4- --:
ain ;; tonight, probably,
clearing . Thursday morning ;
warmer in aat and central
portions : . tonight; colder
Thursday.
P
LOCAL COTTOW.
15 1-3 Centa ' '
KZMBXS OF THX ASSOCIATED PRESS
VOL'XLI. NO. 306.1
CASTONIA, N. CVEDWESDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 22, 1920
SINGLE COPY S CENTS
m
QUESTION OF GERMANY'S
ABILITY TO PAY REPARATION
Allied Experts Agree That Germany Is an Insol
; t vent Creditor Who Must Be Maintained As a
I Going Concern - None o the Delegates Be-
lieve Versailles Treaty Can Be Literally Exe-
cuted.
, (By The Associated Press.)
- DBUSSELS, Dec. 22. Payment -by
Clermany of .100,000,000,000 marks in
Sld remains the basis upon which ex
perts and delegates to the second finan
cial conference, in session here, are
;, writing. This amount, although far
fcelow what was authorized by the treaty
of Versailles, is considered by them col-
'. lectable only on condition that Germany
la helped along the lines suggested by
the German delegates.
Allied experts, in secret individual re
ports, the substance of which has come
to light, recognize Germany's real ne-
, easities, and delegates generally are im-pj-essed
by arguments that Germany is
an insolvent creditor who must be main
tained as a going concern. The extent
to which strict fulfillment of the Ver
sailles treaty may b'e waved, however,
depends upon the allied governments, be
fore which recommendations have been
made by the various delegations.
- Virtually none of the delegates be
lieves the treaty can be executed literal
ly, and allied experts agree with the
Germans that reparations must be .paid
chiefly in kind. Some cash, however, will
. be demanded after a year or two, if not
Immediately.
. Today's meeting was really in prep
aration for the recess which will be ak
en until January 10. Allied delegates
planned to meet apart this afternoon for
the purpose of exchanging views and
reaching a common accord which will be
reflected in reports to their govern
ments. German delegates are still working on
the list of questions submitted, by the al
lies, which covers a wide Tange. It is
inferred from some of the questions that
the allied experts believe indirect taxa
. tioh in Germany is not high enough, the
' Germans being asked whether their taxes
on alcohol, beer, tobacco and sugar are
as high as those on the same products in
France and Great Britain. Other ques
tions concern the German financial poli
cy relative to taxation of wealthy citi
zens and possible tax increases within a
year or two.
The German representatives have been
asked to estimate the amount of Ger
man wealth at present in neutral coun
tries, and to state how Germany plans to
compensate her citizens for property se
questrated and liquidated abroad.
It is suggested that German wealth in
neutral countries has been accumulated
by the practice of German firms ship
ping goods at eost or an actual loss to
associates in neutral countries. In con
sidering depreciated exchange, allied ex
; perts have asked the Germans if they do
. not profit from the low values of the
' market to the extent that their labor is
'. not paid proportionately to the compen
sation of labor in countries where ex
change values are higher.
7 . Delegates have been pledged to secre
cy, but there is a general impression they
will recommend that their governments
permit Germany to keep some of the
350,000 tons of shipping she was order
ed to surrender under the Versailles
treaty.' The United States is still re
tarded as the only banker who can fur
nish Germany with the necessary credit.
Germany desires that property owned by
"their nationals be returned to its owners.
H allies, however, are in favor
. -rV having it used as a basis of credit,
although the amount of German proper
ty in America would probably be insuf
. ficient to meet the needs of Germany at
.the present tune.
The American dollar is mentioned
xxeqwrnuy u s aesirsble standard in
i expressing reparation figures. It is im
possible f oT Germany to export gold
- marks, and the dollar is considered the
most stable unit atpresent. '
. BTiiusu Buippiug ua liquidation ex
perts arrived: here last night f6lfnnal
' conferences with the Germans before to-
-day's adjournment. ' Belief waa cxpresa-
ed here today that when the conference
. Assembles next month it will be well on
the way toward a settlement of the rep-
-r .fixations question. -
. Readers .of the Tarzan books " by
- dgar Bice Burroughs Will no doubt be
interested in the picture being shown it
tlm Gattonlan Thursday, 4,'The Eomanee
of Tarznn." The character of Tanas,
.V. Ere "nn, is vividly portrayed.
DAVID Y. COOPEX OF
HENDERSON, IS DEAD
i
Widely Known . Manufacturer and Ex
porter of Cotton Goods Dies After
Brief Illness.
(By The Associated Press.)
HENDERSON, Dec. '21. David
Young Cooper, nationally known manu
facturer and exporter of eptton goods,
died hero last night following an illness
of throe days. He was 73 years old.
Death was due to angina pectoris, or
congestion of the heart. Mr. Cooper was
for many years a leading tobacconist of
North Carolina, and had banking inter
ests here, in Richmond, New York and
other cities. He was a former president
of the American Cotton Manufacturers'
Association and in 1917 was appointed
by President -Wilson as chairman of the,
price-fixing committee on textile prod
ucts to serve during the war. He was
also a leading member -of the national
foreign trade council. He was Hender
son 's wealthiest citizen. Funeral serv
ices will be held at 3 o 'clock j tomorrow
afternoon in this city.
SECOND DEGREE MURDER
VERDICT IN LIPPARD CASE
The Two Hefners and Lone Young
Found Guilty and Will Be Sentenced
Today Claim They're Innocent
Greensboro News.
MORG ANTON, Dec. 21. "Guilty of
murder in the second degree" was the
verdict rendered yb the Lippard murder
jury at 8:30 tonight. Their deliberation
had taken less than an hour. When it
was announced that the verdict was
ready a small crowd gathered quickly in
the courtroom to hear the decision. J.
Ed Scott was spokesman, telling the
court that the verdict a plied to each of
the three defendants.
John Hefner, father of Cecil and Dock
Hefner, was with his boys, and seemed to
take Ae result quite as stoically as they.
Lone Young, the other defendant, was
the only one who was noticeably agl
tated.'
Attorney Whitener entered formal mo
tion for nejv trial, but was overruled.
Judge Shaw announced that sentence
ould not be passed until tomorrow
morning.
Mr. Whitener consulted with the de
fendants immediately following the ,ver
diet and told yyour correspondent that
thev are still roost emphatic in their pro
tests of innocence of the crime or any
guilty knowledge of it.
The verdict was the one that was gen
erally expected by those who had fol
lowed the case closely.
COLBY IS SIMPLY
RETURNING ANOTHER'S CALL
(By The Associated Press.)
RIO JANEIRO, Dec. 22. Bain-
bridge Colby, American secretary of
state, declared here today he had not
come to Braail to expound any theories,
but to return the visit to the United
States of President Pessoa. He assert
ed he had come to convey some expres
sion of American admiration and satis
faction over the remarkable progress
Brazil has made.
"The unbroken cordiality that has
marked the relations of he two coun
tries fofTnore than a century," he said,
"makes for mutual helpfulness."
While there waa little demonstration
of publie enthusiasm upon the arrival of
the secretary, newspapers say that this
waa due to the personal character of the
mission. Journals extend a welcome to
Mr. Colby and comment upon the im
portance of his visit in relation to the
bonds between Brazil and the United
States.
THIS CHRISTMAS BURGLAR
HAD A HEART
'By The Associated Press.)
CHICAGO, Dec 22. A "Chriatxnaa
burglar with a heart" heeded the pleas
of Ruth Maileyaged 10, not to take her
Christmas "presents "Wheilslie found him
in her home yesterday noon, on her-re
turn rom school for lunch. "
Ths burglar was eating her lunch,
which had been left by her mother before
going down town shopping. He took her
to the parlor and played little jingles
and Christmas songs on the piano for
fcer. -'
When she told him she would have to
return to school he said: -'
"Tell your mether IH return some
day had steal everything in the house,'
but he left without taking anything.
DEFENDANTS IN SKEPARO
CASE ARE FREED
Nothing in Sate'a Evidence to
Connect Defendants With
the Poisoning of Shepard. '
(By The Associated Press.) ,-"
MACON, Ga., Dee. 22. Free after a
week's preliminary bearing into -the
death last June 1 of Fred D. Shepard,
his widow and three other defendants
who had been arrested and charged wUh
having, poisoned him, were 'back in their
homes today, or en route there. '
juuge a. a. Mathews, ' or superior
court, presiding at the hearing here, de
clared shortly before 11 o'clock last
tight that there , was nothing in the
state's evidence to connect thtj defend
ants with the poisoning even if it were
granted that death resulted from poison
instead of from peritonitis as thecjde-fi-nso
ciaimed. He also said testimony
of experts was conflicting as to the
poisoning.
Mrs. Paulino Elmer, Shepard's widow,
collapsed when the decision was ren
uired, after leaping to her feet and cry
ing that "God has been with me."
Mrs. Elmer was expected to return to
her home in Jacksonville. The other de
fendants were Mrs. Elmer's son, Ernest
Popson. of Abbeville, Ga.; her younger
s ter, Mrs. Ioma Henry, of Perry, Ga.,
and Mrs. Annie Cutts, of Fitzgerald, Ga.
Clearing of the defendants was pre
ceded late yesterday by the Houston
county board of commissioners in voting
tn refuse to pay fees of the 42 state's
witress? and taking under consideration
pxctosts of citizens against paying for
the investigation. This, it had been an
nounced, would fall upon Houston
county.
After tho hearing Solicitor General
Garrett said:
"I am satisfied that I have done my
duty. What the future handling of the
mater will be I have no opinion to ex
priws. It will be shaped largely by cir
cumstances." '
EYE-WITNESSES TO BURNING
BEFORE COMMITTEE OF 100
(By The Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. Two eye
witnesses of the recent burning of the
business section of the city of Cork
Misses Annie and Susan Walsh, sisters-in-law
of the late Lord Mayor MacCur
tain of that city were here to appear
today before the committee of the Com
mission of One Hundred Investigating
Conditions in Ireland. The two wo
men also were present at the killing of
Mayor MacCurtain.
Representatives of the British branch
of the Women 's International League,
who conducted an investigation, in Ire
land for their organization, told the com
mittee yesterday that the greatest obsta
cle to a final solution of the Irish ques
tion lay in what they described as "the
lack of sincerity" on the part of the
coalition government in dealing with the
problem. "The mass of British opin
ion," they said, is not supporting the
government in its Irish policy.
MORE THAN 200 ARRESTED ,
IN NEW YORK'S ROUND-UP
NEW YORK, Dee. 22. More than
200 men and. women, arrested in two
raids on all night entertainment resorts,
were lined up at various police stations
today to be questioned. Detectives
sought persons who might throw light
upon recent holdups and murders.
One of the raids was at an East Side
restaurant and the other at an uptown
' ' clubhouse. ' '
Fifteen arrests were reported by the
"rifle squad" of twenty 'sharp-shooters
who toured the city all nig'ht with orders
from Police Commissioner Enright to
"shoot to kill."
NO CALLERS EXPECTED
BY HARDING TODAY
MARION, O., Dec. 22. The engage
ment book of President-elect Harding
was blank today and it was said at his
headquarters here that no callers were
expected. It is possible, however, that
some may appear, as most of Mr. Hard
ing 's invitations left the matter of time
to the convenience of his visitors. Ex
President William Howard Tsft is ex
pected to confer with Mr. Harding be
fore Christmas, but the day of his ar
rival has not been officially announced.
ayfcaa
FOUR KILLED AND TWO INJURED
IN POWDER MILL PLANT
SCR ANTON, Pa., Dec. 22. Four men
were killed and two injured in an explo
sion today in the pressing and packing
mill of the Dnpont powder company at
Belin Village, near Moosie, seven miles
from here. The property damage
amounted to about 110,000.
. The force of ths explosion was felt all
over the Lackawanna valley. The plant
is enraged in handling commercial pow
der, largely for the anthracite mining in
dustry. , ,
(By The Associated Press.) M
DAWSON, Y. T., pee. 22. The en
tire food supply of thi section of the
Klondike region was endangered by a
fire in the general store of the Norther
n . . .
Uommereial Uompany nere yesieraay,
The fire department assisted by volun
teers extinguished the blaze after some
damage had been done, -working under
great handicaps and wit the tempera'
tare tZQ degrees below rrro. ' .
WILSON WILL ACCOMPANY
HARDING FROM WHITE
' HOUSE TO CAPITOL
; '!... T.
According : to Custom When
New President Is Inaugura
ted - Harding Will Firat
Call at White House. '
"7 . , (By The Associated Pres) ;
' i WASHINGTON, Dec. ,22. President
Wilsou plans to accompany President
elect Harding from the white house to
the cnpitol on,March 4 and back again
to 'the white house for luncheon as is the
usual custom when a new chief executive
is inaugurated.
Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to the
president, said today that' Mr. Wilson
had outlined to him yesterday his plans
with regard to inauguration day. As is
the custom Mr. Harding will call at tlie
white house just before noon and will
be received by the retiring executive.
They then, under present plans, will ride
down Pennsylvania avenue to the eapitol,
where tho President-elect will take the
oath of office and deliver his inaugural
ddrcss.
The new and retiring president will
lead the usual parade up the avenue to
the white house, where Mr. Wilson will
entertain Mr. Harding at luncheon. Im
mediately afterward, President Wilson
will retire to his new home on S street to
take up his life as a private citizen after
eight years in tho white house. The
continued steady improvement in the
president's health, according to Secre
tary Tumulty, will make the contempla
ted visit of the president with President
elect Harding to the eapitol possible
even in the event of the most intemperate
weather.
SMITH VS. SMITH.
Cotton Mill Manager Takes Issue With
Senator.
The followteg communication from
Mr. M. L. Smith, of Clover, a prominent
cotton mill man of this section, to the
editor of the Yorkville Enquirer will be
of interest to Gazette readers:
Editor Yorkville Enquirer: 1
I have read the article in your issue
of December 17, "Smith Gets Them
Told," and also saw the same thing in
the daily papers, and fearing that some
few people might believe that there is
some truth in the story I 'm going to
make some comments on his statement.
He is reported as saying "that cotton
has declined 200 per cent from 40
cents." If so, what is it worth today I
I didn't know before that any com
modity could decline more than 100 per
cent thought that represented all but,
according to the senator's figures, I sup
pose that if a man wished to dispose of
a pound of cotton today he would have
to give it away plus 40 cents, and that's
the only way I can figure 200 per cent
decline.
Cotton has declined from 40 cents to
lo cents which, in percentage, according
to the way I have been taught, is about
60 per cent.
He says that cotton goods have de
clined 33 1-3 per cent. There are hun
dreds of thousands of different kinds of
cotton goods manufactured. Possibly
some have declined only 33 per cent,
others as high as 85 per cent ; but taking
the goods as generally manufactured in
this section, I believe I am safe and con
servative in saying that the "asking"
prices of the mills are 70 per cent to 75
per cent less than they were at the time
of which the senator speaks. So far as
I know, the mills have made no sales for
the past few months at any price.
If any one believes that the senator's
statements are true, wouldn't you and I
and every other business man get busy
and buy mill stocks f There isno patent
or corner on mill stocks and they are
very much cheaper now than when the
mills were making the so called "300
per cent." And now, as he says, with
a 200 per cent decline in cotton and only
33 per eent in the manufactured goods
the prospective profits are simply enor
mous and to those who believe the sena
tor's story, I advise them to sell their
Hands, their homes and all and buy mill
stocks.
I have been pretty closely associated
with the cotton milling business for
thirty years and have never seen the mills
make any money when cotton cheap or
depressed and the senator himself says
that the mills made 300 per cent (I never
heard such exaggerated figures before
and don't believe it) with cotton at 40
cents, why wonld they have their mills
closed today, with millions of dollars of
finished products on hand which they
can't sell at any price f
No, Mr. Editor, the cotton mills are
no more responsible for the' decline in
cotton than tbey are for the decline in
corn, wheat, hogs axtd other things. It's
the public alone who is responsible. It's
a buyer 's strike and nothing else.
No, cotton has not declined 200 per
rent; but I think the senator's politics
have. , . M. li, SMITH.
: Clover, December 181020. , ; -
- - Several 'Hundred Killed.'
LONDON, Dec 22. A Central News
dispatch from Helaingfors, Finland, un
der Tuesday's date, says that several
hundred persons wera, killed or injured
ia a 'railway accident- near Petrograd.
The accident was due, it is stated, to
overcrowding of ue train, but . details
are lacking, the dispatch adds.
OPINION DIVIDED (IN
PROBLEM OF
Members of House Ways and Means Committee
Have Open Mind on Subject Hope to Get
Sentiment of Constituents During Holiday Re
cess.
THREE DIE AS RESULT ,
OF TRAIN-AUTO CLASH
Ollie Haithcock and Two Sisters Victims
of Grade Crossing Accident Near
Greensboro.
Greensboro News, 22nd.
Ollie Haithcock and his sister, Mrs.
Floyd Whitt, were instantly killed and
ai.other sister. Miss Ada Haithcock, was
fatally injured yesterday afternoon when
train No. 16 collided and demolished an
avtoniobile in which tliey nere riding.
The accident happened at 2:25 o'clock
on Buffalo crossing the first crossing
west of Buffalo creek, six mijes east of
Greensboro. George Whitt, brother-in-law
of Mrs. Floyd Whitt, driving the
motor car, was severely hurt. He was
taken to a hospital in Burlington, where
he was reported last night as getting
along very nicely. Miss Haithcock was
brought to St. Leo's hospital Ty a pass
ing automobile. She died at 5:50 p. m.,
remaining conscious until death relieved
her of her suffering. She was badly
bruised, especially in the face and in
the back. All of the unfortunate people
were from Burlington and were between
20 and 25 years of age.
Details of the accident were meager
at a late hour last night, the railroad
officials here having received nothing
other than the .bare account of No. 16.
No. 16 left here at 2:15 p. m.
It was stated that the automobile
party was en route from Greensboro to
Burlington, running in the same direc
tion as No. 16. People who have trav
eled along the Greensboro-Burlington
highway stale that the Buffalo crossing
is one of the most dangerous in the state,
it being almost impossible to see a train
approaching from the west after arriving
within a hundred yards of the crossing.
High ground between the highway and
tii.- railroad cuts off the view of an ap
proaching train, it is Baid.
George Whitt was taken to the Bur
lington hospital, hhi injuries not being
considered dangerous.
Train No. 16, local passenger train
running between Greensboro and Raleigh,
wasin charge of Engineer J. J. W. Har
ris and Conductor J. H. (Jilliland, both
of this city. The pilot of engine 1093
was completely torn off. The train pro
ceeded to its destination after a short
delay.
The automobile, was badly damaged.
It was the property of Floyd Whitt, hus
band of Mrs. Floyd Whitt.
MEXICANS CHARGED WITH
TRYING TO START EXPEDITION
FROM U. S. AGAINST MEXICO
(By The Associated Press.)
SAN ANTONIO, Tex., Dec. 22. Two
prominent Mexicans were under arrest
today and the apprehension of others
was expected as the result of federal in
dictments brought here yesterday, charg
ing them with conspiring to set on foot
upon United States soil a military expe
dition against Mexico. Francisco Vas
quez Gomez, an associate of Francisco
Madero when the latter was a candidate
for the presidency, and Leon J. Taurel
were arrested last night, Gomez securing
his release on $1,000 bail.
Gomez began his political career in
Mexico in 1910, when he became the
running mate of Francisco Madero, who
was- the candidate for the Mexican presi
dency against Porfirio Diaz.
Gomez broke with Madero, however,
who favored Pino Suarez for the vice
presidency in the elections which fol
lowed. From that time Gomez has taken
sides with Carranza against Victoriano
Huerta and with Francisco Villa against
Carranza.
DECLARES HUNDREDS OF
BABIES ARE SOLD IN
SALT LAKE CITY YEARLY
SALT LAKE CITY, Otah, Dec. 22.
Declaring that hundreds of babies are
being literally sold in Salt ake every
year, Judge Hugo B. Anderson, of the
local juveniIecourt, in hia biennial report
to the governor, recommends that legis
lation be introduced to prevent the con
tinuance of the traffic
He condemns the adoption proceedings
st present carried out in the courts,
stating that they are handled informally
and decrees entered as s matter of
course, the courts having no means
whereby to. make investigations.
PRESIDENT WILSON GOES
WINDOW SHOPPING.
WASHINGTON, Dee. 22. President
Wilson went window shopping oa
street yesterday, viewing the Christmas
crowds and the brightly decorated shops
from an open automobile. Accompani
ed by Mrs. Wilson,' the president was
driven slowly down one side of the street
which is the main artery of the eapitol 's
shopping district and back up the other,
few in the hurrying crowds of shoppers
recognizing the chief executive.
TAX REVISION
(By The Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON", Dec. 22. Develop
ment of a tax revision program in con
gress although proceeding slowly has dis
closed in the house a growing trend ia
favor of including some sort of sales tax
in the next revenue legislation. Ths
statement yesterday of Chairman Ford
ney, of the ways and means committee,'
in support of a sales tax, it was said to
day, hud given impetus to the proposal.
While most members of the ways and
means committee say that they retain an
open mind on tho subject, their private
expressions show sentiment in the com
mittee even now to be slightly in favor
of a consumption tax. During the
hearings of the last two days Meyer D.
Bothschild, of New York, and Otto H.
LKahn, New York banker, presented ar-
guments in favor of a sales tax.
Mr. Kahn said that while a sales tax
j would be an experiment to an extent, it
was one which should be made. Several
members of the committee declared hia
argument in, favor of the proposal bad
been "very convincing." .
Committee memners who are out and'
out against the sale tax and who describ
ed it as an economic crime assert that ths
arguments in its favor will be dissipat
ed once the consumer is aroused to ths
effect it will have. They declared it to
be worse than the excess profits tax,
charging it will allow all lines of trade
to renew profiteering.
Against these views, however, are
many of the majority members of the
committee who are following the leader
ship of their chairman in seeking some
sort of a sales tax which will not add tor
the burden of taxation. The committsa
lately has received copies of tho sales
tax laws of France, Canada, and the
Philippines, which Mr. Fwrdney said
has .been obtained as a basis' upon whkb.
to work.
It was predicted today that develop
ments over the holidays probably wonld
determine something approximating; ' a
definite attitude in the house. Members
will have had time to hear from home oa
the proposed tax when hearings are re
sumed two weeks hence and the real sen
timent disclosed, it was declared.
NAMES OF COAL PROFITEERS
WITHHELD FROM PUBLICATION
(By The Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. Names of
those eharged before a senate investi
gating committee yesterday with con
ducting coal profiteering operations
while officials of the government and '
presented to the committee in executive
session were still withheld from publica
tion today when tho committee resumed
its investigation TJ the coal situation
generally. George II. Cushing, manag
ing director of the American Wholesale
Coal Association, made the eharge that
government officials had joined in profi
teering during last summer's coal short
age. According to Senator Calder, of New
York, crfairman of the committee, Mr.
Cushing gave the name of one official and
described an operation in which this of-'
ficial was declared to have been a prin
cipal when the committee went into exec
utive session. Through this operation,
Mr. Cushing was said to have told the
committee, a gronp of men in govern
ment service obtained 450,000 tons" of
coal which they later sold at a profit of
$600,000.
LIEUT. KIRKPATRICK WILL
MAKE ANOTHER TRY.
(By The Associated Press.)
MINEOLA, N. Y., Dee. 22. Lieut.
Ross C. Kirkpatrick, army rlyer, what
was forced down early today, while at
tempting to break the world's record '
for continuous flight, will hsve another
try at the record soon, he declared up
on alighting from his 400 horsepower
srmy plane.
Lieutenant Kirkpatrick landed at
Mitchel field at 1:36 o'eloek this morn
ing owing to a gasoline leak, after being;
in the air a little more than 18 hours
about six hours short of the record. . -
The srmy flyer and Max ttoodnougn,
his civilian mechanician, made several
efforts to mend the pipe but the leak was
located under the cockpit and was in
accessible is midair. Their intention :
was to remain aloft at least 36 hoars,
and sufficient gasoline and. food were ta
ken to have enabled them to do so.
The record for continuous flight is held
by LieuW Boussoutrot, a French pilot,
who remained ia the air over Yillesauv-age-la-Marnogue,
France, 24 hours, 19
minutes and seven seconds last June 3
and 4.
Born. V
On Tuesdsy, December
the Gaston Sanatoriom, t
. J. Hood, a son.
21.