The West Virginian. [volume], December 31, 1914, Image 1

About The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
ibition Is
>f:,. r.>
Jation Issue
iVERNOR OF KANSAS PRE'
D1CTS DRY COUNTRY
BY 1925.
related Press.
3K&', Kansas, Dec. 31.?If the
^Si^Sa a state and not a nat
iSueSfby does the government
a heavy tax on it and grant
?ejtovpeople to engage in the
ffi3|g?8at was the question
. St. John, the first prohibition
or of Kansas, put to the Nat
:onvention of the Intercollegi
obibitigS ^Association here to
purely a state matter
SeaYafooVernment official carry
y to the distillery" continued
rrnff? governor. "The conten
at the liquor question Is purely
ajMMue^hiiB - no foundation: in
5 Justice .or common sense. A
KwSSmehdment "Will he adopt
EfSng^sYnot later than 1917
iree-fourth3 of the states will
5??e5|go'tMater;^han 1920. And
Mji^thereaftar th^ liquor poli
K^%th"o liquor press' will bo
to swear that they were always
^ffTprohlbition."
?OCCUPY
ERMAN ISLAND
i&rSI5S,^Auatrelia?>ia Lon
jteflguHtlsh' forces have oc
Sougainville, the largest of the
l Islands. It was announced
lay that the British flag had
^^OtgverVtfie^iBland on'De
^FiTirwfftfT" lW"f'"" "** i" " V
CE OWLS!
Itipg|ari-installa
The Cankering Fumes Of A
Hellish Couspiracy Exude
From Terre Haute
/f's Counterpart Can Be Found
In Fairmont
The wholesale arrest of those alleged to'be guilty of
conspiracy to corrupt-thie election at Terre Haute, Indiana,
shows what a vigorous investigation of such wrongs will
bring forth. In this dragnet officials and the higher-ups
were caught, and even the mayor of the city was arrested
along with the rest of the alleged offenders and required
to give a bond of $10,0000 before he was released from cus
In some places, and Fairmont'is one of them, the vio
lations of the election laws are so common that they are
condoned with only a passing thought and oftentimes such
offenses are treated; as mere jokes upon the candidate or
party who suffers as a result of-the "joke.'1
In Terre Haute these things were common matter of
fact political exegencies and so treated by those who were
permitted from year to year to benefit by such corrupt
practices, but when an outraged public opinion demanded
an investigation and the disclosures were so glaring, the
law took on a more serious attitude towards such prac
tices. This is shown by the very large bonds required to
secure release from prison.
The president of the Terre Haute Board of Public
Works was another high official who came in and surren
dered to the officials, knowing that the coils of the law were
about to tighten about him. In all, 94 arrests have been
made. This is one of the* biggest efforts at cleaning up
crookedness in elections that has occurred since Judge
Blair did the same thing, onl yon a bigger scale, in Adams
county, Ohio, a few years ago, when hundreds of the so
called best citizens of the county were brought into court
and confesed to accepting bribes.
The people generally hav6 little idea how.many men
accept bribes and think lightly of it, as the practice is so
common in this coUnty. Few people would believe that
election officials who are sworh not to do so, will pass the
word outside of the election rooms to paymasters on the
outside, telling how the floaters votedSjJt is hard to believe
these charges, but they are so. It is diffifeilftilbjbfelieve that
grand juries are packed to prevent indictments for such
offenses, but it only takes five men of the sixteen on a grand
jury to prevent any indictment.
The trouble with the West -Virginiia election laws is
that they are intended to be prohibitive in their provisions
but they do not prohibit The offenses arejaid down and the
'penalties are severe'enough^aritfiir some'Sistances'it may
be stated they are too severe to be enforced, but while these
provisions are there they do not safeguard the elections.
The thing the law should do is to prevent election frauds
and bribery, arid not seek merely to punish for such of
fenses. Punishing a voter for selling his vote or punishing
the man who buys the vote does not restore the office to
the man who is cheated out of it. It is like locking the sta
Dle door after the horse is stolen.
The election laws of this state can be made to protect
the ballot and they can be made so they will be enforced.
? The election laws of West Virginia provide a penalty
(Continued on Page Nine.)
Canada Murder
Case, Settled
CORONER'S JURY ABSOLVES SOL
DIERS WHO KILLEW AMER
ICAN HUNTER.
BUFFALO. N. Y? Deo. 31.?A coro
ner's jury at Fort Erie, Ont., empan
eled to Investigate the death of Wal
ter Smith, the Buffalo man shot by
Canadian soldiers Monday, returned
Its verdict yesterday after hearing the
testimony of the soldiers, Thomas De
laney, a provincial police officer, and
several eye witnesses. ,
The verdict found Smith met his
death while evading arrest for un
lawfully shooting ducks out of season
in Canadian -waters, by a volley deliv
ered accidentally from the rifles of
three militiamen who were called up
on to assist him. Officer Delaney,
who occupied the. stand for more than
an hour, took the responsibility for
J the whole affair.
GOV. COX ASKED TO
OUST TOLEDO MAYOR
COLUMBUS, Dec. 31.?Removal of
Garl Keller, as mayor of Toledo was
rsked yesterday by City - Solicitor
Thurston and George Kipp of Toledo,
who died charges with Governor Cor
upon which the request is based.
Kapp was deposed yeBterday from
the offlco of safety director of Toledo
by Mayor Keller following an inves
tigation of the afTairs of that city by
' the state civil service commission.
That the mayor has permitted gamh^
ling to flourish was one of the char
gee made against rRoller. Governor.
Cox took the matter under advise-J
Judges Ask New
Law on Divorce
DECIDE TO PRESENT A NUMBER
OF NEW BILLS TO THE
LEGISLATURE.
FARKERSBURG, Dec. 31.?A large
number of bills designed to effect re
form in court procedure in West Vir
ginia will be presented to the. coming
state legislature as a result of a meet
ing here Tuesday afternoon of twelve
of tbe circuit judges of tbe state.
Judge Homer B. Woods, of Harrisville,
was elected president and Judge War
ren B. Kittle, of Fhilippl, secretary.
The whole purpose of the organi
zation is to secure certain judicial re
forms through the legislature which
will be of incalculable benefit to the
state and its people.
Committees were appointed to draft
bills upon-tbe following subjects to
be .presented to tbe legislature:
Amendment of the divorce law of
the state; a blll^ empowering the Su
preme Court to promulgate rules In
respect to Instructions to juries: a
bill proposed by Judge Woods relative
to juvenile offenses and treatment of
such casesjja bill that was suggested
by Judge Dice to divest justices of
the peace of jurisdiction to deal with
juvenile offenders under tbe present
laws; and the amendment or ubapter
125 of the code' relating, tc Readings
and court practice.
German SSldiers With Big
'v~ Take Refuge in
Houses. '
i t*?r"
ii
Marines Pole Boat With (Jun
on Board Through the
German Fire.
As Fast as One Dropped An
other Took the Place Until
Six Were Killed.
By Associated Press.
PARIS. Dec. 31,-rHow the heroic
self sacrifices of six French- blue
Jackets made possible the capture of
St. George's a town less than two
miles of Nieuport is described by a
correspondent in Flanders. He says:
"The attackers had driven the Ger
mans from the advanced trenches but
the* had taken refuge in the houses
in the village. The Germans soon
placed their assailants in position.
The Situation of a force of Belgians
isolated on a strip of land surrounded
by water became critical and the ar
tillery alone was unable to effect any
thing against the enemy. The British
batteries at-Ramcappelle tried, but,
their shells burBt over the trenches. :
Six blue Jackets hoisted a three-lncli
gun on a punt and poled along the ,
canal behind the Tillage running th^ ;
gauntlet of German rifles. As one j
was hit, another took the pole and j
contimfbd until he in turn fell strick
en. Tha sixth man was mortally
?wounded., as with a last push he senL
the punt to the bank where the
French advance guard was waiting.
The gun was quickly landed and a
few shots at 300 yards brought the
houses on top of the Germans, who
retreated into the arms of a battalion
o* Belgians who completed the rout
of the enemy. Meanwhile the French
column' took possession of the heap
of ruins which was, formerly St.
Georges, and before night the engin
eers had established a bridge head,
enabling the allies artillery to de
bauch on the right.bank of Yser.
? . . v -v.j .
- - r* ~ r,
| Official War News
By Associated Press.
PARIS, Dec. 31.?The official state
ment given out by the French war |
office this afternoon is as follows:
"From the sea as far as the Alsne
yesterday passed witti relative calm.
There were artillery exchanges on
some points of the front. In Cham
pagne to the west o fthe Alger farm,
which Is north of Slilery in the neigh
borhood of Rhelms, the enemy during
the night blew up two of our trench
es and then delivered againBt these
positions an atack. which our men re
pulsed. To the north of Mesnll-Les-j
Hurlus we occupied certain positions
on the enemy's second line of defense.
In this same region at a point to tha
north of the farm of Beausejour we
also occupied some trenches.
The enemy delivered a counter at
tack, but he was driven back. We
then resumed the offensive and we
were successful in gaining some more
ground. In this same zone and furth
'er to the east, certain German forces
which were advancing to deliver a
counter attack agalnst UBwere
'brought under flre of our ariillcry and
dispersed. In, the Argonne In the vi
cinity of Fontalne-Madame, we ex
ploded a mine and occupied the re
sultant excavations. Thlsgaveus
slight advance. Between the Meuse
and the Moselle in the region of the
forest of Monte Mart about 160 yards
|of German" trenches fell Into our
hands In Upper Alsace French troop3
have entered the village of Stelnbach j
and have occupied with house to house,
fighting one-half of the community. I
By Associated Press.
BERLIN,.wireless to London, Dec.!
31.?The official statement given out |
in Berlin this afternoon readi.as fol
lows: '
"In the western arena of tfilSjjwi
jesterdayj passed-comparetlvely'^Quiet I
on the coUt.. The enemy , dlrdcfed [
their Are on the west end snd de
stroyed, part of-certain houses, there,
but without ^causing. ',; any^mllltioy
damage. An Mpffre^French om pany
waj annlhllateJKwhen .we blew up
their lines near Alger"farm. South of
Ithelms strong French attacks noitn
ct Camp Chalons, .were everywhere
lepulsed. In'the western Argonne r- 1
., . j
15 '
Ot PAIKMUI\1
psf TOMORROW AS
WEST VIRGINIAN GUEST'S
King's Daughters of the M. P. Temple Will Serve the Re
past at 2 O'clock in the Y. M. C. A.
Building.
Free Tickets Can be Procured at the, Fairmont News
CompaAy and tile Marion News
?T Agency.
The gastronomlcal propensities of
every newsboy in the city win be com
pletely satiated at the big turkey din
ner to be served Friday, New' Year's
day, by the King's Daughters of the
People's Temple. The repast Is glvon
by the West Virginian. At 2 o'clock
the news venders will gather around
building tomorrow ail: 30 o'clock and
from there go to the Y. M. C. A.
Among the features of the occasion
will be an address by Mayor Anthony
Bowfen, head of the city board of af
fairs. who will have something good
in the way of encouraging each boy
to reallie the hope of his aspirations.
the tables In- the Y. M. C. -A. dining] The Y. M. C. A. will be open tomor
row and the lads will have an op
portunity to enjoy a good time In .the
swimming- pool' and at other amuse
ments to be afforded In the building.
It Is tbe Intention to give the lads the
time.of thelrllves. That he will have
it is assured for - every detail in the
preparation has been worked out.
There is nothing wanting now except
the boys who are expected to furnish
the appetites necessary for the full
enjoyment of'the affair. The boys can
be relied upon to be present. Thoy
will be the guests of the Y. M. C. A.
at the basketball game to be played
tomorrow night on the Y. M. C. A.
gym floor between the local associa
tion's; quintet and the Grafton asso
ciation's team.
<? NEW YEARS I8SUE. ?>
? Several inquiries have come ?>
<? to. the West Virginian office to- ?
<>s day in regard to the issue on <?
?> tomorrow. New Year's Day."' t
*r The paper will be published, $
?> the same as usual and adver- ?>
?> tisors can prepare their regu- ??
iar Friday advertisements. ?>
A Record Apple
Crop This Year
WE8T VIRGINIA RANKS THIRD IN |
NUMBER OF BUSHELS
PRODUCED.
. , .
rBy--Associated-Press. .
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.^-Thls
rear's apple crop wasthd largest ever
' , ' *, Hi
produced in the United State*. Esti
mates announced today by - the De
partment of Agriculture, placed the
1014 yield at 679,000,000 bushels or
114,000,000 more than produced last
year. Among the states leading lu
production this; year were Pennsyl
vania 23,100,000; Ohio 13,300,000; and
West Virginia 12,400,000.
Use Biplane to
carry Supplies
AUSTRIAN8 IN BESEIQED CITY
HAVE RUN 8H0RT OF PRO
VISIONS.
By Associated Press.
PETROGRAD, via London, Dec. 31.?
The Russians who are beselglng the
Qaliclan fortress of Przemyl yesterday
brought down an Austrian biplane,
flying from the Carpathians was at
tempting to reach the city. The place
fn the biplane usually occupied by a
military observer waB filed with boxes
and bags of canned foods.
^ Przemysl, which is one of the most
Important strongholds of Gallcla,' has
'been under selge by the Russians tor
everal weeks, and it has been reported
hat the Austrian defenders of that-city
are suffering from lack'of food. Re
ports from German sources, however,
.stated that there were In Prxemysl food
supplies sufficient for a year.
SUNDAY'S CHORISTER
SETTLES DAMAGE SUIT|
*TKD PBWH.I
PITTSBURGH, Dec..31.?Homer. A.
Rodijfaeaver, the , evangelistic singer,
announced here today.that.be had set
i tied-'for. a money .consideration^
$60,000, breach .of'promiie.anlt brought
against Sim by Miss Georgia Jay, a
.'Chicago stenographer. . Rodeheaver
' dlfc/nofr^jge - the amount paid In set
tlement ,'eMhe claim,-but - It was re^
portrt^?w?jl0,000.
Miss Jay Mcured a verdict for $20,-1
ioof mimmer hut tha court Bet I
England Will
r Note
In a few Days
AMERICAN AMBASSADOR PAGE |
CONVERSES WITH ENGLISH
SECRETARY.
RETURN NOTE WILL BE WRITTEN I
IN SAME FRIENDLY TERMS
A8 U. 8. MESSAGE.
By Associated Press.
LONDON, Eng., Dee. 31?Walter |
Hlnes. Page, the American ambassa
dor to England, had an extended con
versation this afternoon with Sir Ed
ward/Grey, the British secretary for
foreign affalrs-onS the subject of Presi
dent Wilson's note of protest against
the detention of 'American shipping
by British warships.
As the, note had been discussed by|
members of wttie ' British cabinet .yes
terday the foreign secretary was ablB
to present to the American ambassa
dor the combined views of himself
and his colleagues.
The official information bureau this I
afternoon gave out the following state
ment:
"An answer to the American note
will he drawn up as soon as possible.
It will be In the same friendly spirit
in which the American note Is writ
ten."
The premium at Lloyd's to insure
against the outbreak of war between
the. United States and Great Britain
was cut in half today. Seven guineas
per cent is now asked as against 15
guineas per cent quoted when the
contents of the American note of pro
test regarding American shipping first
became known In England.
GERMAN SOCIALIST
WANTS WAR STOPPED |
By Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 31.?Carl Lieb-|
knecht, the socialist member of the |
German Reichstag who attracted con
siderable attention to himself early in
December by being the only member
of the RelchBtag who voted against
a new war credit has sent a New
dear's message to the British social'
ists in which he calls on the workers
of the world to unite in a war against
the^war.
This communication Is ilubllshed in |
a newspaper called "The Labor Lead
er." Mr. Llebknecht declares that
the masses everywhere loath this war
and lie says that among German work
ers" there is", a . much, greater degree
of opposition to It, than generally
has been supposed. ?
CmcAWM^YEAR
3
By Associated;?
MomCAGbrDecr'Sl^A-quKrter-ofta
mliitiffiSflotlart-wiH-be spentftonlght
for food and drink by ChlcaKmm;
cordl^3^^
cafestand hoti
for tables h"
bhbh
? ^ ? T W ? ? W ? ? ? 1
Active Participation of i
Least Three Nations Will
No General Assau]t??TOiffifl
Made on German
Present.
Russians Are Still Masters i
Eastern Thea'tre^bj||^
By Associated Press.
BULLETIN.
COPENHAGEN, (via .London),
Dec. 31.?A private
celved here from. BcrliniMysyiiat|
over 30 French and British war
ships are at present engaged^nj
bombarding Tola, the Austrian
naval base, on the AdrlatlC^a'nSJalj
to the seaport of RoulgnoJJljwSti
15 mllea away. . , fvj/Si
LONDON, Oec.
Indications In Londyi KatMtna|
entire .continental ^polfMeauBM
uatlon which Involves Gresee,
Italy, Roumanla and Portugal Is
developing day by day. tven the
participation In the war of at
least some ^6fji'these3M^reB';TOmj
will-become a reality. This ts the
view of certaln'0f>Vhn?j^^s>a9gImi
mentators on the aluatlon. Among
the factors contributing to tills
situation Is Italy's occupation of
Avlona and the reported racial
unrest In Austro-Hungary.
Where' the"'Roukiw^^a'4B|e^gi|
of Emperor Frinela Joseph are
..Bald to be on the point of rebelli
on as well?ai?o?!gna>i^'@MlTO
ed aggreMlonllf^ng&sEtlw W)r
tugese possession la Western
' Africa. The German air raid on
the channel ports of Dunkirk In
Franco gives basis for belief that
vlslta of thlsikJnSf
frequent from now on.
It would appear that tjw Brltls*
iald on Tuxhaen aroused In the Qer
raanB a spirit of retaliation and Bng
land Judging from the expression ap
Fearing In newspapers Is Jnst as anx
lous to deliver, blow for blow In thli
ADVANCE POSTPONED.
There are Increasing: Indications In
the opinion of British observers of
events on the continent that s seri
ous allied offensive movement against
the whole German line in the west
ern arena will he poatp>onSafawro&i
a time as larger contingents of Lord
Kitchener's new army takes the Held.
The losses of the allies sustained to
the presnt tim in the tentative thrust
forward here aridHhere haveSlj-gaa
heavy in pfopo?l6n to the gains and
ers united In the opinion that the sac
rifices entailed by a general advance
at this time would be too great The
turn of events In the eastern theater
cf hostilities whsre Rusala app^^^to
sltates, nevertheless a continued hard
pressure against the
ing any more of their troops to the
allied forces bavo to solve. The in
vaders have thrown up exceptionally
End they have two army corps quart
to any concerted move forward In or