davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
start Operation First of January, 1918,
Ripley Tells Business League.

St Louis, Mo, Dec. 2S.-The Atch-
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway sys-
tenn will enter st. Louis not later than
January 1, 1918.
Phillip w. Coyle, traffic commits
sioner of the Business Mems league
has received word from Z. P. Ripley,
president of the Santa Fe, that the
road would be in a position to begin
freight and passenger operations in
and out of st. Louis by that date.
The Santa Fe is at present con-
structing an extension of its lines from
Carrollton to Mexico, Mo. From Mex
leo the Santa F'e will enter ST. Louis
over the tracks of the Chicago, Bur
lington & Quincy railroad, the terms
for the use of which have already
been agreed upon.
The Chicago & Northwestern at the
same time will enter st. Louis and
thru joint agreement use Santa Fe
terminals and yards in st. Louis in
competition with the ST. Louis Term
inal Railroad association
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
Municipal Propositions Placed
Before Commissioners.
High Cost of Living Is Now
Checked Up to Topeka.
FOR FAITH AMONG The POOR
Centralized City Government Is
Solution, Says Gilberg.
Matters Before Board at q
Meeting This Morning.

The high cost of living has been
checked up to the city government
municipal coal yard. municipal
hospital and a municipal storage plant
were pleaded for today before the
citv commissioners by Ike Gilberg-
Gilberg based his plea on suffering
among working people who IN Iour
short months have been denied tour
essentials of lie. butter. eggs. me%-
and potatoes. on account of the pro-
hibitive prices placed on these arti-
cles He also pleaded for the big step
toward centralized government as a
means OF stimulating faith among the
poor that government is a friend 70
the people, ready to remedy at every
opportunity conditions that oppress
them.
Beggar or Thief?
Gilberg outlined the future as he
saw it, future IN which marrieu
men with families working for 10 and
20 cents an hour would find them
selves unable to support their fami-
lies He drew a word picture of a city
infested with hundreds of professional
beggars and of other men driven to
robbery.
And gentlemen" said GiIberg. Il
would rather see a man driven to rob
berry than to beggary- When man
becomes a beggar his ambition. his
more of a man to rob a house than IL
does to beg"
From so Cents to SLs5-
GfIberg also presented hard facts
before the city commissioners He
told of potatoes purchased for 50 and
SIS cents a bushel during the summer
months. They are selling now for
S1.S5 a bushel.
=--sWhy.''~-G Gilberg asked. shouldn't
the city establish a municipal storage
plant and buy those potatoes at 50
cents bushel and sell them at a price
that would make expenses and even
entail n decent profit, if you wish 2?
Eight Abandoned Families.
Gilberg told the commissioners OF
eight workmen without vicious habits
who during the winter had deserted
their families because they became
discouraged endeavoring to keep the
wolf from the door in days when n
bushel of potatoes costs more than a
days wages. He told of permitting
a family to sleep on the floor of his
steam heated tailor shop because they
had not sufficient money to purchase
heat for the night and not sufficient
bedclothes.
why not show the workingmen
that you are their friends and are will
ing to try something tnat promises re-
lief?" asked Gilberg. IF Topeka
would take such step think of other
cities that would follow in its wake
and would adopt the Topeka idea
As Representative of Poor.
Il come not a representative Of
any society or as man wishing TO
harm any one in office" continued
Gilberg. ~ come as poor man with
a scheme that might afford relief and
as such 1 ask that you do your share
in obtaining it for myself and hum
, dreds of other people in similar cir-
cumsta nces.'
Gilberg thanked the commissioners
and walked away.
"A motion to adjourn will be in or
der" said Mayor House. The motion
was made and seconded. The COM
mission adjourned
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
FREEZE To DEATH GERMANY TO U. S.
Note Answering Wilson Official
1y Arrives Today.
Similar Reply Sent Swiss by
Austria Hungary.

Washington. Dec. 2S.-The official
text of Germany note to President Will
sons peace note was received here
early today. So far as was known
it was unaccompanied by any other
communication and was said to be sub
stantially the same as the unofficial
text received Tuesday from Berlin.
Answers Swiss Note.
Berlin, Dec. 2S.-A Vienna dispatch
says that the Hungarian gov
ernment today answered the Swiss
note by transmitting a copy of the
note sent to President Wilson. An ac-
companying message assured the Hell
vetian government that the noble
minded suggestion of President Will
son met with thoroly sympathetic
reception from Austria -Hungaria.
The message added that the Austro-
Hungarian government regarded the
Swiss action in supporting President
Wilson as an evidence of the noble
and humane disposition which Switz-
erIand, since the beginning of the
war manifested toward all the belli-
gerents.
Appreciates Presidents Move.
Berlin, Dec. 29.-(via SayNille wire
Iess)=General opinion in Berlin is
that the German answer to President
wilson's note warmly appreciates the
presidents intentions and perhaps
adds practical suggestions for conclu-
sions for peace" the press bureau an
nounced today. 1t said also that the
Teutonic answer had been handed to
American diplomatic representatives
at all central powers capitals
Answers Swiss, Too.
Berlin. Dec 2S.-The German reply
TO the Swiss note was handed to the
swiss minister today. 1t is on the same
lines as the reply to President Will
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
OFFER 3O-CENT RATE
Utilities Commission May Try Another
Gas Peace Pact.

The state utilities commission is pre-
pairing to hold out the olive branch to
the gas companies. Plans for an Of
fer of thirty cent rate to the Do
herty interests have been advanced
and the offer may be made by the
state commission at an early date.
year ago j. Bristow wrote an
opinion for the state commission in
which he said % cents was ample. The
Doherty interests have refused to ac-
cept the rate. In Kansas City today
Hugh ]. Smith, counselor; and Mayor
Green conferred concerning a revision
of gas rates Following the conference
it was admitted that the commission
might extend an offer for an increase
in gas rates, the new rate to be placed
at thirty cents a thousand cubic feet
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
Ninety Feet Below Surface OF
the Earth They Died.
Fire Believed to Have Been Of
Incendiary Origin.
SENT The Topeka Pull MOTOR
But Miners SuffOcated From
Fumes of Big Blaze.
Second Accident Within a Week
in Usage City.

Usage City. Dec, 2s.--Two miners,
Regis ViaIe. 80. and Victor Gibaud,
so. were killed by suffocation in a fire
early this morning which damaged the
S. J. Carlson Coal company mine here.
The men were dead when taken from
the mine at o'clock this morning
The fire started in the motor room
from an unknown cause. The prop
erty damage was estimated at $4,000
In the day time sixty men work in
the mine The two men were work
ins the night shift, being the only ones
in the mine at the time of the fire,
which broke out at 1 o'clock. The
entire top of the mine was burned.
After he air was changed the men
were brought to the surface
The mine was ninety feet deep.
Efforts to resuScitate the men failed
The mine officials sent to Topeka for
a pulmotor but it did not arrive in
time TO he of any use.
Both men left families, Niale a wife
ana three children and Gibaud a wife
and boy.
The fire was believed to have been
OF incendiary origin. 1t was the sec
ond here within a week. Just a week
ago the Western Fuel company's mine
was destroyed.
Capt. Fred O. Lucas of the Topeka
fire department arrived with the To-
peka pulmotor at 12:45 o'clock He
was called at o'clock and left for
this city on the first train
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
GET CARRANZA REPLY
Will Be Delivered to Secretary Lane
Late Today.

Washington. Dec. 2S.-General Car
ranza's answer to the request that he
either sign or repudiate the pending
protocol, which will be delivered late
today to Secretary Lane by Luis Ca
brera chairman of the Mexican com
missioners is understood to contain
suggestions or notifications which
have been carefully worded to avoid
ending the negotiations
The door has not been closed" was
the comment of one Mexican official
who had read the reply. Further than
that. no information was obtainable
as to what were it's terms.
While CarranZa was informed fatty
that the United States expected final
reply last Tuesdcy. it seemed possible
that the American commissioners
would not force an end of the negoti-
ations if his reply, even late, was not
of such a character as to preclude
further consideration
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
H0LDREN NAMED
Independence Lawyer to Sue.
ceed Judge Flannelly.
Governor Capper Fills Mont
gOmery Court Position.

Governor Capper this afternoon an
nounced the appointment OF Joseph W.
Holdren of Independence as judge of
the Montgomery county district court
to succeed Judge Thomas j. Elan
nelly. resigned. The appointment is
effective at once and is for the unex-
pired term ending January, 1919.
Holdren's appointment was made
after the governor had spent two
weeks in consideration of the candi-
dacies of a half dozen prominent
Montgomery county lawyers. Numer-
GUS delegations and many kilograms,
letters and petitions were received at
the governors office relative to the
appointment
Holdren is a native Kansan. He was
born in johnson county and has prac-
ticed law in Independence for a num-
ber of years. At present he is assist
ant county attorney and has held the
office eight years. He is regarded as
one of the strongest prosecuting at
torneys in southern Kansas and has
been active in legal affairs and in
Third district politics for number of
years.
In 1905-07, Ho1dren served in the
state legislature as a member of the
house. 1t was his only elective pub
lie office His candidacy for the dis
trict judgeship in 1918 was regarded
as certain by Montgomery county law
yers. At present Holdren is president
of the bar association in his county.
He is a Republican.
Judge Thomas J. Flannelly, whom
Holdren succeeds resigned December
13, as judge of the Fourteenth judi
cial district comprising Montgomery
county. Judge Flannelly left the
bench to accept an appointment as
general attorney for the Prairie Oil
& Gas company in its general offices
in Independence. He was serving his
third term on the bench at the time
of his resignation. Because of numer-
Gus hearings of gas and oil litigation in
the Montgomery county district court
Judge Flannelly had been much be-
fore the public in the last five years.
His action in the Kansas Natural Gas
company cases occasioned criticism of
his court by various speakers in the
! recent campaign. At one time before
the election, Governor Capper stated
that he seriously considered directing
impeachment proceedings against Judge
Flannelly-
Governor Capper was in Washington
at the time of the FIannelly resigna-
ton. The judges action came as a
surprise to state officials and to prom
inent lawyers in Montgomery county
Activities in behalf of various candi-
dates delayed an appointment until to-
! day when Governor Capper issued a
/ certificate to Holdren.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
WHERE AMERICA STANDS
IN PEACE CONTROVERSY

President wilson's message to
belligerents was not a peace note"
but was sent in an effort to fore
stall what appeared to be an inn
pending break with Germany on
the submarine issue
1t was sent as a warning, not as
a peace overture.
The object of the administration
is first to keep this country out of
war. Bringing about peace in Eu-
rope is a secondary consideration,
predioated solely on the first OBJ
jective.
No more notes will be written
Germany on the submarine issue
The United States acted alone in
forwarding its recent message and
suggestions that Sweden, Switzer-
land or other neutrals were con-
suited is resented.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
CLASH ON BORDER
FiIibuStering Forces Cross Line
and Give Battle.
Kentucky Guards Fired on
Across Rio Grande.

Laredo Texas. Dec. 2S.-Two par
tics of fillibusters crossed the border
into Mexico near this city early Tues
day morning, it became known here
today. one of the parties engaged in
"a running fight with Carranza soldiers
from the Nuevo Laredo garrison, re-
sulting in the wounding of six fillibus-
ters and one soldier.
The wounded are in the military
hospital at NueVo Laredo.
one o. the fillibustering parties,
numbering about So men. is said to
have crossed the Rio Grande about
twenty miles below Laredo. The other.
miles above the city. They were
well mounted and equipped with sup
plies and ammunition.
Two detachment of Carranza troops
numbering about 200 each, were sent
in pursuit early yesterday. The small
or group was encountered about 20
miles inland and the running fight en-
sued.
An unconfirmed report has been re-
ceiVed here that six Carranza soldiers
We're killed in a running fight with
bandits six miles inland last night.
Kentucky Boys Shoot Back.
El Paso, Tex. Dec 2S.-Mexican
outposts in the bed of the Rio Grande
opened fire or Kentucky troops locat-
cording to reports reaching here. The
guardsmen returned the fire.
The firing awoke residents of El
Paso city and created considerable eX-
element, which was enhanced when
three explosions which sounded like
on the Mexican side of the river. 1t
was learned that these were caused by
molten Stag flowing over the wet
ground near Smelter.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
MackenSen Will Turn Rumania
Invaders Eastward.
TeutOns Now Occupy Seven
Eighths of Rumania.
ODESSA, RUSSIA, new GOAL
Capture 5000 More Russo
Rumanian Prisoners.
Take Rimnik-Sarat; Near the
Grain Stores at Braila.

London, Dec. 2S.-Attempt to in
wade Russian soil, north of Dobrudja,
or east of Moldavia. is the next devel'
opment in Field Marshal Won Mack
ensen's eastern offensive expected
here Advance of the Teutonic col
umns is being opposed in fierce fight
ing by the usso-Rumanian troops.
The German forces have lost heavily
in their northward advance and from
now on they will have even heavier
fighting cut out for them, as the
Russo Rumanian lines are now at
tanning their greatest strength thru
consolidation.
Very little doubt existed here today
in the minds of military experts that
Mackensen's objective was Odessa,
Russia. They recalled recent dis
patches from the eastern front, hint
ing that this was the point beyond
Bucharest at which the Teutons were
aiming.
Defenders Army Safe Here.
Almost seven-eighths of the entire
territory of Rumania is now in Ger
man hands. Moldavia alone remains
free from the invader. But here the
Russian and Rumanian line is safe
from the sort of military tactics by
which Won Mackensen and Won Hin
denburg achieved most of their sue
cesses in the Rumanian campaign
thanking operations. On the west, the
allied front is protected by the great
Car latham range and on the east the
rivers Danube and Pruth are safe
guards.
London now expects a stiffening of
the resistance along this Moldavian
line and a halt put to the German
advance. Capture of Rimnicu-S -Sarat,
announced last night, was not unex-
pected here.
French Set Off Giant Mines.
South of the Avre, German raiding
party was dispersed, the statement as
serted and in the region of Beau
vraignes. French forces successfully
exploded mines against German posi-
tions. The crater of one of these
CONTINUED on Page Two)
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
CLEAR SKIES PREVAIL
Nothing But Fine Winter Weather
Prevails Anywhere.

Temperatures today averaged de-
grees below normal. The wind is
blowing at the rate of five miles an
hour from the east.
Clear weather from Kansas to the
Pacific coast and to the Canadian bor-
der is reported today by the weather
bureau. Nothing is in sight for Kan
sas but fine winter weather with
somewhat lower temperatures. An
unsettled condition still prevails ir
the eastern United States but that IS
moving in another direction. A heavy
fog which settled over Topeka early
last evening still hung low this morn
ing with the wind too light to lift it.
The wind was expected to freshen this
afternoon and blow away the fog.
Fair and colder weather tonight and
Friday is forecast. Tonight the mer-
curry will drop to about degrees. ac-
cording to S. D. Flora, local weather
1Continued on Page Two.I
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
Only so of 400 on Board
Wrecked Jap Ship Survive.
Give Up Hope for Lost Ameri
can Vessel, Maryland.

Toxic. Dec. 2S.-Fifty survivors Of
the passengers and crew of the steam
er Sankahu Maru, which was wreck
ed off Chefoo, landed safely, accord
ing to dispatch from that city receiv-
ed today. The survivors included two
American passengers
A few Chinese passengers eSca ped
by boats to Dairen before the other
passengers left the Sankaku.
Fear for Other 400.
The fate of the remainder of the
400 passengers and crew who were
aboard the Sankaku when she went
aground is not made clear by the dis
patches 1t is feared, however, that
many may have frozen to death.
First dispatches yesterday stated
that there were 400 passengers and
crew aboard the Sankaku when she
went ashore. Today's advices account
for only fifty Americans and japanese
and "a few Chinese passengers"
This would leave the unaccounted
for approximately $50. Dispatches
from Toxic do not indicate clearly
express the fear that many may have
frozen to death.
Dairen, mentioned in the Toxic
cable, is believed to refer to Tairen.
across the Straits of Pechfli from
Cheefoo Tairen is short distance
enty-f1ve miles from Chefoo The
point where the Sankaku Maru went
aground is located in cables as "off
Chefoo," probably near one of the
Mao Tao islands, between Chefoo and
Port Arthur.
Steamer Sunk; Crew Saved.
Galveston, Tex, Dec. 2S.-The Brit
ish steamer Istrar, of the Bates Line
was Summarized in the Mediterranean
near the African coast, according to a
letter from one of the vessels officers
to a relative in Galveston
All of the crew was saved The
sinking of the IStrar has not been Of
ficially reported.
Slight Hope foG Crew of 80.
Nantucket, Dec 2s.-The steamship
Maryland was regarded as probably
lost today. Search for the vessel and
her crew by the coast guard cutters
AcuShnet and Gresham, which was
begun after the Maryland wireless
calls of distress were suddenly si1enced
Christmas night, was abandoned with
out developing any trace by either
Flotsam found by the cutters could
not be identified as being from the
Maryland. Hope for the steamers
thirty-odd men lies in the possibility.
that they were picked up from the
ships boat by passenger steamer.
Sunk for Assisting Enemy.
Berlin, Dec. 2S-(Via SayvilIe wire
1ess)-The Norwegian steamship DeIto
was sunk by the German naval au-
thorities because she was assisting
the enemy in a way contrary to neu-
trality, Germany explained in a s,De-
cial statement to American AnI,as-
sador Gerard today.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
CHICAGO CRIME WAVE
New Chief Faces Worst Conditions
Ever known i'm Big City.

Chicago, Dec. 2s.-When the sue
cessor to Chief of Police Healey steps
in New Years Eve, he will face the
problem of com batting a record of
crime which may not be equaled in
any city. Figures published today.
compiled by Thomas NJ. KiIbride. sec
retary of the state board of pardons,
show this crime record for Chicago.
A holdup every six hours
A murder every other day.
Two suicides a day.
An arrest every seven and one-ha1f
minutes.
Liquor, lust. gambling and bad
company are the most frequent causes
of crime, Kilbride says.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
HUNTING A HOME
Oklahoma Legislature May Be With.
out One Next Tuesday.

Oklahoma City. Okla, Dec. 2s.-Be-
lief that the legislature to convene
next Tuesday will find itself without
adequate quarters for it's meetings has
prompted the Chamber of Commerce
at Tulsa to offer the use of its big
auditorium for that purpose
Whether the legislature would con-
cur by two-thirds vote should the
government convoke the legislature at
Tulsa was the question being discuss
ed. Article 6. section IA of the consti-
tinnal
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
FRENCH AVIATOR
SHOOTS DOWN HIS
25TH AEROPLANE

Paris, Dec. 2S.-Sub-Leutenan
Guyenemer. Frances premier aviator,
has brought down his twenty-fifth
German aeroplane, today's official
statement asserted. The report de-
the western front. with aerial bonn
harding expeditions on Rompbaeh.
Diflingen. Briey and Hagondange.
Two French dirigibles. it was said,
bombarded factories at Neuekirchen.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
If Peace Plans Fail, Germany
Will Become Desperate.
To Avoid This, Wilson VIII
Push Peace Plans Hard.
but NO MORE NOTE WRITING
Will Cut Diplomatic Relations
if Violations EnSue.
Berlin Views Wilson's Peace
Efforts FavOrably.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-The fear that
if present peace negotiations fail this
nation then must clear its slate on the
submarine situation with Germany
grew apace today
But President Wilson intends to
push his peace work to the limit to
avoid possible subsequent unpleasant
ness with Germany. if possible.
Both President Wilson and Secre-
tary Lansing have decided to maintain
a discreet silence on this topic This
is due, it is believed, to the fact that
they do not wish to appear to be wear
ing a chip on the shoulder when peace
is being talked with even slight hope
of success.
Warning Has Been Issued.
There is no mistaking, officials be-
lieve that President Wilson's peace
notes to the belligerents and the two
subsequent explanations by Secre-
tary Lansing in effect constituted
warning against any unbridled acts of
war that would involve American
lives or rights. Since it has always
been this governments attitude that
violations which affect property are
not even to be compared to violations
which affect lives, the warning is gen.
orally interpreted as being directed.
therefore, chiefly against the central
powers, whose submarines have not
only destroyed and endangered Amer
lean lives. but have also destroyed
American property, admittedly in vio-
lation of all rules of humanity and
international warfare.
Puts Germany ..in Hole
Officials, however. are trying not
to overemphasize-. this.s-Rs they really
want to aid peace and have already
put the governments on record as not
considering any change in the neu-
trality policy at this time.
One authority. however. repeated
that there will be no more note writ
ing to Germany; and he indicated that
if Germany cuts loose with her sub
marines, following probable failure of
the peace negotiations then a break
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28

Washington, Dec. 2S.-The depart
ment of agriculture has just published
its first list of inspectors licensed to
inspect shelled corn under the United
States grain standards act. Adoption
of the official grain standards by
states, duties of inspectors and the ap-
plication of the various provisions of
the act under member of specific
conditions are discussed in the publica-
ton,
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
Come Back Home. sonny.

Chicago. Dec. 2S.-At the request of
the Bloomington. ILL.,. police. Donland
McElheney, II. a high school student
of Bloomington. was taken in charge
by the police here today With Paul
Daily of Bloomsaston he was on his
way to Detroit to look for work His
father. J. 8 McElheney, wants him
to come home.
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
TO UNITY CHURCHES
Branches of Methodist to Become One
Under Plan Drawn Up.

Baltimore. Md, Dec. 2S.-With
plans mapped out for it's procedure,
the joint commission on the unifica-
ton of the Methodist Episcopal
church, south, convened here today.
Before the conference. Bishop e.
Z. Hoss of the southern denomination,
said the southern branch had practi-
lily decided on a basis of agreement
for presentation to the joint body
The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-28
TRAIN WRECK KILLS 5
Passenger Train Runs Into Rear OF
Local Freight.

Montreal, Que. Dec. 2s.-Fiye men
were killed and six injured early to-
day in a rear-end collision when the
C. p. r. Toronto train for Montreal
ran into the local train from Cornwall
to St. Po1ycarpe.
Owing to a heavy fog it is supposed
the engineer of the train from Toronto
either failed to see the signals or mis-
read them.