davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-08-12
BY JOSEPH II. TUMULTY.

Copyright. 1923. hy The Washington Star.
Reproduction Prohibited)
The untimely death of President
Harding has brought on a discussion
of the duties and burdens of the pres
idential office. Distinguished public
men are now engaged in debating leg
isIation with a view of relieving the
President.
The most definite proposal of relief
thus far advanced is that an official
be designated to act as assistant to
the President. upon whom will de-
volve the ministerial duties in con-
tradistinction to the administrative
duties which are inseparable froA
the office of the Chief Executive.
From my own experience In the
White House. covering a period of
eight years three of which encom-
passed the momentous events of the
Evening star., 1923-08-12
Executive Office
Packing Directed
ByMrs. Harding

Mrs. Harding. who returned to
Washington yesterday from Ma
rion. spent the entire afternoon
supervising the clearing out of the
effects of the late President from
his Office in the Executive build
ing. Secretary Christian, Rudolph
Forster. executive clerk. and 9TH
ers of the White House staff were
called into assist, and a mass Of
material, consisting chiefly of cor
respondence and memoranda, was
taken away.
1t is Mrs. Hafding's present pur-
pose to remain in the White House
at least until Monday, after which
time she may take up a temporary
residence here, either at the home
of Mr.. Christian or of other
friends. Mrs. Coolidge, wife of
the President, greeted her at the
White House on her arrival from
Marion, and remained with her
for a brief time
Miss Ruth Powderly, one of the
nurses who attended President
Harding during his fatal Illness. is
at the White House with Mrs.
Harding.
Evening star., 1923-08-12

Indarini glanced contemptuously
at the horn just outside her cage
and went right on eating her potatoes.
The second command. ordering
her to stand up seemed merely
foolish to her. as she had not
obeyed the first order. While other
instructions were being issued
from the set, she. simply finished
her dinner and looked disgustedly
at the horn.
Then the keeper, who was pres
ent, advanced and gave the same
orders. Incidentally. he empha-
sized them by jabs with a sharp
stick. Indarini obeyed imme-
diately. but did not even glance
up when the good night" signal
came over the wireless.
Zoo officials have decided for the
time being to stick to the old
fashioned methods.
Copyright. 1921
Evening star., 1923-08-12
FATE UPSETS PLAN
Of c. 0. P. TO GUST
COOLIDGE IN 1924
Dramatic Accident Places
Him as Almost Sure Party
Standard-Bearer.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

In the calm that has followed the
storm, the leaderssiof fst the grand old
party. gathered here from every sec
ton of the country, profess to see in
the succession of Calvin Coolidge to
the presidency a solution rather than
a complication of their problems.
Fate plays many strange pran1a.
One turn of the political Kaleidoscope
and the whole picture Is changed.
The man the republican leaders had
decided to shelve. the man who was
to be cast aside after one term in the
vice presidency, flashes to the fore,
and these same leaders are agreed
today that he must be the next NOM
inee of the party to succeed himself
in the White House. They are wait
ing for his orders.
1t has been one of the most dra-
matte switches in a presidential sit
uation ever known in Washington
Men who two weeks ago shrugged
their shoulders at the mention OF Cal
vim, Coolidge's name today attend
him. hat in hand. They have learned
that destiny sometimes rises above
the dictates of party council
Slated for Shelf.
II has been decided that Mr.. Cool
idge would lend no particular
strength to a ticket in 1924 headed
by Warren Harding. Mr.. Harding
could pretty safely count upon the
New England vote anyway. In the
interest of party success. Mr.. cool
idge must forego any further amoi-
tions he might have and step aside TO
make room for some good man from
the west, from the home OF the pro-
pressiyes and the radicals: some one
who might lend touch, at least, OF
nrooress,ye color to the national
ticket.
All this is changed now. Party
leaders have faith In President eool-
idpe Many of them believe that
aren in the short time that inter-
yenes before the preference primaries
d tho convention itself is upon us
I'll, establish himself as the party
choice.
Tho conclusion that President Hard
;,,.s death had left the party in
chaos was erroneous. The progress
sives and radical wings of the party
we're preparing to descend upon Mr.
Harding in the presidential year. 1t
will be dificult for them to descend
rnon President Coolidge, for he has
done nothing upon which they can
descend.
Assumes Leadership.
calvin Coolidge has assumed a lead
ership which must be respected. 1t
uust not be assumed from this that
progressive hopes are dead. They
are still. in a mood to fight, TO fight
somebody. somewhere. Perhaps they
can find riffs in the Coolidge armor,
hit the time is short, and he has all
the advantage.
The hopes of Hiram Johnson, of
La Toilette, of Pinchot and the 9TH
ers who may have been considered
| In line for the presidential nofnina-
ton, were built upon an opportunity
Of attack. They are suddenly left
with no one to attack.
The Harding administration is gone
from consideration. 1t died with the
late President The republican plat
form, dictated by the regular leaders.
will point to the administration with
pride; the insurgents cannot view 1T
with alarm, for 1t is a thing over and
done with.
Republican leaders no longer deny
(Continued on Page I, Column s.
Evening star., 1923-08-12
CITIES SHOW VALUE
OF HIGH PRESSURE
Five Larger Centers Find
System Has Become Good
Investment.

Hight pressure water systems for
fire fighting in Baltimore, PhiladeI
phia, Cleveland. New York and Bos-
ton are not only safeguards against
disastrous confiagrations. but are
proving to be good investments to the
taxpayers since their installation.
Aside from the actual saving in the
prevention of loss by fire, a drop in
insurance rates has followed the in
stallation of the system in these
cities. and in New York and Brook
lyn taxpayers have been saved a
yearly average of s750,000 on insur-
ance rates alone.
Installation of high h-pressure sys-
TENS in these cities followed great
losses by fire in the cities mentioned.
as in Baltimore. whose great disa
served as an impetus to the instaila-
tion of high-pressure systems
throughout the country.
VIII Washington wait for a great
CONTINUED on Page 9 Column D
Evening star., 1923-08-12
10th STILL SWIMMING
CHANNEL AT MIDNIGHT
Americans Two Competitors Forced
to Quit Four Hours After
Start to France.
By the Associated Press.

by tHe +aSSOcldteu fTesS.
DOVER. England, August Ii
Charles 10th, the doughty little Bos-
ton waiter, was still breasting the
seething currents Of the English chan
mel at the approach of midnight to-
night in an attempt to swim to Calais.
according to latest reports His two
competitors, Sam Richards, also of
Boston, and Romeo MacieI of Argen-
tina, who took to the water with him
at 1895 here this afternoon, were
forced to abandon the swim after
having struggled with the waves, tide
and wind for more than four hours.
Further interest was added to the
event tonight when word was received
from Calais, France. that Enrique
Tirabocchi, an. Argentine swimmer,
had started to swim the channel from
Cape Griz-nez to the English tAast-
Evening star., 1923-08-12
SAUNDERS TO QUIT
AS HEAD OF PIGGLY
Ready to Permit Control Of Stores
to Pass to Hands of Pool
Members.
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MEMPHIS, August 11.-Clarence
Saunders. founder of Piggly Wtggly
and president of Piggy Wiggiy
Stores, Inc, tonight ANNOUNCED that
he was ready to step down from MS
position as directing head of the
Piggly Wiggly stores and permit con-
troll Of the organization to pass into
the hands of members OF the pool
with whom he was associated In
Piggly Wiggly's recent venture into
Wall street.
Mr.. Saunders made this announcement
on the heels of rumors that he would
relinquish the presidency OF Plggly
Wiggly Stores.
This development followed recent
differences between Mr.. Saunders and
members of the pool
Evening star., 1923-08-12
TWO AMERICANS Die
IN AIRPLANE CRASH
Pilot, Famous French War Aviator,
Also Killed in
Fall.

LIE BOURGET, FRANCE, August
1.-Two Americans. Arthur and
Joseph Steep. brothers., of Oil City,
Pa, were killed when an airplane
in which they were passengers
crashed to the ground at Degny, near
here. today. Gabriel Poulain, noted
for his exploits as a French airman
during the war. pilot of the machine,
also was killed.
Evening star., 1923-08-12

world war; my opinion is that if the
plan of naming an assistant is car
ried out it will be mere expedient-
a quack renedy-and would not go to
the heart of. the thing we seek to cor
rect We cannot really lift the bur-
dens which, beset the President at
every turn until we find way to free
him from those things which worry
and harass, those things which take
his thoughts away from a proper con-
sideration Of the real questions OF i'm
portance affecting the country's well
fare and which daily press upon him
for solution.
The trials Of the presidency about
which we complain are inherent in
ICOnfjnIed ON Page 8 Column 6
Evening star., 1923-08-12
PRESIDENCY HARD, CRUEL
TASK, TUMULTY ASSERTS
Cites Grinding Duty
That Causes Break
in Health.
Fight for Reelection,
Terrific Strui1l--
For One Term.

EDITORS S0TE-So man has a clearer
conception Of the duties of the presidency.
unless we except the DISTINGUISHED holders
of that ofhce. than Joseph +. Tumulty. for
Wilson.
The country has seen the great burdens
of the office break down the health and
cause the death Of Warren g. Harding: IL
also knows how former President Wilson
became an invalid before he left the White
House. Mr.. Tumulty goes 10 the heart Of
the matter. and reveals those things which
worry and harass the nations Chief Exec
utives.
Evening star., 1923-08-12
SHEEP TO Be SHOT
IN KEPNER DEFENSE
Counsel Expects to Show by
Test Wife Could Have
Killed Herself.
BY a STAFF Correspondent.

By a Staif Correspondent.
FREDERICK, Nd. August 1.-THE
lifeless head of a sleeps carcass may
become the key with which B. Evard
kepner's lawyers will unlock the cell
In which he is imprisoned, charged
with the murder of his wife, Mrs.
Grace- Simmons Kepner. the wealthy
daughter of an old Maryland family.
Persisting in his assertion that Mrs.
Kepner was the victim of her own
hand. Leo Weinberg. chief counsel
for the defense. will take the county
circuit court out to a small back lot
Monday morning and. using the same
pistol with. which murder is alleged
to have been committed. fire q dozen
bullets into the Heads OF dead sheep
to disprove testimony offered by the
prosecution to the effect that the
death bullet entered Mrs Kepner's
head from the left side.
Experts to Test Theory.
1T is a poor rule that doesn't work
two ways" said Mr.. Weinberg to-
night. The prosecution used sleeps
heads to show that the caliber bullet
which slew Mrs. Kepner makes a
small hole at the point of ingress
and a gaping wound at the point OF
egress. II that is true, then certainly
Mrs. Kepner was shot from the left
side and the possibility of suicide
seems to have been removed.
But We have experts who will take
that same pistol Monday morning and
fire a bullet into the. head of a sheep
When the skull Is examined by other
experts 1t will be found that the hole
made where the bullet entered was
not only do different kinds of bone
vary, but there are certain mathe-
matical facts about the progress of
high powered bullets In which the
court undoubtedly will be much in
terested.
VIII Offer Blue Prints.
I'VE will ask the entire court and
every newspaper man In Frederick
to witness our own demonstration,
because we are sure II will remove
all III tiief VI tAoSc wHO
see 1t as to whether or not suicide
would have been possible in the case of
Mrs. Kepner. In addition. we have a
number of blue prints, drawn to scale.
which will show that the bullet could
have entered Mrs. Kepner's head from
the right side and still have lodged
in the wall where II was found"
All doubt as to whether Mrs
Ezra Houck. the eighty-four-y year old
mother of Mrs. Kepner, who lay a
helpless invalid in a room Just across
the hall from the chamber in which
Mrs. Kepner died, will testify. was re-
moved late this afternoon following
second visit to her bedside by
States Attorney Aaron r. Anders, and
DIR. ]. o. Hendrix. Not only is Mrs.
Houck physically and mentally un-
able to withstand such an ordeal, the
states attorney said, but her testi-
| mony could not be accepted by a
court.
Mrs. Houck's physical condition
Is so serious that she knows little of
what has transpired." Mr.. Anders
said. when we talked to her about
Evening star., 1923-08-12

by a vote of 20
to 13.
I h e m ito n
adopted called for
his resignation,
a n d authorized
the officers of the
post, in case he
did not resign, to
refuse his dues.
Action of the post
followed a pro-
tracted and bitter
controversy con-
corning a letter
written by Dono-
Evening star., 1923-08-12
PART THREE-1. Pages.


Amusements-Theate and the Photo.
play.
Music In Washington-Page 4.
SerIaiH"The Owl TaxI"-Pase 4.
Around the city-Pase 4.
Reviews Of New 6ooks-paae 4.
Motors and Motorlng-Pages 5 to 10.
Fraternties-Paoe II.
Army and Navy News--Pase, II. y.
Veterans Of the Great War-paae tf.
Spanish War Veterans-Page II.
The Civilian Army-Page IL.
The Public Library-Paee II.
PART FOUR-4 Pages.
Pink Sports Section.
PART FIVE|8 Pages.
Magazine SectIon-FIction and Features.
GRAPHIC-8 Pages.
World Events In Pictures.
COMIC SECTION Pages.
Mutt and jeff; Regular Feilers; Betty;
Mr.. and Mrs.
Evening star., 1923-08-12
PART TWO-2O Pages.

Editorial and Editorial Features.
Washington and Other Society.
Tales Of Well Known Folk-Paee 8.
Parent. Teacher Ac.lvlties-Page II.
Boys and Girls Paee-Page IL.
Girls and Their AfaIrs-Pase 10.
Radio News and GossIp-Page t3.
Classified Advertisements - Pages "a
to IS.
Evening star., 1923-08-12
TODAY'S STAR
PART ONE-o8 Pages.

Rest Farm Cares for AnImaIs-Pase 3.
Maryland and Virginia NeWs-Pages
&c and 10.
Financial News-Pases 26 and 27.
Evening star., 1923-08-12
BRITISH DISPATCH
PREPARATIONS NOTE
Message, Directed Primarily
to France, Questions
Ruhr Action.
By Cable to The Star.

By Cable to The Star.
LONDON, August 1.-THE British
reparations note to France was dis
patched to Paris this afternoon. 1t
comprises complete summing up of
the official British views on the whole
question of reparations. inter r-allied
debts. the occupation of the Ruhr.
and the question of the security of
the French Rhine frontier.
While Staulaire, the French am
ba ssador in London. tonight forward
ed the note to his government, its
text will not be given out here until
tomorrow night when II will be In
cluded with the blue book which Will
be issued containing all the docu-
ments bearing on the reparations
situation since the German note OF
June 7.
Appeal to Public.
This evenings London newspapers
emphasize a feature of the note which
foreshadowed the dispatch mentioned
above-that while it In primarily
addressed to France. 1t in reality con-
stitutes a submission OF the British
position to the bar of the worlds
public opinion.
The British communication goes In
for a consideration of the legality
Of the French Ruhr occupation. IL
contains a repetition of the BRUSH
belief that Germany's capacity to pay
should be re-assessed. preferably by
an international commission. sucn as
figured prominently in the recent
British reparations proposals.
1t is pointed out that Britain mas
suffered heavy losses since the Ruhr
occupation began in January and
there is also an intimation that Bri-
tain in any circumstances must col
lect enough to cover her own dept
naymant
Evening star., 1923-08-12
DONOVAN 0USTED
BY LEGION POST
Vincent B. Costello 0rganiza-
tion Asks Resignation of
First Commander.

Daniel ]. Donovan, District auditor
and first commander of Vincent B.
Costello Post of the American Legion,
was ousted by that post last night
Evening star., 1923-08-12
War Department Had No Part in
Bergdoll Plot, Is Said.

BY the Associated Press.
War Department officials expressed
interest yesterday in reports of the
attempted capture of Grover Cleve-
CONTINUED ON Page 2, Column n
Evening star., 1923-08-12
WEATHER.

Cloudy and warm, local thunder
showers Sunday afternoon or night.
Monday fair. with somewhat lower tenn
perature Temperature for twenty-five
hours ended at 10 pm. last night: High
est, Sc at pm. yesterday; lowest. 68
at am. yesterday. Report on page 5.
Evening star., 1923-08-12
"Fron1 Press to Home
Within the Hour

The Star is delivered every evening and
Sunday morning to Washington homes at
90 cents per month. Telephone Main 5000
and service will start Immediately.
Evening star., 1923-08-12

Continued on Page 2. Column ~
Evening star., 1923-08-12

CONTINUED on Page 4, Column 60
Evening star., 1923-08-12

CONTINUED on Page I. Column u
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
SEVERANCE TAX ON RAW MATERIALS PROPOSED IN BILL
Senator Duncan Wants Tax on Minerals Taken From the Earth and on Lumber
 and Oysters
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD


 Imposition of a severance tax on all raw material removed from mines and forests of Alabama will be pro- posed by Senator George w. Duncan of the First district in bill which he will introduce in the senate Tues day. The bill will provide for the collection of tax from two to three per cent of the market price of the raw materials.
 If enacted, the tax on coal and iron ore would be greatly increased, while every ton of limestone, graph ite, marble, sand and gravel and other materials will be taxed. In addition, a tax would be paid on every thousand feet of timber, and all oysters and shrimp taken from the waters of Alabama.
 Senator Duncans bill will provide for tax of 3 per cent of the market value of coal and iron mar keted in Alabama and 2 per cent on all other raw products, including lumber, limestone. graphite, marble, sand and gravel, oysters and shrimp and all other products of the mines and forests.
 Louisiana has had a severance tax law in operation for three years and 
 Louisiana for the purpose of making a study at first hand of the opera tion of the law. He found that the first severance tax law, which expired January l, had placed in the treas ury of Louisiana about two and one half million dollars during the first year This tax law took the form of a license. A new law became ef- fective January l and it provides tax of per cent on all oil mar keted in the state and per cent on all other raw products, such as lumber and oysters. Estimates are that receipts will show great in- crease under the new law.
 Senator Duncan's bill will provide that 60 per cent of the receipts from the severance tax shall go into the state treasury and 40 per cent shall go to the county from which the raw materials were taken. The bill will be introduced at the short ses- sion, according to Senator Duncan, in order that persons interested may make a study of the proposal and consideration may be given to 1t by the recess committee on finance and taxation, which will provide plans for the collection of revenue and will make recommendations to the legislature at it's adjourned session.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
RECORDS SMASHED 1N P0WE ER PROJECT 1T MUSCLE SHOALS
Cor Struction Work Boosts Business in the Tri-Cities. All Materials Obtained
 Locally
By Associated Press

FLORENCE, Ala, Jan. 20-With approximately 2,200 men at work on the greatest engineering job un- dertaken by Uncle Sam since the Panama canal, with new appropri- ation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1924, practically assured, and with authority granted to officers in charge of the work to contract for the $10,0o0,000 worth of machin- cry necessary to equip the power house and locks, Florence feels that Wilson Dam is now approaching the stage where completion is certainty and already the citizens of this sec tion are looking forward to the time when giant industries will locate here to utilize the cheap power which the worlds greatest hydro-electric project will assure.
 Officers at Wilson dam are set ting some remarkable construction records. They are making splendid progress and the costs of the work are far under the estimates they submitted when the fiscal year be- gan.
 Rock is being taken from the cof fers for practically two-fifths of the estimated cost and concrete is being poured at less than half of the originally estimated cost.
 Three Operations.
 At the present time the work at wilson Dam may be roughly divided into three operations.
 On the north side of the Tennessee river a large force of men is en- gagged in excavating solid rock for the lock levels. The rock taken from the lock levels is being used to erect a dike around Jackson Island. in the center of the, river, which will protect the big concrete mixing plant
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
VOCATIONAL TRAINEES NOW SEEKING FARMS

GREENSBORO, Ala. Jan. 20.- Special .)-Voeationa men whose time has expired at the school in Greensboro are seeking land suitable for their needs. Some of them have loca ted near Greensboro. About 20 of them recently went to Canton, Miss, where IS of them purchased small pieces of land on which to put in practice the special training they took in Greensboro.
 The vocational school is located in the very best part of the country for bee culture, near Newborn. where this industry has so long flourisifed. The Civilians are making an effort to have more of these men locate near Greensboro. About a hundred of them finished their training in January and are now busy finding homes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
DEPOSITS OF M0UNDVILLE BANK NEARLY DOUBLED

MOUNDVILLE, Ala, Jan. 20.-(Spe- ial)-At a regular meeting of the stockholders of the of the Bank of Moundville, the old officers were all reelected for the ensuing year. R.. L. Griffin, president; pr. R. J. Grif- fin, vice president; L. M. Griffin, cashier. Directors are Dr. T. P. Abernathy, W. M. Wilburn, L. M. Griffin, Dr. R. J. Griffin and R. L.. Griffin. They declared the usual dividend of per cent and placed a large amount in the surplus. The deposits has increased about 90 per cent within the last 12 months.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
STILL CAPTUREI

Sheriff J. H. Golden of Fillmore county raided and captu still about two and one-half miles from Wetumpka Friday afternoon. The still is exactly like the one captured just before Christmas by law enforce ment officers. Twelve hundred gal Ions of beer was found but no whisky. Ed Foster and John Paulk were found at the still and both were placed under arrest and carried to jail. They made bond for $50 leach
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
CLUBS WANT COUNTIES TO RETAIN GASOLINE TAX
TENNESSEE VALLEY BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD [

Action in favor of proposed 2-cent tax on each gallon of gasoline sold in Alabama. to be applied to high way purposes, was taken by both the Kiwanis and Civitan clubs at their weekly dinner meeting. Both clubs in making known their sponsorship of the idea made 1t provisionally upon a-change in the bill which would turn tre money collected by the tax over to county authorities of the county in which it was collected to be de- voted to the Improvements of county roads. If this change is made, ac- cording to the opinion of various speakers the law will be popular over the state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-21
BAR ASSOCIATION WILL MEET NEXT IN MOBILE

MOBILE, Ala, Jan. 29.-The State Bar association with over 100 dele gates in attendance will meet in Mo bile in April, according to announce ment made by officers of the Mobile Bar association.
 Robert D. Gordon, president of the association, today sent telegram to President Warren G. Harding urg- ing him to name Judge w. l. irubb of the Northern Alabama federal court to the vacancy on the upited States supreme court bench caused by the resignation of Judge Pitney- The head of the local association was authorized to take the step by resolution adopted at the annual meeting.