Nebraska Newspapers

    The Omaha M< irning Dee
> ___
VOL. 52—NO. 153. l"h« OMAHA. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1922. *' & %r)i£"?._TWO CENTS
Wanamaker
Dies, Victim
of Bad Cold
World-tamous Merchant Pio
neer of -Present Busine's
Methods—Began Career
in Humble Way,
Insured for $3,000,000
Philadelphia Pa Dec. 12.— John
Wanamaker died at his home hero at i
S a. m.
The world famous merchant and
former postmaster general passed
way at Ins town house, 2032 Walnut
ireet. lie had been confined there
_ since early In November with :i heavy j
I J contracted at his country estate,
t.yndeiihurs^, ' at Jenklntown. near1
her* He warn SI years old
■'li'- Wanamaker was activo"fh his
business affairs up to the tin is ho was |
stricken llo spent much of last win-I
? oJok < !
i .
ter in Florida, and was iu this city
all summer hard at work, with the me
i option of occasional surcease from
■thfc-dutles of his office for a day at
the sea shore.
Ila was always an early riser and
vas usually in his niereatftile estab
lishment before its doors were opened.
r\!r. Wanamaker is survived by lu«
-on. Kndinan. a resident of New Torts
City, and two daughters. Mary Ti..
wife ‘of Barclay II. Warburton. and
I '.lizabetb. wife of Norman MacLeod,
both of Philadelphia.
Dies Peace lull.'.
Major Barclay H Warburton. Mr.
Wananiaker's son-in-law, notified tlie j
^.soclated Tress that Mr. Wanamaker |
died peacefully at 8 a. in.
U hen Mr. Wanamaker's condition ;
1" I’aine grave during tins yight all !
mi.'inljers of the family were summon- |
oil and nil were present with the ex- i
s idiots of KOilman Wanamaker, who.,
arrived too late
Tho Wanamaker store here and the
one ni New- York wero not opened, a
inllie stating tlmt the stores would
teniuin closed until further notice. :
Tho death of Mr. Wanamaker, who !
-pent his entire life^in "Philadelphia
otd was alWays a leader iri civic move- j
incuts, was received with sorrow by ,
all classes of citizens.
Mr. Watmniaker's life was Insured
lor more than $3,000,000.
Mr. Wanamaker was 24 years old
when li» entered upon his career, in
partnership with his brother-in-law.
Nuihan Brown, on a Joint capital of
',.5tu.i, in a clothing business at
l'htlud> Iphia. He had been born in
bat city, July 11. 1$38. His father
nnd his father's father had been
brick makers, and John Watiamaker’s
lirst work was "turning bricks,” He
was Vi oldest of seven children and
• ally in ids boyhood lie was obliged
to give lip schooling■gtnd earn his own
way. Ills lirst wages were $1.25 a
^week as an errand boy ^n a Phlladel
.iliia book store, and then as a younjj;
■II l#> was employed for a time at
Tower Hall, a famous old Philadel
tTern In Puce Six. Column Two.)
Vuieriian Steamer Bound
for Cape (iolonv. on Fire
Si. Vhneiit, Cape Verde Islands, j
Ho., 12.—(By A. P.)—Th£ American]
ten liter Kastern Glade, bound from i
.New York for Table Buy, Cape Col
in v. Is on tire at sea. according to a
wireless despatch from the liner
Hmunzera, which picked up a i-adlo
Hem the American vessel.
Tim message reported tlie fire was
- lining rapidly.
I lie Kastern Glade sailed from New
York November 30 for Cape Town,
South Africa. It is a vessel of 3,552
tons net weight and is owned by C.
U. Mallory Co.
Woman Vi edded 4-1 Years
Given Divorce for Cruelty
Waukesha, IVis., Per. 12.—After 43
>ear* of married life, Mr. and Mrs.
Olo Anderson of Oconomowoc have
reached tho parting of the v ays.
Charging cruelty and Inhuman
treatment. Mrs. Anderson wai granted
a divorce by Judge D. W. Agnew
here. Mrs. Anderson is 67 and her ,
husband 71.
She asserted ho told her shortly
after the wedding ceremony in 1S"9 i
that ho had “married her on a bet."
Grew of Orteric Removed.
San Francisco. Cal., Pec. 1!.—
Tlie crew of the British steamer j
ort-ric. which is on the rocks at Fish j
Kook, off the California coast 19 miles
south of Point Arena, was being j
t* ansferred to tho steamer Cottonptant i
■ it 3 a. tn.. according to a wireless
message received by tho Federal I
Telegraph company here. !
1
Harding Opposes Ente*v. y
League, Evevn by BacV/^r
Efforts of “Diehards” to Read T V4'^ ^sident’s
Message Determination to Join of No
Avail—America Will Not Be UseC to Pull
European Chestnuts Out of Fire.
R.v GEORGE l-\ AITHIKR.
Hwhmit.ir f orreopondent The Omaha lira.
Washington. Dee. 12.—The "die
hards'’ of tho league of nations per
suasion have endeavored during the
past few days, to read into President
Harding’s message to congress a de
termination to slip into the back door
of the European situation. It cun be
stated on high authority that nothing
is farther from the truth.
The basis for these misrepresenta
tions is the far-t the president said in
hi« message that the Riur-power Pa
cific pact furnished a model w Inch
plight be followed in stabilizing Euro
pean conditions. Those who would in
terpret this a meaning tHe president
proposes to have the I'nited States
join in pacts and a league of shreds
and patched, overlook tho other state
ments made in the same connection.
Will Not Tull f hetlmils.
do said,' amqnx other things, that
th" United. States would not assume
responsibilities which rightfully rest
ed upon the European nations them
selves. In other words, this nation
is not to be used to pull the European
chestnuts out of the tire.
The four-power Pacific pact deals
with a question in w hjeh he United
States is vitally interested. We are
the greatest Pacific power, and not ,
only have a widely extended Pacific
coast lino, but have island possessions
in the orient.
Jn effect it proposes tliat when
questions arise among the powers di
rectly interested, they shall meet to
talk It over.
The president believes similar
agreements could be reached 'ey Euro
pean nations and suggests it broadly.
It doe's not follow, by any means,
that he proposes to declare the United
Stales into any pact vAiicb would deal
with territorial situations in which
we are not directly interested.
Anxious to Aid.
Tho United States is anxious to
aid Europe and its great influence is
made j»ossil>le because of tho inde
pendent attitude it has assumed and
is maintaining.
Stabilization ot conditions in Eu
rope is important to the I nited States,
but this government does not propose
to go about telling every one else
w hat to do. Nations like individuals
must, help themselves before outside
aid can he properly extended.
The administration is continuing to
use “tactful pressure” upon Europe to
.balance Its budgets, to readjust the
reparations situation and to assume
an attitude uf peace. Until this is ac
complished, even economic participa
tion in Europe is unlikely.
Taxpayers' League
Favors 15 Per Cent
Cut in Sehool Tax
Recommends Elimination of
( loinmercial t bourses in High
Sehool—To Meet Dec. J1
—Small Attendance.
Hastings. Net)., Dee. 1". — (.Special
Telegram.)—Because of the small at
tendance, only 11 eu untiea being rep
resented. tho Ta*pa.'er3’ Hague of
Nebraska, adjourned to meet hero De
cember ,111. when the report of the
resolutions committee will be consid
ered. .
W, I, Farley of Aurora presided as
chairman and the resolutions were
reported by P. .T. Shea of Webster. F.
E. Edgerton of Aurora and Frank
Wagner of Gardeld county. Tho com
mittee recommended a cut of 1 u per
cent in school and county takes.
Recommendations on School.*.
Other recommendations made by the 1
committee were:
Shortening course of study in nor
mal schools from four to two ; ears.
Elimination of shorthand and type
writing from High schools.
Elimination of state university
supervision of high schools.
Investigation of state university ex- J
penditures by legislature.
Assessment of farm land on basis of i
valuation as determined by land sales.
Prohibiting officials from lobbying
on legislation affecting their salaries.
Confining high school athletics to
activities fur promotion of health und ■
abolishing district or championship i
games.
Several speakers found particular
objection‘to tho accredited school sys
tern.
Mayor Scott of Aurora, where tho j
league originated, advocates employ
ing three persons to watch legisla
tion affecting taxation.
Cecil Mathews urged eliminating
one of the two judges of the Tenth
district.
Objects to I-and Valuation.
K. t>. Evans of Kenesaw objected to I
the land valuation proposal on tlie
ground that it was In line with the
demand of railroad and other corpora
tions.
The committee also recommended
the abolition of the 50-L0 plan of state
and federal aid road building. (
The enthusiasm of the gathering
was dampened by the advice of John
S. Logan of Clay to the delegates to
consider how long a backward* step
they were prepared to take in reduc
ing taxes, and reminding them that
the legislature had been elected to
study these problems.
The report of the committee on
resolutions declared that $60,000 la
spent yearly on athletics at the state
university.
It was agreed by the delegates that
adoption of the program and further
steps in perfecting tho organization
should be deferred, until a greater
representation of tho state can be
secured.
V- 1
Film Actor (iets Divorce.
„ Isis Angeles. Iier,, 12. — George
Walsh, film aestfr. v as granted a di
vorce in the I,os Angeles superior
court today from Seena. Owen, film
actress, who he charged with deser
tion.
What
to
Give
That is the question
of the hour. Solve
this problem quick
ly and economically
by reading the time
ly hints in the
“Christmas Sugges
tions’’ column in the
“Want” Ad section
of The Omaha Bee.
in Cash *
Ixoot of Holdups'
in Kansas City
•
Hanker Shot by Bandits Who
Stagi- Daring Daylighf
Hobb«*ry in Lobby of
Livestock Exchange.
Kansas City, Mo., Dee. I-.-—In a ■
spectacular holdup if the main lobby j
of the livestock exchange building |
here lkto today, three unmasked ban- |
dita obtained fliti.OOO and shot Thomas
|c. a. Henry, credit manager of tha
Drovers National bank. Henry Is ei
Viected to recover. Henry was In
charge of a detail of tlvo men sent by
the bank to get the money at a post
office substation in the 1 Exchange
building. They, received the money
in five packages,*joined by .lack Kel
ley. house detective, they started back ,
to the bank.
As the bank messenger* emerged into
the main lobby, three bandits, waving
revolvers, commanded them to hold up
their hands. All compiled except
Henry, w ho carried the largest pack"
age nf money, raid to have contained
$40,000. Henry clutched the package
of money and tried to evade the hold
up men. One of the bandits pursued
quid fired. Henry fell to the floor,
Tho bandit grasped the package and
Joined his companions, who bad taken
money packages from the other mes
jjengers. One package, containing
$4,000. was overlooked.
The bandits retreated to the street,
w'here one accomplice was waiting in
a motor cur and another was stand- ,
Ing guard to prevent outside Inter
ference. Pursuit was not attempted. 1
The bandit car later was found aban
doned several blocks away.
__
Woman Is Acquitted
of Killing Sweetheart
Montevideo, Minn., Dee. 1".—Miss
Elsie Salisbury, stenographer, charged
with first degree murder in connec
tion with the shooting to death of
Oscar Erickson, railway accountant,
here April ?i, was acquitted by a I
jury jr; OhippeWa county district court
hist night.
When the verdict was rvad Miss
Salisbury’s *jes filled with tears and
sl-.e fell into the arms of her mother, i
who has been with "her constantly!
during the tilal, which began last I
Monday.
Erickson was shot while in a local
railway office w herg he was am- I
ployed. According to Ills dying state- !
ment, as* read at the trial, the shoot- 1
ing occurred when he turned to pick ,
Up a letter for Miss Salisbury, his
sweetheart. Three bullets entered his I
body.
The defense contended the shoot- !
ing wap accidental through the quick
discharging of an automatic pistol.
I
Cotton Production, 9,964,000
Bales, Falls Below Forecast
Washington, Dec. 12.—Reducing, Its
forecast, made In October by 171,000
bales, the Department of Agriculture
in its final estimate of the season to
day, placed the t'^al production of
cotton this year at 9,964,000 bales.
.The estimate is smaller than any of
tJ-,o four forecasts made tills season
which were based on condition of the
I crop in the various months of Ihe
growing season.
i Widow of Former Treasurer
of U. S. Expires in Cheyenne
Cheyenne, Wyo„ Dec. 12.— Mrs.
Margaret Wyman, 75, widow of Al
1 bert V. Wyman, former treasurer of
I the United States, died yesterday at the
1 home of her daughter, Mrs. William
IP. Neely, wife of a colonel at Fort
' Russell. Her husband was a personal
friend of President U. P. Grant, by
whom he was first appointed.
Man Killed by Mob.
Streetman, Tev., Dec. 12.—Accused
of attacking a young woman early
} esterday, George Gap, 25, was taken
froin Sheriff Mayo in the afternoon,
chained tom tree and shot to death
by a mob Bttimated at more than
, l,C9o men. The mob then dispersed.
t
Attack on
Daugherty
Is Launched
Keller Specifications Will Be
Heard in Order Selected
l>v Him —Taft Will
Not Be Called.
Charge Bums Fixed Jury
Washington, Pec. 12.—Hearings on
impeachment proceedings brought
against Attorney General Daugherty
by Represenlath e Keller, republican,
Minnesota, were opened today before
the house judiciary committee. They
were marked by frequent clashes be
tween members of the committee and
Jackson 1’. Ralston, counsel for Mr.
Keller, first as to the method of pro
cedure and second as to the relevancy
of testimony. ^ »
Tho Minnesotan won i!w first skir
mish. the committee voting in execu
tive session after an hour and a half
of wrangling to hear first evidence on
tlirw of the t'l specifications desig
nated liy Mr. Keller instead of taking
tho charges up in the numerical order
in which they were presented origi
nally.
Anothe# decision was against tho
summoning of Chief Justice Taft,
whose presence had hecn requested
by Mr. Ralston for the pufpbses of
confirming a letter which Mr. Taft
wrote 1n 1312 while president to Attor
ney General Wickersham and which
was read Into the record during the
day. The committee held that con
firmation would be unnecessary.
falters Introduced.
This letter and one written to Mr.
Taft toy Mr. Vlckersham constituted
tlie principal evidence submitted to
day. They both dealt with a pardon
for Hillard N. Jones, convicted in
Oregon in 1007 of alleged bind frauds
and referred to alleged activities of
William .T. Burns, appointed last year
by Mi-. Daugherty as chief of the
bureau of investigation of the Depart
ment of Justice, in connection with
the drawing of the jury in the Jones
case.
The purpose of their miroiTucUon
into the. record, Mr. Ralston ex
plained, was t«y support the charge in
tha impoachuient specifications that
m\ Paughcrtvi had appointed to posi
tion;; "of great importance and large
financial and moral responsibility'’
men who are untrustworthy, corrupt
and dangerous to the liberties of the
people of the f,nite<J Btates.” *
In 'the Vlckersham report to the
president, it was set forth that Mr.
Burns, w ho then was employed by the
gojernment under Francis J. Heney
a^^yeoial prosecutor in the land fraud
cdte;;, obtained in advance a list of
prospective petit jurors who were to
be called in the trial before Judge
Gilbert and that after 600 of the 2,600
names had been found satisfactory
from his standpoint their names had
been allowed to remain in the jury
box.
Taft Is Astounded.
President Taft, in replying to Mr.
Wickersham and approving a pardon
for Jones, declared the methods de
scribed constituted "the most bare
faced and unfair use of all the
machinery for drawing a jury." which
had been disclosed to him in all Ips
long experience in the federal courts.
He added that tills condition "gives
sufficient reason to justify a pardon”
for Jones aa well as "justifying con
demnation of the methods of Heney
and Burns.”
Paul Howland, of1 Cleveland, O..
who appeared as personal counsel
for Mr. Daugherty, developed from
James A. Finch, pardon attorney for
the Department of Justice, who pre
pared the report in the land fraud
case, that both Mr. Burns and Air.
Heney had denied the charges with
regard to the drawing of the Jones
jury. Mr. Finch testified also that
Judge Gilbert bad denied the charges
but Mr. Ralston declared the official
records of the Department of Justice
would shew that the trial judge sub
sequently had changed his opinion.
Object to Letters.
Afier^Mr. Ralston had disclosed that
it was not his purpoae to undertake
to show that Mr. Burns had contin
ued since 1907, the alleged practices
referred to in the Wickersham re
port. several members of the commit
tee objected to the admission of the
letters on the ground that they were
irrelevant. They were overruled by
Chairman Volstead, however, and Mr.
Ralston proceeded to offer testimony
intended to show' that -Mr. Daugherty
had knowledge of the Wickersham re
port before appointing Mr. Burns.
On this point. Guv IT. Oyster, con
fidential secretary to Samuel Gomp
ers, president of the American Federa
tion of T.abor. testified that Mr.
Gompers had called the Wickersham
document to Mr. Daugherty's atten
tion last July before announcement
was made of Mr. Burns' appointment.
This was at the attorney general's of
fice, in his presence, he said, adding
.that Mr. Daugherty had verified the
copy Mr. Gompers had from a
"pamphlet” for which Mr. Daugherty
had sent.
Before the committee adjourned for
the day, announcement vras made that
two additional witnesses. Mr. Wicker
sham and Mr. Gompers, would be
heard on the specification taken up
today. Mr. Ralston asked tha tthey
be summoned for tomorrow.
a©
Ten little shopping days,
Of Christmas that's a sign;
One wasiwasted playing bridge;
Then there were nine.
The Invitation
THE.
$Oo«A
Missing Flyers
Bdieved Dead
Last !>een U\er Wild Country
iu Arizona With Engine
Missing Badly.
——
Nogaiea, Ariz., Bee. 12.—None ot
the army planes making Nogales
their flying base would make ^iy
^flights today in search of the two
missing aviators, Col. Marshall and
Lieut. Webbed, according to Capt.
i Erwin, in command of tho planes.
I Capt. Erwin stated tho reason for
not resuming the fllghta into^Mexieo
, this morning was that all jtlie planes
had had two days of hard work and
were in need of overhauling.
Col. A. J. McN’ab, Jr., commander of
Camp Stephen D. Little, was engaged
this morning in tho questioning of
a Mexican who is reported to have
seen two aviators walking southwest
of Nogales Saturday.
Relieved l>eud.
LI Paso, Tex., De-\ 12.—The plane
carrying Col. Francis Marshall and
Lieut. C. I. Webber, missing army fli
ers, was last Seen lato Thursday after
noon between Twin Buttes and the
Santa Rita tango of Arizona, flying
in an easterly direction with She mo
tor missing badly, according to a
wire received at headquarters of the
First cavalry division from Col. K. V.
Winans, Tenth cavalry, who is co
ordinating with the work of the San
Diego, Fort Bliss and Kelly field
squadrons in the search.
While the report seemingly indi
cates that the missing men did not
loso their Hearings and cross into
Mexican territory, it also destroys
hopes of arniy men here who have ex
pected the two officers would be
| found alive.
Tlie strip of territory over which
I they wrere last seen is a country of
broken hills, jagged volcanic forma
tions and irregular plateaus where a
forced landing at any point 'might
prove disastrous.
.San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 12.—Seven
army airplanes under command of
Major George li. Brett, chief of the
air sebvice in ilia Nintli corps area,
left here today lor Nogales, Ariz., to
participate in file search for Col.
| Francis Marshall and Lieut. C. I,.
[ Webbetr, missing army airmen,
i The airplanes took off in a rain
storm.
Hope Murderess Caught
in Casper, Vi-yo., Fades
Casper, Wyo., Dee. 12.—Police au
thorities have definitely established
the identity of the woman held in jail
there us Beatrice Craig of Kirby,
Wyo., Police Captain Clayton said to
day. He declared that reports given
to newspaper correspondents that the
woman might lie Clara Phillips had
partly as their basis a wish of mem
bers of the force to "hoax” the news
papermen. He said the woman would
be held pending an investigation into
her sanity.
Potato Kaisers Favor
Cuoipulsory (»ratling
Lincoln, Dec. 1".—(Special Tele
! cram.)—Leo Stuhr, stare secretary of
| agriculture, declared today upon his
return from the annual meeting of tho
Potato Improvement association at ,M
i liance, that resolutions wero adopted
| favoring present laws and regulations
relative to raising potatoes eubstuu
, daily os they are today. ,Ho said sen
timent was strong for compulsory
| grading
44t
4
___;
Day’s Activities
in Washington
Senator Simmons, democrat, South
Carolina, re introduced the soldiers
bonus bill vetoed by President Hard
ins.
President Harding signed the bill
authorizing the retirement of As
sociate Justice Pitney from the su
preme court bench. ,
Development of the Mississippi
river was urged by Governor Parker
of Ijouisianh in testimony before the
house flood committee. ’ /
The senate passed the^ annual
treasury appropriation bill in prac
tically the same form In which it was
approved last Saturday by the house.
'Die Department of Agriculture es
timated tills year’s total cotton pro
duction at 9,964.000 bales, 171,000 less
than its Octobeij forecast.
It was indicted at the White House
that the United States regarded with
concern the failure of allied premiers
to reach ait agreement on German
reparations.
Republican leaders decided to give
rural credits, when a bill is ready for
consideration, right of way in the
senate over the administration ship
ping bill.
Vresldent Harding and his ad\iSers
decided that tlie administration was
not obliged to act on the -proposed
merger of the Armour and Morris
meat packing interests.
->-%
The house judiciary committee be
gan it hearings on the Keller im
peachment charges against Attorney
General Daugherty and agreed it
would be unnecessary to call Chief
Justice Taft as a wittfbss.
Farmers’ Union Against
Federal Aid for Roads
I.incoln, Dt>o. 12.—(Special Tele
gram.)—J. O. Schroyer, chairman of
the legislative committee of the farm
ers’ union, issued ta^Jay what he
claimed was the attitude of the or
ganization toward legislation desired
this winter. His program follows:
Turning down the $6,000,000 offered
by the government for good reads if
the state appropriates a like sum.
Taking public utilities at rate mak
ing rates.
Discontinuance of issuance tax free
securities. »
Beatrice Woman Sentenced;
Two Girls Given Fines
Daisy I’teree, 30. Beatrice, Neb., ar
rested Monday oo charges of petit
larceny from the Rr&ndeis store, was
given a suspended sentence of 60 days
in jail by Judge Wapplch in central
police court yesterday.
Therese and Ruth Vincient, 16 and
17. both of Beatrice, were fined $12.60
each on similar charges and ordered
held for the juvenile court officers.
J
Steamer Goes Aground.
Sault Ste Marie, Mich., Dec. 12.—
The steamer J. J. II. Erown of Buf
falo, .with a cargo of coal for Chicago,
went aground off Point Nichols, Bola
Blanc island this morning durlhg the
worst snow an® wind storm in years.
Capt. Maddlson and his crew of 28
men were taken off by the coast guard
from Walkers T*oi'’* The rescue was
effected in a raging blizzard.
The steauier la reported to have a
hole in its hull and to be leaking
[ badly..
«
Trial of Smith
Starts in Yuma
Alleged Embezzler, Wanted in
Nebraska and Oklahoma,
Fares Arizona Charges,.
Yuma, Ariz., Dec. 12.—The trial of
Alva E. Smith, who faces charges in
three states in connection with em
bezzlement, opened here today. Smith
in Ills present trial is charged epe
elficaliy with misappropriation of $10,
OOO belonging to the bank rAFarker,
Ariz., of which he is presidem.
He al.so faces ether Charges grow
ing out of tho failure,of the Parker
bank and is wanted by authorities In
both Oklahoma and Nebraska.
John Knox, state bank examiner of
Oklahoma, is expected to arrive hero
and testify during the trial. Ho will
bo accompanied by several Okkihoma
bank officials. Smith purchased stock
in the Parker bank last spring. Ho
is alleged to hare given a check on
an Oklahoma bank in payment for thb
stock and then to have transferred
funds of the Parker bank to cover the
check.
Smltlf was arrested on a power
schooner bound from San Diego to
Mazatlan, Mexico, last August, and
returned to California, where a three
cornered fight was waged*by Arizona,
Oklahoma and Nebraska officials for
his custody.
Governor Stephens of California
finally granted extradition to Arizona
and Smith lias since been held In the
Yuma jail as he could not furnish
bonds totalling $125,000.
Acton Pleads Guilty
to Accepting'Bribes
Charles Acton, indicted on a charge
of Impersonating a federal prohibi
tion officer, pleaded guilty before
Judge; Wood rough in United States
district court yesterday. He will bo
sentenced today.
The specific charge against Acton
"as offering to accept bribes.
A list of 20 names was on file in
the office of the' United States dis
trict attorney, of persons alleging
Acton solicited bribes ranging from
110 to ICO from them. Most of tho,
persons whose names arc In this list
have been convicted of or pleaded
guilty to charges of liquor law viola
tion* since Acton's indictment.
Nobraekan Is Freed
by Chinese Hand
l’ekin, Dec. 12.—(By A. P.)—Anton
Dundeen of Newman Grove, Neb., a
missionary kidnaped by bandits in Ho
nan province on October 13, last, has
been released, It was announced here
today.
Three other Americans are still held
captive aii(i the diplomatic corps here
has appointed a commission whtch
will start for Honan province Thurs
day to negotiate their release. <
The Weather
Foreraat.
Wednesday, fair; slowly rising tem
perature.
Hourly Temperatures.
A h. m..
rt u. m.
7 a. h».. .
# a. m.
V a. n*.
10 a. m.
11 a. m.
15 noon ...
1 p. m...V
* p. m.ii
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* I>. m...13
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Merger of
Packers Is
Permitted
Government Will Not Inter
fere Before Deal Is Closed; •
Future Action Is Careful
.
ly Avoided iu Statement.
Data Given to Senate
• _
Washington, Pec. 12.—The govern
ment will take no action at this tlmo
cn the proposed acquisition of Mor
tis & Co.’s physical assets by Armour
& Co. of Chicago, it was formally an
nounced today by tlie secretary of
agriculture. This decision was reach
ed by Secretary Wallace after long
study of the proposal and conferences
with President Harding and Attorney
General Daugherty. There wg a no in
dication In Washington whether Ar
mour & Co. would proceed with their
negotiations for the Morris plant,
which is a competitor and one of the
“big five" packing establishments.
Secretary Wallace declared there
appeared to be no occasion for action
ill this time under the packers and
stockyards act which ho administers,
in connection with tho proposal In
formally laid before him by J. Ogden
Armour. Mr. Wallace also transmit
trd this Information and andditional
data on the proposal to the senate
In response to a resolution of Senator
I.a Follette. Wisconsin.
Merger Not Prohibited.
In a formal announcement. Mf.
Wallace declared there was nothing
In tho packers and stockyards act
which specifically prohibits the pur
chase by one packer of the physical
assets of another. An opinion of At
torney General Daugherty, made pub
lic with the announcement, paid the
act is essentially a regulatory one and
that the duties and powers of the fee
retary of agricultutro thereunder are
to regulate the industry.
The attorney general declared neither
the act itself nor the regulation
provided for therein' known or re
quired that the secretary of agrleul
turo should advise the industry in
regal’d to 3uch a transaction as pro
posed by Mr. Armour In advance of Its
eonsumation. Mr. Danghtery said the
act vested Mr. Wallace w 1th broad
powers of inquiry- and he was of the
' opinion Mr. Wallace might mal e
surh inquiry.
"The language of tHfe parkrrs and
stockyards act," raid Mr. Daugherty,
"makes it clear to me that the act
does not require you to take any
formal action unless you have reason
to belit^o that the law has been
violated or% ie being violated. To
constitute a violation of law within
the meaning of this act, there must
i be something more than a mereatale
! inent of what a person or Corporation
! contemplates.”
Cite Taft Decision.
Citing a decision of the supreme
court Involving the act. Mr. Daugh
erty quoted from Chief Justice Taft
ns follows:
“Its provisions are carefully drawn
to apply only to those practices and
obstructions which, in the judgment
of congress, aro likely to affect In
terstate commerce prejudicany."
Secretary Wallace in his formal
statement1 said:
‘‘Mr. J. Ogden Armour came her*
and stated in an informal way that
his firm had under consideration a
proposal to purchase the physical as
sets of the packing plants Owned and
operated by Morris & Co.
No Application Made.
“Contrary to what seems to be a
general opinion, Mr. Armour did not
■present an application for the priv
ilege of merging these two plants.
Ho came to me with the frank state,
rnent that by buying the business
of Morris & Co., ho expected to be
able to add largely to the volume of
business of Armour A Co and thus
effect large economies in the ad
ministration of the business. Dur
ing the war, when there was mqst
urgent demand foe the largest pos
sible amount of meat to maintain the
allied forces overseas, most of tho
; largo packers made extensive addi
tions to their plants at large expense.
Under conditions which have pre
vailed since the war, the business has
not been sufficient to enable them to
run the plants at full capacity and,
as is the case with many other busi
ness enterprises, this has left them
with an overhead expense out of pro
portion to the volume of business be.
- ing done.
Competition to Continue.
Uriefs of Armour & Co. presented td
Secretary Wallace and transmitted to
the senate contended that the con
solidation would not hinder, but would
increase, competition lu the packing
industry. Decisions interpreting the
/Ihernian and Clayton ajitl-trust laws,
the federal trade commission act and
the packers and stockyards aOt were
cited to support the proposed con
solidation.
That the government, under thi
packers and stockyards act. would r«
(Tnrn in Ta*« SI*. folium. font. >
Lower Freight Rates From
Kansas and Missouri Held Up
Lincoln. Dec. 12.—(Special Tele
grain) The state railway commission
received notice from tho Interstate
Commerce commission that lower
freight rates authorized from Missouri
and Kansas shipping points to towns
in southern Nebraska had been can
celed indefinitely following protests by
Hastings and Grand Island whole,
salers.
Auto Turns Over in Sand;
Line Driver Underneath
Arnold, Neb-, Dec. 12—(Special.)—.
H T. Wallis and Hay Hicks, on their
way to Arnold from Broken Bow in
an automobile, struck n stretch of
sand a mile east of Arnold. The front
wheels turned inward, causing the car
to turn over. Wallace was pinned un
derneath the car. while lllcks wa«
thrown clear of the machine,
» ,v