The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], March 19, 1915, Page 2, Image 2

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

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WM. M. TEAGUE
DIESAT CAPITAL
Former Montgomery Mayor
Succumbs to Long
Illness
Montgomery, March IS.—(Special.)—Wil
liam M. Teague, a former mayor of the
city of Montgomery, and one of the most
prominent and respected citizens of this
section of the state, died at his home
here early this morning after a long
illnes Mr. Teague was 72 years old and
had spent, the greater part of his life!
In Montgomery.
As n token of respect to the deceased
the city commission held a special ses
sion this morning and adopted resolutions
placing the Hag at half mast on the mu
nicipal building and ordering all the city
offices to be closed during the funeral.
Mr. Teague was a gallant Confederate
veteran, serving with distinction for three
years in the regiment commanded by Col.
Tennent Lomax. At the battle of Gettys
burg Mr. Teague was severely wounded
in the face, and following a long spell in
the hospital was sent home.
The deceased was one of the leading
merchants of Montgomery, having been
engaged in numerous successful com
mercial enterprises during his long life
here Ho formed and organized the
Teague Hardware company in 1892, one of
the leading wholesale houses of Montgom
ery, and was a stockholder in the Co
lumbus, Ga.. Iron works, and in the Co
lumbus Plow' company at Columbus. Mi’.
Teague was married in December, 1864, to
Miss Eugenia Isabella, the daughter of
John W. A. Jackson of Brier Hill. Mr.
Teague is survived by several sons, all
of whom are prominent merchants of this
city.
“LACY WILLING
TOOL IN HANDS OF
STRONGER MEN”
(Continued from Page One)
permitteed A. D. Smith, former presi
, dent of the company, to substitute for a
$6000 certificate of deposit in the .leffer
son County Savings bank, a deed to cer
tain property of negative market value
and a certain montgage. The deposit
certificate had been filed with the de
partment for the protection of policy
holders, he said. He testified that the
company had a suit pending against
Mr. Smith for recovery of the money.
He testified that Cyrus B. Brown, in •
surance commissioner, had written him
that he was not responsible for Mr.
Baird’s action, but that Mr. Baird was
under a $10,000 bond, and was subject
to suit. The witness stated that no ac
tion had been brought against Mr. Bnir l
on his bond, and that $10,000, the
Friday ’S' March 19th
OSCAR F. iioix.i:
Presents the t’rentor of Progress!ve
Minstrelsy
Neil
O’Brien
And His Great American
MINSTRELS
/
j ALL NEW 'I IIIS SEASON
Pl*U«OC!• Matinee..25c to 75c
A lILCdt Night...25c to $1.00
Senta on Sale Wednesday
Fri.-Sat., Mch. 26-27
And a Smashing Broad-!
way Cast
PPTr,PC • Evenings—25c to $1.50 i
1 Sn(i MlU-25c to $1.00
Seats On Sale Wednesday
Lyric Theatre
Keith Vaudeville Srj
5 BIG ALL STAIT r
ACTS t)
Matinee 2:20 p. in. PRICES
lit Night—7:15 Alntiuee 10c und 20c
2d Night—8:45 Nights 20c und 20c
LYCEUM
Centra] High School
Mrs. LaSalle Corbell Pickett
“Childwife of the Confederacy”
8:15 Thursday, March 18
Admission: Season Ticket or 50c
amount of Mr. Laird’s bond, would
scarcely cover the losses.
He Makes Criticism
He testified that In his opinion for
the fate of the company, which is now
in the hands of receivers, the former
president, A. I>. Smith, and the insur
ance department were responsible. He
said that he had no evidence to the
effect that Mr. I>ald was remunerated as
as result of his transaction with A. D.
Smith.
He added that the attention of the
department had been called to the ques
tionable securities of the company in
1913, but that no action was taken.
The witness expressed the opinion
that a separate insurance department
was a necessity.
Liquor Dealer Testifies
William Wise, a wholesale liquor
dealer, was the next witness. He said
lie was a member of the Jefferson Coun
ty Law Enforcement league. He told of
the purposes of the league—the sup
pression of blind tigers.
He said, also, that W. ('. Agee, chair
man of the excise commission, having
been consulted, agreed to hire a de
tective whose name would not be known
to members. lie said he couldn't state
off-hand how much money as a whole
was turned over to Mr. Agoe in the
effort to catch violators of the law'.
He said that although considerable
success had been scored, the success
was not great enough to continue the
arrangement with Mr. Agee. He said
that the league was still in existence*,
although only nominal dues were paid.
He stated that the leaguo was organ
ized at. his suggestion and that he was
its first president. He said that ho
was president also of a state organ
ization, of which Nathan Greil had
charge of the Montgomery headquar
ters. W. A. Connelly of Montgomery,
he said, was in fact the head of the
state organization.
In answer to questions of Representa
tive Welch, he said that he had not sup
ported any "blind tigers," but that for
personal reasons lie had signed bonds for
one man wrho was charged with having
violated the law.
Buying Convict Supplies
•T. H. McCary, purchasing agent of the
state under Governor Comer, was called.
He told the committee how he had pur
chased for the state. His system was the
competitive bidding system, he said.
He was asked by Representative Welch
as to how the present system "might be
tightened up.”
He replied that he didn't know that the
present system needed "tightening." Tt
was his opinion that the present system
was all right, "provided honest men are
at both ends of the line."
He thought a purchasing agent who
should perform other duties also was es
sential. He testified that tasks of miners
in the Comer administration were lighter
than now. Health among convicts then
was good, lie said, and added that no
cruel treatment was accorded.
Murphy Is Silent
M. J{. Murphy was asked concerning a
visit he made 18 months ago to Governor
O'Neal In the interest of the First Na
tional bank about certain interest the
state owed the bank. He replied thut he
couldn’t make an intelligent statement,
and declared thut he would claim his
rights as an attorney and decline to an
swer. He declined to tell what took place
in a consultation between Governor
O’Neal. Louis Farley of Montgomery, and
himself.
He said that he was in Montgomery at
that time primarily on personal business.
He was excused.
Cunningham On Convicts
Dr. R. M. Cunningham was called. He
was asked to tell something regtfrding the
Penal system of the state. He referred
the committee to a report of a joint legis
lative committee made m the convict sys
tem in 1897. lie* said that in his opinion
a convict should be self sustaining and
that if a surplus from his labor was pro
duced, that surplus should go to the
state.
He expressed the opinion that a portion
- 20 to 4o per cent—of the earning! of a
convict should be turned over to his
family.
He said that when he was a physician
.to convicts from 25 to ,*,0 per cent were
diseased. These men were not allowed to
enter the mines until they recuperated,
he said. Jails were the chief contributors
to diseases, and this legislature should not
terminate the inspection of jails, he added.
Ho described a sanitary coal mine, and
added that not more than 25 per cent of
convicts are fitted for coal mining. Hours
should be limited to seven, he said, end
the remainder of the day should be spent
by convicts in the sunshine.
Fmy tons per day is a task sufficiently
heevy. h«> said, and added that he thought
the subjection of a convict to a condition
which means the taking of ills life, crim
inal.
lie said that lie doubted the possibility
'!’ general reformation among convicts,
but thought that they should be given
m opportunity "for grace, whatever that
means."
The Honor System
He advocated the honor system, but
lid not believe in segregation on ac
‘<*unt of various degrees of immorality.
He thought corporal punishment noees
*ary, and said he opposed "bread and
water" dieting and other "religious"
nodes of punishment. The indeterminate
sentence is logical, he said. He said he
lidn t believe is taking a criminal’s life
iitiler by "a hempen cord, electricity or
\i\ starvation, overwork and darkness."
He said he was opposed to the lease
system In till of its forms. He expressed
favor of the plan of sterilizing convicts,
ind added:
"But I don’t think a prohibition legis
lature would provide for tha^; plan in Ala
bama."
Dr. Cunningham was asked regarding
the examination of applicants for licenses
to practice medicine. He explained the
s> stem in vogue in Alabama.
Disgrace to Civilization
Capt. Frank S. White was the next
witness. He condemned the fee system.
He declared the lease system a blot on
civilization and a black mark against
religion. He told of horrible experiences
bf convicts in Alabama mines.
"I am ashamed of the business my
state is engaged in," he said. "Put the
convict on the public roads and let the
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TOM PAGITT TELLS OF i
LAND OWNERS’ PROBLEMS
- I »•••••••...*.....
Appears Before Federal In
dustrial Commission In
Land Question Hearings.
How Women Work.
Dallas, Tex., March 18.—J. Tom Pagitt,
owner of 12.000 acres of Texas land, de
scribed some tenant problems on his
estate from the land owners’ point of
view today before the federal commis
sion on industrial relations at its Ameri
can land question hearing here. The
Pagitt place in Coleman county, he said,
has 22 tenant families on about 2000 acres,
the remainder being leased to cattlemen.
He said his agent prefers to get tenants
with large families of children because
the country is so sparsel}- settled that
the women and children form almost th3
only available source of extra labor sup
ply in cotton picking season. The women
among his tenants, he said, usually chop,
hoe and help with picking cotton. Chil
dren begin work in the fields at about ;
8 years of age. A tenant, he said, i
would have difficulty hiring rarm nands i
because he could not as a rule pay their
WLgec until after the crop was sold.
Describing housing conditions, Mr.
Pagitt said the cheapest tenant house
on his place has two rooms. The largest
has four rooms. None are screened, he
said, as the tenants never asked for
screens.
Mr. Pagitt described some acts of vio
lence on his place in 1912 when some
I of hie tenants joined a so-called socialist
party, while others, including his man
ager. joined an anti-socialist party. H.^
said the trouble was due entirely to heat
of a political campaign and died out
cr i pletely after election.
“YVould you object to a tenant "who
believed in certain' principles of govern
ment or reform, advocating them whllo
living on your place?" asked Chairman
Walsh, of the commission.
Mr. Pagitt said he would object to u
i tenant taking time, when he ought to
I bo making a crop, to spend in advocat
j ir.g reforms.
"What hours should a tenant spend
at work?" asked Commissioner Walsh.
"Well," replied Mr. Pagitt, "in crop
! seaboii some of them go to work at 4
o'clock in the morning, and some at «
o’clock, and they generally work until
dark."
Iwo witnesses today testified that they
believed landlords are not responsible for
| hardships in the present lund tenani
! system. These witnesses were E. J. Gid
I dings, an attorney of Oklahoma City, and
[Prof. Charles B. Austin of the Univer
sity of Texas. Mr. Giddings discussed
usury, saying that in Oklahoma farmers
owe banks and other money lenders $60,
000,000, and that about $40,000,000 of this
is loaned at usurious rates. He estimated
that usurious rates ranged from 20 to 200
per cent. He suggested federal action as
one effective remedy to reduce usury.
Describing conditions in the former In
dian territory section of Oklahoma as
extremely bad for tenant farmers, he
said:
"This is not due primarily to tyranny
by landlords, nor to lack of thrift in
tenants, but to the inane, insipid and
senseless policy of the federal govern
ment in handling Indian lands.
He suggested that the commission rec
ommend that the government sell these
Indian lands, investing and safeguarding
for any incompetent Indians the revenue
from the sales.
Professor Austin said 90 per cent of the
contracts between landlords and tenants
in Texas are verbal and 50 per cent for
one year only, with the result that neither
tenants or land owners are able to im
fcove agricultural and living conditions
on thousands of farms. The custom or
tenants, he said, in mortgaging their
crops ahead on notes, which nearly all
fall due in October and November, meant
their "economic bondage,"
•••••••••••••••••••••••••aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa#aaa*
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
BEGINS RECESS WORK
Montgomery, March 18.—(Special.)—In
formation relative to public utilities of
every kind, taxation .atvs of all the states,
the various "Blue Sky" statutes, and
other data pertaining to the general sys
tem of public revenue were presented to
thb recess committee on finance and tax
ation today by Dr. Thomas M. Owen, di
rector of the state depariment of archives
and history.
Dr. Owen has been busily engaged for
the past three or four months collecting
information and data from other states
for the information of the Alabama leg
islature. and as a result of his labors lie
lias added to his department the laws of
practically the entire country pertaining
to the principal matters that were taken
up by the legislature al its recent ses
sion.
The department's collection of laws and
pamphlets bearing on the broad subject
of finance and taxation is perhaps one of
the largest in tile possession of any south
ern state, and all this information has
been turned over to the committee by ihe
director of the department.
The finance and taxation committee, as
is well known, was charged not only with
the responsibility of devising a new rev
enue system, but was also delegated the
authority to investigate all public utili
ties of the state, with a view, perhaps, of
(^commending the creation of a utilities
Commission.
Alabama Power Company
One of the principal utility corporations
of the state which the committee will in
vestigate, it Is announced, is the Ala
bama Power company. Jt was this com
mittee that rendered a favorable report
on Senator Judge’s bill providing an as
sessment of from 25 t ents Co $2.50 per
horsepower and repealing the perpetual
franchise clause of liie law relating to
power companies.
The bill is now on th senate calendar,
l aving been referred to the committee on
finance and taxation for investigation
during the recess.
The committee will make an investiga
tion of the Alabama Power company with
a view to taxing not only that company,
but other water power companies of the
state, and it Is expected that a recom
mendatlon to that effect will be made in
its report to the legislature.
Suggestion to Committee
Several persons appeared before the
finance and taxation committee today
and offered suggestions relative to
the work upon which it is engaged.
Ivlaj. J. B. Francis of Birmingham, a
former tax collector of .Jefferson coun
ty, gave the committee certain in
formation regarding the taxation sys
tem in Birmingham and offered vari
ous suggestions as to new methods of
obtaining revenue.
Another person regarded as a tax
expert who appeared before the com
mittee was Judge A. A. Evans of the
state tax commission. Judge Evans ex
plained the work of his department,
of which he is a member, and gave tin;
committee other information.
The committee also heard sugges
tions from Representative H. A.
Thompson of Butler, who has a plan
whereby the state's revenues m iy be
increased $1,000,000 annually. The first
suggestion lie made contemplates a
tax on all drinks sold in the state con
taining caffeih, though domestic cor
porations are exempted under his plan.
According to Mr. Thompson, coca-cola
and other drinks of that kind should
be taxed at the rate of about 10 cents
per gallon. Under this system the
state's revenue would be increased con
siderably * over $500,000 annually.
Other suggestions he made eonterfi
plate the abolition of the office of
county treasurer in all of the counties
of the state and tlie abolition of the
county tax collectors of all the coun
ties, which would save the state, ac
cording to the Butler representative,
several hundred thousand dollars an
nually.
The committee appreciates the fact
that it has a hard task before it. a
h harder, perhaps, than either of the
other two recess committees. Fully
cognizant of i^s heavy responsibilities,
therefore, the committee seems imbued
with the idea of getting all the sug
gestions available that will be of as
sistance in giving the state a new
revenue system. A general informa
tion has been extended to all per
sons having information that might be
of service to tire committee to appear
before it arid discuss freely whatever
plan they may have, and the com
mittee is also inviting suggestions in
writing.
state be his master. Do not submit his
weaknesses to the lust for money of a
human being. The slavery of the lease
system 1b more terrible by far than the
slavery which brought about the war.”
He told of how senators from Colorado
had informed him that under the honor
system that state had lost through escape
only 3 per cent of its convicts.
"The honor system should prevail
everywhere," he said. "Hope should be
held out to all men." he added.
In conclusion he expressed the opinion
that the convicts could be removed from
the mines within a reasonably short time
without ruining the state financially.
Senator White expressed the view that
the state should retain the proprietor-1
ship or regulatory rights of navigable
sti earns.
TODD FOUND GUILTY
OF LOOTING BANK
Montgomery, March 18.—(Special.)—John
N. Todd, safe expert and locksmith, was
found guilty by a Jury In the city court
thU morning of the charge of burglariz
ing and looting tho vault o fthe Exchange
National bank of Montgomery of $1327 on
December 11, 1814. The Jury returned the
verdict of guilty after being out all night
long. Following the verdict Todd was
conunlttetd to Jail to await his sentence
on next Saturday.
loud had plied his trade of locksmith In
Montgomery for 20 years, and was con
sidered one of the greatest experts in his
line in the state. No announcement lias
yet been made by his attorneys as to
whether or not an appeal will be taken.
HANDLING THE BEAR
A rather amusing story was told
about town yesterday concerning the
cartoon by Artist Walter Blackman in
yesterday morning’s Age-Herald en
titled: “It’s a Bear!”
As will be remembered, the cartoon
depicted Chairman Merritt of the legis
lative probe committee investigating a
hole in a tree, named gossip, and when
a large bear sticks his head out of
the hole and goes "Boo!” Prober Mer
ritt takes to his heels and dashes off
through the woods. The bear is labeled
Emmet O'Neal.
Now the story goes that some days
ago in Montgomery the members of tin*
probe committee were discussing the
hearings to be held in Birmingham
when Chairman Merritt to his fellow
committeemen is alleged to have eaid:
“You fellows can go ahead and ex
amine the little fellows up there. But
when it conies to old Emmet, I'll handle
the bear!”
And Blackman swears on his word of
honor lie knew nothing of this state
ment when he drew the cartoon.
V Safety First
From the Houston Post.
“Do you believe in being perfectly
frank with your friends?"
“Only with those that are smaller
than I an^k'
f
<
i
CITIZENS EXPOSED
TO WARSHIP FIRE
Beilin, March 18.—(Via London, March
19, 32:33 a. m.)—'The Vosslsche Zeltung's
Athens correspondent says the govern
ment of Smyrna at the beginning of the
recent bombardment arrested 2000 British
and Flench residents and threatened to
expost them to the Are of the warships
if the bombardment Was continued.
"The British admiral," the correspon
dent adds, "thereupon opened negotia
tions through the American consul, de
manding the leveling of the forts and the
surrender of the harbor, saying the city
itself might remain under Turkish admin
istration. The governor rejected this pro
posal. The admiral then demanded the
right to pursue a German warship into the
harbor without interference from the
forts This, too, was rejected."
SAY TURKS CANT
REPULSE ATTACKS
London, March 18.—(10:30 p. m.)—A Reu
ter dispatch from Amsterdam gives the
following quotation by the Berlin Vos
sische Zeitung from an address made by
the German Field Marshal Baron von
Der Goltz at a social gathering in the
German embassy at Constantinople yes
terday :
“The Turks will know how to repulse
the renewed attacks on the Dardanelles,
for wtych they are making the greatest
preparations. Future historians will, l
urn convinced, praise the defense of th-j
Dardanelles by the Turks as a great and
valiant achievement.
"The lesson 1 deduct froih the Dardan
elles fighting is that shore artillery of
medium calibre is very effective against
armored ships."
WANTHOSPITAL
FOR DRUG ADDICTS
New’ Orleans, March 18.—City author
ities appealed by telegraph to Surgeon
General Blue today to allow them to use
the marine hospital here to care for
drug addicts. Since March 1, when tho
newfederal drug act went into effect
scores of users have asked Coroner
O'Hara to give them relief,
new federal drug act went into effect
where such cases can be cared for is
Ailed. An emergency hospital lias been
established in the parish prison with
cots supplied by the Are department.
Coroner O'Hara told Acting Mayor
Ricks today that 'the situation was get
ting beyond the city's facilities and re
quested that Dr. Blue be appealed to.
Dr. Wharton to Speah
"Death at a Frolic" is the subject of
an address to men by the Rev. Dr. H ,M.
Whorton, the great evangelist of Balti
more, at a meeting tomorrow afternoon at
the Majestic theatre. This meeting is
cider the auhplces of the Young Men's
Christian association, and will begin
promptly at 3 o'clock. Doors open at 2:30.
Weather Forecast
Washington, March 18.—Forecast for
Alabama: Increasing cloudiness Friday,
rain at night or Saturday; colder Satur
day.
Tennessee: Rain Friday; colder in west;
Saturday partly cloudy in west; rain or
snow and colder in east.
Georgia: Partly cloudy Friday, rain
at night or Saturday; colder Saturday in
north and west.
Mississippi: Rain and colder Friday in
r.oith; rain Friday or Friday night in
south; Saturday colder and probably fair.
Local Data
For the 24 hours ending at 7 p. m.,
March 18:
Highest temperature . 57
Lowest temperature .. 38
Mean temperature . 46
Normal temperature . 37
Deficiency in temperature since Jan
uary 1.2.88
Ruinfall . 0.0
lolal rainfall since January 1.10.34
Deficiency In rainfall since Jan. 1. 2.81
Relative humidity (7 a. m.-7 p. m.)....56-40
Weather Conditions
Summary of observations made at
L'nited States weather bureau stations
during the 24 hours ending 8 p. m., 75tli
neridian time. March 18, 1915:
Temperature
Station* and - --2
» c " r* §2,
Weather at 8 p. m. V n " r1 : —
• • fcj . r»
a : m : *
Atlanta, clear . ~50 * 52 34 777
Birmingham, clear .... 51 57 36
Bouton, clear . 32 40 22
Buffalo, clear . 32 36 20
Calgary, cloudy . 32 34 38
Charleston, cloudy .... 50 56 35
Chicago, cloudy . 40 4 2 32
Denver, raining . 36 54 42 .04
Des Moines, cloudy ... 34 ‘40 30 .04
Duluth, cloudy . 24 28 28 .02
For* Worth, pt. cldy 70 76 40 .»«
Galveston, clear . 54 56 44 ...
Katteras, partly cloudy 42 44 38
Jacksonville, pt. cloudy 56 62 44
Kansas City, Aoudy ... 36 38 34 .01
Knoxville, cloudy .... 46 48 28
Louisville, raining .... 40 42 34 .01
Memphis, cloudy . 54 56 40
Minneapolis, cloudy ... 32 36 .16
Mobile, clear . 52 60 46
Montgomery, clear — 56 60 3s
Nflrhville, cloudy .... 50 50 30 .«
New Orleans, clear .... 56 62 46 ...
Now York, cloudy .... 38 44 24 ...
Oklahoma, cloudy .... 52 64 34
Phoenix, clear . 76 76 48
Pittsburg, cloudy . 40 42 26 ...
Raleigh, clear . 44 50 28
San Antonio, pt. cloudy 64 66 38 .02
Hnn Francisco, clear ..62 68 52
Shreveport, clear .... 64 70 38
Spokane, cloudy . 64 54 40 .02
St. Louis, raining . 40 44 38 .02
Tampa, cloudy . 56 62 44 .01
Toledo, clear . 34 44 26
Vicksburg, clear . 58 62 40
Washington, pt. cloudy 42 52 28
Winnepeg. cloudy — 20 22 14 ...
E. C. HORTON, Local Forecaster.
U. S. REPRESENTATIVES
TO INSPECT BRITISH
AND GERMAN CAMPS
(Coutlsn^d from Page One)
the belligerent governments with re
spect thereto are understood to be as
follows:
"1. The German and Austro-Hunga
rian governments are prepared to agfee
to the reciprocal release of civilians
over the age for compulsory military
service under their respective laws,
which in Germany Is 45 years, and in
Austria-Hungary 42 years of age. The
British government has refused as yet
to reduce the age below 55 in the case
of Germany and 50 in the case of Aus
tria-Hungary, but this question has
been under consideration and may be
reconsidered.
2. “Both sides have expressed a wil
lingness to agree to an exchange, man
for man, of civilians of military age on
the lists to be proposed on each side for
the approval of the other.
“3. The British and German govern
ments are disposed to observe the pro
visions of articles 6 and 7 of the elev
enth Hague convention of 1907, re
garding the crews of enemy merchant
ships captured by a belligerent, but
there lias been a difference between the
two governments as to the meaning of
these provisions.
“The German government interpret
these articles as meaning that the crew's
of captured ships are not only to be
released from imprisonment, but per
mitted to return to their own country
without hindrance if they so desire un
der parole against emploment in any
service connected with the operations
of the war.
“The British government, on the other
hand, interpret these provisions as
merely requiring the liberation on pa
role in Great Britain of the crew’s of
captured merchant ships, under the re
servation that subsequently they will ho
treated no more favorably than other
Germans residing in Great Britain.
“It Is understood that the British
government is re-examining these pro
visions in the light of the meaning at
tributed to them by the German gov
ernment.
Hrii Not Arisen
“This question has not arisen between
Great Britain and Austria-Hungary, as
these nvo governments reached an agree
ment at the beginning of the war, re
leasing each other’s merchant ships and
crews, and very few have since been cap
tured.
“The arrangements made by Franco and
Russia with Germany and Austria-Hun
gary are understood to be similar to those
made by Great Britain.
“In regard to military prisoners, no ar
rangements have been made for the ex
change of such prisoners, except that on
the suggestion of the United States early
In November, both sides have agreed that
all wounded prisoners who are perma
nently disabled for military service shall
be released on a reciprocal basis.
“With regard to the treatment of pris
oners. It appears from Mr. Anderson’s re
port that each of the belligerent govern
ments lias established for Itself standards
and rules governing Its treatment of mili
tary prisoners of war and civilians In de
tention camps. They have all announced
their willingness, on condition of reci
procity, to give effect to articles XIV and
XVI of the Annex to The Hague conven
tion No. IV of 1907, which provide for the
establishment of a prlsqners of war In
quiry office for furnishing Information
about prisoners In each country, and the
delivery of mall, money and parcels to
prisoners of war. In many other respect*
the arrangements adopted are slmllur on
both sides, but as Is Inevitable where no
common basis of treatment Is established,
there are also many Important differences
"Attention Is directed by Mr. Anderson
to the fact that Germany alone claimed
several months ago to have upward of
530,000 prisoners of war, consisting of
about 20,000 British, over 300,0k) Russians,
and over 200,000 French and Belgians.
There are several thousand German pris
oners of war In Great Britain In addition
to the 12,000 or more German and Austro
Hungarian civilian prisoners Interned In
concentration camps. Many thousands of
German and Austrian soldiers are known
to be held as military prisoners In France,
and the number of prisoners of war who
have been taken on both sides between
Russia and Germany and Austria-Hun
gary runs to very large figures.
Desire Satisfaction
“It is unquestionably true that each
government desires to deal with this very
difficult situation lg a manner which will
be satisfactory to all concerned Insofar as
circumstances permit. Nevertheless, In
view of the known differences, there nat
urally have been misunderstandings and
misgivings on both sides about the treat
ment of their subjects who are held as
M
UNWRITTEN LAW
FIGURES IN CASE
Trial of Elbert Nail for
Killing Shelton Begins
At Huntsville
Huntsville. March 18.—(Special.)—The
trial of Elbert Nail, a barber, charged
with the murder of Bradford Shelton,
shipping clerk for the Armour plant in
this city, began today in the law’ and
equity court. Nail’s plea is self defense,
but the unwritten law figures ' promi
nently in the case.
Shelton was fatally shot by Nail sev
edal weeks ago on West Clinton street
and died at the hospital five days later.
At the trial today the courtroom was
packed with a crowd eager to hear some
of this testimony. Most of it was ruled
out before being offered. Judge Balentine
holding that only the murder case was on
trial.
A deathbed statement made by Shel
ton was offered in evidence, in which the
dying man said he had no gun at the time
of the shooting; that Nail had approacned
him and said, "Tonight Is the night,’’ and
began shooting without further warning.
All witnesses for the state were uncer
tain as to who fired the first shot, and
most of them w'ere unable to swear that
Shelton fired at all.
A. M. Nail, father of the defendant,
testified that his daughter, sister of the
defendant, had been ruined b> Shelton
and Shelton immediately left the city. He
did not know that Shelton had returned
until he was told that his son had shot
him. At adjournment the evidence was
about half finished.
HEAD OF ROAD
IN POLICE COURT
New York, March 18.—John L. Quinlan,
vice president of the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railway company, and
Robert L. Forbes, its transfer agent, ap
peared in police court here today upon
complaint of minority stockholders, who
charged that they refused to permit them
to examine the stock books.
Mr. Quinlan explained ho had no objec
tion to the minority stockholders inspect
ing the books, but that he and the men
under him were transferring upward of
700,000 shares of stock and to allow’ inter
ferences w’ould seriously hamper their
work.
PROTESTAG AIN ST
CANAL ORDER
Washington, March 18.—Representa
tives of employes at the Panama canal
zone affected by President Wilson's re
cent executive order requiring them to
pay for their own rent, coal and light,
were in Washington tonight prepared
to go to the White House tomorrow
morning to protest against the order.
Secretary Tumulty has agreed to take
a statement for submission to the Presi
dent.
AMUSEMENTS
Neil O’Brien Minstrels
Neil O’Brien and his great American
minstrels, writh everything all new for
his third annual tour, will be the at
traction at the Jefferson theatre mat
inee and night today.
America has probably no more ver
satile or popular minstrel star than
Neil O’Brien, who is now in his third
year at the head of his own organ
ization. this season composed of all
new material, with a beautiful and
elaborate new scenic production and
all new acts and features. That min
strelsy still retains a place In the re
gard and affections of American thea
tregoers has been amply proven the
past two seasons by the great artistic
and financial success of the O’Brien
show’. uowr noted ami distinguished for
its clean and superior performances
and for its many original and novel
innovations.
“A Fair of Sixes”
“A Pair of Sixes." the most conspic
uous farce success of recent years,
will be the attraction at the Jefferson
Friday and Saturday, matinee Satur
day. March 26 and £7. In the cast are
such well known players as Oscar
Figman. Orlando Daly, Minna Hombel,
•lane Meredith. Arthur Linden. Jack
Raffael, Adelyn Wesley, Eleanor Fair
banks and others. This company that
will be seen here is made up of the
best players of both the Chicago an I
the New’ York companies.
military or civilian prisoners in enemy
territory. This situation has been aggra
vated by sensational stories of abuse and
maltreatment of prisoners ofi both sides,
which have been given wide circulation
in the newspapers In many countries, and
although for the most part without foun
dation of fact, have been popularly ac
cepted as true. The result of all this has
been to excite and inflame puloic feeling
in all of these countries to the extent of
demanding retaliation and reprisals.
“In this difficult and dangerous situa
tion, Great Britain, France. Germany and
Austria-Hungary have called upon the
United States, as the friend of all parties,
and the representative of their interests
in enemy territory, for information, as
sistance and advice. Perhap# the most
important ,and useful service which this
government, as the custodian of their in
terests, has rendered to the oelligerent
nations has been to bring about through
the exercise of its good offices, the pres
ent arrangement which will lead to a bet
ter understanding among them as to the
existing facts and the best method of
dealing with the situation in the future.”
¥. ■!
CO LOSES SUIT
/ STSLOSS CO.
Seeking $15,000 In Federal
Court for Alleged Dam
ages to County Sewer
Ater deliberating for nearly two
days, the jury in the case of the County
of Jefferson vs. the Sloss Sheffield
Steel and Iron company returned a ver
dict for the defendant yesterday at
noon. The county sued the Sloss com
pany for $15,000 damages. alleging
that by reason of the blasting of roclc
by dynamite at the quarries near North
Birmingham, the county sewer and
mains adjacent to the quarries were
damaged to the above amount. The
case has been pending since 1910, and
went on trial Monday in the federal
court, Judge W. I. Grubb, presiding.
Verdicts for the defendants were
also returned in the federal court in
the case of John Peterson vs. Louis
ville and Nashville Railroad company
and Luke Kimbell vs. the Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad company.
Bessemer, March 18.—(Special.)—The
Bessemer Board of Trade will hold a spe
cial meeting Tuesday morning at 10:30
o’clock for the purpose of meeting the
Alabama railroad commission and others
In regard to the Urtlon depot for Bes
semer. The meeting will be held at the
Board of Trade rooms on Nineteenth
street, between Third and Fourth ave
nues. The members of the commission
and the visitors will be shown overibe
city and everyone interested in Bessemer
is urged to do their very best to impress
the railroad commission with the great
importance and necessity of better depot
accommodations.
The following committees have been
named: Automobiles, E. L. Huey, chair
man: Lee Moody, John Martin, J. C.
Currp, Dr. E. P. Lacey, Sam Erlick, Dr.
E. W. McNeill, George Rutledge, Dr. T.
F. Robinson. T. T. Huey and Dr. L. A. jlf
Spencer. Industries, J. F. Gammon.
chairman; George Woodrow, J. B. Mor
ton. V. Ferguson, Louis Hosier, Sr., J. E. SB
Haffner, A. M. Shook, Jr., A. M. Drury, |BB
William H. If. Judson, T. A. "Weller, IB;
George A. Miller and W. T. Williams. |H
Information. J. A. Estes, R. F. Smith, E.
P. Johnson, Gardner F. Goodwyn, John
McConnell. J. T. Martin, J. A. Snider,
C. L. Odell. T. D. Lewis, J. Marks, L. ^9
W. Allen, I. A. Ixjwis, W. E. McWil- 9
liams, W. A. Simmons. L. E. Bruns, F. alp
N. Fesler, W. R. ‘Smith, J. L. Wood and mm
D. O. Teasley.
Lunch will be served to the visitors at
2 o’clock.
Little Ethel Williamson, the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. A. Tv. Williamson, was
struck by an automobile driven by Frank
L. Sullivan, on Berkley avenue this aft
ernoon and was painfully injured. It
appears that the child was watching a
balloon ascension and ran out in the
street where she was struck by the ma
chine, which was going slowly. She was
knocked unconscious and a physician was
Immediately summoned wrho attended her.
She was removed to her home where
she is resting well. No serious results
are anticipated. jjB
A large crowd gathered at the high
school tonight to hear the address de
livered by ex-Gov R. B. Glenn of North H
Carolina on the “Nation’s Greatest Prob- fff
Much interest. is being manifested in
the meeting of the Bessemer Commercial 9E
club, which will be held tomorrow night J§§|
at 8 o’clock in the council chamber. The
club Is composer! of the young business K|
men of Bessemer and at this meeting Bn
the constitution and by-laws will be 191
adopted and plans of organization will be a9
perfected. President Rutledge will ap
point all of the standing committees. B|
The Bessemer Culture club met in regn- V
In** session this afternoon at 3 o’clock SB
at the public library, at which time the ®
study of Shakespeare’s “Merchant of 9
Venice" was continued with Mrs. E. L. JB
Huey as leader. At the conclusion of
the study plans were discussed for the fjjg
open meeting of the club, which will be l||p
held on April 22 at the hoirie of Mrs. J. 9
R. Winters on Fifth avenue and Eight- 9
centli street. The committee composed of K
Mrs. Owvlym Herbert, chairman; Mrs. J. w|
S. Winters and Mrs. <’. K. Gray reported
that they had secured Miss Alberta Tay- iw
lor. of Birmingham, to conduct the story ;K
telling hour for the children of Besse- 9L
mer. The first of these will be held Sat- j9;
urday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the pub- ;9t
lie library and the children of this city jB
are requested to be present.
The Bessemer Equal Suffrage assoeia- 9K
lion will hold its regular meeting Sat- H
urday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the pub
lie library at which the president. Mrs. 9
Kate Jones, will preside. 9
Gives Sunt to: Red Cross fi
New York, March 18.—The rfockr
feller Foundation announced today It S
had contributed »2i,»00 to the Amer- f|g
lean Red Cross toWf§r<l sending a spe
rial sanitary comintsion to Servia to t|||
sid that government In controlling epl- ml
demies.
MRS. J.UK'I BBfTKS BISCtlTTS jj
Ask Yu» S
' I
Mortgage Loans
We invite inquiries from parties desiring to bor
row on improved real estate in Birmingham and I
Bessemer, or to sell well se
cured purchase money notes.
Prompt attention will be
given to applications, and \
transactions are closed with
out unnecessary delay. We
are prepared to furnish well
secured mortgage notes to
investors.
Let Ue Inform You Regarding Our Seven Per Cent Preferred
Stock * ■
. Realty Trust Company i
JOHN H. FRYE, President Capital $600,000.00
I