davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

Clearing House Statement.-The act
usl condition of the New York Clear
ing House banks on Saturday was as
follows:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-31

"Ex dividend.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
Germany Willing to Comply Provided
Note Is Kept Secret.
Washin gtOn,

Washington, Dec. 10 Lloyd
Georges request for Germany's Off
cial peace terms will be answered by
Chancellor Won Bethmann-H -Hollweg on
condition that they Ike kept secret by
the government, was the opinion ex-
pressed in well informed German cir
cles here today
Teuton officials interviewed con-
slider Lloyd-GeOrge's statement a plain
indication England is willing to listen
to further negotiations.
Germany probably would have no
objection to defining the terms on
which she is willing to begin a peace
discussion" it was flatly declared
The opinion was expressed, how
ever, that both SIDES probably would
wish the terms kept secret until an
agreement was reached or the confer
ence proved a failure.
Altho Lloyd George mentioned re
paration and restoration as among
the allied peace terms, it was said his
failure to be specific on these points
was taken to lean that England did
not desire publicly to announce her
terms.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
HUSBAND IS HELD
Harry Gruber Mistreated Wife,
County Officers Hear.
Body of Dead Wife Held for
COrOner's Probe.

Harry Gruber was arrested just be-
fore noon today by Hugh Larimer, un-
dersheriff. and will be held while an
investigation is made into the circum
stances surrounding the death of Mrs.
Gruber Sunday night.
County officers have information to
the effect that the woman died from
mistreatment on Gruber's part; that
he kicked and beat her until she col
lapsed. The body is at the undertak-
ing establishment of Mat Brennon and
under orders from the sheriff's office.
1t will be held until the coroner. o. F.
Narcotic, has made an investigation.
No warrant has been sworn out for
Gruber. He is simply held in the
county Jail pending the investigation.
She Told Physician.
The Grubers lived at Third and
Madison, streets and that is where
GrubeT was arrested today. The in
formation in possession of the county
officers is to the effect that Gruber
kicked and beat the woman until it
was necessary to call in a physician
that she told the physician what
caused her wounds and Bruises and
that Gruber discharged him when he
learned she had told.
A neighbor woman told Hugh Lari-
mer that Mrs Gruber told her all that
and stated that Gruber told her if she
told anyone else about his beating her
he would do the job all over again. :"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
HELP THE POOR!

The weather prediction for tomor-
row brings to mind the duty confront-
ing the good people of Topeka in re-
spect to the city's poor and destitute.
L brings to mind, too, the approach
of the Christmas seq son und the rea1i-
zation that Santa Claus in all his glory
will not be able to pick out every home
where hopeful children await his call.
If the person of plenty" were able
witness the bitter disappointment of
Christmas morning - disappointment
that cuts even deeper to the child
that has been taught the lesson of
Christmas at schooi=there would be
fewer unhappy homes on that one joy
GUS day of the year.
Topeka maintains an institution to
take care of just such situations. It
is the Confidential Exchange" For
the Thanksgiving period the Ex-
change, thru Miss Mabel Adams. sec
retary. made it possible for 894 per-
sons to partake of the donated din
ners. For the Christmas season Miss
Adams is planning dinners and pres
ents-in fact anything that might be
offered.
Only few more days until Christ
mas. Let the people respond imme-
diately. Call Telephone 565. the Con-
fidential exchange.
The happiest person is he who
| makes Others happy.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
200 MEN ENTOMBED
Explosion in Indiana Mine Probably
Fatal to Many.

Terre Haute, Ind, Dec. 1.-two
men were reported dead and fully $50
injured as the result of a gas eXplo-
sion in the Oliphants John mine at
Bruceville, were reported dead. Doc
tors are still working On the men with
pulmotors, but it was said that hope
had been abandoned.
Vincennes. Ind, Dec. 19.-About
200 men were entombed in the Bruce
Vile mine nine miles from Vincennes
by an explosion -lortl. after 1 o'clock
this afternoon. An hour later only
ten men had been rescued, according
to reports received here.
All But 25 Rescued.
Terre Haute, Dec 19.-The local
offices of the United Mine Workers of
District No. IL received word that of
the 270 men who were in the Bruce
Vile mine at the time of the explo-
sion, all had been taken out but about
twenty-five. Many of them, it was
said, We're seriously burned. 1t was
said that the air machinery was work
ing and that it wae expected the men
caught in the mine would be kept
alive until rescued.
One of the mine owners at the mine
said at o'clock that al 1.-The men be-
low the surface but five had been
taken out alive and he fully expected
the remaining five miners to be res
cued. He declared the explosion was
not as serious as reported at first.
Many of the rescued men he said,
were injured, some of them being
burned seriously. The rescue work
is progressing rapidly, it was said.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
$50 Guardsmen Signed Protest
on Camp Conditions.
Sent Document to Ohio News
paper for Publication.
MOTIVE: WANT TO GO Home"
Petition Cites Death of Guards
man 'sThru Neglect"
Object to MOnotony With No
Chance for Battle.

Ell Paso, Tex, Dec. by orders
of General George Bell, jr, command
ing the eleventh army division here, a
vigorous investigation is under way to-
day to determine whether discipline
shall be administered to $50 guards
men of the Eighth Ohio national guard
infantry for signing n round robin
protest, addressed to an Ohio news
paper, against a further stay on the
border and against camp conditions
and food.
In official quarters it was stated that
the ringleaders or possibly all the
signers of the protest may be subject
to mild discipline. Until all the facts
are laid before General Bell, no ac-
ton will be taken.
Reports that Lieutenant S. J. Cole,
city clerk of Akron, o., and Robert
Dixon, private of Company G, were in
military custody were without founda-
ton and originated when Lieutenant
Cole was summoned to aid Colonel
Vollrath, commander of the Eighth
Ohio, in his investigation of the round
robin incident.
Intercept Copy at Pratt, Kan.
An original copy of the round
robin" with all signatures, is in pos
session of the military authorities to-
day. After it was mailed it was in
CONTINUED on Page Five1
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
BLIZZARD COMING! !
Much Colder Tonight With
Snow and Strong Wind.
Tomorrow Will Be Very I'm
pleasant, Flora Announces.

The cold wave started at o'clock
this afternoon when the mercury drop
ped to IS degrees. The high mark of
the day was 33 degrees shortly after
IL o'clock The wind is blowing at the
rate of twenty miles an hour from the
northwest. Temperatures averaged 4
degrees below normal
Late this afternoon S. d. Flora, local
weather observer, stated that the mer-
curry tonight will drop to 1e degrees
or lower.
The respite from wintry conditions
was short lived. and tonight will see
a decided reversion from the warm
weather of Monday night. Snow is on
the program for tonight or tomorrow
and much colder weather with fresh
to strong shifting winds will be here
tomorrow. The sky was cloudy here
this morning and conditions Were de-
cidedly unsettled. Temperatures were
moderate this morning. but it was un-
certain just what the mercury would
do before evening.
The forecast calls for probable snow
late tonight or Wednesday; colder to-
night; cold wave with fresh to strong
winds Wednesday. Fresh" wind ac-
cording to official terms is a wind of
from 25 to 80 miles an hour Tomor-
row will be decidedly unpleasant. S. ID.
Flora. local weather observer, stated
this morning. The cold weather this
time. contrary to custom is coming
from the northwest Extremely cold
weather prevailed this morning in
South Dakota, Minnesota and Can
ada. Moorehead. Mimi. reported a
temperature of 80 below zero while in
tContiuued on Page Two.I
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
Two Give Up 3 Days of Life to
Avoid Xmas Funeral.
ElectrOcutiOn at Sing Sing To-
day Was Set for Friday.
AGED PARENT dumb IN GRIEF
Pleads in Vain for Last Word
With Condemned Boy.
Millstein, 10, Youngest Prison
er to Get Death Sentence.

Ossining N. Y. Dec. 19.-Stanley
Millstein, 10, and Charles Kumrow,
20, gave up three days of life in which
something might have intervened to
save them, that they might spare
their families the sorrow of Christmas
funerals. and went calmly to their
deaths in the electric chair here at
dawn today.
Their execution was set for Friday.
They asked to be permitted to die to-
day.
Millstein was the youngest prisoner
ever sent to death in Sing Sing The
new warden, William II. Meyer. say
ing that it was his grim duty under
the law witnessed the executions
Former Warden Osborne and Former
Acting Warden Kirchwey always left
the prison on these occasions.
Father Waits From a. m.
Out in the prison office. unknown
to Kumrow,. his father sat from 8
o'clock in the morning until after his
sons electrocution. The elder Kum-
row had Travelled all day and all night
in day coach from Buffalo, in hope
of seeing his son before he died. This
privilege the prison authorities denied
him The old man sat silent among
the official witnesses. waiting in the
warden's office until the hour of the
electrocution. He watched them pass
out in single file behind the dapper
little executioner and the tall, white
haired keeper of the death house. His
eyes followed them out the door grim
Iy, but he said nothing. He was sit
ting in the same position they had left
him when the little group returned.
CONTINUED on Page Two)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
THE WATER SERVICE.

It is noted that the city commits
sioners have in mind to pass an ordi-
nance tomorrow that will throw the
repairing of all service water mains
upon the city in general instead of
course, installed the service originally
from'th main into his house.
1t is to be hoped that. before the
commission takes such unusual action,
it will weigh the matter carefully.
The State Journal announced a few
days ago that, owing to a surplus
which had accumulated in the water
fund, there would be a substantial re-
ductiOn in rates, effective January j.
This was estimated to be total reduc-
tion of about $S,OOO.OO. which is
welcome decrease in the water rates;
but, if the city has $4,000 additional
surplus as understood. why should it
take this $1,000 and assume an en-
tirely new obligation, an obligation
that would seem to be one of the
property owner.
If you and I put in careful, good
service connections from the water
main, why should we, as citizens, pay
for repairs for some service that has
not been put in properly or put in
cheaply? If a property owner can put
in any kind of anSo old service and then
throw the responsibility of making
that service good on the city after
leaks have developed. it is certainly
discouraging to the good, careful cit
/ izen.
1t will be noted that Commissioner
Newland. who has special charge of
the waterworks, and makes a study
| of that department, and who has rec
commended the reduction in rates. has
also opposed the proposition that the
city in general should take this $4,000
of additional surplus and go into the
new business of repairing service
pipes.
! The State Journal is only anxious
to see that what is best for the peopIa
in general be done, and from the data
at hand. it believes that the commits
sioners would make a mistake in un-
dertaking to maintain service connec-
tions. 1t certainly invites the commits
sioners to use all of their wisdom and
faculties to do the right thing in this
connection.
Let us make this $4,000 available for
still further reduction in the water
, service. 1t will help out the H. c.
of L.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
TO CLYDE FINK
Assistant Paymaster Will Succeed w.
c. f. Reichenbach.

After thirty-seven years in the office
of the paymaster, of the Santa Fe,
thirty-five and a half years as assist
ant and the remainder of the time as
paymaster, w. c. f. Reichenbach will
resign to go on the Santa Fe pension
list January 1. He will be succeeded
it is stated, by Clyde Fink, now assist
ant paymaster. Announcement of the
appointment of F'ink's successor has
not been made.
Reichenbach entered the paymas-
ters department in Topeka, in the
days when the employees were paid in
cash, from the old-fashioned '+forti-
fed car in which the men were arm
ed at all times against robbery Now
the payments are all made by check
Clyde Fink came to Topeka a com
paratively short time ago from the
cashiers department at Chicago His
brother, Homer B. Fink, is cashier at
Topeka
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
RUMAN|A-RUSS
TROOPS AGAIN
FLEE GERMANS
Teutons Capture 1000 Men and
War Supplies.
Seize Vehicles Carrying Beaten
Army's RatiOns.
FRENCH GAIN BEFORE vERDUN
Berlin Report Says Enemy
Holds ChambretteS.
Vigorous Fighting on SOmme
Front and at Rheims.
FRENCH GAIN BEFORE VERDUN
Vigorous Fighting on SOmme
Front and at Rheims.

Berlin, Dec. 10. (via Sayville) =
More than one thousand Russian and
Rumanian prisoners were captured IN
partial engagements of Field Marshal
Won Mackensen's forces in Rumania
during the last two days, today's Off
cial statement asserted.
Many vehicles most of them laden
with food supplies were also captured
Continued northward retreat of
Russian forces in DoDrudja was re-
ported. The retreat is beyond the
Tow to fortified positions.
The German army is advancing
again along the lower Danube.
Berlin. Dec 19 (via Sayville Wire
fire and hand to hand fighting French
forces around the Chambrettes (Ver-
dun sector) maintained their place in
front of German positions today's Off
cial statement said. At all other
places along the front the attacks were
reDulsed.
"On the east bank of the Meuse in
the afternoon the fire engagement in
creased the statement said. French
forces attacked in Fosses wood. ,.
Chambrettes they were lying before
our positions which after hand to
hand fighting remained in their hands.
At all other places on the front of at
tack we repulsed Them
Artillery Battle Along Somme.
Berlin, Dec. 19.-(Via Sayville Wire
less)-Repulse of French advances
north of Rheims, attempted after
heavy artillery preparation was de-
Artillery and mine throwing engage
ments temporarily increased to a fire
of considerable livelineSs on both
banks of the Somme.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
New Plan Advanced for Settling
Earnings Row.
Cost Would Be Charged to In
debtedness to City.
DO AWAY WITH OLD PLANT
Bond Issue for Repairs Soon
Needed, Says Tandy.
Utilities Board May Be Asked
for Railway Valuation.

Commissioner Tandy today unfold
ed to Mayor House and Commissioner
Porter a proposition he would place
before the Topeka Edison company
which. he believes. would once and
forever settle the quarrel over the
amount of the company's earnings due
the city of Topeka. Not only does the
commissioner desire the consent of the
city commission but also would like TO
hear an expression from the citizens
before he puts the proposition up 10
the Topeka Edison company.
Tandy would place the municipal
light plant in the discard and enter
into a contract with the Topeka Edi-
son company to supply the city with
electricity for street lights, the city
hall and police station and any other
municipal holdings the city might ac-
quire For furnishing this electricity.
Tandy would tender in payment what
ever the city's share of the company's
earnings might aggregate.
Figures to Back Him.
The commissioner had figures this
morning to show that the cost OK
operating the municipal light plant
was much in excess of the earnings
due yearly to the city from the Topeka
Edison company, according to the
Cation report Yet, he feels that the
company would be pleased to supply
the electricity rather than dig down in
its pockets and pay out from $4,000 to
$1,000 in cash each year, the amounts
Cation claimed due in the last few
years.
LAS the business of the light COM
pany would grow so would the amount
of street lighting increase and also the
number of municipal holdings" said
Mr.. Tandy. '1t is as broad as it is
long from any angle you care to take"
Other Arguments.
| Tandy declares it is only question
of time until new equipment must be
furnished for the municipal plant un-
til it will be removed to the water
works and a bond issue for extensiva
repairs voted upon. Then, IL the city
desires to enter into the municipal
| can start with an entire new plant or
acquire the Edison plant without the
municipal plant being taken into con-
sideration. says Tandy. The upkeeD
of the citys lights would continue to
be maintained by the city under Tam
days plan.
Looks Good" Says House.
at certainly looks good" said May
or House, but it'll start a big row.
Yet, L am willing to see it proposed
| to the public and ascertain what the
public's views are on the proposition
Commissioner Porter also expressed
] his willingness to bring the proposition
before the public
None of the commissioners feared
that court action would be necessary
| to arrive at an agreement with A. NJ.
Patten, head of the Topeka Edison
I Continued on Page TwoJ
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
William Eckert Says His Dwell
ing Was Damaged.
House Used by Spoilers Hunt
ing Immoral Women.
LIQUOR KEPT IN The ROOMS
Plaintiff Says Women of Du-
bOius Character There.
A "Mr. and Mrs. Lewis" Were
Brought From X. c.

Suit was filed in the district court
this afternoon by William Eckert
against A. ]. Lewis, Mrs. A. J. Lewis
and Mayor Jay E. House for $2,5Oo
damages. He alleges that the defen-
dants named in the petition damaged
a dwelling house of the plaintiff to
that extent last summer when Lewis
and Mrs. Lewis were employed by the
city Of Topeka as spoilers to gain eVl-
dence against law breakers.
Eckert alleges in lis petition that
the value of the house was damaged
by the fact that liquor was kept N
the house while Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
occupied it and also that women OF d
dubious character were housed there.
Mayor House is made a party to the
suit for the reason that Mr.. and Mrs.
Lewis were employed by him, repre-
senting the city. Mr.. and Mrs Lewis
are said to have rented the house fur
nished and the owner alleges that they
not only damaged its contents but be-
cause of the character of the people
entertained there, damaged the repu-
tation of the place.
Kept Girls There.
Last summer two Kansas City
girls, Irma Wilson and Boone Walker.
were arrested by the police at local
cafe in company with Lewis. They
were used as witnesses in a suit
brought against Mary Chesney, testi-
fying that they spent week-about at
her house and paid her a part of
their earnings. While waiting for the
preliminary hearing the girls were
kept at the home of Mr. and Mrs
Lewis, the place mentioned in the
damage suit brought today. They
testified on the stand that they were
dubious characters such as are re-
ferred to in today's petition.
Mr.. Eckert filed a claim with the
city recently for alleged damages done
to his house by the Lewis couple but
the claim was turned down.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
ODDS ON VETS
give to Two" Drys VIII Be
Defeated in Boston.
Rush to Polls Indicates Largest
Vote Ever Cast.

Boston, Dec. 19.-Boston is today
deciding the question of prohibition,
while the whole country looks on,
watching to see if the growing tide of
sentiment which has swept the nation
will engulf the Hub.
After the most momentous cam
paigu on the liquor license question
this city has ever known, after weeks
of effort on the part of Billy Sunday
and many prominent citizens on be-
half of prohibition and bitter antagon-
ism from the liquor forces thruout the
city, Boston's population went to the
polls today to finally decide whether
the city shall be wet or dry in
1917.
An early crush at the polls in all
parts of the city, presaged the greatest
vote the, city has ever known. Long
before 8 O'Clock thousands of votes
had been cast.
Betting odds today stood at five to
two that the city would stay wet
Billy Sunday has led the fight for
the prohibitionist forces. Filling his
huge tabernacle night after night with
thousands of voters, the crusade re-
vivaliSt has been relentless in his at
tacks on king alcohol"
The no-license forces have un-
doubtedly stood in a march on the
enemy and surprised the liquor inter-
ests by the scope of their campaign.
House to house canvassing has been
tried for the first time.
Thousands of dollars have been
spent by the license adherents in their
efforts to offset the admittedly tre-
mendous influence of the Sunday cam
paign.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-19
VIII Begin to Entrain 10000
Within Three Days.
Second in Twelve Days, Third
Group January z to 8.
KANSANS ARE IN THIRD GROUP
SunflOwer Signal Corps Com
pany A at Camp Wilson.
Various Units To Be Mustered
Out at 8 Stations.

San Antonio, Tex, Dec. 19.-Na-
tional guardsmen on the Mexican bor-
der will be reduced to $4,000 by the
departure of 16,0 900 more state troops
for their home stations within few
weeks. The various militia units to be
mustered out are located in eight diff
ferent stations and will be moved in
three groups.
The first group will begin entraining
within three days; the second within
tween January Z and 9. The groups
are divided as follows:
GROUP ONE:
Pennsylvania, stationed at Ell Paso:
Sixteenth infantry, one brigade head
quarters, division headquarters, signal
battalion.
Indiana. stationed at Llano Grande:
Company A, signal corps. ambulance
company number 1, First battalion
field artillery, less Battery B.
Missouri, stationed AT Laredo: Troop
b, field hospital No. 1, ambulance
company No. 1.
Maryland, stationed at Eagle Pass:
Field hospital No. 1, ambulance COM
pany No. 1.
Nebraska, stationed at LlGno Grande:
Fourth infantry.
Illinois, stationed at Camp Wilson
Company A, signal corps.
Iowa, stationed at Llano Grande:
Company A. engineers.
New York. stationed at McAllen:
fContinuad or PAGE Two