Evening star. [volume], February 17, 1908, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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THE EVENING STAR | - 7
WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION. ' , _ *
Buainasa Offlce. 11th 8t. and Pannaylrani* Aranua. ^ ^ WV ___
rYrt gltii rY ^SSlWI^ weather.
European St.. London. En*land. j y I I I * I I I I I I I I I I I
Chie?0^.#* j*S?T # |j^/ JvVv^y Fair, colder tonight. Miniedition.
Is delivered by carriers, on their own ac C ^ ITllim tCmperatlirC ahoilt iN fleroimt.
within the city at 50 cent* pr month;
without Tb- Sunday Star at 44 rente per month. XomOrrOW fair.
By mall, poatagre prepaid; , *~" ~~ - . . ~~"" " ~ '
Daily. Similar Included, one month. HO cents. ? . I
K,^r^.'^ ."5t.w '1''M No. 17,312. WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY,1 FEBRUARY 17, 1908-EIGHTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS.
Samiay Star, one year. $1.50. ^ . |
FLOODED HOUSES FAIL
Narrow Escape of Many Pittsburg
Residents.
' I
ONE PERSON ENTOMBED
Waters Are Slowly Going Down This '
Afternoon.
PROPERTY DAMAGE EXTENSIVE
Suffering Is Great Owing to the In- ,
I
tense Cold?Charitable Organiza*
tions Giving Belief. . j
i
IMTTSBI'RG. February 17. ? With a
great roar, two brick dwelling; houses
located at Nos. 22 and 24 Penn avenue, in
the district inundated by the flood waters,
collapsed early today and fell into the
street. ,
A score of occupants, warned by the
cracking wails, barely had time to reach
the street before tons of brick and plaster !
i
tumbled into the streets.
U. C. Anderson was cut and bruised
by flying debris, and eighteen other per- *
sons narrovyly escaped being crushed to
feath. All but Anderson rushed to the
street in their night clothes just a mo- !
ment before tlje three-story brick building
fell in a. heap. For some time great ex- '
citement prevailed, as it was reported
that many persons had been buried under J
the debris.
Was Buried Alive,
nurried calls for police reserves, ambu-1
lances and firemen were sent in and a
search of the ruins begun. Anderson's
voice could be heard calling for help, and
frantic efforts were made to release him.
It was found that he was wedged between
heavy timbers in the basement, and
over him were tons of brick and plaster
braced in such a manner, however, that
he was entombed, but not seriously injured.
After several hours' work he was
released and sent to a hospital, where it
was later stated he would recover..
The escape of the other occupants was
miraculous. The loud crackling of the
, walls a few minutes before the houses
collapsed served as a warning and saved
all from being crushed. The passing
flood was responsible for the accident.
Water Is Beceding.
The foundations of both dwellings,
which were old. had been, weakened by
the high water, causing them to col
lapse. . j
Other buildings in the vicinity are in
* lik? -condition, and building Inspectors
are retaking a thorough examination of
the places today.
At 10 o'clock today the water of the t
rivers has fallen to about 24Vfe feet. It j
Is receding slowly, and by this afternoon
the water will be below the danger mark
of 22 feet.
Suffering among the victims is intense
today owing to the cold, and all charitable
organizations are engaged in alleviating
their misery.
Reports being received today show that
the damage was widespread and heavy.
Genesee Is Clear.
ROCHESTER. N. Y.. February 17.High
water continued in the Genesee river
here, but while the river is at its greatest
height in years, freedom from floating ice
will stop danger of a flood. At Geneseo,
however, a large tree jammed against the
Genesee river bridge, near the Erie railroad
station, has caused a back-up of water
and a flood has followed. A flood
along Canasegra creek has made trouble
at Dansville. N. Y., Many roads near
Cuylervllle, Greigsville and York are under
water. Traffic on Mount Morris road
is stopped, and trains on the Delaware,
]>ackawanna and Western railroad. Mount
Morris branch, have found it impossible
to run on time.
Cleaning Up Factories.
Scenes of activity are in evidence every
where in the flood district today. As j
the water recedes hundreds of men are
put to work pumping water from cellars
and clearing the debris from the streets.
On the north side patrolmen In sktffs
are distributing coal and food to the imprisoned
families. For this purpose 4.0?Xi ,
loaves of bread and 1,000 pounds of bo- :
logna were secured last night.
Tn the manufacturing district a general !
cleaning up is in progress, and by nightfall
all evidence of the flood is expected to
be obliterated and business resumed.
The mills were not as seriously crippled
as In past floods, and a majority of them
are in operation today.
Great amounts of goods have been de- i
stroyed by water in, the basements of
houses in the downtown district, but gaods
valued at hundreds of thousands of dol- :
lars were removed to places of safety ;
early Saturday, and the loss in this re- j
spect is much smaller than in previous
years. At western Pennsylvania points
above this city the water lias receded!
from the low lands and a restoration j
of normal conditions is under way. To
the accurate warnings and predictions of
Henry Pennywitt of the local I'nited
States weather bureau are credited the
saving of much property.
Food for Hundreds.
WHEELING. W. Va.. February 17?The |
crest of the Ohio river flood here was
reached at 10 o'clock with 4- 7-10. All
trolley lines and railroads, except the
Pennsylvania and two lines of the Baltl- j
more and Ohio, are out of commission.
The properly loss was minimized, how- j
evi*r, owl rift to the ample warning which
had l?een given. The board of trade and ;
city authorities are furnishing food supplies
for hundreds of the destitute in the
flooded district. The river is expected to
begin receding this afternoon. Conditions
are made much worse this morning toy
the sudden drop in the temperature resulting
in the freezing over of all the
flooded streets.
Island Floats Away.
sperial rnspatrh to Tfce Star.
HARTFORD. Conn.. February 17.?With
as little commotion as if it had been a
t-oar being launched. Dog Island, just
north of the Connecticut river bridge, was
swept almost bodily downstream at an i
early hour this morning, the sand of
which* i* was composed having given
;ih;i\ under the pressure of tons of ice;
which paekod up against it.
The island, which' had upon it a group*)
of trees and which was njost conspicuous I
as the dwelling place of Pomp Ttirley. |
blocked the passage of the ice down- j
.??:ream. and soon an enormous hank of:
ice was formed behind and around It. I
till the Island gave way to the tremendous
pressure and broke into sections,
the largest locating upon ihe(
meadow west of Riverside Park. Th
' island did not proceed far before it be
gan to break up amid the ice floes, an
soon the trees as well as Pomp's boat
and his raft, tent and cooking utensil
were mingled with the wreckage.
Pomp himself has not been living regu
larly on the island this winter, and s
he personally escaped being involved 1
the total destruction of the real estat
which he had occupied without pajin;
taxes or rent.
Indiana Still Threatened.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind., February 17.Floods
continue in southern Indiana today
The weather has turned clear and cold
which will check the rapid rise in streams
but the water is not yet at a standstill
At Petersburg the White and Patoki
rivers are higher than since 1875, am
thousands of acres of whgat lands an
submerged. Schools have closed am
trains have ceased running. Hundred
of men are repairing washouts. At Terrs
Haute the Wabasli is seventeen and one
half feet and Is rising. The Ohio a
Evan^'ille is thirty-four feet and wil
pass the danger line before night. It i
rising twm Inches an hour.
BRYAN OUT IN INDIANA
SCHEDULED FOR BUSY TWELVI
HOURS IN INDIANAPOLIS.
INDIANAPOLIS. February 17?W. J
Bryan was scheduled to spend anothe
busy twelve hours when he started toda:
to carry out his program, which include*
addresses to the Ministers' Associatioi
and to the high school students this morn
ing, a reception this afternoon, an ad
dness to a mass meeting this evening anc
a banquet tonight, at which 700 guest!
will be accommodated.
Mr. Bryan received three distinct ova
lions here yesterday, when he addressee
more than 4.000 people at Tomlinson Hall
later a meeting of the congregations of th<
Meridian Street and Central Avenue Meth
odist churches, and a little later a meet
ing of the ministers of the city held it
Tomlinson Hall. He was here as the gues
of the Y. M. C. A.
When he appeared before the audience
in the hall the crowd rose to its feet anc
greeted him with prolonged applause, anc
It was several minutes before Presideni
Carey of the Y. M. C. A. could call the
meeting to order.
Mr. Bryan's subject was "The Prince 01
Peace.'' Oklahoma
for Bryan.
GUTHRIE, Okla , February 17.-ln the
democratic primaries held Saturday to
elect delegates to the state convention
W. J. Bryan -was indorsed by every one
of the seventy-five counties.
The delegates were instructed to name
an instructed Bryan delegation to the
Denver convention. W. H. Murray, president
of the constitutional convention, will
head Oklahoma's delegation. Gov. Haskel
and the two United States senators,
Owen and Gore, with Mr. Murray, were
indorsed for delegates-at-large.
Sherwood Boom for Vice President.
TOLEDO, Ohio, February 17.?A boom
will be started in a few days for Gen.
Isaac R. Sherwood of Toledo, and representative
of the ninth Ohio congressional
district, to be Bryan's running mate in
the coming national campaign.
Such is the announcement made tonight
by George E. Seney, prominent Ohic
democratic state leader, who has just returned
from Washington from a conference
with the democratic national leaders.
"Representative Sherwood is the man
of the hour in Washington," said Seney,
"His recent speech denouncing Roosevelt's
message is the greatest effort that
has been delivered in the halls of Congress
for some time. One hundred and
fifty thousand copies have been ordered
to be sent tnroughout the United States.
"I received a .letter from a prominent
national democrat recently, whose name 1
am not at liberty to divulge, urging nvr
to employ good offices with Sherwood to
permit the use of his name for Vice
President. Bryan and Sherwood woulcj
have a euphonic ring, and I sincerely
hope Sherwood enters the race as Bryan's
running mate."
Texas for Bryan.
FORT WORTH. February 17.-The dem
ocratic state executive committee has
selected Fort Worth for the state convention
in May, to name delegates to th?
national convention, and indorsed Willlan
J. Bryan.
Want Bryan to Let Kern Run.
INDIANAPOL,IS. February 17.?I^eadinl
*
democrats who came here to see Willlan
Jennings Bryan began to push vigorouslj
the claims of John W. Kern for Vic<
President, and his friends are sanguint
of his nomination. They say that In
disna is east in every sense of the word
and that the claim that the candidate foi
DeA.MAnt miiat mmp from that m
? u r" m. coiwv ?
gion is fully met with an Indiana man
Men who were with Mr. Bryan yes
terday say that he said nothing whatevei
to disrumge them, but seemed please*
with the idea of having Kern for a run
ning mate. They did not ask him t<
commit himself to Kern's candidacy, bu
said to him that they wanted to lay th<
matter before him from the standpoint o
Indiana democrats, knowing that whet
the time comes to select the vice presl
denlial candidate the presidential nomine<
will be able to exert a commanding in
flue nee in the matter.
Kern was the democratic nominee fo1
governor both in 11*10 and iri li*rt. an<
two years ago received the votos. of th<
democratic minority in the legislature fo
t'nlted States senator, lie is very pop
ula- with the democratic masses, and i
is believed that his nomination would gi
far to give Bryan the electoral vote of In
diana.
Ambassador Bryce in Ottawa.
OTTAWA. Ont.. February 17.?Jamei
Bryce, the British ambassador at Wash
ington. and Mrs. Bfyce arrived here ai
noon. They were driven straight to Gov
eminent House, where they will be guesti
for a week.
As Ix>rd and Lady Grey are in mourn
ing there will be no public functions ai
Rideau Hall, but there will be severa
dinner parties, to which Sir Wilfrid Lau
rier and some of the other ministers wil
be invited to meet Mr. Bryce.
The subjects -which Mr. Bryce will dis
cuss while here include the internationa
waterways and the fisheries.
On the 2."?th instant Mr. Bryce will ad
dre?s the .Canadian Club,_Ju MontreaJKilled
His Son With Shotgun.
SHAMOKIN. Pa.. February 17?Conrat
Whine of this place took a double-bar
reled shotgun to the home of his sot
John in Locust Gap. near here, last nigh
and after a quarrel shot the young mai
dead. The son's head was half blowi
off with a load of buckshot. The fathe
was arrested and brought to Jail here
The men had been on unfriendly term;
for some tim?.
Seven Victims of Factory Explosion
PROVIDBNCE. R I.. February 17.The
death list resulting from the explo
i slon n the c. S. Tanner starch factor;
I February t'J was increased to seven toda;
when John W. Smith, who was terrlbl;
burned about the face and arms, die<
at tbe Kbodo Island Hospital.
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I
i' PITY THE RI<
BRITISH NAVAL PLANS
i '
; Increased Estimates in the
Face of Opposition.
LIKELY BUILDING PROGRAM
Believed the Country Will Adhere to
the Two-Power Standard.
AN ANSWER TO GERMANY
[ All of the New Ships Will Be Better
1 Than Their Predecessors of
Like Class.
/
LONDON. February 17.?In view of
' the threatening attitude of that section of
1 the radical party which advocates reduction
in armaments there has been much
speculation as to whether the government i
will persist in the determination, reached j
on the advice of the lords of the admiralty |
to submit increased naval estimates to
parliament.
Those in position to know say they will,
| and. backed by strong public opinion,- will
3 be able to carry them through without
1 difficulty. *
r
What these estimates provide for in the >
~ way of new construction is another ques- !
tion that has been much discussed.
A naval officer who. while not admitting 1
the possession of any Inside information,
- is. nevertheless, well informed, gives the
* j following as the probable prograrfu
r Probable Program.
1 i Three armored vessels on the improved
* Dreadnought type: ships that will embody
t | many changes, devised after^the thorough
: trials through which the first of this
f class has passed.
* j Two cruisers, improvements on the old
I 1 Edgar class; a heavily armed, well pro1
tected ship.
Six smaller cruisers of the Hoadlcea
r class. 3,500 tons, with a great radius of
j action, enabling them to remain at sea
p, for long portods. whether engaged as parr
ent ships for torpedo craft or as scouts
. or dispatch boats.
t At leaat twelve torpedo craft, the maj
jority of them of the tribe class, two of
_ which, the Tartar and Ohurka, recently
1 ran their trials with such success,
j There also will be provision for addii
tinnal muKmarirtoB Hut fCbnut t hatp tho u/1.
vav/KUl V(J >/Ub U> W U V uv 1.11V* uu
miralty maintains the greatest secrecy.
Annoyed at Germany.
This is not looked upon as a complete
answer to Germany's program. That,
naval men .say, will come next year, even
the critics of the policy of the admiralty
admitting that the start England has secured
will enable her to maintain the
two-power standard without rushing
work during the coming fiscal year. Besides,
the delay of twelve months will allow
her to learn something of what other
powers are doing, and then "go them one
better" either by outbuilding them or designing
a ship that will be a great improvement
over those now being constructed.
Germany's refusal to agree at The
Hague to the proposal to prohibit the
placing of floating mines has caused British
activity In still another direction.
Heretofore ths country has had but two
mine-laying vessels. Since The Hague
conference adjourned work has been begun
on the conversion of three secondclass
cruisers for this purpose.
HOME FOB ENLISTED MEN.
i ?????
Senate Passes Gallinger Bill Appropriating
$50,000.
8 , The Senate today passed the Gallinger J
' bill appropriating 150.000 for a temporary
home for former soldiers, sailors and
marines in the District of /Columbia The
amount originally asked for in the bill
- was $30,000, and $20,000 was added in the
y District committee. Men are to be admit^
ted to the home under regulations to be
made by the Secretary of War. The
present home is located at 106 3d street
1 .northwest, in a rented' building, which is
, crowded and insanitary. . _
?
*
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rJBtfll milLr /
CH ?ACCORDING TO MRS. H
DOLLIVER BILL OPPOSED
SENTIMENT AGAINST SCHOOL
REORGANIZATION MEASURE.
Supporters of the Board of Education
Interest Their Friends
in the Senate.
Strong objection to the passage of the
Dolliver school reorganisation bill for the
District of Columbia developed in the
Senate today, -when Senator Burkett of
NeBraska, chairman of the subcommittee
which reported the bill, tried to arrange
for its consideration after Senator Stone's
cunency speech tomorrow. Notwithstanding
the fact that Senator Burkett
has been doing much missionary work
in behalf of the measure. Senator Nelson
of Minnesota, who is said to be determined
to defeat it if possible, insisted on
objecting to giving unanimous consent
for the order desired by Mr. Burkett.
The bill fs now on the calendar under
rule. IX, which means that it will not
come up for consideration in the regular
course of business unless everything on
the calendar under rule VIII is disposed
of some day before 2 o'clock, as well
Ma n 11 tftfltPU hillc u hpar) r\f It unHop t ho
other rule. This is not likely to occur I
very soon, and therefore It is possible;
for one Senator to greatly delay consideration
of the bill, unless the Senate
should vote to take It up under a suspension
of the rules.
It is 'believed at the Capitol that notwithstanding
the praotically unanimous
report of the District committee on this
'bill, there is to be a determined light
to prevent its passage. In other words,
it is much less likely to pass today than
it was several weeks ago. the reason for
the change in the situation 'being, it is
said, that members and friends of the
board of education, regarding the Dolliver
bill as a "Chancellor measure," have interested
their friends in the Senate to
take up their cause.
COLD flELPS RACERS
PROGRESS OF THE NEW YORKTO-PARIS
RUN. ,
BUFFALO, N. Y? February 17.?The
Italian oar driven by Antegio Sitorio arrived
in Buffalo at 5:4.1 this morning, and,
after a short time spent in a garage, departed
for FJrle, Pa., its occupants
under the impression that the two cars
preceding it had continued on their way
west. An effort was made to overtake
the Italian by telephone, but without
aval). After a conference it was decided
that the French car driven by St-Chaflray
and the American car should proceed todav.
and the French denarted at 11 o'clock.
The American car will leave at 3 o'clock
this afternoon.
After the freezing weather of yesterday
and today it is expected that the roads
will be found in fair shape.
Germans Are Behind .
ROCHESTER, N. Y., February 17.?The
German car in the New York-to-Parls
automobile race arrived here at 12:45 p.m.
An accident near Can&ndaigua delayed
the Germans several hours.
NO RACES AT CLEVELAND.
Dates Have Been Transferred to
Kalamazoo.
KALAMAZOO, Mich.. February 17.?It
was announced here today that Cleveland
has withdrawn from the grand circuit,
and that President J. M. Johnson has
assigned Kalamazoo the dates from August
3 to 7. The local association has ac
crpicu mem anu pureca aiuvuuviug iu uvci
$25.0<*> will be put up. Kalamazoo also
will seek the same dates' from the Great
Western Association.
CLEVRL.AND. Ohio. February 17 ?
President Devereaux of t tie Cleveland
Driving Park Company, when shown the
dispatch from Kalamazoo today, said: "It;
is true that we gave up the dates assigned
to Cleveland .'or tlie grand circuit trotting
races. Ever since the passage of tlie state
law. several years ago. prohibiting the
sale-of pools, we have, lost money on the
races, and. as a result, it was decitfed
to withdraw from the grand circuit."
It Is probable that the Cleveland Driving
Park will be cut up apd sold for building
lota.
fir frl
ETTY GREEN.
UNION STATION Bill
House District Committee
Completes Its Trackage Act.
A COMPREHENSIVE SECTION
May Cause Considerable Debate
When It Comes Up.
NEXT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
Days Set for Consideration of This
A .j. mi m i. i
aci?xnree miis oem oy
the Commissioners.
'
\
After a spirited three-hour session today
the House District committee reaffirmed
its previously expressed approval of most
of the sections of the Union station permaj
nent trackage bill and added a new and
comprehensive paragraph giving the District
Commissioners authority to regulate
the number of cars, sanitary condition
and the time schedules. This provision
was adopted as a substitute for those
favored by Representative Hepburn of I
Iowa and Representative Taylor_ of Ohio. |
i This new section, which will probably
i stir up a good deal of debate on the floor {
this week when it comes up, is as follows:
"Section 18. That every street railroad
cdmpany or corporation owning, controlling,
leasing or operating one or more
street railroads within the District of
Columbia shall on each and all of its
roads supply and operate such number of
cars, clean, sanitary, in good repair, with
proper and safe power, equipment, appliances.
and service, comfortable and convenient.
and so operate the same as to
give expeditious passage, not exceeding
fifteen miles an hour, to all persons desirous
of the use of said cars without
crowding the cars or platforms.
"The Commissioners of the. District of
Columbia are hereby given power to re'
quire, and compel obedience to all of the
provisions of this section and to make,
Oil nAA/4f..l
(i uci , muciivi ciiiu uiivi tc an iiccuiui
rules and regulations to secure obedience;
and the Commissioners are given pc?wer
to make all such orders and regulations
necessary to the.exercise of the powers
herein granted to them as may bo reasonable
and proper: and such railroad
companies or corporations, their officers
and employowT-arp hereby required to obey
all of the provisions of this section and
such regulations as may be made by the
Commissioners."
A penalty of not more than $1,000 for
each offense is provided.
Next Thursday and Friday.
Under an arrangement with Speaker
Cannon Chairman Smith of the House District
committee has secured next Thursday
and Friday for the consideration of
this permanent trackage bill and such
other measures as are now on the District
calendar or that may be favorably
reported by the committee between now
and then. It is a question of some doubt j
as to what sort of reception the trackage
bill will get upon the floor on District
day.
If there are as many different kinds of
opinions concerning trackage and every'
thing else in the measure as there were
in the District committee Itself when
consideration of the measure was taken
the two days won't be any too much time
In which to complete the bill. The committee
Is hopeful, however, that, having
turned out the best bill it knew how to
frame, that the House will be inclined to
be somewhat charitable and will devote
its energies to perfect the measure instead
of finding fault. Members of the
committee are Inclined to feel that section
18, giving the Commissioners power to
regulate various matters connected with
the operations of the local railway systems,
should appeal to Col. Hepburn as
sufficiently drastic to meet even his advanced
views. The committee recognizes
me iBti, nuwevcr, inai una regulation pro- I
vision, the universal transfer provision '
and the paragraphs relating to new construction.
both in the vicinity of the new !
I'nion station and erosstown. must be. ex- :
plained in detail to the membership of the
House.v which, individually and collectively.
seems more deeply interested in the j
local street railway situation than any- i
thing: else of national or local importance, j
Three Commissioners' Bills.
The District Commissioners today sent
-to Chairman Smith of the House District
? ?
?
t
! committee drafts of throe bills, which !
I were introduced later in the day. One j
is to regulate the establishment and ,
maintenance of private hospitals hnd
asylums in the District of Columbia. In i
their letter transmitting this proposed
measure, the Commissioners call attention
to the existing law. and say that .
while the Commissioners are directed by ;
present legislation to require all private
hospitals here to obtain permits, yet no '
means are provided to enable the Commissioners
to do so. nor are any conditions i
specified as neeessarllj precedent to the J
Issue of a permit. Moreover, no provision
is made for the revocation of such permits j
as may be issued. They think this evil
should be remedied.
Another bill is to amend the act to regulate
plumbing and gas fitting In the Eds- i
trict. The Commissioners provide fo- in[
creasing the license fee frfom ?5.00 for an ;
indefinite period to $5.00 for a term of
five years. In their letter the Commls- |
missiotiers complain that some plumbers !
persistently violate the law. and thai ,
there is no way now that their licenses ;
can be revoked.
The third bill provides for the extension [
of Glrard street northwest, westerly from
Its present terminus to loth street northwest.
TAFT IIP IN NEW HAVEN j
j RECEPTION THIS AFTERNOON
AND ADDRESS TONIGHT.
|
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW -HAVEN, Conn . February 17.Although
a good-sized crowd greeted Secretary
Taft at the union depot this morning.
when he arrived here from Hartford,
no demonstration was made. He was greeted
by the reception committee and i
whisked to the home of Col. Isaac L'llman,
head of the republican machine of
I the city. He lunched at Col. L'llman s
I home, and immediately afterward made
plans to attend the meeting of the Yale
Corporation, the university governing
| body, of which he is the only western
member.
This afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 o'clock
! Secretary Taft will be given a public- reception
at the New Haven House, and
he will this evening deliver the principal
address at the belated Lincoln day banquet
of the New Haven Young Men's
Republican Club, the largest political club
in Connecticut.
Seymour Judd. president of the club,
met Secretary Taft at the union depot.
I with Prank Butterworth, president of the
first Taft club formed in Connecticut.
The Young Men's Republican Club is
having a hard time to accommodate, all
who wish to hear Secretary Taft tonight.
Only *00 can be seated at the tabies in
Music Hall, yet applications have been ;
received from double that number. The I
galleries will be thrown open to the public, I
but they are altogether too small to,
seat the crowd which has requested acK j
mission tickets. Secretary Taft came escorted
by several secret service men. and
a special detail- of police guarded Col.
rilman's residence and the Yale administration
building this afternoon during his
stay in those places.
Guests at Ullman Lunch.
The guests at the lunch given toy Col.
Ullman were Gov. Woodruff. George E.
Lilley, Connecticut representative at large;
Herbert Knox Smith, head of the bureau
of corporations and commerce; Charles F.
Brooker, republican national committeeman
from Connecticut; Theodore H. MacDonal,
state Insurance commissioner from
Connecticut and chairman of the republican
town committee in New Haven; O. IJ. Fyler,
formerly chairman of the republican
state central committee In Connedtcut;
Charles Hopkins Clark, editor of the Hartford
Courant. *
The Secretary was asked to discuss the
recent sensational interview of Hetty
Green predicting _ his defeat. "Haven't
seen it," he responded/ He was shown a
copy with the headlines. "Hetty Green
Predicts Defeat of Taft."
"Well, Hetty is a woman of judgment,"
said Taft laughingly.
CONDITION UNCHANGED.
Latest From Pasadena Reports
Crosby S. Noyes No Better.
PASADENA. February 17.?At 11:30
o'clock today it was reported that the condition
of Crosby S. Noyes, editor-in-chief
of The Washington Star, who is ill here,
sliowed no material change, but that he
was very weak and low. Members of the
ftimily who are in this city are in almost
constant attendance at his bedside.
A telegram received in this city yester- ;
day stated that Mrs. Crosby S. No.ves.
who has also been ill at Pasadena, has
materially improved, and that no alarm is
now felt on her account.
NATIONAL RACQUET TOURNEY.
0
Opening Plays in Annual Meeting at
Boston Today.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON. Mass.. February 17.?Play irt
the annual tournament for the racquet
championship in singles opened at the
j Tennis and Racquet Club this morning,
with a representative entry. The first
match was between R. R. Flncke of New
York, the prese.nt title holder, ami G. A.
Thorne of Chicago. The champion was
too fast lor the westerner, and, after
Thorne had won the fir^t game at 15-11,
Fincke took the match by 15-6, 15-11,
15-2.
Ir. the other match of the morning J.
W. Cutler of the Boston Athletic Asso
elation won from w. j. rearon ot Chicago.
Two other defaults du-ing tlie day were
Cranville Clark of New York and R. K.
Cassatt of Philadelphia. The tournament
will continue through the week.
_
MAY TAKE TIME OFF.
Officers Doing Desk Work to Be;
Given Opportunity for Exercise.
In order that army officers on desk duty
In this vicinity may get in condition to
| Endure the forced march of ninety miles
at the rate of thirty miles a day, to which
all will be subjected next summer, they
are to be given time off in the afternoons
to practice horsemanship and get In tra;n.
ing. Officers on duty at tlie War Depart- !
ment and its branches have received
copies of the following circular, issued by
Acting Secretary Oliver, with approval
of the President:
"In view of the" sedentary nature of the
work falling to army officers on duty in
Washington, and the liability of nearly
all of them to be ordered upon short
not lee to field duty, the Secretary of War '
has decided that opportunity for jTliysical !
exercise should, when practicable and to !
a reasonable extent, be afTorded them. To
this end lie directs me to inform you that
you are authorized to permit your assa?t- '
ants, when not incompatible with tin- i
proper discharge of the business of your ;
department, eft her to leave the offic e for
exercise an hour before tin* usual closing
time in the afternoon of each working '
day. or to he absent for the same purpose .
an entire afternoon, from time to time. [
not exceeding two afternoons in one week
for the same officer?the choice between
the two methods to rest with the individual
officer." i
CONCEB[? EUROPE
Action of Austria Has Thrown
It Out of Tunc.
PROBLEM OF NEAR EAST
May Be a New Grouping of the
Great Powers.
TURKEY ALONE WILL PROFIT
Preparations by the Porte to Send an
Armed Force to the Frontier.
Russian Activity. /
TIFLIS. February 17.?Reports havd ,
been received here from Armenia that all
the Redifs, or Turkish army reserva
forces, in Van. Mush and the other vilayets
of Asia Minor have been called to
the colors and'are prrceeding rapidly for
the frontier. At the same time a lea*u?
of all the Turkish revolutionary parties
is increasing the revolutionary agitation.
Appeals and proclamations are beinr issued.
exhorting the population to protest
in every say pot-Bible against the warlike
plans of the sultan. The league holds
that wir would b?- especially disastrous
at the present time, as there is a famine
in Asia Minor.
At Tiflis the apprehension of hostilities
has no. abated. The Russian military
authorities have ordered that all horses
in the Caucasus, suitable for military
niir*kAaac Jva povietsetkH 1'ha AP
Tiff is held a meeting recently and volunteered
their services in case of war.
The concentration of Turkish reserves
on the Persian and Russian frontiers in
Asia Minor, if in progress, is an outcome
of the border difficulty with Persia.
Recently Turkish troops crossed the Persian
frontier in the vicinity of Urumlah
and committed depredations. To this Rtissia,
under her treaty obligations to Persia.
objected, and began the concentration
of a strong force on the frontier of the
Caucasus. This show of military activity
was thought to have been sufficient
%o put a stop to the Turkish aggression
and the Russian movement was said to
have been discontinued. If the rsports
front Armenia are true the difficulty In
A sic. Minor, which is closely connected
I with the railroad aspirations of tho powers
in the Balkans, may assume serious
import.
Russia Is Angrj.
ST. PETER8Bl*RG, February IT.?
BaTTJtr vo* Aehrenthal's reiteration of the
determination of Austria to build a railroad
through Novipazar as s connecting
link for the Austrian line through Bosnia
with the Turkish line to Saloniki. and
the announcement by the German foreign
office o.* Us financial support to this plan,
have left no illusions here regarding the
agreement for joint action in the Balkans
negotiated by Emperor Nicholas
and Emperor Francis Joseph at Muerssteg
in the autumn of 190d, which was the
groundwork of the program of reforms
in Macedonia.
The foreign office regards the agreement
as already violated in spirit by the
Austrian foreigpi minister's efforts to extend
Austrian influence by a private bargain
with the sultan and believes it should
be abrogated. Negotiations are still being
conducted to induce Austria to withdraw
her railroad schemes, but no hope of
success is held out on either slda.
The principal efforts are being devoted
to arranging a new grouping of tho
powers, it being thought here that Russia
and Great Britain might enter into
an agreement for joint action in ICOO^
donia and that these two powers would
be supported by France and perhaps by
Italy.
Austrian Plan Refused.
Hints have been thrown out from
Vienna that Russia and Italy would be allowed,
by way of compensation, to construct
railroad lines, Italy one through
Albania, and Russia a line from the
Danube to the Adriatic sea. doui powers
declined.
M. Zinovieff. Russian ambassador to
Turkey, submitted to tlie sultan Friday
Russia's objections to the proposed railroad.
This, it is expected here, will result
in its postponement.
The impression that Austria is acting
with the full support of Germany has re
suited in an outburst of anger against
that country, affecting ail circles of the
Russian press and public. This antagonism
is felt especially in the army, where
it is believed Teutonic influence are back
of Turkish activity on the Perso-Russian
frontier, which again liaa assumed *
menacing phase. (
Austria Grows Sensitive.
VIENNA, February 17?The government
is growing sensitive under the aggressive
attacks of the French and Russian
press and adverse criticism in Great
Rritam and will rot admit that the
Russo-Austrian entente has become Ineffective.
The consensus of independent
oninion. however, is that the Muerzsteg
scheme has practically disappeared.
England Urged to Act.
LONDON, February 17.?The leaders In
the movement for reforms in Macedonia
are urging on Sir Edward Grey, secretary
for foreign affairs, that the breaking up
of the concert of powers gives the government
opportunity for vigorous action.
The cabinet ns yet has not decided
whether Great Britain will act independently.
but the foreign office is formulating
a new scheme, which will be outlined
by the foreign secretary in a speech February
25.
Kaiser Wants Pact Kept.
BERLIN. February 17.?The German
foreign office regards the reports concerning
the differences between Austria and
Russia over the Balkan question as much
exaggerated. Germany regards Austria's
designs as wholly economic and therefore
w'^nes them to succeed, but no occasion
has yet arisen for Germany to coma
out in their active support.
Germany s chief desire is that the entente
between Austria and Russia ba ?reserved.
The imputation that Germany instigated
the sultan to reject the demands for Macedonian
reforms is declared at the foreign
office to be false.
Independent observers here are of th?
opinion that th? completion of both tti?
Austrian and Russian railroad protects In
the Ha'kana wou'd b? a" admirable impetus
to the civilisation of the Balkans,
and that it would be unwise for any power
to oppose them.
France's Attitude.
PARIS. February 17.?The Nowpaxar
Salonikl concession is considered here to
be more of a German than an Austrian
triumph, as it extends ^ustro-German imV