davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
SOLDIERS SEIZE
Petrograd Branch of Bradford Admits Muir
National Bank of New'der Miss Alice Richards

Tctrograd, Thursday, Dec. 2H-Soidiers
acting under the orders OF Finance Com
missioner MenshinskY today surrounded
and seized all private banks in Petrograd,
Including the branch of the National
Bank of New York. The manager, +. Il.
stevens. was arrested and detained for a
short time.
Many bank directors who were arrested
surrendered the keys to the bank vaults,
but Stevens refused. J. B Wright, coun-
sellor of the American embassy. called
upon Ny. Stevens during the afternoon.
At the time for opening the banks de-
tachmcnts of the Red Guard gathered In
the streets and barred the entrances. Eat-
n the banks were entered and orders were
given that the banks surrender their pa
1ers and the keys TO their vaults. Mr..
stevens declared his bank had no vaults.
hut only small safes. After his arres,
b. was permitted to return to the bank.
which was placed under guard.
Continued on Page 5-CoI. p
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
AMERICAS WAR
aims HAVE Been
ALREADY STATED

washington. Dec. H.-America's war
Tins are regarded by the administration
as having been sufficiently disclosed in
President Wilson'S reply to the Popes
last peace proposal and in his recent mes
sage to Congress. Consequently unless
there are further developments In the
mace propaganda set afoot by the Ger
mans and Austrians through their nego-
tiatjons with the Russian Bolshcviki there
is no intention on the part OF the United
states goyernmen of attempting 70 elah-
oratn or cxpound the statements of Amer
lean purpose laid down in those docu-
mentA.
II is fully understood in Washington
that there may he internal reasons III En-
tente countries for making concessions
10 certain powerful political elements
which are pressing for another statement
of the Entente war aims. These consider
atoms will ne weighed and acted upon In
the discretion Of the governments Of thoss
countries.
The decision involved is regarded as or
great importance because of the pOssibili-
" that divergent statements might afford
the German p~lntters opportunity to weak
en- the lies that bind the Allies together.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
WITNESSES TELL AT BOSTON HOW PACKERS
CONTROL ENTIRE FIELD OF MEAT BUSINESS
Representatives Independent Firms Tell Trade
Commission of Attempts to Put Them Out of
Business wound Up Like Alarm Clock"
Says Keeler-Chain Stores and Bonuses Fea-
ture-Competition Extends to Rendering Bus
mess

Boston, Dec. 2S.-Squeezing OF small
dealers out of competition by the al
legged grasp of the big packers upon
the meat, rendering, o and fertilizer
industries of the country was depicted
by witnesses today before the Federal
Trade Commission, which has trans
ferred its hearings into the meat in
dustry and its relation TO the high
cost of living temporarily to his city.
Control Rendering Business
Francis J. Henry, special counsel
for the commission, said the packers
controlled the rendering business from
its collection of butchers waste to the
manufacture Of valuable by-produCts.
By their method of gaining control of
meat scraps M bone, he added. the
commission sought to show that the
man who bought a steak or a roast
paid an unnecessarily high price for
his dinner.
Witnesses engaged in the rendering
business asserted that the packers
stifed competition for the collection
Of waste products by bidding up prices
beyond the reach Of the Independent
dealer by resorting to the petty scheme
Of giving short weight for refuse by
giving bonuses to retailers to break
contracts with rendering firms. fo-
menting agitations against the cree
ton OF new competing rendering plants
and by dividing territory among them
selves by Epntlemen'S agreements in
which the rad OF a man opening a
butcher shop was sold to the highest
bidder, transactions in which the
butcher had nothing 70 say. In New
England. it was testified, rendering
companies which were trust-controlled
maintained a fund TO IA bonuses .or
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
REPUBLIC IN WHITE RUSSIA
RADA ASSEMBLIES AT M|NSK
Decree Will Be Issued Proclaiming Independ-
ence of New State Germany Would Hold
Strategic Points While Russia Mediates with
Allies -Bolsheviki Government Is Hopelessly
Bankrupt

London. Dec, 28.-Thc establishment
Of q republic in White Russia has been
announced, according to Petrograd ad-
vices today. y Rada or legislative
body for the territory has been assem-
lled ~ Minsk. at which place a decree
will he issued proclaiming the indie
|pcndcuCe Of the new state.
Wants Russia to Mediate
Tie Petrograd correspondent of the
Times describes the effect upon the
BolshoNiki authorities Of the rumored
proposal of the German and Austrian
delegates to the iirest-LitoVsk confer
enc" that in a certain contingency va
rious strategic points IL Russian ter
ritorY should he occupied by the Gen.
trial Powers. According to the runners.
it had been proposed by the representa-
lives al Germany and Austria that
pending the resumption of the negotia-
lions Russia should mediate between
the Central Powers and the Entente
Allies with a view 20 bringing about n
general peace Should the attempt fail.
the occupation of these strategic points
~ the Central Powers was proposed so
tI3at pressure might be brought upon
the Entente. Tie proposal, says the
correspondent. caused CONSERVATION at
the SUOlnE Institute, the B~olsheviki
headquarters.
pr. Won kuehlmanr. the German for
eign secretary. is reported rs having
replied to the Russian complaint re-
eardinc the refusal of passports to
German minority Socialists by stating
that he did not see any hindrance to
peace in preventing communication be-
tween tn" Russian and German Social
lists.
Contradictory Reports Of Fighting
Reports of fighting and other mill
tary activities in interior Russia con-
tinue numerous, but tho are 50 ON
Trajectory that it is Impossible to get
at tho truth Of the situation. For in
stance, both tho Bolsheviki and the
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
Lack of Clothing and
Unsanitary Conditions
at Camp Bowie, Tex.
II MEN
IN EACH TENT
Gen. Greble Protested Against
CrOwding and Warned of
Sickness - Better Conditions
Now-Huge Shortages of Ri
0eS and Machine Guns Senate
Committee Hears

Washington. Dec. 2S.-Disease cpl
denies and clothing and equipment
shortages at Camp Bowie, Texas. and
Camp Doniptan, okla. were today de-
scribed TO the Senate military commit
tee ny tie respective commanders of
these cantonments. Maj. Gems. Greble
and Wright.
Epidemics Under Control
Both officers said the epidemics at
their posts nov were under control
and thai adequate supplies Of over
coats had been received. but they gave
dismal pictures of earlier conditions.
They told, too. of enormous shortages
of rifles, machine guns ANA other
equipment still existing. Food has
been plentiful, they said, and of good
quality.
General Grchle'S story showed con
dltions at Camp Bowie to have been
the worse. He declared that tho lives
Of many MOI who recently died there
would have been saved had winter
clothing, sufficient tents to avoid over
and proper hospital facili-
ties and sanitation hcen provided. lie
told how tie war department ordered
u men housed in each tent, where, he
said, they We're 80 thick you couldn't
walk between them"
Durins November. Gen. Greble said.
5000 men, ur about one-third of his
command. passed through the hospital
with deaths from pneumonia, measles
and other diseases averaging 1G daily.
AT II time 1900 men, he stated. were
crowded into Il hospital built 10 ac-
connmodatp 500 and without a sewer
age system.
Continued on Page 5-CoI. y
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29

the trade of retailers at points Where
independent rendering companies tried
TO compete.
Seek Corner Store Trade
Not only the rendering business, but
ven the corner store trade in meats
was sought BY the packers. witnesses
declared. Large markets were estab-
lished in strategic positions in vari-
Gus cities. where packers named the
price at which meats could be old at
retail, according to testimony. These
prices were said to he below that at
which the small retailer could sell. As
a result. it was said, the neighbcrhood
butchers were closing up their shop.
in ev~er-incrCasing numbers hcCanS"
customers We're drawn to the 'arGeT
stores. Witnesses named the Mohican
90. which has q chain Of stores
throughout New England. as a specific
instance OF this kind.
Thus. Mr.. IIeney pointed out. the pack
ers controlled the entire field of the coun-
try's meat business. At the Washington
hearing it was brought out he said, that
they controlled the stock yards and the
extensive terminal facilities in Chicago.
Now 1t was shown he said. that they also
controlled the valuable ~by-products from
butchers waste and were making bust
ness nearly unbearah!e for the small
butcher.
Many of the witnesses heard today gave
their versions Of being driven out OF bus
iness by what they termed the trust" or
.E -; ;r,, ,I, .-I;, -; al ,x
live. Two Of the witnesses, however. en-
livened the somewhat u%nsavory details
concerning greases and bones by trum-
peting their defiance to the packers.
,Iohn Glennie Of North Andovcr. a ma
OF the rugged New England tyuc, stated
Continued on Page 5-Col. 81
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29

CkrainianS claim a complete victory at
B~ielgorod, where it is stated that the
detachment Of Gen. kornilof's forces
numbered 5000 men with 200 guns.
Several other combats, including one
at kupiansk. are reported without any
certainty as regards the victors or In
dication OF important results. The
M~aXirnalists claim the CpSsacks have
become d~emoralized and are refusing
to fight Bolsheviki troops.
Government HopeIessIy Bankrupt
The Morning Posts i~'etrograd CORE
spondent quotes from the neWspapers
there The report of the finance "a
missioner IN the financial condition of
Russia, in which it is stated that all
sources OF the states income have
been absolutely Gu off. 1t shows the
railroads entirely occupied with NOV
ing troops and m of the Red
Guard. Who travel free, there being.
therefore, no receipts from passenger
Nafhc. The correspondent says the
only resourte of the state is the print
is hopclessly bankrupt.
~ 1tIb ttitIhdI ttIS tOIlillufliIllt
issued after a long interval mentions
only the western and southwestern
fronts. 1t ignores the north front. but
indicates that there still is n Russian
front in existence along about two
thirds the length Of the russian lines.
The seni-official RUSSIAN news aecn-
cE reports "a general meeting of rep
resentatives Of the Petrograd garrison
to examine the international situation.
Leon Trotzky, the Bolsheviki foreign
minister, is quoted as declaring 10 the
h~ssemblace in an address that as peace
had not Yet been concluded the front
"ueht to be maintained intact and the
Fetrograd garrison ought to partici-
pate in holding it. The representative
OF the garrison. says the agency dis
patch. voted in favor of sending de-
tachments to points where they were
needed.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
AGAIN IS ON
VERGE COAL FAMINE

Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 2S.-A severe
cod wave struck Ohio tonight and the
state again is on the verge of a coal
famine that state fue administration
officials declare will be more serious
than the one of two weeks ago. During
that period of intense suffering, lake
coal was available for c~onfiscation.
whereas there is none now to be had.
Ohio mines have been working at not
more than 40 per cent. capacity for two
weeks and in many not a pick has
been moved. according to a statement
bv ]. b. Dugan. chief inspector of the
Chic Public Utilities Commission Car
shortage is the ause, he said.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
PLEADS GUILTY
Sentenced to Prison for l;fe-Had
Previously Pleaded Not Guilty bv
Reason Of insanity-FeIiow Teacher
Was Choked, S%transled and Throt-
tied, Cut with Knife and Struck on
Head with Blunt instrument

laccnia, \. H., Dec. 2S.-Morlis >
hraulofo' who shot and killed Miss
Lice Is. Richards and wounded TWO
other teachers at the New Hampsfhlre
school for the Feeble Minded on Ju,a
y, To-Day pleaded guilty to first degree
murder and was sentence TO prison for
lie. He had previously pleaded moi
guilty by reason Of insanity ana mis-
ma was set to begin next Wednesday,.
Was Manual Training Teacher
bradford was manual train;no j.,
Structor at the school and occuniod .
'ot'ase on the school grounds near the
shore of Lake W~innisoitar ~ ia
'olnplalned Of being m~elanchollv ,nd
lolieSicK n to cheer him. Miss Rich
ards. head teacher of the school Nise
rli"dpeth Suess, assistant matrcn. AMI
Miss DorDthy Davis, a teacher. went "a
ms cottage on June IS to take supper
with him.
Late 'hat night. Bradford padded in
ms canoe TWO miles across the axe to
tils Town n gave himself up to the
ponce On his way to the police sta
'i"h ie Naiitu ". benjamin W. Baker,
superintendent of the school. on the
telephone and told him to go down ia
me cottage. DR.. Baker found Miss
Richards dead and Miss Suess and Miss
Davis severely injured.
During the investigation later Brad
iord maintained that all the events IF
the night had been effaced from, his
memory. Miss Suess and Miss Da-
Wis. who eventually recovered from
their Wounds, said hat after supper
Bradford tied the three women in
chairs. telling them he was g0ing 70
teach them q new kind of game. and
then attacked them with a knife. cut
ting their hair close to their heads
and beating them with a club.
Struck IS Times
The autopsy report said that Miss
Richards was ''choked. strangled and
throttled." hat there were knife
wounds on her throat and that she had
been struck Is times on the head with
n blunt instrument.
The state alleged that the rope With
which the three ome We're tied was
Continued on Page 5-coI. y
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
STEEL SHIPS
Correct Solution Of the
Shipping Problem
He Stated Wooden Program Flat
Faiiure-Wooden Vessels Should On
iy Be Built When Tonnage Can Be
Increased Most Rapidly by that
Means

Washington, Dec. 2S.-An outline of
legislation wanted by the shipping
board to provide additional powers for
speeding yOu construction Of the new
merchant fleet was given today by for
mer Rear ADMIRAL BoWles, assistant to
the general of the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, testifyinG at the
Senate committees inquiry into the
shipping situation. Aomng other things
Mr.. BoUles said the board desired au-
t~horization TO declare as a war zone
the territory surrounding ~shipyards as
well as TO commanded houses and
local TRANSPORTATION facilities so as to
better take care of Workmen at the
plants. He also suggested that on
gress should protect shipbuilders from
the operations of the war excess prof
its tax law. or at least modify its pro-
visions insofar as it pertains to them.
Operation of the law is now So I'M
certain. he explained, that the board
is having great difficulty in placing
contracts at n reasonable price. as the
Continued on Page 5-Col. -
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
en- for the present.
War Board Conference

The War Board. comprising five Of
the countr%S foremost railroad cXecu-
lives, who have been in supreme charge
"f the roads for the last nine months.
were called into Conference at II o'clock
to discuss plans for welding all lines
int" 7 single government operated sys-
TEN.
They loft the treasury department.
two hours Later under instruction to
continue their functions and to sub
nit Immediately a plan of operation to
the director general.
Tonight Mr.. Nc.Adoo issued his. first
order designed To speed mp freight
movement, t~elesraphing all railroad
presidents and directors instructions
to move traffic by the most convenient
and direct routes At the same time.
he orders them to continue operation
of THEN lines in conformity with the
Presidents proclamation putting them
under government control
There was no indication tonight whether
Mr.. McAdoo Intended eventually to dis
place the war board with an organizatio,
Continued on Page 2-CoI. y
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
GERMANY TIRED
OF WAR SAYS
KEYSERL|NCK

Petrograd. Dec. 2s.-The advance
guard Of the German peace delegation
arrived il Petrograd Thursday eve
ming. II consisted Of Admiral Baron
kcyserlingk. who was formerly naval
attache to the German embassy in
Petrograd. Captain Herman and Lieut.
vierle. also naval officer, They Wore
civilian clothing and were received by
the representatives of the Russian ad-
miralty and entertained in the admit
rally barracks. Thirty additional rep
resentatives of the Central Powers are
coming 20 petrocrad shortly from
BreSt-LitoYsk.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
ALLIES REFUSE
RUSSIA TO MAKE
SEPARATE PEACE
SAYS TROTzKY

London, Dec. 2S.-Leon Trotzky,
Bolsheviki foreign minister, according
to q special dispatch from Petrograd
yesterday, Informed the Workmen's
and Soldiers Council tina he would
officially ask the Entente Powers
Continued on Page 4-Col. y
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29

Admiral Keyserlingk said the naval
delegation had come To Pstrograd par
ticularly 10 discuss the cessation OF
naval warfare He said that prices are
higher in petrograd than in Berlin
and hat the food situation in Germany
was quite good.
There is a certain tiredness with
war in Germany" said Admiral Ken
serlingk. w want peace, but we have
wanted peace since the beginning. We
Will not agree TO an unfavorable peace.
We are prepared to fight for a long
line and have tie means to do so. II
we make peace with Russia, war with
Russia's allies canno Brighten ~, par
ticularly was with America. The only
power dangerous to us is America, but
we are not afraid Of her. If we had
feared the American feet We never
would have begun our submarine war
fare"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
BRITISH LABOR
FOR RESTORING
OF BELGIUM

London. Dec. 2s.-Prcmier LLOYD
DAY to the special National Labor Con-
ference. declared:
achievement Of the urpos for
which the Allies are fighting is essen
tial to the future freedom and peace
Of mankind"
The Premier also asserted that ~
statement on war aims could be made
only in agreement with Great Brit
aims allies. The question of issuing a
fresh joint declaration, he added. war
being constantly kept in view By no
Entente Allied governments.
British Reply TO German Offer
The Premier's statement is regard
ed as the British reply to the German
peace offer. The labor conference was
convinced by the parliamentary COM
mittee Of the Trade Union ConEre%3
and the executive OF the Labor Party
in the Central hall at Westminster to
consider a memorandum on war
aims" A pronounciamento was adopt
ed with a virtually unanimous show
of hands, declaring that in continuing
the war labor is actuated by a deter
mination to make the world gafe. for
democracy hereafter.
No sympathy was expressed In the text
Of the statement with attempts to c%onverti
the war into one Of conquest, hut it. in
Continued on Page Hcoi. "
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
w ar Board Discusses
Single System Plans
with McAdOO
ASKED TO SUBMIT
OPERATION SCHEME,
First Orders of Director ,Gener-
al McAdOO to Move Traffic by
Most Convenient and Direct
R0utes-StrOng Pooling Sys-
tem-NOn-Essentials May Be
Denied Transportation

Washington, Dec. -S.-Tne railroads
of the United States passed into gov
eminent possession at moor today as
Secretary MtAdoo designated by. Pres
idcnt Wilson as director general of
railroads was d~elegating to the rail-
roads War Board the task of operat-
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
COMMISSION
TO DECIDE FAIR
Milk PRICE

Boston. Dec. 2S.-The Federal Milk
commission for New England will fix
a price for milk on Jan. / or a day or
two later. This was announced tonight
after an executive meeting OF the com
mission. Phillip R. Allen, chairman,
said the commission would meet next
week to examine the statistics it had
gathered.
We had hoped" he said. ITO have
our report ready by Monday, so the
new prices would be effective Jan. /,
but we have so many statistics to go
over that possibly we shall be delayed
n day or two"
Hearings Closed Friday
Boston. Dec. 26.-Thc Federal Milk
Commission for New England, which
has been conducting a public inquiry
into the milk business in this part of
the country. closed its hearings late
today. Whether more hearings will be
held before the commission decides on
what it believes to be a fair price for
lllllh II iuN HiAONH tpIiSbl.
G. II. Hood, a large milk contrac-
tor OF this city, was the last witness
heard today. Mr.. Hood said the milk
business must be conducted on a mar
gin Of Is per cent. return on the cap
ital invested if the interests of pro-
ducers, distributors and are
to be adequately safeguarded.
The margin Of profit for the distrib-
utor, he said, was so small that many
had already been obliged to go out
OF business. He believed decreased
consumption of milk was due largely
to the shortage of sugar. Thousands
of Housewives he continued, have
stopped making desserts. custards and
cake because they cannot get sugar"
Roger sherman Hoar, speaking for
the producers. asked that the price Of
milk to the producer be fixed at . Ia
cents per quart.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-29
WITHOUT FIGHT
Americans Take Four
German Submarines
Sweep Down Upon Them as They Are
Rechareine Batteries-Mu tinous u
Boat Crew Surrehders After Killing
Commander

Boston. Dec, 2>.-Four German sub
marines We're captured recently by l.
American d~estroyers. according to an
American seaman who reached his
home here from a French port to-
night. The seaman-a former Boston
newspaper man-was board a troop
ship at the French port recently. he
said, when the ~destroyers, all flying
The stars and Stripes, steamed in with
their prizes. The submarines We're ~
ing upon the surface of the ocean, with
their coming towers open, recharging
their batteries. when the American de-
stroyers swept down upon them and
tool them prisoner without a fight.