davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
CRIMP IN PEACE HOPE
Allies Announce Nothing DOING to
Germany-in Advance.

Washington, May 1.-The entente
allies are fatty opposed, in advance.
to any peace plea -Hollweg
may make in the reichstag Thursday
it was stated by a high authority in
the Balfour commission this afternoon,
because it would not be genuine and
would mean victory for the Teutons
and a menace to the civilization of the
world"
ANY move for peace by Germany
at this time" said the authority, "can
be nothing but an attempt to cut the
Teutonic losses.
1.-The most seriously menaced part
of the world under a peace made at
this time would be South America.
Germany sees fthe advantage of
throwing a sop to the liberty loving
portion of the world in offering peace
at this time on probably these terms:
Giving up Alsace and Lorraine to
France; clearing out of Belgium; re-
linquishing all conquered territory in
the west"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01

The visit of the French and BRUSH
commissions to this country mas
proven to be of the greatest import
ance. The government at Washington
now has a clear idea of what Is eX-
pected of it. The result of the con-
ferences which have been held with
representatives of our allies is that we
will settle down to making prepara-
tions for a long and costly war. There
is nothing in the world situation to
indicate an early peace. The voting OF
loans to our allies is only a beginning
II must be followed by armed FORCES
on land and sea. If there be anyone
who thinks that the army which Is be-
ing enlisted will not be called upon to
fight he is likely to miss his guess
Unless something happens that cannot
be foreseen now, the war will be
fought to finish and the side with
preponderance of men, guns, NUM-
tions and food will win il. Here is
where the aid of the United States will
loom large.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
DROP CATHOLIC CASE
Another Accused of Murder of Anti
Catholic Lecturer Is Acquitted.

Galveston, May Am instructed
verdict of not guilty was given in the
district court here today for George
Tier, accused of murder in connec-
ton with the death of William Black,
an anti-Catholic lecturer at Marshall
Tex, in February of 1915. This is
the last of the so-called Father
Black" cases which were transferred
to Galveston two years ago. The state
announced that it could not make a
case on the evidence at hand. The
court directed that a verdict of not
guilty be brought in.
A similar case against George Ryan
was dismissed earlier this month on
motion of the state. The defense ap-
pealed from this decision stating it
wanted a trial and verdict.
John Copeland, accused of murder
in connection with the same affair
was acquitted by a jury in the Tenth
district court last autumn after a trial
which lasted ten days.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
WAR PROFITS.

Many of the country's industries
have agreed to limit excessive profit
in their dealing with the government.
Does this mean that there will be one
price for Uncle Sam and another for
his allies? Any effort to make a
distinction will have bad look.
For the first time in our history,
industry has been organized for war
The men who have accomplished this
organization are going to make it
possible for the United States govern
ment to buy it's enormous requirements
of war supplies on e-time
terms. Business, and in this case, big
business, says Everybodys, has come
to the front to aid the government
with a spirit of true patriotism that
ought to thrill every citizen in this
country.
Secretary Baker. the chairman of
the council of national defense, re-
quested the National Chamber of Com
merce of the United States, which in
cludes in its membership many of our
biggest manufacturers, to assist the
army quartermasters with advice in
PoA S0PPllCos LII accepting
this responsibility, the National
Chamber of Commerce outlined its
program in resolution providing that
the basis of supply for government
requirements, not only in war, but in
peace, from private sources, should
be at rate of profit so low as to pre-
clude profit interest in war"
NO excessive war profits" was the
word sent down the line of Ameri-
can industries. And industry has re-
sponded promptly by offering the pro-
ducts of its mills and shops on a ba-
sis that will return only enough to
protect the stability of it's securities.
One of the very necessary metals in
war is copper. The copper producers
have already agreed to supply to the
/ government of the United States all of
the copper it~needs at a price about
half the current market quotation.
Steel mills, shoe factories. clothing
manufacturers and a hundred other
lines of industry that may be mobi-
lized. in war have responded unani-
mously to the Cha mber of Commences
appeal: What are you going to do for
America ?"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
Ice Up e5 Per Cent in n. Y.
INCREASE In TAXES
Inheritance Revenue Gains Over Re-
port for Last Year.

Inheritance taxes received by the
state during the ten months of the
present fiscal year are more than
eight times as large as the taxes re-
ceived during the same period a year
ago. Records from the office of Fred
knapp, state auditor, today showed
collections of inheritance tax amount
ing to s353,3S0.53 during the ten
months ending May l, as against SAL
S99.33-for last year.
Increases in inheritance taxes is due
largely to the tremendous growth in
collections from foreign estates asses
sa BILE under the Kansas law. The re-
cords show that of the S343,3S0.53 re-
ceived during the last ten months.
S297,760.36 has been collected from
foreign estates. The remaining $685.
041.17-a sum larger than the total
collected during the first ten months
of the last fiscal year-came from es-
tateS in Kansas counties.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
RAID DUTCH TOWN
Holland Village Left in Ruins
by Unidentified Flyers.
100 Houses DestrOyed-Three
Killed-Suspect Germans.

London, May bombs were drop
ped by an airp1ane Sunday night on
Zierikzee, in the Dutch province of
iceland, says a Reuter- dispatch from
The Hague under Mondays date.
Three persons were killed and much
material damage was done, the mes
sage states.
The Hague, May 1.-The Telegraf of
Amsterdam states that the bombs
which were dropped on Zierikzee did
such extensive damage that the village
is in ruins, more than 100 houses be-
ing smashed or damaged. A terrible
panic prevailed in the town says the
newspaper, intensified by the play of
the searchlights operated by the air
men.
1t is declared that the bombs were
not dropped by mistake the Telegraf
adds, but were purposely launched.
The nationality of the airplane has not
been established. Advices from Sluy-
skill state that last evening two Ger
man airplanes appeared above Has
vengent and disappeared in a south
westerly direction
This is the second instance in a
week of cities of neutral nations be-
ing victims of attacks by airmen of
unknown nationality. A dispatch a
few days ago reported a Swiss town
as having suffered minor damages
from bombs.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01

Backward New York" is the title
of an article in the New York Times
which says: THE state department
of agriculture tells us that of some
100000 acres of farming land in
the state of New York only $3.50, 000
are cultivated; that of 10000, 00O-odd
inhabitants of the state, only 375, 200.
some 3 per cent, are agriculturists."
The reclamation service of the depart
ment of the interior for the fiscal year
1919 reported, according to Secretary
Lane. that irrigation projects had de
livered irrigation water to $4,000
acres of arid land in seventeen states:
that the crops raised on the irrigated
lands had a value exceeding the tota!
products OF New Hampshire: that
work was being conducted on other
projects to the number of twenty-four
and that when these were completed
100000 acres more would be available
for cultivation. 1t is plain that utiliza-
ton of our agricultural resources will
make it easily possible to feed the
world.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
NO TIME FOR STRIKES.

This is no time for strikes. Patriot-
ism and loyalty to the nation should
cause every employed man and woman
to remain at work. Controversies be-
tween workmen and employers can
be settled after the war. When men
are fighting for their country for SO
a month is no time for others to start
row over wages.
The industrial relation, writes James
A. Emery in American Industries. has
become a deciding factor behind the
battling armies. To secure and main
tain uninterrupted production, a score
labor in every department of civil
life that one soldier may hold his
strength to maintain his fire at the
front A breakdown in the supply of
munitions may be an irreparable mil
itary disaster.
A strike would do more to cause
ultimate defeat than a lost battle;
the destruction of a factory is more
terrible than the loss of a redoubt-
One man may fire a gun; it may take
a dozen to load it. 1t is these things
WDlCn nave QeInOnSl1dleu W tire wal :
ring nations that Industrial prepared
ness is the first line of national de-
Tense and that sound industrial re-
lations are the first essential of ma
tional safety and military security.
The concerted interruption of Brit
ish manufacture in this hour would
break her line on the western front as
surely as a seizure of the weapons in
the hands of her soldiers. Her pres
ent advance would be impossible if
production at home were not surely
but certainly manifesting steadily in
creasing superiority over that of her
foe. and progress would slow up in
exact proportion to the stoppage of
industrial production or a decrease in
its operating efficiency Capital,
labor, and management have been
combined in a vast, loyal basic support
of the military organization.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
APRIL WAS Wild
Rainfall Third Heaviest in
Weather Bureau History.
First % Days Pleasant-A
Deluge the Last Five.

The total precipitation for April,
1917, at Topeka, was, with two eX-
ceptions the greatest on record for this
time of the year and almost equaled
that of the five previous months COM
bined, while the number of cloudy
days was the greatest on record for
this time of the year, according to the
detailed summary of the weather bu-
reau issued today.
The first 25 days of the month
were fairly pleasant, with short, alter
mating periods of warm and cool
weather, but rain fell almost contin-
ually during the last five days, with
temperature ranging from 16 degrees
to rs degrees below normal, making
the average for the month, with two
exceptions, the lowest on record for
April
The highest temperature was IS de-
gress on April %, and the lowest %
degrees on April 8, which are not I'M
occurred on the End, 5th and 9Th, and
a heavy frost on the 21st, but vege-
tation was not advanced enough to be
harmed by any of them.
The total precipitation, ABS inches.
was l. 65 inches above normal Three
fourths of it fell the last five days
and, while there was barely enough
for present needs the fore part of the
month, the ground was thoroly soaked
when it ended. No measurable snow
fell on any day.
The wind velocity was, with two
exceptions, the greatest on record for
the record breaking month of March
that preceded. The number of clear
days was 8; partly cloudy days 7; and
cloudy days Is.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
FIGHTERS WORN OUT
Lull i'm Infantry Attacks on Arras
Front But Artillery Active.

With the British Armies Afield, May
british and German forces alike
took a breathing space" today
Worn out and cut to pieces by their
repeated and reckless counter-attacks
of the past few days. the German in
fantry quieted down.
The British, for their part, settled
down to artillerying. Their guns
roared in neyer-ending chorus, and
the German cannon replied in thun-
derous echoes.
Guemappe was shelled all day yes
terday-and quite heavily Arleux
was likewise the target for German
projectiles.
Gain Trench, Then Oustcd
The Germans were palpably ner-
vous, fearing a British attack south
of Oppy and for this reason they were
spraying shells along the entire Oppy-
Gavrelle line. The Germans were par
ticularly jumpy during the night and
kept various shells constantly shoot
ing toward the sky watching carefully
for any movement across No Mans
Land, while their shells pounded away
at the British lines
In only one spot did the Prussia ms
tack. This was at British
post to the west of Havrincourt The
attack carried them over the British
positions for moment, but they were
Immediately driven out with losses
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
3 YRS. TO SAY NO
1t Took p. e. c. That Long to
Hand Down Phone Decision.
OskalOOsa Co. Files Suit Ask
ing Restraining Order Today.

Three years ago A. B. Clarke and c.
Patrick, representing the Oskaloosa
Telephone company, filed petition
before the Public Utilities Commission
asking for authority to increase rates
on toll line service. The commission
took the matter under advisement and
after mature deliberation-lastin
from October IS, 1914, to April 2,
1917-it held that the company could
not increase its rates, -.,~
The Oskaloosa Telephone company
was still in existence when the COM
mission handed down its opinion and
employed E. D. McKeever to bring
an action requiring the commission to
keep it's hands off McKeever filed
suit in the district court today asking
that the court set aside the order of
the public utilities commission and is
sue an order restraining it from inter-
fering with the telephone company in
anything it may do regarding rates.
3 Years to Say mo-
The telephone company, which grew
up from a small initial investment.
gradually extended its lines to other
towns in the county but did not charge
toll service for it's patrons.
Occasionally non-subscriber would
use a toll line and would haveNto pay
a small charge. But with an increase
in equipment and facilities the man
agement found it necessary to charge
for toll line. service the same as other
companies. 1t asked the public utfli-
ties commission to give it authority to
put into effect schedule of rates for
telephone service from OskalooSa to
Perry, Williamsburg, Ozawkie, Duna
want, Winchester and McLouth The
commission waited three years, then
said mo-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
hint MORE WAR
Wants Service to Apply to 9th
ers Than Germany.
Senate Changes CONSUMPTION
Age Limit to % Years.

Washington, May THAT war with
other nations than Germany may
threaten the United States was indi-
Gated in the senate today when Sena-
tor Chamberlain introduced for re-
passage the copscript army bill.
Upon advice of the judge advocate
general, / desire to amend the BILL,
Chamberlain said, 80 as to substitute
the word emergency for the word
war wherever it applies in the bill
The reason given me is that the bill
may now be construed to apply only
to the war with Germany and if we
were drawn into a war with other
nations, it would not apply to those"
No Resorts Near Camp.
The amendment was voted down.
and if the judge advocates opinion
on the Interpretation of the bill is cor
rect, Americas conscript army may
be for battle with Germany alone.
The age limit of those subject to
draft was changed to 81 years, as APP
proved by the senate Saturday night
The senate adopted an amendment
by Senator Jones. Washington, pro-
hibiting the maintenance of disrepu-
table resorts within ten miles of SOL
diers training camps.
Defeat La Toilette IS to 4.
Senator La Toilette then offered his
amendment to the bill, which is a
| substitute for the conscript measure
He would put to referendum the cues
ton of whether the American people
wished to he conscripted and on the
question of sending troops to Europe.
After an hours talk La Follette's
amendment was defeated, 6S to A.
Those in favor We're Gore, La Toilette
Gronna and Vardaman.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
THE BREAD PROBLEM.

There is an exercise of authority in
Great Britain for getting more bread
out of the same quantity of grain by
not having so much of it's substance
milled out. That is an excellent idea
which might be adopted in this coun-
try to advantage in preventing a great
deal of the waste.
Much of the best part of the grain
is wasted in milling that the consumer
may be supplied with white flour.
What is-the advantage in squirting up
production if. such waste be permitted
to continue?
Secretary Houston of the agricultu-
raj department, who is exerting him
self to the utmost to have our output
of food products this year made as
large as possible, on account of the
certainty of large demands and dan
ger of inadequate supply, is in favor
of having the council of national de-
Tense empowered to fix a minimum
! price for farm products. This, it is as
sumed, would give assurance of a
margin of profit and thereby stimu-
late larger production. Whether it
would be necessary for that purpose
/ or would have that effect does not
seem certain. as the demand is pretty
sure to make prices reasonably high
in any case. 1t might, however act as
check upon the tendency of dealers
to press prices down at the farm and
push them up in the markets, to Sc
cure more than their share of the
profit.
There is also a suggestion that the
authority to fix minimum in behalf
of the farm be accompanied by that to
fix maximum for consumers, when
it appears that there is a conspiracy
to gamble in a food commodity and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01

advance the price to an unwarranted
extent"
That, says the New York Journal
of Commerce, looks like a difficult
matter to manage. In the intermed1-
ate processes of trade between produc-
er and consumer, which are apt to be
more or less speculative. it will not be
easy to prove conspiracy to gamble"
or to establish what effect it's supposed
operation has on prices to consumers.
1t is desirable to have the processes
of distribution and trade go on contin-
uously and not be interrupted by legal
proceedings for enforcing dubious
laws.
The wheat problem is the principal
one in the discussion over controlling
trade. In the British colony of Aus
tralia the government has taken full
charge of buying the crop at fixed
prices and distributing and selling it
on narrow margin to cover expense.
In England all speculation in the Liv-
erpool market is forbidden and sales
are made by licensed agency agree
ment with the government. Argentina
has laid an embargo on it's wheat ex
upon the supply on condition that If 1t
runs short that republic may make it
up by purchases from Australia.
There seems to be at this time an
excellent opportunity for congress to
extend it's power over the regulation
of cOmmerce
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
new GUARD PLANS
Home Defense Organization
Discussed This Afternoon.
Conference in Governors Ofhce
Working on Details.

Plans for home guard defense for
all sections of Kansas during the war
with Germany are being WORKED out
this afternoon at conference IN GoN :.
ernor Capper's office of members OF
the home guard committee of the state
defense league. 1t is probable that
provision will be made for volunteer
organizations, members of which may
be commissioned as deputy sherhfs
and assigned, to patrol duty in an
emergency in any local community.
Under the state law there is no pro-
vision for the use of home guard com
panies State militia or home guard
units may be used under direction OF
the governor to quen rlots-and pre-
serve peace. Neither the governor,
MAYORS or other officials are vested
with power to direct men to conduct
home guard service. In the absence
of a legislative enactment and to meet
a possible emergency. members OF the
defense league committee Will TINS art
ernoon consider special deputy sherlff
commissions to men assigned to patrol
service.
KimbaIl Has Plan.
James A Kimball, of Salina, chair
man of the committee, this afternoon
suggested a plan for organization of
home guard companies which will re-
ceive the benefit of local military
training and would be available for
service in event of an emergency. KIM
ball, however, does not believe that
the state at this time faces a crisis
which demands patrol service for pub
lie buildings, mills, elevators, railroads
and other public, semi-public or pri-
vate property.
ITO assign men to such service at
this time would be to create rather
than meet an emergency" said Kim
ball
Plans advanced before the home
guard committee this afternoon pro-
vided for volunteer organizations in
all cities and towns of the state. The
organizations might be made under
proclamations by the governor and by
mayors of the various towns. Men in
the service would receive regular mill
tary training. In an emergency the
men might be assigned to duty with
special deputy sheriff commissions.
Under the law a sheriff might extend
deputyships to any number of men.
Members of Committee.
Members of the home guard COM
mittee of the state defense league
are: James A. Kimball, Salina. chair
man; John +. Dillon, Topeka; Samuel
F. Woolard, Wichita; Col. R. Neill
Rain, Topeka; j. X. Codding, Lans-
ing; ]. N. Dolley, Topeka; w. Y.
Morgan, Hutchinson, and c. H. Poin-
dexter, Kansas City, Kan. The COM
mittee met at $3.50 o'clock this after
noon in Governor Capper's office in
the state house.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
GET JUMP ON TYPHOID
Doctor Clark Urges All Physicians to
Help Keep Down Epidemic.

Steps to avoid threatened epidemic
Of typhoid fever here were taken to-
day by DR.. H. L. Clark, health director,
who addressed a letter to every physi-
clan in the city asking them to CO.
operate in keeping the number of
cases to a minimum.
Doctor Clark cited in his letters that
there were seventy-seven cases of
typhoid, with eight deaths therefrom.
last year. The city. he stated, was
practically free from the ailment, until
after the fair.
! The letter stated that there is grave
danger of a coming epidemic in To-
peka. Typhoid seems to be more
prevalent than usual thruout the
state. Movement OF troops, as heavy
as those planned, would also add
to the danger. Three cases have
been reported in Topeka this year.
Doctor Clark urged that the physi-
clans be prompt in reporting cases and
handle them in strict accordance of
the law, both city and state.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01

Next to the business of furnishing
money and food to our allies, comes
the problem. of getting the food to
them. 1t is announced from Wash
ington that this will be taken up in
earnest at once. Reports from the Wis
iting European commissions and the
speech made by Lloyd George in Lon
don last week indicate that the subma-
rine campaign of Germany is growing
increasingly serious. Germaay's final
plan for winning the war must not be
permitted to gain greater headway.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
COME TO topeka?
General JOffre and Party Invit-
ed to Make Trip Here.
James w. Gerard Also Asked to
Make Topeka Stop.

An invitation, urging Marshal Joffre
and his party to visit Topeka on their
western trip was telegraphed to Rene
Viviani at the French embassy at
Washington, D. c.. today by ]. Will
Kelley, secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce. At the same time, John S.
Dean, president of the Chamber of
Commerce, telegraphed an invitation
to James w. Gerard, former American
ambassador to Germany, to include
Topeka in his western trip. The tele-
grams dispatched follow:
Hon. James w. Gerard,
New York City.
We invite and urge you to come to
Topeka your western trip, either
Friday, May a. Sunday. May 6. or Mon
day, May Z. Kansas would like to be
your host. Can assure you a rousing
meeting and reception.
Rene NivianI,
Washington, ID. c.
We invite and urge Joffre and party
to come to Topeka on western trip. A
rousing meeting and reception will be
given party. Don't overlook Kansas
in your trip. We want to be your
host,