Newspapers / The Asheville Times (Asheville, … / Dec. 15, 1917, edition 1 / Page 2
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SATURDAY, DEC 15, 191? PACS TTO THE ASHEVILLE TEUES AS a: vll- Ev, Su ' Ob ' tl.r If. A. Su JTM..L Bl N E 27.' tj " Vl t t it J. t c l V 31 ' ' 41 S I II ..-- MARKET REPORTS f WEEKLY FINANCIAL REVIEW. New York, Dec. 15. The perplexing railroad Bltuallon, higher money rates due mainly to extraordinarily heavy disbursements by and td the federal Government, and Increasing concern respecting; the course of foreign mili tary and political developments were the more disturbing features of an other very unsettled week In the stock market. The familiar tale of new low re cords was repeated with added force and breadth, many high class railway and Industrial Issues joining the al ready long list of new mlnimums for peroids extending from a few years to almost a generation. Apprehension was accentuated by concurrent declines In various foreign government bonds and domestic rails to levels which plainly devoted the lack of buying power or indifference of investor?. Intimations of further price adjust ment of important commodities by the war board also served to bring about fresh liquidation but subsequent un official advices alien t that situation were more reassuring. Rallies of two to almost five points occurred in leading stocks toward the end of the week, the movement evi dently being prompted by a realization tof attractive dividend returns and considerable short covering; General trade conditions are re ported as fairly satisfactory but the reaction in bank clearings, offered proof of a moderate setback In many i lines of industry. NEW YORK STOCKS. New York, Pee. IS. -Lower prices prevailed at. the opening of today's stork market.' rails..' steels, various equipments and allied war shares re acting all tho way from large fractions i to 1 to Hi points. Coppers, sMppings and oils yielded more : moderately. "Dealings lacked the activity and strength whic hcharacterlzed yester day's operations. Liberty Bonds were unchanged CHICAGO GRAIN. Chicago. Dec. 13. Predictions of milder weather had a bearish effect today on corn. The outlook se,emed better for increased receipts. Open ing prices which ranged from un changed figures to H lower, were followed by slight, declines all around. Oats weakened with corn. Stop page of export, demand from the gulf acted as a further d:pressing influ ence.'. Big breaks in hogs knocked support from under provisions. Sharpest de clines were in pork. American Beet Sugar ........ American Can ..-....., Am. Car & Foundry....-..., American Locomotive ...... Am. Smelting & Refining. . . American Sugar Refining... Anaconda Copper ......... Atchison . i . .... .' - Baldwin Locomotive ....... Baltimore & Ohio . . . . '...'. !eth. Steel "B," Ex. Div... Canadian Pacific .......... Central Leather Chesapeake a. Ohio ..... .. . Chi., Jill. & : St. Paul. ....... Chi., R. 1. R: Pao. Ry... Chino Copper Ex; Div...... Colorado Fuel and lion Columbia Gas and Elec, ..... Corn Products ............ Cruciblo Steel ............. Cuba Cane Sugar ........... Erie . . General Motors ., Great Northern Pfd. ....... Great Northern Ore Oti's. ... Inspiration Copper ......... Int. Mer. Mar. pfd. div.. Kennecott Copper ......... . Eouisvilie and Nashville .... Maxwell Motor Co .... Mexican Petroleum ex. div. . Miami Copper .Midvale Steel ... a ....... . Missouri Pacific . , . . .... ... Nevada Copper, Ex. Div.... New York Central ....... Norfolk and Western ....... Northern Pacific , Ohio Cities Gas ..... - Pennsylvania . . . .... ....... . Pittsburg Coal . Ray Consol. Cop , Ex. Div... Reading Republic Iron & Sieol Sinclair Oil Southern Pacific ,..... Southern Railway' ........ Studebaker Co'. Tennessee Copper ...... . . . Texas Co. . - Tobacco Products ......... Union Pacific - United Cigar Stores V. S. Industrial Alcohol V. S. Rubber ...... United States Steel ...... Utah Copper, Ex. Div. ..... Wabash Pfd. "A" ......... Westinghouse Electric ...... Willys-Overland A., T. &. T Ills. Central Atlantic Coast. Line Gulf States Steel. Ex. Div. ... seaboard Air Line Sloss-Shef. Steel and Iron . . United Fruit fiS 32 63 H 50 71 !2 '.- r.4 xo r,3 47 . 70 130 Vi 60 H 44 3 9 Vi 1S 394' . 31 Ms -'9 Vt i t srt si 24 40 TS'.3 3 0 1 li'7 :'23'.i 4 1 ' i 281 fiS',4 98 1 43 H 41" .7 if.., so 4-2 12 i:s 46 u 10$ S5 1(17 Vi 49 S4 72- nxn 3 1"2 W S8'u S4 Si) E 0 34 B 113 A'lrglnin Cara. Chein. 31'4 Oen. Elec. 1-1' NEW YORK COTTON MARKET. New York. Dec. 14. The cotton market was quiet early today with buj inesa probably restricted by delays in tho wire service resulting from the Ftorm. The opening was steady at a decline of three to ten points und.r scattered realizing with January sell ing off to 29.211 and March to 28. 2 Hhortly ater the call, or about 11 to 23 points net lower. I'nsett'ed condi tion in the stock market may have contributed to the early decline nnd there was som . selling n the in crease report f-r the month In do mestic mill stockH of raw cotton. The census report showed mill consump tion of 590.7A3 bales for November compared with r.S4.lS2 last yenr. Lon don cables reporting the appointment . of a committee by the government to protect the British cotton industry attracted considerabls nttent.on, the 1 idea being that this commitee will see that cotton gets its proper propor tion of all BritlHh tonnage. Trading continued very quiet In the forenoon with prices showing a ten dency to ease off m; ier scattered local and Wall Street selling. January worked off to 29.5 8 and March to 28.88, or about 14 to 20 points net lower. CASH GRAIN PRICES. Chicago. Dec. 14. Corn No. 2 yel low nominal. No. 3 yellow 1.80-1.82; No. 4 yellow 1.50 1.02. Oats No. 8 whits 7 S $ "C stand ard 76U3. Rye No. 2, 1.84 1.85: barley 1.40 .; timothy B.00y7.50; clover 20.60 026.00. Pork nominal: lard 24.25924.37; rlbi 23.87 24.60. I Mr. and Mrs. William Jennings Bry an arrived in the city yesterday after noon for a short stay. Mrs. Bryan mill leave tomorrow for the Bryan home at Miami, Fla.. and Mr. Bryan will return to Washington, where he has lately been on a visit. The vote on the prohibition bill, submitting the amendment to the states for ratifica tion or reeetion, will be taken in the house next week and Mr. Bryan de sires to be present. The prohibition measure has al ready passed the senate and, seedless to say, Mr. Bryan is watching the progress of the bill through tp house with interest. IN RAILWAY COLLISION Washington, Pec. 15. In a collision on the Southern railway yesterday, near Calhoun, S. C; between a north bound local train No. 46, and a south bound express and mail train No. 43, the fireman and baggagemoster of the express were fatally injured and sev eral passengers were slightly injured. Reports to Southern headquarters here say the accident was caused by the failure of the telegraph operator at Seneca. S. C, to deliver orders to the engineer of the local. GERMANS GIVE UP OF OWN FREE WILL With the American Army in France, Dec. 14. (Delayed (By The Asso ciated Press)- A story of how Ger man officers are surrendering Is told by un American officer just returned from the British front where he had been"-'--undergoing instruction. One night recently, a. German officer -crawled across No-Man's-I.and to the Brit ish w'.re, ra.ised his hands and cried: "Comrade. .", British soldiers covered him with rifles whereupon the German said: "Excuse me if I lower my hands. I've got n package here." The surprised Britishers granted tho request and tho German dropped into the .trench.- In his hands he had a package of laundry. He svd he had decided to surrender a week before, but had waited until his laundry came back. DEFENDANT FINED FOR WIFE-BEATING Sam Dean, colored, was fined the costs' 'in' Police court yesterday for beating his wife. This was the only Unew case before the court. Major Lowe, arrested several days ago, was given 30 days for vagrancy. The case against him for alleged lar ceny of brass from tho Southern Rail way company was continued. Nature's Way. The processes of nature are most Interesting, even without being fully understood. The why and the where fore are complex and worthy of deep est study, observes a naturalist, but the bold facts, uncoupled with reasons of nny kind, are delightful to contem plate. This Interest will grow upon you and the next thing you know, un less you are indeed shallow-pated, you will be keen to make more observa tions, with a new and charming part of this grand old world, or a small piece thereof, being opened before you. Try it and see. Psychology. Psychology is now recognized as a science, und Is said to have originated with Pythagoras. , Aristotle gren'ly Improved it and stated Its mot Im portant principle, that of the associa tion of ideas. It deals with the phe nomena, slates nnd modifications of the human mind. , Appropriation Bill Passed. Washington, Hec. 14. The postof fice appropriation bill, aggregating $.1:13, OOO, (Kin, including $1,200,000 for censorship of foreign mails, was passed by the hou.so today. It now goes to the senate. CHIOACtO PRODUCE. Chicago. Dec. 14. Butler, higher; creamery, 38(5)48 1-2. Eggs, receipts, 5.706 cases, un changed. Potatoes, receipts. 20 cars, un changed. Poultry, alive. lower; fowls, 175 21: springs, 19 1-2. CHICAGO LIVE STOCK. Chicago, Dec. 14. Hogs Receipts, 46,000; slow. Bulk, 16.400) 18. 80. light. 18.00-ij) 16.75: mixed, 16.25 10.90; heavy, 16.35 16.90; rough, 16.35'ffil6.50: pigs, 12.50 15.00. Cattle Receipts, 7,000; weak. Na tive steers, 7.15 14.35; western steers, 6. 20 W 13 10; stockers and feed ers, 8.1 Ofn 10.50; cows and heifers, 5.00 11.10: calves, 9. 00 16.00. Phcep Receipts. 9,000; weak. Wethers, 8.90 13.00; lambs, 12. 50 18.90. NEW YORK SPOT COTTON. New York. Uec. 14. Cotton spot quiet; middling uplands, 30.70. NEW YORK COTTON CLOSE New York Doc, 14. Cotton closed steady. Closini; High 2S.40 29.10 28.88 28.63 Hid 28.95 28.54 28.34 28.09 26.99 Jan. ... ... Mar. ... ... May ... .., July Oct 26.90 CIIIOAOO CRAIJ AND PnOVtSlONS. Chlrneo, Dee. 14. Oram and provlainna. conN Oppn Cloia Tan. 1.21H 1.11 .71 H 44 70 4i.t 29.40 JJ.7I 88.77 ilay OATS . Doc May J'OKK Jan May VARD Jn. ... Mar ... .. 1 1S .7G4 .71' 4r n.n 34.00 BJBS Jan. ... , S4 00 May ... !.2 ALLEN AND POST MAKE POSITIVE DENIALS OF PURPORTED INTERVIEW Neither Food Administration Nor Department of Labor Officials Have Criticized the Hot Springs Internment Camp Mr. Allen Authorizes The TIMES To Deny the Story In Greensboro News No Protest Received From Any Women, Anywhere, Regarding Hot Springs Camp By T. W. CTI.VMBLISS. Washington, Dec. 15. Hen S. Al len, director of public Information of the I'nited States Food administration, positively denies that he has at any lime criticized tho Hot Pprings intern ment camp, cither publicly or pri vately. He states further lhat there is hardly a truthful Ftntement In the purported interview published in the Greensboro News of Peceniber 6 and in the AsheviUe Citizen of the same date.., . . Mr, Allen does not mince words but goes further and demanded of the editor of The AsheviUe TIMES that he be set straight before the people of western North Carolina because of the statements printed In the Greens boro News and the Aeheville Citizen.- In additionthe records of the food administration do not show a single complaint from u single individual concerning the Hot Springs intern ment euiu p. There is not a single rec ord of any individual in Ashevillo, Uuncoinbo county, Madison county or any other county refusing to sign a food pledge card because of the treat ment accorded the Germans intorned at Hot Springs and in Tact there is not a letter or communication of any kind in the food administration's files in which the Hot Springs camp is even mentioned. Mr. Post Makes Same Denial. Acting Secretary of Labor Post makes practically the same statement. The files of his department do not show any requests or suggestions from the food administration concerning the treatment of the interned Germans, nor has the food administration made a single recommendation concerning the food served the men at Hot Springs. Xo Investigation Ordered or Hold. More than this, the records of the department of labor do not show that any investigation was ever ordered, ever held or that any report of any investigation of the Hot Springs camp was ever filed. Mr. Post denies posi tively that eilher he or his depart ment ever stated to representatives of the Greensboro News, or any other person, tbJt an investigation was even contemplated or ordered. In fact, there was no reason for any investiga tion and none was had. Mr. Post is very positive in his de nunciation of the published news stories published in the Greensboro News and does not hesitate to speak out loud in condemnation of such newspaper methods. Anil Two Men Called. He says that two men called on him, One was Parker It. Anderson, and with Mr. Anderson was a gentle man who said that he was the owner and editor of the Greensboro News and that to those two gentlemen be tendered the records of the depart ment in an effort to prove to them that there was no ground for any criticism of the conduct of the Hot Springs internment camp. Under date of December 6, Parker R. Anderson, the Washington cor respondent of the Greensboro News, sent a news story to his paper and sent a portion of the same story to the Asheville Citizen. These stories were printed December 6, and both stories charged that that Ben S. Allen, of the. food administration, had au thorized the Greensboro News to use him as authority for the publication of the slanders against the Asheville women. In the version of the pur ported interview as published in the Greensboro News, Parker R. Ander son says: "Mr. Allen said there was not the least question that food whs still be. ing wasted or that the rations were yet what they should be at these in ternment camps and he hoped the marshal, would do some more regulat ing."' Mr. Allen Replies P.y Wire. The Greensboro News reached Asheville the afternoon of December 6 with the story printed under a dou ble column headline. The TIMES im mediately sent Mr. Allen a telegram,' quoting the News, and asked Mr. Al len if he had made the statement. To this telegram, Mr. Allen replied: "Have never given Greensboro News any statement for publica tion nor is the quotation you sent me a correct version of private talk I had with representatives of the News. I have no wish to becom involved in a newspaper controversy but wish to say that I have not criticized Marshal Webb or the internment camp, cither privately or publicly, as I know nothing of conditions there." Following the receipt of this tele gram, the editor of The TIMES came to Washington, the purpose of the trip being to make an investigation and If possible to ascertain the pur pose of the repeated false and slan derous statements and to discover whether or not these reports origi nated with either the food adminis tration or the department of labor. Tho News' Campaign. For (ievctal weeks, The Greensboro News,, aided by its correspondents at both Asheville and Washington, has carried on a well determined cam paign which has been, without quali fication, the basest attack upon two departments of the government as well as un attack upon the loyalty and in tegrity of tho people of western North Carolina. In the progress of the cam paign, The News has seen fit to be little and ridicule The TIMES and every individual who has dared to deny its false statements and even went so far as to make charge against the Washington correspondent of 'The TIMES, a gentleman who does not attempt to create sensational news stories and who does not have time to riot In the realm of slander. Placed Blu me 011 Food Administration When the women of Asheville, weary of the repeated publication of false statements concerning their loy. alty to the need of the nation in this hour, appealed to the Asheville board of trade for defense from tho charges which had been circulated through out North Carolina by The Greensboro New- th clirautora of the board of trad passed resolutions denouncing the publication of the slanderous statements. Instead of doing the clean and manly thing, of acknowledging that there was no ground for the at tack upon the women of Asheville. The Greensboro News placed the re sponsibility for the absolutely false re port upon the food administration.. Officials Disgusted nt News. A representative of The TIMES has made a careful and thorough investi gation. He has examined the records of the department of labor and the food administration. The officials of those departments have read the stor ies printed in The Greensboro News and have not only expicssod the posi tive conviction that the evident pur pose of The News was to discredit the work being done by the department of labor but that there was a further purpose of creating the idea, that fric tion existed between the United States food administration and the depart ment of labor. Officials of both de partments are disgusted because 1 f the publications of news stories sent out without the least semblance of truth ful foundation and talk freely and frankly, expressing their opinion of the methods employed. : In order that the people of western North Carolina may know that from the very beginning of this series of at tacks, that there was 110 ground for the stories and that -while' The TIM ICS h..d in language unniistaknbly plain denied and denounced them, this fur ther investigation was made, and be cause of tho fact that The Greens boro News had, without reason, made a disgusting attack upon the character and reliability of tho Washington correspondent of Tho ASHEVILLE TIMES. There wa's little new to be learned In Washington because Mr. Manning, who represents The ASHEVILLE TIMES in the capital city, had al ready proven the falsity of the news stories sent out by Parker R. Ander son, correspondent of The Greensboro News. '.:. Parker Anderson's Story. In the very beginning of this se ries of news stories, Parker R. Ander son, in The Greensboro News, said: Unity Mews Bureau Telegraph Office Tho rtlcis Bidet, (by leased wlrs) By PARKER R. ANDERSON. Washington, Nov. 15. Because the United States government is not practising what it preaches in the matter of food conservation, many of the housewives of Ashe ville and vicinity have refused to . sign the food pledge cards pre sented to them by agents of the United States food administra tion. ' Attention of the food adminis tration was called by The Daily News corresponded today to the fact that, a largo number cT wo men nt Asheville, aroused over tho treatment accorded the Germans interned at the camp located at Hot Springs, have become dis gusted and have refused to join in tho movement for the conser vation of foodstuffs which can be used to feed the allied nations of Europe. And the women of Ashevillo have every just ideation for their action. It was learned tcday that the government is furnishing food to-tho enemies of this country in terned nt Hot Springs fit to grace the table of Goncral Pershing or any of the other warriors now con. bating the common enemy on the frontier in France. Nothing is too good for these alien enemies and their appetites are unrestrict ed from every standpoint. There is a vast waste of food showered upon them, according to tho North Carolina women who have entered a protest against such unusual consideration being accorded fie "guests" of tho na tion, ns they or: termed. Incidentally, Herbert. Hoover, federal food administrator, for some time past, has been study ing food conditions at the various internment camps throughout the country, especially at Hot Springs, with a view of determining what course he should lake to conserve the supply and to put a stop to ex travagance in the various camps. Tho Daily News correspondent learned today that Mr. Hoover, a short time ago, .recommended to the war department, whose of ficials have charge of most of the interned Germans, that they be ' given the same quality and quan tity of food served by the German government to its prisoners of war. If reports reaching this country are to be believed, any 0110 who falls Into the hands of the Germans is given barely enough upon which to exist. Both tho quality and quantity are limit ed to the very minimum, and only sufficient food Is supplied to keep life In the body. . Put not so with this govern ment. Germans are given all the food and the highest priced food that their appetites can crave, and yet, the American public is called upon to conserve foodstuffs in every way possible. Hence the uprising among tho good women of western North Carolina and vicinity. The war department has taken no action regarding the recom mendation of Mr. Hoover. Tho officials there say the Germans are being fed on the same rations given to our own soldiers and nothing more. The food admin, lstration is having difficulty In educating the women of North Carolina. Into the belief that a German interned in this country is just as good and deserves the same consideration and treat ment as an American soldier or sailor. In this connection it may be Interesting to know that every member of ths military or naval force of Germany Interned In this country receives the same salary as is paid to our own officers and men. For instance, a German pri vate, who at home would probably receive but five cents a day and not any too much food. Is paid $30 a month by this government during the period of his intern, ment in this country. Officers of Germany are given the corre sponding pay of officers of the United States nrmy and navy. The officials place the blame for this on international treaties and say that while Germany may not and has not lived up to her agreements with other nations, the United States must not be sub jected to the same accusation. Assisted By Asheville Correspondent. In the meantime, the Asheville cor respondent of The Greensboro News came t the assistance of its Washing ton correspondent. This Asheville correspondent is C. H. Hites. a mem ber of the news staff of The Asheville Citizen. In the issue of November 18, the Asheville correspondent said: "Already resulting in the rt-usal of women to sign food pledge cards, the presence of the Germans and their be. ing given tho best food the land af fords, are engendering more nnd more bitterness and hostility toward them, and the first sign of an overt act on the part of any prisoner, it is believ ed, will lead to serious consequences." This same Asheville correspondent repeated his statements in the issue of The Greensboro News of November 19. Later, In its issue of November 21, The News printed a c. itetnptible news story, a bitter personal attack, with out a whit of foundation, and this story bears the name of C. H. Hites und was sent out from Asheville. This Ashevillo correspondent attacked an editorial in The TIMES una niado the assertion that when The TIMES de nied that "women at Hot Springs have not refused to sign food plodge cards the statement was in direct contra diction of statements made by some 1 the finest women of this city, who know personally of the vain efforts made to secure signatures to the food pledge cards because of the fine variety of the food served the interned Ger mans." This was but aiinO"" -imple of the absolutely false statements made by correspondents of Tho News concern ing the women of Asheville and Hot Springs. . Point of Vlow Chang.:. In tho second paragraph of the story by Parker R. Anderson reprinted above, Mr. Anderson said. "Attention of the Food admin istration was called by the Daily News correspondent today to the fact that a large number of wom en in Asheville." In this sentence Mr. Anderson claims that he told the Food Admin istration of the aroused women at Ashevillo who had refused to sign food pledge cards. This was tho first publi cation that reached Asheville in which any charges were made concerning Ashevillo Women or the treatment of the Germans interned at Hot Springs. After repeated denials on the part of The TIMES of this statement, Par ker R. Anderson in the Asheville Citi zen of December the 6th," and the Greensboro News of the same date, made the positive statement that he had gotten his first information con cerning Asheville women from Ben S. Allen who, according to Parkor An derson, was "first assistant to Herbert Hoover." Allen Not Hoover's Assistant. Mr. Allen is not tho first assistant to Food Administrator Hoover. He is the director of public information. of the food administration department and positively disclaims any authority tor makim any statements for the de partment, unless those statements are Hist approved by Mr. Hoover. In both The News and The Citizen Mr. Anderson said: "Your correspondent is author ized to state that it was Mr. Allen who personally gave out the state ment concerning the protest of women against the waste of iootl at Hot Springs, which was pub lished by tho New York World, the Daily News and other papers. Mr. Allen stated that his depart ment had received a great many such complaints, some of a formal character, and some by way of : newspaper reports. Ho was under the impression that a number of theso reports were from North Carolina, and that Asheville was spocillcally mentioned in a tele gram which "vas called to his per sonal attention by the representa tive of a New York newspaper, and he thereupon made tha state ment which was published by a number of the larger papers of tha country, including the Daily News." "Mr. Allen said there was not the least question that food wag still being wasted or that the ra tions were not what they should be at these internment camps and he hoped the Marshal' would do some more regulating. Mr. Allen was very positive indeed about tills and it is very apparent that the food administration is not go ing to rest until dilterent methods are adopted at these campB." This last quotation did not appear in the story printed in The Citizen but does appear in the story of the same tale which appears in the Greensboro Jsews. When the Greensboro News reached Asheville, The Ashevillo Times wired Mr. Allen as follows: .Mr. Allen's Denial By Wire. "The Greensboro News of this date says Mr. Alien said there was not the least question tuut food was still being wasted or that the rations were not yet what they should be at these internment camps, and he hoped the Marshal would do somo more regulating. This quotation is In story referring to Hot Springs internment camp. Did you make that statement? Answer by wire collect." In reply to this telegram Mr. Allen wired The TIMES as follows: "Have never given Greensboro News any statement fur publica tion, nor is quotation sent me cor rect version of private talk I held with representatives pf tho News. I have no wish to become Involved in a newspaper controversy, but only wish to Bay that I have not criticized tho Marshal or the in ternment camp either privately or publicl as I know nothing of con ditions there." Following the publication of the statements charging the food admin istration with having given out the false reports concerning Ashevillo women, and the receipt of the tele gram from Mr. Allen, the Editor of The TIMES came here and upon his arrival telephoned to Mr. Allen who made an appointment Immediately. Mr. Allen met the representative of The TIMES at the office of George II. Manning and for the first time read the Anderson stories as printed in The Asheville Citizen and the Greensboro News. "Stories Absolutely False." After reading the two stories he stated positively, and In strongest lan guage, that the stories were absolutely false. That, in the first place, he was not the "first assistant" to Mr. Hoover and, further, had no authority to make any statements whatever for the food administration. That It was his business to send out publicity matter fnr the administration altar that mat. 'ter had been prepared and approved. Mr. Allen said further that he had been visited by Parker R. Anderson and a Mr. Hildebrand who was in troduced to him as the owner and editor of the Greensboro News. They had talked together on general con ditions and as to th plans and pur poses of the food administration de partment. He said that Mr Anderson asked bun during the Interview if he remembered the day when the Wash ington representative of the New York World brought him a telegram from tho New York office of the World inquiring oxmcerning certain reports In reference to the Hot Springs internment camp. Mr. Allen remem bered the Incident and says that when the New York World representative came to him he told him that he had no recollection of any complaints whatever concerning the Hot Springs internment camp, and referred him to the proper department of the food ad ministration to which such correspond ence would naturally go. Mr. Allen Very Indignant. Mr. Allen said there has been some complaint from various sections of the country in reference to reported waste or food at army camps and cantonments- but he had no recollec-l tion of any complaint concerning the Hot Springs internment camp, and that further he had never heard of any Ashevillo women refusing to sign food pledge cards. Mr. Allen was very Indignant and requested that The TIMES priat in full the telegram which he had sent previously, and which positively denies any In terview purporting to have been given to the Greensboro News. Mr. Allen denounced the publica tion of the news stories in the two North Carolina papers ns - being., with out foundation, and ns being an exam ple of the basest type of sensational journalism. : Not Single. Complaint on Tile. Following this conference The TIMES made an investigation of the records of the food administration de partment, nt the request and sug gestion of Mr. Allen, and found that there was not a single letter or com munication of any character even suggesting a complaint, and in fact that Hot Springs internment camp has no place whatever in the records of the food administration depart ment. In the same first article published November 16, Parker R. Anderson says: ". "There Is a vast waste of food showered upon them, according, to the N'nrth Carolina women who have entered a protest against such unusual consideration being accorded the guests of the nation, as they are termed." On November 18 the Greensboro News published a news story from its Asheville correspondent, C. II. Hites, and in this story the Asheville cor respondent said: "Already resulting in the re fusal of the women to sign food pledge cards the presence of the Germans nnd their being given the best food the land affords." Both of these statements are abso lutely without foundation. The rec ords of tho department of labor, which has control of the Hot Springs intern ment camp, are open to any one who desires to see them, and these records show that the actual cost of purchas ing the food, preparing it and serving it, is less than 15 cents per meal per man, and this is about one-third of the amount set apart by the govern ment as the reasonable cost of feed ing men in tho nrmy. In his story from Washington, pub lished December 6. Parker Anderson said: . "Mr; Allen said that there was not the least question that food was still being wasted." Another Statement Denied. In this story Mr. Anderson is at tempting to put the burden of respon sibility for the charge of waste at Hot Springs upon Een S. Allen, of the food administration Mr. Alien states posi tively that he has no knowledge what ever of the Hot Pprings internment camp nnd has nover made such a statement. In the first story written by Parker Anderson, dated November 15, Mr. Anderson said- "Incidentally, Herbert Hoover, Federal food administrator, for some time past, has been studying food conditions at the various in ternment camps, esnecinlly at Hot Springs. . . The Daily News correspondent learned todny that Mr. Hoover a short time ngo recommended to the war depart ment, whose officials have charge of most of the interned Germans, that they be given tho same quality and quantity of food served by the Germnn govern ment to its prisoners of war. . . . But not so for this government, Germans are given all the food nnd the highest priced food that their appetities can crave, and yet the American public Is called upon to conserve food stuffs in every wav possible, causing nn uprising of the good women of western North Carolina and vi cinity." No Recommendation From Hoover. The examination of the records of the department of labor do not show any such recommendations from Mr. Hoover. The same examination does show that tho statement that "Ger mans aro given all the food nnd the highest priced food that their appe tites can crave" is not true. There Is no record of any recom mendatlon from the food adminlstra tion In reference to the feeding of the prisoners nt Hot springs, and the de pnrtment of labor has not nt any time refused to follow nny recommendation or suggestion concerning the treat ment of the interned men. The statement made by Mr Ander son that the war department has charge of the Internment camps pass es without comment, for the reason that every well Informed person knows that the war department has nothing whatever to do with theso camps. In the Greensboro News of Novem ber 19, the Asheville correspondent still strives to embitter thp peonle against the department of labor. I which Una charge of the Internment icnmp, and speaking of the people of illot Springs and Madison county said: j "Their wives generally sneer j when asked to sign food pledge cards." . The cards show that at that time ! November 18 no food pledge cards ;had been distributed In Mndlson coun ty, nnd not a slnglo woman of Madison I county or Hot Springs hnd been asked I to sign food pledge cards. 1 On November 28. Parker R. Ander son publlihed in the Greensboro News this statement: "When the report came to Food Administrator Hoover that wom en of western North Carolina ob jected to the faro the Germane were being treated to at Hot Springs, he at once recommended , that the bill of fare furnished the , kaiser's subjects at Hot Springs -be cut down. At first the depart ment of labor was not inclined to seriously consider the charge but later on it was decided to make a thorough investigation. The report of the investigator was filed win the department late this afternoon, nnd the Daily News Correspondent is authorized to slate that meatless days will he put into effect at once. The re port in these dispatches that tho Germans are being over-fed at Hot Springs; that meatless and wheatless days were not being observed, and that women at Asheville and other western North Carolina towns had re fused to sign food conservation pledges because the Germans wero being over-fed, caused The Asheville TIMES, which is con trolled bv United States Mar shal Charles A. Webb, n political appointee of President WilNon, to lose its head and denounce the story ns false In several different . kinds of languages. . . . But not withstanding the ravings of the newspaper the department of la bor considered the reports com ing from Asheville of such ser ious nature that an Investigation ws ordered. . . . The depart ment of labor's Investigation was conducted Girt ugh its own men In : .whom the department had confi dence and reason to believe that politicians would not be dragged into the affair at Hot Springs." No Investlgntloti Tver Contemplated. According to acting Secretary of Lahor Post, corroborated by the rec ords of the department of labor, the statements made by pnrker Anderson, as quoted above; are absolutely witn- out foundation. No investigation was contemplated, ordered, or made and more than this acting Secretary Post emphatically states that he informed tho representatives of the Greensboro News when they called on hfm that no investipation had been or would be made, and that further ho offered them the privilege of seeing and ex amining the files of the department. No reports have ever come to tho department of labor in reference to the refusal of women at Ashevillo or trywherc else in western North Caro lina to sign food pledge cards because of the presence of tho interned Ger mans or because of their treatment. No Statement From Either Depart incut. After having talked to Acting Secre tary Post, Hen S. Allen, and other heads of departments in tho food ad ministration and after searching the records, it is absolutely certain that there was no statement issued by either one of these departments upon which to base any charges against tho loyalty of the women of Asheville or of western North Carolina. It is also established that the stories sent out by tho Washington correspondent of The Greensboro News, and the .stories sent out from Asheville, had 110 foun--dalion in fact, and officials stato very distinctly that they have never had any information whatever concerning the facts at issue, and more than this they also state that they informed tho representative of The Greensboro News that their, files contained no in formation. About Mr. Manning. In its istue of December 4 The Greensboro News printed an article by Parker 11. Ai.derson, in which Mi An derson made a contemptible attack upon the reliability and general char acter of - George H. Manning, the Washington correspondent of The TIMES. To this attack Mr. Manning had not made reply for the reason that he is not the type of a man who is willing to descend to the low level. In this attack made by Parker R. An derson the statement was made that Mr. Manning was not an American citizen unless "he has of late secured naturalization papers." The fact is that Mr. Manning filed his papers of naturalization within a few months after he reached his ma jority and is a citizen of the United States in as good standing as any other man in Washington. In this samo con temptible personal nttack Mr. Ander son charged Mr. Manning with not be ing a member of tho l're. s club 01' Washington. For oiijo the truth w;w spoken. Mr. Manning is not a mem bur of the Press club, and The TIMES is able, if it so desires at any future time to publish all of the facts in ref erence to this matter. In order that the readers of Tho ASHEVILLE TIMES may know that the Washington co respondent is reputable and stands well, it is deem ed wise to state that he repre sents in .,'nshington The New York Evening Telegram, Philadelphia Even. Ing Ledger, Mobile Register, Mont gomery Advertiser, Roanoke Times, Koanoko World-News. Richmond Jour, nal, Pensacola Journal, Miami Her--ald, Hartford Cournnt, Bridgeport Post, Bridgewatei' Telegram, Wnter bury American, Winston-Salem Jour nal, Wilmington Dispatch. In that same contenii-i.i..- nttack published December 4, Mr. Anderson said: - . . "Any reputable newspaper em ploying a reputable correspond ent could easily verify this and every other statement made in tho foregoing dispatch." The TIMES ' -as satisfied that Geo. II. Manning is a reputable correspor. 1 ent, and if there had been any doubt of the matter the investigation made in Washington during these duys demonstrates the fact that Mr. Mail ing stands ns high with the officials in the various departments at Wash ington as any newspaper representa tive, , IT OF THE III BY NAVY Washington, Pee. 14. A house sub committee to thoroughly investigate the conduct of the war by the navy was created by the naval committee today in executive session. Hearings Will be arranged soon, ' Secretary Daniels, bureau chiefs, and officers who have been on duty abroad will be called to testify. Members of the committee say that as at the last session 11, 00, 000, 000 was appropriated for naval expendi tures and that this year another bil lion is proposed, the system of expend ing such vaBt sums should be exam ined. , . - Steamer Sunk In Collision. London,. Dec. 14. The steamer Kurland has been sunk In a collision, according to announcement made by Lloyds. According to available shipping re cords there are steamers named Kur land, one Belgian and two Russian. The Belgian steamer Kurland of 1,964 tons, arrived In an American port on November 10, The Russian steamers named Kurland are of 886 and 612 ton respective!;
The Asheville Times (Asheville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 15, 1917, edition 1
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