,8 pages . THE CHARLOTTE MEWS night
TODAY . : - i-V-;;: AND EVENING CHRONICLE , rx
L G R E A T E R CHARLOTTE ' S HO ME NEWSPAPER" I
TL' CIinOICLlC KBtabllabrd. 1903.
CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 14, 1921
THE CHARLOTTE NEWS f Consolidated tPPTr1!? 17T VI? rI?ATrpc?
THE KVRXINO CHRONICLE I May 8. 1914. flTXWlVrj JP.IY.E4 KyHliNlC
rll
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
ANDGOVERNMENT
STILL FAR APART
Two-Hour Conference Fails
to Bring: the Two Any
Closer .Together.
London. April 14. (By The As
sociated Press). The Federation of
General Workers, representing: 1,
500.000 persons In more than 100
industries outside the triple al
liance, decided today to support thi
triple- alliance in its strike in the
interest of the striking miners.
London. April 14. (By the Associa:
ej Press) A conference held this
morning between Mr. Lloyd-George,
prime minister, and a delegation of of
tienl of the triple alliance which call
,.d i strike for Friday night in sup
ort of he striking miners was con
i'liulccl within two hours without any
progress apparently having been made
toward an adjustment of the grave la
bor situation.
It was reported from the conference
that the prime minister; made a long
statement, appealing strongly to the
railwaymen and transport workers,
who, with the miners make up tho
triple alliance, asking them to exercise
restraint and not precipitate a, crisis.
This plea, however, does not appear
to have had effect. J. II. Thomas, gen-,-nal
secretary of the National Union of
Railwaymen, declared after the 'joo
fcrence" that he could see no prospect
for the re-opening of negotiations for
an adjustment of the strike situation.
On the government side, it was said
the labor men were unable to present
new arguments giving the government
any different view of their case, while
the government, it was understood, di'l
net indicate that it was prepared to
make any further concessions. Tins
the situation, early this afternoon, :p-
npared unchanged and the outlook
gloomy. ' -
During the conference, it developed.
Mr. Lloyd-George made a plea to the
labor men that they resort to the bal
lot, suggesting that they put their
case to the nation and saying that the
government would do likewise with its
case and let the nation decide the is
sue.
The railwaymen and the transport
workers went to Downing street.
where Mr. Lloyd-George and other
members of the cabinet met them.
on their own initiative. Their osten
sible errand was to deliver in .person
the answer to the premier's request of
last night that . the miners set fortn
specifically the reasons for their rejec
tion of his proposals for adjusting the"
dispute between the miners and tne
mine owner.
When the triple alliance board ad
journed late last evening, the undor
standing was that this reply would be
communicated to the prime minister th
writing, and the. miners were not ap
prised of theJnteniion of the railway
men and transport workers until their
visit to Downing street had been ar
ranged by telephone. "
When Harry Goslln, for the trans
port workers, and Mr. Thomas, for the
railwaymen, had finished their presen
tations of the miners' case and had
outlined their reasons for deciding to
support it by sympathetic strikes, if
necessary, Mr: Lloyd-George appealed
to them to consider whether reason
was on their side. If so, he asked
why they had not availed themselves
of the ballot.box.
"Starvation . is not your only weap
on," said the prime minister. "Yrra
have exactly the weapons you had be
fore, the weapons of civilization per
suasion, argument and reason. You
can leave it to the nation to decide.
You have your plan; we have ours. Put
it to the nation and we will put ours
to the nation. If the nation decides
that your plan is the right one, why
should you starve your people in or
der to achieve something which you
can achieve by reason, if reason is on
your side?
"If reason Is not on your side, why
should you force the nation, by starv
ing it, to surrender to unreason?" ask
ed the minister. "They are not an un
reasonable people. The vast majority
of the people you appeal to are work
men. If the workmen are against us,
we have no chance."
These declarations were made by the
prime minister when he was pointing
out the impossibility of the govern
ment accepting the miners' demands
for a national pooling of profits,
which he defined as "nationalization up
to the point of meddling, and not of
managing, which is a worse form of
nationalization."
The House of Commons was prepared
today to discuss the reply to -tha
King's proclamation regarding the re
cruiting of reserves to act in the event
i great strike should develop. The la
bor party had given notice that it
would move the following amendment
loathe reply:
"The house regrets His Majesty has
ben advised to take such costly and
war-like measures, which are calcula
ted to provike public feeling, and are
directed against loyal citizens who are
exercising their legal right to resist
fncroaehment upon the standard of
"ving of themselves, or their fellow
workers."
Whether the call for a strike, Issued
fcv the "triple alliance" will be univer
sity obeyed remains doubtful. The
ai'y Mail, which has canvassed sev
eral railroad centers, expresses confl-f-nee
there will be no complete stop
faS of traffic. Edinburgh . report
J"ere is in that city "no strike en
inusiasm," while Glasgow claims that
certain areas are douhtful." In other
-nters, including the big London term
;"ai. it is said that train service will
e reduced, but not stopped,
fir. , Perience i conclusive proof,'
' Clares The Mail, in commenting on
situation, "that a general strike
tdm ot. be expected . to succeed as th?
''my. Will labor risk the commisison
of
8 fearful a mistake? Shall it be
Pear.
C,,Au.re8 Printed by The Daily
.,'aphic purport to show that, if the
We alliance" strike should actually
,,ult a"d should last three weeks, it
thm rSuIt ,n 8'0.000 persons being
rpg,,un out of employment. Another
wn, ! vf such a strike. It is said,
e(J u'(1 be that the national census, fix
ed o next week, would be postpon-ti-0
, h an action would 'be without
----euint.
Introducing Cr.NewSenators
c -'
NO. 6.
I liTitiiVTAti XT" TlTV.Cr
(Republican) S
....
Former Highway C7
Now U. S. Senator
land, Succeeding
IT
oner,
Mary-
Mr. Reader:
Meet a friend of the farmers, al
though an urban dweller, United
States Senator Ovington E. Weller,
who replaces John Walter Smith,
veteran . democratic leader of Mary
land. Senator Weller's home is in Bal
timore, but his urban affiliations do
not prevent him from taking a keen
interest In agricultural require
ments. One of his "hobbies'Ms "good
roads," and as highway commission
er of Maryland credit was given him
for building up the present system
of excellent highways in that state.
He is essentially a friend -of the
farmer and favors co-operative mar
keting as one solution of the agra
rian problems confronting the coun
try. CONSUMPTION OF
COTTON GREATER
Though Less Spindles Were
Active, More Cotton Was
Consumed in March.
Washington, April 14. Cotton manu
facturers utilized more raw cotton. dur
ing March than in, any month since
last September, a total of 437,933 bales
having been consumed during the
month, according to the Census Bu
reau's monthly report issued today.
There were fewer cotton spindles in
operation during the month than in
February, the largest reduction having
been shown in the mills of the cotton
growing states. The month's total
32,104.946, was 353,582 less than Febru
ary with the mills of the cotton-growing
states showing 317,794 of the reduction-
Cotton consumed was 20,325
bales more than in February.
Cotton consumed amounted to 437,
933 bales of lint and 37,991 of .linters.
Consumption in March last year was
575,789 bales of lint and 31,597 of lint
ers. Cotton on hand March 81, in consum
ing establishments, was 1,337,790 bales
of lint and 208,647 linters, compared
with 1,853,998 of lint and 304.280 of lint
ers a year ago, and in public storage
and at compresses 5,235,360 bales of
lint and 294,250 of linters, compared
with' 3,240,197 of lint and 401,955 of
linters so held a year ago.
March imports were 27,282 bales,
compared with 133,727 last year and
exports were 375,180 bales, Including
6.845 bales of linters, compared with
794,460 bales, including 4,471 of , linters
exported -in March last year.
Spindles active during March num
bered 32,104.946, compared with 34,697,
812 in March last year.
Statistics for cotton-growing states
Include:
Consumed during March 263,348 bales
compared with 321,296 in March last
year.
On hand March 31 in consuming
establishments, 616,120 bales compared
with 1.030.S04 a year ago, and in public
storage and at compresses 4,762,862,,
compared with 2,967,289 a year ago.
Cotton spindles active during March
numbered 14,688,964, compared with 14,-
976,123 in March last year.
25 COUPLES WERE
FORCED TO MARRY
Chicago,. April 14. Declaring that
she had been forced with 24 other
couples to take part in wholesale mar
riage ceremony while an inmate of the
"House of David." a religious cult at
Benton Harbor, Mich., Mrs. Hilda L.
Hansel told her story to Judge Jesse
Baldwin In circuit court today in an
effort to have the marriage annulled.
According to her testimony, all of the
victims were forced to undergo the cere
mony under threat of being marooned
on a deserted island in the northern, ex
tremity of Lake Michigan. She said
that she was given only four-hours'
notice of the wedding and hardly knew
the man she married.
Mrs. Hansel said that, since the cere
mony, which took place five years ago,
she had left the House of David.
OCCUPATION OF RUHR
BASIN IS ALTERNATIVE
i
Paris, April 14. Germany's obliga
tion to the Allies will be fixed at be
tween 130,000,000,000 and 150,000,000,
000 gold marks by the Allied reparation
commission, says The Echo de Paris,
The newspaper adds the exact figure
will depend . upon the solution of cer
tain questions being considered.
In case Germany resists settlement;
the newspaper declares, it is accepted
by the Allies that France will recall
two classes of recruits to the colors,
and proceed to occupy the Ruhr basin.
This district irfcludea the most im
partant coal mines and industrial
plants in western Germany.
NEITHER RESPECTING
THE AMERICAN FLAG
Constantinople, 'April 14. Skirmish
ing is going on between the Turks and
Greeks in the Bardizag region of A?ia
Minor, where it is reported neither of
the combatants is - respecting the Am
erican flag hoisted over the Near East
relief stations, shots having been fired
at the American women's hospital unit
of Mrs. Mabel Nickerson.
4 APPEAL FOR CHRISTIANS.
Rome April 14. Cardinal Gasparri,
papal secretary of state, has made an
appeal to Mustapha Kemal Pasha,
head of the Turkish nationalist gov
ernment at Angora, in behalf of Chris
tians inhabiting countries under Turk
ish rule. ' ;- ' ' ;
CHARLOTTE BANK CLEARINGS.
(Reported by Chamber of Commerce)
For the weelt enaea:
April 13, 1921
April 6. 1921
$5,047,516.35
S5.755.986.42
- -
April 14. 1921
$9,559,957.51
' ' 1
B' S&'S8
jjj I
f i
WILLYS EXPECTS
-BUSINESS EARLY
Automobile Manufacturer
Declares Country is Rap
idly Recovering.
Business will be . about normal by
October, thinks John N. Willys.
Mr. Millys, who is president of the
Willys-Knight and Overland automobile
companies and the head of a dozen or
more of the biggest manufacturing
plants in America, is in Charlotte
Thursday as the guest of the Carolina
automobile show and the Dail-Overland
company.
Mr. Willys is optimistic. He is also
full of life. He believes in the future
of American industry. He is not wor
rying about the alleged period of depres
sion. ' i
Depression is like the flee: very nec
essary, Mr. Willys believes.
A man asked the owner of the dog
why he did not get rid of the flees on
the caninee. Mr. Willys said, in illus
trating his point. The man replied: .
"It is necessary that the dog be
troubled by flees in order that he may
know he is a dog."
Likewise was it necessary that Amer
icans know that money had a value.
Back in the days when everybody was
trying to see how much money they
could, throw away you thought they had
$10 when they had only $1.
Depression, proved thatjnone;.:l)as ;
A value,' Mr. Willys pointed out."" - I
"We are getting back to, the point i
where we again realize that we must
gg, tnat we must be conservative in
our spending and that money is the re
ward for labor. ;
"Those days of a couple of years
ago could not last. Everybody saw
that people had lost their appreciation
of the value of money. Everybody
thought they had more money than
they knew what to do with, when, as a
matter of fact, $10 was worth but S.
little more than a dollar bill back in
the days when a man had to work in
order to live.. -
"Why I heard that negroes down in
Dallas, Texas, were buying Cadillac
automobiles. They should have known
that an Overland was as much of an
automobile as they could have ownetl.
People must realize the value of mon
ev." But Mr. Willys, let ' it be repeated
is an optimist. Business has been
growing better for three months, and it
is continuing to grow better. ' There
fore, he believes that by October busir
ness will be nearly normal.
It will never be like it was a cou
ple of years ago. Mr. Willys is quite
satisfied on this point. It should not
get like it was then; because it was
unreasonable. People were wild; they
thought they were living in Paradise;
they had forgotten that man must
earn his bread by the sweat of his
brow. Depression proved that this
world is still the earth; that man must
continue to work if he would live; that
the man who works the hardest .will
reap the greatest rewards. .
It was with difficulty that Mr. Willys
could be interviewed. Naturally, any
one sent out to interview a man who
controls millions of dollars in money
and property would expect to find a
dignified man of few words hidden be
v,.,,i o iiooir in a Drivate office. But
Mr. Willys was found chatting with
"the boys," patting them on the back
and talking about how glad he was to
get to Charlotte, and look over the
town. ' ' ' ' T
He came all ' the way from New
York to - get down here and see the
show and attend the luncheon which
W H. Dail and W. T. Hoppe, heads
of " the Dail-Overland Company, had
arranged in his honor, and in honor
of a hundred agents of North Caro
lina who came here to talk over busi
ness . problems and prospects.
Mr Dail. presided oyer the luncheon,
held at the Southern Manufacturers
Club at 1 o'clocK. xne occasion was
featured by talks by Mr. Willys and
W. L. Colt of New York. Both ex
pressed anticipations of , good business
in the near future. , ,
No one would think that Mr. Willys
controls millions in money and prop
erty to talk i;o him. He is domestic.
It was hard to get an interview with
him because he was interrupted so
frequently by men who wished to
shake his hand. - He appeared to be
"just a jollv good fellow." It is quite
out of the' ordinary in Charlotte to
say the least, for a man of Mr. Willys
standing to be so jovial, democratic
and 'ordinary." He had a fine way of
slapping a fellow on the back as tnough
he might be trying to sen some Linns.
Yet he maintained that dignity which
accompanies greatness.
Dozens of local automobile men call
ed on him during the day to say
"howdy do." He greeted them all with
a big smile and an air of unconven
tionalism. Someone said he is 44 years
old. He's worth millions and has an
international reputation. Yet he's ex
tremely human quite out of the ordi
nary inChariotte ; anyhow.
He said he was glad to talk for the
. (Continued on Page Two.)
"SOCIETY NIGHT"
tobe;Mture
OF AUTO SHOW
Pryor's Band is to Give
Special Program, With
- Record Crowd Expected.
TODAY'S PROGRAM.
Afternoon.
Pryor and His Band
Soloists: Margaret Travers, so
prano; Carl. Schumann, French
horn.
Part 1.
1. Overture "The Vikings ,"Hart
man. 2. Scenes from "Jingaboo," Pry
or. . ;
3. Solo for - Frehqh horn "Ber
ceuse." Godard; Carl Schuman.
4. Excerpts "La Boheme," Puc
cini. 5. Fantasie on "My Old Ken
tucky Home,". Dalby.
(Variations for all instruments) '
6.. Caprice "The Lion Chase,"
Koelling. ;
Part 5.'
' 7. "Invitation to the Dance,"
Weber.
8. Gems from "The Royal Vaga-
- bond," Cohan.- r
9. Soprano Solo "Open the Gates
of the . Temple," Knapp; Margaret
Travers.
10. "Patrol of .the Old Soldiers,"
Bassette; Miss Carmella Ponsella,
mezzo-soprano.
- 1.
Aria from "La Favorita," Doni
zetti. 2.
a. Lord is Risen, Rachmaninoff.
b. Franchonette, C. B. Clark.
c. To a Messenger, LaForge.
Frederick Bristol at the piano.
Society Night.
Pryor and His Bond.
Soloists: Margaret Travers, so
prano; Leon Handzlik, cornet; John
Wummer, flute. '
Part 1.
1. Overture "Zampa," Herold. .
2. Scenes, from "Robin Hood," De
Koven. 3. Cornet Solo "The Lost Chord,"
Sullivan; Leon, Handzlik.
4. Grand Scenes "Tannhaeuser,"
Wagner.
5. Piccolo Solo "Polka Caprice,"
Terschak; John Wummer.
6. "Tuneful Tunes of '63." Cal
vin. Part 2.
7. Dedication and Benediction
, "Les Huguenots," Meyerbeer.
8. (a) Tohe Poem "After Sun
set," Pryor.
(b) "The Whistler and His Dog,",
Pryor. . . .
9. Soprano Solo "The Kiss," Ar
diti; Margaret Travers. , ;
10. Finale to Ballet "Dance - of
the Hours." PonchieUi. .
..Miss Carmella . TohselJe.y . mezzo?
. - 1.
Aria from "La Favorita," Don
izetti. . . . .
-:. ' ' ' 2. : '
a. Lord is Risen, Rachmaninoff.
b. Franchonette, C. B. Clark.
c. To a Messenger, LaForge.
Frederick Bristol at the piano.
"Society Night" at the Carolinas au
tomobile show, openimr at 8 o'clock
with special music by Captain Arthur
Pryor's band and with exhibitors re
ceiving in the various booths, is ex
pected to mark the grand climax of
the big event which already has been
witnessed by more than 12,000 people
of Charlotte and the Carolinas.
The interior of the big building at
First and Clarkson streets was a "ver
itable fairyland" Wednesday night: with
men and women, boys and girls parad
ing the . aisles, brilliant lighting effects
bringing out the beauty and charm of
the flow of decorations, motor cars
showing to advance at every glance of
the eye, and with the band pealing
forth a wonderful variety of selections
ranging from "Turkey, in the Straw"
to "The Star Spangled Banner" in all
its majesty and dignity.
Five thousand attended the show
Wednesday night, according to esti
mates. The aisles on both floors were
packed with humanity, and even the
spaces in the booths were filled by ad
mirers of the many beautiful touring
cars and sedans and snappycoupes and
sport models. '
An even larger crowd is. expected for
Thursday night. Added brilliance will
be given to the occasion by a change of
many of the . exhibits, substituting diff-.
erent models of automobiles, by beauti
fully dressed women and with the spe
cial musical program by the band. .
The show . management announced
that although exhibitors who will re
ceive in their booths will wear evening
clothes dress is not an entrance re
quirement. While many of those 'at
tending will be in evening clothes the
public in general is invited and the
usual formality attending "society func
tions" will be lacking.'
The artists who will sing during
Thursday afternoon and night are
Misses Carmela Ponselle and Margaret
Travers. Miss Ponselle's program for
the afternoon and night and will in
clude Aria from "La Favorita";" Lord is
Risen, Fanchonette and To Messenger,
Frederick Bristol will be at the piano.
In the " afternoon Miss Travers will
sing a soprano solo, "Open the Gates
of the Temple." "A soprano solo, "The
Kiss," will be her selection for the
night.
"Dealers' Day" Wednesday brought
to Charlotte around 800 dealers from
both states. One automobile man
came by airplane from Columbia, a.c
companied by two army lieutenants. He
is J. E. Mann. The officers in charge
of the plane were Lieutenants Runsen
and Turner. The trio were the guests
(Continued on Page Six.)
Charlotte and Vicinity: Unsettled
with probably showers tonight and Fri
day; little change in temperature.
Gentle to moderate south and southwest
winds. . -
North' and South Carolina: Unsettled
tonight and Friday, probably showers;
not much' change in temperature. :
FuSsETTLEP
U. S. Foreign Policy Is Being
Worked Gut Satisfactorily
ACCEPTANCE OF
U. S. PRINCIPLES
France AffreeS That GOV-!
, fT , n i'
; ernment Hasf Surrendered.
-None ot Its Rights.
Washington, April 14. France's re
ply to Secretary Hughes' note of April
4, regarding the Japanese mandate
over the Pacific Island of Yap is inter
preted in official circles here as tanta
mount to acceptance of . the principle
laid down by the American government
that the United States 'has surrendered
none of its right in the former German
overseas possessions. '
The text of the French note,, which
is in the form of a preleminary ' reply,
was made public today both . in Wash
ington and Paris. It is signed by Pre
mier Briand, who gives assurance that
a representative of the French govern
ment will place before the supreme
council at its next meeting the ques
tion of Yap, with the "greatest desire
to find a solution which will give every
satisfaction to the United 'States."
Premier Briand declares that his gov
ernment , "has already done ail in its
power to lend its aid to the American
government in this matter.". Reference
is made to the French note of last
February 18. which pointed out that,
while the decision of the supreme coun
cil of May 7,. 1919, made no reservation
concerning the mandates attributed to
Japan over the islands of the northern
Pacific, President Wilson and - Secre
tary Lansing had formulated, in the
course of a former meeting in the pres
ence of the representative of - Japan,
"categorical reservation concerning the
Island of Yap," and that the Japanese
renresfvntativps had tint nhifictert-
The full text of the French reply, as lousm, wmcn mignt not be so favor
made public by the State Department, I a?le and if he failed to comment, his
does not differ materially from that? sijence would be regarded as significant
given out in Paris. , fan perhaps a meaning given to the in-
Paris. April 14. Premier Briand has
dispatched to Washington a note ac
knowledging receipt of -the communi
cation from the American State De
partment regarding the mandate over
Pacific Islands north of the Equator
which was given to Japan.
The premier's note says . a represen
tative of France will take up the ques
tion when 'it comes before the supreme
allied pouncil, "with the most ardent
desire to find a solution; giving satis
faction to the United States."
: After acknowledging receipt of t.he
American communication, Premier
Briand said: . s ; : t . "? -.v.
"The memorandum, , being, addressed
,to Great-Britain, Italy .and Japan sim
uitarieduslyT' a. reply cannot be made
until after an. accord between the gov-
ernments ofthe four interested pow-
ers at the next meeting or tne su
preme council. 'c -
"I . desire, however, to declare now
that, when the question comes before
the supreme council, ,the representa
tives of France will approach the ques
tion with the most ardent desire to
find a solution satisfactory - to ' the
United States. Your excellency knows
that already the - government of the
Republic has done all that depended
upon it to give its aid in this question
to the American government." '
"By the note of February 18, after
having noted that the decision of May
7, 1919. carried with it. no restriction
concerning the attribution to Japan of
a mandate for the islands of the north
ern Pacific, ' my department explained
to your embassy that, however, Pres
ident Wilson and Secretary of State
Lansing, in the course of the preced
ing meeting, had formulated, in the
presence of the Japanese fepresenta
tive, categorical ' reservations on the
subject of the Island of Yap; that Ba
ron MakinO, (Japanese representative
on ; the supreme ' council), had not re
fused to allow discussion of the ques
tion raised by the . representatives of
the United - States and , that, conse
quently, the Japanese government had
knowlsdge of the American reserva
tions, v -
"The note concluded by sayirig that
there were contained in it elements
for further conversation between the
United States and Japan, which the
government of . the republic would be
happy to see result satisfactorily.
"The note was the. same day com
municated to the Japanese embassy in
Paris, and your excellency was kind
enough to express to my department a
lively satisfaction with the same, and
to give assurance that it would be par
ticularly appreciated in Washington.
OJBREGON AUTHORITY
FIRMLY ESTABLISHED
Mexico City, April 14. Authority of
President Obregon has been firmly es
tablished in all parts of the republic
and there are no threatening influences
at work, declared E. Plutarco Calles,
Secretary of the Interior, last night.
He reiterated assertions made som
time ago that political conditions in
Mexico are more satisfactory than they
have been for many years. This state
ment followed, a recent interview tjy
Adolfo de La Huerta, secretary of the
treasury, who declared it , was his per
sonal belief that all members of the
cabinet should keep out of politics and
place themselves completely in accord
with the President's policy. - '
There have been rumors .that these
two members of the government were
estranged from President Obregon and
their statements In praise of his ad
ministration aroused considerable inter
est in this city. .
SIR VICKARS ASSASSINATED
Dublin, April 14. (By The Associat
ed Press). Sir Arthur Edward Vickars.
former Ulster king-of-arms, was shot
dead this morning at Listowel and his
residence was burned. '
A tag -was attached to) the ;. body,
reading "Traitors Beware. We never
forget. I. R. A." , ' v"-
LOWEST PRICE IN 7 YEARS.
Minneapolis, Minn., April 14. For
the first time In almost seven . years
flour sold under $8 a barrel at the mills
here today. Not since July, ' 1914, lo -
cal millers said, has flour been quoted
under $8 a barrel. Today's range for
family patents was $7.90 to $8.15 when
sold in carlots in 98-pound cotton sacks.
By DAVID LAWRENCE,
Staff Correspondent of Ti tfwg.
Copyright 1921, by Tewa Publishing Co.
Washington. April 14. The . United
States is slowly winning its way. in
negotiations with foreign governments.
France has acceded to the American
viewpoint on the status of the island of
Yap and tnere are indications that
Japan, Great - Britain ' and the other
ames win fan into ime and agree to
dispose of the controversy by interna
tionalizing the island.
The significance of what is happen
ing, - however, does not lie vmerely in
the Yap question itself. Something
broader is involved. It 'is the expressed
willingness . of France to be the close
frjend of America in shaping a new
foreign policy. Great Britain has on
more than one occasion, since the war
manifested a desire to work hand in
hand with America in matters of world
politics, and the Harding message to
congress is known to have provoked
informal approval among the diplomats
generally. s
Secretary Hughes is handling the
delicate negotiations with splendid tact
and perseverance. Although he is not
being quoted in the newspapers every
day and- is careful about the comments
that are authorized for publication, he
is giving the Washington corespon
dents a rare example of frankness in
dealing with the press. Mr. Hughes
prefaces his remarks usually with the
injunction' that he is not to be quot
ed, but he discusses questions with
amazing freedom and with a clarity
that leaves no room for misunderstand
ing. J ust the other day somebody ask
ed him to comment on a note that had
been received by the United States gov
ernment. The communication itself
was obviously agreeable to our govern
ment, but Mr. Hughes pointed out that
he didn't want to start a precedent of
comment. Cases mhrht arise. he
ciaent tnat would be unwarranted,
There has been a eood deal of trou
ble about press agents and publicity
and propaganda. There will be no
such , trouble under Mr. Hughes. He
is his own best spokesman. 'He gives
the slant to the news of the day that
he feels should be given. But' his
most signal service is in foreseeing pos
sible grounds for misunderstanding. He
can see in a question asked by corres
pondents further ahead sometimes than
the newspaper . men themselves. A case
in point was a rumor that the entire
state department was soon to be organ
ized. ' .i Mr. Hughes admitted that such
a "plan was in contemplation but the
thought flashed through his mind at
once that even ; such an admission
might tie the basis for speculation and
disturbing stories about personnel. He
quickly explained that the supervisory
personnel . was all that could be desired
taht; in Under Secretary Fletcher
Assistant Secretaries Deering' and Bliss,
and Director Carr, of the consular serv
ice, the department had a splendid
group of experts, but that what remain
ed to; be done was co-ordinating the
work of the bureaus and- tieing to
gether certain activities .that . were re
lated to each other but were separated
at present.
Mr. Hughes appears to lie' we'll satis
fied with the- progress ' made " in " the
negotiations thus far-with foreign gov
ernments. . The . department. . of state
has had a difficult . job-.taking. up the
threads of a tangled international situ
ation. But President Harding and Mr.
Hughes have talked over the whole ftld
of, foreign . affairs and. Mr. Hughes
knows, the cardinal . principles. With
the enthusiasm , with which he charac
terized his handling . of big. legal prob.
lems. in the .past Mr.. Hughes . tackles
each question in diplomacy with a
rapidity and thoroughness that have
already produced .a', favorable impres
sion throughout 1 the national capital.
It is not usual to find early enthusiasms
so quickly justified. ;
The note from ' France . is the first
triumph. France admits .that the hand
ing out of mandates in the past was
rather haphazardly done. . The French
have gone further in their informal
oral expressions than in their note.
They have said frankly that they didn't
think' it was becoming of the great
powers to "take Advantage of America's
absence from the conference- by giv
ing away territory without the express
consent of the United States. There
is ; as yet no acceptance or rejection
of the principle stated in the American
circular notes namely, that the United
States' claims a voice' in all matters
growing out of the war, whether or not
the Versailles treaty, is ratified. It 1
unlikely that the allies will meet -that
question vntil they are obliged to do
so. They will confine their replies mere
ly to the case in hand the status
of Yap. As for the rights under the
treaty,- Mr.- Harding's message has ren
dered a controversy on that point for
the - moment- unnecessary, - as the 1 new
administration now announces that it
it wishes to sign those -portions of the
Versailles treaty which do not ent?ngle
America- in "inadvisable committ
ments' concerning the future; - '
In a nutshell, things in the -department,
of - state are moving- along very
welH-indeed much - better - - than - had
been expected. - And while the words
"league., of nations" are taboo, - observ
ers, are daily , finding ground -for the
suspicion . that, just - as the- Versailles
treaty .was finally regarded after care
ful examination by the Harding, ad
ministration, as an inescapably, basis
for ' foreign policy, so will the existing
league be found a basis for the new
association of nations.
URGES USE OF ALLIED
DEBT TO SELL COTTON
Washington, April 14. A plan to
take advantage of the Allied debt to
the United States in providing means
to dispose of the . Southern cotton , crop
was suggested to President Harding today-
by Governor-elect - Hardwlck, of
Georgia. He proposed that the United
States - ask the . Allied governments to
underwrite. German bonds which would
be' accepted in payment of cotton ex
ports from this country and would be
' held here as securities against the war
IdeDt
It was understood that the President
expressed deep interest in the plan, but
withheld judgment regarding it.
POWER COMPANY
APPEARS BEFORE
TWO TRIBUNALS
Arguing for Commission to
Do One Thing and Su
preme Court Another- :
oi By JULE B. WARREN,
Staff Correspondent of The w.
Raleigh.- April 14. Attorneys repre
senting both sides of the Southern Pow
er Company hearing did not like the
suggestion of Commissioner George Pell
that some time limit should be put on
debate, and the lawyers are speaking
as long as they wish. There is little
indication that the hearing of argu
ment in the case will be completed be
fore Thursday night. This will be the
case if all the lawyers here for this
hearing insist on being heard, and the
Corporation Commission is going to al
low all to make speeches if they desire,
and there will probably be no limit set
on speeches. So far only four speeches
have been concluded. . , ,
E. S. Parker of Graham opened the
debate Wednesday-morning. He spoke
in behalf of a chain of cotton mills
who have contracts with the Southern
Power Company, and devoted a greater
portion of his speech to the alleged dis
crepancies in the valuation of the prop
erty of the company in North and
South Carolina. The appraisal of the
replacement value of the South Caro
lina property was made by the J. G.
White company of New York, but the
company has not taken these figures
as the basis of calculation for rate
making. Mr, Parker called attention
to the fact that the Corporation Com
mission fixed the tax value of the prop
erty in North Carolina at about- fifteen
million dollars, , which was one half of
White's replacement value. The fig
ures are far different in South Caro
lina, where the tax value is four mil-"
lion dollars;- the replacement value
about 25 , million and the value placed!
on the South Carolina property by thei
company is $37,000,000. This does not1
include going concern value, which the
company claims should be considered
in making the rate that will bring
about a fair return on the value of the
investment. 1
Mr. Parker contended that the com
mission should not take the South
Carolina property into consideration at
these figures. He really believed the
North Carolina commission had no
right to consider other property than
that owned In North Carolina for rate
making purposes, but the company? in
sists that the property as a whole has
to be considered before the commission
can arrive at what is a just rate.
Mr. Aubrey L. Brooks, attorney for
the North Carolina Public. Service Cor
poration; which now has a case against
the Power cumpany pending in the
supreme court, followed Mr. Parker.
Mr. Brooks wag not one of the attor
neys . for protestants who signed the
motion asking that the case be -dismissed
by the Corporation Commission
LoCnh&rtto that it - was not within
the , jurisdiction of this rate-making
body. For by the circumstances and
entanglements of this case Mr; Brooks
is contending: : in the Supreme Court
this 'week 'that the Southern Power
Company is subject' to the regulations
of the state authorities. Mr. Brooks'
client ; is seeking an order from the
power company to continue furnishing
power to it in the future.
This case is up for a hearing, before!
the Sunreme Court this week and some
of the attorneys appearing before the
commission will also appear before the
Supreme Court. Some of the facts
connected with the case before the Su-
in another case, that in which the
held that the Southern Power Company
was a public utility and could not
charge one customer more for power
than it charged another. This case
was that of the Greensboro, Salisbury
and High Point street railway and
Electric companies against the. South
ern Power Company." ...
Taken In all its ramifications the case
being ; heard - probably . involves more
money than any other case that has
ever come before any tribunal in the
state. ; In addition to the cotton mill
protestants there are other cotton mill
owners who have fallen Jn line with
the power ; company's petition for an -increase
in rates, and' they have at
torneys here to speak from the stand
point of these cotton mills, which con
stitute a majority -of the spinning in
terests in North Carolina. They want
to build more cotton mills and expand
their present business, but are unable
to do so because they cannot : get the
power unless it is furnished by the
Southern Power Company.
' ENDORSES HUMANE SUNDAY.
Boston, Mass., 1 April r 14. President
Harding has given -his endorsement to
the movement for the "Be , Kind tr
Animals Wreek" April 11 to 16, with
Sunday, April 17, to be known as "Hu
mane Sunday." ;
Tell Binkley8 nlec bought her
spring hat at Tulip where she could
park long enough t try it on. What's
become o' th' ole time lover that used
t lav o fan nfolrol flfttrm fin ill
mm!jf -- urn i . ..... . jm. - " j , vmm T. .
mantle before he sat down on th'
ROfv? ' . ' ' : '
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April 1 1th
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