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' . . . . - - . . . .- t, , l VOL. XVII. NO. 7. WilLMINGfON jS". C. FRIDAY- JANUARY 8, 10O4. FIVE CENTS w ( ft A (j f.- t - 1f 3 ACT OF WAR United States Recogni tion of New Republic of Panama SAYS MORGAN Colombia Has the Right to Consider This Country's Recognition as an Act of AVar That Country Has , Never Acknowledged the Cessation of Its Sovereignty Over Panama Mr. Morgan Claims That the Pres ence of American Forces on the . Isthmus Alone Prevents the Colom bians from Retaking the Panama -People. Washington, January 7. Mr. Mor gan occupied the time of the Senateo day in a reply to the speech of Mr. Lodge delivered last Tuesday. Mr. Morgan again criticised the Resident and' the attitude of this government in connection with the Panama republic "Columbia still has some rights un der the . laws of nations," said Mr. Morgan. "She is 4,500,000 strong. She has an area larger than that of the state of Indiana. She is recognized by all governments, including the United Btates, as a free sovereign power. She is the mother government-of Panama, and according to Mr. Bunau-Variila the Panama minister, we are neither the father or the mother of this new republic. Colombia has the right un der the laws of nations to consider that recognition as premature and an act of war. Whether Colombia does - declare it to be an act of war is an other matter. The third power is like ly to be led into premature recognition, unless affected by some private bene fits until the "mother country has ac knowledged the cessation of its sover eignty just as Great Britain proclaim ed our independence before the close of our war with that country." Mr. Spooner asked if h had under stood rightly that .we could not lawful ly recognize Panama as a de facto gov ernment until Colombia had relinquish ed sovereignty. Mr. Morgan stated that Colombia had the' right to consider recognition under other circumstances as premature and an act of war. "And I am compelled to say," said Mr. Morgani; "that tomorrow if the United States government should with draw its fleet and marines from, the isthmus or confine their operations to the protection of the railroad and to the passage across the isthmus, Colombix would march in and capture those eight men who organized the Panama gov ernment, and drive them and their fol lowing of foreigners, negroes, and Chi namen from the isthmus. Under such conditions the position of the United States would have been honorable, dig nified and wholly consistent with her Tights under the treaty of 1846." Mr. (Morgan put into the record a large number of letters, written by correspondents of many large newspa pers, which he said, gave the acts con cerning the overturning of the Colom bian government on the isthmus, and which' are not disputed except by the President in his two messages to the Congress. Many of these articles were described, particularly the references to Colonel Black, who is alleged to have raised the first Panama flag on the isth mus, and to Consul .Ehrmann who is alleged to have made the arrangements for the raising of money to buy the peaceful withdrawal of Colonel Torres and his Colombian troops. Mr. Culberson asked if the charge? that Mr. Ehrmann had supplied the money to aid in bringing about the withdrawal of the troops was support ed by the papers inserted JnjMr. Mor gan's speech. jlr. 'Morgan said this was in the ' papers, and that he did not pretend to say whether or not it was true. Mr. Spooner wanted to know if Mr. Morgan questioned the action of the representatives of the United Statss in warning the Colombian gunboat Bo gota from bombarding Panama, in view of the fact that the bombardment was being without the time warning re quired by the rules governing interna tional warfare. Mr. Morgan maintained that the Bogota was warned away, not because a violation of International rules of war had been made, but she was warned not to make any bombardment at any time. This fact, he said, made the United States a belligerent with Pana ma against Colombia, This attitude was continued by our forbid ding. Gen eral Torres and his force to go from Colon to Panama on the railroad or any other road. "These acts of hostility and defiance were in violation of the statute laws of the United States," he said. ' Replying; to a question from Mr. 'Quarles as to the source of his informa tion as to happenings in the Colombian Congress Mr. Morgan caustically re marked that he had no specific infor mation. When the venerable Senator from Massachusetts, Mr. Hoar, had in troduced a resolution calling for facts the President had taken advantage of his position and sent a message to Con gress in answer to that resolution, and I think that is the only answer we are ever to get, he concluded. Mr. Morgan criticised the dealings between this government and the Pan ama Canal Company. "Why," he said, "have we always got this gang of robbers, and why make them the vendors of all that we are to get from Panama?" . Mr. Fairbanks wanted to know if Mr. Morgan held that we should wait until the concessions of this company expired and then deal with Colombia cr Pana ma. I Mr. Morgan replied: "Do not ratify any treaty with Panama until that con templated contract with the Panama Canal Company is completed. We should not bind ourselves by ratifying the treaty before this contract is known." - i TMr. Quarles asked if Mr. Morgan con sidered that the six year extension of the franchises of the Panama Canal Company was void. ! "Certainly," replied Mr. Morgan. 'The only concession the company pos- rpssps exnires bv its own terms next October and its prolongation is void for the Colombian Congress voted down." The Sonate adjourned till tomorrow. TUB HOUSE. it ; Washington, January 7. The Housa was in session but twelve minutes to day. Mr. Hemenway, chairman of the committee on appropriations obtaine unanimous consent that one hour b Wnted- at the opening of tomorrow' ecainn tn tVif consideration Of a bill 'OCOOXVi -V - ' " 1 ) : j ? . -.-. f TnV-nnriotitlpr XFf!0 amp l in i; Llic tiv l chj i-"- i - o AAA nr the prfl rii cation of foot and mouth disease among cattle, soas to mnkA $250,000 of that amount availa ble to meet the emergency caused by the Mexican boll weevil. The bid was favorably reported today. The House adjourned until tomorrow Killed by a Train. Charleston, S. C, January 7. Two colored women named Presley were killed together with tne mule which ithey were driving, by a railway train near Bessemer City, N. C, today They attempted to cross thelrack in front of a local passenger train. Instructed to Vote for the Panama Treaty. Jackson, $fiss.. January .7. The lower House of the Mississippi legis lature passed the oint 'resolution, adopted by the Senate yesterday, in structing the Mississippi Senators to vote for the Panama treaty, now be fore the. United States Senate. An attempt was made to amend the res olution, but it was passed as it came from the Senate, by a vote of 86 to -I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-l-I-I-I-H'y: GENERAL GORDON IL.L. i- Miami, Fla., January 7. General John B. Gordon is dangerously ill at his home, Biscay ne, seven miles north of this city. The attack is similar to that he suffered from sometime ago on a rail road tram hi Mississippi. It is inflammation of the stom ach, caused by an acute at tack of indigestion to which, he is subject. A consultation of General Gordon's physicians tonight reported from Ids home by telephone, leaves no hope of lus recovers-. V Serious Fears Entertained. 9 p. m. The following bulletin has ijust been issued by the ia trending physicians of General John B. Gor don: "General John B. Gordon's con dition remains the same as at noon. He grew much weaker at 5 this af ternoon, but responded to stimulants and has rallied somewhat and is now resting more quietly. Temperature one hundred and four; pulse one hundred and sixteen. -"His wife and two sons are with him. His daughters, Mrs, Burton Smith and Mrs. Orton Bishop Brown ihave been notified. "General Gordon's condition is very critical. His advanced age (72) and generally depleted strength from previous impaired health causes his physicians to entertain serious fears of the outcome. (Signed) "GAMBLING AND JACKSON. "Attending Physicians." Bulletin at 11 O'clock. I The following issued by Doctors Gambling and Jackson, the attending physicians to General John B. Gor don was given out at 11 o'clock. Temperature 102 3-5; pulse 108. Resting little more quietly. Atlanta, Ga., January 7.. General Gordon's daughter, Mrs. Burton Smith, of this city, received a tele gram early this morning calling her to Miami at once, and saying that her father was critically fll. No fur ther particulars were contained in the massage. Mrs. Smith left for the South tonight. General Gordon left for Florida with Mrs. Gordon several weeks ago to spend the winter, as the balmy air of the Southern latitude agrees with him better than more northerly climates. Recent reports have told he is unusually well and no anxiety has been felt until the alarming dis patches today brought news to the contrary. REPLY NOT WELL RECEIVED The Russian Rejoinder Said to be Un satisfactory to Japan PEOPLE URGE RESORT TO ARMS The Japanese Nation is Deeply Stirred If it is Clear That Russia's Pro testations Are Honest, There Will Probably be Further Negotiations, But the Ministry is Opposed to a Ixmg Delay- Russia, it is Expect ed, Will Make Concessions in One Direction, But Impose New Con ditions in Another Diplomats Are Anxious to -Know What Attitude The Powers Will Have--Russian American Marines at Seoul to Tokio, January 7. The govern ment is silent concerning the terms of the Russian rejoinder. A high authority here, however, says that the reply is unsatisfactory to Japan, especially in its features bearing up on the question of Corea. He says that the Russian government in its communication expresses .a desire for a peaceful settlement of the matters in dispute. Japan has taken the re ply under consideration and if con vinced that Russia's protestations are honest and that there is a chance for peace, she will continue the negotia tions. At the same time the min istry is unqualifiedly opposed to u long delay: It is becoming apparent that Japan would r?srcnt- any inter vention upon the part of any of the outside powers in the extremity -of the crisis. It is thought possible hefre that the United States might inter vene. Such intervention, the Japan ese say, would be unjust and only create delay which would be Ad vantageous to Russia. V Tokio, January 7. The attitude' Japan toward the response of Russia is still undefined. The Premier, the minister of foreign affairs, the min ister of war, the minister of finance and the minister of naval affairs had a council yesterday afternoon. It was -decided that the cabinet confer with the older statesman before de ciding on a course of procedure. It is manifest that Russia's proposals are unsatisfactory. It is believed that Russia will make concessions in one direction and impose new conditions in another. The Japanese nation is deeply stirred. Public sentiment fa vors Jthe abandonment of negotia tions, believing them to be useless, and urges a resort to arms. Raris, January 7. I -Official fcnd diplomatic circles here claim to be without information regarding - the contents of the Russian reply to Japan, but the tone is distinctly pessimistic and there are but few slight hopes of a peaceful exit from tfhe position in which Russia and Japan find themselves. The diplomats are making inquiries as to the attitude of the powers in case of war, that to be adopted by the United States being regarded as particularly important. To the As sociated Press, the Japanese minis ter said today: "The attitude of the United States will mean much. She has negotiated a treaty with China for the opening of three ports in Manchuria to the commerce of the world. These ports have been occupied by Russia and thus her treaty rights have been violated. Japan is not guided by selfish motives ,but is acting in the interest of all nations. I hope the United States will clearly understand our position and will favor us with their support." London, January 7. A vdispatch from Tokio to Reuters Telegram Company says that the contents of the Russia reply are kept secret, but that in best informed circles the im pression is that it is unsatisfactory. Baron de Rosen, the Russian minis ter to Japan, and Baron Komura, Japanese minister conferred yester day afternoon at the Russian lega tion, where Baron de Rosen is still indisposed. An important council was held to day at which were present the premier, the foreign minister and the ministers tef war and' marine, tp- chiefs of the staff or the army and navy. The elder statesman of Japan will probably hold a conference to morrow. Stocks which recovered somewhat yesterday, fell again today. The gen eral feeling here is one of uneasi ness St. Petersburg. January 7. The foreign ministry has received a dis patch from Tkio saying that Baron de Rosen, the Russian minister, pre sented Russia's reply to the Japan ese cabinet yesterday. The Russian officials were invisible today, owing to it being the Russian Christmas holiday. The situation ap pears to be unchanged. Diplomats today reiterated that war with Japan was not likely. The people generally are absolutely apathetic, .the mer chants alone showing uneasiness. AH classes of the unofficial world would welcome any peaceful solution. The crisis occasions remarkably little! People Appear to be Apathetic Protect Life and Property. I comment among the general public. ! - ' London, January 7. The Daily Mail's Tokio correspondent learns that Russia has made new demands which it will be impossible for Japan to entertain. The correspondent says that all the powers are landing troops in Corea and that the British blue jackets landed at Chemulpo are expected to go to Seoul Immediatery. Constant telegrams are passing be tween M. Pavloff, the Russian minis ter to Corea, Baron de Rosen, the Russian minister to Japan, and Vice roy Alexieff. London, January 7. The Daily Mail's correspondent says Governor Taft had a secret conference with the Marquis Ito this afternoon at the United States consulate in Yoko hama. I understand that Governor Taft assured the Marquis that the United States will observe a friendly neutrality towards Japan in the event of war, and that if necessary it would grant the , use of American ports in the far east to Japanese fleet." London, January 7. The Daily Mail's Yokohama correspondent says that Russia's reply to Japan prac tically removes all hopes of a ful settlement- Washington, January 7. United States Minister Allen, at Seoul, Corea, has cabled the state department un der today's date that the Russian marines who were landed at Chemul po and who were refused transporta tion to Seoul over the Japanese rail way have reached the capital, march ing overland. It is understood that the purpose in sending American marines in such haste to the Corean capital ahead of all European marines was because of a desire to protect not only the American legation at the Corean cap ital, but also the property of the Chemulpo Electric railway and the electric light works in both of which Americans are interested largely. There are other large American interests in Corea; in fact, it is said at the state department that they are perhaps more Important than those of any oher nation. Pekin, January 7. General Yuan Shi Kai commander-in-chief of the Chinese army and navy, sent his for eign adviser, Charles Denby, Jr., to Pekin to investigate the report as to the probability of war. Mr. Denby has reported that aceordiner to the best opinions obtainable, baseu on diplomatic Information, war can not be averted. Paris, January 7. A dispatch to the Patrie from Constantinople says Russia is negotiating with Turkey to permit her Black sea fleet, said to consist of seventy-six ships, to pass through the straits- of the Darden elles. Sully Buys a Seat on N. Y. Stock Exchange. New York, January 7. Daniel J. Sully, who gained fame in the recent bull campaigns in cotton, today closed arrangements with Edward Morrison for the purchase of his seat on the New York stock exchange, and the seat vsfas posted for transfer on the exchange. It was said that Sully paid something in the neigh borhood of 68,000 for the seat. The committee on admissions will act on the case within a week or two. STATUE TO DR. McGUIRE. Bronz 3Ionument to Celebrated Sur geon and Confederate Veteran. Richmond Va.. January 7. A bronz statue of the late Dr. Hunter McGuire who was General Jackson's med'eai directorand one of the most celebrat ed surgeons in the south, was unveiled in the capitol square today. The veil was drawn by his little grandson. There was a parade, and the Howit zers fired a salute. A large crowd was in attendance. 'Judge George L. Christian grand commander of the Confederate veter ans of the state, presented the status to Virginia, and Governor Montague received it. The oration was delivered and aved the way for a firm opening ter. Va., who served with Dr. McGuire on General Jackson's staff. SCHWAB ON THE STAND IS QUESTIONED IN THE SHIP BUILDING CASE HEARING. Trying to Find Out His Connection With the Sale of the Bethlehem Steel Co. to the Shipyards Con cern. New Tork, January 7. Charles M. Schwab, ex-president of the United Statesr Steel Corporation took the stand today in the hearing to make perma nent the receivership over the United States Shipbuilding Company to tell of his connection with the sale of the Bethlehem Steel Company to the ship yards concern. Counsel Untermyer examined the wit ness. Mr. Schwab said he had no con nection, executive or advisory, with the Bethlehem Steel Company at this time, though he had "an enormous pecuniary interest" in, that company. "Have there not been a period of in nation in the steel business during the last hve years?" There has been a period of good de mand.' "But I am asking about inflation of Values of properties." "So far as properties with which 1 am connected are concerned there has meen none except so far as is due to a period of general prosperity." Mr. Schwab declined to make any statement regarding alleged inflation value of the Bethlehem plant. 'Mr. 'Schwab, against Mr. Guthrie's- advice, said that he had since the for mation of the steel corporation sold a considerable amount of steel securities, but that an examination of his account would show that most of the sales :wer of bonds and that, despite his sale of some of the stock, he believed himself to be the largest owner of steel stock. Mr. Schwab testified as to the extent of his holdings of shipbuilding stock. The allotment of stock, he said, was never made, and he still retained all of the stock, $20,000,000. Mr. Schwab testified that of the bonds allotted he had repurchased from his associates all but $495,000, being now the owner of $9,505,000 of the $10,000,000 bond, issue. Mr. Schwab testified to talks with Lewis Nixon about the latter's plans for a shipbuilding combination. Mr. Schwab had no recollection of having been an underwriter in the so-called "poor" plan for a shipbuilding consoli dation, his testimony on this point be- -inar-art variance with that of 'Mr. Nixon. Mr. Untermyer's next line of interro gation took up the competition between the Carnegie and Bethlehem companies for government armor-plate contracts and the understanding between the two and the government for a division of business at the maximum price. "Did you not know that the govern ment, when it asked the Carnegie Com pany to build an armor-plant expected the two to compete for contracts in good faith?" was asked. "No, the government did not", Mr. Schwab answered, stating that the un derstanding with the government was that the two companies were to share the work and that the price at which the contract was to be awarded was 'always understood by the government before the bids were submitted. Mr. Schwab said he had a controlling interest in the United States Shipbuild-, ing Company and through it of the" (Bethlehem Steel Company. Mr. Schwab said that he had con trolled the Bethlehem Company through its directorate, from the time he pur chased it in 1901, until it was sold to the Shipbuilding Campany in August 1902. Of the present directorate six of the seven member were suggested by him, Lewis Nixon being the only one who was not "one of my people." Nixon had "been very friendly." Mr. Nixon, too, is the only member of the .hoard who now has any pecuniary interest In the schipbullding company. Mr. Untermyer then asked a long se ries of questions about the directorate of the shipbuilding company, and the extent of Mr. Schwab's control thereof. Mr. Schwab admitted that either he, or his employees for him, owned the con trolling interest of the company and that the directorate was composed of his friends. He controlled, he said, the United States Shipbuilding Comply, through his stock, but when he went abroad he left no one, he declared, to represent himself in the company. He admitted, however, that Mr. Pam was on the board of directors at his sug gestion arid that other members of the board were nominated by Nixon, Dras ser and Pam. "If they did not select members who represented my interest they made a great mistake," he added, evoking a general laugh. "Now that we have read over the list you will say that the entire board was controlled by you," asked Mr. Unter myer. , "Well; I have not said so," answered Mr. Schwab, laughing and laying em phasis on the "said." "You had control of the shipbuilding company?" T did not." "You had control of $25,000,000 of stock?" "I did." "You considered yourself and Mor gan as controlling Bethlehem? Did not you?" "Yes." "You considered you were entitled to control it even after you sold it?" "I did. I was not going to leave, available property to go to wreck and ruln.' Adjournment was taken until next Tuesday. 1 CHICAGO FIRE Coroner's Jury Begin investigation of the Recent Disaster MANY TESTIFY The First Witnesses FTnmh Xlrrc People Who Were In Uio AmQcme. ETidence Waa Given to Bkmw That Many of the Exits Were TTmctl The Audience at First Tfmm CUUu and Did Not Become Vsmim Btrick- en Till Balls of Fire Foil ike Stage The Value of Ashcmm tains Questioned. Chicago, January 7.- CeNie a. dense crowd, packing tke onvil chamber in the city hall, Crwr Traeger and a jury of six net t4ay began fae official iinvestlgatio fof the Iroquois theatre fire. Tka first witnesses were persons who wre in the audience at the matinee Tkey told of the panic and of 4U4iag ex its locked. Outside in the ante rooma a host Of witnesses waited , to to keard. Frightened victims who escaped with their lives from the fiery fnrmace--acfors, chorus girls, stag kanda. policemen and firemen mingled there, making a strange gathering. Within the council chamber, the inquisition proceeded along Judicial lines. Lawyers were present im. be half of numerous interests, aeekiag opportunity to examine witnesses along lines of special interest U their clients. Under Coroner Traec-er's ruling such questions wer barred and the examination continued strict ly along lines laid down br that office. , For the task of fixing the respon sibility for the great loea f life. States Attorney Deneen inatructed Coroner Traeger to establish the Identity if possible of some person or persons who died at tne ead of the passage leading south from the en trance of the second balcony. There a locked door cut off the eecape of hundreds whose bodies were found against the lLarricaded doer. The coroner has succeeded In ckering this evidence. Mrs. Strong of Chicage- omd her niece, Vera Strong of Americus, Go., cnea at the foot of the stairway. The story of their death before tke locked exit has been told to the coroner bv James M. Strong, son of tke elder victim. Mr. Strong, who is a board, of trade clerk, consented to testify. A dozen witnesses were ke&rd to day. The chief witnesses were Eddie Foy, the comedian of tke "Mr. Blue Beard" Company and George W. Stetson, a representative ef the company which manufactured the aCsbestos curtain. The evidence of Mr. Foy did not differ greatly from the statements which have been pub lished heretofore concerning his ac tion on the day of the fire. Mr. Stetson and Coroner Traeger became involved in a lengthy dis cussion as to the merits ef ; asbestos curtains, during which Mr. Stetson admitted .that iaabestos ;curtains it subjected to an extremely high heat would "lose their life," and crumble. When shown a portion of the curtain brought from the theatre he declared that it had evidently beeri subjected to a very high temperature, 'but that he could not say as to whether it had endured a sufficiently great heat to cause it to crumble. He declared that In his opinion the greater por tion of the asbestos curtain fn the Iroquois theatre was stfill in good condition and expressed himself aa anxious to make experiments to prove the truth of his assertion. The first witness before the coro- ' ner's jury was John C. . Gahrin, a painting contractor. He .rushed to the lobby and endeavored fe epen the I west door, that being the nearest. It j was locked on the inside and h could do nothing with it. He tried to open two other doors, but could not, and kicked out the panels. Mrs. Elvia D. Pinedo proved one of the most important witnesses. She said: "I was standing near the ' boxes on the extreme right of the main floor and in the rear of the seats people were standing four deep. I first saw sparks on the south side of the stage, back of the scenes and could see a man clapping his hands in an effort to put out. the sparks The moment , I saw . fire. I quietly', looked about for an exltr and saw what I believed to be one near the boxes. The fire spread ranldly and people got up and urged everybody ; to remain seated as there was no danger. I never saw a saner au dience in my life. Half, of the au dience were women . and they calmly sat there and saw the sparks change Into flames without screaming or getting panic stricken. Suddenly a big ball of fire dropped from the top of the . stage to the floor. It was burning scenery. I then thought it was time to leave, so I walked to the exit near the boxes. I tried to open the door but found it locked. A man came up and we demanded that the usher open the door. He either said that he would not or could not. Then suddenly there was a powerful ' (Continued on Fourth Pag) :i " j
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Jan. 8, 1904, edition 1
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