Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 44, Number 321, 25 October 1919 — Page 1

THE RICHMOND) PAIXAJJ

IUM

xmi vt TXi Vn QOI PallaJtum.Et. 1831. Conolldted VOL. XLlV.,rsU. 31 -ith Bun-TUgram 107. RICHMOND, IND., SATURDAY EVENING, OCT. 25, 1919 SINGLE COPY 3 CENTS

STEEL STRIKE OVER IN EAST SAYS W. WHITE

Writer Sees Danger of Revolution in Failure of Metal Workers to Get What They Want. AMERICANISM NEEDED . BY WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE (Copyright, 1919. by The Wheeler Syndicate. Inc.) PITTSBURGH. Oct 25. The steel trlke la the East has passed the peak. As the children would say "they are letting the old cat diet" The two strikes called the steel strike differ bo much that having written briefly of the strike In the west something- of the eastern phase should be said, even If that phase Is a declining phase. For It yet has life enough In It to produce Incipient revo- - lutlon. Indeed. In Its present stage the steel strike even In the East Is vastly more dangerous than In Its more lively and active stage. For If the failure of the strike becomes acute, the men still out will leave the conservative leadership of the American Federation of Labor, and being desperate the only labor group that will take them In Is the I. W. W. group. If It takes charge of the steel strike, even of the fag end of the steel strike, the I. W. W. will at once seek revolution. Of course revolution will not come. Force will put it down. But force is a dangerous medicine in a democracy. It is a habit forming drug! Sooner or later we shall get too much of It, and it will finally fail to work. Insist on Americanism. The reporters who talked with the senators who visited the steel strike feel that the senate committee divided upon certain things rather temperamentally. Yet certain things they agreed upon. The senate committee seemed to feel that the first need of the district was Americanization. And that need means, of course, the 8-hour day. No American will work on a 12-hour shift. But If the shift is changed. If the men are not paid for 8 hours what they are now getting for 14 hours, then Indeed there will be a strike that will be a real strike. So In the program of Americanization the first thing needed is to convince the companies that they must pay heartily for the job. Another need to make the district American is beauty. The American will not live in squalid places. Beauty costs money company money. And if the district Is to be Americanized the company must spend money for flowers and trees and pleasant houses. In the west the company has done this, and it has vastly more Americans in Gary than in McKee's Rock. And also these Americans seem to be harder to handle than the foreigners in McKee's Rock. Gary is under martial law. The state constabulary is sufficient in McKee's Rock. So the business of making the mill American is no simple matter. It la most expensive. Schools in the east are helping greatly. The Little Poles and Letts and Finns are coming out of the Pennsylvania schools talking like Americans, looking like Americans and voting like wise. They fought like Americans in Europe for the American flag and some of them who now are strikers are asking curious straight American questions, which the company must answer when this "cruel war Is over." Skilled Men in West. In the west the skilled men seemed .to be out in larger numbers than in the east. In the east the day laborers form the bulk of the strikers. This Fomewhat is due to heredity. Sons of the strike-breakers of homestead in 1S92 are now in the eastern plants, and they have no use for unionism; and what is more they have stock in the Bteel company. For nearly 30 years they have been accumulating money. They live well and these skilled men are Americanized. Tiiere Is no question about the Quality of the men who do the skilled work of the mills east or west. They are a fine type of men. Most of these

skilled workers are at least second inf unlawfully making whisky, generation Americans, even though I I they have foreign names. They have I a . r, r a the American look. Our countrv has jeflfllC Lommittee IXejeClS overcome their blood; America has by, William OS Controller

men who have generations of Euro pean blood in them cast their features and figures and very souls in the American mold. While the stel strike Is waning in th east, it may hold out until the coal strike comes, and the two strikes reinforced by the railroad strike. Then the steel strike even in Pennsylvania would flare up beyond question. Th?re is a curious psychology of strikos. They beget one another. The strike feeling is something like the mob feeling. If coal and railroads trke. steel will renew its strike. The men will take courage and loin. If in that hour they have passed from the control of conservative labor to radical Jnbor they will be hnrd to handle with the winter deepening and food . and fuel hich. We must not forget that In this cominar conflict revolution has a tremendous ally In the calendar. January, February, and March are dangerous labor leaders. And unless the strike is checked in the cast and checked in the west, and unless some atrency of arbitration is found the dying stride of the steel men may bocomo a serious ! menace to peace and order. JACKSON TOWNSHIP FARMERS MEET MONDAY CAMBRIDGE CITY, Oct. 25 Farmer'? of Jackson township will meet at ITurst opera house Monday evening at 8 o'clock. Lewis Taylor, state organizer of the Farmers' Federation will address the men in the interest of the state farmers organic tfnn

Baptists Lower Service

Flag; Welcome boys Twenty-nine ex-service men, their fathers, mothers, and wives, of the First Baptist Church, were guests at a banquet in the church dining rooms Friday evening. The service flag which hung throughout the war was lowered and put away. Speaking on the "Heroism of Peace" the Rev. H. M. Spear, of Shelbyville told the returned men, that with all due respect to the courageous heroism of war, t' , heroism of peace is an eauallv Kieat thing. "You boys are facing the test of good citizenship, and I hope it will not find you wanting in your stand for the foundations of our country, saia the speaker. Following the banquet an Informal reception, attended by over 100, was held in the church parlors, and at the close of the evening light refreshments were served. Several informal music al numbers and a reading were given. SERVICE MEN'S FAIR PROMISES TO BE HUGE SUCCESS With a $3,000 automobile as a gift the Service Men's Indoor fair, to be given at the Coliseum on Novem ber 17, has surpassed la size and val ue, anything of its kind ever attempt ed in Richmond Gifts continued to pour into the headquarters in the Commercial club rooms Friday and Saturday, and ai though the canvassers have not com pleted their lists, the total value or the gifts is now well above $iu,uuu All of the gifts will be on display at McConaha's show rooms for about two weeks before the fair. A meeting of tne service men of the community will be held Monday evening at which time further details of the fair will be worked out. Every former service man is urged to attend this meeting. Following is an additional list of gifts contributed: Union National bank, cash $100; First National bank, cash ?100; Elks' lodge, cash $50; Swayne Robinson Co., ensilage cutter $307; Independent Ice and Fuel Co., 2 tons Ice $20; D. and M. Piston Ring Co.. Ford piston rings, $25; Wayne Works. 5 hoe grain drill, $50; Seidel Buggy Co., one set solid rubber tires, $18; North Star Refrigerator Co., refrigerator $50; Advance Co., merchandise $50; Sam Fred, man's suit $50; Pilot Motor Car Co., 4 tires and tubes $152.40. Prestolite storage battery $38, Motometer $7.50, auto jack $3.50, two dozen spark plug3 $24. International Harvester Co., Primrose cream separator, $85; C. H. Sudhoff and Son, merchandise, $5; Burrouehs Addinz Machine Co., 25 rolls paper, $3.50; Bennett and Parker, real estate, 2 sacks Gold Medal flour; Miller Harness store, traveling bag, $18; Haner Jewelry store, merchandise $20. ANTI-STRIKE BILLS WILL MEAN STRIKE (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 Passage by either house of congress, of the anti-strike legislation contained in the pending railroad bill would result in a general strike vote throughout the country, officials of the American Federation of Labor said today. Biggest Distillery in Ohio, Suspends Business CLEVELAND, O., Oct. 25. What Sheriff E. J. Hanratty today termed the largest distillery in Northwestern Ohio since the advent of Prohibition was uncovered in a raid on 8 farm houses in Euclid township, near here. by deputy sheriffs, detectives and federal agents. Eighty-five gallons of raisin whisky, 9 stills and 60 cases of raisins were seized. In addition, several thousand dollars' worth of merchandise stolen from railroads and a stolen automobile were found. v-a orroets wcrp made nn charges WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 By a vote of 9 to 7, the senate banking committee today recommended rejection of the nomination of Controller John Skelton Williams to be controller of the currency. Second Legion Post To Be Organized in Wayne County Former service men of the western part of the county will meet at Cambridge City Nov. 2 to organize a post of the American Legion. The post is planned to comprise the second conscription district, which includes practically the entire western half of the county. Judge Raymond Springer, of Connersville, head of the Indiana branch of the American legion, will address the meeting and will assist in the organization of a post. DOCKM EN'S STRIKE REMAINS UNSETTLED (By Associated Press) NEW YORK. Oct. 25. The longshoremen's strike seemed further from settlement than ever today, although President T. V. O'Connor of the International Longshoremen's association predicted that the port tie up would end Sunday. Mayor Hylan, one of the three conciliators appointed by Secretary of Labor Wilson, arranged another conference today with stevedores in the hope of arbitrating their eriPVRnces

RED REPORTS

CAMOUFLAGE -RATTENBERG Gary Striker Tells Senate Committee Radical Rumors Are Designed to Hurt Strik ers Cause. ARE WITHOUT BASIS (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. Reports of "Red" activities in the steel strike have been exaggerated the senate com mittee investigating the strike was told today by W. A. Rattenburg, a striker, from Gary, Ind "All of this weight has been put on talk about radicals to hurt us," he said, "It's a ghost conjured up since the strike began. This is an Amer lean Federation of Labor strike." Strikers wanted an 8-hour day, and "collective bargaining", Rattenburg said, adding that wages were not par ticularly the issue. His own pay aver ages $12 a day for 12 hours. "We can't protect ourselves unless we have organization," he explained "The wages now are paid on a basic 8-hour rate, f the hours were reduced the pay would come down. We want ed to negotiate that question." Knew No Radicals. Denying all knowledge of anarchls tic or I. W. W. associations in Gary, Rattenburg said all he knew of it was from newspaper reports which he did not believe, he said. Startling statements as to condi tions at Gary were made yesterday be lore the committee by Lieutenan Donald C. Van Buren, military intelli gence officer who declared a "red" plot was in formation there to overthrow the government and assume control of industry. An attempt was ( made, he added, to form a "red guard with discharged soldiers as the armed force of the radical element. TROTSKY AND STAFF CAPTURED, IS RUMOR (Bv Associated Press) COPENHAGEN, Oct. 25. The entire staff of Leon Trotsky, Bolshevikl minister of war, and marine of Russia, has been captured at TsarskoeSelo, according to a Reval dispatch to the National Tidende. Trotsky himself escaped by clinging to a railroad car and later fleeing from the scene in an automobile. TroopE of the northwestern Russian army pur sued the minister and fired upon his car but Trotsky succeeded in reaching Petrograd. The left flank of General Yudenitch's army is reported to be under fire from. the Bolshevik dreadnought Poltava, which is lying in the Neva River, inside of the limits of Petrograd, and Bhootlng over the house tops. TROTSKY SEES DANGER LONDON, Oct. 24. Trotsky, in describing the soviet counter offensive and capture of Pavlovsk, south of Petrograd, and the repulse of the anti-Bolshevik forces in the Pskov sector says: "The danger hanging over Petrograd has been driven back but not yet definitely removed," according to a wireless dispatch received here from Moscow. Rallying under the command of Trotsky, troops of the Russian soviet government have savagely attacked the lines of the Russian Northwestern army and have succeeded in parrying for the moment at least, the thrust of the latter against Petrograd, according to reports reaching here. Tsarakoye, Selo and Pavlovsk, south of Petrograd, have been recaptured from the forces of Gen. Udenitch, It is claimed and the advance of the Bolsheviki continues. Educated Wives, Demand of Oriental Warriors (By Associated Press) NEW YORK, Oct. 25. Another world demand which the war has rendered greater than the available supply Is for educated wives, according to reports from foreign missionaries received today by the Interchurch World Movement of North America. "The demand." says a statement issued at Interchurch headquarters, "is particularly great in the Orient and Africa, where millions of men have returned from the armies of the allies, after having had a glimpse of occidental marriage relations, and found them desirable. "According to one missionary's report, a young Moslem sheik offered to pass up the four native wives allotted to him by the Koran, if the missionary would bring him an educated American girl to share his salt and his camel's hair tent." Germans Must Evacuate to Show Good Faith, Mueller Tells Assembly (By Associated Press) T3TrT?T TV VrWav Oct 21 Ttl thf course of a long address before the National Assembly which consisted mainly of a protest against recent address by Premier Clemenceau and what was called 'the "militaristic tendency" of France toward Germany, as well as the inconsistent spirit shown in the formation of the league of nations, Foreign Minister Mueller insisted today upon the necessity for a speedy German evacuation of Lithuania and Letvia. He said this step was necessary to convince the world of Germany's sincere desire for peace.

Working Girl, 23 Years Old, Wins $1 0,000 Prize as Most Beautiful Woman in New York

Miss Alice Louise Seeker. Miss Alice Louise Seeker, factory employe, has Just been awarded

prize of $10,000 for being the prettiest ducted bv a New York newsnaner and

picture producer; Harrison Fisher, magazine illustrator, and George M. Cohan,

theatrical producer and playwright. Alas, for the Taste of A Vanished Drink, the Smell of A Cork That' 's Dry I The following "poem," dedicated to Sheriff Clem Carr, "Buck" Wenger. Ed McNally and Linus Meredith was received by Ed McNally, chief of detectives, Saturday: A ROOKIE'S LAMENT From Indiana Harbor, Indiana You fellows that leep in your feathers at night, And eat at your homes every day Who come when you please and go where you will, And always have money to pay. Can easily see how this suffering bunch With liberty put on the blink, Would barter an eye, or a tooth, or a leg, For the boom of an old fashioned drink. It's awful to be under orders all day And tied to a post through the night, It's awful to eat a "mess" that is bum When at home you would be if you might. But its' pleasant to dream in a lazy old way,. It's pleasant to just lis and think Of how it would feel if a fellow just had The smell of an old-fashioned drink. "L. A. Handley, Carl Wadman, EJ N. Wilson, M. J. Malsby. Carl Eggemeyer, LeRoy Hodge and Doc C. A. Harrison." What affect the appeal would have, the local men would not sav! OHIO GUARD IS MOBILIZED; RiOT OCCURS AT CANTON (By Associated Press) COLUMBUS, O., Oct. 25 Upon receiving reports of serious rioting at rantnn. in rnnnpofim with tne sTpp strike, Goveruor Cox shortly after noon today ordered practically tiio entire guard mobilized at Akron, for immediate duty at Canton. Every available machine gun company and 7 infantry companies were ordered mobilized. The mobilization order followed a report to the Bov - v. j - . X I t the adjutant general's office who has been making a personal investiga tion at Canton. 1 At the same time Governor Cox sent a telegram to Mayor Charles E. Poorman of Canton, notifying him that he would be expected to bring about immediate order. The teleeram stated that if this be summoned to the governors office Monday to show cause why he should not be removed from office immediately. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ORGANIZATION PLANNED (By Associated Press) ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Oct. 25. Work of perfecting a plan for a per manent international organization of business men in accordance with the unanimous vote of the International trade conference at its closing ses sion last night, was begun today by a special committee of 10 members, 2 each from Great Britain. France. ; Italy. Belgium and the United States. BELGIANS TO MAKE ONLY 1 CALL AT WHITE HOUSE (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. The official itinerary for the visit here of King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, includes one call at the white house, which will be Thursday, October 30, when they will take tea I informally with Mrs. Wilson.

girl in New York. The contest was con thp. lnritres wem Tl W flHfflth mnlnn MEXICO MUST PAY JENKINS RANSOM U.S. ULTIMATUM (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. Demands were made on the Mexican government today by the state department that it effect the relief of William O. Jenkins, American consular agent at Puebla, unharmed, even though it is necessary for Mexico to pay the $150.000 ransom, demanded by the bandits who kidnapped him. While this note was going forward, Senator Myers, Democrat, of Montana, introduced a resolution asking President Wilson to "use all the armed forces of the United States" in securing the release of Jenkins. The meas ure will be called up Monday. The resolution also would direct that those responsible for the abduction of the consular agent be apprehended and punished. Senator Myers sought immediate action on the resolution but Senator Smoot, Republican, of Utah, objected on the ground that a matter calling for "such broad action" should not be considered hastily. Mrs. Susan Walker Dies; Funeral Service Monday Mrs. Susan Walker, 78 years old, died at her residence, 18 North Eighteenth street at 5 o'clock, Saturday morning from senility. She was born in Indiana in 1841 and has been a resident of Richmond for several years. Surviving her are two daughters, Mrs. Frank Land and Mrs. Edwin Perfect, of Omaha, Neb. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the parlors of Doan and Sons. 1 funeral directors, and will be strictly i private. Burial will be In the Centerville, Ind., cemetery. j ; Cold SnCD Dae in KlCtimOnd T OniStlt m. m m Thfi m "cnan" nrnrmcoi m, vicinity is due to arrive not later than Saturday nitrht WpntSormn ! M" or B " Ternner4tiire ays. Temperatures will ' bclow th "freezlne noint anrl th ! (h wim conUrme Sunday ana i Monday. 'This will be the last chance te save any garden truck or grain from a killing frost." Moore said. Weather Forecast '..For Indiana, by the United States ! Weather Bureau Cloudy and much 1 ij j. . i a. iL 1 V 1 . . j I comer lonigm, wun piooaDiy rain 10 nignt ana bunaay. Today's Temperature. Noon 70 Yesterday. Maximum 60 Minimum 4" For Wayne County, by W. E. Moore Mostly cloudy and much colder tonight and Sunday. Rains, possibly turning to snow flurries. Southeast winds will shift to northwest. General Conditions The western storm continues to move slowly and has two centers, one over the Mississippi valley and the other over the far southwest. Rains are falling generally on the east side of the storm, and snow is reported over the north and west. Record breaking cold weather has prevailed during the lai.t 24 hours over Montana and Wyoming 6 degrees below zero at Billings aid Yellowstone Park. This is the coldost weather for the season in the history of that section. The cold weather probably will last only a few days, as it is s-ettine warmer over Alaska.

Home for Friendless to Ask Supplies and Money The annuar donation of supplies for the Home of the Friendless, 306 South Tenth street, will be received Tuesday, October 28. at the home. Need for supplies is very great, officers of the home nave announced. Among the things most needed are bed and table linen, groceries, fruit (fresh and canned), meat, flour, vegetables, clothing and furniture. Money will be thankfully received also, the president, Mrs. Lena Ewing, announced. FET2ER SELLS STORE C. D. Fetzer of Richmond, and May or Charle Jewett of Indianapolis, owners of the Book Nook famous candy shop on the Indiana University campus, at Bloomington, have sold the place to a Greek candy store owner of Bloomington, for $25,000.

NEW INDUSTRY MEET IS RECOMMENDATION BY PUBLIC BODY (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Oct. 25. Out of the wTeck of the national industrial conference there would arise a 6mall committee representative of all Interests and entrusted with the task of bringing about a new relationship between capital and labor, should President Wilson adopt the rr ommendations of the public group m the recent garnering. After voting to declare the Industrial conference adjourned sinne die, the public group, the last remaining unit of the conference, last night through its chairman, Bernard M. Ba-! ruch, laid before President Wilson a report asserting that despite its abrupt termination the conference was not without beneficial results, and predicting that the spirit manifested during the 13 days of it ssession aueured well. In a letter transmitting the report to the president, Chairman Baruch asserted that in his opinion as a result of the conference, "there will be manifested an increasing effort on the part of the employers to see that not alone proper wages are paid but that the human rights of the workers are considered. The public group. In its report, emphasizes that the right of collective bargaining the rock on which the conference was wrecked was neither rejected by the conference nor opposed by any single group. The difficulty over the issue, the report points out, arose alone over the method of making collective bargaining effective. This difficulty even could have been overcome, the group believes, had the problem been approached in a different way. With a view of treating the question of collective bargaining as a part of a comprehensive and systematically developed program the group puts forward the proposal for the creation of a small committee. NATION RETURNS TO NORMAL TIME SUNDAY MORNING (By Associated Press' WASHINGTON. Oct. 25 With the turnin back of the clocks of the land, one hour, at two o'clock tomorrow morning the American people again will live by normal time. For two years the clocks were moved forward one hour in the spring and moved back one hour in the fall but from now on the time nlun9 uHll remain on the old time basis as the daylight saving 'aw was, repealed by the present congress after a bitter fight in which President Wilson took a hand. The, law was designed primarily as a war measure to increase food and war material production by offering an additional hour of daylight for workmen. The first complaint over the new time came from the farmers who declared the law was working hardships upon them by causing extreme early rising. Representatives of the farmers nnened the fieht aeainst the measure and aJthoueh President Wilson vetoed ' lilt, ltrutroo. i. 1 ur a n rui;iv.iruL 1 i aI the repeal of the law sufficient rna - i jorities in the house and senate were I secured to sustain the repeal and the davlisht saving law was reDealed. Railroad officers and employes have : been instructed to turn their watches ! back one hour at 2 o'clock Sunday morning. Trains caught in terminals will be required to remain there untill the scheduled time of departure under the new ru!e. saleai Clocks Go Back to Old Time, Sunday Morning Two o'clock Sunday morning is the hour to set back the family chimes, and to acquire that extra hour of hftriiiTir p I n n n l-.-t loci cnrinty beauty sleep lost last spring At that hour the daylight saving law puts back Father Time to where he was last spring. Richmond travellers will not experience any disadvantage in catching trains, for none pass through this city between 12:15 and 4:45, and will therefore be running on schedule, according to the clocks when they get here. BULGARIANS "MODERATE" IN REPLY ON TREATY (By Associated Press) PARIS, Oct. 25. Bulgaria's answer to the terms of peace presented to her by the allied and associated powers is moderate in tone and adheres unreservedly to the clause concerning the leeague of nations and labor. It accepts the principle of the protection of minorities in Bulgaria on condition the same measures are applied to other Balkan states. On the other hand, the reply makes reservations regarding reparation and protests especially against the total sum demanded of Bulgaria.

CABINET IS CONSIDERING COAL STRIKE

President Calls Executive Body Into Conference To Attempt to Prevent Economic Catastrophe. LANSING IS ABSENT (By Associated Press) WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 President Wilson today, through Secretary Tumulty, summoned the cabinet In special session to consider the strike of bituminous coal miners called for next Saturday. Director General Hines, of the railroad administration, was asked to meet with the cabinet to present the situation from the standpoint of the railroads. Secretary Lansing was confined to his home with a cold, and could not attend. All other members of the President's official family were present and Secretary Glass presided. Secretary Tumulty was present to convey the views of President Wilson on the situation. as tney entered the white house, the cabinet officials declined to make an iorecast. Some members, however, were said to hold the belief that stern action was necessary, in the face of the grave Industrial situation existing over the country. A definite program to be placed before President Wilson as to the government's attitude will be formulated by the cabinet this afternoon, it was said at the while house. While no definite position had ben taken when the cabinet recessed for lunch, Secretary Tumulty said the discussion of the morning session disclosed that the president's official family was of one mind, and not a wee bit wobbly. He added that when the program was presented to the president, Mr. Wilson was expected to make a public statement. It is Baid government operation of coal mines had not been discussed. In the senate Senator Thomas introduced a resolution calling upon the executive branch of the government to "vindicate the power and majesty of the law" in the threatened strike. The resolution which is to be called up Monday, declares the strike would "provoke violence, bloodshed and insurrection." Still Squabbling. Representatives of the miners and operators today continued to charge each other with having caused the ending of negotiations. But the fact remained that instructions were going out today to all locals of the United Mine Workers of America to suspend work at midnight, next Friday, and as these instructions went out. consumers the country over looked anxiously into their not too well filled coal bins. Government officials confronted by the greater seriousness of the situation renewed their quest for some means of preventing the walkout which will close operations In the great coalfields of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia. Indiana and Illinois. Further attempt at negotiation seemed hopeless to most officials. In some quarters the oponion was expressed that President Wilson yet might find a way to prevent human suffering and industrial disaster incli i"s as pointed out that under the war time national defense act, still in effect, the President had the power to take over the mines and compel their operation. There was no information forthcoming however, as to whether he would make j another attempt, his efforts yesterday having failed. While the operators accepted the President's proposal, made in a message conveyed to both sides through Secretary Wilson, the miners agreed only to negotiate the disputed questions and held over for consideration i the other proposals, named, that the : coniroversies De suoir.mea to arDitration if negotiations failed and that the mines be kept in operation pending itne negotiation?. Estimates today a? to how long the coal stock of the nation would last j varied but the average figure placed the reserve at little more than one month's supply. GOVENORS TO MEET. DES MOINES, Iowa., Oct. 25. Eight of the nine governors of coal producing states asked ' by Governor W. L. Harding, of Iowa, to express thir views on a conference, at Indianapolis to discuss ways of averting the threatened coal strike, have replied, favoring such a meeting, Governor Harding said today. The conference probably will be held next Wednesday. CITIZENS TO HEAR BETTER HOMES PLAN Better homes for Richmond, which will mean a bigger and better city, will be the object of a plan to be presented to the city's citizens at a meeting to be held in the Commercial club rooms Thursday evening, Oct. 30, by members of the Special Homebuilders' committee of the Commercial club. This committee, which Is composed of Howard Dill. E. F. Hlatt. Fred Gennett. Will Romey. William Bockhoff. James A. Carr and John Mueller, was appointed from the Commercial club members to draft articles of association for the home building plan. The articles of association, as drafted by this committee, will be presented to citizens at this meeting. Invitations have been sent to 400 Interested citizens of Richmond, urging them to attend the meeting.