THE WEATHER
Until the Last Word
You Devour
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE
Now in The FARMER
ft Iff rift rfSMirflr (fare
Fair and Cold, Warmer
Wednesday
VOL. 50 NO. 47
BRIDGEPORT, CONN., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1914
Mayor Seids
S.
aces
n
The City's Chief Executive Pleads For
Hours With Tax Board Members
To Save His Face By Post
poning Necessary Ap
propriations
Brought by the logic of circumstances to a realizing sense
of the financial condition to which his much boasted fiscal
policy has brought Bridgeport, Mayor Clifford B. Wilson plead
ed for hours, today, in his office with the members of the "Board
,"f Apportionment 'and Taxation to postpone certain matured
! obligations of the city, for the purpose of keeping the tax rate
down. ' " . J v "V.-7V '"y . ; '
He also pleaded with, the members of the board to abandon
fhe policy which the.city has pursued for many, years, of pay
ing for its school houses as it goes, a system which has enabled
the schools of Bridgeport to be erected at'half he cost.' - v '
Although every member . of the
"board of apportionment owes tils ap
pointment to Mayor Wilson, and al-
tbougfa there was a, very great reluct
ance upon tbe part of the members to
show even a. seeming disrespect to the
' mayor, oy appearing to disregard his
wishes, ftoe lrasmess training of the
, members, and their sense of obliga
tion to the city, caused some of tbem
to present the impropriety of the
, policy which be wanted them to pnr
tus. .. .'' '" - '
j At l:SO tfai "afternoon Oie olscns
eioi ended nd the members went to
lnnoh. There were times when te
U9cuasfon was almost heated. Same
members eon tin a o firm in the position
that it would' oe am injustice to the
city, and even, fatal to the adminislara
- tkm to adopt the mayor's'- idea. . ' "
It wae pointed, out that any reduc
tion in the tax rate which should he
brought about by leaving the schools
off the Hst would be a. "very transpar
ent concealment of the 'financial con
dition to which the; city ' had been
brought, that no one would he de
ceived and that many would be an
gered by what they would regard as
an unwarranted change in a. long es
tablished custom. ,
The question was repeatedly asked
of the Mayor: "What will (be done if
the people refuse to bond the schools?
What will happen if they resent the
Idea, of creating a' debt for what has
hitherto been met from the annual
appropriation?" - 1 :
wyjie the detail of the discussion
Sias not been made public, it was
learned that Mayor Wilson refused to
attach much weight to this conting
ency, but thought . that the effort
should be made.
HEW PASTOR TO BE
INSTALLED FRIDAY
1 OLIVET CHURCH
Rev. George Oliver Tamblyn will be
formally installed as pastor of Olivet
Congregational church, Friday, with
appropriate ' exercises. The Fairfield
Association of -..congregational Minis
ters will meet in council at 4:30 o'clock
In the church par lore, supper will be
nerved ' to the delegates at 6 o'clock
and the Installation exercises will take
place at 7:45 o'clock. All the Congre
gational churches of Bridgeport will
be represented by pastor and one lay
delegate. The churches of Danbury,
Greenwich, Norwalk and Stamford
will be represented.
Rev. Dr. I F. Berry of Stamford,
moderator of the Fairfield County As
sociation, 'will be the presiding oiEeer
and the sermon will be preached by
Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Boynton, pastor
of the Clinton avenue Congregational
church of Brooklyn.
INCOME TAX LISTS
DUE MARCH FIRST
Hartford, Feb. 24 This is. the last
week for the filing of Income tax re
turns under the law which limits it
to March 1. Internal Revenue. Col
lector James J. Walsh said today that
the lists are pouring in in a stream,
many being delivered by individuals.
Up ' to thex conclusion of checking
'Feb. 20, the number received in the
Hartford office was 5,338. There are
live other offices. It is believed there
are thousands of persons subject to
the tax who have not yet made re
turn, although the lists are being re
ceived faster than they can be
handled. '
"WHITE SLAVE LAW
IS AGAIN UPHELD
Washington, Feb. 24. The constita
tionaHty of the federal White Slave
law wsa again upheld today by tie
fraprcroe court in the Wilson case from
Chicago." The point whether the law
Is limitef to commercial vice .was not
involved. !-"'
The Ohio excise tax on railroads
was u-pheld a constitutional and th 3
o-ecvlled bleaehed flour case sent bac'S
to the district court for a new tr.al
Out
Call; Gity
Its History
A. great deal 'of opposition was also
made to the project tp defer the- pay
ment of the state- tax, which is due
for last year and this. -
It was argued by some members of
the board that the business standing
o? the city '-: would be injured. If it
should defer the payment of a tax "or
borrow to ' meet 7 it, 'and- -that ' there
could not be any saving, but that the
tax" would have 'to be met next year,
plus six: per cent, interest. -
Said one member of the (board: "Mr.
Mayor, the things you want this board
to do, are not good business, and they
do not gain anything for the Republi
can administration. "What is post
poned this year, must be met next
year. ... There will 4e nothing gained,
flnancialryfsnwaHy, r- poMtieallys-j. by
putting over until next year, expenses
that are due now; The result will Jbe
to increase the tax rate on the eve
of another elections and the result of
this will.be again, to destroy Republi
can opportunity for another victory."
: To this attitude. Mayor Wilson- op
posed the ' optimistic ' view, that next
year would take, care of Jtiielf.
- When the discussion was concluded
the board was much divided, and it
was by no means certain what action
would be , taken. But it -appeared, as
if the next tax rate, could not be, even
if ; the .mayor's' wishes v. were in part
conceded, below 18.5 or-lS.milla. t
It was well along - towards press
hour when the members of thejboard
had returned from lunch and Ji-epared
for their final .work, that of complet
ing Vive appropriations and levying
the tax rate., Most of the memfers
had gone to lunch. wth the mayo
and be was hopeful that he had suc
ceeded in impressing them with hi
views. : : i .
VOLLMER IS HOST
OF GAY PARTY OP
COUNTY OFFICIALS
County Sheriff Wratam VQllmer en
tertained his deputy sheriffs,, the at
taches of the Bridgeport and Dan
bury jails and of the county court
house at his home on North avenue
last .evening. '""-- There were about 50
in the party. A discussion of politics
was held during, the evening and at
a late hour a fine supper1 was' served.
AH those present expressed the opin
ion that the prospects of a Democratic
triumph next autumn are bright" - '
Among those present were Deputies
John M.- Donnelly, John W. Vollmer,
, Charles B. Mara, Joseph WIeler ; and
Antonio. Abriola, of this city; , Philip
Fmnegan, '. Greenwich; Hezekiah El
wood, Fairfield; Daniel Russell, Strat
ford; Eli Mead, Westport; "Frederick
Bajtes, Ridgefleld;, Andrew Schlectweg,
SKamford; Daniel Ladrigan, South Nor
walk; John H. Blake, Norwalk; E. C.
Ginty, Danbury; Thomas E. Bristol,
Redding; William S. Donovan, Hunt
ington; Austin B. Biakeman, New
town'; - Emil T. . Berger, Trumbull;
Charles "W. Turner, New Fairfield.
Among the jail and court . house?
attaches . present were: Dennis E.
O'Neill.Edward Callahan, Frank Saun
ders,' Simon. Reynolds, George Dell,
Ellas Tibbals, William Flynn, ' Pete.
Dietrich, Albert ... Graff and Martin
Creghan-of Danbury ; ' Michael Houli
han of Newtown. ,
DOPE SMUGGLERS APPEAL
' FROM JTAHj SENTENCES
Joseph Taylor, a waiter who refus
ed his real name, and-James Mogey,
a Chinese restaurateur, were sentenced
to jail for two and six ' rconths, re
spectively In City court today for
smuggling opium into the county jaiL
They appealed. " .
WAMJIfGFOKD MOTORIST
ON" TRIAL FOR KILLING
- New Haven, Feb. 24 Thomas
Stone, of Wallingf ord, whose automo
bile hit and fatally hurt "William Mc
Nulty in that town, Dec. 13, was plac
ed on trial charged with manslaugh
ter In the superior court today.
CABRIAGE MAKER IS
SMALLPOX SUFFERER
Middletown, Conn., Feb. 24 The
fifth case of smallpox" in the city was
discovered today when William S.
Kenneliy, "a carriage manufacturer
was found at his place of business
suffering from the disease.
BiggestiTax
ELEVEN ARE SAVED
VHEM CRAFT S1HKS
WITH ITCAFTAlfi
Two Vessels y Aground Off
Virginia Coast Endanger
ed By High. Seas and Gale
Bremen, Feb. 24 A fragmentary
wireless message received here from
the German steamer Wlldenfels reports
that she rescued a passenger, the sec
ond engineer and eigfat men-t "and a
boy from the : Danish steamer Eklip
tika, which sank in the Bay of Bis
cay yesterday. . . .
The message states that the captain
of the Ekliptika perished tout does not
mention the rest ot her complement
wbxf it is assumed; went dowri with
the hip. v r . - . -
Norfolk, Va, Feb. 24 With a. severe
snow and wind torm raging1 on the
coast, the British steamships Sachem
T??vwMTnl asTound . near. here.
were today in more danger than , at
any -time since tney strucic lasi wees.
The Sadhem, on a bar two and a
half miles from hore exposed to all
winds, was ' in more danger than the
Riversdale, which lies well up' on the
beach in a less treacherous position.
The crew of the Sachem are still
aboard ;the vessel. '
The Riversdale's cargo . of ' lumber
is being thrown overboard and salved
on the beadhv . Her crew Is ashore.
DOLLS DELIGHT
LITREjOTHERS
Of High and Low Degree
Dolls of All Ages Are En
tered for Howland Prize
' Never, perhaps has an exhibit of
any kind - attracted more attention
than the "Dolls' Festival," - Which - is
being held this week in Howland's
Dry Goods store. It has surpassed ,
expectations in every way. : Over 500
dolls, garbed- in. every , fashion, and
representing every walk of life are ar
ranged together, all properly number
ed that the visiting' public may vote
on those which they consider worthy
of prizes. . . v' - -t.--.- -'
-Fully 1,00ft little. "mothers," with'
their ra.bies"f, in their-arms,, came to
the store oa Registration Day - last
Saturday: 'fJever, perhaps; were areal
mothers more anxious for- their chil
dren than were these little fostermoth-
ers, "You'll take good care of Billie,
won't you?" said one tSny lassie as
she kissed ber dollie good-bye and
then went back and kissed him again-.
.let another, anxious that her be
loved "child" should appear spick and
span, had, evidently -washed the -little,
one's dress, and then fearful , lest ehe
be too late for entry, with the dress
still wet, had hurried to the store.
In the 'Smallest. Doll" class" the
very j tiniest . one- reposes beneath 'a
large magnifying glass, tt is less than
a half inch in height, is made of wood
and is fully Jointed. --This, little speci
men is a native of Germany.
Sitting proudly in her carriage, as
though oblivious of the fact that now-a-days
only people who ride in , autor
mobiles hold thejr heads so high, is a
lady who has in her lap a card which
tells the vbtor that both she and
her - carriage were purchased. 40 years
a-goi.; . - ; . :
' A wierd looking Indian squaw- whose
years number 200, probablVf. holds the
age record. , A soldier oa horseback
in, the exact army costume of the war
of 1812 also a-ttsracts - considerable at
tention. A small peculiar looking doll, care
fully preserved behind a glass, gives
one an idea of the kind' of dolls which
the children of the French court had
to play with. Following is the, in
scription which it bears, the dates are.
authentic: "Made . in France and
brought to Baltimore ( in 1782 by a
member of the Beauharnais family,
moved to New Roehelle in 179&".
' A-Japanese; doll, tall' and slender, -dressed
in a dark silk kimona, . with
her. real black hair cftref ully coifed
in the native style calmly admits that
she is 75 years old. Another doll, garb
ed in gray taffeta of a by-gome period,
! gives her name as "Miss Dalorosa,"
and . thinks that since she- has been
in one family for more -than SO years
and during -that time has been prized
by many little girls of that family,
she ought to have a prire. Still another-
lady claims that- she is the first
wax dojl to come-to MIKord, Conn.
.Most Interesting is an exhibit of
small dolis dressed in the native Cos
tumes of - Holland, Switzerland and
France. . These represent the differ-:
ent costumes of the peasants of those
countries. - ; -; - - ' - ' . ,
Among the "Homliest Doll Class" - is
"Snopkums" of the- cbmic supplement
fame. . -
But 'twould be impossible to ' de
scribe them all. v
There are so many of them,, all wor
thy of discription and each represent
ing some fond little heart who, sure
that her beloved dollie will carry off
the laurels in its particular class, is
most anxiously awaiting the flay when
the prizes are to be awarded. "
Nor is the interest - in the "Dolls"
festival" confined aloue to the little
folks, for the millinery department of
Howland's, -where it is held, is daily
crowded with - interested- "Grown
lips." . - ;
Winsted Again Claims
Below Zero- Record
Winsted, - Feb. 24 Temperatures
through this section today ranged, ac
cording to reports received here from
16 to 20 degrees below zero. At New
Boston, JIass., it is stated the ice on
Otis reservoir is 35 inches thick.
SENATOR M'NEIL HOME.
; Senator Archibald McNeil, Jr., after
a three week's sojourn at Palm Beach
and Cuba returned to this city ' la3t
night. While in Cuba he took occas
ion to visit President Menocal of-tne
Cuban Republic
Lieut. Becker
Granted New
Murder Trial
New York Police Official,
Under Sentence of. peath
for ; Rosenthal Killing,
Gifren Chance of Freedom
By Court of Appeals. "
Albany Feb. 24 Former Pot
lice Lieutenant CbarIer;Becker,
once head of .the "strong arm
squad" of the New York City
department and convicted slay
er of Herman Rosenthal, the
gambler, has been given at
least a temporary release from
the sentence of death imposed
by the courts for that killing.
The New York- State Court of
Appeals, after a fight lasting
for nearly a year, today grant
ed Becker a - new trial of the
case by a vote of six to " one.
Judge Werner filed the '' only
dissenting opinion in the case.
The . four, gunmen' convicted
with' Becker as his accomplices
also " appealed . but, in their
cases, the conviction, was unan
imously sustained. ; -
' Becker has claimed ever
since his conviction, that he
was "jobbed" by the gunmen,
who wanted to get him out of
the way because the activities
of his special " detail were
hampering the operations of
the gamblers: : ' v
SPECULATORS WAIT
t COURT'S FIIIDIHGS
NewTforitJPeb, 24 Opening- After
an -unusually 'quiet - opening:,1 -today,
trading came almost to a atop before
the end of the first half hdur. ' -Sue-pension
of business over the double
holiday resulted In no accommuiation
of orders Such as is usually on hand
after the ' week-end recess and trans
actions were on too small a scale to
affect "materially the -level of prices. -
r. "Most of tie leaders were a shade
lower -hut the movement was unusual
ly narrow except in the cases of a few
of the less active stocks. Rock: Island
issues continued their decline The
common at 5 and the preferred at
8 reached new low levels. The Gen
eral Motors. and Central Leather de
clined a point. J. I. Case preferred
rose 2. - " '-. - r . . .
Noon Lower prices for some Ameri
can stocks in London selling- here on
a small scale for foreign accounts and
experimental sales by . bear operators
depressed, prices . slightly for a time
todr tout ; there was . a. sufficient de
mand at -concessions to prevent a ma
terial decline. ' -
The pacific attitude of . the British
government regardtng the "situation in
Mexico robbed the bears of their one
weapon and they were unable to twing
out long1 stock by pressure ' against
the more . vulnerable shares. Traders
alternately bought and sold stocks and
the general range was confined to
small fractions. ,
The possibility of important "decis
ions to the supreme court on conven
ing today restricted speculation- during
the morning.
Bonds were irregular.
ROOSEVELT'S SECRETARY
TO SEE SON ABROAD
Montola-ir, N. J., Feb. 24. Mrs. Har
per, wife of Frank Harper, private
secretary" to "SOjeodore Eioosevelt, ac
companied by " her infant son, . has
sailed for Liverpool to meet her hus
band. "
Mr. . Harper -is returning from hie
South American trip with. Col. Roose
velt. His son he has never seen, as
the little fellow . was born since he
left this country with Ool. Roosevelt.
Less Than 20 Banks
. Fail td Apply for
- Reserve Membership
Washington, Feb. 24 Although of
ficial tabulations were not'completed
today. Treasury officials estimated
that less than 20 national banks of
7,49 3 in the . United. States have not
made application : for membership in
the federal reserve .banking" system.
The banks that have applied represent-about
99 per cent of the national
banking capital in the country. ,
Woman With Measles
Rescued From Flames
Stamford. Feb. 24 While W. Irv
ing 'Weed and his son Robert,- basket
makers of North Stamford, were ab
sent in New Canaan today fire broke
out in their house, consuming it with
its furnishings and a stock of baskets.
The loss is about $2,000.
The son's wife - was - sick with
measles and was carried iTrom the
house by her mother-in-law just' as
the flames burst into the bediroom.
It is supposed that the fire was start
ed by - a four year old boy playing
with fire in the kitchen while the
elder Mrs. Weed was attending her
sick daughter-in-law.
SYMBOL OF DEATH
FOR FOREHEADS OF
ALL WORSHIPPERS
Distribution of Ashes . In
Catholic Churches to Mark
Opening of Lent
Lent, the season ' of penance, will
begin tomorrow. Ash Wednesday.
Catholics and Episcopalians are
among the leadens in observing this
season of fasting, -prayer and alms
giving. . k.
In the Catholic churches tomorrow
win 'he distributed the blessed ashes.
Priests will place an ashen cross upon
the forehead of each worshipper, and
in Latin phrase, will admonish' the
recipient to rememiber that he is fash
ioned of dust; and that to dust he.
shall return. . . - ' i
The jhours of devotion for Lent' have
been - announced In -the Catholic
churches throughout the city ,as fol
lows: . . .
St. 'Augustine's. Wednesday even
ings, 7:30, sermon, rosary, -benediction;
Friday evenings, 7:30, way of the cross
and benediction; mass daily at 7 and
8:20 a. m. ; distribution of afihes to
morrow morning following the mass,
and tomorrow evening. -,-'
Sacred Heart: . Tuesday evenings,
7:30, holy hour; Wednesday eveiiingsi,
7:30, sermon, rosary,-and benediction;
Friday evenings, ' 7:30,, way of the
cross, benediction; daily mass, 7 ,and
8. o'clock; distribution of ashes tomor
row morning and evening.
St. Patrick's: Wednesday eyenimgs,
7:30, sermon, rosary and teneddction;
Friday eveniregs, ?:30, sermon, way of
the cross,, rosary, ! benediotion; dally
massT 7:30; Ash Wednesday evening,
sermon toy Rev. SV. Huihes of Wash
ington, director ot the ' (Indian Bureau
of Mlseionsi. - .
St. Mary's: . Tuesday evening3, 7:45,
sermon, rosary and benediction; FrU
day evendngs, 7:45, way of the cross,
rosary, ' benediction; daily mass, 7:30;
tomorrow, mass at 8 ojclock followed
iby distribution of Ibleseed ashes. ,
St. Peter's: Wednesday evenings,
7:30, sermon, oaary and benediction ;
Friday evenings, 7:30, way of ' the
cross,. Tosary - and benediction; daily
.mass at 8 o'clock. ' t -'
St. Charles: Tuesday evenings, .7:30,
sermon, rosary and benediction; Fri
day evenings, 7:30, way of the cross,
rosary r and 'benediction:; daily mass,
7:30. --' ' -' , ' '. .-. ' ; -. --'
St.; Joseph's: Tuesday evenings, 7:30,
sermon, rosary and benediction,; Fri
day 'evenings, 7:30, iway of the cross,
rosary and benediction; daily mass at
S15; . distribiutlon of ashes tomorrow
morning and evenSng. " - t.
. "AnthonySsi: Tuesday "evendngs, "S
o'clock, ',St Anthony devotions; ; Fri
day evenings, 7:30, way of the cro3,
rosary and "toenedtetion); daily mass, S
a. m. ; Ash Wednesday evening, spe
cial eervtices, 70. . .
GRAND JURY
CONVENES
The, grand Jury convened in the
county court house this morning to
hear evidence in two alleged murder
cases. The men arraigned were , Solov
mon David of Danbury and ' Agostino
Pa-pale of Wilton. David is charged
with shooting Joseph Alley following
a fight in Danbury last December. A
peculiar fact in connection with, the
case is that the record In the Danbury
city court shows no connection otf Da
vid with any crime. The prosecutor
'became confused and asked a witness
if an autopsy was performed on Solo
mon David. The name of the accused
went on the- record as the man- who
was killed and nothing was mentioned
about. Alley. This mistake was recti
fied by the grand jury. Papale is
charged with killing John, Carrier! in
Wilton fn December, 1913.
. The members of the grand jury are:
John M. Hawley and John L. Schleksh
ert of this city; W. A. Gilbert and
John- T -MuXaney, Bethel; F. . W.
Wheeler, Monroe; Charles Keeler,
Easton;, Jesse James, 'Newtown; Chas.
A. Hull, Trumlbull ; W. P. ' Bulkley,
Fairfield; : Harry D. HuM, Ridigefield;
Joseph O. Houghton, John J. Bohl and
Daniel F. B. Hickey, Stamford; Irving
Bradley, South 'Norwalk; James E,
Huntington,' Shelton; Charles E. Wil
son, Qreenwiche; D. Hart Weeks, Nor
wak; W. H. Petrie, Westport.
:;"At press hour no true "bills had been
returned, ,
EXTRA INCH OF SNOW
' FALLS ON NEW YORK
New York, Feb. 24. An extra .cov
ering of an inch of enowr was ' last
night dumped" on the" heavy . blanket
left -by last week's storms The snow
ceased failing, early today with the
thermometer at 10 degrees above zero.
Several . thousand . men were engaged
all night In sweeping pit car tracks
and street crossings. The dropping of
the . temperature drove thousands of
homeless men to the municipal lodg
ing house. . - . , ,
ABOUT TO WED, MAN
GETS JAIL SENTENCE
With his marriage to' an out-of-the-city
woman scheduled,' as he explain
ed to police officials, only a month
away, Rrfbert Alson, master mechanic
in a Fairfield avenue garage, was ar
rested in his room on Golden HiU
street this morning by Petective Ser
geant Peter H. Hall on a charge of
unseemly conduct. Shortly afterwards
he was arraigned before City Court
I Judge Wilder,- found guilty and fined
J. a.lHl 1 -1 1 i- V. L4 I lit J tl. 1 1.
Later he was released upoa an appeal.
His arrest followed several' days' at
tempts by Sergeant . Hall to get him
and following complaints toy women
employes of The Red star Co., on Elm
street. ' '
France Will Spend
$400,000 at . 'Frisco
Paris, Feb. 24 The chamber of
deputies1 today voted an appropria
tion off $400,000 to provide for official
French participation in the Panama
1 Pacific Exposition at San Francisco.
REBELS C
VILLA'S
WAS A CI
New Reason Advanced Why Insurgent
Was Justified In Executing Eng
lishmanBody Requested
By United States
ENGLAND ASKS
FOR CONSUL
Constitutionalist Commander Gives
Contradictory Statements As
To Missing American's
Whereabouts
El Paso, Tex., Feb. 24 The attempt of thd Mexican rebel?
to establish that William S. Benton, the Scottish ranchman whu
w'afe executed just a week ago today, was a Mexican citizen, i -i
based on a Vejport -that he held some minor office while Presi
dent Pojpfirio Diaz was in power. , - ' ,
U This statement was made today at Juarez by Federico
Gonzales Garza,. commander of thfe garrison, who added:
"We have heard that Benton held several small offices un
der President Diaz and -that he was once mayor of a srna',1
settlement on his own estate. He could not have held office
without being a' Mexican citizen and the records at -Chihuahua.
City are being searched to establish the facts." -
' '
TTNTFS5D STATES REQUESTS BODY
Relatives here "of Benton say that
the deeds to his Mexican property re
fer to Oiim, as a British subject and
tJijtf Vnf-f s- "' t'L'yays careful there
shouKr; .na do uut ."on that point. "V
the" meanwhile, the reiuest of the
state department at Washington 1 for
Lthe handing over of the body of Ben
ton has met -with no response.
General Villa has received telegrams
not only from - many -cities In the
United States but from London, Parts
andJBeriin asking; for ah explanation
of the manner of Benton's -death. All
the; replies sent to inquiries have giv
en the same story of a court martial
and execution.
The finding- in the Imperial Valley,
Pal., of ; Roger Laurence, the English -man
who . was reported missing- in
Mexico, leads to the -belief here that
his alleged companion, -Curtis, also is
safe in. the "United States. No trace,
however, of Harry Oompton forywhom
the American authorities were looking
has been revealed. - ,
, 7 CONTRADICTORY STORIES .
An interview printed in the El Paso
Times" today quotes Villa at Chihua
hua as saying that he gave , Gustav
Bauch, an American citizen, his lib
erty aty Juarez. ' last Thursday. This
statement contradicts t)he official in
formation given to Thomas D. Ed
wards, the American, consul, by Villa,
that Bauch had been taken to Chih.ua-!
him where his case Tjiras being review
ed. . : ,' .- .
IT. S. Asked to Aid .
British Consul In ' '
, Benton Death Probe
London, Feb. 24 The British gov
ernment has invoked the good offices
of the United States government to
assure that theme shall toe no interfer
ence by General Villa- with the inves
tigation Into fhe death of William S,
Benton to be made by Charles Perce
val, British consul at Galveston. Per
ceval has been ordered to proceed to
Juarez and to supply the best reports
possible. . .. v '
Sharp comment, is made by the
Manchester Guardian today on Sir, Ed
ward Grey's statement in the House
of Commons t yesterday in regard to
the killing of William S. Benton at'
Juarez, Mex., by Gfeneral Villa. The
newspaper asks: "Is it not mere
playing with words ' to say - that the
United States has no responsibility?
If that- were so, the Monroe doctrine
would be a mere instrument of -international
anarchy, whereas the whole
tendency of president Wilson's policy
has been to make it a force for order
and good government.
"It we are not responsible, then the
United States is. We certainly do
not wish to drive the United States in
to intervention but it cannot deny
to . other powers the right of defend
ing their interests and at the same
time refuse to defend them itself."
State Department
Has Plan to Help.
Safeguard Foreigners
- . ! ' "v. ' .
Washington, Feb. 24 A cabinet
meeting today afforded President Wil
son an opportunity to talk over with
his official advisors the latest infor
mation at hand about the execution
of William S. Benton, the British sub
ject at Juarez by General Villa, the
Mexican constitutionalist leader.
Before-the meeting, a half hour was
set aside by the President for a con
ference with Secretary Bryan. The
latter wanted to present more details
on the Benton episode as received in
over night despatches. Mail reports
from American Consular officers also
were due to reach here today.
LAII
m
IVi
T
PROTECTION
DURING PROBE
t - Much interest was manifest in
published interview with General
at Chihuahua in which he reci.J ii t
story of what he alleges was s n s-.i-tempt
on his life by Benton. T. .-
far, the state department it la knr.,
has received no authentic . ' -fesnding'toTtAiter
VilJp version f t
affair and therefore is not in V p--ii-tion
to reject it. ,
,' One direct effect of the in-Hr-, !t
is suggested in some quarters her i
that the American government ma?
seek to reach an understanding wltH
Villa through consular officers -h-r-by
the cbnstitutionalists will agree not
to take summary action with respect
to ' any foreigners until he has prev
iously notified Washington official.
Assurances of this nature, it Is con
ceded, would go a Jong way towiri
preventing a repetition of the Benton
incident for neither the Xinlted Btat"
government nor the British foreign of
fice knew anything about Benton's dis
appearance until after he was dead.
DOIlOVAll WIRES
BEST WISHES TO
POSTAL EMPLOYES
Accepted Invitation to Con
; vention, Expecting Hone a
Would Not Be In Session
Representative .Donovan, who had
expected that . the House of B.epreen
tatives might adjourn yesterday had
accepted an invitation to attend th
Postal'' Carriers' and Clerks' banquet
here dependent upon the adJorniner,t.
He sent the following telegram to the
committee yesterday morning:
"Mr. Reginald B. Reed, Secretary to
; General Committee, Post Offi-?)?
Clerks' ' and Carriers' Annual, Con
vention, Bridgeport, Conn.:
"Having taken decided stand against
absenteeism and House being in e
sion, cannot leave. Wishing Clrks
and Carriers success in "their organ isa
tions and a pleasant day in convention
I am . '
"Tours sincerely,
"J. DOXOVAX."
"The telegram was not read at the
banquet. - '
SUFFRAGE LEADEB3
. MEETING- TO PIiAN
FALL CAIIPAIGII
In pursuance with the compreS'ii
sive plans for the fall campaign which
have been formulated by the Bckl im
port Equal 'Franchise Leagua, th
district leaders and their aK8ista.nt
will meet in the rooms of the leasra?,
Poli building, at 7:30 Friday even
ing. At 8 o'clock of, the same evening
there will be a public meeting whi-n
will be addressed by Miss Emily Pier
son and Miss Alyse Gregory, two of
the "best informed and most eloquent,
speakers in the movement. It is ex
pected that Mrs. Samuel Shaw i:l
preside.
BOSTON'S MAYO It RESIGNS
seat ix congrk;1
Boston, Feb. 24. Mayor Jame "T.
Cur ley announced today his reeisn
tion . of his eat in Congress. 1 n a
statement he said that lie took s
step as a result of the action of -nority
Ieader James It. Ma-nn, -w
Introduced a resolution in orbt
yesterday pnposdng tha,t Mr. Ctrri' y'n
seat be declared vacant. Thv r- r . -tion
is to 1 efEectlve from 4.
VIC I
i