North Carolina Newspapers

THE GAZETTE-NEWS Has The Associated Free ftorrlca. It Is In Every Respect Complete, Member Audit Buneaa Circulation. A A WEATHER FORECAST. FAIR AND WARMER. VOLUME XX. NO. 277. ASHEVILLE, N. C, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 4, 1915. PRICE 2 CENTS00 Tr 8 c- MM PROMPT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IN PERSIA CASE U. S Using Every Means to Obtain Cold Facts in Regard to Newest Phase of the Submarine Crisis. PRESIDENT STUDYING DISPATCHES RECEIVED Cabinet Meeting Cancelled in Absence of Detailed Informa- . ... . , tion on Which to Base the Government's Next Step. Washington, Jan. 4. It was officially announced today that the United States government would act in the newest phase of the submarine crisis, brought on by the sinking of the British steamship Persia. The announcement was issued from the white house. Secretary Tumulty made the following statment for the president: "President Wilson and the secretary of state are taking every means possible to obtain the cold facts in this grave matter and will act as soon as the necessary information is obtained." . In the absence of detailed and specific information on which to base the next step of this government President Wil son cancelled the cabinet meet ing which was to have been held today, but he conferred with Chairman Stone and some other members of the senate foreign relations committee. Senator Stone told the presi dent that there were intima tions that some of the senators were prepared to make .', speeches on the subject em bracing the sinking of ships with loss of American lives. Pres. Wilson is understood to have simply replied that the administration was doing all it could to protect American rights. The president instructed Secretary Lansing to bring to the white house any new in formation on the matter which came today and meanwhile busied himself reading the dis patches so far received and getting in touch gnerally with the situation. Tho administration is de pending largely for informa tion on the-innuiry which Am bassador Penfield has been in structed to make at Vienna and on what American consuls gather elsewhere to establish nationality of the submarine which sunk tho Persia and to develop tho facts in tho case generally. Consul Gncral Skinner at London advised the state de partmnt that tho telegraphed list of survivors sent from Alxanria, Egypt, does not in More Than 200 People Went Down With Persia ! , London Jan. 4 The loss of Ufs In connection with the sinking of the tesmtr Persia Is still a matter pf doubt LatSjBt advlcr from Cairo s.nd Alexandria Indicate that 158 survivors have bien landed of whom 59 wers )Srngers. No further word has been rec4V4 '1 e.veniinu ltobrt N. McNoly, Amer clude the name of Eobert Ney McNeely, American consul on his way to Aden, Arabia. Eleven survivors, including Lord Montague, have been landed at Malta, according to the state department from Consul Kiblinger. The dispatch said that seven Indians of the Persia's crew were found cling ing to a damaged open boat by the steamship Chmg-Chow. All the men said the Persia had baen torpedoed without warn ing. Secnator Stone told the president that when the foreign relations com mlttae met tomorrow he wanted to be prepared to meet any situation which might arise Senator Stone said ftr 1,1m talk -nilh President Wilson that tlve grnvjrniiint could do nothing In regard to the Persia Incident un til all the facts were obtained. "Any nation which outrages the United States will be dealt with se verely," said Senator Stone. Later Chairman Flood of the house , foreign relations committee called at tho white house and conierrea wum the president. Afterward he said that the house and senate would be kept informed of all Important information which developed in the foreign situa tion, probably through conferences between the president and senate and house leader though if any drastic action was necessary, the president m. .ight send a message to congress. There were po indications today of what the prospects were for formally acquainting Bulgarian and Turkey of the position of the United States on submarine warfave. It was proposed that this should be done so that none of the central power belligerents could plead lack of official Information ns Austria did at ftnst in the Ancona case. The course of the United Mutes In this regard will e developed defi nitely later. It was) disclosed today, however, that somettme ago the com plete sumbarlne correspondence with Germany, showing the contentions pf the United States and the extent to which Germany had acquiesced, had been sent to the American diplomatic representatives in Turkey and Bul garia and that copies were also deliv ered to the diplomatic representatives of the two countries In Washington. LEIGH, YASASKA VICTIM NOT AMERICAN CITIZEN Washington, Jan. 4. Secretary Lansing indlrated yesterday that the United States probably will take no step in the case of the Japanese liner Yasaka Maru, torpedoed In the Medi terranean, because W. J. Leigh, the only lost passenger who was supposed to have been an American, never es tablished his American citizenship. Leigh was born of American parents in China, The dispatch from Consul Garrets at Alexandria made public by Secre tary Lansing, read: "Affidavits of officers, crew, pas sengers of tha Tasaka Maru have been received here. Will be forward ed by next mall. The person who stated was only American citizens aboard says 'Was born of American parentage and claim of American citizenship has not been substantiated. I Intend to do so on arrival at Shang hai."' EUROPE IS SWEPT BY SEVERE STORMS New York, Jan. 4. Trans-Atlantlo cable communication has been crip' pled or delayed by the severe stor: which have swept over reland, Eng land an dthe continent. The first. In timation of the trouble on the other side came with the announcement of telegraph company that owing to severe storms telegraphic service had been practloally suspended ' in Ire land, England and the continent as the result of which the company was compelled to suspend cable letters to all points until further advices. TO RELEASE GERMANS TAKEN OFF U. S. SHIP Washington, Jan. 4 The state de partment has advices that the French government has ordered the release of German subjects recently removed from American ships by the French cruiser Descartes. ican consul t Aden. There seems little doubt that he was drowned. The safety of Charles Orsnt of Bos ton having been established It is thought tht McNeely was the only American lost. The pasecngers, some thing over 100, and there were be tween 0 snd S00 In the crew, ee that It appears that the death list will be largely In excess of too poodIs. REPORT MADE 0(1 COMMODITY PRICES Figures for 1914 Are Precent Below 1913 and on Same Level as 1912. Washington, Jan. 4.tr-Food prlcesln the United States during 114 were higher than at any time during the last S7 years with the exception of the years (1882 when they were 4 per cent higher than 1914 prices, 1883 when they were on the same level and in 1912 when they were 1 per cent higher. The bureau of labor statistics In Its annual bulletin just issued on wholesale prices of commodities re viewing the years from 1860 to 1914 discloses that in the 65 years food prices were highest in 1864 when they were 76 per cent more than 1914 prices and lowest In 1896 when they were 40 per cent below. In the years of the civil War and during a dozen years or more after ward prices of all commodities were the highest since 1860 when the first attempt was made at keeping a record of wholesale prices. In 1864 prices of most commodities reached their highest point. Lowest prices were re corded in the years from 1894 to 1898. The effect of the European war on wholesale prices in the United States is not fully disclosed in the report as prices for only the first five months of recorded ComPariSon of civil war prices with, those prevailing in this country during the Kuropean war therefore is not possible. The Spanish-American war apparently had little effect on wholesale prices as they remained on about the same level as they had been In the period imme dlately preceding it. Farm products prices In 1914 were higher than they had been In the last 44 years. As with food prices their i highest point was reached in 1864 when SB per cent more than in 1914 and lowest in 1896 when 56 per cent below. Clothes and clothing were lower In 1914 than during the previous year and were higher than at any timo since 1884, when thev were on the samo level,, except in 1907. 1910 and 1913. " Their highest" prices were in 1864 when 251 per cent more than 1914 and lowest In 1896 and 1987 when 25 per cent lowe.. Fuel and lighting prices were 5 per cent lower In 1914 than in 1913 but were 32 per cent higher than tho low est point reached in 1894, and 120 per cent below the highest point, reached in 1866. ' Metals and metal products were lower than they had been since 1905, being 8 per cent below 1913 prices. Their highest point was reached in 1864 when 194 per cent higher than in 1914 and lowest In 1898 when 27 per cent below 1914 prices. Lumber and building materials were 4 per cent lower than in 1913, 82 per cent below their highest prices reach, ed in 1864 and 38 per cent above their lowest point reached In 1S97. Drugs and chenr Icals were 6 per rent higher than In 1913 nnd higher than they had been in 30 years. They were 230 per cent below their highest point made In '1864 and 32 per cent higher than their lowest prices In 1806. Mouse furnishing goods were higher than they had been In 30 years, bring 25 per cent higher than their lowest prices made in 1897 and 184 per cent below the highest prices prevailing In 1864. Prices of all commodities combined were 1 per cent below the prices of 1913 and on the same level as.thoss of 1912. They were lower by 137 per cent than the high prices of 1804 and higher by 33 per cent than tho lowest prices prevailing in the years of :8!6 und 1897. RECTOR'S AID SOCIETY HAS ELECTED OFFICERS At a meeting of the Rector's Aid Society of Trinity church, held yes terday afternoon, the following offi cers were elected for 1!1; Miss Anne West, president, Mrs. S. Tannahlll, vice president, Miss I. E. Davies second vice president, Mrs. Frederick Cheet ham, secretary. Miss Eleanor O. Woody, treasurer. "The past year has been one of the most successful in the history of this organization, according to re ports submitted at yesterday's meet ing. GASH'S CREEK LADY WILL BE BURIED TODAY T i Mrs. Nancy Hughes, aged 81. died at her home in the Gash's rreek sec tion yesterday. The funeral services will be held today and the Interment will take place at the Oast's creek church. CONFERENCE ON CHURCH UNITY IS DISCUSSED New York, Jan. J. Plans for a world conference of churches to con slder the Question of church unity will be discussed at a meeting of the representatives of Protestant churches of North America which bin ins to night t Garden City, L. 1. About 22,000,000 communicants of ti Christian churches, including Canada, are represented. It Is expected that the conference will he oontlaued until krltijv. qhc r-nnp l,p I ETOLrflKr George Royster of Franklin County Only Paroled Prisoner , Who Outraged Govern or's Kindness. OFFICERS CALLED ON TO APPREHEND HIM Movement to Have J uniors Open tialls for Schools Where School Houses Are Not Available. By W. T. Host, Raleigh,. Jan. 4 Governor Craig has called mpon Franklin county offi cers to recapture George Royster, of that County,.. the only paroled convict who outraged the Governor's kindness and failed to return,. I had though once of letting him go . and carry this stigma: with him. Governor Craig said, "but I have writ ten the 'sheriff to catch him. He'll wear the brand and serve time too, if caught." " v Another franklin prisoner returned a day late; one took a big drunk. But like Buncombe's brace, they came back. - Capt. John Paul Jones, heRd of his u i hull w company of the national guard, but I tomoblhv Chamber of Commerce in i feeds be secured from the lead-l-orf . ki, h.v ... n,i,r,w v..- ...nm.l'nif seedmen and instructions for of the Junior Order In the moonlight school movement, Is In Raleigh visit ing both war departments. Capt. Jones Is just now full of a movement among the Juniors to open their halls as schoolhouses where lo cal schoolrooms do not appear to be available and the heating and light ing arrangements will be better for these who. attend the schools. He is to nut "tlifS question before the ruling spirits of his order and will bring his fraternity more deeply into the war fare against illiteracy. The most conservative guesser on results is Captain Jones who Is a zealot without a limit to his enthusi asm. He Is conlldent that between 5,000 and 10,000 of the 132,000 Illit erates of his own race In North Caro lina will have learned to read and write, before the first year closes. He is anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 un der the more unrestrained enumera tors. "And the people who are to be ben efited by this teaching are the ones who are putting up for it.", he said. "I have seen men who cannot be making more than $1.25 a day offer $1 a month for teachers and in many places teachers are being hired to do' this work. Yet teachers are available j In great numbers everywhere. I ran find plenty of college graduates who are not regular teachers who are will ing to help these illiterates out." Mr. Jones is planning a school, per haps a type which will bo widely us ed, of a number of teachers, In which one man will take the classes, then another until tho ten teachers have had a hand In the instruction, by which time every illltearte will havo had his chance. He brings some Inter, estlng stories from his Edgecombe county experience. One of his neigh bors is a man of means and keeps large deposits in the bank. Until very recently he signed his name with a cross-mark. He was well above sev enty but went to the night school and learned to write his name. The banks would not honor his checks until he went personally and gave them to understand that he knew how to write and under&tand what he was doing when he put his own name by his own exertions at the bottom of a check. Captain Jones will discuss national guard matters with the department while here. Dentils Somewhat Itedurrd. The vital statistics department of Raleigh's government finds that 588 persons died in the city during the year of 1915, thus dropping under the 600 mark again slncehe extension of the city limits and making the low est figure In years, save one. The number is admittedly large but In the figures' all the state Institutions are Included. If a man Is electrocut ed at the penitentiary, he aids In swelling the death list. All patients at the state hospitals and at both col ored hosDltals which are not In the heart of town Are counted, If they die, as residents of it- city and Raleigh gets credit for those deaths. Many, of course, are sent here for treatment. There were 255 of thcs instltutlon al deaths. These removed, it 1s claim- ed by those who feel that Raleigh gets an unfortunately high deathrate shows 109 who died under five years of age. The city Is going to analyze i'l death rate and In the meantime It Is hlghty probable that a census will oe is Ken wnicn win snow mo ime xrMAT::0:Tr population than has been credited to Kaieign ry tne state ooara or ncaun, one of these 1106 counts will be made and the government will be responsi ble for the figures. Insurance commissioner James R. Tourg has his deputies Investigating a recent lire In Wlnston-flalem but has not - been apprised of the olrcum (Continued on Page Three). I Til LATA T LC rtuiu irtlttUMLU FAST DECREASING Number of Machines Increased Twice As Fast As Fatalities Caused By Them. Washington, Jan. 4. Is the deadli ness of the automobile increasing or decreasing? This question seems to be answer' ed In a very conclusive manner by the bureau of the census, in making public some preliminary mortality statistics for the year 1914, which In dicate that during tha five years from 1909 to 1914 the number of au tomobiles In use in the United States increased more than twice as rapidly as the number of fatalities caused by them. At tl e close of 1909, according to figures compiled by the National Au tomobile Chamber of Commerce, , of New York city, from state registration reports, due allowance being made for duplicate registrations, the num ber of automobiles in use In tho United States- was approximately tun A ft A . V. 1014 I. hufl r . . '.rr at the end of 1914, It was 1,750,000. in the meantime the number 'of deaths due to automobile accidents and injuries increased from 632 in the death-registration area in 1909, ""'" ;;T K 3. .f r"'' containing 56 per cent of the popi.-OI,e but ''lace !nto h"nd? of our The reason assigned for the Hurt lation of the United States, to 2,623 ! farmers whtever profits might accrue dcn najournment ,)y lca(,crB on bo,,, in the same area in 1914; and the in-i'rom thf upd"cUo? of the p'ants sides was that several senators who crease from 1913 to 1914, for the:from M? the dyestuffs are made ; is ,lad DIIsine88 to present were not registration area as constituted in . 1913, then containing 65 per cent of the population of the country, was from 2.488 to 2.795. x ne comm..oner, inereiore, au-1 Thus a five year increase of 773!visea the growth of indigo, in a small per cent accepting as reliable the TJ15'' ,e,t-,amonS th farmers ofi figures compiled by the National Au parted by an Increase of 315 per cent ; in automobile fatalities; and a one j year increase of 38 per cent in num- nled by an increase of 12 per cent! In fatalities. Perhaps a more reliable compari son, from the statistician's point of view, can be made between the In crease in number of automobiles In use and the increase In the rate per 100.000 population for deaths caused by them. This is because, with a giv en number of machines in use In n given area, the fatalities due to them will tend to be proportional to the population of that area.. When the comparison Is made on this basis, it appears that a five year increase of 258 per cent from 1.2 to 4.3 per 100,000 population In the death rate resulting from automobile fatalities. Similarly, a one year increase of 18 per cent In number of automobiles has taken place along with an In crease of only 10 per cent from 3.3 to 4.3 per 100,000 In the death rate charged to them. One cause of this proportional de crease in the destructl'.'eness of the automobile is undoubtedly to bo found in a reduction in average annual mile age per machine: but, after due weight is given this factor, and a suitable margin is allowed for possi ble error resulting from Inaccuracy in the estimated portion of the auto mobile statistics, the 'figures still ap peur to furnish ample lustiflcatlon for the conclusion that tho automobile of today is being driven with more care and more regard for public safety than it was a few years ago. SPRING TERM OF N10HTJCHOOL ON Y. M. C. A. School Opened Last Night With Large En rollment Three Grades. The spring term of the Y. M. C. A. night school opened last night at S' o clock with an enrollment of new members almost as large as the en tire membership during the fall term of the school There are now 25 stu- ilvi'U In the arhool. which Is In chnrira nt it. O. Wnlla nf tha Ashevllia hish school faculty. The spring term will continue nntll April. It is stated that any one desir. profit taking snd liquidation. Call ing to enter the night school and fomls Petroleum was heavy on ru unable to buv books or other eauli). mors of a hitch in connection with ment, will be furnished these free if application Is made to tho manage- ment of the association, it Is the 1e- sire of the officials of the association that all men and boys of the city, who can, will attend this school. The first class consists of the ele- mentary grades, business Engllsn, business spelling and business pen- manshlD. Penmanshlo Is tausht bv r. , w . Osteen. Shorthand, bookkeeping I ftn(i typewriting are taught by Mr. ;vea, who supervises all t teaching 1 .1Lu RufTner Cam d bell teaches com. roercial law. i ' DIED AT HAW CREEK Services over the body of Mrs. Nuncy Townscl, aged 15, who died yesterday at her home on Haw Creek, will be held today at the Haw creek church aad the interment will follow there. The deceased had been 111 for some time. 1 ,- GRAVE MATTERS FACE CONGRESS FARMER URGED TO GROWDYESTUFFS Production of Indigo Was Leading Industry in Caro linas in Colonial Days. It may of some Interest to the peo pie of the state to know that before the revolutionary war the production of Indigo was a leading industry In North Carolina and South Carolina. In 1777 over a million pounds were produced in the Crolinas for the purpose of making the dyestuffs that we now get, or fall to get, from Eu rope. Economic conditions caused the production of this crop gradually to cease, but the commissioner of agri culture of North Carolina feels that the recently changed economic eondl . ' . . 1 i uons rurmsn a very strong argument J of reviving this abandoned ; '"-" y. "'"".that body after being in session for if0'. ony, our, text"e manufac- le mnnws adjourned until noon to- - " " " ZZi" ""ns " forward. """" """ . , "" p Lv" , , . ". : the state during the coming season. Krow'nff the 4cr0P may be secured by PP"catlon to the Commissioner of ,sr u WEST DURHAM STORES DESTROYED BY FIRE Iurham, Jan. 4 Fire of unknown origin early this morning totally de stroyed a large two-story business building and three mercantile stores In It, In West Durham. The loss is estimated by Fire Chief Christian at $12(500. The bluding was occupied by the stores of J. Winnecoff, Jnmes S. Davis and R; J. Kearny and was owned by E. J. Davis of Henderson. The insurance is said to be about $6000. . - im Henry ford avoids welcoming crowd Detroit, Jan. 4 Henry Ford re turned to Detroit today but avoided a delegation of his fellow citizens woh gathered to welcome him and to pre sent a floral piece for his peace efforts. Ho remained in his private car and continued to his home at Dearborn. A public meeting had been plenned. PREPAREDNESS ISSUE IN MISSISSIPPI ELECTION Meridian, Miss., Jan. 4 Voters of the fifth congressional district of Mis sissippi today are balloting in a spec ial election for a successor to the late representative Samuel Wlther spoon. There are six active candi dates In tho field all democrats. The president's prepuredness program Is one of tho leading Issues of the con test. MEETING OF BISHOPS HAS BEEN POSTPONED Information reached Ashevllle last night that the meeting of the house of bishops of the Protestant Episco pal church In the United States, ... , , . 4 ., nw.i which was called to assemble In Phil- , , . . . , ,, ,,- adelphla on January 12, has beon postponed Indefinitely. An insufficient number of bishops, It Is said, answer. td the call. NEW YORK STOCKS. New York. Jan. 4. The range of 1 nrlces was senerallv higher at the j opening of the stock market today. though here and there were signs or he proposed merger with Mexican Petroleum. Mexican on the contrary opened strong, wltn gains in roppers. Mercantile Marine, preferred ftJid New York Air Brake. United States Steel was steady but leading Kails, Including St. Paul, Pennsylvania and Lehigh were higher by fractions to a full point The strength of Anglo- French fives suggested further invest- ment Inquiry. ' ! buslnf ss visitor here today, ..mMMtmm.mMv m . " Or" rt " fl A A f 1. A. J. J Z, .O-tvi JLJ J IVlC'7i ltlCCCCU i",V' a-ws a w . a v w asvw Under Lord London, Jan. 4. lord Derby's re cruiting figure for tho period be tween Cirtober 2t and December 15 show that 1,180,000 unmarried men and MTI.28I married men presented themselves for Military service. Of the grand total of ;'!. 161 married and Houses Re-Assemble After the Holidays With Nation's For eign Affairs Uppermost in Minds of Congressmen. GENERAL FEELING OF UNEASINESS PATENT' Believed Submarine Situation' and Great Britain's Tyranny on Seas Will Be Consid ered Immediately. Washington, Jan. 4. The expected attack on the administration's forr j elgn policy and the government's . In fhn D..fUaMl.n MfaAa 'nil 1 ' t i, toh materialize In the senate when, Washington, Jan. 4 Congress reas- sembled today after holiday recess wHn tho natlon.s torn affalrB up. permost , tne mind8 of the members f the two houges. Gn all sides the international situation was admitted to be the gravest this government has faced. The situation growing out of the submarine warfare of Germany and Austria and Great Britain's in terference with neutral commerce on the high seas figured chiefly in the discussion of senators and represtnta. tives. rne situation caused a general . feeling of uneasinessfl z z z z It is believed that the question of . national preparedness will be taken up in congress at once. It seems as sured also that tho senate foreign re lations committee will take up prompt ly Senator Hoke Smith's resolution providing for Investigation of Great Britain's interference with, neutral trade and enator Lodge's amendment calling inquiry Into the Lusitania dis aster and other submarine disasters resulting in the loss of American lives Although administration leaders were uniformly inclined to proceed cautiously and to await postive Infor mation; there was a general feeling of uneasiness among senators and repre sentatives over the gravity of foreign affairs. Senator tone, rhairmena of the sen ate foreign relations committee has conferred with Secretary Lansing at the state department and will seek a conference with President Wilson be fore a meeting of the clmmittee is held Wednesday to begin consideration of matters pertaining to the diplomat ic affairs of the nation. It seems as sured that the committee will take up) the resolution submitted by Senator Hoke Smith, calling for an Inquiry Into Great Britain's Interferences with neutral commerce and the amendment by Senator Lodge to investigate de struction of American Uvea "Of course we must consider these resolutions," said Senator Stone. "They" are on the calendar and must be dis posed of. I do not know the senti ment of the committee, but I see no oblectlon to congress having all In formation called for In the resolution of Senator mlth or the amendment by Senator Lodge. "I talked with Secretary Lansing about the sinking of the Persia but we can do nothing with that until we get al! the facts." Senator Stone also discussed with Mr. Lansing tho long pending Ntca rai;uan and Columbian treaties, con , IvuiiuK n nun male nun to uui.iBLrii , ,.,, opposition by some senators, inclua ' ' , ,,. cerning which there still is persistent Ing republlca members of the foreign relations committee. The Missouri senator wants these treaties disposed of one way or another. If It ap parent that opposition Is ovedwhelm lng It Is proposed to discover this as soon as possible so that further time may not be wasted In attempting to force their ratification. Another subject of discussion was tne nomination oi nenry r. rieicner to ne amonssaaor to Mexico, senator Foarh a member of the committee, will strenuously oppose Mr. Fletcher's t corflrmation on the ground that no ; ambassador to Mexico should be nam- ea ny tno unuea niairs unm conai- tlons in the southern republics are more settle. Although foreign affairs overshadow everything else In Inter- est for themoment, activity over na t'.onal preparedness will begin at ones C. O. I-ogan of Wsynesvllle Is Derby s Plan single men attesting 163,000 single and 112,411 married men enlisted tot Immediate service. Fight hundred and forty thouaanfl single men and 1.144,171 mart-!".! men attested for . future service. Of the single men 207.000 and of the married men 221,151 were rejected.