The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-01
AUBURN QUINTET IS
 IN FINE SHAPE FOR
 FINAL ROAD TRIP
Coach Donahue and Eight Men Leave for Farewell TOur-Team Is Much
 Stronger

Stronger
 Tiger quintet is now preparing to take it's farewell tour for the present season. They expect to make a better showing on this trip than on the previous ones for they are now in the best condition they have been in this season. They showed by their decisive victory over Marion last Friday night that they had passed the training season which has been the handicap so far. The fact that practically every team that they have gone against this season has had a month, and in some cases two months more training than they have, has count ed heavily against them. Now that they have just about reached the top-notch stage of their training means that the opponents of the future are going to have their hands full when they take on the aggregation from the Plains.
 The passing and shooting have shown 100 per cent improvement in the last two weeks, and above all the team work has shown it's share of improvement and is rapidly reaching a stage of perfection. Practically all the ragged edges that were shown in the early games have been worn off and the smooth working ma chine has taken it's place.
 Captain Floyd at forward should maNe a record for himself on this trip, for in practice he, has been dropping them in from all angles. Wallace Hall, the other fashy little forward, has gotten his eye on the basket. It is going to be tough luck for the guard who lets him get a chance. At center, Bridges, the tall freshman, is showing a lot of inn provement in working the ball up the floor, and his shooting is as good as ever. The star and bulwark of the de- fense is Charley Jones, and his ability is well known. He will have a running mate in Johnny Hudson, who is also a nifty performer.
 Of the eight men making the trip there will be three Birmingham boys the squad. Red Jones got most of his prep school experience on the Central High team, where he played for three years. Bill Hall received most of his training inthe two years he played on the same team. Though Strickland is not graduate of the Magic City's sand lots, he migrated there recently, and is proud to call it his home.
 The squad making the trip will be, COdCH DOllduuc, hdIldSCl Siitll lCy vCiiCS' Captain Floyd Wallace Hall Bridges Hudson, William Hall Strickland, and Wilson.
 what the note might be- geaned from the Presidents Gridiron club speech, he said, he grabbd piece of paper from the win dow sill and dashed off the prophetic re- sume.
 d hon 6inr ho ator on the Hutton firms private wire. he never saw it again and dismissed the matter, he said, as he was busy attend ing to the transactions of his customers.
 CROWD WAS QUIET
 During the first two hours of Connolly s examination the throng that crowded the hearing room remained quiet and lis- tened attentively for any startling reve- lation he might make. At the end of that time, however, the futile efforts of the committee to swerve Connolly from his story amusd spectators and fre- auently the room was in an uproar of laughter.
 Representative Bonnet took up with the witness the text of his resume of the note, phrase by phrase, in an effort to get an explanation as to how he hap pened to use language which resembled that of statesmanship,' but without 
 Don't you think that this is an extra ordinarily prophetic resume of the Presi- dents note?" he asked
 Connolly replied that he did not rscatb the note well enough to answer.
 Well remarked Bonnet, Eff you will read the note again your opinion of your powers of prophecy will go up."
 Connolly declared he knew of no cabi- net member ever trading in the market. Testimony of Connolly and Hutton re- garding circumstances surrounding the sending of the various messages between their offices on the peace note agreed save for one slight detail. Hutton said he thought Connolly's resume was Tn his office before members of his firm tele- grapher Chicago brokers that they were in possession of Washington advices" about the note. Connolly timed the send- ing of his message after that.
 George A. Ellis, Jr., who drafted the Hutton warning to its correspondents from Connollys peace note tip was from near Savannah, Ga, to- day to appear before the committee with out delay He is expected to testify Fri day
 Hutton in his testimony today blamed Secretary Lansing's verge of war" state ment of December 21 more than the Presidents note, for the slump in stocks.
 MORE LIGHT ON TELEGRAMS
 More light on the telegrams which went over the Hutton wires on December 20 was sought by the committee counsel from E. F. Hutton.
 Whipple tried to find out just when the Connolly telegram was received in the Hutton office. He called attention to the time the confidential telegram from Clement, Curtis & Co was received, 12;4s D. m., with it's intimation that peace statment was forthcoming from Wash ington-and produced from the brokers files a new telegram which was sent out by the firm at 1257 p. m. which read:
 stock flash: All reports that have it that the state department will issue state ment today, intended to promote peace prospects.-H. G.
 '.H. e." explained Hutton, was tele- graph operator named Toomey, employed by the firm, who sometimes sent out messages on his own initiative.
 Had you received at that time the Connolly message?' asked Whipple.
 T couldn't say replied Hutton.
 Had you received any oral intelli- gence?'
 Not to my knowledge" replied the witness, adding that he did not know why Toomey had sent the message.