The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, December 24, 1923, Page 1

é og Mh tind FORECAST Unsettled and somewhat colder tonight) Tuesday fair. ESTABLISHED 1873 CHRISTMAS T BE OBSERVED f° WELLINCITY * hy Will Not be “White Christ- mas” in All Probability, © But Spirit Is There SANTA CLAUS ARRIV! Reaches City Late Today; Community Singing at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday Night Christmas is at hand. irit was abroad in Bismarck with the added encourage- ment of a trace of snow early today. Scores of activities of various kinds begin tonight in the city, to continue throughout the holidays. The postoffice was crowded, trains in and out of the c were carrying scores of people, and the whole juvenile popilation was on edge for + the arrival of the official Commun- ity Santa Claus this afternoon, Tt won't be a “White Christmas This was the word from the loc weather bureau today, but it was given with the reservation that the weather is somewhat unsettled and anything may happen under such ireumstances. Good Weather The weather yepdrts today from Canada and other points in the Northwest showed moderate temper- atures and no storms, although there %ere traces of snow. It was 28 above at Havre last night, ‘usually a cold spot; it was 20 above at Edmonton, 244 above at Winnipeg and 24 above at Williston, The lowest in Bi: marek last night was 20 above. There is a low pressure area ex- tending from Manitoba to the up- per-Great Lakes region while a high ‘pressure area covers the region west of the Rockies. It is the passing of one of these pressure areas and the coming of the other that brings changes in temperature. Santa Arrives Santa Claus was due*to arrive in ~ Bismarck at 4 P. M., and hundreds of small boys and girls were ready. Advance information was that Santa Claus wottld discard his reindeers be- cause of the balmy Northwest weath- er and arrive from the west on a truck. He was sleeping, could not be awakened by rough handling of men but res iss wafted by a little girl : After distributing 1,500 boxes of candy at the Christmas tree, Claus was to have a busy time. were scores of calls to be made on sick @hildren, v to hospitals, and visits to strangers. The stranger will not be forgotten, under the plans of the Association sof Commerce committee. The com- Praittee obtained a list of all strangers stopping in the city. Each adult will get a Christmas card greeting from the Association of Commerce, while each child will get a bag of candy. Community Singing The big Christmas tree in the rthern Pacific park has attracted much attention. Yesterday a man drove up with eight little children to see the tree—he had brought them in many miles from the country just to see it. And the local committee hoped he would be able to bring them back for Santa Claus’ arrival this afternoon. Don’t forget the Community Christ- mas singing, was the injunction of the committee today. It ‘will take place at 7:45 P. M., Christmas night (Tuesday night) at the Northern Pacific © park. All church choral societies. were asked especially to join, ang every citizen is urged to be present and join in the singing of old Christmas carols. Prisoners Observe Day Prisoners in the state penitentiary east of the city will observe Christ- mas, beginning with a Christmas pro- gram tonight. A Christmas tree will be placed on the auditorium stage. The program for tonight is-as fol- lows: Selection by Prison Orchestra.- Introductory dialogue—John Lee, Albert Nelson. Song—“Silent Night”—by audience. , Song—“Away in Manger”—Clarice Lee, Charlotte and Gene Fritz. -Song—“Star in East”—Claude Peo- ple: Recitation—“The Shepherd Lad”— Irwin Lee. ’s song—Rakkel Lee. Selection—Prison Orchestra. Pantomine—“The Holy City”— Pauline Fritz. Accompanying music by E. C. Fritz. Song—‘Hark the Herald, Angels Sing.”—Audience, The orchestra composed of eight "inmates, is under the direction of H. R, Jones, warden’s secretary and violinist. \Spike Thayer of Bismarck begn secured to play the piano. _ There will be a big Christmas di: ner at noon tomorrow. The menu is as follows: Cream Tomato Soup « Celery Hearts, Sweet Pickles Roast Turkey, Cranberry Jelly Mashed’ Potatoes weet Corn’ English Plum Pudding, Harg Sauce Pumpkin Pie Rolls _ Butter Ayforted Nuts — Candies — Apples J €offee, Tea Milk - Christmas nér'| Following the di fe there will be a program in the and- itorium, which will include talks by inmates. The program follows Religious services by - Salvation Army. 3 it) (Continued on Page 8) THE BI B NEW SPLIT IN EPISCOPAL CIRCLES HAS ECHO IN ALL RELIGIONS TOP LEFT TO RIGHT—BISHOP WILLIAM T. MANNING AND REV. LEIGHTON PARKS. BOTTOM—BISHOP WILLIAM LAWRENCE, GRANT AND REV. LEE H, HEATON, BY ALEXANDER HERMAN NEA’Service Staff Writer. New York, D —Is religion on the eve of a second Protestant Re- formation? Or is the row between the Modern- ists and Fundamentalists of the Episcopal Church a tempest in a tea-pot that may soon be forgotte! Millions of church-goers of creeds are wondering, for it has been DR. PERCY STICKNEY nearly 400 years since so clear-cut ¢ has cropped up in an organ- ized church. When it did, it led to a revolt that split the Catholie Church and gave birth to protestantisn What will it bring about now? Where John Luther and John Calvin once stood as heads of the (Continued on Page 3) MANY START | SAVINGS FOR THEIR KIDDIES TONG AWARDED $1,392.50 BY RISK BUREAU Original Award Made to Em- mons County Highway Su- perintendent Is Reduced Christmas Savings Also Rop- ular in City, Inquiry Among Banks Reveals everybod IN ACCIDEN' Not worries about money for Christmas presents. Inquiry has developed that there are lots gf thrifty people in Bis- marck. ‘They start. planning for as a long time ahead. They open a “Christmas account”—design- ated only in their own minds—with one of the local banks, put a few dollars in now and then, and when Christmas comes they do not worry. A lot of these same thrifty people encourage the children to save money. There will be scores of small accounts opened with the various INJURED Claimed Permanent Injurits Because of Auto Crash B. H. Tong, formerly county bigh- way superintendent of Emmons coun- ty, was awarded $1,392.50 by the Workmen’s Compensation, Commis sion today, for injuries sustained in an automobile accident while he was|janks after Christmas, with a few on duty on August 29, 1922, dollars placed’to the credit of some The award was the second made] little boy or girl in the family, and by the bureau, the first amount hav-| then regular additions will be made ing been $2,940.10. On demand of at-|by members of the family. torneys for Emmons county, the ——_______ case. was reoppened and a new hear- both parties of the first hearing but 4 Emmons county was not represented and the award was made on the evi- dence, a bureau commissioner said. The award is madé under the elec- 5 tive provision of the compensation pases act, whereby, if an employer is not : insured and an employe is imjured,] Dublin, Dec. 24.—(By the A. P.) the employe may present his case to|—The Free State government today the commissioners and they deter-| "nounced the release of Coyntess mine how much he would-have got if| Georgina Markieviez, one of the the employer had been insured. If | leading women Republicans, who (as the employer does not pay within 10| 4frested here November 20. The days the claimant may sue in the] °vernment also announced that be+ courts for that amount plus 50 per-| ‘ween December 1 and December 23 cent. The employer, if he does not| Political prisoners te the number of desire, to pay, may ‘contest in the | S481 have been liberated. courts. a . Mr, Tong claimed permanent: dis-| tREES BLOOM TWICE IN SEASON. ability to his right shoulder and ear| Mountain View, Cal., Dec. 24.— by the accident which interferes with| Because of the unusually warm au- the conduct of his profession, which|tumn in is that of engineering. Myr. Tong] fruit trees blossomed PE the second formerly resided in Bismarck but for| time this season. J. W. Cornell re- the last few years has lived in Lin-| ported recently that many Jof his ton. cherry trees were in bloom. WORK IS STARTED ON CITY’S FIRST ‘BIG OUTDOOR SKATING RIN Work has started on Bismarck’s ball park to a site outdoor skating rink; made possible storm sewer which through donations by about 300 peo-| ran just behing third base of. the ple. baseball diamond. ‘ It will be'flooded as soon as it is} A permanent water pipe is being determined that it is practicable. At| laid from the corner of Main- and the present time the water would'be highways. o absorbed by’ the earth. Efforts to flood rinks!at St. Mary’s and William Moore schools a few days ago were unsuccessful. i The city street department is graa. ing the rink site, scraping up, loose dirt and’ making. banks around a strip of ground about 200 by 300 A farming house, the use of which is permitted by the Haggart Con. struction company, will be placed on the grounds and a caretaker employ: nA N The placing of the rink in the ball patk, which was found to be the best site jn the. city, was made. possible feet. It was necesfiry to change the location of the rink from the area occupied by the football grid- by Capt. I. P. Baker, owner of the land, who donated its use for the rink. ‘y MARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1923 REBELS CLAIM BIG ADVANCE BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL ARE XMAS SPORTS Football Game Scheduled at 2 p. m. and Baseball Game Is Set For 3 p. m. ALSO GOLF AND TENNI Many North Dakota Com- munities Are Planning Unique Sports Programs For The Day Football at 2 p. m. Baseball at 3 p. m. — (ji Informal tennis, golf tournaments in afternoon. All these sports on a Christmas day in Bismarck—weather _permit- ting. And it appeared today the weather would permit. A unique sports program in the history of North Dakota—and one which those in charge believe will be worth writing about to friends in California, Florida and elsewhere. The Xmas football game between the Little Big Four League and the high school third team will be played at the ball park Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The stipulation that the league makes that the high school use no players from “Dutch” Houser’s| first string. Ed Alfson has the School League team in hana and will use the following: Heinie Danrot, Gord Landers, Matt Hummel, Bert Nicola, Headstrum, Ray McGet- tigan, Hy Brown, Ode, Fred Landers, Buster Goben and Buster Rosson. The high school lineup will likely be Jno. Erickson, D. Jones, N. Fitch, Ole Benson,.Jno. Anderson, Hillman, Sid Register,| Ed Bolter, Arch McGray, and two others in place of Gabe Brown and Jack Livh- dal. The baseball game planned will be hetween the state training schoo -| night identified the body of a young eee YOUNG WOMAN HELD VICTIM OF GANGSTERS Sweet Heart of Louis Schw-' artsman and Witness to His Murder jIs Killed GET TELEPHONE TIP Res | Mysterious Message Given New York Police Location of Girl’s Body | New York, Dec. 24—Acting on af mysterious telephong message last woman which had been taken to the| morgue as that of Edna Churgin, 15-, yeur-old, said by police to have been | the sweetheart of Louis Schwarts-¢] man, who was shot killed by + giungsters in a street fight on Aug-! ust 1. + The mysterious _telephoneist, police said, declared that the body in the morgue would be found to be} that of the only witness to Schwarts- | man's slaying and that she had been the victim of foul play After Schwartsman was murdered his sweatheart was helg in $100 bail! as a material witness as she was the only person who saw the killing at the time the police stated they were sure the girl could identify the murd erer were he foynd. Late in August she disappeare During an investigation last sum- mer of the slaying of Schwartsman, said to ha been a member of the Italian gang, Jack Katlin, alias Kid Dropper, and six other persons were questioned. While Katlin ang the others were leaving the court house where they had been discharged for lack of evi- dence Kai was shot and killed by Louis Cohen, who was later tried und sentenced to Sing Sing prison for a term of from 20 years to life imprisonment, texm of Mandan and a Bismdrck team picked by Art Bauer. Supt. McClelland said he would have a team ready to go sharp at 3 p. m., unless a change in the ele- ments prevents. The Bismagek gang is ready to go, according to Bauer. A. S. Bolster announced that the Country Club links would be avail- able to golfers, with plans for normal tournament. The same was announced relative to the tennis courts by Fred Page. A number ot golfers and tennis players were out erday and reported the weather a 1 game other North Dakota communities are plan- ning for similar summer and fall! sports. AVALANCHES AREREPORTED Considerable Damage Is Done To Open Air Clinics Paris, Dec. 24.—(By the A. P.)— Avalanches were reported today from many points in Switzerland and in French territory bordering on Switz- erland and in the Pyrenes. Three snow slides occurring within a few hours of each other did considerable damage around the hotel at Laisin. Several of the open air clinics for lung patients were damaged and some of the Sisters of Mercy were injured. Several chalets were carried off. An avalanche near Chambery buried @ man. > WILD DEER BECOME PETS. San Francisco, Dec. 24.—Wild deer |, from the foothills above the Santa Clara valley have descended to safe pastures adjacent to Palo Alto and Los Altos, about 45 miles from San Francisco, and have become so tame that they trot nonchalantly along The Weather For twenty-four hours ending at noon today. T&mperature at 7 a. m. Highest yesterday . Lowest yesterday Lowest last night .. Precipitation ... Highest wind velocity . Weather Forecast » For Bismarck and vicinity: Un- settled and somewhat colder tonight. Tuesday fair. For North Dakota: somewhat colder tonight. fair. central California, some | @ Unsettled and Tuerday| Weatffer Conditions A low pressure area extends from Manitoba to the upper Great Lakes region while a high pressure area covers the region west of the Rock- ies. Some light precipitation occur- red over the northern Rocky Moun- tain region and in the lofer Great Lakes region, tures are much above normal in Mon? tana and Wyoming while elsewhére moderate temperatures prevail. _ Orris W. Roberts, Meteorologist. THIRDU.S. MAN IS NAMED ON EXPERT BODY Henry Robinson of Los An- |western North Dakota have caught the full measure of the wa WISHING TRIBUNE READERS A MERRY CHRISTMAS Once each year every community in the land is permeated with the wonderful message of good will which alone has served to bring teachings of the great Galilean close to the hearts of men. Adherence to no creed is necessary for the humblest to feel the force of the philosophy of the great jTeacher; nor can the most skeptical fail to grasp the bene- ficent effect of the simple rules of guidance laid down for | mankind. Christmastide centuries ago in England was touched with the awe of witchery; simple folks in quaint ‘rites appealed to the unknown spirits who should banish hatred and strife. and give leave to all to make merry with distinction ban- ished, for one night. The practical application of the Christmas teachings has undergone an evolution, but the modern day methods have served to accentuate and perhaps more correctly to interpret the true spirit. Witness the spread of the good fellow move- ment through the land in the last few years. history of the nation has there been such a great willing- ness to seek out the needy on the highways and byways. Never has there been such a studied effort toward improving the material condition of the less fortunates. The spirit of “Peace On Earth and Good Will to Men” has spread countless ways. It is seen in a new spirit of con- tact between men in business, it has been invoked to end petty strife and hatred, and this without sacrifice of a spirit of righteousness nor the courage to stand for conviction against powerful criticism. ; The Tribune believes that the people of Bismarck and Never in the |’ SMARCK TRIBUNE [mam] PRICE FIVE CENTS REPORTED NOW BUT 40 MILES FROM CAPITAL | Revolutionary Announcement | Declares That Important Advance Is Made STILL IS PUEBLA ert That Fierce Fighting Is Now Progressing in Suburbs of City ra Cruz, Dec. 24.—(By the A. P.)—Rebel forces have made their nearest approach to Mexico City so far with the capture yesterday ot Cuernavaca, 40 miles south of the capital, it is stated in a revolution- ary comminque. The forces advanced from their po- sition of Guerrero into Morelos, of which Cuernavaca is the capital. No heavy fighting was reported. The general situation is unchanged, spirit of Christmas. It is evident in the community gather- ing, in the quiét and helpful efforts of good fellows, in a new spirit of civic service. . The Tribune, as an institution, can speak to its readers only through the medium of its columns, for they are too wide flung to attempt to reach them in another manner. And with this in mind, with full appreciation of the many courte- sies rendered the institution and with a desire to merit their confidence, The Tribune desires to extend to all of its readers “A Merry Christmas.” COALITION -’ |FARMER HELD ISPROPOSED. | CHARGED WITH BY 4 PARTIES) MURDERING 4 ~ cal 4 h Greeks Talk Harmony Effort, Man Living, North: of Beae in Event of Declination WILE bg Have 4 Buried Babies From Venizelos Is IFE BRINGS CHARGE Athens, Dec In the event that former Premier Venizelos returns a} negative reply to the request of the! Beach, N. D.. Dec. 24.-— J. W. Holmes, a farmer living north we: geles Joins Dawes and’ Young on Committee Paris, Dec. 24.—(By the A. P.)— Henry M. Robinson, lawyer and harfker of Los Angeles, has been se- lected as the third| American to serve on the expert committees which are to investigate the condition of Germany’s finances under the aus- pices of the reparation commissioh. The other two American members previously selected are Charles G Dawes and Owen D. Young. Mr. Robinson, who is president of the First National bank of Los Angeles, and prominently identified with other financial institutions was a member of the supreme economic council at the Paris peace council in 1919. He also represented the United State. at the first international labor con- ference. He was created a Cheva- lier of the Legion of Honor in 1920. SWISS LOSE HEAVILY ABROAD. Berne, Dec. 24.—Switzerland has lost $1,000,000,000 since the begin- ning of the world war because of the depreciation of Swiss investment» abroad. The practical wiping out of Swiss moneys invested in Germany, Austria, Russia and Hungary ac- counts for more than nine-tenths of the loss. SHALL WE SHOW OUR CORN? (An Editorial in The Beach Advance) council of ministers that he return suggest ot nel Butte, was arrested Ss y on a charge of murde ing an infant child born to his 15- year-old daughter, Mildred, on | Apr 1920. It is alleged that ing parties, the Republicans, the Li-! Holmes is the father of the child berals, the Republican Liberals and and of three other children born the refuges group headed by Dr.!to the same daughtor and ssid to Doxiades, minister of public relief. | have been murdered by him and) George Rou former Greek buried in a lonely spot on his farm. | minister at Washington, and now) Arrest followed Mrs. ilolmes' re-j chief of the Republican Liberals, is: turn to Beach to muake charges | now one of the several political lead-)'sainst Holmes, who last spring ; favoring the coalition. However, | 1 rarhaed avers on | broceelines cee eee ere rine tar tet ake that on the birth of the fourth child Republicans have a chance at the dif-| He: daughter confi-sel che whole) ficult chance of governing Greece. SWry. | Pearing continua ny ail The feeling now is that the Republi-|SUCh Crimes and for tic & cang are sure to be quickly discredit. YOURECT girls she sent Mildred to (e a Vash., soc as’ she ed and the people will be obliged to; \2kima. Wash. as soon as ate call the Liberals to power. \Suly, When the divoree proceedings The week-end was devoted to poli-/ started she told the lawyer what tical conferences at which political’ hag occurred and on his advice she party chieftains were endeavoring to’ returned to Beach to prefer charg- determine their future line of action. es against Holmes. In her charges, Mr. Roussos, returning from Egypt, Mrs. Holmes said tke fourth child, conferred with M. Panastasion, whq like the others, was born alive, is being talked of as the next prem-| that Holmes was the sole attend- ier. Afterward both statesmen held ant, that he tied a cloth over the a conference with Col. Plastirgs at! child's mouth, wrapped it eand which it was understood Mr. Roussos | placed it in the cellar at night un- advised against the revolutionary|til he could take it from Beach government relinquishing its power| where it was born and bury it on before Venizelos’ answers has keen| the farm. received, Holmes is said to have admitted 5 knowledge of two births and to having buried the infants, but de- nied. paternity. An _ effort was made to locate the bodies yesterday but to no avail. Futther attempts will be made this week. to Greece the Republicans that a coalition government be form- ed to be composed of the four lead- jsuch crimes They are going to ‘have a corn show down at Bismarck and the ‘boosters of the Slope intend to show stuff that will make the whole ‘country sit up and pay attention. They are going ‘to show that Western | North Dakota is no longer a place where wheat and scrub cattle are kings, but the place where the best corn in the Nation is gaised in vast quantities every year and along with this they are going to show that with corn, sweet clover and other feed stuff that is a sure crop, there is no longer need of the farmer taking the small end of the beef busi- ness by shipping range cattle to market for the stockers and feeders of the central states to finish and take the cream of the profit. Golden Valley county ought to be in on this show. All over the county samples of as fine corn as ever grew can be secured to send to Bismarck and in fact to all points having corn shows. All it needs is a little :pep ‘on the mart of the fellows who have this good stuff. The Town Criers club, or the Advance, will see that it is exhibited and proper credit given the grower, if the farmer does not want to hafidle the exhibit himself. There will be cash and cups for the winners. Every farmer undoubtedly has a vacant farm or two in his vicinity that he would be glad to,have a neighbor on. Here s a chance to help get that neighbor, and the Lord helps’‘him who helps himself. ‘ The writer thas had a varied experience exhibiting the products of North Dakota at various world’s fairs, and at all of them the corn exhibits attracted the most attention, for few people in other states ‘had or have any idea that good corn cam! be :raised here, and many ot them said: “It’s a long ways from home where corn won't grow,” and passed us up because of their unbelief. , 3 We have the product, which to many, means most in farm life. BISMARCK WINS OVER BEACH Bismarck high school’s ‘basket- ball team defeated Beach high here Saturday night, 14 to 9, in a rath- er. ragged contest. The first half ended, 8 to 4. MAIL PILOT DIES IN CRASH Sheyenne, Wyo., Dec. *24.—James F. (Dinty) Moore, mail pilot, whose plane crashed to earth near Burns, Wyo., this morning, died in a Burns hospital a few minutes after the plane had sét out for here and car- rying Dr. Beard reached Burns from Sheyenne. ey NO TRIBUNE but. elsewhere the| first-class exhibits, Why hide it under a bushel: when we so sorely need that kind of farm- If we haven’t any money to spend on books that itell-of our people and our resources, we surely ought to have ers in our community? enough pep to show tthe world, with which farmers elsewhere are looki s but we believe enough good samples could be weather is generally fair. Tempera-| secured to make a creditable showing. Amd a few bundles of sweet clover (with its history), alfalfa, and is story, or other forage crops, CHRISTMAS DAY There will be no edition of The Tribune published Tues- out exipense to us, these things for except for the approach to the na- tional capital. Puebla has not been evacuated, ac- cording to the rebel statement whic. adds that the insurgents are engag- ed in heavy fighting with federal forces in the suburbs. A government bulletin issued from Mexico City states that Puebla was captured Saturday and that 1,000 prisoners were taken. The attack on the rebel stronghold was begun with three airplanes which dropped bombs on fortresses, the statement said. CLAIM DSSPUTED. Mexico City, Dec. 24.—(By the A. P.)—Preparations continue to- day for the pursuit of the main body of revolutionists estimated at less than 500 which escaped after the capture of Puebla by the federa: army under General E. Martinez. The rebels. are reported to have halted temporarily and are making preparations for the defense, should the pursuing colymas. overtake them at Manacamilpa, where they have fo. tified Tepoguchil. CRISIS OVER IN CHINA, 1S WORD GIVEN Sun Yat Sen Precipitated It When He Demanded Part of Customs Canton, Dec. 24.—(By the A. P.) —The critical situation which has prevailed here for neurly two weeks us a result of the demand of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, south China leader, for surplus customs revenues is believed to have passed. Negotiations fom settlement of the question are saia to be progressing satisfactorily and sailors from the French cruiser Jules Ferry, one of the flotilla of foreign warships concentrated in the harbor, have returned to Hong Kong. It is hoped in official circles that the state will soon be reached at which the vigilance of the foreign powers represented in nearly score of gunboats in the harbor an- chored off Chameen, the foreign sec- tion of the city, where the admin- istrative officers of other nations are located may be relaxed and the for- eign warships withdrawn. The French sailors who already hay? .oft recently landed at Chameen and were stationed in the old French postorice building following Sun’s threat to seize the customs to pre- vent their payment to the Peking goverament which he opposed. FOUR SHOT _ IN ROUNDUP OF BOOTLEGGERS Marion, Ill., Dec. 24.—Four men were shot, one seriously, in a round- up of alleged moonshiners and boot- leggers:in Williamson county on Sat- urday night and yesterday and today 13 persons were held in the Frank lin county jail at Benton, and 62 were at liberty under bonds ranging from $2,000° to $5,000... All, were charged with violating the federal prohibition law. : The. raiders were led by G. 2. Simons of Washington, D. C., who was sent her by Prohibition Direc. tor Haynes. The raids were con- ducted without the knowledge of county authorities. The volunteer raiding party, which was said to in- clude the. Klansmén assembled at Carbondale, and was instructed by Mr Simons as’to how to proceed ; against the alleged’ dry law violators, it was stated. ing. It is late in the season for day, Dec. 25, Christmas Day. Wiig eh GIVES PARDONS. : Washington, D. C., Dec. 24.- ought to go along to show we Have all the stuff needed ¢o finish our | beer right at home, and that we propose to do more of that “kind of work im the future. Christmas pardons and commutations were announced today by President | Cootiage. POPULATION IN IRELAND. Dublin, Dec. 24.—Official statistics | show the estimated population of the ' Free State as 3.165,000 persons, Births, marriages and deaths for the last [quarter all show decreases.