The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume], December 19, 1922, Image 1

About The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939

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"O
AIXAMITM
3
AND St'S-TELEGRAM
VOL. XCII., No. 302
Palladium. Bst 1831. Consolidated
With Sun-Telegram. 1907.
RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, DEC. 19, 1922.
SINGLE COPY, 3 CENTS
RICHM
WD
9
FiXED GERMAN
PAYMENT NOW
ALLIES HOPE
America May Assist
in Naming Amount
By MARK SFLLIVAN
WASHINGTON. D. C. Dec. 19.
Within the field of foreign relations
iiK)st of the first two day3 of the pres
ent week have been spent in overtak
ing the host of flying rumors which
broke out during the last three days of
last week. There was adequate and
definite basis for the assertion that
something hopeful and concrete is
ahead of us, but due to an accidental
juxtaposition of a number of incidents
which really had little to do with one
another, some of them happening here
and some abroad, there was an
amount of surmise which was almost
grotesquely out of proportion to the
basis of accomplished fact
There was the success of the Amer
ican ambassador. Richard Washburn
Child, in being helpful in exceedingly
important ways at the Lausanne con
ference over Turkey; the apparent giv
ing up by the French of the intention
to invade Germany; the announcement
that Ambassador Harvey will make an
official trip to America, coupled with
his recent utterance about the critical
state of things in Europe; the visit to
Washington of J. P. Morgan and Elihu
Itoot; the rather unusual incident of
President Harding calling on Secre
tary Hughes; a prediction from official
quarters in Washington that some
thing hopeful might be expected to
happen soon about Europe, together
with certain developments at Paris,
London and Berlin.
Of these incidents, several had no
relation to one another, and some of
them were purely exraneous and had
nothing to do with the question to
which they were attributed as having
importance.
America Feels Hope
One solid fact, upon which much
hope can reasonably be based, is that
there is a closer approximation on th
part of many of those most interested
to assent to the American position
that the amount of the German repara
tions must be fixed before anything
else can be done. And that it is not
only useless but acutely undesirable
to take any steps inconsistent with
this way of handlirg the problem,
such a step, for example, as evading
Germany in a futile attempt to make
her pay an impossible sum.
Particularly wide of the mark, and
also particularly unfortunate insofar
-as it raiser false, expectations, -was
that part of the recent rumor which
dealt with the cancellation ot th'i
debts to the L'Dited States from Eu
rope. On this point, as well as on
the heart of the whole situation, a
dependable American point of view,
might be summarized. somewhat a3
follows:
The one first and indispensable step
is for all those interested to agree on
making the amount of the German re
parations a fixed sum, instead of an
indeterminate sum as it now stands,
and making it such a sum as Germany
can pay, must pay, and will pay.- By
the degree in which there is assent to
this position can it be said there is
progress. It is not merely an Amer
ican position: It is an inevitable posi
tion, the only one that can finally pre
vail. Loose Keynote. ,
The quality of indeterminateness in
the amount of the German reparations
is the dangerously loose keystone in
the economic and political structure of
the whole world. If the parties inter
ested should ask America, either of
ficially or through a commission of
business men and economists, to act
as a tribunal or to be part of that
tribunal, to determine how much the
reparations should be, doubtless, we
would give a sympathetic reception to
such an invitation, provided it were
clearly understood in advance that the
judgment of this tribunal would be ac
cepted by all parties, and would be
final, and not merely another step in
an interminable wrangle.
The next point, and a most import
ant one, is that, in determining the
amount of the German reparations,
the one only test, is "How much cam
Germany pay?" Germany must pay to
the limit of her capacity. The ques
tion of complete justice must unhap
pily be dismissed. It is not a ques
tion of saying how much Germany
ought to pay. The injury Germany
did the world could not be repaid by
all the property in Germany. The
question is one of making Germany
pay to the last cent that is practicable
without doing further damage to the
.worid.
Debt Amounts Irrelevant
It is at this point that it becomes
clear that the amount of debts due to
America from the allies is wholly ir
relevant. What Germany can pay will
not be greater or less by any disposi
tion of our debts. If we should cancel
those debts tomorrow the fundamental
problem of how much can Germany
pay would remain unchanged in all
respects, except that probably the
(Please Turn to Page Four)
MUST CLEAN WALKS
OR PAY $25 FINE
A fine of $25 is the penalty for.viola
tion of the law ordering the removal
of snow from sidewalks of the city.
The law provides that the owner or
tenant of a lot or building, which faces
a sidewalk, shall remove or have re
moved, any snow on the sidewalk in
front of the property not later than 101
o'clock in the forenoon of each day.
Councilmen at Monday night's ses
sion, stated that citizens were decided
ly negligent about removing the snow,
which if packed makes walking ex
tremely difficult.
Mayor Handley stated Tuesday that
persons violating the law in regard to
. removing the snow, were subject to ar
raignment on the charge.
Fall of U.S. Dollar
in Germany Has
Startling Results
t
(By Associated Press)
LONDON, Dec. 19 Berlin dispatches
printed here today assert that the sud
den fall of the dollar to approximately
8,000 marks, following rumors of an
American loan, had strange and start
ting results in Gertnany last week-end.
The writers say that the whole coun
try was bewildered and that every
body's calculations, long adjusted to
holding the dollar at something like
8,000 marks, were completely upset
The people to whom every rise in
prices has been represented as due to
the rise in the dollar logically expect
ed that its fall would be immediately
followed by a drop in the cost of liv
ing and on this assumption thousands
of persons thronged Eerlin's shopping
district-on Sunday in the hopes of in
dulging in purchases beyond their
means. "It was silver Sunday," the
last before Christmas on which the po
lice allow the shops to be open and
the shoppers were confident that
prices would be way down. To their
disappointment, however, the merchan
dise they had longed for was as high as
ever and consequently they bought
little.
Mark Goods Down
The tradesmen, taking notice of the
peculiar situation, on Monday marked
their goods down 20 per cent, but it
was too late. The people, half expect
ant that a further rise of the mark
would bring another price cut, kept
their purse strings tight and the mer
chants now have visions of large
Christmas stocks remaining on their
hands.
' Another striking effejpt of the mark's
depreciation is seen in the fact, that
the British coal is cheaper today in
German coast towns than is German
coal, and it is feared that if the mark's
improvement is maintained, the de
mand for British fuel will increase and
the German will become unsaleable.
The steel trade also shows the effect
of the activity in exchange.
Dispatches say that under the cir
cumstances the manufacturers and
tradesmen welcomed yesterday's news
that the dollar had risen again.
U. S, MINT BANDITS
ELUDE AUTHORITIES;
OFFER BIG REWARD
(By Associated Press)
DENVER, Colo., Deo. 19 The three
bandits who seized $200,000 in five
dollar bills from guards at the United
fStates mint here yesteraayl'Dave com
pletely eluded authorities, police ad
mitted here today.
Chief of Police Rugg Williams said
he was of the opinion that the men
who committed the robbery are not
professional bandits and is conducting
his search along that line. He declared I
that he believed that the robbers had !
not left Denver. Last night and early
this morning police made a thorough
search of "rooming houses and small
hotels, checking up all suspicious per
sons known to the police. Radiograms
broadcasted from several stations con-(
veyed to distant police stations a de
scription of the bandits who shot and
killed Charles P. Linton, a reserve
bank guard.
. The city and county of Denver today
offered a reward of $10,000 for the
capture, dead or alive, of the bandits.
CHICAGO, Dec. 19. All roads into
Chicago were guarded today following
the receipt by police of a tip that the
bandits who robbed . the Denver mint
of $200,000 were headed this way.
Federal authorities declared they re
ceived the "tip" from a woman who re
fused to divulge her name. The In
formant said members of the gang
were from Chicago.
Operatives were immediately sent to
points along the -roads from the west.
Plans were also made to search all
trans-continental trains.
BETTY JANE JOHNSON
DIES RESULT OF BURNS
As a result of burns, sustained Sun
day by her clothing catching fire from
the grate, Betty Jane Johnson, two
years old, died at the home of her
parents, 528 Nirth Eighteenth street,
at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning.
The little girl had opened the door
Sunday morning to speak to her moth
er, who was s weepies; the snow from
the walks. She is supposed to have
gotten cold and seeking the warmth
of the fire in the grate, she stood to
close to the flames. Her dress caught
and her body was enveloped in flames.
She lived until Tuesday morning, re
maining conscious to her. death.
She is survived by her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. George Jonnson, 526 North
Eighteenth street.
The body will be taken to Windfall,
Ind., .Tuesday evening. Funeral serv
ices will be held there Thursday ,ai
ternoon. Burial will be in Windfall
cemetery.
Seven Killed In Riots
Of Facistis, Communists
(Bv Unit?d Press)
ETRUIN, Dec. 19 Two facistis and
five communists were killed and 15
persons were" wounded in a fight be
tween these factions on the premises
of the chamber of labor today. The"
offices of the Communist daily, Ordine
NuevoN were burned. .
Extends Time For Return
Of War-Seized Property
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. The house
today passed a senate bill extended
for a year or until Jan. 2, 1924, the
time in which suits may be filed for
the return of property seized by the
government during the war. Alien
property custodian Miller and Attor
ney General Daugherty had urged en
actment of the legislation.
INCREASES It!
WAR PENSIONS
RY CHRISTMAS
Agreement is Reached
on Measure
(By Associated Press)
- WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. Veteran
of the Civil war, widows of veterans,
and Civil war nurses probably will re
ceive Christmas nrcsents from the
government in- the form of increased
pensions, as the result of an agree
ment reached by contarees on the Bu.'
sum pension bill.
-The , bill was passed by the senate
last summer and by the house at the
recently" special sestion. Slight dif
ferences between the two houses have
been compromised and. the author of
the bill. General Bursuin, Republcan.
New Mexico, announced today that
he hoped to obtain final congressional
action and the presidential signature
before Christmas.
Pensions of veterr rs are increased
under the measure from $50 to $72 U
month, widows' pensions from' $30 to
$50, and nurses from $30 to $50.
DEATH, FIRE AND GRIME
ACCOMPANY CHICAGO'S
ZERO TEMPERATURES
(By United Press) '
CHICAGO. Dec. 19. Death, fire and
crime stalked with the cold wave
which continued to hold Chicago in its
grip today.
Zero temperatures which prevailed
over the city for the past three days
caused five deaths, thousands of dol -
lars damage from fire and hundreds
of minor robberies.
witn ireezing weatner coming just
before the holidays the crime and fire
wave was one of the worst in the his
tory of the city, police declared.
Acute suffering was reported among
the poor in several sections of the city
and relief societies were rushed with
work.
Four men were frozen to death last
night. Another man was killed when
he slipped on the icy pavement and
fell in the path of a skidding automo
bile. The fire, department has had
hardly a moment's rest in the last
three days.
Many Alarms Answered
More than a hundred alarms of fire
were answered, scores of families
wre forced, to. flee Jroni-their burning
homes or apartments into the" wind
swept streets, clad only in night
clothes. Ninety per cent of the fires
were caused by over-heated furnaces, j
fire department officials said. -
Pickpockets, shoplifters, second
story workers and hold-up men worked
overtime,
deluged
Police headquarters was j
with reports of robberies i
ranging from a few dollars to thous
ands. . -
"Cold weather always bring? more
crime," police said. . "So does . the
holiday season. Combine them and
we have a bad situation."
The weather bureau predicted mod
erating temperature tonight but indi
cated another cold wave would follow
at the end of the week.
BATTLE OF GUNMEN
THROWS HEW YORK
CROWDS INTO PANIC
CBy -Unltefi Press)
NEW YORK, Dec 19. A pedestrian
was wounded, two men were arrested
and crowds fcr blocks near Grand
and Mott streets were thrown into a
panic at midnight when gang of
gunmen staged another downtown bat
tle as f climax of the pre-Christmas
crime wave.
Shots peppered on walls and pave
ments as the fight was waged within
two blocks of police headquarters.
Two crowded street cars were
caught between the barrages of bul
lets as the bandits shot at each other
from behind building corners. Motor
men put on full power and got their
cars out of the danger zone. . Scores
of motorists and pedestrians also
were forced to flee during the terror
ism. Charles rainier, 28, was the pedes
trian wounded. He stepped from a
doorway in the line of fire just as the
battle began.
Call Out Reserves.
Scores of police reserves were nec
essary to restore order. Authorities
declared they believed th fighting was
in connction with a bootleggers' feud.
The fighting came on the heels of a
wave of crime and robbery that swept
the city late yesterday and last night.
Among dozens of robberies and pick
pockets cases reported to police was
the theft of jewelry valued at $100,000
from Alicia Winterburn, a concert
singer during a trip she made to a
studio and the holdup of a bank mes
senger in Brooklyn by bandits who es
caped with $10,000.
HEAR RAIL DISPUTE
INVOLVING EMPLOYES
im-' Associated Press)
CHICAGO, Dec. 19. Hearing of the
dispute between the Brotherhood of
Railway trainmen and the Switchmen's
union of North America over the con
tract working rights of their respec
tive members was started today before
the United States rail labor board.
The first case taken up was that of
the discharge of switchmen members
of the San Antonio and Arkansas Pass
railway which switchmen officials
argued held seniority over trainmen
who were retained. Five other roads
are involved in the dispute.
Chief Miller Warns .
Public to Exercise
Care at Christmas
With the holidays almost nere, fire
chief in most cities are commencing
to grow apprehensive. From past ex
perience they know how easily Christ
mas in the American home can be
turned from a time of rejoicing into
one of sorrow, for there are many
fire hazards peculiar to the season.
Fire Chief Ed Miller shares this anx
iety, and he therefore issues a brief
note of advice to the people of the
city.
"About this time of year," said the
chief, "the children and a good many
grown-ups, too. only they won't admit
it are impatiently counting the days
until Christmas. Above all other days,
Christmas should be an occasion ' of
universal cheer. It should be, and
yet in many households it is likely
to become a time of tragedy because
of death or injury from fire, if care Is j
not exercised."
"That is a grim ihougtit to associ
ate with the yuletide, I know, and I
I hope sincerely that people will under
stand my position. I am speaking be
cause it is my plain duty to do so, es
pecially since my pwn experience is
backed up by some statistics received
yesterday lrom the National board of
fire underwriters, from which I learn
that an average of one in every 10
Christmas lires last year resulted in
j a fatality. Moderate carefulness will
( not detract one bit from the fullesc
enjoyment of the day.
Candles Dangerous.
"Candles are dangerous on the tree
in the windows and wherever there are
inl'lammable curtains and decorations.
All open flame lights are dangerous.
I am laying emphasis on the candle,
though, because of late, it seems to
jhave come back into fashion and in
to mv fire records.
"Make sure that Christmas trees are
j securely set up. so that they will not
t0pple over, and keep them away from
heating and lighting fixtures. Use
metal tinsel, flake asbestos and pow-
dered mica for snow effects, instead
of paper clippings and cotton. Smok
ers should be extremely careful with
matches and smoking material -grhile
near trees - and decorations. Ever
greens should be removed immediately
after Christmas before they have com
pletely dried out.,
"Merchants should free their places
of business from rubbish and paper ac
cumulations, and should insist that em
ployes keep all exits clear. It is dif
ficult to keep stockrooms tidy during
the busy holiday season, I realize, but
it is well worth the extra effort.
"Finally," said the chief, "let every
individual do his utmost not to spoil
the merriment of the day. No one
wlshes-to hear the chimes of Christ
mas converted into the Jangle of the
fire alarm."
NELSON-NORBECK BILL
FAVORED BY FARMERS
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
PALL.ADIVM NEWS BUREAU
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19. Many
farmers and business men in the
Sixth Indiana -district are asking for
details concerningthe Nelson-Norbeck
farm product export bill, introduced in
the house by Representative A. P.
Nelson of Minnesota, and fathered in
the senate by Senator Peter Norbeck
of South Dakota.
Business and farming interests
throughout the country apparently re
gard this measure with much favor,
believing its enactment would go a
long way in restoring well-rounded In
dustrial activity and general prosper
ity. Briefly, the Nelson-Norbeck bill pro
vides for'the War Finance Corporation
to purchase drafts or other instru
ments against grain shipments abroad.
The drafts are to betlrawn against and
guaranteed by reputable - foreign im
porters and then guaranteed by the for-
( Please Turn to Page Ten)
Weather Forecast
FOR
RICHMOND AND VICINITY
By W. E. Moore
Fair tonight, Wednesday increasing
cloudiness and warmer, becoming un
settled.
The gradual breaking up cf Ihe cold
wave, due to falling barometric pres
sure, will be followed by increasing
cloudiness and unsettled weather, and
later by snow or rain, sometime during
the next 48 hours. The present condi
tions over Siberia and Alaska indicate
the coming cf another severe cold
wave either the latter part of this week
or the first of next week.
Temperatures Yesterday at Pumping
Station.
Maximum 15
Minimum . '. 6
Today.
Noon
Weather conditions The center of
the cold wave, now covers the eastern
lake region and the Middle Atlantic
states, while a secondary cold wave
covers the northwest. It is getting
warmer over the rlains states. The
.cold record for the weather occurred
yesterday at White River, Ont., where
it was 50 degrees below zero. It was
38 below at Medicine Hat, Can. Tem:
peratures ranged from five to 10 de
grees below zero over Wayne county,
according to locations. The only warm
nlace in the United States is over the
Florida peninsula where temperatures
range from 60 to SO degrees.
For Indiana, by the United States
Weather N bureau Generally fair to
night and Wednesday except possibly
light snow in extreme northern por
tion. Rising temperature.
Paid Circulation
Yesterday, was
12,190
SEVEN IRISH
INSURGENTS
ARE EXECUTED
Friends of Men Stage
Demonstration
BULLETIN
DUBLIN, Dec. 19. Seven more In
surgents were executed by Free state
authorities today.
Rebel leaders, aware that the death
sentences were to be carried out at
day break, ordered demonstrations In
the -vicinity of the pails where the
prisoners were confined.
The doomed men in their last hours
heard the distant explosions of bombs
hurled by their friends who dashed
about the streets in fast motor cars.
The official announcement stated that
the seven rebels were recently cap
tured at Kildare. They were execut
ed at Porto Bello barracks the state
ment said. .
DUBLIN, Dec. 19. Irish republican
insuigents renewed their warfare of
incendiarism and bonbing last night,
less than 24 hours after British troops
were withdrawn from the island.
Two bombs were thrown against the
building housing the Irish Independ
(Please Turn to Page Foui)
HEROISM DISPLAYED
BY MEMBER OF TUG
CREW IS NARRATED
i Bv Associated Press)
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont., Dec. 19.
The wireless today told a tale of the
remarkable heroism displayed by Billy
Gow, fireman aboard the tug Reliance,
after the vessel, carrying 36 persons,
crashed onto the rocky shore of the
Lizzard islands, in northern Lake Su
perior, nearly a week ago. Sunday
night, four days after the tug had
groundsd, Gow volunteered to swim
ashore with a rope and. enable his
stranded companions to make their
way to the island on rafts constructed
from ice skiffs, belonging to the Dominion-Fish
comnany, which the Re
liance was carrying.
Only one of the tug's boats was able
to reach the shore. The others had
been lost the first day when attempts
had been made to launch them. Ad
vices received today- indicated that
three lives were lofrt at thi time. The
fourth who died, aa unnamed Fin
lander, succumbed on the tug, while
being taken to the Soo for treatment
after he had fallen ill. From Wednes
day until Sunday the Reliance, hard
aground, was buffeted by gales. She
struck a quarter of a mile from 'shore,
but by Sunday night the pounding
waves had driven her to within 75
yards of shore.
It was then that Gow volunteered to
reach the island. Plunging into th
icy, water with a rope tied around his1
waist, he struck out for land. For a.
time it seemed as if he would fail, but
he kept sturdily on. Finally he
crawled upon the rocky shore, the
rope was stretched tight and the rafts
were launched.
Pulled Ashore.
Clinging to the line the party pulled
themselves ashore. It was announced
today at the office of the Spanish
River Pulp and" Paper Mills that be
cause of the heavy seas yesterday that
the Tug Gray which picked up the
stranded party had been unable to
land them at Agawa herself, and was
forced to take shelter at Gargantud
for the night.
It has been decided that the Gray
sent out to take off lighthouse keep
ers will complete the mission before
returning with the Reliance's men.
The rapid freeze has made it inadvis
able to keep the light keepers out any
longer; The ice breaker, Favorite,
will escort the Gray on her journey.
BUFFALO, N. Y., Dec. 19. The
steamer. Thunder Bay, grain laden,
which ran ashore at Market's point,
at Port Colburn, Ont, last Thursday
j in donger of breaking up
The coast
guard took off the crew.
PIPER, CONVICTED
OF EMBEZZLEMENT
HERE, AGAIN ACTIVE
G. M. Piper, convicted of embezzling
a large turn of money belonging to the
Fl and N. Lawn Mower company here
in 1910. and whose arrest followed r
2! long chase which ended in Hart fori ,
Conn., is again ope-ating about the
country passing fraudulent checks, ac-
cording to information received by
J. M. Lontz, from the Thiel Detective
Service company, Tuesday.
Mr. Piper's position with u.a local
company was one of responsibility,
and cieated a stir in Richmond at th?
time of the theft. It wa3 later learned
that the man's record was one long
list of bad conduct. j
Went To Japan.
Conviction of Piper in 1910 resulted"
in his confinement In prison until 1914
when he was released. He went to
Japan where he remained for some
time. His latest connection with a
company in the United States was
with a Cedar Falls, la., company.
Piper was employed by the F. and
N. company for about six years.
The warning sent to members of
the detective company says that Piper
is reported as having passed checks
at hotels and in presenting them will
produce a business card reading:
"Manager, Elev. Equip. Dept., Wagon
er Mfg. company. Cedar Falls, Iow."
Sarah Bernhardt
is Forced to Rest
Because of Illness
By WEBB MILLER
PARIS, Dec. 19. "My son insists
that I take a rest but for me, rest
means death."
The immortal Sirah Bernhardt,
stricken as she was about to appear in
Sacha Guitry's new play at the Ed
ward Seventh theatre, thus defied tha
entreaties of friends that she abandon
the stage and spend the yearthat are
left her in ease and comfirt.
Her physicians after an anxious night
issued a bulletin &r, 11 a. m., which
said: "The crisis fortunately quickly
passed but Madame Bernhardt de
mands absolute rest for a few days
and complete isolation."
This was signed by Doctors Desnos
and Obissier.
"Madame Bernhardt will live to at
tend my funeral," Dr. Desnos said
later.
Will Not Stage
"I am going to return to the stage
as soon as I have recovered from this
slight indisposition," Madame Bern
hardt said to friends, who urged her to
give up. Her manner was vigorous
and she remained bright and cheery
in defiance of the malady, diagnosed
by physicians as syncope. Syncope is
fainting followed by stupor.
"In the morning," she said in de
scribing her attack, "I felt suddenly
unwell. Then suddenly I felt as if a
dagger had been thrust into my back.
My whole body was like ice. I was
urable to call for help and I don't know
what happened afterward,
"I don't want to die like Moliere,"
she insisted. "I am all right now
But if I stop to rest I will die."
Suddenly Takes III
Bernhardt was taken ill In her dress
ing room, just before the crowd began
to arrive for the production of "Un
Sujet de Roman."
A throng assembled in front of the
dark theatre and many rumors that
the great actress was at the point of
death flitted through the assemblage.
The people dispersed slowly after the
announcement was made that the
great actress' illness was not consid
ered serious.
Bernhardt was able to go home in
her car but suffered a relapse immedi
ately upon reaching there. Her ail
ment manifests itself in a series of
fainting spells whiofc are followed by
periods of stupor. It is necessary to
restore the patient to her senses with
all speed when she is stricken, other
wise death may ensue.
Madame Sarah Bernhardt today eent
the following message to her friends
in America through the United Press:
"Don't worry about me. It is only one
of those little thing3 that persons of
my age cannot avoid. I intend to re
sume my work on the' stage and play
in tonight's' performance."
XMAS FUND REACHES
$872; ONE MAN GIVES
S100T0SWELLSUM
A donor who does not want his
name mentioned gave $100 to the
$1,200 fund which the Christmas clear
ing committee is collecting to spread
cheer and happiness in Richmond this
year, swelling the fund to $S72.S6,
Tuesday.
Employes of the Pennsylvania
freight office and platform force and
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
contributed $20.75.
Additional subscriptions for today
follow :
Mrs, Harry Land .... 5.00
E. G. Crawforct 5.00
A Friend .......... ....... 1.00
Employes Pennsylvania freight
office and platform force. .. 10.75
Brotherhood Railroad
Trainmen 10.00
John M. Lontz 10.00
Loyal Order of Moose 2. )
A Friend 100.00
Four Mile Aid Society 10.00
Mondaytotal .......$696.11
Total $872.86
In addition to the collection at the
Pennsylvania freight department by
the employes, the car repair forces at
the Pennsylvania railroad yards are
also taking up a collection which will
be reported in a day or so.
"A big Santa Claus, who desires his
name withheld sent a check for $100.
This individual plays Santa Claus the
year around toward marking every
project that benefits Richmond a real
success," said Albert E. Morel, treas
urer of the committee.
$1,200 Is Needed
Twelve hundred dollars will be need
ed for carrying out the plans now for
mulated by the Richmond Clearing
Committee. If this sum is not contrib
uted, the committee can not accom
plish what it has planned.
Other organizations than the Christ-
Please Turn to Page Four)
CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
TESTED IN MINE TRIAL
By EDWARD C. DEER
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
MARION. 111., Dec. 19. The chain
of evidence" built up by attorneys for
the prosecution in the trial of five
men accused of murdering Howard
Hoffman, during the "Herrin Mas
sacre" last June, was to be tested to
day following discovery of a few weak
links during yesterday's session of
court.
Apparently disappointed when wit
nesses, expected to play star roles fc
the state, failed to corroborate testi
mony previously entered in the court
records, prosecution attorneys were
prepared to launch a solid attack in
proving the guilt of the defendants.
Williamson county was stirred by
rumors -that four men who escaped
from the death march last June and
who have been in hiding in Chicago
since that time, would take the stand
for the state today. i
Hundreds swarmed iyto the little
courtroom and were eagerly awaiting
the rap of Judge Hartwell's gavel.
0. S.T0 CALL
CONFERENCE
OH FINANCES
To Send Out Feelers
, to Europe
.
By A. L. BRADFORD
WASHINGTON, Dsc. 19 The Unit
ed States, as the outstanding move in
its plan to avert a collapse in the old
world, is about to unite the European
powers to make a final attempt to set
tle the German reparations problem,
it was learned from The most authori
tative sources here today.
The "plan" of the United States for
intervention in the European situation
which has filled two continents with
excitement and anticipation, partly be
cause of the deep mystery surrounding
it, can now be revealed by the United
Press. It follows:
1. Believing that reparations is thj
key to the present European crisis the
United States will participate in a
commission or some other form oi
official inquiry to establish an exac:
figure for Germany to pay. It woula
be a figure that would constitute just
reparations for the war, an amount
that would be up to Germany's capa
city to pay, but not beyond.
Would Adanve Loan.
2. If a settlement of the reparations
problem can be effected by an agree
ment among the European powers on
such a figure, the United. States can
give assurances that American bank
ers stand ready to advance a loan with
the proper security, sufficient to put
Germany on her feet and start her to
wards amortization of the indemnity.
3. i inally the United States govern
ment is willing to adopt a more leni
ent policy on the question of collec
tion of the allied war debt to this
country; tat it is ready to consider
the obligations of each of the debtor
countries on their own merits, grant
ing more leniency in the terms , of col
lection to those countries less able to
pay.
Should this far reaching program be
worked out the United States may lat
er suggest other important internation
al moves such.gs a pact to preserve
peace and to limit land armament.
Delicate Negotiations
The reason for the mysterious
silence that has been maintained by of
ficial Washington since it first be
came evident that the United States
intended to intervene in the European
situation is because of the delicate
stage of the-negotiations incident to
putting the plan into effect. This gov
ernment, by informal inquiries, has
been sounding the European countries
concerned to ascertain whether they
would welcome such an offer of co-operation
from America before extending
a formal invitation.
In conversations and exchanges pass
ing back and forth almost hourly be
tween the United .States and the gov
ernments of Europe and President
Harding, meeting today with his cab
inet, developments may come at any
time that will put the American plans
into motion or perhaps cause them to
be dropped in failure.
Uncertain About France
It is admitted here that one of the
greatest questions in success of the
plans is the reception that will be
given the suggestion by France. It
is hoped France will cooperate, for
it is believed that this will be the
only attempt by this country to aid1
in a settlement of the European prob
lem and the French will be so in
formed. Also there may be developments to
change the plan somewhat 'from the
outline given in this dispatch. It was
said in one authoritative quarter to
day that some word had been received
from Germany that might tend to
broaden the American plan.
Just what form the American invi
tation will take if the informal "feel
ers" assure a favorable reception
abroad, has not yet been revealed. It
i3, probable, however, that a joint note
may be dispatched to Great Britain,
France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and
perhaps, as a matter of form, to
Japan, setting forth the American
offer.
U. S. Would Protest.
The United Press, is informed em
phatically by a high authority of the
government that should France occu
py the Ruhr or take some other such
drastic step the United States would
protest most vigorously.
. However, there is a feeling here
that France does not really intend to
occupy the Ruhr and that Premier
Poincare also has given up any hope
of collecting $900,000,000 from Ger
many as contemplated by the present
repartations total of more than $30.
000,000,000, a figure regarded here as
entirely too high.
It was noted " that American pro
gram dovetails in with the announce
ment of J. P. Morgan "and Co., that
no loans can be made by private bank
ers to Germany until the reparations
question is settled. It is also be
lieved that if such a loar. finally
comes, it will not. be as large as $1.
500,000,000 the amount mentioned In
some press rumors.
POLICEMAN'S HOME
WRECKED BY BLAST
(By United Press)
BALTIMORE, Md., Dec. 19. The
adjoining homes of Patrolman John
Eberling and the Misses Caroline and
Pauline Reuter were wrecked by an
explosion at 3 a. m. today. The ex
plosion tore a big hole in the wall
between the houses and broke glass
in the buildings 75 feet away.
Police and detectives who rushed
to the scene a few minutes after the
explosion were investigating a report
that the policeman's home had been,
dynamited by persons who suspected
he caused a raid on a still which wa3
being run on a lot In the rear of his
home. v