of the senate finance committee in
charge of the bill.
,
Ii
f
T
U.S,OFFICIALS
Radicals Threaten to
Blow Up Consulates if
Executions Are Made.
Friday Is Day Set for
Carrying Out Repri
sals; Guard Buildings
Paris, Oct. 20.— (By The Associated
Press.)—A plot by French communists
to take retaliatory measures against
all American officials in France in the
event of the execution of Sacco and
Vanzetti, the two men convicted of!"
murder in a United States court, was
revealed Thursday night when it be- j
came known that threats had been.
made to blow up the offices of the]
American reparations commission i-nd
the passport bureau.
Threatening letters, warning of re
prisals in the event of the death of i
the two men, were also received Thuis
da.v by the American consul general.'
Alexander M. Thackara, and the Amer- 1
ican consuls at Marseilles, Bordeauxj
and Lyons. :
Police Guard Officials
In consequence of this, strong forces)
of police are guarding the new build- j
ing occupied by the reparations and '
passport offices, and also the consul- j
ate. The police in Bordeaux. Lyons j
and Marseilles are guarding the con-1
sulates there.
The letters to the passport and rep-{
arations officials were not signed, but 1
a letter received by Mr. Thackara :
Thursday afternoon was signed by thej
communist organization in a small town
near Lille. It said that r?taliatoryj
measures would be taken against Amer- j
ican citizens in France if the uien were]
executed.
No arrests were announced up toj
a late hour Thursday nigh; by the i
French police in connection with She j
explosion of a bomb ; .i Ambass.idor I
Herrick's home, and the police say they
have abandoned the theory .if ii plot j
and believe that the sending of t be |
bomb was the act of au individual j
communist. j
More Protests Received
Ambassador Herrick received 40 '
i more letters of protest Thursday, cul-j
I minating with the arrival late in the;
afternoon of a /letter threatening the
lives of American officials in France.
The Americans do not accept the
theory of the police: they believe that
a widespread plot actually exists to do
serious harm to Americans.
Friday is the day generally set for
carrying out the threats and demon
strations and the French police are
taking every precaution to prevent
gatherings of any kind near the build
ings occupied by the Americans.
DEMONSTRATION HELD
BY REDS AT BREST
Washington, Oct. 20.—-A report was
received from the American consul at |
Brest by the state department Thürs- j
day concerning the demonstrations be- j
fore the consulate Wednesday night, i
A statement hy the department follows: |
"The department of state was in- j
formed by the American consulate at
Brest that a demonstration occurred :
before the consulate Wednesday even-j
ing. About 1.000 persons gathered be
fore the building and broke the glass
in the entrance door of the consulate.
The demonstration lasted about a
quarter of an hour. The consul him
self was not present in the building
at the time. The mayor of Brest, and
n representative of the French gov
rnment have expressed their regret to
the consul."
Murder Suspect
Is Arrested After
Three-Day Chase
Colfax. Wash., Oct. 20.—Deputy
Sheriff William Baker early Thursday
arrested Albert Moore, wanted here
for the alleged murder of his brother
in-law, Clarence Gray, at the former's
home east of Ewan, Wash., on October
13. The officer has been trailing
Moore since Monday in the hills be
tween Kahlotus and Eltopia. Moore
still had the horse upon which .lie es
caped after the shooting Inst week.
The shooting was declared to have
followed n disagreement between
Moore and his wife, wlio was Gray's
sister. Mrs. Moore had spent the
previous night at Gray's home and
the latter was returning home with
her and her husband when Moore is
alleged to have shot Gray, who dis
appeared afterward.
Moore will be brought here. Deputy
Sheriff Baker said.
WILL TAKE NO ACTION
. ON PRISONERS NOW
London, Oct. 20.—Premier Lloyd
George, answering a question in the
house of commons Thursday, said that
the question of the release of interned
and untried prisoners in Ireland would
be one for discussion in connection
with terms 0 f peace.
The Dublin correspondent of the Cen
tral News learns that Sinn Fein head
quarters has no intention to ask for
the release of those persons now held
in custody b.v the British government
but will leave the initiative in this
matter to «te premier.
ULSTER, STUMBLING BLOCK
OF IRISH PEACE TO ENTER
INTO LONDON DISCUSSION
London, Oct. 20.—(By The As
sociated Press.)—The most diffi
cult problem facing the Irish con
ference—that of Ulster—will, it
is understood, come up before the
full conference which is dealing
with the subject of Irish peace at
a session to be held Friday.
The Sinn Fein delegates have
finished their work on sub-commit
tees while the British representa
tives have been busy with their
experts concluding their case for
presentation to the conference.
The Sinn Fein has maintained its
determination not to agree to enter
the British commonwealth unless
Ireland is treated as a unit. An
effort, therefore, is to be made
from the government's side to in
duce Ulster to consider some means
by which, while preserving its lo
cal autonomy, it may form a part
of the Irish state.
The Ulstorites have resisted all
appeals thus far, and the present
restlessness in Belfast is attrib
uted in high quarters in London
to apprehension that the rank and
file of the British representatives
at the conference contemplate sac
rificing them to the desire for an
Irish settlement. They refer to
the recent speech at Armagh of
Michael Collins, Sinn Fein finance
minister, who prophesied that the
British politicians would abandon
Ulster when it suited them.
Government Will Move
Essentials Announces
Washiirgton Officials
Washington, Oct. 20.—The note
of optimism in" official discussion
of the threatened railroad strike
was more pronounced' Thursday.
Several cabinet members expressed
confidence that ' the "cooling off
period"' which has intervened since
the strike call, has served to les
sen the danger of a national tieup.
"Administration officials, when
informed of the termination of the
conference at Chicago between the
railroad labor board and the union
chiefs Thursday night declined to
make any comment, preferring,
it was explained, to await a full re
port of the proceedings before
making any decision.
One of the definite developments
of the day. however, was the an
nouncement that preparations had
been completed for the co-ordina
tion under the commerce depart
ment. of plans for the transporta
tion of essentials should the strike
go into effect. After a conference
at the White House between Pres
ident Harding, Chairman McChnrd,
of the interstate commerce commis
sion. and acting Attorney General
Goff. the decided impression was
given that an order could be ex
pected soon from the commission
putting in efiect. a reduction in
freight rates.
The 'inly published plan for
averting the strike is the sugges
tion of the public group of the
railroad labor board which hinges
upon a rate reduction proportion
ate to the July reduction in rail
EXCHANGE OF RATIFICATION
PAPERS ONLY MOVE LEFT
TO RESTORE FULL PEACE
Washington, Oct. 20.—Formal re-,
storation of peace between the Cniteti
States and Germany awaits the ex
change in Berlin of the ratification
papers and will occur some days from
now. The official evidence that the
treaty has been made, signed by Presi
dent Harding and for deposit in Gcr
i man archives, is in course of prépara
commercial provisions it had occurred
to American authorities as desirable to
provide for, reservation of American
rights under the treaty of Versailles
being viewed as accomplishing this re
sult.
There are certain reciprocal agree
ments as to German interests in the
United States, however, which the Ger
man government is anxious to have
written into a commercial pact, and it
is expected this will be taken up
through regular diplomatic channels
and at German initiative when the
peace treaty ratifications have been
exchanged and diplomatic machinery
set in motion.
No indication was available as to
when it might be decided to withdraw
tion and will be forwarded as^oon
completed.
Re-establishment, of diplomatic re
lations and the working out of n supple
mental commercial treaty will follow
the exchange of ratifications. It was
indicated Thursday that; the treaty ap
proved by the senate contains about all
-. „
American forces on the Rhine« or to
All Information obtainable in
authoritative quarters, however,
points to strict adherence by Pre
mier Lloyd George and his col
leagues to their Ulster pledge. The
opinion is expressed by many per
sons that it will be possible to
construct some plan which, while
apparently leaving Ulster un
touched, will give such advantages
to the south as to compel Ulster
to make terms with the south.
There are other persons to whom
the difficulties seem insuperable,
and many of them prophesy a
speedy break in the negotiations
of this issue.
Discrediting the widespread be
lief that Sir James Craig, the
Ulster premier, will take part in
the conference, members of the
Sinn Fein delegation said today
there was no intention on their
part, at least, for the present, of
consenting to admit Sir James.
They added that they were perfect
ly willing to discuss with him every
aspect of the Ulster question but
declared that they would not rec
ognize him as the official repre
sentative of Ireland, or any part of
Ireland.
The Sinn Feiners reiterate that
it will be impossible for Premier
Lloyd George to go to Washington
until a "show down" has been
reached by the conference.
road wages. The other feature of
this suggestion embodied with
withdrawal of the strike order, a
question which was regarded as the
logical subjecf before the confer
ence in Chicago between the
brotherhood chiefs and the labor
board.
Secretary Hoover, in announcing
that the department of commerce
was prepated to serve as the focal
point for efforts of state and
municipal government to assure the
movement of food, fuel and other
primary commodities in event of
the strike, indicated that motor
trucks and water transportation
would be used to supplement any
portion of the railroads left in
operation. Traffic experts have
computed that through the proper
use of motor equipment, the av
erage American city can draw sub
sistence from contiguous territory
within a radius of 50 miles.
Under this plan, it was said, a
community would not feel the ef
fects of a national strike before
several weeks had passed, instead
of in a few days as would have
been the case 10 years ago.
Reports to the department indi
cate that large industries generally
have been busy for some time as
sembling reserve stocks. This prep
aration would permit the depart
ment's relief work, it was pointed
out. to be centered in behalf of
«hose industries which had been
unable to take similar precaution
and would limit the danger of in-'
dustrial shutdowns.
reduce the strength of the command.
There are now some 13,(XH) men
Major General Allen's command and
while every suggestion that American
troops might be recalled has met with
opposition up to this time from the
French and British, and from Germany
itself, it may be found possible later
to reduce the force.
It has been geuerallv recognized that
jthe size of the American force had
i little to do with considerations that
i .l- .u.» rpiua j n on
the Rhine, the thing sought being to
keep the American flag flying there
'°, , w ,' . <0 'î s ' . r 1
' prom -P te(1 the ,los . ir,> ,haf i( .
for such effect as it might have in
tranqnilizing the situation and also
because General Allen has acted fre
quently in the past as arbiter of ques
tions in dispute between the allies and
Germany.
In any event., it. is regarded as im
probable that the American forces will
be withdrawn as a unit.
OPPOSE BULL FIGHTS.
Philadelphia. Oct. 20.—Initial steps
were taken Thursday by the conven
tion of the American Humane associa
tion to combine anti-cruelty societies
all over the world in a campaign against
bull fights. The delegates subscribed
several hundred dollars as a nucleus
to a working fund.
The convention ordered a letter sent
to the secretary of the navy asking
that sailors and marines be prevented
from attending bull fights when on
shore leave.
Germans Had Visions
of Great Victories in
Days Before War.
French Captain Says
By ANDRE TARDIEU
Cutain ef the French Army: French Hi«h Cenmii
»ioner to AMviea: Clemenceau'» Rl|kt Hand at
the Conference at Varolii«
Copyright, 1921. hy The Great Falls Tribune
Copyrighted by the Bohba-Merrlll Company
France had increased her mili
tary establishment between 1883
and 1913 less than any other Eu
ropean power. Germany had in
creased her strength the most.
In 1914 comes the assassination
of the Vchduke Franz Ferdinand.
The hour for Germany has struck.
She plunges the world in war.
the Diplomats Were !
A . c ^ fl .
Anxious tor Conflict,
CHAPTER V.
Germany's Hour
In the autuuin of 1911. Germany
pa sses from decisions to acts. The im
perial budgets record then. The fig
ures throw light upon the facts.
!
For twenty months, laws of aggres- I
sion follow one another ill quick sue- !
.'cession. I have toki what France did
fin 1905 and 1808 to reduce" "hVr"mUi- !
tary charges. Germany \rill reply to I
this reduction by an incicase of fyer
W il . r' ir V r^
1 From~l'
■ f - * M* spent 104 per j
icent mort» on nrmn m on r ♦Ko«
cent more on armament than did I
«S«? millions as against 080 ;
Her military expenditures ;
f. ! K° Pe o/£e 0ll n? by 1-1 millions j
mi « '!?" million» m 1906 (they j
îoi.i. eXC ï? T ** 03 liions in I
1014;. From 1000 to 1010. the head '
of every German family had paid 25
I Per cent more towards the upkeep of
jthe army than the head of every
; F rench family. Taking the increase of
j military expenditure of the six great
J ,owers between 1883 and j
lJi.s, we fmd the following percent- ;
ages:
France .
Italy ...
Austria
Russia
England
German v
70%
108%
111 %
114%
■ V 153%
227%
It is in these circumstances that a
first law is voted in 1011. under guise
jot technical improvements, entailing
however, an increase of 20.000 men in
.the regular army and an expenditure ot
jHu millions.
j
!
!
j
j
ot
jHu millions.
Proof of Plan
Ten months later in 1912. „ se cond
Jaw is passed tending to keep the regu- !
;lar army constantly ou a footing so
jnearly that of war that an attack can]
be launched m a few hours, and pro- !
jviding for new units, the creation of |
two new army corps, 50 battalions of I
technical troops, an increase of the i
regular army by 40.000 men and an ex- !
penditure of «50 millions. This second!
law is hardlv promulgated than a third !
is introduced and passed. This time the
increase is 70.000 men a year, or for!
any army serving two years a total ad- '
dition of 140.000 bringing the total ef- !
fectives of the regular Germany arniv I
up to 000.000. This was a costly op*- 1
U ™ nn l a 0fl P i,al expediturej
of 1.2.»0 million francs and an annual'
ehnrge of 2<;> millions.
That alone should suffice to dem- !
onstrate the plan of aggression, but
here is proof decisive. These burdens '
which Germany imposes upon herself. !
coincide with a financial situation I
which makes .them, if not impossible, i
nt least very hard to bear. At the i
very time when within a space of 30
months the imperial government has i
burdened itself with a capital expend- '
lture of nearly 1.500 millions and an
additional annual expenditure of nearly
1.000 millions, its budget is in deficit
of 550 million marks for 1011-101'»
For three years it has been seeking
fresh taxes, but can find none, this vain
search having led only to the resigna
tion of the minister of finance.
Put Tax on Capital
The pressure is so great that it is
decided to resort to au exceptional
tax on capital, justifying it bv recall
ing 1813, the very mention of which
in itself throws light upon the situa
tion, the secret intention aud the future
plan. Placed side by side with its
financial policy, thé military policy of
Germany assumes its full meaning
To the hugè 'gaps in the budget, others
are added with no sure means of fill
ing either. Why? Because Germany
is already determined to throw the
sword into the balance and call upon
her "national industry" to restore her
finances. Like the gambler who, when
the game is up. pulls his gun.
The hypocritical search for pretexts
begins at once. France, alarmed at
the disparity between her armv of
450,000 men and that of 000.000 which
the laws of 1011. 1012 and 1013 as
sure to Germany, votes the three years
service and a slight increase in arma
ments. Immediately the Pan-German
rress denounces this "provocation."
can still hear Baron von Stumm, who
had been pleased till then to play at
conciliation, remarking dryly during
dinner at the Dutch legation in July,
10t3, that, "If France presumes to
challenge Germany'» righ t t o be strong
(ContlBuM ta fi«« fiu
CI 1IEBS ME M
Full and Frank Discussion of Situation Develops
No New Ground on Which Labor Leaders Feel
They Could Halt Strike Order; Board Inti
mates It Will Try Different Procedure.
Chicago, Oct. 20.—(By The Associated Press.)—Efforts by
the railroad labor board to avert the threatened railroad strike
through conferences with heads of the five unions which have
! ? rt * ere( ? a walkout effective October 30, failed when the meet
ing adjourned Thursday night with the announcement by the
board that "while the discussions were beneficial, no definite
results were obtained."
"There has been a full and frank discussion of the situa
tion," said a statement given out by Ben W. Hopper, vice
chairman of the board. "The labor board and the brotherhood
chiefs exchanged views in a perfectly pleasant way. The
interview was beneficial, but we cannot say that any definite
results were obtained." * ,
The five union presidents immediately went into a secret
conference with the announcement that they probably would
go back to Cleveland at once.
go back to Cleveland at once.
"The adjournment is final." Chair
man R. AI. Barton, of the labor board
announoed. "We do nor plan any fur
ther conferences with the labor lead
ers nor do we plan, at present, to
in the railroad presidents. I cannot
say what our next step might be.''
""«i vux ur.vi oivrif illicit i ur.
While the board inembors came out
! of the afternoon session smiling and
jin . a jovial mood, they left the night
I meeting with solemn faces and refused;
! to publicly discuss the session— -aside
from the statements by Chairman Bar-1
! ton and Vice Chairman Hooper.
I
Offered No Compromise
lexers said the board
i>*esent«ï anything which thej
j on as in any wtfv a tangible
^
had not
ey lookedi
proposi
here and talked for hours without pre-j
senting anything which we could even
consider as a compromise. The meet
ing was absolutely without results.
"We are going back to our head-.
quarters. There is nothing scheduled
I tion.
; "if a somebody's move next." said
; the head of the larger of the five or
j ganizations. "Whether it s ours, the
j board's or the roads. I don't know.
I only know that the board brought
'
j immediately except to go right ahead
; with the plans for a strike."
~~
Board members said that the labor
j chiefs remained inflexible in maintain
! ing that the present fisht was a flsht
! for the life of their organization. The
(difficulties in the present cris : s were
j declared by the union men. it was said,
j to be entirely the fault of the carriers,
jthe brotherhood men taking the posi
tion that many railroads had violated)
the board's orders. They made it clear
Strike Situation
Given In Tabloid
|
Fallowing were Thursday's de
velopments in the railroad strike
situation:
Conferences between the labor
board and presidents of five
unions which have ordered a walk
out, adjourned with the an
nouncement from the board that
no definite results were obtained
and the union chisfs returned to
Cleveland.
Elevin "standard" unions, rep
resenting nearly three-fourths of
the country's railway workers
and which have voted for. but
have not called a strike, marked
time pending conferences between
the labor board and the "big
five."
Secretary of Commerce Hoover
announced plans have been com
fileted by his department for
ransportatien of essentials In
case of a rail tlsup.
Chairman McChord of the in>
terstate commerce commission,
and Acting Attorney General
Goff conferred with President
Harding over the rail situation.
Eastern roads advertised for
men to fill vacancies which would
result from a strike. Central of
New Jersey received so many re
plies that it announced no more
can be considered. -
American Railway Men's asso
elation, with 10,000 members, ap
paaled to railroad workers not to
strike.
Railroads announced ' poll of
employas to ascertain how many
will remain at work If there is a
strike.
New strike vote ordered among
Pennsylvania lines shop craft
workers.
Arbuckle Booze
Hearing Continued
San Francisco. Oct. 20.—Roscoe C.
(Fatty) Arbuckle arrived from
Angeles Thursday to appear before
a I'inited States commissioner on a
charge of violating the Volstead pro
hibition enforcement act in the sup
posed serving of liquor at a party in
the Hotel St. Francis in which Vir
ginia Rappe, motion picture actress,
is alleged to have, received fatal in
juries. Arbuckle is «waiting trial
November 7 on a charge of man
slaughter in connection with. Miss
Rappe 's death.
The commission indicated that the
hearing woul#be continued one week.
Los
< that they did not consider these viola
j tions the fault of the board, but due
j to the fact that the transportation act
j "had no teeth. - '
Rttiïs the Prob | em '
!
Continual alleged violations of the
I j. , , , . , .
8 /? rc ^ ers convinced the em
j ^ re Q uote ^ telling the
board < that there would be no end to
enc r°acnment8 on the railroad
' considered ^the^r nghts.^
statements of the brotherhood leaders
j jpv« re putedly asserted that the que«
j tion of working rules, which, they said,
they had been years in working up,
f was the crux of the whole situation,
Practically nothing was said in the
: conference today about the 12 per cent
wage reduction of last July 1. which
was the technical basis on which the
strike was called, it was learned.
Members of the board said they did
not consider that the board had ex
hausted its powers and that an execu
five session would be held Friday when
I further procedure would be determined,
AVarren S Stone, president of the
engineers; William G. Lee. president of
the trainmen, and W. S. Carter, presi
dent of the firemen, returned to Cleve
I
; land Thursday night. L. E. Sheppard,
! head of the conductors, left for his or
! ganization headquarters in Cedar Rap
; ids. la., while T. C. Cashen took a
; midnight train for Buffalo, where head
quarters of the switchmen's union is
j located.
i The executive committee of the en
i gineers. fireman aud of the conductors
j now are in session. The committers
of the other organizations will meet
there Monthly.
While the scene of the strike activi
ties shifted back to Cleveland with the
ending of the conference, a union man
j close to the brotherhood chiefs said
j he expected the next step to be taken
j from Washington.
Send Washington Report
I "The labor board has. of course, for
| warded a full report of the conference
; to Washington," he said. "If there are
; further steps toward conciliation, they
will be taken there. The unions will
|<lo nothing further."
j I'nion heads expressed the opinion
jthat "if there were an.v concrete re
' suits of the confcren^ N they lay in
• : the fact that the minas of the labor
j board members were disabused of the
idea that the unions were not sincere in
i eall : ne a strike."
j "When we went in there," said one
chief, "the board seemed to be of the
; opinion that we had been bluffing and
i were just waiting for someone to dis
[ suede us from carrying out the strike
order.
"Believing this, the board had virtu
ally nothing to offer in the way of a
settlement plan. Its members talked
a lot. but actually had little to say
of any importance, merely trying to
get us to change our plaus.
"They seemed to think that we could
postpone the strike, until we made it
plain that that could not even be con
sidered and that there must be a set
tlement satisfactory to us or the walk
out will begin at 6 a. m. October 30.
"We hope some angel will appear
with a plan to avert the strike. But
there were no such angels at today's
meeting.
The chief result of the conference
was that the labor board knows we are
not bluffing and we know that they had
no real plan to offer."
The only signed statement from a
union head was from Mr. Stone. It
simply said:
Situation Unehanged
"The situation is unchanged and I
suppose I might add that I don't expect
one angle of it to be changed even in
heaven, for if I get there I expect to
still have a hundred newspaper report
ers chasing me around for signed state
ments."
The eleveu "standard" unions which
have voted for a strike but have not
called o'ie. merely marked time Thurs
day. takiug no action pendiug the out
come of the labor board conference.
The maintenance of way chairmen
i held several informal sessions, the only
inkling of their attitude being a re
mark by a high official that "this or
ganization is going to let the other fel
lows start the ball roiling before doing
any rushing."
They will meet again tomorrow, aa
will the shop crafts and other organ
izations. but there is little likelihood of
a decision before Saturday or Sunday,
it was said.
Chiefs of these organisation# ex
pressed keen interest in the labor board
eonfereuce, but refused to comment
on it. / * i