davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
Coolidge, Eager to See Santa's Gifts,
Takes ''Tiny Peep and Gets Caught

There is an old saying that men
never grow up. No matter what
their prominence there are certain
boyish traits they never lose, and
Calvin Coolidge. President of the
United States, is no exception.
Around Christmas the average boy
likes to peep ahead of time at the
presents he is to receive. Presi-
dent Coolidge, although most matter
Of fact In most things. has this COM
mon trait of boyhood.
The President did some peeping
today. He looked happy when he
had satisfied his curiosity. At the
same time he looked a little sheepish
He probably would have appeared
very awkward If Mrs. Coolidge had
seen him at the time or. If she had
caught him In the act.
Very likely the President grew tired
of waiting for Christmas day to ar
rive, when the White House Christ
mas presents and cards would be open
ed by the household. So today he
made an early visit to the executive
office. ahead Of tho time for the clearks
and other employees to arrive.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
.Armistice in Syria
Is Reported Signed
BvDruse Tribesmen
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CAIRO. Egypt, December "a.
An armistice is reported to have
been signed between the Druse
tribesmen and the new French
high commissioner In Syria,
Henry de Jouvenel.
All prisoners held by the French
authorities in Syria on political
charges are to be liberated, the
report added.
LONDON, December - P).-
Cabling from Damascus on We'd
nesday. Reuters special corre-
spondent in Syria said the French
were endeavoring to speed up their
peace negotiations with the Druses
They were moved by disquieting
rumors regarding the situation on
the northern frontier, where Turk
ish bands were reported to be
massing. The Turks, it was said.
had even occupied some of the
French posts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
SUTHERLAND GIVEN
CUST0D|AN'S POST
Former Senator Named to
Position Vacated by
Death of Hicks.

President Coolidge today appointed
Howard Sutherland, former Senator
from West Virginia, alien property
custodian, to fill the vacancy caused
by the recent death of Frederick c.
Hicks.
1t was said at the White House
when announcement of this appoint.
ment was made that Mr.. Sutherland
will be sworn in today and will as
sumo his new duties at once. This
appointment was made public follow
ing a conference between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Sutherland shortly after
10 o'clock this morning. The nomina-
ton will be sent to the Senate when
it reconvenes after the holidays.
Service in Congress.
Mr.. Sutherland is a Republican and
served in the Sixty-third and Sixty
fourth Congresses and served one
term In the Senate, but was defeated
for reelection In November, 1922.
Upon leaving the Senate he practiced
law here and in West Virginia. He
was born September 8, 1865, and was
graduated with an A. B. degree from
1899.
He edited a Republican newspa per
at Fulton Immediately after gradua-
ton. He came to Washington as
chief of the population division of
the eleventh census, during which
time he studied law at the then Co
lumhan University. He resigned this
Government position in 1893 and
moved to West Virginia.
Mentioned for pras;do,@
Mr.. Sutherland was mentioned as
a candidate Of the Republican party
and during his term in the Senate was
active in the aairs of the party. He
is one of the many former Govern
ment employees in Washington who
have risen to a high place in the
councils Of the Nation, and has had a
distinguished career in West Virginia
where he went from Washington as
a young man.
He served In the West Virginia
State Senate from 1908 to 1912. and
was then elected a member Of the
Sixty-thfrd and Sixty-fourth Con
crosses. He was chairman of the
West Virginia Good Roads Commits
sion and a pioneer in framing the
first laws for permanent improve
ment of State roads Moving to West
Virginia in 1893 Mr.. Sutherland he
came identified with the Davis Elkins
coal and railroad interests, becoming
general land agent. He later went
into the coal and timber land business
on his own account.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
WEEKS IS INJURED;
SKILLED IN WRECK
Another, Missing, May Be
Dead in Head-0n Collision
Near Charleston, S. c.

by the Associated Press.
CHARLESTON, S. c.. December "a.
Three persons are known to be
dead. two are missing and several in
iured. among them John w. Weeks.
former Secretary of War, as a result
of a head-on collision of two crack
day at Gaillards Cut, just south of
Moncks Corner.
A relief train with doctors and
nurses. accompanied by a wrecking
train, has been dispatched to the scene
of the accident.
The engineer Of No. 76, northbound.
Herbert T. Parish of Florence, and
the engineer of No. S5, southbound,
j. f. Cumming of Savannah. were
killed. The fireman of train No. &c.
northbound, a man named Williams. is
missing. G. Baxter of Florence, fire.
man of the southbound train, was
found dead. S. NJ. Aydlotte of Charles
ton. baggagemaster. suffered a broken
leg.
The locomotive, a Pullman and club
car Of No. rs were derailed. The bag
gage car and locomotive of No. S5
were derailed.
1t was stated that due to the block
ing of the northbound track by a
freight train derailed last night, the
two trains were running on the
southbound track at the time of the
accident. They were laden with
Christmas travellers and tourists.
At the point where the wreck oc.
Cured, 1t Is said unofficially that there
is no double track and the trains have
to go on siding to permit passage.
The siding was reported obstructed
and the two trains kept to the main
track, and running fast to make up
for lost time, came together head-on.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
THREE FIREMEN KILLED
WHEN TRUCK OVERTURNS
Accident Occurs While Speeding to
BIaze-15 Overcome in
Boston.
Rr Tho Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NORWELL, Mass, December "a
Three volunteer members of the Sclt-
uate fire department were killed and
two others knocked unconscious when
their truck 'skidded and overturned
while speeding to fire here this
morning.
The dead are: George Barrows,
father of three children: Hugh Nc
Dermott, single. and Frank Hall,
father of five children.
BOSTON, December "a CPD.-Fifteen
iiremen were overcome while fighting
:; four-alarm fir of undetermined
origin, which did $65, 900 damage to d
six-story building on Fulton street at
The edge of the market district this
morning Ralph Melgard, an employe
Of a gas company, was carried out
nfter he had riSked his life by turning
off Eas connections on the first, second
snd third floors.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
FRANCE AND RUSSIA
ABSOLVED Of GUILT
Minutes of Cars Ministry
Meeting Show Attempt to
Avert World War.
BY the Associated Press.

Ey Associated
STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Calf,
December PA copy of the minutes
of the meeting of the Russian minis
try, held July "a, 1914, which shed
new light on the part Russia played
in the stirring events preceding the
World War, has been found IN the
Hoover War Library here and has
been translated by Robert c. Binkley,
reference librarian.
These minutes, which Mr.. Binkley
says have not been cited in all the
10 years Of efforts to fix responsibility
for the war, are said to show that
Russia, instead of helping to precipi-
tate the war by urging Serbia to re-
sist Austria. as has been charged, took
exactly the opposite course. They
represent Foreign Minister Sarzanov
as advising Serbia 10 refrain from
armed resistance and the other minis
ter as approving this advice.
Sought Delay.
The document also records that the
ministers gave their approval to Sar.
zanov's proposal to get in touch with
the other European powers in an
effort to persuade the Austro- Hun
Gartan government to grant Serbia a
delay in her reply to Austrias ulti
matum resulting from the assassina.
ton of the Archduke Francis Ferdi
nand at Sara3evo. The meeting of the
Russian ministry was held on the day
after Austria issued her ultimatum.
The minutes also inferentially alb
solve France of any suspicion of that
country's collusion with Russia in
preparing to force war at that time
because of the fact that Viviani and
other French government heads had
been in conference with the Russian
government at st. Petersburg (then,
up to the day before the Austro- Ser
bian crisis. If Russia was Matching
no plot, obviously France could not
be participating in one. is the deduc
ton made by Stanford historians.
The Russian ministers met at {
O'Clock in the afternoon, after Sar
zanov had spent the morning going
over the Austrian ultimat tum and dig.
ging into the situation. The minutes
record that the ministers decreed: Il,
to approve SarZanov's proposal to
get In touch with the cabinets of the
great powers in an effort to induce
the Austro- Hungarian government to
grant a postponement in the reply OF
Serbia TO the ultimatum so there
might be time for the powers TO in
Continued on Page 5, Column g.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
BUTLER THREATENS
TOPUBL|SH DIARY
General Says 1t Will Show
Mayor Protected Big
Law VioIators.
By the Associated Press.


PHILADELPHIA, December "a
Gen. Smedley ID. Butler. dismissed by
Mayor Kendrick as head Of the Phila-
delphia police. said today that publica-
ton of his diary would raise d rue
ton He kept it during the two
years he was director Of public safety,
and recorded. among other things, con-
versations with the mayor and other
city officials.
The general said that broadside in
which he alleged the mayor was a
protector Of big violators of the pro-
hibition law was only preliminary
blast
I'm going to keep right on with the
attack until I get ready to STOP" he
added. And I won't stop until I
prove my case"
Would Recall His Resignation.
Gen. Butler let It be known that he
would endeavor to recall his letter Of
resignation from the Marine Corps,
which he submitted Monday in order
to remain here. He plans to visit
Washington early next week for a
conference with Maj. Gen. John A. Le-
jeune, comman andant of the corps, who
has indicated that he Is anxious to
have the general remain in the service.
In making public letters which
passed between himself and Mr.. Ken
drick and Joseph p. Gaffney, city So
licitor, the general attempted to show
that 1t was because he would not "go
easy" on the big hotels that he was
fired"
Butler said that he wanted the Ritz
Carlton Hotel padlocked for liquor
law violations and the dance licenses
of the Bellevue-Stratford and the Wal
ton Hotels revoked for the same rea-
son, but that the mayor disapproved.
Hotel Man Under Bail.
David P. Provan. manager Of the
Ritz-Carlton, Is under 81 900 bail for
hearing on changes Of violating the
prohibition laws as a result of raid
on two rooms of the hotel. where
private party was being held.
The correspondence included a let
ter from Butler to the mayor last No
vember, which said in regard to one
hotel: Drunken men and young girls
were found upon the ballroom floor. .
In one memorandum Butler quoted
the mayor as saying: You're going
too strong on these $7.000,000 invest
ments," and You have to lay off
these big places" because there Is n
difference between a $1,000 900 invest
ment and a cheap place which black
mails people"
Mayor Kendrick made no comment
on the correspondence, but issued an
appeal to the people to support him
in enforcing the law.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24

Only one or two policeman, a secret
service man and several newspaper
men were about the building. The
President did not sit down at his
desk Immediately. but went to the
mail room and selected from the large
bundle of letters, cards and packages
several bundles neatly wrapped in
tissue paper and tied with red ribbon,
some with little cards bearing pictures
of holly and Santa Claus attached to
them.
The President selected several of
these packages with their tell-tale
wrappings, and hurried to his desk
and then did something he probably
would have been severely scolded for
il he had been boy. He peeped,
opened the packages, and carefully
studied their contents. When he was
through. he attempted to rewrap one
or two, but he evidently thought he
was making miserable job of 1t, or
else his conscience hurt him. At any
rate he called for messenger. and,
pointing to the little pile on his desk,
directed that they be taken 10 the
White House.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
COL. MITCHELL OFFERED
JOB AS AERIAL DIRECTOR
Army officer Recently Suspended
by CoIrt-Martia1, Invited to
Serve Private Concern.

Col. William Mitchell, sentenced
by court-nartial to five years suspen-
sion from the Army. has been asked
by the Aerial League of America.
with offices in New York. to become
its general director and to supervise
the organizations plans for airways
development.
A letter addressed to the colonel
by Henry Woodhouse. president Of
the league, said the coloners services
were sought in connection with plans
for establishment Of 81 transcontin-
entail. transatlantic, transpacific and
pan-American airways; 8 transconti-
mental, transatlantic and transpacific
Iirways. and to build the first two
air cities" in the world on land
already purchased for the purpose at
San Marcial, Sonora, Mexico. and
tracts being bought in Arizona Col.
Mitchell is expected to decline the
offer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
Public Wonders if They See
Collapse of Boom and
Stand From Under"
INTERNATIONAL SWINDLE
CHARGED BY LONGWORTH
House Speaker Says Congress Is
Seeking to Aid Americans,
in Akron Speech.
BY the Associated Press.

BY she Associated Press.
LONDON December 24.-Rubber
brokers ere beginning to retire with
well filed pockets and the public Is
wondering whether they foresee a
collapse Of the boom and ere stand.
ing from under
Baiss & Rogers, who have an
nounced they have decided to close
down their business. have been in rub
ber brokerage for less than four years
and are said to have made fl,oo0, 900
in profits. Several other firms say
they will retire with the end of this
year Baiss & Rogers have often
handled more than two million rubber
shares for as many as 1000 customers
in a single day.
The firm had to reserve a large
number of rooms in a hotel adjoining
its offices in the city and it's employees
slept in relays. Sometimes they
were able to get only d few hours OF
sleep because of the press of business.
Work was kept up Sundays as well
as week davs.
Big Bonuses Given.
Many rubber brokers In the city
have seldom been able to close their
offices before midnight of recent
months and the pressure continues
with new issues OF rubber plantation
stock offered constantly in the papers.
Among those who are least per-
turbed over the American attacks on
the British rubber policy are the STATS
of the brokers who have minted for
tunes. 1t is the custom OF many
brokers to give Christmas bonuses to
employees in proportion to their yearly
profits. and the sums disbursed this
way this year are said to total tens
of thousands of pounds. The Daily
Mail says one firm is giving each en-
ploye a bonus equivalent to one years
salary. while sums ranging from FLO
to f10o each are common.
CALLED BIG SWINDLE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
Names Terms on Which InYi-
tation to Arms Meeting
Is Accepted.
HOLDS AMERICAN ARMY
NOW DOWN TO MINIMUM
Three Reservations Satisfactor to
Borah-Will Not Object to
Participation.

Participation by the United States
in the preliminary arms limitation
conference at Geneva. to which this
country has been invited to send
delegates by the League Of Nations
has been agreed to, with the follow
ing conditions:
L. That the United States Is not
TO join IN any security compact ar
ranged at the arms conference proper
2. That this country shall not be
involved IN any agreement the en-
forcement OF which rests upon the
League of Nations.
8. That the United States ha9
nothing TO do with the question OF
land armament, that being purely {;
European problem, since the United
States has already limited its land
forces 10 a minimum.
Has Borah's Support.
This is the program which has beer
worked out for American participation
in the conference by the administra
ton in consultation with members OF
the Senate, including Senator Borah.
chairman of the foreign relations com
mittee; Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin.
Senator Moses of New Hampshire.
Senator Underwood Of Alabama and
others.
And with these understandings. Sen
ator Borah has said he has no oppo-
sition to the sending of delegates to
the preliminary conference at Geneva.
which is TO frame the agenda for the
arms conference proper. After the
agenda has been drafted then the
United States Will determine whether
it shall take part. It is confidently
aYnet>fa6
Will participate in the conference
proper.
House Is Considered.
Hugh S. Gibson. United States
Minister to Switzerland, IL is re-
ported, will represent this country IN
the preliminary conference at
Geneva. 1t is expected that other
diplomatic representatives of th.
United States and Army and Navy
officials also will be included i'm the
delegation.
Already there is speculation as 70
the probable personnel of an Amer
lean delegation to the conference
proper, and among those whose
names are mentioned possible Sc
lections are former Secretary Charlie
Evans Hughs. Elihu Root Col E NJ
House, Senator 0scS- W. Under
wood of Alabama and Senator Borah
Of Idaho, chairman of the foreign
relations committee. who has been
leading spirit for disarmament
since the United States first de-
clared for such a policy following
the war.
Congress may be called upon for
an appropriation to meet the ex-
penses of the delegates to the pre-
liminary conference, it was said to-
! day. This matter will be taken up
when Congress reassembles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
MOST PROSPEROUS CHRISTMAS
WILL BE WELCOMED TONIGHT
Coolidge Will Lead Nations Celebration by Lighting
Great Community Tree-Many Busy Bent
Aiding Needy of City.

In the last few crowded hours be-
lore lights are dimmed and excited
niue eyes are closed to await the
coming of good old st. Nicholas to-
night, Washington will lead the Ma
tioh IN formally inaugurating the most
prosperous Christmas season Ameri-
"a mas ever known. The occasion will
he the lighting of IL national commun-
lty Christmas tree in sherman Square
by President Coolidge. at $40 o'clock
this evening.
Nearly 1000 years old, yet ever
young in wholesome joyousness, the
spirit of Christmas will have been
given gladsome welcome to the Capt.
tai, however, long before the Presi-
dent touches the button that Is to
symbolic the official beginning of the
festal yuletise season. 1t will be Il
welcome from the hearts of the people
expressed in acts Of charitable kind
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
BINDS AND TORTURES
WOMAN TO GET LETTER
Mysterious Masked Man Sears
Shoulders of California House.
wife With Hot Poker.

By the Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO. December "a
Dispatches from Merced, southeast of
here, say Mrs. Charles Sibley, 40
years old. living on a ranch south Of
there, was bound to a chair yesterday
by,a masked man. who stripped her to
the waist and burned her back and
shoulders with a hot poker to force
her to divulge the whereabouts of a
letter she had received.
The woman said the man found the
letter and left. She was released from
her bonds by her 5-year-old child.
When her husband came home he
found her in faint. She will recover.
Officers are looking for the man.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
FALLS EIGHT STORIES
DOWN ELEVATOR SHAFT
Plasterer Who Was Working on
Scaffolding Dies Before Reach
ing Hospital

Dominick Lenpini, 38 years old,
1880 G. street northeast, died on the
way to Emergency Hospital this
NOR ~ after falling eight stories
do, an elevator shaft in an apart
ment building under construction at
1928 Twelfth street. Lenpini was do
ing plastering work inside the shaft
on the seventh floor when the scaffold-
ing, which other laborers allege was
improperly secured, came loose. He
fell TO the basement with the scaffold-
ing on top of him.
The'H. P. Giddings Construction Co.
is doing the work on the building, but
Lenpini was employed by Vasco, 1880
- street northeast. plasterer.
Lenpini had been working there
about three weeks. He was unmar
ried
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
CHANG VICTORY CLAIMED.
War Lord Reported to Have Cut Lines
OF Opponent.

TOXIC. December "a CP).-Kokusai
LJapa nese News Agency advices from
Nukden, Manchurian capital, say that
adherents of Gen. Chang Tso-Lln,
Nanchurian war lord, claim that the
war lord administered a severe blow
to Gen. Kuo Sung-Lin when he yes
terday captured Paikipu, cut kuo's
lines of communication and captured
a quantity of munitions.
1t is claimed that Chang's forces
have already captured II field guns,
90 heavy guns and many prisoners
It is said that Chang has offered Dig
reward for the capture of kuo.
The situation is extremely confus-
ing to Toxic. The foreign Office claims
that the defeat of Chang Tso-Lfn is
only a matter of time, while the war
Office says that Chang has chance
for victory
Gen. Nanao Matsui, for a long time
adviser TO Chang Tso-Iin, has return
Cd TO Toxic, but government spokes-
men deny he was recalled.
Tokio's advices under a previous
date reported that Kuo, a former
henchman of Chang's. had been de
feated in a battle between Mukden
and Sinminfu, west of Mukden. This
same report, however, said indica-
tons were that Chang eventually
would be defeated In the persistent
warfare.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
English Woman Aide to King of Irak
Looms Large in Controversy Over Mosul

gence service early in the war at Cairo
and later became liaison officer of the
Arab bureau on 1rak. Then she be-
came assistant political officer at
Bagdad and after Feisal was estab-
lished on the throne took over her
present position.
Miss Bell has written many books
of travel and on politics. She is an
accomplished linguist and an indefati.
gable traveller who has penetrated
many of the least-known parts Of the
Arabian desert and personally assisted
in establishing the boundaries in
land unknown to the surveyors
Sextant.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24

ness from the more fortunate to the
needy.
In possibly half a dozen places. bas-
kets OF food, bundles of warm clothing
and stockings of shiny toys are being
distributed today by associations
whose existence is dedicated to max
ing the darkest hours of life's unfor-
tunates brighter and happier. Before
dark thousands of families will have
been supplied at Least some portion of
the Yuletide joys by %.these societies,
and in this work Mrs. Coolidge is lend
ing her unstinted help.
Throughout the afternoon Washing
ton will be bent upon this mission of
mercy. Then at $40 o'clock this eve
ing the silver-throated chimes high in
the tower of the Church of the Epih-
any will burst forth in a symphony of
joyous greeting TO the approaching.
Continued on Page 3, Column 81
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24
T|ENTS|N CAPTURED
BY FENC'S TROOPS;
THOUSANDS SLAIN
National Army Men Enter
City After Battle, Which
Lasted Several Days.
FORCES OF Ii CHEN-LlN
FLEEING IN DISORDER
Victory for Chang, Manchurlan
War Lord, Also Is Reported
in Toxic.
!, tl,r A.snn1aied Press.


pr~c December - - Mar
shall Feng Yu-HsianE's national army
troops entered Tientsin this moriiii'e
.,fter several days lighting, IN Whlch
thousands were killed or wounded.
The troops of Gen. liGhen-Llll'
civil governor of ChihH and fens
enemy. are fleeing IN disorder
Chaos reigns in the native quarter
of Tientsin. where soldiers attached
n the defeated army are engaged IN
lootinE. Foreign volunteers ano
troops are protecting the gates OF
tho foreign settlement, which is bar
ri"aded.
t,ongs supporter. Sun Iueh, has
been appointed tupan (civil governor)
% Chihl, to succeed Ii.
SHANGHAI, December - P)@
Cen. Ii Ching Ling. defeated by Mar
shal Feng Yu-Hsiang at Tientsln, Is
reported to have taken refuge IN the
Japanese concession, accompanied by
lis staff