davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
Today Witnessed Most Sensa-
tiOnaI Advance in Years.
Railroad Shares Recover From
Lowest Levels in History.
SANTA FE UP 91-2IN ONE JUMP
st Paul Up IL Points; q. p, S14
at Market Outset.
100000 Shares Change Hands
in First Hours Trading.

New York, Dec. President Will
sons proclamation taking over CON
troll of railroads with guarantees as to
earnings was reflected in Wall street
today by one of the most sensational
advances in stocks seen in years For
months prices have been falling and
many railroad issues have reached the
lowest levels in their history.
The news that earnings were to be
guaranteed and that the period of un-
certainty as to the future of the rail-
roads was at an end acted like a sharp
spur to a jaded horse. The market
Ieaped forward at the outset, prices
jumping five to eighteen points above
yesterdays close and altho there were
recessions later, the buying continued
strong and vigorous. The news came
as a complete surprise no definite an
nouncement having been expected un-
til next week. The guarantees and
safeguards surrounding the govern
ment action, were hailed with enthu-
siasm-
The advances were most pronounc-
ed in shares which recently registered
the lowest records. Standard rails, in
cluding transcontinental and "coalers'
made more moderate gains but in eV-
cry quarter of the list Improvement
extended from to points.
Sales of the first hour approximated
100000 shares, which is greater than
the total of some recent sessions.
Pay Not Less Than Per Cent.
The advances ranged from to 8
points in the railroad lists, all the
standard shares being bid up furious
ly. New York Central advanced Z II
points to II; New Haven, 1s to 20;
Erie, 2ss to 16; $500" points to 81 /;
Reading, 27s to 701A; Southern Pa
cific, II to "a; Union Pacific. s Il to
112; Southern Railway. 2 n to "a H.
St. Paul jumped IL 5s points to As;
Atchison, 915 to Sly; Delaware &
Hudson, points to 100; c. P, points
to 1874; Norfolk & Western, 7 Is points
to 1O4.
Securities to be issued while the
government is in control will be at
interest rates not less than per cent
and the issues will be made under
joint authority of the director general
and the interstate commerce commits
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
GAMBLE IN COAL
Spectators Responsible for Coal
Shortage in Summer.

Washington, Dec. 27.-Speculation
in coal last summer brought about the
coal shortage this winter, w. B. Col
yer, of the federal trade commission
testified before the senate coal in
quiry today.
Cars of coal would pass thru the
hands of five or six profiteers, each
one raising the price" said Colver.
Sometimes speculator would han
die the same car twice.
Just before the president fixed
prices 80 per cent of the total coal
tonnage was contracted for at enor-
mously high prices. and then the coal
was not being delivered according to
contracts, but was sold at prices above
the excessive contract figures"
The situation was so serious then
that it was impossible to prevent
shortages this winter by the greatest
efforts of the government, Colver said.
Pooling Is Solution.
transportation facilities have grown
worse, Colver said. He told of typi-
cal trip of a car of coal 1t required
twenty-three days for the car to travel
from Rush Run, southeastern Ohio. to
Cleveland and return, 252 miles. The
time lost on sidings and in yards, was
21days, one hour and twenty minutes.
Coal is handled. as the slowest
freight, Colver said, and the average
movement of all freight is only %
miles a Gay 1nere is no car shortage,
for the railroad yards of many cities
are already jammed with cars. I'VE
need a general pooling of terminals
and equipments, just as is provided in
the proclamation" he said.
DO you think if the transportation
problem is solved, the coal supply will
be sufficient to meet all demands 20
asked Senator Jones.
Without a doubt" Colver replied.
Coal in Massachusetts $2s Ton.
Senator Lodge insisted coal prices
in the east were higher than ever be-
fore this fall, in spite of the lower
fixed prices.
Il know of a Massachusetts, work
ing man who had to buy coal by the
pound to keep warm and the price
was $2S a ton" said Lodge.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
CUT BIC SALARIES
Will Be One of GOv't'S First
Acts in Railway Control
Another May Be 200 Million
Appropriation by Congress.

Washington, Dec. 27.-One of the
first acts of the government in defin-
ing operation of railroads will be to
reduce large salaries now paid to rail-
way executives and increase in some
measure the wages of the railway
workers.
President Wilson when he outlines
the governments plans in his forth
coming address to congress, will ask
that the government be empowered to
buy any quantity of new railroad Sc
cur4ties All dividends over and above
an amount to be agreed upon will go
to the government.
Congress will be asked also to ap-
propriate a large fund-probably two
hundred million dollars-for the i'm
handle the flood of traffic which has
swamped the roads. The director
general will have authority to decide
whether the government shall also as
sumo operation and control of the
express companies.
Salaries Now Up to $15O,OOO.
The presidents of many large lines
now receive salaries ranging from
$4,000 to $150,O0O a year and one of
the first acts of the director general
probably win be to cut these sharply
Ten thousand dollars a year is being
discussed as a maximum, altho there
is no tendency to underestimate their
worth to the government in the war
emergency. Some railroad men pre-
dicted that the officers would accept
these reductions willingly in view of
the fact that they are virtually drafted
for war work.
The saving in salaries would be ap-
piled to raising the pay of members
of the four railway brotherhoods
whose officers conferred today with
President Wilson and also of other
railway employees unorganized.
The president was expected to ask
the brotherhood heads to give the
fullest measure of support to govern
ment operation and to leave their
pending demand for higher wages for
determination in the future when the
director general. untangles many of
the complications nov developing.
Traffic Solicitors May Be Cut Off.
Under government control every eff
fort will be made to interfere as little
as possible with the personnel of the
companies, but il is considered in
evitable that some employees will be
cut off. This applies particularly to
the large staffs maintained by many
railroads for soliciting traffic
These reductions will be more than
offset by the employment of more
men for operating.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
UNIONS APPROVE MOVE
Brotherhood Leaders Pleased-Expect
Wage Raise for Rail Employees.

Washington. Dec. 27.-From one of
the brotherhood leaders who confers
with President Wilson this afternoon,
the United Press learned officially to-
day that the railroad employees will
back government control generally.
I'VE expect our members to do their
utmost for the president and the war"
he said. There is not the least like
Iihood of trouble between the en-
ployes and the COVER m e Mt OF
course, our wage demands will be
pressed to final adjustment The
workers must be fixed to meet the
rising costs of living. 1 haven't a
doubt that this will be taken care of
by the president"
Delayed trains caused a few hours
postponement of a preliminary meet
ing of the brotherhood leaders before
they went to the White House w. S.
Carter. head of the F'iremen's Broth
erhood, was the only labor chief in
Washington early today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
KAISER JUST ESCAPED
Barely Out of Mannheim When Brit
ish Raiders Dropped Bombs.

London. Dec. 2T.-England's first
reprisal air raid came near being the
greatest success of the war in that
the German kaiser barely got out of
Mannheim before the bombs began to
drop, according to a Geneva dispatch
printed by the London Express today.
The kaiser and his staff were re-
turning from the Verdun front where
last week the kaiser called God Ger
many's avowed ally and passed the
Mannheim station just an hour before
that structure was partially wrecked
by bombs from the British reprisal
squadron.
Two bombs also fell in the Palace
Palatinate and one on the Neckar sus-
pension bridge. 10th being badly dam
aged. A munition factory in a north
ern surburb OF the city was also
blown up Many were killed and
wounded in the town.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
COULDN'T ENLIST, KILLS SELF?
Prominent X. c. Engineer Found With
Throat SIashed.

Kansas City. Dec. 27.-John w.
Malcolmson, a consulting engineer,
was found dead, his throat slashed
with a razor. which lay a few feet from
the body, on bluff in the heart of
the city today. The discovery was
made by boys at play. Malcomson
left home last evening, saying he was
going to his office in a downtown
building. He had been i'll for several
days.
When his wife received news of his
death this afternoon she asserted that
she believed her husband had been
murdered She was unable to give
any reason for suicide but said that
he had brooded greatly over the death
or his brother. who was killed in
france early in the war. She also
said that he had worried because he
was too old to enlist
About $50 in Malcolmson's pockets
had not been disturbed
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
"Can't Run Santa Fe Efficiently
Unless 1t DOes"-Ripley.
Santa Fe President Sees Ad-
vantage in One Man Control.
"BEFUDDLED AND BEDEVILED"
By Petty Officials Seeking Pri-
Ority Shipping Rights.
Rail Chiefs Ready To Cooper
ate; Many Glad of Move.

Los Angeles, Cal, Dec. 27.-"One
man in charge of the railroads will
help in a measure said E. P. Ripley,
president of the Atchison. Topeka &
Santa Fe railroad here today. in COM
menting on government control of
railroads. I'VE have been befuddled
and bedeviled by scores of petty Off
cials whb asked for priority shipment
rights, wanting to hurry thru things
in which they Were interested.
stockholders will give a sigh of
relief when the government takes con-
troll and guarantees returns" Ripley
continued. II do not believe the gov
ernment can operate tn, Santa F'e eff
f-ciently at present unless it gets more
materials than we have been able to
get
THE government has the power to
commander materials and may thus
add to the railroads efficiency. The
government also has the power to set
tie strikes
Anticipating Such Action.
Omaha, Neb., Dec. 27.-E. f. Cal
win, president of the Union Pacific.
said:
II am unable to say at present what
effect the action of the government
may have upon the Union Pacific.
would like to know more of the de-
tails before making any detailed
statement.
I'VE have, however. been expecting
such action upon the part of the gov
ernment and hav stood willing at all
times to assist in every way"
Situation VIII Clarity.
st. Louis, Mo, Dec. 27.-B. F. Bush,
president of the Missouri Pacific. in
commenting on President Wilson'S
proclamation today under which the
government takes control of the rail-
n aa1r
railroads will go ahead and do the
best they can,
Il believe the situation will be clar-
flied" he said, "but 1 do not believe
the rank and file of the people realize
what the railroads have had to con-
months"
Mr.. Bush said the congestion of
freight had barely affected the terri
tory west of the Mississippi river and
was confined chiefly to the east
Katy Strong for 1t.
Dallas, Tex. Dec. Eff that is
what President Wilson wants. we are
for it." said w. E. Webb, chief oper-
ating officer for the Missouri. Kansas
q Texas Railroad company of Texas
here today.
Pledge Cooperation.
st. Paul. Mimi, Dec. 27.-Without
the least discussion, four railroad
presidents Louis w. Hill of the Great
Nortnern; j. NJ. Hanna Ford of the
Northern Pacific; Edward Pennington
OF the 500 line, and James p. Clark e
or the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
q Omaha, and other high officials
mere today met the announcement of
President Wilson that the government
would operate the railroads after De-
cember 2S, with pledges to cooperate
unreservedly with the president and
Secretary McAdoo in carrying out
their plans to run the transportion
! systems of the country.
I The selection of Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo as general director
of the railroads was praised by Of
ficials, Louis W. Hill characterizing
him as the best man President Wilson
could have named for the place
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
$4,000 Miles of Railways Pass
to Operation Of Uncle Sam.
TAKES OVER LINES TOMORROW
All Equipment and Trackage
Under One Centralized Head.
3 Million Railroad Workers Be-
come Federal Employees.
GOvERNMENT RAILROAD OPERA


Railroads will pass under government
control at noon tomorrow with Secre-
Ad0o as .'director-general of railroads"
The United States will administer
twenty billion dollars worth of rail-
way property.
ing upop practical railroad men to aid
him in his transportation task, allow
ing existing organizations to continue
for the present
All rail lines and owned and con-
tro1led coastwise steam lines. together
with electrified rail lines. terminals and
appurtennnces of the railroads Will be
taken over.
Railroads will receive compensation
on the basis Of average three-year earn
ings ending June so, 1915-two lean
years and one good one.
President Wilson will ask congress 10
guarantee this return and to maintain
railroad in good repair and equipment
Action is FOR the period of the war.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
Germany Won't Renounce Them
Under Any Circumstances.
Proposes Evacuation of All Ter
ritory Captured by TeutOns.
RUSSIAN ENJOYS SEE A SNA6
Rights of Smaller Nations Not
Protected, They Claim.
Recess Until January 10 To In
form Allies of Terms.

(The vague meaning in portions of the
Teutonic powers peace terms may pc Que
crepancies in cabling the. text. In spots
the meaning of the terms is not definite as
it appears in the English yersion)
Petrograd, Dec. 26-Cwednesday)
The central powers, Count Czernin.
the Austro- Hungarian foreign minis
ter, told the peace conference at Brest-
Litovsk yesterday solemnly declared
their resolve to Immediately sign terms
which will terminate the war on con-
ditions equally just to all belligerents.
The central powers also favor a gem
eral peace without forcible annexa-
tions and indemnities. They could not
bind themselves to such terms without
guarantee that Russia's allies would
recognize them and carry them out
honestly toward the central powers.
Count Czernin declared that the CEN
tral powers believed that the basic
principles uttered by the Russian del
egates could be the basis of such a
peace. He said they shared Russian
condemnation of a continuation of the
war for the sake of conquest.
1t is necessary to indicate more
clearly, however, the count added. that
the Russian proposals could be real
lied only in the event that all belliger-
ents obligated themselves to adhere to
terms of such peace.
Not TO Annex Territory.
The Austro- Hungarian foreign min
lister declared that the central powers
did not intend to forcibly annex terri
tory seized during the war nor to de-
prive nations of political independence
lost in the war. The question of the
subsection of nationalities who have
no political independence to another
country cannot be solved internation-
ally and must be met by each govern
ment and its people in the manner es-
tablished by the constitution of that
government. The protection of the
right of minorities is an essential part
of the right of peoples to self-defini-
ton.
In the event of a mutual refusal to
meet war expenditures and pay dam
ages caused by the war Count Ger
min continued, each belligerent shall
bear only the expense of its subjects
made prisoners and damages caused
to property of civilian subjects by de-
! liberate violations of international
law on the part of the adversary. This
creation of a special fund for the pur-
pose as suggested by Russia could be
discussed only in the event that the
other belligerents Joined in the peace
negotiations within certain time.
Re-estabIish "VioIated Rights"
The chairman of the Russian deIe-
Pgation expressed qualification at Ger
man willingness to make peace with
out annexations and indemnities and
with the self f-definition as being in
complete. He said the war could not
end without the re-establishment Of
the violated rights of little and op-
pressed nationalities and r g / a
would insist on guarantees that their
Continued on Page Two.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27

Washington. Dec. 27.-Prelimin-
aries for actual taking over of the
railroads by the government at noon
tomorrow moved forward swiftly to-
day and -overshadowed all other war
activities in the capital
Altho approved by the great ma
jority of railroad men. there was was
some disposition toward criticism in
congress principally on the ground
that the government proposed to al
low the railroads too much, but there
Was no indication that the presidents
plans would be seriously opposed and
everything was prepared for enacting
necessary laws soon after he explains
the situation in an address to con-
gress.
Many members of the house and
senate predicted the step which was
only the beginning of government
operation and control and that 1t
would soon extend to telegraph ana
telephone lines if not, indeed, to the
distribution of life's necessities
McAdoo Studies New Job.
Director General McAdoo spent the
dav in intensive study of problems
which must be solved at the outset
President Wilson conferred with the
heads of the four great brotherhoods-
demand for increases in pay would be
handled by a committee of managers
to be appointed by Mr.. McAdoo.
The interstate commerce commit
tees in congress began "a survey of
legislation they will prepare to carry
the presidents plan into effect
Worlds Greatest System.
Washington, Dec. 27.-The greatest
network of railways in the whole
world will be linked tomorrow in
Americas war machine, under gov
ernment control.
Government assumption of railroad
dictatorship means the United States
henceforth will practically control ev-
cry industry and every business of its
citizens. thru its hold on the vital ar
teries of commerce
Affects Three Million Employees.
Approximately three million rail-
way employees of all branches are
taken into the federal service under
McAdoo.
President wilson's proclamation
naming Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo the supreme railway magnate of
the nation is the most revolutionary
step vet taken to key the nations en-
ergies to the utmost pitch of efficiency
in the win-the-war program. Con-
gress has already authorized govern
ment control of food, of fuel and of
foreign commerce. The control of
IalAWdyS- authorized ny the LEGISLATORS
and now assumed by the president,
puts the government absolutely in
dominance of every ounce of Ameri-
cas- energy.
Labor Problem Paramount
Foremost among the gigantic prob
lens facing the government as su-
preme railroad controller, as Washing
ton saw ii today. was solution of a
: perpleNing labor problem.
President Wilson is to confer with
railroad brotherhood chiefs today, pre-
sumably to straighten out this ques-
ton of demands for increased wages
Today also Secretary McAdoo is to
confer with rail executives relative to
the compensation which the govern
men is to pay the roads. based on a
three year average beginning July
1918. Should it be found impossible
To- reach an agreement with the roads
Continued on Page Two)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27

The highest temperature recorded
today was 81 degrees at 1880 o'clock.
The average temperatures for the day
were l degree above normal for the
date. At 2 o'clock this afternoon the
wind had shifted from the southwest
and was blowing Is miles an hour
from the north.
The kings of summer and fall have
put up a desperate fight for their lives
this year, and temporary victories
have maintained them in their
trenches even up to this late date. OF
course there have been reverses but
always the hard driven warriors have
been able to recover and strike back
with telling effect. However old war
dog Boreas with the craft of many,
winters experience was expecting to
Continued on Page Two)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
informed Alien Enemy Attacks Official
i'm Federal Prison.

Atlanta, Ca. Dec 27.-Dr. James R.
Brock. Trenton, Ga, deputy warden
at the Atlanta federal penitentiary.
was killed by Dimitre Popoff, a pris-
oner, who struck him down with an
iron bar. The only reason the con-
vict would give for the attack was,
1T was a personal matter"
Popoff, said to be an alien enemy,
was sentenced for five years for coun-
terfeiting from the northern district
of Ohio. He began serving his SEN
tence last Nav.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
OVER MILLION SHARES
Advance in Stocks Extended to Other
IndustriaIs Than Rails.

New York, Dec. 27.-Buying of
stocks during the afternoon continued
in full swing and extended to indus
trials and specialties which showed
extreme gains of to s points Sales
exceeded 100000 shares While rails
eased on realizing, support was forth
coming on the moderate reactions.
United States steel showed an ex-
treme advance of u points at IS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
ELIMINATES BROKERS'
Big Sugar Refining Company To Sen
Direct TO Domestic Trade

New York, Dec. 27.-SeIling sugar
thru brokers will be eliminated en-
tirely by the American Sugar Refn-
ing company, beginning with the first
of the new year, the company an
nounced today 1t will thenceforth
sell its sugar to the domestic trade
thru its own selling organization. The
national associs ton. Of brokers of re-
fined sugars called special meeting
to discuss the company's action.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
CHASING MEX. BANDITS

Maria, Tex, Dec. 27.-Two troops
of United States cavalry are some
where in Mexico" today pursuing the
Mexican bandits who raided the Can
delauria store. postoff1ce and killed
the stage driver and his passengers
Christmas morning
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
COULDN'T ENLIST, KILLS SELF?
We'll, Old p. T. Always Got Away
With 1t.

The advertisement with which
America prepares her war efforts is
imposing and worthy of a country
whmich produced a aBrnum. Field
Marshal Won Hindenburg
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
COLD WEATHER BACK
The Mercury viii Hover Around the
Above Mark Tonight.

Temperatures for the day furnished
by the local office of the United States
weather bureau.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27

WEATHER FORECAST for Kansas:
CLOUDY; much colder tonight.
Friday, cold wave.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27

(The vague meaning in portions of the
Teutonic powers peace terms may be due
either to translation into English or to dis
crepancies in cabling the text. In spots
the meaning of the terms is not definite as
it appears in the English version.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27

THESE peace kites would be a sue
cess if their tails weren't so heavy.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-27
KILLS DEPUTY WARDEN

tContinned on Page Two. J