The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], February 17, 1913, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD_
VOLUME XXXXTT BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1913 NUMBER 287
RIGID CENSORSHIP IS ESTABLISHED BY THE
MEXICAN GOVERNMENT; FIGHTING RESUMED
- I
Only Brief Dispatches Relating to the
General Situation Prior to Fresh
Outbreak of Battle and Messages
of the Diplomatic Represen
tatives Are Passed
ATTEMPT TO PREVENT DETAILS
OF FIGHTING REACHING WORLD;
INCOMING NEWS IS SUPPRESSED
Armstice Signed at 2 O’Clock Sunday Morning Lasts Only a
Few Hours and Savage Fighting is Resumed—Madero Re
iterates Refusal to Resign—Expect This Will Be Fight
to the Finish—Madero Protests Against Interven
tion in Note to President Taft
The strongest censorship on all dispatches lias been estab
lished at Mexico City. Government officials took charge of the
liable office shortly after 5 o’clock Saturday evening and
ruthlessly discarded messages of correspondents to their papers.
Code messages and all messages containing hny expressions
whatever that might he eoustined into a suggestion of the im
portant happenings in the capital came under the ban and were
promptly confiscated by the censor and his assistants.
Nevertheless several dispatches of a somewhat detached
oatiire escaped the vigilance of the censorship, and an early bul
lety was flashed through that the armistice, signed at 2 o’clock
Sunday morning, had been broken and that both sides were
fighting savagely.
The Mexican government was unable, however, to shut off
the official dispatches of the diplomatic representatives, but as
these are sent in cipher, considerable delay is being experienced
because of the time occupied in translation and the fear is ex
pressed that many things may occur in the Mexican capital det
rimental to the foreign l'esidents before tlie exact situation is
learned by the home governments.
Brief dispatches which gave a gen
eral idea of the situation prior to the
fresh outbreak of hostilities were re
ceived by the censors and allowed to
pass along to their respective destina
tions, but the government apparently
is determined that not a word of fight
ing which has torn the city asunder
for eight days shall get out if it can
be prevented. • *. -
World Shut Off
The government has hot or’y shut
the world off from Mexico City, but
so far as the public is concerned, has
shut Mexico City off from the world,
including the whole of the Mexican
republic. News dispatches sent Sat
urday night from the United States
to Mexico City were cither refused
or held up, the intention evidently be
ing that the residents in the capital
shall not he informed of the measures
which have been undertaken by the
American and other governments to
protect their interests.
While Madero has been reiterating his
declaration that conditions in Mexico
outside ot the capital are satisfactory,’ad
vices from various centers indicate that
there have been important movements in
favor of General Diaz.
Confirmation of the breaking of the ar
mistice and the resumption of hostilities
lias been received from Laredo, Tex,,
where wire communication was estab
lished with Mexico City early Sunday aft
ernoon and again as late as o o’clock at
night. On both occasions the message
stated that a battle was on.
Official advices received from Ambassa
dor Wilson tell of the narrow escape of
the British minister, Francis W. Strong,
from federal bullets while on his way to
a conference at the American embassy
on Saturday. The automobile in which
Mr. Strong was riding, escorted hv a
federal guard, was struck iu several
places. This gives some slight indication
of the difficulties ami dangers encoun
tered by the diplomatic representatives in
their endeavors to bring about a peace
settlement.
Further advices from the ambassador
say that the majority of the American
residents have found places of relative
safety, although a few of them have re
fused to abandon their homes.
Maderos Message
President Madero s message to Presi
dent Taft Saturday asking the American
government not to intervene, was as fol
lows:
‘T have been informed that the govern
ment over which your excellency pre
sides has ordered to set out for the ports
of Mexico, war vessels with troops to dis
embark and come to this capital to give
guarantees of safety to Americans.
“Undoubtedly the information which;
>011 have and which led you to take this'
action is inexact and exaggerated, for the
lives of Americans in this capital are at:
present in no danger If they will ahan- j
don the zone of fire and concentrate In !
certain points of the city or its suburbs ;
where tranquility is absolute and where ;
the government can give all classes guar
antees.
“If you order Americans resident here
to do that, following the precedent estab
lished by your cwn orders, previously is*
...
sued, danger to the lives of Americans
and other foreigners will be obviated.
Regarding what material damages may
be suffered by foreigners, this govern
ment is ready to accept all responsibility
according to the obligations of interna
tional law.
‘•Consequently I ask your excellency *o
order your men of war not to disembark
troops in Mexico, as this act will cause
a conflagration and terrible consequences
of more extent than the ones we have it
vf>titend with at prewnC.
“I assure your excellency that tills? gov
ernment is taking all measures ndeebo^ry
in order that the rebels in the arsenal
will do the least harm possible to lives
and property in the capital and l have
hopes that everything will be peacefully
arranged In a very short time.
“It is true that my country at this mo
ment is passing thrhough a terrible crisis.
The disembarkation of American troops
would only increase the dangers of the
situation and be a very lamentdbfe error.
It would do great harm to a nation
which has always been a loyal friend to
the United States as well as contribute to
the dangers surrounding the establishing
of true democratic government here, sim
ilar to that of the gTeat American nation.
“I appeal to the equitable, just senti
1 ments that have been the criterion of
your government, and that undoubtedly
j represent the sentiments of the great
! American people, whose destinies you
have guided with so much skill and pa
triotism. “
Armistice Abruptly Terminated
Mexico City, February 16.—Hostilities
were resumed with renewed fierceness in '
the Mexican capital today after a truce,
which lasted only a few hours.
The armistice, signed at 2 o'clock Sun
day morning by the representatives of
both sides, agreeing to suspend operations
for 24 hours, was broken before noon.
Soon the sound of heavy cannonading and
the whirr of machine guns announced
the return of the federal troops to their
posts in front of the arsenal.
It appeared as if the words of Madero
and Diaz might prove prophetic and that
tills time the battle would lie to a finish.
President Madero this morning reiter
ated his refusal to comply with the sug
gestion of the senators that he resign.
He declared that he was still able to dom
inate and that, if given time, he would
crush the rebel forces.
General Diaz had not shown himself to
be greatly in ravor of the armistice, but
consented to .t out of respect for the ef
forts of the American ambassador and
the ministers of the powers to bring
about a cessation of hostilities until for
eigners and other non-combatants still
within the zone of the fighting could lie
removed to a position of comparative
safety.
Diaz regarded the truce as merely
a delay in the accomplishment of h‘s
fixed purpose to drive Madero out of
the presidency.
The fighting Saturday had undoubt
edly gone in favor of the rebel#*, who
had resisted all assaults against them,
had received into their ranks several
hundred federal deserters and had ob
liged the federal commanders to ad
mit that for the present, at .rast, the
rebel position was impregnable.
General Huerta, the commander of I
the government troops, a hard fighter j
who has been through many campaigns. :
also was opposed to the armistice and I
chafed under the terms which it im
posed upon him. Nor did he willingly *
agree to the sending of a large body
tContlaoti Vmmm Twb)
TURKISH WAR VESSELS
ARE SUNK BY BULGARIANSj
Sofia. February 1C.—A Bulgarian bat
tery an<l a mining detachment have com
pletely destroyed the Turkish battleship
Assar-I-Tewlfik, which ran ashore Feb
ruary 11 at Karaburun on thn Black sea
coast. The Bulgarians have also sunk a
Turkish transport with ail hands off
k'harkeui.
St. Petersburg. February bi.—The Rus
sian emperor's reply to the letter recently
sent him by tbe Austrian emperor is short
, end decisive. He declares that Austria's
attitude in recent issues has impelled
Russia tc support Hie interests 01 her
Slav brothels.
At the game time the Russian emperor
| expressed the beltef that a means will
[ be found to maintain peace.
I London, February 16.—The Ottoman
embassy lias received official dispatches'
confirming the report that the Montene
grins were routed In an attack February
13 against the Turks on the heights of
Tarabosch and Blrdltza, dominating the
fortress of Scutari. Advices from Galli
poli Indicate a general condition of dis
organization among the Turkish troops.
There is a lack of money and an Jnsuf
ficency of officers and supplies, while
political antagonisms among the officers
have practically destroyed discipline.
Stories are current, of atrocities by
both the Turks and Bulgarians in the
I district around Bulair.
AMERICAN CONSULATE WHICH WAS
SHELLED BY REBELS IN MEXICO CITY
- ' - ’ — “ ‘ |
_lYT—J SHANKLIN AMERICAN-7
V-L——7CONSUL GENERAL AND /
' (THE CONSULATE FROM K"
IWNICM HE WAS DRIVEN f
I BY FIRE OF THE V
r---- y
The above picture shows Arnold
Shanklin, American consul general at
Mexico City, who was forced to flee
when the Mexican capital was shelled
by the rebels a few days since. In
the lower right-hand corner is the
consulate which was occupied by the
consul general when he was forced
to flee lor his life.
i
Closing Days of Taft’s Ad
ministration Exceedingly
Busy in the Department
of Justice
Washington. February 16 —A high record
in "trust busting" is being established in
the closing days of President Taft's ad
ministration. Attorney General Wicker
sham and James A. Fowler, his assistant,
the "trust buster” of tlie department of
justice, filed four civil anti-trust suits
during the last week and two similar
suits in the preceding week, making a new
record of a suit a day for six days, ex
clusive of Sunday.
In addition the government was vic
torious in several notable Sherman law
prosecutions during the week just closed.
The "towing trust” on the great lakes was
ordered dissolved, verdicts of guilty were
returned against the cash register and
bathtub "trusts” and James A. Patten
pleaded guilty to one count of the ‘‘cot
ton corner" indictment.
There is no indication that the anti-trust
activity of tlie expiring administration
has ceased, and in all probability more
suits will be tiled before March 1. A dis
tinct effort Is being made to bring to con
clusion the pending investigation of the (
Standard Oil to determine whether the de
cree of dissolution has been violated.
Attorney General Wickersharn so far ban
filed 81 civil and criminal anti-trust suits
during his four years of service, exceeding
by 19 the total number of prosecutions
Instituted by all of Ills predecessors since
the Sherman law was enacted in 189U.
Seven anti-trust proceedings were begun
in President Harrison’s administration,
eight In President Cleveland’s, three in
President McKinley’s and 44 in Roose
velt’s.
When Mr. Fowler returns to his home in
Knoxville after March 4 he will have ex
ceeded, it Is pointed out, the record of all
his predecessors, lender the immediate
direction of Attorney General Wicker
sham he has instituted In less than two
years 58 of the 81 anti-trust proceedings
begun during the Taft administration.
1UST12 MORE DAYS]
Hopes to See Seven Anti
Trust Bills Enacted Be
fore Resigning
. ; X- -* y i
Prineotyn. N. J., February 16.—J’resi- I
dent-elefct Wilson will be governor of New :
Jereey just 1- days longer, and In that '
|M.riod he experts to see his seven anti- I
trust bills enacted into law and other re- j
form meafktires prax-cd on the statute i
books. The senate already has passed the
corporation Mils and lh^*y will be acted
upon by the house In a few days. Though
It had been Imped that the legislature
would be able to adjourn coincident with 1
Governor's Wilson's resignation, tliat '
prospect 1« no IniifpT likely on account
of the bulk of important rneaapies still j
pending.
The presldent-eJcct plan* to bo at the,i
statehousc the fnre^ujvt of-.tfit» fcHak .
expects to-dUtrlbute to the ruerann'Tttes- ‘
(jay advance copies of Ills inaugural ad-]
Jltegn. Today he spent at home with hie j
family receiving social eallere.
YUAN SHI KAI WILL BE
RETURNED TO OFFICE
1 ' 1 '*
Pekin#, February 1G.— Present return* i
from the general elections being held !
throughout China indicate that President
Yuan SI»! Kaf will be returned to office
by ft substantial majority. The deadlock
in the six power Chinese loan situation
has delayed the departure of United States
Minister Calhoun for the United States.
MAKE FINAL EFFORT
TODAYTO PREVENT
FIREMENS STRIKE
Representatives of Both
Sides Agree to Meet Fed
era' Mediators
SECRET CONFERENCE
IS HELD BY HANGER
Thirty-four Thousand Firemen on the
Eastern Roads Will Be Affectid
By Decision—Curtcr Says Sta
tistics Favor Railroads
He\y York, February 10. —The crisis In
the controversy between the eastern rail
roads and their 34,000 firemen, which la t
week narrowed down to the method of
arbitration to be employed to settle the
differences between them, is expected to
morrow’, W’hen representatives of Both
sides have agreed to meet Judge Knapp!
of the commerce court, and G. VV. V.. ]
Hanger, acting commissioner of labor, tin
federal mediators, In a final effort to
avert a strike.
“We are waiting for Judge Knapp and
Mr. Hanger to announce that they are
unable, under the federal laws, to secure
arbitration,” President W. 8. Carter of
the Bortherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Knglnemen said tonight. "This means
that nothing will be done by us until to
morrow.”
Mr. Hanger met with the conference
committee of managers toduy, but de
clined tonight to discuss the nature of
the conference. He said that tomorrow
he would join Judge Knapp, who Is ex
I ected to return from Washington lute
tonight for further meetings with both
sides, atuch significance is attached to
this hurried visit of Judge Knapp to
Washington, and also to the conference
today of Mr. Hanger and the railroad |
managers, and another proposal as to the
method of arbitration is expected to oe
made to the llremen tomorrow'.
Replying to the statement made by
Pitsldent Carter, Mr. Hanger said:
"When we announce I ha| we are unable
to bring both sides to term* of arbitra
tion, then It chill Tie up to Mr. Carter to
act. We will nave done ail that was pos
sible under the conditions."
Carter Discusses Erdman Act
Tn a rormal statement to the public to
rlsrht. President Carter discussed the Kid
man act under the terms of which the
railroad managers have refused to arid
trite and contradicted various deelur;
tlons of the railroads regarding the arbi
tration hoard of seven which settled the
TODAY’S ACE-HERALD
1— Rigid censorship established by Mexi
can government.
Be no change in Mexican policy of
United Suites.
Make final effort to prevent firemen s
strike.
Congress prepared to take band In
Mexican situation.
Record made in “trust busting '
Huffragettes reach Philadelphia.
2— Diary will figure in famous Marsh
murder mystery.
3— Railroad official visits Tuskegce.
Many candidates for United States
marshal.
Shelby farmers meet at Vincent.
4— Editorial comment.
6— Commission will discuss proposal of
Slows company.
Greek writes letter concerning Bal
kan war.
Extra session is in prospect and lead
ers are glad.
What citizens think of Lane's plan
for Sunday moving pictures.
*Lfghtncr goes up in Frisco service.
<b~S ports.
Madison desires new courthouse.
7— Marian Garland's hints. I
4—Hector Laue wants aid for Jelftrsou.
SUFFRAGETTES AT
Enthusiastic Crowds Greet
Survivors of Little Band
On Arrival from New
York Yesterday
Philadelphia, February 16.—-Enthusias
tic crowds greeted the survivors of the
little hand of fuffragettes which arrived
here early tonight bound from New York
to Washington. Footsore and streaked
with the dust of Jersey roads, the eight
women under command of “General"
Rosalie Jones, inarched up Market street
to the local .suffrage headquarters in a
lane cleared by a police escort. Hun
dreds of sympathizers met the "army"
on the roads between Burlington and
Camden and escorted them here.
Today's hike started promptly at d
o'clock this morning from Burlington, 17
miles away. Luncheon was served along
the bank of a pond at Falrview, and Cam
den was reached about .'5:30 o’clock. By
this time the camp followers, consisting
of reporters and others who numbered
about 50, who'll tTle suffragettes set out
today, were augmented by curiosity seek
ers and sympathizers until the lino ex
tended for nearly a mile along the mac
adam road.
The pilgrims were given an opportunity
to wash up and tendered a repast at rhe
home of Mrs. Alfred Lowery, a promi
nent suffragist of Camden, before taking
the ferry for this city. The boat hoarded
by the marchers was crowded from bow
to stern by followers, who were added
to the swarm anxiously awaiting their ar
rival on the Pennsylvania shore. It was
shortly after dusk when this city was
reached and after reporting at the head
quarters the pilgrims hastened to a hotel,
where their dinner was served.
In spite of heir fatigue the hikers at
tended meetings In several parts of the
city tonight in an effort to secure addi
tional recruits lor their "on to Washing*
ton" movement. Among those who have
promised to Join in the march from here
tomorrow is Miss Helen Mermark of Mar
ble, Col;, who Is studying music here.
The two young women law students
from New York, who joined the marches s
at Trenton on Friday arrived here with
them today, but will return to their
studies tomorrow, rejoining the army next
Friday In time to march with it Into
Washington.
Tomorrow’s schedule calls for a 13 mile
hike to Chester, Pa.
New Yoi'k, February Hi.—At Fort Tomp
kins. near the Narrow.-, the highest spot
in New York harbor, ground will be
broken next Saturday, Washington's
birthday, for the erection of a monument
to the North American Indian, according
to announcement tonight. President Tart,
attended hy members of his cabinet, the
announcement states, will conic here to
Inaugurate the movement for the erection
of the monument, which Congress has au
thorized, and landing from a warship
which will convey him down the Narrows,
h<; will turn the first shovelful of earth
ann make an address.
Participants in the unique ceremony will
be the governor of New York, the mayor
of the city and 30 war chiefs of the west
ern Indian tribes. To one of these chiefs
will be allotted the task of digging earth
with the thtgh bone of a buffalo, after
Indian fashion.
Th* guns of Hie fort will then tire a
salute and the Indians, as representatives
of the first Americans, will hoist the Hturs
and Stripes to the rytbm of Indian music,
composed for the occasion. As the flag is
mastheaded the band will play the ' Star
Syangled Banner.'’
TO BE NO CHANGE IN
MEXICAN POLICY OF
THE UNITED STATES
TO TAKE HAND IN THE
Both Houses Ready to Act
if Intervention is Found
Necessary
LEGISLATION ALMOST
COMES TO STANDSTILL
No More General Legislation of Im
portant Nature Before Adjourn
ment—Attempt to Repass
Immigration Bill
Washington, February Id.—With the
Rhadnw of possible Mexican intervention
hovering over Congress, general legisla
tive activity in both houses lias come
practically to a standstill.
No immediate need to take up tlie ques
tion of warlike moves against Mexico is
anticipated, but both houses of Congress
are prepared to receive the issue should it
be thrust upon them in the remaining
days of the Taft administration or after i
the new Congress comes into being on
March 4.
It ha$ been determined that there will
be no more general legislation of an im
portant nature before adjournment. One
more problem was handed over to the
new administration last week when the
I it use judiciary committee decided to take
no action on the single six year presi
dential \erm resolution. This Imd passed
the Senate by the narrow margin of one
vote and promised a heated controversy
had the judiciary committee given the
House a chance to consider it.
Most of the other debated questions also
have been lifted out of this Congress by
the events of the last week, and the re
maining time will be devoted to appropri
ation bills and minor legislation.
An attempt In both houses to repa.su
tlie “literary test" immigration bill over
President Tift’s veto will murk the open
ing of the week and the friends of the
measure in the House and Senate express
confidence that tt will receive a two-third
majority and become a law notwith
standing the President's disapproval.
Republicans Discouraged
Senate republicans who mapped out a
‘‘li glslatlvG programme” at a caucus Sat
urday have lltfde hope that any of cjic
bills recommended for passage will go
through at this session, tlie railroad physi
cal valuation bill being the only one in
dorsed by the caucus which Is believed to
have tlie slightest chance. That measure
is still before a Senate committee* where
hearings are being held. Should it pass
th-j Senate it would be so altered from the
form of the original House Hill that a con
ference committee would be necessary to
adjust the differences, a tusk that might
prove impossible of completion before ad
journment.
The House Is expected to take cognizance
of the programme laid out by the re- i
publicans of tlie Senate. Tlie latter have j
determined to concentrate their efforts
upon the physical valuation bill, a tariff
commission bill, not yet prepared; the
LaFollette legislative reference bureau
bill, the LaFollette eight hour bill for
women workers in the District of Colum
bia, and the Crawford anti-injunction bill
Success for any one of these measures
in tlie House at this lute stage of the sea
son Is practically impossible according to
leading men in that body.
Mexican Affairs Figure
Mexican affairs have figured much n
lie undercurrent of congressional talk
during the week, but the members who
Keep in closest touch with the foreign af
fair. of the Fritted States have declined to
be drawn into any advocacy of American
intervention. The large majority in both
houses are opposed to any aggressive ft'1
tion by the United States under present
conditions that would involve this coun
try in u struggle that could not end un
til internal peace hud been established in
Mexico.
This subject, is expected to beoneoftha
heritages of President Wilson's udminis
! tration and deinoeratlc leaders are prepar
ing to meet any developments.
At present the democratic managers of
the iion . are more alarmed at the legis
lative situation and tlie prospect that
many of the unnual appropriation bills
will not be passed than at threatened for
eign imbroglios. Attacks from within the
democratic ranks on the ground that
"economy pledges’’ have not been kept by
the democratic House have added to the
burden of the democratic managers.
Amendment to Constitution
Tin* end of the session crush was not
the controlling factor In preventing action
oil the single presidential term resolution
In the House. President-elect Wilson Ik
understood to have some dellnite views
on the subject of ibis proponed amend
ment to the federal constitution, and dem
ocratic leaders therefore determined not
to act on ty in the closing days of the
Congress. This determination was
strengthened by the argument of many 1
democrats that If the amendment were 1
submitted to the states in Its present
form many friends of Colonel Roosevelt
would oppose its ratification on the ground
that it would prohibit them from renomi
nating him if they so desired.
A counter move by the Senate demo
(Continued on Page Two)
At Special Meeting of Cabi
net Knox Is Directed to
Reply to the Message
of Madero
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
TO SEEK PROTECTION
ON BOATS IN HARBOR
With Duns oi Three Sea Monsters
Leveled Toward City, Refugee*
Have Little to Fear—Details of
Conference at American Km
basy to Consider Situation
Washington, February IT.—Secretary of
State Knox was directed by President
Taft to reply early this morning to the
request of President Francisco I. Madero
of Mexico for a definite statement of the
policy of the United States toward Mexi
co.
The cabinet, which was in session for
more than two hours, adjourning at 12:W
o’clock, spent the time discussing tho
terms of the reply. Though no official
statement was given out,' it was declared
that Secretary Knox would state that the
attitude of this government would re
main just as It lias been for two years
past.
The exact nature of the reply was not
disclosed, and it was said that the note
would be dispatched to Madero at on* e
and probably would be made public later
today.
Intervention Not Contemplated
Upon leaving the White House Secre
tary Knox reiterated that intervention
was not now contemplated, nor would
there be any change in the naval or mili
tary plana relating to Mexico.
After a conference of an hour and a half
with Secretary of Stute Knox
President Taft tailed a special meeting of
tlie cabinet to discuss tho lute dis
patches from Mexico. The- report from
Mexico City that tho armistice has
been declared off and that hostilities
had been resumed caused intense in
terest among the cabinet officers.
Mr. Knox laid before tho President
a long resume of reports from Mexico
City from Ambassador Wilson pictur
ing in detail tho revolt of Diaz and
the efforts of Madero to suppress it.
The proposed reply to tills govern
ment to Madero’s request to keep
"hands off” and allow hint to settle
with Diaz himself, ulso was uunsicl
ered.
Despite the (Harming information
that has ••optin'* d to *ouie into Wash -
ingtolt foi iby few days, nik* u.
member of the President’s cabinet fa
vored intervention when summoned u»
tonight’s meeting. Most of the official
family believes that the Mexican fa. -
tions will solve their own troubles and
are of UiA opinion that interference*
by the United Staten is uncalled for at
this time,
Taft Is Disturbed
The President was plainly disturbed
to learn that communication between
Mexico and the United Htates was pre
carious and that un apparently strict
censorship had been instituted by Mex
ican authorities. His fear has been
that Just such a condition might arise
and that Americans In Mexico t’lly
might find themselves facing a situ
ation like that which existed In Pekin
during the Boxer rebellion.
There was Ilttlo doubt expressed hero
tonight that If a censorship is being ex
ercised this government will demand that
the communications from Ambassador
Wilson and Its replies shall be permitted
to go through without Interruption. It
docs not propose to have the slender
thread that connects the American col
ony with Washington Interfered with for
an instunt.
While the cabinet was in session Major
General Wood, chief of staff of the army,
i w ho returned today from Boston, was
\b\..y in his office at the war department.
The cabinet : till was In session at mid
j night. President Taft requested all avail
able information regarding the late devel
opments and '-as kept in touch with the
i situation through the Associated Press.
Keen Interest was expressed by mem
bers of tlie cabinet in the report of a
strict censorship at Mexico City.
At 12:40 fids n.ornlng Secretaries 8tlm
son and Meyer left the cabinet meeting*
They directed the drivers of their cars to
take them to their homes. Neither would
discuss the conference which continued,
Messrs. Knox, Wickersham, M&cVeggh.
Hitchcock, Nagel and Fisher remaining
with the President.
At 12:45 the cabinet meeting was ad
journed, the members hastening to their
homes Each one declared that there had
been no change in the situation so far a*
th* attitude of tills government was con
cerned.
General Wood upon leaving the war de
partment before the cabinet meeting end
ed declared that no additional orders to
troops had been given. He said It was not
thought necessary to increase the patrol
on the Texas frontier at T.aredo and
Brownsville as requested by Governor
Colquitt of Texas.
Women and Children to Flee
Washington, February 16. Hurried prep
arations were made In Mexico City to
day for the flight of American women
and children from the stricken city to
safety within the borders of tlie United
Htates.
Ah soon as the armistice had been de
i Continued on Page Two.)
SHIPPING OF ALL NATIONS
SHOULD BE ON EVEN TERMS
Washington, February 10.—Sir Edward
Greys rejoinder to Secretary Knox’s last
note regarding the Panama canal tolls
question practically ban been completed
and its substance at least is expected to
reach Washington this week.
It is understood that this last note bv
no means settles the controversy, nor
does it contain assurance of an accept
ance of the American proposition to ex
change ratifications of the pending gen
eral a r birat Ion treaty under the terms
of which the issue might be referred t"
the special commission of six members
proposed to be created by that con veil
tion. •
The rejoinder. Is. In fact, said to lie a
continuation cl' the British argument In
support of the contention that the ship
' ping of all nations must lw* on even terms
ux the Panama canal. The arbitration,
Idea is, however, by no means dismissed,
but rather elaborated in this last com
munication. possibly with the design of
emphasizing the original British appli
cation for that means of adjustment, in
order that the Biltlsh side shall lose no
point In the event of the expiration Juno
3, next, of the existing limited arbitration
treaty, without the adoption of a substi-N
tote. In such case, it is expected that
the British claim would be that by vir
tue of having lodged its application for
arbitration strictly In accordance with
the terms of this treaty and during its
existence, that demand must be recog
nized thereafter.
The « pinion prevulis in the state de
partment, however, that the treaty of
19U8 will be extended nexi June for an
other term of live years. Tills was done
last week in the case of the Franco-Am
erican limited arbitration treaty, willed
would otherwise have expired by limita
tion February -7.