davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
TO MAKE AN EFFORT
TOWARD TAX REVISION
GOV. HALL ISSUES STATEMENT
CORRECTING A POPULAR
MISUNDERSTANDING.

Wratern Newspaper Onion News Service.
Baton Rouge.-TO correct the i'm
preston which seems to prevail that
he would not bring the subject of tax
reform at the coming session of the
legislature Gov. Hall issued the fol-
lowing statement:
AN impression appears to have
arisen that no legislation will be at
tempted at the coming session of the
General Assembly on the subject Of
assessments. This is due to a mis-
understanding
There are certain evils of the
present system that had been RENE
died so far as they can be without the
adoption of an entire new plan. To
undertake a radical revision of our
system, or, rather, lack Of system, of
assessment and taxation as was at.
tempted in 1912 would require the
submission Of a number of constitu-
tional amendments. Our experience
in 1912 teaches that an effort thus
to devise a new plan or system pro-
duces so much confusion and there
are so many interests to oppose any
change whatever that it will be i'm
possible without a thorough campaign
to secure its adoption. Besides, the
General Assembly would probably not
have the opportunity in the rush Of
regular session to give the subject
the thorough consideration that it's
importance would require"
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
MEDIA1oRs TRYING HARD

Washington.-Gen. Carranza and the
Constituencies were practically
eliminated from the proceedings of the
three South American ENJOYS who
have undertaken to solve the Mexican
problem by diplomacy. In a telegram
to Gen. Carranza the mediators an
nounced that in view Of his refusal to
agree to an armistice with Gen. Huerta
they withdrew their invitation to him
to send q personal representative to
participate in the mediation negotia-
tons.
The mediators told the Constitu-
tionalist leader that as long as he
maintained his attitude they must de-
cline to treat with hiNaGen. Car.
rama had inquired In note to the
ENJOYS what subjects a special repre-
sentative might be required to dis
cuss, pointing out that II the general
problem of pacifying Mexico were to
be approached he could not authorize
any one to participate in the nego.
tiatiOns.
He reiterated that he would consent
to mediation only on the incidents
which had brought about a controversy
between the United States and Mex.
ico," holding that he was the consti-
tutionally chosen leader to whom com.
plant about the insult at Tampico and
other offenses originally should have
been made.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
Ho1BED OF CONSPIRACY
Twenty Different Juntas in Mexico
City Plan Huerta's Downfall.
Has Much to Contend With.

Vera Cruz.-The highway from here
to Mexico City is free to all, but the
Americans have imposed one restric-
tion-that those who pass either way
shall not be permitted to return.
Refugees arriving here from the cap
ital report that the city is again rela'
lively quiet, but the other day they
say two American women were caught
by the mob In the Zocalo, beaten, their
clothes torn from their backs and
forced to watch a procession, the prin.
cipai feature Of which was q donkey
wearing a mask representing Presi-
dent Wilson's face, while attached to
and trailing from the animals tail was
the stars and stripes.
Huerta recently sounded all the
rebel leaders relative to their willing
ness to combine forces against the
United States. He is said to have Of
fered to submit to another election,
the voters to be men enlisted under
any recognized leader. His offer met
with no enthusiasm and gained him no
support, except on the west coast,
where various small bodies Of rebels
have Joined the federal garrisons. In
this light Carranza's decision to accept
the American occupation Of Vera Cruz
is no surprise.
Mexico City Is now the hotbed OF
conspiracy. Twenty different juntas
are working to bring about an upris'
ing which would compel Huerta's re-
tirement in favor Of their different
| candidates.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
LOUISIANA RICE
CROP Be- SHORT
LAST OF THE 1918 CROP HAS
BEEN MARKETED At LAKE,
CHARLES.
PLANTING PROCEEDING
2
%
-timated That There Will be a Re-
duction of rs Per Cent in
Southwest Parishes.
m Newspaper Union News Service.

.h.ke Charles.-The sale of a small
quantity of rice by the Southern Rice
Growers Association marked the end
of the 1913 rice season SO far as the
farmers are concerned. Practically
all of the rice, except that saved for
seed, is now out of their hands, due
to the buying campaign by the mills
beginning about the first of March
after a depressing winter. In the past
60 days probably 100000 sacks have
been bought in the three southwestern
parishes, at fair, though not bonanza,
prices.
Planting for the 1914 crop is pro.
ceeding very slowly, owing to the
cold spring and frequent rains, and
only a small part of the acreage is
planted. 1t is estimated that the south
west Louisiana acreage will be fully
Is per cent less than in 1918. The
Texas reduction will be fully as large
and acreage along the river will also
be somewhat curtailed. Only in Ark
ansas is an equal acreage TO 1919
promised.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
NEGRO DESPERATE
HUNTED TO DEATH
ST. JAMES CRIMINAL Is DR.
FROM BUILDING FIRED QVf
HIS HEAD. : {
HAD KILLED AN EhGINEE
I
- &
In Ten Days Sylvester Washinet,
Had Killed Two White Men and
Wounded Others. Z
HAD KILLED AN ENGINEE
we.tern Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service. u.
St. James, La.-Driven out for the
second time by flames from a building
which had been fired over his head
by a posse, his clothing ablaze, Sylvesc
ter Washington, negro desperate,
hurled defiance at his pursuers here
late Friday and fell dead his body rid
died with bullets.
Before being brought to bay by the
posse, the negro had killed Charles
Bohn, railroad engineer, member of
the pursuing party. Bohn died two
hours after being wounded. He also
shot and slightly injured John Millet,
another member of the posse, whose
horse was killed under him. Within
the last 10 days the negro had killed
two white men and wounded two
others.
The tragedy today is the sequel to
an attempt to arrest washington April
20, following complaints of citizens of
Gramercy. The negro at that time
fatally shot Deputy Sheriff T. c. ST.
mon Of this parish and wounded
Judge A. NJ. Malancon. Simon was
rushed to New Orleans for treatment,
and died in a hospital there April 80.
The negro had been in hiding since
that ARRAY.
Bloodhounds trailed the fugitive
to the Sidney plantation, near here.
After wounding two members of the
posse, he took refuge in a barn. The
building was set on fire. Filled with
hay, It burned rapidly. Washington
came out, his clothing all ablaze. See
ing no avenue Of escape, he dashed
back into the building. In a short
while he emerged again, hurting ours
es at his pursuers. He carried his
rifle, which had been rendered use
less by a bullet which had been fired
by a member of the posse which broke
the magazine. The posse fired, and
the negro fell dead.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
FEARS VILLA MOST

Vera Cruz.-Francisco Villa, the
rebel commander, may not make his
intended descent on Mexico City be.
fore the lapse Of another three months.
according to a prominent business man
who arrived here from the capital.
The refugee says Gen. Huerta is still
sending Federal troops %northward, az
he apparently breads more the pos
sible approach Of Gen. Villa than an
advance Of the Americans.
Gen. Villa is proceeding l%eisurely
said the refugee, If he has the inten,
ton Of moving on the capital. Both
Monterey and Saltillo are believed in
Mexico City to have been evacuated
by the Federals, who are said to have
fallen back on San Luis Potosi.
Gen. Huerta, he asserts, has done
nothing to show he anticipates a for.
ward movement of the American army
or expects in the event Of such a move.
ment to offer serious resistance.
The government powder factory ID
reported to be turning out daily some
5000 dynamite bombs. These are UNI.
derstood to be intended for defense
against Gen. Villa or Emiliano Zapata,
the southern rebel. The refugee said
that except for shipping a dozen or
more cannon to the headquarters Of
Gen. Gustavo Mas and a like number
to Gen. Guillermo Rubio Navaret at
Jalapa and supplies Of dynamite for
Mining the railroad bridges, nothing
furher has been done by Gen. Huerta
to prepare for resistance on the road
fpm Vera Cruz to the capital.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
~LouIsIANIAN ON The LIST
London Suicide Alleged to Have Eight
Wives in America.

Misunderstanding to the manager
Of the club of which he was a mem
Der, Henry c. Fitzgerald, known also
as Major" Fitzgerald, who killed him
self at the Charing Cross Hospital
Thursday, had eight wives in America.
While Fitzgerald was on a trip, accord.
ing to the club manager, he instructed
the manager to open his letters.
Among F%itzgerald's correspondence,
the club manager said, were appeals
from eight women, all signing them
selves as Fitzgerald's wives, and ask
ing him to return and provide for
their support. One letter from Lou
isiana begged Fitzgerald to return. It
declared that the woman who wrote
it no longer could keep secret her
marriage.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
HUERTAS REGIME
IS NEARLY OVER
GENERAL IN CHARGE At VERA
CRUZ SAYS THAT DICTATOR
IS LOSING HIS GRIP.
PREPARE FOR THE ADVANCE
About $4,000 Troops viii Be Mobitized
at Vera Cruz So as to 30 Ready
for Dash 70 Mexico City.
Anarchy Feared.
PREPARE FOR The ADVANCE

Washington. 1Upon receiving a long
cipher cablegrdm from Gen. Funston
at Vera Cruz Secretary Garrison called
into conference at the war department
Mai. Gen. Wotherspoon, chief of staff,
and the entire general staff Of the
army.
Later Secretary Garrison said Gen.
Funston had transmitted information
refugees had brought from Mexico City
as to conditions in the Mexican cap
itaI. The secretary declined to COM
ment on them. He said, however, that
no aggressive movement by the Amer
lean forces had been ordered.
1t was understood that the refugees
from Mexico City had informed Gen.
Funston of the critical aspect of affairs
in the Huerta regime; that a collapse
might be expected momentarily, and
that conditions of anarchy might ensue.
The purpose of Gen. Funston in max
ing known these reports to the war
department was believed to be to ad-
wise the Washington administration Of
the possibilities that might develop
from a fall of Huerta, in order that If
the American army is compelled to
rescue foreigners or restore order 1t
will be fairly equipped for such an
expedition.
Though not officially stated, it is
known that high officials of the war
department were anxious to place at
Vera Cruz or on transports within
striking distance a large enough force,
perhaps $4,000 or 10000 men, to make
an expedition to Mexico City II It be.
comes necessary.
Officials of the war department are
known to believe that il an advance
ON Mexico City is ordered, 1t will be
necessary to guard every mile OF the
-~ssss~~sarMy m0vcs ,rvrytaru
and that a large force would show the
natives the futility Of resistance,
whereas a division Of $4,000 men might
be subject to several attacks along
the route, with possibly big losses.
American army officers also regard
the situation at Vera Cruz as likely to
become desperate in the event that
anarchy breaks out in Mexico City, or
the forces of Gen. Mas should make
an attack on their own initiative, ire
spective of the Huerta governments
promise of a suspension Of hostilities
against the United States.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
SHERIFF WAS RESTRAINED
Federal Court in Louisiana Prevents
Sale Of Bankrupt Seizures.

Shreveport.-Federal Judge Alec
Boardman signed an order restraining
the sheriff of Franklin parish from
selling merchandise and other proper
ty seized from w. B. Newsom, on suit
brought by the Little Rock Furniture
Manufacturing Company.
The sheriff is cited to show cause
in the federal court why the property
under seizure should not be surren-
dered to a receiver or trustee in bank
ruptcy. The restraining order fol-
lowed involuntary bankruptcy pro-
.ceedings brought by New Orleans and
Louisville creditors.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
MOB KILLS TWO AMERICANS
Story Told BY Arrivals at Vera Cruz.
Consul Works Hard to Release
Others Who Are in Danger.

Vera Cruz.-Two Americans named
White and Williams, were killed and
three others wounded at the Ell Favor
mine, in the Hostotipaquilla district Of
Jalisco, by anti-American mobs, &C.
cording to refugees from Mexico City
who have just reached here. Their
stories cannot be confirmed.
Consul Canada has sent Phillip Wal
ker to seek the release Of twelve
Americans held by Gen. Navarette.
Walker will first go to. Mexico City
and get credentials from the Brazilian
-a,inister. Consul eaasusaa,-huc~afse-pvTs
Antonio Vasconeles, a Cuban, up the
Papoalapam river to try to save twelve
other Americans being held at Taco
talpan. Two Americans, named Hill
and Gibson, are being held at Montepio
and there is no way to rescue them.
A. A. Weimer, former manager of
Bradstreet's agency in Mexico City,
and now chief of the section OF Stats
tics of the National Bank of Mexico,
who has arrived here, declares that
there is no doubt that Huerta is pre-
pairing to flee to Central America.
There are more than 10000 Amer
leans in the capital, most Of whom are
unable to leave on account of lack OF
money, they having lost everything
during the four years Of revolution"
Gen. Funston appointed the first mil
itary commission. It will sit for trial
of five snipers who, during the first
and second days Of fighting, were
caught shooting at United States sail
ors while they were concealed in boats
IN the harbor.
The commission is empowered to
impose penalties, including the death
sentence. The rulings Of the court
will be subject to execution by the
civil agencies under the military con-
troll.
Four Americans, az British and 127
Mexicans, refugees from Mexico City,
arrived here. John Young, master me
chanic Of the Ell Orc Mining and Rail
way company, with his wife, who Is
the daughter Of Mrs. Martin Valid Of
1902 Rokeby street, Chicago. has moth;
ing but praise for Huerta. Although
Americans, they are stanch Huerta ad
mirers.
I'VE left Ell Orc, which is 100 miles
from Mexico City, a fortnight ago.
said Mr.. Young. I'VE have been In
Mexico City ever since, the recipients
Of every courtesy at the hands Of Gen
Huerta."
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
NEW ORLEAN|AN
IS A REAL HERO
CASTOR scHMUTz STICKS TO HIS
POST At AGuAS CALI.
ENTES.
HIS FLAG IS NOT RE MOVED
su|Ien Leader Of Mob Of Touehs Is
Driven Away From Consulate
by consult's Firm Attitude.
HIS FLAG IS NOT REL MOVED
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Quarantine, La.-Gaston Schmutz, a
New Orleans man, and American con.
sui at Aguas Calientes, Mexico, stands
out as one of the real heroes of the
Mexican situation. The story told by
those having dealings with Consul
Schmutz, prove conclusively that the
Orleanian stood m~anfully to his task
in the darkest hours of the trouble.
He did not leave, even though he was
ordered to do SO, until the last Ameri-
can was safely on his way to the
coast. He then followed, but where.
ever he found people in trouble or
danger, Consul Schmutz tarried to
help them.
H. G. B%retherton, vice consul at
Aguas Calientes, who came here on the
liner Monterey, vouches for all that is
told about his superior's conduct. Mr..
Bretherton is a native Of Butte, Mont,
and has served under Consul Schmutz
for two years.
"Mr. Schmutz covered himself with
glory" said Mr.. Bretherton.
1.-THE consul spent days and nights
going through the district adjacent
to Aguas Calientes doing all in his
power to assist Americans, as we'll as
people Of other nationalities. April
%, a mob Of several hundred Next
cans, mostly roughs and young boys,
marched up to the building occupied
by the American consulate, and when
Mr.. Schmutz appeared. demanded that
lie Haul 'uuwn the American 1Iags~H
"Mr. Schumtz stood In the hall light
Of the doorway" declared Mr.. Breth-
erton, "and told the rabble that he
could not comply with their request.
In order to gain time we telephoned
the Governor, and he lost no time in
coming to our assistance. But before
his arrival, however, the sullen lead
ers of the mob told Mr.. Schmutz that
they would tear the American flag
down with their own hands, and raise
the Mexican colors in it's stead"
Reaching behind him on a small
table, Mr.. Schmutz picked up a Colts
regulation forty-five, and in a loud
voice he informed his visitors: You
may take this flag down, but you will
have to do SO over my dead body.
The flag stayed where it was"
Consul Schmutz still is in Mexico,
and he may stay there until the State
Department orders him to leave. He
is we'll liked by the better class OF
Mexicans, as well as his W country.
men, and his noble stand in the pres.
ent crisis has won him universal com.
mendation. Mr.. Bretherton is of the
opinion that many Of the stories now
being told by the refugees are ex.
aggerated, and this does a grave in.
justice to some of the people in Mexi.
co, who have all along deplored the
stand of Huerta and other so-called
Mexican leaders.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
FRENCH SAVED HIS LIFE
New Orleans Man Tricks WouId-he-
Assailants.

Western Newspaper Onion News Service.
GENERALIZATION jour, senor," fol-
lowed by a fusilade Of properly &C
cess&pd1 French was the only thing
that saved F. N. Lebeuf, a New Or
leans man living at 2017 Peters Az
enue, while he a making his way
through Mexico fN the coast. Reb-
els and Mexican soldiers were on all
sides, and to assert American citizen
ship seemed like inviting death. Mr..
Lebeuf was manager Of the Constancia
Plantation Company's enterprise, 80
miles up from Puerto Mexico. He Is
accompanied by George H. Douglas Of
Covington.
II was mighty thankful to know that
my complexion and appearance en-
abled me to pass for a n%ative-born
%Frenchman," averred Mr.. Lebeuf. my
escape from Mexico is due largely to
my ability to speak the French Ian
guage ~fluently, and I was able to es-
cape much Of the abuse handed out
to my American countrymen."
Mr.. Lebeuf left his position in Next
co without anything worth mention.
ing, as he had no time to gather up his
belongings. Mr.. Douglas reached
Puerto Mexico some days before he
did. He ssid:
There is no possibility Of anything
resembling permanent peace being re-
stored in Mexico until the United
States goes in there and teaches the
population a good lesson" The poems
especially exhibit the utmost contempt
for us, but they dare not treat En-
glish, German or other n%ationalities
in the same manner"
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
Franklin Women oroanizino.

Franklin.-A woman suffrage club
went into permanent organization here,
and will be known as the Franklin
Equal Suffrage Club" The following
officers were elected: Mrs. Maggie
Hanson Lawless, president; Mrs.
Francis Borah, vice president, ana
Mrs. Laura O'Neil Himel, secretary
and treasurer.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
Americans In Danger.

Washington.-Ten members Of the
Smith family In jail at Tonala 90 in
danger Of their lives because ofMex.
lean resentment Of their part 3 the
recent killing Of three Mexicanst San
Pedro. according to q report frf Min
ister Leayell in Guatemala.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
Deputies Probe a Bio Fire.

New Iberia.--Called to New IBERIA
by Mayor Fonteliue, Special Deputy
Frank w. Smith Of the state fire
m~arshal's force is making a searching
investigation Of the snspiciousness Of
the fire which threatened the Levy
building, occupied by Jules Landry
rs a saloon and restaurant, with deI
.struction Saturday morning. The IND
vestigation conducted by Deputy Smith
proved that the origin was the work of
an %incendiary. Coal oil and gasoline
were found to have been used.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
Two Baton Rouge cIt'..n. Die,

Baton Rouge.-Within al. hour Sun.
day night Baton Rouge lost two of
her most prominent citizens. Ben R.
Mayer, who was widely known for
his public spirit, was seized with an
attack OF acute indigestion while Wis
iting at the home of his mother-in.law,
Mrs. Simon Mendelsohn, and died a
few hours later, at the age Of 50 years.
An hour before, H. D. Walker, veteran
conductor OF the Yazoo and MISSISSIPPI
pi Valley railroad, dropped dead at
his home Of heart failure.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16

Franklin.-A municipal election was
field here to elect a mayor and five
coucilmen to serve for two years. The
following officers were reelected with
out opposition: Chas. Lauve, mayor;
councilmen, w. S. Berwick, J. E. Lous-
talot, NJ. Morris, R. 4. O'Neill, Jacob
Anderson.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
"conuuer" Coronado.

San Diego, Cal.-Several wealthy
men from Colorado Springs and Coro-
nado, CAL, went out in a yacht to the
Coronado Islands and scaled one OF
them, raising the American flag on q
50O-foot pinnacle. They claimed tn
islands by right Of conquest" TIE
islands are Mexican territory.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
Or, DoWtino in Ohio,

Baton Rouge.-Dr. Oscar bowling.
president of the State Board of
Health, Is in Columbus, o., where he
went to address the Ohio State Medi-
cal Society on "Wha Louisiana Is
Doing Toward Sanitation" On tha
return trip DR.. Bowling will stop at
Memphis.
Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-16
HUERTA CONSIDERS ARMlsTIcE
BROKEN BY U. s.-cHARGEs
BREACH OF AGREEMENT.
THANKS THE MEDIAT0RS
Message to Mediation Board 10 Con.
sIdered Nothing Less Than
Polite Dismissal - Will
Fight to Last.

Mexico City, via Galveston, Texas
That Gen. Huerta considers the armis-
tice between the United States and
Mexico as having been violated by the
order from Washington authorizing
the landing of the Fifth army corps
and large numbers Of troops at Vera
Cruz was indicated by a high official
Of the Huerta government.
Gen. Huerta's advisers are urging
him to declare the armistic broken
and to prepare for a renewal Of hos
tilities.
A prominent foreign diplomat said
that Gen. Huerta considers the mill
tary activities Of the United States
army at Vera Cruz and reports re-
ceived here that large reinforcements
will probably be sent to Gen. Funston
as a breach of the agreement entered
into between his government and the
United States, and that he has in
structed Senior Roberto Estava Ruiz,
Mexican minister of foreign affairs, to
cable a protest to the A B c media
tors commission, complaining against
the action of the Washington govern
ment.
Neither Gen. Huerta nor Senior Ruiz
would discuss the situation.
Senior Ruiz said, however, that Gen.
Huerta had instructed him to cable
the mediation commission and express
to its members his thanks for their
efforts to avert a war between the
United States and Mexico.
When asked II that meant that Gen.
Huerta considers the action Of the
United States In landing the Fifth
army brigade at Vera Cruz and the
subsequent landing of field guns as
having brought to a sudden termina-
ton the work OF the m~ediatory board
and that the A B C powers cannot now
arrange a peace pact, senior RUIZ said:
ut would not be proper for ME to
answer"
Senior Ruiz's reply, however, gave
the impression that Gen. Huerta's mes
sage of thanks to the mediation board
was nothing less than a polite dis.
missal Of the good offices Of the A B
G powers In arranging a settlement of
the differences between the United
States and Mexico.
III can say that the position which
Gen. Huerta will take in connection
with the matter will be in accordance
with the laws Of civilized nations"
Senior Ruiz concluded.
Senior RuE declared c~ategorically
that Gen. Huerta is not considering re-
signing the provisional presidency Of
Mexico. ,
Gen. Huerta will not deliver Mex
leo City over to the rebels OF to any
other forces" Senior Ruiz declared.
"The element Of society that repre-
SCENTS law and order in Mexico is with
him and he is fighting for the future
OF Mexico. To force Gen. Huerta to
leave the capital It will be necessary
to drive him out.
HE will fight to the last"
Other officials Of the government
supported, Senior Ruiz in his DECLARE
ti6ns, and one of them said that Gen.
Huerta will see Mexico City in ashes
and ruins before he will leave It,"