THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN
THE WEATHER
FAIR.
CITIZEN WANT ADS
BRING RESULTS
VOL. xxsin, NO. 110.
ASHEVILLE, N. C, SATURDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 10, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
PRESIDENT WILSON WILL
NOT ASK A DECLARATION
OF WAR AGAINST GERMANY
As It Should Be
If Compelled to go Before Congress Again, Will Follow Litera
lly the Words of the Address in Which He Announced the
Break of Diplomatic Relations, and Request Authority to
Protect American People and Seamen
PRESIDENT ANXIOUS TO
AVOID WAR WITH GERMANY
No New Developments Indicate That 0
vert Act by Germany, Necessary to Pre
cipitate Hostilities, Is Any Nearer at
Hand.
0 PROHIBITION
AGIS
STRIKES
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9. The course to be taken by
the United States if Germany compels the use of force to
safeguard American lives and rights, has been detennined.
Tt was learned authoritatively after today's cabinet meet
ing that in the event President. Wilson goes before con
gress again, it will not be to ask for a declaration of war,
but to follow literally the words of the address in which
be announced the break of diplomatic relations, and re
quest authority- to use means deemed necessary to pro
tect American seamen and people.
Anxious to Avoid War.
The president, it was stated, is as anxious as ever to
avoid war with Germany, but also is as determined as
evei- that American citizens and ships shall be free to
travel the high seas unmolested. His next step, if taken,
will be to enforce that right and even then the issue of
war or peace will be with Germany. Any hostile action
will have to come in the form of an interference with an
American right.
Details of the government's plans are not discussed.
It is known, however, that convoying and arming of mer
chant ships are being considered.
No new development came today to indicate that the
overt act by Germany, regarded as inevitable, was nearer
at hand. Fewer reports of ships sunk came in, and none
told officially of the loss of an American life. Further
information 'received about George Washington, the ne
gro fireman lost on the Turino, indicated that he probably
was a British subject.
The cabinet met today with all members present,
except Secretary IrcAdoo. Just before the meeting most
of the members' attended a session of the council for na
tional defense, called to discuss mobilization of the na
tion's resources as a result of many offers from manufac
turing and other companies to place themselves at the
disposal of the government in the event of trouble.
Questions Discussed.
Practicallv every member took to the cabinet infor
mntinn about the activities of his department in connec
tion with the general precautions being taken. Questions
discussed included proposed emergency legislation, sieps
for protecting property, mail problems precipitated by
the failure of ships to sail from Amreican ports for Eu
rope, economic issues and the army and navy prepara
tions. .
After the meeting it was authoritatively stated that
nothing had yet happened to change the course pursued
by the government since the break in relations with Ger
many. The effect' of the tying up of ships in American har
bors because of fear that they will be sunk if they pass
through the war zone, is one of the questions being given
careful consideration. The enforced idleness of the mer-"
chant fleet is a subject of growing exasperation.
Some resentment was expressed in administration
quarters today over what was construed as an implica
tion contained in Germany's request of Ambassador Ger
ard that old treaties between Prussia and the United!
States be reaffirmed that such action was necessary to
make certain that the rights of Germans in this country
guaranteed under those treaties, be made secure. It was
reiterated that the American government fully intends
acting according to the spirit of the treaties. While the
treaty actually was abrogated by passage of the seamen's
law, with a conflicting section, the government here looks
upon the pact as at least furnishing the guiding principle
under which it will act.
Neutrals' Action Gratifying.
The administration is understood to be highly grati
fied by the action taken by many of the neutrals in pro
testing with varying degrees of firmness against Ger
many's new submarine policy. While none has so far fol
lowed the lead and suggestion of the United States, by
breaking off diplomatic relations, nevertheless the expres
sion of sentiment was said to be the chief object desired
by President Wilson in suggesting action to them.
There were no sensations to disturb the capital today.
Preparations went on with quiet thoroughness for all
eventualities. Within a 6hort time, perhaps a few days,
officials fear that Germany wiH take the step which will
1
IN RAILROAD BILL
Committee Reports Favor
ably on Bill to Supple
ment Adamson Law.
GIVES GOVERNMENT
RIGHTS OVER ROADS
Contains Provision to Pre
vent Obstruction of Unit
ed States Mails.
"LEAK" PROBE WILU
GO INTO BOOKS OF
STOCK BROKERS
Such Action Is Prompted
By Testimony of Wash
ington B rower.
NEWSPAPERMEN
ON WITNESS STAND
Associated Press Officials
and Workers Deny Any
Part in Recent Scandal
WASHINGTON'. Feb. 9. After
many weeks' consideration the senate
Interstate commerce committee today
approved and reported to the senate a
bill to supplement the Adamson rail
road law, providing for investigation
of controversies on common carriers
and giving the president authority to
take over railroad, telegraph and
telephone lines in tljfies of military
necessity. There is no prohibition in
the measure against the right to
strike or lockout to whiih the railroad
brotherhoods have vigorously object
ed, but there is a provision to prevent
obstruction of the mails or of inter
state commerce.
Will Call Bill tip.
Chairman Newlands expects to
! nail up the bill as soon as possible.
It is much like that Introduced In
the house earlier in the week and
may be passed at the present session.
It Is expected to meet th vlewa of
the administration, since It has be
come apparent that a more stringent
bill virtually would have no ctiance
of getting through before adjourn
ment. Under the terms of the bill when
the present federal mediation and
conciliation board falls to settle a
railroad labor controversy, the presi
dent shall enlarge the board by the
addition pf one representative of the
carriers and one of the men. The
enlarged board's report shall be made
within three months and contain
regulations "according to the merits
and substantial Justice of the case
which shall be publshed.
Prohibition Section.
The prohibtlon section makes it a
misdemeanor punishable with six
months' Imprisonment for any per
son who "knowingly and wilfully by
physical force or threats or lntimlda
SUFFRAGE BILL BY ROBERTS IS BADLY
BEATEN WHEN IT COMES TO A VOTE IN
LOWER HOUSE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Measure Providing for Giving Women Vote in Municipal Elections on Vote of Such Municipalities
Fails to Pass Prohibition Measure. Up Under Unfavorable Report, Is Also Greeted
With "Thumbs Down" Sign by the N. C. Legislature.
WASHINGTON. Feb. stock nx
change accounts held by members of
congress will be examined by tb
"leak'' inquiry committee as a result
of the testimony nt . whi.t,,.i
broker today, that certain represent!,
fives have traded through him. The) :
account of every member as revealed
by brokers' books will be Inspected
privately and If there is any susni.
utilised In trading, public Investiga
tions of the transactions will be in
augurated.
,r,"'tf th "peal brokers' records'
are now In the possession of tVh
committee and supplemental account
ZlL obtned In New York when
......... ,., BIa resumed h-
week.
George
(Continued on Page Two.)
Fl
GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE
MURDER IN BOMB CASE
Tried in Connection With
Explosion That Cost
Ten Lives.
MOTHER MAKES SCENE
8AN FRANCISCO, Feb. 9. Thomas
J. Mooney, labor agistor, waa con
victed of murder In the first degree
by a Jury in the Superior court here
tonight for a bomb explolson costing
ten lives during a preparedness
paraae July 22. 1816.
When the Jury announced their ver
dict Mooney's mother began to scream
and the court room was thrown into
violent confusion. Miss Anna Mooney.
sister of the prisoner, collapsed and
was carried out in a faint. Tile moth
er then became so violent that the
Judge ordered her removed. Scream
ing and fighting she was dragged
from the court room.
Mooney received the verdict
moved. His wife, Rena
court room.
Mooney, his wife, Rena. Israel
Weinberg. Warren K. Billings and
Edward -Nolan were arrested within
a week after the explcjison of the
bomb at Stuart and Market streets
on the afternoon of July 22, last. All
were indicted for murder. Blllinrs,
the first to be brought to trial was
found guilty and sentenced to life im
prisonment
Citizen Bureau,
Raleigh. N. r.
February 9.
(By W. .1.- Martin.)
The bill by Roberts of Buncombe,
to give the franchise to women In mu
nicipal elections where the majority
of the voters so petitioned, went down
In defeat In the house today by a vote
of 40 to 63, after a most strenuous ar
gument heard by lad lee, suffragists
and others, who thronged the gal
leries. y
The house also voted aigalnst the
Page bill to enable any .county to
elect ita own scttpol aard on petition
of the majority. This vote wae 40
to 61.
Prohibition Bill Defeated.
Also, the house received the state
antl-ealoon league bill limiting re
ceipts of liquor to two quarts per year
instead of two per month, with un
favorable report from the liquor traf
fic committee and refused, 27 to 41,
to re-refer when frienda of the bill
pleaded that if re-referred frienda of
the measure could get up an accept
able bill. It looks decidedly like there
will be no further prohibition legisla
tion this session.
The senate threshed out . the ques
tion of allowing 'individual Sountles to
elect boards of education and voted
22 to 24 against the Burgwyn bill to
allow Bertie county tnie privilege.
Tonight the memtwrs of the senate
and house were special guests of the
Waike County Alumni association of
the A. and M. college, for a big dinner
In honor especially of Lieutenant Gov.
ernor O. Max Gardner, .alumnus of the
college.
When the senate convened at 10
o'clock, on motion of Senator Oates,
the Oates bill as to primary nomina
tion of county boards of education In
the counties and appointment by the
governor so as to assure democratic
control In all the counties, waa dis
played as a special order for the day
and set aa special order for next
Thursday.
N'pw tillM.
New bill were introduced as fol
low: .. ..
Linn Amend the statute or limita
tions relative to municipalities.
Thomnaon Amend tne law relative
to the exemption of certain entertain
ments from tax.
President Gardner laid net ore me
senate the bill to allow Bertie county
to elect her board of school commis
sioners aa a special order. It was ad
vocated by Senator Burgwyn who
charged Senator Oates with having
striven to block the bill ail along and
he wanted .that senator to explain why
his 2,600 democrats in Bertie could
not be allowed thie elective privilege.
He aaid ' If you don't trust the people
they will not trust you."
Senator McColn opposed the bill.
Senator Bfenlxer thought that Ber
tie should have the privilege asked as
purely a local matter. Senator Rold
ernesev agreed wtttr-n'tm.
(Senator Oates instated there was a
state school system that must be
maintained and charged the republi
cans with making political capital of
the schools.
.Tones Wants Pair Play.
Senator Jones, of Buncombe, could
not understand the much talked of
debt of gratitude to western county
democracy. The democracy does not.
he Instated, require ntm to be Incon
sistent and dishonest. Democracy can
tie maintained by being Just, he in
sisted. He believed that any set of
county officers who wrecked the school
system of a county would be thrown
out of office. He wanted fair play and
would not sacrifice principle to keep
mountain counties from going repub
lican. The previous question was
moved by Senator Justice, the roll call
vote was 22 to 24 against the bill.
Senatotr Harding offered out of or
der a bill to require the proper ob
servance of the Sabbah. Also a bill
by request, relative tp allotment of
widow's dower and allowance. And
a bill to put Pitt county under the law
prohibiting drunkenness on the public
highways. The senate adjourned to
U o'clock Saturday morning.
New bills and resolutions were of
fered as follows in the house.
Haymore Amend the revlsal rela
tive to the branding of fertilizer.
Bay. of Macon Provide a system
cf uniform accounting and examination
of the state omces.
Breece Reward officers for the
capture of distilleries.
Home Enlarge tne jurisaiction or
the corporation commission in Uve
right of eminent domain.
Lloyd Repeal the 1817 act rela
tive to allowing commissioners to re
move graves.
Matthews, of Mecklenburg Provide
for the maintenance of roads in North
Carolina.
Debate on Page- Bill.
The house launched on the debate
on the Page bill to provide machinery
for electing county boards of educa
tion by the people where the people
so petitioned. ' .
Representative Holding Insisting
that the records of these counties that
elect their boards haw really been
hindered in tbeig edacatiee) progress
by the change from the state system.
This was challenged by Mr. Kittrell,
who re Jo toed that he. Page and Bees
ley, had been designated "agitators,"
Noah, Wilson, Ayoock. and Joyner
were recognized as "agitators," while
ths Egyptians, Pharisees and Saducees
were typical standpatters. He denied
that republicans had any patent on
the real democratic product of local
self-government.
Representative! Joyner, of North
ampton, told of having had to get his
marriage license from a negro back
In the republican populist days. He
wanted to stand by the west and hold
the schools for democracy which the
election policy could Ac.
Representative Dowgliton insisted
the public school syBtem Is a demo
cratic Institution and that if republi
cans got control In their counties they
would block progress and hinder de
velopment all they could. He said he
never exipected to offer for a public of
fice again but wanted to go back home
this time with the knowledge that he
had done his duty by the 60,000 people
of the state who lived with him back
In the mountain sections of the state
.where change to election of boards
would do untold harm to the schools.
Tribute to nongbton.
Representative Brummltt, the last
speaker, paid tribute to Mr. Doughton
but Insisted that Doughton had oppos
ed the statewide primary law and the
statewtide orlmanr had not hurt his
people In the mountains. Mr. Page
moved the previous question and the
aves and noes were called, tne vote on
th hill hAtnz- 40 for and 61 against.
The Roberts, of Buncombe, bill for
municipal equal suffrage came up. Mr.
B. Chlpman,
next '
Washington
(Continued on Pag Two.)
T
I
Is Sunk in English Channel,
Admiralty Says of An
Older Type.
LONDON, Feb 3 A British torpe
do boat destroyer of an older type,
the British admiralty announced to
night, struck a mine In the English
channel Thursdav night and sank. All
the officers and all of the crew, ex
cept five, were lost.
The official statement follows:
"A torpedo boat of an older type,
employed In petrol duty In the Kng
lish channel; struck a mine last night
not in thian" ,tnK- A" lnft o",cr ""ere loex.
mere were live nui.ivurs iiivti iu
crew."
nn-
u.s.wzra
Arrangements for Departure
of American Ambassador
Are Complete.
BALTIC ARRIVES SAFELY
AT LIVERPOOL, IS REPORT
Two Americans Aboard and
a Full Cargo of Munitions
in Hold.
BERLIN, Feb. S. (Via London, Feb
9.) Former Ambassador Oerard and
his party will return to the United
States via Switzerland and Spain,
and probably mill leave Berlin Satur
day eventxig. In Spain they will board
a liner for the United States.
Arrangements for the departure of
Mr. .Gerard and his suite were prac
tically completed today. The delay
was caused by the number of pass
ports to be made out and because of
the lack of news of the movements of
Count von Bernstorff.
A special train will leave Berlin,
.Saturday evening at 9:10 o'clock for
. Switzerland via Basel and Bern. Two
Th oldest type of destroyer In the I representatives of the foreign office
British nav.v is known as class A. built -.in .n.r.inv the n.nv t th
between 1893 and 185. The average border which is exDected to he
displacement is S10 tons. length 200
feet and beam nineteen feet. Two of
these vessels have a complement of
forty-five men each, whit th other
ten carry fifty men each.
Th next oldest type, class B, have
iT.Jl avVegV dTp7.cem7nt ofut Tol
CONTINUED ON FAQB TWO.
whereabouts immediately prior to th
xplosion. Th prosecution sought to
prove that the bomb was contained In
a suitcase taken to th scene by
Mooney and his associates In an au
tomobile. Th defense Might to es
tablish that Mooney and th other
were far away from th scan just be
fore and at th tlms th bomb ex
ploded. Mooney was know as a labor agi
tator for several years.
tons and
each.
complement of sixty men
RtrSSIAV SCHOOlfER &AIIA.
PEN8ACOLA. FT-. Feb. 9. The
Russian schooner Uranus, loaded wtth
lumber sailed from her today for
Swamsa. Wales. One of the crew,
dasmlns; American ektisenaMp, gave
hf name as Frances and bis horn
2t as Yirgtnis
rearhed early Sunday afternoon. Th
embassy representatives will enjoy
the diplomatic privilege at the fron
tier, and baggage Inspection formali
ties for the others of the party will be
executed before leaving Berlin so as
to avoid delay at the border.
The former ambassador and Mrs.
tfterard will be accompanied b& nearly
all the embassy secretaries and at
taches and members of the consular
enric in Germany except a few
ordered to Scandinavia or Holland,
and by most of the newspaper corre
spondents. Th train wlU carry In
all about SOU persons when It leaves!
the capital and will be mad up of
alsspsrs and day coaches. .
N"3W TORK, Feb. 9. The sfeam
ship Baltic, of the White Star line,
has arrived safety at Liverpool ac
cording to a cable message received
her tonight by officers of the com
pany. Th message, besides announc
ing that the Baltic had reached her
pier, said "all well."
The arrival of the Baltic removes
from the danger zone another Brit
ish vessel carrying United States citi
zens. There were two Americana
among her forty-two passengers. The
steamship took to England a full
cargo of munitions.
No report had been received to
night from the Adriatic also of th
White Star Una, which sailed from
New Tork last Sunday and which Is
believed to be inside th war zona i
Officials of the line professed to feel
no anxiety for her safety. There Is
on American passenger oa tne Adri
atic. The American line announced to
night that no decision had been
reached s to the sailing of the steam
ships St. Louis and St. Paul, which
have been indefinitely postponed. The
crew of th St. Lout- M still on
board awaiting orders. Th company
flatly denied that It had been decid
ed to mount- guns on. th St. Louis
store h saUsd.
V.Tvr,r "arrlman "1 company
--.. ., uners, resulted that
frmb(8v.f the houa ""I been trad
ng with him He declared, however
1' mo "f the accounts were In
He did not think any rep
Jtarrt fi,R ecember 20- He expressly
stated that no senators had any not
counts with him. 7 M
No Accounts, , '
the fv?,.E- Thompson, manager of
the Crane Parris- and company
brokerage office, denied that any
wfthwTffrE had
,irltur otlv lUe of th commute
depended largely on the result of In
vestigation into congressional ic.
T? t P,Msent Pan re to hokj no
more hearings her.
.1,dvroa "UrMoiilof broker
today, th hearlns- was given over to
th examination f newspaper men '
Wrtntlnrj'Ofilef.Wone o'them gav
lh'1ea - t"!Wnr hp
'Newspaper Men Heard.
Bight newspaper men who were aa
vised confidentially by Secretary
Lansing on December 90 of the eonn
Lwnat developed to be Presi
dent Wilson's peace note, told of th.
oircumstances surrounding th con
ference and declared they did not vio
late the secretary's confidence. They
were Stephen T. Karly and Arthits
Sweetaer, The Associated Press; Q. B.
Garvin and Richard Boeckel. the In
ternational News Service; Carl TX
Groat, The United Press; Aaron U,
Rosenthal, The Milwaukee Uournal; A.
JT. Clark, The Washington Star and
Charles D. Warner, Th Chriitlaa
Science Monitor.
Mr. Clark was Questioned close Tv re
garding his statement that the secre
tary said he did not want new of th
statement to become publlo prema
turely because of the effect It would
have on the stock market This was)
in contradltlon of testimony previous- -ly
given by the secretary, bat la eor-
(Continued on Pag Two.)
EXPERT HOSPITAL FORCE :
COULD BE MOBILIZED BIT :
RED CROSS IN FEW Dm
Encouraging Reports Ara
Received from Through,
out Country.
PERSONAL OFFERS.
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 iAn ex
pert hospital force sufficient tn nra
for an army of a million men could
be mobilized by the Red Cross within
a few davs after an outbreak of hos
tilities is the belief of officials ut
headquarters of the society here.
Mnce the call was Issued Saturday
Instructing Red Cross chapters
throughout the country to place
themselves on a footing for field
work many encouraging rejjorts hav
neen returned: to neanquarters togeth
er with a great flood of personal of
fers of service. KHot Wadsworth, act
ing chairman, estimated tonight' that
the force which could be mobilized
Immediately In case of war would In
clude: Twenty-six completely equipped
army and navy base hospital nnits,
with a personnel of 1.250 nurses'
aids.
A hospital base reserve of 413
nurses and 525 nurses' aids.
Thirty-one partially complete navy
detachmei ts of twenty nurses each.
One hundred and" fifteen local
emergency detachments.
A corps of expert instructors In
surgical dressings. totalling about
120
Mr. Wadsworth said that all told
the organization conld pnt Into th
fleld 2.970 trained Red Cross nurse,
and estimated that If thirty per rent
of those whom the Red Cross had '
given elementary training responded
to. th call as mines' aids, the total
riorslng personnel would b about .
00. .
"With th customary assignment ej
ten patients to each nurse," i added.
w ronld take ear of fifty theassad.
ick and wiunded, at oaca."