davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
MANY GOING HOME;
TRAFFIC IS HEAVY
TRIPLE HOLIDAY GIVES OPPOR-
TUNITY TO THOUSANDS.
RAILWAYS BUSY.

Hundreds OF thousands of people
will spend Christmas at their homes
today. During the last two days in
coming and outgoing trains have been
crowded with those who find pleasure
in being with the loved ones from
whom they have gone, that they might
take their places in the world OF bust
ness endeavor. The railroad compa
MES had prepared, as usual at this
season of the. year, for the rush, and
every preparation made was a needed
one, as the heavy passenger traffic OF
recent days has shown.
Within the last two days several
thousand persons have arrived. Many
Of them came from the schools and
colleges in this and other States In
which they are being prepared to- cope
with the problems of life. Many 9TH
ers came from other cities in which
they have engaged in business or pro-
rush of people there has been an ex-
odus. probably as great.
In Richmon there are employed
hundreds OF North Carolinians Many
more from the Old North State and
many from all parts Of Virginia have
been pursuing studies IN this city. All
OF these who could possibly arrange
to get away for the day went home.
Some OF them will nave but the one
day away Others will have three
days, benefitirg by the coming OF Sat
urday between the holiday and the
Sunday. Banking brokerage and real
estate houses will be closed until
Monday. Numerous other business
houses have taken three days shut
down.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
SANTA RIDES OVER
FIELDS Of WHITE
NORTHERN STATES EAST OF
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HAVE
SNOW TO-DAY.

r. Washington. Dec 24.--Santa Claus
took squirt at the weather today
and ordered out his RENDERS and
sleigh for tonight's iaunt.
It's to be white Christmas
everywhere in the country where it's
cold enough TO freeze, the weather
bureau declared In its Christmas
forecast
Show is falling everywhere east 81
tae Mississippi Valley in the Northern
States. Heavy rains-in the Gulf and
Southwestern States were reported.
Todays general snowfall in the
Great Lakes. upper Ohio, upper Mis-
sissippi and Middle Atlantic States
will continue all day and night almost
everywhere, tho forecast states.
Tomorrow morning The snow will
stop for clear, cold Christmas un-
der a blanket Of snow. North OF
Virginia on the Atlantic the snowfall
Is to be quite heavy.
Much colder weather In the north
ern half Of the country tomorrow
east Of the Mississippi Is predicted.
Cold wave warnings for the lake
States, Ohio, Indiana and Southern
Michigan were issued today. Slow
progreas Of the cold wave eastward
BY Friday niEht or Saturday morning
= the prospecE
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
MAY CLEAR BAFF
MYSTERY BY MONDAY
RELIEVED NEW YORK POULTRY
MANS sLAYERs RECEIVED
BUT $50.

New York, Dec. 24.-"If We continue
to make such progress as we have made
in the last twenty -four hours the Baff
case Will be cleaned up by next Mon
day night"
This statement was made by Assis-
tant District Attorney Delehanty. II
came Just after Mr. Whitman had an
other talk with Carl Rettich, the young
Hoboken bartender upon whose testi-
mony hangs the fate of two men now
under arrest who are believed to have
paid him the money for sHhich Barnett
Baff was killed in West Washington
Market on November "a.
Emil Rettich. Tie young mans father
was closeted with him and Mr.. Whit
man and urged him to tell everything
he knows. He has been brought to the
point where he admits that he knows.
The question now Is whether he Will
testify in the grand juryroom.
One of the things believed to have
been disclosed by Rettich is that a sum
of money was raised amoung the poui-
trymen in West Washington Market
prior to the murder and that II was
distributed after that event 1t Is not
denied that the fund was of more than
IS, 000.
OF this amount only $3.50 In said TO
have been paid to the men who did the
killing.
william Simon. a wealthy poultry
dealer. was held on $4,000 bail today
by Judge Malone as a material witness.
Late "Wednesday night he was arrested
and taken to the house Of detention.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
SECRETARY DANIELS
RECOMMENDS NAVAL
RESERVE TO HOUSE
Forwards Communication to
the Committee on Naval Az
fairs - May Have Twelve
Submarines

Washington, Dec. 24-~Secretary OF
the Navy Daniel today forwarded a
communication to the House COMMITTEES
on Naval Affairs recommending pro-
vision in the coming naval bill provid-
ing for the creation of naval re-
serve made up of honorabiy discharged
enlisted men. Secretary Daniels re-
commentator will in all probability
be adopted.
The Secretary of the Navy recon-
mended that the building program in
this years budget be limited TO two
battleships. six destrcyers. eight or
more submarines. one oiler and one
repair ship. Congress may adhere to
this program in the main, but indica
tions are that it will authorize at leas.
twelve submarines and probably nine
teen. Whether any further additions
TO the auxiliary fleet of the navy will
be authorized beyond those recon
mended by Secretary Daniels is profile.
NAUTICAL.
Practically all naval officers who ap.
peared before the House Naval Com.
mittee daring it's recent hearings
recommended reserve force to be
drawn uprn IN 70 of war. They de.
clarea that a.2 Il the inherent weak.
nesses Of toe 'asy as fighting force
was the absence Of a reserve In dis
cussinx thu creation OF the reserve
recommended by him. Secretar, Dan
siels said In his communicates. to the
House committee.
III this an; snarer. be enacted into
law the most important and nenss ssry
means for promoting the effcisacy u
the navy will he provided. First. Il will
make available reserve of trained
men to supplement the regular esIab-
lishment in time of war. Second. IL
Will Increase the efficiency OF the Fexaa-
lar navy by Offering substantial in-
ducement to men to continue IN the
service for periods OF twclves> sixteen
and twenty years"
The principal features OF the
amendment are as follows:
Men who have had twenty years OF
honorable service may, upon their own
application. be transferred tc the re-
serve on half pay. Those of sixteen
Years service on one-third pay, those
% twelve years service with $50 per
Annus; those OF four years service
with $40 per annum. and those now In
civil life VIII have been hono-abIy dis
charged within three years may enlist
Yin the naval reserve and receive pay at
the rate OF 312 per annum and be fur
nlshed with uniform clothing outfit.
Provision II made for periodical as
aembitng for muster inspection and
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
Thousands Witness Lighting of
Giant Cedar Symbolic Of the
Spirit Of Season
No Accident Mars
Delightful Program
Christmas Carols Are Sung
and Folk Dances Executed
for the Entertainment OF
Crowd

Christmas carols sung by a great
choir OF nearly fifteen hundred voices
and folk dances executed by nfty
children of the public schools last
nigh, marked the lighting up cf the
community Christmas tree in me old
Ford ;ct. opposite the city building.
The exercises were watched by sen
eral Thousand persons who stood
within the wired enclosure. where
leaves and straw slad been scattered
to afford relief from the cold moist
ground. while many good without,
upon the cold wet pavements Of the
streets or sidewalks There was no
accident or ontoward incident to mar
the pleasure Of the occasion.
The weather had been threatening
and during the afternoon there sifted
down from time TO time fakes of
white which SO quickly melted .nat
1t could hardly he said there was
snow. This downfall and the over
cast skies which promised hourly eaai
there would be more probably Kept
the sire of the crowd to a point much
smaller than was the crowd OF year
ago. when the community tree was
first attempted In this city
Tree Symbol Of ChriStmxssi
The lighting Of the tree. the fioa ting
OF the great star from point ABOVE
the city building to a point directly
above the apex Of the giant cedar.
and the giving OF the program OF
carols and dancing were but a public
expression OF the JOY OF the people
at the glad Christmastide. The real
spreading OF happiness came on rne
Continued on Second Page)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
At WHITE HOUSE
PRESIDENT WILSON'S FAMILY
ALL WITH HIM no SPEND
HOLIDAY SEASON
DISTRIBUTES TURKEYS
ALL EMPLOYEES OF WHITE HOUSE.
RECEIVE HANDSOME BIRD
FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
BRYAN WILL VISIT VA.
DISTRIBUTES TURKEYS

Washington. Dec. 24--Ofilcial duty
was laid aside at the White House to-
day and the Christmas spirit enthron-
ed The principal incident was the
arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Francis d.
Sayre from Williamstown, Mass. They
were met at the station by the White
House automobile and welcomed to
the White House by the President and
his daughters, Miss Margaret Wilson
and Mrs. McAdoo.
The Christmas family party OF the
President will be complete with the
arrival tonight or early tomorrow of
Miss Anna Cothran, of Philadelphia,
grandniece of the President, for
whom tree was set up today and for
whose entertainment the President
and mem bers of his immediate family
busted themselves.
President Wilson will personally d.
rect the distributor BIZ White House
gifts OF warm clothes and useful gifts
among the poor of Washington, carry
ing out the work begun last year ny
Mrs Wilson. The White House auto
mobile today, following the custom OF
last year went over the route taken
by the President on his trips to the
Virginia Country Club to play golf,
and with Isaac Hoover, of the White
House staff, acting as Santa Claus, sent
presents to children along the Virginia
country road who have become famil-
Jar with the Presidents features, due
to his travels to and from the golf
links. These youngsters have lined
the road as the President has gone to
and from his game and waved their
salutations. The President regards
these little youngsters as his personal
friends.
r. @ ~
for Kaleidoscope changes in the dip
lomatic set. The intimate gifts that
in the past had been exchanged be-
tween the various diplomatic repre-
sentatives were today things of the
past.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
MOVE TO PROHIBIT
LIQUOR SALE IN
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Elated By Majority Vote In
House Prohibitionists viii
Push Legislation

Washington, D. c., Dec. 24.-En-
couraged by their success in carrying
a majority of the House for nation-
wide prohibition, the Prohibitionists in
Congress and out are planning to force
a vote on the measure making the
District of Columbia dry. it was
learned today. Sentaor Sheppard. OF
Texas. author of the resolution for a
constitutional amendment for nation-
wide prohibition, now pending before
the Judiciary Com mittee, said today
that effort would be made to have
the National Capital made dry terri-
tory.
Prohibition leaders feel that they
could easily obtain a majority for q
prohibition bill for the National Capt.
tai in the House. and only majority
vote Is needed to enact such a bill
into law. They say that many of the
members who voted against the pros
hibition amendment to the Constitu-
ton on the States right" ground
would support a bill for prohibition In
the District.
California, and Senator Thompson, OF
Kansas, both have bills pending be-
fore the Senate District COMMITTEES
calling for prohibition in the District.
They are both determined to force the
matter to a vote. if possible. at the
present session of Congress- The
legislative situation. however. Is such
in the Senate that 1t may not be pos
sibie to take up prohibition bill until
the next regular session. ~
A prohibition bill for the District
will not go through the Senate without
a fight. however. for there are oppon-
ents of prohibition in the Senate who
will debate the matter at length
Senator Works, author with Senator
Jones. of Washington, Of the Jones'
Works excise law. which has consider
ably restricted the sale of liquor in the
District, has bill before the Disc
-trfct Committee to prohibit the mznuss
facture or sale of Intoxicating liquors
in the District. 1t provides that the
proposed law shall become effective
one year after the date of Its enact-
ment
Under the bill it would be unlawful
to manufacture. sell or give away any
intoxicating liquor In the District, OF
to import any such liquor into the Dis
trict. Penalties provided In the bill
for violations Of the proposed law are
fines Of from $50 to $1,000 and im~3
prisonment from one month to year.
The Thompson bill to much tbs
same in character. The penalties arol
not so severe, and there In nothing III
the bill to prevent anyone In the DIS
trict from givig away liquor, excep4
that no person shall give liquor to II
minor unless Il be the minors fAthef,E
mother or guardian. or physician -
medicinal purposes. NJ
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
RUSSIANS CLAIM
REPULSE GIVEN
GERMAN FORCES
Confusing Official Reports
Come From Eastern Zone
of European War
Where Rulers Will
Spend Christmas
London Keeps Day Much as
Usual - Prince of Wales
Home From France-kaiser
Sends Greetings from Front

London. Dec. 24.--Oficial state-
ment given out by the German war
Office declare that the Russians have
been driven from their trenches in
the region OF Mlawa and have also
been repulsed with great loss on the
right bank of the Pilica River. near
Tomaszow. The official Russian re-
port does not mention the fighting
near MIawa but declares that the
Germans have been pushed back in
the Tomaszow District.
Unofficial Russian reports say that
the German drive on Warsaw Which
has reached the confluence OF the
Vistula and Bzura Rivers, has not
made any Roadway during the past
twenty-four hours. The fgtting
there is admittedly the fiercest OF
the present German invasion and the
for several days without definite issue.
The German endorsements have
been counterbalanced by many thou
sands Of Russian reservists. and also
by large number of troops from the
southern battle line.
London Keeping Christmas.
London, Dec. 24.-London is keep
ing Christmas much rs usual A little
while ago there was some talk that
this was not fitting time for fes-
tival. but though thousands of homes
are in mourning and the sympathy OF
all goes out to them, the country as n
whole has decided to celebrate ito
CONTINUED on Second Page1
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
HAT BUILDERS GIVE
|. VALUABLE PRESENTS
JOHN b. sTETsON COMPANY DIS
TRIBUTED QUARTER MILLION
WORTH TO EMPLOYEES.

Philadelphia, Dec. 24.--Christmas
Turkeys, candy, coats. gloves. watches.
ri.ares OF stock and money bonuses
amounting in value to more than
s25e,n1 were distributed by the John
y. ste.s,n Company, hat manufactur-
s-s. 70 more than 5000 employees to-
lay. f'ne distribution was made the
}e.uasiou ~ an unusually enthusiastic
Christmas celebration In the immense
ssfetson auditorium.
! Howell Cummings, president OF
sie company opened the exercises
With the declaration that rumors that
more than 1000 employees were to oe
laid off were absolutely false.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
MAKE BUSINESS Of
OPIUM SMUGGLING
CUSTOMS AGENTS SEARCHING SHIPS
TO HEAD OFF "DoPE" DEAL
ERs' OPERATIONS.
CAPTURE MUCH DRUG
TWO MEN ARRESTED On LJsITA>IA
HAD $50 CANS IN THEIR ro- -
SESSION VALUED AT

New York, Dec. 24.-Praetically
every incoming ship Is being search
ed by United States customs agents
for smuggled opium: every vessel
from England must undergo this
process. for the authorities nave be-
come convinced the conspiracy head
ed, 1t is charged. by Kasuji Toda, has
agents aboard all British ships.
The raid on the liner Lusitania.
when VIM. Thompson and Joseph
Marion were arrested, charged with
opium smuggling. was part of a
plan of the federal authorities. These
two men were found In possession Of
over $50 cans of opium valued at
approximately $500. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Stanton, in charge OF
the opium investigation. believes the
plot is the most widespread that mas
ever developed in this port
There Is said to be woman In
the case She sailed Yesterday on
the liner Baltic, barely escaping the
customs men who were on her trial.
Her identity is kept secret for the
present, as the Federal authorities
are endeavoring by wireless messages
to have her seized on the ship. She
slipped away, the authorities say.
with 400 cans OF opium, valued at
about $4,000
Kasuji Toda. alleged leader of the
opium band. now in the Tombs, had
all his effects packed ready to sail
with the woman, the authorities say,
when he was arrested.
Mr.. Stanton has cabied Scotland
Yard to look out for very hand-
some woman whose description he
sent and to search for 400 cans Of
smoking opium when the Baltic
docks. vsaA
Meanwhile the customs officials
are extremely busy along the docks,
Not ship can come In now without
a thorough search.
The total seizures OF opium up TO
today amounted to 230 cans. valued
at about $4,000.
N. Ito. Japanese said to be the
outside man" for the smuggling
ring. was arrested in a boarding
house in West One Hundred and Sec
ond Street. where he secured a room
with Toro Sata, the first japanese to
be arrested in the conspiracy Ito is
student in the school of Commerce
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
QUIET OBSERVANCE
OF CHRISTMAS DAY
CONTENT, RATHER THAN HILARI-
TY. IN EVIDENCE ON THE
STREETS.
IN CHURCHES TODAY
SPECIAL MUSIC IN MANY OF THE
HOUSES OF WORSHIP NO
ROvDYIsM on BROAD
STREET.
IN CHURCHES TODAY

In Richmond in the state OF vir-
ginia in the only great nation of the
earth at peace. the anniversary of the
birth OF the Prince of Peace will be
celebrated today quietly. but with
dcep-feit gratitude.
There is no joyous event on the pro-
gram for today There Will be no
grea, noise 10 usher in the morn. But
the spirit OF the day Is In every heart
and fer the people of Richmond II
may he said that they have Christina s
in their bones.
In most of the Episcopal and Catho-
tic churches or the city and In some OF
the houses of worship or the other
denominations. there will be special
services, the program being musical
for the mos. part Otherwise there is
no set celebration of the day, the peo-
pie holding observance as families and
as individuals In their own peculiar
way
Celebration Last Night.
! Last night was the time of public
celebration. On the old Ford Hotel
lot. despite the angry skies. the
municipal Christmas tree. with its
hundreds OF lights blazoning forth its
announcement OF the season. many
hundreds of people gathered around
10 listen to the program prepared with
y
the streets the throng. not so great
as in other years because of the
threatening weather. was merry and
altogether good natured. Horns were
in evidence but not as last year: peo-
pile promenaded, but not a. last year.
The crowd was small in comparison
with previous years. but the good ma :
ture and the splendid temper OF those
out in the air was up to the standard.
Rowdyism was conspicuous by it's abb
sence; drunks were few and far be-
tween. Altogether II was not great
and noisy celebration Of the approach
OF Christmas, but it was real, heart
felt celebration. People, evidently,
were content, rather than hilarious.
Charity in Richmond had full fling
this year. Despite the call made upon
the generosity OF the people by the
great suffering across the waters,
those at home were not forgotten.
Charity really began at home in Rich
mond. the large sums subscribed for
the Belgians only furnishing an out
let for surplus ebulitions OF generous
emotions The Christmas tree cele-
bration last night was only the out
ward semblance OF the actually. That
celebration merely spectacularly
showed what had been done. Stock
inEs were distributed for practically
every child in Richmond who would
Santa Claus otherwise. Nearly eight
hundred were distributed.
Help for the Poor.
The salvation Army. the Associated
Charities the Sunday schools. the
church societies and many other or
CONTINUED on Seventh Page.)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
Stockholders In Richmond's
Great Financial Institutions
Receive Regular Profits
City S Banks Are
Splendidly Managed
First National Leads in Gross
Distribution, Paying Out
$lO0,00O-Planters and Mer-
chants Pay 10 Per Cent

Stockholders Of nearly all the banks
in Richmond, those OF all the older
banks have been remembered by
their directories at this Christr- a.
sea.on. the announcement OF divi-
dends declared coming IL this time IL
the nature OF Christmas cheer. though
the chec,-s Will not be mailed, in
iaost instances. until about the first
of the year. A few OF the banks, the
newer institute, MS. Will add their pro
fits to their surplus. this following
tho lines of the sound business poll
cy that has made Richmond financial
institutions among the soundest in
the Co try.
their stockholders meetings during
the coming week. In most instances
the dividends are paya bic semi-annu-
ally. In a few they are quarterly
Dividends Near 100000.
total OF approximately 100000
will go out to stock oiders in local
banks. on ether the first or second
days of January This figure is about
on the average or dividend totals In
recent years, indicating that despite
business depression throughout the
nation, Richmonds. finances have oni
suffered.
Among the banks adding to their
surplus from the earnings OF the last
dividend period are the Richmond
Trust apd Savings Company, South
Richmond Savings Bank and Broad
way National Bank.
Hundred Thousand Dollar Melon
One hundred thousand Dollars will
he distributed among the stockholc-
ers by the First National Bank
This represents the five per cent divi-
Ia he rapifqf Cf0r X
of 100000 for the ha1f-year ending
December 81
The American National Bank will
send out checks for amounts total
ing $4,000 TO its stockholders, the
money being the two per cent quar-
terly dividend declared by the direc
tors of the institution on the million
dollar capital stock.
The Merchants National Bank ha
declared ten per cent semi-annuaI
dividend on its capital stock of 5000,
GOO. Checks aggregating twenty
thousand dollars Will be mailed II
it's stockholders.
Something of Mint.
Thirty thousand dollars will be. dis
tributed smong the holders Of stock
in the Planters National Bank. tina;
total being the sum OF the divlden
declared on the 100000 capital. The
semi annual dividend was ten per
cent
To the stockholders of the National
state and City Bank $4,000 will be
given. a three and one-half per cen;
mi-annual dividend having been de-
clared.
Twenty thousand dollars in the di-
vidend payment to be sent by the
Virginia Trust Company. two pei
cent dividend having been declared on
the million dollar capital.
The Union Bank OF Richmond WI.
distribute among It's stockhoioers
checks totaling Sl9,777.5o. semi
lrnntinued on Second PaEe.l
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
PRESIDENT NAMES
HALL ON COMMISSION

Washington, Dec. 24.--President
Wilson yesterday sent to the Senate
the nomination of Henry c. Hall. OF
Colorado, to be a member of the IN
terYtate Commerce Commission for
seven years. This is a reappointment-
MI Hall is now a member of the
commission. and supported the appli-
cation of the railroads for an increase
in freight rates.
II confirmed by the Senate, Com
missioner Halls new term will begin
on January l.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-25
GERMAN DRIVE ON POLISH CAPITAL is MAKING NO PROGRESS
IRISH LITTLE FOLK
SEND THANKS TO AMERICA

Washington, Dec. 24.-Sir Cecil
Spring Rice the British ambassa-
dor, today received from the Lon
don foreign Office the following:
please convey loving thanks
from Irish children. for Santa
Claus for gifts from the children
OF the United States"