The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 10, 1919, Image 1
tTBBC S?MTER WATOHMAiY, Estab'
Consolidated Aug:. 2,1
S=rSir
AM) SM. F?LL
? ?. . .
Senator From New Mexico and
Senator Hitchcock Visit
President Wilson
CONFER ON THE PRES
ENT MEXICAN SITUATION
Senator Fall Appeared Satisfied
and JThinks the President is
Strong Mentally
Washington. Dec. 5.?Two senators,
delegated by the foreign relations
committee to confer with President
Wilson on the Mexican crisis and re
port whether in their opinion the pres
ident by reason of his illness was un
able to exercise his functions, left
the White House after a conference
of three-quarters of an hour with
him today agreeing that 'he was in
touch with recent developments and
was mentally keen enough to form
judgments on the questions confront
ing the nation.
In the midst of the conference,
while Senator Fall, Republican, of
* JCew Mexico was outlining the evi
Sjj, dence on which he is urging a break
of diplomatic relations, the president
atid his callers were informed that"
WV.Hiam O. Jenkins, the American
consular agent, jailed iii Puebla, had
been released. The advices left some
. doubt as to the circumstances, but the
development was accepted generally
as relieving somewhat relations be
tween the two governments.
The discussion with the president
produced no definite conclusion as to,
Miexican relations, but it was regard
ed everywhere as bearing on a sub- j
ject of endless speculation in con- j
gressional circles whether long ill- j
ness of the chief executive has to any '
) extent rendered him physically incu- j
-pable of the duties of the presidency. !
Propped up in bed. the president talk- j
ed of m?ny features of the Mexican j
tangle. With a right hand and arm \
? free above the bed cover, the seha
:gtoraV$aid,_,he, shook hands, with-.-them-J
" "ra^r?^iooit up and read papers which j
were on the table beside him. He ?
was .described as weak and nervous,
but it was said he jested about ex- '
aggerated reports of his illness and
promised within a few days to give
congress his advice on what it should |
do about Mxeico.
"He appeared to be a sick man." j
raid Senator Fall afterward, "but men- J
tally alert and perfectly able to cope j
with a question with which he might j
-Tiavo to deal. He appeared l<? me, !
certainly, in as gi>od mental co?di- j
tion as any man could be after being j
ill for nin?- or ten weeks."
The other delegate of the commit- j
tee. Senator Hitchcock. Democrat, of!
Nebraska said the president seemed
greatly improved since be saw him
.two weeks ago.
"My opinion is that he has been a
very sick man. but is improving,"
said Senator Hitchcock. "He has a
7>retty good idea of the Mexican sit
uation and although he did not give
? final decision on the subject be in
dicated That too many serious consid
erations were involved toiwarrsnt any
hasty action.,"
The conference with the president
which the foreign relations committee
decided to request yesterday after
Secretary Lansing had told it that
he had not .seen his chief during the
recent Mexican negotiations, was
quickly arranged this morning when
\ the two senators got in touch with
the White House. They were told
that if they considered it urgent to
see Mr. Wilson, they would be permit
ted to do so. An appointment ac
cordingly was arranged lor 2:3" in
the afternoon^
As the callers arrived they were
met by Dr. Grayson. and Mrs. Wilson,
who conducted them to the sick
room. Asked how long they might
remain, the president's physician re
plied that he would leave that en
tirely to ihe judgment of tbe two
visitors. Mrs. Wilson remained in tie
room throughout the conference.
Announcement of Jenkins' release,
it was said by those preesnt, gave
the conference its only dramatic turn
The news was telephoned to the
White House after the two senators
had arrived, and was communicated
to Dr. Grayson by Secretary Tumulty.
Returning to the siek room while
Senator Fall, one of the bitterest
critics of the administration's p;ist
policy toward Mexico, was in the
tnidst of his argument for a diplo
matic break. Dr. Grayson informed
the president that Jenkins had be- a
set free.
All of those present expressed grat
ification at ihe news, and den Sena
tor Fa!! resumed his statement. H*?
is chairman of a committee which has
investigated lie- whole subject -of
Mexican relations and h ? i<>ld :h'
president of much of the evidence
turned up by the inquiry especially
regarding tho alleged activities of
Mexican officials in spreading Bol
shevist propaganda in this country.
Senator Fal also gave the presi
dent a copy of his resolution asking
that diplomatic relations with Car
raqza be withdrawn. This resolution
now is before tie- foreign relations
committee which nreets again M-bnda*.
to a'-r upon it. it was said the presi
dent expressed no final judgment re
garrting it but indicated he wouid
give his advic? to the co.mmitte to
congress by the end ;>f rhe week.
/
4&ed April, 18so.
"Be Just s,
881. SU1
! Attorney General Palmer Is-'
i
sues Statement on the
Subject
_ i
I HE IS NOW ON WAY
t I
j TO. INDIANAPOLIS
i !
j I
j Momentous Conference to Be<
l ? ?' ? . ?, i
i Held By Miners and Officials
Tomorrow ?'
-
Washington. Dee. 7.?Government
proposals for settling the coal strike j
were tonight cloaked in a veil of rn'ys- j
i tery which promised to lift only at;
j Indianapolis Tuesday when the fed-!
eral court and the leaders of the Uni- j
ted Mine Workers alike will be called j
upon to consider them.
Attorney General Palmerand his;
special assistant. Judge Ames, were |
traveling to Indianapolis tonight on j
the same'train with John L. Lewis,!
acting president, and William Green,!
secretary of the mine workers union.;
whose secret visit and equally secret j
conference yesterday with Mr. Palm
er and Joseph Tumulty, secretary to j
President Wilson, resulted in a pro-1
visional agreement to settie. Not one j
of the participants of the conference
would discuss* its meaning or intent.
Before boarding the tr?M for In
| dianapons Mr. Palmer, however, said
i he was'quite sure that the end of the J
j strike was in sight. It was learned I
that he would confer with Judge An-!
derson of the federal district court on |
reaching Indianapolis,
i Fuel Administrator Garfield speak
ing with brevity and emphasis, added;
I only doubt to the situation.
"My position has not been budged
one inch and will not be," he said.
It was recalled that yesterday Dr. |
j Garfield has reiterated that not one!
[cent could be added to the price of
I coal to finance wage increases to the'
miners greater than the 14 per cent
: he suggested which % operators could
pay out of profits, arid that the gpv-t
ernmem was behind hTm in the stand, j
It also was pointed out that on Novem j
ber 26- he. suggested this basis of
agreement to the miners, with a pro
viso that an arbitration commission j
be appointed by the president to re
view his decision wilhipowcr to change
it if the commission should find eco
nomical justifiaction. This proposal
the miners' representatives then in
stantly rejected.
From other authoritative sources,
there was only the attorney general's
statement issued last midnight thai
L*'a definite concrete proposition from
the president looking to the speedy
j settlement of the strike" .had been be
fore Lewis and Green and Hist th-v
' had agreed to recommend it to the
national board and i???1J?\ committee
! of the mine worker:;' union.
The miriers representatives, it de
veloped today, arrived in Washington
?at noon Saturday and were closeted
i until midnight with the attorney gen-j
eral. They went from the department]
\ of justice to the home of a friend and '
'did hot appear until train time to-1
j night, and would not talk, or add any
lining to the attorney general's pub
lished version of the situation. Who
'sent for the miners' leaders, or wheth
i er they came to Washington of their;
i own accord, was a question left un
i ' j
?answered by all concerned.
j That the step taken guaranteed the!
[cessation of the coal strike on the
part of the organized miners still was'
not claimed anywhere. A definite si- ]
jlence was maintained officially on this:
? point. Likewise, the executive com-j
jmittee of bituminous coal operators!
j watching the governmental activities
? had no information which it would di-!
vulge tonight.
Gossip was active over the situation !
which has involved almost exclusive!
attention of most government chiefs
for two weeks. It was said in labor!
circlefs that the president's proposal
would result in giving th^ miners
more th'ah previous government sug
gestions would allow, oilier versionsj
said that a practical repetition of Dr. j
Gar?eld's arbitration offer'had been
provisionally accepted by the mine!
workers' union chiefs. i
It was further said thai a differ
ence of method in dealing with the
st? ike had developed among the gov
ernment agenci's chiefly concerned,
though all were working towards a
settlement. But in responsible quar
ters only silence of statements guard
ed to ibe utmost were available.
Meanwhile Dr. Garficld labored
most of the day on a multitude of de
tails of the great job of trying \>> con
serve every pound of coal. Officials
were confident thai the country would
weather the emergency and those who
professed i" see early settlement <?!
Ihe strike on '?? rnis agreed by ih<* :it
t<nn<y general :md Lewis predict**'!
thai it would be only n short while
before the coal output would be back
to normal.
Meanwhile, however, the fuel ad
ministration acting with regional coal
committees continued to maintain
restriction of fuel supplies of concerns
not on the priority list and to re
luce pa.ssenprer train service to what
it was in war days.
New York. nee. *; N'i>:?- teams
Were tied for the lead in tile si> d;iv
bicycle race as s a. m. with 2.22-1
lud*", in * ?: in laps, which i:
xijK -j behind ihe record.
od Fear not?Let ?0 the ends Thou At
?TER, S. C, WEDNESl
(jT'\M""Tlr''m'y^
President Wilson Personally
Outlines Basis of Settle
ment of Controversy
MEMORANDUM WRIT
TEN BY EXECUTIVE
Official Washington Expects
Settlement to Be Reached
Tomorrow Afternoon .
j Washington, Dec. 8.?Hope for tlje
settlement tomorrow afternoon of tiie
j "controversy between the miners arid
the government" is expressed in
formal statement issued today at th;
White House. The utmost secrecy st?l
surrounds the president's proposal
and Secretary Tumulty and other oi
, facials refused to supplement the state
? ment. It is learned, however, thajt
j the proposal made to miners wafe
from President Wilson himself an$
was in the form of a memorandum
written bv him.
STRIKE PROPOSAL
NOT DISCLOSE^
Washington. Dec x.?The public m
stiP in the dark today as to .the govj
,ern*/ient*s last move in ihe coal strike*
Nothing of the nature of the proposals
has been made public, either by " the|
miners or officials, but comfort ia
taken in the statement by Attorney*
General Palmer last night that he wait
sure the end of the strike was in>
sight. The success or failure of ins
plan cannot be determined until Tues-$
?Jay when the federal court at Indian
apolis and the strike, leaders will con
sider it.
Mass Meeting of Citizens Held
In Opposition to Grace's
Usurpation
MAYOR HYDE WILL
NOT RUN AGAIN
Lawrence M. Pinckney is Urg
ed to Be Candidate to Oppose
j Grace
Charleston. Dec. r>.?Some 300 'anti
I Grace" men held a public meeting to
'< night and, after adopting resolutions
I to the effect that no nominee of the
; Democratic party had been properly
I selected. John P. Grace being merely
i the candidate of 1 :> men. it was as
jserted. and that the meeting nominate
I a candidate for the people of Char
! lesion to elect on December 9 as may
j or J. L. Gantt nominated Lawrence
I M. Pinckney. the nomianiion being
carried by a "hand primary."
j A commitiee was dispatched to no
i tify Mr. Pinckney at his home of his
I selection as the mayoralty candidate
j of the meeting. Mr. Pinckney sent
j word he appreciated the honor, but
i said he would not be able to give his
[answer on accepting or rejecting the
i nomination until tomorrow. Another
j meeting will be held Saturday night
j to receive Mr. Pinckney's decision.
XV. K. Powers, a pipe fitter, presid
ed at the meeting. He stated its
[purpose to be an expression of qu?li
: fied electors of Charleston who were
in sympathy with the decision of
'the supreme court or of the execu
tive committee. He referred to Mi-.
Hyde's statement that he would not
j be a candidate in the general election
as throwing cold water on the move
ment In- spoke for ,hui he was en
couraged, In- said, by the large and
representtaive gathering before him.
A collection for funds netted about
$150.
J. L. Gantt presented the resolutions
and nominated Mr. Pinckney. Ad
dresses were mad< by F. B. McLeod.
who referred to ??the parting of the
ways" and urged thai there was no
mayoralty nominee binding the Dem
ocratic primary voters. .1. A. Rose
mond. a machinist. T. T. Bolger. a
florist and F. Simmons. Only a
mayoralty candidate was nominated.
This action tonighi makes ii practi
cally certain thai Mr. Grace will have
Opposition in the general election for
the office of mayor. Those at the
meeting were mainly of the Hyde fac
tion and many are weil known citi
zens.
STATEMENT MADE
BY D'ANNUNZIO
Fiume. Sunday. !><"?<?. "??Gabriele
I >'.\nnan/.io assured the Associated
Press correspondent today thai he is
not preparing an expedition against
Spalato or Liabaicb. lie gave his
word of honor thai this statemeni is
true.
ms't at be thy Country's. I by God's ft
DAY, DECEMBER 10, 1!
I
i - _
i I
j The Allies Consent to Eliminate,
I Some of Objectionable Fea
tures of Protocol
j ;
*
i _
I i
i GERMANS EXPECTED
i J
I TO SIGN TREATY SOON
i --
? j
j Responsibility For Sinking of j
Fleet Placed Upon the Ger-!
t
i mans
Paris. Dee. S.?The a Wies have con-j
I sented to modify some of the terms of!
'the protocol putting the peace treaty
i into effect to which Germany has
! made objection. The clause'providing
jfor an indemnity for the destruc-;
{tion of the German fleet at Scapa |
j Flow has been modified so" as to re
fer tot he Hague tribunal the ques
I tion whether the delivery fulfilled the
!
: terms of the armistice. If other fea
tures of the protocol most, objection-1
able to the Germans are eliminated it|
is expected the German plenipotentiar-j
! ies will sign the protocol without
much further delay. The final para-1
graphs of the protocol providing that
even after the peace treaty is in ef
fect the allies might use military
I measures of coercion to ensure thej
j execution of the treaty's terms will be !
! eliminated entirely, as also the clause
! relating tot he evacuation of the Bai-|
tic provinces by the German troops;!
i
j _
________
? ' i
j The imputation of responsibility to
Germany for the sinking of the fleet
is left in the protocol. It is expected
that the note setting forth the allies'
position will be handed the Germans
j today
I Threat Made to Occupy Essen
and Frankfort Unless
Germans Comply
THEY MUST BE MADE TO
ACCEPT PEACE TERMS
London Stock Exchange Circles
! Excited Over Rumor From
j Pari
London. Dec. ?There was a per
sistent rumor on the stock exchange
j this morning that the supreme coun
cil of the peace conference had
threatened Germany that unless the
j final peace term were agreed to the
allied troops would occupy Essen and
! Frankfort. The official announcement
?that Field Marshall Wilson has gone
: to Paris in response to "urgent sum
j mons. to consult Marshall Foch in
connection with the peace treaty" is
|.regarded Ivy the newspapers ?as of
1 considerable significance. \
WILSON STILL
j AT THE HELM
i Writes Snator Fall Regarding
Severing of Relations
With Mexico
Washington. Dec. S.?President
Wilson would be "gravely concerned
to see such a resolution pass the con- j
gress." he wrote Senator Fall to-;
day, referring to the Fall resolution
requesting the president to sever dip-!
Iomatie relations with the Oarranza
government, "it would constitute a
reversal of our constitutional practice
which might lead to very grave con
fusion in regard to guidance in our
foreign affairs.' The president ex
pressed confidence he had to support
every competent constitutional au
tl ority in statement that direction of
government's foreign affairs was as
signed by the constitution to the
chief cxecifive and to him alone.
PEACE COUNCIL
NEARING END
Plans Made For Disposing of
Unfinished Business
Paris. Dee. s.?The supreme coun
cil this morning took u\> the unfinish
ed business of ih<- peace conference
in .-in effort to dispose of the most
urgent questions. It is the purpose
also to decide upon the reference <?f
other pending questions for decision
after the "l>i^ five" becomes the "bijr
four." as it is expected the supreme
council will continue to meet after
the American delegates leave tomor-i
row.
sfcd Tmtfc'OL"
THJE TBU1
J19.
ELEASE JENKINS
FROM MEX. JAIL
American Embassy in Mexico
City Sends News to the
Nation's Capital
ANOTHER REPORT IS
CAUSE OF CONFUSION
Dispatches Tell of Money De
posited, But State Dept. Says
Release Was on Demand
Washington. Dec. f>.?William ?.
Jenkins, the American consular agent,
imprisoned at Puebla, Mexico, was re
leased Thursday night.
The American embassy in .Mexico
City reported his release in an official
dispatch received by the state depart
ment this afternoon and almost at the
same time hews dispatches were re
ceived from Mexico City which said a
check for $500 had been deposited
with the civil authorties at Puebla.
This difference in the two reports
seemed tov raise some doubt as to
Whether Jenkins was released uncon
ditionally on the dplomatic represen
tations of the United States govern
ment or whether he had been released
on hail, as the Mexican authorities
have contended lie could.
The >:ate department, however, rook
the view that Jenkins had been re
leased on its diplomatic- representa
tions and issued this statement:
"The release of William ?. Jenkins,
the American" consular agent at
Puebla. .Mexico was reported late this
afternoon from the American embas
sy at Mexico City.
""The release of Consular Agent
Jenkins was brought about by urgent
diplomatic ? representations made by
this government and the resulting in
vestigation made by Gen. Pablo Gon
zales who was sent to Puebla, by the
Mexican government to investigate the
facts in the case. The investigations
by General Gonzales, who was at
Puehja .on D?eemh?rt\ had then, pra<*
?eaify substantiated ihe position taken
by this government on behalf of Jen
kins.
"Two peons Crom San la. Lucia ad
mitted io General Gonzales that they
had made declarations against Jen
kins under threat of execution. Oth
er witnesses testified they had been
compelled to make false statements
against Jenkins under duress. One
witness was threatened by a rope, and
still another beaten until he made his
declartion against Jenkins. ^
"These facts are shown in the court
records of the case."
Every effort was made here today to
eheek up on a cabled report from
Mexico City saying that according to a
Puebla dispatch to a Mexican City
newspaper Jenkins was released after
J. Salter Hansen had deposited a $rdio
check for bail. Officials of the State
department said they had no informa
tion whatever concerning Hansen.
They stood on the statement that the
consular agent had been released on
demand of this government.
In some quarters however, there
was a suggestion that there may have
been a confusion of names, as Secre
tary iJansing announced that a dis
patch from the American embassy
said Third Assistant Secretary Mat
thew E. Hanna. had been sent to
Puebla in connection with represen
tations for release of Jenkins. Offi
cials declared, however, that even if
the names had been confused there
was no inofrmation here to indicate
that Hanna had put up bond and in
fact they expressed utmost assurance
that he had not done so.
Reports from Jenkins since his ar
rest and personal letters from him to
relatives in this country have all quot
ed him as being most determined not
to put up a cent of bail in order to ob
tain his release. This fact was cited
by officials to support their contention
that the release of the consular agent
was brought about "by urgent diplo
matic representations made by this
government and the resulting investi
gation made by Gen. Pablo Gonzales,
who was sent to investigate the facts
ill the case."
Mexico City, Dec. f..?W. O. Jen
kins. United States consular agent at
Puebla who was released from pris
on there on Thursday night, attempt
ed to secure his reimprisonment there
today, according to special dispatches
received here tonight by Excelsior. Ju
dicial authorities at Puebla refused to
allow the consular agent to reenter
the prison.
Mr. Jenkins' move, according to dis
patches, was promised b> a desire to
secure unconditional liberty, Mr. Jen
kins being quoted as declaring that
1 ail was furnished by his friend. J.
Walter Hanson without Ids knowledge
and that he refused to accept condi
tional freedom.
Hiiarin Medina, under secretary of
foreign relations is quoted by the Ex
celsior as stating that the release of
Ml?. Jenkins had removed all cause for
friction between the United States and
Mexico.
SOVIETS AVENGE
DEATH OF CZAR
Copenhagen, Pec. ?.?The Soviet au
thorities in Russia have punished by
death the individuals who were im
mediately responsible for the execu
tion of ormer Emperor Nicholas and
family.
5 SO?TKBON, EnaMiabed tarn, M
Vol. XLIX. No. 34.
IE COUNTRY IS
ON FUEL RATION
I Situation in All Sections of the
Country Is Growing More
1 Serious
THE COAL SHORTAGE
HAS BECOME ACUTE
I Middle West Asks That Other
Sections Share Surplus With
i Those Who Have None
I Washington, Deo. 4.?-The country
j as a whole now is involved in coal
; rationing measures which have been
: proposed to eke out supplies shorten-'
; ed by the nationwide strike of bitum >
nous mine workers. ? -;
The flow of appeals to the reestab
lished fuel administration showed
general alarm over the situation.
I Middle western territory where {fee
j shortage has become acute, through
I representtaives in congress today dC
j manded that the eastern seaboard ?andi
! New England be compelled to share \
jsurplus supplies and live up to re
j strictions on power and light con
I sumption as drastic as those effective
j in the west. Senator Cummins, Re
rpubliean, Iowa, announced after oon
I suiting the fuel administration that
j he had obtained an increase in the
I allotment of coal to the Mississippi
? valley States. Louis W. Hill, ?chair
j man of the beard of the Greatlfcorth
j ern railroad, representing Northwes
I tern consumers, made a plea for bet
| ter distribution of coal resources at
(the head of the Great Lakes, 'visit-,
j ing both the railroad and fuel admtn
I istrations.
Meanwhile the responsible headts of
the larger coal mining concerns* of
the country, in a second day. of genvt
i eral conference here, announced that
! they had agreed to pay miners an ad
i ditional sum of 11 cents per ton. for
; coal mined, basing the figure on con
i d it ions in "thin vein areas,' and there-.
? by - fixing a scale practically for tfitf
| entire country. ?
i This more than carried out the pro
j posal of Fuel Administrator Garfleld
I that the coal miners be given a 14 per.
ioenr advance without increase in the
! selling price of coal, they asserted,*-.'
j because average figures showed that
i i.n advance of 10.56 cents per ton,
j Arould meet the requiremenL v
Proposals were made at the final
I session that the mine operators adopt
I an aggressive policy of fighting the
j strike by resuming production on* an/
: "open shop" basis, but ho definite
[ stand was taken on a collective policy.
J It was said the majority preferred to
I await the result of the renewed ef
! forts by the government to prosecute
j the leaders of the striking mine work
ers in the federal courts for violating,
j .he Lever law. y'
Coal production was said to be con
I tinuing at a. slight advance over the
I last week, according to the reports,,
i available in advance of the geological
; survey's weekly summary,
j The railroad administration, since
j the fuel shortage became acute in the"
[Middle West ,has been sending coal,
j westward on fast schedules. In the
! last two weeks approximately 20,00ft
j cars have moved to districts west of
j the Mississippi river. Of the totaf.**
i 7.654 cars were consigned to com
; munities in the Central Western re
' gion. and 3.881 cars to the North
j Western region. '*
! Officials said that within the last
j week an average of 800 cars a day had^,
been sent to each of the three areas.
This was expected to represent about
j the maximum amount which will be
j shipped because of the gradual low-"'
I erinj? of reserves in the East.
BAPTISTS GET
MUCH MONEY
j Southern States Continue to.
Send in Reports
Nashville. Dec. 5.?Additional sub-,,
scriptions of $2.500.000 were reported
j to the Baptist S75,000/i00 campaign
i headquarters Thursday, this sum com- f
ing largely from Virginia. Kentucky.
North Carolina, Alabama and Louis
iana, which are rapidly approaching *'
their goals, along with Tennessee.
The seven States already over the top
are reporting frood oversubscrptions.
Georgia having more than SI.500,000 *
surplus and South Carolina's excess
beinsr $1.250.000.
SURFACE MINES
SEIZED BY STATE
Fifteen Are Seized By the Gov
ernor of Missouri
Jefferson <*ity. Mo.. Dec. 4.?Fifteen
surface mines in Barton county were
seized today by Gov. Frederick D.
Gardner, who issued a proclamation. -
which declared that possession and
control of the pits was necessary in
order to relieve distress among the /
ptddic and the inmates of the ely
mosenary and penal institutions. Be
fore issuing the proclamtion the gov
ernor said he had been informed that
Too children in the home for feeble
minded nt Marshall were suffering ^
from cold. He instructed the man
ager of the institution to chop down
Tilade trees if necessary.
?' .< in