Evening Star Newspaper, August 16, 1923, Page 1

WEATHER. Falr tonight and probably Friday moderate temperature. . * Temperature for twenty-four hours ended at 2 pm. today: Highest, 90, at *4:30 p.m. yasterday; lowest, 65, at 6 am. today. Full report on page 18. + “From Press to Home - Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city bleock and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. sl The Foening Staf. Yesterday’s Net C_i‘rc’_uhlion, 89,312 f— No. 28961. Enterca ae second-cinss marter post_office Washington. D KEPNER ACQUITTED OF CHARGE HE SHOT HIS WIFE T DEATH Judges at Frederick Find He Did Not Fire Bullet That Killed Her. COURT QUIETS ATTORNEY IN HIS FINAL APPEAL Accused Man Strikes Reporter in Encounter as He Departs From Courtroom. Br a Staft Correspondent. FREDERICK, Md., Benjamin Evard Kepner, been on trial in the county clrcuit court here since August 7, charged with the murder of his wife, thé wealthy Mrs. Grace Simmons Kepner, was ac- quitted at 1:35 o'clock this afternoon for lack of sufficient evidence It took the trial judges a trifle more taur =n hour to reach their decision, srgement in the case Laving been concluded 4t 12:30 o'ciock, when State's Attorney Aaron R. Anders ciosal a two-hour address with a re- Quest that the court return a verdict that the prisoner had Leen proved guilty of “deliberate and premedi- tated murder. Courtroom Crowded. August 16— who had The courtroom was crowded to its espucity with a throng of tired, mervous and perspiring young women and childrex ¢#nd a eurmur of an- ticlpation swept the overheated little chamber when the door leading into the private chamber of the judges was oper Chtef Judge Hammond Urner the first out, followed immediately by Assoclate Judges Glen H. Worthington and Edward C. Peter. When order was restored, Chief Judge Urner announced that the court would not tolerate a demonstration of any character, and immediately proceeded, with the reading of the ver- dict. Tt was short, but pointed, and remained seated, bending in his seat, drinking s as they fell from the 1ips of the man in whose paim his fate bad rested a few minutes before Order Him Releaxed. “Thig court,” Judge Urner said, “has carefully considered the evidence pre- sented in this case. We find that there has not been enough evidence produced here to prove beyond the shadow.ef as What Department of Justice agents claim to be the largest. wealthlest and most powerful ring of bootleg “kings” in America today was being taken into custody at Savannah Ga., in a spectacular clean-up by the federal government The ring. headed by a “big four" of fabulous wealth, was being ar- rested by the wholesale, eighty-four persons having been taken into cus- tody up to 9 o'clock this morning, according to Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, assistant attorney gen- eral in charge of prohibition -en- forcement The ring leaders already have been Indicted by the federal grand jury. Rewult of Two Years’ Plotting. The clean-up came as a result ef two years of arduous prlotting against a ring which was sa well organized and skillful _that it successfully evaded all efforts of the prohlibtion unit and of the secret service of the Treasury in a two-year game of hide and seek The arrests vesterday and 0. S-MEXICAN PACT SIGNEDBY ENVOYS; ENDLONG DISPUTE Hague Court to Have Part in Settlement of Claims Under New Agreement. toda; By the Associated Press. MEXICO CITY. August 16.—Johd Barton Payne and Charles B. Warren, who have concluded their work at the pre-recognition conference, left last night for Washington aboard a special { and Secretary Hughes the records of the negotiations. They expect to.ar- rive in the Capital next Monday, hav- ing declined invitations to stop off at San Antonio, Brownsville, El Paso, Housten and Juares. M. Paymecand.r. Warren were ac- companied to_the rallway station by doubt that it was the prisoner at 9371 Atberto ‘3 Pant, Mexican foreign Heos bar who pressed the trigger of the volver from which was fired the fatal shot that_killed Mrs. Kepner. We therefore find the prisoner not guilty and order him released from_ custody.’ Strikes Newspaper Man. Kepner swayed dizzlly in his seat as the word “not”* came from the lips of Judge Urner. He knew then that his fight for Mife had not been in vain, although his hope for complete vindication at the Tands of the court, which his attorney had attempted, to have réversed the theory of murder, was vanished a mioment later when the full verdict had been read. The moment Judge Urner stopped talking Kepner regained his com- posure, turned to shake hands with several relatives from Harrisburg and rose to leave the courtroom. which must have become:to him a place of horrible nightmares Leo Weinberg, who had led his de- fense, ran up and shook hig client by the hand. A moment later, Kepner and Sheriff James A. Jones slipped out a bdck door and started for the jail to collect the prisoner's clothing before his departure to parts un- known. A group of newspaper men met Kep- ner as he was about to enter an auto- mobile. When one of them asked whether or not he would remain in Frederick, Kepner turned suddenly and struck the reporter a blow on the point of his chin. The reporter, however, shot back a blow that sent the recently acquitted man staggering nst his car. Before further trou- occurred, both men were hur- Sicd away by friends. The atmosphere of impending seri- eus cvents pervaded the courtroom when Chief Judge Hammond Urner, followed by Associate Judges Glenn H. Worthington and Edward C. Pyer entered, this morning. The room ‘was literally jammed and the court’s or- der that no one should be permitt:d 10 enter unless there were a seat for them seemed to have been completely ignored. Many Men 1In Courtroom. For the first time since the opening @ay there were as many men I the throng as women, and when one gazed upon the faces of those pres:nt it waus impossible to concelve how the busi- * mess of Frederick was being conduct- ed for the day. Every man of conse- quence stood or sat in the chamber and some haa their wives with them. The usual crowd of wide-eyed flap- pers was squeezed into low window seats and here and there could be secn girls by the dozens who had nut yet started to put thelr hair up. Pale and haggard, Kepner entered on the arm of Mr. Weinberg, who time and again turned to him with a smile of encouragement as the court pre- pared for what probably will be the most awful and yet most momentous da$ in his career. He was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown and sat through the entire proceedings with his head burled deep in the cup- ped palms of his hands. Only now &nd then did he display an interest in what went on around him. It was just exactly 9:30 o'clock when Mr. Weinberg stood and began his final plea, He based his whole hope for acquittal on the ground that Mrs. Kepner never had been murdered, but had taken her own life out of sheer despair when she learned that her husband had forsaken her for the Jove of a youngep and prettier woman. And in trying to save the life of his client he spared him nothing in con- demning him for his double character. Time and again Mr. Weinberg be- oeme so dramatlc and so violent in his plea that the court, itself visibly | disturbed by the scere, was oblige to warn him agalnst too much effect On one occasion he was attempting to prove the fallacy of the state's contention that Mr. Kepner had shot his wife, lifted her dying form from the floor and arranged it on the bed upon which she was found. To {llustrate his point the attorney poized a large- chalr, lifted it high above his head, and In the excitement of the moment, hurled it crashing to ;II. foor, breaking it in two. Frown. (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) retary: Fernando Gonzales Hoa and Ramon Ross, President Obregon's rep- resentatives at the conference, and George T. Summerlin, the Araerican foreign diplomatic corps and many prominent Mexicans. Hague Court to Play Part. After the records had been signed yesterday, it was authoritatively learned that an agreemeént had been reached to have the president of the can claims commissions, which are to be created through the revolutionary and mixed clalms conventions, if and after diplomatic relations are to be resumed. The documents comprise the two claims conventions and the Mexican government's Interpretation of the bearing- of the subsoil petroleum and agrarian laws on American property in Mexico. It is believed here that the reports carried by Mr. Payne,and Mr. Warren will be acceptable in Washington and that diplomatic rela- tions between the United States and Mexlizo will soon be re-established. U. 8. Rights Held Intact. As regards the subsoll petroleum, the minutes show that Mexico holds that the rights of American oil com- panies to properties acquired prior to the promulgation of the 1917 con- stitution remain intact. . After that date the provisions of this constitu- tion relating to the subsoil are ef- fective, although their non-retro- activity, including that of article 27, is established. The United States delegates are understood to have re- served the rights of Americans who acquired oil lands prior to May 1. 1917, but who did not develop such properties. The Mexican government is belleved to be unwilling to guar- antee the rights of such persons. American agrarian rights acquired prior to the 1917 constitution remain intact under the laws then in force and under the provisions of the con- stituticn /of 1857. However, it is agreed that lands acquired since 1917 are subject to the provisions of the constitution adopted in that year. These relate to the division of the great states and also to subsequent agrarian reform legisation. Payment is Assured. It is also understodd that the United States delegates recelved as- surances of immediate and equitable icash payments for lands- fllegally taken under Mexico's policy of re- storing communal lands to the towns and villages to which they originally belonged. The two conventions cover settle- Roundup at Savannah, Ga., Follows Two Yearss Work Against “Big Four” Who Have Their Own Detectives. train to submit to President Coolidge | WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1923—THIRTY-EIGHT A PAGES RICHEST ‘BOOTLEG’ RING TRAPPED BY ARREST OF 84 were mado by federal agents of the bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, under Director Willlam J. Burns, and of the intelligence unit of the internal revenue bureau, of which Elmer Irey is chief. Savannah for the past two years. has been known to federal authorities here, they say, as the headquarters of the ‘most successful bootleggers in America, and a complete case against the “Big Four” and others is bte- llevéd to have been worked up by Mrs. Willebrandt and her assistants. Face Many Charges. “White B. Miller, special assistant to the Attorney General. is in Savannah to represent the government and take charge of the prosecution, and alrady Judge Willlam I. Grubb of the | northern dlstrict of Alabama, known throughout the south as a “terror” to bootleggers, has been assigned to sit on the federal bench at Savannah | to try the cases. The ring is charged with conspir- acy under the national prohibition ! act. the customs statutes, smuggling, and with violating another statute which _prohibits__transportation _of (Continued on Page 2, Column 2 President Makes Horseback Riding| Favorite Exercise Horseback riding is to be Presi- dent Coolidge's principal form of outdoor exercise. There has been much speculation as to what form the néw Execu-, tive's: exercise will take, but the President himself put at rest this question when he announced today that he would very~shortly start riding every morning or so. Leaving the Villard Hotel short- ‘ly after 6 o'clock this morning. the President walked briskly to the White House stables, at 19th and B streets northwest, and, after being shown a dozen or so riding horses kept there at all times for the use of the White House, he selected seneral, a big chestnut bay gelding, whigh was used by President Hard- ing during the time he rode. VALERA MAY STAY IAILED UNTIL PEACE charge, together with members of the | Permanent Court of International Jus- | tice at The Hague appoint neutral um- | pires for the United States and Mexi- ! | afforded by his appearance at Ennls, lease Him While Country Is Unsettled. By the Associated Press. DUBLIN, August 16.—Eamon de Valera, arrested under dramatlc cir- cumstances at Ennls yesterday when he appeared to deliver a speech In the election campalgn, wilj probably be brought from Limerick, where he is imprisoned at present, to Mount Joy jall within the next few days. The public safety act glves the govern- ment power to detain him and it is considered likely that he will be kept in jail until the condition of the coun- try.is more peaceful. Events In the Free State during the next fortnight probably will influence the government's action with regard to the republican leader, whose ar- rest has cregted a profound impres- sion in County Clare and throughout Munster. Arrested on Sight. 1t is officially declared there is no foundatiom for the statement that the government could have arrested 'Mr. de Valera at any time during the past twelve months. He has been in hiding and the gov- | ernment forces, continually searching for him, took the first opportunity they had to arrest him, which was it is asserted. Commentin, Valera the today: . ““The arrest did not come as a sur- prise either to de Valera or to his followers. He was well aware that the government was bound to act as it has done. on the detention of de reeman’s Journal says Offers of Amnesty. “Not once but many time were of- fers of amnesty made upon conditions generous to a fault. “It is up to the government either to detain the prisoner under the pub- lic_safety act or to submit his rec- ord and his reassertion of dictatorial | authority to the verdict of a judiclal | tribunal.” { The ‘Irish Independent opines that| the political effect of the arrest will probably be to give strength to de Valera's candidacy. it is pointed out that the govern- ment can interne the republican leader for six monghs or try Him| before a ciyil tribunal, but the indi- | cations at present are that the former (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) Army Lends By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, August 16.—Motion pic- tures will be taken of the total eclipse of the sun on September 10, which will be observed from Santa Catalina Island, off southern California, by Director Edwin B. Frost and a party of scientists from Yerkes Observatory, it became known today. While thc eclipse will last for two hours and fifty-five minutes, it is planned to speed up the motion ‘pictures so they may be projected on the screen for about three minutes. Capt. Barnett Harris of Chicago, will be the official cinema director with Dr. Frost's party and has per- fected the motion picture apparatus which will be used. Through the co- operation of the War Department, Capt. Harris was provided with special ) Films to Record Sun’s Eclipse; (Continued on Page 5, Column 2.) Aid to Scientists| fee. The degree of success which he hopes to obtain has not been forecast by Capt. Harris. Dr. Frost provided the necessary calculations for Capt. Harris in constructing his speciai equatorial mounts. Four cameras, in batteries of twos, will be placed fifteen miles apart, the captain explained to- day, so as to minimize cloud- inter- ference. Two of the cameras will work automatically during the eclipse. With the apparatus loaned by" the War Department, he will attempt to photograph the finer coronal lines and polar streams which are very difficult to obtain owlng to the speed it will Dbe necessary to malntain because of the short period of totality, which at that location is less than three 'D. C. T SEEK FUNDS . it of urgent projects again this ik R e %- v y & g Free State Unlikely to Re.[,.ne B¢ Commissioners wii ] | bilL. 1 Plan Revised Estimates. PARED OFF BUDGET INLATER REQUESTS Bureau Willing to Consider Supplementary List of ° Urgent Projects. 1 Many of the items that must now be cut from the District estirhates | for next year in accordance with the | direction of the budget bureau will| be submitted to the budget office 8gain in the form of supplemental requests, it was rellably indicated today. ' This was done last year, and it is understood that the budget buresu ia willing to cousider a supplementary advantage of this opportunity is practically Certain, since they re- garded as essential every sum asked for in their tentative estimates. . 35,000,000 Cut Asked. The tentative estimates amounted to $32.500,000, and early reports yes- terday indicated that the budget bu- reau had ordered them reduced by about * $6,000,000, which would have left a total of more than $27,000,000. District officials cannot disclose the instructione given them by the bud- get bureau, but it is rellably report- ed that when the tentative figures have been revised the total will have = | ;;E.’Eofi%‘aud to slightly more than This would make the reduction from the orlginal figure nearer to $7,0 than to 36,000,000, il The various branches of the en- gineer department and the school board will be,the hardest hit by the reductions, since they get the largest amounts in the annyal appropriation School Budget Ci The original budget of more than $11,000,000 already has been cut by the Commissioners to about $8,500,000, and may have to be further trimmed now. ‘The group of items under the head- ing of highways, including paving of new streets, repalrs to existing ones and upkeep of suburban - roads, amounts to nearly $3,000,000. This Sroup also may have to be curtailed. | The sewer department, which is as far behind in its work as the high- way division, asked for more than $2,000,000 for mext year in an effort to catch up, but there again the pruning knife is likely to fall. Commissioner Rudolph's estimates are not likely to be cut much, for the reason that he has charge of a group of departmerts in which salaries of employes is the main requisite. For example, he has supervision over the auditor, collector of taxes, assessor and the various charitable and penal institutions. In Commissioner Oyster’s group of | services the police and fire depart-| ments are the biggest items, amount- ing together to nearly 35,000,000 | These two departments are likely to suffer to some extent in bringing the estimates down to_the limit fixed by the budget office. Both uniformed de- partments asked for more men and| additional equipment In the tentative estimates. - District officials believe, however, that the men who frame the federal | budget will give careful and sympa- thetic attention te the urgent requests that are practically certain to be sub- mitted under the heading of supple- mentary estimates. The revised estimates will be re- turncd _to Gen. Lord on or before September 15. ‘ i BANK SHY $321,000, CASHIER ACCUSED Declines to Discuss Shortage at American Bank and Trust Company ‘of Dayton, Ohio. DAYTON, Ohlo, August 16.—Dis- covery this morning that valuable securities were missing from . the vaults of the American Bank- and Trust Company, have brought esti- mates Cashler” Fred W. Hecat's minutes, Capt. Harris said. The automatic cameras are driven by electro-magnets whose impulses are regulated by means of & chro- nometer, thus compensating for the rotation'of the earth. .. , ... of alleged defalcation up to $321,000. Hecht is held in the county jail in, detault of $50,000 bond. He refuses: to discuss his .aleged s)eculations. Efforts are being made to raise bond to obtain his release. o 4 = ' |GERMAN DEFAULT Fire Destroys Poolesville, Md., Business Section; Loss, $70,000 Seven of Largest Buildings in Town Burned Down—Four Others Dam- aged in Early Morning Blaze. Special Dispatch to The Star. POOLESVILLE, Md. August 16.— | The entire business section of this town was destroyed by fire this morn |ing following an explosion of un- determined origin in the general store of Thomas Hoskinson. Seven of the largest bulldings here, including the post office, are a complete loss. Four other structures were badly damaged. The total loss will exceed $75,000. Bulldings Destroyed. Buildings destroyed and the losses to each were: General store of Thomas Hoskin- 50n—$3,000 bullding, $6.000 stock. Restdence of Mrs. Charles V. Mor- 509, building. 5308 furnit fi.m. owned by o anie e STANDARD OFFERS AID INPRICEPROBE Tenders. South Dakota Gov- ernor Help in Determining Distribution Cost. - By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, August 16.—Directors of the Standard Oil Company of Indlana, after a meeting today, telegraphed Gov. McMaster of South Dakota, ten- dering him any information or as- sistance in the investigation he said he would make Into the cost of dis- tribution In his state. It was understood that any steps toward increasing the price of gaso- line after the drastic cut through the territory of the Standard Oil Com- pany of Indiana, would await further developments. Gov. McMaster, on August 7, ordered gasoline, then sell- ing at 26.6 cents In South Dakota, sold to the public at 16 cents by the state oil depot. Early this week the Standard Ol Company reduced its prices accordingly, not only in South Dakota, but proportionately through- out {ts territory, although stating that the new price was much below cost. State Price Raised. Yesterday Gov. McMaster decided at a meeting with independent oil men tg raise the price to 20 cents, effective saturday. It was Indicated today that before the Standard Oil Company would post new prices further de- velopments in South Dakota would be awaited. In the meantime che company was to make available to the governor any information which might assist him in his Investigation into distribution costs. Prospects of increases in the prices of gasoline, which were recently re- (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) RELIEF IS RUSHED TO WRECKED TRAIN Western Maryland Express De- railed—Engineer Dead—De- tails Are Lacking. Speclal Dispatch to The Star. CUMBERLAND, Md. August 16— Western Maryland passenger train No. 12, due here at noon from El- king, was wrecked about at Barnum, W. Va., thirty-seven miles south of here, and Willlam Mickie, engineer, who resided West Virginia Junc- tion, was. killed. The engine over- turned Howard Poling, fireman, Cumber- land, was badly scalded. Passengers were bruised by the sudden stopping and derailing of the coaches, but.none i3 reported serlously injured. Relief trains, bearing officlald, physicians _and ' nurses, ~was sent out from Cumberland and Pledmont. Barnum being eight miles west of Piedmont. The wreck, It was stated, broke telegraphic communications and detajls are yet meager. gastle and occupied as confectionery store by Carl Fisher—$1,500 building, $2.500 stock. (Building owned by Mrs. Hardcastle and _occupied as post office-—$5,20 building. $300 mrunoe o oy | Clothing, furniture and shoe store |of Howard W. Spurrier—$7,500 build~ ing. $17.500 sock. Store ‘building of Edward Wooton and occupled by sor Al : buildine. $1.000° stoek, oo 312000 Duilding owned by ‘Mrs. Charles V. Marrison and occupled by Charles Sellman - as tinsmith s H 2, building, $1.500 atock. “noPi 32500 Places partially, damaged and the 1B welting of H welling of Harry Kohlhoss, $2.000. Bullding of Charles J. Morris, §1.500. Elkins thers’ store, $1,600. Dwelling of the Misses Hall,' $500. The -fire- ‘was discovered at. 3:30 o'clock this morning when neighbors of the store_of Thomas_ Hoskinson (Continucd on Page 2, Column 7.) 3 MEN ARE SHOT IN OHIO KLAN RiOT Outbreak and Gun Battle Fol- low Ku Klux Parade at Steubenville. By the Associated Press. STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, August 16. ‘Three men were shot, one perhaps fatally, in a gun battle at an early hour here this morning, the culmina- tion of an anti-Ku Klux Klan out- break. The casualty list from the battle follows: Dorwin L. Gibson, aged thirty-five, one of.the leading local klansmen, shot in the back of the head near the base of the brain. . John de Santis, twenty-six, one of Gibson's alleged assallants, shot In the left eye; sight of eye destroyed. Dominic Spinetti, twenty-seven, shot through left hand. An anti-Klan riot which occurred carlier in the night resulted in the injury of a score or more persons, mostly visiting klansmen, and badly damaging at least a dozen automo- biles. Started in Riot. The outbreak, which earlier in the night had resulted in a riot in which a score or more persons, mostly visiting klansmen, were injured and at least a dozen of their automobiles wrecked or badly damaged, did not subside until morning. One klansman, the most seriously wounded, and one of his alleged as- sailants are hospital patients and two of the latter's companions, one of whom is wounded, are in custody charged with shooting to kill while six members of the klan, strangers in the city, are Held for carrying guns. The outbreak followed a parade through the business district of the city by klansmen from East Liver- pool, Ohlo; Chester, W. Va., and other nearby points, a mob estimated at several thousand attacking and beat- ing the visitors. Three Casualties. About two hours after the police and deputy sheriffs had restored order, the gun battle, a direct result of the preceding riot, ensued between jone of the city's leading klansmen and four anti-klansmen, there being three ‘casualti The city had just begun to quiet down at 4 a.m. when a delegation of | East Liverpool klansmen, ' heavily armed, rushed here in automobiles to the afd of their fraternal brothers. Further disorder was prevented by the prompt action of the sheriff and police in disarming and arresting six of these men. Names of those injured in the riot- ing, which occurred between 10 and 11 p.m., could not be learned, wounded Klansmen refusing to give their ! names. In addition to the arrest of Spinetti, the authorities rounded up Frank Velta, twenty-five, on a charge I'of shooting with intent’ to kill, and he Is in the county jall. Six Under Arrest. Others under arrest are Homer Dodd, Charles Thompson, W. W. Kelly, John Cole, Charles Marshall and Harold Green, all of East Liverpool, Ohio, Klansmen. They are charged with carrying contealed, weapo: o { WILLFUL, POINGARE TOINFORM BRITISH Reply Rejecting :Curzon’s Suggestions to Be Sub- mitted First to Belgium. WILL ADMIT NECESSITY FOR BERLIN MORATORIUM Considers There Is No Reason to Reduce Obligations Before Willingness to Pay. By the Associated Press. PARIS, August 16-—Premier Poin- care's reply to the latest British note will stoutly reaffirm the French posi- tion on the reparation issue, it was forecast today.’ It will reject the British proposals for submission of the legality of the vccupation of the Ruhr to the permanent Court of In- ternational Justice, and for an inter- natlonal commission of experts to re- estimate the paying capacity of Ger- many. : The reply, which probably will be ready by the end of this week, will be communicated to the Belgian gov- ernment before 'being handed to Downing street. ‘Will Reject Point by Point. The reply will take up the argu- ments of Lord Curzon, the Britisn sec- retary for forelgn affairs, dealing with them point:by point, it Is indi- cated. Then the French premier, in & sort of frial pleading, will set forth once more the reasons why France considers herself unable to place any dependerce upon German promise that are not bavked by tangible, ab- solute security. : ‘Premier Polncare will point out that the difference between the British ana French viewpoints arlses from an apparent difference in appraising the ohuses for Germany's default in reparation payments. The French government, he will say, has ample proof that Germany's default is as wilful as her de- basement of her own money. He will quote alleged official utterances of German miristers to the effect that only after Germany has rid herself of her reparation obligations can she re-establish har money. Great Britain, on the contrary, believes apparently in Germany's good will, and these two viewpoints, in the premier's opinion, are irreconcifable. Change of Heart Neceasary. The French government still insists that what I€ necessary in Germany is a changesgfheart, and that the peo: ple as well ad the officials mukt be made to understand that the repara- tions shall be pald. M. Poincare In his note witl hold that, until this has been accomplished, any other nego- tiations, including estimates of Ger- many’s capicity for payment, will not only be uséless, but will be taken in Germany a& encouragement to resist- ance. premier will on the The dwell French contention that Germiny counts on ‘British support, and that she will pay nothing so long as she feels she :can rely on London for backing or so long as she feels that the British government is in a frame of mind favoring mediation. As to her capacity for payment the reply will declare that Germany has for the moment purposely exhausted her means of paying in cash. Moratorfum Held Necessity. M. Poincare, will admit the ne- cessity of a moratorium for Germany because of the situation he says she has voluntarily created, but he will argue that there i{s no reason to con- sider recuction of her obligations be- fore shé has shown willingness to pay. and that simply because the German manufacturing interests have been allowed to leave payments for their exports on deposit abroad, and have been permitted to evade tax- ation, the allles are in no way called upon to modify their just reparations demands. The - depreciation of the German currency, the premier will point out, has extinguished Germany's interior debt, while she has no foreign debt, he hoids, other than for reparations, and has greatly reduced her previou burden of expenditure for the mi tary establishment. Industries Prosper. At the same time, the German in- dustries are prosperous, according to M. Poincare's thesis, and he will ask why a country so situated cannot pay something. The result of the British policy, in the premlers’ opinion, would be to al- low Germany practically to evade all payments and emerge from the situa- tion stronger than ever, ready to com- | pete ruinously with Great Britain as well as the rest of -he world. In con- clusion, he will declare that it is im- possible for France to accept the British views without putting her own independence in jeopardy. Replies to Be Eeparate. France and Belgium now have agreed to make separate replies to the note of Lord Curzon. It is semi- officially announced that Poincare will answer in considerablo detail the paragraphs of the note Interest- ing to France, while M. Theunis and M. Saspar, respectively Belgium pre- mier and forelgn minister, n their reply will pay particular attention to those parts of_the communication | concerning Belgium, such as Lord Curzon’s comment with regard to Belgium'’s - priority in reparations. TENSION IS RELIEVED. London Pins Hopes on French Note for Further Talks. BY HAL OFLAHERTY. By Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News. LONDON, August 16.—Some slight relief from displomatic tension is felt in London today as the result of dis- patches from Paris declaring that Premier Polhcare is writing an an- swer to the British note. It is be- lieved that it might be possible for him to incorporate in his reply some positive plan on which fruitful dis- ussions may be based. il Because Qreat Britain has told TWO "CENTS. ANTHRACITE CRISS 5 BELIVED PAST BY1L..OFFIGALS President Coolidge Greatly Encouraged by Coal Com- mission Intervention. SAME PRICES EXPECTED WITH PLENTIFUL SUPPLY Railroads in Good Position to Dis- tribute Fuel—Bituminous Out- put Large. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, August 16.—Pro pects for a peaceful settlement of the anthracite controversy through mutual elimination of the check- oft were belleved today to have recelved a mevere setback when John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of Americn, denounced the operators’ truce pro- posal, as a “misleading and com- fusing document,” which although signed by S. D. Warriner, spokes- man for the employes, has been drafted by Walter Gordon Merritt, a “unfon busting lawyer.” The crisis in the anthracite situa- tion is believed in government circles to have been passed. An agreement between the operators and miners and continued operation of the mines is expected. President Coolid5w was represemted by callers at the White House today as greatly encouraged over the suc- cess which has attended the efforts of the United States coal commission to prevent a strike. | Price Boost Doubted. There will be a plentifyl supply of coal and the prices for winter will be advanced very little, if at all, it was predicted in informed official quar- ters today. In fact, in view of the large production of anthracite al- ready this year, with continued oper- ation assured, there might even be a slight reduction in some prices. The total production of antharcite for the first seven months of the pres- ent year, which includes July, but not any of the production in August, totaled 59,489,000 tons. The output has been at'a high average monthly rate, higher in fact, than in other years, except, pers heps, durlng the war period, when a great deal of coal was sold for indus- trial purposes which.could not be used by the ordinary consumer. Antharcite production for: the ‘Fear has -averaged around 90,000,000 tons, except for the two war years, 1917 and 1918, -ai- ready mentioned when the quantity was higher. 3 The railroads are in better shape to- day to handle coal for distribution than in a long time, it was sald. The big test of the transportation system will come next month, however, when the huge wheat and other crops must be moved, as well as coal. The roads are confident they will be able to meet the demand, however. Senator Weller of Maryland, re- publican, one of the President's vis- itors today, said he had found Pre: dent Coolidge more confident than ever there would be no shut-down of the anthracite mines. He said, fol- lowing his talk with the President: “The President appears determined that there shall be no strike called, and, failing to prevent a strike, hé seems to be determined that a strike shall be stopped.” Coolldge Wins Praise. The promptness with which Presi- dent Coolldge took hold of the an- thracite problem, and with which he acted to bring about governmental interference ‘through the coal com- mission was the subject of much com- ment in the Capltal today. It was pointed out that the psychology of the situation in Washington had ‘not a little to do with the quick results which seem to have been obtained in New York through the commisgion. President Coolidge came to the White House as completely informed regarding the anthracite situation almost as any member of the Coal Commission. His own state, Massa- chusetts,.had made & very complete study, of the problem and he was familiar with its results. He came from a section ef the country where the demand for anthracite is great and where there had been much suf- fering because of the strike last year. It was clear, it gwas pointed out, to the miners and operators that there would be little to be gained by sending committees to eee the President, with long statements and briefs. It was clear also that com- ing as he did from New England, with the background of events of last | year, the President would not hesi- |tate to exert all the power of the government to handle the anthracite situation and to have the people sup- plied with fuel. The interjection of the coal comm! sion into the situation, through direc tion of the President, followed by a threat to provide the people with sub- stitutes_for anthracite if mecessary, followed in quick succession. The President would have gone much father 4f necessary, it s understood. The total production of anthracite in 1922 was 62,485,000 tons, less than the amount produced for the first seven months of this year, due to the fact that the coal strike lasted five months, and in those months the out- put ranged from 26.000 tons to 161,000 tons per_month. The output of an- thracite by the month this vear, ac- cording to the estimates of the geo- logical survey, has been as follows January, 8.713.000 tons: February, 773,000; ' March, _ 9.382,000 April. 063,000; May, 8,673,000; June, 8,665,000, and Juiy, 8,320,000, Bituminous Output High. The total output of .bituminous mines of -the country for the first seven months of 11923 hae been esti- mated at - 318,270,000 tons. At this rate the total production for 1923, it is estimated, will run about 550,000, 000 tons, or perhaps more. This I large production, as compared h other years in which neither the war conditions nor strike conditions were felt. The country, therefore, seems to bé in excellent condition so far as its fuel supply Is concerned. In fact, the bituminous operators have declared their confidence in their ability to provide sufficlent additional bitumi. nous coal to make up a deficit of an~ {Continucd on Page 2, column 1.) z ¥ (Continued on Page 2, Column 4