North Carolina Newspapers

THE WEATHER Fair and Continued Cold Tonight O'CLOCK EDITION a PAGES VOL. XXII. NO. 312. ASIIEVILLE, N. C, SATURDAY AFTERNOON, DEC. 15, 1917 PRICE FIVE CENTS MEANS wLL BE IN HANDS OF jyPI NIGHT Cansler's Plea for Defendant Moves Wife and Sis ters To Tears CALDWELL LAST SPEAKER FOR STATE Judge's Charge Will Come Next Cansler Made Lengthy Argument Concord, Dee. 15. Tho case of Gaston li. Means, charged with the murder of Mrs. Maude A. Kmc, prob ably will be in the hands of the jury by nightfall. Final argument for the defense wa9 completed shortly bofore noon by E. T. Cansler and L. C. Caldwell at once began the concluding argument for the state. Means' wife and sister were moved to tears by Mr. Cansler's dramatic por trayal of what his conviction and exe. cution would mean to members of his family. Miss Belie Means was led weeping from the courtroom at the direction of Judge Cline. Mr. Cansler took up the contention of the state that Mrs. King's resources were practically exhausted and that Means spent the last few weeks before her death laying his plot.' Mr. Cansler showed from the evi donee that she had, in addition to other assets, an annual income of about $19,000 from her life trust. He sought to show that the defendant was very busy last July and August pre paring to probate the alleged last will of the late James C. King, which could not be probated after her death. Of all men in the world, declared Mr Cansler the defendant had the strong est possible motive to preserve, the life of Mrs. King. OF Duty To Arrange for Burial of American Soldiers Who Die In France and Care for Their Graves With the American Army in France, Pec. 15. (By Tho Assopiated Press) The organization has been an nounced of a branch of the army whose sole duty is to arrange for the burial of soldiers who die in France and for the care of their graves. Every detail has been worked out and the American organization is ex pected to surpass similar organizations in tho British and French armies as (he best features have been taken from both. The new organization is known as the graves' registration service. It is under the direction of a regular army major and is a division of the office of the chief quartermaster ajia through that office is directly respon sible to uenerat j'ersmng. une ser vice chief also is superintendent of all American cemeteries in Europe and as such Is responsible for their proper care and maintenance. A unit of two officers and BO men is provided for each army division. They are to arrange for proper burials in their respective divisions and also to take care of the divisional cemetery. The size of the units is to be increased If the needs demand. There is a headquarters detachment in command of a colonel, and reserve battalions to be available for detach ment with Immediate assignment where needed. The American expedition force has been assigned land by the French au thorities for use as semi-permanent or temporary cemeteries and officers have just returned from a trip through the country locating ceme teries which may be used wholly or uartly for American dead. Already, two large burial plots have been fenc ed in and posted, and a number of small ones arranged near the front as temporary resting places for the bodies of Americans who may be kin ed in action. Each grave in the main cemeteries will have a cross at the head and an iron marker. Temporary graves will be marked by pegs and a cross or oth er headstones. On each also there will be an Identification tag and a card giving the soldier s rank, the or ganiiation to which he belonged and the circumstances of his death which Information also will be forward im medately to the record of fee, where the records will contain the location and a picture of the grave for the benefit of relatives. There will be a continual Inspection of all cemeteries, to make sure that they are properly kept. The personnel of the service has been selected with a view to Its experience and qualities' tions and many men who were under, takers In civil life have been trans. ferred to where they can give the most efficient service Baseball Trade. Chicago, Dec. 16. Shortstop Lavan nd Outfielder Bert Shotton. of the St. Louis Americans, were sold to the .Washington club for lis.ooo and 'Pitnhat Ottilia vfstnrrtav. The den I waa completed by Robert Qulnn and GRAVES SEHVCE BRANCH 1 I Clarlc Orurnn, TASK OF CLASSIFYING ALL REGISTRANTS FOR SERVICE BEGAN TODAY Within Sixty Days 9,000,000 Registrants Will Be Di vided Into Five Classes CROWDER PREDICTS SUCCESS OF SYSTEM Never Before Have Armies Been Chosen With Such Scientific Precision Washington, Dec. 15 The war de partment's huge task of classifying the nation's manpower for army ser vice actually began today with the mailing out of the first 5 per cent of the questionnaires. At the same time recruiting facilities already overtaxed with recent enlistments threatened to give way before the rush of draft reg istrants eager to avail themselves of the last chance to volunteer , Recruiting officers found them selves without means of accommodat ing thousands enlisted yesterday and the stream which continued to apply. Secretary Baker early today came to the relief of the thousands of men who have volunteered for the regular army but have been rejected because of the breakdown of the recruiting machinery, by ordering that all quali fied applicants who presented them selves before noon today should be ac. cepted even though their examination and other details could not be ac complished until later. The mailing of questionnaires will be completed speedily by the war de partment and within 60 days more than 9,000,000 registrants will be di vided into five classes. as regards their liability for military service. In a statement issued today Pro vost Marshal General Crowder said: "The plans have been made, the machine has been built, and with the loyal co-operation of the local boards, so amply demonstrated by their past accomplishments, the millions of reg istrants will, within the space of 60 days, stand marshalled for their place In the world's war, each in tho class to which his economic worth entitles him. "I have not the slightest hesitation in predicting the absoluto success of the classification system. From every part of the country has come praise for the plan. It will provide armies in a steady stream, armies built from the body politic by the body politic. "Never before in the history of the world have armies been chosen with the scientific precision of the new system. Men will shoulder the gun first who should by all the laws of reason offer themselves first to their country and only grim necessity will compel us to invade the more de ferred classes; but if such necessity does arise, it will find the country ready. "Through the governors of the states a legal advisory board, to as sist registrants to make Intelligent mswer to their questionnaires, has been assigned to every local board; through the same agencies the lead ers in medicine in every community have pledged themselves to aid and assist in medical examinations. The great majority of the men who nre building the new system have offered their services without price to their government. "The completion of the classifica tion will practically complete the great work of the local and district boards. Thereafter they will act each in their respective areas as the government's agents for any new registration which may occur, and will consider changes of "status or transfers of jurisdiction when such may arise." Coal Famine Due to Lack of Transportation Facilities Washington, Dec. !'. After a conference with Fuel Administrator Garfield today. Chairman A. W. Thompson, of the operating committee of the eastern railroads declared the coal famine was more due to a short age of transportation facilities than shortage of coal. The operating committee, he said, is trying to overcome this by re-rout-lntr coal shipments. To relieve the situntio nin Michigan solid train loads of coal are being sent from Kentucky and Ohio lake ports. Chairman Thompson and Adminis trator Garfield went over the whole transportation question very exhaus tively, with the result that with the re-arrangement of shipments on rail roads, eliminating long hauls where shorter ones will reach the territory, and also eliminating so-called "cross" haul, some immediate improvement in the situation Is hoped for. The result of the plan would ho supply coal to localities from the nearest producing: or shipping center instead of over the lines of ordinary trade. Serious Situation in New York. New York, Dec. 15. With half of New York's coal yards empty and suf fering Increasing in the unhoated homes of the poor, the fuol adminis trators today exerted all their efforts to release thousands of tons of coal tied up at tidewater, or In snow bound cars at sidings. The general fuel situation is regard ed as the most serious in the history of th eclty. Hundreds of tenements and homes are without heat; some factories have been compelled to shut QUESTIONNAIRES GO TO REGISTRANTS Exemption Boards Sending Out Five Per Cent Today Must Be Filled Out and Returned The city and county exemption board members are busy today mailing out the first five per cent of the ques tionnaires to the registrants. Each day, until every man who registered on June 5, and who is not now in the military service of the country, has re ceived a copy, five per cent will be mailed out by the local boards. Tho registrants have seven days from the time the copies are mailed out to fill them out and return them to their respective boards. It is neces sary for the registrant to secure his copy, for If he has changed his art dress or his name is not correctly spelled, and he does hot receive a copy, it will be his fault and the govern ment will hold him responsible. In case any registrant does not receive a copy of the questionnaire, he should notify his board at once and a copy will be supplied him. Members of the Asheville Bar asso ciation will assist registrants next week in properly filling out the ques tionnaires, and a special meeting will be held at the county court house this afternoon for the purpose of arranging the hours the different attorneys can assist the exemption boards' and the legal advisory committee of this county. By filling out the questionnaire the registrant will be classified by the ex emption board and as the men are needed the classes will be called up for physical examination, following which the registrant will be taken into the military service of the coun try if he passes the physical tests. Exemption claims cart bo filed by those who desire to make them. London, Dec. 15. With reference to the German government's statement that it had received through a neutral government last September an in quiry in regard to its war aims under circumstances indicating that the in quiry was made with the sanction of the British government, the Daily Chronicle prints a statement" from Lord Robert Cecil, minister of block ado, branding the whole thing, as un true. No such inquiry was ever made with the knowledge and sanction of the British government, Lord Robert Cecil's statement declares, and adds that no secret approaches of any sort were ever made relating to German war aims. Lord Robert Cecil declared that the German government's statement was untrue and pure invention., Meet at Wrightsville Next. ; Greenville, S. C, Dec. 15. The Southern Textile association, at the second day's session here yesterday, decided to hold its semi-annual meet ing next June at Wrightsville Beach, N. C. down, and churches, schols, theaters and public halls aro affected. Reeve Schley, local fuel administra tor, was hopeful that the situation would be relieved before night. V. S. Steel's Service Flag. New York, Dec. 15. A service flag with stars representing 11,490 eill- ployes engaged in the nation's war activities was unfurled yesterday In front of the offices of the United 1 a..,.... nn..nn....t!,i L.n.A.. i 1, .j mu. i . ce irtn t,.o.. th'n'fi,,. 'e n, Bell Telephone company representing' enlistment of 6,S!5 employes held the! local record. " 1 t j- ti'-K ii' "7 Th U, S. Destroyer Jacob Jones, which has been sunk in the TT-B Bagley, her commander, with 42 o -nen, were saved. Blxty-nlne belliv WEAVER 1IN HE Tenth District C , v essman Only Tar For The Measr - All But Two Vote . or Prohibition By GFO. n. M AXXIXfi. Washington. D. C Dec. 15. The North Carolina delegation in congress Is considerably1 concerned over which way to vote on prohibition and woman suffrage. Both subjects will be taken up in congress within the next three weeks and voted on. Nation-wide pro hibition will come to a vote in the house next Monday and woman suff- j rage early in the new year. j The present indications are that prohibition will get all but two votes from North Carolina, while the Susan B. Anthony constitutional amendment for woman suffrage will be opposed by nil but Congressman Zeb Weaver, of Asheville. Mr. Weaver has had mighty little to say about the suffrage question recently but the suffragists claim he promised them some time ago he would vote for their amend ment, and they believe he has not changed his mind. Congressman Small a hd Congress man Pou, who have voted against pro hibition ou former occasions in the house, will vote against it again. Senators Simmons and Overman voted for prohibition when it was passed by the senate late in the last session. The majority of the North Carolina members who will vote against women suffrage will base their action on the ground that to bring it about by a constitutional amendment will repeal every law enacted in North Carolina to safeguard suffrage and maintain white supremacy in the state. Several of them, while not opposing the vote for women, insist each state should be supreme in fixing its own qualifica tions for suffrage. "No local right is so important to the states as the right to control the suffrage qualifications of its citizens," said one of the North Carolina mem bers today. "With tho vast diversifi cations existing among the American people on account of race, nationality and language this question becomes increasingly important. It would be a hazardous experiment under such con ditions for the local interests of the state to he turned over to the mercy of adverse majorities in far distant communities. For this general reason we are unwillit.g to. .Invest the federal government, through " constitutional amendment or otherwise, with any jurisdiction to deal with suffrage in tho state directly or indirectly. The proposed amendment, if passed, would in practical effect iindo the constitutional enactment of tho south ern states which for a generation have secured white supremely in those communities." A group of North Carolina suffrag ists, in Washington attending the con vention of the National Woman Suff rage association, invited almost all the North Carolina members to meet with them at the office of Senator Swanson, of Virginia, Wednesday to listen to their appeal for the vote. The only North Carolinian to put in an ap pearance was Senator Overman. The Tar Heel suffragists were must dis appointed. SEED CORN SHOW IS N Eighth Annual Show Con ducted by Corn Club of County The eighth annual Buncombe Coun ty Seed Corn show opened this morn ing in Police courtroom with Dr. Ar thur S. Wheeler, chairman of the Boys' Corn club committee of the board of trade, presiding. There are a number of agricultural officials from other rountles present and E. S. Mill saps, farm agent of the Piedmont dis trict, is here, There are a number of displays to show what the boys have done this last season and the specimens have been highly praised by the experts in attendance. The program calls for short talks by various officials, a luncheon and later the judging of the corn and tho awarding of a large list of prizes. ITI.n... .ill 1u nl,a nvVtil.lf tt .i ,. ..... ... I llie WOI It UOIIO III1H ytUU l'y IIIR viiiin Canning clubs of the county. Miss Al- , "Miner, riome uc.no nsirnuon st "i, will nave cnarKe ul una uueanmrni nr no snow In suite of cold weather 0-nd snow on the ground, the courtroom was filled with boys and men. A number of men aro also competing for prizes. Destroyer Jacob Jones, Sunk by U "WW f FIGHTING ON ITALIAN FRONT Teutons Are Attempting To Advance Positions East of Brenta River Slight Gain Near Monte Beretta Italian Headquarters in Northern Italy, Dec. 15. (By The Associated Press) Heavy fighting is in progress today on the mountain front in the north, east of the Brenta river. The enemy is attempting to advance his positions as he has those west of the river, which would give him two lines of approach to the Brenta valley and the open plain. Tho chief Austro-German effort is centering about Monte Beretta. There the enemy succeeded in advancing only a short distance in the repeated attacks in which ho suffered large losses. Bombardment Increases In Violence. Italian Headquarters in Northern Italy, Dec. 15 (Delayed) (By the As sociated Press). The enemy has brought a large number. of his heavi est guns to tho Wave and northern fronts, and the bombardment has taken on increased range and violence. Some of the shells have reached Mancino, eight miles back of the Piave and a few miles from the city of Treviso, Four hundred of these mon ster projectiles were concentrated on one point. . General Diaz sums up the results of the struggle of the last three days in the north by saying that the enemy secured an insignificant stretch of ground at the cost of an immense sac rifice of blood. Although he hns obtained a lodg ment on Monte Spinuccia and Monte Fontanel, this does not represent any appreciable advance toward the plains, but merely a fluctuation of the Italian line, of which Monte Grappa is the dominating barrier. Even below Grappa formidable offensive works have been constructed in event the enemy should reach the plain, hut each day of his futile pressure on the north and east and of successful re sistance by the Italians and their al lies strengthens the belief that the enemy will not realize this eventual ity. .., ''.;.'. Sixty Teuton Divisions. Washington, Dec. 15. The strength of the Austro-German invaders in Ttaly, Is placed by official dispatches from Rome today, at 00 divisions. On the front line are 52 of which 45 are Austrian and seven German. " Eight others, four German and four Ars trian, are said by information from competent sources to be held back of the lines in reserve. GERMANY IS GETTING Petrograd, Dec. 1 5. The Germans already have begun to obtain fats and other sorely needed supplies from Russia, according to information reaching Petrograd today. It was announced that credit insti tutions here had been informed that trade had been resumed with the Ger mans at Minsk and other points near the northwestern front. New shops have been opened nnd tho Germans are exchanging metals and chemicals for vegetables and fats and espcially soap. POLICE SEIZE 24 QUARTS AT HfllLWAY STATION Twenty-four quarts of whisky were seized this morning at the Southern railway station by Patrolman Green. The boozo came in a trunk on train No. 15 from the cast and as soon as it was unloaded it attracted tho offi cer's attention, perhaps by tho odor from some of the broken bottles. It was checked as baggage and bore no consignee's name. Most of the 'shipment is "Jefferson Club;" there are several bottles of "Green River," j the whisky guaranteed not to leave a headache, according to tho label, , There is one bottle of gin. Tho owner ! is invited to call at Police station. I rr ....,! v.....l..,l iif iiiiiiniiii it With the American Army in France, ij ec. it iJ V' u . '!.... t j uuimiiiu mm nuuuu"! American . wuv ti mrt-za vvmmiin behind the British front, according to! reports received today, tne project He struck in a pile of picks, shovels and 1 other tools. - Boat i Worth oat cone, nd dead. Lieutenant David REVOLT AGAINST B OLS HEV1KI SEEMS TO HAVE COLLAPSED Kornilof! Reported Dei eated and Wounded Kaledines Arrested By Own Guards Dutoff's Troops Inactive Bolsheviki Take Three Cities in Don Cossack Territory Mayor of, Rostov Invited to Attend Conference Partial, if not complete, collapse of the counter revolution ) in Russia is indicated in an announcement from the Petrograd official news agency which says the Bolsheviki have captured 5 three important cities in the. Don Cossack territory and that General Kaledines, leader of the Don Cossacks, has been ar- j rested apparently by his own generals. Y 1 DUTOFF OMY OiSE LEFT. . 4 W'ith General Korniloff reported defeated and wounded near'Bielgorod, and General Kaledines under arrest, the only j one left of the counter revolutionary triumvirate of military ; leaders is General Ditto ff, Hetman of the Ural Cossacks, who has ; been operating in the province of Orenburg. The latest report 3 on the situation there is that there has been little military activity : while Bolsheviki agents were attempting to undermine the : morale of Dutoff's troops. Heavy Fighting Around Itostov, , General - Kaledines' fall probably followed the capture of Rostov, Nak hitchevan and Taganrog by the Bol sheviki, There had been heavy fight ing in and around Rostov since last Sunday and previous reports had been that Gneral Kaledines was -.inning. Nakhitchevan is across tho Don river from Rostov, while Taganrog is on the gulf of the same name ten miles west of Rostov. The announcement of the official news bureau says that the Captors of General Kaledines have invited the mayor of Rostov to go to Novo Tcher kask, the capital of the Don territory, to discuss the suspension of military operations. The mayor of Rostov probubly is a member of the Bolshe viki agents of which organizat'-oi were reported several days ago : having been sent into the ranks of Kaledines' Cossacks to spread extrem ist propaganda. Cities in Hands of Bolsheviki. Petrograd. Dec. 14. The cities of Rostov, Nakhitchevan and Taganrog, in the Don Cossack territory, are in the hands of the Bolsheviki troops, ac cording to a r port issued by the of ficial news bureau. General Kale dines, leader of the Don Cossacks, the announcement adds, has been arrest ed by Generals Kaldin and Bototsky and their staffs who have invited tho mayor of Rostov to go to Novo Tcher- kask, the Cossack capital, to discuss the suspension of military operations. Resumption of Negotiations. London, Dec. 15. A Petrograd dis patch dated Friday announces the re sumption of Russo-German armistice negotiations and says they are now concerned with the transport of troops from the front, the question of the seas and conditions of fraternization. Russia maintains her attitude in re spect to transportation of German troops to other fronts, contending that the Germans should not send men from the east to France and Belgium. The Petrograd newspapers announce that Germany has withdrawn her de mand for disarmament of the entire Russian army. Bolsheviki units at Kiev have been disarmed by the Ukrainians and sent to their homes. T With the American Army In France. Dec. 15. (By The Associated Press) Six representatives of the food ad ministration arrive 1 yesterday for a four days visit with the troops. They were entertained at luncheon by Gen eral Pershing, inspected headquarters and then left for a billet town. The party will be taken all over the zone, will eat, sleep and taik with the soldiers and acquire first hand infor- miition which will be used in a writs of lectures to assist In the food con I servation campaign. NEGRO ARRESTED FOR SWINDLING Miislinsroe. Ok a.. Dec. 15. Cor - nelins Jones, a negro lawyer, alleged a street car here, killing two persons to be the leader of a conspiracy to and seriously injuring six others. The swinder negroes throughout the sou'.h street car was demolished and the en by promising to recover from the gov-;gine and two coaches derailed, ernment 4K.0UO.Ou0 due the blacks on n "civil war cotton revenue seme-1 ment," was placed under arrest here yesterday by United States ofiicers on an Indictment returned against him by a federal Judge at Memphis, Tenn. The indictment charges lie has oper ated In many sections of the south. Arsenal to Suspend. Watertown, Mass., Dec. 15. Major Tracy Dickson, commandant of the government arsenal, said last night that unless he could obtain dennlto as surance by next Monday night of a renewed supply of coal the arsenal would be forced to suspend on Donum ber 18 Official Statement Confusing. V ) London, Dec. 15. Press dispatches from Petrograd throw little light on tho military situation in southern Russia. The official statements Is- sued in Petrograd are confusing and f there are various reports: regarding General Kaledines and General Korn- iloff. whose whereabouts are hot ) known definitely. . fj "The fog of war has settled down i over all the Russians," says the Pe- " trograd correspondent of The Post, 3 "although very little actual warfare has developed." S Alp regular means of commuiiica- ; tion nre disorganized, but according 1 to intelligence from different parts of 'j the country conditions are entirely those of war. I ; The people of Petrograd are said i to be more interested in the attitudo j of the Bolsheviki toward the constl- j luent assembly than in the Russo- j German negotiatio n or civil war in the south. :i i . The Bolsheviki aro still represented ?s as being determined to prevent the j, constituent assembly from taking on any complexion except a reflection of ' their own views but there apparently is a sharp disagreement as to the ii methods. ;j All advices agree that force is the 1 only law in Russia today and tho .5 strongest force for the moment is :i wielded, by the Bolsheviki. S Virtually every newspaper in Russia ?, has been suppressed except those fa- i vorable to the Bolsheviki and the banks are closed. V "On the other hand signs of good ' discipline are not wanting," the dis- ; patch to The Post continues. "Soldiers 1 returning by tens of thousands from ' the war zones no longer retain their ; arms, as they did with such disastrous j results under the Kerensky regime. J l-Iven the Petrograd garrison has be- j come amenable to moderate discipline, j The . strong hand is felt everywhere 1 and everywhere murmurs of indigna- tions are heard at the manner in which j the strong hand is employed pre- j cisely, In fact, the general condition j of public opinion under the Romanoff , regime." . j The same correspondent points to i supposed indications of tho intention i to restore the monarchy. Lenine, he 1 says, is an invisible mystery, inaccessi- i bin and closely guarded. Trotsky, on ) the other hand, speaks frequently J and is very accessible. I HAD NARROW ESCAPE Italian Headquarters In Northern. Italy. Dec. 14 (Delayed) (By tho As sociated Press). An army automo bile in which Congressman George H. Tinkham of Boston, was riding today on a visit to Monte Grappa on the northern mountain front, skidded over the mountainside and dropped 20 feet, y It made a double turn and was crushed to pieces but the congressman and the other occupants escaped with bruises, the chauffeur being seriously In jured. Congressman Tinkham, who fired the first American shot against Aus tria, received slight injuries. Two Killed in Wreck. Houston. Tex., Dec. 14. A South ern Pacific passenger train enroute to ; Galveston yesterday nlternoon struck; (JZrpkrskZ FFT I JO SHOP 3