davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Chairman Henry of your commit
tee IS the congressman who gave ME
the names"
The room hummed with excite
ment. Lawson, silent and grave,
looked straight ahead at the chair
man. Mr.. Henry, without sign of
perturbation, waited moment for The
buzzing to subside and then delib-
erately proceeded to read the next
ton from Lawson that Henry had
given him the information in Henry's
office at the capitol on January 2.
The third question called attention
10 Lawson's statement that he had
been told by a broker that New
York banker, a cabinet officer and
a senator had a joint stock brokerage
account and directed that he tell the
committee the name of the man who
had given him that information.
THE man who told me that was
Archibald s. White, Boston, of the
firm Of White and Company"
Representative Harrison moved
and the committee approved that
White be subpoenaed.
Replying to the next question as
to whom he had referred in his state
ment that members Of congress had
engaged in buying and selling stocks
Lawson said he could not give their
names, as he did not know them.
1t was in answering'the next ques-
tion, as other persons who had given
him evidence in substantiation of his
various statements that Lawson
brought in the names Of Secretary
Tumulty and William W. Price"
white house correspondent Of the
Washington Star He read a letter
from a Washington woman, Mrs
Ruth Thomason Visconti, saying in
part:
my Dear Mr.. Lawson: IF the
name of the man who was the go-be-
tween in the present leak and the
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

CAMPAIGNERS FACE
BAD WEATHER
Ice Covers Roads. and One
Scheduled Meeting Called
OF.

Agfonomists who are conducting
better farming campaign in this
section under the Joint auspices Of
The Memphis business Mems Club
aud the Farm Extension Department
Of the Mississippi A. & NJ. College.
spent Tuesday in Lowndes county.
and despite the exceedingly cold
weather which prevailed the four
meetings held within the borders of
the county were fairly we'll attended.
Two teams were engaged in the
local work, and team No. I, which is
composed Of ]. j. Willis, of Grenada.
district agent of the Federal Farm
Extension Department for North
Mississippi, F. W. Farley, of Jack
son, live stock specialist, and L. G.
Heron, horticulturist at the A. e.
NJ. College, held meetings at Gale
donia at 10 a. m. This team also
intended to go to Rural Hill, but the
roads were so bad that it was impos-
sihle to make the trip.
These gentlemen were accom-
panied by DR.. John Oliver, director
of agriculture for the Chamber of
Commerce of Columbus and Lowndes
County, who served as official rep
resentative Of. the organization at
the meetings.
Team No. 2, made up of 4. M. Pat
terson, specialist in rural economics,
j. r. Kicks, agronomist and assistant
state experiment station director,
and F, D. Fuller, agricultural agent
of the Southern Railway and Mobile
and Ohio Railroad, conducted me8
ings at Mcvfn ~ asb -. l. q
Artesia at 2 p. m. The local Cham
ber of Commerce was represented at
these meetings by Hollis lines, act
ing secretary of the organization.
The local campaign closed with
meeting at the Chamber of Com
merce in this city Tuesday night.
This meeting was conducted by team
No. 2, and several interesting ad-
dresses were delivered by the agro-
nomists, all of whom stressed the i'm
portance of diversification in agri-
cultural pursuits.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18
win Give Social.

The members of the Wesley class
of the First Methodist church will en-
tentain at an apron social in the
Baraea class room this evening ~
Z 80 o'clock.
A most interesting program has
been arranged, among the numbers
being recitations by Misses Sue Fay
Nall and Flanagan, Of the |. |. & c.,
several numbers by the Columbus
Quartet, and a solo by Miss Grace
Wright. Refreshments will be en-
joyed.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Chairman Henry insisted, however,
that Lawson should answer the ques-
tons put to him and said he would
later be given an opportunity to
make any statement he desired.
Despite the decision of the chair
man Lawson insisted on making
statement and pleaded for an oppor-
tunity to present his information in
secret
MAY not have just a word" he
asked in pleading tones. II will be
short and to the point 1t seems to
me you owe it to me to allow me to
state things which | think are abso-
lutely necessary, | am going to an
swer your questions, if forced to, but
| want to make one more appeal be-
fore | answer.
II stated before that my reasons
for refusing to give the information
| had were that publication of names
might lead to the destruction Of evil
dence and that member of congress
had convinced me that the matter
was serious to the nation and to the
administration.
"But | did give one name to Speak
err Clark, that of Charles II Sabin,
president of the Guaranty Trust
Company of New York. Mr.. Sabin
came before you and was allowed to
go away without giving any informa-
ton or showing his books. Mr.. Sabin
has left the country and his evidence
is gone.
II am willing to give all the names
but appeal to the committee to take
all my answers in confidence. Then
| if the committee determines that
shall make them public, ! will repeat
them in public. | don't want to
quibble and | don't want to refuse. F"
Here the committeeman held a
brief whispered conversation and
Chairman Henry announced that the
witness should answer the questions
publicly.
Lawson looked at the committee
sternly, squared himself in his chair
and said in voice scarcely audible
question formulated by the commit
tee.
1t was merely an elaboration OF
the first put in slightly different Ian
guage, referring to the fact that Il
made no difference whether the in
formation came to him as "rumor OF
idle gossip and brought a reitera.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

amount of the money be of any as
sistanee to you, | can supply the
name and the amount he received
and give the name Of at least one
associate at the white house who par
tieipated in the haul"
The letter further requested that
Lawson hold the information in the
strietest confidence in case he did
not proceed further in the matter.
lawson then testified he made an
appointment with Mrs. Visconti who
came TO his apartment with an at.
torney whose name he could not re-.
call. After long conference, he
said, Mrs. Visconti told him that Mr.,
Price chad a part in the leak affair
between Secretary TumuIty and
Others" I" No reference was made
either by Lawson or the committee
to the amount Of money referred to
in Mrs. Visconti's letter.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18
Funeral Held Sunday.

Funeral services over the remains
of Mrs. Ella Stephenson. the devoted
wife of Mr. W. p. Stephenson, who
died at her home in Caledonia Sat.
urday, was held Sunday afternon.
conducted by Rev 7. f. Gregory.
ana the remains were tenderly laid
to rest in Woodlawn cemetery. The
gentlemen acting as palIbearers
We're Messrs. w. N. Hutchinson. C.
W. West, W W. Lofts, C. N. Eg.
ger, L. b. Lawrence and DR.. Emmet
Jamison.
Mrs. Stephenson was a woman NJ
high character, and was esteemed by
all who knew her.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18
Car Shortage Decreases.

New York, Jan. lS.-Ths freight
car shortage which in November was
becoming increasingly serious has de-
creased nearly SO per cent since that
time, according to figures for Jan.
uary /, 1917, which the American
Railroad Association has made pub
lie On November | there was a
shortage of l14,9Os freight cars; ON
December 81 il had fallen to 59.892
cars. This decrease in the car
shortage" said the association, is at
tributed more than anything else to
the cooperative efforts of the inter
state commerce commission, shippers
and the railroads"
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

The most severe weather that ha.
been witnessed in Columbus and sur
rounding territory during the present
winter is now being experienced. A
cold wave made its appearance Sat
urday night, having followed heavy
rain, and on Sunday and Monday the
streets and sidewalks were covered
with a thick coating Of ice. Walking
was difficult and several people ex-
perienced painful falls. though no
one was seriously hurt Rain began
to fall again Monday night.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18
Marguerite Clark in Snow Whits. -
at Princess Today.

Marguerite Clark, second to none
IN popularity among the stars of the
screen, is the star in the Famous
Players adaptation of the popular
fairy tale "Snow White" which is the
Paramount Picture at the Princess
Theatre today. This is not the first
time that Miss Clark has PLAYED the
charming role of "Snow White" as
she was the star of the stage version
OF the same tale which created a
verltable sensation at the Little Thea.
tre IN New York under the direction
OF Winthrop Ames. The photoplay
version of the Grim brothers fairy
tale was produced under the direction
OF j. Searie Dawley, whose artistic
handing of Little Lady Eileen. q"
Mice and Men" and other of Miss
olafks starring vehicles, arouses
great expectation for this adaptation
of favorite fairy tale. The produc.
uon IS in seven reels and the admis-
sion is Is and 25c.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr.. R. G. Arnold, of Selma, Ala,
farm products agent of the agricul-
tural and industrial department of
the Southern Railway, spent Tuesday
and Wednesday in the city. Mr.. Ar
mold has accepted the position of
farm demonstration agent for Pamela
county, Miss, and will take up his
new work on February /.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

First Lieut.. John Lawley, of the
Columbus Riflemen, now stationed
near San Antonio, Tex. is spending
eight days here with homefolk. He
states that the boys from this county
who are with his company are all
doing exceedingly well. He expects
to return to Texas the coming wsek.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Many people are expected to at
tend the Old Fiddlers Contest, Horse
Swappers' Convention. and old fash
ionsd square dance contest at Co
lumbus, on January 20.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr.. Banks Mcdowell, formerly Of
Columbus, who is now travelling out
Of New Orleans for an electrical sup
ply company, and who lives in Bir-
minghsm, spent last Sunday here,
and was cordially greeted by many
friends and relatives
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

The fire department answered
several calls ths first of the week.
The blaze doing the most damage was
at the wholesale grocery firm of j.
l.. Walker & Company.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

The numerous friends Of Miss
Katherine Hsckleman are glad to
learn that she is improving after
weeks illness.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr. Joe Love, who is student
this season AT the A. n NJ. College
returned home several days ago on
account Of illness.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr, and Mrs. Smith Weaver have
returned from a visit TO friends in
the delta.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr j. w. Joyner viii spend Friday
and Saturday in Meridian on busi-
ness.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mrs. f. T, Sykes numerous friends
regret to hear Of her illness the past
several days.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr. and Mrs. John Steen have
been spending the past week in ST..
Louis, purchasing spring and sum
mer stock for The Steen Company.
The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-01-18

Mr.. Henry Beard has been sck
the past several days with the grippe.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
IS WINNER
AT DISTRICT MEET
Missouia Boy Ranks Third
in Speaking Contest;
Goes to BOzeman.

Helena, Feb. 23.-(Special)- Matt
Pearcc. a member of the Missoula
county high school debating team and
winner of the speaking contest held in
Missoula last week, was awarded
place on the list of four speakers
chosen to represent the district at
the state speaking contest, by the
judges of the district extemporaneous
speaking contest held here tonight.
Emmett O'Neill of Butte high school
was awarded first place, Sylvin Pauly
of Powell county high school, second;
Pearce, third, and Rose Corr of Ana
conda high school, fourth. The dis
trict was limited to four representa-
tives to the final speaking contests at
Bozeman. The contestants in the pre-
liminary contest at Helena last night
all spoke eNtemporaneously upon sub
jects given them just before the con-
test began.
Matt Pearce was declared the VIM
ner of the AIissoula high school pre-
liminary contest out of q field of
eight contestants. In that contest he
spoke on universal military training.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
Stout Praises Her.

Washington, Feb. 23-(Srecial.)--
The National Press club had fun with
retiring congressman at a lame duck
meeting of the club this evening.
Tom Stout, one of the victims, re-
sented being called a lame duck. pro-
testing that he had quit congress vol
unfairly to resume his profession Of
newspaper man.
Chivalry, he said, demanded on the
present occasion that a retiring con-
gresham should say that his success
sor was as good man as himself
but this he could not do.
Neither could be say that he, him.
self, would ever be as handsome a lady
as his successor.
Speaking seriously, he said that he
bespoke for his successor a cordial
and respectful welcome to congress
and said that she was n fine tyne of
intelligent western womanhoOd
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
INDEPENDENTS MAY
MAKE HER SPEAKER
COngTessmen-Elect Ask Mis-
sOula WOman's Aid in
Controlling House.

Washington. Feb. oS.-(Spccial)-
The Independent members of the next
house today extended a formal invita-
ton to Miss Jeanette Rankin. repre-
sentative at large elect from Montana,
to join them in their effort to control
the house.
They intimated. it is said, that they
would support Miss Rankin for the
speakership on several ballots if she
would join them and help them fight
Tor general reorganization of the
lower body of congress.
Although elected as a Republican.
Miss Rankin has acknowledged to her
friends she does not regard herself a
strict partisan.
She replied to the Independents that
she would give their suggestions con-
sideration.
They are extremely hopeful of OBJ
tanning her support. Representative
Randall of California, the leader of the
independents, today made this state
ment concerning theig purposes:
I'VE invite both Republican and
Democratic sides to let us see what
kind of a list of committees they will
propose. We want to know if they
are favorable to record votes in COM
mittees and in committee of the whole
and whether they will present some
workable plan to prevent smothering
Of bills in committee and to secure
freer action on the calendar.
1--WE want to break up party lines.
We want individual members of con-
sress to become individual voters in
stead of party voters
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
LANSING RESTING:
NO ACTION TAKEN
Cabinet Meeting Followed
by Statement That Sit
uatiOn Is Same.

Washington, Feb. o3.-The departure
OF secretary Lansing tonight for n
three-d day stay at White Sulphur
Springs. w. Va. was variously inter
preted in connection with possible de-
velo1ments in the German crisis. AT
first there was a. general tendencv N
believe that it meant the government
dld not contemplate taking any new
steps before the middle of next week. 4.
that if decisions had been reached and
plans worked out the head of the state
department could be spared for a. few
days rest now better than later
There was 4 two hour cabinet meet
ing this afternoon, followed by the
announcement that the international
situation had undergone no change.
Members were more than usually ret
lcent afterwards, although they indi-
Gated President Wilson still had made
no plans for his expected visit to con-
gress to seek authority to protect
Americans and their ships from sub
marines.
No word has been received from
Ambassador Penfield concerning Aus
trlas reply to the request for a. state
ment as to whether the Vienna gov
ernmcnt adheres fully to Germany's
submarine policy and whether the
pledges given in the AncoSa and Persia
cases are repudiated. Germany is ,,n-
derstood to be cxerting strong pressure
on Austria for a complete defiance of
this country.
Ihe question of aIning American
SHIPS has been further complicated by
Il request from =. A. S. Franklin of
the American line, not only for guns,
but for gunners. While the govern
ment has sanctioned the carrying of
guns no official thinks the government
will provide gunners at this time. Aside
from other difficulties. the placing of
national snnncrs on n private ship
would make her status questionable.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
BODY OF FUNSTON
LYING IN STATE

San Francisco. Feb. e3.-The body of
Major General Frederick Funston is
lying in state tonight in the rotunda
of the city hall. The American flag
drapcd the casket. which rested on a
catafalque. covered with jonquils.
Thousands of citizens passed in re-
view throughout the afternoon and
night.
The casket was not opened. because
of the express wish of his widow. 1t
will be opened for n few moments to-
morrow morning at the First Presby-
terian church, where the funeral serv-
ices will be held.
Messages of coincidence from all
sections of the country were received
today by Mrs. Funston.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
"Gravity Exaggerated"

New York, Feb. 23.-While state and
city authorities were seeking means
to relieve the suffering caused by the
high cost of food, President f. r.
Thomas of the Lehigh Valley Railroad
company declared tonight that "the
gravity of the situation is greatly cx-
aggcrated' and President +. d. I'm
derwood Of the Eric railroad asserted
there was no real danger OF riot or
anarchy"
Mr.. Thomas said there were 1900
carloadseof flour in storage here now
and in transit on the Lehigh (which
consignees arc unable to take away
as rapidly as We deliver" Whatever
difficulties there are in car move
ments, he stated, are west OF his line,
Mr.. Underwood made public tele-
grams sent by him to President Grif-
fin of the Chicago Board of Trade.
who expressed the fear in n message
to the interstate commerce commits
sion, that riot and anarchy" would
result from lack of cars in Chicago to
handle grain. In one of his kilograms.
Mr.. Underwood said:
THE. lines between Chicago and
New York arc interested in keeping
clear and ready to dispatch business.
IT Is not planned to block them with
grain for which there is neither stor-
age, shipping directions nor ships to
carry it."
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
INADEQUATE MINE TAX BILL IS PASSED
HUNDREDS APPLY
FOR MISSOULA
BOOZE

spokane. Feb. a3.--In authorization
Of early stoppage of liquor imports
''s the federal government under
the amendment to the postofficc
appropriation bin recently adopted
by congress. n run developed today
on the permit department of the
county auditors office. A total OF
LIS? permits were issued and the
county auditor estimated that nj
least 500 persons were turned away.
At the height of the rush the crowd
outside the auditors office was so
great that the presence of two
deputy sheriffs was required to
MAINTAIN order. Most of the per
mlts were issued for shipmeuts
from Missoula.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
Every Governmental Agency
Occupied With Press
ing Situation.
PRICES INTERVIEWED
WITH CAR SHORTAGE
Submarines Cause of Ship
ping C0ngestion-Rail-
roads Seek Remedies.

Washington, Feb. 2a.---Thc soaring
| cost of foodstuffs throughout the
country today engaged the attention
or virtually every governmental
| agency, with even remote relation to
| the problem.
President Wilson and the cabinet
discussed the situation from many
| angles. its cause and possible remedies.
Views held by somc of the conferees
were that the record prices were in
tertwned with the general car short
age and congestion of TRANSFORMATION
lines and indirectly affected by the
German submarine warfare. which has
resulted in vast denominations of
freight and resultant ear congestion
at eastern seaports.
Department of justice agents re-
sumed with new energy their investi
cation of prices to determine if there
is an actual shortage of foodstuffs ot
large cities, where rioting has recently
occurred. Attorney General Grecgory
announces that measures which may
be of considerable avail toward bet
terng that situation probably would
he announced shortly,
The interstate commerce commits
sion through its field investigators and
officials here kept close watch on the
railroads efforts to unravel the tangle
OF ears at congested points and an
nounced the transportation west of
many trains of empties.
The car service commission of the
American Railway association tbe
railroads supreme court in all subjects
affecting shortage and congestion.
dlsclaimed all responsibility on behalf
or the roads for contributing to the
rise through failure to furnish trans
portation facilities and announced
that at no time had any complaint
been received which would indicate
that there was a shortage of food any-
where in the country.
Tho newly created shipping board
submitted to the president a plan for
relief by placing American vessels in
the coast to coast trade.
IN congress Senator Lewis intro
ducod an amendment to the revcnuo
bill authorizing the president to seize
any foodstuffs which he may believe
to be held by a monopoly for an unjust
increase in price and dispose of them
through public sale at prices to be
fixed by the department authorized TO
conduct the sale. Senator MARITIME in
trodnced n bill which would cmpower
the president to declare an embargo
on the export Of foodstuffs.
Heads of the departments of agri
culture and commerce announced they
were using all means within thcir
power to ameliorate conditions.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
UNIVERSITY BUILDING
OBJECT OF NEW BILL
Higgins Latest Measure
Would Bond the State.

Helena, Feb. 23-(Special, 1.-The
following bill was introduced today:
BY Higgins, n. 3. AZ, a bill for an
act entitled, AN act authorizing the
state of Montana to become indebted
in excess Of the constitutional limit,
bonds In the name of the state of
Montana, as evidence of such indcbt-
edness for the construction of ncces-
sary buildings for the State Uni
verify, the College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts, the State Normal COL
lege. the state School of Mines and
any other state institutions under the
control of the state board Of educa-
ton"
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
DAY IN CONGRESS
Senate.

Resumed debate on revenue bill
after considering miscellaneous
calendar measures.
Republican senators conferred
with a view to arranging a basis
for agreement with Democrats on
legislative program for the re-
mainder of the session.
Army appropriation bill reported
from the house
Food embargo rCsolit on was in
troduced by Senator MARITIME and
referred to committee on foreign
relations.
Recessed at p. m. to p. m.
Reconvencd at s p. m.
Republicans co .tinued filbuster-
ing tactics.
Recessed al II p. m. to II ~ M,
Saturday.
The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-24
War Summary

Premier David Lloyd George told
the house of commons that break
down of the submarine blockade
must and will be accomplished.
4
Submarines sink an aggregate
tonnage of 25,465, including n
French troop ship, the Athos. An
American missionary, Robert A.
Baden, drowned in the Athos dis
aSter.
Quiet in Europe; isolated fight
ing in Galicia.
Battle on the Tigris in progress.