davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
SEEKING BETTER
 SHOALS PROPOSAL
Committees Will Complete Investiga- tion of Ford's Offer. Then Take Up
 That of Alabama Power Company.

Washington, Feb. 20.-Announce- ment by Secretary Weeks today that he would submit to Congress tomor- row for acceptance or rejection, the Alabama Power Company's offer to purchase and lease the Muscle Shoals nitrate and water power projects, submitted to him last Tuesday, added to the possibilities of further delay in Congress of consideration of Ford's offer for the same properties.
 The Alabama company's offer, it was said, would be addressed tomor- row to the speaker of the House and president of the Senate and be re- ferred by them upon receipt probably to the military affairs committee of the House and agricultural committee of the Senate, both of which are en- gagged in Investigating the Ford pro- posal.
 Chairman Kahn announced tonight that the House body would conclude it's study of the offer submitted by the Detroit manufacturer before under taking hearings on the new proposal, but would not report them separately to the House.
 The plan is recommending accept anee or rejection of the offers to tho full membership of the House, tn, chairman said, would be to prepare joint report on all proposals Congress might treceive. In this manner, it wal explained, the Ford offer would re main in the committees hands, pre- venting action by the House, until al the proposals the war secretary mighf submit were thoroly investigated. Mr. obu cafd ba ax,,uofx.I 4<< .nx. clude the hearings on Mir. Ford's offer this week and would immediately be. gin an examination of that from the Alabama company, which Secretary Weeks indicated today was considered "a better offer in some respects than that of Henry Ford.
 The House committee today interro- gated J. O. Hammitt, vice president of the Air Nitrate Corporation. a sub sidiary of the American Cyanamide Company, of Maine, who defended the rights of the former concern to pur- chase nitrate plant number 2 at Mus cle Shoals upon as favorable terms as the government might accept from other private enterprises.
 He submitted contract signed by the corporation and war department officials under date June 18, 1918, when it was agreed to buy, build the plant, and which contained a section extending optional privileges to the Air Nitrates subsidiary to buy the property in the event it was sold by the government.
 "This constituted solemn and binding agreement" MT. Hammitt said, adding that if it was violated by the government thru acceptance of the Ford proposal the corporation would reluctantly instruct it's attorneys to resist such action in the courts. He asserted efnphatically that decision by the government to disregard the agreement would reduce the standard of business morality to lower degree than ever before approached by pri- vate concern
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
ID BLOCK SALES TAX MOVE
Petitions Against Plan tc Raise Sol dier Bonus Circulated-Doubtfu if Such Tax Measure Can Re
 Put Over.

Washington, Feb. 20.-The question of financing the soldiers bonus was referred back today to the special tax subcommittee by the majority mem- bers of the House ways and means committee and 1t was said that the subcommittee would attack the prob lem again late tomorrow.
 The trend of thought in cloakrooms and corridors was that some sort of a manufacturers or wholesalers tax plan would be drafted in accord with President Harding's suggestion that the financing be done by sales tax.
 Whether approval of such a tax by the entire committee, Republicans and Democrats could be obtained, ap- lpeared to be moot question. In an effort to block the sales tax within the committee, twenty-two Republican opponents of this kind of levy met and framed petitions which were free. ly circulated and signed before the House adjourned for the day. Repre- sentative Dickinson, of Iowa, who
 called the meeting, said it was the
 hope to obtain sufficient signatures te convince the majority committee mem
 bers that it would be impossible to pu
 a sales tax provision thru the House The petition declared in favor of ad- justed compensation, but in opposi- ton to the financing of it by sales or manufacturers tax and sets forth that it's signers twill oppose any rule for the adjusted compensation that does not permit a separate vote on any sales of manufacturers tax provi- sion therein"
 While the ways and means commit tee was discussing the bonus ques- ton, it was made known at the White House that President Harding had re- ceived many communications opposing the enactment of the bonus legisla- ton for the present. At the same time the American Legion's legislative committee made public telegram from Hanford MacNider, the Legion's national commander, opposing any further delay in the bonus legislation It was said that the communications reaching Mir. Harding in opposition to enactment of the bonus outnumbered those favoring action at this time, but | it was added that many of those op- posing the bill showed a similarity.
 Representative Dickinson reiterated that if the agricultural bloc was un- successful in it's efforts to block the sales tax in committee it would make a determined stand in the Republican conference which is to be called to consider the bill. He seemed conf dent of a victory but proponents of the sales tax believed that they could win in the conference and were understood to be counting on administration in- fluence as is embodied in Mir. Hard ing's letter to swing votes to their side.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
COUNTY OFFICIALS IN SCRAP
J. A. Thornton and ". L. Parker Plead
 Guilty in Justice Court.

It isn't often that Polk county off,
 cials are defendants in justice courts, but Thursday morning witnessed two
 of the best known occupants of the courthouse pleading guilty before Jus tice c. l.. Clement on a charge of
 fighting. The accused were Sheriff ]. A. Thornton and Circuit Clerk w. l.. Parker. Both officials admitted their guilt of violation of the statutes and
 expressed sorrow that in the heat of passion they had passed blows. The affray was staged Wednesday morn ing in the corridor of the courthouse. Judge H. W. Finger was the only wit ness examined by the court. The judge told of three-cornered discus sion that was in progress over the janitcr work at the courthouse, which developed to the extent the lie was passed and blows followed. Judge Finger testified he believed Clerk Parker used the fight provoking word first, but was not positive which of the two struck the first blow. He gave most of his attention, he said, to separating the two men, who by this time were apparently in earnest. In view of the fact that both officials had expressed regrets over the affair and did not seek to escape any responsi- bility to the law because of their posi- tions. Justice Clement assessed the minimum fine of Sl.oo each, and costs.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
ROCKEFELLER INSISTS
 0SER BECOME AMERICAN
Grandfather of Matilde Mccormick is Believed to Have Assented to
 Marriage With Swiss.

Chicago, Feb. 21.-That sixteen year-old Matilde Mccormick had ob. tained approval of her proposed mar riage to Max Oser, Zurich. Switzer- land, riding academy head, from her grandfather, John D. Rockefeller Sr., was stated here today by family friends. It was reported that his one condition was that Oser should be- come an American citizen, but there was no confirmation of this from the Mccormick family.
 Emil Burgy, Chicago interior deco rator, the first cousin to make him. self known, visited at the Mccormick home yesterday, but was informed al the front door that Mir Mccormick and Miss Matilde were not receiving
 "It is the custom of the old coun. try" he told newspapermen camped about the Mccormick home, when a couple become engaged for all hei relatives to call upon him, and all his relatives call upon her right away"
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
IT ALL DEPENDS.
Difference in Value of Sheep Puzzles
 Officials--Maybe.

Those who do not believe that sheep raising in Polk county. will show an increase in values like other places, should see figures ill possession of
 County Clerk Anderson. The clerI; has found evidence where certain sheep have increased in value from $2 per head to s5 per head in less than years time. The figures were ob- tained when a Grannis man filed a re- port of appraisement made of the value of five head of mutton makers killed by dogs. and payment of the loss was requested by the county court. The appraisers fixed the value of the dead sheep at s5 each, or total of S25. The assessors report on the same mans sheep was looked up and it was found that last May these sheep were listed for taxpaying purposes at
 a valuation of $2 each. Why the ami malls should increase so rapidly in value is a matter that is not only in- teresting to livestock producers, but also to County Judge Finger, who will investigate before he oK's the claim.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
JUDGEMENT TO DEPENDANT
T. A. Allen Loses in Suit Against A
 H. Scoggin.

The damage suit of T. A. Allen against A. H. Scoggin was ended in ehancery court late Wednesday after noon, Chancellor Shaver deciding in favor of the defendant. A decree awarding Mr. Scoggin judgment of q little more than $14 900 was rendered and the plaintiffs complaint was dis missed for want of equity. Chancel- Tor Shaver adjourned court and with Mrs. Shaver returned home to Tex arkana Thursday morning. It is mol likely further trial of cases will be had until the regular session of chan cery court in April
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
MANY GET R|CH'
 SCHEMES IN COURT
More Than 40 Million Dollars Taken From the Unwary and Court Are Swamped With Innumerable
 Cases-Oil Fakes Lead.

Washington, Feb. 15.-Dockets of the federal courts turnout the country are swamped with fake stock swind- ling cases, in which more than 40 million dollars has been taken from incautious investors, Attorney Gener- al Daugherty said tonight. There are, he added, 4s0 of these cases in the federal courts, in which STA per- sons have been arrested or indicted.
 Tt would take one judge, working twelve months a year, 1 million years to clean up the docket" Daugherty said.
 Oil Stock Fakes Lead. Most of the cases, he explained, were fake oil stock companies, altho the swindling schemes ranged from bucket shops and mining stocks to patent elephant catcher" promo tion
 Quoting from his reports, Daugh- erty said that "the northern district of Missouri led in the amount in- volved in pending fake stock cases with a total of $31, ,792 900, while the northern district of Illinois had the greatest number of cases, forty-three. The northern district of Texas stood second with forty-two cases"
 And Then Game the Frost.
 As an instance of schemes appeal ing to credulous investors, Daugherty cited the famous Everglade case, in which % million dollars had been ob- tained on the stock of 6 company formed to dram and farm rich Flor iea lands and sold on the argument that there was no frost in Florida. After the stock had been disposed of, he added, the frost came. This case, he said. had been pending in Chicago several years and already had cost the government about S200,000, but he was studying the advisability of pressing it.
 Sections of the country in which the "blue sky" schemes were particularly prevalent, he declared, were Kansas City, Chicago, New York and Texas.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
PLANE TAKES CASH ro BANK.
Fl Dorado Institution Needed Funds
 to Meet Run.

Fl Dorado. Ark, Feb. 18.-The Guaranty Bank and Trust Company which successfully withstood run lasting all day yesterday received $100.000 by airplane this morning from Shreveport. The plane, driven by Lieut.. w. L. Shaffer of the local flying field, made the eighty miles in thirty-six minutes.
 The run was started on account of a rumor that state bank examiners who were making the senli-annual check of the bank, were here to close it
 After consulting with the assistant state bank examiner, the bank decid- ed this morning to take advantage of the Arkansas banking law and closed their doors for five days, during which time the bank will reorganize and enough cash secured to pay off all de- positors who want their money. The large depositors have all agreed to not withdraw accounts.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
WAGE CUT MAY SAVE
 M. &N. A. RAILROAD
Labor Board Allows Scale One Fourth Below Standard--Receiyer Pro- poses to Resume Operation
 Under Decision.

Chicago, Feb. 1S.-A 25 per cent re
 duction in standard wage rates was
 allowed the Missouri & North Arkan-
 sas railroad in decision of the Unit
 ed States railroad labor board handed
 down today. The railroad, in the hands of receiver. suspended oper-
 ations last July and asked reduc tion below standard wages to enable it to resume.
 Today's decision marks the first in. stance in which the labor board has
 passed on dispute involving a rail road not in operation, and also marks
 an instance where ability of the rail
 road to pay was taken into considera- ton in fixing wages.
 Fifteen Counties Need Read. According to the carriers petition the railroad, which has been in the hands of receiver since 1912, hae never earned return on the invest.
 ment, altho it is the sole transporta tion resource of 140,000 persons anc serves 1s million in the fifteen coun ties of Missouri and Arkansas, thrg which it's one hundred and seventy miles of track pass.
 j. c. Murray, the receiver, at hear ings before the board, represented that resumption of the road was nee c5sary to avert ruin to farms, schools industries and factories. He proposed to resume operations with wages q per cent below standard, dividing any surplus at the end of the year among employees after operating expenses and interest on a government loar were paid. The owners, according to his proposal, were not to receive any returns until the employees were paid standard rates of pay. a period estimated at ten years.
 Representatives of the unions at the hearing contended that since the roac was not in operation, the dispute was
 not within the boards jurisdiction. The employees struck following g former decision of the board and there was violence on the line, including thu
 burning of several bridges.
 | Must Recognize Employees Rights. Today's decision orders acceptanc, of the proposal by the employees, but l specifies that working conditions al fixed by the board must be adhered
 to by the carrier and recommended
 that former employees be reinstatec with their seniority rights sustained
 It orders conference between carrier
 and employees not later than March
 to carry out the decision.
 The roads payroll in 1920, the lasi
 full year of operation, was S1,410,000
 It was estimated the payroll, with tht
 25 per cent reduction still will be 34
 per cent over the payroll of 1917. IT 1920 the roads gross revenue was $2,
 136, 6,326.45, and its operating expenses
 were $2,307 ,603.86.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
BIames American Interests.

San Antonio, Tex, Feb. 17.-De- claring that rebel activities in Mex leo are inspired by American inter ests,'' General Plutarco Elias Gales, Mexican minister of state is quoted in dispatch received by La Prinsa, Spanish language newspaper here, as saying that immediate executions of rebels are necessary for the safety of the Mexican government.
 Those who have been put to death General Gales is quoted as saying ''have been the instruments of Amer ican enemies of Mexico and the Mexi- can government is in possession of proofs of this connection.
 Every time there is an atmosphere in Washington favorable to estab- lishment of definite relations with Mexico" the dispatch said, "the ene- mics of Mexico spend large sums to encourage riots, disorders, footing, blowing up of trains and similar de- predations, in order to make people believe Mexico Is a country incapable of self f-government.7
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
NEW POPE TO HOLD
 C0NSISToRy IN MAY
First Reported as Planned for March !; Gasparri Is Not to Be Super
 ceded in Vatican.

Rome, Feb. 21.-Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary of state, informed that the new pope's first consistofy will take place in May, instead of in March. as previously announced.
 Inside information enables me to contradict the rumor that Cardinal Coretti will replace Cardinal GasFarri as secretary of state in the Vatican. l saw Cardinal Gasparri personally, and he looks to be in the Attest com dition. There is no indication that he will resign. Cardinal Coretti is the most probable successor to Cardinal Gasparri, but it is certain that there will be no change for several months
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
WILSON PRAISED BY LEADING
 FOE TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Senator Borah Declares Differences of Opinions Have. Not Blinded Him
 to Great Policies.

New York, Feb. 16.--Differences of opinion had not blinded him "to the great policies and principles advo- cated by former President Wilson" [" Senator William E. Borah, one of the leading opponents of the League of Nations in the senate, declared yes- terday in telegram to the Woodrow Wilson foundation, which was read at its dinner tonight.
 q regret most sincerely" his teie- gram said, 'that pending matters here will not permit me to attend the Wilson foundation dinner. l should have been greatly pleased to add my mite to so worthy cause. Difference of view on some questions of method, has not, trust, blinded me in the least to the great policies and pTin- ciples urged and advocated by ex- President Wilson in looking to a bet ter and more peaceful world. l ex- press the hope that the cause will sue csed to the full satisfaction of it's ad- vocates."
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
UPWARD SWING IN
 BUSINESS IS NEAR
Annual Report of Federal Reserve Board Transmitted to Congress, However, Warns of Letting Crest
 Come toe Fast-Control Tides.

Washington, Feb. 20.-- Business
 turnout the country, progressing thru
 we'll defined cycles, is nearing the point of the upward swing of the econ
 onic pendulum, according to the an-
 nual report of the federal reserve
 board transmitted today to Congress. Business, in one of its Hong swings" from prosperity, the report said, has followed it's usual rotation, which it described as business activity and in-
 creasing production; excessive expan- sion and speculation followed hither- to by panic and forced liquidation; a long period of slow liquidation, busi- ness depression and stagnation, and then revival.
 "In the light of recent experience, :" the report warned, i've should remem- Der, when we again enter into a period of full prosperity, that a reaction will follow sooner or later; and if the flow
 of the incoming tide can be controlled so that the crest may not be reached too rapidly nor rise too high, the sub sequent reaction will be less severe and the next period of industrial and commercial activity and general pros perity will be marked by saner meth ods, greater accomplishment along
 constructive lines, and by longer duration than any which we have had before"
 Increase in Resources.
 The board confined its report to an
 account of the operation of the organi-
 zation for the year, 1921, without of fering any suggestions for legislation affecting the board or the federal re- serve system. The earning assets of all federal reserve banks, the report said, amounted on December 28, 1921, to $1,535, ,851 ,000, compared with $3,- 263, ,027 ,000 on December 30, 1921, a
 reduction of $1,727, 7,176,0 1000, or 53 per cent, and reduction of $1, ,886, ,125 .000, or 55 per cent from the high point
 reached on October 15. 1920.
 This reduction in loans, the report
 explained, was accompanied by q steady increase in gold reserves and
 an almost continuous reduction in fed
 eral reserve note circulation, the loan reduction continuing despite substan-
 tial decline iH discount rates.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
IRISH FRONTIER DANGERS LESS
In Ulster, Following Release of Kidnapped Unionists by Republi- can Forces, Is Calmer Than for
 Week--Belfast Sniping Ends.

Belfast, Feb. 20.-The situation in northern Ireland is considerably calm CT than at any time during the last week and the fear of clash on the southern frontier has dwindled almost to the vanishing point. The rival forces, however, retain their positions along the borden and hope is expresi that the next few days will see them withdrawn, as the proximity of such heavily armed forces is looked upon as a potential menace to peace.
 One Chauffeur Killed.
 It is stated unofficially that a deci- sion to release the Irish Republican army football players from the Derry jail was reached when the northern government informed the British gov ernment that it had abandoned it's in- tention to prosecute the men. This is expected to result in a reciprocal release of captive Ulstermen.
 The football players were released today.
 A party of Class B. specials chal- lenged Crossley tender bearing a number of specials to the Cavan coun- ty line yesterday. The driver of the tender did not stop, whereupon e member of the challenging party fired killing Constable McEnnis. The incl dent, which is supposed to have been due to a mistake, occurred on the northern side of the border.
 Belfast remains quiet and the cost of the recent violence is now being reckoned. Aside from the numerous deaths and injuries there are none tary claims for compensation amount ing to more than 500,000 pounds.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
WHO GETS THE FoRDs
Legal Question to Be Decided March
 4u 3fIy,,,.. Xao.s, ctow.x-. rst-

Legal Question to Be Decided March
 laTwo Years Storage Charges.
 Justice c. L. Clement has set March I9 as new date for hearing of a repIevin suit started in his court to get possession of Ford car. The car ls one owned by L. A. Miller of Smith v{aleI Ok, and it was seized by fed ofaL Prohibition officers in June, 1920, yelI44 It was charged that Miller had e<ad T. to transport liquor. The ear Wns o<dered stored in the Frost com r4I{< garage in Mena. It was later 4h61< that the car was wrongfuliy
 tut the Frost company, which III claim for storage refused to 41zxz ler it until the claim was paid.
 lestion to be settled is whether
 ||!E will have to pay almost two t<f storage on a car wrongfully 14k<u from him, or whether the Frost e6k7nny will lose the amount due. or 11ll4ct from Officer ] T. Tisdale. ~ho o<dekcd the car seized.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
B. W. Hall. Not Webb Hall. Dead.

Webb Hall, long time resident of Polk county, is not dead, as was re- ported in Mena Tuesday. A mixup in ipitials is credited with the mistake The one who passed away is B. W. Hall, who lived at Cove, and who was buried there Tuesday. Alex Patton was called to Cove to direct the funef- al. Mir. Hall was. 77 years of age. and was married about year ago e Aunt Jane" MeDouaid. an old reki- dent of thzt section. Mr. Hall Is sur xIeed hx his widow, son, Fred Hal. nf Denver. Col0-. and daughter. Mrs prafher. of Pnuls Valley. 0k., poth chlidrrn attending the burisi-
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
Gotten seIIs Highest Here.

Because they can get getter prices in Mena than in any other market, a party of cotton growers from the Muse community. brought their bales across the state line to Mena Thurs day. The bales sold from i2* te I53< cents per pound. The bulk of the cotton was sold to c ". Petty. The growers who brought bales to Hens were Viii Dawn. !. L. Hendrix. Thom e Parniey. John Bruehert and T. O.
The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-23
14,000 Troops Remain.

Dublin, Feb. 20.-Fourteen thousand British troops are now left in Ireland, according to a statement issued by the publicity branch of the Irish Re- publican army.
 Fifty military barracks and 150 po- lice barracks have been taken over by the provisional government.