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.]