BEGIN FIGHT TOR
l FIFE IN SENATE
More Interest in “Dry” Clause
of Food Bill Than Any Oth
er in Years, Lead
ers Say.
THEY HEAR FROM HOME
Identical Language of Many
“Wet” Telegrams Shows Or
ganized Struggle Against
Prohibition for War.
Washington, Pune 29.—Beer and
wines began their battle for iife in the
Senate today. Their whisky ally is al
ready definitely vanquished by an over
whelming vote.
Food control itself has temporarily
been lost sight of.
Many who oppose prohibition under
the guise of food control legislation
now will attack the measure. Others
will assail the dry amendment prohibit
ing beer and liquor manufacture, but
going to wine as discriminatory.
"Must need I paint the picture," said
Senator Lewis, of Illinois of th,e rich
youth, seated at the table filling the
slippers of his paramour ’.vith wine and
lifting it to bis lips, while outside the
laborer finds it impossible to have his
glass of beer?"
The ‘wets” have decided to attempt
to strike out the entire amendment for
prohibition to the food bill. The effort
will have the support of the adminie
v trution they say.
'fc They Hear From Home.
Y Not in years, according to several
I senators, has such interest been
aroused, as indicated by telegrams and
letters on the prohibition issue.
From farmers, merchants, labor un
ions, temperance societies and munici
pal officers and organizations, the sen
ators are hearing from "the country" on
prohibition.
Wisconsin farmers and agricultural
' organizations telegraphed that thous
ands of acres of barley had been plant
en there in expectation Of a continu
ance of brewing.
Labor unions are emphasizing loss of
employment from closing of breweries,
and municipal officers the loss of local
license revenue.
Many of the telegrams of protest are
In identical language, indicating organ
ized opposition.
Attorneys and other representatives
of national brewing and distilling or
^ ganizations also are busy in the lobbies
I and offices, interviewing senators.
The “drys” also are active, with lead
ers of the National Anti-Saloon league
engaged in personal solicitation of sen
ators.
Next Contingent to Cross Will
Consist of Seasoned Men
From Philippines and
Border Stations.
) Washington, June 29.—General Per
Bhing's men will be augmented as fast
as possible by other men. This was
as far as officials woud go in discus
sing future plans now concerning the
American soldiers. The censorship
and safety provisions forbade that they
give out any news.
Nevertheless, it transgresses no rule
to surmise that the national guardsmen
, will be sent abroad ahead of the new
/ army. No one here believes that the
f new army will be ready for France un
til next spring. In the meantime other
fighting forces in this country who
have seen duty on the Mexican border,
In Haiti, San Domingo or the Philip
pines will take their places following
the boys now at the front in larger
numbers.
“Somewhere in France" thousands of
America’s fighting men are toda'r en
camped ready to take their places in
the trenches beside the seasoned cam
paigners of the allies.
Regulars and marines, fresh from ser
vice on the Mexican border or in Haiti
or Santo Domingo, were landed yester
day after a Voyage in which German
submarines were eluded and all records
•were broken for transporting overseas
a large military unit. News of the ar
rival of the troops sent a thrill through
America as it was generally unknown
that any large detachment had yet left
these shores.
The forces will be a net gain to the
allies as the men will be fed, clothed,
armed and equipped by this govern
ment. Already there are being stored
at the encampment supplies sufficient
for many months.
The American forces will be an in
dependent unit, cooperating with the
allies. It has been suggested that the
Americans might be placed as a con
necting link between the French and
British armies, but the exigencies of
the coming campaigns will decide that
•question.
General Sibert in Command.
Press dispatches from Prance pre
sumably sent forward with tbe approv
al of General Pershing’s staff, show
that ’lajor General Sibert. one of the
new major generals of the army, has
been given command of tbe first force
.sent abroad, under General Pershing
as commander in chief of the expedi
tion.
One thing stands out sharply, despite
the fact that the size of the task that
has been accomplished Is not fully re
vealed as,yet. This Is that American
enterprise,'b*b set a new record for the
transportation of troops.
From Border to Europe.
General Pershing and his staff hove
•been busy for days preparing for the
arrival of the men. Despite the enoc
fmous difficulties of unpreparednese
and submarine dangers that faced
them, the plana of the army genera!
staff have gone through with clock lik«
precision.
When the order came to prepare an
•expeditionary force to go to France
virtually all of the men now aoroan Mm
et a* were on the Mexican border.
• lAanerai Pershing himself was art big
♦ RAIN IN SOUTH DAKOTA. +
♦ - ♦
♦ Aberdeen, S. D„ June 28.—The ♦
♦ entire northern half of South ♦
♦ Dakota from Mobridge eastward +
♦ beyond the Minnesota line, and ♦
♦ from Mitchell north beyond the T
♦ North Dakota line, was visited ♦
♦ by good rains last night, which ♦
♦ were greatly needed by growing ♦
crops. ♦
♦ ♦
headquarters in San Antonio. Them
were no army transports available in
the Atlantic. The vessels that carried
the troops were scattered on their us-|
ual routes. Army reserve stores wera
still depleted from the border mobili-l
zation. Regiments were below wal)
strength.
Pershing Called to Washington.
That was the condition when Presi
dent Wilson decided that the plea of
the French high commission should be
answered and a force of regulars sent
at once to France. At hi? word the war
department began to move.
General Pershing dropped quietly
into the department and set up the
first headquarters of the American ex
peoitionary force in a little office hard
ly large enough to hold himself and
his personal staff. There, with the aid
of the general staff, of Secretary Baker,
and of the chiefs of the war depart
ment bureaus, the plans were worked
out.
Announcement that the force would
be sent under General Pershing was
made May 18. The press gave the
news to the country and there were
daily stories. There came a day when
General Pershing was no longer at the
department. Officers of the general
staff Suddenly were missing from their
desks. No word of this was reported*
The word came from England that
Pershing and his staff were there. All
was ‘carried through without publicity
Navy Does Work Well.
Other matters relating to the expe
dition were carried out without a word
of publicity. The regiments that were
to go with General Pershing were all
selected before he left and moving to
ward the seacoast from the border.
Great shipments of war supplies be
gan to assemble at the embarkatior
ports. Liners suddenly were taken ofi
their regular runs with no announce
ment. A great armanda was mads
ready, supplied, equipped as trans
ports. loaded with men and guns and
sent to sea, and all with virtually no
mention from the press.
The navy bears its full share In the
achievement. From the tlm« the troop
ships left their docks and headed to
ward the sea, responsibility for the
lives of their thousands of men rested
upon the officers and crews of the
fighting ships that moved beside them
or swept free the sea lane before them.
As they pushed on through the days
and nights toward the danger zone,
where German subr-arines lay in wait,
every precaution that trained minds of
the navy ^ould devise was unknown.
And the news from France today shows
that the plans were well laid.
_
POSTAGE TO FRANCE REDUCED.
Washington. June 29.—Elaborate
preparations have been made by the
government for handling of the great
volume of mail that will pass between
the troops of America's expeditionary
forces and home. Postmaster General
Burleson has announced the appoint
ment of Marcus H. Burn, of the depart
ment force here, as United States army
postal agent in Europe.
Postage for army mail to and from
France has been reduced by the de
partment so that the cost is the same as
for mail between points In this country.
Branch and automobile postoffices will
be established in the field for the deliv
ery and receipt of mail, the sale of
stamps and the Issuance of money or
ders.
PERSHING TO HEADQUARTERS.
Puris, June 29.—Major General Per- !
shing, the American commander, ha*
left the hotel in which he has been
staying since Ids arrival in Paris, to
make his headquarters in a fine old
residence in the Rue De Varenne. so a.1
to be near his headquarters. The house
which has a magnificent garden, for
merly belonged to Prince Gorteakoff,
ft was leased before the war by Og
den Mills, of New York, who placed it
at the disposal of General Pershing.
Praises Petain's Article.
The American commander was asked
today to comment on the article en
titled "Why We Are Fighting," pub
lished yesterday in the army bulletin,
in which General Petuin, tire French
commander in chief explained the ob
jects of the war and why a premature
peace must not be concluded. General \
Pershing said: j
"I have read General Petain's artK'ia
with deepest interest. His answer to
the question is complete and logical. I
The facts set forth should convince the
world of the justice of our great cause, i
I cannot think it possible that anyone I
should hold a different view of why we
are in the war. It is quite beyond i
reason that anyone knowing the truth '
should fall to condem the course pur- ]
sued by the German government and
the truth has been clearly pointed out I
by the distinguished commander in ,
chief of the French army.
"There must be no peace except a |
lasting peace. The ideals for whicli
the allies are contending must be hel j
sacred. France will continue lier splen- ,
did fight for human rights and human
liberties ami fresh examples of heroism
by her valiant armies will still futthei
inspire those fighting by Iter side."
BRITISH TOLD OF LANDING.
London. June 29.—Arrival of an ad
vance force of the American army in
France is the predominant feature 'n
the news columns of the morning
newspapers which display under hiji
headlines sucli details as are allowed to
he published. The Times comments,
on the arrival as an omen full of hope
and promise to friends of ordered free
dom. a sure presage of an allied Tied*y
and the signal of democratic peace to
he wrung from defeated Germany,
while tile moral effect will he un
measureable. As a symbol of the union
of mind and feeling of the democracies
of England, France and the I'nited
States, it promises, says the Times, to
rank forever among the greateet his
toric landmarks in tlta moral and polit
ical history of mankind.
FOOD CONTROL BARS
SPECULATION IN WHEAT
Dealing in Fntnres in Other
Grains Will Be Unrestricted
at Start, Griffin Says.
Chicago. June 38.—Government plans
ft* food control, according to a state
ment given out here today by Presi
dent Griffin of the board of trade. In
clude absolute control of the wheat
trade in all its commercial aspects.
There can be no speculation in it. Bay
ing and setting of other grains for
present or future delivery aih be n«
reetrioted.
* "BRING UP THE U-BOATS," ♦
NEW QUICK LUNCH ORDER 4i
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦»♦♦
Philadelphia, June 29.—“Draw one
and bring up the U-boats!”
This trenchant phrase, strongly rem
iniscent of Hunnish kultur and Teuton
frightfulness, startled the patrons of a
quick lunch restaurant.
The white robed, titian haired goddess
of the menu stood on one foot for a
minute, shifted her spearmint from one
cheek to the other, and then took up
her burden—a cup of coffee and an
order of doughnuts.
“What's the big idea of the U-boat
thing?” asked one of the super-curious
diners.
"Weil," informed the waitress, “we
used to call this order 'coffee and sink
ers’; and the biggest sinkers we know
anything about are the submarines. Get
me?"__
U.S. DEMONSTRATES
DEMOCRACY EFFICIENT
Secretary Daniels Says America
Goes to War Without Pas
sion or Lust.
Annapolis, Md„ June 29.—America is
demonstrating to the world that a de
mocracy of 100,000,000 persons can wage
war efficiently and with unity of spirit.
Secretary Daniels declared today In a
commencement address to nearly 200
members of the naval academy third
year class, whose graduation was ad
vanced by a year to provide officers for
fighting ships.
“Those who prophesied that America
would not go whole heartedly into the
war, have been discredited,” said the
secretary.
“We are going to war without pas
sion, without hatred, without lust for
land, without a trace of vengeance. We
do not hate the people we are to fight.
We hate only the autocracy, which
harnesses them to the juggernaut."
LAKE SHIP BUILDERS
ENJOY GREATEST BOOM
Cleveland, Ohio.—Great Lakes ship
builders are enjoying the greatest boom
in the history of the trade. Ship build
ers along the lakes are booked to their
full capacity for the next year and a
half. The American Ship Building
company, of this city, operating plants
at Cleveland, Lorain, Buffalo, Detroit,
Milwaukee, South Chicago and Super
ior have booked orders for 33 vessels
for the salt water trade for 1918 deliv
ery. It is understood that most of them
are for American owners. The ves
sels will be full Welland canal size and
will be about 261 feet long, 43 foot beam
and 20 feet deep. It is estimated that
the price will be about $600,000 each
and that this coast trade business will
amount to about $20,000,000.
In addition to the 33 vessels for the
salt water trade, the American Ship
Building company ho» booked an order
for a big steamer for the Standard Oil
company, makin . 34 ships that the
company has under contract for 1918
delivery. This is practically the capac
ity of the company for the next IS
months.
Although it could not be confirmed.
It is reported that the Great Lakes En
gineering works, of Detroit, which op
erates yards at Ecorse. Mich., and Ash
tabula, Ohio, has closed contracts for
20 salt water traders for 1918. and that
the company has taken about all the
new work it can turn out up to the
close of next year, and it is said the
Manitowoc Shipbuilding company has
closed contracts with eastern interests.
Most of the lake freighters ordered
for early delivery this year will be late
coming out, and with the big rush of
coast trade work and the fancy prices
demanded bv ship yards, there will be
but little addition made to the freight
fleet of the lakes in 1918.
BASEBALL SEASON IN
FULL SWING AT U. S. BASE
A British Port. Base of American
Destroyer Flotillas. June 15.—(corres
pondence of the Associated Press).—
The baseball season is in full swing
here. Every American destroyer has
one or more teams and the two days
weekly when their ship is in port ure
devoted to industrious practice for the
'big series” which is to begin next
month for the championship of the
fleet.
Three diamonds ht(ve been laid out
on tlve top of the cliffs, overlooking the
sea.
The crowd always contains a good
sprinkling of British tars, officers of
both navies and townsfolk of both
sexes. The girls of the village are al
ready developing into proficient and
urltica] fans.
The same can hardly be said for the
men folk who attend the games be
cause they tike “the American boys,"
but who frankly can t see where the
game compares in interest with foot
ball or cricket.
U. S. ABOUT READY TO
TAKE CHARGE OF MINES
Sait J-ake City, Utah, June 2!).—
“Strikes are becoming so frequent lhat
I wpuid not be surprised if the govern
ment took over the metal mining pro
perties and the smelters of the west
and fix a maximum selling price which
would automatically fix the wages," de
clared John McBride, representative of
the department of labor, who is in Salt
1, ake trying to settle the w;cge dispute
between tine International Smelting
company nnd Its employee.
MORE MINES SUSPEND.
Bishee, Arte,, June 29.—Tlve Shattuck
Arizona Copper company was forced to
suspend operations when only a few of
Its force reported for work. The Calu
met & Arizona and Copper Queen
mines were working approximately half
of thetr tegular shifts.
LEBEDOEFF HEADS MARINE.
Petrog’ad. June 29. -Lieutenant
Lebedoeff has been entrusted by the
Russian provisional government with
the direction ad interim of the ministry
of marine. This post up to the present
has been held by Minister of War
Kerensky.
TO INSURE MEN'S LIVES.
Washington, D. C.. June 28.—Plans
tor Insuring the Itves of American sail
ors and soldiers during the war will be
discussed at a conference of ttfe Insur
ance men with Secretary McAdoo, July
2. 1 nr teat Iona were sent to the Mfe In
surance men today from the treasury
department. It is suggested to pfe.ee
the insurance in the hands of the federal
war risk Sworn nee bureau, which is
now Insuring lives of men of the mer
chant marine. Another pfctn to he con
sidered Is a eomblnutlom at tneueanee
eiunpaniva. eooperaettng with or be cited
by the government.
1 SMOKING GIRLS
CUT U. S. FOOD
Woman Says They
Can Increase Wheat
Acreage hy Quitting
Chicago, June 29.—Thera would be
more wheat in the world it women
smoked fewer cigarets.
| This statement was made by Mrs.
Henry M. Dunlap, wife of State Sena
tor Dunlap, of Savoy, I1L, in an ad
' dress before the women's war conven
tion here.
I “The tobacco crop showed a 40 per
cent increase in 1916 over that of
1916,” said Mrs. Dunlap. "I attribute
this largely to the fact that women are
smoking more cigarets than they used
| to. All those tobacco fields should be
J plnted to wheat. By giving up cig
arets women could help conserve the
wheat of the nation.”
j ..
Man Who Has Completed Trip
Gives Opening “Interview”
About Popularity of Sec
retary of Treasury.
j Washington. D. C., June 29.—Secre
tary McAdoo’s friends are doing much
quiet ' boosting" for him for the demo
cratic nomination for president in 192#.
This has been evident in Washington
i/or some time, especially since the Lib
I erty loan campaign got under way.
■ Some indication of it was given today
in an interview from Maj. J. J. Dickin
son, of New Tor- and Washington, a
friend of Mr. McAdoo, who has just
been through a number of states.
He said:
“A very pronounced, although pos
. sibly quiet sentiment is spreading for
Secretary McAdoo for president. I
found men talking about the secretary
of the treasury everywhere I went and
when politics came up the name most
I mentioned as the possible candidate of
! the democrats for president in 1920 was
that of Mr. McAdoo.
i "Most people give the secretary of
1 the treasury credit for the success of
i the Liberty loan.”_
NEW RUSSIAN HERO
SIBERIAN CONVICT
Sergeant Leads Charge of Tim
id, Wins Commission, Invited
to Command Regiment.
Pctrograd. June 29.—The hero of the
army in the wooded Carpathians is a
former convict from Siberia, who, by
his example, inspired an attack by
forces which heretofore had obdurately
, refused to charge. The ex-convict,
j whose rank was sergeant, led 60 vol
| unteers in a rush on a German blind
l age. The attacking party, confused by
1 heavy tire, wavered, whereupon the ser
geant alone climbed the breastworks
; and hurled a bomb among the enemy.
I Attacked by three Germans, he
' sabered and shot two of them. Then,
with only 18 followers, several strongly
held blindages were rushed. This pro
duced general panic among the enemy
and resulted in the capture of many
prisoners.
(The sergeant was given an officer's
commission, two regiments invited him
to take command and the whole of his
division resolved immediately to par
I ticipate in an offensive.
FORCED LOANS MADE
BY MEXICAN OFFICIALS
Telegrams Show Managers of
Business Are Jailed Until
Money Is Paid.
El Paso. Tex.. June 29.—Forced loans
have been demanded of a number of
foreign mining, mercantile and indus
trial companies in Chihuahua City, by
officials there. Telegrams have been re
ceived here by companies having in
terests In Chihuahua City from their
Chihuahua City representatives asking
for the payment.
One company asked for time and its
representative replied that he was in
prison and would be held there until
the loan was made. Americans, British
subjects and other foreigners are re
ported imprisoned upon their refusal to
meet the demands.
The money is said to be wanted to
p*y the troop* there.
TEACHER HELD FOR
DEATH OF MRS. ROBERTS
Waukesha. Wls.. June 29.—Miss
Grace Dusk, high school teacher, was
held responsible by a coroner's jury for
the death last Thursday of Mrs. M;yy
Newman Roberts, wife of Dr. David
Roberts, for love of whoru Miss Dusk
shot his wife and then attempted sui
cide.
Dr. Roberts was asked:
"What did Miss Lank ask you to tell
your wife?"
"That she was infatuated with me."
the doctor testified in response.
Witnesses testified that Miss Dusk
had told them that Dr. Roberts hud
said he did not love his wife and prom
ised to teH her before June 15 of his
friendship for the school teacher.
FRANCE TO AID TOURISTS.
Paris, June 7.—(by mail)—Americana
who come to France after the war to
visit battlefields and see the country,
will probably find more comfortable
lodgings and better touring facilities,
than have been afforded heretofore. A
decree appearing in the Journal Official,
today, creates a "national < ffioe of tour
ing" attached to the minister of public
works, the objects of which are to cen
tra life and put at the disposition of the
public information of all kinds concern
ing touring and to study and seek out
all appropriate means for developing
towing in France.
fti IN FUN SINCE MONS, ♦
4 WOUNDED THIRD TIME, 4,
4 TO RETURN TO FRONT 4
London, June 29.—“This in my
third time home with wounds," said
a young Irish sergeant through
bandages which came near covering
his entire head, "but its not going
to be the last though they’ve made
a pukka mess of me this time.
They’ve fairly peppered me with
ehrap. There aren’t many of the old
crowd left with my battalion now."
he said, adding that he had been in
the ‘‘fun since Mons.” "My company
got a new draft not long before we
attacked and the new boys went
over the top like the rest of us older
ones. That’s the sort of thing that
used to surprise us regulars, bul
we’ve got over it by this time. It’s
all the one game and the new ones
play it like rood ‘uns. They’re up to
beating Frttz any time."___
RACK PRUSSIANS
Smashing Blow Takes Them to
Within a Mile of Center of
Lens Despite Crack
Guard.
Canadian Army Headquarters in
France, June 29.—Under a protecting
concentration of artillery Are, Canadian
troops early today stormed and cap
tured the German front tine before Avion
a suburb of Lens.
The assaulting troops comprised men
from Columbia, Manitoba, central On
tario and Nova Scotia. Their opponents
were the crack Prussian guards corps.
The advance carried the British line to
within one mile of the center of Isms.
with the British Armies in the Field,
June 29.—Canadian troops today occu
pied the town of Is«auvette, half a mile
southwest of Lens.
Tlie patrols shoved ahead of the vli«
lage and penetrated even further
toward the coal metropolis of France.
This is the nearest the British have
yet come to the city of Lens proper
The motion of the patrols indicates a
general retreat of the Germans ui/der
the tremendously strong and persistent
pressure which the British have been
applying to Leauvette.
Lens is practically encircled on threa
sides by the British.
Reduced to the necessity of fighting
from the ruins of the burned city, their
powerful trenches having been taken,
the Germans fought desperately with
fresh British troops south of the
Soughez river, leading to Avion.
A portion of Avion-Mcrricourt enemy
"switch line” has just been captured
and with very light losses to the Brit
ish. Prussian troops were trapped in
dug outs in this section. They refused
to surrender and the positions were
cleared by bombs.
The British lines touch Lens on three
sides.
Canadian Headquarters in France,
June 29.—The enemy clings tenaciously
to Avion. He gave up his trenches,
which were on a slope leading up to the
village a little over a quarter of a mile
from the first houses, only under strong
compulsion. His new line is immediately
in front- of the most westerly row of
houses in Avion. It is connected with
cellars and dugouts in the village to
which the occupants can retire when
heavily shelled.
Strong Canadian patrols were sent
out during last night along most of the
front to learn something of the condi
tions in this trench line. They found it
strongly held by the enemy and were
unable to enter his defenses. The Can
adian heavy artillery has once more
taken up the work of destruction.
Between Avon and Lens a consider
able stretch of marsh has been flooded
and wire entanglements have been con
structed on the eastern side of the flood
area. There, as it Is to the south, the
new German line is strongly held.
RUSSIANS ARE FIGHTING.
London. June 29—Lively fighting
continues between the Russians and
Austro-Germans on the eastern front,
particularly in Galicia, south of the
Tarnopol railway. The operations on
the Macedonian front continue of minor
importance.
In the Asiago plateau, one of the
Austro-Italian theaters, the Austrian
artillery has shattered position® taken
recently by the Italians and reoccupied
them. The fighting was on Monte
Ortlgara and the Austrian* asserted
that they captured more than 1,300 pris
oner*.
The Rome war office In admitting the
withdrawal of the Italians says that the
destroyed positions afforded no shelter
to the Italian® from the murderous fire
of the Austrian artillery.
_e—
GERMAN ATTACK FAILS.
Paris. June 29.—The German last
night attacked the salient of Wattwell
er. northeast of Thann, in Alsace, ac
cording to the war office announcement
today. They were repulsed, leaving a
number of dead.
SURRENDERS, RELEASED
30 YEARS AFTER MURDER
Franklin. Tex., June 28.—Joseph Mi
jer of ttiis city, was killed here 30
years ago. An Indictment was returned
naming Frank Patrick in (onnection
with the death but he never was ap
prehended and It was supposed that he
was dead. A man who gave his name
as Frank Patrick, recently walked into
the sheriff's offLe and announced he
was wanted for the crime. Patrick to
day was permitted to pk'ad guilty to
manslaughter and given a suspended
sentence._ __
AMERICAN AVIATOR
FUES OVER VERDUN
Regular Army Airman on Firing
Line Believed First to
Reach ‘'Front.”
Parts, June 29.—Oliver Mitchell, an
American army aviator, bus been in
active service flying over the German
line® at Verdun and rise where during
the past week. The announcement was
mode at American hewkruarters today.
He was one of the first regular army
officers to reach France after America
hod declared war.
He ha® the distinction of being the
fleet American army officer “to get tn
ca action" on the western frost
$1.50 AT HIS,
EFFECTIVE HILT I
Operators, Scared by Lane’s
Tuesdav Speech, Give Assent
for Action by Mixed
Conference. ,
INVESTIGATION IS PLANNED
If It Shows Immediate Prices}
Improper, a Change Will Be
Made, According to the
Present Program.
Washington, D. C., June 29.—An 1m-i
mediate general reduction of $1 to $1.5®
a ton In the price of coal at the mind
was agreed upon today by representa-'
.tlves of the coal operators.
Plans were agreed on for announce-*
went later today of tentative "fair and,
reasonable” prices based on suggestions}
from the operators to be effective*
July 1.
This reduction is expected to be fol
lowed by still further decreases in price
after investigation into the costs of
mining coal, and it is probable that the
government will be given a still lower
price than that to the general public.
Hundreds of millions of dollars will be
saved to the American people through
this decision.
The operators agreed to the immed
iate reduction at a meeting today after
adopting a resolution by which coal
prices would be fixed with the aid and
approval of the secretary of the inter
ior, the federal trade commission and
the committee on coal production of
the national defense council.
About 600.000,000 tons of coal were
mined in this country last yeareand
Secretary Lane, who has earnestly
urged a reduction, believes that the
saving to the American people will be
enormous. After hearing of the oper
ators' action, Mr. Lane wrote the fol,
lowing letter to F. S. Peabody, chair
man of the coal production committee,
who has been in constant conference
with the operators:
"I have just learned of the action of
the coal operators and I wish to ex«
press my appreciation of the generous
prompt and patriotic manner in which
they have acted. They have dealt with
the situation in the way that I had
hoped they would as large men dealing
with a large question."
The resolution giving “assent" to fix
ing of maximum prices was reported
by former Governor Fort, from a spe
cial committee. He said he believed
the resolution was entirely safe for the
conference to adopt, and that any re
sponsibility aa to the legality of the
fixing of the prices was put on the
government and not on the operators,
under the terms of the resolution.
Fix Price by July 1.
As soop as this resolution was agreed
to, another one was presented under
which it was proposed that the govern
ment authorise the government repre
sentatives named in the resolution to
issue a statement forthwith fixing a
tentative price which in their judgment
shall be a fair and reasonable one for
the various districts and to be effective
from July 1 until the committee shall
fix a permanent price.
Secretary Lane sent the conference a
letter asking immediate action in re
ducing the prices, the tentative prices
fixed to continue until the investigation
into costs and conditions warranted an
Increase or reduction In the tentative
prices.
DAM BREAKS;
TOWN GONE
Baker, Ore., June 29.—Reports from
Balnea say the town of Rock Creek
was practically swept away today when
a 50-foot dam at the flooded Killama
cue lake, 15 miles west of Haines gave
way. Residents of Haines, which in In
the path of the flood are reported hur
rying for high ground.
Almost every building in the town
is said to have been destroyed. Com
munication with the flooded district
has been cut off. t is not known
whether there has been any loss of
life. _ _ _
PARENTS ARRESTED
FOR FALSE TESTIMONY
Swore Son Under Age—Gov
ernment Finds He Was
Past 21.
Des Moines, la., June 29.—The whole
Small family, of St. Charles, is In bad
with Uncle Sam because Arthur failed
to register June 5. When the lad was
arrested as a slacker, his parents swore
that he was only 20 years old. The gov
ernment dug up evidence to show that
he is past 21. Whereupon, father and
mother were taken into custody, being
held today on charges of perjury.
LABOR REFUSES TO
ATTEND_PEACE MEETING
Washington, June 28.—The American
Federation of Uabor has declined to
participate in the international con
ference of trades unions called by the
recent Stockholm conference to meet
September 17 in Switzerland. President
Oompers has telegraphed to President
IJnrttfuist of the Stockholm conference
that the American federation "regards
all such conferences as premature and
untimely and can lead to no good pur- .
pose."
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT
GIVEN MONTH’S GRACE
Roane, Jun IS.—The chamber of
deputies voted 377 to -S, to extend sup
port to the government for anofbek
month, provisionally.