The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, November 7, 1919, Page 1

4 . Foster THE WEATHER Partly cloudy. HE { eg cere eee ERR, LAST EDITION THIRTY-NINTH YEAR, BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1919 BISMARCK TRIBUNE PRICE FIVE CENTS STRIK ttt nee OPE HILDRE AT' tee FRAZIER TELLS WHY HE'S IN ON MINERS’ MUDDLE Governor Declares His Only Pur- pose Was to Save People From Suffering WOULD OPERATE MINES Gives Operators Final Assur- ance of Intent to Continue Producing Coal “In the event that you gentlemen are unable to get together, I shall, as governor of this state, feel called upon to exercise all the legal powerg at in my command to keep the mines operation. I desire to state fur that it is not, my intention to interfe in any way with the negotiations now being conducted by the federal gov- ernment aud that any agreement made by you should not interfere with 2 final settlement, and must terminate immediately upon the settlement ef- fected in the central bituminous field” said Governor Lynn J. Frazier in con? cluding a long statement to the coal operators issued at the close of hts second conference with them, late Thursday afternoon. “Since the beginning of negotiations, started last week,” says the governor, “various newspapers hostile to the ad. ministration have published articles under glaring headlines for the pur- pose of impugning my motives, In or: der that there may be no misundec- standing, I desire to make this state- ment in writing, Ne SOMETHING HAD “TO: BE’ DONE “At the time I. wired , President Lewis of the United Mine Workers as- sociation I realized that something had to be done immediately to prevent a walkout ‘of all organized miners in North Dakota, and that great suffer- ing would immediately ensue on ac- count of a shortage of coal through- out the state. My telegram resulted in the withdrawal of the strike order by District President Drennan, which _ order had gone out and which wouil have been effective on November 1, and all the mines in the state operat- ed by union labor would have been shut down. In some instances where the order cancelling the strike was not received, there was a cessation of operations. “T have had but one purpose in mind in getting you gentlemen together that being to keep the mines in oper- ation in order that the people of this state should not-suffer serious hard- ships, and which might result. in loss of life. It has not been my purpose to take any part in the controversy between the miners and. mine-owners. As governor of the state of North Dakota I feel that I am performing my duty to all the people of the state in handling this matter in this man- ner, and I would urge that both sides to this controversy show a spirit of cooperation in accomplishing the pur- poses above stated.” The conferees adjourned at 4:30 un- til 8:30 in the evening without report- ing. progress, STATE BOARD HELD TO BLAME FOR BIG INCREASE IN TAXES State Auditor Kositzky Prepares Tables Showing Boost Run- ing Up to 84 Per Cent . That the state board of equalization inereased the assessed yaluation ox farm lands as returned by the county boards 84 percent, in the instance ot county, 79 percent. in Siopx county; 71 percent. in Trafll 70 per cent, in Sargent, and all the way from eight to 59 per cent in a mojority at the other counties is shown in a table issued today by State Auditor Kosit- zky in response to a request from county auditors. County auditors adyise Mr. Kositzky that farmers are complaining because their taxes are considerably higher, and that they wish something to prove their right to pass the buek, In sub- mitting the tables of land values’ as| equalized by’ the state board: the state auditor-advises that sitting as a mem: ber of that body he voted against raising the assessed valuation of farm Jands. ‘Acre values a8 raised by the state board range from $8.64 to $57.71. Cass county is given the highest valua- tion in the state, and Traill is second with an average value of $55.01 per acre, \ ee el ROYAL NEIGHBORS SUPPER Royal Neighbors who wish to attend the turkey supper to be given at 6:30/ next Tuesday evening at the Knights of Pythias hall are requested to notify Mrs, L..M. Parsons, "Phone 227, be- fore November 9, For Ontario Premier £.C DRURY. Ottawa, Nov. 6—E. C. Drury, a :|farmer, 41 years old, is likely to be the new premier of Ontario. He is the chosen leader of the United Farmers’ and Labor parties. His resi- dence is Simcoe-co. WILSON CABINET CONCENTRATING ON LABOR CRISIS Fuel Administrator and Director of Railways Called Into Conference MORE, TRAINS . CUT. OFF Washington, Nov. 7—The strike of bituminous coal mincrs in particular and the industrial situation in gen- eral were discussed by President Wil- son’s cabinet today at a special meet- ing called by Secretary Lansing of the state department. istrator Garfield and Director Gen- eral Hines of the railroad administra- tion were present. Before the cabinet assembled ad- ministration spokesmen reiterated that the government. was inalterably proposed to the proposal of Samuel Gompers president of the American Federation of Labor that the injunc- tion against the United Mine Workers of America be withdrawn as a pre- liminary to the ending of the strike and the negotiations of a new agree- ment between the miners and the op- erators. FURTHER TRAIN REDUCTION Chicago, Nov. 7.—Curtailment of ance of bunkering of foreign’ owned vessels at American ports, restric- tions in some places of the use of pub- lic utilities and appeals for coal from various cities as the strike of approx- imately 425,000 bitaminous coal min- ers today rounded out its first week gave the nation further indication of the distress in store should there be a protracted. suspension of mining op- erations. To the states already re- ported suffering from a coal short- age Kansas, Nebraska, Alabama and Towa today was added Oklahoma. “Follow the first law of nature which ig self-preservation and take any coal you can get your hands on,” was a reply of Governor U. B. A. Robert- son of Oklahoma to one county’s ap- peal for aid. \ While it was officially announced by the director general of railroads that no general curtailment of train service was contemplated, 66 trains today had been annulled in the central west. PREPARE FOR A LONG SEIGE Washington, Nov. 7.—Officials in di- rect touch with the strike situation apparently were preparing for a pro- longed shut down of the mine. While the railroad’ administration’s central committee would not divulge details of. its work members admitted that arrangements were being made for full production of fuel should the strike become a “bitter end” fight. In West Virginia miners continued to return in small numbers to the union shafts according to reports here. The non union miners were being given every encouragement also to in- crease their output. In some quarters the beliéf prevail- ed that the strike on the edges of’ the solid union district was loosing its force. Nobby eyo Trains Suspended | Minneapolis, Nov. 7.— Temporary discontinuance of several trains in' the northwest were announced today by the United States railroad administra- tion, Those ‘on the first list are on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul | between southwestern Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa _ points, | This action wag taken it was stated to speed up coal shipments from the Jhead of the lakes, Fuel Admin-; passenger train service, discontinu-; ee ey LANGER RENEWS CHALLENGES 10 BOSS OF LEAGUE Attorney General, Addressing “ Home-Folk, Says Chieftains Evade the Issue BELIEVES PEOPLE RIGHT Declares They Have Shown the Power to Kick Out Dishonest or Weak Officials New Leipsig, N. D., Nov. 7.—De- claring that he is facing as attorney general of North Dakota the same sort’ of fight which confronted him when he began as state’s attorney the cleaning up of Morton county six years ago, William Langer last night «d- dressed a mass meeting of “his own people,” farmers who gathered here from miles around from _ bailiwicks which Langer first stumped when he was the farmers’ candidate for staté’s attorney, Reviewing the birth of the league, the attorney general said: “Three years ago the common people of this state demanded certain reforms The officers and men in control of. gov- ernment of North Dakota refused to igrant these reforms, The people quiet- ly threw these men out of office and jcontrol. That is a fine thing about the people of North Dakota,” said Mr. Langer, one of the trio of state officials whose impeachment has been threat- ened by league ‘newspapers thought to reflect the opinions of President A. C Townley....“They.fire.out of. office. any men or set of men who won’t do their duty, who break faith, who shirk re- sponsibility, or become the tools, man- ikins and playthings for unscrupulous, {cunning adventurers, THE BIRTH OF THE LEAGUE “Three years ago you chose a ticket headed by Governor Fraz! Lower taxes, economy, legal justice to the ‘th and poor alike, terminal elevat- and state hail insurance wer? ue of the planks in your platform. lyou took the leaders of the league on faith, the same as you took the ‘officials you elected on faith, with the ;exception that you had more confi- dence in the good faith of Townley ‘and his outfit because of their profes- sed friendship for you than you had jin some of the very men you elected to office. Your confidence in Townley was misplaced. Frazier, who started out well, has proven a woeful failu-e. The attorney géneral declared the radical element was not in control when the league was born, but that it was now in the saddle, and that the farmers were being kept in ignorance of the fact. He enumerated. a long list .of “party socialists or profession- al agitators” working for the league, including in his “roll-call” as he re- ferred to it, President A. ¢, Townley, jLieut.-Gov. Heward Wood and other men prominent in the organization. He referred to league legislators who are on Townley’s pay-roll, he de- clared, for $125, $250 and $300 per month, as “come-ons,” and mentioned the recent league convention in Far- go as a “shake-down meeting.” Reviewing that convention he ask- ed: “Did any one of you present hear Townley, Frazier or Lofthus explain anything to\the farmers? “Did they explain how it happened that Hastings and his outfit got $20,- 000 for a week’s work in the organiz- ation gof the so-called league bank - of} Valley City ‘ , BOUNTY WAS RETURNED that they were obliged to return the graft of $15.026.91 gotten from the farmers in the same deal—how Mtr. Hall and I made them return it to the farmers? “Did they explain how it happened that. the\spineless nonenity that answ- ers to the name of governor voted ‘no’ jon the returning of the $15,026.91 to the farmrs and the making good of jthe $36,375 in notes? “Did they explain how it happened that over a quarter-million of the state’s' money was in the Scandinav- ian-American bank of Fargo? “Did they explain iow it happenei that although legally the Scandinav- ian-American bank could loan only $9,000 to any person or corporation, they had loaned $170,000 to the Town- ley stores: $148,000 to Townley’s League, $66,182 to Townley’s League Exchange; $47,950 to Townley’s ser- vice bureau. THE EXCESS LOANS “Did they explain to you that the excess loans alone amounted to over $784,000. altho the bank had a capital tof but .$50,000? “Did they explain how it happened that Townley could take thousands ot dollars in notes given to the Consum- ets Stores Co. on his collection trips and there deceive the farmers by say- UP ee ee S REJECT DEMAN TH WARNS OF U. S. SEA AND LAND Budapest, Noy. 5.—General Horthy s now in command of the new Hungar- ian army. Horthy and commanded the Austrian navy. TREATY T0 BE PIGEON-HOLED IF MISTREATED Senator Hitchcock Says Presi- dent Doesn’t Have to Ac- cept Senate Action wok WILL NOT COMPROMISE Washington, Noy. 7.—President Wil- son today told Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska administration leader in the senate treaty fight that he would de entirely satisfied with any reserva- tions supporters of the treaty might feel justified in accepting provided they did not nullify the league of na- tions covenant and were designed for the purpose of interpreting the terms of the treaty. No Compromise The president, Senator Hitchcock said, expressed “his very strong ap- proval” of what had been done to date and agreed that no compromise would be offered unless a deadlock was reached on a resolution of ratification. Senator Hitchcock outlined his pro- gram as first, an endeavor to defeat the reservations reported by the for- eign relations committee and if that failed’ to vote down the resolution of ratification containing them. His next move would be to present a resolu- tion of ratification and should a dead- lock ensue to attempt a compromise with republican opponents. Can Pigeon-Hole Treaty Senator Hitchcock said if a resolu- tion of ratification containing the com- mittee reservation were adopted that would settle the fight so far as the senate was concerned, but that the president could, “pigeon-hole’ the treaty. He. declfned to speculate as to the probable course of the presi- dent should the,committee resolution prevail. BISMARCK MAN LEARNS OF DEATH OF FATHER T. C. Walker of Bismarck has just received’ word that his father, T, C. Walker, a member of the state legis-1 JJature in the nineties and long prom-} “Did they explain how it hapened{inent in prohibition circles, — passed |; The deceased), away some time ago. was a pioneer resident of county, where he located in 1882. was 81 ye: old. MODE BROTHERHOODS A regular. meeting pf Bismarck Lodge No. 1018, Modern Brotherhood of America, was held at the Knights of Phythias hall at 8 o’clock last even- ing, A social time followed the bust- ness_ session, ‘Towner He HELPLESS, STARVING IN MIDST OF PLENTY, FREEZING WITH FUEL ALL . ABOUT, AGED CARETAKER SUICIDES Coleraine,, Minn, — Rendered helpless by blood poisoning and unable to gather firewood or reach provisions which was stored’ in plentiful quantities in the cellar. James Francisco caretaker at .C L. Simons cottage on Wabana lake, 17 miles from Coleraine, shot himself thru the heart, with a re- volver rather than face death from | starvation or cold. The body was found yesterday ing that ‘Big Biz says that your note was sold. It was not sold at alt. Here it is’? / by ‘Jack. Hayes who lives nearby. Terrible conditions. were found at the Simmons cottage by Hayes. Formerly he was Admiral} FRAZI ttt ‘by midnight. cabinet. | walked out by midnight. Workers could overrule approval. of North Dakota. striking miners in other to the press. TOOK BURGLARY INSURANCE AWAY; - LOSES CHARTER The Ocean Accident & Guaranty In- surance Co, of London has been citied by Insurance Commissioner 8. A. Ols- iness to appear November 10 and s cause why it should not he excluded {from doing business in the s alleged, withdrawn its burglar mnee protection from the Scandi- ing’ the time that institution was in the hands of a recezver on order of Fargo bank filed ‘the complaint upon {which Commissioner Olsne: acted, under North Dakota’s _ anti-discrimi- nation statutes, Pending final action} in the matter the company’s charter in this state is suspended. i The body was partially frozen, and food was scattered about the main room but outside the reach of the old caretaker A letter started by Francisco three days after the poison set in and continued at intervals until shortly before his death was found. The old man had fired all but one revolver Shot to attract attention and summon help und then used the last shot to take his life, Francisco's only known relative is Mrs, Inez Edwards of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a daughter, navian-American bank of Fargo dur-|, jjalleged band of cattle rustlers, which him.” states. ER Ce oad DS PROSECUTION THREATENED WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTION IF THEY VIOLATED INJUNCTION AND GAVE _ WAY TO FRAZIER, OPERATORS REJECT PLAN Two thousand organized coal miners will be on strike in North Dakota This was the situation seen at 1 o’clock this afternoon by Railway Commissioner Frank Milhollan, who is vice president of the North Da- kota Federation of Labor and a member of Governor Frazier’s labor ‘The understanding is that Drennan left his strike order in the hands of friends of Frazier’s administration prior to his departure at 1 o’clock this morning for Billings, Mont. Mr. Milhollan would not confirm this supposition, but he statd that “the order had gone out,” and that he expected all organized miners to have “President Drennan has unlimited authority in this district,” said Mr. Milhollan. “If he calls a strike only the national convention of the Mine Threatened with criminal prosecution and imprisonment if they vio- lated the federal injunctions now pending and aided and abetted by the United Mine Workers in their defiance of this injunction by contributing asum equivalent to sixty per cent of the wages now received by North Dakota miners to the strike benefit fund of the union, North Dakota coal oprators at 1:30 this morning advised Governor Frazier that they could not accept the plan which the governor and Henry Drennan of Billings, district president of the United Mine Workers, had presented for their The conference ended with the expectation that a strike would be called by. President Drennan this morning; that the strike order would-be closely followed by a proclamation from Governor Frazier, declaring the exist- ence of an emergency warranting the seizure of the mines; that the gov- ernor would take over the mines in behalf of the state, appoint Capt. I. P. Baker his agent in the operation of the mines, place in effect the sixty per cent wage increase demanded, and deflect into the United Miners’ strike fund the additional amount so assessed against the coal: consumers In so doing, it is contended, the governor will be acting in direct de- fiance of the United States government, and in violation of the property rights guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions to the owners of North Dakota lignite mines. He will be also levying upon every consumer of lignite coal in North Dakota a strike benefit tax of $1.25 to $1.50 per ton to be used by the United Mine Workers in maintaining in idleness . President Drennan left for his home in Billings, Mont., early in the morning, at the close of the conference. All union miners in this district were at work this morning. Governor Frazier’s office reported no new developments this afternoon. The governor stated that no proclamation for the nationalization of the state mines had been issued, and that he had no statement to make FRAZIER GIVEN BLAME Because, it is contended, of a telegram sent to John Lewis, acting president of the United Mine Workers of America, last week asking permission to operate the mines in this state, North Dakota has a probable strike of its lignite coal miners on its hands - 'this morning. Acting on the advice of the United States district attorney for North Dakota, the coal operators refused to sign President Henry Drennan’s demand for a flat increase of sixty per cent, in wages ov:| for all lignite miners in the state. said that such a proposal would The federal district attorney be in direct violation of federal “i statutes and if signed the operators would face arrest and con- | viction. GOVERNOR REBELS By siding with Drennan and accusing the operators of “stall- ing,” Governor Frazier, chief executive of the state of North Da- kota, is held to have gone unmistakably on record as opposing the banking board. Attorneys for the/the federal government. In spite of the district attorney’s warn- ing and advice; Governor Frazier at last night’s conference with the operators insisted that they should agree to Drennan’s demands. It is understood that Drennan has ordered a strike of all union lignite miners in the state to take effect this morning, but nothing could be learned up to the time of going to press as to miners obeying such instructions if they had been received. The Wilton mines were in full operation this morning, and the same is true ANOTHER ALLEGED CATTLE RUSTLER IN PRISON HERE Charles Arndt, apprehended in Ben- son county on a warrant charging him with being a member of Jack Guyer’s is charged with extensive operations between North and South Dakota, is in county jail here, where Guyer is also held, awaiting trial. The arrest was made through evidence procured by Attorney General Langer, who en- gaged a corps of expert cattle theif catchers loaned him by the Montang) Cattlemen’s Association, ‘lof the Washburn mines, it is understood. ATTEMPT TO PLAY POLITICS - The inside facts of the confer- ence between Governor Frazier and President Drennan and the governor and the coal operators is said to be a story of baffled ambitions, dismal failure to play politics and a pitiful attempt to defy the United. States aide ment, according to those- who have been in close touch with the situation from the time Gover- nor Frazier sent his memorable telegram to the acting head of the miners’ organization. (Continued on Page Four.)