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BITS OF NEWS
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BULL SOLD FOR $50,000,
WORLD RECORD PRICE.
Chicago, March 20. What was
declared to be a world record price
of $50,000 for a pure-bred Hereford
bull was announced today by J. B.
Ferguson as having been paid by
" Ferguson Brothers of Canby,
Minn., for "Richard Fairfax," a 5-year-old
registered animal.
The best previous American price
was $31,000 for "Ardmore," sold by
W. L. Yost to W. R. Pickering,
s both of Kansas City, Mo.
"Richard Fairfax" was raised by
Warren T. McCray of Kentland,
Ind. . He was five years old last
November. His weight is between
2,400 and 2,500 pounds.
FOOD PRICES DECLINE
6 PER CENT DURING MONTH
Washington, March 20. Although
food prices showed a decline of 6
per cent during the month ending
last February IS, the prices were 9
per cent higher than those prevail
ing in February, 1918, and about 75
per cent higher than the price aver
age of 1913.
Price statistics for last month, an
nounced today by the Department of
Labor, showed that 26 of the 42 ar
ticles listed were cheaper in Feb
ruary than in the preceding mouth.
The marked decreases were:
Eggs 33 per cent and butter 19 per
cent.
Potatoes led the 12 articles, show
. ing an increase by an advance of 25
per cent.
MEMORIAL T0"bE HELD
- IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY
London, March 20. A memorial
service for American soldiers and
.sailors who ell in the war is to be
beld in Westminster Abbey April 4.
SECRETARY GLASS MAKES
APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM
Minneapolis, March" 20. Appeal
ing confidently to the patriotism of
the American people make to a suc
cess of the coming Victory liberty
loan, Secretary of Treasury Carter
Glass in two speeches in the Twin
Cities today declared the loan could
not be floated on a strictly commer
cial basis. ,
The people have ample resources,
he declared, from the $11,000,000,
000 trade balance of the last three
furs, high war wages and the thrift
engendered by the war and its sav
i ings campaigns.
BAILEY RENOUNCES
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Newark, N. J., March 20.--Assert-ing
that the democratic party has
"ceased to support democratic prin
cioles." former United States Sen
ator Joseph W. Bailey of Texas de
:lared in an address here tonight that
he would "never again vote for the
candidate of any party which con
stantly reduces our liberty and un
necessarily increases our taxes."
PETRCGRAD WOMAN
EXECUTIONER EXECUTED
Copenhagen, March 20. A bolshe
vik newspaper in Fetrograd publish
es a long list of persons executed
in connection with the counter-revolution.
Among the names is that
of Madame Sternberg-Jakoleva,
president of the committee dealing
with executions, who herself had
been held responsible for thousands
of executions.
No reason is assigned for execu
tion. price stabilization '
Advocated by hoover.
New York, March 20. A cable
gram from Herbert Hoover, .di
rector general of the international
relief organization, expressing regret
that this country had abandoned
stabilization of hog prices andnrg
ing continuation of stabilization of
sugar, cottonseed products and
"wheat, was discussed at a meeting
here today of executive officers of
the food administration. -
Pointing out that hog prices had
risen since the stabilization plan
was abandoned two weeks-ago, Mr.
. Hoover's message asserted that if
the only foodstuffs now controlled
are thrown upon the market "with
out any steadying hand," the dire
need of the world may produce fur
ther dislocation and place an added
. burden on American consumers.
STOLEN POCKETBOOKS
FOUND IN DEACON'S LOOT
Minneapolis, March 20. Stolen
pocketbooks still containing the
money lost by their original owners
were found today in the heap of loot
accumulated by George Hyatt,
Anoka printer and deacon, when an
"identification party" was held at
the Anoka jail, attended by nearly
every resident of the village. Hyatt,
who was indicted by two grand jur
ies today, claims he made no effort
to dispose of stolen goods which he
"accumulated" in the last 10 years.
Even the home guard uniform
which he wore while holding up the
Champlin bank last Friday was
stolen from a fellow-townsman, he
said.
' Hyatt's 15-year-old accomplice, a
minister's son, told police today of
a new kind of robbery in which the
pair engaged for many months. At
village parties the lad was stnt to
the front door to ring the bell wtoile
Hyatt, by a flanking movement, en
tered the kitchen and stole "eats."
. No official action has yet been taken
against the boy.
Toys, stolen by Hyatt from
Anoka stores, were said to have been
given as presents to his Sunday
School class. Numerous store
robberies were indicated in the find
ing of 119 hats, both men's and wo
men's in his room.
CHARLES MAY FIND
REFUGE IN SWITZERLAND
Geneva, March 20. The Swiss
government has received a formal
demand from former Emperor
Charles .of Austria requesting per
( him in live in Switzer
land. As the allies, through Arthur
I. Balfour, British foreign secretary,
.N.nHH nn the subject. rC-
' . v 1 1 auuiiu.- - - t t
centty, made no objection to such
Residence, there quest prooaoiy win
granica. .r
D a. -'...A ltr frnm Xii
glutei, 25 miles west of Berne, say
mat the former t-mpress .u, wc
M Charles, has arrived there in
cognito and is living in a private
VOL. 48 NO. 237.
I 1 1 I
UVI VPJ
REDUCTION
OF HOURS
IN n
GRANTED
British-Government "Accepts
Report of Commission
Supporting Demands of
Colliery Workers.
London, March 20. Andrew
Bonar Law, the government spokes
man, in a statement in the house of
commons tonight said that the gov
ernment had accepted the report of
the special coal coinmissio, of
which Justice Sir John Sankey is
chairman, including its undertaking
to report on the question' of nation
alization by May 20 and to issue
interim reports from time to time on
the problem of improvements in tbe
coal industry.
Proposals of this nature would be
put into immediate operation, de
clared Mr. Bonar Law. This involv
ed the continuance of coal control
for two years.
Grant Two-Thirds of Demands.
With reference t4he Sankey re
port, which he explained was signed
by three representatives of' the em
ployers not dirctly concerned in the
coal industry, and granted the min
ers two-thirds of their demands in
wages, Mr. Bonar Law said that the
signers of the report recommended
a further reduction in hours in 1921
because they assumed that bv then
the output of 191.3, namely, 287,000,
000 tons, woud be resumed. The
estimated cost for the current year
was $215,000,000.
It was proposed that the profits of
the coal masters should be limited
to 14 pence per ton. Taking all
things into consideration the esti
mated cost to the tax-payers would
be nearly $150,000,000. s
Mr. Bonar Law also announced
that the employers had made what
he himself am', the labor minister
regarded reasonable proposals to the
transports workers,, and he had rea
son to believe would prove accept
able to the men.
Seven-Hour Day Favored.
The interim report to the coal
commission, of which Justice Sir
John Sankey is chairman, issued to
night, recommends seven hours of
work underground, instead of eight,
from July 16, next, and six hours
from July 13, 1921, subject to the
economic position of the industry.
The report recommends an in
crease in wages of two shillings per
shift for colliery workers no under
sliding scales, and an advance of one
shilling for workers under 16 years.
In the interest of the country the
colliery workers, it is further recom
mended, shall have an effective voice
in the direction of the mines.
The present system of ownership
and of working is condemned, and
a substitute must be found either in
nationalization or unifications by na
tional purchases 6r joint control.
Another report, by the mine own
ers on the commission, recommends
an increase of 18 pence a day in
wages and a reduction of working
hours to seven.
A third report by the miners' rep
resentative, signed by Robert
Smillie, the miners' leader; Frank
Hodges, Sir Leo Chiozza Money,
Sidney Webb and others, recom
mends acceptance in full of the min
ers' demands, including nationaliza
tion. Omaha Jurist Takes
Hand in Investigation
of Promotion Frauds
Chicago, March 20. Thorough in
vestigation which may result' in
wholesale indictment of persons in
volved in stock promotion frauds
was promised today by United States
District Attorney Clyne, who said
his office already is preparing for
prosecution ,of officials of three cor
porations. Indictments already have
been obtained in one case.
S. R. Rush of Omaha, who has
aided in prosecution of the McAl
lister Real Estate exchange case in
Cincinnati, the Florida Everglades
land, and other important cases, will
assist in the investigations centered
here, Mr. Clyne announced.
One of the cases which Mr. Clyne
says will be presented to the fed
eral grand jury next week is that
of the Consumers Packing company,
which Judge Landis for several
weeks has torn to pieces in disclos
ing financial tangles and in his
search for assets for stockholders.
Dividends Will Be Met
by Issuing Certificates
Washington, March 20. Divi
dends and interest on railroad
stocks and bonds due April 1,
amounting to approximately $70,
000,000, will be met by the railroad
administration by issuance of cer
tificates of indebtedness for amounts
due from rentals and other sources.
The war finance corporation "will
make cash advances to the com
panies on the certificates.
Eatar4 u Mtoad-eliai nitlw May M. IMS. tt
Omaha P. 0. u6r aot t March 3. II7S
Thomas Johnston, Ex-Soldier, 1 P 1 1 T M A 11 F
RlinrllUU I IVmllL
Vyii.lt4i.lt AJJJy
While Walking Along Street
Young Man, Gassed While Working in Government
l . Laboratory in Washington, Loses Sight of One Eye
and After Discharge and Return Home, Vision
Fails Entirely; Darkness to Be His Lot.
And suddenly there was darkness!
This is a story of the light that failed! The story of
sudden darkness, in place of light, which came to Thomas S.
Johnston, ex-soldier, Omaha", who suddenly on Farnam street
found himself totally blind, found that a life of T)lindne3s was
the toll that his war god had demanded.
Johnston was gassed while in a laboratory in Washing-
! ton. He was sent to ji hospital. He was pronounced fit for
discharge, and in this condition was discharged from the
jarmy.
I One day Johnston appeared at the
i War Camp Community service. The
Chamber of Commerce had directed
him there. He asked for nothing
except a chance to work. He was
conscientious" and soon became
familiar to business men as one who
distributed insurance posters.
Dropped Out of Thought.
The days passed and as is con
mon in the business life the man
dropped out of the thoughts and
activities of the work-a-day world.
After several weeks Johnston
came to the offices in bad condition.
He had no money for breakfast and
his eye, injured by the gas. in the
laboratory, was failing. He bacame
janitor in one of the department
stores and while sweeping the green
carpets that eye completely lost its
sight.
Johnston continued his work
asking no aid that a man in uniform
could claim. His uniform had been
discarded when its service was com
pleted and as a civilian he only
asked his place in the business
world.
Both Eyes Blinded.
Thursday he appeared at the War
Camp Community service and said
that while walking down the street
at noon the sight in both eyes sud
denly left him. He could not see
and dazed, he asked some passer-by
to help him home. Since that time
he has been unable to leave his
room. His mother lives in Colo
rado. Johnston wore no uniform, not
even a gold bar on the sleeve, and
Call Meeting to Discus?
Excessive Building Cost
Three Thousand New Dwellings Are Needed in Omaha,
Realtors Declare Mayor Appoints Committee to
Investigate High Cost of Building Material.
The housing problem in Omaha
has reached serious proportions.
The good fellowship committee of
the Chamber of Commerce has call
ed a mass meeting for next Wednes
day at 8 o'clock to discuss means of
meeting the urgent need for homes.
"We must have more residences,
particularly for people of moderate
means and we've got to have them at
once," said J. M, Gillan of the
Chamber of Commerce industrial bu
reau. "Men who cannot afford to
pay high rents have tramped the
city over in search of places to live.
New industries bring many new fam
INDICTMENT FOR
DR. WILKINS ON
MURDER CHARGE.
y
Accused Physician Maintains
Composure When Accused
of Killing Wife.
Long Beach, N. Y., March 20.
Dr. Walter Keene Wilkins, whose
wife was killed with a hammer on
the night of February 27 and who
told the police .hat Imrglar.s had
committed the deed, was indicted to-,
day by the Nassau county grand
jury for murder in the first degree.
District Attorney Weeks said the
accused physician had maintained
his composure throughout a long
examination in the district attor
ney's office, which preceded the in
dictment. Only once, Mr. Weeks
said, did he show the slightest trace
of irritation.
This, it was said, was when Mr.
Weeks challenged his assertion that
he had 'fled from New York only
for the purpose of consulting his
steapdaughter, Mrs. Odette Shep
herd, formerly Odette Tyler, an ac
tress, at her home in Washington.
Mr. Weeks informed the physician
he had learned that Mrs. Shepherd
had been in Los Angeles for eight
weeks.
Then, it was said, Dr. Wilkins
exclaimed: "I have never had any
accusation made against me before
in my life until these devilish
charges came up."
Speaker Stricken.
New York. March 20. Frederick
Augustus Schermerhorn, a capitalist
and a former trustee of Columbia
university, was stricken with apop
lexy tonight while delivering an ad
dress at a dinner at the Union club
and died a few minutes later. He
was born in this citv 75 years ago.
OMAHA, FRIDAY,
KJ VI JLllllVl
Unscathed in War,
Soldier Loses Eye
by Motor Car Crank
CharlesSeldmari, Omaha sol
dier boy, who returned recently
from France, after serving with
out a scratch throughout the
campaigns thai: beat the Huns
and ended the war, lost his right
jcye in Council Bluffs while
cranking his automobile.
He was demonstrating a car
that refused to respond to the
starter and "kicked" viciously
when he attempted to crank it.
The handle struck him in the
eye, tearing it from the socket.
Seldman had driven the car
from Omaha to make a sale and
after the injury was determined
to drive back' alone. Instead, he
was taken to Dr. Dean's office
and thence to the Edmundson
hospital. Seldman lives at 919
South Twenty-seventh street,
Omaha.
the passer-by went on, not knowing
of the tragedy that was at hand. The
young man went to two specialists
Dr. Bliss and Dr. Wherry, who
are caring for him at the University
hospital and taking all pains pos
sible with the patient.
And this is the story of the light
that failed the story of what the
war cost one man, even though' he
did not see trench service in France.
ilies to Omaha, but the city's growth
will be retarded if we cannot pro
vide housing facilities for them."
Real estate dealers estimated 3,000
new dwellings would onjy partially
fill the present need.
High prices on building material
is the stumbling block in the after-the-war
building program so vital
to Omaha, to fill the need for con
struction suspended during the per
iod of war, is the charge made by
realtors and home builders.
The meeting Wednesday ' night
will be an open forum. Every pos-
(Continued on Pace Mix, Column Four.)
TREE MEMORIALS
FOR SOLDIERS
KILLED IN WAR.
Secretary Houston Urges Wide
Observance of Arbor Day
to Honor the Fallen.
Washington, March 20. Nation
wide observance of Arbor day
through the planting of trees dedi
cated to . soldiers who died during
the war was urged today by Secre
tary Houston in a letter to govern
ors of the states.
He asserted he could not conceive
a better way to keep alive the mem
ory of those who had fallen.
"Now that the great war has come
to its conclusion," Mr. Houston said
in his letter, "we shall seek many
ways to perpetuate the memory of
those who made the great sacrifice.
It has been happily suggested that
we do this by adorniilg with young
trees, each named for a fallen sol
dier,, our waysides, our yards, and
our pleasure places. This can .be
done on Arbor day, which is now
at hand in most of our states. Such
an observance of the day will give
it a meaning more profound, a pur-'
pose more exalted, than it ever had
before."
Hitchcock in Coblenz.
Washington, March 20. Repub
lican leaders were speculating today
on a Coblenz, Germany, dispatch
announcing that Frank H. Hitch
cock, former postmaster general and
previously manager of the successful
Taft campaign, was a spectator at
General Pershing's review of troops.
He is quoted as saying he was
"merely on a sight-seeing trip." The
State department has announced that
passports are not being issued to
sightseers
MARCH 21, 1919.
IN PRICES
OF PIG IRON
AND STEEL
Agreement Upon New Sched
ule for 1919 Reached by
Representatives of Mills
and Industrial Board. '
Washington, March .20. Agree
ment upon a new schedule of steel
prices providing a reduction hi the
present quotation for the commod
ity was reached late tonight by
representatives of the steel indus
try and the industrial board of the
Department of Commerce. The new
prices are for the year 1919 and
are effective at once.
A partial list of the new prices was
made public tonight as follows: Basic
pig iron reduced to $25.75 a gross
ton; four-inch billets $38.50 a gross
ton; two-inch billets $42 a gross ton;
merchant bars $2.35 per 100 pounds;
plates $2.65 per 100 pounds, and
structural steel $2.45 per 100 pounds.
Reduction 10 to 14 Per Cent.
The prices made " public tonight
represent reductions from the pres
ent prices of from 10 to 14 per cent.
The reduction on pig iron was $4.25
a gross ton, on billets $5 a gross
ton, and on plates, bars and struc
tural shapes $7 a net ton.
The conferences with the repre
sentatives of the steel industry
which began yesterdey were the first
to be held by the board in its at
tempt to obtain reductions and sta
bilization in the prices of the basic
commodities. Producers of other
essential and extensively used com
modities will confer in the near fu
ture with the board.
Judge E. H. Cary, chairman of the
board of directors of the United
States S,teel corporation, in announc
ing the new schedule, said:
"We have agreed upon prices. We
cannot give you a full statement
regarding these prices until tomor
row when one will he prepared for
the press. '
Prices to Remain Stable.
"It is expected that prices during
1919 will not be any lower and our
present intention is to make no de
creases in wages except, perhaps, at
some mills where there is contract
between employers and employes
providing for a scale.
."The price of iron ore, f. o. b.,
Lake Erie ports, remains unchanged
except where a reduction in freight
rates would become effective, in
which case the price of pig iron will
be changed accordingly."
A determined effort is being made
by the ore producers from the Great
Lakes region to obtain a reduction in
the present freight rates, it was
stated by John A. Savage, president'
of Savage & Co.. ore producers
in Duluth. Such action by
the ore producers is understood to
have the approval of both the
steel men and the board.
"Institute of Life"
in Chicagp Offered to
Famous Heart Surgeon
Chicago, March 20. Prof. Octave
Laurent, M. D., of Paris has been
invited to make his future home in
Chicago, as the result of the pledge
of an unnamed philanthropist to fi
nance an "Institute of Life" for the
famous heart surgeon.
. Professor Laurent gained world
wide fame-by his successful opera
tion on a French soldier who had
been shot through the heart. During
the war he made other similar opera
tions with success.
In his first experiment the pa
tient had been shot through the
right side of the heart, 'near the
valves, and the bullet lodged there.
The soldier was to all appearances
dead. --'The surgeon removed the
bullet, clearfeed and closed the
wound, and then, by artificial means,
set the heart to beating again. The
patient is said to be alive and strong
today.
Howell Bill Postponed
as Result of Compromise
Lincoln, Neb., March 20. (Special
Telegram.) As a result of the com
promise agreement entered into by
R. B. Howell, manager of the Met
ropolitan Water board, and the Ne
braska Power company. House Roll
450, known as the "electric light"
bill, was indefinitely postponed in
the house today bv a unanimous
vote. There was applause that could
be heard all over the capitol build
ing.
The members of the body felt it
was a happy solution of a situation
they felt had not been created by an
insistent demand from Omaha citi
zens, and enabled Senate File 129,
the Welfare bill, providing for an
adjustment of the salary of the gen
eral manager and other executive
employes, and Senate File 131, an
equitable utility bill, to be passed
without friction.
Bv Mill (I var). Dally. 14.30: Simtfav. S2.S0! TWO flRNTS
Dally aa 8ua.. M.S0; uW4 Nth. aitait antra A " v wOflli
fo)m
uuuv
Who Fired Shot That Killed
Louis Young, Youth Found
In Janous' Barber Shop?
Of Ten Bullets Shot Out of the Revolvers of Numerous
Policemen, All But One Went .Wide of the Mark;
Police and Detectives Detail Various Stories Con
cerning Affair, But None Lay Claim to Kill.
Who shot and killed Louis Young, alleged boy burglar
who tried to be good?
' Three detectives and a policeman opened fire on Young
and an unidentified partner as they emerged from the rear
door of Joe Janous' barber shop, 1826 Shefman avenue,- at 5
o'clock Thursday morning.
Detectives say the boys opened fire first from the garage
door in an effort to escape arrest. The police say the two
youths had robbed three stores less than an hour before.
An examination last night by Dr. S. McCleneghart show
ed that Young was killed instantly as a result of a broken
neck. The one bullet that struck him entered! his left
shoulder, struck the upper vertebra and lodged in the" brain.
Dr. McCleneghan probed for the bullet at the undertaking
parlors of Johnson & Swanson. Young did not receive a
broken neck fro ma fall as the police claimed. . y
Will Hold Inquest.
Circumstances surrounding the
shooting of Young compel County
Attorney Shotwell to conduct an
ipquest, which will be called at 9
o'clock this morning. A vague re
port from the detectives to the chief
of police gives no details of the
shooting, only that "we surrounded
the place and were met by a volley
of shots from the building; then we
opened fire upon them and the boy
fell, instantly killed."
Examination of the two guns
found on Young, one clutched in his
right hand, showed that no shots had
been fired from it. John Yaverick,
proprietor of a store at Sixteenth
and Locust streets, from which place
the guns were taken, said the kind
of powder used in the cartridges
would have left distinguishing marks
in the barrel of the breech. Detec
tives adopt the conclusion that if
the boys opened fire first, the shots
were fired by the partner of Young.
Instructed to Shoot.
When asked what instructions
were given the detectives and polict
in regard to shooting, Chief of Po
lice Ebersteiu told a Bee reporter:
"I have instructed the men to fire
first shots at the crook.but this is
not for publication."
Parents of the dead boy are pros
trated with grief, and owe yester
dayp's tragedy to the boy's evil as
sociates. The family and neighbors
show indignation at the circum
stances surrounding the shooting, in
ferring that other methods ought to
be adopted by the police in captur
ing criminals instead of '"blasting
indirected shot in harem-scarem
fashion after they had the place sur
rounded," as one man stated.
Individual stories of Detectives
Dolan, Potach, Vance and Police
man Janda do not bring out the
answer to the question: "W'ho kill
ed Young."
Examination of the way the bul
let struck the boy, shows that the
fatal shot was fired by the detective
CONFERENCE AT
POSEN BROKEN
0EF BY GERMANS
Hun High Command Breaks
With Cabinet and Refuses
to Respect Armistice
With Poles. '
Posen, March 20. The German
delegation left Posen today for Ber
lin. The allies' mission has re
turned to Warsaw.
Paris, March 20. Negotiations
betwen the inter-allied commission
and the German government's rep
resentatives at Posen have again
been interrupted. It is said that this
was the result of the evasive attitude
of the German government. Dis
patches state that German high com
mand appears to be in open conflict
with the Berlin cabinet, and will not
undertake to respect an armistice be
tween the Germans and Poles.
A decision in keeping with the sit
uation is expected tomorrow. .
Burleson Blames
Agitators for Unrest
Among Wire Workers
New York, March 20. Postmaster
General Burleson, in a letter made
public here today, to. Secretary of
Labor Wilson regarding the labor
situation in connection with the gov
ernment's control of telegraph and
telephone wires, charges that a "fev"
agitators" are continuously conduct
ing propaganda which engenders un
necessary, dissatisfaction among em
ployes. The Postoffice department's poli
cies are misrepresented, Mr. Burle
son declared,' so that the impression
is created that the government dis
criminates against employes who are
members of bbor organizations.
INFLUENZA DISAPPEARS.
Washington, March 20. Influenza
has disappeared from a majority of
the army camps in this country and
the general health of troops both at
home and abroad continues to show
improvement.
I
Bolsheviki Ready To
Deposit $200,000,000
for Purchases in U. S.
New York, March 20. As the
first step toward obtaining recog
nition by the United States, the
Russian soviet government is
prepared to deposit $200000,000
in gold with American and Eu
ropean banks for the purchase of
supplies needed in reconstruction
work, according to a formal
statement issued here tonight by
L. C. A. K. Martens, American
representative of Demidoff iron
and steel works' in Moscow,,
through the "bureau of represen
tatives of the Russian socialist
federal soviet republic."
who was concealed benind the stone
steps next door. Of approximately
10 shots fired by the detective, but
one took effect, and did the work
that still will not solve the finding
of the partner of the stolen goods.
Police and Detectives Talk.
According to Joe Janous, who
called the police when he heard the
burglar alarm, one detective con
cealed himself behind the stone steps
next door and fired the first shots
at the fleeing boys, while Police
man Janda and tne other detectives
went around the north side of the
place. v
Policeman Janda said: "Detective
Potach was 50 feet ahead of me on
the north side of the building, when
the shots were fired. I don't know
who fired first because they sound
(Contlnned on Page Six, Column Two.)
CLAIMS AGAINST
HUNS GUT DOWN
T0 40JBILLION
Wilson, Clemenceau and Lloyd
George Having Difficulty in
Reaching Accord on Repa
ration and Frontiers.
By the Associated Press.
Paris, March 20. President Wil
son, M. Clemenceau, the French
premier, and David Lloyd George,
the British prime minister, are hold
ing a series of meetings for the ad
justment of differences between them
They conferred at the residence of
Mr. Lloyd George today, the ses
sion lasting from 3 o'clock in the af
ternoon until late in the evening.
The differences constitute some of
the larger questions pending now
reparation for war losses and the
French-German frontier. These
questions, for the moment, have as
sumed paramount importance, tak
ing place even ahead of the league
of nations.
The chief issue of the question of
reparation is not what Germany
should pay, but what she can pay.
The commissions which have studied
the subject have gradually reduced
the claims to a total of about $40,
000,000,000. Villa's Second in Command,
Martin Lopez, Falls in Battle
Juarez, Mexico, Harch 20. Col.
J. Augustin Mora, in command of
the federal garrison here, tonight
received a report from General
Zuazua of a battle with the Villa
rebels, which occured yesterday 75
miles south of the Columbus, N.
M., border. Fifty-three Villa fol
lowers were killed.
Three bodies, taken to Ascension,
Chihuahua, 12 miles frim the scene
of the conflict, were identified by
residents there as those of Martin
Lopez, Villa's second in command;
Ramon Vega, a Villa general, and
Epifanio Holquin, bandit leader,
who has held up trains and commit
ted many depredations in western
Chihuahua
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REVIEW OF
booze m
BY COURT!
IS SOUGHT!
Distillers' Counsel to Attacic
Constitutionality of Both;-
Federal Amendment and
Wartime Act.
Vi
New York. March 20.-The com-lj
mittee of distillers of the United
States, representing the entire dis j
tilling industry, announced tenlghlj
that steps were being taken to t4l
tack the constitutionality of the fed-f;
eral prohibition amendment and the';
wartime prohibition act. i
Levy Mayer of Chicago, counsel?
for the organization, was instructed!
to arrange for a suit to test the'
emergency prohibition law after the?'
treaty of peace has been signed. Ac-f
tion to bring about a judicial reviewjj
of the 18th amendment, it was
stated, would await the outcome of;?
referendum elections, in 13 state
where petitions calling for a populir!;
vote on the "bone dry" enactment;
have been filed or are in circulation!
People to Decide Question. , i
Mr. Mayer advised the committee!
that in states having referendum!
laws and wlosc legislatures havef
ratified the amendment, the ratifica-6
i l i it . . 1
nun wuuiu uavc iiu eiicn unicaa k:
majority of the votes, cast in the
elections favored the amendment.
The attorney also gave an opinion
that if the wartime prohibition is
unconstitutional manufacture of dis
tilled spirits, forbidden by the presi-j
dent under the food conservation
laws, could be lawfully resumed as
soon as the war is ended.
In their discussion of measures to
nullify the federal amendment, the
distillers named California, Wash
ington, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, New
Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri,
Maine and Nebraska as states where
referendum petitions have been cir
culated. As 45 state legislatures ratified the
amendment, nine more than the
necessary three-fourts, the distillers'y
announced plan of action could notw
oe carrieu out w tne people or more
than four states approved the deci
sions of their legislative bodies. - H
Attack Wartime Act.
The distillers' attack on the war
time prohibition act follows the
lines laid down by counsel for the
brewers in their suits. filed here yes-f
terday, alleging that the law, having!,
been enacted after the signing of the
armistice, went beyond the power of
congress to adopt measures for th.f
national security and defense. :
Members of the distillers' ' com j
mittee declared the decision to with
hold their litigation until the corn!
plction of peace negotiations wal
based on a desire to proceed onlyi
after the war emergency was forj
mally declared a matter of history,!
It was said the suit would be
brought against the collector of in4
ternal revenue and the federal dis
trict attorney "in some appropriate
district." ,H
While no distilled leverages hav
been manufactured since July ' 1,
1917, under the food conservation
regulations, no ban has been placed
on marketing of stocks except thati
in the wartime prohibition act.!
which forbids sales and all with-l
drawals from bond except for ex'j
port purposes, atter June JO, next,
until the demobilization of the war
time military forces.
The distillers' committee, with'
George F. Dieterle of Cincinnati as
secretary, has been in conference for
the past two days with membersl
present from all sections of the
country. ,, . ;
Refuses to Accept Petition.
Qlympia, Wash., March 20. At
tempt today by John F. Murphy o
Seattle to file a petition for a refer!
endum at the next general election;
on the action of the recent legislax!
ture in ratifying the national proVa
niDition amendment met with rei'
fusal by the assistant secretary of!
state to accept the petition. Court'
action to force acceptance of thai!
petition will follow, it was said. ' j
Fight Started in Missouri. I
St. Louis, March 20. The fight!
of Missouri anti-prohibitionists t'
have the recent action of the Mis-i
souri legislature in ratifying the-ua'
tional prohibition amendment abroa!
gated was started tonight at a mas i
meeting in the city hall with the disj
tribution of petitions to have th!
matter put to a referendum vote. !
Missouri lawmakers who ratified'
the amendment were denounced by,
speakers as "betrayers" of the public I
trust and as robbers of the people' i1
liberties." -
Case Against Bull Editor Will
Go to the Jury Toda
New York, March 20 The govi
ernment's case against Jerimiah A
O'Leary, former editor of the anti
British magazine, Bull, who hasj
been on trial in federal court for
nearly eight weeks on a charge of
violating the espionage law, will g
to the jury tomorrow. Closing arppt
ments were finished today .
j
4.