LXXXVIII— No. 276 32 PAGES. Wkt okVT2t Vr&V'"' HARRISBURG, PA. FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 28, 1919. fri£mT.*ou K " s cents' 8 HOME EDITION
GOVERNMENT WILL SEIZE AND OPERATE
BITUMINOUS MINES WITH ARMY'S HELP
MERCUR Y 20 BELO W ZERO
IN TERRIFIC BLIZZARD;
FUEL SHORTAGE IS FELT
Two Feet of Snow Adds to Distress of
the Far West Which Is Feeling
Effect of Bituminous Strike
COAL STRIKE SETTLEMENT IS REFUSED
UNDER TERMS OFFERED BY GARFIELD
Washington, Nov. 28. —Seizure of bitu m inous coal mines where the owners ;
do not show a disposition to co-operate in increasing production and use of troops to •
protect all miners who desire to work, has been decided upon by the government in
an effort to end the bituminous coal strike, it was stated to-day officially.
In mines seized by the government the 14-per-cent wage advance agreed upon by the Cabi
net will be put into effect immediately, it was said.
These plans of the government were agreed on by the Cabinet last Wednesday, officials
said, so as to meet the situation resulting from a refusal of the operators or miners, or both, to
agree to the government's wage increase proposal.
Cabinet officers expected many mine owners to put into effect voluntarily the 14-per-cent. |
wage increase. Whether the mines of those refusing to do so would be seized was not made clear,!
but it was said that there was no general plan for government control; that each individual easel
would be decided on its merits.
Mines taken over by the government will be operated by the Fuel Administration, but de-1
tails as to compensation to the owners were not disclosed. While?
various Federal agencies were preparing to carry out the govern- i
ment's program. Fuel Administrator Garfield reaffirmed in even j
more emphatic terms his position that "profiteering on the part of!
either labor or capital will not be tolerated."
Mtuntlon Critical (
Chicago, Nov. 28. — Cold weather
with snow and sleet storms to-day
had spreaU over the Middle West and
Southwest and rendered more critical
the fuel situation brought about by
the strike of bituminous coal miners,
who hare been idle four weks. In
many small cities and towns the coal
shortage was acute, with actual suf
fering in prospect in some. Modera
tion of the cold wave by to-morrow,
was forecast-
In the large producing coal fields of]
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Pennsylvania
and West Virginia, the miners appar
ently were firm in their determina
tion not to return to work until some
wage adjustment was agreed on. In
fact some district officials of the
United Mine Workers in West Vir
ginia predicted that many men who
bad returned to work would walk out
again to-day. Some operators in that
state, however, asserted that produc
tion to-day would be increased.
With no prospect of immediate re
sumption of production In sight, and
no indication of what the next step
by the Government toward providing
fuel would be, following breaking off
of the miners' and operators' negotia
tions at Washington, efforts of Gover
nor Henry J. Alien, of Kansas, to ob
tain volunteers to mine coal, and the
announcement by Frederick I). Gard
ner. governor of Missouri, that he
would call a conference of governors
of coal producing states unless the
government acted to-day, attracted
attention.
The most drastic conservation meas
ures announced by any of the larger
citiea to-day had been ordered into
effect at Kansas City. Mo., next Sun
day, Schools, theaters and all places
ot amusement were ordered closed.
The less essential manufacturing
plants will be closed immediately the
fuel administration announced, and
others will be listed in the orders of
importance. Coal from the schools'
supply will be distributed to domes
tic consumers.
Trains May Stop
In Chicago to-day there were re
newed reports that train schedules
•were to be curtailed, but there was
no confirmation from Walker D.
Hines, director general of railroads.
Virtually all the mines had re
mained in operation or where work
had been resumed were idle yester
day, it being a holiday, but those
mines generally were expected to con
tinue production to-day despite break
ing up of the Washington conference.
There were no renprts of changes in
the general siftuation as regarded the
miners over the holiday period.
The conference of governors which
Governor Gardner said he would call,
provided the Government failed to
act, probably would be held at St.
Louis, Chicago, or Indianapolis. He
indicated the states might take over
the mines and operate them. Governor
Gardner recently was appolnted'ehair
tiian of the committee to devise means
to lower the living cost by the gover
nors' conference at Salt Lake City.
Appeals for Volunteers
"Bvery department of human life Is
bound up In th e issue," said a state
ment by Oovernor Allen, of Kansas,
concerning his appeal for volunteers
to dig coal to protect tho people of
Kansas, "whose suffering would be
unspeakable unless relief is afTorded."
Mr. Allen said, "that is not in any
sense a strike breaking enterprise,"
and that the state's poer would be
used only to relieve the coal'famine
and to protect the lives of those en
gaged in tarrying out the effort.
Messages were received by the gov
ernor from men from Kansas, Mls
, souri and Texas offering to work in
the mines. "The response is fine for
the first day," he said. "Arrange
ments for moving the men into the
coal fields were being worked out to
day.
The question of Jurisdiction over 62
prisoners arrested at Carncyvllle,
Wyo., by Federal troops acting with
Federal officials and the county sher
iff to-day remained undecided. They
StiU were held In Jalt •
Little Prospect of Early Settlement of Bituminous Strike Seen by Either Side
HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH
MINERS FIRM IN
REFUSAL TO GO
BACK TO WORK
Vote Down Efforts to Make
Compromise Effective and
Lose Own Proposal
SCORE THE MINE OWNERS
Hold Out For 31 Per Cent. In
crease Proposed by Sec
retary Wilson
An abrupt end came late yester
day to all attempts to settle the na
tion-wide coal strike by peaceful
agreement.
Miners and operators spent a bleak
Thanksgiving, afternopn in embitter
ed debate over the government pro
posal for a 14 per cent, wage in
crease, made Wednesday night by
Fuel Administrator Garfield, reject
ed it and every other proposal that
was forthcoming, and then dissolved,
sine die.
All Sides Silent
Participants went home. Where
the break left coal strike conditions
no one of them, miner or operator,
would say. Likewise, in official quar
ters, there was silence.
Acting President John L. Lewis,
of the mine workers, though refus
ing to say one word as to the strike
itself, which theoretically was caiied
off in obedience to Federal court
injunction holding it a violation of
the Lever act for war-time food and
fuel control, scored the government
roundly at the conclusion of the
[Continued on Page 7.1
Capt. Gredler Named
Assistant to Musser
by Railways Company
Announcement of the appointment
of Captain J. G. Gredler as an as
sistant to the president of the Har
risburg Railways Company, was
made to-day by Frank B. Musser,
president of the company. Captain
Gredler will look after details of the
company's accounting business and
public affairs. C. F. Crane, who was
named as an assistant to President
Musser some time ago, was placed
in charge of the operation end of the
company' business.
Large amounts of detailed work
in the future which will result from
planned improvements of the com
pany's system, necessitated the ap
pointment of men who will look
after the deails.
Captain Gredler, until the end of
last month, was a captain In the
army and was assistant to the depot
officer and administrative officer at
the resedve depot at New Cumber
land. Ills home is in Maukesha,
Wis. For twenty years he was in
the banking business and later was
a Halesmanager and carried on a
ltfo insurance busin'ess. In his home
town he was active in civic improve
ments and developments and took
an active part in Chamber of Com
merce work.
Captain Gredler will begin bis new
duties with the railways company
immediately.
SNOWSTORM IS
RAGING WITH
MERCURY LOW
Much Suffering Throughout
! Middle West With Fuel
■
Scarce
.
j TRAIN SERVICE CRIPPLED
Heavy Rains and Floods in
Arizona; Many Lives
in Danger
By Associated Press.
Chicago, Nov. 28. —Snow ranging
in depth from two feet to an inch
to-day covered most of the country
between the Mississippi river and
the Sierra Nevada mountains, and
from Canada to Northern Texas,
with low temperatures prevailing
throughout the area. A slight snow
fall occurred in Northern Illinois,
Indiana and as far east as Toledo,
Ohio, while word came that some
snow fell in Los Angeles, Cal., and
that two inches of snow covered the
ground at the aviation field near
Riverside, Cal.
South of the snow belt heavy rains
fell and floods swept the lowlands
bordering the Salt and Agua Fria
rivers in Arizona, with possible loss
of life.
Suffering in many places in the
central and southwest was in pros
pect because of the extreme cold
and the limited fuel supply resulting
from the coal strike. Cattle on the
western ranges also were reported
endangered.
In the western plains state trains
were badly delayed and wire com
munication was crippled.
Lander, Wyo., was the coldest
place in the country, according to
reports the temperature there being
, twenty degrees below zero. At Abil
ene, Texas, it was six degrees above
zero.
rciGHTV-FOrn-MII.F, GAI.K
Sun Francisco, Nov. 28.—A gale
which reached 84 miles an hour on
Mount Tnmalpaic and which was ac
companied by low temperatures and
snow, iaged along the Pacific coast
yesterday.
Shipping in San Francisco bay was
damaged and the army transport
Mount Vernon was torn from her an
chorage. Later the vessel was pulled
in place by tugs.
PIED PIPER PROMISES TO
RID THE CITY OF RATS
Rodents Eat $1,750 Worth of Food a Day, Says Man Who
Will Co-operate With Health Bureau
Rats, approximately 350,000 of
them, make their home in Harris
burg according to J. L. Nichols, a
member of a party of Georgia Pled
Pipers who have arrived in this
city to conduct a four-weeks' cam
paign to aid in ridding the city of
rodents.
Recognized by the Federal gov
ernment and working in co-opera
tion with it and health boards in
cities in which they- may be, the
Pled Pipers are making their head
quarters in the offices of the Harris
burg Board of Trade in police sta
tion. In addition to Mr. Nichols, P.
L. Lowney is already' here and oth
ers will arrive within the next sev
eral days.
Each day these parasites conUnue
When the Self-Starter Won't Work y What Else Can You Do{
STOCK MARKET
BREAKSUNDER
ADVERSE NEWS
General Motors Crashes With
Drop of Twenty-One Points;
Steels Show Weakness
By Associated Press.
New York, Nov. 28.—The dead
lock in the coal strike and latest
developments in the Mexican situa
tion impelled fresh selling at the
opening of the Stock Exchange to
day. eGneral Motors lost 16 points
■at the outset and the reaction soon
extended to 2 lpoints. Crucible
Steel lost almost 8 points and Pierce
Arrow 7. Other weak features in
cluded Mexican Petroleums, fe'tude
baker, Baldwin Locomotive, United
Fruit, U. S. Rubber and Republic
Steel.
Declines among more representa
tives shares were limited to one or
two points.
ROBBED OF $40,000 IX
VESTIBULE AT HIS HOME
Now York, Nov. 28.—Four holdup
men invaded fashionable West End
avenue early to-day and robbed a
Washington market merchant of
$40,000 in the vestibule of his own
home. They escaped In an automo
bile and the police, have sent out a
general alarm fir their arrest.
to operate in the city, a los% of sl,-
750 is distributed among residents
and business establishments of the
city, according to government fig
ures quoted to-day by J. L. Nichols.
This loss, which is exclusive of that
caused by mice, amounts to $638,-
750 during a year.
The methods of these present-day
Pled Pipers Is somewhat different
from that of those of olden times.
Barium carbonate, fatal to rats but
not to humans, is used by the opera
tors. Large quantities of this are
to be distributed In a number of the
largest business establishments of
the city within the next several days,
the service being offered free to es
tablishments which have large num
bers of rats.
01or-independent.
LADY ASTOR WINS
PARLIAMENT SEAT
Plymouth. Nov. 28.—Lady As
tor, American-born wife 01 Vis
count AStor, was elected to parli
ament from the Sutton division
of Plymouth in the balloting of
November 15. The result was an
nounced after a count of the bal
lots here this afternoon. The vote
stood:
Lady Astor, Unionist, 14,495;
W. T. Gay, Labor, 9,292; saac
Foote, Liberal, 4,139.
UNLIMITED GOLD
HELD BY SOVIETS
FOR WORLD TRADE
Four Hundred Million Rubles
to Be Spent For Supplies
When Blockade Lifts
By Associated Press.
I/Oiuloii, Nov. 28.—Russia's gold;
reserves are unprecedented, and the
Soviet government is prepared to pay
400,000,000 rubles in gold for food,
machinery and necessaries, according
to a statement ascribed to colleagues
of Maxim Litvinoff by the Copen
hagen correspondent of the Daily
Mall. Litvinoff is now In Denmark
to negotiate with the Allied nations
relutive to an exchange of prisoners,
having been sent there by the Bol
shevik government of Russia.
"Members of Litvinoff's mission
say an effort will be made to make
peace and secure the raising of the
blockade of Russia," the correspond
[Continued on Page 7.1
Fire Destroys Buildings,
Causing $1,000,000 Loss
By Associated Press.
Baltimore, Nov. 28. —The group
of buildings formerly occupied by
Johns Hopkins University and about
a score of other structures in the
square bounded by Howard. Roes,
Monument and Eutaw streets, were
either destroyed or wrecked by flre
early to-day entailing a loss esti
mated at $1,000,000.
The blaze started In McCoy Hall
of the Johns Hopkins group from an
undetermined cause. An explosion
followed almost Instantly and heavy
explosions occurred In ths building
from time to time.
Nine firemen were Injured, but
none seriously.
ON WAY TO ITALY,
COUPLE HELD FOR
THEFT OF $2,500
Man and Wife Say They Were
Holding Money For
Accuser
Planning to set sail from New
York for their native Italy to-mor
row, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bartcn
zetti, of Gallitzin, Pa., were arrested
here to-day, while on their way to
New York.
Accused of the theft of $2,500,
they were arrested to-day by Penn
sylvania Railroad police and are now
in the hands of Harrisburg police.
They expect to be able to prove their
innocence and to be on their way
this afternoon in sufficient time to
set sail to-morrow. The couple tell
a story which police authorities are
inclined to believe as the truth.
Living in Gallitzin with them was
Pedro Vesta, a man they had known
in Italy. All had felt a desire to re
turn to their native land and hail
made preparations to start. Pass
ports had been secured, luggage
packed and the journey of the trio
was to have started from Altoona
last night. Vesta hail previously
drawn $2,000 from an Altoona bank
and had given it to Mrs. Bartenzetti
to keep for him until they started,
the story runs.
Last night Vesta failed to meet
them in Altoona at the appointed
time. They started out,however, ex
pecting to meet him before they set
sail, they declare. In the meantime
police authorities were notified and
instructions to hold the couple were
sent ahead.
Vesto never had intended to go to
the old country, reports from Altoona
say, but the Bartenzettls declare this
to be a misstatement. They pro
duced as evidence his passport,
which they had been instructed to
keep for him. Some clothes of his
are in their luggage, which was like
wise stopped. Some of their cloth
ing in addition. Is in the luggage of
Vesta, they say.
I THE WEATHER!
llnrrlMbnrK and Vlclnltri Cloudy,
probably rain or snow to-night
nnd Saturday. Not muck change
In temperature, lowest to-night
about freerlog.
Bastern Pennsylvania i Cloudy to
night, probably rain or snow
early Saturday morning and on
Saturday. I.lttle change In tem
perature. Ueatlo to aaoderato
northeast winds.
GERMANY NOT TO
GIVE DOCKS TO
REPLACE SHIPS
Not Responsible For Incident
at Scupa Flow, Govern
ment Claims
By Associated Press,
IXINDOX, Nov. 2H.—Great
Britain has given Jugn-Nlavia
assurances that lite Adriatic
question will soon be taken up
by tlie Supreme Council ami (lint
Great Britain's influence will be
used to secure a just and equit
able settlement in accord with
the life and interests of Jugo
slavia, according to private dis
patches.
Berlin. Nov. 28.—1t is stated in au
thoritative quarters that Germany
will not comply with the demand of
the Entente for 400,000 tons of docks,
with dredges and tugs as an offset to
the German warships sunk at Scupa
Flow.
It was indicated that Germany
would stand pat on her proposition
to refer the dispute to The Hague
Tribunal. It is claimed that Ger
many should not be held respon
sible for the acts of the marine
forces at Scapa Flow.
MANY .MEN NOW W'OKKING
AT YOUNGSTOWN PI.ANT
By Associated Press,
Youngstovrii, 0., Nov. 28.-—Nearly
a tbousanud men to-day entered the
Center stret gate of the Youngstown
Sheet and Tube Company in East
Youngstown, according to observers.
That mill entrance has been regard
ed as the stronghold of the steel
strikers here and has been the most
heavily picketed. Steel plant officials
mainte.in that coal shortage, not la
bor sarcitj-j is preventing opening
of more departments.
CARRANZA FLEES WHEN NEW
REVOLT TEARS MEXICO
SAN ANTONIO. REPORTS WERE RE
CEIVED HERE TO-DAY FROM THE BORDER
TO THE EFFECT THAT FIGHTING HAD
BROKEN OUT IN MEXICO CITY BETWEEN THE
OBREGON AND CARRANZA FACTIONS. CAR
RANZA IS REPORTED TO HAVE FLED TO
QUERETARO. GENERAL PABLO GONZALES IS
REPORTED TO BE LEADING THE CARRANZA
TROOPS.
WASHINGTON. REPORTS THAT CAR
RANZA AND OBREGON FORCES IN MEXICO
CITY HAD CLASHED WERE RECEIVED WITH
NO SURPRISE IN OFFICIAL WASHINGTON. IT
WAS SAID, HOWEVER, THAT IF THEY WERE
TRUE THE BREAK HAD COME A LITTLE
EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.
SOVIET POWER BROKEN
New York.—The hunger strike .which was contin
ued to-day, has split the Ellis Island "Soviet" into two
factions—the left wing, which spurns food, and the right
wing, which devours it at every opportunity. The left
wing has passed ten meals since last Tuesday.
U. S. TO PROBE JENKINS CASE
Washington. Further investigation of the facts
will be made before the American government replies
to the Mexican notes refusing to comply with the de>
mand for the immediate release of William O. Jenkins,
American consular agent at Puebla.
77-YEAR-OLD MAN KILLS ANOTHER
Philadelphia. Abraham R. Vansant, 77 years old,
killed Albert Ray, less than half his age, at the dinner
table last night. Then he sent out of town Mrs. Ray,
a bride of less than a month, who was present at the
shooting, and another witness. He placed a gun in the
dead man's hand, but broke down and confessed after
trying to make out a case of suicide.
JUNIOR SCHOOLS
BATTLE TO WIN
FOOTBALL FAME
Edison and Camp Curtin Elev
ens Playing at Island
Park Today
FIRST ANNUAL CONTEST
Thousands of Students Cheer
Teams as They Line Up
For Play
Football with thrills, smashing line
plunges, long runs and great punt
ing was on the grid bill at Island
Park this afternoon. It was the first
battle for city junior high honors
with a crowd that appeared as large
us that of yesterday for the annual
Thanksgiving game. The contestants
were the Camp Curtin and Edison
junior high elevens.
First Annual Battle
This was the first annual battle
and rivalry was strong. The game
will take the place of the former
Tech-Central contests, for the ju
niors are out for the best that can
be offered. Each school has its
coach and complete athletic organi
zation. The juniors have been work
ing ail season for this game.
Both Carnp Curtin and Edison
have played strong.teams this sea
son. While the West End school has
a shade on Edison in scores and vic
tories there is no telling the out
come of to-day's battle until the linal
whistle is blown. In weight the
teams are about even, and there will
he plenty of speed. Horace Geisel
has been tutoring the Camp Curtin
boys, while "Shorty" Miller is look
ing after Edison.
The crowd to-day rivaled that
seen each year at the annual gram
[Continued on Page 7.1