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i C ail... k, I, at t I b I . Ww..Jlli.llik ,... II LU',.k.' tltal I Vl l. III WaWtaitta,.! I I 4 W.
FOUNDED 159
CHARLOTTE. . N. G; WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 25, 19J 8.
pprrn r ; ' : c
r-v i i"
I
ULlLnii
LI til ILIlib
nniifiir nnn .1 nun.
y u yyy
Conditions There Growingtn
- " creasingly Serious. '
FACTORY; WORKERS QUIT
Majority Socialist .' Appear to
Have Been Premature in
': Hailing Their Success.
-.'., A-" -V ssjsBAsssssaA . ."'w.
Special Cable to The Observer fYom
, , r-, The London Time. v , .
(Copyright, 1118, by Publlo ledger
:;:'w'iVf;; Company.) y Xy
The Hague, Dee. 1 4. According to
, - the latest report reaching mt from
Hamburg, conditions there are grow
ing increasingly, serious. A traveler,
. who. left Hamburg last Thursday, as
' cures me Dr. Uebknecht -again ia
gaining ascendancy there. This is due
to the question of wages andvhours.
I Workers in many industries hare been
earning during the war good- wages
'which were absorbed, by the high cost
'; ' of living. 7 An eight-hour day now has
been Introduced, but the workers wish
. the ame wages paid that they for-
merly, received for longer hours. As
( this is refused,: they are. striking in
great numbers. . Thu.jome of the
large cable works employing .many
1 thousands, completely stopped opera
tions' last Tuesday,' alt employes com
ing 0L on strike. -
On Thursday morning at 10 o'clock
troops returned to Hamburg from the
front,, About 250 men of the J 2 8th
- regiment entered the city, mostly un
der the influence of drink. They at'
tempted to plunder shops, which led
to serious disturbances. Revolutlon-
.' ary soldiers were stationed at various
points with machine guns which they
' used with deadly effect. Thirty per-
. Rons were killed and IS severely .or
slightly? wounded. The disturbances
continued until 2:30 o'clock in the af
ternoon. During this time large num
bers of people congregated in ' the
rtreets and, the uproar and excitement
- was great This informant, who saw
, these disturbances, said Llebknecht's
people entered th factories, threaten'
,-ing workers at the points of the re
volver and demanding that they Jeavo
work instantly. Many yielded, partly
to threats and v partly because ;they
. were glad of an. excuse for Idleness,
lie thought Uebknecht would be the
' rst president bftheelrmaii republic
All Dutchmen are . being dismissed
from the employment of Germany, as
' iheir places are wanted lor returning
German soldiers; . Many women who
have, been doing men's work during
the war are now obliged to surrender
their places to men, which has pro
duced ill-feeling. . s, ; ;
; From Various Indications, it ap
pears the majority socialists in the
Ebert government were premature in
hailing their success at the congress
; as an indication of their success sub
sequently - thereto. The Rheiniseh
Westfaelische Zeitung says: "We
thought to whitewash things. The
congress resolutions are all very fine
, but they hang In the air. Now even
' the extreme Independents say nothing
of the Spartacus people having the
- remotest intention or subordinating
themselves to the will of the major
ity. Now as never before they are
full of revolutionary wine. To them
the national assembly is like a coun
ter revolution. As they rose against
' Prince Bax of Baden, so they will rise
against Ebert when they think their
hour has emoe. The council's con
gress has not silenced, but has strung
them up. Does anyone think the re
sult of the election to the national
assembly wlir bring them to reason?
There will probably be a combined
, attempt by the adherents of the coun
cil's system, what ia left of the Independents,-
an dthe Spartacus people to
prevent by force tho elections to the
national assembly. Wise speeches will
avail nothing against this force. One
.asks then whether the Ebert govern-
ment to which certainly Herren,
Haase and Barth cam, In that event
scarcely any longer belong, is so
hardened in the fire of its consuming
'. passions as to grasp, the only proper
' means and whether this means will
work still at this late hour.
" :- The Koelnlsche Zeitung employs
much the same language and evldent
ly entertains much the same appre
hensions in regard to the Ebert gov
. ernment's timidlty.1 ,Jt says the means
.have been put into its hands and it
must to itself executive power and the
uncoadiuona lsupremacy of its au-N
. thority, A condition antecedent there
to is the materia Idlsarmament of the
. Spartacus section as well as all ether
anarchist free hooters of politics. ;
FRENCH LINER BRINGS.
. THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC
-r BUNCH OF SOLDIERS YET
The France' Reaches New York
With 3,865 Singing, Yelling
. American Troops; Create Wel
. " come Given.
New York, Dec. 24. In a cold.
driving rain that in no way dampened; waukee, and four other socialst lead
their ardor, 3, 86 S American - troops J ers, charged with conspiracy to vlo
came Into port today aboard the blgjute the esplonate law. ' '
French liner France, Christmas eve, Tho oharge was made by Manhy
ship offthe fleet ?t transports that Deutsch, state organizer for the joung
is i bringing back the American expe-. people's Socialist league In New York,
d,ti.n?Z .1rt-es 'm who testified for the defense today af-
As the ship steamed up the rier, ter having been subpoenaed by the
the men crowded the deck, and rig-. government ' V
5i5.Xa.Sln! !'Komei .8weet The government has in Its posses
"Dlxle,'''"Hall, Hall, 'tho Gang's All ion a letter, which, it is allegedwas
Here, ' and answered their receDtion written hv, rnth n wim.m -.....
from ashore with more enthusiasm general secretary of the Young Peo
than has- been ; displayed heretofore f pie's Socialist league and one of the
on any transport They seemed thor-
' oughly to appreciate their good for-
" tune in getting back the day before
Christmas. ' , v
Many of the troops were'from Ar-
' kansas, Mississippi, Alabama. Illinois
and District 'of Columbia. The total
Included 1,504 wounded men from
nearly every state In the union; their
.injuries ranging from bullet in arms
'to legs to shell shock and cases which
will require months of treatment .
TPflfjPS.CIIRISiujiS OE 1918 PROIIISBS
IV UU llUllVkHlUUU III 111U1UU1
First Christmas Day ia Five
Fighting to to Be Center of Celebration Today Every
, Soldier in France to Be "Re membered"r-V'ilsonf Pershing,
Daniels arid March Send Messages.
Washington, 3ec. .24. The Christ,
mas Eve found children preparing for
a Christmas Day of peace.
Four Christmas Days 1 a world at
war upon one of which the United
States - was engaged actively In the
conflict seemed to have intensified
the dominant spirit of the seasonTThe
spirit of peace and good will. Imme
diately upon the endlngjf hostilities,
the American people began prepara
tions for the. holiday season and to
night it appears that Christmas of
1111 would be a memorable one in
the nation's history. .i
In all sections of the country re
turning soldiers and sailors will be the
center of tomorrow's celebration. Al
though hundreds of - thousands , of
those who aided In making a peace
ful Christmas possible - yet v remain
abroad, all efforts have been directed
toward 'carrying to them the Christmas
cheer of home. - The Red Cross an
nounced . tonight ihat every member
of the American expeditionary forces
was assured, of a Christmas box '
Wilson .Sends Message... v'"
To the folks at heme. President
Wilson,- himself ' spending Christmas
in another land by reason! of his at
tendance at the preliminary meetings
of tho peace, conference, sent a mes
sage of assurance that the boys . In
France were "in fine form ' and In
fine spirits." The President's mes
sage was cabled to this country from
France and. given out tonight at the
Whits House. - -. '.
Messages also were exchanged be
tween the American armies in France
and the forces at home. General Persh
ing sending a message to General
March, chief of staff; to which the lat
ter replied. General Pershing's mes
sage follows:
"Please accept for the officers and
men of the American army in" the
United States cordial Christmas greet
ings and best wishea for .the. coming
VIGTORr, - SAYS DAH1ELS
Is Confident People ' Will Wel
v come OfficersaDrJ Men tif Re-
Victors."
. Washington, Dec. 24. Confidence
that the American people will greet
the officers and men of the returning
battleship squadron "with pride and
Congratulations" and as "valiant vic
tors" was expressed by Secretary Dan
iels tonight on the eve of his depar
ture for New . York to review the
home-coming naval units. The Amer
ican dreadnaughts, though denied the
opportunity of winning a great sea
vlotory, did more, said the secretary,
for they cooperated In receiving the
surrender of the entire German fleet
, s.rtarv n.ni.i unA m.nv ,mr.
r secretary .uaniets ana many gov
ernment and - diplomatic - officials will
leave Washington tomorrow for -S'ew
York. - - , ,
"In welcoming home the powerful
American dreadnaughts " which have
been engaged overseas during the
war," said Secretary Daniels, 'the
American people will greet the offi
cers and. men with pride and con
gratulations' These powerful . ships,
the equal of any In the. world, in co
operation with the powerful British
fleet' gave such predominance of sea
power in the North sea that the Ger
man fleet dared not invite suicide by
coming out and offering battle;-They
did not try conclusions, because they
knew there never was a fleet in be
ing that could have had a chance of
victory against the British and Amer
ican fleets working together with the
same signals and the same strategy
as if they weref of the naval power
of ' a single - nation. Their mission
was as single .as if they had repre
sented only one Instead of the two
great English.-speaklng nations.. Their
united service typified and cemented
the ties between our country and
Great Britain. Their silent vigils pro
tected commerce, secured safe pass
age of troops and supplies, and' ef
fectually bottled up the German fleet,
rendering it as impotent for barm as
if It had never been; constructed.
' "Seapower once again demonstrated
its primacy in making land victories
possible. . While the American dread
naughts, an Important part of the
world's greatest armada, were not
"Riven an opportunity to win a great
sea- victory, tney am more they co
operated in reaching the surrendered
German fleet which capitulated to the
superior force of the allied fleet, and
they wyi be received at home with
a,ll .hOnors"given to valiant victors."
SOCIALIST AT BERQER
TRIAL ys CHARGES
v Chicago, Dec. 24. Charges at
counsel for the government had at
tempted to coerce a witness were
' nion..iaxi vioinv t. u.
defendants, stating that man v uncial
isu In New York have been caught In
the draft and were considering turn
ing hobo for a While to evade mili
tary service. - H
Deutsch testified he was brought to
Chicago as a government witness on
December : He said, he was ques
tioned about the letter by Assistant
District Attorney Fleming, and was
threatened with' indictment' when he
failed to Identify the, epistle,
micm DR1IISWS
DID MORE THAN WIN BIG
With World at Peace Returning
year from the American expeditionary
forces." ' .
General March replied: "Christmas
greetings to yourself and the Amerl.
can expeditionary force. A 'happy
new year and a speedy return home.t
- Daniels Talks to Many. -,
' Secretary Daniels, sent broadcast by
wireless to the units of the navy In
all parts of the world a Christmas
message reading as follows:
"Voicing the sentiment of the whole
world, which Is proud of the achieve
ment of the American navy, I send
Christmas greetlags with congratula
tions upon high achievement. All in
the navy, will celebrate this Christmas
with knowledge of the, appreciation
of the American .people . for the Im
portant part they bore In bringing
peace on earth this Christmas day.
, "The navy never so well deserved
the confidence of the people and it
never possessed It In so large a meas
ure.' It Is safely anchored in the af
fections of alt Americans. ; This
thought must give happiness to all in
the service. My good wishes for a
happy Christmas to all In the navy
and. to all who. are near and dear to
them." . , x : .-. ..r-; . .
" Major General " George;! Barnett
commanding the Marine corps, sent
the following message to every ma
rine in this country and absoad:-
"The major . general commandant
desires to wish every officer and man
a merry" Christmas and a happy New
Year and to thank one and all for a
year's hard . work wonderfully well
done.", r i .v"-;..v, v-
In extending holiday greetings "to
our own country and to the nations
of the earth," Secretary of the Treas
ury Glass said that "the fervent pray
er of every patriot should be that this
Christmas day of 1918 may be the
sure harbinger of a "peace on earth,
good will to men, that will endure for
ever." .'..v-:' K.JVr- V '
TLYIHG T0RPED& BOAT'
IN OPERATION MOflTHS
E TIE
One of English Navy's Deadliest
Weapons Credited With Hav-
I -ing -Been. Factor" la-German
Surrender. v
Special Cable- to The Observer lYotn
... . Tlie London Times,
(Copyright 19U. by Public Ledger
Company.) - '
London, Dec 24. The lifting of the
censorship now permits the disclos
ure that England, had' in- operation,
several months before the - armistice
was signed, a "flying torpedo boat,"
one of the navy's deadliest weapons,
which is credited with having had a
lot to do with causing Germany's ab
r mZJSSt nXZ
vised means of successful protection
of his naval bases against torpedo-
boats and submarines, but the latest
invention of British air and naval
science baffled the 'Germans. Had not
the armistice terms been accepted, the
destruction of Kiel would have been
assured. Wherr the idea was broach
ed of having an airplane discharge
torpedoes technical difficulties seemed
insuperable. The torpedo weighs one
ton. Eight Blerlots flew across the
channel with the machine. Thus the
effect of discharging the torpedo, thus
lightening the machine, was - disas
trous in the Initial experiments. Once
the wings collapsed and the pilot was
hurled to his death. 5 On another oc
casion the discharged torpedo hit the
water at an awkward angle and rlc
ochetting frtm the surface, rose and
demolished the airplane. The difficul
ties, however, were uvereome with
such success that one British airplane
discharged torpedoes which sank a
Turkish trahsport carrying ' 8,000
troops. '
The efficacy of the weapon may be
realized from the following brief de
tails of its operation:
Espying an enemy craft,' the 'flying
torpedoboat makes a sudden dive from
the clouds at a speed of ISO miles an
hour till It is within 50 feet of the
surface when it discharges the tor
pedo direct at the enemy ship, then
rapidly irises and disappears in the
clouds. The operation' is so ' swift
that the enemy Is unable to train his
guns. The machines can be launched
from land or sea -or from the deck of
a ship. - . t
When the German fleet surrender
ed, an airplane mother, ship carrying
2(r of the new type machines met the
Hun fleet at sea in readiness to sink
the Germans' ships if any treachery
should be attempted, t-'
SAVANNAH STRIKE' ENDED;
' AGREEMENT IS REACHED
Savannah, Ga., Dec. 24. The strike
of motormen and con u due tors of the
Savannah Electric company ended
Tiere today by an agreement ' brought
about by a representative of the fed
eral war labor board. - The men quit
last Saturday as Individuals after
final refusal by the company to rec
ognise their union. . Today's agree
ment provides that the company's In
junction against union leaders calling
a strike be dismissed, that men who
quit be taken back except certain
ones who are alleged to have taken
part in disorders. Governor Dorsev
was notified that martial law enforced
by the Chatham home guards Is no
longer necessary. ' v
INFLUENZA RACING IN
,-;v : MASSACHUSETTS CITIES
,':;--;:-e
Boston, Deo. 24. Reports of In
fluenza and pneumonia reaching the
state board of health today from 84
cities and towns outside of Boston
showed 1,784 new cases and 28 deaths.
Officials pointed to the low death rate
as indicating that the present out
break Was not as serious the" earlier
epidemic.
EKTITUIE
mil guhhd
FR0IJ10UU
j)nly Means to .Continue . Exist
ence of Guard Service.
Federalization of the Guard for
-War Service Will Wipe Out
( Federalized Regiments.
; v -.,.,. "- -."
' Washington." Dec. .' 24 If Congress
determines to continue the National
guard as the army reserve of the na
tion; Secretary Baker -said today, the
guard 'service -will have to be recon
stituted from the ground up. Fed
eralization offthe guard for war ser
vice, the war department has held
on the opinion of Brigadier General
Samuel T. Ansell, acting judge advo
cate general, will wipe out the ex
istence of the federalized regiments.
When the men are discharged, they
will return to civilian . life without
any obligation either to the federal
or state government to continue in
national guard service. 1 s
Mr. Baker, expressed a belief that
the problem of the National guard
is bound up closely with the question
of what Congress may do later In
framing legislation to establish a per
manent military policy. Existing
law provides for tho regulars and
the National guard. Should some
system of universal military training
be worked out however, some offi
cers said It is possible that the Na
tional guard would cease to exist
Organized During; War.
.There are many National guard
units organized since the, war by the
various states which ire not affect
ed by the war department's ruling.
In some cases federal recognition has
been obtained, bringing the units un
der the federalization sections of the
act of 181.
The great mass of the guard, how
ever, was merged ; into ' temporary
forces of the army of the United
States for the war, thereby com
pletely losing its Identity.-; These reg
iments, including every hlstorlo mili
tary H organization- in thai country,
some of them, with records dating
back to the revolutionary war and
many of them survivals of tho -cini
war. volunteer . org'anizatlons,:.-under
tho : ruling must be , reconstituted,
recruited to necessary strength and
again presented to the federal gov
ernment for recognition before It can
take the place In fhe. federalized Na
tional guard ' - '
Another Uncertain Element. ' v
AadTnTtaritrnr orTmc"emihtjrtn
the-guard situation. It was said to
day, Is the question of the extent to
which; divisions which saw, service in
France have ' been diluted , by re
placements from the - national army
troops; ' Regiments like some of the'
New - York or .New England units In
tho divisions which took part in the
fighting almost from the first, officers
said, now probably contain less thart
60 per cent. of their original person
nel. Losses were made , good with
men from various parts of the coun
try and who have no National guard
status whatever. Officers were as
signed from training camps at home
or abroad and the returning divisions
or regiments, while being the Inheri
tors of the traditions of the. old Na
tional guard units .which composed
them and which have a flavoring of
tho officers and men in their ranks
who came from the old state service,
probably' will beir very little re
semblance to the units that .entrained
for camp after the guard was draft
ed In July, 1817.
Mr. Baker said he anticipated that
state authorities generally would not
attempt, to reconstitute any of the
old regiments of National guard until
after the . divisions Into whjch they
had been merged returned from
France. . It would seem desirable, he
thought that men to be discharged
rrom .tnese , divisions be given a
chance to re -en 1 1st in the guard. This
would enable the reconstituted regi
ments, he said, to be In fact as well
as in name a continuation of the
old organization with every right to
carry the names of the historic -battles
in Franceof 'Chateau-Thierry,
the Second Marne. Ourcq, the Vesle.
St Mihiel, Argonne forest Sedan and
other places the divisions made fa
mous, on Jhelrbarmers?
TANK UNIT ' FROM RALEIGH
. ARRIVES AT FT. BENNING
Columbus, Ga., Deo. 24. Two hun
dred and fifty men and 80 , officers
from Camp Polk, N. C. the first tank
unit to arrive at Fort Bennlng, reach
ed Columbus late today with a num
ber of whippet tanks. ..Another unit
of the tank service is expected next
Week from Camp Dlx, N. J.. v
J0-J0 SAYS
Fair and colder
day. ,
today f ; Thurs-
Merry Christmas' to one -and all,
Hope the weather, suits you.
.OLSC:ipSl!STf:iSL:ESS!?ET0CEi;iS
Washington, Dec, 24. President Wilson in Paris sent to the Amer
ican people the following Christmas message: . .
"I hope that It will elteer the people at home to know that I find
their boys over here In fine form and in fine spirits, esteemed by all
those with whom they have been associated In the war and trusted
wberevea they go, and they will also, I am sure, bo cheered by the
knoweldge of the fact that throughout the great nations with which
' we have been associated In this war publlo opinion strongly sustains ail
'proposals for s Just and lasting peace and a close co-operation of the
self-governing peoples of the world In making that peace secure after
Its present settlements are formulated." Nothing could conatltnte a mora
acceptable Chlrstmas reassurance thaa tho sentiments which I find every
where prevalent." . ... . '-. . - .-, . -
WALTER H. PAGE HAS NO FEAR OF
.. v . . . . "--' i , : . , - ;.--.. .
Ull.TI REST
Buried
in Bethesda Cemetery
Near. Aberdeen.
President '.Wilson, King George,
A. J. Balfour and Other Nota-'
ables Send Condolences.
Paris. Dec. 24. The message seut
by President Wilson to Mrs. Page,
widow of the late Walter Ulnes Pages,
formor ambassador to Great Brnaln,
was as follows: '
, "Our hearts go out to you In deep
est sympathy for the loss of your dls
tlnqulslied husband, whoso service to
the country will long be remembered."
Pinehuret Dec. 24. A large and
distinguished gathering attended the
funeral service for the late Walter
Hlnes Page, former ambassador to
Great Britain, held at tne I'age Me
morial church at Aberdeen this morn
ln. Gen. Julian S. Carr. of Durham,
Joseph Brown of Raleigh and many
other well known .worm Carolinians
Tgere present, while the state depart
ment was represented by William
Phillips, assistant secretary of state
and the Brltsh government by Henry
H. Chilton, first secretary of the Brit
ish embassy at Washington. Kev.
Harry North, -presiding elder of the
Methodist church, officiated at the
services. '. ' "
Among the thousands of telegrams
of condolence received by the Page
family from all parts of the -world,
were eables from King George of Eng
land, the Right, Honorable .Arthur
J., Balfour, and John. W. Davis, who
has just taken up his position as Dr.
Page's successor at the embassy In
London.
"The king's message to . Mrs. Page
read as follows: "The queen and f
are deeply grieved to hear of the:lr
reparable loss which has befallen yon
and offer you our heartfelt sympathy
In you f'i rrbfeW.,, Regarded . MfU
Page with Tfleitngs ot-trata xjtanawug..
Our sentiments will be shared by the
people of this country to whom Mr.
Page had endeared himself and who
remember that the period of Wis dis
tinguished services as representative
of the United States Included the mo
mentous year of warfare from which
our two nations are how emerging.
(Signed) George R. I." Mrr Balfour
cabled: "Am most deeply , grieved to
hear of death, of my valued friend.
Please . accept deepest sympathy."
Ambassador Davis telegraphed:
"Mrs. Davis and I offer you , our
sincere sympathy In your great sor
row. Mr. Page's loss will be deeply
felt in this county where he made
himself universally beloved."
BOLSHEVISM Is POLAND'S
GREATEST DANGER IN HER
BATTLE FOR DEMOCRACY
Reports Say That Lenine 'and
Trotzky ; Are Still Strong in
Moscow and Petrograd, Where
Terror Still Reigns Supreme.
BY J.' M. JEFFRIES.
Special Cable to The Observer From
Tho London Times,. ,
ffinrrr1'! 1. V Publlo Ledser Co.)
Warsaw, Dee 24. The -great dan
ger threatening Poland in her re
birth is Bolshevism. Next week will
show how far that danger develops.
Persons recently arriving from Russia
say that Lenine and Trotzky are still
strong in Petrograa ana- Moscow,
where the reign of terror is still in
full .swing, The bolshevik! are send-;
uig to Poland as emissaries, Jews who
adopt Polish names and who are well
supplied With funds to stir up the
masses against the capitalists, The
bolshevlkl organ in Petrograd. called
The Tribune, and bolshevik Journal
begins a series of articles with these:
words: Shall we transfer our work
to Warsaw? that's our Immediate
him." The" Germans facilitate the in
gress of these emissaries to ' Poland.
' To counteract this danger, the Poles
need arms and munitions. Their ef-
ectlve army at present is only 20,000,
wnicn nas 10 cover a ironc irom me
Baltic to the border of Gallcla.
-When the armistice was signed the
Germans held a long line In Lithua
nia, a territory containing .. a - large
Polish population, a line practically
bounded , by the Dnieper; and Dvlna.
The general in command ; of. these
forces , was "Hoffman,- a German sig
natory to the Brest treaty. His army
is estimated at from 200.000 to 800,
000. For six weeks he has been grad
ually retiring to Germany along .two
mala Hnes- first, .that of ;Kovel-Brest-Bellystok,
Into east Prussia; second
along various . routes converging on
Vllna, thence' to Kovno, Prussia. Be
fore the' retirement began,' the Ger
mans server as a buffer between Po
land and the bolshevlkl, but the news
of the break' of the German empire
caused" a "slackening yc, of discipline,
which' resulted In the officers giving a
free hand to their soldier. The latter
disposed of their, arms as they liked,
but. almost Invariably -preferred sell
ing -their rifles and guns to the bolshe
vlkl rather than to the, Poles;? "The
bolhec,lkl are merely enemies.; of. the
human, race not of Germany, partic
ularly. ; Besides, -they had plenty of
money io buy arms so a regular traf
fic between the ,Oerman.'an4''.bolsh-rikt-bean.'i.3r',.-,f
Thus on 260-800 mile line, is the
Germans retire, the bolsheclklJ with
German arms In their hands," advance
end sack towns and villages and mur
der at will.- The Poles are their' chief
victims. -'There have., been cases
'vhere the "Germans have taken part
In. theie outre ges. .
SOCIAL UPHEAVAL
Cardinal Gibbons Issues Annual
Christmas Statement.
Does Not Believe Socialism Will
- Become an Issue in Recon- .
struction Period. ' .
.Baltimore, Dec. -24. Cardinal Gib
bons in a statement today said that
he had ' no fear that socialism would
become an issue to be dreaded in the,
period of reconstruction -and that the
good sense of the American working
people would check any social , up
heaval. He said: V. . :"(.
W ought to rejoice particularly
on this Christmas occasion, because it
ia the first Christmas festival in five
years that we have had the happiness
of eelebrating in the midst of univer
sal peace, either actually attained or
dawning upon us.
v "And I think,, too, that the example
of energy we set in the prosecution
of the war is a matter for rejoicing,
for It has shown the word the capacity
of America and Americans. We have
sent to the fighting . front provisions
and munitions of war in enormous
quantities. We have sent billions of
money and millions of men, and for
this tremendous effort on the part of
America we ask, so far as I can learn,
no compensation. We ask neither an
Inch of territory nor a dollar in money.
Our only reward Is to be the con
sciousness of having done our duty,
of having helped to make the world
free and having helped to win a just
and glorious peace. t
"I earneslv hono ithat . this neace
has come to stay, that we will have
no more war,' and that in our day,
and for all future generations disputes
between peoples will be settled, not
by the sword, but by the voice and
pen of conciliation, which are might
ier that the BirolraY'.Ci'r JlTT'iYif
h ?As fo the bntcotn ot the negotla-
itoa-wow nbontHO"begln in Paris,-1t
Is hard to express an opinion. We can
only hope that they will be directed
by wisdom and justice, and that self
flshness .may.be subordinated. Nations
are like men, they are selfish and
they oftentimes let their own inter
ests blind them to the rights of others
and to demands of fair dealing but we
may hope in the light of what we
hope Is the dawning of a better day
for all mankind, wise coansel ' and
Justice and fair dealing may prevail
over the interests of individual na
tions; and that the peace negotiations
mav be ended at an early day.
1 feel no anxiety with regard to
the future of our own country, I feel
that we will go on, that we will make
progress towards a far better under
standing among all our people, that
all our accomplishments In the war
will be as a light to guide us to the
accomplishment of better, and finer
things of peace, that our people as a
whole, after thels experiences in the
last couple of years, will be of a
broader vision in the future and of
a higher courage, that the soul of the
nation will be more alive and more re
sponsive to the higher appeal Much
concern seems to be felt about the
labor situation throughout the coun
try, and there are fears as to the
outcome of the readjustment period.
I feel little troubled about that I
am sure the working people of the
country are men of intelligence and
common sense: they know full well
that their condition here Is better than
men in similar stations anywhere else
in the world and that the disposition
of those who employ them is to treat
them Justly and generously. They
know these things, and they . know,
too. that any social upheaval would
bear more heavily upon them than
upon an? other class and would hurt
theni more than it would hurt , any
other class. ,
"As for the spread of socialism in
America, which some dread, I feel
no apprehension whatever. , and feel
there is no reason for acDrehenslon.
No man or set of men can raise a
storm In this country without some
real grievances, and every socialist in
the land, down in his heart knows
there ia no actual grievance about
which he can Justly complain; certain
ly ' no grievance that would warrant
tne overturning or the social structure
and the ruin, industrial and of every
other sort that would t ensue. And
the working- neoDle of the rmmin
know this well, and I have no fear
that they will be led astray by the
specious doctrines of socialism to their
own unaoing. -w, r,
"Fears as to the labor situation.'
fears about the spread of socialism
and kindred doctrines do not trouble
me."
ISLAND. OF TAHITI IS.
TURNED INTO CHARHEL
; ;A , - 4 , p A ; ; .. ... -. .
Great Pyres Burn While Dead
1 Bodies of Influenza . Victims
Await the Flames. ,
:&iV-i' V
Papeete. Tahiti, Dec. 9 (Mall) In
fluenza has turned the island of Ta
hiti into a charnel place. At. the
rest of Papeete burn great pyres, with
a stack, sheet covered, of bod
many natives waiting to-be thrown 1
Into the glowing ashes of those who i
have been consumed by the flames.
. -The Associated Press correspondent ,
has learned that fully one-seventh of
the population of Papeete are dead.
In almost .every native home families
are with no medicine and 'little at- ,
tention. while the fever consumes their !
lives.- They beg In vain for food.
Those Europeans and Americans who
escspea tne aisease formed a volun
teer corps to carry food and medi
cine to the sick, but the situation grew
seriously, and, soon got out " of hand.
jlJILSiiihlii ..
Illlli,,.
I1T Fill II.,
President to Spend 12 Hours in
the Chaumbnt Region.
WILL 'CALL ON PERSHING
Will Be Ready to Return to Eu
' rope In Spring, but Hopes it ;
- Will Not Be Necessaryl ;
DIFFERENCES ON LEAGUE
OF NATIONS RECONCILED.
Paris, Dec 84 (By the' Asso
ciated Press.) -An International
organization has been forced to se
rure uniformity of . principles re
specting a league of nations, f or
presentation at the peace confer
ence. " '
This action follows Premier
Clrmenccnn's recent suggestion to
Leon Bourgeois and Baron D'Es
tournelfcM De Constant that the ad.
vocates of league of nations
should reconcile tbclr differences
and present a common front be
fore the peace congress, ,
By the Associated Press.;
Paris, Pec. St. President Wilson
left tonight for week's trip, which
will take him to American neadquar--
tcrs at Chaumont aad to lungiami. -He
was accompanied by' Mrs.' Wil
son. Rear Admiral Grayson- anil a
small party. .Tho President Is trav
eling by military train, and will reach
Chaumont curistmas morning.
Paris, Dec. 54. (By, tho Associated
Press,) On Christmas the President
win anend 12 hours In the Chaumont
aasHnn ' Mfhsbarsn tide, will taka Christmas
dinner with' the men. at their mess
and review 10,000 American soldlsrs. -
Later he will, inspect? tne pmeis -ju
several of the villages, and, returning
to Chaumont will be the guest of
uenerai ersnins: u - -
' The preewent win iev amwiwn
neaaqusnar t
evening for Calais, and. on Thursday
morning will embark on a warship
for England. .. As .farfjaa is known
here, there i, will , : be I fno ; further
changes- m- the P-fsldent's program
in England ' unless ; the British gov
ernment suggests them'f -f.f
fAmarlcan. offlolala " here are deeply
interested hv the4 reeepUon which will
be "accorded ' the""'' Prestdeht- by ' the
British people,' especially In the Man
chester Industrial district The Pres
ident himself 160ks forward with
high expectations to a review of the
troops on his visit to England.
With his i return to Paris from
England on New Tear's, the Presi
dent hopes the most necessary pre
liminary organization work .of the
American commission will be com
pleted. The business of beginning
to make peace may get under way
If by then the .-.other governments
concerned have 3 named ; their dele
gates. Official i notification - of the
appointment of the various delegates,
it is believed,' will come In 10 days,
although it Is realized that tho Brit
ish delegates may not be. chosen un
til the elections are entirely;, out of
the nay. ' ' , '
The coming of German delegates
is still In an indefinite stage, while
the question of Russian representa
tion has gone-no further than some
Informal . discussions between the
American commissioners and promt-,,
nent Russians here. Doubts are be
ing expressed ; by some diplomatist
that the conference actually can be
gin work the first week of January
as expected. Some of them are In
clined to think that .the first meet.
ing might not be held until et
ruary. In that event the President's plans
would be somewhat disarranged . be
cause he has been .planning to re
turn io the United 8tatea before Feb
ruary 1 6 with a good deal 3 accom
plished, in a preliminary way at
least - The President will be ready
to return to .Europe? during the
spring, but hopes that this, may not
be necessary.
President Wilson's last official en
gagement was with the Belgian mln
WILSON PROGRAM IN , ;
ENGLAND PUBLISHED
London, Dec' 24. The printed pro
gram of the ceremonial of the Presi
dent's visit Issued today from the lord
chamberlain's office mainly confirms
the details I already published. - (The
presidential party will cross the chan-
.al ih. .u,m.f Ttrlftrhtnn:. Mnrtf!
' halfway by- four French destroyers,
and the latter half, to Dover, by a
British flotilla leader and six British
destroyers. f
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER
FOR WILSON'S 14 POINTS
Copenhagen, Dec. St--CoUnt von
Brockdorff-Rantzau, the German min
ister to Denmark who has just been
appointed foreign secretary in suc
cession to "Dr. Solf, interviewed tortiy
by the Berlin correspondent of The
Polltlken, said he cherished no illu
sions as to the difficulty of the task
confronting htm, but declared he hui
confidence that ' the German peo p io
had nos taken their own .fat into
their hanuds. The count said hn
earnest aim ' would be to achieve a
peace based on President Wilson's 14
points' and thereby secure a l-';u
of nations.,.
; no; paper Tc:::r.r
rl In keeping wlilt lu a i
torn. The Observer wUl i t
tomorrow momln!?. 1
of a paper thw r"
Christmas is omh!l i t
the3 men and women v
is-neressary -'to ft If '
have the whole t( " -and
n!t Alth tvr!r f
frlewK Tl nft
Observer wl.l rrr I
lis-