davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06


Indications Saturday were, that at
least five times the required number Of
Ireeholders necessary have signed the
petitions demanding that the mayor and
city commissioners submit the, recently
passed telephone rate contract TO vote
OF the people of Memphis. Scores Of
petitions are being circulated and sew
eral hundred have signed each one.
In the telephone rate contract, passed
hurriedly on Aug. rs, the attempt is
made to bind the people, through the
action Of the city administration, to a
rate contract with the Cumberland TEL
ephone and Telegraph company which
VIII force the subscribers to continue
to pay the high war rates, which were
put into effect by order of the federal
ure.
The people are paying those rates
now They have no other way in which
TO protest against them or to secure
any relief, except through signing the
referendum petitions.
Assuming that the telephone compa-
nys own estimates are correct, the new
rate will bring into the company's cof-
fers not less than 100000 a year more
than the rates under the old contract
The present city administration, in its
zeal to serve the public utility corpora
tions, rather than the people, accepted
the rates proposed by the telephone
company without protest, and hurried
the contract resolution through the city
commission, without at that time giving
the citizens any opportunity to protest
against 1t.
Consequently the only recourse left
is In the signing Of the petitions which
are being circulated and which demand
that the contract resolution, which the
petition states is in the nature of a
franchise grant to the telephone COM
Continued on Page 7, Column 50
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
GRAVE DANGER Of
FLU AGAIN FROM
DUSTY STREETS

Warning that a recurrence of the in
tluenza epidemic, which smote Mem
phis last fall, was imminent unless the
city OF Memphis materially changed its
method of street cleaning, was sounded
BY Or. z. G, Graves, county health Of
ficer, Saturday morning The warning
was transmitted to AN y. Mason. city
commissioner under whose supervision
street cleaning comes
The new method OF cleaning the
streets recently adopted by the Monte
verde administration does not clean,
but leaves dust, tho most dangerous car
rler OF the epidemic germs Instead OF
a general sprlnkling Of the streets the
present city administration has adopted
an oiling system for gfhveed and mac
adam streets, and a suction or vacuum
system for asphalt and other hard paed
surfaces
The street cleaning system In Mem
phts this fAll Is apt to work out into
u case OF economy In dollars versus a
proflgate expenditure In lives, II DR.,
Graves surmises are Correst,
The water wagons, or sprinkling carts,
are almost entirely discontinued. The
contract by which the Memphis Street
Railway company sprinkled streets over
which It's car lines ran, was cancelled
beaded the department Of streets,
bridges and sewers.
The dust which Is resulting from the
present methods OF street cleaning is
rendering II impossible for many per.
sons who are suffering with so-called
summer colds" to cure these ailments
And It Is this condition, according tc
nr. Graves, which may bring back q
visit, In wholesale casea OF the dread
Spanish influenza
DIR, Graves called attention to the fact
that Or. w. A. Evans. noted health
expert Of Chicago, recently made the
statemnt that the sprad Of 'nrluenza
| was due mainly to the presence of dust
which transmits the germs.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
RAILROAD TRAVEL
BECOMING SAFE

To save $50 lives each year and prevent
injuries to 10000 people is the ou, ect
Of the nationwide safety movement
that has been inaugurated by the fed
eral railroad administration, G. NJ An
derson, Of Atlanta, supervisor of the
safety section for the Southern region.
told 400 Illinois Central shopmen at the
Nonconnah shops Saturday morning Mr.
Anderson Is making tour OF the South
ern region, speaking to the railway EN-
plCyes of the various railroads in the
interest of the special two weeks cam
paign, which will begin Oct. rs, during
which time II is hoped that the entire
railway system OF the country can be
operated without single serious acci-
dent
The safety section has met with splep9
did cooperation on the part Of the raifE
way officials and employees wherever Its
activities have been extended. Since
Jan. !, 1868 unsafe conditions have
been remedied through the work OF the
safety section, and 29,879 dangerous
practices have been reported and cor
rected.
The number of deaths by accidents on
railroads reported during the first five
months of 1919 was S67 less than for
the same period OF 1918, The number
of injuries was 1857 less for the same
period Of 1918. The number OF injuries
was l6, CIT less for the same period. With
the organization reaching every depart
ment OF railroad work on all systems,
Il Is believed that still further reduc-
tions can be made.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
DR.. F|NESHRIBER
|. MAY ACCEPT OFFER
FROM ST. LOUIS

The Rev, William II, Fineshriber may
leave Memphis within short time to
become rabbi of the Shaare Emeth con-
gregation in st. Louis, the oldest and
most influential Jewish congregation
in that city
DIR, Fineshriber was offered the place
in st. Louis last July. He has since
been in correspondence with the pres
ident of the congregation, and is being
urged to accept their offer
This he has not yet done, partly be-
cause he has had no opportunity to
take the matter up with a number OF
leading members OF his congregation
here, and partly because Of his love FOL
the work and the people In Memphis.
The offer made him Is one that II
financial sense would appeal 10 any
man zee cQnNre8Hyticn Shaare Emeth
Gates Of Truth, Wis also one, .of I'll,
oldest IN the south, the parent eosnsre;
cation Of the others In st. Louis, and
has a very large membership 1t pre-
sents many attractive possibilities Ia
a man of DR., Fineshiber's standing In
civic leadership
He said Saturday that he Is giving the
offer thoughtful consideration, but will
make no positive decision for few
weeks. Meanwhile he will talk the
offer over with leading members OF the
Congregation Children OF Israel before
presenting the matter formally to the
congregation,
Dr. Fineshriber is Just completing
the eighth year of his ministry II
Memphis, He came to this city from
Davenport. la. where he had been fol
ten years in charge of the leading
Jewish congregation. He was for
year assistant rabbi to the late Dr
Max Samfleld, succeeding him as rabbi
During his leadership OF the congre
cation the new temple on Poplar ave
nue. has been completed and occupied
and the membership In the oongrega
ton has been increased TO more thar
500 families. representing over 200,
persons
DR.. Fineshrher Is one Of the leader
OF his faith In the United States, |
forceful public speaker, a man who ha
taken an active and leading part II
many public affairs during his resi-
dence In Memphis. His loss would b.
felt should he accept the offer from
st. Louis, not only among members o
the Jewish faith, but In the entir
city.
Should he decide to accept the offe
from st. Louis no would succeed DR.
Samuel Sale, who has been rabbi 0
the Congregation Shaare Emeth for
years. and who resigned last June.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
MEN PLACE
MACHINE GUNS TO
OPPOSE ADVANCE

CHARLESTON, w. Va, Sept, 6-Five hundred
miners who left Oak Grove this morning to march
across the mountains to Coal River where they said
they intended to enforce unonization in mines
Joined at Racine on the Little Coal river, by 5000
more men, according to word received by Gov. John
J. Cornwell shortly before noon. All Of the men are
said to be armed
According to information received from local
coal operator the coal operators of the Guyan field
yesterday unloaded carload of machine guns at diff
ferent places in Logan county means of prepara-
tion to meet the miners from the Kanawha and Coal
River fields
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
LOAN SHARKS MAY
LOSE THEIR LICENSE
w. g. Rodgers Will Try to Ap'
ply Stringent Forgotten
Law to Usurers.

w. c, Rodgers, attorney, claims he
has discovered there is law on the
statute books, passed by the Legislature
In 1917, In which ioau company may
be forced to forfeit its license to do
business when 1t charges usurous in
terest
Mr. Rodgers hasstwo suits against
loan companies, alleging usury, In Squire
Walker Thompson's court, which he will
try Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Tho
suits are against the Memphis Security
company and the Legal Rate Security
company. IL the court decides In favor
of complainants the loan companies will
not only lose the interest on the loans
involved, but the principal and their H.
censes to conduct business in the state
will also vanish Rodgers claims.
MIR Rodgers calls attention to the law
passed In 1917 and under which no in
dictment has yet been returned The
act of 1917 provides that If any H.
censes authorized under the act 10 do
business. shall charge for making any
rate of interest In excess OF 9 per cent
per annum, or any fee or bonus In ex-
cess of those provisioned In the act.
principal, interest and license shall be
forfeited"
Mr.. Rodgers says he will take new
departure In prosecuting loan companies
for usury and take them straight to
magistrate court If there Is not juris-
ietion there the cases may be appealed
to the circuit courts
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
WILSON FINDS HIS
AUDIENCES COOL.
BUT WINS THEM
Expert With President on
Tour Writes Comprehensive
Digest of Attitude When
Executive Explains Treaty.
BY DAVID f4ANRENCE.

especial Correspondent OF The News
9 Seivnltar).
ON BOARD PRESIDENT WILSON'S
TRAIN. Sept. 6.--Presidents wilson
comes as stranger from afar, His
first audiences are cool, awestruck and
even apatheNc toward the gospel he
preaches-when he begins. But grad
ually the president touches the heart
springs Of American patriotism and
emotion and brings down the house;
street crowds are unenthuslastic,
handclapping group here and there oc-
casionally a cheer--so rare as to be
conspicuous-and Mr.. Wilson proceeds
down the main thoroughfares Of the
city respected magistrate of the peo-
plet with an austerity and dignity
that begets solemnity not joy.
Out in Ohio, which helped re-elect
Wilson in 1916, though every state here
aabouts voted the other way, one might
have expected a joyous welcome. But
TO anyone who saw the cheering
Paris, or even the demonstrations of
the undemonstrative British or the fa-
natical enthusiasm of the emotional
Italians, the reception at Columbus was
painful anticlimax. Here was the
man who had come back from overseas
the most momentous conference ever
held between governments, But there
was nothing triumphalsor heroic about
the presidents journey down the streets
of Columbus. He got more attention
in that very city seven years ago as an
unknown candidate,
To be fair one must note certain
things. The street cars were at a
standstill. A strike said to have been
called chiefly to impress Mr.. Wilson
with the restiveness of labor, had tied
up traffic. And, besides, it was driz-
zling. This combination of circum-
stances made Mr.. Wilson'S visit about
as welcome as dinner guest when the
cook has left.
Also, folks hereabouts, according to
local newspaper men, are worried
about the cost of living They would
have liked to hear Mr. Wilson denounce
the profiteers and tell him how he ex-
poets prices to be reduced. And If, as
the president has hitherto claimed the
delay in ratifying the treaty is affect
ing the prices of commodities in the
United States, his audiences would
have preferred to hear him on that
Continued on Page 49, Column ~
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
Delegation to Washington

Senator r. L. Stockard, chief clerk u
the state highway commission OF Ten
nessee, offered the suggestion that dele
gates be sent by good roads promoters
and highway commission to Washing
ton ito get right behind the men who
have to do with the handling and distri-
button of cars" ut may not have oc-
CURED to the railroad administration
authorities there in Washington" he
said, that 1t Is vitality necessary to
give special attention to the building
OF roads to relieve the congestion OF
freight on the railroads" The govern
ment, he said, controls the railroads
and Is building the roads with federal
aid. but 1t was working at cross-pur-
poses when II failed to have the rail-
road administration do all possible to
further road construction.
c. ID. Smith, Of Memphis, one of the
biggest road material producers in the
South, arraigned the government con-
troll OF railroads as responsible for the
shortage Of cars The junking of cars
which could have been repaired. the
failure to build needed new cars, and
the refusal Of railroads to purchase cars
constructed by government contract
had Grated the shortage, he said.
Mr.. King presided over the meeting
and introduced each Of the speakers.
He declared that the purpose In calling
the meeting was not to play the part of
the carping critic, but to get the high
ways authorities Of the several South
ern states together, so that they might
unite to rid themselves, Of their pre-
dicament.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
NEW LONGLEY CLEW
BEING FOLLOWED.

An important clew as to the where
abouts Of Fuller Longley. under indtct-
ment for criminal assault on a young
girl last week, was tipped 20 the oftice
of O. II. Perry, the sheriff, saturday
morning,
The sheriff stated that to make pub
lie the report which hts office received
might cripple his chances OF taking
Longley, He stated, however, that he
expected to receive definite informations
before nightfall, which would result in
the taking OF Longley. or In dropping
the search along that particular lead.
I.ong!ey, with Allen J, Mcnamara
and John s. Frey, were indicted last
Tuesday for assaulting three young girls
on the Friday night before, at the June
zion OF the New Raleigh road and the
Wolf river. The crime was one of the
most brutal In the annals Of Shelby
county riminal history. McNamara and
Frey are In jail, hel@> without honds
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
NoLEN MAY DIE.

Frank Nolen, 1851 Richmond avenue,
who was struck by an automobile truck
at Main street and Court avenue as he
was on his way to work early Friday
morning, Is still in serious condition.
according to advices from St Joseph s
hospital Saturday morning Physicians
have been unable to determine whether
or not there Is fracture OF the skull
Grant Hayes, negro, who was driving
the truck for Cudahy Packing COM
many at the time of the accident, ap-
peared In city court Friday afternoon
10 answer a charge of reckless driving
of an automobile truck. His case was
continued until Sept. /, until the prose
",,tor should be able to attend court
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
PRESIDENT CALLS
TREATY CHARTER
OF BETTER WORLD

KANSAS CITY, Sept 6.-President Wilson appealed to
Kansas City crowd today support the treaty charter
for new order of world affairs When the president
panied by Mrs Wilson appeared the platform of the vast
auditorium, the crowd each of whom had small American
flag, arose and cheered for than minutes
President Wilson had been cheered the presidential party
araded through four miles of the cy streets Convention
hail. lrss
Mr.. Wilson introduced by B. A. Parsons, president Of
the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
In his address the president covered many of the
points OF the treaty he had discussed previous addresses He
said he had come report the people direct
the greatest documents in human history The treaty he de-
ciared shot through with American principles put there
by the common consent Of
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
"FRIGHT" MADE BIG
HOLE IN FOREHEAD

Perhaps photographers would be in
terested in the new usage of the word
fright" In this usage 1t not only
has mental effect bot also a strong
appeal to the physical senses.
Hugh Price, negro, who was fined $40
in the city court Friday afternoon for
disorderly conduct was explaining TO
Judge Galella why his opponent had
big ugly cash on his forehead.
'T didn't hit that Niger, Jedge'
Hugh remonstrated, Il jes' merely
threw fright at him"
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
Rent Up Three Fold; Old
Woman Has No Place to Go

contract. agreed to take the house for
another year on January ! OF this year,
and Is entitled by this contract to have
possession until next January.
He also says the agents notified the
aged woman that she must pay $40 u
month for the property instead of $40,
beginning August %, which has passed.
or she would have to get out. The aged
woman says she is not only unable TO
pay the increase Of 800 per cent, but
declared she Is entitled to hold IL until
January IN monthly payments Of $40,
as per contract.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06

Mrs. c. II. LeMaster aged woman
with no place to go II she is read out"
of the little place she is renting at 2S6
Lucy avenue, Saturday filed writ OF
certorari and supersedeas In circuit
court. seeking to restrain q, d. Hook h
Co, agents for the property, and Ira
Saint, deputy sheriff In Justice George
B. Colemans court from putting her
out in the street under a judgment Of
Squire Coleman's court.
w. c. Rodgers. Mrs. LeMaster's at
torney, ssays that his client, by verbal
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
ROAD MEN BLAME
+. CAR FAMINE ON
ADMINISTRATION
Great Road Building Programs
Of Southern States Held Up
for Lack of Cars to Haul
Material.


Greater efficiency in the operation
Of cars and the building Of thousands
of additional ones must be demanded OF
the railroad administration to relieve
the car shortage which Is seriously
hampering. the fulfillment of the gi-
gantic road building program of their
states, representatives of the highway
departments Of Mississippi, Arkansas,
Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas, de-
clared at a meeting held In the Cham
Der OF Commerce Monday morning.
The proposition of sending delegates
to Washington 70 labor with the powers
ssona, was discusspd ana il was agreed
that ringing resolutions should be
drafted setting forth the damage that
Is being done 10 rosA building plans and
demanding alleyiattall
The testimony Of the highway de-
partment representatives showed that
most deplorable situation has de-
veloped in each OF the states mem
toned because Of the lack of cars to
haul road materials to the scene Of
road building projects, The expendi-
ture OF million OF dollars of money
raised by bond issued for road building
on which interest Is being paid is be-
ing held up. Contractors road build
ing organizations are becoming de-
moralized and falling apart because the
contractors cannot keep them en-
ployed. Building operations are being
dragged out to interminable length.
Highway commissions are refusing to
advertise for bids for new work, be-
cause the scarcity of materials due to
car shortage has made the cost OF
road building almost prohlbitive.
z. 600 Miles Tied TN.
r. h. Thompson, of Little Rock, a
member of the state highway COM
mission of Arkansas, declared that his
state has under contemplation and
ready to do right away, $40, ,000,0 600
worth of road construction, or 1000
miles Of new road work, which can only
inadequacy Of cars "The contractors
are up against 1t for lack of cars" he
said, they cannot undertake a road
building contract and promise any defi-
mite time for its completion.
Mr., Kramer heartily endorsed the
meeting, which was called by Thomas B
King, chairman Of the Chamber of Com
| merce good roads committee, who de-
| clared he believed that petitions draft
ed at such meetings would arouse the
| railroad administration to the need OF
| the road builders and force them to d.
vert cars not required for handling sucl
actual necessities as fuel to road use
I'VE must learn whether we can gel
cars" said x. A, Kramer state high.
way engineer Of Mississippi, for II w
| cannot we win have to cancel part o.
| Mssissippi's road building progam, The
present situation makes prices too hgt
and makes 1t impossible for the con
tractors to keep their organiza tions to-
| gether.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
ARMED Miners March AGAINST BAR0NS
THOUSANDS CHEER WILSON'S Appeal
Wilson Is ShOICn
Robbery Scenes

ON BOARD PRESIDENT WILL
SONS SPECIAL TRAIN, Sept g.
The presidential train stopped for
half an hour at Independence, Mo,
10 miles from Kansas City. so
breakfast could be had on board be-
fore reaching the city.
independence, noted, as the birth
place OF Jesse James. the outlaw,
turned out a throng of early risers.
mostly women in calico mother
hubhards, to greet the president,
He smilingly shook hands with as
many as could reach him. The
trainmen pointed out to the presi-
dential party historic spots, where
the bandit had held up trains OF an
earlier day.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
Mississippi in Bad Shape.

Road work is now almost prohibtive
because of the car shortage and we re-
fuse to advertise for bids for fedora
aid projects under such conditions. We
are paying interest on $7,500,000 road
bonds which We cannot spend"
Henry Wood, state highway commits
sioner of Oklahoma, declared that Wig
orous demands must be made upon the
railroad administration for greater ef-
ficency in handling cars. IL believe
greater efficiency on the part of the
railroads will relieve the situation" he
said
George G. Wickine, bridge engineer OIL
the state highway commission OF Texas
declared that everything possible should
be done to encourage" the railroad ad'
Ininistration to let contracts for gondola
cars,and to increase demurrage charges
and take other steps to expedite The
handling OF cars. Texas, he declared
had SIS, 900, 900 worth Of road work under
way, which Is being hampered seriously
by car shortage, and sl00,0OO,00 wortl
of road building projected.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
HAD NO LICENSE.

C. W, Davis and J. J Moore, both Of
South Second street, were arrested Sat
urday morning on charges of doing
business without a license Police
claim they are managers for loan bro
kers.
A $50 forget was put up for each OF
these men by Harry Holman for their
appearance In city court Monday after
noon.
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
ENGINEERS SAY LAWS
SHOULD BE ENFORCED

More stringent enforcement OF the
laws against bootlegging, licentiousness
and public immortality IN all its guises
was voiced in ringing resolution
passed by the Brotherhood of Railway
Engineers at the meeting of the f. A..
Burgess subdivision of the brotherhood
Friday evening
AS heads Of families, members of the
brotherhood deplore the crimes recently
recounted in the public prints and
pledge themselves to aid in every way
the work for a cleaner city aud more
officials to make Memphis a cleaner
city
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06

John Logsdon, Delaware street, who
was arrested on a charge of assault and
battery "Wednesday, after 1t was alleged
he was in a group Of boys who severe
ly beat up l. NJ McCarty, In DeSoto
park. was fined $50 and held over TO
the state by Acting Judge Galella, in
city court Friday afternoon.
McCarty stated he went to the park
In the company OF a young lady TO
make some kodak pictures and that
while in the park he was assaulted and
badly beaten up by gang Of men
and boys. He was knocked uncon-
scieas and taken TO the Marine hos
pitaL
The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-06
BRITISH CLASH WITH
HUNS; TOWN FINED

ances between Germans and British
troops Mt Euskirchen, 20 miles south
west Of this city, resulted In a soldier
being badly injured, The leader Of tho
Germans. man named kupper, was
court -martlaled and sentenced to death
and the town was fined 100000 marks.