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VOL. LIX 30. 18,133
Entered at Portland (Ore son)
PoMofflce an Second -C am; Matter
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1920
28 PAGES
PRICE FIVE CENTS
YONCALLAMEN QUIT,
WOMEN TAKE OFFICE
MAYOR AXD COUXCII RESIGN
CITY GOVERNMENT.
DUTY, NOT GLORY,
COLONEL McALEXANDER
UP FOR HIGHER RANK
ALASKANS STARVING;
BUREAU NEEDS FUNDS
TEACHER KILLED;
CATTLEMEN ASK FOR
EXPOSE OF PACKERS
WILSON MESSAGE
ADVISES ECONOMY
DESERTER BOASTS
HE SERVED US SPY
Plan to Lead U.S. Troops
to Slaughter Related.
.HARDING'S VISIQNIr
ilLSON NOMINATES "ROCK OF
FOOD AT ONCE ASKED IN MES-
SAGE TO SEATTLE.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO INSTI
TUTE INQUIRY.
THE MARNE" FOR PROMOTION.
V
Is
BIG CROWDS DISAPPOINTED
President, at Doctor's Bid
ding, Does Not Appear.
TREATY IS LEFT ALONE
Recommendations Are Confined to
Domestic Questions and Pres
ent Financial Stringency.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7. Both houses
of congress were in brief session to
day to hear President Wilson's an
nual message. It was read by the
clerk. Mr. Wilson having heeded the
advice of his physician not to appear
in person to present his recommen
dations. Galleries in senate and house were
crowded. Both these galleries were
drawn by the chance that the presi
dent might appear in person or by
the possibility that his message might
touch upon the league of nations
question, or his own approaching re
tirement to private life, but were dis
appointed. Sir. Wilson confined himself almost
wholly to domestic questions. Only
by inference did his message refer to
the nearing close of his administra
tion and that was in concluding.
Prrldent Aueria Faith.
The proposals he presented, the
president wrote, were not so much a
series of recommendations as a con
fession "of the faith in which I was
bred and which it is my solemn pur
pose to stand by until my last fighting-
day."
Congress made definite progress on
one of the problems it faces during
the brief session. The house re
ceived a rule under which an effort
will be made Thursday to take up the
Immigration bill for prompt action.
It would limit general debate to four
hours. The two days" interval was
allowed to permit Representative Sie
gel, New York, a member of the im
migration committee, to frame a mi
nority report.
All Blue With Committees.
No other matter In either house had
passed today beyond the committee
stage. At both ends of the capitol
however, members were deep in plans
to deal with business depression, un
employment and farmers' relief. Dis
cussions in the senate of the plight
of farmers delayed the reading of the
president's message.
The industrial situation also found
a place in the president's message.
Jiecovery from war effects gave
promise of early completion "only in
our fortunate country," Mr. Wilson
said, and even here "halts and is Im
peded at times." A programme of
"immediately serviceable acts of leg
islation" to aid that "recovery "and
prove the indestructible recuperative
force of a great government of the
people" should be undertaken, Mr.
Wilson said", adding:
"One of these is to prove that .a
great democracy can keep h6use as
successfully and in as businesslike
fashion as any other government."
Workable Budget Urged.
Firt among the recommended steps.
Mr. Wilson placed enactment of a
"workable budget system." He said
he had vetoed the budget bill passed
at the last session "reluctantly" and
because of "a constitutional objec
tion," but as It was later revised in
the house, he believed it would, with
other measures, furnish "foundations
for a national budget system."
Mr. Wilson cited figures as to the
national debt and urged "rigid econ
omy in which all branches of the gov
ernment should co-operate."
"I cannot overemphasize," he said
'The necessity of economy in govern
ment appropriations and expenditures
and the avoidance by congress of
practices which take money from the
treasury by indefinite or revolving
fund appropriations."
Difficulties Are Cited.
Tirls year's estimates "strikingly
illustrated," the importance of spe
cific appropriations, he added, the
transportation act having "disturbed'
the relationship between current re
ceipts and expenditures to the extent
of over a billion dollars.
"It is obvious," the message con
tinued, "that these large payments
have already seriously limited) the
government's progress in. retiring the
floating debt."
The president renewed some of the
recommendations he made at the
opening of the last session andadded:
Loan to Armenia Favored.
"I do not feel it my privilege at
present to suggest yie detailed and
particular methods by which these
objects may be attained, but I have
faith that the inquiries of your sev
eral committees will discover the
way and the method."
The only recommendations for other
than domestic matters wae that for
a loan to Armenia to be administered
through American commissioners to
iCfli.c.uicd u& B Uj.uiiia ij
Budget System Also
Urged on Congress.
Officials Beaten at Polls Give Vp
Jobs to Successors Before
Expiration of Terms.
YONCALLA, Or.. Dec. 7. (Special.)
Mayor Lasswel! 'and all the other
city officers turned In their resigna
tions at last night's council meeting
andr appointed In their places the
women who were elected at the gen
era! election November 2. The wom
en, who successfully opposed the men
at the polls and captured the entire
city government, would' have taken
office January 1 had the men served
out their unexpired terms.
The women who took office today
were Mrs. Mary Burt, mayor, and
Mrs. Jennie S. Lasswell, Mrs. Edith
B. Thompson, Mrs. Bernice Wilson,
and Mrs. Nettie Hannan. After the
recent election Mayor Lasswell,
whose wife had been elected a mem
ber of the city council, announced
that the women would have every
assistance he and his colleagues could
give them.
The women's party took the men
completely by surprise at the No
vember election. There was a sort
of gentlemen's agreement thatthere
would be no city election, and that
the incumbents would hold over for
the next term without the formality
of being elected.
, The women, however, did not feel
bound by an agreement to which
they were not a party and they
quietly nominated candidates and
voted them Into office. The women
had protested that the men officials
took no interest in the city, which,
the women maintained, might be
made an attractive home for retired
farmers. The women have announced
an" immediate cleanup campaign and
the inauguration of many city Im
provements. The retiring officials declared in
farewell speeches that they had re
signed merely to let the women in
augurate their cii-ic improvements at
once, without waiting until Janu
ary 1. They professed absolute good
will toward the feminine city govern
ment which was about to assume
control.
The councilmen first resigned and
the mayor appointed the councllwo-men-elect
to their places. Then
Mayor Lasswell himself resigned and
the new councilwomen elected Mrs.
Burt.
PLANE FALLS INTO SEA
Air Craft Floats All Day Without
Help for Ten Passengers.
LOS ANGELES. Cal., Dec. 7. Navy
seaplane No. 13, with 10 persons
aboard, fell from an altitude of 1100
feet into the ocean off Newport beach,
about 20 miles south of Los Angeles
harbor, late today and for hours
drifted about until tonight.
The plane was returning to Los
Angeles from a trip of inspection to
San Diego. Over Newport beach, the
engine broke down, but the pilot man
aged to volplane to the waves.
FOUR KILLED IN- WRECK
Several Injured, 2 Missing When
Sunshine Special Turns Over.
TEXARKASA, Ark., Dec. 8. Four
persons were reported to have been
killed and several injured early today
when the first section of the Texas
ii Pacific "Sunshine Special," north
bound, turned over five miles south of
Texarkana.
A baggageman and fireman were
still missing. A relief train, carrying
physicians and railroad officials, has
gone from here to the scene of the
wreck.
HISTORIC PAPERS IN PERIL
Original Copy of Constitution Kept
Onl in Steel Safe.
WASHINGTON, Dec 7. The orig
inal copies of the declaration of in
dependence and the constitution are
protected only by a thin steel safe In
the library of the state department
and surrounded by combustible ma
terials usually found in libraries,
says a memorandum to congress from
Secretary of State Colby, transmitted
to congress today. -
He asked for an appropriation of
$25,000 to safeguard the documents.
POLITICIAN GETS 2 YEARS
G. W. Egan of North Dakota Con
victed of Fire Insurance Fraud.
SIOUX FALLS, S. D., Dec. 7. George
W. Egan, prominent in business and
political circles in South Dakota, was
sentenced to two years in the state
penitentiary here today after convic
tion last May of having made fraudu
lent affidavits in connection with in
surance policies covering a fire. At
torneys for the defendant served no
tice that the case will be appealed.
MAN AT BAY DIES IN FIRE
Homesteader-Burns in Cabii Sur.
rounded by Posse.
-BILLINGS. Mont., Dec 7. E. F.
Lampson, a homesteader near Tuffley,
Mont., was burned to death in his
cabin last night in an effort of a
posse to capture him, after he had
shot and dangerously wounded Jesse
Garfield sheriff of Golden Valley
county.
Garfield was endeavoring to arrest
iaaiioa ofx aa insanity ciiare.
Presidency Seen to Mean
Self-Sacrifice.
CAPITAL FOUND RESPONSIYE
Impression Made by Senator
Distinctly Favorable. -
MUCH HEARD, LITTLE SAID
President-Elect Non-committal as
to Many Plans, but Already
Moving for Results.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.
(Copyright by the New York Evening Post,
Inc., Published by Arrangement.) .
WASHINGTON. Dec. 7. (Special.)
When Senator Harding left Washing
ton this afternoon he had spent
almost exactly- 40 hours In the capi
tal. He saw a good many persons
and they told him a good many
things. Harding himself did me
listening than talking. About the
only thing that he himself initiated
was a movement looking to as early
action as is reasonable on what is
conveniently called the league o.f na
tions question, but is, in fact, the
whole problem of our foreign rela
tions. He brought this up with sev
eral members of the senate commit
tee on foreign relations and with
other senators and urged action on
their part toward getting on com
mon ground.
Senator Harding himsell was a
member of the foreign affairs com
mittee and sat with it during all the
sessions that dealt with the league
of nations. He knows the various
points of view held by individual
members and he tried yesterday and
today to make a beginning toward
finding common ground on which all
differing views can meet.
Action ob Cabinet Vrjsed.
Thisis about the only affirmative
thing that Harding did, about the
only thing in which he toolt the Ini
tiative. But he listened to a lot of
other things. Among the sugges
tions laid before him by one or an
other of those who called were the
following:
He was urged to name his secre
tary of state and his secretary of the
treasury immediately, without wait
ing until he has made up his' mind
about the. cabinet as a whole. The
idea 'of those who urged this course
was that the names of these two of
ficials would carry a certain amount
of weight with the public and would
give business men and others inter
ested a bails upon which to make
their calculations for the future. It
"was urged also that these two offi-
(Concluded on Fage 2. Column 1.)
THE TAXPAYERS
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llvlllil ifl VSfcvHA"r "rHE-SA,n HlLL '
i. W0( I II' H I f . OEiTHrTMErN? .
I '. ' . - : . . " ' I
- -- -' -
Colonel Amos A. Fries, Formerly
Stationed in Portland, Named
. for Advancement.
THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, Dec. 7. Colonel U. G.
McAlexander, 'known as "the'Vock of
the Marne," was nominated by Pres
ident Wilson today for advancement
to' the rank ' of brigadier-general.
Coloner McAlexander was at one
time stationed at Oregon Agricul
tural college, Corvallis.
Another mtlitary officer well
known in Portland, where e 'was at
one time stationed. Colonel Amos A.
Fries, also was nominated for the
same advanc in' rank. ' Colonel
Fries, like Colonel McAlexander, re
ceived several decorations on ac
count of gallant performance with
the American expeditionary forces.
James J. O'Keane was nominated
for receiver of the land office at
Vancouver. Wash., and Charlea S.
Dunn was named for register of the
land office at La Grande, Or.
George Clay Jones, whose residence
Is given as in Oregon, was nominated
for hydrographic and geodetic engi
neer, with the rank of lieutenant In
the navy.
Major Arthur -E. ' Rowland, Fort
SteVens, Or., is ordered - to Oregon
university, Eugene, as assistant mil
itary instructor.
SHOOTING STORY DENIED
Report of Wounding Robber in
Holdup Near Elnia Explodes.
ABERDEEN, Was., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) A report that a robber had
been seriously wounded by the son of
Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Knowles, four
miles east of Elma, as therobber was
staging a hold-up in the Knowles
residence was emphatically denied
this afternoon by residents of Elma
who know the people involved.
The story printed in some papers
stated that the young man, hearing a
strange voice in the front room of
his parents' home, looked through the
door to see a man ordering Mr. and
Mrs Knowles to put up their hands.
Knowles junior, the story went on.
shot the intruder, who was taken, to
Moirtesano in a serious condition. The
sheriff's office at Montesano has re
ceived no Intimation of either -robbery
or shooting.
PRIZE TO BE GIVEN DEC. 10
President to Get Nobel Award of
$40,000.
COPENHAGEN, -Dec. 7. (By the
Associated' Press.) Announcement
has been made that the Nobel peace
prize will be conferred on President
Wilson of the United States Decem
ber 10.
The Nobel peace prize carries with
it a grant of about J10.000, which la
one-fifth of the annual interest on
about J9, 000.000 .left for that purpose
by Alfred B. Nobel, the Swedish scien
tist and the inventor of dynamite,
who died in 1896. The', only two
Americans who have in the past re
ceived the Nobel peace prize were
Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, and Elihu
Root in 1912.
COULD TELL HIM WIIAT THE
One Native Found Dead; Sickness
Reported Sweeping Through
River .Settlements.
SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 7. (Spe
cials Natives of the Kuskokwim
river region in Alaska are confronted
by death from starvation this winter
unless food Is sent them at once,
according to an urgent message re
ceived here', today by the Alaska
bureau of the United States depart
ment of education from George W.
Hoffman, United States commissioner
at Idltarod. The Alaska bureau has
no funds with which to buy food.
One natjve-was found dead from
starvation last wejek. He is survived
by a widow and six children, who
were reported to be without food.
Sickness and starvation are re
ported to be sweeping through the
native sections on the Kuskokwim
river below Napamutee.
Food can be supplied from Iditarod,
Commissioner Hoffman states in his
message, provided the government
will supply funds with which to pur
chase it and pay for transportation
across the divide.
BAN ON JAPANESE URGED
State Controller of California Says
Congress Must Act.
SAN JOSE, Cal., Dec. 7. Action of
congress to .stop immigration and
denial of citizenship to children born
here of parents ineligible to citizen
ship are the next steps needed in
dealing with the Japanese situation,
John S. Chambers, state controller,
said in an address before the "Farm
ers' Educational and Co-operative
union here tonight.
He advocated a "trading tariff
that would make it possible "to bar
gain with other countries along -the
most beneficial lines."
The federal government, he said,
is doing much for the wheat and
'corn growers, but is neglecting the
prune and raisin growers. He advo
cated co-operative buying and marketing.
STEAMER SUDBURY -AFIRE
Blaze Not K Under Control, but No
Assistance Is Asked.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Dec 7. The
steamer Sudbury, bound from New
York to San Francisco, reported her
self afire tonight between San Diego
and San Pedro, in a wireless message
to the marine department of the
chamber of commerce. The message
said thef fire was not yet under con
trol. The Sudbury reported she was head
ing for San Pedro and said she did
not need any immediate assistance.
JAPANESE LOSSES 1437
Siberian Casualties Show 586 Die
of Illness and 152 2 Wounded.
TOKIO, Dec-- 7. Casualties among
the Japanese troops in the Siberian
fighting to date include 1437 men
killed in action and 586 deaths from
sickness, i xvas announced by the
war office today.
The records show 1322 wounded in
action.
WORD MEANS.
MISTS CAUGHT
Miss Maud Ferguson of
Jefferson High Hit.
TRICK BY PAIR IS FAILURE
Quiz as Witnesses Brings
Accidental Admission.
FIRST STORY IS FALSE
Tale of Unidentified Driver Speed
ing On After Hitting Wom
an Collapses.'
Miss Maud Ferguson, aged 33,
teacher of English at Jefferson high
school, was struck down and almost
instantly killed by an automobile
at the intersection of East Forty
first and Glisan streets at 5:30
o'clock yesterday afternoon, driven
by Alfred Axelsen, 25, of 2064 Wasco
street and carrying Pat Caves, 50,
of 2054 Wasco street, according to
a confession made by the men after
they had declared that they wit
nessed a large touring car driven by
an unidentified man strike the
woman and speed on without stop
ping. The first story was told by the
men evidently in an effort to throw
the police off the track in the in
vestigation that was sure to follow.
At 1:30 this morning at police sta
tion Axelsen admitted that he was
driving the death car and that the
tale of another machine hitting the
woman was false.
Windxbirld Blocked View.
In their confession the men said
they were driving 15 miles an hour and
that the windshield was covered with
mist and rain and that they did not
see the woman until after they had
knocked her down and had run 20
feet past the body. Three other cars,
they said, were ahead of them and
both insisted that one of the three
cars also hit her.
Axelsen was held on the charge of
failing to report an accident. His
bond was fixed at $500. Caves was
allowed to return to his home but
will report at the hear'ng this morn
ing. The arrest was made by Lieutenant
John Goltz and Inspectors Tackaberry
and Phillips, who went to the home
of Caves to hear his version of the
accident. Caves intimated that the
machine might have struck thewom
an and the patrolmen took him into
custody.
The four men went to the home of
Axelsen. He was routed from bed and
the two autoists were then taken to
police station.
Autolatu Give Aid.
The woman, after she had been hit,
was picked up by Caves and Axelsen
and H. L. Crosby of 298 East Fifth
street. They called to E. W. Martin of
706 East Sixty-sixth street North, who
assisted in carrying her to the home
Of Mrs. E. J. Schefter, 1196 East Gli
san street, where they called for the
police and the ambulance.
In the first version of the accident,
given to reporters and the police, the
men insisted that they were a block
away from the scene oT the accident
and that the car was driven by a
man. who, they declared to be an
unidentified driver, bit the woman
and that they had rushed to the aid
of the victim.
Woman Boarding: Car.
They also at first declared that the
woman had just stepped into the
street while about to board an ap
proaching street car, when the auto
mobile struck her and dragged her
for more than 20 feet.
Their later confession, however, dis
proved the whole previous story.
It was only when the detectives
went to the homes of the men to quiz
them as to the possible identity of the
driver and with no thought that they
were to blame that they let slip that
they had been in the death car.
Police discovered the imprint of a
woman's hand in the dust on the. hood
of the death car after it had been
driven to the police station.
Dr. Martin W. Rose of the police
emergency hospital arrived a few mo
ments later with motorcycle police
men and, after a hurried examination,
said that death had been almost In
stant. An ambulance took the body to
the morgue, as Miss Ferguson had
died before the physician arrived.
Home Made With Sister.
Miss Ferguson had been living at
the home of her sister, MVs. Ralph L.
Collett, 1192 East Davis street, where
her mother, Mrs. C. E. Ferguson had
also been living until recently. She
had left the home shortly before 5:30
o'clock In the afternoon to take a
street car to the west side. She had
planned to meet other high school
teachers on the west side and take
dinner with .them.
When the body was first taken to
the morgue there was noth'iig on her
clothing or in her shopping purse
which would give any clew as to her
Identity and it was not until 7:30
o'clock last night that the first posi
tive identification was made.
Christmas List la Carried.
In the shopping purse which Miss'
Ferguson carried was a Christmas
shopping list containing the follow-
Disclosure of Means by Which Re-j
tailcrs Are Enabled to Keep
Prices Up Desired.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah., Dec. 7.
Resolutions calling upon Attorney
General .A. Mitchel Palmer to Insti
tute an inquiry aimed to expose the
methods between packers and retail
ers which were alleged to keep the
retail price of meat at a high figure
and to effect reforms that will ef
fectively lower the prices were
adopted today at the conference of
officials of the 12 western states cat
tlemens' associations.
The conference adopted a resolution
relating to the devising of plans
whereby the seasonable surplus of
cattle from the western states may
be gauged and means were adopted
for preventing the glutting of mar
kets with surpluses. The resolution
calls upon the western states cattle
men to co-operate in furnishing the
United States bureau of crop statistics
with estimates as to the number of
cattle to be shipped outside of the
several states.
A resolution to enact federal legis
lation to eradicate tuberculosis among
cattle was adopted, also one relating
to the withholding from prime cat
tle markets of nalf-faf cattle and
feeders.
EYEWITNESS NOT HEARD
State Refuses to Call Man Who
Saw Alleged Murder Done.
PENDLETON, Or., Dec. 7. (Spe
cial.) The state rested its presenta
tion of evidence today in the re-trial
of Frederick Rader, Grant county
man charged with the murder of E.
E. McCue In February, 1918. near
John Day. Or., whose case was re
manded to the circuit 'court here by
the state supreme court, without calling-
Frank Bales, only eyewitness of
the shooting, to testify.
Nine witnesses were called. Their
testimony centered for the most part
on a purported death-bed confession
said to have been made by McCue to
the effect that R'ader had shot him
twice.
The defense, using self-defense as
the basis of its plea, closely cross
examined the witnesses for the pur
pose of Bhqwing that McCue was shot
in an altercation which he himself
had started. It Is thought the defense
will call Bales to the stand tomorrow.
MRS. HARDING IS GUEST
Mrs. Thomas Marshall Entertains(
With Luncheon at Capital.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7. Mrs War
ren G. Harding was the guest of
honor a. a luncheon given today by
Mrs. Thomas Marshall, wife of the
vice-president.
The luncheon was attended by about
40 wives of senators and other offi
cials and was the second social af
fair for Mrs. Harding during her
two-day stay in Washington, Mrs.
Wilson, wife of the president, having
entertained her at tea at the White
House yesterduy.
INDEX JOF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 47
degrees; minimum, aegrece.
TODAY'S Hain; increasing -southeasterly
winds.
Foreign.
B'Annunzio troops occupy Zara a Italians
be Ran to evacuate uaimaiia. rage a.
AsFPmbly debates war on typhus in near
east. Fage 3.
National.
President-elect Harding realizes that high
office mean- scii-sacnnce. rage 1.
Wilson nominates Colonel McAlexander for
promotion. iatfe 1.
Wilson in message to cunffress favors econ
omy and budget system. Page 1.
President-elect spends day in conference
with leaders in Washington. .Page .
Let us dare to do our duty, says PreHldent
Wilson, quoting x-incoin. t-age o.
Backers of farmer measure undaunted.
Page 2.
President-elect Harding holds own counsel
regarding policies and cabinet. Pago '2.
Prohibition law extends to American ships
wherever they may be. Page 17.
Congress prepares to aid in readjustment
of business conditions. Page 9.
Domentlc.
Deserter Boasts of work as German spy
in U. S. army. Page 1.
Clara Barton Smith, wanted In connec
tion with millionaire's shooting, traced
to Mexico. Page Iti.
Western cattlemen ask attorney-general
to expose practices of packers. Page 1.
Alaskans starving; bureau without funds.
Page 1.
Court arrants wage rise to packer employes.
PLge 18.
Pacific Northwest.
Yoncalla men quit, women take office.
Page 1.
Veteran jurist says divorce evil la ham
of Seattle, Wash. Page 6.
Interest lacking In Seattle school election.
Page 7.
Livestock industry outlook bright, says
slate veterinarian. Page 6.
Western Forestry and Conservation asso
ciation holds convention in Spokane,
Wash. Page 4.
Sports.
Basketball season gets under way tonight
Page 10.
Youth and punch versus experience In
Levintiky-McCormick bout. Page 10.
Commercial said Marine.
Wheat 10c to 15c lower in local market.
Page 27.
Withdrawal of exporters causes wheat
slump at Chicago. Page 27.
Oils and rails only firm stocks In Wall
street market. Page 27.
Big rmtch steamer Arakan arrives to load
wheat. Page 19.
Portland and Vicinity.
Ralph R. Duniway, prominent Portland at
torney, dies suddenly. Page 10.
City will again ask state to assist In main
tenance of The Cedars. Page 2.
Public welfare bureau lists 500 Portland
families tTmt need relief. Page 10.
Butter sale held illegal ty court. Page 21.
Commissioner Mann tells Rotarians of pub
lia health and sanitation standards of
Portland. Page 14.
Drue gists opposed to selling liquor.
Page 17.
Highway commission wants to rush road
work. Page 2tT.
Miss Maud Ferguson, teacher at Jeffer- !
sou high school, is killed by speeding I
auto. Page 1.
Ifjbert M. rir-v, c.vlege man, held for!
attempted robbery, develops inji ol
TRAINING GIVEN IN GERMANY
"You Would Also Be Killed;"
"What Of It?" Is Reply.
CAPTURE IS accidental:
Ex-Officer and Alleged Thief ol
Company Funds Is Recognized
by es-Cohtrade in Street,
NEW YORK. Dec. 7. Sensational
disclosures of his mission to this
country as a spy for the German gov
ernment were given in an alleged
confession by John AVillers, formerly
captain in Company I, 48th United
States infantry, alleged thief and de
serter, after his arrest here tonight,
charged with absconding: with 0000
of his company funds on December
19, 1918. His regiment was then sta
tioned at Camp Sevier, Greenville,
S. C.
His capture was accidental. He was
crossing Fifth avenue at Forty-second
street, when Hugh J. Hannigan.
formerly a lieutenant in Willers' com
pany, recognized him. Hannigan called
a policeman and Willers was arrested,
rrisoner Further Identified.
At a police station the prisoner
was further identified by two other
ex-lieutenants in company I, Sidney
P. Howell and Francis Hatch. Willers
was then taken to Governor's island
and 'placed in confinement at Fort
Jay.
Willers, the police said, recited in
a brazen fashion how he was sent to
the United States as one of 2u0
cadets trained in acts of espionage to
enlist in the American army.
On his arrival in the United States.
Willers went to Albany where he en
listed, he said, as a private. His mil
itary aptitude won him rapid "pro
motion and his knowledge of Eng
lish and his ability to "speak like
an American" enabled him to obtain
a commission.
Slaasnter of Men Planned.
Willers said ho had never been
sent across the ocean and while in
this country his instructions were "to
act the part of a loyal American"
and to take no action until he reached
the war zone.
"What was yoiir plan after reaching
the other side?" he was aked.
"I could lead the company to
slaughter," the police said he replied.
"You would also be killed," he was
reminded.
"What of that? Thousands of better
men died that way."
The police say Willers remarked
that they would be surprised if they
knew "the number of officials at
Washington during the war who were
employed by Germany as spies."
"Are they still th,ere?" he was asked.
"That 1 don't know," he was said
to have answered. "But there were
many of them during the war."
Deserter Weda American.
The 4Sth Infantry was still at Camp
Sevier when the armistice was signed
and, his usefulness as a spy at an
end, Willers told the police, he de
cided to become a deserter and to
take, they alleged, the company funds.
The deserter then went to Chicago,
where, about a year ago, he married
an American woman named Crawford.
From Chicago, Wilier" roamed
about the country, at various times
trying unsuccessfully to get a pass
port to Germany. He disguised him
self and waited an opportunity to
quit the country. A pair of heavy
eyeglasses, he said, was an important
part of his disguise.
When questioned by military au
thorities at Governor's Island, Willers
declined to amplify his alleged con
fession. COX TELLS WHY HE LOST
Defeat Blamed Upon Human. Na
ture by Ohioan
i
Human nature defeated Governor
Cox in his race for the presidency, ac
cording to a letter he has written to
Miss L.lllian M. Hackleman, secretary
of the Cox-Roosevelt cjub. Says the
recent candidate:
"I am constrained to believe that it
was again a case of human nature."
Conditions were the same everywhere.
The reactions of the war brought re
sentment, prejudice and misunder
standings, but let us hope that in the
end things that are vital wilf be con
served by the result."
FIRE DAMAGE IS MILLION
Blaze in Shops of Southern Pacific
Company Spreads Rapidly.
HOUSTON, Tex., Dec 7, Fire which
broke out in the shops of the South
ern Pacific railroad company here to
night had caused damage estimated
at $1. 000,000 and the flames were
still spreading. The paint and air
brake shops, an office building and a
storehouse, together with a quantity
of rolling stock, were destroyed.
A stiff wind was carrying the
flames to the heart of the shop dis-
tflct. &i4A covuja oil blocks.
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