davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
NIP PRISON PLOT
Prisoners Planned To Dyna-
mite LeavenwOrth Prison.
Front Gate Was To Be Blown
Today, Warden Is Told.

Leavenworth, Kan, Aug. ga
plot by three prisoners to dynamite
the front gate of the federal prison
here this afternoon and shoot their
way to freedom, was revealed here to-
day to Warden w. I. Biddle by a "go
between"
The "go-between" said John w.
Blair, serving a twenty-five year SEN
tence for robbery, and two other pris-
oners had planned the break for i'm
mediately following the weekend ball
game
The dynamite and revolvers, accord
ing to the story, were to be furnished
them by outsiders from Kansas City.
The ammunition was to be conveyed
to the prisoners thru a trusty, said to
be involved in the alleged conspiracy.
Blair is serving a sentence of
twenty-five years in connection with
an assault on a mail carrier at Jeffer-
son City. Mo; previously he had
served two terms in the Missouri
prison.
The plot was discovered, prison of
ficialS said, when a trusty was discov-
cred smuggling tobacco and drugs
into the prison. It was suspected he
knew more than he told so he was
put in solitary confinement. Later he
told the warden he was ready to talk.
According to the trusty's story n
confederate was to bury dynamite and
revolvers in a field west of the prison
to be smuggled to Blair and two nc
completes. The plot included the
making of buliOt proof protectors.
and 1t is stated that material for such
protectors was found in the cell of
one of Blair's confederates.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
MAY CUT PRICE
Further Drop in Gasoline Is
Now Being Predicted.
Reduction in Crude Product TO
Reach Consumer Soon.

Washington. Aug. 26.-Further re-
duction of the price of gasoline was
forecast in a preliminary report by
the special senate committee which is
investigating the industry.
The committees prediction was
based on the recent cut in the price
of crude oil. which it was said might
reasonably be expected to reflect it.
self in the cost to the ultimate con-
sumner of the refined product.
At the same time the committee
held that small oil producers and re-
finers were getting the worst of 1t un-
der the present organization of the
industry, because of violent price fluc-
tuations which have followed control
of a large percentage of stocks by the
larger companies.
A continuation of the system, the
report said. must spell disaster to
the small Independent concerns which
really produce more than one-haf the
nations crude oil.
Referring to current gasoline prices,
the committee reported that an anal
ysis of the statements of witnesses
would make it seem reasonable to ex-
pect a further lowering of the price
of gasoline as a result of cutting the
price of crude from 81 to S1.25 a bar
rel" This expectation was based.
said the report, on explanations be-
fore the committee that the recent de-
cline of 2 cents a gallon on gasoline
has resulted from a previous cut in
the price of crude and further that
many of the refiners still were using
stocks of crude oil bought at prices
higher than the present quotations.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
HE is NOT GUILTY COBURN is LOWER
E. o. Barter Cleared of Charge
of Assault on Girl.
Mother Declares She'll ~Get
Boys To Mob Him."

After celebrating only about five
minutes, the jury empaneled to try
Edward Oscar Barter. Santa Fe
watchman, charged with making an
assault on 7-year-old Rosie Hoffman.
returned verdict of acquittal in the
court of Topeka this noon.
Mrs. John Hoffman, III North Lo-
Gust street, mother of the little girl,
Eeals's office after the trial when she
protested loud and tearfully against
Barter'S release. She made threats
that she would shoot him ards'.wotiisl
get the boys to mob him" Veale ex :
planned to her that the man had had u
fair trial before a competent jury but
the explanation appeared to have lit
tie effect on the mother.
The spectators who packed the court
room during the trial filed peaceably
out after the verdict was read and
there was no sign of distur bance. Re-
membering the crowd which had COL
Iected at the time of Barter's arrest,
however. deputy sheriffs were on
hand for action in case of emergency.
The principal testimony against the
watchman was given by little Rosie
herself and her mother. This morn
ing Barter took the witness stand in
his own defense and while admitting
that he had given the children money,
he declared it was for the purpose of
making friends of them and inducing
were at work. He admitted holding
Rosie and a little boy on his lap a
few days before, but denied that he
had held any of them on his lap the
day the assault was alleged to have
3ken Mace.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Nationally known TOpekan
Seriously Ill at Home.
He Was State Secretary of Ag-
ricuIture for go Years.

F. D. Coburn. former secretary of
the state board of agriculture, issseri-
ous1y sick at his home, 424 Topeka
avenue. He has been confined to his
home. Mr.. Coburn. who is one of the
states most widely known men. was
secretary of the state department of
agriculture from 1894 until his resig-
nation in 1914. He has been a resi-
dent of the state since 1867 and until
he came to Topeka in 1882 was en-
gagged in the farming and livestock
industry in Franklin county.
During the twenty years he served
as secretary 4of~the state board, Mr..
Coburn contributed perhaps more than
any other person toward the advertis-
ing and boosting of the Kansas farm.
He was the author of many books and
pamphlets on farming and stock rails
ing and for six years was. editor of
the Kansas City Livestock Indicator.
In 1906. following the unseating of
Senator J. Ralph Burton. Governor
Hoch rendered Mr.. Coburn the appoint
ment as United States senator from
Kansas. The appointment was de-
clined and CPburn continued in the
service of the state board until 1914
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
COAL SHOULD Be CHEAPER
Judge Crawford of Industrial Court
Defines Fuel Costs.

In spite of the prolonged tie up of
coal mines, fuel prices this year should
be lower than at the same season in
1921, according to John H. Crawford,
judge of the industrial court. He as
serts that with the new wage scale
and permission of operators to select
their own men, production should be
speeded up and tonnage increased.
Lower freight rates and a demand by
Crawford that retailers charges be
reduced add to the items for lower
fuel cost.
1t is pointed out in a statement by
the industrial court judge that while
the old wage scale is continued in
force there is greater latitude for the
operators in handling of their min
ing properties. He says that a 10 per
cent freight rate reduction should
mean a saving to consumers of rs
cents a ton.
Under the war time plan retailers
were allowed So a ton gross for hand
ling coal. Judge Crawford wants this
amount reduced to 50 a ton in keep
ing with action by Illinois dealers
He declares that most of the coal will
be handled directly from cars and that
the 81 will absorb dealers expenses
and leave a reasonable profit.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Back to School Move
For Boys Is a Rotary
Club Plan This Year
Effort Will Be Made See That Every Youngster of
School Age Attends Public Schools of Topeka
Rotary Boy Luncheon Thursday.

The members have been assigned the
boys they are to invite to the lunch
con. Every Rotarian is required to
be at the luncheon with a boy Thurs
day.
The meeting will be a sort that the
boys will like. They will be given an
opportunity to sign, alone and with
the members. Then there will be
some short-very short-talks from
successful men. These talks will not
be tiresome in the least and each will
drive home a particular point.
Following the meeting the members
are expected to keep in close touch
with the boy and if necessary with his
parents and continue the work of urg-
ing the boy to continue his school
activities. If there are good reasons
why the boy can not attend school,
finances or the necessity of his help
in the support of a family, the club
is ready to undertake proper assist
ance to provide whatever help may
be needed to help the boy help him
self.
The Topeka club has been working
in this movement several years. The
original plan was developed by the
club at Blackwell, Okla, and it has
spread to every club in the United
States and Canada and is being un-
dertaken for the first time in Great
Britain this fall.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26

The Rotary club of Topeka is put
ting on a more intensive back-to-
school campaign this year than ever
before. For several years it has been
one of the chief activities of Rotarians
everywhere to interest themselves in
boys taking as much advantage of the
opportunity for good school training
as possible. One of the chief tenets
of Rotary is better citizenship and a
boy who has even a part of a high
school education always makes a better
citizen than one who was unfortu-
nate enough to have to quit school at
the eighth grade or below. The Ro-
tar.anS are business and professional
men who realize the value of school
training in citizenship and in business
Every Topeka boy who has dropped
out of school before finishing high
school or who was graduated from a
Junior high school last spring has re-
ceived a letter from the club. This
letter explained the value of educa-
ton and urged the boy to keep in
school. Then the club offered its help
thru its members to every boy who
is doubtful about attending school or
who is Indifferent or whose parents
may be indifferent to the value of
school training.
Luncheon Next Thursday.
These boys are to be invited to a
luncheon of the club next Thursday.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
KU KLUX KLAN NOT GUILTY
Thirty Three Alleged Members Are
Freed Following Trial.

Los Angeles, Aug. 26--Thirty-five
alleged members OF the Ku Klux Klan
were free today, a jury which tried
them on felony charges growing out
Of the Inglewood raid of April %, last.
having acquitted them last night after
it had been out five hours and ten
minutes.
Each of the defendants have been
indicted on two counts of kidnapping
two of false Imprisonment, and one
of assault with a deadly weapon, and
$45. 900.
They were accused of having raided
the home and bonded winery of Fidel
and Matias Elduayen. at Ingiewood. a
suburb, seized the men as alleged boot
leggers and turned them loose after
officials had refused to lock them up.
In the raid NJ. B. Mosher, Inglewood
constable, was killed, and his son,
Walter z. Mosher. a deputy constable.
and Leonard Ruegg, a deputy sheriff,
were wounded.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Every Hour Now Is Fraught
With Danger, He Declares.
Joins With Wirth in Saying
That Only Hope Is U. s.
SAYS GERMANY WANTS PEACE
Both Austria and Germany
Drifting to Tragic Point.
Unless Relief Comes Soon Seri-
Gus Results Are Ahead.

London. Aug. 26.-James NJ. Cox,
former Democratic candidate for pres
ident, was the guest of Prime Minister
Lloyd George at breakfast today, and
last night dined with Col. E M House,
who is visiting here Before going
to the premier's residence in Downing
street, Mr.. Cox gave out a statement
10 the American and British press,
dealing with the economic plight of
Europe and quoting the German chan
cellor. DIR. Wirth, as saying to him a
few days ago in Berlin:
Unless the United States interests
herself in European affairs within a
very short time. all in Germany is lost,
and all in central Europe as WE'LL
Mr.. CoX's statement follows:
THE storm center of the economic
world is central Europe. Those who
have visited Austria and Germany are
of one opinion as to the state of things
now and the tragic point to which
both countries are drifting. Austria
has reached a stage of almost COM
plete dissolution, the nations of Europe
are deadlocked on the reparations
question. There seems to be no relief
on this side of the Atlantic. The mas
ter key is held by the United States.
No decision by England seems likely
to be accepted by the French. The
French gomernment will not sanction
any appeal from Germany which might
approximate readjustment of the
figures now in the minds of French
statesmen. because that circumstances
might be regarded by the public
opinion of France as a surrender to
Germany.
No Respite, He Says
'fThere is no respite, and every hour
is fraught with danger 1t is well to
summarize the. conditions of both
France and Germany:
"Since the end of the war, France
has sold approximately $1O,000,000,-
900 worth of bonds to her own people.
to be paid from the reparations funds
from Germany in compliance with the
terms of the peace treaty.
Germany says she lost a fourth or
her grain lands and altogether one
tenth of her territory. She issued
about $25. 900, 100000 worth of bonds
during the war and a deficit of $1O,-
600. 100000 remains as a floating
debt The fiscal state of both coun-
tries without economic stabilizatton
portends but one result.
In the midst of this situation two
false impressions obtain in Europe,
first that France is aggressively mili-
(Coptinued on Eage TnreeI
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Epidemic of Stealing Hits To-
peka This Week.
Belief That Gang Is Making
Rounds of City.
INSURANCE FIRMS MAY ACT
Refuse To Insure Accessories
in Future, Is Prediction.
Average of 1000 Tires a Year
Stolen in Topeka.

1t will not be long until Kansas
automobile insurance companies will
strike from their contracts those
cl1uses holding them responsible for
the theft of tires and other acces-
sories. This was the prediction OF
auto insurance men in Topeka today.
The steady increase in the number OF
automobile tires stolen weekly Will
bring this result it was predicted.
One insurance company in Topeka
received claims for sixteen stolen tires
this week. Another received claims
for eight or ten. other and smaller
compan nies received claims for smaller
numbers end 1t is safe to assume that
several tires not insured were also
stolen.
Whenever a tire is stolen, the rim
and tube usually are taken. The
average theft of tires in Topeka runs
between 5000 and 1000 a year, 1t was
estimated. They will average $25 each
in va ue, including rim and tube. The
theft of radiator caps, tools, spotlights
and ether accessories also runs into
high figures.
Make Owners More Careful.
The insurance men point out that
by excluding accessories from the in
surance contracts the theft OF tires
will be reduced because it viii lead
owners to make thier tires more Sc
cure. Under the present system 1t Is
of little consequence to motorist II
his spare tire is stolen, because 1t is
insured. But if he must stand the
risk himself, it is argued, he viii take
extra precautions to prevent thett
by locking his spare tire to the car
rier.
"Tire stealing in Topeka goes by
epidemics,' Forrest Rice of the Brier-
Rice agency, said today. There is
one in progress at. the present time.
For weeks at a time there will be only
occasional reports of tire thefts. Then
they will come in at the rate of four
or five a day.
1t is the worst and most exasperat-
ing form of larceny with which the
police have to cope. Unless actually
caught in the act the tire thief is in
little danger of being apprehended,
Unlike many other forms of thievery
there are no clues left upon which the
officers may base their work of trac-
ling down the criminal Altho sew
eral thieves have been caught and
punished it is apparent that a large
per cent of them get away. They
apparently go in gangs. coming into
the city for a few days and then leav-
ing as suddenly as they came.
1t is believed that most of the tires
stolen in Topeka are taken to other
cities and disposed of. The tire thief
seldom takes a tire that is not new,
/ or nearly so. He has no regard. how
ever, for brands, except that a cord
tire appears to appeal TO his fancy
stronger than a fabric. This is prob
ably because a cord will bring more
money.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Take Over Lines if TranspOrta-
tiOn Does Not Succeed.
Must Deal With Menace Since
Peace Efforts Failed.
CUMMINS HAS BIG STICK PLAN
Measure Gives President Power
To Operate the Roads.
Will Be Presented to Congress
in Case of Emergency.

Washington. Aug 26.-Confronted
at every turn with the failure of ef-
forts to peacefully settle the railroad
strike, President Harding today fell
back on his original plan for dealing
with the national menace. 1t is:
The railroads will be given every
opportunity 20 demonstrate their abil-
ity to maintain efficient service with
out the unionized shopmen, and If
they fail, then the presiden will ask
congress for specific authority to take
over those roads unable to fulfill their
obligations to the public.
Senator Cummins, Republican, of
Iowa, the father of the railroad labor
board, had a bill in his pocket today
granting the president this power. 1t
will be introduced in the senate and
house whenever it becomes apparent
pacific attitude and haul out the dust
on the big stick" to protect the pub
lie from the suffering of transporta-
ton and coal sfamines.
In substance and form, the Cum
minis bill has been approved by Presi-
dent Harding and Attorney General
Daugherty. It will be kept on file in
Senator Cummins' hip pocket for
emergency use and the belief pre-
vailed today that it will be many
weeks yet before the need of it be-
comes apparent. Much can happen
many conferences can be arranged at
that time.
Senator Cummins is confident con-
gress would grant the authority
asked. In this belief he conferred
with many senators and representa-
tiveS who are inclined to question the
constitutionality of the measure.
No Move at Present.
For the present, at least, the ad-
ministration is planning no new peace
| meves-in- the railroad controversy. il
was stated officially at the White
House today.
apparently both sides want to
fight it out" said one official today.
IF they can do it without running
the country into ruin, perhaps ii
would be a good thing to let them
try it"
While labor officials agreed there is
no danger of a general railroad strike,
they, nevertheless, asserted privately
that the solidarity of railroad labor
is such that the ten standard railroad
unions not now on strike will never
permit the six shopmen's organiza-
tions to be "broken up" by the execu-
tives in the present struggle.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Shutdown on September Is,
Due to Coal Shortage.
Closing Down Will Throw
Thousands Out Employment.
FEEL THE PINCH
Federal Distributor Gives Big
Tonnage to Northeast.
Production From BituminOus
Mines Up to Six Millions.

Detroit, Aug. 26.-The Ford Motor
company plants at Highland Park,
Dearborn and River Rouge, suburbs,
will close Sept. 16, because of lack of
coal, it was announced by Henry Ford.
The suspension VIII affect upwards
of $4,000 workers in the three plants
and directly several hundred thousand
others thruout the country.
Assembly plants of the Ford COM
pany thruout the country also will be
closed it was stated, bringing the num-
ber of strictly Ford employees affected
by the suspension to approximately
$4,000. Others affected are employees
of concerns dependent upon Ford
orders.
Stop Material Shipments.
Concerns that supply the Ford
company with material were notified
today to stop shipments. Explaining
the order to close the plants, Mr..
Ford said that by September 16 the
compauy's reserve stock of fuel will
have been completely exhausted. and
keep the furnaces and ovens warm.
Consequently" he said. we will
close down the entire plant on Sep
tember 16.
possible" Mr.. Ford declared.
Every way we turned we were
confronted with a situation that un-
der the present handling of coal there
WOulu never De a When We wOulo
have enough coal to operate the sew
eral departments of the plants stimuli
taneously. We therefore decided that
of a necessity we must close down
sooner or later"
The shut down. Mr.. Ford added,
comes at a time when we are doing
a greater business than ever before
in our history"
Railroads Are Short.
Washington. Aug. 26.-Railroad
systems of the country are beginning
to feel the pinch of fuel shortage, it
was indicated today by an announce
ment from the federal fuel distributor
that large tonnage" has been
awarded the New York. New Haven &
Hartford. the Delaware, Lackawanna.
& Western. the Pere Marquette and
the Grand Trunk OF Canada. Officials
refused to state the actual amounts
involved.
Washington. Aug. "a production
of 5000, 900 tons of bituminous coal is
assured for the present week and adj
ditional tonnage may raise the total
to 6.25O.O0O tons, the geological sur
Vey announced TODAY
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
DRILLING EAST OF CITY
Earl Fisher of Topeka Working "a
Hours a Day on Ripley Farm.

Drilling for oil or gas at a point
not more than six miles east of To-
peka, is making considerable prog
reSs.
The well is located on a farm owned
Jointly by w. H. Ripley and his sister.
Ella Ripley. some two miles south of
the Tecumseh railroad station.
Drilling operations are in charge of
Earl Fisher of Topeka, who holds the
leases on the ground where the well is
located. The well has already been
sunk $50 feet, and drilling is going on
twenty-four hours a day. Tom
Priestly OF Ell Dorado is the drilling
contractor.
I'VE are drilling with the hope o.
striking either oil or gas" Fisher
stated today.
The we'll is one on which drilling
operations were projected once before,
but no actual boring was done, Fisher
said today.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
WAGE INCREASE TO BOARD
100000 Maintenance of Way En-
ployes Ask for 4S Cents an Hour.

Chicago, Aug. 26.-An increase in
the minimum wage for 100000 main
tenance of way employees from the
present rate of % cents an hour to
4S cents an hour will be asked Mon
day before the United States railroad
labor board, z. F. Cradle, president
of the organization, announced today.
The present scale of maintenance of
way men ranges from % cents to 35
cents an hour.
More than los railroads in the
United States will be included in the
case opening Monday.
The maintenance of way organization
is following a policy adopted when it
announced it's decision not to strike
with the shop crafts. 1t agreed at
that time to a resubmission of it's
grievances to the labor board rather
than strike
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
YES, IT WAS AWFUL

Dallas, Tex, Aug. 26.-Isn't this
heat awful2
A resident of Oakcliff. claiming
the extreme temperature simply
unbearable, last night pulled g
back to nature" stunt and sought
the cooling breezes of his back
yard 4 neighbor, vending his
way homeward in the wee sma'
hours, had visions of an attack.
and suspected the victim had been
let unconscious. Rushing to the
nearest drug stJre. he telephoned
for the Emergency hospital ambu-
lance. When the surgeons arrived,
the victim was quite peeved. but
consented to finish the night with
the covering required by law.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
Aerial BootIeggers Now

Santa Barbara, Cal, Aug. rs
Clarence Braunier and C. E. Paul,
Jr., were under arrest here today
charged with being aerial boot
leggers" following their arrest here
today as they stepped from ar air
plane at a local landing field. Of
ficerS said they found four five
gallon containers in the plane filled
with a high quality bonded whisky.