THE GAZETTE-NEWS Has The Associated Press Service. It Is In Every Respect Complete. .. Member Audit Bureau Circulation. WEATHER FORECAST mz CLOUDY TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. VOLUME XX. NO. 297. ASHEVILLE, N. C, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 27, 1916. PRICE 2 CENTS n 8 BRITISH FORCE III SO ARABIA M IN PERIL Loss of Territory Held for Protection of Suez Canal Route Threatened by Turko-Arab Attacks. . SUFFERED ENORMOUS ' LOSSES BERLIN HEARS Implication Is That Army of 20,000 Men Is Virtually Cooped Up Near Red V Sea Entrance. " Berlin, Jan. 27. A Cologne news. paper pfublishes a. dispatch from Cairo. Egypt, which states that the British forces In Southern Arabia are in a dangerous position as the re suit of fierce attacks by Arabs and Turks. It Is stated that the British casualties up to December 80 amount ed to 15,000 killed and 20,000 wound ed. Bristol, England, Jan. 27.-A, reso lution protesting in the name of the National labor party against the adop tion of conscription In any form was passed by the Natloat labor congress by a vote of 1,796.000 to 219,000. ' The British possession of territory for the protection of the Sue canal route at the southern end Is imperilled by attacks of large number of Arabs unit Turks on the British forces In southwest Arabia, according to advices from German sources. The British have been driven from all the territory held In that section of the country and. have suffered extremely heavy losses. Jn the fighting, the report asserts. The implication from tho Berlin ' dispatch carrying "OileYepdrT Is that the British army of 20,000 people is now virtually cooped up in Aden near the entrance of the Red Bea which must be held if the southerly approach to the Suez canal is to be protected. A situation Quite similar to this was reported through German agencies eevcrnl weeks, ago, but London an nounced officially that no apprehen sion was felt of the outcome of the operations, which were said to be in the nature of mere skirmishes. The Austrian having secured pos session of virtually all of Montenegro, whose remaining defenders, according to lVenna reports, are fast laying down their arms, are pushing south ward Into Albania, but apparently are moving deliberately, although they are not meeting with much resistance. Advices from Albania indicate that the progress of the Invaders will probably he flow owing to the condition of the roads. British labor has decided by an overwhelming majority to support the government to the full in the prose' cutlon of the war. The German am bassador at Washington has present ed to the American government a draft note concerning the sinking of the steamer Lusltanla which Is be lieved to meet all the American de mands on this troublous issue, and which. If accepted by -the' German government, will finally end the con troversy. Great Britain has answered tenta tively the American protest against the holding up of malls, but will re ply more fully when France has sig nified her approval of Great Britain's attitude. Simultaneously comes the announcement that French warships are to aid the British navy in block ading the English channel and the North sea and take part in the ex amination of malls as well as cargoes. Hand-to-hand fighting between the French and Germans near Neuvllle took place when the French tried to retake trenchee captured by the Ger mans. Berlin reports that all the at tacks were repulsed. The French, however, have taken from the Ger mans mine craters ' they had occu pied several days ago and In mining operations In the Argonna forest have destroyed . German trenches. On the Austro-Itallan front Ital ian positions near Oslavla have been captured by the Austrian, who made prisoner! 1 of forty-five officers and 1,1(7 men, according to Vienna. The Turks claim another attack by the British near Menlarle, east of Kut El Amara, waa discontinued after the British had suffered "appalling losses." An unofficial dlspatoh say that Bulgarians Invading Albania have come In contact with and met defeat . at the hands of Albanian troops led by EMad Pasha, provisional president of Albania, co-operating with the en tente allies. . The representative of the Monte negrin government, according to a Vienna dispatch coming by way of Berlin, at last have signed articles regarding the disagreement of the j Montenegrin army and the Montene grins are everywhere laying down their arms. ' The British house of lords , ha P"wl the third reading of the mili tary service bill , t EXPLAINS STAND ou coin;., President's Letter to Kitchen Tells Why He Changed His Mind About Tariff Commission. SAYS CIRCUMSTANCES OF WORLD ARE CHANGED Letter Says the Commission v Would Have Nothing to Do , With Theories of Policy of Protection. Washington, Jan. 27. Representa tive Claude Kltchln of North Caro lina, chairman of the house ways and means committee, had before him to day a letter from president Wilson setting forth the considerations which had most weight In causing the presi dent to withdraw his opposition to the creation of a tariff commission by congress, and no.wto urge that such a commission be established. The president In the communication admits taht he changed his mind "be cause all . the circumstances of the world are changed" but declares that he has no though whatever of chang ing his attitude toward the so-called protection question. The proposed commission, the let ters Bays, will have nothing to do with the theory of protection but it will be charged only with the duty of seeking facts to be used to guide congress In enacting legislation. The president's letter Is supplment- al to one he sent to Mr. Kltchln on Monday in which he gave his idea of what a tariff commission should be and urged that the committee con elder the matter immediately. The president favors a non-partisan expert body. "I dare say you feel as I do," says the letter, "that it would be folly at liamime, ot tmtH all-the ' altered; conditions are clearly .understood, to attempt to deal with questions of for eign commerce by legislation and yet, having dealt directly and clearly with the whole question on unfair com petition within our own borders, It Is claer that as soon as we know the facts we ought to deal with urifair methods of competition as between our own nation and others, and this la only one of the many things that we would probably wish to deal with. The other matters I have attempted to indicate in mby previous letter to you. I am glad to supplement that latter by this explicit statement of the consideration which have been most influential with me. ; "You will remember that In my last message to congress I fore shadowed just the considerations which were operating in my mind In this matter. The passage to which I refer waa this: " 'Many condition about which we have repeatedly legislated are being altered from decade to decade, It Is evident, under our very eyes, and are likely to change even more rapidly and more radically in the days Im mediately ahead of us, when peace has returned to the world and the nations of Europe once more take up their tasks of commerce and Industry with the energy of those who must bestir themselves to build anew. Just what these change will be no one can certainly foresee or confldntly predict.'". I T GOODS BILL NEXT Congress Will Consider Meas ure After Child Labor Bill Is Disposed of. Washington, Jan. 17. A bill to regulate the sale of convict-made goods will be the next measure to be taken up In the house after the crlld labor bill 1 disposed of. The house labor committee In favorably report ing the bill says It I designed to re move the Impedimenta to the effec tive operation of state law on the sale of convlctmade good within It borders, Imposed by the construction ot the Interstate commerce clause and thr enactment ot congress on the ubjct. An Identical measure passed the house of the 63rd con gress but failed In the senate. The .committee pointed out that though more than (00 law have been passed by the states In attempting to regulate the sale of convict-made good the commerce clause of the constitution ha been successfully In voked In the state courts to defeat I he execution of the legislation. The hill, the report adds, therefore car ries out the principle of home rule In respect to the state. Confidence I expreemd that the mastire will not be amenable to con stitutional objection. 5 TS Biaaest Davs of Asheville's Re-Funding Sale Yet to Come Friday and Saturday Will BeGiven to a "Feast of Bargains" by Merchants Who Invite " Out-of-Town Shoppers to Visit Stores at Their Expense. The matter to which various mer chants are now turning their atten tion is for giving this unprecedented clearance sale a grand wind-up Fri day and Saturday. People who have shopped here during this sale have found things exactly as advertised, and all promises as to fare refunds; kept to the letter. It stands to rea- son that these newly made friends of Asheville's mercantile world will come again because they know they can come free of charge and up to the closing hour Saturday night ..take advantage of the special', bargains. Moreover, many of the merchants are preparing a wind-up feast of clear ance. They propose to reduce stock to the greatest possible extent while this sale is on, taking advantage of the presence of neighboring towns people to display their wares and put- T President Seeks to Learn Their Attitude Toward Meas ureDetails Made Known. I Washington, Jan. 27. President Wilson summoned to the white house: yesterday leaders of senate and house; to learn their attiude toward the new1 shipping bill. Most of the leaders with whom the president talked op posed the shipping bill which failed of passage last congress, and he de sired to know their 'position toward the new bill. As the result of the conference the CONSULTS LEADERS SHIP v.? I V, Z u itrom, the standpoint of it constitute-new ship bill which WoTiaii''K v.-'f,-v. 5d by the administration """"WSl :--;r - :. tjctails otthe- be supported became known for the first time. The measure does not include the feature of the old bill which provided for the continued .operation of ships by the government. Instead the new bill provides that the government shall purchase or build ships and then lease of sell them to corporations) pr private individuals. Only In case no offers to lease or buy the ships does the bill allow the government to oper ate them. The government could buy the vessels back at reasonable prices for naval auxiliaries In time of war. A bond Issue of IPO.000,000 for the purchase of construction of ships would be provided by the bill which also Includes previsions for s hlplng board to control ship rates. PEOPLE WON'T STAND FOB TJOTiP TAX Members Fron All Sections Are Serving Notices It Must Be Repealed. (By Parker R. Anderson). Gazette-News Bureau The Rlggs Building Washington, Jan. 27. Members of congress from all sec tions of the country are serving no- tlce on Majority Leader Claude Kltchln that the present war tax must be repealed and that they will not vote for any measure which pro poses to put an additional tax on the poor man. Representatives Doughton and Small came out Tues day In opposition to any form of stamp taxes. Mr. Houghton, In a let ter to Mr. Kltchln, declared that ne would never again, under any cir cumstances, vote for a stamp tax. The statement of these two gentle men reflect very clearly the senti ment of a majority of the democratic members In the house. They are hear ing from home and these report ay the people will not stand for the stamp tax. As already stated In -these dis patches, whatever additional revenue that I needed must be raised from the lnoouu tax and a tax on muni tions of war. One member expressed the ltuatlon very well today when he aid that If we ever have another war It will be the poor man who will have to do the fighting and hi widow and orphan who will uffer when the conflict la over. Therefore let the rich man pay the monetary cost. COL. BOUSE IN BERLIN; HE IS "VERY RESERVED" Berlin, Jnn. Is. Col. R. M. TTouse arrived In Berlin thl morning.' A cor respondent of the Lokal Anselger In tervlewed Colonel House at Karl ruhe and found, him "very reserved" In regard to the purposoa of his trip , ting a price on the goods that will be sure to move them. Where to Get Bargains. Here is a list of stores where bar gains will be found and where faras will be refunded: Bon Marche. ,., i. McGraw Pry Goods Co. 1 " M. V. Moore and Co. Jjowcnbein-Rutenberg. ' t'lins. E. Henderson. J The Racket Store. ; Nichols Shoe Co. Green Bros V Ottis Green Hardware Co. ; Brown Book Co, - Pack Square Book Co. Ashevlllo Power and Light Co. ' Coopers, "On the Square." , Globe Sample Co. '.'.it.'-.' ' Hills Market TOs J. L. Sinathers and Sons. 'i I. X, L. Dept. Store. Asheville Pulnt and Glass Co. CHILD LABOR BILL E Bitter Fight, Especially by Southern Members, Ex pected Webb Leads. PS- Washington, Jan. 27. The child labor bill was taken up in the house yesterday and was expected to be a Very bitter fight, particularly on the part of some of the southern members, was begun. The bill would prohibit the Interstate shipment of goods In the manufacture of which the labor of children under the age of 16 years was employed. s i Representative Webb of the Judi ciary committee, a North Carolinian, led the attack on the bill, principally JUDGE CIM ANSWERS GOV. CRAIG'S CRITICISM Says It Is Astounding That Governor Intimated He Excused Lynching, r tea Raleigh, Jan. 27. Chief Justice Walter Clark has issued a reply to Governor Craig's criticism of the let ter of the chief executive to John D. Langston, of Goldsboro, blaming the courts and other departments of government for lynching in North Carolina. lie declares It to be astosunding to him that the governor should Inti mate that In his Langston letter he excused the mob who hanged the ne gro, Richards. He says he began the letter with a denunciation of lynching and stated that It was anarchy, and that there Is not a line of apnflfogfy In the let Is not a line of fapology In the let- fense. The reply of the chief Justice make,j seven typewritten pages. He says no one acquitted of a guilty murder, or a dozen, nor the lack of confidence caused by any one Judge, nor the ex cessive use of pardoning powers by any one governor has brought those conditions. But that the trouble is of long standing, else the people would not have been goaded on any occasion to take the law Into their own hands. He reiterates his position that the excessive number of homicides In North Carolina and the consentient lynching that occur are not the fault of the people, who, he says, are ml a mass law abMitii.. The chief fault he says. Is tho system by which our Jurors have been drawn, and the ex cesslve number of challenges given the prisoners. Much of tfhef statement by the chief Justice Is a recitation of per sonal experiences and statistics as to homicides In North Carolina as com pared with the whole country, taken frfom the university news letter and citation from cfofurt opinions hearing nn these matters and conclude with the plea that the people of the atnto are not Interested In the controversy between he and Governor Craig a In dividual, but with curing the evils that effect the public HititKitttitr(ittBtsittittt JT.-WISII IlEUKP DAT. W ' M t New Tork, Jan. 17. Fund t t for the relief of the Jewish wr t sufferer are being collected to- K f. day throughout the country un- K t rter Preldent Wilson' prods- t K matlnn designating today R Jewish relief dayf. f A number t of Jewish orranlxatlon are en- 9 t gnsed In the collection of money ind look for a general national response, t. BILL NOW BEFORE HOUS .3 ?J " "5 Dunham's Music House. Teaguc and Oates. u H. It. Finkelsteln Loan Office. Williams-Huffman Music Co. Smith-Brans Clothing Co. i Brown Hardware Co. Gem Clothing Co. Susquehanna Furniture Co, Asheville Furniture Co. Falk's Music House. Allison Drug Store. Star Market. The Call Co. ' Ashevil'e Package Co. Carolina Faint & Varnish Co. "".' J. M. Hearn & Co. J. M. MeCnnless. The Fair. Carolina Paint and Varnish Co. Piedmont Electric Co. J. H. Law. Smith's Drug Store. i .' Hood's Millinery. VVX5; Crystal Cafe System. 1 U.S. FOREIGH TRADE Addresses on "Commercial Preparedness" Feature the Opening Session Today. New Orleans, Jan. 27. Addresses on subjects designed to bring out the urgency of "commercial prepared ness in America" to meet the read Justment of the world business, which is declared to be certain to follow the war were on the program of the opening session today of .he National Foreign Trade convention which was called by the National Foreign Trade council. The arrivals on special and regular trains In creased today by several hundred del egates from , eH -Tiftfa-,-of m eiwe4 who will participate ip the conven tion. The arrivals included ''many of the nation's leading manufacturers, bankers, merchants, farmers, rail road and steamship men and others connected with the industrial and ex port Interests of the cfounftry. Sever nj federal officials, and representa tives frfom Latin-American countlres were among those attending the con vention. A corps of foreign trade experts connected with some of the coun try's largest : corporations, trade ex ports from the government depart ments, and representatives of the Pan-American union were on hand to advise the delegates on matters of foreign selling, Investments, market ing end other subjects having to do with the export business. The papers are addresses at the general sessions are to be discussed and analyzed in group sessions which are to be held at the clse of the general meetings. BRITHiSH NOTE TO DEFEND THE DETAINING OF MAILS Cite Evidence That Germany Has Abused Privileges of First Class Mail London, Jan. 27. The foreign offlco ha handed t the American embassy an ad Intrlm reply to the American protest against the detention of Amer ican malls by the British government It la stated that a formal answer to the representations of the United States will be made a soon a the French government algnlfle It ap proval of the attitude ot Great Bri tain. , It I understood that the formal re' ply will defend the action of the Brit ish authorities In detaining the malls by citing evldonce that Germany has ubused tho privilege of first class mails. The British government will rely on the postal concentlon adopt ed at The Hague for Justification of the measures taken, It 1 stated. DIVIDENDS RESTORED ON STEEL COMMON New York, Jan. It. United States Steel common share were restored to their regular dividend statu of five per cent when the director yestcr. day unanimously declared a quarter ly disbursement of 1U per cent out of the earning for the lat quartor of 11S. Total earning ot $51,111,- 70, for three month were the larg est for any similar period In the his tory of the corporation exceeding the previous record, made In the econd quarter or 107, by 15.719,081. The statement of earning, no 1 than the action of the dividend, was in line with popular expectations, forecast having ranged from S ioo.ooo to 155,000,000, although the latter figure was regarded a. rather CONVENTION OPENS VKnt, e TOLD JO HURRY President Wilson Insistent That Legislation Be Speeded Up For Possible Adjourn ment by June 1. STIR IS CAUSED BY PRESIDENTS' REQUEST Many Statesmen Skeptical as to Possibility of Getting . f Work Done by First I Part of June. Gazette-News-Bureau, The RIggs Building, Washington, Jan. 27. ' President Wilson wants congress to hurry along its work and adjourn the session before the national con vention. He Is urging the leaders to. speed up legislation and quit for the summer about June 1. This fact became known at the capltol following the conference be tween the president and Leader Kltchln, of the house democrats. President Wilson was Insistent in his cdnf erence with Mr. Kitchlri that the session end before the conventions. When the facts concerning the president's desire to crowd through a legislative program and end the session by June 1 or thereabouts be came known at the capltol, a stir was caused among both democrats and republicans. It is anticipated that strong efforts will be made to do away with dlliatory proceedings. House leaders as well as those on the senate side, indicated they had no disposition to drag out the session, Many are skeptical about the possi bility of ending the session early in June. One effect of the president's attitude will undoubtedly be to force preparedness legislation to a head much more quickly than had been anticipated. President Wilson will have intro duced In congress this week a bill creating a non-partisan tariff conv mission of from five to seven mem. bers, with powers to investigate and report to congress on all facts con cerning trade and production neces sary to the proper adjustment of the tariff. In deciding to get behind such a commission the president has depart ed from a position taken by him in a letter to Governor Cox, of Ohio, last September, In which he expressed the opinion that the federal trade com mission and tho bureau of foreign and domestic commerce already ahd sufficient powers to perform all the functions of a tariff. One trouble which would face the proposed commission at the outset would be to devise changes of some kind In the tariff law which would prevent the dumping of goods on the close of the war. Officials of the government have strong reason to be lieve that at the close of the war the exporting houses of Oermany and other countries will, in a desperate effort to regain their lost markets, flood the United States with cheap commodities. The proposed commission, however, will have nj administrative or legls latlve function. It will merely be an Inquisitorial body, which will report the results of Its study direct to con gress, leaving congress to use as much of its advice as It cares to In shaping tariff legislation. It Is understood that the demo cratlo members of the way and mean committee from the north are practically unanimous In favor of this commission, believing It will go far toward reassuring American business Interests. Feeling in the south, it is stated, I not in favor of the propos ed move, the opposition of some southern members being that It would constitute an admission of weakness on the part of democrat, who, by falling to appropriate money for the expense of the former Taft tariff commission put that body out of business. A the result of recent conference between the president and some ot the house and senate democratic leader, the legislative program for some months to come 1 pretty clearly haped up. It Include: The Philippine Independence bill. which the Clark amendment for freedom for the island la two or three year. National defense. Revenue legislation, chief feature of whclrh I to be expansion of the Income ta-. Big income are to be hit with a heavier aurtax. Tariff commission legislation. In connection with thl program, effort will be made to head off "pork barrel" bill. Thl Include the good road bill now before tb house, th river and harbor bill, except a for continuing work on present projects, and th propoued omnibus public Dunning our v HIT Oil SHIPPING BILL TP, i i '; j House Leader Eitchin Agree? to Support Measure Pro. ' - vided Modifications "' Are Made, ; CANNOT BE ZEALOUS ' A ADVOCATE, HE SAYSS 'romise Contingent on Elimin ation of Any Possibility Gov-y eminent Will Stay in Shipping Business, Gazette-News Bureau The Riggs Building; ). ' , Washington, Jan. 27. ' With the understanding that mod ifications have been made that wi!l meet the objections raised by him at the last session. Representative Claude Kitchin, majority leader of the house, has agreed to support the administration's new shipping bill. Mr. Kitchin, in company with Sen ator Clarke, of Arkanfsas, another opponent of tho bill which failed In the last congress, has conferred at length with the president regarding the ship purchase bill. A virtual agreement was reacnea inai mo muu- ified bill, minus the permanent gov ernment ownership fefature, Is to bfe put through the senate and house without appreciable delay. The ship purchase measure, according to pres ent plans, will come ahead or tne preparedness program. Mr. Kitchin told the president mat while he could not be a zealous ad vocate of the legislation proposed. he was willing! to promise not . to stand in the way of the bill and probably to vote fofr It. This promise however, was contingent upon changes In the bill that would elimi nate any possibility that the govern ment may enter permanently Into The president , asked Mr. Kitchin t to examine-the tentative draft of the modlflfed bill and to notify the white house regarding his later views. President Wilson Is understood to have expressed the belieff that Mr. Kitchin would find that the measure in its present shape is one that all . democrats. Including, those that fought the formfer measure, may now support. The new shipping bill. It la under stood, ffollows the former measure with the exception of the clause re garding the permanent government ownership of the proposed shipping line. The bill soon to be introduced embraces the "naval auxiliary" fea ture contended for by Mr. Kitchin land other democratic insurgent In the last congresa It is understood that the bill does not propose in any sense to embark the government upon a policy of per petual ownership and operation of steamshl lines and the naval auxil iary featuref ot the new bill will go the administration measure last nee slon. Mr. Kitchin said hi under standing Is that the present bill would permit the leasing of the gov ernment ships at any time both during and after the Europeanwar. It 1 Mr. Kltchln' understanding, however, that the suggested time lim it for the disposal ofor the govern ment owned ships Is not carried in the bill. Insurgent democrats , last session agreed on a provision that the ship should be sold by the gov ernment "within two year after the expiration of the European war." A the bill 1 now drawn It doe not embody thl specific language. but the proposed vessel wilt be pri marily for the use of tfhe navy a auxiliaries and their participation In the merchant trade may be termi nated at any timae. "I have not had an opportunity to examine the latest shipping bill," said Mr. Kitchin, after hi return from the white house. "I am given to understand, however, that the per. manent government ownership fea ture 1 cured and It waa to thl that particularly objected last session. If the bill I drawn o that these vessel may be considered ae naval auxiliaries and not a permanent competitor of f American concern that have established route. I will be willing to see the bill pass. T learn that these change have been or will be made and the bill will meet the objection w raised to It last year." Mr. Kltchln said the shipping bill probably will be reported without any considerable delay, and It may he passed before preparedness and eth er major legislation receive attention. STATE RESTS IN THE TRIAL OF MRS. MOHR Providence. Jan. 87. The state rested today In th trial of Mr. Ellxa beth Fall Mohr and two negro, charged with the murder of the worn, an' husband, Dr. C. Franklin Mohr on August XI. lent Pv the teottmnnv of more than SO witnesses', lnrluillng the physician's chauffeur who turn-i state' evidence, the procutinn ought V prove that the phyti tn had been rr-itrdered at .the Instigation ot hi wff - - '1