THE WEATHER
WASHINGTON, April .-F0r.e.it
foe North and $. CiroUn.: lUIi
newer and warmer Friday; stur.
day flr and warmer.
Secure Half Number
Signatures Needed To
P Call Bond Election
NO OUSftll
IU
Endorse Million Dollar Is
sue Unanimously at
Public Gathering
SPEAKERSPOINT TO
MANY ADVANTAGES
. To Circulate Petitions
6 Asking For Election
Over City Today
Five hundred and eighty-one sig
nature were affixed yesterday in
petition to the city commissioners
asking that an election be called i
determine the will of the voters of
Ahcville on the proposed floating
a million-dollar bond issue the
proceeds of which to be used for
the acquisition and Improvement of
lands for park purposes, the erec
tion of a community building and
convention hall and the construc
tion of an approach to that section
of the city lying west of the French
iroad river.
. f Since more than half the sufflci
' eflt number, 1,035. of qualified vot
ers necessary for the calling of an
election, signed the petition cards
yesterday, the first day on which
they were circulated, those, advo
cating the bond Issue for the pur
pose of making; municipal improve
ments last evening- expressed con
fidence that the election would he
Called. Those signing were said to
k duly qualified electors.
"Enthusiasm for a Greater Ashe
ville and speeches favoring the
proposed bond lssife predominated
at last night's meeting in the court
house, called as a mass meeting for
the purpose of, determining the at
tiiude of the public. After a num
ler of citizens spoke in behalf of
ihe calling of an election and of
I he million-dollar program. John
'I. ;'athey who presided, empha
sised th;U the meeting was public
and anyone who so desired would
1 e given the privilege of the floor,
lie asserted that the views of those
favoring and opposing the pro
posed election and bond Issue
were desired and asked that both
proponents and opponents of the
llan as advocated make known
t.'ifir opinion. A few responded
With statements similar to those
v.nlch had prevloeusly been made
ay friends of the proposition and
not a dissenting voice was raised.
"Xo Public Opposition Is
loreshadowm; Success1'
The fact that no opposition 1o
ihe proposal was made known at
the mass meeting was construed
by advocates of the bond Issue as
foreshadowing success for th,.
Movement. In the eveent an election Is
died voters will have an oppor
tunity to ballot upon whom will
hive charge of the expenditure of
tue funds and as to how the total
fund will be apportioned to the
QHective Improvements,
he ordinance which would b
mittcd to a vote of the people,
the election is called, wouli
embody the specific purposes to
v-'hlch the funds would bo applied
a 'd after so voted no change could
1 e made except by popular vote,
it was explained.
High school boys were given 1.
petition cards yesterday and
' 'lay will distribute them person
ally to tnx-payers and voters.
Tnev, when signed, will be turned
" ci- to those In charge of the
.movement as will the petitions
which nave Jj&en placed In th
liands of various officers of the
. g?nii:.ons affiliated with the
nirl labor union. The 510
cirds signed during the day yes
' riny were handled by members
' f the central body and 71 were
5 ened following the mass meeting
-T-'t night.
The limps meeting was opened
'ith prayer by Rabbi Harvey E.
Wessel and Carl B. Hyatt was
'looted secretary, with John H.
Ijthcy. Judge of the county juve
Jy court, presiding.
vAne Judge's stand in the court
ni was decorated with potted
Plants and cut flowers, while at
'he left of the tjar stood a large
""'i design bearing tne wora
' snrres.v" The Mlddlemotint Gar
d'ns had arranged this decoration
ss surprise to those calling the
' as meeting.
"Mvlrlcnd, Greater TJian
Amount, of Tax''
' J. BrMt spoke for several mln
. in ciipport of the bond Issue.
' :,ing many advontgaes which he
verted would accrue to the city
'Trough the proposed irnprove-
ments. H declared the additional
'"x which would be imposed as i
suit of the bond issue would be
' '"rshadowed by the dividend to
h" derived through the advertise
'"nt the city would gain and
"nough the additional number of
' 'tirists who would be attracted by
'!e pari; system, Irrespective of
'lie benefit to be derived in offer
1,1 s the youth of the city ade
luate playground facilities.
Mr, Uritt also, emphasized what
Jj construed to b the only poa
fe result of the building of a
imunlty hall large enough to
"ommcdita big conventions and
assemblages of various kinds. The
result, he said, would be nothing
hort ot Increasing tVe number of
Msltora annually and thereby in
creasing the amount of money
placed in circulation in the city
Fsich year.
His appeal was directed from
"th a sentimental and financial
"'sndpoint.
A. J. Hutchlns, principal of the
Asheville High school, in address
ing those present, said he repre
"ntbd the boys and girls of Ashe
! v-lle- that his appeal for the bond
issue and playgrounds In partlcu
'r was In behalf of the boys and
firls; that it was to the conscience
"no food Judgment of the parents
" womn nave tneir ehlldrende-
CALLING ELECTION
10 VOTE BONDS;
iong normal lines and de
rrlCmUmt4 m Am !
THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN
ESTABLISHED 1868."
JMiss Olivia Stone's
Arnmllnt Rn'noc I
- -- VI ft 1 1 JJ
Repeated Cheeringl
Receives Verdict Calmly
Following Long Days
of Tension
.NKW YORK. April R. -Miss
Olivia M p. Stone, who shot and
billed Kills O. Kinkead. former
' 'ioi ai ion counsel of Cincinnati.
Migust r, lLM. tonight was ac
quitted i f murder by a jury in the
i'lniiKlyn Supreme court.
Humberts of men and women
Ho had gathered outside the
courtroom cheered repeatedly
v. lien the verdict was announced,
while those in the crowded court -ion-,,
flso applauded.
The defendant, In contrast to her
'.ichly nervous condition through
out the : t :a 1, received the verdict
dimly.
Thank you." she said. Inclining
her head at the jury.
Then he turned and shook
hands with her attorney, Edward
.1. I-ieily, and resumed her seat.
ASSAIL BLANTQN
L
Texan Retiring, Warns
Garner Responsible If
He Calls Him Liar
WASHINGTON. April 6. Kor
Ihe third time within a year the
house was thrown into an uproar
today, with Representative Blan-
ton, democrat, Texas, the object of
attack
In a fiery 10-minule speech,
Representative Garner, dean of the
Texas delegation, declared that Mr.
Klanton was "as common a liar
as ever spoke a word of ISngllsh
In this country. Mr. Blanton. 'how
ever, was not there to hear the
characterization, for he left the
chamber at the outset of the ver
bal attack after shouting that he
would hold the "gentleman per-
sonally responsible to me If
he,
calls me a liar."
Standing six feet away, Mr. Gar
ner had held up his hand during
the confusion, asking for order
and requesting Mr. Blanton not to
leave. But. responding to a clash
of the speaker's gavel, sergeants-at-rms
had rushed in to prevent
whatappeared to be an open break
when" Representative Summers, al
so ot Texas, sitting on the front
row, started toward Mr. Blanton.
shouting, "Vou know you are a
liar."
The trouble started while Mr.
Blanton, In denouncing a newspa
per report of a speech he had
made recently in Texas, declared
that members could not "defend
these measley items of petty
graft." referring to mileage and
the funds allotted each session to
members for stationery and sup
plies. Mr. Blanton reiterated what
he had said in the holme in Jan
uary when, armed with a bag of
articles from the stationery slo'e,
he produced a whiskey flask. Mr.
Garner, objecting to this line of
argument, insisted the impression
Mr. Blanton intended to convey
was that members got these things
at taxpayers' expense.
Garner Says Many Kinds
of ldars In World
Starting out with the statement
that the world is full "of all kinds
of liars, the artistic liar, the inar
tistic liar and the common ordin
ary liar," GarnerThis face flushed,
declared that the man he had In
mind "would destroy his own fam
ily In order to accumulate wealth
or to place himself forward from
a political standpoint." And then
speaking, as he said, for the Tex
as delegation, he shouted, "We
hang our heads in shame and hu
miliation when Blanton of Texas
is referred to as our colleague."
He spoke, too, he added, for the
entire democratic party when he
declared that we look upon him
as a liability and a. distinct Injury
to our party."
"If I could only suspend the
rules of the house," Mr. Garner
said, as he moved toward his seat,
"I would say. what Is in your
hearts. Jf the rules did not pre
vent, I would say what 430 mem
bers believe at this moment that
Thomas Blanton, of Texas, Is a
disgrace to the house of represent
atives and ought to be kicked out."
After Representative Mondell,
of Wyoming, the republican leader,
had made a general reply to Blan
ton's charges as to "petty graft"
with the declaration that he could
count on the fingers of one hand
the number of house members who
"would stoop to graft, petty or
otherwise," the excitement sub
sided. A moment later Mr. Blanton re
turned to his seat and within 10
minutes was making points of or
der on the twenty-six million dol
lar bill carrying appropriations for
the departments of justice and
state.
One of the reasons, as explained,
for Mr. Garner's speech was the
charge that Mr. Blanton, in pub
lishing the menu at the house res
taurant, had omitted the prices
"In the hope of making it appear
that the government paid for a
congressman's food."
As to the whiskey flask, Repra
sentatlve Barkley, democrat, Ken
tucky, said the stationery room
record showed it had been ordered
from Philadelphia at Mr. Blanton's
request and that tne latter nad
paid for It out of his own pocket.
s
OVERMAN SPEAKS AGAINST
ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIPS
WASHINGTON, April . That
the pending emergency Judges bill
la iust another "pork barrel,"
iph ya ijbi rgri by n finslftr
II
Overman today.
"DEDICATED
BIG
Xi ! you ww,'wr
A OUGHT JAi W ' W'.-' y'rm.
ow m -w, v ' &
i Ams? u- . xwaRL : 3- j f
Desire To Give Jobs To More
Republicans Causes "Cleanup
Harding Declared Already!
Sick of Ousting'Engrav
mg Bureau Men
ONLY ONESTEP IN
WHOLESALE PLAN
Flying Squadron Has Bat
tered Executive Into
Action, Finally
tbi 4Btn i err x
IKY H K C. HKIi.Vn
VV A H I vrjTflttf Anril R PfmI.
dent Harding and'hts advisers have
n, ,hoiP tn it nn he dismlseal
nf the ihrfo sejtre nr more nf civil
service employes from the bureau
of engraving and printing. Wash
ington has been rocked from cen
ter to circumference over this mat
Ver. "What are the reasons for ,the.(
Wholesale firing of government;
clerks who have worked them
selves up through years ot toil?" is
the question asked. The action of
the President was so unusual that
many people jumped at the con
clusion that the unfortunate per
sons Involved wetje guilty of some
crime. That was the first Infer
ence. Four principal reasons are given
by republicans: Jos. P. Tumulty,
A. Mitchell Palmer, Timothy T.
Ansbury and Daniel C. Roser,
three strong men ot the Wilson ad
ministration. G. O. P. leaders
charge that government depart
ments were packed with "Tumulty
men," republicans as well as dem
ocrats, before the former adminis
tration quit. They assert that
these friends of Tumulty have
blocked the plans ot the republi
can politicians to sweep out the
democrat and luke-warm republi
cans. They also insist that Joe Is
getting more tax cases than repub
lican lawyers who moved hero for
that purpose arc.
All of this talk is interesting
when one harks, back end recalls
the lime that the republicans con
sidered Tumulty the "weak" wheel
in Wilson's official family. In the
last few days they have made him
a wonderful politician, with wis
dom unsurpassed by their own
leaders.
Harding Declared Already
Sick of His Action.
The truth behind the shake-up
is that President Harding, in try
ing to respond to the demand for
Jobs for hungry partisans, has done
a very questionable thing. It Is be
lieved here he will live to regret it.
In fact, he Is said to be sick of It
now.
Many republicans resent the
kicking out of a lot men and wo
men without warning and intimat
ing that they are guilty of some
wrong doing that Involves their
Integrity. Various organizations
are preparing to make trouble for
the administration over what looks
to them like a clear violation of
th civil service laws.
The underlying cause of. the
spectacular dismissal of the 31 men
and women was a desire to make
more places for "working republi
cans." It Is all tommyrot about
democrats filling the offices. "Dead
republicans" far out-number the
democrats.
yhe .President's act is one of the
ends sought to be accomplished. by
what Is known to a limited number
of republicans in congress as "The
Flying Squadron," a thoroughly
and secretly organlxed group of
old-fashioned spollmen comprising
In Its membership some of the
leaders of the house and senate.
"The Flying Squadron" is a term
that came Into national usage with
the advent of prohibition when
Prohibition Director Kramer form'
ed small but highly efficient forces
of detectives and revenue agents to
sweep down on cities and clearn
out the bootleggers and other vio
lators of the Volstead act,
"The Flying Squadron," In this
case, has as Ms general objective
the democrats In high or medium
high position in the executive field
'the attack to be made by a con
tinued battering at the doors of th
White House.
Gowing out of numerous com
plaints by republicans that there
were too many democrats In office
this efficiency combat squad was
formed at the capltol about two
months ago, or about the time Will
H. Hays was planning to leave the
postomce department.
"Th--i)i Squadron" at out
tfwiimil m JTtrt r"l
TO THE, UP-BUILDING
ASHEVILLE, N. C, FRIDAY
ENOUGH TO HELP
(By BILLY BORNE)
for J fljfly Arrive 0
n in i n
spend several pays
WithH. S.Firestone
Thomas Edison Was Also In
eluded in Bid to Visit
Asheville
HENRY FORD
Henry Ford, millionaire automo
bile manufacturer, who ias of
fered to buy Muscle Shoals, will
probably arrive in Asheville today
or tomorrow from Florida, to
spend a few days with H. S. Flre
slone, his close friend, at the Grove
Park Inn.
Mr. Firestone several days ago
wired Mr. Ford and Thomas A.
Edison, lo stop over and' Join him
!n Asheville'c, so the party, which
h.is enjojed several s U m m e
camping trips would be united. It
Is possible that Mr. Edison may
accompauy Mr. Ford to Asheville.
EMPLOYMENT IN
COUNTRY GAINS.
DATA INDICATES
Labor Department Fig
ures Snow Increase of
2.5 Per Cent in March
WASHINGTON, April 8. In
creased employment ranging up to
zs per cent over the preceding
month was reported todav to the
employment service of the depart
ment or laDor trom 43 to 65 rep
resentative cities for the month
ending Marches 1. The automotive
and allied industries, iron and steel
and tnelr products and lumber
headed the trades showing im
proved activity.
The net increase for the country,
figured on reports from 1428 firms
was 2.5 per cent.
Many of the 22 cities reporting
decreases were In the New Eng
land states, their reports reflecting
the results of the textile strikes
now in progress. Leather, chemicals
and food products also employed
fewer workers ,Jn March than In
February.
Denver led the reporting cities
with an Increase In employment In
March ot ??.2 per cent Memphis
being second with 18.1. The south
indicated generally Improved em
ployment tone during March, the
report said, with Indications that
further progress would be rec tid
ed In the next 30 days.
Despite some slackness In tax
tiles, ; Virginia industries were
more active as a whole and the
outlook was considered good.
Lumbar and fertilizers shared the
Increase in workers in Georgia
during the past month. Atlanta re
ported "a little Improvement In
the Industries" - the demand for
labor being; about 8 per cent over
that of January Savapnah indicated
textiles, lumber and repair shops
mors active, but not sufficiently
so to asslmiliate all available Ubor.
North Carolina textiles Increased
their force in March and the lead
, cities reported surplus labor
b4g -l pidly- a bsorh4j;i- atatth
ICmmt m Jim rl
-a3SBsniL 'TMbfflML- iff '
r mi
OF WESTERN NORTH
MORNING, APRIL 7,
EOF
WILL BE
ON DANCE HALLS
Ministers Arranging to
Hold Mass Meeting In
Near Future
A mac meeting of residents, es
pecially the young people, inter
ested in ihe dance ordinance, will
probable decide the future action
of the Asheville Ministerial asso
ciation, in regard to the propos'ed
ravls.on of 'the present ordinance,
li was learned yesterday.
Report of a special committee
of ministers, composed of Rtiv. D.
Alklns. P.v. Willis G. Clark and
Kev. Benjamin Sorgee, featured a
pecial session of the association
jtfeterday afternoon at the if, M.
C. A. at 2:30.
The ministers, at the mass meet
ing will appeal to those interested
to adopt and hold a standard of
social conduct that will put a
"premium on morality and restore
vjrtue to Its rightful valuation."
Following the meeting, it Is as
serted, the ministers will probably
take a stand as to whether the
present ordinance should be al-
awed to rtand or a new ordinance
piovidlng p o I I Oe regulaton be
diafted in regard to the operation
ci publr- dance halls.
The following have been named
as a coirmittee to have charge and
-jrrange for the mass meeting at an
early date: Jtev. Dr. It. F. Camp
bell, Uev. Dr. E. K. McLarty. Rev,
lr. R. J. liateman, Rev. Benjamin
t'orgee, P.ev. D. Atkins, Rabbi
Harvey E. Wessel and Rev. Willis
J. Clark.
The report of the special com
nittee follows:
"The committee was called to
o.der by Rev. Dr. Alklns who
asked that prayer be made for the
divine guidance on our delibera
tions, brother fiorgee offered
prayer. Brother Atkins was asked
10 act as chairman and Brother
Clark as secretary.
"Your committee very carefully
consdered the business before them
to recommend to the Minister's
association some plan for construc
tive action against the Immoral
tendencies of the people of our
city, manifested In the dance and
other means bf social intercourse.
"We think It best to ask the city
commissioners to let the present
dance hnll ordinance stand as it
11 for the time being.
"While It may not be as effec
tive as rome think It should be.
nevertheless, it stands as an indict
ment against the evil condition In
to whlc!, the clancers have brought
this form of pleasure. We believe
tnat this ordinance would not
have been passed had not those
who ha'l charge of the dances al
lowed this form of pleasure to de
generate into a condition that Is
an undoubted menace to the mor
a s of th" younger peAple. We be
lieve thai this present ordinance
should stand until this condition is
changed, t,nd we believe that this
change can best be brought about
ov making an earnest appeal to
t:ie hearts and conscience of the
fathers and mothers and the sons
and daughters of our city.
"We therefore recommend that
the mlrlsters of Asheville call the
fUjpple, young and old alike, of
o'jr city, t.ogetner in a mass mov
ing and appeal to them to adopt
and hold to such a standard of so
cial conduct hat will put a pre
mium on morality and restore vir
tue to Its rightful valuation. We
believe that all the necessary
pleasure for the rich enjoyment of
Hie can be had without our boys
and girls being called upon to pay
the kind of price which seems to
be demanded at the present time
for their popularity, which price
'.s that they st least pitch their
euts toward Sodom, if they won't
go all the way.
"We further recommend that a
committer be appointed to work
out a program for this meeting ai:0
attend t the details thereof; end
that we set the date and name the
place tr. order that no time be
lost and that the assistance of the
papers be' requested,"
MRS. OAMPBF'XTj AGAIN
SECRETARY OV WORKERS
KNOXVUXiE. Tenn., April
"Moonshine and the mountaineer
was one of th topics that engaged
the attention of some 200 dele
gates at the closing session of the
tenth annual entrfcrtnee . of the
south rs Mountain wafkr hara
!j
PUBLIC
HEARD
today.
CAROLINA"
Soft Coal Famine In Six Weeks
Forecast As Mine Owners Turn
Down Tender For Negotiations
Pasadena Thief is
Stealing Home and
Shrubs Piecemeal
A Door, Window, or Hath
Tub, os Case May He, is
Stolen Mghtly
r ASA r liN A, Calif. April s.
Somewhere in Pasadena is a thief
who loves n home so mm h I lull he
is sie1in lo get one. I
Kor weeks he has heen tolled-
ing the component parts.
Kor y i;ne time lurdn a night
enl hv 'hal soiiip small ' iiiianuly
!' Puiluing maierial a looi, a
window ri a haili luh was inn I
siolen f tun some house uiulei
.onstrui ti 'ii. '
I hen Indicating the police said.
that h.s house was hmli and he
was pulling in his sidewalk and
d . ivowio - came a scries of thefts
of cement.
Aid l'r the last ten lights
snriihs and plants have been
stolen. ,
VALIDITY OP FI1IE
BOND ISSUE UP
School Loan Fund Proced
ure Is Also Before Su
preme Court
cmtRVf N1WS BI'RIUn
TARSAROmH HOTII,
' S.10CT HIIKIKl )
KA LEIGH. April fi. The su
preme court had before It today
the school loan fund case. In which
tile validity of a five million dollar
bond Ihsuc authorized by the 1921
general assembly, is being tested.
It is an agreed case, and on Its
outcome will depend the continu
ance of the stale department of
education's nineteen year policy of
making loans to counties and
Special districts for the creation of
modern school buildings. The bond
issue was held valid In lower court
and an appeal was made by the
appelant, the Fidelity Bank ot
Durham, In order that the opinion
of the supreme court might be had,
thereby, if It sides with superior
court, guaranteeing validity.
For nineteen years the board of
education has made it a policy to
loan money to countlea and school
districts for the erection of build
ings, the amount of the loan fund
being Increased every few years
until the last regular general as
sembly provided for a big addi
tional sum through the authoriza
tion of the bonds. Then the valid
ity of the bonds was questioned on
three grounds, as presented to the
court by attorneys today:
Question Validity of Bonds
On Three Grounds
That the state is lending Its
credit within the prohibition of
section 4, of article V of the con
stitution In that Ihe scheme con
templates that the proceeds ot the
sale of state bonds shall bH loaned
to the various county boards of
education, the sum so loaned to be
evidenced by notes.
That section 7 of article VIII of
the constitution is violated because
the school authorities borrow
money without submitting the
question of such Indebtedness to a
vote of the people.
That section 6 of the act makes
the amount loaned under Its pro
visions a Hen upon the total school
fund of such county In whatsoever
hands such funds may be. and au
thorises the state treasurer to de
duct any sum due upon such loans
from any other appropriation
specially made by the state for
public schools.
In defense ot the bond issue,
State Treasurer lacy, . as repre
sented by the assistant attorney
general, Frank Nash, held that the
constitution requires a six months'
school term, many of the counties
and districts lack, the money to
provide schools for that term and
that It Is Impossible to fulfill the
requirements of the constitution
without adequate equipment;
hence, a system of loans by the
state ia Imperative.
Further, he held that bridges,
Jails, roadi and other construction
projects that can be undertaken on
borrowed money without a vote of
the people are considered neces
sary equipment, and that schools
are as necessary as these; there
fore, school authorities have the
legal right to make loans without
submitting the matter to the
people as Is required by the consti
tution In the matter of public con
venience.
Much Precedent Quoted
Defending Loans
Much legal opinion and numer
ous supreme court decisions were
quoted In defense of the loan plan.
The matter of making loans to the
counties for school building pur
poses has never before been ques
tioned, although the policy was
first Inaugurated in 1903 when the
board of education was authorized
by the general assembly to appro
priate the State IJterary Fund of
around 8200,000 to this purpose.
When the loan fund was first
created the value of all rural
school property In the state was
81,632.34$ and the total school en
rollment In th rural schools was
436.672. City school property at
that time was worth 31.161,576
and the total enrollment was 38,
742. The total school fund In 1903
from all sources for teachers, sal
aries was $976,024. Moreover,
there were 719 log schoolhouses In
use then.
In 1907 the general assembly ap
propriated J500.000 fpr an equal
izing fund and authorized the
counties to deduct a sum from
their share In this for the erec
tion of buildings. In 1917 the gen
eral assembly provided for a bond
Issue of $500,000 to be added to
y-J-und fas Ins
tCmMsM m rl
MILLION
i
I
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
I
IF MINE OWNERS
FIX ALL WAGES
Chairman Nolan Thinks
Answers on Negotia
tions Not Hopeless
WATKINS DEFENDS
OPERATORS' STAND
Says It Would Be Finan
cial Suicide to Hold to
Interstate Basis
WASHINGTON, April 6. A de
fense of ihe bituminous coal op
erator's position In refusing to ne
Kotiale a central agreement with
the miners' union was given by T
H Waikins. a spokesman for the
Pennsylvania producers before the
house labor committee lodny In Its
Investigation of the coal slrike and
at the same lime an intimation
was Riven by Attorney-General
Haugherty through a letter from
him which was read Ihlo the re
cord. that tbe mine owners would
face no prosecution under anti
trust laws if they again saw fit
to fix national wanes In the indus
try by such nn agreement.
oilier developments today In
cluded a statement bv Secretary
Hoover, upon his return from the
west that reports presumably Trom
non-union fields, snowed the lillum
Inous roal mined on Monday, after
the slrike had been called amount
ed to 572,000 Ions and on Tuesday
to 542.00 tons. He declared, how'
ever that Hie time was Insufficient
to justify any deductions being
drawn from these figures In their
I osslble bearing on the question of
sufficiency of supply. j
Chairman Nolan of the house
Investigating committee also made
public telegraphic messages from
representative operators in the
central field, which, he said, "were
not entirely hopeless in their re
fusal to accede to the committee's
request lo renew Interstate nego
tiations with the union.
"They did Indicate," he stated,
"a spirit of willingness to meet the
men In their own districts."
Mr. Watklns In appearing before
the house committee attacked the
United Mine Workers of America
as "setting up a smoke screen, fa
miliar union tactics," In charging
operators with breach of contract.
The union Itself, was breaking
contract because It refused to
meet with mine owners In the
great producing districts of the
country outside of Ohio, Illinois,
Indiana, and western Pennsyl
vania, to fix scales. It would be
"financial suicide," he added, "for
the group he represented lo con
tinue making Us wages on the basis
of the Interstate agreement for
which negotiations had not been
begun and he accused the union
leaders of "autocnatlc abuse of
power," In calling the strike,
The attorney-general's statement
of position was contained in a let
ter to Representative Bland, re
publican, Indiana, who had refer
red to repeated statements by op
erators that Interstate wage agree
ments possibly constituted viola
tions of the, ...Sherman law. Mr.
Daugherty stated however, that
he considered a "duty of operators
and miners to hold such negotia
tions," and he asked If after tak
ing that position It was "likely that
the department of Justice would
undertake a prosecution."
For central Pennsylvania oper
ators, who employed 43.000 of the
striking miners' Mr. Watklns said
there was no disposition to "break
the organization of the lulled
Mine Workers because It might be
replaced by an organization more
violent," but he declared the
unlon'H leaders were "grossly igno
rant of economic law." The union
fields had been constantly losing
business to tho non-union fields,
he asserted, and even the union
mtn had been forced by idleness
to leave their organizations and go
to' other fields. Hike most of the
districts outside the central com
petitive fields, hs added, his asso
ciates had been refused an oppor
tunity to negotiate a mfw agree
ment. Representative Bland suggested
that if the struggle were allowed
to go on "the railroads and the
steel Interests and other Industrial
enterprises would he all lined up
on one aide and all union labor on
the other "
"Then you will see the real
people of the United States," Mr.
Watklns retorted, "outnumbering
such groups as you have suggested,
rise up and say: 'So far shall you
go and no further.' "
Operators also Intended, Mr.
Watkins continued, to abolish the
"check off system," by which they
collect the union dues, out of pay
rolls, "because the union ought to
'be made up of voluntary members"
The committee plans to con
tinue Its hearings dally, and has
summoned union witnesses from
Pennsylvania to appear before it.
C.REFASBORO Jl'PGK IS
HARD OV A CTO TIIIE V KS
Wonld Break l'p Practice: Three
Boys Held in Bail of $5,000
(SfttM Vnmptmitnti. T Aikufiitt CiImah I
Git KUNH BOKO, April 6. In an
effort t'. discourage automobile
thievery. Municipal Court Judge
1.. H. Collins fixed the bonds of
tiiree youths, tried before him
Wednesdny at 8V0O0 each, the
heaviest ever set here for bat of
fense, Thn three boys, Clyde Nor
man, 1. K. Hawkins snd A. M.
Fritz, Wi re arrested Saturday night
when ;.o!lremen found them
t.ronml a car. smashed against an
embankment near here, about an
hftuj sf,r I1
I it as stnn.
PAGES
O TODAY
DECLARES HALF;
UNITE IN STRIKE
15,000 More Railroad Shop
Craftsmen Will Be Idle
This Week
FOUR - STATE WAGE
PARLEY ABANDONED
Refusal of Operators to)
Meet Miners Means
Fight to Finish ;
NKW TURK. April 6 - Predict
i
NON-UNION IN
ing thai Hip nation will he In thsi ; (
midst of a bituminous, coal famlns' ' i
in six weeks unless the presentl '
slrike Is sealed. Philip Murray,) r j-
vicr-presldent (1f Uie I'nlted Minel
Workers of America, (onia-hit de.' ;
dared "congress must be blind not.1 (
lo ep what the country is tip i
iiKalnst." -v i
Mi. Murray's statement Wll' '
inaiie shortly aflier John L. Lewla
president of the mine worker' In-' '
lernatlonai union, asserted that 1hi i
refusal of operators In- ths centrali ,'
conipeiiit ive field to confer with th'
workmen at the Invitation of 1h j
house labor 'committee, meant th f
strike would become a "fight to t hsi
flnWh." , 1
In susoort of his uredldlon nf st: S
tail l ie. Air. nnrmv assart that
stork piles of the country contain
OIIIV DV.IIUU.il I tons nf h lnn nniia
coal, ot which 20.000,000 are aH
ready in tht bins of the consumer.
At. the orcasnt rat nf i.nnitimniln
of 8,0011.000 tons a week. th in J
000 000 Inns lUill .iirfl tw. nt,.i
another five weeksaccodlng to MrJ
Claims of the operators that the)
nrOltUCtion of nnn.llnlnn ihIhh
would prolong the nation' supply!
iu eiM-iiL weeka wirit tania Hv tk
union, leaaer. Latest reports from
non-union slmnirhnlda ha aaM in.
dicatedhait 76 per cent ot th non
union miners would have walked
out witn the strikers befor th
weK-ena. Fifty per cent have al
ready do so. he said.
"t estimate thait, when the prenJ f
ent stocks are exhausted," he said,! f
ine non-union mines will hav;
piled up sufficient fuel for nn.
more week- Then will cum an, !- I
actual shortara whlflh win nrin.i.. f . h
muuourti wiruugnouc in, t li
country. . ... t ..... . . . b 8
air. Murray eited that h lTnii i
. T .7 " i(raiuuii inn nsi u
suosiaianes in th Pittsburgh dls- f, tt
1 rirf nnw hau nnlv a. ? ': b
for 72 hours. A shut down of thej j
!00,00 men out of work,ha saldj 1 T
Befor ths end of th week, hal i '
said, 16,000 other men in th. mil J !, I,
road shop crafts, will have been. 1 i
t irnvn Mta h , I, . , l 1 i.
coal hauling trains through th arvJ j
irniuiia ot r ennsyivanla, f jj '
FOC R-KTATK JOINT WAGE A 1
OONFERKNCK IS ABANDONEES i
rUTHHURGH, Asrll . Thejj '
Pittsburgh Coal Producers' assoW
elation today said In a telegram tnt H
Representative Nolan, chairman o t
the house labor committee, that il It
had definitely abandoned the four3 i f
state wage conference and deJ HI
dined his invitation to partlcipat 3 1
" iJ conference called to m U
in Washington next Monday. Tjr H
The association in Its telegram!. l
took the position that, such a con U
ferenco was 111 vinlallnr, .1 uJ
Sherman anti-trust aw- because f
federal grand Juries had IndlotsdJ i
coal associations, the United Mlnsj, I
..iiurm or America and at leash
one company for taking part 11
such conferences as was proposed
SOUTHERN OHIO MKN ALL
THIN DOWN fiONFERKNCtl
COLUMBUS. Ohio, April
Southern Ohio coal operator to
day added their refusal to the in
vitation of Jon
man of the labor committee of th S 1
house of representative! for k! !'l
j'miu I'omerenr or representative;
of the central competitive field and,, "i
the United Mine Workers of Amors, sp
lea to negotiate a wage scale an t
determine working conditions calkj ,
ed for Washington April 10. . .l
The Ohio operators reiterated! ?
they were ready to meet mln '
workers nf this district and daj
dared we oanr.ot under any eir 1
cumslances cor.temJplate enlertntfi i
Into any Joint meeting with th
states proposed whose conditions!! '
of market aad employment arm -t
such as to permit them to operatj'1
their mines and give their work !
men more employment than wl
can give the miners of southern -Ohio."
t
CHICAGO. April fi Ulinoi op. -
'""" icmay in en-ecu rejected the),
Invitation of Representative Nolaii
or tne house Ubor committee, foi
t. v .unci
NO CJIANGK IN SIT! APinv
IN MINIS KOl'M KCRANTOV.
MIIA.NTO.N. Pa.. Anril
There was no change in the min
situation in this section toaay. A.
an mines hereabouts the sh
down ctiilinued effei-ttve, it n
reported.
j IOVvA tXMI. OPKItATOKS
Mirr T (it) TO WASHING
DBS MOINES. Jowa. AprlV
Iowa coal operators will serl;,v
representative to the pre" y
Joint conference of miners a:
era tors in Washington nextj at
'('. It was announced her
by B. C. Smith, president i
Iowa Coat Operators aseoci
POKSIBIMTY OF SUFVETlIt
18 1MMININT IN WYO.H
SHERIDAN, Wyo:, April
ji-osaioiiny or suicering que to ia
of coal was declared immltr
here today with th heaviest, -fall
In progress wh4;h vr
occurred dusing April.
Sheridsn has depended