Evening Star Newspaper, June 25, 1922, Page 1

row fair and ‘cooler. Temperature for twe 88; lowest, 59. Full report on page 3. WEATHER. Fair today; cooler tonight; tomor- ended at 10 p.m. last night: nty-two hours Highest, No. WIRTH DONS ARMOR T0 BATTLE JUNKERS AND SAVE REPUBLIC Impending Disaster Fore- cast by Assassination’ “of Dr. Rathenau. 900.—No. 28,546. PRUSSIA TO PROCLAIM STATE OF EMERGENCY News of Murder Provokes Wild Scenes in Reichstag—Radicals Threaten Helfferich. #y the Associated Press. BERLIN, June 24. — Chancellor Wirth's government tonight is mar- haling the nation's liberal elements to the defense of the young German rapubMe, and organized labor, repre- -ented in both soclalist parties, is again first to buckle on the armor, ust as it did during the Kapp revolt. Announcement is made that the overnment will establish extraordi- nary courts for the trial of national- st plotters and that a state of emer- aney for Prussia will be proclaimed. Follows Rathenau's Murder. All this follows the assassination af Dr. Walter Rathenau, German for- eign minister and more closely iden- tified than any other German with the rts at the rehabilitation of his country since the war, who was killed by two or more unknown assassins while on his way from his residende vesterday morning to the foreign office. The minister was subjected to a veri- table hail of bullets, one of them striking him in the throat and pass- ing upward to tne brain, while others struck him in various parts of the body. Hand grenades also were thrown, almost wrecking the car in which Dr. Rathenau was riding, and inflicting further injuries on the mir}- ister. Reunions to Be Prohibited. All regimental reunions and mili- taristic demonstrations are to be pro- hibited. Yet, despite vociferous cries of “Long live the republic!” which re- sounded through the reichstag cham- ber at the close of a memorial session to Rathenau today, thoughtful men of all ranks and parties were silently but gravely apprehensive Yor the na- tion’s fate. While the heat of resentment and partisan feeling has not™ yet sufii- ciently cooled to warrant a sure ap- praisal of the direction in which the political effect of Walter Rathenau’s assassination will spread, yet this much is certain—the government is facing a far more precarious situa- tion than it did whem nationalist bullets struck down Erzberger in the Black forest ten months ago. Uproar in Reichstag. The emotion which marked the wrief addresses of Chancellor Wirth and President Loebe before the reichstag today reflected sentiments which were shared by many others, while the rioting of the radicals throughout what was to have been a decorous memorial to the dead for- ~ign minister reflected the feeling of snrelenting vengeance vowed in be- half of the German proletariat. Never Gid the reichstag witness such scenes of turbulence and exe- crations. Dr. Karl Helfferich, the nationalist leader who had attacked Pr. Rathenau in a savage speech in he Reichstag yesterday, sat curled ap in Bis seat far to the right of the nouse. He appeared to be in a very .lepressed and somewhat fearful state. President Loebe had difficulty in getting the session under way, as the radicals swarmed over to the right, threatening Helfferich and other na- tionalists, who volunteered to come o his rescue. .Wirth Gives Up Task. Chancellor Wirth, whe stepped down from the government bench in an attempt to pacify the beliicose deputies, had to give up the task, and the president’s insistent bell also failed to restore order. The uproar was primarily aimed at Helfferich, whom the socialists and communists wanted to force out of the chamber through cries of “Murfferer! Assas- sin!” Soon after the assassination of the foreign minister and shortly. before the opening of the session of the reichstag the commotion in the cham- ber was marked by an odd coinci- dence in the appearance of a youth at the side door bearing a large wreath intended as a tribute to Helf- ferich. Deputy Unterleitner, inde- pendent socialist. took the floral piece of roses and oak leaves, beribboned n black, white and red, and, holding it up,” shouted: “This is a _gift of 1onor for Helfferich.” Cries of “Shame! Shame!” was a shout from the, left ies of “Shame! Shame!” “The r gang!” mber of the deputies immedi- itely seized the wreath and pounted upon the youth, threw him down- stairs and then turned him over to the police. it developed, however, that he had not heard of the assassination of Rathenau and meant the wreath in lhonor of Helfferich's speech of last night, in which the nationalist leader scored the government, and the for- sign minister, Gen. von Gallwits of the hationgl people’s party, whose name was mentioned by the youth, inally was summoned and identified him and vouched for his character and sincerity. After long rioting in the early part of ®he session, President Loebe’s per- suasiveness induced partial quiet and the memorial proceedings were be- (Continued on Page 3, Columd 2, ‘Th S v t ‘| arawal, Entered as second-class matter post office Washington, D. C. —_————— “When Is My Turn?” Il-Omened Words Spoken by Rathenau By the Associated Press. PARIS, June 26—The assassi- matien of Foreign™ Minister Rathenau in Berlin caused o cials who were associated with Louls Loucheur in the Wien- baden reparations megotiations with Dr. Rathenau last fall to recall that when the news of the murder of Mathias Ersberger, the German centrist leader, reached M. Loucheur during one | | of the conferences at Wisebaden | | the Fre Ppleniptoentiary handed the telegram to Dr. Rathenau, who was visibly af- | fected, and exclaimed: | “When will my turn comet” | The mews of the assassination of Dr. Rathenan camsed some | perturbation in French official circles, where it wan indlcated that the attitude of the Ger- man government toward the terrorism of the pan-German reactionaries and its ability to cope with the development were regarded with uncertainty. IAPAN PROCLAIMS NON-ACCRESSION Evacuation of Siberia by October 30 Announced as Peace Move. SEALS PARLEY PLEDGE Imperial Council’s Decision Held Direct Result of Washing- ton Conference. By the Associated Press. TOKIO, June 24—Japan today sealed her pledge to promote world peace taken at the limitation of arm- ament conference at Washington by declaring her final decision to with- draw her troops from Siberia and an- nouncing to the world a policy of| non-aggression. 2 The diplomatic advisory council at Tokio fixed October 30 as the day when the last Japanese soldiers must be out of the maritime provinces of Siberia, while a foreign official de- clared that the decision was intended to place Japan.on record as a “non- aggressive nation, striving to main- tain the peace of the world.” Japan's definite decision to evacu- ate Siberia, which was officially an- nounced this evening at the close of a meeting' of the imperial diplomatic advisory “counei]l, {s declared to be a direct result of the recemt Washing- ton arms conference. The diplomatic advisory council’s approval of yesterday’s cabinet deci- sion is said to have been the logical outcome of Admiral Baron Kato's ac- cession to the premiership. Kato, who led the Japanese dele- gation to the Washington arms con- ference, returned to Toklo’thorough- ly Imbued with the spirit of that gathering and strongly in favor of his country adopting a non-aggres- stve policy. Official Anmouncement. | The official announcement of Si-| berian evacuation says: “The Japanese government has de- | cided to withdraw all troops from the | maritime province of Siberia by Oc- tober 30. Suitable measures will be taken for the protection of Japanese residents.” S An official of the forelgn office, commenting on the decision to quit Siberla, said: “It has been a matter of regret that various circumstances prevented Japan carrying out her desire to with- draw her troops from Siberia. “It cannot be said that political conditions there have attained fufk| stability, but a change has occurred | in the general conditions of the whole | of " Russia. - Communistic measures | seem to have been modified. The| powers have altered their attitude to- wards Russia, as atfested by the in- vitations to the soviet government to attend the Genoa and The Hague con- ferences and conclusion of non-ag- gressive and non-propaganda agree- ments with Moscow. These™ latter promise to improve relations between the powers and the soviet govern- ment. (s See Peace With Chita. “In view of the decisions Japan has decided to carry out her original }idea to evacuate Siberia. “Japan believes that with this re- moval of the Chita government's cause for suspicion the far eastern republic of Siberia will striye to reach a commercial agreement with Tokio.” In conclusion the foreign office of- ficlal declared: “Japan also believes that this with- together with Japan's con- ciliatory attitude at the Washington conference, will be understood by the world as evidence that Japan is a non-aggressive nation, striving to maintain the peace of ‘the world.” _— WAR GAS KILLS FISH. Blamed for Finding of Hundreds of Thousands on Coast. STATESVILLE, N. C. June 24—| That hundreds of thousands of fish, ranging in length from one inch to five feet, which were found dead on the beaches of Pender county and elsewhere along the North Carolina coast several weeks ago, were killed by poisonous' gas which was thrown into the ncean in containers -about one shundred miles off the Virginia capes after the armistice was signed, is the opinion of Charles E.. Hope, secretary of the Statesville. Chamber of Commerce and former naval.lleu- tenant DETEGTIVES GUARD HARVEY RECEPTION Dinner at U. S. Ambas- sador’s Home Attended by King and Queen. TAFT AVOIDS KNICKERS American Women Vie With Eng- lish Sisters in Lavishness of Gold Robes and Gems. By the Associated Press. LONDON, June 24—Wijth the W il- son tragedy fresh in mind, the police |. took amasing precautions to guard the king and queen, the members of the cabinet and other pfominent per- sonages who a the A.liu::u ambassador's di tontght. - Groups of Scotland Yark men in everr man- ner of . disguise were deployed in doorways, slleys and obscure corners, and fully 300 special detectives pa- trolled the streets for a radius of sev- eral blocks of the Harvey residence. almost as much-an object of interest as the Wilson home nearby. Hundreds of curious waited outside to catch a glimpse of the distinguish- ed guests. Detectives were on all sides when Premier Lloyd George alighted from his automoblle, and the other members-of the cabinet were similarly safeguarded. The gathering lasted untfl after midnight, the king and queen re- maining until the end, which is un- usual, as the soverelgns were never known to rémain to such a late hour at previous dinners. One of the guests, Viscountess Curzon, departed an hour prior to their majesties,, Jeweled Swords Wern. The scene within the ambassador's house resembled a glittering specta- cle of mid-Victorian days. All the men, with the exception of Chiet Jus- tice Taft, were attired In knee breeches, and the British guests car- ried jeweied swords. Many decora- tions and foreign Insignia were worn. and the prime minister and some ot his associates arrived in Napoleonic cocked hats. The women were resplendent in shimmering robes of gold and sil- ver, the Americans vying with their English sisters in the beauty and lavishness of their jewels, diamond tlaras, ropes of pearls and rings of rare beauty. The queen wore a robe of sllver brocade, with gorgeous dia- mond hehddress. The king spent considerable time in talking with Lady Astor of her recent experiences in America. “You have made a splendid liaison officer between the two countries,” he smilingly remarked. The queen held a miniature court, chatting with Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Taft and other guests, who congratulated her upon the Prince of Wales' suc- cessful tour and safe return. King Escorts Mrs. Harvey. I The king escorted Mrs. Harvey into the dining room, where there were forty covers, while the queen was escorted by the ambassador. Owing to the size of the gathering there ‘were two tables, King George being seated at the head of one and Queen Mary at the other Mrs. Taft and Mrs. Harvey sat at either side of the king, and their husbands sat beside the queen. Besides the Tafts, the American guests were Mr. and Mrs. James M. Beck, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Gerard, Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Post Wheeler, Frank A. Munsey, Paul D. Cravath and Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Field. The British guests were Viscount Birkenhead and , Ledy Birkenhead, ' Premier. Lioyd George and Mrs. Lioyd George, thé Duchess of Buckingham, Marchioness Curzon, Esrl Balfour, the Countess of Airlle, Viscount Valentia, Viscount ‘spd Viscountess Astor, the Right Rev. Herbert Edward Ryle, dean of Westmiaster, and Mrs. Ryle; Lord and Lady Lee, Lady St. Heller, Sir John and Lady Lister-Kaye, Sir and Lgdy de Bunsen, ut. Col. Erskine, mm Stratchey and Mrs. Stratchey. ey the dinner the American sirig- #rs, Clarence Whitehill and Miss Marcia Dresser, sang & number of songs. : -ofthem,” " Home Plate for K. of C. : Diamond in Rome is | Slab From Coliseum | By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, June 24.—A relic of the giadiatorial days of Rome will be the home plate for the base ball dinmond which the Knights of Columbus will lay out mear the Vatican to Intro- duce American sports into Italy. The plate is a blant-edged triangle of marble that was part of the ornamentation of the ancient coliseum built by Vespasian and Titus 5 A. D, It was donated to the Knights of Columbus Rome welfare bureau by a Roman antiquary when Pope Pius XII donated a playing field aite. DOVLE SAYS SPOK HAS WARD SECRET Creator of Sherlock Holmes Would Let Spiritualist Solve Mystery. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, June 24.—A spiritual- ist detective might solve the mystery which surrounds the shooting of Clarence Peters by Walter 8. Ward, in the opniion of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, spiritualist and creator of Sherlock Holmes. “I am positively certain,” said Sir Arthur, before sailing for England today on the Adriatic, “that in many mysteries of this kind a phychic, working from a spiritualistic trance, has reconstructed the picture of the tragedy and has been able to put the police in the way of solving it. “Something of that sort might be expected if a psychic were to be called in. He might not be able to bulld a picture of the causes which led to the shooting, but I am certain he could tell how and when and under exactly what conditions Peters met his death.” Sherlock Helmes Mystery. Sir Arthur said he had not “studied the Ward \case from a Sherlock Holmes point of view,” because he has not had time. “I should like to, however,” he added, smilingly, “because it would be an_ideal Sherlock mystery.” “How would Holmes go”about solv- ing it”? Sir Arthur was asked. “Well, that's a bit too difficult,” he replied. “But I am of the impression he would confine his attentions to the Ward family alone, leaving the actual murder to unravel itself after the blackmail mystery was solved.” It was then that Sir Arthur, with an excited gleam in his eyes, said that a combination Sherlock Holmes and spiritualism would be of great value in bringing facts out in the mystery. The new detective, he said, would have a good chance of reach- ing the solution. Tells of Uncanny Solutions. Sir Arthur told of instances in Lon- don life in which solutions to mys- teries seemed uncanny ‘and -claimed that although spiritualism never really received the credit, It actually won the solution in most cases. Referring to his visit, Sir Arthur said: “The biggest minor impression I'm carrying away is one that hit me in the eye when I arrived. It is the change in the New York police since I was here twenty-elght years ago. “Then they were big, red-nosed, heavy-stomached men, looking as if their main duty was to hunt liquor, now they are trim, athletic men, who look like real policemen.” , Just before the Adrlatic sailed, a man rushed into the Doyle state- rooms with a huge box. It was opened. A kingsnake, three feet long, was taken out. And little “Bllle” Doyle, the eight-year-old girl, took it, wrapped .# around her meck and began to .jump happily. about the rooms. The snake came from Ray- mond L. Dittmars, curator of the New York Zoological Gardens, a3 & -part- ing gift. * “My children like snakes,” said Sir Arthur, “and. they are never afraid SMALL ACQUITTED - OF FRAUD CHARGE Pandemonium Sways Court as Friends Pour In to Grasp His Hand. | | | JURY OUT HOUR AND HALF | Defense Contended Official Never Profited From Bank—Trial Lasted Nine Weeks. By the Associated Press. i WAUKEGAN, Ill, June 24—The| jury trying Gov. Len Small found him l not gullty at 3:38 this afternoon. The Jury was out one hour and thirty-five minttes. Cheers that shook the rafters of the ancient Lake county courthouse greeted the verdict. Friends by scores poured through the gates to the bar inclosure, seeking to grasp the governor’'s hands. The flashlights of a half dozen photographers barked and for minutes pandemonium relgned. ‘While the jury was deliberating the governor, confident of acquittal, dic- tated a statement to his private sec- retary. It said: “The verdict of ‘not guilty’ is a re- sult I was always sure would follow in the trial of the case against me, and this for the reason that I knew there was no gullt. “I was particularly desirous that the people of the state of Illinois should know fully and in detail each and every transaction which was in the hands of the persons who in- spired this prosecution. “The people of Illinois have their answer. “I will return to my official duties, and if these people who have been seeking to destroy my usefulness will take the verdict of this jury as a re- pudiation of their methods I will, with the help of God, give to the peo- ple of Illinois the best administration I am capable. LEN SMALL." Started Year Ago. The case agalnst Gov. Small of Ili- nois started nearly a year ago, when the grand jury of Sangamon county began an investigation at Spring- { fleld, the capital, July 9 last. Eleven days later Gov. Small, Lieut. Gov. Fyed E. Sterling and Vernon Curtis, a banker of Grant Park, Ill, and brother of the late Senator Edward Curtis, were indicted. There were four indictments. The three defendants were charged with embezzling $700,000. Gov. Smell alone ‘was charged with embezzling $500,000 during his term as state treasurer. Lieut. Gov. Sterling was charged with embezzling $700,000 while he was state treasurer. The fourth indict- ment charged the three jointly with conspiracy and operating a confidence jgame involving $2,000,000 of state money., The case went to trial nine weeks ago. The essence of the state’s charges was that the governor, while state treasurer, conspired with Senator Curtis to loan state funds to the Chicago packers on‘short-term notes paying as high as 83 per cent inter- est, of which only 2 per cent was al- leged to have been paid to the state. Bank Revived, Charge. For the purposes of the alleged conspiracy, the prosecutjon claimed, Senator Curtis revived the name of a defunct private bank, the Grant Park Bank, had $8 worth of demand and time certificates of deposit, de- posit slips and stationery printed, bought & ledger and a rubber stamp and began operations. The governor's defense, 'as outlined in the closing arguments, was that arrangements with Senator Curtis were made when Chicago banks re- fused to post collateral to secure state déposits apd objected. to taking state money on’ demand certificates. It was S8ATY, lense that Do Mary” tands be T ilgwid. secur): uel.é hat large | | i i 1 s S i L4 Ine meel '8 in- | ent to war. time, preparations. profits ever went to the | |[HELP CALLED TO BREAK RECORD 1-MAN FILIBUSTER Battle by Representative Voigt Continued With Score of Roll Calls as Summons for Relief Is Sent Out. Whilg_the one-man filibuster by Representative Voigt, republican, ‘Wisconsin, was still going strong in the Housg yesterday, telegrams were sent to absent republicans in all of the territory east of Kansas to hurry back to Washington and help put it down, Uncle Joe Cannon described it as the greatest one-man filibuster in his long experience in Congress. He had seen many in his, day, but noneg he sald, where a member relied solely upon his individual efforts to block the business of the House, unless the Jeadership could stop him by keeping a quorum constantly on the floor. With fourteen roll calls in his belt —each requiring from 25 to 30 min- utes—as his record of Friday, Mr. Voigt started early yesterday and added six more straight. He lgst on two, once when the chair counted a quorum and again after a march of the membership down the aisle and the tellers reported one or two more than the necessary 216. Keeps Tab Counts. On the second march, however, Mr. Voigt stood by the tellers, pad and pencil in hand. There was no -“re- peating,” and the effort of leaders to prevent a long roll call failed. The Wisconsin member remained on' the floor throughout the day, taking men- tal account of the number in the chamber. During the fight over the Muscle Shoals item in the Army bill he laid off, knowing that republicans or democrats would demand a record vote. But when the Muscle Shoals item was out of the way, Mr. Voight de POLITICAL CONTROL OF U5, LABOR'S AIM A. F. of L. Calls on All to Enter Politics to Achieve Eventual Goal. By the Associated Press. CINCINNATL June 24.—Adoption of a program calling for & non-par: tisan political campaign this' tall 18 elect the friends of organized labor and an overwhelming defedt of the radical forces that favored recogni- tion of the Russian soviet government marked the closing session today of the American Federation of Labor convention. Labor's political stand was adopt- ed without discussion, including a resolution calling on all unfon- men and women to enter more actively inte politics, with the purpose ‘of “ultimately controlling the machin- ery of our natlonal government” by capturing the republican and demo- cratic parties; but the Russian ques- i tion stirred up spirited debate’ that was ended only on account of the parliamentary- maneuvering of yes- terday having shut off the flood of oratory. President Gompers, in a formal statement tonight, declared the ac- tion on the Russian question was of “especial significance” because “not a single local union has been over- looked by the propagandists ‘for so- viet brutality and autocracy.” Final pleas both for and against the so- viet brought a sharp divergence of opinion in’ the convention, but the administration forces took the heart out of the soviet's friends when the latter's resolutiton favoring recos- I nition failed of adoption on an onl]“ vote and a roll call was lost when only twenty-two delegates support- ed the demand for one. Pressing on from, this victory, the administra- tion forces moved the adoptiton of:a resolutiton. reaffirming the federa- tion's stand against the soviet, and the motiton carried without an ef- fort to force a record vote. Urges Political Activity. The federation’s political campalgn, as favored by a committee report that was adopted, provided that the general conduct of the campaign should be left to the executive com- mittee of the federatiton. As & sup- plement of the report, was a resolu- tion, introduced by the. Shawnee, Okla., trades assembly, Which was adopted, calling for all union men and women to become active In the precinct, county, state and national conventions of the two big political parties. The approach of sine die adjourn- ment apparently: made the delegates re- rain from debate, and finally they hurried the end by directing that all unfinished committee reports be in- corporated in the convention proceed- ings, and if any required action that such be taken by the executive coun- cil. This was regarded as tanta- mount to blanket indorsement of the commiittee reports, the omly oze of fmportance that was not presentsd being that of the special policy com- mittee on industrisl court laws, which was certain to condemn such legisla~ tive enactments. Hurry Business. Astde from the.politicgl and the Russian questions, the convention disposed of a mass of miscellaneous business in a hurried fashion. For the seventeenth timethe niaim of Jusis- diction of the glass ‘workers over the making of molds for gla manded a division on the last minor item in the Army bill conference re- port. Members were ready to stream out, but Speaker Gillett found a quorum ,and the House quit, without golng on with its advertised pro- gram of acting yesterday on the Cap- per-Tincher future trading bill Always with a smile, Mr. Voigt turned a cold, deaf ear on scores of members who pleaded with him to stop the battle. Representative Mon- dell, the republican leader, from whose office went forth the command to absentees to come back, declined to deal with his filibustering col- league, declaring he would ‘“break the filibuster by coercion, not by con- cessions.” Werk Like Stevedores. Meanwhile the whips—Knutson, Minnesota, and Begg, Ohio—working Iike stevedores, were trying to round up the absent ones in town. The best they could get was 251, and that was on the Muscle Shoals vote. The whips found that the “sick list” was about on a par with the very ill grandmothers of office boys on the opening day of a big league ball sea- son. Still holding his ground, Mr. Voight announced that he hadn't fairly start- ed. that he would keep fighting unti} the rules committee reported his reso- lution calling for a congressional in- | vestigation of post office appoint- | ments, to show whether any appli- cants had won their jobs through fa- voritism. Mr. Mondell declared last night the House would wind up its work and be ready to adjourn for a month or more_by Friday night, leaving the (Continued on Page 3, Column 7.) WARNED BY UNIONS' MORE-MINERS QUIT Work Stops on A.|I Fulton County Strip Mines After .. ~Show ot Foree,.. . By the Assoclated Press. )Wn upon the strip 14 o ¥, -.@M;,W;?flw: mifierdidy the mere show of force this afternoon had stopped the work of all non-unfon coal miners in the county. They gathered quietly this| morning at various points throughout the county and visited every operat- ing mine. Reports reaching here tonight are that these parties of union minérs, Which numbered nearly a hundred, called the non-union workers .from thelr work, along with the strip mine operators,’ and appealed to them to cease work. | “With the memory of Herrin in mind, and in some cases with an evidence of fright, the workers stopped work immediately. Some of them fled, but most of them quietly 1ald down their tools, BLAMPS RIOT ON GUARDS. i | By the Associated'Preus.- WAUKEGAN, Iil, June 24.—Troops| held in readiness to proceed to the | scene of the mine massacre in Wil- | liamson county in case of a renewal of the disturbances were ordered demobilized tonight by Gov. Len| Small. The governor sald his infor-| mation indicated that law and order |had been restored by the local -au- | { thorities and that the situation was ulet. “The miners’ unfon seems to run| things there, with the consent of the other mine owners,” Gov. Small ob- served to newspaper men. ' Gen. Black asked Gen. Fpreman whether, in his opinion, the - report=} of ‘Col. Samuel N. Hunter and :Robert Medlll, director of mines andtnerals, | whose recall from Herrin had been rumored, had been correct. vGén.. Foreman replied that the re- ports reflected the general opinion of the people in Herrin. He added that if the mime operators attempted to send men into Herrin to look after their - property and repair the 'ma- chinery dynamited by the mob Thurs- day, it will provoke further trouble, and troops will be necessary. He sald the state’s attorney and| sheriff would look after the burial of the dead non-union workers. | The trouble started last Wednesday, when two. union men, who had gone to the mine to Induce the non-union workers to leave, were killed by mine guards, Gen. Foreman sald. The mine company, he reported, had established road patrols and halted everybady ap- broaching the property. .State’s At- torney Duty of Wi county ‘was stopped by the gua said. CANTON, IIl, June 24.—Swooping | FIVE CENTS. U. 5. AGENT ENDS SECRET PROBE OF HERRIN MURDERS. Depgrtment of Justice Inves- tigator Ready to Report to Daugherty. GOVERNMENT MAY ACT TO END MINERS’ STRIKE Lewis Starts for Washington, But Refuses Comment—Settlement Desired by AlL By the Associated Press. HERRIN, IIL, June 24.—An investi. gator for the United States Depart- ment of Justice tonight obtained a statement from Hugh Willis, board member of the Herrin subdistrict of the United Mine Workers of America, in which Mr. Willis gave his version of the events leading up to the killing of more than twenty non-union strip mine workers and mine guards Thurs- day, June 22. The Department of Justice agent tonight told the Associated Press cor- respondent that he had virtually completed an investigation of the tragedy from all angles. He expects to leave tonight or tomorrow. It is understood that wounded men undergoing treatment in the hospital here have given their version of the storming of the mine and of the slaughter of their companions, and that the complete report will be ‘transmitted direct to Attorney Gen- eral Daugherty in Washington. The agent explained that the regu- lations of the department rendered it impossible for him to discuss his forthcoming report, but indicated that it was complete in detail MAY CALL CONFERENCE. Belief Held Operators and Union Officials May Meet This Week. Departure for Washington last night from Cleveland of John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Work- ers of America, added strength to the belief informally expressed in official circles yesterday that the govern- ment, as the result of the fatal lili- ueis outhreaks, might undertake to bring the operators and union ofi¢ials together in conference here this wZek. News of Mr. Lewls' departure from Cleveland contained in dispatches re- célved po comment efther from the Eovernment or labor circles, however, and Mr. Lewis refused to divulge the purpose of his mission. If his coms ing here is for a conference with gov- ernment officials, it was believed no action would be taken until tomor- row. Satisfaction in Ofeialdom. The coal strike, with its tragic de- velopment, the massacre at Herrin, Il continued to engage the adminis- trative branch of the government vosterday. and there was a feeling of satisfaction in official circles last night at the progress being made by federal and state officials in their Intercourse with both parties to the strike. : The opinion was expressed that the differences between the strikers and the operators over a method of reach- ing a settlement in the controversy will be composed in the near future. Reports from federal conciliators in all of the mine fields of Nlinois, In- diana, Ohio, West Virginia and Penn- sylvania were said to indicate a gen- eral realization by all factions that { negotiations of differences should no longer be postponed. Overtures May Be Made. 1f this general feeling does not suf- fer a relapse today it was intimated {by responsible government officials that overtures might possibly be made to induce operators and mine workers to participate in a confer- ence at the White House, should the President approve of such a move. Such a procedure, it was pointed out, would give/ concrete proof of the evident.desire on the part of the gov- ernment to proffer its good offices in the interest of all factions and in no way interpose any obstacles or inter- ference so far as states’ rights were concerned. The murder of the strikebreakers in the Lester mine at Herrin by striking miners was denounced in the Senate yesterday by Senator Myers of Montana, democrat, who declared that the German atrocities during the war had not been as brutal as the treal- ment meted ut to the strikebreakers by the strikers. -4 Illinois state authorities were criti- cized by Senator Myers and also by Senator Bursum, republican, New Mexico, the latter stating that the “fault was of the government of the state of Illinois to do its duty.” 'Benator Myers also predicted that the Illinois authorities would further show themselves derelict, and that no punishment would be meted out to “Do you think the sheriff has per- formed his duty to the best of his ebility.” Gen. Black asked Gen. Fore- man. “I think the sheriff has very little ability’ and no guts,” Gen. Foreman replied. He added he had arranged “with a responsible oitizen” to notify the adjutant general at the first sign of turther trouble. 'WINS $120,000 CLAIM. KANBAS CITY, Mo., June 24.—W. T. Kemper, recelver for the Kansas City, Mexico and Ofient Raliway Company, announced today that he had recelved word from Washington thkt the:In- terstate Commerce Commission had allowed a claim of $120,000 which thé Orlent | been pressing.. .. .. ' 3 i those responsible for the bloodshet. Secretary Davis Optimistic. Secretary of Labor Davis was rep- resented as being satisfled that If a general conference could be brought about the major issues could be so modified as to result in some tangible basis upon which- 2 mutual under- standing,could be arrived at satisfac- tory to every interest comcerned. Operators ‘have steadfastly deeclined, it is said, to participate in such a con- ference, preferring to ‘deal with strike conditions through distriot or- staté conferences. Administration officials were sajd to - recognize the necessity of imi- pressing upon strikers and operators alike that further violence at 1i