Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 37, Number 63, 18 January 1912 — Page 1

IXABI AND SUN-TELEGRAM VOL. XXXVII. NO. 63. RICH3IOXD, IXD., THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 18, 1918. SINGLE COPY 2 CENTS.

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POLICE FEAR THAT STRIKERS PLAN TO EMPLOY DYNAMITE

Lawrence Officials Say Desperate Mill Workers Have Plotted to Begin a Reign of Terror Now. GOVERNOR FOSS IS UNDER HEAVY GUARD Guards Around Mill Have Been Ordered to Shoot to Kill Lawrence Today an Armed Camp. (National News Association) LAWRENCE, Mass., Jan. 18. Guards were doubled around all the local mills and In each of them sharphooters were stationed behind the barricaded windows today in fear that the strikers are preparing to Inaugurate a reign of terror by the use of dynamite. Police today declared they had information of a gigantic dynamite plot hatched at a secret meeting of strikers. The assassination of Oovernor Foss and another prominent man and the destruction of the armory, the police station, city hall and cotton mills was plotted. No arrests have been made yet. Precautions were taken as the result of reports that reached the mill officials and the city authorities that large iuantitles of explosives had been hipped to this city rrom Boston. The dynamite Is said to be IB the hands of the anarchistic contingent of the strikers, consisting mainly of foreigners and every possible precaution has been taken to thwart a reported plot to blow up mill buildings. Ordered to Shoot. Tho guards around end in the mill have been ordered to shoot to kill if suspicious characters refuse to move nway hcn ordered and Mayor Michael Scanlon today reiterated his declaration that order must be maintained even at tho cost of bloodshed. Preparations were begun early for n parade of strikers in which the leaders declared 16,000 men would be lined up. Orders were Issued to the state - trccps nwi-porlee-io-gaard the line of inarch carefully and be prepared to deal summarily with violence at the -' first sign of an outbreak. Eight companies of militia with fixed bayonets patrolled the mill district ready to take action at the first sign of an outbreak among the strikers. Tho pickets were driven back from the mills to the north side of Essex street, more than 800 yards away from the nearest mills. Beyond the danger line crowds of strikers watched those who had failed to Join the strike return ta work when the mills opened today. Ice was thrown at a few, but the militiamen- quickly put an end to the trouble, and no serious disturbance occurred. GUARD GOVERNOR. BOSTON, Jan. 18. City and state police are taking every precaution today to prevent any attempt on the life of Oovernor Foss or any of his family by members of an anarchistic band, which, according to Information from Lawrence, has made threats against the governor because of his activity in trying to end the big mill strike. The home of the governor at Jamaica Plain, la closely guarded by policemen. A police escort has also been detailed to guard the governor on his way about the city. A picked quad of 'Italian patrolmen connected with the Boston police department are searching the North and West ends for trace of three New York Italians who are said to have recently arrived In Boston, and who are suspected ot being connected with the plotters. NEW CONSTITUTION (National News Association) CONCORD. N. 1!.. Jan. 18. A number of Important amendments proposed for the state constitution were discussed hee today at the annual meet tag o the New Hampshire board of trade. 1 An election of delegates to the constitutional convention will be held In March and early in the summer the convention will begin its deliberations. V MEETS FRIDAY The Council of the Associated Charities will meet Friday afternoon at onethirty o'clock In the Y. M. C. A. building. THE WEATHER ' TATE AND LOCAL Rain tonight. turning to anew; colder tonight. Friday, clearing and colder; cold wave. HIGH SCHOOL OBSERVATORY Forecast for Richmond and vicinity. Bain, tuning to snow tonight, colder Friday, cbld wave coming. Highest temperature In last 21 hours, 38 at fioon today. Lowest temperature In last 24 hours, 34 at noon yesterday. Temperature at 12:30 p. m. today. 3S. Barometer. 29.9, falling. Direction and velocity of the wind, south. 3 inllea an, hour. Precipitation ia last ft hours 9 inch.

Presidents of

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PLOT TO DESTROY THE ROYAL FAMILY Two Confidential Servants in Imperial Palace Executed Today. (National News Association) PEKIN, Jan. 18. Two Manchu eunuchs, formerly confidential servants in the imperial palace in the Forbidden City, were executed today, . having been convicted in complicity in the plot to destroy the royal family. The two eunuchs were arrested with a third who is being held in-communi-cado. It is reported that the trio made a full confession admitting that they were paid by agents of the republican government to place poison in the food of the reigning family. In spite of the completeness of the confessions which the Manchu authorities declare they have secured, it is believed by many that the admissions were chiefly concocted by Manchu officials to discredit the republican government. Harsh treatment is being accorded all the prisoners arrested for plotting the death of the empress dowager and other members of the royal family. Three of them are said to have been beaten nearly to death by soldiers in an attempt to make them confess the names of alleged republican agents who paid them to betray the Manchu dynasty. All the Infamous cruelties of the . Oriental prison system were brdu'ght to bear upon the eunuchs who were executed today, before they were brought to death. So great has become the fear of the empress dowager that 'she will be poisoned that she employs servants to taste all food and drink which is served before she will eat or allow the baby emperor to partake of it. NEW SCHOOL HOUSE IS AJOSSIBILITY School Board to Meet with West Richmond Association Tomorrow. To discuss the feasibility of erecting another school building in West Richmond, or to build an addition to the Baxter school building, on account of its crowded condition, the ' school board will meet with the West Richmond Improvement association tomorrow evening at the Baxter school building. The school building is crowded to its utmost capacity at the present and agitation has been started for the erection of another school building in the west section of the city. Opinions of prominent members of the West Richmond Improvement association vary considerably. Some believe that a small building should be erected south of the National road, as they think the Baxter building is situated too far north for a large number of smaller children living south of the National road. Others are of the opinion that an addition should be made to the present building, and that three or four more rooms would suffice. ? At the meeting tomorrow evening the question of making a school play ground on the west side will be brought up and discussed, while the members of the school board are present. The committee appointed by the president of the association, composed of Alonzo Gardner, chairman, W. S. Kaufman, Charles Williams and Murry Kenworthy have been working on this matter and they will have a report to present at the meeting. TO ARGUE RECALL (National News Association) CHICAGO, 111.. Jan. 18. A lively interest is manifested In student circles in the annual contests to be held tomorrow evening by the Central Debating league. The league comprises the University of Michigan, University of Chicago and Northwestern university. Each institution will be represented In the contests by two teams, one at home and one abroad. The question selected for debate this year is: "Resolved. That the recall should be adopted for all elective officer, national,, state and municipal excepting members of the judiciary and the president and vice president of the United States."

Four Big Railroad Systems

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From left to right President Underwood of the Erie, President Brown of the New York Central; President McCrea of the Pennsylvania; President Willlard of the B. & O. TWO ELECTROCUTED! RROOMPLANT BURNS Destructive Fire at Logansport New Castle Has a Costly Blaze. (National News Association) LOGANSPORT, Ind., Jan. 18. Samuel Watkins, proprietpr, and Edith Schrader, a stenographer, were electrocuted today at the South side broom factory. Other employes escaped. The factory' was destroyed by Are. Watkins was manipulating a switch which controlled the sp&rker on a oline engine when killed. Miss Schrader was killed while attempting to drag Watkins away, both sustaining the voltage. Their garments caught fire, which spread to the factory. The loss was only $2,000. ELEVATOR FATALITY. ANDERSON. Ind., Jan. 18. Floyd Swlneford, an elevator operator at the Union block, ,met a frightful death this morning when a friend, Ernest Lander, entered the cage ahead of him and manipulated the starting lever, the cage catching Swineford and crushing every bone in his body. BIG NEWCASTLE FIRE. NEW CASTLE. Ind., Jan. 18. Fire in the business district last night damaged the Dingle millinery company, the Woncke dry goods company and Heichert's photograph studio. The aggregate loss is $18,000. FLAMES DRIVE 100 GIRLS JTO STREET Employes in Laundry at Chi cago Have a Narrow Escape Today. (National News Association) ' CHICAGO. Jan. 18. More than 100 girls employed in the plant of the Palace Laundry company, 5925 Lowe avenue, were driven to the street in panic early today when fire which threatened the total destruction of half a dozen big buildings attacked the drying room and spread with fierce rapidity to all parts of the structure. It was with difficulty, that all tha girls were got out safely. Within a few minutes the flames attacked the big plant of the Englewood Sash and Door comoany and spread with startling speed to all sections of this big plant, covering more than half a block. At 9 a. m. flames had jumped into the yards of the Chicago and Western Indiana railroad. The yards were in flames at scattered points - and the destruction of these, too, was threatened. Virtually the fire was in progress over an area of two blocks and through the railway yards. So rapid were the flames that within six minutes a 2-11, a 3-11, alarm and a special call for ten engines were sent in. SO. DAKOTA EDITORS YANKTON. S. D.. Jan. 18. Newspaper editors and publishers of South Dakota gathered here in force today for the mid-winter meeting of the State Press association. The business fcessiens will continue three days and will be interspersed with, several features of entertainment. Len V. Doty of Doland, is the presiding officer.

BIG MINE STRIKE IS APOSSIBLITY English Miners Meet Today to Canvass the Vote Recently Taken. (National News Association) LONDON, Jan. 18. A special conference of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain assembled today in Birmingham to canvass the vote cast by the membership last week on the strike proposition. The outlooK is causing uneasiness in many quarters, for the belief prevails that the count will show an overwhelming majority in favor of the stoppage of work. The leaders of the miners' organization continue to voice their opposition, but the rank and file of the membership is believed to favor extreme measures to enforce their demands and the organization itself will be obliged to abide by the vote of the men. A general strike of the coal miners will mean the most serious industrial disturbance that the United Kingdom has experienced since the dispute in the engineering trades nearly a quarter of a century ago. The total number of men employed in and about the coal mines exceeds 1,000,000. The total output of the mines amounts to about 725,000 tons a day. It is calculated that there is about three weeks' supply of coal in stock. The miners are in a better condition now to engage in a finish fight than they ever were before. Their organization is ofts, of J&esjtj ganlzations in the country, both numerically and financially. The reserve

gas-ifund of the federation at the present

time is believed to amount to $10,000, 000 ot more. What the miners are capable of when they get their backs to the wall was shown in 1893 when 250,000 of them laid down their picks and shovels and remained in idleness for seventeen weeks rather than submit to a 25 per cent reduction in their wages, although they had nothing like the accumulated funds they have now. The demand of the men for a minimum wage is practically the sole" point at issue. Agreement on all other issues has been deemed possible from the Start, but agreement on the question of a minimum wage, which has now entirely displaced all other demands, appears very improbable. The mine owners are a unit In their opposition to the establishment of a mini mum wage. They argue that it would be manifestly unjust to ask an employer to pay a minimum wage to a man irrespective of his ability or disposition to perform a fair day's work. The truth of the mine owners' contention in regard to the injustice of the minimum wage is acknowledged in a measure by the miners, and in this is to be found the one ray of hope that a general strike tmay be averted. The miners have suggested the setting up of a board or commission in each district for dealing with exceptional caees, such as those of men whose age" or ingrmities disqualify them from performing an average day's labor and who, therefore might be employed at a wage below the established minimum. The germ of a possible compromise lies in this suggestion from the miners, and when the Board of Trade i steps in as a mediator for, judging from the present outlook, it seems unlikely the two sides will come together again of their own accord there will be at least one definite suggestion from the men to go upon. DEMOCRATS PLEASED WITH HARMONY PLEA (National News Association) FARGO. N. D., Jan. 18. North Dakota Democrats today expressed their pleasure at the plea made by Gov. Harmon of Ohio here for harmony. j Harmon, setting aside his prepared speech on tax reform in an address before the Northwestern Democrats at a conference here advocated a "get together" movement. "Get together in such a way as to attract those affiliated with other parties, but who believe as we do," he said. ADVENTISTS MEET (National News Association) NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 18. The annual meeting, of the Southern Union conference of Seventh Day Adventists assembled in this city today, with delegates in attendance representing the denomination throughout Kentock, Tennessee, Alabama. Louisiana and Mississippi. The conference -Will last

ten days. V ; "V-

WARNING IS GIVEN

TO LOCAL F Must Observe the Rules or Hand in Resignations, Board Rules. A "shake up" in the fire department is promised by the board of public works if certain rules of the depart ment are not observed. At the meeting of the board Thursday morning complaints registered with members of the board recently were reviewed and the city clerk was instructed to send a notice to each member of the department that further violation of rules would call for a resignation. Mayor Zimmerman said that he had heard that some members of the No. 4 hose company, stationed at South .Ninth and E streets, have been in j the habit of going to nearby saloons while on duty, and that he has heard that they have even carried beer to the hose house. He declared that this would have to cease and that while members of the fire department are on duty none of them shall drink. President Hammond, of the board as well as Mayor Zimmerman has heard that some members of the various hose companies have been leaving the hose houses while they are supposed to be on duty, without permission. The mayor emphatically declared that the firemen are supposed to stay at their respective hose houses while they are "on duty" and are not supposed to leave without the permission of the fire chief, except in cases ! f emergency. A motion to this effect was unanimously passed by the board and the clerk was instructed to notify each member of the department of hhis rule. The mayor further stated that every fireman should be courteous to visitors and to other members of the department. He said that he bad heard that a congenial spirit did not prevail in all of the hose houses and that in one case all of the men were "dowji" on their captain. The board decided to order the proprietors of the Palais Royal store to remove the sign which is in front of the store as the board believes it to be dangerous and contrary to the city ordinance. Attorney P. J. Freeman appeared before the board in behalf of residents of West Main street residing west of Fifth street, and presented the arguments of residents against the proposed widening of he: street. The board took the matter under advisement. " The complaint made by Councilman J. E. Thatcher of the bad condition of the sidewalks on South B street from Sixth to Tenth streets was taken up by the board and the matter was referred to the city engineer with instructions to draw up plans and specifications for cement sidewalks. HOSPITAL ELECTION John L. Rupe Is Again Elected President. At the annual meeting of the board of trustees of the Reid Memorial hospital held Tuesday evening John L. Rupe was elected president, C. W. Ferguson, vice president, Adam H. Bartel, treasurer and John H. Johnson, secretary. Charles E. Marlatt, George H. Eggemeyer and John F. McCarthy were elected trustees. The following committees were appointed: Hospital committee, George H. Eggemeyer, Adam H. Bartel, John H. Nicholson and John L. Rupe; Finance committee, John F. McCarthy, John L. Rupe, John J. Johnson and Adam H. Bartel; Buildings and grounds committee, Charles E. Marlatt, C. W. Ferguson, S. S. Stratton, Jr., and George H. Eggemeyer. The following .physicians were elected on the medical .staff of the institution : Drs. M. F. Johnston, S. C. Markley, Mora Bulla, Chas. Marvel, C. S. Bond, C. P. Colburn, W. W. Zimmerman, J. E. King, J. M. Thurston, F. W. Krueger, J. E. Weller. E. P. Busche and L. F. Ross. FRUIT GROWERS (National News Association) HOUSTON, Texas, Jan. 18. The winter meeting of the Texas,State Horticultural Society began in this city today and will continue over tomorrow. A leading feature of the program will be a conference on the need of experimental work in horticulture for Texas. The conference will be conducted by Dr. Yonngblood. director of the Texas experiment stations. W. MATTHEWS HURT While walking from the court house to the Fourth street sidewalk, yesterday afternoon. William Matthews, county assessor, slipped on the icy walk and fell heavily, spraining his right arm painfully. " ASKS A DIVORCE Alleging desertion Nellie Lewis filed suit for divorce from Paul W. Lewis in the Wayne circuit court yesterday afternoon. The plaintiff also asks the custody of their child, Wilbur. According to the complaint they were married in Covington, Ky., February 28. 1908. The complainant alleges that Lewi left here without cause, Jan-

IREMEII

Juary 15, 1919.

GENERAL OPPOSiTM SWSSm TO STAR CHMER MES

MUNICIPAL BUREAU ENTERS A PROTEST ON "STAR CHAMBER II A Resolution of Protest Pre sented by William Dudley Foulke Was Unanimously Approved Of. GAS CONTRACT NOT READY FOR ACTION - The Time tO Renew a Con tract Is, When It Expires, Not Long Period in Ad vance of That Time. Ata meeting yesterday of the Bureau of Municipal Research, at which Pettis A. Reid presided, a protest was offered by William Dudley Foulke on the method of the board of works in considering franchise matters in private session and it was unanimously concurred in. This protest follows: A Protest Entered. The Bureau of Municipal Research desires to enter a solemn protest to the city government against the consideration at this time of the application made by the Light, Heat and Power company for an extension of twenty-five years in the franchise from the city. This is not the time to consider any such proposition. The pre sent franchise has still over three years to run .and the slight reduction in rates offered for this long extension is not sufficient consideration for tieing the city up in a twenty-five years' contract. The time to renew a contract of this kind is when it expires, and not at a long period in advance of that time. A public service corporation becomes much more ' amenable to reason when its rights to use the streets of the city and to extract from our citizens a -most unreasonable rate Sot gas is approaching an immediate 1 termination. There, has been nothing. in the past relations between the Light, Heat and Power company and the city of Richmond to justify any special favor on our part or any early consideration of their claims. Their former rates for electricity were so extortionate that when the city constructed its plant it was able at once to reduce by more than twenty per cent the charge for lighting at the crossings, besides making large reductions to private consumers of electricity. But it has continued its extortionate rates in regard to the gas supply. Through its superintendent at this place it promised an early Consideration of reduction when it bought the plant of the Natural Gas company. Yet these were not given. At the present it is demanding and receiving $1 a thousand for gas which could be furnished at a reasonable profit for a little over 70 cents. Attempting Too Much. The consideration of this proposed franchise before the water works fran chise has been settled would indicate' a disposition on the part of the city government to take up two difficult public service propositions before they have been able to settle one. It is in just such a way as this, by application for new , contracts far ahead of the expiration of old ones, by secret meetings of the board of works and others, not exposed to the scrutiny of the people, and sometimes by means far more discreditable and even corrupt, that public' corporations of this kind succeed in binding up cities for long terms by unconscionable contracts. If the negotiations are continued, the people should have the fullest knowledge of every step taken, at every point, and. in some way, the questions ought to be submitted; to them for their approval. It is possible that a law will soon be passed by the legislature that questions like -these must be submitted to tbepeople before adoption, and that a public Utilities Commission will be, appointed which will decide, after hearing testimony of experts, what is a proper rate to be charged and what are the proper conditions of a franchise like this. By making the con tract now we anticipate all such provisions for the protection of the public to give to the Light, Heat and Power company the benefit of every contingency. A .contract ought not to run for twenty-five years, which is now the extreme limit of the law, it ought to terminate at an earlier period or better si, It, ought to be indeterminate with the right of revocation at any time upon due notice. Constructive Franchise. A constructive franchise policy must provide: 1 Adequate and continuous service, and standard quality. 2 The permanent upkeep of the property at the practicable maximum of efficiency. 3 Extensions of service as needed. . 4 Reasonable and uniform rates, to provide an adequate" return upon the capital invested. & Unity in operation, subject - to public supervision and also for the

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PROTESTS ENTERED

ON BOARD HOLDING PRIVATE MEETINGS A. Bavis, Secretary of Progressive League, Denounces Plan, and E. M. Campfield Calls It Unfair. PUBLICITY ON ALL OF CITY'S AFFAIRS Bavis Asks Why Board Disregards Advice of City Attorney Regarding Advertising for All Bids. To the Board of Public Works, Richmond, Indiana. Gentlemen: As a citizen of the city, of Richmond and as a bidder for the Water Works Contract and Franchise and prospective bidder for the gas franchise, we object to and protest against the consideration of said matters and bids in secret or star chamber session of said Board be lieving that the same is Illegal and unfair to the bidder and against the best interests o! the city and its inhabitants, and, we desire here with to file this written objection and protest to any such action. .Yours truly, Edwin M. Campfleld Company. A. Bavis, secretary of the Progressive league, which is to make a study of local civic conditions, is out with a vigorous protest against the announc ed policy of the board of public works of considering public service franchis es at private meetings. He demands the fullest publicity "to all matters pertaining to such public affairs. A similar protest has been entered by Edwin M. Campfleld, who wants a gas franchias his. protest, printed above, has been filed with the board. . Mr. Bavis has sent the following communication to the local newspapers: " " A Protest by Bavis. The Richmond Palladium: Believing it possible, but very improbable to underestimate the capacily of the board of public works In handling public contracts which carry with it valuable franchise rights, the citizens have the privilege, Inspired by a financial interest in all the civic affairs of our city to Insist that the fullest publicity be given, from Its incipiency, to all matters pertaining to such public affairs. The parallel Mayor Zimmerman tried to create in his reference to a private business man not consulting the public-, is no analogy whatever, the private business man is transacting his own private affairs and if he makes a mistake he alone suffers tho consequence, but Mayor Zimmemau is conducting the business of the public and if he makes a mistake the people pays the penalty and not Mayor Zimmerman. If the press feels like allowing me to speak plain, I must say the manner in which the water works question was handled, in strict violation of the law, by holding secret sessions a&d learning the nature of the one bid before such a bid was duly advertised for. thus putting possible competitors I to a decided disadvantage; if the actions of the board on that occasion and their present act, in having prepared a contract for a new gas franchise without advertising is to be taken as a criterion, it will not be far fetched to cay: it may be possible for them to deal with two or more such questions at one time, but it would come nearer the truth to say they might deal more successfully with one such question, in two times trying. The city attorney. Gardner, advised the returning of tho bids to the Water Works company, citing the law which stipulates that such bids must be advertised which was subsequently done. Why do the beard of works go contrary to his advice? Are they law unto themselves?; , Mr.' Campfleld has intimated his intention of entering a bid 1 for a gas franchise, this being the case, why is one company favored with star chambered sessions, while the other is barred front such privilege? ' It would be wrong to do it In either case and why should it be done at aU? The motion of Councilman Wesset was strictly in order if it was acceptable as a protest against the considtiation of any bid that has not been legally advertised and the laying of it "on the table without the seconder's (Councilman Welshaupt's) consent, stands as a new wrinkle in parliamentary usage! r. Such a motion did not imply a lack of harmony between the board of public woTks and the legislative department, (the council) only so far as a determination on their part to play fair with the public by not allowing the gas franchise to crowd' out the-

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