Daily Tribune, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 8 September 1915 — Page 1
FIRST EIGHT AIOXTIIS, 1»15. *iUL20,416 HY..„IO,55IJ
.'Mil1
CALLS
ON SECRETARY NDUMBACASE
Breaks Another Precedent In Connection With Affair Involving Austrian Official.
SITUATION MORE SERIOUS WITH LATE DEVELOPMENTS
Ambassador Quoted As Saying His Government Ordered Effort to Tie Up U. S. Munition
Plants.
'•4
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8.—President Wilson went to the state department today and conferred with Secretary' Lansing. It was generally understood they discussed the case of Dr. Dumba, the Austrian ambassadoi jj- The president's action was so unusual that white house and state department attaches were slow to realize what had happened. So far as officials could recall the only precedent for a president going to call on a secretary of state was recorded when President .McKinloy went to call cn Secretary ""Hay.
The president's call was not arranged In advance. He left his study and passed out of the executive offices through a little used entrance, crossed the avenue which separates the white house from the state, war and navy buHding and walked up ithe main stairway unattended while dozens of surprised tourists and employes stopped to look. The president continued on up the inner stairways and into one of the long corridors leading to Secretary Lansing's private office, where he passed by the messenger on the door and entered unannounced.
Mrs. Lansing was calling on her husj*fo»nd and the secretary was at his desk with his coat removed:
Men of the secret service £uard piled 6ut of house and into the state department building through ail Entrances and some of them Anally caught up with the president as he was about to enter Mr. Lansing's office. It has been customary for th? president to summon the secretary to the white house when he wished to confer with him. President Wilson, however, has departed from that custom a great deal by using the telephone. He has shown it to be Tils habit, however, to visit the other officials when he has something Important to talk about and as was the case today he does it without being ann6unced. ..... Dumba Confers.
Late ^rtfeterday Ambassador Dumba conferr^St at length with Secretary Lansing about the correspondent taken from an American correspondent by British secret service men which disclosed that the Austrian ambassador was concerned in a project to interfere with the operations of American munitions plants. The ambassador explained that his government had instructed him to give widest publicity to a decree making it a criminal offense for any Austro-Hungarian to be concerned in the manufacture of munitions of war for his country's enemies.
So far as was known the ambassador did not disclaim his action nor did he disclaim having reported on the project to his home government. The state department takes the view that there is no precedent to cover his case, but it regards the use of an American passport for a messenger to one of the belligerent ports as serious.
Secretary Lansing heard all Dr. Dumba had to say and let it be known that he would present the ambassador's explanation to the president. It is known that officials regarded Dr. Dumba's statement that he had acted on instruction of his government as making the situation more grave, as they previously had assumed that he was acting for himself.
After spending fifteen minutes with Secretary' Lansing:, the president started back for the white house.
DENIES VON TIRPITZ WILL RESIGN OFFICE
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 8.—Reports that Admiral Von Tirpitz, German minister of marine, intends to resign are inventions, although it is true that he plans to take a brief vacation, according to the Berlin correspondent of the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, who claims to have obtained his information from excellent authority.
TAX RHE
1
For the thirtf^fconsecutive year tha tax rate in the e&y will rem^n the same, by Reason ofrlhe council. failure to act before" the-Jirst Morijdi- in September. This was-the notification ir which was received by~££. G. Wallace,
1'^ a
^county auditor,, from GHarles Man,^oourt, city^ controller, "-Wednesday ^-morning., &
U. S. WEATHER REPORT.
TEMPERATURE RECORD, SEPT. S. fi a. 70 Noon 84 9 a. 76 3 p. 87
Relative humidity at 2 p. m., 60 per cent.
LOCAL CONDITIONS AT 7 A. SEPT. s, id tn. Station pressure, 29.30 temperature, 71 highest temperature yesterday, 84 lowest temperature last night, 7 precipitation, 49 direction of wind, south velocity of .wind, nine miles per hour state of weather, partly cloudy relative humidity, 91 per cent.
FORECAST.
TERRE HAUTE—Probably showers tonight and Thursday slightly cooler. INDIANA—Probably showers tonight and Thursday somewhat lower temperat re
OTHER LOCAL REPORTS. Temperature by Buntin's thermometer: 7. a. m., 75: 2 p. m., 90.
River Stage—2.5 feet standing.
MAYOR BELL'S E
Defense Quickly Accepts Jury and Turns Panel Over to Prosecutors.
ROACH ASKS POLITICS AND RELIGION OF TALESMEN
Also Whether They Were "Wet" and "Dry" or New Line or Old Line Democrats—Frequent Clashes.
INDIANAPOLIS. Sept. 8.—A Jury, tentatively agreed upon by the defense, was passed today for examination by the state in the trial o„ E. Bell, char ^cy. The fetatfsnmti-exa-mifred' one andwas starting on the second member of the Jury, When the noon recess was taken. The defense did not use one of its ten peremptory challenges.
the trial of Mayor Joseph
VMShSr
Joseph H. -Roach, .deputy.prosecutor, dwelt at length in his questioning of the veniremen on his fraternal, religious and political offiliations, and also asked if he were acquainted with or related to any of the 127 men'indicted with Mayor Bell. Tha weight the (venireman would give, if chosen as a juror, to the testimony of co-conspirators also was inquired into, as eight of the men indicted with the mayor have pleaded guilty.
The session was enlivened by numerous clashes between attorneys over the admission of questions by the defense as to the influence the attacks of a local newspaper on Mayor Bell would have, and later over questions by the state regarding the defendants' alleged connections with the liquor interests.
The jury box was filled oy ttte calling of William W. Spray and Joseph G. Seerley. Henry Spaan, of counsel for Mayor Bell, resumed examining the veniremen, taking Mr. Spray, a mail carrier of West Newton, first. The examination had no gone far until counsel got into a lengthy argument over questions concerning the activity of a local newspaper in the case. One question, was: "If it should appear In the evidence that Richard Smith, who operates the News, had a personal grudge against Mayor Bell and used the columns of his paper to incite the public against him in an effort to have him indicted, would that influence your verdict?"
Joseph H. Roach, special prosecutor, objected. He argued that counsel for the defense was attempting to bring extraneous matter into the case and
Continued on Page 10, Column 3.
BOARD GIVES PERMIT
The erection of a $750,000 coke and coal plant, under the name of the In diana Coke and Gas company, was assured, according eo Paul N. Bogart, president of the company, Wednesday morning, when the board of public works granted the petition of the company to tap the city sewer at Thirteenth and Ilulman streets. The company has aft option on several acres of land southeast of Thirteenth and Hulman streets, but could not purchase the ground until assurance was given that the sewer could be tapped.
Bogart said the contract for the purchase of the land would be closed without delay and building operations begun quickly.
10 DEAD IN AIR RAID
LONDON, Sept. 8.—Ten persons were killed and forty-six "others were wounded in the German air raid c11' the east cot of England last night.
VOL. XLI.—NO. 100. TERRE HAUTE, IND., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8,1915.
UNION OFFICIAL ENDS HIS LIFE WORRY CAUSE
Dead Body of Cliff Morrison Found Early Wednesday With Carbolic Acid Bottle Nearby.
FACED CHARGE OF ROBBERY UNDER AN OLD INDICTMENT
Owner of Place Near Where Corpse Was Found Says Dead Man Had Threatened to Kill
Himself.
Cliff Morrison, 82 years old, vice president of the local ^bartendero' union and an active member ot the Eagles' lodge, committed suicide some time Tuesday night in the rear of the old Crapo house, First and Poplar streets, by swallowing the contents ol an ounce bottle of carbolic acid. The bottle and a glass were found nearby.
When found by a patron of' the place who entered by the rear door the man was lying on his face with ane hand thrown over his head. Mark* on the ground indicated that Morrison bad died in great agony.
The police department was notified and TBicycleman Dan Jones responded, taking charge of the body until the arrival of the coroner when it was transferred to the Ball undertaking
estabr
lishment. Ill health and worry are supposed have caused the suicide. About threa years ago Morrison was indicted on a charge of robbing a patron of the Brinkman hotel, where he was then working. He at first denied the charge, but' later took the officers to the rear of his mother's home at Third and Park streets where more than $400 was found buried. The last court record show* that he Jvid beeh released under
A&ttdlftft to MMtgftrtiery. owner v/f the -^rap6 saloon, the man threatened Tuesday night to commit suicide. ,7
Was Union Official."
1
Montgomery told the police that MorFison had been drinking and did not work Tuesday night, being around the saloon shortly before closing time. Montgomery says, however, that Morrison left the saloon before closing time arid nothing more was seen of him. Montgomery says he left the hall door open to Morrison's room in order to show him the way upstairs. He says when he closed the saloon Morrison was not in the back yard, as he went out to close the back door and looked around.
An examination showed the bed had not been occupied and it is the opinion of the police that Morrison committed the deed shortly after the saloon had closed.
The funeral arrangements have not been made. It is said Morrison has a sister living In Ohio.
981,000,000 IIIMS OF WHEAT PREDICTED
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8.—Prospects of a billion bushel wheat crop thie year were increased by today's government report which forecast 981,000,000 bushels based on its September 1 canvass.
Spring wheat indicates a crop of 8-22,000,000 bushels, an increase of 16,000,000 since the August prediction was made.
STONINGTON, Me., Sept. 8.—The passenger steamers J. T. Morse and Pemaquid were in collision today in a thick fog off Turki island near here. The Morse was badly damaged below the water line and was beached. All her passengers, who numbered nearly 100, were landed safely. The Pemaquid was not injured.
.X,
/EVERY WEDNESDAY
7
IS
(SUBURBAN DAY
IN
Terrel Haute.
S
The llrtail Merchants' association has arranged to have every Wednesday Sat'urltnn day and has secured the cooperation of all merchant* in the city to rtake that fthoppini day here for the people within. the buying rudiutt of Terre Haute, "ii
The Trlbtme *vill he & directory to tk« So bar ban day bargain*. Watch The Triliaite and keep posted where to make your dollar tco fartbena.
THE TERRE HAUTE TRIBUNE
Officers of Indiana Electrical Association Here for Convention
E. J. CONDON, T. P. GROVEH,
Vive President, AnKola. President, Terre- Haute.,
J. W. ROBB, '-.i'
Advisory Comtolttee, Clinton.
IS STILL IN PROGRESS
-,, /.
Business Men Ask Off From Service— Circuit Court Takes Up Criminal Cases.
That there would be no attempt on the part of the Circuit Court to settle any of the civil cases on the docket this term was the announcement of Judge Charles Pulliam Wednesday morning at the opening of court. In order to facilitate the cleaning up of the criminal docket all the time of the court will be devoted toward this end.
Another unsuccessful attempt was made to empanel the grand jury. Two of those who consented to serve Tuesday were disqualified by the court when examined as to their qualifications to serve, having served, on the Superior Court jury at a previous term. They were Andrew F. Winn, a carpenter, and A. D. McCracklin, a farmer of Riley. W. T. Burnett, a traveling
Continued on Page 2, Column 2.
IE AMERICAN KILLED III HESPERIAN ATTACK
QUEENSTOWN, Sept. 8.—It has been established that an American named Wolff was lost on the Hesperian. Wolff signed as an able seaman of the Hesperian's crew. He came from Newark, N. J., and was of Dutch parentage/ ..f.'iV-
LONDON, Sept. 8.—Wesley Frost, American consul at Queensi wn, informed the American embassy here today that he had received an unconfirmed report that one. of the missing sailors of the Hesperian was an American citizen. Thus far Mr. Frost has been unable to verify the report.
BTRLIN, Sept. 8.—Persons in a position to speak with authority assert positively the conJviction that the steamship Hesperian was not torpedoed by a German submarine at least, under the conditions thus far described.
QUEENSTOWN, Sept. 8.—There is absolutely no doubt that a gun was mounted on the Hesperian. It is understood the gun was visible to all who cared to look at it, no secret being made of its presence.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8.—Secretary .Lansing today cabled Ambassador Gerard at Berlin to forward, any information available on the sinking of the steam ,r Hesperian.
rr
pr
5
Vj&'HOJ 'Secretary, Lafayette.
ELECTRIC LIGHT KEN •OPEN MEETING NERE
Ax
State Convention Promises to Be Largest Yet Held—Grover Gives Address of Welcome.
Terre Haute was the mecca of electrical men from all parts of Indiana and some points in Ohio, Illinois and other states, the occasion being the opening.Wednesday of the seventh annual convention of the Indiana Electric Light association. While not nearly all of the electrical men had registered early Wednesday, the in dications were that the meeting will be one Of the largest yet held, officials said. The convention will be in session at the Hotel Deming for three days.
The program called for meetings of the executive, advisory, entertainment and local arrangement committees at 9 o'clock Wednesday morning, but owing to the press of business the committees wei^ late in getting to their work and it was nearly 11 o'clock when the first business session was called to order by President T/ F. Grover, who formally opened the convention with an address of welcome.
Discusses Lower Rates.
"Notwithstanding greatly increased service for greatly reduced cost to the consumer, we are Slill met with a popular demand for lower rates," said Mr. Grover. "This, as all other questions
Continued on Page 3, Column 2.
FRENCH STEAMER SUNK
PARIS, Sept. 8.—The French steamship Guatemala has been torpedoed' and sunk about fifty miles off Belle Isle. Her crew escaped in two boats. The men were picked up by a British steamer and taken into St. Nazaire.
The Guatemala was a vessel o{ 5,010 tons gross. The latest reports of the Gautemala's movements was her arrival at St. Nazaire July 23, from Buenos Ayres.
LA ROCHELLE, France, Sept. 8.— The British steamer Garony, of Liverpool, was fired upon and sunk by a German submarine last night. Her crew was saved.
LONDON, Sept. 8—The British steamship Douro has been sunk by gunfire, presumably from a submarine. Her crew was saved. •.
LONDON, Sept. 8.—The Russian steamship Rhea has been sunk. Her crew was landed. The Rhea, 1,146 tons gross, was owned in Helsingfors. There are no records of her recent movements.
"W^TTTT
:Sx5
^'••7
TOW
ant mums
•v.-.*..
Two Years.
BAD ACCOUNTS ASSIGNED
Fejr£Enind
II SUPREME COfflMlD
Transfers Chief of the Russ Armies to Caucasus and Assumes Full Charge of the Land and Sea Operations
SHIFT FOLLOWS MANY DEFEATS
PETROGBAD, Sept. 8.—Grand Duke Nicholas has been transferred to the Caucasus by. Emperor Nicholas. The emperor took this action on assuming command of the military and naval forces of Russia.
In transferring the grand duke he appointed him vioeroy of the Cau* casus and oommander-in-chief of the army on the southern front. The transfer was made in connection with a general reorganization of such importance that it has stirred the nation deeply.
The grand duke replaoes the famous viceroy of the Cauoasus, Count
Vorontzoff-Dashkoff. Emperor Nicholas addressed to the count a comma* nication acknowledging the value of his labors, and stating that he "yields to his request to be perimtted to devote his energies to work for which his state of health is more equal."
The emperor therefore relieves him of the post of viceroy and attaches him to his personal staff.
BULLETIN., .r~-A
BERLIN, Sept. 8.—German forces that have been engaged in battle with the Russians in the district north of the Beiloviezh forest, have captured the city of Wolkowysk, it was announced by German army headquarters^twlay.
LONDON, Sept. 8.—An army order issued by Grand Duke Nicholas, who has been commander-in-chief of the Russian forces, conveys the inference that Emperor Nicholas, in assuming supreme command of his armed forces, h«-q supplanted the grand duke.' The
Local Commission Broker Dropped By Chicago Board of Trade for
f. '-V
S 1
AS CAUSE OF EMBARRASSMENT
•J
Given Good Record By Chicago Bdard But Rules Prevented Settlement Which Would Havo-^t
1
Saved Him.
W. Mosher, the Terre
Halite commission broker, with offices in t^e' McKeen block," whose firm recently became financially Involved, was suspended by the Chichago board of trade Tuesday. The Chicago Herald today publishes the following account of the case: "Ferdinand W. Mosher of Terre Haute, Ind., was suspended from the Chicago board of trade yesterday for two years. His sentence is under the insolvency act. Mosher pleaded gruilty and made a statement of his affairs. "For thirty-three years Mosher was in the grain and stock brokerage business at Terre Haute, and failed August 6 with liabilities of $22,000. An examination of his books showed that he had accepted orders for execution on the Chicago board of trade while insolvent
Given Good Record.
"No irregularity in the trading was discovered. His Chicago correspondents were Ware & Leland, who give Mosher a good record. trouble dates back to .1909, the Patten year,' said Mr. Mosher. 'I have struggled along trying to get eVen and falling back a little at times. Then the war came and caught me short. In trying to make up my specur latlons were not successful. At the age of 60 I find myself tied up. I was in hopes of getting only six months' suspension. It would {five me a chance to go to work and pay up my indebtedness.'
Ware & Leland, one of the largest commission houses in Chicago, .will take over the business of Mosher here and it will be continued as usual. Mr. Daniel Lynch, who has been with Mr. Mosher for twenty-five years, will continue in the same capacity under Ware & Leland.
Mosher's Statement.
Mr. Mosher said Wednesday "We asked the board of trade to Investigate our books and they checked them back for the past' five years. They did not find a discrepancy of a sixteenth of a cent and the members of the examining committee congratulated us on the fact. Our embarrassment is due simply to carrying accounts for customers who were unable to close their trades when the time came and we bore the brunt. It
Contlnued on Pao* 8» Column 4
WKATHEB
SHOWERS.,
FOUR O'CLOCK—ONE CENT
DUKE
Von
order is addressed to the valiant army and fleet." The announcement as forwarded from Petrograd to Reuters Telegrom company says that the emperor has placed himself at the head of the military and naval forces. The grand duke thanks them for their heroism in the past. He predicts that, with the emperor leading them, they will perform, fresh exploits.
The text of the army Order, announcing his asfeuohptlon of command, Issued and signed by the emperor,
1
is
quoted as follows: "Today I have taken supreme command of all my forces of the sea and of the land armies operating. in th6 theatre of i*ar. "With firm faith in the clemency of God and with, unshaken assurance of final victory, we shall fulfill our saduty to defend ow country td the last. We shall not dishonor the Russian •laiid." i.
The action of Emperor Nicholas la transferring his cousin, the grand duke, to the Caucasian front, is perhaps the most important change of this nature which has been made by any of the belligerent nations. The only comparable incident was the retirement by Emperor William,. in October of last year, of Lieut-Gen. Count Helmuth ,Von Moltke as chief of the German general staff.
The post to which Grand Duke Nicholas has been transferred is of relative unimportance as compared with the prestige and vast powers of his former office as commander-in-chief of all Russia's great fighting forOefe. The Caucasian campaign presents only at minor aspect of the war. The Russian and Turkish forces involved In the struggle in the Black sea region are not large.
Although there was heavy fighting in the Caucasus earlier in the war, hostilities have Jjfcen conducted In only a perfunctory manner for several months, as both of the nations involved had need of all available forces other quarters.
NEW OFFENSIVE LIKELY.
Indictaions Are That Allies A¥e Planning Big Stroke. LONDON, Sept. 8.—Emperor Nicholas Is now in supreme command of the Russian military and nalval forces in the fighting zones, and Grand Duke Nicholas, who' as commander-in-chief of the Russian forces wari one of th$ most conspicuous figures of the war, has been transferred to the Caucasus. London is speculating as to what section of the long eastern front will be selected by the emperor for his headquarters.
At the present moment Courland appears to be the crucial sector of thef line. Gen. Ruzsky is in command there,' and Field Marshal Von Hindenburg apparently is not making any great progress against him.
The central sector has been held by Grand Duke Nicholas, and efforts of the Germans to drive a wedge through the swamps are proceeding slowly. The Galiclan wing, In command of General Ivanoff, i« making a stubborn stand against' the Austr|ans. and Germans, who are engaged in a tremendous effort to drive the last Russian from Austrian soil.
Weather conditions, which, in p&st wars, have proved an efficient ally of the Russians, are again intervening On their side. A dispatch published in a^. Copenhagen newspaper says the rivers have been swollen by autumn floods to such an extent that they promised to form an impassable barrier to further advance of the invaders.
On the other fronts events point to a concerted movement by the allies. The French commander-in-chief, General Joffre, has returned from a visit to his Italian colleague, General Cadorena. British warships and the guns along the Belgian coast have joined the chorus of artillery fire along the western front. All this gives support to the growing Belief In London that an offensive movement of some nature will, soon mark the operations, of the allies In the west