davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
81 IN 1000 DEAD
Battle Death Rate of Z. S. Half
That of English.
Passes the Mil
. lion Mark for the u. S.

Washington, Feb 15.-Total de-
mobilization now stands at i, ,103,310
men and 71.235 officers. General
March said today. r 7'sz
A total of 1.501, 900 men have been
ordered demobilized and 305. 900 have
already embarked for home OF the
latter 227.090 have actually landed in
this country.
March revealed that demobi1izat ton
in camps in the states is about at an
end.
Discharge of men from overseas
will depend on shipping conditions,
March indicated. Since the armistice
the United States has converted con-
siderable army shipping to European
food relief work. The army now has
practically completed shipment of
276.000 tons of food to Rotterdam,
Gibraltar, Constantinople. Constanza,
Black Sea.
With embarkation speeded up and
reaching $4,000 for the first ten days
of February, the state department was
advised by the Dutch foreign minister
today that Holland will facilitate
United States troop movements by way
of the Rhine. Such troops will be
shipped at Rotterdam. Special
regulations require the transports to
fly only the commercial flag and that
soldiers be not permitted to carry
arms during the trip on the river.
Some of the army shipping is be-
ing readjusted and turned back to
useful employment other than mill
tary. Some cargo vessels have been
remade into troops ships and a total
of Sc have been or are being complet-
ed so as to add a 10000 monthly
troop carrying capacity to the present
rate.
Nearly 20 per cent of the troops
brought back from overseas have
been carried in American ships.
Battle death rate in the A. E. F.
during the present war. was 81 per
thousand as against 10 per Thousand &
for the British. In the Civil war, the
northern forces lost in battle deaths
SO per thousand
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
SOLDIERS LOAN FUND
Aid to Discharged Disabled Men is
Planned by d. A. r..

Kansas City, Feb. 15-Disabled and
physically incapacitated soldiers of Mis-
souri,, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska are to
be beneficiaries of a loan fund established
by the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton to relieve their financial necessities
after their discharge from reconstruction
hospitals. This announcement was made
by Mrs. Albert r. Bates of this city. regent
of the Elizabeth Benton chapter and a
member of the state committee of the
d. A. X.
According to Mrs Rates, fund of 5000
is to be provided for carrying the
work along lines laid down by the federal
board of vocational education. The money
is to come from the state organization of
the u. A. Il.
The object of the loan fund will be to
provide resources for disabled soldiers,
who, upon their discharge from recon-
struction hospitals, find themselves unable
to take up eainful employment ana have
not yet received their regular sllntmeu:s.
Mrs. Bates. who spent several years in
Europe looking after the welfare of so-
tliers. says there will be a period Of four
to eight weeks elapsing between the tipe a
soldier Isl discharged from n hospital ansi
the time when his first morthly allotment
from the government reaches him. an. 4 .s
the plan of the Daughters of the American
Revolution to step in and finance him. net
with charity. but by lending him money
without interest. and allowing hiln The
privilege of paving back the nr:ocinai in
small monthly payments IL ne 50 Ses'ras
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
HAVE A PAIR OF COMMISSIONS
They Are in Warsaw to Takc Up <9ae=-
tons of POles.

Warsaw, Feb. 15-The arrival of
two international missions. one to in
vestigate Polish affairs and the other
to settle the Tescher coal dispute. has
created some confusion, so numerous
are the members of each mission
A majority of the members of the
missions travelled by way of Prague,
altho part of one train was supposed
to pass thru Vienna. The Poles have
been quick to remark this fact, par
ticularly as the international Paris
Budapest train has a special courier
car which is dropped off by agreement
each week at Vienna, after which the
car should run as an express to Cra-
COW. carrying American, British and
French officers. These latter are un-
able to leave Vienna due to the action
of Czechs in taking possession of the
Vienna -Cracow car and diverting 1t
to Prague.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
DOerr Would Make Western
Kansas Into Soldiers Farms.
Has Bill in Senate To Create
Dept of Irrigation.
PUT WATER ON ARID LANDS
Home for Every Man Returning
From Military Service.
Incidentally Make NOn-PrOduc-
tive Area Bloom Like Garden.

To make the millions of acres of
shallow water basin land in Kansas
blossom as the rose gaId Idens of a flor
ist and to place within reach of thou
sands of returning soldiers broad
plains that have hitherto been nom
productive, is the great and Iaudable
motive behind the efforts that Senator
Doerr of Pawnee and Representative
Wilson of Hodgeman are making in
the present legislature to pass laws
that will give the state an irrigation
department.
There are millions of acres in the
southwestern part of the state that are
as fertile as the famed valleys of the
Nile, but that have been allowed to re-
main barren and to bake in the blister
ing summer sun simply because nature
has not given them enough water to
mature crOpT and man has not gone
about the artificial watering process
in the right way, according to Doerr.
Since 1895 Kansas has been trying
to do something to put these lands into
practical use, he says. The legisla-
ture of that year placed the first irri-
CATION laws on the statute books and
since then the state has expended
something like 100000 trying to
make use of them. But the attempts
have mostly been failures, and now
Doerr and Wilson are trying to change
the laws and make them practicable.
Windmill Experiment Failure.
First TIL, state undertook to teach
the farmers how to irrigate with the
windmill. Experiment stations were
established and windmills were put
up to show how easily the underflow
could be tapped and turned to the
surface of the land where it would
make green things grow and those
who grew the green things rich. But
the windmill experiment was finally
abandoned. and then the state went to
the other extreme. and began putting
up experiment plants SO expensive
that only state could erect or oper-
ate them-and then not at profit.
| The farmers of the districts where
these lands are situated have always
known that bountiful crops could be
produced If only water could be got
ten. And they have always known
that there was plenty OF water under
meath the ground, but so far they
have not been generally successful in
getting the water and the state has
| not even been occasionally successful
| in showing them how to get it.
Try Community Power.
| Doerr and Wilson hope to be able
to get the legislature to do something
/ that will change these conditions. A
IContinued IN popa TwOl
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
Delegates Now Bend Efforts
Toward Arranging Details.
VIII Prepare the Preliminary
Terms for Germany Now.
WORLD IN STAGNATION STATE
Next Problem Is in Resumption
of Industries.
There Is Much Work for the
C0Eferees To Tackle.

Paris, Feb. 15.-With the league of
nations temporarily disposed of, the
peace delegates today directed their
efforts toward effecting a definite pre-
lfminary peace with Germany which
will enable general rehabilitation and
resumption of normal industry and
commerce thruout the world Prac-
tically all the conferees have agreed
that this is the most vital problem
now before them.
The world is now in a state of stag
nation Industries everywhere are
awaiting the actual signing of peace,
and the growing unrest and uncer-
tainty in many countries can be traced
directly to economic conditions.
Semi-of1cial reports from Germany
indicate that country has enough food
to last until March. New crops will
not be available before June. In the
interim, conditions of actual starvation
may prevail and bring about serious
disturbances unless steps to meet this
situation are 'aken speedily. pre-
lim1nary peace would correct these
conditions and would be comparative
ly simple in accomplishment. The
military status could be fixed by de-
manding immediate dem obiliza ton
upon peace basis. The allies could
agree what Germany should pay in
the way of indemnitieS and how she
should pay it and this could be ap-
portioned among the interested ma
tions. After this was disposed of, the
economic status could be fixed by
agreeing to what extent the economic
blockade would be lifted. That some
such program will be partially ar
ranged under the new provisions for
extension of the armistice is limited at
in certain official quarters. These
provisions will be presented to the
Germans by Marshal Foch at Treves
Monday.
Much Work Remains.
Considerable additional work must
be done to perfect the plan, however,
and toward this end the newly
created supreme economic council will
cooperate closely with the supreme
war council and 1t is expected that
further requirements from Germany
Will develop as the armistice is re-
neWed from time to time resulting
gradually in what will virtually
amount TO preliminary peace. There
is soma disposition, tho, to make this
process matter of immediate accom-
pIishment rather than extending il
over an indefinite period.
The principal opposition to lessen
ing the economic pressure against
Germany comes from the French who
rear the advantages Germany might
gain If she were permitted to obtain
Llenty of raw materials. They also
dislike to take chance on Germany
spending money which she might 9TH
erwise devote to paying reparatior
claims
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
LINES ARE open
Stalled Trains Moving Except
on Rock Island Denver Route.
Kansas Gradually Recovering
From Effect of Blizzard.

Kansas railroad lines blocked by
Wednesdays gale and snowstorrn, with
the exception of the Rock Islands
Denver line, were open and all trains
moving at noon today. according to
officials here of the Santa Fe. Rock
Island and Union Pacific. Rock Island
officials asserted that their Denver
line would be clear sometime this af-
ternoon.
A few of the blockaded trains ar
rived in Topeka today. The most of
Thursdays trains will arrive before
midnight. it was said. With these will
be Wednesdays trains running as sec
tfons to regular schedules.
Telephone and telegraph service is
also recovering, it is said. The ma
jority of the Topeka. wires out of order
have been repaired ard the majority
of the remaining trouble is on rural
lines
Willie railroad and wire communi-
cation is rapidly recovering, roads
thruout the state are, as rule, almost
;mpa ssa BILE. This is especially true of
dirt highways, the condition on per-
,1anent highways being considerably
better.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
FOR SENATE TALK
Discussion VIII Break Out at
the First Chance.
Mention of Subject Enough To
Start the Tongues.

Washington, Feb. 15.-Senate dis
cussion of the league of nations con-
stitution is expected to break out at
the first mention of the subject on
the floor.
This may be today. Debate will
center about three points, it became
evident early today. They are:
1. The question of who is to con-
troll military and naval forces called
to enforce the leagues DEGREES.
2. The fixing of army and navy
strength by the league for the United
States and other member nations.
3. Interpretation and administra-
ton of the constitution.
Not All Talk Critical.
The discussion will not all be crit
ical. Tho much of it probably will
come from II told you so' senators,
there are many who intend to ask
questions purely for information and
who feel that preliminary discussion
now will be helpful when the league
is before the senate for formal ap-
proval.
On the first question some senators
feel the constitution is somewhat
vague. They wish to know whether
fContinued or Page Two.D
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
TOPEKA GETS A MEET
State Musicians Will Comc-Topekan
Is Elected to Office.

EmpCria, Feb. 15--The annual con-
vention of the Kansas State Music
Teachers association closed a two
days session Friday night. Il will
meet in Topeka next year. Officers of
the association elected for the next
year are: F. A Beach. Emporia,
president: Otto Fischer, Wichita, vice
president: Paul r. UT, Ottawa. secre-
tary-treasurer. Members OF the ex-
ecutive committee are: Harold L.
Butler, Lawrence; Paul r. TIT. OF
tawa: D. A. Muller, -opeka; F. A.
Beach. Emporia; Louis U. Rowland.
Baldwin, Otto Fischer. Wichita; Osca +
Lofgren, Lindsborg; Miss Elsie Smith,
Topeka; II. z. Ma1loy, Hays.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
BOCHE ARE ROASTING
Note Claiming Occupation Is Not Due
to Superiority Given.

Amsterdam, Feb. 15.-A note con-
tanning an insinuation that the occu-
patton of German territory was not
due to military superiority. according
to the Cologne zeitung. was handed in
recently to the allied armistice COM
mission by the German delegates and
is said to have drawn a very sharp
retort on behalf of Marshal Foch at
the meeting of the armistice commits
sion on February Z.
A French general acting under in
struction from Marshal Foch. the
newspaper adds. refused to make an
answer to the note and declared it
would be examined only if it was pre-
sented in the most courteous form.
General Won Hammerstein, the leading
German military delegate. deferred a
declaration in the matter until the re-
ceipt of instructions from the German n
government.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
REDS ACTIVE AGAIN
Scartacan Disorders Rcportcd-WiIl
Try Radicals as Common Criminals.

Berlin. Feb. 15,-Further Spartacan
disorders and pillagiug were reported
today in Hamburg. Duisberg and
Muelheim In the latter city the I'M
perial bank is said TO have been
robbed of T5,OGo marks (S1S,75o) by
members of the workmen's and SOL
diers' council.
The Bavariau government was un-
officially reported to have issued call
for all able bodied men to form a
home defense guard ito combat the
Bolsheviks."
Carl Radek, the Russian Bolshevik
emissary who was arrested while hid
ing in a villa in Charlottenberg, will
not be considered as a foreigner and
will receive no foreign protection but
will be tried as common criminal. it
was announced today. He is alleged to
have gone down on his knees and
begged for his life when taken into
custody, fearing the fate of Karl Lieb-
knecht, whom he aided in the Berlin
revolt.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
MYRA IN The MOVIES
Carrie Nations Pal To Extend Her
Talents to SPECIFICS Screen.

AS was stated in the State Journal
yesterday, day before yesterday and
the day before that--Myra McHenry
is here
As the bowling toastmester says
''she needs no introduction" Anyone
who has lived in Kansas since the be-
ginning of Carrie Nations time knows
Myra McHenry and her hatred for
booze, cigarettes, wild women and
song.
AS was stated in the S. J. yesterday.
etc. Myra is here beforehand behind
the legislature in an attempt to kill
the city manager bill affecting Wich-
ita--kill the bill that made il peces-
sary fo~ Wichita to go to Missouri to
get a $4,000 a year city manager and
made it necessary for Kansas to go
to Wichita TO get q $1,000 a year gov
ernor.
But getting down to today's news
now that yesterdays and the day be-
fore's review-of reviews is complete
Myra McHenry is going into the mov-
les. 1t is pretty hard to imagine the
old joint smasher appearing before
the public on the silent screen in a
manner that will not allow her to
voice her sentiments by word and
weapon. but that is her plan and she
says the contract is nearly closed.
YES she admitted in shrinking
violet attitude, I'm going in the NOV
les. My friends recognized my dram
attic talent at a show I put on at
Wichita for the Kansas editors a year
ago. They have persuaded me to ac-
cept motion picture Offers
The reporter gasped.
why, Myral" he exclaimed You
and Theda Bara and Fatty Arbuckle
and Charlie Chaplin and all these
California swimming beauties and
"Stop!" cried Myra.
And tho renOvtn6
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
State Board of Health Issues
Startling Report for 1918.
And Each One of These Death
Dealers Was Preyentable.
IT IS DUE TO HEALTH METHODS
Loose System in Counties To
Blame-Suggest a Law.
Incipient Tubercular Cases in
Twelve Months, $4,000.

Five preventable diseases-typhoid
fever, tuberculosis. smallpox, scarlet
fever and diphtheria-last year cost
Kansas more than $11,OOO,OOO, ac-
cording to a statement issued today
by DR.. J. J. Sippy, epidemiologist for
the state board of health. Response
bility for much of the alarming situa-
tion in the state is declared to be due
to the loose policy of selecting county
health officials who in the main are
underpaid and unable to give the best
service On the basis of todays COM
pilation of startling figures, the state
legislature is to be asked to direct the
fight by creating forty health districts
where thoroly organized and well
trained efforts may be directed
Plans are to be submitted to legis-
lative committees providing for the Sc
lection of well trained medical men as
health officers in each of the forty
proposed health districts of the state.
These men would give their entire
time and attention to the work. The
entire expense of the project would
be in the neighborhood of 100000,
as against 1925, 900 now expended in
the loosely organized county health Of
ficer system. This organization prac-
tically broke down during the recent
influenza epidemic. But the failure
Of the counties to make proper pro-
vision for services of medical men has
been the big source of trouble.
$4,000 Cases OF Tuberculosis.
DR.. Sippy's report today showed that
$4,000 recognized incipient tubercular
cases existed in the state last year. In
many of these cases the extent of the
disease has not been recognized, but
the efficiency of not less than $4,000
Sansans is declared to have been low
cred thru the spread of the disease.
These cases received practically no
attention in the state thru the regular
channels of county medical aid. Only
il a very few cities and counties have
preparations been made for the care
of these cases.
Six thousand tubercular sufferers
ere declared by DR.. Sippy to be more
or less constantly under medical care
in the state at this time. Figuring
their average expense at 500 a year,
the medical bill for these people last
year was 100000. Loss of time was
figured at $500 a year, or $500. with
S150.000 additional for funerals of
1000 victims. The economic loss of
lfe is given at $41OO,000, or a grand
total of SS.450,000.
The expense of 5000 typhoid cases
in the state last year is given by DR.
sippy at S1.9S0,000. A total of $500
smallpox cases were reported to the
state health department. Expenses
on the basis of medical attention, loss
of time. funerals of victims and eco.
r"mic loss of life-is given at $685.
C6n.
Scarlet Fever Cases.
State department reports show 3.12C
cases of scarlet fever. Cost in dollars
and cents is given at S99,350. From
Loo cases of diphtheria, an expense
rGontlnneh on Page TwoJ
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
ANOTHER THREAT BY HUN
Scheidemann Says Germans Would
Never Forget unjust Peace"

Weimar, Feb. Is. - Phillip
Scheidemann, the chancellor in the
new German government. today
showed himself able to handle con-
dieting demonstrations in the new
national assembly with no sign of
being intimidated by the widest op-
position or moved by the most Sc
we're heckling. No speaker since
the meeting of the national assem-
bly, was opened has been so out
spoken toward his opponents.
One of the incidents of his speech
was his reference to Austria's de-
sire to join Germany. He said. I'VE
desire no reluctant adherents and
by the same token nobody wishing
to join us should be prevented" !"
There was almost a threat in his
warning:
THE entente is able to enforce
any kind of peace on Germany, but
if it is an unjust peace, seventy
million people in their hearts will
never forgive or forget"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
AN INQUIRY OF WILLIAMS
Resolution in House for Look Into
Acts of Currency Comptroller.

Washington. Feb ia resolution
calling for All investigation into the
official conduct" of John Shelton
Williams. comptr roller of the currency
whose name is before the senate for
resppointment. was introduced in the
house today by Representative McFad-
den. Pennsylvania
McFadden also introduced another
resolution to abolish the office of
com ptroller of the currency.
The committee is directed to inquire
whether Williams has any private
banking or brokerage connections at
Richmond, Va, or Baltimore, Md,
what interest these connections. if they
exist, have had in the stock of the
International Merchant Marine. or
Russian bonds. and whether any re-
lationship exists between the connec-
tions and the Richmond Federal re-
serve.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
HEADED FOR HOME
Wilson Sails From Brest for
u s. at 11:15 Today.
On George Washington, Same
Vessel He Went Across On.

Brest, Feb. 15.-President Wilson
started home confident that peace
treaty will be completed and signed
early in June.
Brest, Feb 15.-President Wilson
sailed for the United States aboard
the liner George Washington at 11:15
a. m. today.
His party is much smaller than that
which accompanied him on the trip
over, due to the fact that a large por-
ton of the staff of technical experts
and assistants is remaining in Paris to
assist in the peace work. The liner
will also bring back the 800 American
soldiers who formed the guard at the
Murat palace.
In a farewell message to the French
people before leaving Brest today,
President Wilson said he had been
received and treated as a friend as
he had most desired to be treated.
He added that he was happy to return
to France to assist in completing the
just settlements of the peace confer
ence.
When President Wilson left here to-
day for the United States it was an
nounced that he would land in Bos-
ton on February 25, where he was ex-
pected to make an address which
would cover the work performed at the
peace conference. s.,.----.
A Busy Week Waits.
Washington, Feb.A- 15.-President
Wilson will find a hard weeks work
ahead of him when he returns from
France. Within that time he is ex-
pected to:
Appeal to joint session of congress
for endorsement of the league of ma
tions.
Confer with governors on unemploy-
ment.
Il,nnfinned on Pare Twn
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
a SAIINA BOY IS KILLED.
Formerly Reported Missing. Death of
a Kansan Is Confirmed.

Daniel Kreps, of this city, have re-
ceived a telegram from the war de-
partment stating that their son. Les
lie Kreps, was killed in action on Sep
tember 80. Shortly after September
80 the father received a message from
the war department bearing the in
telligence that the son was missing in
action, and since that time nothing has
been received concerning him until the
death message came. Leslie kreps
was no quite 2 years old. He was
a member of Company NJ, Salinas
Kansas National Guard company.