North Carolina Newspapers

THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN THE WEATHER CLOUDY. CITIZEN WANT ADS BRING RESULTS K. VOL. XXXHI, NO. 184. ASHEVILLE,-N. O, WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 25, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS TWO BILLIONS ARE E The Wise Old Bird PLANNED FOR THE E 15 E BATE AT Tentative Program Under President Wilson, Cabinet Officers and High Of ficials Attend. Four of Famous 105 Milli metre Howitzers Taken in Recent Fighting. Leaders Cannot Predict When Vote Might Be Reached. Consideration May Be Revised. FRENCH IN FIERG ARMY BILL DEBATE BALFOUR HONORED WITH ATTACK T OTi RECEPTION FIRST BOND BIG GERMAN GUNS HOUSE AND St Mill 1 ISSUES TO BE MADE IN INSTALLMENTS May Divide the First Issue Among Allies For Sup plies Bought Here. WASHINGTON, April 24 Tenta tive plans under consideration bv ad ministration officials, call for the issue of $2, 000, 000, 000 in bonds as the first public offerirur under the 17.000.000 000 war revenue law, signed today by President Wileon. to be followed by a second Issue Is from four to six months and possibly a third there after. While the whole program Is sub jected to revision. It Is understood that officials also are serloushr con sidering the advisability of collecting the proceeds of the first issue In ln- ftailments. thirty days apart and last Ing over a period of from four to elz months. Should the first Issue be II. 000.000 000 and the Installment feature be taopted, it Is likely that subscribers will te given four months In which to pay for the .bonds. This would bring revenue Into the treasury at the rate of S500.000.000 a month. ample, it is believed, from preliminary esrimates to meet the needs of tne allies in this country, as well as American military and naval expenses until the new taxation measure should begin to produce revenue. Divide Issne. Indications are that the first issue will be divided anion Great Britain. France, Russia and Itlay, and that sohm portion of it will be reserved for American military needs, the Ibis; pro portion, nowever, groin to tne antes. in this connection, it was pointed out tonlph, that virtually the entire loan" to the allies will toe spent In this I'oiin .!) for foodstuffs, munitions and other supplies. The subject will be discussed In conference tomorrow amongr Secre tury McAdno and federal board offi cials and Lord Cunliffe, of the British commission. Lord Cunliffe will be the guest of the board tomorrow at Knrlmon which probably will de velop Irtto a conference concerning t!if, dfjty'i" ft the proposed Joan to Croat Britain. It Is also likely that Lord Cunliffe will confer with secre tary McAdoo d rln- the day. In finally determining th amount of the first bond Issue, the government will tie guided largely by wliat the representatives of the chief entente governments Indicate as their press ing needs. Italy, It is said, Is especial ly desirous of being among the first considered, as her needs are under stood to be pressing at the moment. Increase Announced. Subscriptions to the first offering made under the $7,000,000,000 mea Fiire $200,000,000 In treasury certl ftfatef of indebtedness expiring June 80 have passed the $250,000,000 mark, resulting in a decision by Seere tnrv MeAdoo, announced today, to In crease the Issue to $250,000,000. The proceeds will be called for tomorrow. Pubscrlptlon books were closed at 10 a. m., today by the federal reserve (Cont'nued on Page Two.) I! PLEDGE THEIR SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT Entire Country Represented . at Annual Meeting of As sociated Press. WIRE FROM WILSON. NEW TORK. April 14. frwpapr publishers from all parts of the coun try assembled here today for the an nual meeting of the Associated Press, passed a resolution pledging their nearly support or tne effort of the executives of the government to carry out effectively tne mandate of the na tion," expressed In the war resolution passed by, the congress on April 8. This action was taken at a business Session of the association which fol lowed a patriotic luncheon at which the Stars and Stripes, Union Jack and the French trl-color were raised and Unfurled amid the cheers of members nd while a chorus of fifty voices sang the national anthems of the United States, England and France. - Reading at the luncheon of a tele- frram from President Wilson, 'express ng regret that hjs duties prevented him from being present to exchange with those assembled "the pledges of Unquestioning loyalty and devotion to the people of the government not only, but to the cause of freedom everywhere" was followed by pro longed applause. Jos. H. Choate and former Judge Peter S. Grosscup were the principal speakers. Frank B. Koyes, president of the association, was toastmaster. The room In which the luncheon was held was decorated with the na tional colors and behind the toast Si aster was the presidential flag and i miniature Statue of Liberty. Boon ifter the guests were seated th lights were turned off, whfje four ma rines hoisted the flags of the United ptatee. Great Britain and Franca to basts so constructed that compressed llr kept the colors of the three allies Iravlng. 'Th Star Spangled Banner" (fas sung by the members, and this Iras followed by "God Bav the King," - "Marseillaise." BRITISH AGAIN WIN IN RENEWED DRIVES Turks on the Tigris River Suffer Reverses at Hands of the British. There was a diminution In the in tensity of the fighting between the British and German armies Tuesday, although battles of great fierceness continued at several points. In these, according to the British official com munication, the advantage rested with Field Marshal Halg's forces. Southwest of Arras the British made progress between the flenses river and Monchy-Le-Preux, driving their lines to with a stone's throw of the villages of Fontaine Lee Crolselles and Cherlsy and straighten ing out the sharp salient that had ex isted there. French Take Gang. No Infantry attack was develoned from artillery preparations the French have been making all along their front for several days. Tuesday the Germans were heavily bombard ed on various sectors from 6t Quentln,' to the Champaigne. Among the booty captured by the French durlne the recent heavy engagements on the plateau or the Chemln-Ies-Damea. northeast of Soissons, are four of the famous 160 millimetre German howitzers. These guns now have been brought Into the French lines and doubtless soon will be used In the operations against their former owners. The British royal flylnir corns Is taking full advantage of the beautiful spring weather for operations against German aviators. Monday in fights in the air, fifteen German aircraft were shot down by the Britishers. while twenty-four others were last seen aler engagements diving earth ward, completely out of control. Only two British, machines , fall art tn . turhto their base.- Maudo Still Busy. General Maude's trOons have can. tured the. railroad station o Samara on the Tigris river, some seventyjflve miles nortliwest of Bagdad, and with It sixteen locomotives and i224 railroad cars. Heavy casualties were inflict ed by the British on the Turks and many prisoners were taken during the advance from Iztabllat to Samara. In Palestine, the Turks apparently purpose to make a stand against a further advance by the British through the Holy Land. From Gorirla to the head of the Adriatic sea violent artillery duels are in progress between the A.ustrians and the Italians. At several points in the region during a let-up in the fighting the Italians sallied forth and by sur prise attacks occupied advanced Aus trian positions and made prisoners of the defenders. In the Sugana valley extensive Austrian troop movements are being carried out, possibly with the Intention of opening an offensive in this region. The guns here are roaring In a mighty duel. Along the entire Macedonian front reciprocal bombardments are taking place. EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS ASKED NOT TO CHANCE National Defense Council Amplifies Recent Appeal Concerning Wage Rate. MODIFICATIONS LATER WASHINGTON, April 24. In a statement today amplifying Its recent appeal to employers and workers not to change labor standards at this time, the Council of National Defense declares It recognizes that adjust ments may become necessary and suggests that the council itself may find It advisable to propose modifi cations. "It la not the purpose of tha coun cil," it Is stated, "to undertake to de termine the wage rate that will be sufficient to maintain the existing standards of living. That should be referred to the mediation agencies of the government or to such other con stituted agencies as may exist to the end that such questions may be ad justed In an orderly and equitable manner to avoid tne stoppage of in dustries which are so vital to tha In terests of tha nation at thla critical time." It ia the Judgment of the council. says tha statement, that the federal, state and municipal governments should continue to maintain the us ual hours of labor and standards of safety, sanitation and Inspection. In explanation of Its statement that the council nav find it necessary to make adjustments,, the council says: "While the counoii does not mean to intimate that vnder ordinary cir cumstances the ellloieno of workers is the only element that should be taken Into consideration in fixing the hours . of labor, aafety. sanitation. women' work and child labor stand ards, u ia the object that -must be at tained during the period when the na tion's safety ia involved.' CLARK IS OPPOSED TO THE DRAFT PLAN LaFollette Introduces Sub stitute For Administra tion Bill in Senate. WASHINGTON, April !4. Tebate on the war army bill continued In con gress today with the desire to talk about the methods the united States should use in raising her millions of fighting men unabated. leaders In neither house could predict with -confidence when a vote might be reached. The house hopes to vote by Friday, but there are more than sixty mem bers waiting to speak. In the senate, only a few senators have been heard and Chairman Chamberlln, of the military committee, said tonight many had indicated their intention to dis cuss the bill before agreeing to a vote. He probably will sound out sentiment tomorrow, however, on unanimous consent arrangement for a vote as soon as possible. The way the senate takes this suggestion may have much to do with the position of ad ministration leaders. They are loath to resort to the senate's new cloture rule, or to appear In any way anx lous to curtail debate. Opponents of the administration's selective, draft plan found new hope during the day when Speaker Clark let it be known that he shared their views and would make a speech to morrow in favor of the majority house committee volunteer amend ment. Discussions today In both houses came largely from the friends of the volunteer system. It was not heard by large crowds either on the floor or In the galleries. The longest speech' of the day was made by Representa tive Fields, of Kentucky, a democrat, of the military committee, who argued for the volunteer plan and declared that the war department's proposal to draft youths under twenty-one years of age, lnji'ed a principle on which he would not be guided by th military experts of thl or any other nation-. - . - BOYS TO AID. BOSTON, Ajprll 24. The moblllza tlon of five thousand high school boys of SufrolK, Essex and Middlesex coun ties to work on farms In this state from "May 1 to harvest time, was provided for at a conference held at the state house today. The boys who enlist for this service will be paiid $7 a week with quarters and clothes provided, and at the end of their ser vice will be given honorable dla charges, that will make them eligible to special privileges In college en trance requirements. COSTLY BLAZE. FRIE, Pa.. April J4.-Jfore than 200,000 bushels of wheat and a large wooden grsln elevator known as "elevator A" of the Western Trans' portatlon company, owned by the Kreat Lakes Transit corporation, were destroyed by .fire here tonight, with a loss estimated at $600,000. The grain, it Is said, was consigned to the allies. Officials of the company as sert that the Are started from an over heated pulley In a tower on the lake side of the elevat.r. E ROUTED BY SEAPLANES OF. OPPZ Three Flyers Engaged With Five Enemy Torpedo Craft. ONE PROBABLY SUNK. IMfDON. April 14. A British ad mlralty statement reports an attack by three British naval machines on Ave enemy destroyers, which were seen at 4:10 p. m., Monday, steaming between Blanbpnh.rrh. an 1 brugge in a northeastly direction five tu""i uu. ins coast. "Th learifno. mantling b mvuu., ja viia statement, "attacked, dropping slx- reon uuiuos, -one or wnicn was seen to obtain a direct hit The remain ing four dentrnver. ara , t-4 - n were attacked by the two remaining machines, thirty-two bombs being dropped. The leading destroyer was uwerveu 10 ia.K9 a list to port and remained .tatinn.i-w b . -1 1 - ' . OVi. IJXO bombs had been dropped. "The four destroyers, closed In on the disabled craft. A hostile seaplane attacked our machines,, but was easily driven off. At :10 p. m., the four destroyers were reported by a recon naissance machine as entering Zee brugge harbor. It Is considered most nrobabla that sunk." WEGRO MUST DIE. CHARLOTTE, N. C, April 24. At a apeolal term of court at Monroe, N. C, today. Bunk Masks, a negro, was sentenced to "be executed May 25 for killing Patrolman Edgar Williams at Win pate, near Monroe, March 17 The officer wa killed while trying to arrest the negro, who later was wounded several time by shot fired bv a post h held at bay several tkonra. VlVlANI, FRENCH MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND JOFFRE, VICTOR OF THE MARNE, ARE ON PRESIDENT'S YACHT MAYFLOWER French's War Commissioners Today Commission Will Have Full Authority to Act at Forthcoming Congress ( Viviani's Greeting to America Stirring Scenes In the Haibor. FORTRESS MONROE, Va.. April 24. 'France' war commissioners to the United States, reaohed Hampton Roads today, and tonight they are bound UP Chesapeake Bay for Wash ington on board the presidential yacht Mayflower. The mission, of which Rene Vlvlanl, vice-premier and minister tf justice, is the official head, and Marshal Joffre a member, brings no written in struction from the French govern ment, the ministry having decided to give it member unlimited power to negotiate w.lth-thSv-U( fitat .on all subject, military, naval and finan cial. It is prepared .to discuss the sending of an American expeditionary foroe to France. , Marshal Joffre and other military members will indicate to the American officials with whom they are to confer, several important military reasons which they consider renders the sending of uch a force advisable. The most important of these reasons Is found in the moral effect to be had from the presence of American troops and the American flag on the battlefields of France. What Allies Need. Tne French Idea of an American expedition calls for a fighting force supported by auxiliary services, such as railway staffs, railway material, base repair shops, telegraph and tele phone lines, automobile transport and a strong aviation section. The French government Is ready to offer whatever may be considered necessary to assist In sea operations. Including the use for naval purposes of, any or all ports In France. The ministry of marine has worked out for submls-1 sion to the American government a j comprehensive plan for overseas transports, for both army and navy purposes and for the provisioning of the civil population. Financially, France needs loans of $100,000,000 monthly to be spend In the United States. Detailed official In formation on this subject will be sub mitted to the American government at the conferences to be held in Wash ington. Vlvlanl Speaks. Mr. Vivian! as onclal head of the OF IS. STEEL IS Extra Quarterly Dividend on Common Stock is De clared. NHJW TORK, April 24. All previ ous hKh records in the history of the United States Steel corporation, both as to earnings and dividends, were surpassed in the first quarterly report for the current year, Issued today. Earnings reached the enormous total of 113,121,018, more than the corporation has earned in a full year in some Instances, and an extra divi dend of three per cent, wa declared on the common stock. In addition to tftie regular quarterly dividend of 1 1-4 per cent, on that issue and 1 S-4 per cent, on tne preierrea. xne ais. bursement on the common amounts to more than S2MO2.D00. The three per cent, extra 1 an in crease of 1 1-4 -er cent over the ex tra dividend declared in the previous quarter and an increase of two per cent, over those of the second and third quarter of last year. It makes up, with about one per cent, to spare, for the deferred dividend on the common stock during the period be tween the fourth quarter of 1114 and the eame quarter of 1915, when poor earnings caused a complete suspen sion of ' disbursements on th com mon dock. . COSTLY GARDENS. WTXailNOTON. N. C, April 24. Land valued at $1,000 -per front foot adjoining a ten-story office building, was broken here today or planting vegetables a a part of the city's cam paign for vacant lot gardening. A mule-drawn plow wa used in rak ins? th soil, - ' . Reach Hampton Jloads In Safely commission during his stay here, gave the following statements to a staff correspondent of the Associated Press, who accompanied the mission from France: "Every American will understand that In deference to the illustrious president of the United State whom I am going to see very soon, I reserve the first word for hlra. I will have oc casion to see you again and tell the American nation, through you, In a more complete manner, the emotions with which the representatives of .Franc greet. In th na.ni of their oouniry, ' in 'nrsi aoniooray oi im world, with which France share the same ideals. (Signed) "VIVIANI." The members of the commission got their first glimpse f the shores of America at daylight this morning. American naval officials aboard a flotilla of destroyers, met th former French passenger liner which brought the visitors over, and their convoy, at 11 o'clock, last night about 100 miles at sea. The French and the American ves sels exchanged signals and then all continued toward the Virginia capes. Not a light was showing at any time during the maneuver. At dawn the flotilla and its guests fell in by ren dezvous with an American cruiser, which led the way into the great har bor of Hampton Roads. Glorious Weather. All the members of the commis sion were on the bridge of their boat with the French admiral command ing, shortly after ( o'clock to see the entrance. The day was magnificent, with hardly a ripple disturbing the broad expanse of water. As the roads came Into view, Marstml Joffre turned to an American naval officer, serving as pilot, and said: "What a wonderful scene: I love this sunshine. It reminds me of my own country the south of 'France." Once Inside the harbor the Ameri can destroyers slipped away to their anchorages. Meanwhile every Amer ican ship in the harbor hoisted to their mastheads the French trl-color, and the band qf a warship played the "Star-Spangled Banner." Marshal T TO President Completes Selec tion of Principal Members for Mission. WASHINGTON, April 24. Elthu Root will head the American commis sion to Russia If he will consent to undertake the duty. It became known today that the president has complet ed the selection of the principal mem bers of the mission. The names of men tentatively chosen to make up the commlslon will not be made public until they have been formally requested to serve and have accepted. It wa said today that the men whom the president has In mind are all distinguished in their particular lines, and together will make up a commission which will indicate - to the Russian government and people the deerp interest in their welfare held by the American government Among those besides Mr. Root who have been mentioned in the prelimin ary discussions, are Oscar Strauss, former secretary of commerce and labor; Edward N. Hurley, former chairman of the state commission, and Henrv Morrenthau, former am bassador to Turkey. Charles R. Crans. of Chicago, busi ness man and personal friend of President Wilson, has arrived in Russia, and will keeo the government In touch with business eondltlonr there, pending the arrival of the com mission. , THE WEATHER. ' WA SHTNQTON. April 14 "Vircat for North Carolina: Overcast and m'v Wednesday: Thursday unset tled. and Will Arrive at Washington Joffre, and the military and naval member stood at salute until the last note had floated across the water, while the civilian member stood with bs.-ed heads. Immediately after came the French national anthem, which Was saluted In a similar manner. The ship bearing the mission drop ped anchor off Fortress Monroe, while the convoy steamed several miles further on. "Savins; Powder." General Viglnal, th military and naval attache of th French embassy at Washington," Stephfto Lauxsanne, confidential representative, and Col onel Spencer Cosby, U. 9. A., assigned a Marshal Joffr' aid, cam aboard soon after with dispatches and to greet the visitor. Admiral Mayo, commander-in-chief of the Atlantlo fleet, called later. There was no sa luting, th formality of firing salvo of gun having been dispensed with by agreement "We are saving our powder for the Germans," remarked the commander of the French ship. All of the commissioners returned Admiral Mayo' call later In the morning. They lunched on board their own vessel, finishing just in time to receive Ambassador Jus- serand, Major-General Scott, chief of staff of the army; Assistant Secretary of State Long. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt, and several other officials, who arrived from Washington on board the May flower. Upon his arrival. Ambassador Jus serand went Into conference with Mr. Vlvlanl and the leading member of the mission. Two hours later Mr. Vlvlanl. Marshal Joffre, Admiral Cho cheprat. the naval representative; the Marquis DeChambrun (Lafayette's erandson): Mr. Hovelaque, counsellor, and Joseph Simon, of the ministry of finance, went on board tne American vessel with . Ambassador Jusserand and the American official and re mained there until their departure for Washington. I0NAL T Believed That War Revenue Legislation Will Occupy Entire Session: WASHINGTON. April 24. In lay ing their plans for raising nearly 12,000,000,000 for war expense from new taxation, house leader are pro ceeding upon confident belief that there will be no nation-wide prohibi tion legislation at this session of con gress. Even many of the most optimistic prohibition champions now are hoping for no more than a law forbidding the sale of liquor to sol diers or sailors. The case against any attempt at general prohibition legislation has j been based upon the arguments that ja constitutional amendment could not be adopted and put Into effect 1n less than a year or more, and that the i government needs the revenue from i liquor1 taxes for the war chest. The ways and mean sub-committee, which Is drafting a pre- , ltmlnary revenue bill; U being urged to increase the levies on whiskey and beer to thp highest possible figure. Th proposal la being seriously con- I sidered, it is learned, and - bis; ad vances In the present tax of 11.10 a gallon on whiskey and 11.60 a barrel on beer are certain to be recom mended to the full committee. , Some -committeemen have gone so far a to suggest that the tax on whiskey should be raised to $5.41 a gallon, the present Engllfh rate. The whiskey tax, according .to a reliable authority, 1 certain to be more than $1 . gallon, which w suggested to th committee by -Secretary McAdoo. a receat communication. . FORMAL CONFERENCES WILL START TODAY British Representatives De sire Closest Harmony With the French. WASmiNGTONr April 14. A. re ception given at the Pan-American building tonight by Secretary Lan sing. In honor of Foreign Minister Balfour, brought to a close th serle of official entertainments marking, the welcome of Great Britain's war commissioners to th United State. President Wilson and all th cabinet officer attended, while members of, congress and scores of th higher of ficials bf the government came to meet the distinguished foreigner.. Informal conference have been held during the past two day, and some of tha serious business for, which the visitors crossed the Atlan tic has been taken up, but th formal discussion of the part th United States may play In the war against Germany will begin only with the ar rival tomorrow of the French oom mission, which reaohed Hampton Road today. Th British represen tatives desire to work In th closest harmony with the Trench, conse-i quently most of the great questions to be discussed await the coming of Vice-Premier Vlvlanl, Marshal Joffre and their associates. , Official Entertain. Before the reception tonight, th aipiomauo memoera ot ine jsnusn commission were entertained by Sec-.( retary Baker; the naval officer by Secretary Daniel, and the financier by Secretary McAdoo. . , In a sense the British will present s not so much their own particular - situation, as that of th whole entente' alliance. The allied Interest in all, lines have been so generally pooled ' that it ha been found impossible to? deal in the affair of on nation alone. England, for example, has very large-! ly supplied some of her allies with both finance and shipping situation without examining their reflex on the other co-operating nation. .5 .n Profit by Mintake. j ' Th tnistake that Knglend mad la a military way early inhewr war explained today by Lieutenant General Bridge, veteran of nln wars,, and the first British officer to meet, the Germans. Th volunteer system, he said, had coat England thousand of her best lives, demoralised her whole industrial mobilization, and set the country back Immeasurably in , the prosecution ot the war. Now, he t added, conscription had com to be regarded with almost fanatical do- votion by the people a th only . democratic way of distributing th , duties of war and allowing a scientific marshalling of th nation' resource. Tomorrow is expected to be devoted largely to greeting the French com- mlssioners. who are due at 1$ noon. Mr. cauour, unr a nivmini uim office, finishing the co-ordinating of the work, expect to be on hand to welcome the French leader and to leave the rest of hi day largely to their disposal. GREAT CANADIAN 1EAT SURPLUS IS DENIED IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT No Wheat Held by .too British Government Has " , Been Sold. ESTIMATE TOO HIGH. LONDON, April 14. -Referring to' published statements that there wa ' surplus or 8l.ooo.ooo mianeis or wheat In Canada, available for export ; and that the British government rec ' entlv sold five million bushel In the '. United states, an official statement is- s sued here tonight declares that tne latest official estimate of the surplus : in Canada Is much below the figure given. The statement adds that no wheat held r" the British government has been sold. A recent I'hlcaEfO dlsmtcu io . New York newspaper said that allied p-o' ernments hnd turned over 6,000,- 000 of May wheat at above two doi--,, lam a bushel with a profit of sixty cents a bushel. It added that while - selllnir out their May holdings they bought July wheat at $1.85 a bushel, er- "old 8,000.000 bushels of the July dellverv at S1.9tf to $2 07U. mak ing a profit on the two turn of near- ly $l$.000,000r THE ASHEVILLE C11LZEN Circulation Yesterday City . , Suburban Country . 4,762 4,497 1,724. Net paid . . .10,983 Service.. . . . . 223 Unpaid . ... . 102 ' Total I . ,a .11,308.