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The Omaha 'Daily Bee
VOL. 50 NO. 60.
DIPLOMATS
STIRRED BY
ROOSEVELT
Claim That America Will Poll
12 Votes in League Causes
Big Sensation Among Pan
Americans at Capital.
PROPOSE TO ASK FOR
OFFICIAL DISAVOWAL
Utterances Are Regarded as
Semi Official Statement
From White House General
Jone of Speech Offensive.
Chiracs Trtbunr-Omaha Be Loused Wire.
Washington, Aug. 25. The claim
of Franklin 1). Koosevclt, demo
cratic vice presidential candiilate, in
his Butte (Mont.) speech that the
.United Str.tes. would have 12 votes
In the league of nations as compared
to the six votes for England and her
itepcndcncics, created a real sensa
tion in - Pan-American diplomatic
circles here.
Inferences are being made by
South and Central American diplo
mats that Roosevelt is 'insisting that
the ; United States will poll aU the
votes of the western hemisphere
members of the league and to the
this violent protests are being made.
South American diplomats, who
do- not understand American poli
tics, are taking the vice presidential
candidate's utterances at their face
valuej They do not make an allow
ance for the extravagant statements
of a political campaign. According
ly, the South and Central American
diplomats are making an effort to
secure an official copy of the Butte
speech and when it is obtained the
matter will be taken up through of
ficial channels with a view to ob
taining a disavowal of Mr. Roose
velt's claim that the , United States
will swing the all-American vote in
the league of nations.
Regarded as Semi-official.
More than ordinary weight is
being given to Mr. Roosevelt's re
cent speeches in Tan-American
circles. This is on account of his
recent retirement from the official
family and the fact that he partici
pated in the conferences with Presi
dent Wilson and Governor Cox at
which an agreement was readied to
make the; league of nation.? the para-.
JT1UUI11 I5SUC Ul illC--'-UluIwS". iAia
speech is therefore regarded at least 1
as. a semi-official .pronouncement
from the White House which the
Pan-Americans do not think they
can affiord to ignore.
' It is insisted in ome quarters that
the South and Central American
countries hastened to join the
league of nations because they
believed that it would restrict the
sphere of influence of the United
States in the western hemisphere.'
Some of the most astute South
American diplomats were of the
opinion that they could make com
binations around the council board
of the league of nations which would
increase the influence of the south
ern countries in the affairs of the
western hemisphere and any prop
osition such as is proposed by Mr.
Roosevelt under which the United
States would control the vote -f all
the nations of Central and. South
America, and thus strengthen this
country, will not go unchallenged.
General Tone Offensive.
Aside from Mr." Roosevelt's claim
as to the domination of the United
States' in the league of nations, tna
generat tone of his speeches are
proving offensive to Pan-American
diplomats. They do npt take kndly
to his ,rcported declaration that "I
know what I am talking about, or
T wrote the constitution of two of
these :i:iions."
"Mr. Roosevelt has made a grave
diplomatic mistake, if he has been
correctly quoted," said John-Barrett,
retiring director general of the Pan
American union. "The reference that
the United States will cast the votes
of South and Central American
countries in the league of nations is
naturally resented by the members
of the Pan-American union. I have
already requests to verify the re
ports which have been printed in
the papers of Mr. Roosevelt's speech
at (Butte. One of the members of the
Pan-American union has asked for
an interpretation of Mr. Roosevelt's
utterances. Of courts, there is not
the least grounds upon which Mr.
Roosevelt can base his assumption
that the United States will control
the votes of the South and Central
American countries in the league of
nations.
."In the interests of a better feeling
toward the United States anions the
members of the Pan-Arhcrican. union,
I hope that Mr. Roosevelt hasrJ?en
misquoted. We cannot afford , to
have the United States placed in the
attitude of claiming the ability to
swing the South and Central Amer-
ican influence in the league of na-
tions." .
Counsel For "Jack" Rose
In Becker Case Is Dead
New Haven, Conn., Aug. 25.
James Sullivan, counsel for "Bald
Jack" Rose during the Rosenthal
murder case that resulted in the
electrocution . of Police Lieutenant
Becker and four gunmen, is dead at
his home in Ireland, according to a
message received here today.
Sullivan was arrested in Ireland
following the arrest of Sir Roger
Casement Casement was tried, con
victed and hanged. He was ad
judged guilty of taking part in a
revolution against the British gov
ernment Sullivan proved his in
nocence and was liberated without
being brought to trial
At one time he was United
States minister to San Domingo.
(starts' ti Ssrsas-CItu Mttttr K V. IW. si
OHkt P. 0. Uader A.I at March . U7.
Mother Woiild Give Up
Boys She Can't Support
r v S f'rmi h .
-ft--,--
1 Aytfiry 1
Reading about the two little Pitts
burgh children who were adopted by
Mr. .and Mrs. E. A. Singer, S022 Un
derwood avenue, and the happy,
comfortable . home they have been
given after having been separated
for some time, Mrs. Edith Schooler
of Rosalie, Neb., has written Mrs.
Singer about her two small sons!,
Howard and Dick Singer were
separated from each other when
Dick was adopted in Chicago and
Howard went with his other six
brothers and sisters to California.
Their longing for 'each other Jed
Mrs. Singer and her husband to
adopt Howard also. The two boys
were 4 and 8 years old then.
Thomas Quintan, who was visiting
on the coast, brought Howard back
to Omahn, where he now lives in
the same home with his own brother.
Want's Home for Her's.
"I am writing to y&u in tlie inter
est of my little sons, whd are need
HARDING TAKES
SHOT AT WASTE
OF DEMOCRATS
G. 0. P. Presidential Nominee
Urges Greater Individual
and Governmental
Economy. j
..... Hy Tha, Associated ,1'reaa. (i
Marion, O., Aug, 25. Greater in
dividual and governmental economy
were urged by Senator Harding in
a front porch speech today accusing
the democratic administration of ex
travagance and giving credit to the
republican congress for saving near
ly $1,000,000,000 since it came into
power.
The republican nominee also de
clared for repeal of war-time legisla
tion and for better federal main
tenance of highways and for read
justment of taxation. In a brief
reference , to ratification of the suf
frage amendment he asserted his
confidence that the enfranchisement
of women would be a long step for
ward 'in securing, capable govern
ment. The speech was delivered to a
delegation of republicans from
Wyandot City, O. Its text follows
in part:
"Our country is suffering todayin
common with much of the world as
a result of the great war. We have
this difference to distinguish us
from Europe: We have actual
peace, though not formally declared,
while much of Europe is engaged in
war, directly or indirectly. The
European states have njade their
(Continued on Tage Two, Column Four.)
Lack of Suitable Good
Landing Fields' Big
Handicap to Flyers
' Washington, Aug. 25. For' lack
of other suitable landing places, the
army Alkskan airplane expedition
was forced to alight on bars in sorne
of the rivers in Alaska, Captain
Street, commander of te four-plane
squadron, reported to the War, de
partment today, in advising of the
completion of ther' trip from New
York..
The rough, forested country be
yond Yukon, Captain Street said,
made landing on the river bars nec
essary. The aviators also were
handicapped in Alaska by fog, rain
and snow, which prevailed through
out this part of the flight
The first aerial mail was deliv
ered in Alaska when the four army
aviators, in passing over the city of
Nome, dropped mail packages with
streamers, which had been handed
the fivers at various stopping plates
un the United States and Alaska. '
nminterfemrKi uuttit
Capured in New Jersey
Elizabeth, X. J., Aug. 25. Five
persons, three men and two women
have been arrested and an alleged
counterfeiting outfit has been cap
tured by federal agents in their re
covery of the large number of
spurious and altered bank notes in
recent circulation in New Jersey.
The prisoners are Mrs. Anna Smith,
35; Mrs. William Khruska, 30, both
of Linden, a sVburb of this place,
and three men named Godetski,
brothers of Mrs. Smith. They are
being held without bail.
Mrs. Smith was arrested when the
alleged counterfeiting outfit was
found in her garage and Mrs.
Khruska was taken into custody
when it is alleged she tried to pas;
a $1Q bill that had beta "raised" to
?5f
1
I
n i
ing a home, and after reading an ac
count of your love for one homeless
boy and the desire to care for his
brother also, 1 felt you might havt
it in your heart to consider mine."
So writes Mrs. Schooler from Ro
salie. She tells of how her husband de
serted her and their two small sons
for the third time a year ago next
month and how she has fought to
keep the boys with her, fearing for
their welfare if given to an institu
tion, although she had been so often
advised to do that.
Ipust Go to Hospital.
Work and worry has broken het
down to the point where she must
go to the hospital for treatment
suon and she longs to know her boys
would be safe and in loving hands,
where she would be assured of their
health and happiness.
The boys j are Norman Elron
Schooler, 2 years old, and Harry
Wheaton Schooler. S years old.
" have held to them," "she writes,
"taking them wherever I could find
work where tjiey would allow chil
dren, for I find the world at large
considers the child little better than
an animal."
ANTISUFFRAGE
FORCES RECEIVE
ANOTHER CHECK
District of Columbia Supreme
Court Refuses to Issue
"Show Cause" Order
Against Colby.
Washington. . Aug. - 25. Antisuf
frage forces received another set
back today when Justice Siddons of
the District of Columbia supremo
court refused to issue a show
cause" order, against Secretary of
State Colby, preliminary to the issu
ance of an ' injunction to restrain
him from proclaiming the nineteenth
amendment a law. The order would
have required Mr. Colby to show
cause why the injunction should not
be issued. The action w-as brought
by Charles S. Fairchilds, an official
of the American Constitutional
league, on behalf of himself and the
organization.
No further effort would be made to
prevent the issuance of the procla
mation, Alfred B. Smith, attorney for
Mr. Fairchilds said.
The official certification of Ten
nessee's ratification was expected
from Nashville tonight and Secre
tary Colby indicated that he would
issue the proclamation as soon as he
received Governor Roberts' certifica
tion. Case to Supreme Court. .
The campaign of the anti-suffrage
forces would now be directed at an
effort to obtain early action in the
United States supreme court on the
question of the validity of the Ten
nessee ratification, Mr. Smith an
nounced. He said that he would ask
a formal order of dismissal from
Justice Siddons in order that he
might appeal to the District of
Columbia court of appeals with- a
request that the case be certified
directly to the federal supreme court
and set for early trial.
The action of Justice Siddons
parclleled in a measure that of Jus
tice Bailey of the same court last
month, except that Justice Bailey
granted a "show cause" order
against Secretary Colby in a similar
bill filed by the same plaintiffs, but
after hearing declined to issue the
injunction asked on grounds of lack
of jurisdiction and insufficient show
ing. In dismissing the bill, Justice
Siddons said he did not wish to re
view Justice Bailey's action and that
to issue the "show couse" order
would be an "unwarranted interfer
ence with a purely ministerial action
of the secretary of state."
Hope For Early Decision.
Mr. Smith said that he still hoped
to obtain a decision before the No
vemer elections. If, however, the
appeal should be carried to the su
preme court it could not be argued
until ftfter the, regular meeting of
the court in October with little likeli
hood that a decision would be
reached before election day. In that
evtnt. it was pointed out, the wo
men of the country would be legally
entitled'to vote, with the result that
should the supreme court .later de
cide against the legality of the Ten
nessee ratification, the validity of
the entire national election w'ould be
in question..
The antisuffrage forces are also
challenging the legally of ratifica
tion in Missouri, West Virginia and
Ohio. -
Ten Armed Men With Truck
Steal 15 Barrels of Whisky
Harrodsburg. Ky., Aug. 25. Ten
men, all armed and wearing masks,
held up two night watchmen at the
Van Arsdell distillery, . nine miles
north of Harrodsburg, early today,
rolled 15 barrels of whisky out of
the warehouse to a waiting truck
and sped away. The truck was traced
to this city, whcre,hc trail was lost
OMAHA, THURSDAY,
RUPTURE OF
PEACE MEET
THREATENED
0" ,1 In MartAtiotinnc With
. - warv III iHyuiiuiiuuo iiimi
Reds Will Come if Poles
Adhere to Present Demands,
Soviet Minister Says.
RUSSIANS READY TO GIVE
UP TO ENEMY FORCES
Latest Reports From Warsaw
Say Bolsheviki Are Anxious
To Quit Struggle 60,000
Are Taken Prisoners.
Ity The Associated Pre...
London, Aug. 25. An immediate
rupture of the Russo-Polish peace
negotiations at -Minsk will result if
the Polos adhere to their demand for
withdrawal of the main Russian
term?, says a message received here
today from George Tchitcherin,' the
Russian soviet foreign minister,
dated Monday at Moscow.
Reds Anxious to Quit.
Paris, Aug. ' 25. Negotiations
looking to surrender to the Poles
have been begun- by the northern
Russian bolshevik army, according
to a Vienna dispatch received here
today. Latest information front
Warsav indicates the advance of
the Polish armies continues rapidly
and that the bolsheviki seem anx
ious only to lose contact with the
Poles. The number of prisoners
captured by the Poles is said to ap
proximate 60,000.
Kolno, an important town near the
East Prussian frontier north of
Lomza, has been taken by Polish
forces, wljich have been sweeping
rapidly northward in .pursuit of the
retiring bolsheviki. More than
10,000 prisoners, who were cut off
from the main body of the soviet
army, have been captured in this re
gion. .
Reds Are Demoralized.
Reports from various fronts, par
ticularly the northern sectors of th
line, indicate the bolsheviki are de
moralized and fleeing everywhere in
great disorder. General Solnokow
ski, minister of war, has issued a
statement to Polish newspapers de
claring that the soviet armies have
been decisively beaten everywhere,
adding that of 250,000 bolshevik
troops participating in the offensive
for the capture of Warsaw more
than 140,000 have been accounted for
and that nearly all other detachments
have been shot to pieces. He esti
mates the number of prisoners at
50,000 and the number of other bol
shevik casualties at 40,000.
The remnant of the Fourth bol
shevik army is surrounded near
Mlawa and, while disorganized, is
endeavoring to fight its way cast
ward. It attacked a Polish Siberian
brigade near Chorzele, about 20
miles north of Przasnvcz, but was
repulsed, losing many prisoners.
Peace Envoys Not Affected.
Polish victories over soviet armies
whiich invaded Poland apparently
have not affected the bolshevik del
egates at the peace conference being
(Continued on Pace Two, Column Three.)
Lloyd G eorge oays
Britain Will Refuse
To Release Cork Mayor
Lucerne, Switzerland, Aug. 25.
Premier Lloyd George, in a state
ment today concerning the case of
Lord Mayor MacSweney of Cork,
whose condition is grave because of
his hunger strike in Brixton jail,
London, said in substance that,
whatever be the consequences, the
government could 'not take the re
sponsibility of releasing MacSwe
ney. "A law which is a respector of
persons is no law," Mr. Lloyd
George's statement continued. "If
the cabinet, therefore, departed from
its decision a complete breakdown
of the whole machinery of law and
government in Ireland inevitably
would follow."
London, Aug. 25. Terenc'e Mac
Sweney, lord mayor of Cork, who
has been on a hunger strike in
prison here and whose condition has
been critical, was still conscious this
morning. Father Dominick, his
private chaplain, however, admin
istered the last sacrament!
Democrats of Idaho
Renominate Nugent
For U. S. Senatorship
Idaho Falls, Idaho., Aug. 25.
United States Senator John F.
Nugent of Idaho was renominated
for that office today at the Idaho
state democratic convention ' by,
unanimous rising vote. Former
Governor Hawley of Idaho made the
nomination speech, which was sec
onded by A. F. James, delegate from
Gooding county. The convention
had been in session but 45 minutes
when the nomination was completed.
Strike of Des Moines Car
Men Is Called Off by Union
Des Moines. Ia Aug. (25. The
street car strike here ended early
this evemng as a result of a confer
ence late today between the execu
tive board of the car men's union
and J. G. Gamble, attorney for the
traction company.
The car men, who were striking to
enforce immediate payment of $84,
000 it) back wages due them for sev
eral months, agreed to return to
work under the terms of Judge
Wade's order issued last Monday.
AUGUST 26,' 1920.
READJUSTMENT
IS ORDERED IN
GRAIN CHARGES
Freight Rates to Atlantic
Seaboard Fixed on Basis
Of 30 Per Cent
Increase.
Washington, Aug. 25. Readjust
ments of rates on grain to the At
lantic seaboard was ordered today
by the Interstate Commerce com
mission, on the basis of 30 per cent
increase in domestic rates and 25
per cent in export rates, instead of
the 40 per cent authorized in the re
cent increase allowed by the com
mission. .
In explaining its action, the Com
mission said:
"In the hope of stimulating a
movement of bulk grain from Lake
Superior andLake Michigan ports
to Lake Erie ports for movement by
rail beyond to the Atlantic seaboard
territory, both for export and for
domestic use, and thus relieving
congestion on the all-rail line be
tween Chicago and the Atlantic sea
board, releasing cars at the western
lake ports for return ,to the grain
fields and reducing the . long haul
of empty cars from the seaboard
to the west, the commission sug
gested to the trunk line carriers
from the Lake Erie ports to the sea
board the advisability of promptly
readjusting the ex-lake rates on
grain in bulk from Buffalo, Erie
and Fairport by applying to those
rates lower percentages of increase
than were authorized recently by the
commission.
"This suggestion was cheerfully
accepted by the carriers and the
commission has issued special per
mission authorizing the adjustment
of these rates on one day's notice.
These rates will be made effective
not later than September J, and will
be published to expire at midnight,
February 28. 1921.
"It should be understood that
these concessions are made by these
carriers solely for the reasons which
prompted the commission to make
the suggestion and are not to be
considered a precedent in, or as prej
udicing any further adjustment of
these rates. Under this readjust
ment, the lake and rail rates will be
about ; 3 per cent per 100 pounds
lower than the all-rail rates based
upon the present costs of lake trans
portation, marine insurance, etc.
"It is to be hoped that these read
justments will induce a large move
menfof grain over these routes. If
that result is obtained, it will effect
a substantial contribution to the
number of cars available for moving
grain in the grain belt states."
Boy Playing With Revolver
Inflicts Wound on Chum
Twirling a .38-calibcr revolver m
his iand after the fashion of Tom
Mix and Buck Jones of the movies,
Charles Charvat, 15 years old,
Twenty-second and S streets, yes
terday shot an wounded George
F. Mrzlak, 14 years old, 5437 South
Twenty-first street, in the left leg
while playing at Twenty-second ana
Q streets.
Charles ran after the shooting,
which neighbors are satisfied was
accidental, although police first re
ported the boys had quarreled. Po
lice are now searching for Charles.
George's injury was merely a flesh
wound, police surgeons, who dressed
it reported.
Mill (I mrl, taiMs 4th Itaa. Dally aa Sunday. : Oally Oaly, W; UU. U.
OsttKt 4th Zom (I vsar). Dallf aa Saaoa. IH: Dalt Only. 112: tul Oaly. M.
There Are Others
Incomplete Returns
Show Dixon Leading
For Montana Governor
Helena, Mont, Aug. 25. Former
United States Senator J. M. Dixon,
on the face of incomplete returns
from 252 precincts in yesterday's
primary, was leading for the repub
lican: nomination for governor this
afternoon with 9,206 votes. Harry
h. Wilson, his nearest opponent on
the same returns, had 8,610 and At
torney General S. C. Ford was third
with 5,114.
Former LTnited States Attorney
B.' K. Wheeler, endorsed by the
Nonpartisan league, was leading
candidate for the.. democratic nomi
nation for governor with 15,024
votes, compared with 9,735 for Lieut
Gov. W. W. McDowell. Thomas E.
Carey was third with 1,686 votes.
Thomas J. Walker, with 4,746
votes, and Burton Watson with
4,417, were . leading Congressman
John M. Evans for the democratic
nomination for congress in the First
district. Evans had 4,001 votes. In
the Second district McKusker,
Nonpartisan, with 4,140, was lead
ing Carroll, who had 3,484.
For the republican nomination
for congress in the First district
W. J. McCormick, with 4,249 votes,
was leading Joseph H. Griffin, with
2.858 and Mrs.Johanna S. Grigg,
with 1,830.
Omaha Man Arrested for
Murder at Burlington, la.
Burlington, la., Aug. 25.- Peter
Moran, aged 49 years, of Tiffin, O.,
who was shot by Louis Marcum,
alias "Slim Butler," at the Tristate
fair grounds Monday, died today.
Marcum is held without bail on a
charge of murder in the first degree.
Both men were employed by Owens'
racing stables.
Marcum denies any knowledge of
the crime, stating . that he drank
some whisky about noon . Monday
and had no further recollection of
events until he awoke in jail Mon
day night
Marcum gave Omaha as his home,
bat says his mother, Mrs. Josephine
Marcum, lives in St Louis.
Refuse to Grant Rail Rate
Increase in New Mexico
Santa Fe, N. M, Aug. 25. The
State Corporation commission re
fused to grant any increase in intra
state passenger rates, except on
the Colorado and Southern railroad,
where the fare has been 3 cents a
mile. Under the increase it will be
3.60 cents a mile. Increases were
granted on intrastate freight rates.
The New Constitution
(The Bee rontlnn-a today It explana
tions of th varloua amendments to the
state constitution, proposed by the state
constitutional convention and submitted to
a vote of the people at a special election
to he held September St. This election Is
In many respects the most Important held
In Nebraska in a generation. An Intelli
gent ballot can be cast only after a clear
understanding of the various proposals
submitted. Thero are 41 proposals and
each Is submitted for separate vote.)
PROPOSITION NO. 5.
An amendment to Section 2, Arti
cle III.
Provides that counties entitled to
more than one state senator, or state
representative shall be divided into
districts. For instance. Douglas
county w-ould be divided into five
senatorial and twelve representative
districts, each district being entitled
to one senator or one tepresentative,
as the case might be.
PROPOSITION NO. 6.
An amedment to Section 3, Article
III ;
Permits an incrm in the num
ber of state senators from 33 to 50.
SITUATION IN
EUROPE RAPIDLY
GROWING BETTER
i
Opinion Expressed Allies Now
Are More Closely United
Than at Any Jime"
Since Armistice.
By The Associated Press.
Paris, Aug. 25. An optimistic
feeling prevailed at the French for
eign office today regarding the
European situation. The opinion was
freely expressed that 'the situation
is clearer and that the allies are more
closely united than at any other time
since the armistice. !
Endorsement of the French policy
toward Russia by the United States
last week and by Great Britian and
Italy yesterday is felt here to havi
cleared up the atmosphere and the
anxiety which has been evident at
the foreign office the past few weeks
has disappeared.
The foreign office favors a meet
ing of the various premiers as soon
as possible. The British offices at
Downing street and also the Italian
ministry of foreign affairs have been
sounded as to whether they would
agree to advance the meeting of he
supreme council to the first week in
September instead of holding it the
middle of the month.
It, is understood that the first thins
to be discussed by the supreme coun
cil is the drafting of a note to Po
land, signed by all the premieis,
asking Poland to keep her armies
within her ethnographical frontiers.
"There is nothing like a military
victory to clear up the political at
mosphere," an official of the foriign
office told the Associated Press.
The speech last night by Leon
Jouhaux, president of the General
Federation of Labor, in which he
repudiated the bolsheviki, denied
the right of Nikolai Lenine to med
dle in the affairs of the French pro
letariat and also stated his refusal
to be identified with the Moscow
doctrines, is considered also to have
relieved the internal situation.
Receiver Appointed For
Bethlehem Motor Company
Philadelphia, Aug. 25. A receiver
was appointed today by Federal
Judge Dickinson for the Bethlehem
Motors corporation, with plants at
Alientown and rottstown, Pa.
Clinton E. Woods, who has been
general manager since last May. was
appointed receiver tinder bond of
$2;,000. The receivership was on a
bill of equity brought by Keck and
Brothers of Alientown, creditors to
the extent of $26,306 for lumber.
The company filed answer admit
ting all averments of the bill and
assenting to the appointment of a
receiver.
It is alleged by counsel for both
creditors and the corporation that
it is solvent, having, assets of $4,900,
000 and liabilities amounting to
$3,000,000.
The Weather
Forecast.
Thursday fair; not much change
in temperature.
Hourly Temperatures.
m. ...
m. ...
m. . . .
St
60
,....-.4
:a
74
7
p., m.,
p. m. ,
p. m.,
p. m. ,
p. m.-.
p. m.
p. m. ,
p. m.
...77
...71
...0
...79
...7
...7S
...71
...71
m. ..
m...
m...
m. ..
12 noon
1 THREE CENTS
DECREASE IN
COAL PRICES
PREDICTED
Renewed Activity in Drive on
Profiteers Given as Main
Reason for Expected Drop
In Fuel This Fall.
PLAN TO WIDEN SCOPE
OF INVESTIGATIONS
Attorney General Instruct
United States Attorneys to
Probe the Situation in All
Parts of Country.
By The Associated Press.
Washington, Aug. 25. Forecast ot
a tumble in coal prices was made
by Department of Justice officials to
day, coincident with the announcer
incut of "renewed activity" in tin
campaign against coal profiteers.
With production on the increast
prediction was made that the coal
market would follow, sugar prices in
a break in the near future.
- Prices already have dropped a'
Baltimore, where the federal agent1
started yesterday to gather evidence
against an alleged combination oi
dealers who were declared to hav
boosted prices through repeated re
sales. A similar attack on profiteer',
has been ordered at Hampton Roatb-
one of the largest Tjunkering sta
tions on the eastern seaboard.
Cover Large Scope.
Although interior points have re
ported exorbitant coal prices j-i
many instances, it was stated thai
the "flagrant violations" of the Levet
law were confined largely to the At
lantic coast. The department wil'
press its investigations at all points
however, as a part of the program
outlined Monday when the attorney .
general. instructed all United State
attorneys tct, delve into the coal price
situation on the basis of informs
tion that pyramiding of prices hai
been accomplished through inter
trade sales. ,
The department's hands are tiet!
at Philadelphia by a court order re
straining the United States, attornrv
from prosecuting profiteers under
the Lever law, which was held to br
unconstitutional by the court here.
But the court will not stay the gath
ering of evidence, according to II
S. Mitchell, special assistant to the
attorney general, . who is directing ,
the ampaign.
Mr. Mitchell believed public lent)
ment has begun to react agains.:
coal profiteers to the extent that it
would force a lowering of price
The break in quotations at Balti
more, together with odd reduction
at other points, was expected tu
mean a real benefit to the con
sumer. Transportation Improving.
Federal reserve board officials
also reported indications of an impending-drop
in the coal market.
Their information was that trans
portation conditions with respect to
coal had improved, and that, there
fore, there would be better distribu
tion. This pf itself, in the opinion
of department officials, should aid
the price reduction movement. The
reserve board officials said the
empty bins, made so by the bitu
minous miners' strike and later by
the railroad walkout and freigh
jam, were again stocked. They did
not believe the storage of this sort
of stock was up to normal, but.
based on recent reports, stocks were
rapidly being accumulated.
Temporary conditions have -handicapped
certain sections of the coun
try, with respect to their regular
supply, with the result, according to
Mr. Mitchell, that higher prices have
leen asked. Federal attorneys at
these places, however, were said to
be in close touch with such situa
tions, and were prepared to act it
there was evidence that dealers were
taking advantage of the shortage.
Workman Narrowly
Escapes Death When
He Cuts Power Cable
The entire industrial district of
Omaha lying between Leavenworth
sHrcet and the railroad tracks to
South Omaha was threatened with
a shutdown late Wednesday after
noon when J. G. Klopnoski, an em
ploye of the Metropolitan Water
company, while excavating for an.
extension to a gas main on Leaven
worth street, between Fifth and
Sixth streets, drove a pick through
a lead cabe of the Nebraska Power
company.
With the severing of the copper
enclosed wires carrying 6,600 volts,
flames shot up 50 feet, and only by
good fortune did the workman es
cape injury and possible death.
The Nebraska Power company
sent a force of workmen to the
scene in "a few minutes, and the
flames were extinguished and tem
porary repairs made.
Large industries and the Ralston
railway line were without power for
only a short time, It is expected a
new cable will have to be laid for
over a block to put the line in full
working order.
Secret Agent in Mexico
Refused Admission to U. S.
. El Paso, Tex., Aug. 25. Dr. Paul
B. Altendorf, secret agent in Mexico
during the war for the United
States, was refused admittance into
this country by immigration agenU
because he is classed as an alien
enemy. His wife, an American girl,
whose first husband died in France,
was refused permission to go to v
Juarez to meet him because she now"
also is classed an an alien enemy by
the immigration authorities.