The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], April 22, 1913, Image 1

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

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
VOLUME XXXXII BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1913 14 PAGES _ _NUMBER All
Woodlawn Levee On Lower
Mississippi Goes Out Under
Pressure of Turbulent Flood
First Serious Break in Main
Levees Occurs Just
North of Mayers
ville, Miss.
PORTIONS OF FOUR
COUNTIES FLOODED;
BIG PROPERTY LOSS
Within Few Minutes After Break the
Crevasse Is 200 Feet Wide—May
« Suspend Railroad Service.
The Steamer Nakomis
Is Rushed to Rescue
MckabiirK. Mins.. April 21.—The first
serious break In the main levee* of the
lower Mississippi rhrr occurred this
afternoon when the Wood lawn levee
just north of Mayersville, MIm, went
out.
Within a few minutes the crevasse was
200 feet wide ami during the afternoon
the space through which the flood waters
are pouring increased considerably. Parts
of four Mississippi counties will be flood
ed ami the property damage which will re
sult is estimated at more than half a
million dollars. Practically all of Isa
quena county, two-thirds of Sharkey coun
ty and parts of Warren and Washington
counties will suffer heavily from the over
flow. The main line of the Mississippi
Valley railroad and its Greenville branch
will be inundated and the following towns
will be covered with water;
Mayersville. Rolling Pork, Grace, Plan
ton, Cary, Srnedes, Valley Park, Kelso,
Floweree and as far north on the Kelso
branch as Potosi. 'Immediately upon in
formation of the break Capt. W. P. Baker,
United States army, who was stationed
here, sent out the steamer Nakomis,
which in charge of Lieutenant Claine,
will operate both in rescue and relief
work from Mayersville‘or near the break
and the gasoline boat Kate was char
tered to go up Steele's bayou to offer re
lief and do rescue work
Train Service Hindered
The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley of
ficials gave out the information that they
do not expect to be able to maintain
train service after today, as they think
that both main line and the Riverside
division, running around Greenville to
Vicksburg, will be flooded.
The official estimates given out by tlie
United States engineers office report that
in the vicinity of this flood backwater
had already covered 010 square miles and
that this break will overflow 222 addi
tional stpiarc miles, making a total of 1122
square mites affected.
Tim levee* which gave way was one of
the oldest in that section, about 20 feet
high and had been under the care of
Lawrence Wade, a former member of the
levee board. The exact manner in which
tin? break occurred had not been re
ported here and no information could bo
obtained on this subject.
Rations and Relief Boats
It was not a half hour after the break
occurred before the steamer Nakomis
was under way. The Nakomis carried
two barges conveying rations, relief boats
and a number of men who will be en
gaged In the necessary relief duty. The
gasoline boat Kate and the Nakomis
will both be near th# scene of the break
tomorrow and offer whatever assistance
they find necessary, rnptafn Baker was
assured over the telephone this after
noon that while, the flood was coming
through all parts of the country men
tioned there did not seem to he any
danger to life or stock at the time and
everything would be done to move stock
out of the route of the flood. Captain
Tolllnger of the Thiud district office stated
during the a f ter non' that at last reports
the wkltl) of the break was something
over 200 feet and that information had
been received an hour or two after the
crevasse that the river had fallen two
foot at t^uke Providence and two foot
at Skip land and a much greater fall in
that section was indicated during the
bight. j
The information given out here from
the Yazoo and Mississippi valley offices
was that the WoodlaWn break would
probably flood the entire country cov
ered by the main and branch lines of
that railroad, and while the effort would
be made to keep trains going as long
8 s* possible, service probably would cease
some time tomorrow. Official bulletins
will be issued giving the hours of de
parture for the suspended service as soon
as the effect of the break is apparent.
Condition Unchanged
Memphis, April 21.—River anti levee
* conditions north of Greenville, Miss.,
tvere practically unchanged today. Helena,
Ark., reported the river stationary to
night at a height of Hi.ID feet, yester
day's breaks) hi the embankments near
T.aeonla. Ark., and Ward's l.ake, Miss.,
temporarily checking the rising water.
The respite, however, will probably be
of short duration, as the area over which
the water lei in by these crevasses is
small. Some fears are reported at Modoc,
Wcstuver and other points In the Helena
district, where the dikes are endangered.
(Continued on rase Glftatl
Mother of Boy Who Has
Been Missing Since August
Finds Supposed Son in
Columbia, Miss.
'
Columbia, Miss.. April 21.—Mrs. C. B.
Dunbar, mother of Charles Dunbar, the
4-year-old boy who was kidnaped at
Opelousas, La., last August, after her
arrival here tonight, was unable to say
whether the child found here is her son.
She believes it is possible that the boy's
treatment since his disappearance may
have made so great a change in his ap
pearance that identification will be dif
ficult. The father today said he was sure
the boy is their son because of certain
scars and blemishes about his body.
When Mrs. Dunbar arrived here she
went with her husband to the home of a I
deputy sheriff where the baby is being
kept. The little fellow was asleep. Mrs.
Dunbar took him In her arms and tried
to awaken him, but he would not open
his eyes. After repeated efforts, Mr.
Dunbar and his wife aroused the sleep
ing boy' and decided to wait until morn
ing, when they believe they can deter
mine definitely whether their search for
their son is at an end.
W. C. Waters, who is being held here
pending the result of the investigation,
tonight declared the boy who was taken
from him Is the son of his brother, J. C.
Walters. He has engaged an attorney
and declares he will fight for possession
of the child. In a statement tonight the
lawyer said Walters has letters to prove
he is entitled to the boy.
Walters is an itinerant clock and stove
repairer.
Dunbar Positive
Now Orleans, April 21.—"I am positive
that I have found my son." said C. P.
Dunbar, father of the little 4-year-old
child who was kidnaped at his home in
Opelousas, La., eight months ago. Mr.
Dunbar came to New Orleans this after
noon to meet his wife who accompanied
him to Columbia, Miss., tonight to com
plete the identification.
“Although disheartened and almost
hopeless on account of the many, many
trips which f have made to different
parts of the country to look at some child
supposed to be inv boy, ( decided lo in
vestigate the report about the itenerant
stove repairer in Mississippi. You may
imagine my joy when I took the poor
little child in my arms and found on his
body the marks which I knew lie bore.
The child was dirty, unkempt and bore
evidences of ill usage, but I recognized
my long lost baby and am tlie happiest
man In the world."
A missing nail from a toe of the left |
foot, a cowlick and a mole on the left
arm are marks by' which Mr. Dunbar j
states he was able to recognize tlie boy. ■
The child showed no signs of recogni- ■
lion of Mr. Dunbar, but he said this did
not. surprised him in view of the fact I
that the child had been hauled about
the country artd submitted to all kinds of j
•hardships for many months, f
SUPPOSED TELEGRAM
FROM MARTIN PROVES
TO BE FRAUDULENT
Vevey. Switzerland, April 21%—Inves
tigation made with regard to the tele- j
gram filed at Vevey last Friday say- j
ing: “Cease Inquiries. All well. Writ
ing—Martin," received in London by a
friend of Joseph W. Martin makes it
apparent that the message was not
handed in at the telegraph office by
I he missing Memphis cotton dealer and
f is now practically certain that he
never visited Vevey.
Further inquiries tend to show that
the sender of the telegram was a beau
tiful woman, who probably was acting
as Martin’s emissary.
The American legation at Berne has
oflclally announced that it has no
knowledge that Martin Is staying in
Switzerland, and consequently the news
that the police Intend to arrest him in
tills country is not true.
MANN S C0 N DITION
IS SATISFACTORY
Richmond, Va., April 21.—Governor Wll-I
lkvin Hodges Mann was today operated on
for appendicitis at a Richmond hospital 1
and in spite of his 09 years he rallied i
like a younger man. The physicians say
tonight that his condition is entirely
satisfactory.
The governor has been suffering from
appendicitis since last Monday night. He
j recovered from th» initial attack and the'
i physicians came to the conclusion that an j
j operation would be unnecessary, but a i
recurrence this morning, resulted in a
I determination to operate at once.
Recovery from the anesthetic was im
mediate and the governor slept the great
er part of the day. His pulse is nearly1
normal tonight.
His age makes the outcome doubtful
and the physicians say that two or three
days must elapse before anything def- j
inito can be determined.
.I
PLAYED “SNAP THE WHIP."
AS RESULT ONE IS DROWNED
Bolton, Vt., Aril 21.—A negro youth
Of about 19 years, who Wandered into
town last Saturday was hurled into the
Winooski, where he was drowned, .t
Is charged, by four men, who had ac
cused him of stealing their ditinoi
falls.
Three of the men accused of caus
ing his death, Henry McCabe, James
I Sweeney and John Kennison, are under
* nr rest, while their companion, Henry
Cfoodrlch, is btdfig sought.
According to the prisoners the boy
v.as an unwilling participant in a gam •
of *• snap tji« whip.” which they re
ported to in trying to make him con
fess the theft. '.When the whip
"•napped" the victim shot into the
stream and sank after a brief struggle. ,
All the men are railroad section j
hands. They missed their dinner pails |
soon after the negro had passed the j
spot where they were working and i
started in pursuit, catching the lad af-j
Ur a long chase. He denied the theft
and In trying to force a confession tin*
men formed a chain by joining hands
with the lad at the end. They dashed
down tlie bank of the river anti whep j
near the brink the leaders stopped
suddenly, but the negro “tail” of the
whip, his hold being broken, “snapped”
cut over the water and disappeared into
a whirlpool.
Ketinlson, after keeping the matter I
secret* finally told the police and the i
arrests followed. Nothing is known
h<*rc bl‘ the negro except that- he had
come to this vicinity recently from
South Carolina.
E3
__
Western Senators to State
Arguments Against Free
Wool and Sugar
TARIFF MEASURE
IS REINTRODUCED
Will Reappear in House Today—The
Republicans Are Figuring Fpon
a Numb* Revisions.
Suggf r* Referendu m
*
-
THE V TN CONGRESS:
Senate r ©2 1 noon
/ Senator -y ^xmberlain Introduced
resolutior P? abrogation of Jlay
Pounccf; ul Cl^yton-BuHver trea
ties wit ^ •» at Britain.
Worn iff rage committee gave
hearin ©• federal association for
wonuy rage, several senators and
repreL.. ives making addresses. |
Finance committee announced meet
ing for Tuesday to finally determine
whether bearing on tariff bill will
be granted.
Senator Smith. Arizona, introduced
a resolution asking President Wilson 1
for all information regarding injuries
to Americans in Mexico.
Finance committee democrats de
cided to grant hearings to senators i
on wool and sugar.
Senator Norris in resolutions asked
President and Attorney General for
all information on an attempt to dis
miss coffee trust suits.
Bill to license aviators introduced
by Senator Penrose.
Senator Jones introduced bill to ex
tend civil service to land office and
customs officials.
Senator Ashhurst introduced bill to
prevent use of mails for stock gamb
ling purposes.
Senator Ashhurst proposed change in
rules to prevent committee meetings
behind closed doors.
Confirmed President Wilson’s diplo
matic nominations.
Adjourned at 4:55 p. in. until 2 p.
to., Thursday.
House met att noon.
Tariff bill as amended by demo
cratic caucus was reintroduced and
icferred to ways and means commit
tee.
Investigation of assault on Repre
sentative Sims by local Banker Glover
ordered.
In special message President Wil
son urged appropriation of $20,(XX) for
expenses of American commission to
The- Hague opium conference.
Adjourned at 5:25 p. tn. until noon
tomorrow.
Washington. April 21.—Democratic
forces in charge *f tariff revision !n
the Senate slightly inclined today to
the demands for hearings upon tariff
schedules. In addition to the permis
sion given all interested parties to file
statements with the finance commit
tee, Senator Simmons today conceded
to a group of western senators the
right to appear and state their argu
ments against the free wool and free
sugar provisions that have been agreed
tc by the democrats of the House.
A full meeting of the Senate finance
committee is to be held tomorrow.
Republican senator*- «ii then renew
their demand that general open hear
ings be given. The attitude of the ma
jority of the democratic members of
the committee is against this, how
ever. They claim that such a course
would delay tariff revision, and that
no arguments would be brought forth
that have not already appeared in the
hearings l»efore the House commit-;
tee. or in the briefs filed with the Sen- '
ate committee.
Introduced in House
The Underwood tariff bill, as finally
aproved and revised by the caucus of
House democrats, was reintroduced in
the House today by Representative Un
derwood and referred back to the ways
and means committee. Tomorrow it w'll
reappear with a favorable report from
the democrats on the committee and
with a dissenting report from the re
publican committee members criticls- |
ing its rates and the method of re- j
vision followed by the democrats.
The Senate democratic leaders hav« !
given up hope of having the bill
brought into the Senate in the form of j
separate schedules. Jt has been deter- :
mined that the measure will be con- :
sidered as a whole bill in the Sen
ate. as it will be in the House. The \
hearing to be granted to the aena- ,
t'.rs from Rocky mountain and Pacific
coast states upon the wool and sugar |
issues is expected to develop the full
strength of the opposition to the bill
and to give the finance committee defi- j
pile information as to whether it will i
ho necessary to restore any of the duty
on either of tiies*# schedules.
According to information tonight the j
I^ouisiana, Kansas and Nebraska anti
free sugar forces had not been in
cluded in the Invitation given for the
finance committee hearing.
Arguments Wednesday
Some of the western senators will '
present their arguments against free
sugar and free wool Wednesday. They
have not indicated how much time
they expect to occupy.
The bill will be expedited through
the House by limitation of debate. The
republicans are figuring on a num
ber of amendments to be proposed In
addition to the proposed substitute.- for
the Underwood wool and optton sched
ules. Representative Payne of New
York as ranking minority number of
the committee, today introduced his
bill., of 1911 to create a tariff board,
changed so as to provide for a tariff
commission of five members, to he ap
pointed by the President by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate
and clothed with authority to nego
tiate trade agreements with foreign na
tions. Representative Goode of Iowa
also introduced a bill to create a tariff
commission with broad powers of In
vestigation and report.
Representative llinebaugh of Illi
nois. a progressive, introduced a bill de
claring that Inasmuch as the two mi
nority bodies outnumbered the derno
efate body in popular vote the tariff
bill should be left to a referendum vote
of the people of the United States.
Aggressive Construction
After a lively light house republicans
In open caucus tonight voted in favor of
an aggressive constructive tariff cam
paign during the consideration of the
democratic tariff bill. Hy a vote of €2
to 27 the caucus rejected a resolution pre
< Cub fined «■ P«|< Bight*)
MARTIN A PUZZLE
TO LONDON POLICE
JOSEPH WILBEREORCE MARTIN
The above is u photograph of Joseph
Wjlberforce Martin, the millionaire
cotton broker of Memphis, who mys
teriously disappeared while on a visit
in London. Communications received
at Scotland Vard suggest that Mr.
Martin was well known in certain
West End gambling resorts and lost a
considerable sum prior to his disap
pearance.
••••♦•••«•••#•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••<
SULLIVAN OF IOWA
GENERAL APPRAISER
JERRY B. SULLIVAN
President Wilson has Appointed
Jerry B. Sullivan, a democratic leader
of Iowa, to the hoard of United States
general appraisers.
I
Alabama Delegates Confer
With Wilson On Patronage
President Anxious to Act in Concert With Delegation—Re
quest Immediate Recommendations—No Change in
Policy Laid Down By Burleson—Hobson and
Heflin Clash Again
By C. B. STEW MIT
Washington, April 21.—(Special.)—1 he
committee appointed by the caucus of the
Alabama delegation, composed of Sena
tors Johnston and Bankhead, and Repre
sentatives Clayton ami Taylor, called
upon the President this morning with
reference to federal patronage in Ahi^
bama.
President Wilson informed the commit
tee that it was his purpose to act in con
cert with the delegation in making ap
pointments in Alabama. He desired their
recommendations and In the event lie
found objections to the persons named in
them, he would so advise the delegation
and invite them to make other recom
mendations upon which they could agree.
He did not intimate that it was his intep
, in elm ig«” the '.dic'y It**'* down l>
Postmaster General Burleson and Attor
<
nc*y General McReynolds, already an
nounced that present incumbents would
be allowed to sente out their terms. But
he did seek to impress upon his visitors
that in making recommendations fo
places he would prefer that they select
progressive democrats. ,
Alter making a number of educational
addresses m Alabama beitwecn May 19 and
June 20, Representative Hobson will open
11 ik campaign for the Senate, probably at
Tuscaloosa. He lias fixed upon some
date for speeches in his campaign, one at
\ Sylacauga, June 8: Avondale, June 12, and
! Grove Hill June 19.
Representatives Heflin and Hobson, who
do not seem able to agree about a joint
debate on Suffrage in Alabama, got to
gether again in the democratic caucus on
an amendment offered by Captain Hob
[ son, reducing the exemption of the income
j tax from $1000 to 13000. Heflin opposed the
i amendment, declaring that the man who
had an income of from $100 to 94000 was j
heaviiy taxed already. The I Ipbson.
| amendment was lot by a heavy vote.
HUNGER STRIKERS
English House of Commons
Takes Up Militant
Problerf
1*0ndon, April 21.—The bill aimed at
hunger strikes by militant suffragettes, j
came up for discussion in the house of i
commons today. Home Secretary Mc
Kenna appealed for urgent action be
cause, pending the passage of the bill, he
felt it his duty to continue forcible feed
ing, which he was desirous of avoiding.
At the same time he refused to accept an
amendment prohibiting forcible feeding
for the reason that he wished to retain
power to resort to this method when in
his opinion the release of a hunger striker
might endanger public interests.
The bill provides for the temporary tra
ditional discharge of prisoners whose de
tention is undesirable on account of their
condition of health. Prisoners discharged
in this way would have to return to prison
on the expiration of the period stated in
their order of release, or would be liable ;
to arrest without a warrant.
Numerous amendments were proposed!
both for and against the suffragettes' in
terests, hut all were opposed by the gov-j
ernment, apparently with a view to exoe-j
diting tlie passage of the bill in order to j
get it through the committee stage with-j
out change. All the amendments were j
rejected or withdrawn and after several I
hours’ discussion Mr. McKenna applied !
closure amid strong protests and the
first clause was adopted by a vote of
to 80.
The remaining cal uses were then adopt
ed and the bill passed through commit
tee unamended.
Property belonging to Duchess Adeline
of Bedford, an ardent suffragette, was
levied on today, for nonpayment • *f her
taxes. A silver cup was taken to sat
isfy the claims.
The duchess took this means of show
ing her hostility to the taxation of wom
en while they are still without tin- Iran-j
diise.
- - ' . ■■■" ,
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1*-Wood lawn levee goes out.
To grant demands for tariff ngs.
Alabama delegates confer witii Wilson.
Urge abrogation of canal right in-atics..
Developments in California «■;.using ap
prehension.
2—Work at capital untini •
< .'omer,
I» Kiglit governors of Alabama.
. 4—editorial comments.
6— Ale tea lie denies charges iby
Twk Duncan,
itoad enthusiasts from ov».u
i’erkins pleased with view •>;' - ait -.
One hundred and aim* dollar. ured
toward college endowment.
G—Society.
7— Sports. . .
8— Revtied plan for dia •• .dlroad
merger.
f» -Ui<by sunnnoned on seri-* urge.
lu~d«iwyer«; form bulk of i«.*gi
11—Belgium strike Ik stationin'•
i?— Market*. . ^ *
11—Child burned to death mu Montc
%allo. < ;
I
Strength Rapidly Return
ing—Doctors Issue
Orders
Rome, April 21.—Every night the
pope's rough and expectoration be
come very troublesome and still cause
him pains In the chest and back. He
finds relief in hot, soothing drinks and
in poultices covering the whole chest.
Some improvement, however, Is ob
servable every night in the pontiff’s
condition and the petlod in which the
bronchial affection takes on an acute
form becomes of shorter duration each
evening. Thus his holiness is begin
ning to go to sleep earlier and en
joys longer and more strengthening
rest.
During the gravity of his illness Drs.
Murchiafava and Amici concealed from
the pope his real condition, fearing
greater depression if he knew the ac
tual state of his health but now they
gradually are informing the patient of
their past anxieties, wishing to im
press upon him the necessity of takii g
extreme care and n long rest. When
the pontiff heard that an American
pilgrimage, conducted by the Right
Rev. Joseph Schrembs, bishop of To
ledo, would arrive in Rome Tuesday,
lie expressed the hope that he would
be aide to see the “dear children who
have come so far away and who have
crossed the ocean.”
The Vatican doctors and attendants
told the pope it would be an impos
sibility for him to go through the I
fatiguing ceremony of an audience. Ilis j
holiness still insisted, saying he had a!
special love for Americans, but final
ly he appeared to become resigned to,
tile advice of his doctors.
II has been decided that the American
pilgrims shall be received by Cardinal
Merry l>el Val. the papal secretary of
s t a t.<\
The presentation will l»e§ made by
Mgr. Thomas F. Kennedy, rector of tin*
American college at Rome.
GOMEZ JOINS G ANTE
IN WASHINGTON
Washington, April 21.—Francisco
Va.squez Gomez, who escaped from
Mexico in a steamer from Vera Cruz,
despite attempt of officers of the Huer
ta govt rument to. take him, arrived in
Washington today anti joined Gonzales
Gantc, already here, representing the
i arrauza constitutionalists.
Oorflez Was permitted 10 leave Mexico
because American Consul Canada ai
Vera Cruz refused to permit his re
moval from the steamer without a war
rant. While the Huerta government
asked thatv lie be delivered to answer
an alleged charge of civil offense, no
secret, was made that he was suspect
ed of being inimical to the Huerta and
Diaz government.
A supporter of Madcro. Gomez ran
lor vice pres id cut of Mexico and was
defeated. He has a following consid
ered a powerful faction in Mexican pol
itics.
URGE ABROGATION OP
CANAL RIGHT TREATY
Chamberlain’s Resolution
Brings New Light on the
Canal Controversy
O’GORMAN INDORSES
PRINCIPLE EMBODIED
Resolution Would Require President to
Terminate Hay-Pauncefote and
the ( layton-Buiwer Treaties.
Much Discussion Aroused
Washington, April 21 A demand for
abrogation of two treaties with Great
Britain bearing upon isthmian canal
rights, presented to the Senate today m
a resolution by Senator Chatnberlan.
brought a new element into the canal con
troversy now In progress between this
country and Great Britain over the tight
of the United States to exempt American
coastwise ships from the payment of
tolls.
Senator O’Gorman, chairman of the in
teroceanic canals committee, which must
handle canal legislation in the Senate, to
night indorsed the principle embodied in
the Chamberlain resolution. Earlier in
the day stale department officials had
expressed Ignorance of Senator Chamber
lain's plan to introduced the resolution.
Would Formulate Treaty
The Chamberlain resolution would re
quire the President to proceed at once to
terminate tlie Hay-Pauncefote treaty to
1901, and the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of
1852. which it superceded, hi a statement.
Senator Chamberlain said the treaties and
records would show that the United Stales
never planned to give Great Britain such
treaty light* as would justify the pro
tests that, country has made.
Senator O'Gorman said:
"Senator Chamberlain's resolution is a
more concrete statement of the position
T. took In the last session, that If the Hay
Pauncefote treaty justifies Great Britain
in making the protest now before our gov
ernment, then it would be well if means
could be found to abrogate the treaty.”
The new angle to the situation caused
much discussion in Senate circles during
the day and brought out many indorse
ments of the proposal. Senator O’Gornvjn
declared at the close of today’s session
that he believed the resolution would pass
by u large majority if it came to a vote.
Meeting Postponed
A meeting of the intetoceanic canals
committee had been called for tomorrow,
but It. was postponed until next Tuesday.
Senator Root's bill for a repeal of the
free toll provision Is now before the com
mittee. Tt was apparent today that much
of the support that was mustered in the
last session to prevent the change of free
tolls provisions will now be brought to
the. support of the plan to abrogate trea
ties that may be interpreted as giving
Great Britain any ground for protest.
-—
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
IN STATE RATE CASES
Washington, April 21.—An unexpect
ed development In the state rate cases
which have been pending before the su
preme court for more than a year oc
curred today when the department of
justice obtained the permission of the |
court to file a brief as a “friend of
the court."
The contention of the government in
the brief \vua that the interstate com
merce commission is supreme over
state rate making bodies and may an
nul state regulations in the disguise
or state rates when interstate com
merce Is affected substantially thereby.
The brief was a copy of one filed by
the government recently in the Shrove- j
port rate case" in the commerce court, j
In it the government upheld^ the right
( f tlie interstate commerce commission
in require the railroads to reduce in
terstate rates from Louisiana to Texas
points or Increase rates In Texas. The |
coin mission had held that the action of
the Texas authorities in requiring low
rates on state shipments so us to “pro
tect home Industries" was a discrim
ination against interstate commerce.
It is not believed that the action to
day w'ill delay the decision of the rate
cases, which is expected any Monday.
MEXICAN PRISONERS
ARE SET AT LIBERTY
Douglas. A Hz., \prll 21.—In compliance
with an order from the war department. I
department.
7«> insurgent state troops who were pris
oners here since they fled to tills side;
during the battle of Naco were marched j
across the line late today. The ninth
i avalry border patrol is ordered simi
larly to dispose of all soldiers held at
Nogales and Naco, A Hz.
The prisoners will be returned in small
groups at intervals of a few days fjen- J
oral Pedro Ojeda who commanded the
Naco, Sonora federal gairison, was not!
released. He is held pending more ex
plicit instructions.
Some difficulty will be* experienced in i
the disposal of the refugee Mexican fed-j
■ui1 soldiers as the insurgent state forces |
hold every port on the Arizona border.
DEVELOPMENTS IN
CALIFORNIA CAUSE
GRAVEST CONCERN
Discrimination Against the
Japanese Framed in
New Bill
. #
ADMINISTRATION NOT
AT END OF RESOURCES
Wilson Warns Against Violation With
Treaty Obligations—To Chal
lenge Correctness of
Figures
Washington, April 21.—News of th de-4
termination of the. legislative leaders ieg
I Sacramento to frame and pass hfi abort
, land owning bill, directly discriminatingi
J against the Japanese, unofficially cou
vpyed today to the White House and
; ^tntr department was received with gravo
concern and disappointment. Such a dsn
velopment had not been expected in vlemf
of the first favorable comments in Cali
fornia upon the Presidents suggestion
that regard be had for preservation of
the friendly relations between this coun
try and the Oriental nations.
With exact knowledge of the form dis
crimination will take in the new bill, of
fb-ials here assume that. It. will resemble
the so-called assembly measure, w hi cl*
proposed to bar from land holding, per
sons ineligible to citizenship which cov
ers only the Chinese and Japanese.
lo Continue Efforts
The administration is not yet at tim
end of its resources and will continue it*
efforts to ameliorate harsh features of
the projected legislation until the measure
is beyond reach of amendment in that
direction.
While the president has in his message
to Governor Johnson transmitted throng It
Secretary Bryan recognized the right of
the people of California to legislate ac
cording to their judgement on the sub
ject of land tenure, he is also undei the
obligation of guarding against encroach
ment by state legislation upon that part
of the field of international relation*
reserved by the constitution to the na
tional government. Therefore In the
event t lie California legislation takes the
form of direct discrimination ugainst the
Japanese in violation of what the ad
ministration itself regards as their treaty
rights the national government itself
might enter the lists against the state of
California, before the judicial tribunal*
of tim laufl.
It docs" hot follow tin.t the l m > d
States government would take the initia
tive in the judicial proceedings intended
to test the legality of the state's action.
In the ordinary course the initial step
would be taken by Japanese individuals
or corporations in California, whose' land*
are sought to be escheated. But* it ia
fully expected that the department of
justice would come forward as an Inter
vener. throwing the weight of the Uni
ted States government into the scale in
defense of the treaty rights of the Japan
ese. if the state courts should uphold
such a statute the case would be ap
pealed to the United States circuit court
and almost certainly, by one party or the
other taken to the United States su
preme court, which tribunal has nevei*
yet passed upon the Japanese claim of
their right of naturalization in tlie Uni
ted Stutes.
Important Development
An important development in the situa
tion Is the announced purpose of the op
ponents of anti-Japanese legislation to
challenge the collect ness of the figures
and the statements relative to the ex
tent of the so-called Japanese invasion
of California, telegraphed to Washing- s
ton from .Sacramento, by the legislative'
leaders, in answer to Hepresentati v«
Baker’s request Uor some time past
quiet search lias been made of the records
of the United States immigrating bureau,
and of tlie California tax offices and
other places where data might be found
bearing upon the precise number of
Japanese landlords in <'aiifornia and tho
extent of their holdings and these figures
soon will he laid before the state depart
ment.
New Bills Offered
Sacramento, Cul.t April 21. —Two new
bills dealing with the question of land
ownership by aliens in California, each
representing the view of a considerable
faction in the legislature, will be offered
arid it is expected voted on by the senate
tbi.' week.
Through an agreement reached by the
leaders of the majority party a drastic
law directed solely against the Japanese
and Chinese will I"- prepared as a sub
stitute for the Thompson BirdsaU tnea- ^
lire and probably will be passed. If no
an end will hav* come to the anti-alie
land legislation at this session, floo
leaders declare. It now is planned tc ^
throw out entirely the guarded language
of the Thompson-Birdsall bill and ‘ put
ir its. place two simple prohibitions:
l.f No alien who is rneligiblo to citizen
ship shall be permitted to acquire and
hold land In California for a period of
more than one year after date of such
acquisition.
“No corporation, the majority of stock
of which is held by aliens who are ineli
gible to citizenship shall be permitted to
acquire and bold land except for on#
year
Agreed on tlds pro<*jdure' are Senator
A. K. Boynton, president quo tern and
flooi■ leader of the upper house; Senator
l,c<- < Cates, chairman of the judicial **
committee; Senator \V. It. Thompson,
chairman of the committee on revenue
and taxation ami others. They will he
or Posed by several of the democratic
leaders who expressed themselves on the
(Continued on Page Eight)
• •••••••••••••■••••••■•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••«
‘‘SOCIETY DANCES” ROASTED
BY MAYOR FITZGERALD
Boston, April 21.—“Society dances
•ellpse in boldness anything attempt
’d in public halls and are mainly re
sponsible for the abuses developed in
lance hulls,“ said Mayor John l\ Fitz
gerald today.
The mayor’s statement was made in
connection with an announcement that
unless dance hall conditions iu Boston
ire improved he will close up “the
most offensive places’’ pnd might bo
.•impelled to adopt a uniform hour for
closing, cither midnight or 1 o'clock
Cor all other ballrooms.
A commit ice of the Public l,’ranchl.se
league, which called upon the mayor to
:*mk for itrlctrr municipal regulation
of dancing hud expressed surprise thuc'
the mayor should Include hotel hat!
i oofliK with the cheaper dunce halls.
• 1 would not 41 inlet any considera
tion exempt the hotels from conform
ing to the.midnight closing houn/’ con
tinued tihe mayor. "As fur as my ob
servation goes they are worse offend
ers and they could well set the rest
i f the city a good example. At very
Hu of the debutante parlies and fash*
iouublc social events in the back bay
does the darning begin until nearly
midnight and it runs until the early
hours of the morning.”