T7 A :V
A
DA
Loo Cbtfcw
17Xents
VOL. XLIII. NO. 74.
GASTONIA, N. C, TUESDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 28, 1922.
SINGLE COPY S CENTS
Weather:
Cooler
IMS
a
hysteby of the death
OF!.!. HARRY SHUFORD IS
FAR FROM A SOLUTION
No Reward Has Been Offered
' . But Officers . Are Working
on Case - Suicide Is Belief
of Some No New Develop
ments in Case.' ')'
There have been absolutely no new
developments today in the case of the
mysterious death of Harry Shuford,
. whose dead body was found in hi bed
in Iiia room at the Hotel Carroll Satur
day morning, March 5. It in undcr-
itood that the sheriff's office is work
ing on the ease." ?7o ranards for the
apprehension of 8huford'a assailants, if
.there were such, have been offered.
Not only have no arrest been made
but no evideneo lias been discovered
pointing toward any person as having
been connected in any way with the
death of the young man and brother-
in-law of Solicitor George W. Wilson,
80 far as can be learned from the of
; fiuers, they have discovered nothing to
indicate a motive for murder or that
any person had any grounds for ani
mosity or malice agumst the deceased,
though many rumors are eurrent.
While nearly threo days have passed
since the young man, son of a former
' sheriff, was found cold in death with u
bullet nolo clear through his brum, and
his skull crushed and cracked practical
' ly all around the bead, indicating that
a terrifle blow was administered either
before or after the shot was fired, no
announcement of any reward for ap
prehension of any guilty party or evi
dence to convict has been made, cither
by .state or eounty officials.
Was Leaving Bessemer.
An interesting fart in connection with
the case has been the subject of some
discussion that young Bhuford was to
have changed his residence Saturday,
the day his body was found, lie hail
engaged a room in Oastonia, and, had
it furnished and ready for occupancy,
and was to move from Bessemer City
Saturday, it is euid.
It is explained that it was largely
for this reason that he hail bought an
automoble Friday afternoon to use in
going to and from his work in the of
fice of the Bessemer City cotton mill.
It is only about six miles between Oas
tonia. and Bessemer City. Wi.h his
change of residence in view, he had
gone around and acttlcd up a number
of accounts ho had in Bessemer City
. Friday, and it was a mutter of common
knowledge iu the village that Friday
night was to be bis lust in Bessemer
City, V
Shuford was lust seen alive, so far
as ia publicly known, around 1 o'clock
Saturday morning, when he left the mill
office ' where he worked, to go to his
rdom." Ho had been to Mount Holly
early in the evening to see the young
lady whom he was to marry April 15U.
According to reports here, she said lie
left. her home about 10:. 'to. Between
that hour and midnight ho arrived in
Gastonia and spent a while here, leav
ing about 1- o'clock, going to the mill
where he was employed and parking his
new car there, leaving a spare tiro in
the office and leaving his automobile
there, where it would Ik? under the
watch care of the mill watchman. Af
ter leaving the mill he was not seen a
guln until his body was found iu his
bed, covered with a double army blank
et. Rear of Building Open.
The lodging house in which he slept
was formerly the Carroll hotel, but at
present the upper rooms are used for
lodgers, who rent rooms by the week or
innnth, and the lobby is used for a res
taurant. It is explained that there is
an entrauce from the rear of the build
ing to the stairway, which leads to the
second floor, on which the sleeping
rooms are located pnd that the roar en
trance is never closed, the only barrier
to entrance from outside the building to
the bed rooms being the bed room
doors. When the cafe was open room
ers went through the restaurant and up
a front stairway to their rooms, but
late at night when the eating place was
closed they -went to the rear of the
building mid up the back stairway to
their rooms, it is explained.
9,000 OPERATIVES ARE
IDLE IN COTTON MILLS IN
SEVEN LAWRENCE MILLS
Strike Is Gaining Headway
Many Other PlanU May
Shut Down Hear Union
Speakers.
(By The Associated Press.)
LAWRENCE, Mass., March 28.
The strike in the cotton mills
here yesterday gained strength to
day. After a canvass of the situ
ation at the seven mills affected,
it was estmatcd that three quarters
of their aggregate working forces
- were absent. In figures this would
be approximately 9,000 persons, as
compared with 7,500 the numlier
estimated as out when tho-mills
closed last night.
Several plants were so badly af
fected by today's defection that
r it was indicated they might close
before night. Tho Methuen com
pany shut down the first day, and
the Arlington mills, which olone a-
; mong the cotton mills announced
no wage reduction did not open at
all.
s After plckrkting at the opening
hour, in which there was no dis
turbance," the striking operatives.
4 went to the common "for a mass
meeting. The United Textile
Workers of America had arranged
tbe meeting, but the principal
epeaker proved to be Ben Legere
leader of Ths One Big Union.
AMERIGAfl LEGIOII BEGINS ITS GAMPAIGN
OF "AMER1CAII1SM" III PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Plans to Teach School Children
tional Anthem, Etc.- To Send Speakers to Schools on Pub
lic Occasions Local Post Is Now Fourth Largest in the
State.
Gaston Post, ?o. '23, American Legion,
ia putting into practice some' of the
principles for which it stands. It is em
barking on a campaign of education in
Americanism in the public schools of the
eounty, A letter and pamphlet outlining
the purposes of the Legion have been
sent to every school teacher in the coun
ty, (calling attention to certain deficien
cies in the matter of National courtesies,
and outlining a abort list of the courte
sies lue the National flag and Anthem
on eertain occasions. On April 5th in
every high school in the county, a rep
rcsentative of the Legion will speak, em
phasizing the rules of conduct from civil
ians respecting the National emblems.
The membership of the Legion has in
creased from 78 in January to a pres
ent membership of 248. It is the fourth
largest post in the titate, being exceeded
only by Charlotte, Winston-Salem and
Greensboro posts. The post will take
part in the presentation of the charter
to the Auten Btowo post,, recently or
ganized at Belmont, Friday evening f
this week. 1
The text of the letters sent to the pub
lie school teachers of tho county ia as
follows:
To tho Teachers of Gaston County:
Actuated by a keen desire to bo of
real service to our county, Gaston Post
No. i'A of the American Legion is anx
ious to co-operate with our teachers in
koeping alive aul fostering the renewed
sense of loyalty and patriotism that
grew out of the World War. To this
end, through the undersigned commit
History of Five
Strikes In Country Since 1 894
All the Biff Strikes Have Continued For More Than a Month
In 1902 Strike Lasted Twenty-three Weeks.
(By The Associated Press.)
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., March 28.
Great coal strikes, such as the country
is now facing, have been, few although
for seventy-five years the coal industry
hud been marked by almost numberless
state-wide and localized strikes, often
involving several thousands of workers.
All of hhe big strikes have continued
more than a month, the longest having
been that of 1!H(2 in thn anthracite, in
dustry which continued 2;l weeks.
JTie l)ig strikes five in number are
summnricit as follows:
1394 First general strike in the soft
coal industry called by the United Mine
workers of America, the purpose being
to restore wage scales that had been de
creased during the panic of ; 100.00U
to 160,000 men engaged and militia call
ed out in four states; first attempt at a
compromise failed, but second confer
ence of miners and operators ended with
adoption of a scale agreement.
1897 July 4th walkout of -150,000
miners, called by V. M. Katehford. presi
dent of the U. M. W. of A. to deplete an
overstocked coal market, which union of
ficials feared would result iu wage re
ductions on account of the slow coal
trade; strike waa called off after 12
weeks' duration, at the end of which the
market had been depleted; first great
successful strike of the U. M. W. of A.
1900 Anthacite strike in Scptemlior
and October, engaged 1:52,000 and ended
with miners getting 10 to 16 per cent in
creases in wages. ,
1902 Great anthracite strike, led by
the late JoJin Mitchell, as president of
the U. M. W. of A. lasted weeks.
May to October; 140,000 men engaged,
and finally called off when President
Roosevelt appointed a commission that
afterward gave the miners a 10 percent!
wage advance, and made their contract!
for three years, ending April 1, 1906. I
1919 Nation-wide soft coal strike in .
November and December of ;i9o,000
miners called off by union in compliance
with a court injunction, obtained by At
torney Gconcral Palmer under the war
time Lever fuel control law; commission
later appointed by President Wilson gave, ingi temporarily. Thev have taken a
miners an increase of approximately 27 (positive 8lan,i Uginst any increase in
per cent in tragei
-their largest single
increase.
Unlike the last great strike, the im
pending ono begins with warm weather
approaching while flic 1919 shut-down
came with winter. Stocks now are more
ample than then, but tho present situa
tion is much like the Fourth of July
walkout of 1H97. Out of the ntr-kes.
both large and small, the workers as a
general proiiosuion nave won nany oenc-1
tits in increased wages ann. improved
working conditions, but victor)' has not
.always been theirs, though the big tdnke
settlements have favored them. The
operator success, however, include
wage reductions, denial -of increased
wages, changed working eonditons, and
the eru4iing of two unions the first na
tional organisation of miners, founded in
1SR0, which perished in a aeries . of
atrike at the rlo of the civil war, and
the Workmen 'a Benevolent Association,
an organisation of anthracite workers.!
which was demoralized in 1S73 after 15
years ' existence. !
The first coal strike In the United
States occurred in 1849 in the Penmylva-.
nia anthracite field when a British miner.!
named Bates, oryanired a local union:
and nought to increase wages and Icttei,
workine conditions. H: strike failed ,
and Bates was forced to leave the field;
and for eleven yean the workers made no
further attempt at organization. j
-Since Bates' Jay. many leaders have
been developed among the workers and
strikes of various aorta for varied pur-j
poses have been earned en, the early J
ficlit being largely centered to email i
areas, occasionally including
an entire
state coal field.
1 tol
Proper Courtesies to Flag, Na
tee, we are taking the liberty to urge
that an American Flag should float over
every school building in thia county;
that every student should know our
leading patriotic songs and should fully
understand the commonly accepted
courtesies due to our National Antehm
and flag; and that the fundamental
principles of American hi tory should
be earefuliy and effectively taught.
One of the things that impressed us in
European schools was the very evident
and vigorous patriotism of the school
children, iu Canada it is said that
the British National Anthem is snug
daily in every school.
It is a lamentable fact that a large
majority of our people do not kuow tiie
proj.er methods of allowing their respect
to our flag and anthem. We believe
that tbe set) 00 1 room is the logical phtee
to begin this very much needed work.
We take pleasure in seuding you a
mail leaflet which we have prepared to
explain tne commonly accepted courte
sies expected from civilians. May we
urge you to study this carefully and
then to keep this matter before your
school until every boy and girl under
your cure is thoroughly familiar with
itf You might find it profitable to
use these suggestions iu chapel exercis
es or community entertainments, for we
are very anxious that tho pupils should
discuss these tjiings with their par
ents. May we count on your co-operation
iu putting over ;this big work!
We are authorized to state that the
(Continued on page IS.)
I
Big Coal
UPON THESE DEMANDS
DEPENDS A SETTLEMENT
OF THE D1GJC0AL STRIKE
Demand of Unions for 20 Pet
Cent Wage Increase and
Raise of One Dollar Pet
Shift For Day Workers.
(By The Associated Tress.)
NEW YORK, March 28. After a
week of preliminary skirmishing, tho
miners' and ojierators' sub-committed
on wage contract negotiations was pre
pared today to attack the chief .point
at Issue the demand of tho unions. for
a 20 per cent wage increase and a raise
of 1 iK-r shift for dav workers. ,
Upon the ojierators reception of these
demands, with a tlur,d stipulating that
tho check-off system be established in
all colleries, depends tho early settle
ment of the strike set for April 1, is
the feeling at union headquarters here
Both sides are agreed that the fu
ture of the bituminous and anthracite
industries will depend largely upon the
busis of settlement of these three de
ninnds. It is freely predicted that op
erators of bituminous mines will make
no movo to settle the strike which also
will close their mines April 1, until a
wage scale is fixed for tho anthracite
industry.
Neither aC? looks for an easy victo
ry in the present conference. The min
ers, with the knowledge that every an
thracite colliery in tho Uuited States
is unionized and will cease production
on the date fixed, assert their men are
' W i 1 1 in fT in irn ni a Inttar r.nafinn ' '
Th,lg they tllL.y e&n take their ti;,ie
to thresh out the whole situation in the
anthracite industry as it affects union
labor.
The operators also express a willing-
' neS that the tllineN Ahull rruv nrfwln...
miners-' wages, and have announced
their intention of using every means to
negotiate a new contract on a basis of
decrease from the present schedule.
RICKARD CASE GOES TO
JURY LATE TODAY.
M.W YOHK, March 28. Evidenced
iu the Itk-kard rajw trial was all in at
I noon. .Supreme Court Justice Wuhiht-
Vogd told the
jury he hoied to eivc
uiern xne ease late today after both
sides had summed up.
The state, in its efforts fo prove that
Tex Rickard had assaulted 15-ycar-old
Sarah Schoenfc.'d, called only oncl wit
ness in rebuttal. Detective McCann, who
arrested the ajKirt promoter last Janu
ary, The defense took several excep
tions. TO START CRIMINAL SUIT
AGAINST STRIKING MINERS
DENVER, COLO., March 28.
District Attorneys in Colorado coun
ties where coal mines are located have
been asked to start criminal proceed
ings against all miners in their conn
tics who quit work April 1 without
giving thirty days notice of intention
to do so, as required by a Stat law,
according to William I. Reilly, a
member of the State industrial com
mission. He said the commission had
ent, letters to all districts requiring
thera to enforce the law requiring
the giving of notice of intention to
quit.
CLAHOMA GOVERNOR
INDICTED ON CHARGE HE
ACCEPTED' $25,000 BRIBE.
Gov. J. B. A. Robertson, of Okla
homa, has been indicted by tne Okmul
gee, Okla.,' grand jury on a charge of
accepting a Dribs of &25,0O0 to deposit
State funds in the Guarantee Mate
Bank to enable it to continue business
when it was in an insolvent condition.
The governor hurried from ukLahoma
City to Okmulgee and surrendered to
the sheriff, giving a bond of $5,000 for
his appearance at trial.
SOMEBODY HAS PLAYED
JOKE ON WOMEN SMOKERS
Ordinance Forbidding Women
to Smoke in Public Was
Passed Unknown to Mayor
and Aldermen.
(By The Aasociutcd Tress.)
NEW YORK, March 28. i'olirc
Commissioner Knright today lifted the
ban on smoking by women in public as
suddenly as he clamped it down last
night, when he learned that Alderman
McGuinness ' auti-Hiuoking ordinance hail
never been passed by the board of alder
men or signed by Mayor llylan.
Daniel W. F. Mcttoy, an employe in
the city clerk's oflice was led forth, capri-
soned in sack cloth and ashes, as ofliciul
'goat" for an error that lial set pru
.. I even anti-smoking women on tlic
v..., h from the Buttery to tlic far
reacu. . 'f Harlem.
McCoj, il was explained, was charged
with clipping the ollicial city record ior
resolutions and ordinances that have been
adopted and approved by the mayor and
sending theni along-to the proper oflkials
for eurorcement.
McCoy still was too much overcome by
the wrath that had descyuded upon his
head to explain just how lus happened to
include the niiti-Smoking bill in his list
list of ordinances adopted and approved.
City Clerk Cruise rallied to .Mi Coy s
defense, however, and intimated broadly
tliut the clerk's ollico by no means had a
corner on ' ' ivory. ' '
Had l'oliee Commissioner Enright or
aides read tho purported ordinance care
fully, de declared, they Would have dis
covered it was not a proper document as
it did not bear the stamp of the clerk's
oflice certifying that it had been approv
ed by the mayor.
News Unit it was all a mistake came
liko a reprieve from the gallows of pro
prietors of scores of places where grutili
cation of milady's passion for the sooth
ing weed was tho chief source; of bread
and butter revenues, i'awhionablo smoke
shops for women have sprung up in Kitth
avenue, Broadway and other advanced
centers while tircenwich village had come
to depend almost exclusively on smoke
rigs to prodiu-e an atmosphere of Hnlie
mianism since the passing of th-- "cup
that cheers."
But the ordinance making it a crime
for proporietors of pubic, places to let i
men smoke loosed upon a thunderstruck
town last night by squads of Commission
er Enright 's finest did nut stop with
spreading gloom in advanced places. j
It even had its effect on downtown j
cafeterias where stenographers- and noin-l
en gather for luncheon. The smoking!
"evil" the ordinance was d' signed to
check has nred to New York women in ;
many walks of life. j
Taxical) driver were Ii.'iiiniiig to
worry too, fur fear their conveyances'
might be ruled "public places" and b.in- i
ne.f as smokeries for fair fares enroute!
home from the theater thus causing aj
switch to the subway route.
Alderman MiKluinness, father of tliej
ordinance that had a hectic life f rom
sundown to sunrise, was almost the only;
New Yorker discovered today who seem
ed to regret its possing. I
Flappers and ex -flappers who were
caught in the act last niKht by enforce
ment squads and ordered to throw away!
their fags, told the uncomfortab'e police-
men everything they-thought they could,
say and still keep out of durance viie. j
Reatauranteurs and cabaret ki-eers, j
when served with notices against tho newi
"crime" spluttered and swore and talk-;
ed altout going to the courts ta knock
the "outrageous" ordinance in tho head.;
Prominent women, many of whom pcr-i
sonally abhor the Rmcll of n cigarette,
rose to champion the rights of their smok- i
ing sisters, denouncing- the measure as a
terrific blow at personal liberty and pre
dicting it would result only on a greater
wave of smoking by women j'ist they
saiil as- the prohibition aw started people,
to drinking who never drank before. j
NEW YORK, March 23. Alderman-1
cials eager to determine thp truth a- i
j,Vi.ur.tte i ira : I
' ' 1
, . - '
i)
t
' J
V y H
W J
Muscle Shoals Committee Gets
Load of Information And Birds
Eye View of Big Nitrate Plant
Senate and House Committees Put Business Be
fore Pleasure and Forego Social Functions
Closely Inspect Two Big Power Plants Vast
Sea of Raw Material Consisting of Lumber,
Bricks, Etc.
SHEFFIELD, ALA.. March M.
Members of the Senate Agriculture, and
IIou.' Military Affairs Committees in
specting government property at Mus
cle fcihoals spent today iu a tour of ni
trate plants Nos. 1 and 2.
The committeemen were guests of the
Sheffield Uotary Club, at breakfast. In
deference to the wiuhes of the Congress
ional party, thy affair was informal and
there was no speech making.
Senators and Representatives were on
the reservation early in anticipation of
getting in another full day's work. Tho
party reached here lato last night after
spending the first day of tho tour study
ing the government owned (iorgas War
rior steam plan iu Walker county.
Members of the two committees in
whoso hands have been placed for study
and report private proposals for louse
and purchase of tlie doriuunt war plant,
delved deeply into tho highly technical
and hci'jntifie processes employed in tho
nitrate plants, aided by Major J. 1.
tiurnsj chief of the nitrate division of tho
War Department, and other ordnance
officers.
At plant No. 1, tho synthetic or Haber
process, was explained to the committee
men. Tho objective of tho ordnance de
partment with reference to this process
had been achieved by developments here
and at Syracuse, N. Y., ordnance of
ficers told tho committee members.
riant No. 1 cost 12,8(),000, accord
ing to data before tho committees and
embraces a beautiful village with attrac
tive modern dwellings, a school, and
1,!U0 acres of land. Moro than 1,000,
000 was spent ou public works of tho
plant community, according to informa
tion furnished.
Tho Congressional purty spent several
hours at plant No. 2, which was built for
tho Cyanamid process at a cost of $67,-
i 555,:!.")."), and which was described as the
! unit that solved tho ordnance depart-j
imcnt's nitrogen preparedness program.
Tins plant was declared by army of
ficers to be the' greatest munition maker j
in the country, capable of providing
quickly in case of emergoncy tremendous'
(inutilities of many kinds of war mater
ials. ,
riant Sit. '2 is coutinguous to the un
completed Wilson dam, whenco under
original plans it was to derivo its power.
1'eiiiling construction of the dam a
60,000 kilowatt power plant was built
here at a cost of $12,328,392, and tho
(iorgas-Warrior pant was constructed at
a cost of $5,000,000. The power pant
hero was described by army officers as the
most .compete unit of its charucter in
America. Both power punts are now
usod by the Alabama 1'ower Company
us it part of its general system, under a
rental contract.
Plant No. 2 is located on a reservation
which contains 2,.'100 acres and embraces
'permanent dwellings ami other quarters
to house 20,000 persons, the village emit-'
ing tS,S4:i,000. The engine terminals
and whops at this plant, the committee
learned, cost the government more than
i 1 2,0(10.00(1, while $.!,04.'!,51(5 was spent
on public works. 1
At plant No. 2, the committee mem
bers were driven through the plant com
munity which was declared to be a model
city, with well-laid out and shaded
streets and' houses of modern type.
On the reservation the party took
birdeye inventory of a veritable sea of
raw materials, included in which were I
10,000,000 feet of lumber, 5,000,000
bricks and acres covered with bath tubs,
sewer pipe, roofing und other building j
supplies.
Tbe committees were told that the esti-
mated salvage value as scrap of the two
I.,, neon e who offered entertain
ment of various kinds that it wa,s a busi
ness mission and social features would
not be allowed to detract from the duties
before the committees.
FORMER ARCHDUKE LEOPOLD
IS NOW A PAUPER.
liKI.'N'K, Switzerland, March -H .
The former Archduke I-copold, who
l.roke with the House of Ilapsburgs 10
years ago as a result of his marriage
to a Viennese actress, has applied to
tlie little town of Regembcrg for aid
from the Paupers fund. His wife,
whom he divorced, has also asked
aid.
for
BIRTH OF DAUGHTER
GIVES RIGHT TO INHERIT
$100,000 WORTH OF NECKLACES
OAKLAND, CALIF., March 28.
James C. Blum, Jr., by becoming the
father of a girl, has won the right
to inherit two necklaces, one of dia
monds and the other of pearls, valued
together at $100,000. His mother,
Mrs. Rosa Blum, bequeathed them to
be his when his wife gave birth to a
daughter.
Blum, who already had come into
possession of the rest of his mother's
1330,000 estate, brought suit Last
year to get the necklaces because his
wife had borne a son. He contended
that that was sufficiently close to ful
filling the terms of the will, but the
court thought otherwise and dismiss
ed the case. The will provided he
should be given half the estate at 3S
years of age and the rest except the
necklaces, when he was 40.
nitraie pian.s nan ihcu j WiHllll ,,as decill(1(l to liwU83 cum,nt
B.jO.OOO. , i polit ical issues in rcsixinso to an invita-
Luncheon was served ; the .ffi . J,-,,, 8() by 1a,npr n E(,.
quancrs .... --.- ' ; munds, past commander of a local post
the women of the- garrison. ... j of tho American Legion, and chairman
The congressional party acknowledg. .1 , . . ,:,,; f
with gratitude, courtesies extended .hut j , .mo4.ratU. orralli!iati0n. Tl,
tn ,
TO SHIFT A LOT OF POST
OFFICE ROUTINE FROM
WASHINGTON TO STATES
Details of Policy, - Adjust
ments and Complaints Here
tofore Handled in Washing
ton May Be Assigned to
State Central Offices Bet
ter Efficiency Expected.
(By The Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, March 28. Tho
Fostoilice Department ia rapidly com
pleting plans for doceutarlization of
much of the routine work of tho depart
ment under a system of state central of
fices which postal officials believo will
greatly increase tho efficiency of the ser
vice uud at the same time effect an im
portant saving in its cost.
In announcing tho broad! nature of the
plans today, Postmuster General Work
said ho believed they would murk "one
of the most important reforms in several
generations,. if not iu its entire history."
Details of policy, adjustments and
service which have heretofore been
thrown upon tho department in Washing
ton for final disposition, entailing delay
and unnecessary expenditure in adminis
tration, will, under the new plan, the
postmaster general said, nettled by a
central office designated to exercise thai
authority for eucli stato. Such offices al
ready lutvo been designated in several
states, he said, and are relieving the de
purtment here of money order disputes,
complaints und a multitude of other do
tails. Ultimatey tho thousands of com
plaints und recommendations now han
dled by a largo body of workers "here will
be disposed of by the office designated for
each state.
Tho effect of this change, Dr. Work
said, will be not only to relieve the mails
of thousands of letters and documents
now shunted across tho continent, but
also u great saving iu operating expense
uud in time required for service adjust
ments of all kinds. The central otlicee
also will be responsible, he said, for the
morale ami' the maintenance of all of
fices within their territory.
When as First Assistant Postmaster
General he suggested the plan, Dr. Work
said, it received the warm endorsement
of former Postmaster -General Hays, who
told him, he aaid, to "go to it."
' When tho system we have in mind is
finally and definitely worked Out." Dr.
Work said in discussing the new plan, "I
feel confident that the country will be
immensely benefitted. There may be in
stances, of course, where matters must
bo referred to Washington'' for flnnl nc
tiou, but such instances we trust will be
rure. "
W00DR0W WILSON DECLINES
TO DISCUSS POLITICS
Believes That "We Shall Soon
Wipe Away Ugly Record
We Made in Failing to Ful
fill Objects for Which Our
Men Fought."
(By The Associated Press.)
CHICAGO, March 2S. Woodrow
I former President in replying to Mr.
K liminds, however, makes the declara
I tiou of bis liclief "that wo shall very
soon indeed wipe away the ugly record
we made in failing to fulfill the objects
for which our gnllant men fought."
"Certainly service men abovo all oth
ers are qualified to express their devo
tion of the principles we believe in,"
says the letter to Mr. Edmunds. "It
was for those very principles that they
offered their lives. For my own liart
I Udieve those principles to be in them
f elves so jowerful that no political
bliiidncss or inquity can defeat their
triumph. I believe that triumph to
be immediately at hand and that we
shall very soon indeed wipe away the
ugly record we made in failure to ful
fill the objects for which our gallant
comrades fought . " ,
iLANDRU LOST HIS
I NAME WITH HIS HEAD.
j (Bv The Associated Press.)
I I'ARIS, March 2S. Henri Desire
j Laiidru, guilottincd February 2M, for
i the murder of ten women and a boy,
lost his name when he lost his head .
The man who astounded those who
watched his trial by his remarkable de
sire for publicity is buried in an un
marked grave, where his daughter and
two suns have been authorized, at their
request, to lpaee a small cross marked
only "Henri Desire." The children
i also have asked authority to change
j their names to Bemy.
TODAY'S COTTDKMET
i Cotton seed ...
..Sle
..17;
j Strict t$ good middling
POLITICAL ALLIANCE OF
THREE BIG UNIONS III
THE STATE IS ANNOUNCED
' - HOT , , J 1
Railroad Brotherhood Joins
Farmer Labor Combination
Going Into Politics Ad
vice to Leaders to "Steer
Clear" Is Thrust Aside.
fJREEN'SBORO, March 27. A poli
tical alliance embracing the North Caro
lina Federation of Labor, the North
Carolina Fanners' Union and the North,
Carolina division of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers was)
formed at a conclave of the leaders of
the three organizations here today. Out
of the three unions that nave heretofore,
steered their own course and wended
their own way, leaders say, has sprung;
up a mighty union backed by the farmers,
the union labor men and the railroad
men of North Carolina.
Letters to the leader of each of thai
participating bodies urging that the al
liance steer clear of politiea were briskly
brushed aside as the chieftains unani '
mously declared that ' the only way w
can obtain relief from present condi- ;
tions ia through the political route and '
the use of tho ballot."
Thus it is seen that from its inception
tho new alliance intends to faro forth up '
on the political sea. A bold front and
quarter to nono will bo the battle slogaa
of tho cemented and harmonious organi
zation, according to the committeemen .
here for tho meeting. The question of
tho alliance putting candidates into tho
field has not been discussed, or at least
it has not been discussed In public. ,,
Ia Charlotte Tonight.
The leaders have not mado up their
minds whether to. haie their men seek y
oflice or not, but it is entirely probable)
that at the Charlotte meeting tomorrow -niglit
Buch a step will be aken.
The adoption of a draft of a legisla
tive program and also the outline of a -questionnaire
to be submitted to all
candidates for city, eounty and state of
fices was gone over carefully y leader
this afternoon. The entire program will
be finally concluded and adopted at the
Clin riot to conclave Tuesday night.
While the leaders would say but little
regarding the legislative program or tfho
questionnaires, it was learned that the al-
liance will bitterly oppose the proposed
sale of the North Carolina railroad and
the building of another in Tarn Bowie's
province. The alliance hold that to sell
a property now paying dividends and
the investment of money in an untried
project would bo folly. They are alike
with Governor Morrison in objecting to
tho sale. - - -; -
The, proposed consolidation of tho Uni
versify, (North Carolina College foe;
Women nnd State college waa also dis
cussed, but out of tho discussion arose
no unanimity of opinion. They will set
tle their stand on the proposition Tues
day evening. .
The alliance also holds that no local
or stato legislation be enacted by the gen
eral assembly without the fact first be
ing published in the locality to be effect
ed by its provision. -
Tlie Australian ballot will be 1 apt.
proved and urged for North Carolina, it
is generally believed, ' ' "'
While hardly touched upon today, it is
predicted that the action of the atate
text book commission in changing text
books will be heartily condemned. Some
of the lenders were very outspoken in dis-, ;
cussing the text book commission.
In urging that the alliance take part
iu politics and a livo part at that.
President J. F. Barrett, of the labor,
unions and R. V. H. Stone, of tbe farm,
group, echoed each other in declaring
"too long already have professional'
politicians and lawyers made and exe
cuted the laws, and assessed, collected
and sfient the taxes, which the farmers) .
and the wago earners have paid. It isV
high time tho majority of North Carolina
citizens take an active interest in the
government under which they live." &
Continuing, the trtatement deelarea
doubled taxes, hish salaries for publin
officials, tbe ever-increasing cost of gov
ernment operation, growing army of pub
lic employes and the employment of at-. .
torneys for every bureau and depart- -incut,
will be questions the politicians of
the future will be called upon to answer
if they want the votes of the farmers)
and workers. Reductions for wages for'
those engaged in industrial work was
condemned.
The meeting here today was called ia
compliance with a tentative agreement '
reached in Raleigh last December. The
object of the conference was to harmon
ize, affiliate and co-operate the separata
unions, and get them to working as a.
whole and in unison.
Toniglit leaders soy that the objectivs
has been obtained and R. W. H. Btone,
Jim Barrett and J. E. Baumgardner are '
walking hand in hand.
Barrett's Ideal Reached.
Mr. Barrett says that an ideal of his
has been reached in the union of the
three great force, organized farmers,
organized labor and the railroad workers.
With the members of the three organiza
tions backing the program, he believes
that North Carolina will soon feel ths
weight and the power of the alliance.
The leaders point out that there were
noturally many questions to be settled
before tlie spirit of harmony could des
cend and bless the alliance. However,
they point out that all of the leaders
were in the rictt mood and all have
thrown their fortunes into tho pot and
are willing to stand by the alliance with
every force at their command.
Final action and ratification of all the
propositions made here today will be had
at the gathering in Charlotte Tuesday
night. The leaders rested acre tonight
and made ready for the deaceat upon Um
Queen City and the final ratification of
their work tomorrow evening.
THE WEATHER
North Carolina, showers and probub!
thunderstorms tonight and Wednesiav,
cooler in the interior Wednesday, r.u.
cooler Wednesday night.