The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], June 18, 1913, Image 1

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

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J THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
VOLUME XXXXIII_ BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE IS, 1011 120 PAGES NUMBER 11
AT STORMY SESSION OF
MINE PROBE COMMITTEE
OPERATORS’ STORY TOLD
Feeling Runs High in Morn
ing Session—Encounter
Narrowly Averted
QUINN MORTON
PRINCIPAL WITNESS
—A.— ...
following Conference of Senators,
Martine Yields Charge of Hear
ing to Kenyon—Operators
Issue Protests
Charleston, \V. Vo., Juue 17.— At n
Stormy session of the Senate mine
atrlke coin ml (tee at which a nenr list
tight between Senator Martlne of New
Jersey and Hulmi .Morton, manager of
the l*nlnt Creek Operators* association
was narrowly averted. The eon! oper
ators of Paint anil Cabin creeks today
presented I heir s dc of the controversy.
Mr. Morton, principal witness for the
Operators, discussed the nttnek on tli<*
strikers* eniiip nt Holly Grove from mi
armored train nnd precipitated the
clash with Senator Martlne nt the close
of the morning session
This afternoon following an earnest
conference between Senators Swanson,
KenyOn and Martlne, Senator Kenyon
took charge of the hearing and Senator
Martino did not ask a single question,
although he had beei a persistent ex
aminer during the morning.
All through the morning session feeling
ran high, counsel for the operators three
times protesting against the methods of
examination employed by Senator Mar
tlne. The afternoon session went off
quietly.
Conclude Examination
The committee made plans tonight to
conclude the examination of witnesses
tomorrow afternoon and to start for
Washington that evening. Many wit
nesses will he left to be examined in
AVashington when hearings are reopened
there and the committee may determine
to return to Charleston later.
Conditions were quiet among the min
ers on Paint and Cabin creeks today,
according to advices from the hills, al
though officials of the United Mine Work
ers declared they expected further trou
ble soon. The union board for the New
river field district will meet tomorrow
to consider a strike there, which if de
clared, it will involve nearly 15,oOQ men.
Defends Position
Wuinn Morton defended his position
taken by the employers throughout, de
claring they were utterly unable to ac
cede to the terms offered by the miners
although4he latter wore narrowed down
to recognition of the anion. He went
Into details as to the negotiations which
preceded the strike in April, 1912.
Mr. Morton and others discussed at
length the tight at the miners’ camp at
JTolly Grove on the night of February 7,
when, witness for the miners testified,
a machine gun raked the town from an
armored train. Mr. Morton flatly de
nied the statement of Dee Calvin, an ex
mine guard, called by the strikers, that
ho had urged that the train be backed
up and that the men on board "give them
another round.” This statement, and Cal
vin’s declaration that Morton had re
marked, "Didn't we give them hell?”
after the train passer! the town, were the
disputed points which Mr. Morton vig
orously denied and precipitated the clash
between the witness and Senator Martlne.
When Chairman Swanson announced the
noon adjournment Mr. Morton remarked:
“We'll all go down and take a few drinks
and then we’ll feel better.” Senator Mar
tlne boiled over ami Sergeant at Arms
Tigglns. Senators Kenyon and Swanson
had difficulty quieting things.
This afternoon K. S. Deitch, engineer,
and William Tardy, fireman, of the ar
mored train, the night of the Holly Grove
fight, both testified that the first shots
were fired from the hills along the tracks
at Holly Grove.
Japan Ratifies Treaty
Toklo, June 17.—Japan has ratified the
new commercial treaties with Austria und
Italy, providing for the right of the sub
ject of the countries to own real prop
erty in Japan, conditional upon Austria
and Italy granting Japanese similar
right*.
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1—Mine operators tell story of con
ditions.
Madison favors state highway.
Senate lobby trail leads to private
files.
Tennessee state debt a serious
problem.
Jones leads fight on meat and
cattle.
ff—A rinual meeting of Board of Trade,
ft—Alabama liigh as cotton producing
state.
4—rEditorial comment,
ft—Law governing sale of meat to be
enanged.
Experts will show power advan
tages.
N. P. T. Finch dead.
Steel corporation dissolution talk
here,
ft—Society.
7— *—Sports.
8— Franklin teachers allowed license.
9— Begin Central of Georgia rate
hear in g.
10— Underwood makes strong address
t'j Virginia alumni.
11— O’Neal going to Colorado springs.
12— Think Senate will renew treaties.
14— Canadian polor expedition sets out.
15— Morgan and Pettus memorial chosen
17— Markets.
18- 126—Jubilee edition..
STRONG SENTIENT
IN MADISON IN FAVOR
OF STATE HIGHWAY
i Scouts Given Enthusiastic
Reception Upon Arrival
In Huntsville
SMOOTH SAILING OVER
ROADS IN LIMESTONE
Trip Made to Tennessee Line Over
Excellent Pike—Madison Spends
Entire State Appropria
tion on Roads
By 1„ S. BETTY
Huntsville,- June 17.—(Special.)—As one
of the. pioneers of the state in road build
ing. Madison county may be said to pos
sess as strong sentiment in favor of a
state highway as any county In Alabama.
This fact, was clearly demonstrated this
afternoon upon the arrival in Huntsville
of State Engineer W. 8. Keller and his
party of state scouts, who came here
from Athens to inspect the roads of Mad
ison county. Immediately upon their ar
rival. the state scouting party were met
ut the hotel here by Stale Senator Rob
ert fcJ. Spraglns, chairman of tlie high
way commission; Cl. Walter Jones, county
engineer; Joseph J. Bradley, John P.
Cooney, president of the Huntsville Cham
ber of Commerce, and other prominent
citizens of the city.
Cordial Welcome to Scouts
The Hunlsvdlt} party were just prepar
ing to ride out in automobiles to meet
the stale scouts when the latter arrived,
the highway touring car having reached
the city earlier than was anticipated. The
welcome accorded the visitors was of a
most cordial nature, and arrangements
were at once made for a trip in automo
biles to the Tennessee line, a distance of
about 20 miles. The road leading from
Huntsville to Lincoln county In Tennes
see is all macadamized wjth the excep
tion of a short stretch of highway, not
more than three miles in extent. Much
of this road was built by state aid, while
it.c remaining stretch was constructed* by
the county. This pike road is one of the
best the state highway scouts have yet
traveled over. and if t+ic other roads of
the county are as good as represented,
Madison county should rank among the
foremost of Hie state in the character ot
its roads.
The road leading into Huntsville from
Athens is nearly as good as the pike ex
tending to the Tennessee ilne. Over the
former highway the distance Is about 16
Utiles from-the Limestone county line, and
this distance was covered by the state
scouting car in about 40 minutes. How
ever, the entire road between Athens and
Huntsville is in a good condition. The
distance between the two cities is 2.8
miles and the trip was made in one hour
and 15 minutes, the entire road between
the two places being good with the ex
ception of a short stretch of a few miles.
Madison county has spent its entire
state appropriation in the construction of
good roads, making $6000 which the
county has drawn out of tlie treasury^
under the provisions of ttie slate high
way law. In addition to the aid which
has been received from the state, the
county within the past two years has
spent thousands of dollars from its dis
pensary fund. It is declared that the
annual revenue from this source which
has been applied to roa<9 improvement
during the last two years has been in
the neighborhood of $20,000.
Good Roads Sentiment Strong
That there Is 11 le strongest possible
sentiment in Madison county in favor ai
roud building is shown by the fact that
various property owners of the county
have within the post six months offered
to work and grade 22 miles of roads
abutting on their property on condition
that the county will gravel these roads.
The county commissioners have accepted
this offer, and the roads are now under
construction. Regarding the proposed
state highway which is in contemplation
through this section of the state, and
In whose interest Engineer Keller is
making a preliminary survey to be pre
sented to the highway commission.
Madison Anxious for Highway
Citizens of Madison county are very
desirous of having a branch of the high
way extend through tjjis county, and
have given the state engineer every as
surance of their sui port and co-operation
in the building of this road if such shall
be embraced in his recommendation. Sen
ator Spruglns accompanied the state
highway scouts this afternoon on the
trip to the Tennessee line. As a good
roads enthusiast, Senator SpraglnR Is
one of the greatest in the stute, and he
lias been instrumental in creating a
large sentiment In the county- in favor
or better highways. On the trip to the
Tennessee line Senator Spraelns pointed
out to the highway scouts many of the
tine farms that have made this section
of the state famous for its fertility and
productiveness, and called attention to
the healthy condition of the crops, the
prosperous condition of the farm house,
and to various other features of Interest
to the scouting party.
Scouts in Gadsden Today
Engineer Keller und his party will leave
early tomorrow morning for Oadsden and
(Continued on Pane Eleven)
PORT AU PRINCE IN GRIP OFI
BUBONIC PLAGUE EPIDEMIC
Port au Prince, Haytl, June 17.—An
epidemic of bubonic plague has broken
out at the seaport of Jactml, 30 miles
from here.
Numerous cases alrea«|y have resulted
fatally.
Jacmel has been isolated from the
rest of the country b^ a cordon of
troops and the government is taking
energetic steps to prevent propaga
tion of the disease.
i ' ' 'l '
K_
Washington, June 17.—Surgeon Gen
eral Blue of the public health service
has taken steps to set up the usual
seven-day quarantine against the bu
bonic plague epidemic In Haytl.
Outside of Haytl the plague situation
In the WestvIndles is better now than
It has been for many months.
If the government of Haytl were
to ask the United States for assistance
public health service experts prob-1
iably would be In such wise sent there.
INQUEST INTO STAMFORD. WRECK IN WHICH
SIX PERSONS WERE KILLED AND A SCORE INJURED
. ^ABNEy -SMITH v
CORONER'S INQUEST INTO -STAMFORD VBgCK.
CmaOlES „ DONEQTy (tNGlME DK2IVEQ.J TESTlPVlNG BfeFORE
'*' CORONHB JOHN J PM€.i.AN
Scenes at the inquest at Stamford, Conn., into the wreck on the New Haven railroad, causing the death of six persons and the serious injury
of a score, are pictured here. The court room where the coroner heard the testimony was crowded with those interested to hear from the lip's
of Charles H. Doherty, engine driver, whose engine bored almost completely through one of the passenger coaches in a rear end collision, the
story of the wreck and how it happened. Thrilling every one ih the crowded court room, Doherty admitted that he was a green engine driver,
that he had a wrenched back, which prevented him from being able to turn the reverse lever of the engine when he saw a warning signal, an I
emphatically blamed the air brakes for the wreck. Doherty is h’dd under bond on a charge of manslaughter. “Barney” Smith was the fire
man on Doherty’s engine.
TRAIL OF “LOBBY”
LEADS COMWIITTEE
TO PRIVATE FILES
Letters Produced From Pri
vate Offices of Belt Sugar
Industry and Laid Be
fore the Committee
Washington, June 17.—The trail of "the
lobby" the Senate lias been following
more than two weeks led today into the
private files of the men in charge of the
Washington offices of the Tnited State?
beet sugar industry, the leading instru
ment of the campaign against free sugar,
and by originals of letters and telegrams
and what purported to he copies of oth
ers, developed testimony of what ap
peared to .be an attempt at a far reach
ing campaign to create public sentiment
against free sugar through the columns
of individual newspapers and the facilities j
of press associations.
It was a trail so long, so complicated
and so winding that after more than two
hours of patient effort, the committee had
succeeded in reading into its record only
a small part of the mass of correspond
ence. which senators believed had pro
duced most sensutional evidence yet de
veloped.
■ Copies of Letters
By subpoena duces tecum the commit
tee got possession of copies of letters and
telegrams of Clarence N. Hamlin, a Colo
ludo Springs, Colo., newspaper owner and
beet sugar man. In churge of the Wash
ington office of the American Beet Sugar
rssociatlon two years ago. The papers
included what purported to be carbon
copies ot letters, unsigned, but furnished
as genuine by Harry A. Austin, a clerk
in the offices of the Trueman G. Palmer,
representative of the Cnited States beet
sugar industry. The "industry" succeed
ed the "association" about two years ago
and Palmer succeeded Hamlin in charge
While the committee was after the pri
vate papers, Palmer, after conference
with Senator Clark of Wyoming, Hamlin's
uncle was wiring Hamlin urging him to
get a lawyer to represent his interests.
The committee had knowledge of that
and hurried the letters into the records
without regard to sequence. More than
70 had been read when adjournment was
taken tonight.
Those read., into the record were di
rected to managers of beet sugar com
panies, officers of the America^ Beet
Sugar association, and friends of Hamlin
indicating that Hamlin at the time oi
their writing was an active figure In a
campaign to organise support for the
protection of the beet sugar industry and
secure publicity against tariff reduc
tions. ■ . < •
Giving Out Interview
Some told of Hamlin traveling to large
cities, giving out interviews; other* writ
ten in Washington indicated that he was
trying to circulate matter-1 in defense of
a sugar duty through newspapers, the
Associated Press, and other channels, too
offset what lie thought misleading state
ments put out by sugar refiners. The
text Indicated that his attempts at pub
lit ity had nol always been as successful
as he had hoped. Other letters referred
(Cosllsutd os Page PIHe**) ~
SENA TE FAILS TO TAKE
VOTE ON INDIAN BILL
After Warm Debate Measure Goes Over Until Today—Meagre
Information Charged By Senator Lane—Knocks
Out Proposed Salary Increase
Washington, June 17— Debate in the
Senate over the Indian appropriation bill
waxed warm today and consideration of
the measure finally went over until to
morrow without a vote.
Senator Lane of Oregon, member of the
Indian committee diarged his associates
with presenting a bill with such meagre
information before them that they were
derelict to their duties. Senator Stone,
chairman of the committee, retorted that
Senator Lane was “just bring off without
knowing what he was talking about.”
Senator Chilton of West Virginia
knocked out of the bill a proposed $12600
increase in salary for Cato Sells of Tex
as, the newly appointed Indian commis
sioner. Fifty men in West Virginia, he
declared, would be willing to take the job
at $6000.
Senator Gallinger, had stricken out a
provision for the settling of some 20,000
land suits in eastern Oklahoma saking
that they must be of importance to some
one and he had not had sufficient in
formation In regard to the wisdom of the
legislation.
A bill for the annulment of contracts
with Indians relating to tribal funds was
in full swing when the Senate adjourned.
Senator Fall had declared that the com
mittee was seeking to annul contracts be
cause it was charged a lobbyist held them.
He declared holding up the Indians thus
while some one robbed them was small
business for senators. Senator Asfyurst
replied that the facts were that ex-sena
tors ami lobbyists were seeking to rob
the Indians.
SIX SUFFRAGETTE
LEADERS GUILTY
Trials of Militant Leaders
Continue—Impassioned
Speeches
#
London, June 17.—Six of the most
prominent leaders of the militant, hi; f
fragette organization and one of their
male supporters today were found guilty
of conspiracy to commit depredations and
malicious damage to property.
The women, officials of the Women's
Political anti Social union, are Miss Hur- J
riet Kerr, Miss Agnes Baku Miss Rachael
Barrett, Mrs. Beatrice Saunders, Miss An.
nld Kenney and Miss I.aura Lennox.
The man is Edwin V. Clayton, analytical
chemist expert.
An impassioned speech in defense of the
outrages committed by militant suf
fragettes on dilapidated structures was
delivered today in tire central criminal
court by Mbs Anne Kenney, on trial for
conspiracy. Her address served to en
liven the proceedings, and her concluding
words created a great impression.
"if I've got to die to get the vote," she
said, "I'll die willingly.’ whatever the
verdict of tire jury today."
Greater Interest was taken in today’s
proceedings than in any previous stage
of the trial.
The courtroom was crowded. Women
formed the majority of the audience,
among them being Mrs. Wlhrfton Spencer
Churchill, wife of the first lord of the ad
miralty, and MIsh Violet Asquith, c.augh
tei of the premier.
Justifies Rebellion
Miss Kenney asserted that tire action of
the l ister unionists and the speeches of
cabinet ministers, who she said hud as
serted that the unenfranchised were Jus
rtoollnnrd on Page Pourteeaj
LOW RATE FIGHT
Railroads Must Change
Bookkeeping System to
Show Confiscation
Washington, June 17.—The state rate
decisions which marked the session of
the supreme court yesterday are regard
ed by some as merely the beginning of
a fight by the railroads against low
rates. *
In each ease where a railroad failed
to sustain its claim that tlie state rates
were confiscatory the supreme court espe
clfically reserved the right of the road
to begin new proceedings. This was
true as to two roads in Minnesota, 12
in Missouri, and two in Arkansas, where
Justice Hughes said the data on which
the claim of confhrcation was based was
too general. Whether any road can col
lect data before tho interstate commerce
commission concludes its valuation of all
railroad property In the United States
sufficiently accurate to satisfy the court
that proper valuations have been arrived
at is a pew question. Justice Hughes
made it clear that the court will not ac
cept generalizations or opinions as to
valuations and expenses.
Even teats of days or weeks will not
satisfy. Lawyers construe the court’s
opinion as saying that the railroads must
Invent a more detailed system of book
keeping.
It has been estimated that the Inter
state commerce commission will not com
j plete Its valuation within five years. In
| the meanwhile It Is regarded as certain
r.hut some railroads will seek to convince
the court they have accurate figures to
show confiscation.
Within the week after the Mlnnnesota
rate decision was announced the Nor
folk and Western filed In the supremo
4 lotitlnucd on Page Punrteruj
.
Indebtedness of $11,485,000
Matures July 1—Split Be
tween Governor and
the Legislature
Nashville, June 17.—(Special.)—Ten
nessee is in a desperate fix over the
question of refunding the state debt of
[$11,458,000 that matures July ], and
I at the second attempted sale of the
j refunding bonds this afternoon only
about 10 pen cent of the issue were
bid, but as the whole jssue had to be
sold at once, the proposals for the*
| small amounts were rejected,
i As there can hr no more fruitless
advertising, of the securities the state!
is facing a default and the; only rem
edy is for th© legislature to get to
gether and authorize a short-time loan.
At present this seems as hard a propo
sition as it has been to get a 1‘avor
ubV* bid for the state securities.
. Th© regular democrats who are still
holding open the January term of the
legislature so that th© governor cannot)
name in ex-tra session the legislation)
! to be acted on, have refused flatly to
terminate the session and Governor)
Hooper says he has no authority to
call on the funionists who ran away)
April J5> to prevent the passag© of the)
©lection law over the veto of the gov-j
ernor.
A\vhile the regulars and the fusion- j
ists are playing for a political ad van - |
tage, tin- state seems doomed to a de
fault unless something is done within
the next two weeks. Neither side shows
signs of weakening and the situation
grows more serious as July 1 ap
proaches.
Uf the bids today the Bank of Amer
ica," New' York,*made an offer of $874.jo
for 10U0 of th.* bonds that are for $l00u
each, bearing 4 per cent and running
for 40 years. Among the others there
was a small bid at par, but all were
rejected.
Fully realizing just how desperate the
case is. the state* funding board, headed
by Governor. Hooper, tonight have is
sued a call to the members of the general
assembly to convene Thursday at 2 o’clock
and save the credit of the state by en
acting needed bond legislation.
The democrats, not to be outdone by tin
fusion movement, have called in their
members to immediately join those who
have been holding the legislature open.
JAMES TO LEAD THE
FIGHT AGAINST DUTY
ON MEAT AND CATTLE
Kentucky Senator Takes
Vigorous Position Against
Countervailing Duty
MAY TAKE FIGHT
TO PARTY CAUCUS
Committee Hastens Work on Tariff
Hill—Sundries Schedule Practi
cally Complete—May Call
Caucus Friday
Washington, June 17.—An additional
exemption of $500 for each child of n
family In the income tax section of
the tariff revision MU was determined
upon tonight by the Senate finance
subcommittee, of which Senator Wil
liams Is chairman, and the change
will be recommended to the majority
member's of the committee tomorrow.
Having determined upon this import
ant amendment the subcommittee also
is seriously considering recommending
changing the. $1000 exemption in the
Underwood bill to $3000.
Senator Simmons, 'chairman of the
finance committee, said tonight that
the democratic caucus of the Senate
will be called for Thursday, whether
the finance committee majority had
concluded with the schedules or not
and that the caucus- could go over
schedules already approved, while the
committee was finishing its work.
Washington. June 17.—Senator Ollle
James of Kentucky, who made the
sugar tariff speech in the Senate de
fending the stand of President Wilson,
has taken a vigorous position in the
finance committee against the imposi
tion of a countervailing duty on moat
and cattle, and today announced that/ t
he would carry the tight to the demo*
Gratia senatorial caucus if lie failed to
swing the committee into line.
When the majority members of the
finance committee resumed considera
tion of the proposed countervailing du
ties on agricultural products, Senator
Janies emphatically declared that the
public was entitled to unrestricted free
cattle aiul meat. He did not oppose th®
action of the democrats in free listing
wheat and Hour with the countervailing
duty added, but he opposed such a duty
on cattle and meat so strenuously that’ !
! final action on the matter was deferred,
j Senator Simmons announced that the
| -flatter was «t*icd for pr. Mentation to
[the caucus insofar as wheat and Mour
was concerned.
Free Cal lie and Meat
‘T am for free cattl© and meat, and
shall go to the limit to got it." said
Senator James when his attitude be
fore the committee became known. "Be
cause som© countries levy a tax on th©
imports of the American beef trust,
why should we, in retaliation, starve
the people of the United States? 1
favored free meat and free cattle In
the campaign last fall, and T intend
to do all I can to put them in the tar
iff law.'*
Th© majority members of the corn
mil tee were in session until iato to
night to hasten work upon the tariff
bill and practically completed the sun
dries schedule. Remaining for consid
eration ate th© income tax and ad
ministrative features of the bill, which
tin* commltte© will try to conclude by
Thursday night. It is probable that the.
caucus will be called to meet Friday
but problems in th© administrative sec
tions of the bill may delay the caucus
until Monday. Chairman Simmons is
planning to get the hill into th© Senate
by a week from Monday if possible.
Make Determined Fight
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, whoso
amendment to th© tariff bill levying ,t
graduated tax on tobacco output wus
rejected by his colleagues on the
finance committee, gave notice in tin
Senate that h© would carry that amend
ment to the caucus and make a deter
mined tight for its incorporation in the
bill. He also Introduced an amendment
providing for a graduated Income tax
upon all corporations having a capital
stock of more than $100,000,000 and con
trolling more than one-fourth of th©
production of any commodity. This, he
said, he also would urge in the cau
cus.
The action of the finance majority in
put ling a tax on bananas yesterday was
explained by Chairman Simmons today
as a revenue proposition.
“We have placed a tariff of 6 cents
a bunch on bananas," said the senator,
"for th© purpose of raising revenue and
also for the reason that tin* banana
trad'1 is absolutely controlled by :*
trust. The idea was not to protect or
encourage any banana industry in this
country, because there Is none. We es
timated that the annual revenue to be
derived from bananas at J? cents a
bunch will aggregate $2,000,000 arid th<*
small duty of r> cents a bunch cannot
very well he shifted to the consumer."
WILSON DISCARDS
COAT AND WORKS ’
IN SHIRT SLEEVES]
Washington, .luno 17.—President Wil
son and Secretary Bryan got a taste, of
i Washington's hot weather today when
; they sat down to work over a number
I of orospective diplomatic appointments.
The sizzling temperature and the for*
j mal frock coat made It uncomfortable.
! it was the President who cast his frock
j coat aside and worked In his shin
sleeves.
FRIEDMANN IS DISCREDITED
BY GERMAN PHYSICIANS
Berlin, June 17.—The last meeting at’ \
the Berlin Medical socie ty showed that |
the drift of opinion of Berlin phyal- j
clans was strongly against l>r. Fred
erlch Friedmann, the Berlin physician
who claims ho ha- discovered a cure
for tuberculOBls.
Drof. Max Wostenhoefer of the I'nl
verslty’ «»f Berlin reported that a post;
mortem of one of Dr. Friedmann's pa
tients who had been young and strong,
allowed a marked acceleration of tin
tubercular process after treatment. Tu
berculosos showed plainly at the point
of injunction.
Professor Westcrnhoeter censured Dr.
Friedmann for failing to give scien-,
titter data and for going abroad to ex
ploit his remedy.
Frau Bablnowltch, professor of bac
teriology. said that the Friedmann cul
tures apparently were made in cold
blood, which experience had shown,
does* not give a harmless product.
Prof. Max Wolff of the University 3
of Berlin, who bad examined patients
treated by Dr. Friedmann, reported be
had found no improvement.