davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
GUARDSMAN LOCKED UP
German ReservIst Refuses to Fight
Against Teutons.

BALTIMORE, April 12.-Peter Es-
ser. German reservist, twenty-six years
old, is a prisoner in the guard house
at Fort Howard. He Is a member OF
the Fourth Regiment, Maryland Ma
tionaI Guard, but will not hght for
the United States. Esser is about as
popular as the plague among his COM
rades in the guardhouse. II was saio
last night.
Esser was born in Rhineland, Ger
many, and has been in this country
nearly four years. He served two
years in the German army and has
three brothers in Germany. two of
whom he believes to be in the Kaiser >
army
He nrst enlisted with the Coast
Guard here, and after a discharge
with good character. he enlisted in
Company c of the Fourth Regiment,
and with that organization went to
the Mexican border. He says that he
was told that at the end of service
there he would be given q discharge.
Prior to this he had taken out his first
papers, and declared his intention of
becoming an American citizen.
After Che return OF the regiment
from Texas, Esser went to work here
lization order officers of the regiment
declare that he was Motif to report
for duty. This Esser denies, but
states he would not have reported, as
he knew the call meant service
against Germany, and, possibly. u
hight against his relatives and friends.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
FLAGS SHREDDED BY WINDS
Big Banners Discovered. to Have
Been Torn by Hlah Gales.

NEW YORK, April 12-High winds
and unremitting patriotism came near
to causing a flag famine" in many
of tho large hotels of the city yester-
day. The Waldorf uses thirty large
flags and several smaller ones Pat
rick Sheridan, head houseman, has
abandoned his other duties to devote
ali his time to the work OF color
sergeant. Since the declaration OF
war, he has begun each day by run
ming up the colors on the roof flag
staffs and breaking them out on the
poles over the several entrances.
No sooner does Sheridan adorn the
outside of the hotel than he begins
to fill requests for flag decorations
in every room where meetings, din
ners, and dances are to be held. No
organization will consent TO meet
without having an American flag
hung in the most conspicuous place OF
the meeting room. In addaition to
his other labors yesterday, the head
houseman set to work repairing his
stock OF emblems. He found that
five OF the flags, measuring fifteen
by twenty feet, had been whipped to
pieces by the winds and were unfit
for further display. A hurry order
was sent. to flag dealers and the en-
tire stock of small flags was put in
use until the new large ones arrived.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
Buying Power of Cotton.

It is an ingenious argument-and
Important II true-which a prominent
cotton house puts forth in assertion OF
its belief that prices should go higher
with a sharp pencil and plenty ot
white paper it has figured out that
cotton, now at 20 cents, has less buy
ing power than the normal 12ia cent
price before the war. In prices oi
commodities It figures cotton at %
cents as worth 10 7-16 cents a pound
in hay, 1O& cents in corn, 10 cents ir
cotton cloth. 91-16 cents in lard. SA
cents in shoes, 6A cents in potatoes
81 cents in flour. 8 cents In wheat
and cents in wool. According tC
this method OF calculation the agri
cultural battle cry OF "2O-cent cot
ton" which has been raging below
the Mason and Dixon line for a life
time, will have to be amended to read
"3O-cent cotton" to make the down
trodden grower of the staple at Least
break even.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
SUBMARINE BIDS HIGH
But Navy Department May Pay for
Early Construction.

Although some Of the bids for the
construction Of twenty-eight So-ton
submarines opened by Secretary Dan
iels yesterday are higher than the au-
thorized cost. It Is probable that the
Government viii pay the excess In con-
sideration of the rushing of the work.
The bids. which exceeded the allow
ance per boat, also contemplated the
completion OF construction in several
months shorter time than usual The
navy wants submarines as quickly as
they can be had. and Is willing TO pay
for top speed in turning them out
The Electric Boat Company proposed
to build eighteen submarines in from
sixteen to twenty-six months at cost
Of. S1,524, 900 for each boat built on the
Atlantic coast and sl.5s2.00o for those
built on the Pacific coast. or to con-
plus Is per cent profit
The California Shipbuilding Company
Of Long Beach, Cal. and the Lake Tor
pedo Boat Company Of Bridgeport.
Conn, proposed to build from four TO
eight submarines each In twenty-four
to thirty-two months at prices ranging
from s, ,2SS. 900 to 81 .2e9. 900.
Bids for the construction Of a total Of
thirty-four submarines were submitted.
although Congress has authorized only
thirty-eight. and ten OF these have been
allotted to the Portsmouth. N. H. navy
yard.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
THELOCAL MARKET
CAPITAL TRACTION STOCK
TOUCHES NEW LOW.
40 Shares Change Hands at
80 and 79 3-4, After Which
Bid Drops to 7e-Gas Light
Company Announces Quarter
Iy Dividend of $1.2o-Bond
Sales Light.

Capital Traction stock was traded
in more extensively at today's session
OF the Washington Stock Exchange
than for some time past, and sold
down to a new low for the year at
79%. In all, 11o shares changed
hands, sixty going at so, the
same figure at which the stock sold
yesterday, and this being followed by
two quotation lots at TON. The stock
continued to be offered at TON after
this business had been recorded, with
10 the best bid.
Washington Gas was the only other
stock traded in, sale OF one quotation
lot being made at 70. Directors of
the Washington Gas Light Company
today announced the quarterly divi-
dend OF $1.20 q share, payable May
to stock of record April IA Transfer
books will not be closed.
Bond sales were light, and with the
exception of American Graphophone
SIS, showed no Improvement over
prices prevailing during the last two
days, Sales OF small Graphophone SIS
aggregating $1,lO0 worth were made
at par, and after call three $1,000
bonds brought 10ok, which is a gain
of q quarter OF q point over ysster-
days sale price, A 81 900 Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company 8
brought 103. Potomac 1st 5 sold at
the same figure, and after call q 81 900
Railway 4 sold at 79%.
II. Parker Willis, secretary to the
Federal Reserve Board, is to address
the Washington Chapter OF the Amer
lean Institute OF Banking, in the chap
ter rooms tonight, on Foreign Ex-
change"
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
THE COTTON MARKET
Prices Ease on Somewhat In Early
Trading.

NEW YORK, April 12.-Prioes were
barely steady at the opening, May
selling at 2o.35, UP 8, and July 1s.s5.
down s points. and both months
worked to 0 points lower in
the first ten minutes. The distant po-
sitions were down to up 2 points.
and showed some irregularity. oc-
tober opened at 1854, and later ad-
vanced points. and December
opened at 1873 and eased off 8
points, while January and March were
steady at 1878 and 1890, respectively.
Rains fell in various parts Of the
Western belt last night, including
Texas and Oklahoma, where quite pro-
tracted rainstorms prevailed. The
weather report received today shows
clear weather In the eastern part OF
the cotton area and cloudy and rainy
in the western, with temperatures
ranging from 46 at Abilene to 6a at
Jacksonville.
Liverpool was not as high as due,
and futures opened easier, II to "a
points off. Prices OF spots were
easier, off Is points. at 1898. Sales
totaled 5000 bales. OF which $500
were American, and receipts 200, all
American.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.

Wisconsin Avenue Park and Ecking.
ton-Charles f. Wire, Inc, to Mary
Raurman: lot 81, square 1897; lots
80, 40, and Al, block 8, lexington.
$40.
Mary Baurman conveys same prop
erty to Charles f. Wire and Will
liam NJ. Terrell, $40.
Efhngham place-Mary r. MacAdam
to D. II. MacAdam; part lot 8, block
81, so.
F street southwest. between Third
and Four-and-a-half streets-James
A. Toomey, ct ux., TO Zion Baptist
Church, lots 80 and "a, square 53S,
SO.
Sixteenth and East Capitol streets
northeast-Harrison A. Benner TO
Franklin F. Fletcher. lot 30. square
1884, SO: Franklin f. Fletcher con-
veys same property to Jennie
Gould. so.
EsIIn estate-Carl II. Smith. ct ux., to
Paul r. and Dena NJ. Huettner, part
lot ia, SO.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
VETERANS TO HAVE
TENT HOSPITALS
Colonel Harper Announces
Emergency Plans for Con-
federate Reunion.

Emergency hospitals will be estab-
lished in tents on the plaza In front
of the Union Station during the Con
federate encampment, Col Robert NJ
Harper. reunion chairman, announced
today. Nurses from. the District Red
Cross headquarters will be in charge
In case any OF the old soldiers became
Ill, physicians under the direction OF
the committee Of medical men that
served during the inaugural will at
tend them.
Colonel Harper again visited the
War Department this morning TO con
fer with officials regarding the hos
pltal supplies.
present indications point to the at
tendance OF between 1900 and $4,000
veterans" said Colonel Harper this
morning.
''The railroads have agreed to grant
2-cent-a-mile rate, plus 25 cents for
the round trip. This ought to bring
many thousands Of visitors to the
city,
More Contributions Made.
Contributions to the fund for the
Confederate reunion not heretofore
given, were announced by Chairman
II. F. Cary today as follows: w. @.
Brantley, S26: Brunswick -Balke-Col-
lender Company, New York, S26; Bur
lington Hotel, $50; Paul q. Brock, IS:
Crane Gilpin & Co, IS; Cosmos Thea
ter Company, 500; H. NJ. Crandall,
S25: John II. Cowles, $40; Cudahy
Packing Company, Chicago, 500; DR..
Charles Read Collins, $40; Clephans
& Clephane, $40; William r. Day,
$40; H. Dingman, IS; II. w. Fisher 4
Son, $40; N. X Fairbanks Company
Chicago. 800; II. H. Ferguson, 50;
Julius Garhnkle & Co., $50; Gordon
Hotel, 500; Ernst Gerstenberg, SIS;
GUIDE & Bro, 500; ]. J. Georges &
Son, So; NJ. Goldenberg & Co., $3.50;
Hecht & Co., 500: W. J. Humphreys,
IS: House a Hermann, $50; Hamilton
Hotel, S25; George NJ. Kober, $40;
Ringan & Co., Richmond, Va, $50; s.
Kann 4 Co., $3.50; Leet Brothers, So;
La Fayette Hotel, S25; BENJAMIN Nun
roe, 81; Harris & Ewing, $40; Hudson
Hotel, $25; John H Holt, S5; Hugh
L. LeCare, $25; Metropolitan Hotel,
$50; d. ]. O'ConneIl, SO; Interstate
Amusement Company palace Thea
teri 400; T. H. johnson, So; r. Wal
ton Moore, SO; McKenney & Flannery,
SO: H. J. Nichols, 81: John ]. Noonan,
$40; Herbert Putnam, s5; Philip S.
Roy, $40; DR.. William C. Rives, IS;
B. NJ. Randolph, IS; Remington Type
writer Company, $50; George c. Stew
art, S5: +. II. Smith Company, $40:
Stoneleigh Court, SIS; Edward +.
Schmid, IS; Guy 7. Scott, $50; Mary
@. Talcott, IS; Shoemaker Company,
$3.50; weever Brothers, SO: George
Y. worthington, So; Woodward q
Lothrop, $3.50; DR.. George Tulley
Vaughan. $40; Corooran Thorn, $25.
On Hotel Cofnmittee.
Colonel Harper announced the ap
pointment of the following subcom-
mittee on hotel accommodations to-
day:
Townley A. Mckee, chairman;
George c. Bowie, Postmaster N. o
Chance, George G. Cornwell, c. A
Douglas, w. K Evans, F. r. FEavel
c. c. Glover, jr., Louis Hartig, Con-
gresham b. Howry, II. r. Howser
]. Leo Kolb, Robert McMurry, Charles
S. Muir, A. K. Phillips, w. w. Spaid
and 8. R Waters.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
VIII Help London Market.

London advices to New York bank
ing houses express cordial apprecia-
tion of the proposed financing here
for the account of the allies and in
innate that the operation will serve
materially to ameliorate money con-
ditions in the British market and
render unnecessary further requisition
of foreign held American securities
for exchange purposes Exchange
market rates between New York and
London have improved substantially
In the last few days in favor of the
latter center and some observers of
international exchange believe that
with the present favorable progress
of the war and the aggressive part
which the United States is expected
to play in the fight against the Teu-
tons sterling rates will enjoy a fur
ther advance, although the normal
parity Is not looked for.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
WALL ST. MARKET
STOCKS GENERALLY MAKE
GAINS AT OPENING.
Mexican Petroleum Forms Ex-
ception to General Upward
Tendency by Selling Down to
IS 1-2-4,ooo Shares U. S.
Steel Change Hands at
III ga and 7-8-Union Pa
cific Up.

NEW YORK, April 12-opening
gains again were the order on the
stock exchange today, Mexican Pc
troleum furnishing an exception to
the general tendency by selling down
one at ssh.
Four thousand shares Of United
States Steel were traded at the open
ing at 1I1% and x, up q and "a.
Union Pacific sold up y, Republic
Steel 1, American Shelters 1, and
Crucible x.
Wall Street had a quiet and perfume
tory stock exchange session today in
which prices moved upward but buying
was Of small proportions so far as out
side traders were concerned ana gains
were largely due to short coverings. In
the early afternoon the active issues
ranged from one to two points higher
Marine preferred and common were
purchased activity and these stocks
rose in excess Of two points. The pub
Iication Of remarkable earnings for the
Atlantic Gulf and West Indies turned
speculative attention toward shipping
shares. Atlantic Gulf responded to the
dInudl EcpOIl WIN 80 @N'~---~N - -
ly three points.
Steel shares were in sufficient de-
mand to mark prices up point or SO
above yesterdays close. Sloss-Shef-
field exhibited a more confident tone
recovering a point while Lackawanna
Steel rose two points. Mexican re-
troleum was sold on the fear OF an
embargo on oil shipments from Mex
leo. The railroad department did
fairly well, but was quiet and feature
less. Coppers strengthed.
Peace rumors pervaded commission
houses, but were not taken very seri-
ously.
TOday's Quotations.
Quotations today UP to 1:S0 o'clock
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
Rails Under But Little Pressure.

With one or two exceptions In the
list-those confined to anthracite car
riers-operators in rail stocks are
fearful OF staying short any great
length OF time. As a consequence the
rails have been under much less
pressure in the last few days than at
any other time In year. The de-
cision of the Interstate Commerce
Commission on the rate advance may
be an overnight one. The fact stands
out prominently that these are war
times, that red tape Is likely to be cut
quickly away, and that when the In
terstate Commerce Commission finally
makes up its mind to act it will do so
with quickness and decisiveness.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
ONE MAN KILLED In
BLAST AT ARSENAL
Explosion at Frankfort Yard
Said to Have Been Purely
Accidental.

PHILADELPHIA. April I2-oas
man was killed and one injured N
an explosion in the high explosive
building Of the Frankford arsenal
late last night.
Philip McNally, an smploys In the
high explosives building. was the
man instantly killed Joseph Miller.
another employe. was badly injured.
and probably will die.
: "Purely accidental" was the cause
attributed for the accident by Major
Joseph H Pelot an officer at The
arsenal
Conclusive evidences has been found,
he said, that shows the accident was
cGused By the careless removal Of
timer from Q ahell fuse
A number Of other employees work
ing In the same building escaped m
injured.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
WAR LEGISLATION
Is BEING PUSHED
House Committee on Naval A.
fairs Puts Six Bills on
Calendar.

The amount Of legislation ahead
OF Congress in war times Il shown BY
the fact that one House COMMITTEES
placed on the calendar today SIX
measures relating to national defense
and war plans while several other
committees are rushing emergency
bills for report The House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, which probably
will consider more than q dozen war
bills before the session epds, acted
favorably Of six measures. They are:
One Is q bill authorizing the Pres
ident to commander all ships, boats
and other water craft for the use Of
the Government" In time ~ war or
national emergency. This bill Is suf-
ficisntly broad to permit the taking
over OF anything from q PoImac
river launch 70 q merchant liners.
Another permits the assignment Of
members OF the Fleet Naval Reserve
to shore duty a. well a. "on board
ship" The present law restricts such
reservists to ship duties and the
Navy Department urged the change
in order that the reservists, who, may
be well acquainted In their respective
communities, may be used ~ recruit
ing officers.
A bill providing that youths who
enter upon minority enlistments" In
the navy may be allowed to re-enlist
for . period Of one year or more II
among the number. The present law
prevents re-enlistment Of such minors
unless they shall agree to serve four
years on entering the navy 1t their
maturity.
Another provides that during the
period OF the war the Navy Depart
ment may assign such officers as
may be necessary" to the Hydrogra-
phic Onice. At present not more than
four officers may be 80 assigned.
A bill TO increase the number Of
midshipmen at the Naval Academy
by granting each member Of Congress
an additional appointee ID on the list.
This gives each Senator, Congress
man and delegate In Congress the
privilege Of having four sppointsss,
instead Of three. at the Naval
Academy.
Another bill increases the age limit
for persons appointed as officers In
the naval reserve. Under existing law
the maximum age for such appoint
Department, desiring to utilize the
services of seafaring men between
that age and nfty, recommends legis-
lstion that nfty years befthe age limit
for naval reserve officers.
In bestowing upon the President au-
thority TO commander ships the House
committee has followed the example
set In the naval appropriation bill.
which authorised the taking over of
munitions factories In time OF war.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
SEIZE CARLOAD OF "roNIc."

SEATTLE, Wash, April IA car.
load Of bottled goods manufactured
in St. Paul was seized at a railroad
terminal recently by the police dry
squad. The shipment was consigned
to a wholesale drug Arm here, and
consisted OF I3O barrels, each contain
ing 100 twelve-ounce bottles OF
tonic" The police say the stun con,
tains 10 per cent Of alcohol: that this
is the third carload of the "tonic"
that has arrived in Seattle during the
present month. The barrels were
conveyed to the police station
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
Demand for Steel.

Filling the immediate requirements
Of the United States Government does
not appear formidable to the Iron
Age. considering the present output
ingots q year. But the demand upon
iron and steel works directly and in
directly due to the billions of dollars
the Government and its allies will
spend with American manufacturers
in the coming year point to the fullest
employment of capacity" says this
trade Journal The question of in
creasing output is largely one of
coke. and the coke problem is a real
one"
The Washington times., 1917-04-12

Paul Warburg, of the Federal Re-
serve Board, believes that the Federal
reserve banks may play a most i'm
portant part in facilitating the par
ticipation Of all sections of the coun-
try In war financing by feceiving the
payments for subscriptions for new
Government bonds and adjusting any
drastic dislocation OF funds which
might arise through the operations
incident to heavy payments by the
banks to the Treasury. Mr.. Warburg
says that through the establishment
Of the Federal reserve system enor-
nous financial strength has been or.
ganized. He adds:
1--WE have brought into effective
coordination a large portion of the
country's banking reserves. We have
regulated and brought about q gen.
eral understanding of modern meth
DDS OF .rediscounting. We have ere,
ated a new wide market for bankers
acceptances, so that our member
banks now have an easy means of re-
course to the Federal reserve banks
in case they wish to replenish their
reserves. We have available a vast
supply OF notes OF undoubted solidity
ready to be issued whenever there
may be demand. and through the In
terdistrict gold clearing fund we
have established machinery for the
freest exchange of balances between
the various parts Of the country. Not
by any stretch of the Imagination
could we any longer perceive the pos
sibiiity of q gold premium between
the various American centers, or q
currency famine, as in years gone
by"
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
TODAY'S SALES.

Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
SIS, $l,0O04103.
American Graphophone SIS, 5000
100 tsmalll, S5006100.
Capital Traction, 306S0, 1880,
$3.50, $3.50. $3.50, 2697e%, 26979&.
Washington Gas, 25473-
After call:
Washington Railway and Electric
As, 81, S1,0o0679%.
American Graphophone 6's, $1,000
100, $3,000G100A.
Potomac Electric 6's, S1,OoOG1O3.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
ARRESTED IN NEGRO PLOT
Welsh Evangelist With German Ae.
cent Held In Dallas.

DALLAS. Tex. April 12-Charges Of
treason and melting to rebellion have
been filed against John Monroe John
son, who says he Is q Scotch-Welsh
evangelist
johnson, who talks with Teutonic
accent. was arrested last night while
addressing q crowd Of negroes. Fed
eral agents learned he had been holding
secret meetings In q negro church. sx-
horting negroes to use their divine
right and rise against the whites Sew
eral negroes are alleged TO have told
secret agents that johnson asked them
tn 20 To Mextco and tnin a "Gerraan
army"
An agent said Johnson's description
tailed with that Of o man the entire
Secret Service has been after for three
months. who Is believed to be an active
worker in q German plot to foment q
negro revolt
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
NEWS FOR INVESTORS
wsoIen Company Breaking Records.

WeoIen Company Breaking Rseords'
Unfilled orders OF American Woolen
Company at the close of business
March 81 are reported to have been
In excess of $6s,o00, 900, the largest
aggregate of forward business In the
company's history. The volume Of
business which has been pressing
upon the company for weeks Is unpre-
cedented, far overshadowing the 1909
boom and eclipsing the wonderful
record OF last year.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
Burn. Bros. Announce Dividend..

Burns Bros. have declared the regu-
lar quarterly dividend of 1E per
cent on the preferred stock, payable
May 1 to stock of record April 20, and
a quarterly dividend Of 1h per cent
on the common stock, increasing the
cent, payable May 81 to stock OF
record May 81; also a stock dividend
OF ono share to each 100 shares of
common held On May II, to be deliver
ed May 81.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
PAYs For SUBSTITUTE.

CHICAGO. April IA b Hall
wealthy attorney, who said he was
"too old and fat to enlist 10 paying
$50 a month 10 the family Of . young
man who took his plaes In the -first
line Of dsfensss' by snlistins I'd the
navy.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12

selling eX-dIVIdend7-Geherb MO
tors, 3; General Motors, pfd., Ia;
Pitt Coal pfd, ctfs, rs; New Stock
admitted to the Exchange-The West
ern Pacific R R. to Wabash Pitt
Terminal
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
THELOCAL MARKET
GOVERNMENT BONDS.
GAS BONDS.
RAILROAD BONDS.

Geo. Gas Cert. Ind. 5's.. 10I -.
Georgetown Gas 6's. s..... 104h 106
Washington Gas 5's..... 104l5 106
The Washington times., 1917-04-12

Capital Traction r. r. SIS 104k 1o5
Ana Pot. Guar. SIS go. sS 80.
Anacostia & Poto. 5's.. 96h 80.
City & Suburban 5's.... f6e 80.
Metropolitan r r. 5's.. 104 49,.
Wash. Ry. & Flee. 4s..' 79A so
Wash. BALTIC. & An. 6's.. so 80.
The Washington times., 1917-04-12
Today.a QuotatIona.

Quotations today UP to 1:3o o'clock
were as follows:
The Washington times., 1917-04-12

Sales up to IL q m........ 1s3,600
sales up TO - noon. ....... 329, ZOO
Sales up to / D. m..,....... 42l 400