davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
Russia's Desertion of Allies
Now Appears Inevitable.
Little Chance for Nation to
Shake Off BOIsheviki Grip.
RUSSIAN PEOPLE ARE LOYAL
Slav Diplomats Assert BOlshe-
Wiki an irresponsible Power.
Has Been Repudiated by Ma
jOrity of Russian People.

Washington, Dec. ia separate
peace between Russia and Germany 70
inevitable and nothing less than
miracle will prevent its consummation.
unless Russia shakes herself free from
the strangle hold of Bolshevilism.
Russian officials predicted today.
The effects of sperate peace be-
tween Russia and Germany cannot be
overcstimated." a Russian official
stated. "Once a separate peace has
been signed, the. action will be ire
parable. Germany realizes this and
will let no obstacle stand in her way.
She will even make concessions which
she has no intention of keeping n
order to further the criminal actions
of the Bolsheviki."
Teutons Will Make Concessions.
Official forecast at the embassy >
that Germany and Austria will complX
with Trotsky's remuneration, aS-
contribution and self-definItiou of
boundaries demands.
The Teutons' foreign ministers
probably also will agree not to use
any forces now on the Russian front
against the allies-because the Ger
mans no longer have formidable
force stationed there. What forces
stationed along the Russian front that
have not been transported 10 other
fronts or replaced by weaker urits
have been withdrawn mostly far
enough from the line to place them
out of the jurisdiction of ''the joker
in Trotsky's peace program.
Conclusion of a separate peace,
which now seems Inevitable" an Off
cial said. will be an irreparable
wrong to loyal Russia and her allies.
Once separate articles have been
sign ed, Russia will be permanently out
of the war. The fact that such a
peace agreement will be illegal, having
been consummated by an irresponsi-
BILE power, in no way eliminates its
effectiveness.
LcTiine Regime May Last a Month.
That the Bolsheviki will continue in
power long enough to put over their
peace program is predicted by Rus
sian officials Latest reports Indicate
that more than one-half of Russia ter
ritorially and numerically has repudi-
ated the MaximaIist regime. At the
present rate of disintegration, their
downfall should come within a month,
it was said, but this will be too late
"Germany's game is to sign a sepa-
rate peace before the downfall comes.@ >
a high I>ussian official said. The
central powers will not push their de-
mands for contribution at present be-
cause it will be virtually impossible to
collect 1t would make a separate
peace more difficult"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
BID FOR KANSAN
Uncle Sam Wants Miss BreSette
Welfare Worker.
Government Would Place Her
in Charge of Girls.

Miss Lenna Bresette, secretary of
the state welfare commission, may
leave the state department to enter
has been offered position-at
greatly increased salary-to organize
shop girls and clerks in the large cit
les in a special work for the support
of the army cantonments. The work
will be under the national war coun-
ell and under supervision of the war
department.
In a telegram today Miss Bresette
was asked to report Immediately for
work in St. Louis. She has not ac-
cepted the offer. but will proba bly,
make a decision before the end of the
week. 1t is probable. should che ac-
cept the offer, that she will first be
placed in charge of organiza ton work
Louis for support of the new Soldiers
and Sailors club
Problems of organizing working
girls for patriotic war service will
probably be placed directly in charge
of Miss Bresette in the plan of the
national war council for the new work.
In her work for the government Miss
BreSette would visit the army canton
ments and training camps and would
direct organizations of girls in ada
cent cities and towns.
kilograms to Miss BreSette asked
her to report at St Louis for immed-
late service. She stated today, how
ever, she had not fully decided what
action to take, altho she seriously
considered the offer. 1t is possible
she may ask for a leave of absence
that she may devote at least a por-
ton of her time to war work.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
SINK ATRANSPORT
Ten of Crew Lost; Soldiers on
Board Reported Safe.
Down in Mediterranean-Was
Former French Cruiser.

Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 1s.-The old
French cruiser Chateau Renault, en-
ployed as a transport, was torpedoed
and sunk in the Mediterranean on the
morning of December IA, and the
submarine which attacked her later
was destroyed, according to announce
ment made tonight by the French
minister of marine.
The passengers on the Chateau Re-
nault, all of whom were either soldiers
or officers. were saved. Ten members
of the crew were lost.
The French cruiser Chateau Re-
nault was laid down in 1896. She was
442 feet long, with a beam of 55.7 feet
and displaced 1898 tons Her COM
plement before the war was 500 men.
Besides being used as a cruiser, for
merly the Chateau Renault had been
fitted as a mine layer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
But Condition Dee. 1. Lowest
Ever RecOrded-79 Per Cent.
42,I7O,OOO Acres-Five Million
Less Than Maximum Urged.
FOOD DEPT ADDS CAUTION
Urges Greater Conservation OF
Cereals by Substitution.
Duo to Short Crop and Uncer-
tainty of Next Yield.

washington, Dec. 19.-Winter wheat
This wear. planted on the largest acre
age ever sown in the history OF the
country, showed on December the
l9west condition on record. Iore-
rast of only 54O.OOO,000 bushels was
made today by the department of ag-
riculture The final production now
ever, will be above or below that guam
t,tV according as conditions mere
after are better or worse than the
average. ,-,-
In a statement interpreting today S
report. the department said:
The acreage planted to winter
wheat is estimated to be 42,l7O,oOO
aacres, an increase of four per cent
over the area planted a year ago. In
the campaign to produce billion
bushels of wheat next year to help
feed our allies, an acreage of 47.SS =
600 of winter wheat was advocated.
Failure to reach this amount was not
due apparently to the Intention of
farmers, but TO the adverse con"llioa.
unfavorable weather. late harvest OF
other crops and shortage of farm
help, preventing the putting cut Of
the full acreage desired.
Prophcsy Low Yield
The fall was exceedingly dry in
many important sections, particularly
in the southwest-Kansas, Oklahoma
and Texas. also in the far northwest
Idaho and Washington. Altho the
increase is less than hoped, the acre
age is the largest ever planted In l9l
the previous year of largest acreage,
42.O12.OOO acres were planted and
6S4g9O,0OO bushels produced.
The condition of the plant on De-
cember / was low, being 1913 per cent
of normal, which compares with a ten
year average condition on same date
of S93. The lowest condition ever re-
ported in previous years on December
/ is S1.4. in 1895.
"A uuantitative forecast is not
usually made from the December con-
dition reports. because great changes
can occur between now and harvest
for better or worse. But it may be
ubse rived that in the past ten years
the yield per acre on the planted
acreage was 14.4 bushels; on TINS
basis a condition of 1913 would fore
cast a yield of about 12.S bushels,
which on 42,170,00O acres would pro-
duce about $4,000, 900 bushels; it may
he assumed that the Outturn of the
crop will be above or below this fig
ure. according as conditions hereafter
ere better or worse thar average con-
ditiors. In 1917 the crop was aboSt
41S,0OO,OOO bushels. In 1916 it w.S=
4S1 100000 and the average of the
prece ding five years was 543,OOO,OOO
bushels
lnci case Rye Acreage 1866 Per Cent.
Tile rye acreage shows a material
increase or 800 per cent over laSt
year. due largely to a more than
doubling of the acreage in North Da-
kota. The estimated acreage of 6,119,-
600 and condition Of S41 forecast
production of approximately $1,000
600 bushels. In 1917 the yield was
about 6O,OOO,OOO; in 1915 about 49,
100000 and the average of the pre-
ceding five years about 100000
bushels"
Increased sowings of winter wheat
and rye. thruout the country, have
lCnntinnad ON Page Twol
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
CAME TO KANSAS IN '58
Pioneer Banker Merchant Geo. w.
Williams Dead at Seneca.

Seneca, Kan, Dec. 19.-The funeral
of George w. williams, pioneer resi-
dent of Kansas and prominent in
banking circles in the state, will take
place Friday afternoon, it was an
nounced today.
Mr.. Williams, who died Monday,
came to Kansas in 1858. In 1870 he
opened a hardware store. here. Mr..
Williams owned several thousand
acres of land in Nemaha county and
was president of the following banks:
First National Bank of Seneca; First
National Bank of Belvidere, Neb., AK
tell State bank, Axtell, Kan. He was
a director of the First National bank,
Hiawatha Kan, and a stockholder in
the National Bank of Sabetha, Kan,
First National Bank of St. Joe, Mo;
First Ma .ional Bank of Goffs, Kan,
and the Interstate National Bank of
Kansas City, Kan
Mr.. Williams is survived by his
widow, four daughters and one son. A
daughter is Mrs F. x. Stuppy of St.
Joseph, Mo, he also is survived by a
sister. Mrs. Agnes Mumford, wife of
DR.. Morrison Mumford,. founder of
the Kansas City Times.
Another Atchison Pioneer Dead.
Atchison, Dec. 19.-John c. Valen-
tine, for twenty-one years owner of
the Northern Kansas Telephone at
Effingham, died here yesterday. He
was 62 years old and had lived in
Kansas since 1868, when he moved
from Iowa to Leavenworth. where he
taught school two years. He went to
a farm near Effngham in 1874.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
GEE, HOW / HATE
THE KAISER, UGH!

Washington, Dec. 19-High gov
ernment officials this afternoon halted
important work to smile with some
one who passed on to them thru the
mail little poem. which they said,
carried much weight 1t was as fol-
lows:
My Tuesdays are meatless
Ny Wednesdays are wheatless;
l am getting more eatless each day.
NV home it is heatless
Ny bed it is sheetless:
They're all sent to the Y NJ C. A
The barrooms are treatIess,
NV coffee is sweetless.
Each day l get poorer and wiser.
Ny stockings are feetless
NY trousers are seatless
Ny. How ! do hate the kaiser,-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
OFFICIAL WAR
STATEMENTS
BRITISH.


London, Dec. 19.-German patrols
were active lust night in Flanders near
Passchendaele, otherwise there were no
operations of consequence. the war
office reports. The statement follows:
Hostile reconnoiterers endeavored to
approach our posts southeast and
northeast of Passcheudaele. They were
driven eff by our fire. We secured
few prisoners Elsewhere there was
nothing of special interest"
GERMAN.
Berlin, Dec 49, Austro- German
forces yesterday stormed the Italian
positions of Monte AZolone and the ad
joining heights, according to the Off
cial statement issued today by the Ger
man general staff. More than 1000
soldiers were captured
FRENCH.
Paris, Dec 19.-Two attempts by the
Germans to approach French positions
in the Argonne near Four de Paris last
night were defeated with losses, the war
office announced today.
ITALIAN.
Rome Dec. 19.-AustroGerman forces
on the Italian mountain front made
determined effort yesterday to advance
on the line between Col Caprille and
Monte Pertica.
The war office announced today that
only in the Monte A5olone zone did the
enemy gain ground and maintain it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
PRICE ON KAISER'S HEAD
OFFERED BY U. S. INDIAN

Fort Worth. Tex, Dec. I9.-Miah
Mich. a wealthy Choctaw Indian of
Oklas oma. has written to an officer
at Camp Bowie, where many In
dian of the five civilized tribes are
in training for army service. that
he will give $1,000 to the Choctaw
brave who will Kill the kaiser or
the kaiser's oldest son or Won Hin
denburg. The money is said to be
on deposit in a bank at Ardmore,
Okla
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
WHISKY IN CEMETERY
Oklahoma BOot-Lcggers Transport
Liquor in Tombstoncs, is Charge.

Wichita Falls, Texas. Dec 19.-The
fumes of whisky issuing from among
"a number of tombstOnes which had
been instled about while being shipped
from this city to the Mary Dee ceme-
terry, Mountain View. Okla" attract
ed the attention of officers and result
ed in the discovery of what is con-
sidered the latest method of trans
porting intoXicants to prohibition
states. according to word received
here today from Mountain View,
okla.
A considerable qua nifty of whisky
was packed in box among num-
Der of tombstone sand labeled in
large letters Tom bstones" As a re-
suit of the discovery two negroes have
been arrested charged with violating
the internal revenue law by transport
ing liquor into dry territory.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
ANARCHY SQUELCHED
Prosecutor of Frisco Bomb Cases Re.
Elected by. to Vote. >

San Francisco, Dec. 19.-The at
tempt to recall District Attorney
Charles M F'ickert failed. CompIete
returns today from yesterdays special
election showed that Fickert had over
whelmed Charles A. Swigert. his prin-
cipal opponent by a vote of nearly 8
to l. The first choice vote was Ffck-
ert 1926; Swigert, 25,76S; Frank r.
Haynes, 1,721.
F'ickert issued a statement declarz
ing the issue of the election was an
archy versus patriotism and that the
city's patriotism had been overwhelm-
ingly vindicated.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
Another Atchison Pioneer Dead.
IN DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
Motor Bandits Kill Man, Escape With
$4,000 Money Sack.

Gary. Ind, Dec. 19.-An unidenti-
fled negro was shot and killed and
Mike Binsen, a saloonkeeper. was Sc
riously wounded by four motor ban
$4,000 which the men were carrying
from a bank The bandits overlooked
an equal amount which the negro was
carrying.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
INDICT BIG SOAP FIRM
Dealers Had To Sell at Colgate /.
Co.'S Price. Is Charged.

Norfolk. Va. Dec. 19.-Colgate q
Company of Jersey City was indicted
by the grand jury in the United States
court here today for violation of ths
federal laws by refusing to sell their
products to dealers who would not
agree TO sell at the prices fixed by the
cor pany.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
ROTARY UP IN ARMS
Kansas Club Leaders Ask That Three
U. S. Senators Be Ousted.

Wichita, Kan, Dec 19.-The state
Rotarians in session here have adopted
resolution asking the United States
senate TO oust Senators Stone, Gronna
and LaFollette for anti-administration
activities. An effort was made to in
clude Senator Gore in the resolution,
but il failed by a small margin.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
WHEAT UP TEN POINTS
Kansas Crop Shows Big Improvement
Over December 4 Report.

Conditions of winter wheat in Kan
sas have improved at least ten points
since the official bulletin was issued
by the state board of agriculture, De-
cember 4.
Recent moisture, both of rain and
snow. have been of great benefit since
the general average of conditions was
given as 70 per cent based on 100
per cent as representing an entirely
satisfactory situation" according to
J. c. Mohler. secretary of the board
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
Italian Battle Continues.
(By the Associated Press.


On the italian northern front the
Austro-Germans persist in strong eff
forts to find weak point in the Ital-
ian defense and thru it to rush south
to the Venetian plains. Checked east
of the Brenta last week the invaders
despite the heavy losses inflicted upon
them by the Italians, have struck at
two new points on the line between
Asiago and the Piave.
Monte Solarolo, between the Brenta
and the Piave, has become the center
of fighting in this sector, Berlin
claims the capture of some Italian
Italian counter attacks. Vigorous at
tacks in this region. Rome says, were
repulsed by the defenders. West of
the Brenta the Austro-Germans have
ATTACKED in the mountain region, and
Berlin says more than one thousand
prisoners were captured.
There has been no change on the
front in France. Infantry fighting has
not increased and the artillery con-
tinues to be active in certain centers.
Haig Makes Staff Changes.
Field Marshal Haig, the London
Times says, is making important
British commander in chief in France
has made virtually no changes since
he took over the command from Wis
count French.
London and English coast towns
again have been visited by German
raiders. Numerous bombs were
dropped on London and in Essex and
Kent by the enemy airplanes which
crossed the coast early Tuesday ev-
ening. British airplanes met the en-
Continued on Page Two)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
CHRISTMAS EGGAOG PUT
UNDER BAN IN MISSOURI

Springfield, Mo-, Dec. 19.-Local
representatives of the federal food
administration today requested all
saloon proprietors of Springfield
not to serve eggnog and other spe-
cial Christmas season drinks this
year The object is to save sugar.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
DEFY MILITARY ORDER
Draft Men +, kc French Leave for
Christmas Holidays.

Camp Sherman. Chillicothe. Ohio,
Dec -Disgruntled because only 5
per cent of the draft soldiers here
will be given Christmas holiday fur
loughs. ffty-hve Cleveland men in the
33lst infantry took French leave from
camp last night and were being sought
by the military authorities today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
GERMAN PRIMA DONNA
KISSES FLAG OF FRANCE

New York, Dec. 19.-Note for
the kaiser:
A German subject kissed the
French flag here last night. 1t was
only play acting" but just the
same Nine. Hemple, the German
opera singer, took the flag in both
hands and pressed it to her lips
in the presentation of Daughter
of the Regiment" The audience
cheered.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19

Toronto, Ont, Dec. 19.@The local
council of women has decided to urge
the nine thousand women belonging
to affiliated societies to pay no more
than thirty-five cents pound for
Christmas turkeys.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
ODESSA SEETHES
WITH CIVIL WAR
THEATER A FORT
Ukrainian Troops and BOlshe-
Wiki Fighting in Streets.
Opera House Manned With Ma
chine Guns by Rebels.
POUND ITALIAN LINE IN Vain
Desperate Efforts of AustrO-
Germans RepuIsed by Romans.
Infantry LuII on Entire West
Front Is General Today.
Ukrainian Troops and BOlshe-
Wiki Fighting in Streets.
Opera House Manned With Ma
chine Guns by Rebels.
POUND ITALIAN LINE IN Vain

Odessa, via London, Dec. 19.-Uk-
rainian troops and Bolsheviki guards
are fighting in the streets here today
The opera house, headquarters Of
the Ukrainians. has been equipped
with machine guns, which have been
turned on the Bolsheviki, who are re-
plying with rifle fire.
Bolsheviki troops have surrounded
some Ukrainians at the railway sta
tions. All business II the city has
been suspended. The troops on both
sides cut all telephone and tele graph
wires in the city proper and there is
great disorder.
The Ukrainian rebels machine guns
are accurately trained on the Bolshe-
Wiki headquarters in the city's two
- ncipel cafes.
Warning to ITkrainians.
Petrograd, Dec. 19.-The Bclshe-
wiki government today served an ul-
timatum on the Ukrainians, demand
ing that they cease granting aid to
the Cossack rebellion of General Kali
edine within rty-eight hours, or else
a state of war would be declared
against them.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
DEATH RATE AT
FUNSTON SEVEN
TIMES NORMAL
Congress Will Widen Probes,
To Include Army Camps.
Surgeon General GOrgas's Dis
closures Shock the Nation.
CAMP FUNSTON UNSANITARY
Epidemics Also at DOniphan
Due to Lack of Clothing.
No Excuse for Delays, He AS
serts in Official Report.
Epidemics Also at DOniphan
Due to Lack of Clothing.
BY CARL d. GROAT.

Washington, Dec. 19.-Shocked by
Surgeon General Gorgas's recent dis
closures of health conditions It Ameri-
can camps. congress proposed to widen
its inquiries to find why such condi-
tions have been permitted to continue.
Partly they are the natural out
growth of transition from an unpre-
pared peace to a state of war.
All the facts for congressional
probing will be promptly available,
for Gorgas's department. spurred by
the committee on public information,
long since adopted the policy of abso-
covered conditions at pneumonia
stricken Camp Wheeler. Macon. Ga.
Now, after a personal inspection, he
has revealed that serious disease epi-
demics-mainly pneumonia and mem
ingitis-in Camp Funston, Kansas ;
Doniphan, Okla. Bowie, Texas and
Sewer, South Carolina, are traceable
sufficient hospital accommodations,
ver-crowding and improper camp Sc
lection
Political Pull in Selecting Camps.
Camp Funston's death rate has
been seven times normal The diff
Guilty there, GorgaS reveals, may, in
part, be attributed to the unSan.sary
location, but he says this fact was
well known in advance
He recalls that in selecting camp
sites the war department was submit
ted to the strongest political pressure
and that apparently decisions once
made were occasionally altered by this
One of the main troubles is the in
completeness of hospitals, particular
ly as plumbing, despite no apparent
Continued on Page Two-I
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
Political Pull in Selecting Camps.
CContinued On Page Two-I
woman Strnck by Strcet Gar.

Kansas City. Dec. 19.-Mrs l.. A.
Brown, of Wichita, Kan, said to be
the wife of an oil operator at that
place, was struck by a street car today
and received what attending physi
clans believe are dangerous injuries.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19

Eldorado. Kan. Dec. 19.-John B.
Kirk. 55, was run over and killed by
Frisco train near Beaumont. Kirk
was walking on the track and be-
cause of deafness did not hear the APP
preaching train
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19

At 2 o'clock the wind was blowing
twelve miles an hour from the south.
The temperature at the same time this
afternoon was Z degrees above normal.
with the average for the day ranging 2
degrees ahead of that or 1 degrees.
once again the people of America
have shown their barred teeth to the
kaiser. Memberships in the Red
Cross are pouring in and very few
people are letting the cloudy weather
have a dampening effect on their pa
triotism. When this drive is over our
allies should know that Pershinx
makes no empty claims. He saids
Lafayette, we're here" and we are.
with everything we have. America
has not yet taken up anything and
CONTINUED on Page Two)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
Killed by Premature Blast.

Eldorado. Kan, Dec. 19.-C. o.
Clark, an employe of the Empire COM
pany, was killed in an explosion here
yesterday. Clark was alone at the
time and was preparing a shot for a
we'll
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19

The limitation the supply of sugar
Threatens to bankrupt the candy and soda
water business of druggists
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
MORE GOOD WEATHER
Thursday Will Be Fair-Temperature
Still Rivals That of Florida.

Temperatures for the day furnished
by the local office of the United States
weather bureau:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19

WEATHER FORECAST for Kansas:
Generally fair tonight and Thurs
day. Not much change in tempera-
ture.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
Men Were Ordered out,

we don't allow beer to be taken
INTO the house and went up and told
the men they had to leave" said Mrs.
Roberts
Mrs. Roberts testified that Bessie
Stewart worked. Once, she stated.
Miss Stewart had quit her job and her
employer called up and asked her to
go back to work. This Miss Stewart
did, the witness testified