FHE ASHSVELILIL TIME
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SERVICE.
MEMBER OF AUDIT BU
REAU OF CTRCUXATIOW
TEE WEATHER
WARMER; PROBABLY RATH
SUCCESSOR TO THE ASHEVILLE GAZETTE-NEWS.
VOLUME XXI. NO. 14.
ASHEVILLE, N. C, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 1, 1916.
PRICE 2 CENTS n Iraln
DISCUSS PLAN TO HAVE
CONGRESS ENDORSE THE
POLICY OF PRESIDENT
LEADERS WITH
THE PRESIDENT
IN CONFERENCE
Consider What Action Con
gress Should Take in Connec
tion With Policy Concern
ing Armed Merchantmen. '
PRESIDENT SUMMONS
CLARK AND KITCHIN
In Letter to Mr. Pou President
Demanded That Congress
Vote on Proposed Resolu
tion of Warning.
Washington, March 1. President
"Wilson had engagements today to
confer with administration leaders o
congress over the question 01 armea
merchantmen. He was prepared to
urge prompt action on one of the va
rious pending; resolutions proposing
tlie warning of Americans to keep
ff 0t armed merchant vessels of tho
European belligerents. '
The president's determination to
throw down the gauntlet to congress
mi the subject caused deep surprise
at tho capitol, and was reached after
Yesterdays cabinet - -meeting, when
'the president decided that he could
nut go ahead with the German sub
marine negotiations while there was
dimension in congress that weakened
iiia position before the world.
The president's wishes were made
known in a letter to Representative
I'ou of North, Carolina, acting chair
man of the house rules committee.
asking that the matter be brought to
a vote In the house. He Intended to
nsk for similar action in the senate".
The president's action was taken
in order that "all doubt and conjec
ture may be swept away and that
our foreign relations may once more
be cleared of the danger of misunder
standing." . .
In his communication th presi
dent calls attention to the fact that
imports that congress is divided over
the question of the government's for
eign policy la be)ng made "industrious
use of," In foreign capitals.
The president added that while he
believed these reports to be rate, ret
"so long as there ar.e anywhere cred
ited they cannot fall to do the great
est harm and expose the country to
the most serious risks."
Administration leaders planned , to
bring the agitation 4n congress to an
vnd hv the RdoDtlon of a resolution
endorsing the president's course, after
a canvass had apparently made them
sure of their position.
The defeat of the pending resolu
tlon and a Vote of confidence in the
president, administration supporter
point out, would enable the president
to continue to contend for the pr-nl
rlple of International law and hu
manity, with the aolld backing of the
government
It was generally believed today
that ho action would be taken by
either houso before tomorrow. This
being ''calendar Wednesday" In the
house. It would require a two-thirds
vote to take up the resolution.
After the president, Senators Kern
and Btone and Representative Flood
had been In conference for an hour.
Speaker Clark and Majority Leader
Kltrhln of the house were summoned
to join the conference.
Efforts are being made to decide
on the form of action congress should
take.
The president's, letter to Mr. Pou,
the signal that the administration
wss ready to give Germany a demon
stration of unity, follows:
"My Dear Mr. Pou:
"Inasmuch as I learn that Mr.
Henry, the chairman of the commit
tee on rules. Is absent In Texas, I
take the liberty of calling your atten
tlon (as ranking member of the com
mittee), to a matter of grave concern
to the country which can. I believe,
be handled, under the rules of the
house, only by that committee.
"The report that there are divided
counsels in congress In regard to the
foreign policy of the government Is
being made Industrious use of In for
eign capitals. I believe thst report to
be falne, but so long as It Is any
where credited It cannot fail to do
the greatest harm and expose the
country to the most serious risks. I
therefore feel justified In asking that
your committee will permit me to
nrge an early votei upon the resolu
tions with regard to travel on armed
merchantmen which have recently
been so much talked about. In order
th there may he afforded an Im
ineilinte opportunity for full public
and tiUun uiioa theia and
that all doubts and conjectures may
be swept away and our foreign rela
tions once more cleared of damaging
misunderstandings.
"The matter is of so grave import
ance and lies so clearly within the
field of executive initiative that I
venture the hope that your commit
tee will not think that 1 am taking
unwarranted liberty , in making this
suggestion as to the business of the
house, and I very earnestly commend
It to their immediate consideration. '
"Cordially and sincerely yours, '
"WOODROW WILSON."
Prompt' action is desired particu
larly in the house, where agitation
has been most turbulent, . and where
Speaker Clark predicted anti-administration
resolutions, when first intro
duced, would .have passed by a ma
jority of two' to one. There never has
been a question of the administration
control on the senate side. ' . .
Dispatches from Berlin and Vienna
have pictured how the congressional
agitation was received there as In
dicating that the president. In his de
mands upon Germany and Austria,
did not have the support of his own
party and there . was immediately a
stiffening of the German determina
tion not to recede from the announced
purposes of the new submarine cam
paign to sink without warning all
armed merchant ships, despite Presi
dent Wilson's reiterated contention
that such a practice was contrary to
the principles for which the United
States had : contended with Germany
ever since the sinking of the Lusi
tanla. It is known that among tlie ele
ments leading to the president's ac
tion were repeated declarations of
Germany's unyielding attitude ex
pressed in inspired statements from
Berlin by the highest officials of the
German government, some of which
even approached intimations of bad
faith on the president's part because
the United States would not accept
the view that the Lusltania guaran
tees applied only to ships carrying no
armament whatever.
: No Decision.
Washington, Feb. 2 9. Germany's
latest communication on submarine
warfare was discussion in detail at the
meeting of the cabinet today and also
at a : separate conference between
President Wilson and Secretary Lans
ing, but no conclusion was reached,
It was decided to await the arrival of
data now on the way from Berlin in
regard to instructions alleged to have
been Issue by the British admiralty to
merchant vessels for attacks on sub'
marines.
The cabinet members carofulfy
avoided question , on whether Ger
many's position as outlined by Count
Von Bernstorft In his note to Secre
tary Lansing Monday was acceptable
to the American government.
It was reiterated, however, that the
United States would continue to stand
firmly behind the position that at
tacks should not be made on mer
chantmen unarmed or armed for de
fensive purposes and this government
would hold Germany to account
Americans suffered by violation
such principles.
The chief danger. It was said
officials, lies in possible attacks
ships carrying Americans. '
FEB. bunk clearings in
Enormously Increased Over
February, 1915 More Money
Than in Many Years.
Washington, March. 1. The Febru
ary bank clearings In the larger cities
of the south show enormous increases
over the clearings of February, 11S,
and are accepted as a true barometer
of the Improved business conditions
throughout the south. The report in-
dlcates that all lines are In better
shape than a year ago, while money
is more plenUful than It hat been In
years.
FRADY IS GUILTY;
GIRL NOT GUILTY
Assuring the court that they wr
unable to ever agree at to the defend
ant Rlckman, the jury In Superior
court, which has tried the Arden case,
was dismissed by Judge W. F. Hard
ing at 12:45 o'clock thU afternoon,
sfter returning a verdict In which they
found Kdgsr Frudy guilty and Myrtle
Pressly not guilty. They were unable
to Aiire as to Hickman and a new
trlnl was ordered. No sentence had
been passed on Frady at 1:11, the at
torneys begilng the court for mercy
for their client.
F
0
III
SEEMS IMPROVED
Investigation Said to Have
Disclosed No Cases of Ex
treme Destitution.
New . Orleans, March i. Relief
workers In the inundated sections of
northern Louisiana today were de
clared to be awaiting with interest ad.
vices from Washington as to the re.
commendations made in regard to re
lief work by the Mississippi River
commission and Captain Hunt of the
quartermaster's department of the
United States army. Colonel Town-
send, president of the Mississippi river
commission, last night announced that
no cases of great destitution were
found during the Investigation of con
ditions in this state. A similar an
nouncement was recently made by
Captain Hunt.
Reports from Baton Rouge today
stated that Captain Hunt was. in the
state capital city, but no Information
was given as to the object of hli visit.
According to early reports received
here from lower Concordia parish, the
relief work is well under way and with
the exception of additional calls for
food and shelter from some of the
more Isolated section, the situation in
general was regarded as much Im
proved. NSURASCE RATE ON
RISKS BMJCHJRCRERSED
Premiums Soar, as Result of
Inauguration of Germany's
New Policy.
New York, March 1. The rate of
war risk Insurance on trans-Atlantic
steamers and cargoes has advanced in
anticipation of the enforcement of
Germany's new submarine campaign
against . armed merchantmen. The
quotations for vessels bound for Med
iterranean ports have increased to 2
per cent on receipt of cables from
London that a similar rate prevailed
there. The previous rate here was
about one per cent, but ranged upward
to one and a half per cent on espec
ially valuable acreages.
TO ASK FEDERAL RID
FOR ROAD BUILDI
Chapel Hill, March 1. Dr. Joseph
Hyde Pratt, state geologist, is in
Washington today and will have a
conference with the U. B. office of pub
lic roads and rural engineering; and
with the executive committee of the
American association of state highway
officials in regard to the federal aid bill,
which is now before the senate. This
committee will probably go before the
committee of the senate, which has
the road bill under the consideration.
This fedeiKl aid bill, which passed the
house, is very similar to the one that
was endorsed by the American asso
ciation of state highway officials of
about 24 or 85 states.
While In Washington, Mr. Pratt will
have a conference with H. N. Graves,
U. 8. Rorester, In regard to certain co
operative work that Is being carried on
between the U. 8. forest service and
the North Carolina geological and eco
nomic survey. He will also have a
conference with Van H. Manning, di
rector of the bureau of mines, In re
gard to co-operative work In North
Carolina between the bureau of mines
and the state survey.
He will attend the meeting; of the
Joseph Austin Holmes "Safety First"
association, which will decide upon
th memorial to Dr. Holmes. This as
sociation is made up of one member
each from the principal national sci
entific and technical societies and as
sociations. Mr. Pratt represents the
Oeologlcal society of America.
TREATY WITH HAITI ,
RATIFIED BY SENATE
Washington, Feb. It. The senate
late yesterday unanimously ratified
the treaty with Haiti under which the
United States assumes a protectorate
over the turbulent Island republic,
taking over control ul Its territorial
Integrity and undertaking to develop
Its resources. The treaty already has
been approved by the Haitian con
gress and Its terms virtually are In
operation under the eye of a strong
American cuuine axpediuoa.
GERMnllS HALT ARMY BILLS TO
BEFORE
Exeprts Uncertain Whether
Offensive Has Spent Force
or Pause Is Prelude to
More Intense Activity.
LULL ON VIRTUALLY .
ENTIRE VERDUN FRONT
No Important Developments at
Army Point on the Line,
' Paris Official State
ment Declares. .
The G e r m a n
offensive
I
against Verdun Which has
, ,1 1 -
brougnt the derman crown
rmnpp'a nrmifxj rm in tha inripr
prmce s armies up to tne inner
lines of the French defenses,
.
haS halted there, according to
ii.. 1 o4.4-.
the official statement irom
Parfs. The lull Which yester-
, - , ' . . I
day gave Signs 01 setting in
now extends virtually along
, . -
the entire tront where the des-
nornta Btrncclfi Tins Vifipn oniric
r 7, j i
0n I Or tne past WeeK or more,
There. Were no important de-
VelopmentS at any point dur-
I'nn. tli a niffht tVia Frpnp.h ftffi-
. , 7 j. I
Ciai Statement, as&tJiLs. .
TTnnffip.ini f.nmmpntators in
- i ' m i .. -r . . J-v'a 4.t,A
me entente capitals uuiiin, mai
they are at a lOSS to determine
whether the German drive has
spent its force Or whether the
r . . . ij
pause IS Simply a prelude tO
trio renewal Of the attack from
. v j ,
meir nam wuu pusiwuiio ai
Verdun and elsewhere on the
A L I
iiuui"
The possibility is indicated
i. nrx i w ti,a
uy military vuocivcio man
crown , prince s armies are
gathering their forces for a
new and Concentrated attack
nt snrnft SpWted tioint and
at some selected yomi anu
that the thrusts which are now
Tnnrtft rfprp and there are
being maae nere ana inere are
for the purpose OI feeling OUt
o rWrnhlA rmnt fnr the at-
" - . .-.
tflrtlr.
Tha 1 it is noted
Hie uermans it is noteu,
needed time to emplace their
heavy guns and possibly even
nOW these may have been
Drought up behind the advanc-
ed infantrv lines close to tne
i. ,i
lorireBS iicits mcj
to thoir firft on the
l -n i u: '
Strong French position.
Meanwhile the French forces
are delivering Vigorous COUn-
W nttanka in the stronirer PO-
... .1 v
SltlOns llieir lines now urapj,
l, lli; firmor
tiicjr cn 1 ...
HiSUmates OI tne numuer vi
Germans engaged in the great
battle are considerably larger
.
have been cngagea in ine in
itial operations." Some author
ities now declare that as many
aa 7.M1 IWl mon nr tinff rnn-l
CCntrated On the Uerman Side,
strong reinforcements having
arrived.
The Russians are energetic
ally continuing their, campaign
againBt tho Turks in Armenia.
Advices from Petrograd de
clare that the Turkish forces
are hurriedly evacuating Treb-
izond on tho black sea and
other nearby towns along the
coast in tho Caucasus.
Recent dispatches said tlia'
the Russians were closing in
on Trebizond both from the
east along the coast and from
Erzerum, which the Russians
captured some time aco. "
VERDUN BE REM SOON
nrrmiprp
utrtmu
Measures for Increasing Mili
tary Strength of U. S. Will
Probably Be Offered in Both
Houses Next Week.
HOUSE BEGINS TODAY
FINAL REVIEW OF BILL
Senate Committee Agrees to
Insert Only General Provi
' sion for Federalization
of National Guard.
Washington. March 1. The cam.
paign for national preparedness will
enter a new phase in congress next
week, when In all probability bills
providing for Increasing the army to
an extent never before contemplated
In tlma nt nrar. will be introduced in
both the house and senate. The house
military committee was to Degin to-
day lts flnai revlew 0f the measure
tentatively agreed upon last week and
the flnal vote probably wlu be taken
Thursday.
rn senate committee, agreed yes-
terday to insert only a general provi-
sion for federalization of the national
guard , Its reguiar army reorganiza-
"on measure, leaving the task of put-
ling mis legislation in nnai simpe iu
the joint conference to which the two
bllls wU1 - B f-oUon " sen-
ate committee made it possible to
bring out its bin also next week.
Before the house naval committee
Rear Admiral Knight continued yes-
terday his recommendations that
every facility in the country be em-
fleet equal to those of any two nations
except Great Britain.' American
policies such as the Monroe doctrine,
Asiatic exclusion, control of the Pan
am a canal and the open door in
l111"1' '-10 uwumreu, conauuiea a great
and growing threat of war unless ade.
Quate preparation to uphold them are
m Admiral Knight said he believed it
would take two years and a half to
make the navy efficient enough to
meet tne pregent German fleet with
any measure of success. The time
.limit he set was the minimum re.
quired to build nine battle cruisers
and eight fast scouts. He' said it
wfto eiKuiveii iiiuuuis 10 put
ntnnl J nl.A .. I . t . 1 . .
the ships of tho Atlantic In full com.
mission, In readiness for war..
mat we would not make i
good Bhowing
much less time," he said
?ZJg USAZ
structlon immediately in all available
Bovernment ys a great number
of capltaI gnIpg were to be bu)It Jn &
hurry. He called attention to Duh-
llshed "eares stating that in the last
ten n Germ had b ..
dred and seventy-three fighting ships.
tn?'a.na..two "undre fifty-two
ana me united States sixty-four. .
mlral Knight said he understood
SUD-C?mm'"ee of the naval committee
wouId be named lttter t0 investigate
the subject of ship building facilities.
'boZI. PNeT York,'
Norfolk and Mare island and Puget
"th nZTuVTTVs
mips.
l aJor General Bamett. commander
or the marine corps, followed Admiral
Knight, urging that one hundred and
fifty officers, fifty-two warrant officers
Und 2,S79 men be added to the corps
to onng it up to the strength advo
proved by Secrtary Daniels, which Is
on tn baBlB ot one-fifth of the
strength of the navy personnel. He
asked also that the one-fifth standard
be written Into permanent law . and
pecretary rjanie,. -nnroved thl-
proposal, although it was an increase
h Ln"'r been a8ked
,
ARMY OFFICER SITS
IN CABINET MEETING
. ,
era) Hugh U Scott, secretary of war
ad Interim, attended the cabinet meet.
Ing today. White house historians say
that It was the first time since tho
war of the states that an army officer
has sat In the cabinet.
ft
t
t
Italy Sctzea German Klilps. ,
London, March 1. It waa an
It nounced In the house of commons
t today tnat tho Italian govern- et
t ment had requisitioned 34 of the
It 87 German steamer Interned In
it Italian porta.
il ,
ft Recent report from London ft
ft were to th effect that grave In- ft, ft auxiliary cruiser Provence waa
ft terest waa being displayed Inft ftaunk In th Mediterranean last ft
ft England over the possibility of a ftlft Hnturdav. it waa officially an- ft
ft declaration pf war on Oermany
ft by Italy when th Italian parlla-
ft ment opened March l. ,
ft
ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft Rttft ft ft
FACTIONALISM
APPEARS
G. O. P. LEADERS
SP'iSOF DRESSES
U. S. Importations of Model
Gowns and Other Millin
ery Is Colossal
New Tork, March l.g-American
dressmakers and manufacturers of
women's dresses are buying model
gowns in Paris to such an extent that
the room devoted to model gowns in
the United States appraisers building
has assumed the proportions of a
wholesale establishment.
Heavy shipments of spring gowns,
coats, tailored frocks and hats for the
retail stores also are arriving. The
customs officials, who had accepted
the early report that spring impor
tations of dresses from Paris would
be smaller than usual, are surprised
at the amount of importations; and
. 1 H . T.l ni.anDratlnn. r
handle as much of this class of lm-1
ports as they did before the begin
ning of the war.
The steamer California, which ar
rived Monday, brought a large con
signment of women's clothing.
HEARING IN CASE BF
Raleigh, March 1. The hearing be.
fore Governor. Craig of the appeal for
communtation of the death sentence
Imposed on Mrs. Ida Ball Warren will
take place March 30, a definite date
having been set at the request or
Judge E. B. Jones, attorney for Mrs.
Warren. Governor Craig had recent
ly announced that the hearing would
be held pn or- before March zo.
FOUR DEtD AND 75 ARE
TRAPPED IN COAL MINE
Kempton, W. Va., Feb. 29. Seven.
tv-one men were trapped by an ex.
plosion in the mine of the Davis uoai
and Coke company. Soon after thej
exDlosion two miners succeeeded ln
working their way to the surface and
rescuers brought out 37 four of
whom were dead, it was feared that
two others of the rescued would die.
Of
RE
London, March 1. The body of
Henry James, the novelist who died
yesterday, will be cremated. The fun
eral services will be held Friday from
a church near the late residence of
the deceased. The place of Interment
for the ashes had not been decided
on.
DIAZ IS PROCLAIMED
REVOLUTION LEADER
San Antonio, Texas, March 1.
Felix Dlas has been proclalmod gen
eral-ln-chlet of the "reorganixed na
tional army of Mexico," ana has e
tabllshed headquarters at Tlerra
Colorado, in the state ot Vera Cruz,
accrodlng to copies of a manifesto
bearing Diaz's signature, received
here tonight,
Washington, March 1. Reports to
the department of justice said Gen
eral Felix Diaz, who hopes to start
a new revolution In Mexico, left the
United Btatcs on February It on a
ship bound from Tampa, Fla., to
Tlerra, In the state of Vera Cruz,
Mexico.
AMERICAN MURDERED
BY FORCES OF VILLA
Washington, Feb. U. The murder
of Grover C. Van by Villa forces at
t his home lost night. It miles north
lof Durango, has been reported ofll-
I dally to the state department. No
t I other details of the Incident arts fflv
. 1 an.
t ft It It H tt W H it H H H H t H
ft;M
t ft 870 SAVED FROM SHIP.
ft, ft '
ft Purls, Feb. !. The French
ft, ft nounced today. Th ministry of ft
ft (ft marine places th number of
ft ft survivor at 170.
ft ft ft
ft ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
AMONG
Delegates to Republican Con
vention Divided on Question
of Election of National
Committeeman.
ONE FACTION FAVORS
ELECTION OF BUTLER
Until Last Night Leaders Were
Confident That Re-Election
of Duncan oWuld Be
Mere Formality.
Raleigh, March 1. Because of fric
tion as regards the election of a na
tional committeeman which developed
at a late hour - last night, delegates
the republican state convention which
opened here today were divided into
?".
Until yesterday party leaders ex
pressed confidence that there would
be no factionalism and that plans for
the endorsement of Charles E. Hughes
for the presidential candidacy, the re
election of National Committeeman B.
C. Duncan and the adoption of a state
platform would be reduced to a mere
farmality. The plans for the nomina
tion of a state ticket were not com
pleted but it was understood that the
vote of the majority on this question
would be unanimously accepted.
Former Senator Marion Butler Is
favored by many as a candidate to op
pose Mr. Duncan, while a third fac
tion is discussing the possibility . of
supporting former National Represen- '
tative J. M. Morehead as a comprom
mise candidate.
Naming of a Ticket.
The convention will not nominate
a ticket, In formal way. It will pick
a list of candidates and give them ita
endorsement. That appears to be the
view of nearly all now. Apparently
first in the thougt of his fellows is
Grier Parsons of Aslio county who
made the race for corporation coin
misBloner against Chairman . B. L.
Travis and led the . ticket, it was
said. Herbert F. Eeawell of Carthage
stands next and either may have It
if he desires it. Tom Jefferson Har
kins looks the most likely man for
lieutenant governor and then choices
circulate among an indefinite num
ber of republicans.- Nothing has been
done toward a ticket from top to bot-
torn,
'MASKED MARVEL' TO
WRESTLE TONIGHT
Visitor Will Take on John
Drake and Lawrence Parker
at the Auditorium.
Much Interest Is being manifested In
the wrestling matches to be staged at
the Auditorium this evening at 8:39
o'clock between John Drake and Law
rence Parker of this city and a wres
tler woh calls himself "The Masked
Marvel of the middle west." . It was
believed at first the fellow waa Mort
Henderson, who has been wrestling In
New York for some lime at "The
Masked Marvel," but it has been later
learned that he Is not the New York
man.
That the bouts will be Interesting;
is the statement of John Drake who
says that he expects the visiting wres
tler to give the local men a great run
for their money. According to Infor
mation received here "The masked
marvel" threw four local men In
Knoxville In 41 minutes and In Mascot.
Tenn., near Knoxville, he Is said
have thrown over four meu in 'it
minutes. . ,
Drake and Parker have been Word
ing out during the pest ten days In
order to meet this fellow and they
state that they will go on the mat to
night In good condition. Drake will
wrestle him first.
It Is probable that Drake will tak
on several wrestlers In other cities In
the state within tho next few weeks,
us two men ar hre now after him to
sign contractu to wrestle In Charlottp,
Raleigh and other places. He etaUm
that as he la now in condition, It he
can arrange matters sotinfactorlly h
might make several other matches.
Mr R. L. Northern and Miss Lucy
Northern, mother and sister ot Mrs.
N. lluckner, who have been visiting
here for some time, left on the faro-
K i Una Pprclal this morning for Comm
it! Ma, a C, where they will visit reta
ft tlves for a week before returning to
ft.thelr homo In Lexington, Va.
Born, to Mr. and Mr. W. H. Medd.
i daughter. Mr,. Medd I chief wlre
lesa. operator on the United Put-
ship Michigan which 1 now In Cu
ban waters. Mrs. Medd Is with hr
mother. Mr. J. C. Moor, U Woul-