Evening star. [volume], January 06, 1922, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER.
Fair tonight and tomorrow;* little
rhangc in temperature; lowest tonight
about 28 degrees.
Temperature for 24 hours ended at
2 p.m. today: Highest, 62. at 2 p.m.
yesterday; lowest. 31, at 8 a.m. today.
Full report on Page 30.
Closing New York Stocks, Page- 26.
WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION
Member of the Associated
The Associated Press 1s exclusively entitled to
the u?e for republics lion cf all news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited In this
psper and also the local news published herein.
All rifiits of publication of special
dispatches herein are also reserved.
Yesterday's Net Gradation, 91,718
No. 28,370.
Kntcred as second-class matter
post office Washington, D. C.
WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1922?THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES.
TWO CENTS.
Investigator for Senator Un
covers Apparent Criminal
Conspiracy.
COMBINE OF MATERIAL '
MEN AND BUILDERS SEEN
"Unions Throttle Labor Market
Probe Indicates, King Tells
U. S. Attorney.
Kxistence of criminal conspiracy
among the labor clement and build
ers and building material men in the
district of Columbia, which tends to
keep up high costs prevailing in the
building industry here has become
apparent in the course of a prelimi
nary investigation made of this situa
tion here by a prominent local at
torney for Senator King of Utah. the
latter made it known today for the
* first time.
Senator King declined to make
known for publication the name of
the man who had made the investi
gation. but he said that the informa
tion obtained indicated to him that a
j;rand jury investigation of conditions
here might bring out'facts and con
ditions as startling as those exposed
bv the Lockwood investigating com
mittee in New York and *!!* fra,"cJ
jury investijjtttion of the building
dustry in Chicago.
Senator King today in a letter sug
gested to United States District At
torney Peyton Gordon that a grand
jury investigation be instituted. He
said his information was that the
prices of brick and lumber and prac
tically all articles employed In the
construction of buildings, including
interior fixtures, are so high as to
Indicate to him combinations criminal
in character.
Price lp -00 Per Olt
Many people, among them govern
ment officials, have besieged Senator
King to aid them in getting some re
lief from what he believes to be un
warrantable prices for construction
and materials used in building. He
made it known that the prices being
exacted today" for building was keep
ing many homes from being erected
in Washington at this time.
He cited the case of one high of- j
flclal in the government whose name|
?was withheld from publication, who
wanted to erect a house which at pre-I
war prices should cost but $20,000. :
The price asked by the builders to ;
put up this building was $80,000. an
Increase of 200 per cent. This case in
particular was cited aq one of those i
w hich indicated criminal conspiracy. |
The investigation by the local at-1
torney brought to light, the Senate
said, information that the labor
nnions here were to some extent!
throttling the labor market by ex-1
eluding from it certain people, par
ticularly boys. The investigation j
also showed, according to Senator i
King, the existence to some extent of
? conspiracy between the builders
In the District and those in nearby
Maryland to maintain prices. The
investigator for Senator King re
ported that while the conspiracies
were apparent, it was difficult for
liim in his present capacity to obtain
the specific evidence on which to
base a case.
Senator King, therefore, decided to
suggest to Maj. Gordon the impera
tive need of an investigation of the
building industry.
His letter sent today follows:
"You are doubtless familiar with
the investigation being conducted by
the I.ockwood committee ii> New York
in regard to the combination on the
part of material men, contractors and
builders and certain labor leaders.
The investigation has disclosed the |
existence of criminal conspiracy,
which have resulted in robbing the
people and interfering with the con
struction of imperatively needed
building. The investigation in Chi
cago. made by the grand jury, reveal
ed a similar condition of affairs.
Believe* Probe Wnrr???ed.
"Not only have there been con
spiracies and combinations by many
builders, contractors and material |
men. but trusts and combinations (
have been perniciously active in con- j
trolling commodities, particularly such.
as enter into the lives of the |
people. Complaints have been made,
concerning agreements upon the parti
of retailers to fix prices and prevent j
competition.
"1 b?ll2ve that conditions in the
District are such as to warrant an
investigation by the proper officials of
the government, cr by a grand jury, I
to determine whether or not coin
bin. tions exist for the purpose of
controlling prices, and prevent legiti
mate and fair competition. There
certainly is no reason why the prices
?>f many commodities should reach
the high level which now prevail,
and. in my opinion, there is no justi
fication for the great advance over
pre-war prices in building materials.
"According to the Information which
I have, the prices of brick and lumber
and substantially all articles em
ployed in the construction of build
ings, including interior fixtures, etc.,
are entirely too high. It would seem
that only through combinations,
criminal in character, could the in
ordinately high price levels be main
tained. . ,
"The District is greatly in need or
additional scflool buildings, and it
?will require millions of dollars to
provide an adequate number. Owing
(Continued on Page 2, Column 4.)
MARQUIS OKUMA DEAD;
FORMER JAPAN PREMIER
By the Associated Press.
HONOLULU. January S.?Marquis
Okuma, former premier of Japi.Ti. is
dead, according to a cable message
received by the Nippu Jiji, a Japa
nese vernacular newspaper, from To
kio. today.
The mikado conferred certain dec
orations on Okuma posthumously, the
cable message said.
Oklima was known us the "grand old
man" of Japan and has taken a pre
eminent part in the life of his country
for several decades. He was partic
ularly interested in the promotion of a
good understanding between his own
country and the United States and made
lit a point to receive at his beautiful
Siome in Tokio all visiting Americans
of note. He spoke often at public meet
ings after his retirement from public
life and was a prolific writer on ques
tions of international import.
Encumbered as he was with^a. wood
en leg, necessitated by a wound re
ceived when an attempt was made to
assassinate him In 1888. he won the
admiration of his fellow citizens by
his extraordinary physical us well as
mental activity. This physical atfiic
! tion brought on serious illness from
time to time, and It was frequently
| reported in Tokio that Okuma was
j either dying or dead. His proud
I claim was liiat he would outlive Wu
i Ting-fang. the eminent Chinese
| statesman, who still lives, is under
I stood to have had an unrecorded wager
with Okuma that he. Wu Ting-fang,
would live to be 125 years of age.
i Br the A**oHat ?d Press.
I CANNES. France. January 6.?Prime
j Minister Lloyd George of Great Britain.
; addressing the opening session of the
allied supreme council today, warned
j the allied powers that they could not
j look to any others but themselves to
work out the economic rehabilitation of
Europe. He appealed to the allies to
set aside prejudices and work together
to this end.
Mr. Lloyd George declared the allies
had reached a point where they must
4ct decisively and broadly if the eco
nomic structure of Europe was to be
saved. He said the present meeting
j of the supreme council was the most
important that had been held since the
armistice, and that the public opinion
of the world demanded that the allies
take wider responsibilities to revive
Eufope.
It has been intimated, he continued, ;
that Great Britain was suggesting this ;
course in order to escape her obliga- :
tions, but he declared this was untrue, i
N? Aade-Fniek Alliance. |
Prime Minister Lloyd George has I
decided there can be no question at i
this time of a formal alliance be- |
tween France and Great Britain, it is ?
said on good authority, but has held j
out the prospect of a sufficient guar- |
antee to aid France if she is again
attacked as in 1914. under certain
conditions.
These are. it is stated, that France I
co-operate with Great Britain in the
economic restoration of Europe and
consent to modifications in the repa^
ration payments by Germany on the
basis of the suggestions made in the
recent London conferences of a half
billion gold marks in cash and a bil
lion gold marks in kind, instead of
two billion marks in cash.
The success of the British delega
tion in getting the economic restora
tion plan on the agenda ahead of repa
rations was taken as an indication
fhat the French are coming around to
the British viewpoint.
The present aspect of the confer
?ence appears to be that the British
are using France's desire for an al
liance or a guarantee as a lever to
procure concessions from the French
on the reparations and economic pro
gram. The French, however, are
h61dlng out as long as they can on
both of these subjects in order to ob
tain an alliance or a stronger under
standing with Great Britain for mu
tual defense.
Geoaomle Conference Indorsed*
The allied supreme council today ap
proved unanimously the calling of an
international economic conference to be
I participated in by Germany and Rus
j sia.
The council is shifting a great deal of
the work to committees of experts so
as to be free to discuss the larger as
pects of the questions on its agenda.
Consideration of all features of the pro
posed international financial corpora
tion and international economic con
? ference will thus continue in committee.
I while the council is engaged upon other
| questions.
! The reparations experts will also go
'on with their efforts to reach a basis
1 of agreement as to how to facilitate
i payments by Germany, and how to di
i vide the first 1,090,000,000 gold marks
which are in the hands of the repara
tions commission.
Personnel of Council.
| The heads of the delegation present
| are Premier Briand for France. Pre
I mler Lloyd George for Great Britain,
' Foreign Minister Jaspar for Belgium,
Pfpmler Bonoml for Italy and Baron
Hayashi for Japan. They are accom
panied by aides and experts. Includ
ing Louis Loucheur, minister of lib
erated regions, and U. A. Avenal, a
member of the supreme economic
council, for France; Sir Robert Home,
chancellor of the exchequer, and Sir
. Laming Worthlngton-Evans, secre
tary of state for war. for-Great Brit
ain; the Marquis Delia Toretta, for
eign minister, for Italy; Viscount Ishii
for Japan and Premier Theunys for
Belgium.
The sessions are being held in the
yacht club, where private apartments
have been flttod up for M. Briand and
Mr. Lloyd George. The council room
is adorned with tapestries and pic
tures brought from Saris, some of
which figured in the decorations of
I the cloakroom of the French foreign
office, where the peace negotiations
w ere held.
PARENT DENIES BEHEADING BODY
IN GRAVE TO-"AVERT" DEATHS
By the AmocUted Press.
WINONA. Minn., January S.?Po
lice today withheld a decision as
to whether they would open the
erave of Miss Frances Bloch,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
Bloch. to ascertain if the body had
been decapitated in a superstitious
belief that such action would end
a long: series of deaths in the fam
ily. after Thomas Bloch was said
to have admitted opening the
graves of his daughter and a son
Joseph to confirm certain "signs."
Ha denied molesting the bodies.
When he opened the graves, he
saJd. with the assistance of a
neighbor, he found nothing bat the
bar* skeletons.
Bloch dented that' his Intention
-was to sever the head from the
body of his daughter and place it
at the foot of the coffin because of
a superstition that the spirit of the
daughter had been responsible for
the death of Ave of her brothers
since her own death Ave years ago,
police said.
Prank, the last of the Bloch sons,
died last Saturday, four married
daughters being the only surviving,
members of the family.
Bloch's statement followed the
announced intention of officials to
exhume the body, as a result of a
disclosure said to have been made
by George KamBkerer, former chief
of police and now sexton of St.
Mary's Catholio ceremtery here,
that the graves had been tampered
jrith in the last tt$ ?ays.
Will Be Punished as Such Un
der Agreement on Root
Resolutions.
LIKELY TO PLACE BAN
ON POISON GAS IN WAR
Action Taken by Delegates to Make j
Agreement on Submarine Use
More Effective.
BV U. CaOL'LD LI\l'OL\.
The committee on limitation of|
armament of the Washington confer
ence today rounded out its submarine
policy with the adoption of the fourth
Root proposal, which would provide
that a commander of a submarine vio
lating: the rules of international law
in attacking merchant vessels should
be treated as a pirate.
The conference committee also be
gan the consideration of the question
of chemical warfare, including poison
gas--. '
It was predicted by a member of
the American delegation after the
meeting that the conference would
? adopt an absolute prohibition against
the use of poison gas before adjourn
ment. This may take the form of a
? separate agreement instead of being
I placed in the naval treaty.
of Gas Favored.
Some of the experts, it is under
wood. have tavored continuation of
the use of poison gra? as a proper
weapon. It was pointed out. how
ever, that the delegates and not the
experts will decide this issue.
Senator Root laid before the com
mittee a resolution for prohibiting
the use of poison gas in warfare.
The Root resolution relating to
submarines as adopted today follows:
"The signatory powers, desiring to
insure the enforcement ofthe humane
rules of existing law declared by them
with respect to attacks upon the seiz
ure and destruction of merchant ships,
further declare that any person In the
service of any power who shall vio
late any of those rules, whether or
not such person is under orders of a
governmental superior, shall be deem
ed to have violated the laws of war,
and shall be liable to trial and pun
ishment as If for an act of piracy, and
may be brought to trial before the
civil or military authorities of any
power within the Jurisdiction of which
he may be found."
! The Root resolution relating to ?
prohibition of the use of polsor.
gases as submitted follows:
Mms Gaa Reaalattm.
"The use In war of asphyxiating,
poisonous or analagous liquids or
materials or devices having been
Justly condemned by the general
opinion of the civilised world and a
prohibition of such use having been
declared in treaties to which a ma
jority of the civilized powers are
parties:
"Now to the end, tliat this pro
hibition shall be universally accepted
as a part of international law bind
ing alike the conscience and prac
tice of nations, the signatory powers
declare- their assent to such pro
hibition. agree to be bound there
by between themselves and Invite
all other civilized nations to adhere
thereto."
The Italian delegation. It was said,
is ready to accept the Root resolu
tion. which will be considered at a
meeting of the committee tomorrow
morning.
While the committee on limitation
of armament Is rapidly rounding up
all the matters still at issue in re
gard to naval limitation, it was said
today in conference circles that there
was little chance of an open plenarv
session of the conference being held
before next week, perhaps on Monday.
In British quarters, it was said that
Mr. Balfour and Lord Lee of the Brit
ish delegation were still planning to
leave Washington the latter part of |
next week. In the belief that the con
ference would have practically com
pleted its work by that time.
The naval limitation treaty. It is
insisted by both American and Brit
ish spokesmen. Is not to be construed
in any way as a treaty of alliance,
or to provide that in the event of
one of the signatory powers becom
ing involved in war with an outside
nation, that the other signatories
shall go to Its assistance. It is ex
pected that the treaty will provide
for future meetings to discuss mat
ters relating to the limitation of
naval aripament, in the event of de
velopments of naval science that
would make the present accepted
arms useless, or. In the event of po
litical developments, as. for instance,
if a nation that is now not a naval
power and is not a signatory to the
treaty shall in the future become a
great naval power.
Naval Alliance.
As a matter of fact, however, after
the naval limitation treaty shall have
been agreed to, it is likely to operate
as a great naval alliance, whether
intended to do so or not.- A nation
on the outside which undertook to
build up a' big navy would neces
sarily have the five powers signatory
to the limitation treaty to deal with.
That the five which have agreed to
limit their armaments would look
askance upon the efforts of another
nation to build a big navy goes with
out saying. It seems clear that In
such an event a meeting of the five
powers would be hey, and a naval
ratio for the outside power would
come up for discussion, and probably
that nation would be asked to par
ticipate in the consideration of the
matter.
But so far as the naval treaty's
acting as an alliance in the event of
one of its members becoming in
volved in a war, there is nothing
in the proposed treaty, it is said,
whiob would lead to that event,
i Shantung still continues to be the
hard nut of the far eastern prob
lem. Upon its settlement depends to
a large extent the success of the con
ference so far as China is concerned.
Tfce French have proposed to give
up their leased territory in China,
provided the other powers will do
the fame. The British have follow
Lto *'ve UP Weihaiwel.
But t^?se offers depend upon the
Japanese giving up the old German
leased territory in Shantung. The
Japanese and Chinese- will resume con
sideration of the Shantung question at
S p.m. today.
A British spokesman said today that
it was probable that there would be an
exchange of notes between the four
powers signing the treaty relating to the
islands of the Pacific, in which each
would recognize that the homeland of
Japan was not included. This exchange
SK?e?^r?prior to ""action
ff?? Urea as ratification
JV"aid. This win sat
l. , .^!Ver8y which >rlan
.*nd """oW facilitate
j&** ??* 1,1 *
- ?? -v.-* $ v
CONFERENCE HABIT
GAMENVOY
Foreign Delegates at Arms
Proceedings Laud Work
Accomplished Here.
BY N. O. Ml4SSE\'GEP
President Harding's view that the
arms and far eastern conference will
furnish a definite record of achieve
ment in behalf of world tranquillity
and prosperity is known to be sup
ported by the leaders of all the dele
gations represented in the meeting.
The prevailing feeling is that, when
it is all over, the value of the work
done in this epochal gathering will
grow in the appreciation of the world.
Great Britain's delegation, including
the members of it who have departed
as well as those who have remained
to eee further development*, la Bin
cere In praise of the work of the con
ference, and unstintlngly gives credit
to President Harding and Secretary
Hughes. Premier Briand has told
them over in France his favorable
opinion. The Japanese, Belgian,
Netherlands and Portuguese delega
tions appreciate and approve what
has been done.- and is in process of
being done, and China will find, upon
looking over the field, that she has
been wonderfully benefited.
Habit Strengthen*.
"The value of the conference method
has been demonstrated and the con
ference habit strengthened," Is the
terse comment of a high British au
thority. upon what might be called
the psychological effect of the Wash
ington conference. That is also the
opinion of President Harding and Sec
retary Hughes, expressed In other
words.
The foreign statesmen and diploma
tists. keenly alive to the disturbed
conditions of Europe and Asia, and
the hair-trigger delicacy of some of
the Issues existent and imminent, are
profoundly impressed with the im
portance of this single phase of the
outcome of the conference, aside from
the other features of such recognized
value.
"It is the most successful interna
tional conference ever held," is the
judgment expressed by the same high
British authority, whose life training
has acquainted him with the history
of past performances.
It is unique, among various reasons,
for the fact that the agreements
reached here will not contain the
germ of war; will not enforce terms
that might later lead to friction be
cause of irritation between nations to
grow out of them, but apply mutual
understandings, registering satisfac
tion.
No nation will go away restive un
der the feeling of having another na
tion's will enforced upon it. Disap
pointment may exist that agreements
are not broad enough, not far-reach
ing enough, but there will be no com
plaint that they are too drastic. There
is a difference between being disap
pointed and being disgruntled, it is
pointed out by the diplomatists.
Naval Limitation Agreement.
As the scope and effect of the naval
limitation agreement are analyzed
there is larger appreciation of the
fact that it wiH serve_to prevent a
great rivalry in naval construction
among the sea powers of the world?
Great Britain, France. Japan, Italy
and the United States. This is as
sured both as relates to capital ships
and auxiliaries.
One very valuable contribution to the
world's peace is described as being
found in the restriction on naval ships
carrying airplanes. It has been pointed
out by a British authority that with no
restriction at all on such'vessels, a new
and appalling element would be intro
duced in warfare.
The thought of immense airplane
carrying vessels, such as would unques
tionably be constructed but for the
limitation agreed upon, approaching the
shores of a country and launching the
new type of plane, carrying heavy-cali
ber guns and poison gases, to attack
cities found hundred miles inland from
the coast Is dismaying enough.
Protection tor China.
China's gain out of the conference
is highly appraised by the diploma
tists. It is explained that China, now
in a stage of transition from an old
to a rtew form of government. Is vir
tually protected by the agreements
among the powers until she can estab
lish herself. That establishment must
come by her own efforts, from within,
it is said. She has given away and
lost many rights, but those which re
main are protected from further in
vasion the while she gets on her feet.
That a better international feeling
exists between Japan and the United,
States, resultant from the conference,
Is recognized by all. The Japanese
have unquestionably made' a good Im
pression in America. It la asserted In
conference add governmental circles,
and it la believed in the same quarters
that their distrust and suspicion of
AKlerica have been dissipated In their
minds to a mensurable degree. ? .
A. T. STUART WELL QUALIFIED
TO HELP JUDGE ESSAY CONTEST
Director of Intermediate Instruction in
Schools Chosen by The Star for His
Recognized Capability.
Tears of Intense devotion in the',
education of the youth of Washing- i
ton and lone service in the public!
"School system has particularly quali- j
fied"Alexander T. Stuart, director of
intermediate instruction in the public'
schools and former superintendent, to
help judge the merits of the essays
to be submitted by school pupils in
The Star's $1,000 prise essay contest
on the topic "The Arms Conference
and Its Significance." With these
considerations in mind, Mr. Stuart
was by The Star to ?erve
on the board of five judges in the
contest, and he willingly acceded.
Mr. Stuart Is strictly a native
Washingtonian. Born here, he Was
educated in the local public schools
and the Columbian College, no* George
Washington University, where he
graduated in 1869 with the degree of
Ph. B. He also received the degree
of S. At. from George Washington
University In 1904.
v
Assigned to Seveatfc Grade.
After teaching in a private school
for a year Mr. Stuart became con
nected with the public school system
and was assigned to teach the seventh
grade at Franklin School. At this
school he taught from 1870 to 1875.
In 1876 Mr. Stuart was elected su
pervising principal of the fourth divi
sion, which position he declined. A
year later he was elected supervising
principal of the third division, which
position he held for twenty-three
years until elected superintendent of
Today's News In Brie!
Homes asked for alley dwellers be
fore compulsory moving. Page 1
Prime Minister Lloyd George told rep
resentatives of the allies at Cannes
that they must depend on them
selves for the rehabilitation of Eu
rope. Page 1
John Wanamaker's name is mixed
with southern planter's in report of
death. Page 2
Major denies charges of killing sol
diers. Page 2
Ruthless warfare of submarines on
merchant \ships banned. Page 2
Navy treaty to require nations to con
sult with each other. Page 2
General chairmen for thrift week are
named. Page 2
Italy's special interest in cables ia re
vealed. Page 4
Prince Tokugawa says it is now up to
business man to aid world. Page 4
Germans to greet "martyr of Doom"
on birthday. Page -7
Seek to curtail "marriage mill."
Page 10
Secrecy extends to Penrose will.
Page 13
New party sought by Lloyd George.
Page 1?
Playground committee urges use of
tract of land near Upshur street. ? ?
Page 17
President asserts party leadership,
urging important administration
measures and opposing "bloc-spon
sored" legislation. Page 17
League health committee to standard
ise world's antitoxic serums.
Cage 20
Gompers attacks Industrial court.
Pagi 21
D. C. Bar Association pays tribute to
twenty-two attorneys who have died
since 1916. Ptfge 21
Wet mayor keeps campaign pledges
to Buffalo voters. Page 22
Cordell Hull, democratic chief, favors
conference for world trade agree
ment. Page 22
schools in 1900.- He resigned the su
perintended}- in 1906 and became di
rector of intermediate instruction,
but was again elected superintendent
in January, 1908, to succeed William
E. Chancellor. In June. 1911. he
again resigned the superintendencv
and took the position of director of
termetilate instruction, which he has
held since that time.
Mr. Stuart was secretary of the
[Young Men's Christian Association
I from 1875 to 1877. He also was at
one time a trustee of George Wash
ington University. Organizations
of which Mr Stuart is a member in
clude the Association of Oldest In
habitants of the District of Columbia.
Geographical Society and Society of
Natives of the-District of Columbia.
Hairs 8mm t? Be
Announcement it tile simple rules
for the essay contest will be made
soon by The Star. Until that time
contestants should not write their
essays.
Meantime, however, entrants in the
contest are urged to keep .in close
touch with the developments at the
I conference as chronicled In the daily
press In order V> become more con
versant with the ever-changing prob
lems before It.
As previously announced, eighty
eight .cash prises, aggregating $1,000,
will be awarded winners of the con
test. The prizes will be scattered
over two separate classes into which
the contest probably will be divided,
so that virtually all essayists submit
ting compositions of merit will re
ceive one of the awards. There will
be forty-four prises, amounting in
all to (500, awarded in each of the
two probable classes.
HOMES DEMANDED
FOR ALLEYEXILES
Mrs. Clara Sears Taylor of
Rent Board Would DelaV
Orders to Move.
None of the alley dwellers of the
District should Be forced to move from
their present abodes until other ac
commodations are provided for them,
Mrs. Clara Sars Taylor, rent com
missioner, told the District1 Com
missioners at a hearing at the Dis
trict building today.
The hearing jras granted th?""temer
gency Housing Association.of the Dis
trict and other interested groups to
urge the Commissioners to go with
them to Congress in an effort to have
the alleys of the city closed as soon
as possible.
Rev. J. Milton Waldron, spokesman
for the delegation, urged the Commis
sioners to ask Congress 'to close one
third of the alleys July 1 nexC another
third in 1923, and tne last third in
1(24.
Jeaes Bill EifliliH.
Through William V. Mahoney the
delegation explained in detail the bill
of Senator Jones, authorising the
Commissioners to float a (6,090.000
bond Issue to build new homes for
(Continued on tags 2, Column 6.)
First Wkite House New Year
fce<ception in Eight Years
Pictured in the Rotogravure Section of
NEXT SUNDAY S STAR
A score of photographs taken last Monday afternoon
?a full page of snapshots of an historic event in Wash
ington?diplomats, cabinet members and conference dele
gates, forming a pictorial feature of big interest to every
Washingtonian. x
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DE VALERA RESIGNS
AS REPUBLIC HEAD:
CABINET ALSO QUITS
\
Irish Executive Authority Irre
vocably Split by London Pact,
He Asserts.
/
CALLS PEACE IMPOSSIBLE
UNDER OUTSIDE AUTHORITY
Will Run for Re-election?Dail to Vote
on Treaty Tomorrow?Peace
Committee Fails.
mm99*" ?
By th#> Associate J
DUBLIN, January 6.?Official announcement was made this
afternoon that Eamonn De Valera had resigned the presidency of
the Irish republic.
President De Valera, in announcing his resignation to the dail,
said the cabinet also had resigned.
At the opening of the afternoon session of the dail Mr.
De Valera said that since the Irish agreement was signed in Lon
don the executive authority of the dail had been irrevocably split.
They had since tried to keep together nominally as a unified execu
tive, but the time had come for that to be ended.
The president ?aid he and one section of the cabinet stood for
the preservation of the republic and the other section for quite
another plan.
There never wvmld be peace, Mr. De Valera declared, until the
principle was recognized that the Irish people wanted to live their
own lives without the imposition of outside authority.
Mr. De Valera. said he could not ac
cept the responsibility unless he had
the sole powers of the government to
carry on his office.
Michael Collins, the minister of
finance and leader in support of the
treaty, announced thfct he (Collins)
had offered his resignation, but that
Mr -De Valera had refused to ac
cept It.
Mr. De Valera said he proposed "to
lay down my office and the house
must decide by constitutional means
Who la the chief executive."
Mr. de Valera said he believed that
only by combining the treaty and his
alternative proposals could the coun
try be kept together. If the treaty
went through there surely would be
rebels against the British govern
ment. he declared.
"Thank God." he exclaimed. "III
never be a British citizen. I'll die
first." ? ,
Continuing, President De Valera
said:
"I propose to lay down my office,
and the house must decide by con
stitutional means who is the chief
executive."
He then offered the dail his resig
nation. saying:
"And with it goes the ministry."
It is reported that Eamonn De Va
lera, In seeking re-election to the
presidency, will do so with a cabinet
of his own way of thinking. His re
marks were construed to mean that
he would offer himself for re-election.
Peace Committee Kails.
The efforts of the peace committee
of the dail eireann to bring about an
agreement on the Anglo-Irish treaty
failed today, and the dail. which had
met in private session this morning,
adjourned its secret sitting at 1:10
p.m. to meet again in public session
at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
The dail members as they came
from the chamber appeared depress
ed. One of them said the committee
itself was divided this morning, al
though the members had been in
agreement on the plan which was
submitted to the leaders of the op
posing factions yesterday.
It was intimated to the correspond
ents that this plan had been rejected by
Eamonn De Valera.
Dan McCarthy said the whips on
both sides had been instructed to try
to bring the debate on the treaty to
a close this afternoon.
"I doubt." he said, "whether a di
vision can be taken today, but we
will certainly wind it all up tomor
row. If we don't we all ought to be
thrown out of the house."
Based Call las* Plaa.
The political correspondent of the
Freeman's Journal says it is sur
mised that the committee's plan Is
based upon Michael Collins' sugges
tion of last Monday. Mr. Collins at
that time appealed to the treaty op
ponents to allow the new government
to come Into existence, reminding
them that they would thus not be
committed to Its acceptance, being
free to act as its censors and as free
to oppose it should it fall short of
the nation's needs.
Reports circulated regarding the
proceedings of this morning s private
session of the dail Indicated that the
members were hopelessly divided It
was learned that President De Valera,
had threatened to Design, and such
was the temper of the opponents of
the treaty that members on the op
poslte side said they would not be
sursrised If he and his followers
walked out of the dail before the
vote on the treaty waa taken.
Befofre the afternoon session open
ed Itlam Bolslte of Cork said the
situation was extremely critical and
he feared civil strife might ensue
from the division of the country on
the treaty. ^
Oall 'Scare* far Delay.
Meanwhile sharp expressions of im
patience at the delay of the dail in
getting its business finished are heard
In some quarters. Thus the Irfch In
dependent, commenting upon the pro
ceedings, says: "There Is no doubt
whatever that the country has become
tired and impatient at the long
speeches and tedious proceedings. The
deputies are faced by a definite task,
and instead of tackling the task In a
business-like way they have wandered
into all sorts of excursions and made
spaachas that could have been deliv
ered If no such issue aa the treaty
were in question. There have been
countless irregularities and lrrele
rsaciaiu. and people are naturally
ing why the speaker has not confined
the debate strictly to relevant Issues.
"Unity and cohesion are at the
present juncture essential if peace
and the Irish guvernment are to be
established. All that -has been so far
achieved by the debate is the sharp
and most regrettable division of the
dail itself, although on the outside 9S
per cent of the people are on the side
of the treaty. This aimless, cease
leac talk will never result In busi
ness.
Wish at People Katws.
"A point for the deputies to re
member Is that Ireland consists of
14,400,000 inhabitants, and that tbeir
wishes already have beeq plainly In
dicated and should be taken into ac
count. The fortunes and liberties of
these people are involved.
"If the treaty is ratified by a small
majority and the opposition pursues
an active campaign against it, how
can an effective provisional govern
ment be formed? If the treaty is re
jected we see no prospect but chaos,
disunion and maybe war. For a di
vided country, war would mean ruin
and disaster. The difference In sub
stance between the l^ondon treaty
and the counter-treaty is not such as
to justify plunging the country into
chaos or war."
TBEATY VOTE TOHOBKOW.
London Hears Dail Has Fixed Time
t
for Balloting.
Bjr the Associated Press.
LONDON, January 6.?The dail
eircann in Dublin has decided to vote
tomorrow on the ratification of the
Anglo-Irish treaty, says a Central
News dispatch from Dublin this
afternoon.
DE VALEBA IS DENOUNCED,
i ?_
London Press Scores His Proposals
on Peace as Worthless.
By the Associated Pres..
LONDON, January 6.?Eamon De
Valera's alternative treaty proposals,
Which, according to the Dally Mall's
Dublin correspondent, have fallen
very flat in Ireland, are the subject of
some editorial criticism in the morn
ing papers here.
The Times says the status for Ire
land which Mr. De Valera's j>lan con
templates is not that of a. dominion,
| but of an independent power In loose
J treaty relationship with Great Britain.
The plan, it declares, "obviously was
designed to embody the ideals of that
limited number of Irish extremists
who are set determinedly against
peace on any than their own terms."
"De Valera and his friends," the
Times continues, "apparently believe
that England is prepared on a little
pressure to withdraw its treaty and
consent to the absolute Independence
of Ireland. ? ? ?
Irishmen should not imagine that
the British government would have
the support of this country If they
(the government) surrendered the po
sition they rightly hold vital at the
behest of a group of Irish extremists."
The Westminster Gazette thinks
(Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) ?
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