VOL. LVIII. NO. 18,4521
Entered at Portland Oregron)
Hostofflce as Second-C'asB Matter.
PORTLAND, i OREGON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1919.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
r1TN0ccE,s"DfJCALL FOR SESSION
NORTHWEST IN GRIP I SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
CAPTAIN ACCUSED
QFTDRTURINGMEN
AIR SERVICE T0;CALL
MAYNARD ON CARPET
CHARGE OF PILOTS' DRINKING
. TO BE INVESTIGATED.
OF COLD AND SNOW - IS RULED OPTIONAL
uno uuu im oiuL-mn,
OF NEAR-BLIZZARD
MULTIPLIES BILLS
JAPAN STATES "IJAXDS OFF'
BLIZZARD DISRUPTS TRAFFIC
CITY BOARDS COMPROMISE
OX SHUTDOWX PROPOSAL.
POLICY IS ADOPTED.
AXD COMMUNICATIONS.
PORTLAND
N GRASP
M I N F R S
ADJOURN
V
V
5 Inches of Snow Total
for First Day.
FORECAST IS FOR MORE
East Wind Forms Drifts
Which Hamper Traffic.
STREET CARE DELAYED
Suburban Lines Experience Great
Difficulty in Operating as Snow
Continues to Pile Up.
STURM IS W I D K S P R R A D
THROUGHOUT XORTHWBSI.
Hood River Heavy snow
storm rages; depth 14 inches.
Bend Twenty - four-inch
snowfall; temperature 2 above
zero.
Eugene Four inches of snow;
temperature 22 above. m
La Grande Blizzard, with
light snowfall; temperature 6
below zero.
Molalla Snowfallof 14 Inches.
Pendleton Four-inch snow
fall: temperature touches zero.
Walla Walla Zero tempera
ture, with enow.
Salem Ten-inch snowfall;
rail and street traffic ham
pered. Marshficld Driving rain in
terrupts wire communication.
Aberdeen Two-inch snowfall;
temperature 22 above zero.
The Dalles Terrific snow
storm rages; trains delayed;
river ice-blocked.
Albany Seven inches of snow.
Astoria Seven-inch snowfall;
temperature 22 above zero.
Baker Snowfall of 36 inches;
temperature 2 below zero.
Medford and Ashland Snow
started falling early last night.
An epochal snowstorm, the heaviest
local fall on record during any De
cember since the establishment of the
local weather bureau, with the excep
tion of December 7, 1909, swept in
from the Pacific early yesterday
morning and held unabated sway all
day, cloaking Portland in a fabric of
pure white, wrapped with drajfcries
of wind-whirled flakes.
Late last night the storm was con
tinuing with increased vigor, and at
times the snow flurry was to thick
that one could scarcely see across the
street. As the drifts increased in size
and frequency the street car service,
which had been operating at almost
normal throughout the afternoon, be
came badly shattered and delayed.
As a consequence of the disrupted
traffic conditions, downtown hotels
and rooming houses were crowded
last night with suburban residents
who did not care to risk the venture
of trying to get home via the cars.
The interurban electric lines were
maintaining service late last night, i
though not on schedule.
Catching the city at the close of
a period of cold, clear weather, the
storm drove in from the west with
an even lower temperature, the mer
cury registering 19 and 20 degrees
abcve throughout the day. But late
yesterday afternoon the wind blew
even harder and it fell to 16 de
grees above at 6:30 last night one
of the coldest days ever recorded in
tSis section of Oregon. At 11 o'clock
last night, with the storm heavier
than ever, the snowfall had attained
a depth of at least five inches.
The prediction for today is for'con
tinucd snowfall, with never a respite
from the grip that Boreas appears to
have on the Willamette valley.
Portland la Amazed.
Strictly speaking, the storm began
shortly before midnight of the pre
vious day. attaining its full stride
early yesterday morning. It was an
amazed Portland that woke at dawn
to find Itself the center of a stout
young blizzard, more than reminis
cent of eastern weather and the cut
ting winter storms of the prairie
atates.
Early in the morning the plows and
sweepers of the company, together
with the "salt cars" . that keep the
switches thawed and clear, hastened
from their barns to various points
through the city, where the storm
was attacking car traffic by drifts
and freezing. Drifts in the suburban
districts, on the eastern outskirts of
the city, caused the preponderance of
trouble.
Schedule la Announced.
At midnight last night the follow
ing was the situation in the matter
of street car service as reported to
City Superintendent Fred Cooper:
Lines on which no cars were in op
eration and which will be out till the
blizzard subsides: Arlington Heights,
Karft Harrison street. East Twenty
eighth street, Errol Heights., Russell
Shaver, Thirteenth street, Westover
and Kings Heights.
Reduced service was being main
tained on the following lines: Alber
ta, Broadway, Brooklyn, Council
Crest. Depot-Morrison, Fulton. Irving-
H'oocluded on Page 2. Column t.j
Reports From Irkutsk Say Ameri
can Railroad Commission Under
J. F. Stevens Is' Leaving Port.
HONOLULU, Dec. 9. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) The United States gov
ernment has notified Japan that
America has adopted the "hands-off
policy in Siberia, and will send no
further assistance to the Kolchak
forces, according to a Tokio cable
published here today by the Nippu
Jiji, a local Japanese newspaper.
Reports have been received from
Irkutsk that American members of
the railroad commission, under John
F. Stevens, are leaving their posts,
the cable stated.
VLADIVOSTOK, Dec. 5. (By the
Associated Press.) Announcements
here by the Japanese official press
bureau, under the direction of M.
Zumoto. member of the Japanese
parliament, regarding permitting the
present Siberian situation to continue,
are the center of interest in all quar
ters here.
Immediately after the Gaida upris
ing the bureau published a statement
from Tokio that it was the general
opinion there "that the new situation
in Siberia calls upon Japan to take
the initiative and arrange a common
plan of action with other powers."
It was announced December 2 that
negotiations regarding American and
Japanese future action in Siberia had
been started with a note agreed upon
by the cabinet and diplomatic council
which had been forwarded to the
Japanese ambassador at Washington
November 28. The note, providing for
reinforcements of 1000 Japanese in
Siberia to replace sick and wounded
men, was expected also to open up
the way for negotiations regarding a
fundamental policy in Siberia.
STORED SUGAR LOCATED
18 Tons Discovered on East Wash-ington-Street
Dock.
Discovery of 18, tons of sugar which
has been stored on the municipal dock
on East Washington street since last
October led Food Administrator
Newell to submit a statement of facts
concerning the sugar yesterday to the
office of the United States attorney.
Whether a more thorough investiga
tion will be made depends upon the
decision of United States Attorney
Goldstein upon his return from
Canada.
The sugar is owned by the Hen
ningsen Produce company, 189 Burn-
side street, the officials of which.
company told the food administrator
the sugar was needed for the Hen
nlngsen milk condensaries. Officials
of the company said the sugar was
not to be sold, but was to be used by
their own plants.
BOY SHOT TAKING COAL
Death Follows Effort of Youth to
Keep Mother Warm.
BUTTE, Mont., Dec. 9. M. F. Gill,
watchman in a local fuel yard, today
shot and killed Henry Patrick
Greene, 18, whom. Gill claimed, he
shot after firing three warning shots.
Gill suspected the boy, with two oth
ers, of trying to steal fuel. Gill also
asserted he had no intention of
shooting to kill.
Greene was the only support of his
widowed mother. When officers vis
ited the Green home tonight they
found the mother alone, huddled be
side a stove containing little fire.
There were only a few pieces of coal
in sight. Mrs. Greene sometime ago
froze her feet and she met with the
same misfortune yesterday. Gill is
in custody.
NEW TRADE ROUTE OPENS
12 Freighters Allocated to Pacific
to Carry U. S. Goods to India.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 9. Twelve
3500-ton freighters have been alio
cated to the Pacific Mail Steamship
company to begin operation of a trade
route from the Philippines and Chi
nese ports to French Indo-China, the
Straits Settlements and India, the
company announced today.
The line will be used to deliver
American exports to this territory and
to assemble cargoes for the return
haul across the Pacific to San Fran
cisco. Hongkong will be the present
junction point with the regular trans-
Pacific route, it was announced, to
be changed later to Manila.
The other points of call are to be
Shanghai, Saigon, Singapore, Penang,
Rangoon, Calcutta and Madras.
REPEAL ACT IS DRAFTED
House Leaders Seek End of Food ,
and Other War Restrictions.
WASVINGTON. Dec. 9. Legislation
repealing the espionage, food control
and some other war-time laws is
being drafted by Chairman Porter of ,
the house foreign relations com
mittee. House leaders believe repeal of
war-time restrictions would be a bet
ter means of restoring the pre-war
status than would the passage of a
resolution declaring ,the war with
Germany at an end.
OREGON SOLDIER KILLED
Gasper Lattanzi of Dorcna
Is on
Army Casualty List.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.Today's
casualty list Includes:
Killed in action Private
Lattanzi. Dorsna, Or.
Gasper
Anti-Profiteering Act Is
Among Many Others.
AVALANCHE OF WORK FACED
Creation of "Safety" Com
mission Also Proposed.
C. H. GRAM BACKS PLAN
Labor Unions Employment Meas
ure and Gasoline Law Repeal
Slated for Consideration.
SALEM, Or., Dec. 9. (Special.)
The action of the governor in an
nouncing that he would call a special
session of the Oregon legislature on
the second Monday in January, 1920
primarily to consider legislation tend
ing toward more liberal financial re
lief for injured workmen under the
state compensation act and providing
funds with which to meet the de
mands of the soldiers', sailors' and
marines' educational aid law,, appar
ently has opened thre way for an
avalanche of bills if early indications
are any criterion of the future.
The news that the governor had
decided to call an extraordinary ses
sion Of the lawmakers had hardly
been given out when C. H. Gram, state
labor commissioner, announced that
he would go before the legislators
and ask for a law providing for
the creation of a so-called safety
commission.
This body, according to tentative
plans outlined by Mr. Gram, would be
composed of three members and their
duties would be something in com
mon with those of the state industrial
accicVent commission. Power would
be given this commission under the
bill to investigate and eliminate all
accident hazards as far as they con
cern labor...'
Pay to Ranee From $0O0 to 3B0O.
The proposed compensation for the
members of this commission has no
been definitely determined by Mr.
Gram, but the annual salaries prob
ably would range from $2000 to J3600
year.
Mr. Gram eays he will have the bill
providing for the commission drafted
within the next couple of weeks, and
it will be ready for submission to the
legislature on the opening day of the
special session.
Deep concern also is expressed by
local people regarding the so-called
"high test" gasoline law now lr. opera,
tion in this state. To eliminate this
statute and thereby fortify against a
threatened increase In the cost of fuel
oil. a bill will be introduced asking
for the repeal of the actp Oregon is
said to . be the only state having a
high gravity gasoline law on its stat
ute books, and the prospect of higher
prices for this commodity has met
with disfavor among automobile own
ers and other consumers.
Repeal Fathered in Portland.
Although the legislation intended to
repeal this law will be fathered in
Portland, the bill itself probably will
be prepared by local attorneys, ac-
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 1.)
WHY DOES THE
: t
,
i J
,
p '
Unusually Low Temperatures Are
Reported From'. Points in
Washington and Oregon.
HOOD RIVER, Or.. Dec. 9. (Spe
cial.) The mid-Columbia is in the
grip of the worst December snow
storm for the past 25 years. Falling
steadily since midnight last night, the
blanket tonight has reached a depth
of 14 inches and the storm continues
with intensity. The maximum temper
ature for the day has been 20 de
grees, the snow has been driven by an i
icy east wind.
The frigid weather has alarmed city
authorities over the fuel shortage.
City Marshal Frazier has been made
fuel administrator and lie is now hold-
rig in reserve most of a carload of
coal that arrived today. Rural resi
dents are not permitted further al
lotments of coal, nor will city resi
dents receive any, if they are supplied
with wood.
The city had planned on rushing
the cutting and hauling of a large
lot of wood from Post canyon west
of here, but the deep snow may block
the roads and prevent transportation
of fuel. Trying, to buck the storm.
many motor trucks have been brought
up at roadsides in snowbanks, where
they will remain until a thaw comes.
Until the storm breaks apple trans
portation from valley points will be
by bobsled.
The snow will end operations of
the Oregon Lumber company, at Dee,
for the season, putting an end to
deliveries of slabwood. one of the
chief sources of fuel supply.
THE DALLES, Or.. Dec. 9. (Spe
cial.) The city is in the grip of a
terrific snow storm. Ten inches of
snow now covers the ground and
every indication points that the flakes
will continue falling through the
night. Every train from the east has
been delayed. The river remains
blocked with ice from shore to shore
and passenger communication with
Grand Dalles is impossible at, this
point.
The thermometer registered 13
degrees above zero this morning,
but rose to 22 dtgrees above this
afternoon.
Conditions point to one of the
largest snow falls The Dalles has
ever seen, and residents appear on
the streets in arctic costume, appear
ance being thrown to the wind in
order to provide comfort.
EUGENE, Or., Dec 9. (Special')
The first snow of the season fell In
Eugene this morjiing. It was less
than half an Inch deep in the valley
and it soon disappeared, rain follow
ing. However, the snow on the hills
surrounding the city is from" two to
six inches deep, and reports from the
mountainous regions of Lane county
indicate that it is several feet deep
in places.
ALBANY, Or.. Dec. 9. (Special.)
The first big snowstorm in this part
of ths state for four or five years
came today. There has been a total
snowfall of eight inches and prac
tically none of it has melted. There
was a heavy snowfall early this morn
ing, a depth of four filches being
reached at 8 o'clock. A lighter snow
fall continued all forenoon and inter
mittently this afternoon. Sleigh3 and
sleds which have not seen the light
in years were out this afternoon.
Weight of snow on the hands
stopped the big clock in the tower of
the Linn county courthouse just be
fore 7 o'clock this morning.
LA GRANDE, Or., Dec 9. (Special.)
Following a night in which the
thermometer dropped to 6 below zero,
the coldest in many years, a blizzard
tConcluded on Page 2, Column 1.)
WEATHER MAN ALWAYS TURN
Order of Health Officer Closing
Institutions Meets . With
Strong Opposition.
Contrary opinions held by City
Health Officer Parrish and School
Superintendent Grout in regard to
the closing of schools today brought
about a compromise last night, when
it was announced that attendance
during the storm would be purely
optional with the parents. While
absent marks will be held against
children remaining at home, they will
not be graded off !:i their studies or
be given any class work to make up.
Leniency will also be shown teachers
having a long distance .to traverse or
those suffering with colds or chills.
Announcement was made yesterday
afternoon by Dr. Parrish that, owing
to the prevalence of illness among
the children, all schools would be
closed, but this soon brought forth a
protest from school authorities. Super
intendent Grout hired extra firemen
to keep the buildings warm during
the night and stated that in his opin
ion many of the parents who have
children living close to the buildings
would prefer to have them In comfort
able class rooms than out playing in
the snow. I
Dr. Parrish appealed to Dr. E. A.
Sommer, chairman of .he school board,
who emphatically stated that he ob
jects to closing the buildings because
a few children are ill. He also
brought up the point that teachers'
pay goes on just the same. Dr. Par
rish argues that the board is out
heavy fuel expense that might be
saved by the closing.
School Clerk R. H. Thomas was in
structed to canvass other members of
the board and learn their opinions.
Directors George B. Thomas and A.
C. Newiil stood behind Dr. Sommer.
O. M. Plummer was out of the city
and it was Impossible to get in touch
with George Orton by telephone.
The four physicians in the city
health of'ice answered numerous
calls from parents yesterday, and Dr.
Parrish said he estimated that each
of them had traveled 60 miles dur
ing the day.
At the present time there are 148
cases of smallpox in the city. Many
of these cases have been discovered
in the school rooms, according to Dr.
Parrish. In addition to the smallpox
cases, there are 27 cases of diph
theria and 65 cases of scarlet fever
in the city.
The fourth death resulting ifrom
sleeping sickness was reported yes
terday to , the health officer. The
victim was Louise Samard, 16 years
old, daughter of Piere Samard. The
girl had suffered from the illness for
about two weeks. She had been under
the care of Dr. G. M. Roberts.
The health office also received the
report of the death of James F. An
dr.ws, four years old, who had been
ill with diphtheria. The general run of
diphtheria cases is mild although
number of deaths from the disease
during recent weeks have been pre
viously recorded.
Five school nurses are now operat
ing in the health bureau and. accord
ing to Heaith Officer Parrish, are
doing much in the way of discover.
ing cases during the first stages. For
several months the city had but one
school nurse, which is said to have
handicapped the work of the bureau
in handling the epidemics.
Ilwaco Elects William Brumbach
SOUTH BEND, Wash., Dec. 9. (Spe
cial.) With only one ticket in thi
field and that a democratic one, vot
ers at the city election in Ilwaco last
week elected William Brumbach may
or and J. D. McGowan, Dr. Lee W.
Paul and Judge Chris Hanselman
councllmen.
HIM LOOSE WHEN THERE'S A
Indiana Officer Is to Face
Army Inquiry.
BIG SENSATION IS PROMISED
Evidence May Eclipse That of
"Hard-Boiled" Smith Case.
MANY WITNESSES CALLED
Infliction of Severe Punishment to
Get Confessions From Pris
oners Is Alleged.
NEW YORK. Dec. 9. Another court-
martial Involving charges of brutal
treatment accorded members of the
American expeditionary force. at
which the evidence is expected to
eclipse even the sensations developed
t the trial of Lieutenant ("Hard
Boiled") Smith, will begin tomorrow
at Governor's Island.
A special investigation of tte
charges was ordered by Secretary of
ar Baker and the case was handled
by Major-General Frank Mclntyre,
assistant chief of staff. More than
100 witnesses have been brought here
from France and virtually all states
n the union and officers directing the
prosecution estimated today that not
less than 25,000 has been expended.
Indiana Man Defendant,
The defendant is Captain Karl W.
uetzer. a for ner newsDaner rrmn of
Fort Wayne, .'.nd., who, while attached
to the 308th military police company,
nau charge under the provost marsha
oi ail criminal investigation in the
Le Mans area, the Jargest American
concentration center in France
through which more than 1,000.000 sol
diers passed. It Is charged that hv
various methods of "torture" he
sought to extort confessions from
prisoners. In order that he might win
favor
r, in the eyes of his superiors by ment in favor of both' Ihe Hohenzol
number of convictions he obtained. lerns and Hapsburgs. the nucleus of
the
At the close of Detzer's court-
martial it is planned to place on trial
on similar charges his first sergeant,
U.- S. Madden of Pittsburg, a nephew
of John E. Madden. Kentucky horse
man. Sergeant F. L. Hoyt. who is
alleged to have aided and abetted
Detzer and Madden was said by mem
bers of the judge-advocate's depart
ment to be a deserter in France. He
has not been arrested.
Methods which Detzer and his sub
ordinates are alleged to have em
ployed to wring "confessions' from
their prisoners resulted, it is alleged.
In sending many men to the hospital
for a period of several weeks. Of
ficers of the judge-advocate's depart
ment admitted that many of the men
Detzer had to handle wore "hard
characters." often with long criminal
records.
Many Offenses Charzea.
The methods are said to have in
cluded orders to stand at attention for
36 hours, 10 minutes on and five min
utes off; withholding food and drink
from prisoners until they acknowl
edged their 'guilt"; pulling prisoners
to their feet by the hair, striking
them in the face and threatening
them with pistols.
- It also is charged that once Detzer
compelled Private Marcello Gonzalez
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 6.)
COAL SHORTAGE?
"Flying Parson" to Be Asked tol
Prove Assertion Tha "Too Much I
Booze" Caused Race Failures.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. An official
investigation will be ordered by the
war department Into statements at
tributed to Lieutenant Velvin W.
Maynard of the army air service that
the secret of the failure of some of
the pilots in the recent transconti
nental army air race "can be at
tributed to too much booze."
If it is found that Lieutenant May
nard has been correctly quoted, it was
said today at the department, he will
be requested to justify or prove his
statements before an official board.
Officials said no official reports
had been received indicating that any
flyers in the transcontinental race
used intoxicants during the contest.
They also pointed out that every man
in the race was examined at each
control station to determine his
physical fitness for continuing the
flight.
DUMPING IN U. S. OPPOSED
Fordney Bill Protecting Home In.
dustry Passes House.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. Without a
record vote, the house today passed
the Fordney bill designed to prevent
foreign manufacturers from flooding
American markets with products sold
at a lower price in the United States
than in the country of manufacture.
The measure would authorize the
secretary of the treasury to send
agents to inspect the books and
plants of manufacturers of exports to
the United States and to study prices
of such merchandise abroad..
Should producers refuse to submit
to such inspection their products
would be excluded from the United
States.
MONARCHIST MOVE MADE
Bctlimann-Hollweg Tries to Estab
lish Rulers In Switzerland.
GENEVA, Dec. 9. Dr. Theobald
von Bethmann-Hollweg. former im
perial German chancellor, is reportec
to be at Davos. He is credited In
Swiss diplomatic circles as being at
the bottom of a monarchist move-
which he is said to be attempting to
establish in Switzerland with the aid
of several German and Austrian
refugees.
THIS LOOKS LIKE LIMIT
Tax of $500,000 on Pint of Whis
ky Proposed.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. A tax of
$500,000 on a pint of whisky may be
asked oT' congress.
The International Reform bureau's
executive committee decided on this
here today in the event the supreme
court declares the war-time prohibi
tion amendment unconstitutional.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDA V'S Maximum temperature,
21 decrees; minimum, 18 degrees.
TODAY'S Rain or enow; not so cold;
fresh easterly winris.
Foreign.
Japan announces 1". s. bus adopted "hands
off" po-licy In Siberia.
National.
Republicans to select convention city to
day. Page 4.
Text of warning notes sent to Germans
made public at Washington. Page 3.
Justice sole basts for Industrial peace
ays Secretary Wilson. Page 7.
Iometic.
Attack on Cummins bill la renewed in sen
ate. Page 12.
State department is advised of transfer of
Jenkins case to Mexican supreme court
Page 3.
Indiana army captain to face court-martial
on brutality charge. Page 1.
Coal miners committee adjourns without
ending strike. Page 1..
Oregon republican women to organize for
campaign. Page S.
Cost of living has reached highest point
- ever known in United States. Page 6.
Air service to call "flying Parson" on
carpet to prove charges of drinking by
pllota. Page 1.
New York to be seat of Episcopal church.
Page 7.
World's greatest sea power advocated for
America by general board. Page 20.
Skeleton of Billy Danzy carried to swamp
after brutal murder. Page 6.
Floods hit southern states; 1000 homeless.
Page IS.
Pacific Northwest.
Northwest In grip of cold and snow.
Page 1.
Injured workmen may get
Page 10.
Schedule of bills for special
more pay.
session In-
creases rapidly. Page 1.
Sporta.
National baseball league retains
134-
game season. Page l.Y
Bill Hanley comes to Waveriey as golf
professional. Page 14.
Hawalians plan athletic meet for 1920.
Page 14.
Stand of University of Washington against
50-50 split Is favored by Oregon. Page 15.
Commercial and Marine.
Another advance In higher grades of
coffees due. Page 21.
Blizzard reports elevate corn prices at
Chicago. Page 21.
Stock list falls with rise in money rates.
Page 21.
Channel to Astoria to handle 1000-foot
ships with draft of 40 feet, advocated
In naval board report. Page 20.
Snow storm puts halt to work along Port
land waterfront. Page 20.
Portland and Victnity.
Mystery of soldier murder unsolved.
Page 12.
Trains still running despite snow atorzn. but
many are delayed. Page 20.
Character witness for Lucas Is found to ba
Indebted to him. Page 13.
Portland la visited by near-blizzard. Page 1.
Solons speculate on call for special session
of legislature. Page 13.
Twenty-two sites for parka offered city;
council authorizes steps to purchase
three. Page 11.
School and health boards reach compro
mise on keeping schools open. Page 1.
Attendance at Portland public . schools la
ruled optional by city boards. P age X,
STRIKE STILL Of
Wilson's Peace Proposal
Is Hotly Debated.
COMMITTEE RESUMES TODAY
Opposition to President's
Plan of Action Develops.
COURT PROCEEDING HALTS
Appeals for Acceptance Made by
Attorney - General and Others
Expected Yet to Carry.
l.DIAAPOLIS, ladq Dee. . Set
llrmnt of Ike strike of coal miners
confidently was predicted late tonight
by a high official of the United Mine -Workers
of America. It tuns declared
that the eonservntlve element wan In
the mnjorlty and that mm aajreement
on the president's proposal for ter
mination of the controversy was only
a question of how Ions; it would take
to hear nrarumenta of alt representa
tives. It was also learned that four ex
tended enucunes In which so-ealled
radicals of Indiana. Ohio. Illinois and
Western Fennnylvanln participated
were held tonlarht. Except that plans
were made for continuing the flsrht
agaiast adoption of the strike set
tlement plan, nothlnir could be learned
of the proceedlnsra.
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 9. The gen
eral committee of the United Mine
Workers of America, meeting here to
consider President Wilson's proposal
for ending the strike of bituminous
coal miners, adjourned tonight at 6:3(1
o'clock without reaching an agree
ment. ' The committee will meet again
tomorrow morning at 9:30 o clock.
The miners had been in continuous
session since 2 o'clock this afternoon,
when John L. Lewis, acting president
of the miners' organization, presented ,
the proposal of President Wilson to
end the strike, which began more than
five weeks ago.
"I have nothing to say." said Mr.
Lewis after the adjournment, "except
that we still have the matter under
consideration and will meet again at
9:30 tomorrow morning."
Some Difficulties Develop.
The general committee of the min
ers is composed of 84 international
and district officers and members of
the organization's executive board
and scale committee.
After the miners adjourned it was
reported that a big factor in the op
position to acceptance of the presi
dent's proposal was the belief on the
part of many miners that it would
require another session of the gen
eral convention of the United Mine
Workers to make valid an agreement
to end the strike.
It was pointed out that the last
general convention, held in Cleve
land, formulated the demands to be
presented to the operators and voted
that in the event they were refused
a strike should be called. The plan
approved by the general convention
also provided that in case of a strike
and subsequent proposals for a set
tlement, another general session
would have to approve any action
taken looking to an end of the tieup
Palmer Presents Proposal.
The president's proposal, made
public by Attorney-General Palmer
this afternoon, provides for resump
tion of work by tne miners at a 14
per cent wage increase, pending final
settlement of the wage controversy
by a commission to be- appointed by
the president. This commission would
include one practical miner and one
active mine owner or operator, and
would not only adjust the wage ques
tion as related to the Increased cost
of livinn;. but would adjust coal
prices to meet the wage advance
without allowing too great a. burden
to be placed upon the public
The attorney-general, in making
public the president's proposal, stated
thut it had been prepared by the ex
ecutive with a view to appealing to.
the miners generally throughout the
country. However, he said, before it
was made public. Acting-President
Lewis and Secretary-Treasurer Will
lam Green of the miners, called upon
him Saturday and were shown the
president's statement. The union
leaders. Mr. Palmer said, finally
agred to urge their general commit
tee to accept the president's plan and
called the meeting here today.
Court Action Held Up.
In order that the plan for settle
ment might be submitted to the gen
eral committee this afternoon, the
government this morning asked and
obtained postponement of hearing of
charges of criminal contempt pending
in federal court here against the 84
union heads who form the general
committee. At the same time Judge
Anderson granted a motion by gov
ernment attorneys for postponement
of a federal grand jury investigation
of alleged violation of the Lever law
and anti-trust acts, by both miners
and operators. The contempt proceed
ings are set for hearing next Tuesday
and the grand jury investigation for
the' following day.
Attorney-General Palmer was in the
courtroom this morning when the con
tempt cases came up for trial, but
took no part In the prooeedings. The
government's request ' for postpons-
(Concluded on Pag 4, Column L)