North Carolina Newspapers

HE' GASTON ;ette PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY. . 7 VOL. XXXIX. NO. 6. GASTONLi, N. a MONDAY AFTERNOO JANUARY 14, 1018. f2.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE, A 0 0 T LOCAL ITEMS . City schools open . tomorrow,, 'f .The weather-wise Are predicting , some more "weather" .'for, the next lew days. " -, ', .O, --"lU" , " Gastonla Lodge No. 53 Knights . ot Pythias will do work in the first t ' rank tonight.' '"V Mr. Durward Morrow has been confined to bis bed at his home on West Airline avenue for the past few 'days. , , r .- ; -Mr.,W,. Y. Warren will leave to night or In the morning lor, Raieign to represent Gastonla Lodge 'No. 369 ' At toe Masonic Grand Lodge meeting, , t. ' Mrs. John C. Baber has '. been ' quite 111 at the City HospltaL since " Saturday afternoon, but is reported as slightly better this afternoon.?. , Mrs,, 8 d Cornwell and -little daughter, Helen Lewis, left last wees for 'Bartow, Flay to Join Mr, Corn . " well, who ts making his headquarters .there this winter, w . " Mr. j. T. Sadler was host at .dinner Sunday evening' at the, Arm ' -lngton. His guests were Misses Mar - tha, 'Morrow, Alma Bostlck and Mil dred McLean, and Mr. Albert u. 111- ' . lch, of New York city. cv ,- . Friends ot Mrs. W. Lyle Smith-, . J . who underwent an. operation !- last Wednesday at the Gaston County . Sanatorium, will be glad to know that she is making very satisfactory - . jecovery. .y T . ' On account of the very severe . weather the Union service which was : ,.o have .been held at Main . Street Methodist church last night -was post ; poned.: Consequently there were no " services' In any of the- uptown . churches last night. -: . - Fire Saturday destroyed a ten ant house on the farm of Mr. Neal Hawkins, two . miles south of town on the York road. John Ford, col ored, who occupied the house, was ..away from home and. lost all of his household goods. The total loss was , about $100, no insurance. ; ; ' - -i The special meeting of Gastonla Lodge No. v 369 Masons to Honor . . those memberawho have' joined the - colors was postponed because the un- - usual weather prevented the guests .. , of honor, General Gatley, Major. Bui i , - winkle and Chaplain Lacy, from get- . ting here. A new date will be set for this meeting And will .be announced The fire department was ' called , to the Trenton Mill Saturday after V ', noon to extinguish a Are which had started In an unopened car Of cotton which had Just been placed on -., tne sidetrack near the mill. The truck responded promptly and put out the flames In short orderf only three or four bales In the center of the car being damaged. v'' ;. j -k , '; Prof, and Mrs. H. C. Sisk re ' turned this morning from Waco, Cleveland county, where they spent - the holidays with the former's home-J , folks. "You folks down here are more fortunate than they are up around Waco," said Mr. Sisk this morning. "When I left there was two Inches of snow, on the ground and tha trees and wire were covered With ice." . A s . i Perhaps the . freakiest weath ' r-eeen In this section of the country ' ', for years prevailed Friday night. Following an all-day sleet Friday N which turned to rain in the afternoon and caused a thick coating of ice -to gather on the trees and , wires. a warm rain accompanied by lightning and thunder .prevailed -throughout ' most of Friday night, washing away the sleet and ice. , Saturday morning 1 a bitter cold wind was blowing and ' ,thls continued throughout . the day. Sunday was cold but Dot so windy. " Today there has been a considerable rise in the temperature and the sun ' has been shining but the prospects 1 ' for tonight and tomorrow are not so -bright f - Organization of the membership of the Gastonla Chamber of Com- . merce foe the new year's work is pro ceeding rapidly. The assignments to the various departments , are being made and President C B. Armstrong will soon announce committee . as- ' slgnments too. ; . v"!.-v Dlrector J. W. Atkins of the De partment of Publicity has announced the following assignments to his de partment: R. K. Bablngton, G..H. Marvin, A. B. O'Neil, R. 8. Shelby, J. -M. Holland. W. A. Kluttz, J. E. PhU lips, J. B. Beard, J. S. Boyce. Director J. O. Rankin of the De partment of Traffic and Transporta tion has announced the f olio wingr for nis department: R. Hope Brlson, Z. B. Harry, J. White Ware, ,W. W. Glenn, J. W. Tlmberlake, B. T. Mor ris, C. Coletta, C. i; Loftin, Edmund mazyck, L. H. Balthis, P. P. Levent- No Telegtpli Service. " The Gazette Is forced to go to press today without any late telegraphic news, this being due to the demorali zation of the wire service. - No tele grams were received Saturday for the same reason. , It Is hoped that the wires will be working satisfacto rily before our next issue. ? , Your kitchen ' may tft " either a "base of supplies' or an alien aid according to the measure of your practice of food economy and con . serration. 1 ' ; . ; v mmm storii m -DOES GREAT DJUM Twelve Killed la Georgia "and Ala- Lama Camp V heeler - Greatly Damaged and Oae Man Killed Storm Cause Record Low -Tero-, peratare in Many Parts of . the , Moatb. ' v - - Twelve persons are believed to have lost their lives, a score or more were injured and extensive damage to property was reported as a Tesult of: tornadoes in Alabama and Geor gia - Friday afternoon and ' bight. Seven persons were reported to have been killed and 25 Injured at Cow arts, Ala., in a windstorm, which, ac cording to meager advices, virtually wrecked that town late Friday. One man is reported to have been Jtilled and. much damage to property done by a tornado which 'struck Camp Wheeler-and the State fair grounds near Macon. Ga. ' . All ; the wires to Camp Wheeler were down and the only information available at a late hour. Friday night of - the . damage there was word brought by a messenger to Macon Wire communication with the storm- swept section of Alabama also was cut off and verification of loss of life could not be secured. Four persons lost their lives in Texas and. many thousands ot dollars' damage was done to truck gardens and orchards, . Record low temperatures and the heaviest snowfall In years marked the disturbance west of the Missis sippi river where the blizzard was at its height Friday. At Mission, Tex., in the Rio Grande valley, snow fell for the first time in 40 years and in north Texas the snowfall ' measured six Inches with temperatures ranging from eight degrees below sero to a few degrees above In the eastern part or the State. , Oklahoma City reported the heav iest fall of snow in 15 years and the lowest temperature In eight, yeare. Eight inches of snow fell at Little Rock, "Ark., and at' Memphis, Tenn., the blizzard reached such propor tions as to cause street car service to be suspended on a number of lines and dismissal of schools, and brought street traffic-virtually to a standstill The storm left near-zero tempera tures In its wake in the central sou thern states.- RAILROADS TIED TI JTot a Train in or Out of Chicago for SO Hours Trains Stalled in Snow. Chicago, Jan. 12. Not a passenger or- freight train will leave Chicago terminals for at least 20 hours, ac cording to a prediction made by op erating officials of railways entering this city, tonight. The Intense bliz zard that for days paralyzed all traf fic of the. middle west, tonight had completely paralysed all its transpor tation lines. . .. . Railroads entering Chicago aban doned all attempts to operate trains today. The lashing, below-zero wind made it Impossible for workmen to make any headway in their efforts to clear snow from the switch intersec tions. Scores of passenger trains were reported stalled In drifts throughout the central west. .: Attempts to move freight were abandoned early. Passenger' trains were kept running for a time as they could be moved with two engines on the front pulling and one pushing m the rear. Snow plows were ordered out with three engine! behind them, but their work was futile. The wind piled the drifts in back of them . as fast as they could push it from the traeks ahead. v At night the usual crowds of trav elers assembled at the railway sta tions in Chicago and being unable to get trains or hotel accommodations, hundreds spent the night In the sta tions sleeping on their baggage. At the Illinois Central station the rail way officials threw open-15 Pullman cars for women and children. Throughout the southwest traffic conditions are reported here as des perate. No,mail has been received in Chicago since early I this morning, postoffice officials report, and none Is going out. , t v - . , Friday night's storm did 350.000 damage at Lowryville on the C. ft N.- W. between York and Chester. Near Chester a negro woman was killed when the wind blew her house down. STOCK DIVIDENDS TO ' . - , BEAR INCOME TAX. f By International News Service.) Washington. Jan. 12. Stock divi dends will be Included In taxable in come, the internal revenue bureau announced today, despite the supreme court's decision that dividends are not taxable under the 1913 income tax law. - - ' - . . -. "The act of September 8. 1916." miu a.uuraa Buuuuycfliueui, CUPvJ tains an express provision taxlntn siock amaenas declared- and paid out of earnings accrued since March 1, 1913. In the absence of a decis ion as to the legal effect ot these ex press provisions contained In the la ter act. the bureau of Internal reve nue naturally will continue to be governed by the- express provisions of the latter act in reference to stock dividends." - , . Contracts .for; 9.000.000 pairs of half-soles and 7.000,000 toplets ror heels have been let by the section oa supplies or the advisory commission of the council of national defense. The half-soles will cost $4,500,009 and the toplets $1,150,000. HEWS OF THE COUHTY LATEST FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS ' .... ' - . -1 ' , ' L - - Lowell Locals. Correspondence of The Gazette. 'LOWELL, Jan. iO. Mrs. Claude Wilson and little son, - Claude, Jr., who have been spending some time with Mrs. J. M. Wilson, returned to ineir noma in vnarjoite eaturaay. Mr.. ' Paul Titman has returned from a visit ttTsomewhere" in Vir ginia. - Mrs. M. A. Thornburg, of Besse mer City, is visiting her daughter. Mrs; W. H. Holmes. Mr. Lee Thornburg, brother . of Mrs. W. H. Holmes, of this place, who was seriously hurt while operating a saw mill - in Beaumont, Texas, - is gradually improving. Mrs. Linwood Robinson and Lin wood, Jr., who have been making their home in Rutherfordton ror tne past few months, have returned here Mrs. W. H. Wilkerson moved yes terday to her new home in Charlotte She was accompanied by her mother Mrs. S. M. Robinson. Mesdames J. K. Dixon and J. Y, Miller, of Gastonla, were visitors to the Red Cross workroom Tuesday. Mrs.' J. E. Beacham and children, who have been visiting relatives in Toccoa, Ga., have returned home ac companied by Mrs. Beacham's -sister. Miss Thelma Wansley. Miss Oland Curry, of Clover, S. C was a visitor In town last week. Miss Claude Baker is spending some time in Charlotte as the guest of Miss Jane Baker. The Red Cross auxiliary is accom plishing much since the holidays are over. Everyone seems more enthus ed and many new members are com ing in. This week there were flnlsn ed up, since the first of December. 1,000 4x4 compresses, 187 9x9 com presses. Miss Moena Hand has led the class in compress making. Ow ing to the inclemency of the weather and the holidays, think this is a fine showing for the few faithful work ers. - Miss Edith Robinson spent Wed nesday in Charlotte. The school has been postponed un til January 14th, on account of the coal supply being exhausted. Those who saw ' Experience in Charlotte were Mrs. J. R. Titman, Misses Myrtle, Clara and Nell Tit man, Misses Edith and Ora Coit and M. RobiUBon. Dr. J. R. Bridges, of Charlotte, preached a very inspiring sermon Sunday at the Presbyterian church. Mount. Holly Matters. Correspondence of The Gazette. MT. HOLLY, Jan. 10. Misses Ma ry and Lillian West, of Charlotte, have been spending some time with their . cousin, Miss Pauline Lentz. They have returned home. Mr. E. A. Thompson is still Indis posed, having been in bed for sever al weeks. His trouble Is inflamma tory rheumatism. Saturday night at 7 o clock, at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. D. P. Hoffman, Mr. T. S. Black and Miss Lillian Lentz were married by Rev. E. H. Kohn. A number of friends had gathered to see the nuptial knot tied and wished the parties Joy and long life. Some of our soldier boys are at home with relatives on furlough. They are Ralph Holland and Richard Davenport. Misses Grace Kohn and Gertrude Belk have returned to Lenoir Col lege at Hickory. Mr. Tom Belk is at A. and E., Ral eigh.- again. He finishes the four year course in. May. Mr. Robert Costner, of LIncolnton, spent several days with us visiting his sister, Mrs. R. C. Belk, and brother,, Mr. J. A. Costner: Mr. M, L. Barnes, superintendent of the high school,, has for several days been confined to the house by an attack of grip. -He is up, and will be able to resume his duties at school Monday. " Mrs. "Cliff Richardson and two children,. Jenkins and Elizabeth, or Greenville. S. C, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. W. H. B. Lineberger. Jen kins is confined to the bed with a mild attack of pneumonia. Mr. Hugh Michael has finished for Mr. A. P. Rhyne a nice seven-room semi-bungalow on the lot next to the parsonage of the Church of the Good Shepherd. He also has the contract for an up-to-date residence for Mr. Guy Howard. WAR BREAD AND FOOD V CARDS ARE PREDICTED. (By International News Service.) Chicago. Jan. 14. War. bread and food cards loom- as possibilities, ac cording to two members of the Na tional Food Administration, who at tended the Patriotic Food Show nere. "Real war bread must come.- ac cording to F. C. Walcott, one of Her bert C. Hoover's aides. "The public should demand that bakers produce nothing but war bread, which must be made of at least 20 per cent non wheat materials, such as eornmeaL oatmeal, rye and barley. "Volunteer . savlag- baa net- yet been enough to make certain that we can furnish our soldiers and the civ ilian populations of our Allies with sufficient food. And the greatest need that exists now is that we save more wheat. This is Imperative. Wasting food now means Yratlon' for some one else if not la the United States, in Europe. ; IIIUJON DOLLAR ME ATI - Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 13. 'Fire broke out lb the Industrial building which housed thirty manufacturing concerns tonight and destroyed the building and adjoining , property, causing a loss estimated at $1,00,- 000. Fire Chief Loucks said be believ ed that the fire was of incendiary ori gin. Several of the manufacturing companies were making machinery for the government under war con tracts. . Six dwellings, a church, grocery and saloon were burned. No lives were lost, although falling walls plac ed firemen In great danger and hin dered them in their, work by cutting line after line of hose which were playing water on the flames. The flames spread rapidly, and, tanned by a high wind, sent showers of sparks throughout the neighbor hood, setting fire to nearby buildings. STATE ROAD INSTITUTE. Important Good Roads Meeting to Be' Held at Chapel Hill February 1 to S3 Road Officials May Attend at the Public Expense. , The North Carolina Road Institute, which will' be conducted at the State Unlveplty, Chapel Hill. February 1- ii, inclusive, under the auspices or the State University of North Caro lina, the State Highway Commission, and the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, will afford an opportunity to road engineers, su perlntendents, patrolmen, commis sioners, trustees, and others to ob tain practical instruction in regard to various phases of road building and maintenance. Every road-building unit, whether county, township or road district, which has In charge the expenditure of a .road fund, should have as many representatives as possible at this institute. Provision has been made bv law for the attendance of road officials at this Institute In Chapter 284, Section 47 of the Public Laws of 1917, which Is as follows: "Sec. 47. The members of the county road commission of any coun ty, or the members of whatever com mission or board, has charge of the road work In any county, township, or road district, are herewith author ized to attend the road Institute held annually at the University of North Carolina, and the county road com mission of any county, or whatever commission or board has charge of the road work in any county, town ship, or road district, are herewith authorized to detail any. and all per sons employed by said county in con nection with the road work of said county, township, or road district to attend said institute, when in their Judgment such attendance will Inure to the benefit of the road work of said county, township, or road dis trict; and the said road commission. or other commission or board, is herewith authorized to pay the ex penses of the members of said coun ty road commission .or board, and other persons detailed to attend said road institute, out of the funds ot the said county, township, or road district." German Again Stricken from Paro chial Schools. (BY International news Service.) Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 12. Resolu tions adopted by the Nebraska State Council of Defense denouncing "cer tain members of the German 'Luth eran church of the State as, "disloy al," and asserting they opposed the Liberty Loan and Red Cross, are thought by State officials here to have brought about the passing of loyalty resolutions by representatives of 151 parochial schools, coming un der the Jurisdiction of the Missouri synod of the church, when they met in seward, ritn. The school representatives went on record in favor of the elimination of the German language from the studies in the schools during the war. and church leaders say the parochial schools will comply with the request. Hirsute Conservation Latest War Measure. (By International News Service.) Los Angeles, Cal., Jan. 12. Con servation of whiskers is the latest war-time measure advocated here. If every mankind youth would refrain from getting a haircut and shave ror month, mathematicians figure something like $5,000,000 would be saved in labor, time, rent, electrici ty and gas. - ' This, however, admittedly would be hard on the barber and the oppo sition of the ladles to a month's growth of picturesque' hirsute adornments on beau and husband Is Insurmountable. - Kicks Bomb Oat of the Way, Then . . - - Investigates. .- (By International .News Service.) New York, Jan. 14.. Salradore Nueclo, a carpenter, stumbled over something when he went home the other night, kicked it out of tha way. and entered his roomv When his cu riosity got the better of him he went out in the hall and struck a match. The "something was an eight-inch bomb. It had failed to explode be cause the fuse had. been wound too tightly. . - .. . llany a FrencVnome would '- be an brightened by the waste from :. American home. ... ? '--, j ' Ill SOCIAUJIBCLEu UTEST EVENTS IHWOEllfS B'HELB K MRS. MOORE ENTERTAINED FOR VISITING tiOLDIERS. "Mrs. H. B. Moore entertained at an elegantly appointed dinner Satur day evening at 6 o'clock In honor of Messrs. Albert G. Illicb, Roy Jordan and Joe Martinez, of New York city, now stationed at Camp wadswortn. spartanDurg. vnner guests were Mrs. W. H. Poole, Misses Martha Morrow, Mildred McLean, Alma Bos- tick, Messrs. Durwood Morrow add J. T. Sadler. MRS. POOLE GAVE DINNER. Mrs. W. H. Poole was the' charm ing hostess at a beautiful luncheon at t o clock Sunday. The dining room presented a scene of beauty with its decorations of narcissus and roses, Mrs. Poole was charmingly assisted in entertaining by her daughter. Miss Martha Moore. The gtoests were Messrs. Albert G. Illich.Roy Jordon, Joe Martinez, J. T. Sadler' and Misses Mildred McLean and Alma Bostlck. HAD FRENCH OFFICERS AS THEIR GUESTS. Mr. and Mrs. J. Holland Morrow had as their guests Sunday Adj. S. Ruellan, Lieut. Pierre HenckeL R. Lepers, Leon Giulttard, all of whom are members of the French Mission to the United States and are now de tailed tn Camp Greene, Charlotte, where they are giving the men special instruction in modern methods of warfare as actually used on the bat tlefields of Europe. Their visit, it is needless to say, was greatly enjoyed by the host and hostess and the friends whom they had Invited to meet them. m m m ELLIS-COTHRIN MARRIAGE AT GREENVILLE. Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Slfford and sons, Lloyd and James, have returned from Greenville, S. C, where1 they attend ed the marriage of Mrs. Sifford's sis ter, Miss Jim Ellis, and Lieut. Thom as Perrin Cothran of the regular army now stationed at Fort Ogle thorpe. The marriage -took place at the home of the bride's mother : on January 10th and was marked by sweet simplicity. The parlors and library were thrown together and were beautifully decorated in narcis sus, Southern smilax and ferns. Miss Marguerite Allison played the wed ding music and Mm. Rachel McDon ald sweetly sang "Call Me Thine Own." Miss Nelle Ellis, sister of the bride, was maid of honor and a brother, Mr. Zack Ellis, gave her away. Lieut. Cothran was' attended by his best man, Lieut., Smythe Blake, and the ceremony was per formed by Chaplain E. R. Mason. 6f Camp Sevier. Immediately following the cere mony i luncheon was served and the couple left for Florida, where they will spend ten days, after which they will be at home in Chattanooga. MISS MORRIS NEW " VORK CONCERT. The many friends of Miss Jane Morris, who Is an artist pupil of Ralfe Leech Sterner at the New York School of Music and Arts, will be Interested in the program of re cital given at the auditorium, 95th street and Central park West, New York City, of Thursday night of last week, January 10th. Following Is the program in full: v Thursday evening, January 10th, 1918,-at eight-thirty o'clock Ralfe Leech Sterner presents his pupil, Jane Morris, dramatic soprano. PROGRAM. 1. Scene and Gavotte (Manon), Massenet. 2. a. Cradle Song, Kate Vannah; b. Life's Merry Morn, Eben Bailey. 3. Romanza (Cavallerla Rustlca na), Mascagnl. 4. a. Magic, Frank Howard War ner; b. Jamie Dear, J. W. Blschoff. 6. a. Good Night Beloved, Nevin; b. Whisper and I Shall Hear, Piccolo mini. Violin obllgato by Louis Ferraro.. 7. a. Forest Song, Benjamin Whelpley; b. Dinna Ask Me, Sidney Homer; c. Madrigal, Chamlnade. 8. Aria. Ah, fors e lul (La Tra vlata), Verdi. The words of the song "Magic" number 4a on the above program, were written for Miss Morris by Mrs. Zoe KIncald Brockman, of Gastonla, and were set to music by Mr. Frank Howard Warner, who was Miss Mor ris's accompanist. As will be seen from the program given. Miss Mor ris's repertoire includes a wide range of operatic and dramatic selections or great difficulty. , in all of which ; her voice measured up to the highest ex pectations of her friends and her di- Cotton Ginned. ( ; . According to report -made to the bureau of - census. Department ot Commerce, by Mr. W. E. Johnson, of Belmont, county crop reporter, there were 4,959 bales of cotton of. the 1917 crop ginned prior to January I, 1918, In Gaston county, as compared wrtk MU hales 1 of, the 191 crop ginned in the county prior to Janua ry l,-1917---'c?-;i.Vt.J- - The plant of. the Carolina' Veneer Company at Columbia, 8. C, was to tally destroyed by fire Friday.., The loss is estimated at $100,009, partly covered by insurance. The eompany manufactured cabinets for one of the large phonograph companies. , . SENATOR BRADY OF IDAHO DIES SDAY Prominent Republican from the West - Succumbs to Acute Attack of Hears Disease. , -r-r .v,-.,, ,-... -r. , Washington, Jan. "1$. Senator ' James H, Brady, of Idaho, died at his home here tonight from heart disease. He suffered an acute attach f a week ago yesterday .while on his ' way to Washington from Idaho, and had. been in a critical state since. ; J, , Senator Brady was born in Penn- sylvanla 56 years ago, but moved to ; Kansas when a boy, and 'was educat ed in the public schools and the Leav enworth Normal College. He taught school for three years and later en gaged in newspaper work. He mov ed to Idaho in 1896 and soon became prominent in Republican politics. He was made chairman of the Republl-, can state committee in 1904 and was elected governor in 1908. After his , term expired he was elected to the Senate by the state legislature and ' re-elected by the people in 1914 ror seven years. He Is survived by his wife and two sons. 8. E. Brady, of Chandler. Okia. and J. Robb Brady, of Kansas. - - r. . . QUESTDIRES ALL SHOULD BE CI TQW Today la the last ria ah mhtnh registrants can file their oueitinn. nalres with the local Mmotion board. In view of the fact, however, that some of the blanks were delay ed in the 'malls because of incorrect or inadequate addresses it Is hardly probable that the local board will adhere rigidly to this rule. Already the board has classified something like 1,400 of the regis trants and are busily engaged in this task. . It Will Drobabl-r 1a thm 1 Kth nf February before any of the regis trants are called up for examination. -HAD NARROW ESCAPE. Lieutenant Francis Whiteside, ' Gas- to ma uoy, was Asleep In Officer ilarracks When Fire Broke Out Saved Only Part of His Effect. In a letter to his Darenta. Mr. and .' Mrs. A. M. WhitaaldAH. tTJAtitanan Francis A. Whitesides, of the Quar termasters Corps, National Army, stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga tells of a thrilling experience he had on Monday night of last week, when one oi tne large omcers barracks ot v the 11th Cavalrv at Fnrt Orlthnrn was completely destroyed He sayst "I was in this building and. was 1 asleep In another officers' room when the fire was discovered. As soon as I was awakened I rushed into my rAom and got part of my.things out," H enHnaAa 1 1 nnf n v Vrnm rtt I Chattanooga Times of Tuesday grtv lng all the details of the Are, which at one time threatened the entire camp. Fortunately the direction of '' the wind was . favorable and the building was on the end of the row. SWav from th Mrnntinn Ih vMMt h wind was blowing, so no other build ings caught.. - . ,.- - First War Conference of Illinois In clude Great Mas Meeting. (By International News "Service.) Chicago. Jan. 14. The rst "War Conference" of Illinois opened here today, with representatives of prac tically every organization m the State Interested in war work and in dividuals active in war movements, in attendance. The conference will close tomorrow evening. :;-: v.; The conference opened this after noon with a Joint meeting of all par- -tlcipants, at which various forms of war work now in progress were con sidered, as well as ways and means of making this work more efficient. Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane and Sir Frederick E. Smith, Attorney-General of : Great Britain, will be the principal speakers at a -great mass meeting to be held this' evening. - ,v The conference was called by the : Illinois State Council of Defense. River Beoomes Tired of Bed and , Seeks New One. ; , v v . (Br International News Service.) A Molalla,' Ore., Jan. 12. The Mol alla river. In the course of a Winter ", freshet, changed Its course over night, completely wiped out the Ho- . nevwell ranch and store and left the old covered wagon bridge, built 30 years ago, spanning a muddy chasm . 40 feet deep. " , .. - The Molalla river is subjected to" periodical floods, but has never be fore changed its course. .. Its usual depth it is in many places less rn width than In depth has made pi oneers look upon it as a fixture. The change In the river's course, -which extends for nearly two miles, ' together with other flood damage, ruined about $40,900 worth of prime agrtcnltnra! land. . - - ' 71, Bat Wants to Fight. : (By International News Service.) Muskogee. Okla., Jan. 12 I. n; Eddy, 71 years old, and an eirr,,-i of the Missouri, Oklahoci & q!:t Railroad here, wants to j.'v tij army so bsd he has taken r - r up with officials at Wasiir : - - . will seek the aid of Senator the matter. .