World Powers Differ as to Size of War Cost to Be Paid Germany; French Plan L r HARRISBURG lfSij& TELEGRAPH sljc Stor-fti&cpcn&cnt. LXXXVIII— No. 36 14 PAGES it a.mSBEl€„ PA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1919. ™ KmKS BSS 8 TWO B C C E°N"I s HOME EDITION EBERT; HUMBLE SADDLER AND SOCIALIST, DERIDED BY AUTOCRATS, RAISED TO HUN PRESIDENCY; BIG PEACE PROBLEMS LOOM New German Ruler Sits With Head Bowed; One Voice Mars GREAT CROWDS GIVE OVATION Solitary Vote For Erzberger Cause For Laughter By Associated Press. Weimar, Feb. 12.—Pealing church bells announced to the people of Weimar at 4.15 yes terday afternoon that the Ger man folk, for the first time in history, had chosen the head of their own state. Friedrich 'Ebert, former saddler and Socialist leader, appeared be fore the theater twenty minutes later and received na president of Oer mnny those plaudits formerly mark ing the appearance of the monarch who once stigmatised the party to which President Ebert belongs as being made up of men ''unworthy to bear the name of German," Addresses New President Dr. Edeuard David, president of the National Assembly, made a dra-, matie address to President Ebert, i He was repeatedly disturbed by a woman Independent Socialist, and, the whole heuse, in shouting disap-j preval of her actions, drowned the 1 speaker's words at times, Independent Socialist loaders tried to quiet the woman, whose thrill voice continued to break in on the address. When Dr. David concluded by summing up the tremendous respon sibility of the office and the high character and unfaltering loyalty of President Ebert the house launched i into a tremendous, long continued cheer. During the address, Presi dent Ebert sat with bowed head and folded arms. Theater Crowded Despite the certainty of Herr Ebert's election, the theater was crowded beyond anything previously seen since the opening of the Na-j tional Assembly. A voting by ballot caused confu sion as the delegates struggled along | the narrow aisles. Great crowds| massed outside during the Bession. | waiting patiently in the cold for a J chance to see the new president! when he left the building, which he I did immediately after a very brief 1 speech of acceptance. He smilingly acknowledged the ovation given him. The vote against him probably came from the solid Conservative block and a few of the old National I I.iberals, while the Independent So cialists and some others signified | less disapprobation by casting blank ballots. Announcement of the soli tary vote for Mathias Erzberger brought a laugh from the entire' house, which also laughed on the j second day of the session when hei was proposed for the presidency. I The lone vote for Philipp Scheide mann likewise caused mirth. Predicts Future Work The National Assembly adjourned until Thursday. To-day was to be B i Pn iJ, n r> re l>aring a program and definitely constituting a new cabinet. \ esterday s meeting was opened as usual, with the heading of telegrams from all parts of Germany and Aus tria. each of which brought cheers. The joining of Germany and Aus tria, when mentioned, received shouts of acquiescence, while the armistice conditions and the block ade were denounced. There was unanimous approval when a message from the Wuerttem berg legislature was read, protesting against the armistice conditions and predicting future war if peace is signed on their basis. City Cars Not Delayed by Day's Heavy Snow To-day's snow, although seemlng ly heavy, caused little or no trouble on the lines of the Harrisburg Rail ways Company. It was of the "wet" variety and the temperature not being low ' enough to freeze it, the cars could be operated without difficulty and _ without the aid of sweepers. T'urinjc the day all of the cars were running on the usual schedules and : no delays were reported. THE WEATHER] For Harrlsbure and vicinity: Snow, probably ending this aft ernoon; cloudy and warmer to night, with lowest temperature nbout 33 degrees; Thursday cloudy. For Eastern Pennsylvania; Clondy and warmer to-night; Thurs day cloudy; gentle to moderate shifting winds. River The Susqnehanna river and all Its tributaries will fall slowly or remain nearly atatlonary. The quantity of floating lee In the streama will decrease; no ma terial changes will oeeor In lee conditions where the streams are frozen. A stage or about 4.1 feet Is Indicated for Hor . rlobarc Thursday morning. It Doesn't Happen to That Kind of Animal JAPAN DENIES IT ! IS READY TO OPEN WAR ON CHINA Peking and Paris Said to Be} Misinformed of Japan ese Intentions Tokio, Feb. 12.—KJuro Sliidehara,| vice-foreign minister of Japan. l speaking to-day regarding the publi-j cation of Chinese treaties with Japan j said that the latter had "simply called to China's attention the estab lished procedure according to which neither government has a right to publish confidential correspondence without previously consulting the other. M. Sliidehara spoke for Viscount Uchida, foreign minister, who is! suffering from pneumonia. "Japan has no intention to inter-! fere with any demands or conten tions which the Chinese wish to pre sent to the Peace Conference." he! said. "Accordingly. Peking and! Paris reports to (he contrary are' absolutely untrue." CONGRESS HEARS LINCOLN'S ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG) Washington, Feb. 12. —Congress observed the anniversary of Lincoln's birth to-day by listening again to the Gettysburg address. The address was read in the Senate by Senator Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, and in the House by Representative Rubey, of Missouri. WHAT, SIR! IS THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA GOING TO DO? Nothing, Sir! Answers the Attorney General, Who Advises British Subject to Seek Friendly Barkeep Attorney General William I. Schaffer to-day reiterated the pol icy of the state's legal department that its function was not to give advice to the public, but to the people connected with the state gov ernment. He was called to the telephone on a pay station and ad dressed as follows: "Mr. Attorney General, ram a British soldier, sir, and I desire to know if my rights are to be disre garded in this country, sir. I am a British subject, sir." "How are your rights being af fected?" asked the attorney gen eral. FRIENDS CABLE JOY TO WILSON By Associated Press Paris, Feb. 12.—The American Society of Friends lias sent Pres ident Wilson the following mes sage: "The American Friends au thorize me to express joy that you are working for justice. We pray that strength beyond your own will be given you to unite the peoples in a league sanction ing moral force toward all hu manity as the basis of future in ternational order. We also ap peal for complete disarmament, which is vital to all." POLICE UNEARTH CLUE TO SECOND STREET ROBBERY Arrests Expected as Result of Investigations; Jewelers' As sociation Offers Reward No arrests having been made by the local police department as a re sult of the depredations of thieves in the South Second street business area between Market Square and the subway, the Jewelers' National Se curity Alliance informed William Plack, whose store was visited by the alleged thieves, that a reward of [Continued oil Page 13.] "A bartender here refuses to sell me a drink-because I am in uniform, sir." "That is hardly a matter which comes within my province," replied Mr. Schaffer. "But, sir. it is an interference with the rights of a British soldier, as recognized all over the world, to re fuse to sell him a drink," persisted the caller who was In a Harrisburg hotel. "I want to know, sir. what the State of Pennsylvania intends to do to uphold my rights, sir." "I should think that it would be advisable for you to seek a more friendly bartender: that is the best I can do for you," Mid Mr. Schaffer. 'DRY' LEADERS PREPARED FOR TRICKS OF'WETS' Capitol llill Buzzes With Talk of Scheme to Hold Up Amendment Capitol Hill was buzzing to-day over reports that an attempt might be made by opponents of the reso lution ratifying the prohibition amendment to have it recalled from the Senate next week for the pur pose of reconsidering it. "Dry" members here said that any such attempt would meet with dire de feat and that any member who vot ed for the resolution to recall would have a serious time. Others, who said that the proposition was re mote, remarked that they doubted whether Governor Sproul would sit quietly if such an attempt was engi neered. ' According to one story, Senator MaS G. of Pittsburgh, was credited with having had the idea in his head. Under the rules the House, if it ever recalled the resolution from the Senate, would have five legislative days in which to reconsider action. The vote on the adoption of the Vickerman resolution to ratify was 110 to 93. Study Narcotics Bill According to stories heard about the Capitol to-day the State Health Department authorities had not yet made up their minds as to what legislation is needed to control use of narcotics. There was talk of a bill, but to-day some officials were inclined to think that the Harrison act and Vare law of 1917 gave all the power needed. Senator Resile has offered to sponsor any legisla tion the department may need to establish a bureau with an organi zation sufficient to cope with the evil. The names of Satnuet B. Rambo, former superintendent of public grounds and buildings, is being heard of in connection with that place again. He is now living in Philadelphia, where he formerly re sided. Samuel S. Rewls, of York, was mentioned for the place. Any change for a time at least is un likely owing to the construction pro gram under way. HUN Iik'ADKR. ARRESTED By Associated I'ress. Basic. Keb. 12.—(llavas) —The general strike has been resumed In Budapest, according to dispatches received here. Wlttich, the leader of the Hungarian Socialists, It is added, has been arrested at Press burg. J Armistice Terms to Be Settled at Sessions in Paris PLAN TO GROUP j WORLD'S DEBTS Opening of Great Waterways Now Holds Board By Associated Press. Paris, Feb. 12.—While Presi dent Wilson and the allied premiers and generals arc en grossed in perfecting the plan for the creation of ? society of nations and arranging the new terms to be imposed upon Germany for a renewal of the armistice, ex piring next Monday, other subjects of the greatest importance are be ing prepared for the consideration of the peace conference. It. is ex pected that the conference will spend little time discussing them, however, and will pass most of them on to the Society of Nations, the latter has been created and ready to function. Ijtbor Has Place at Table Foremost on this secondary pro gram are the recommendations of the commission on international la bor legislation. Samuel Gompers, the chairman, has been pushing work so that it is expected lie will have a report ready for tlie Con ference as soon as it is ready to re ceive it. There have been difficulties in reconciling the diverse views of British and American labor interests, as each is radical in some respects and yet conservative in others, in the opinion of some labor leaders, it is said that there is no coinci dence between their plans. The British are radicals where Americans are cautious, white the Americans throw conservatism to the tvinds when considering matters on which the British arc careful. Financial Problems Vp Meetings are going on to-day. as they have almost continuously dur ing the last few days, between men who have come to Paris at the call of President Wilson and the prem iers to deal with great financial problems arising out of the war. Every delegation admits the gravity of the problems presented and the absolute necessity for their settle ment, if the world is to be saved from universal bankruptcy. In no place is it regarded as so evident that there must b© the fullest and most cordial co-operation between the nations now represented at the Con ference as in the effort to restore the stability of currency, reduce prices to a reesonable level, get rid of su perfluous issues of war paper, pre [Continued on Page 13.] K. OF C. HALL IS TAKEN OVER FOR MEN IN SERVICE Two Secretaries to Come Here For Work Among the Yankee Soldiers The Cathedral Hall, North and Green streets has been accepted for war work by the Knights of Colum bus, it announced to-day. Work has already begun on remodeling the hall and it will be thrown open for sol diers, sailors and marines in the near future. Cathedral Hall is the home of the local council of the Knights of Co lumbus. it will lake but a little work to renovate it for entertain ment of the men in the service, men in authority said to-day. The K. of C. secretaries have been j stationed at the Hall and prepara tions are under way. Work has be gun on a new heating system to raise the water in the swimming pool to a heat suitable for bathing. The local council will continue to hold their meetings in the building and members will have the use of the social privileges. Dr. N. B. CritchHeld, Former Secretary of Agriculture, Is Seriously 111 With Pneumonia Dr. Normal^ B. Critehiield, for al most thirteen" years superintendent of agriculture In Pennsylvania, is seriously ill of pneumonia at his home, 1700 Market street. Mr. Crltchfleld, who is 80 years old, was stricken last Friday. Mr. Crltchfleld. a graduate of Ohio University, was appointed secretary of agriculture by Governor Penny packer in 1908 and served continu ously until October 18, 1915, when he retired. He served several terms in the State Senate and is widely .known throughout the state. , FORMER KAISER RECEIVING HIS OLD SUPPORTERS NVilhelm Maintaining Com munication With Men For merly About His Court PURPOSE IS NOT CLEAR More Servants Arrive at Place of Exile From Castle in Berlin HOLD LONCf CONFERENCE Men Prominent in Old Regime Spend Hours With the Ex- Emperor in Holland Aniorongen. Holland, Feb. 12. There have been various indications during the last week that Count Hohenzollern, the former German Emperor, is maintaining communi cation with his former supporters. Two secretaries of the German le gation at The Hague, Koester and Shelcbach, visited the castle at Amerongen and stayed over night, having a long conference with Herr Hohenzollern and Hans Von Gon tard, the sole remaining high func tionary of the old imperial court who remains faithful to the former emperor. Baroness Von Rosen, the English wife of the German min ister to Holland, arrived a few nights ago and she is still at the castle to-day. The object of these meetings can not be ascertained, as everything is kept secret under the influence of Herr Von Gontard. who declines to permit any of his powers to be taken from his hands. With him is a minor functionary of the former German court. Councillor Knauff. Herr Von Gontard is the only mem ber of Herr Hohenzollern's suite to lodge at the castle. General Von Ksdorff. Captain y'on Jlsemann and Dr. Forster, who is in attendance on the former empress, have rent ed a house outside, Further departures of the former 1 emperor's domestics occurred dur ing the past week, sopie of them, however, being replaced by new ar rivals from Berlin. The German government has given notice to all state servants in attendance on the former entperor and his wife that they must place themselves at the disposal of the government by April I or forfeit all claims for pensions. Countess Keller still remains with the former empress. Final Report to Be Made on Coal Land Assessments County commissioners expect a complete report from T. Ellsworth Davies, the mining expert who made a survey of the coal fields in this country, not later tjian. Saturday. A communication has been sent to him urging him to come to the city either on Friday or Saturday of this week to submit his report in person to the commissioners. After it has been considered the valua tions of the coal lands probably will be increased as he recommends, af ter which the coal companies will be notified of the change in assess ments. Appeals will follow and when these are refused 'by the com missioners the cases will be submit ted in court for a decision. BRITISH MINERS WANT 6-HOUR DAY AND MORE WAGES Reject Terms Offered by the Government For Settle ment of Strike JJOIKIOII, Feb. 12.—The confer ence of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain at a meeting at South port to-day decided against accept ance of the terms offered by the government for a settlement of the demands made by the federation. The Miners' Federation, which has 800,000 members, wants a six-hour day and a thirty per cent, increase in wages. When the conference met this morning President Smillie an nounced that the committee having the matter in charge had decided against acceptance of ihe govern ment's terms. The government's terms were discussed at the confer ence tlxis afternoon, after which the conference voted to reject them. The conference adopted the follow ing resolution: "We reject the terms offered by the government as not being in re ply to our demands and wp remit to the executive committee the duty of laying before the conferencei a proposal us to what should be the next step to press our demands. The government, in replying to the demands of the Miners' Federa tion, says that while it sympathizes with the desire of the workers for an improved standard of life, the government must. In considering the increases in the cost of production in trades whose product form a staple of other occupations, think also of the consequences upon tlio I general trade situation. The gov ernment says il Is willing to add a ' shilling a day to the present war bonus, which Is equal to the rise In prices since January, 19X8, j FOOD PRICES ARE BOOSTED TOO HIGH SAYS CITY SEALER Butter and Eggs Only Are Cheaper General food prices' in Har risburg have been stationary during the past several weeks. Eggs and butter, however, have fallen, while green groceries show a tendency to climb. Increased wholesale prices have not yet affected retail prices of meats, meat dealers say. Fresh meats in the local markets are quoted at figures considerably below those of the meat dealers. COST OF LIVING STATIONARY IN LOCALMARKETS Few Changes Made in Last Month in the Prices ol' Necessities While the dollar of the Harris burg consumer bus increased some what within the past three weeks, the growth has not been especially appreciable. Green produce even shows a tendency to climb upward. The quotations on some articles are materially lower-to-day. Several weeks ago the remains of a two dollar bill after the purchase of a pound of creamery butter and a dozen of fresh eggs, was inconse quential. Now the figures of these articles have declined to such an extent that it is almost possible to make these purchases with a dollar hill. City market quotations to-day gave eggs at from 43 to 4S cents and c-reamery butter was ranging from 55 to 00 cents. Several weeks ago they were quoted as high as 75 cents and butter was ranging about the same figure. Wcatlicr May Hit Eggs The grade of weather dealt out by the weatherman has had much [Continued on Pago 13.] % ? mt - Charleston ,W. Va.—A bill to conserve natural gas 4* tiW for the use of West Virginia consumers in preference to A 5" outsiders, passed the Senate yesterday by a vote of 'A 3 *l* A 4 190 to 10. The measure was passed by the House of *f* A 4* T Delegates several days ago and it now is ready for the ! uu 4* governor's signature. 4 A *4* A PARKER HEADS LIQUIDATION BOARD l{|) Washington—Appointment of "the United States liqui- T T dation commission—War Department," to liquidate the ,4^ j* business And financial affairs of the American army in ... \7 England and France, was announced to-day by Secretary j| ~ A R-Ver Edwin B Parker, of Houston. Texas, is chairman. 4^ WAR LEADERS SIT TODAY AT PARIS "I* Paris—lt is believed that a special commission will X ** mm * be appointed to study Belgian claims- has been done in T m T the consideration of other territorial problems, says a 5 jr H-'-ac report Tn addition to Marshal Foch. Marshal ♦t- X Petain and Field Marshal Haig, General Pershing and X Cc. r ! D;:z will be present at to-day's session. T i * 4 DE PALMA BREAKS WORLD RECORD X A A Daytcna, Fla.—Ralph De Palma broke the world's JJP T automobile record fcr both mile -and a kilometer in A straight away dashes to-day cn Daytona beach. The 4* X time for the miles, as announced by officials of the Auto- a 4* mobile Association of America, was 24.02 seconds, against 4* j *r* X Bob Burman's record of 25.40 seconds, made in 101: A X • ? Dc Palma's kilometer time was 15.86 seconds, or two sec- jT X onds below the record. . ♦sr* £ STOCKHOLM BRINGS 2.084 TROOPS . J X New York—The transport Stockholm arrived her< to-day from Brest with 2-084 American troops. These X g arrivals included field and staff, headquarters companv. .*§* X x X ' •' htrier.t and Companies A.- B. C and D of, T *5? 4* tantiy regiment. 93rd division; the 854t: > tU Company transportation corps; casual companies N;.s. * * i ( i 4* 219, 222 and 234; also more than 400 casual officers and 4* A ! X c.en of various branches of the service, and fourteen nurses and eighteen civilians. il i- i | MARRIAGE LICENSES I; A llohrrt Jon.-, and Goldle M. Snnlln, llurrlhur K > Flovd J. HI- * X ""t.?.""*"" B : Harklna, Unola; Harvey C. Shank and I>ar- , w J otliy M. nildera, Steclton. V iuilllUll U.t.11.1.0-I.XLLLLLI LLft Scores of Men Are Engaged Steadily in Forestalling Is the Charge UP TO THE CITY TO TAKE ACTION "The farmer in this neighbor hood has made more money in the last two years than he ever made in his life," declared George B. Neb inger, City Inspector of Weights and Measures, to-day, following his ap peal yesterday to City Council to pass ordinances with teeth in them to prevent forestalling in the local markets. "Several years ago live or six hundred farmers used to back up at the Harrisburg markets with ev ery kind of horse vehicle. Now they back up in motor cars, and they're no Fords, either; big, roomy tourhi" cars. What does this prove'.' Why. that the farmer is prospering to beat the band. 1 Only last week I talked with a substantial York county farmer who declared that, iifty cents a pound is entirely too much to pay for a pound of buter. He told me that it costs little to feed a cow because it gets its food most ly from grazing; being fed some hay and corn fodder. A farmer makes fine profits on butter at fifty cents a pound." Nebinger is on the eve of a big drive to revamp Harrisburg mar kets, and he has begun by demand ing action from the City Council to do away with forestalling on the part of some seventy-five hucksters who are making lnoney, hand-over fist, as the saying goes, by broker age carried on in the various, mar kets. Here is the way these fellows operate, according to Inspector Neb inger: They are at the markets long before daylight with plenty of cash in the hand. Before the farm er has arranged his display he [Continued on I'age 13.]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers