Evening Star Newspaper, September 2, 1923, Page 2

2 LLIES T0 SHIFT BLAME UPON L. §. Debt Policy of America Held Responsible for Europe’s Financial Tangle. e to The Star dnd New York Tribuse. By Cable to I prrieiit. 1928 PARIS. September 1.—It might as well be said now. because there is no longer any doubt about it. A con- siderable part of interallied Europe which has never agreed on anything now is mentally agreed on one thing. 1f the reparations bout, which be- gins some time early this month, between Premiers Poincare and Baldwin results in the usual failure then interallied Europe is preparing to shift the blame. not on Germany, nor on themselves, but on the United State, aturally they 1 not dir rge in their barrage of diploma notes that Washington is the stacle preventing ~ agreement joint effort of collecting some 3 900,000,000 gold marks from Ger- many, but the inference will be un- mistakably there. To those studving uropean psychology nothing i8 more symptomatic than the private argu- ment that occurred the other day at luncheon in one of the Paris clubs A group of French. English and American friends were se by chance at what is known as the “international table.” The discussion, as usual, around to interaliled debts and reparations—the order of the tmportance now be'ng because, as it is being said, tlement of reparations now on the settlement of debts, debts depends 1y ic ob- for d the the P and on At this luncheon the conversation took place in the most friendly tone and was marked by franknes: Tt held a grain of thought for the can. It was indeed astounding to see France and England cast aside all transchannel disagreements for the benefit of joining in a frontal at- tack on their American friend. The following position was taken. “If there should be failure, within & comparatively brief time, to settle at least the immediate demands of the reparations problem. the respon- sibility will rest with America. Eng- Jand and France are no longer hiding what they expect to recelve from Germany. France wants 26,000.000.- 000 goid marks. England wants nothing. B demanding 14,000,000,000 gold marks because the United § insisted on her note somewhere around over the little matter of war debts, contracted for the com- mon cause and interests of human liberty, being paid “France is asking the money from Germany because she has the repair bill to meet as a result of some of STAGE HANDS DEMAND $67.50 WEEK IN NEW YORK Strike Monday Unless Increase Is Granted—Managers Said to Offer $60. NEW YORK, September 1.—Thea- ter managers of Greater New York who recently avolded a suspension of operations by moving picture ma- chine operators by jumping their pay, and who now are in a skirmish with musicians who want higher wages, today were confronted with a threat by stage hands, scene shifters and electriclans that they would leave their jobs Labor day unless they re- ceive $67.50 a week. The managers are willing to pay $60, it was cald. SUSPECTS WATCHED IN DEATH OF BoY Presumed to Be Under Eyes of New York Rural Police Who Wait Father. Special Dispatch to The Star. WINDHAM, N. Y. September 1. The household at Burtsall Branaugh's farm, near which seven-yvear-old Howard Rothenberg, son of Mrs. harles Rothenberg, one of the oarders, was murdered Wednesday, was in a state of tension today. Every one at the farm was awaiting the arrival of the boy's father from Newark, where he declared prior to the funeral services vesterday that he knew who had killed his son. The entire countryside believes that some one who was staying in the house or who had access to it committed the crime. The authori- tles have not committed themselves, but are believed to hold such a the- ory as possible. “There will be no arrest until Mr. Rothenberg arrives,” said District Attorney Charles G. Coffin of Greene county today. “Within the last twen- ty-four hours important evidence has come to light. I cannot divulge it at present, however.” Two Witnesses Held, Mrs. Ester Litt, the boy's aunt, who with Anna Sobin the sixteen-vear-old maid, employed by Mrs. Rothenberg, has been held as a witness in the case, spent the afternoon in a two-seated swing on the lawn of the Branaugh farm. With her were her husband, Sol her provinces being badly smashed up. - Belgium is also asking some 5,000.000,000 and other allies seek smaller ‘amounts, but those claims are only incidenta The only reason that Britain is asking for reparations from Germany or payment of war debts from France is because of the United States, Question U. S. Viewn. “The only reason France is bacl ward about settling the whole rep rations problem and the sacrifice of her original claims is that she owes the United States war debts contract- 2d in the war to preserve human lib- rty. Now that the situation is clear nd the United States understands it, do the Americans stand in the ,of the settlement of repara- are not the exact words, of but the trend of the argu- just that. ‘Washington is not asked to cancel the debts, but there is no longer any doubt as to what Europe is thinking. It only re- Guired the British note of some time ago, followed up by the French reply and a speech or two by Poincare and he discussion of all these by the European press, in order to create the mental processes which were ac- tive about the luncheon table of the club, the same feeling being In evi- dence almost everywhere. Despite the fact that officlal inter- change of diplomatic documents and &ubsequent speeches created this line of conversation, which allles and na- tionals are beginning to juggle, there is not the slightest hint that it is en- couraged either in Parls, London or any of the foreign offices. It simply ysterlously. The charge that we are responsible for almost all the current ills of Europe, including Ger- many’s recalcitrant attitude since 1920, was again revived by certain Sections of the press and by cafe con- versaticns. Public Uninformed. Official Europe knows what the American policx with regard to war debts is, hut unofficial Europe—the press and the public allke—whether secretly inspired by officialdom or not. §s airing its views with a gay abandon just now. The United States is being put in the position of an in- ternational Shylock at a delicate period when at least the European governments know that Washington 1% no position politically either to cancellation or even to Ke_‘rfl"l"ous promises. i e he speech of Poincare at Gondre- court a week ago, whather by destan or not, carried out the theme of debts being ‘contracted in a common cause. The premicr eatd, in part: I recall the letter that Benja Franklin wrote in 1777 from his iittie retreat at Passy to Dr. Cooper, ‘It is & common saying in Paris that the American cause Is the cause of hu- mankind, and we are fighting for the liberty of Europe in fighting for us and 1 belleve that in 1917," the pre- mier continued, “Frenchmen either in New York or'San Francisco would have had some reason in writing to a Pm'xs_mn friend, ‘It is a common 8 ing in the United States that cause that France the cause of human ing for her libert that of America.’ Sought Friendship. Recalling the American tro ance, the premier added, lieved that two democ: ¢4 20 long by. the institutions and by the reciprocity o their sentiments,” would envenzu};n; contract on the battlefield an fme mortal friendship. The premier did France's present war will be recalled that when Frankli spoke at Passy in 1777 our war dlh‘l 10 France was not settled. Perhaps the premler did not intend to make such a broad hint to the American farm bloc, 3,000 miles away, but he stirred up something at home. Read- ing now from the leading editorial of “Liberte,” which s somewhat stronger, but indicative of printed orinion in all the Paris press of the past. week. “The gravest thing that has ye happened in the history of repater tions was 2t the end of last year, when Baldwin, not yet premier, negotlated the consolidation of the British debt toward the United States, England created a dangerous pro cedent by, binding herself to reim- burse the United States for the war debts before Germany began to pay the indemnities, of which England's share is 22 per cent. Precedent ‘Dangerous. “It was a dangerous precedent, be- cause if England pays the United States there is no reason why the United States should not be reim- bursed by France and the other allies.” _ “Liberte” admits, however, that the United States has treated France fairly well so far and while she has not annulled debts, she has not pr sented any demand for payment, That the regulation of the inter-allied debts now depends on the United States is universally accepted. The maln reason for this Poincare said is that the reparation settlement de- vends on the debt settlement. The premier's reply was a direct answer to the British netgs, which! : tie is fighting for is kind, and in fight- y we are fighting for s in “I be- connect- imilarity. of their not mention debt, but it A. H. Berdasher from Brooklyn, her at- Percy W. Decker and her William S. Vogel. They were watching for Rothenberg's motor car. The distant buzz of a motor put them all on the alert. Mrs. Litt, who has been almost be- side herself since the discovery of her nephew’s body, sat with clenched hands her nalls biting deep crecents into th palms. During the two or three minutes conversation she had with reporters she shredded a pink handkerchief into strips. Minutes of the coroner's inquest, which were made public today, show that the woman's nerves have been stretched to the breaking point since the inquiry began. The coroner examined his witnesses in the room where the boy's body lay under a sheet. He had each of them look at the body. though of an extremely temperament, went through the or- deal without a quiver. Mrs. Litt, however, gave way at the mere sight of the sheeted form. She became violently hysterical and was removed before the sheet was raised or a question had been asked of her. Boy Went Fishing. Howard set out with his fish rod toward Batavia kill about 6:15 a.m. Wednesday. Anna Sobin, who ac- companied him, said that they met two men of the nelghborhood and the boy went with them while she went on to the post office. She got back at 8:30 or a little earlier. Howard had not returned and a search was instituted. The minutes of the inquest show that Branaugh, who took part in the hunt, started out toward the old mill on Batavia kill. Mrs. Litt set out in the opposite direction, toward Ash- land. Both returned soon. Branaugh, who sald later he had gone down the creek to within about 100 feet of the mill, reported he could not find the boy ‘and the nelighbors had better be asked to join the hunt. Mrs. Litt said that she found she was getting her feet wet and decided to return to the house. Find Boy's Body. Other searchers joined the hunt, and one of them, Patrick Boyvle, found Howard's body behind the old mill. Boyle sald that the old mill and the adjacent pond were the first places he thought of when he heard Howard was missing. Several of the searching party were at the scene when Mrs. Rothenberg was led to her son's body. All of them, Anna Sobin, al- nervous including Byron Smith, Mrs. William E. Kqlly and William Benjamin, testi- fled they heard the mother exclaim that she knew who was responsible for her boy's death. Clifford Thorpe, whose home fs in New York, said Mrs. - Rothenberg cried: “How could any one do such a thing after being treated so kindly for three years.” Mrs. Litt had just returned from a drive to the creamery with Branaugh when the search for Howard was started. They had started about am. The creamery is in the opposite direction from the old mill. RULING UNCHANGED ON T0O EAGER ALIENS Little Hope for 3,000 Who Came Ahead of Time—200 Girls Await- ed by Prospective Husbands. One of them, NEW YORK, September 1.—There was a little hope tonight that the 3,000 immigrants, who face deportation be- cause their ships entered quarantine.a few minutes before midnight lagt night, will escape that fate. Among them are 200 Greek and Armenian girls, who are being awaited here by prospective hus- bands. P Four vessels, the Braga and the Byr- on, from Constantinople, -the ‘Estonia from Baltic ports, and the Esperanza from Vera Cruz, In thelr haste to be among the first under the September quotas, crossed the line from one to five minutes before midnight, therby having officially entered in August. The August quotas being filled, the immigrants they carried must be taken back to await ad- mission under a later quota unless im- migration authorities rule otherwise. ——————————— claime” that Britain was compelled fo get -ioney fo pay the United States either from Germany in the form of reparations or from France In the form of payment of the French debt to England. Between the two Euro pean pair of eyes is seen the Croesus across'the sea. Germany {s out of it, at least for the time being. It might as well be said since there is no longer any doubt about it, THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGT ALL FOR FUN AND FUN FOR ALL AT BIG MOOSE HOLD GALA DAY AT CLARENDON Tournament and Ball Game Feature Festival of *° Nearby Lodges. Special Dispatch to The Star. CLARENDON, Va., September.:1— The Loyal Order of Moose'from the District of Columbla, Virginia, Mary- land and other.nearby states yester- day staged an all-day program of sports and festivities in celebration of “Moose day.” Featuring the events were, an, old- fashioned tilting tournament and a bade ball game between teains repre- senting the Department of Labor and the Moose. The tournument, staged on a_spe- cially arranged field in Lyon. village, was won by Sir Knight J. F. Love of Prince Georges county, Md., who later placed the crown of beauty upon Miss Edith Langley at the ball In the evening. Love was mwarded a cash prize of §25 for his skill, Her- bert McConkey, “Sir Knight of Center Market.” was second; W. L. Harron, “Sir Knight Washington Boy,” was third, and Gordon Hobbs, “Sir Knight of tocky Glen.” was fourth. Tiiting Contewt charge to the knights was by J. A Harron of Prince Georges county, speaker of the Dick Langley ‘of Arlington county, Va, was starter. .The Judges were 3. M. Palmer, Wade Ball and Howard all of Arlington county, and Hungerford of Marshali Hall, A bugler of the Fort Myer ca was herald and two cavalrymen from the same post acted_as guard of honor. The Clarendon Band fur- nished music. The base ball game was played on the Cherrydale dlamond. The De- partment of Labor won by a 6-t0-0 score. Throughout the morning and early afternoon the children held sway, tak- ing part in stunt contests, including @ greased pig scramble, potato, sack, chicken and egg races and a ple- eating contest. Mothers also joined in the spirit of the occasion by en- tering ~“thread the needle, women's, egg and potato races. Six clowns added to the joys of the little one: Frequent concerts by the Moose Band. a basket plenic on improvised tables, luncheons and refreshments were other auxiliary attractions. Hold Prize Walt Night events were a tug-of-war be- tween Moose teams, motion pictures of Mooseheart and a midnight prize waltz. Miss Grace Butler and Eugene Rucker won the waltz contest. The program was under auspices of the Old Virginia Lodge, Alexandria, the Greater Washington Lodge of Wash- ington, and the Clarendon Lodge, Loyal Order ' of Moose, in conjunction with the Clarendon Citizens’ Assiciation and fire_department More than fifty prizes were donated by merchants of Washington. Alexan- dria and Clarendon. They were award- ed amid much ceremony by David T. Davies, secretary of the Greater Wash- ington Lodge: C. E. Ailstock, dictator of ths Old Virginia Lodge, and H. W. Porter of the Clarendon Lodge. Winners follow Potato race—Willlam Feeney, first; Gilbert Brown, second; Benjamin Morris, third. [ race—Bernard second; ade < Sasher, first; Richard Decatur, William Smith, third. Chicken race—Bernard Sasher, first; Vernon Clapp, second; Charles Taylor, third; Willlam Rothery, fourth. Greased pig contest—Spensen Sauls. Children’s egg race—Marion Snyder, first; Florence Kennedy, second: Elsie Stefanick, third. Women's egg race—Elsle Stefanick, first; Marie Neeb, second; Louise But- les, third. Thread-the-needle race: Elsie Stefa- nick, first; May Hollins, seconds; Mrs, Reed, third. Fat women's race: Evelyn Schwalen- berg, first; Nancy Harrell, second; Mrs. Maggio, third. ‘Women's potato race: Lena Fusco, first; Elsie Stefanick, second; Marle Neeb, third. Boys’ ple-eating contest: Raymond Burrows, first; Orlando Krigbaum, sec- ond; Gilbert Brown, third. Girls' all-day sucker contest. Marion Snyder, first; Florence Kennedy, sec- ond; Virginia Furr, third. | pbisiaa el ik e POLICE MAY MAK GOAL SURVEY HERE District Heads Also Planning Circulars for All House- holders. The District Commissioners may send circulars to all Washington households to find out how much more coal is needed to meet winter requirements, in the event of an anthracite strike. Although the city heads have refrain- ed from disclosing the nature of their plans, it is understood they are consid- ering the advisability of having the policemen gather the data on their beats as to the amount of fuel each consumer has and how much more he is likely to need. Other methods of ascertaining this in- formation also are being welghed, it is said. Hope for Settlement. The reason the Commissioners are unwilling at this time to make publio thelr plans for alding distribution 19 that they are still hopeful a settle- ment will be effected between the miners and operators. Another reason is that they want to be guided in any steps they may take by the policies to be outlined by Federal Fuel Director Wadleigh. The chief concern of the local authorities will be to have a suff- cient amount of fuel—anthracite and substitutes—brought into Washing- ton to warm the homes of those families that have not been fortu- nate enough to fill their bins in advance of cold weather. ‘The Utllities Commission, which controlled distribution last winter, has on flle from last year statements from all householders to the amount of fuel they burn annually. New Blanks Needed. * But these statements, of course, do not show how much each resident has laid in toward the coming win- ter. It will be necessary, therefore, to_have new blanks filled in. The Commissioners do not see much to be gained by inquiring of the dealers the amount of fuel they have in stock, because they realize that each dealer is delivering his anthracite as rapldly it arrives. Commissioner Rudolph, -.chairman of the board, will return to his of- fice Tuesday morning and it is prac- tically certain that some definite move will bse made by the Commis- sioners if peace is not 'restored in ahl hard coal mines within a fow ays. i STEAL 600,000 PESETAS. GIJON, Spain, September 1.—Armed bandits today made & haul of 600,000 Pesetas in a robbery of the branch of the Bank of Spain, llow dog contracts' “MOOSE DAY” CELE BRATION AT’ D. E. W. CORBIN AND A, €, GILLUM Who Stngea Moose Merry-maker, Among the Youngste: STRIKE IS THREATENED IN SOUTH COAL MINES Operators Charged With Imposing Yellow Dog Contracts; U. S. Adjustment Asked. By the Associated Press. KNOXVILLE, Tenn., September 1.— Charging coal operators in East Tennessee and southeastern Ken- tucky with imposing so-called “yel on miners of Dis trict No. 19, United Mine Workers of America, and with discharging union men who refuse to sign and forcing them out of camps, and com. elling men to pay dues, and depriv. Pag miners of free. speech and as semblage, Willlam Turnblazer, presi- dent of District 19, today sent’a tele- gram to John Hays Hammond, chair- man of the United States Coal Com- mission, seeking ‘“relief and protec- tion” in behalf of the miners. The message declared that “a general strike movement may take place among the miners of these coal flelds unless they are assured relief and protec- tion.” Coal operators have made no statements in reference tb Turn- blazer's action. CURZON, ON WAY HOME, CONFERS WITH POINCARE By the Associated Pres: PARIS, September 1.—Lord Curzon, the British foreign minister, had a twenty-five minute talk with Premfer Poincare this evening just before the remier left for Brittany, where he s to dedicate a statue in honor of Ernest Renan tomorrow. . Their talk was most courteous and cordial and covered briefly the whole European situation, without, it is un- derstood, special reference to the Italo-Greek conflict. ~Lord Curzon will leave for London tomorro Bexides D any Frollexome Stunt | | | | ributing Thousands of Balloons for Their Amuseme: SAILOR CONFESSES MURDER OF BRIDE Fred Frenchie Conley, in Navy for Year, Says Jealousy Caused Crime. By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va., September 1.—Con- fronted with photographs of the body of his butchered bride, Fred Frenchie Conley, twenty-one-year-old sailor of Irving, Tex., this afternoon signed a statement for the police confessing that he slashed his wife's throat in the bedroom after she had threatened him with a butcher knife. Up to the time the photographs were shown him, Conley had in- sisted that his wife killed herself. The tragedy, the voung sailor sald, was precipitated by attentions his wife had received from other sailors. Conley is in custory on a murder charge. His father, H. W. Conley, is & farmer of Sheffield, Ala. Mrs, Con- ley was Miss Ruth Owens of Sneads, Fla, and was married to the sailor at Mariana, Fla., last June. She was nineteen years old. Conley has been in the Navy about a year, and is attached to the U. S, S. Isherwood, now at the navy yard here. He' told the police that four years ago he served a term of eleven months in_the Illinols State Reform School at Pontlac for a minor offense. e et Beware of Consumption it is usuall not suspected for a long time and unless discovered early requires years to be checked, and is then hard to cure entirely. 1f tire easily—or are losing weight—and have a per- sistent ’l'rg“ht cough mnmnenr—do not lose time. See a doctor or have yourself examined at the free Health Department Clinic 409 15th st. N.\W., Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday at 2-4 o'clock. Friday evenings from 7:30-9 o'clock To Prevent Consumption id house dust and impure or close air, day or night. lifig all :hc light and sunshine possible into your home. nk plenty of tmphln.non ing food. zed milk and cream. None raw. 5. Get enough sleep by retiring early enough. 6. Try to avoid worry. Be mind acts on your body. nough. f cheerful. Think kindly. Your This Bulletin is paid for by the Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis Telephone Main 992 Legal Notioe 1022 11th St. NW, . [N Full Steam Ahead in the Ple-eating Contest With the Ple-loving Con- testants Wishing the Distance Was Longe: BITUMINOUS MEN - REPLY TOMINERS Claim Plan Advanced to Reg- ulate Industry Would Be- come Nationalization. A brief prepared by a special com- mittee of bituminous coal operators jand dealing with “Economics, Ac- counting and the Constitution in the Coal Industry,” was filed yesterday with the coal commission in reply to a recent statement from the United Mine Workers, proposing a financial plan for the industry. The operators | asserted the miners’ plan would in- volve “eventual nationalization of the mines.” i Any regulation of coal prices and profi’ would be unconstitutional in normal times, the brief asserted since “the constitution prevents regulation of such a private competitive industry as coal mining except in times of war or national emergenc: The opinion filed by Chief Justice Taft in the Kansas {ndustrial court case was cited as being precisely to the point. The miners' proposal that mires | be regulated so as to give the in- vestors a return of six per cent was declared by the operators to be in | reality “a suggestion that the institu- | tion of private property be abolished, | for the cardinal element of that in- { stitution is the fact that it allows the owner to benefit by increase in property value.” A “Moreover,” the brief continued, “they propose that mo compensation be given for possible loss and no re- ward for risks run, efliciency in man agement or good business judgment. PINCHOT APPEALS FOR PUBLIC AID IN COAL STRIKE FIGHT (Continued from First Page.) sideration. The health and welfare of the people are directly and most seriously threatened by the closing down of the mines. “The hardships of a coal shortage go far beyond discomfort. January, February and March of 1923 wers ordinary winter months, but anthra- cite was lacking during these three months. Six thousand more people dled in Pennsylvania than in the same jmonths of 1922, when anthracite was not lacking. These were deaths only. They do not represent the very large number who did not dle, but who did sufter prolonged illness and physical injury. Our Industries also suffered as did our people. “This {s what happened in a normal season of winter weather in a state which consumes but 10 per cent of the total tonnage of anthracite. What deaths and suffering took place out- side of Pennsylvania from this same cause I can only surmise. It is worth remembering that there are said to be 15,000,000 customers for anthracite, by far the most of whom represent whole families. Those who depend upon anthracite coal for warmth, comfort and health are more in num- ber than all the people of many na- tions. Shall the need of these mil- lions be disregarded? Welcomes Delay. “Both committees have agreed to meet me again in Harrisburg on Wednesday, September 5, at 2 p.m. I welcome this breathing space for the hard-pressed leaders on both sides, and I urge them to use it in acquiring a realizing sense of the public point of view. “This is not a private quarrel. Neither miners nor operators have any right to disregard or overlook the pub- lic suffering which would follow a pro- longed strike. The patience of the people is very near its end. We have seen it pushed beyond endurance be- fore, and we have seen the results.” Today's conference, virtually a con- tinuance of yesterday's five-hour ses- slon_during ‘which Governor Pinchot fought to bring the opposing sides to- getl was little more than a half hour long. It adjourned until Wed- nesday, the governor, as at the pre- vious meetings, asking all the par- ticipants to remain silent in the mean- time. Governor Pinchot's four points of settlement included 10 per cent in- creass in pay for all mine workers, es- tablishment of the eight-hour day, the union's abandonment of the “check off” demand and agreement by miners and | operators upon the principle of col- Ilectlvl bargaining. ~Most pronounced differences were evident over the wage +increase and the arbitration qu | While opposing the former, the ope: tors offered to accept it in return for a_longer contract with annual wage adjustment through arbitration. peresident of the 't for Phila- for their homes. Pinchot Group Sees Vote Value ' ‘ LARENDON | | Of Efforts for Hard Coal Peace Wonder Expressed That Coolidgé Granted Governor’s Request- That He Be Allowed to Act as Mediator. BY ROBERT T. SMALL. The national capital has had eyes on Harrisburg, Pa. the week, because in some way or other it seems to be agreed here that the coal to have a distinct bearing on next presidency., It was said soon after President Coolidge took the oath of office that his handling of the threatened strike situation in the hard coal fields might have much to do with the question as to whether or not he would succeed himself in the White House. It was pointed out that Mr. Coolldge had first come Into national fame through his vigorous handling of the police strike in Boston The public recognition given him for the part he played in that strike won for him the vice presidential nomination at Chicago in 1920 and placed him in line for his present position of Influence and power. It seemed that the fate which ele- vated him to the White House was to be kinder still in providing thus eatly in his administration another strike of national importance, in which he might once more play the strong hand and win the favor of the people. its the Caused Discussion. Mr. Coolidge was virtually direct- ing “the coal strike negotiations through the medium of the national coal commission when suddenly there came a shift. Mr. Coolidge stepped aside and gave Gifford Pinchot, governor of Pennsylvania, an unques tioned aspirant for the presidenc: the center of the stage. There has been much discussion pro and con as to how the Pinchot episode came about, but it is fairly well settled now that the governor asked if he might not be given an opportunity to settle the coal controversy, inas- much as the anthracite industry was confined entirely to his state. President Coolidge evidently was impressed by the reasonableness of the plea for state intervention be- fore the national government should act. In any event he told the gov- ernor to go ahead and see what he could do. The friends of the gov- ernor, not to say the governor him- self, were delighted. Frankly, they had’ not expected answer to the request. Before many days had passed they were amazed that President Coolidge would so thoroughly efface himself in a situa- tion which might have been turned so thoroughly to his own political advantage Of course, the friends of Gov. Pin- chot realized that he was biting off quite a large chunk in tackling the anthracite situation after the dead- lock had become so adamant as to defy the beet efforts of the federal coal commission. They realized that the governor might get his fingers GOMPERS PLEDGES MINERS LABOR AID Assures Them of Support of A. F. of L. in Strike—Flays Coal Operators. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, September 1.—Acting on fnstructions given him by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor at its meeting here today, Samuel Gompers, presi- jdent of the federation, telegraphed John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workersof America, pledging the fullest support of the federation to the miners in their negotiations with anthracite operators. In.his telegram Mr. Gompers de- clared that the operators had shown a desire to exploit the miners and expressed confidence that the miners’ cause would appeal to the American people. He declared he was confi- dent of speedy victory and declared t is in the interest of all our people that employer arTogance be dethroned in the miners and in all industry. Commenting on the peace parley in Harrisburg, Mr. Gompers denounced the “coal barons, “Gov. Pinchot has made clear to the country that the terms rejected by the mine owners offered a basis of negotiations and agreement. He added that the miners had sought every opportunity to obtain justice without resorting to stoppage of work. and asserted that Text of Telegram. In his telegram to Mr. Lewis, sent to Philadelphia, Mr. Gompers said: “In the name of the executive coun- cll of the American Federation of Labor, now in_session here, I con- vey to you and through you to the miners our pledge of the fullest sup- port we are in a yositxon_(o give in the present effort of the United Mine Workers to obtain more nearly just terms and conditiona of employment. It is our conviction that the mine owners, by their arbitrary conduct, have clearly shown their desire to exploit the miners in the interest of their own financial operations and that they have forfeited all sem- blance of claim for the support of rightminded, justice loving men and women. We are confident that the justice of the cause of the miners will appeal to the American people and that speedy victory for that cause will be achieved. Call upon us for any service that in your opinion we can render. It is in the interest of all of our people that employer arrogance be dethroned in the mines and in all industry. In addition Mr. Gompers expressed the opinion that the Harrisburg con- ference had given the final proof of the arbitrary attitude of the mine owners. Denounces Operators. “Careful observers have aware from the first that the mine- owners were bent on forcing a ces. sation of work.” he sald. “The reply of the mine-owners to the proposals been It has been the miners which fact clear to every one. upon sought to force terms conditions and could not_accept. “Gov. Pinchot has made clear to the country that the terms rejecteu by the mine-owners offered a basis of negotiations and agreement. The mine-workers took this view and thelr desire to find a way to continue at work must have impressed every one with the faot that they have sought every opportunity to secure a measure of justice without re- sorting to stoppage of work. “How long Aferica can tolerate a condition which places the health, comfort and well-being of the peo- ple under the arbitrary domination of coal barons, whose arrogance Is almost proverbial, we have no means of knowing, but we are confilent that even though their endurance may not have been exhausted their wil- lingness to submit must end goon. Fought Decrease, ‘It will be remembered that the miners’ strike of last year was not for any increase in wages, but against a they proposed wage reduction of 20 per cent and that though they successfully re- sted the wage reduction there has been no improvement in their wages or conditions since 1920, notwithstanding the soaring prices of all living costs. “The United Mine Workers are per- {ot Gov. Pinchot must have made the ~ past, strike negotiations are going 5o favorable an| burned, and they were conscious that there might have been some such feeling prevaillng in Washington when Mr. Pinchot undertook the job. Would Lose Nothing. At the same time, it was realized that Governor Pinchot had every- thing to gain and nothing to lose through lLis attempt to bring the warring miners and operators to- gether. In failure he would get credit for at least attempting the job; in success he would be a big factor in national politics. In the circumstances it is perfectly natural that throughout the pro- ceedings at Harrisburg the govern or's enemles should accuse him of | playing politics and of attempting to force a “political settlement” upon the anthracite operators. Politics is a great game in Pennsylvania. It is the all-year-round sport. The death of ‘‘Boss” Penrose left a sort of free- for-all fight within the republican party. Governor Pinchot has the whip hand at the moment, but there are plenty of factions against him. The enemies of Governor Pinchot have been saying that his proposals to the miners and operators were in reality political speeches, calculated to catch the favor of the people. They say that even among his friends the addresses to ti were referred to a were considered a to their political effect. Friends Aroused. The goverhor's friends rese aspersions. They say the go mind alwdys has gone along with ‘the under dog” and that in the Harrisburg negotiations he has be- {lieved the miner to be the canine in question. 1t is certainly true that with the |removal of the anthracite negotia- tions_from Atlantic City, New York and Washington to Harrisburg, the case of the miners took on new life, They were being generally blamed at Atlantic City for their refusal to arbitrate their differences. The operators, on the other hand, wera being pralsed for their conciliatory attitude. Charge Pinchot Blased. After he had heard the case in Harrisburg, Gov. Pinchot formed a proposal to the ~operators which granted most of the important prin- ciples of the miners’ contentions and | took no especial note of the claims of the operators. That is why his enemies accused him of plaving politics. They said that mnobody loved an operator because he repre sented capitalistic greed. They said Gov, Pinchot exalted the miner and condemned the operators for many faults in their system. President Coolidge’s friends herq in ‘Washington hav learned there are more sides to a fuel controversy than to a policemen’s strike and perhaps the experiences of Gov. Pinchot with his political critics have given them more confidence than ever in the silent sage of Northampton HOPES ELDHERE " FORGOALPEACE Officials Think Three-Day Breathing Spell May Bring Good Results. th Predicting the three-day “breathing spell” before the next meeting of an- thracite operators and miners at Har- risburg will serve to further the cause of compromise, government offi- cials generally expressed little con- cern yesterday as reports were re- ceived of the closing down of the country’s hard coal fields. Definite agreement for another con- ference was viewed as indicating a belief on toth sides that a basis for settlement existed, either in the for- mula already uncovered or in others closely related. Orders Withheld. Conforming with tnstructions from the White House, orders which will put ‘into motion the emergency dis- tributing machine will be withheld at least until after the parley next Wednesday. Federal Fuel Distrib- utor Wadieigh sald yesterday action along this line might even be de layed a fortnight, since the authori- ties felt no uneasiness regarding the fuel situation in the immediate fu- ture. With a forty-four-day supply of bi- | tuminous coal in excess of all normal | requirements already above ground, the only expected activity of the gov- ernment was said to be toward the perfection of the state agencies which would take over emergency supplies delivered under the federal program, The existing surplus of soft coai is being rapidly gmented, accord- ing to a report issued today by the geological survey, production during the week ended August 25, being esti- mated at 11,346,000 tons, or 503,000 tons more than’ the previous week, and a new record for the calendar year. Record for Week. Anthracite production during the week of August 25 also established a_ high record for the vear with 2,165,000 tons, or a&n increase of 00 tons over the preceding week. Reports on car loadings of ths first three davs this week indicate a high rate of production,” the report said in commenting on the hard coal output, “but the total probably will be much reduced as compared with last week because of shut downs over Saturday and in anticipation of the suspension.” ‘Serlous transportation disability” was said to have interfered recentl with distribution of bituminous, prominent among such causes being railroad wrecks in the Pocahontas district and severe cloudbursts in the Winding Gulf flelds, but “lack of demand remains by far the dominant factor limiting production. T CANTRILL NEAR DEATH, ‘HIS PHYSICIANS REPORT Democratic Nomines for Governor of Kentucky Has Relapse After Operation. By the Associated Press. LOUISVILLE, September 1.—Repre- sentative J. Campbell Cantrill, demo- cratic nominee for governor, has suf- fered a relapse and his condition late today was declared to be critical. Death apparently is “only a matter of hours,” his physician is quoted as having said. He underwent an oper- ation for a ruptured appendix Monday. phitidichididichel bttt Sttt forming a service to American citizen- ship in seeking to bring the level of employment and conditions of life and living among miners up to levels more nearly equal to those found in other branches of industry. The medieval spirit and policy that animate the or- ganized coal barons is wholly out of I place in modern America. “We are proud of the coal miners, of their spirit and their solidarity and of their concept of American citizenship. We shall render to them every possible measure of asslstanc