davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
COAL FAMINE
COMES WITH
ICY BLASTS
|Anthfacite Supply Exhaust
ed with only Temporary
Relief in Sight.
Senator Finds Coal
For Freezing Poor

One Senator, at least. turns
his investigating experience to
account. Kenyon. of Iowa, q
member Of the Senate Manufac-
lures Committee, yesterday en-
tered the coal investigation
burning with Indignation. A
poor woman with two sick chill
dren had been besieging his Of
fee. asking help in procuring
coal. She had not been able to
get enough coal to keep the
children from freezing, she said.
Senator Kenyon asked l. A.
snead, Of the Fuel Administra-
tion, why poor people could get
no coal. -.
snead explained that rich peo.
pie had bought in the summer
and boarded their coal in eel
lars. The administration, he
said, had opened an office espe-
cially to enable poor people to
get coal.
where Is it?" asked Kenyon.
"On F street between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth" snead
replied.
Senator Kenyon abruptly left
the room. In an hour he was
back. He had succeeded In get
ting the woman a half ton OF
soft coal. 1t cost him $5.45.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30

In the grip Of the coolest December
weather in years. and with the tenn
perature last plight constantly drop
ping, going below zero, Washington
was without anthracite coal.
Not before tomorrow morning Is any
anthracite coal expected in the local
freight yards.
The fuel situation here il "hand-to-
mouth" and will continue to remain
so until the coming of warm weather
in the spring. John l.. Weaver. Fed
eral fuel administrator for the Dis
trict, declared last night.
There Is a large quantity OF bitumi-
nous coal In the hands of dealers and
on the dumps in charge of Mr..
Weaver, however, and he urged those
| in need to make use OF this kind of
fuel until the anthracite coal can be
obtained.
Mr.. Weaver and Jesse C. Suter last
night made an inspection of many OF
the yards or dealers and the coal
dumps. and upon their return Mr..
Weaver declared that soft coal would
have to be used by those in need OF
fuel II they were to keep warm, as
anthracite coal could not be supplied
In a statement issued last night the
National Fuel Administration de-
clared q Sufficient" numbers of cars
of coal had been placed on the tracks
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
to meet the needs Of the eastern Sec
tions Of tine city.
In order to meet the fuel require.
ments in the District Of Columbia, /"
the statement said, the United States
Fuel Administration has caused a suf,
ficient number of cars of coal to bt
placed at one Of the yards on the B
& o. tracks in the northeast section
of the city, and twenty-three cars In
one Of the yards to meet the needs oi
the southeast and southwest section,
Of the District.
I'm addition to the above, the Hon
Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of tn,
Interior, has placed at the disposal o.
the Fuel Administration approx
mately 200 tons of Interior Depart
ment coal, which will be distributed
through the agency of J. L. Weaver
District Fuel Administrator"
Mr.. Weaver declared last night. tha
what anthracite coal did arrive in tn
city would be diverted to the small
dealers.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
6 OUT OF THOUSAND
US. ARMY DEATH RATE
Regular Branch Of Service Shows
Lowest Figure. 2.6.

The death rate for all troops in
the United States for the period from
September q to December IA was six
per 1000, according to figures made
public by the office of thffie Surgeon
General of the army last night. This
compares with 1745 per 1000 during
1898, 6.5S during 1889, 4.Ss during 1900.
46S during 1901 and go during 1916
for the United States regulars.
The death rate during the last three
months has been but 2.s for the regu-
lars, 81 for the National Guard and
81 for the national army, One hun
dred and forty-four regulars out of
an average strength of 2o2. .0d9 have
died; 494 national army men out of
2S7, ,233, 75S out of 327,4S0 National
Guardsmen, and total of 1,Ss1 out
of an average strength Of s1s,722 of
all branches. ... ...
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Introducing Gen. Mccain
Who Fills Hard War ] -b
Well-qualifed Adjutant General Is Physically
and Mentally Fit for His Difficult Place,
Earned by Promotions.

'Tf he said that III bet thousand
dollars be Is right"
Two men were walking along the
corridor in the Army and Navy Build
ing. One was discussing "A decision
just made by Adjt. Gen. Mccain. The
other listened intently and made the
above remark. All this by way Of in
PRODUCTION.
Meet Gen. Mccain"
Delighted. What can I do for
your
Il a TireIess Worker.
Direct as a bullet to the target; no
frills, no enabling. no superficial cour-
tesy. but an outstanding. smiling, in
cisive "get-to-the-point' gentleman.
1t is no sinecure to be "the busy
boss of the works." as thousands call
Gen. McCain-and Gen. Mccain knows
it. He is at work early and works all
the day and into the night He
wouldn't know a two-hour luncheon
IL he met one. He - shy on words,
but he has that kind OF an eye that
mirrors his kindness and yet betrays
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30

his firmness. He can be as polite as q
Chesterfield, but rouse him by stu
pid or overt act AMI he will remind
you of British tank in action.
1t takes just such a man to fill the
job assigned to Gen. Mccain. He was
not selected for the place-he was
there when the crisis arrived and he
was ready for 1t. Fit physically and
mentally, with a vision, and with it a
sense of proportion. a sense of fair
ness and ability to size up and judge
the caliber of subordlnates, he has
won the confidence 0f his superiors
and Of those under MIN.
IF he does it III bea n thousand
dollars he is right" said one. That is
a fair estimate of the nan.
He Has n Hobby.
Naturally you want to know more
about such a man. What are his hob
bies? 1t is but the truth to say that
just now he has only one hobby, and
that is war. He has a son and a SON.
in-law in France. and he has a help
mate that is just as enthusiastic in
his work as he is. You can find Mrs.
Mccain at the War Supply Depart
ment, wrapping bandages perhaps, but
doing, doing. doing all the time.
But such a man must have some
absorbing thing with which he re-
lakes. He has-his grandchild, and
there. Is no argument as to who's
boss when they are together. II
You could see the Adjutant General
playing horse, jumping through
hoops and telling fairy stories you
would have still another and a
very kind estimate of the man.
General Mccain is fond of golf
and more fond of fishing. He has
had q life of rare experiences; yet
he Is the last one to talk of him
self; so let someone else speak OF
him!
Noted for His Courage.
It'll tell you about Mccain" said
a regular army officer, who is also
a regular fellow" Along in 1898
or 1894. Mccain was a lieutenant OF
the Fourteenth u. S. Infantry. He
looked like a preacher, but had
nerves OF steel. The Couer d'Aiene
miners, as rough a lot as ever herd
ed together. were on strike. They
hated the regulars, sent there to
preserve order. One day Lieut.. No
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
The Bachelor's Coffee Brewer.

Now comes the coffee-brewer. a de-
vice for making individual cups of
coffee. The device consists only of
two cups somewhat conical in shape.
one of which fits into the other. Suf-
fcient pulyerized coffee 10 placed in
the bottom of the outer cup to make
one cup of the beverage. Then the
perforated inner cup is set In place
and boiling water is poured into It!
1t is left to draw for few min
utes. Just as in the preparation of
tea; then It is poured out into the
waiting cup. The perforations in the
inner cup Of the device. strain the
beverage
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30

After studying in various schools in
that State he was appointed to the
Military Academy, at West Point,
from Mississippi, in July, 1881.
His first assignment To active duty
after he was given his commission
was as a second lieutenant, Third In
fGnjry, in June. 1855. He held this
,ank and assignment until 1892, when
in February he was promoted to be
"A first lieutenant aad assigned for
duty with the Twenty-first Infantry.
In March of that year he was trans
fcrred to the Twenty-fourth Infantry.
In March, 1899, seven years later he
was made captain and in 1900 was
assigned to be an assistant in the
office of the adjutant general with
the rank of major.
A year late he was made lieutenant
colonel and an assistant adjutant gen.
eral in June. Three years later, in
1904, he was made a full colonel,
though still with the same rank in
the adjutant generals office.
Three years later, in March, 1907, he
was made an adjutaRt general, with
rank dating from April @, 1904. the
date of his last previous promotion.
Appointed Adjutant General
This rank he held until his appoint
u.cnt as the adjutant general of the
army on August q, 1914, with the rank
Of brigadier general. This rank, he
will hold as long. as he remains tht
adjutant general. 1t is a rank be.
slowed upon him because of the Office
he holds.
While lieutenant colonel he served
on General Staff duty from August
1903, until April. 1904. when he wa.
made a colonel.
Two long stretches are in Gen. Nc
Cain record during which he was as
\ signed to the same duty with M
change in rank After his graduation
from the Military Academy he served
as second lieutenant with the Third
Infantry for seven years, until he wa:
made first lieutenant in 1892.
Another stretch of seven years dur,
ing which he held the same rank
and was assigned to the same duty
came after his appointment as a
colonel, adjutant general in 1907. Hi.
record shows no change from thai
time until he was made the adjutan
= general in 1874.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
FOREGO WAR GAINS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
determination to recover her African
colonies being the latest case In point
Keen military observers do not an
ticipate a German attack in the West
before the end of January at the
earliest, and meanwhile the dfplo-
mats are exerting every effort to
further the day of peace.
Awaits Late Winter.
It is pretty generally expected that
4indeDburg plans to launch attacks
in the late winter, but Kuehlmann,
the German foreign minister, and one
of the keenest and cleverest Of Eu-
ropean statesmen, Is thoroughly alive
to the change in political conditions
since the Russian revolution and has
strong supporters in his movement
to bring about peace through nego-
tiation without awaiting the conclu-
sion of another military campaign.
Appreciating fully the weakening Of
spirit through economic priVations,
financial losses and military casual
ties, Kuehlmann is directing his eff
forts along two broad lines-frst,
to let down the German people, who
have been promised great rewards
for their heavy war sacrifices; secr
Ond. to encourage the moderates in
allied countries to eliminate from
their peace program all imperialistic
aims and declare against after-the-
war economic boycotts.
In other words. he is aiming TO
have a return to the status quo
and to satisfy the German people
with that kind Of a peace
Peace with seeurity.
British and French labor and So
cialists have now declared for a
speedy termination of the war,
against annexation and indemnities,
and for a peace which will mean
security IL nothing more.
The Russian Bolsheviki are more
radical. In Austria the Moderates
are becoming more and more in
sistent and such speeches as the
kaiser's latest mailed fist boasts
are being sharply condemned by
the press.
The German Socialists are en-.
couraged by the success of the ne
gotiations with the Bolsheviki and
are showing increased indepen.
denee. European statesmen car nc
longer ignore the movement to-
ward the left, nor is it likely thai
it can be stayed at this period OF
the year when military operations
the rigors OF winter tell heayiest
on the civilian population.
England Need. Men.
In England the need for NOR,
men Tor military purposes is press.
ing and the government can only
get them by adopting a policy II
line with that of the workint
classes.
In France, Clemenceau is tn,
government, and he is known as tn,
Tiger" The Pichon speech wa
fairly representative Of Clemen
ceau's policy. but in France ther,
Is body Of opinion led by men Iik,
Albert Thomas which is powerful
enough to swing the country in lin,
with the British moderate when
ever they consider the time oppor
tune.
Italy will take whatever oours,
France and Great Britain follow
There Is little expectation that tn,
present movement will lead to a,
early gathering around the peac,
table, but the preliminary work /,
being done and is expected to in
crease.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Ambassador Sato's Recall
Denied by Toxic Officials

Toxic. Dec. 2s.-The foreign Office
denied today statement published
yesterday to the effect that Ambas-
sador Ssto has been recalled from
Washington.
The impression prevails, however,
in officials circles that q change is. inn
pending.
Viscount Ishii, who headed the re-
cent japanese Mission to the United
States; Admiral Oriu Hioki. former
Japanese Minister to China, and Vice
Foreign Minister Shidehara are con-
sidered candidates for the Washing
ton Ambassadorial post, the last
named being regarded as possessing
the strongest chances.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Seeing the Stars from the Bottor
ef n We'll.

That stars are visible In the day
time from the bottom of a deep shaft
or well has been generally believed
since the days Of Aristotle. but, ac-
oording to the Popular Science
monthly for January, there is not the
slightest foundation for the idea.
Baron Humboldt, who spent good
deal Of time in mines himself and
questioned miners in various parts OF
the world, found no evidence in sup
port Of this belief. and II has since
been thoroughly exploded. But like
many other eexploded' ideas, II
aeusishss Just aa vigorously as ever
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
IGNORE
PARTY FEALTY
FOR SUFFRAGE
Democratic and Republican
Political Leaders Back
Amendment.

The full political power OF women is
behind the Federal suffrage amend
ment. The president OF the National
Republican woman's Association and
the chairman Of the woman's bureau
Of the Democratic National Commit
tee have lent their active aid. 1t was
announced last night by the National
American Woman Suffrage Associa-
tion. ..-.
The House woman suffrage COM
mittee will begin hearings January J.
The rules committee already has
agreed to bring the amendment to a
vote January 10.
/ II only three Democratic Repre-
sentatives from New.-Xork should be
replaced BY Republicans In the next
election, the Democratic party would
go out Of power, and the administra-
ton is now N the position to assure
the suffrage amendement.
There are millions Of women voters
in New York State. They will be led
by Mrs. George Bass, chairman OF
the woman's bureau Of the Democratic
National Committee, and Miss Helen
varick Boswell, president Of the Ma
tionai Republican Woman's Associa-
ton.
This strengthening OF the suffrage
forces comes just in time to counter
balance the threatened loss of four
suffrage votes in the House through
the New York vacancies. which. when
filled, undoubtedly will be for suffrage.
Two suffrage members Of the House
also have Joined the army-La Guar
dia, OF New York. and Johnson, OF
South Dakota. Another vote may be
missing by January 10 because of the
loss Of a piece of baggage. Repre-
sentative Hicks, Of Port Washington,
N. Y, met Representative Rogers, Of
Massachusetts,. in London, and Mr
Rogers asked Mr.. Hicks to carry back
his vote for suffrage. but the luggage
it was packed in has gone astray.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
king FERDINAND OF
RUMANIA ABDICATES?
Crown Prince Charles Said to Have
Succeeded to the Throne.

Amsterdam, Dec. 2e.-King Ferdi-
nand, of Rumania. the Hohenzollern
prince who incurred the everlasting
wrath of his Teutonic kinsmen and
through his siding with the allies drew
from the Kaiser an oath of ven-
geance, is reported to have abdi-
Gated.
Details are lacking. His son.
Crown Prince Charles, is said TO have
succeeded him to the throne. More
likely Rumanian republic is in the
making.
Stormy days are known TO have
passed over what remains Uninvaded
of the little kingdom.
Whatever has happened at Jassy.
It is known that the end of Ferdi-
nands rule, II 1t has indeed ended.
was hastened, IL not entirely brought
about, by the Vaccinations of Ger
man agents carrying out their i'm
perial masters vow.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
6 PRISONERS ESCAPE
FROM ALABAMA JAIL
Three Are Soldiers Suspected of
Desertion; Three Negroes.

Birmingham, Ala, Dec 2S.-Six pris-
oners battered a hole in the wall Of
the city Jail here tonight and .crawled
through to freedom. A seventh. dis
covered by q turnkey in the act of
leaving by the same route, was snar-
ed by the leg and hauled back. The
men used a piece Of iron pipe as q
battering ram. Three are soldiers,
held as suspected deserters from
Camp Mcclellan. at Admission. They
are: chas.-Williams, F. H. Orback,
and B. q. Menik. The others, con-
victed Of minor crimes. are A. j.
Wright, Frank Lowe, and James
Thomas, negroes.
Warden Gloster said he heard the
prisoners making a noise" but looked
into the corridor and saw nothing
amiss.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30

Cain was given an order to arrest
a gang. leader--a big ruffian who
never worked except to create dis
He was with fellows OF
his kind in a saloon, when Mccain
entered, unarmed. He walked di-
rectly to the man and said, 'T want
you," and the crowd, dazed by Nc
Gains nerve. drew back. and the
Lieutenant walked out with his
prisoner. That's the kind of a fell
low Mccain, Is. He Is afraid of
nothing on earth"
Efficient and Popular.
GEM Mccain is one Of the most ef-
fcient and well liked army officers
who ever held the office Of adjutant
general.
Ih served several years in the Of
fee of the adjutant general. rising to
the rank of colonel and was appointed
the Adjutant General Of the Array
August q. 1914, with the rank OF
briga der general.
He was born In Mississippi. January
&c. 1861, the first year Of the civil war.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
EX.GERMAN ARRESTED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

=
or five years Imprisonment and a fine
OF $4,000. Arraigned before Justice
Veeder. he pleaded not guilty and
vas held without bail until January 2.
The prisoner came to the United
States from Germany in 1908, accord
ing to United States District At
torney France and was naturalized
eight years later. He has fodr sons.
one of whom, Carl. % years old. is
interned on Ellis Island. He was
taken out Of the works of the Sperry
Gyroscope Works, also Of Brooklyn
last December and no explanation was
made in the case.
Conscientious devotion to duty on the
part of Lieut.. O'Shea was the direct
cause of the discovery of the al
legged plot. according to Mr.. France
Lieut.. O'Shea was detailed to the
Bliss Plant as an inspector during
the summer.
Discovery Made.
Reluisition was made upon the de-
partment for five boxes of extra gy-
roscope parts, which were delivered
in creased vaseline and placed In
glass jars. Lieut.. O'Shea opened the
jars and every bearing was dis-as,
semblcd and thoroughly examined
The microscope told the tale. ap6
from then on Hennig was watched
by the Navy Intelligence Bureau anG
by Deputy United States Marshals
1t was stated there is no ground
as yet to suspect a Widespread con.
spiracy to render the torpedOes OF
the United States navy defective and
dangerous to the vessel firing them
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
CALIFORNIA EFFICIENCY.

There is an efficiency man In San
Diego who carries his profession to
excess. He has girl who lives in
Los Angeles. He visits her every
Sunday and writes every day. For
want Of a new topic the girl asked
him In a recent communication II he
really did like her eyes. In reply the
e. m. replied; Replying to your in
quiry of even date, beg to refer YOU
to my letter, February "a, 1911. where.
in the subject was treated exhaus-
tively."-San Diego Union.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30

able name in my court again" he
shouted TO the witness. The Ham
burg line was the instrument Of the
Kaiser, violating every law OF neu-
trality and friendship TO this coun-
try which allowed it to flourish.
They have been doing their dirty
work since Frederick the Great was
seven years old"
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Judge Lands Denounees
Hamburg-American Line

Chicago. Dec. 29.-Federal Judge
I.andis unlOOsed his patriotic wrath
today and denounced the Hamburg
American Steamship Line as a trait
orous organization when its name
was brought out in testimony in
his court.
Don't ever mention that treason
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Fire Causes sl50,po0 Loss.

Rrena Vista, Ga. Dec, 2s.-The busi-
u2Gs portion Of this town was swept
by fire tonight, causing a damage of
over $l50.000 Among the heavy losses
are Hirsourg Printing Company, Nc
Crary Hotel. Theater Building, Post
Office and Bank Building. =.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
CHICAGO "Eires" l.SOO Men,

Chicago, Dec. 29-Fifteen hundred
city employees. 800 of whom are in
the police department, are to be
dropped from the city pay roll next
week because of a shortage of city
finances. The action is forced, the
council says. for war economy"
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Mann Ha, Operation.

Baltimore. Dec. 8.-Representatiye
,'iann. Republican floor leader Of the
House. was operated upon today at
Johns Hopkins Hospital, He is rest
ing easy. physicians say.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Dutch Ship Line Suspend..

Buenos Aires. Dec. 2s-The Holland
American Line stated, today that fits
service to New York has been sus-
pended. according to word received
here from Amsterdam. The suspension
y for IN indsanii period.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Canada Places New Embargo.

Vancouver. B. c., Dec. 2.-An EN-
barge has been placed by the Cana
dian government on all freight for
vladivostok and other Russian ports.
One ste2mer, partly loaded, now is
unloading here.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30

Reform is always intended for the
other man. Never was q reformer
who prescribed il for himseIf.-ColUm-
bia Is c. State.
The Washington herald., 1917-12-30
Break Censorship; Jailed

Rio de Janetro. Dec. 2s.-The Alan
terna has been suppressed by the gov
eminent authorities and the editors
have been sent to Jail as the result of
the publication In complete form Of an
article which had been deleted by the
censor.