- . I. "V '- -.- .. , ;7 -. .
' - - i j--- . ,"- ... . t. .... ;
i
VOL. LX NO. 18,825
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
Pnntofffce as Second -Class Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1921
PRICE FIVE CENTS
RETAIL SALES HERE
JUMP 10 PER CENT
T
FLOUR, BUTTER, EGGS
HIT PRICE TOBOGGAN
ILLNESS OF PRELATE
TAKES SERIOUS TU RN
CARDIVAL GIBBONS.. SUFFERS
FROM ANOTHER RELAPSE.
POLES CHEERED BY
PLEBISCITE REPORT
TRADE IS SOVIET
PLEA TO HARDING
STORY OF KILLING
9 OCT OF 16 CPPER SILESIA
DISTRICTS CLAIMED.
FEBRUARY FIGURES SHOW IN
WHEAT PRODUCT DOWX 80
CEXTS IX IAST WEEK.
CREASE OVER 1919.
PIG
s
CONGRESS CALLED
LI TO
LIS
.V
r
i
'
Sweetheart's Struggle to
Foil Suicide Related.
PATHOS GRIPS EVEN JURY
Hardships of Cripple's Life
Rouse Sympathy.
INTENT TO SLAY DENIED
Witness Declarea He "Went to Wom
an's Home Merely to Tell Her
Goodbye and Take Own Life.
The story of a crippled youth fight
ing great odds for his heritage of
appiness, stricken so frequently by
misfortune that at last all hope had
fled, who, In a struggle to slay him
1
self at the feet of the woman he
loved when she would not listen to
Ills plea that she give him up, killed
her, was related on the witness stand
In the court of Circuit Judge Staple
ton yesterday afternoon by Dr. Nor
ipan Bouchet on trial for the murder
of hia sweetheart. Ruth V. Richards.
It was the first time that Dr.
Bouchet broke his silence concerning
events of August 7, 1920, culminating
when he was found, unconscious, his
body pierced by three bullet wounds,
two feet from the lifeless form of
lira. Richards, who had been fatally
hot br an automatic pistol which
lay within a few Inches of the den
Jtlst'a outstretched right hand. There
arere no eyewitnesses to the tragedy.
Bouchet Stirs Sympathy.
A pale, slight, bowed figure, shaken
with frequent sobs. Dr. Bouchet
tirred the sympathies of onlookers
In the courtroom to such an extent
that dry eyes were an exception and
Jurors often had recourse to their
handkerchiefs to suppress emotions
Aroused.
Mrs. Richards, to whom Or. Bou
chet was engaged, strove to prevent
his suicide, he testified, and in the
struggle for the pistol the shots were
fired which killed her and seriously
wounded him, it was intimated,
though he declared he could remem
ber nothing after the first shot,
which pierced his left arm as lira.
Richards sought to wrest the weapon
from his right hand.
The dramatic climax of the after
noon was reached when the pistol
was held out to Dr. Bouchet for Iden
tification. "Did you ever see this before?"
queried Robert F. Maguire, who, with
John F. Logan, represent the defend
ant. Face Burled la Arm.
Refusing to look at the weapon, Dr.
Bouchet turned his head away and
buried his face in the crook of his
right arm, bursting Into body-wrack
ing sobs which were uncontrolled for
several minutes. Several spectators
cleared their throats, loudly. Then,
between clenched teeth, he answered
in a whisper, "Yes."
"Why did you take It with you to
Ruth's home that evening?" pursued
the lawyer.
"I-I hadn't decided definitely to re
turn to the hospital. I was digusted
with things."
Later, under cross-examination by
Joseph L. Hammersly, deputy district
attorney, Dr. Bouchet went further.
Suicide latent Is Relnted.
"I wasn't sure I was going to the
hospital or what I was going to do,"
he testified then. "I Intended to shoot
myself In the room at home. Then I
remembered that I wanted to see
Ruth before I left."
Under direct examination, the den
tist had continued, saying that Mrs.
Richards appeared glad to see him.
He told her the latest demand of his
physician which was taking him to
the hospital for a minor operation
and a rest. He told her that she had
better break their engagement, that
years of physical misfortunes and
the fear of tuberculosis, from which
he had been suffering and from
- which members of his family had
died, had caused him to lose hope,
and that Jie was tired and disgusted
with life. She protested that she
did not want the engagement broken,
tried to cheer him up and said she
was willing to wait for him.
"Finally she agreed to give me back
the ring my mother's ring which I
had given her," testified Dr. Bouchet.
"She went Into the sitting room to
get it. After a minute or so ahe
called to me to enter. She had the
ring..
Fight for Pistol Related.
T told her to keep the ring as a
eouvenir of me and I drew the gun
from my pocket."
"At whom did you point the pistol?"
demanded Attorney Maguire.
"Myself."
"Did she see your
"Yes."
"And then what happened?"
"She tried to take It from me. She
reached her left arm out and pushed
it. from me." Tears were coursing
down the cheeks of the witness. "It
went off as she pushed it around and
shot me through the left arm. which
seemed to be paralysed. I don't know
(Concluded en Fas- 2, Column a.)
Drop of Several Foodstuffs Makes
Old H. C. L. Xot as Prosper
ous as Heretofore.
Old H. C. L. is not so prosperous
these days, for several staple food
stuffs have suffered radical drops In
the last few days. The greatest re
duction has been in the price of flour,
which dropped 40 cents a barrel yes
terday for tho second time In two
days.
This makes a total cut of 80 cents
a barrel this week and places the
price of patent flour at the mills at
J9 a barrel. The drop in flour is be
ing eagerly welcomed by the Port
land housewives.
The new price is a drop of $4.75 a
barrel from the price on May 7, 1920,
which was the day flour reached its
highest point, celling at $13.75 a
barrel.
The second drop of 40 cents yester
day came as the result of the an
nouncement of one mill of the new
reduction, which was quickly fol
lowed yesterday afternoon by the
same drop in price by the other mills.
The managers of the mills in speak
ing of the reason for the reduction
say that the cut was caused by the
heavy decline in wheat during the
last few days. They state that they
believe In giving the public the ad
vantage of a drop In the market.
Eggs and butter are lower than
they have been since the war period.
They have been declining steadily In
the last two weeks.
Eggs have dropped 8 or t cents In
two weeks, from 35 cents to 27 and
28 cents, yesterday's price. Fancy
eggs are selling at a higher price,
but the corresponding drop has been
about the same. In one store yes
terday on the east side eggs were
sold for 23 cents.
Butter, which Is selling now for 50
cents a pound as the average price,
has declined about 10 cents in the
last fortnight. Last year at this time
butter was retailing at 75 cents a
pound.
SEATTLE, Wash., March 22. (Spe
cials Fresh eggs at 35 or 36 cents a
dozen, the lowest price In nearly fojr
years, will rule here as soon as a 2T
cent drop in wholesale prices, reg's
tered today, has time to make itself
felt. The retailer may now buy eggs
at 30 cents a dozen and pullet eggs at
26 cents.
Indications of this low-water mark
have been plentiful during the last
few days, as the demoralization of the
eastern egg markets grew more com
plete. " '
NEW YORK, March .22. Eggs de
clined In price here today. Fancy
white eggs were quoted at 35 cents
wholesale, showing a drt-p of t cents.
Western firsts declined from 34 cents
to 23 and 25 cents.
BOY AMENDS CONFESSION
Supposed Slayer of Cham Asserts
Another Did Killing.
WARSAW, Ind., March 22. Virgil
Decker, 18, who is held on a charge
of killing his chum, Leroy Lovett,
made a new statement today through
his attorney, in which he implicated
John Invagnolla. At the request of
the authorities Invagnolla was arrest
ed at Elkhart.
- Decker, who In a previous confes
sion declared he alone was responsi
ble for the Lovett boy's death, In his
latest statement places the blame on
"Dago Joe," declaring that the latter
killed the Lovett boy.
The statement as given out declared
Invagnolla offered Decker $1000 to
dispose of Lovett's body.
HARBORS MONEY .DIVIDED
$52 4,000 Allowed for Columbia
and WUIametta Rivers.
THE OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, D. C, March 22. Allot
ments from the $15,000,000 appropri
ation for river and harbor improve
ments made by the board of engineers
include the following.
Columbia and Willamette rivers be
low Vancouver, Wash., and Portland.
$524,000; Willamette and Yamhill
rivers above Portland, $10,000; Coos
bay, $144,000; Coos river, $3000; Ya
quina bay, $145,000; Grays harbor bar
and entrance, $10,000; Willapa river
and harbor, $30,000; Lewis river, $46,
000. Sealer
EX-BOND
FREED
Jay Hough of Spokane at Liberty
on $45,000 Bonds..
SPOKANE, Wash., March 22. Jay
Hoiffh, member of the defunct bond
firm of Milholl.and & Hough, Was giv
en his liberty today on $45,000 bonds.
He Is facing three charges of forgery
In Connection with transactions by j
which it Is claimed James F. Calla
han, wealthy mine owner of Wallace,
Idaho, was defrauded of several thou
sand dollars.
Hough was acquitted of one charge
of forgery In superior court here
early this month.
MICHIGAN MAN GETS JOB
Washington Gardner, cx-Rcpre-scntative,
Pension Commissioner.
WASHINGTON, March 22. Louis A.
Spellier of Reno, Nev., was given a
recess appointment today by Presi
dent Harding as collector of internal
revenue for the district of Nevada.
Washington Gardner of Albion,
Mich., was given a recess appointment
as commissioner of pensions. He is
a former member of congress and a
civil war veteran. .
TP MEET APRIL 11
No Specific Problems Are
Named by Harding.
FARMER PLEA i EXPECTED
President Likely" to Urge
"Prompt Relief.
TAX AND TARIFF ISSUES
Creation of Commission to Dispose
of Many War Supplies Prob
able Recommendation.
WASHINGTON, D. C. March 22. A
formal call for an extra session of
congress, to meet April 11 and receive
legislative recommendations from the
new administration, was Issued today
by President Harding.
None of the specific problems were
named in the proclamation, the presi
dent merely declaring an extraor
dinary occasion required that con
gress convene "to receive such com
munication as may be made by the
executive."
Mr. Harding already has Indicated,
however, that the tariff and taxation
will be foremost in his message. He
is expected to make a plea for prompt
relief to the nation's agricultural In
terests and the list of recommenda
tions may touch many other subjects,
such as the railway situation,, the
merchant marine and immigration.
Recommendation Is Expected.
One expected recommendation rela
tive to reconstruction measures with
in the government machine is the cre
ation of a general commission to dis
pose of many kinds of property ac
quired by government agencies dur
ing the war. Whether the message
will touch on foreign relations is a
matter of speculation, but the presi
dent has indicated his primary desire
is that the session work out a plan
of governmental rehabilitation at
home.
A programme has been discussed at
conferences between the president and
congress leaders and, although defi
nite decisions are to be made, a feel
ing of confidence Is manifest that
there will be a working agreement
that will expedite legislative business
from the start.
Some of the president's friends be
lieve he will follow the custom of
President Wilson in delivering his
message In person.
Programme Believed Settled,
With the decision by republican
leaders to put through the Fordney
emergency tariff bill, precisely as
vetoed by President Wilson. Immedi
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 1.)
THIS OUGHT TO
jr " -I . "!
i !
Unfavorable Change Followed by
Weaker Heart Action and
Lowered Temperature.
BALTIMORE. March 22.' Physi-1
cians attending Cardinal Gibbons an
nounced.tonight his Illness had taken
an unfavorable turn. They eaid.
however, they believed there was no
immediate danger.
The unfavorable chance In the car
dinal's condition . occurred Sunday
night when his heart action became
weaker and his temperature lowered.
Cardinal Gibbons, who is In his
87th year, suffered a physical
breakdown last fall. In DecemDer
he went to the home of frlendsfor
a rest. He was taken seriously 111
there, but his strong constitution
nrnvalled and he was able to return
home about January 1. From that
time until the present he seemea
to improve. In health.
OPERA-HOUSE DOESNT PAY
Director Contemplates Changing to
3Iovlny Picture Theater.
(Copyrleht by the New York World. Pub
lished by Arrangement. J
PARIS. March 22. (Special Cable.)
The famous Paris opera may be
converted into a theater for movies.
This project is being considered seri
ously by M. Rouche. director of the
opera, following the refusal by the
chamber of deputies to Increase the
subsidy.
Director Rouche says It is abso
lutely Impossible for the opera to
continue without outside aid. Rather
than close the theater he proposes
to introduce picture dramas on a cer
tain number of days each week and
with the receipts to pay the deficit
Incurred by the operatic perform
ances. TURK'S SLAYER IS JAILED
Armenian Who Killed Talaat
Pasha Removed From Hospital.
BERLIN, March 22. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Saloman Teilirian. Ar
menian student, who assassinated Ta
laat Pasha, former Turkish grand
vizier, was removed today from the
hospital, where he was taken as a
result of the beating received from
witnesses of the crime, and now is
locked up In the Moabit Jail awaiting
trial.
The Armenian colony has engaged
two attorneys to defend hlmi'; ' '
BASKETBALL GAME FATAL
Girl Player Injured In Arm Dies
From Blood Poisoning.
LEXINGTON, Ky., March 22. The
first known fatality growing out of a
basketball game In Kentucky occurred
here today, when Miss Bernlce Young
died from blood poisoning.
Miss Young, a member of the girls'
basketball team at Kentucky uni
versity, suffered a bruise on one of
her arms in a recent game. Infection
developed and an operation was per
formed yesterday.
MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE BILL COLLECTORS.
Rctnrns Conclusive, Though Xot
Yet Complete, According to Pol
ish Legation at Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. C. March 22. A
majority of the districts in Upper
Silesia were carried by Poland in the
plebiscite, the Polish legation an
nounced tonight on receipt of official
advices from Its foreign office at
Warsaw.
Of .16 districts in the province, Po
land has definitely carried nine, all
of which are In the rich coal and
industrial section, it was added.
Returns, on which the foreign of
fice statement was based, the lega
tion said, were not complete, but were
conclusive and showed Poland had
gained majorities in 462 communes
and Germany In but 92. No advices
were received concerning the results
in the other seven districts.
Districts claimed by the Polish le
gation are: Pless, Rynbik, Shrenlitz,
Gleiwitiz, Tarnowits, Hlndenburg,
Beuthen, Makowitz and Koenlgshutte.
The result of the plebiscite will be
determined, the legation said, not by
a majority of the general vote cast,
but by commune majorities.
"The interallied mission," the mes
sage from the foreign office said,
"will present to the supreme council
(. the league of natio.ns) the plan
for division of Upper Silesia on the
basis of the commune vote, taking
into consideration the geographical
and economical situation of each lo
cality." BERLIN, March 22. The final vote
in the plebiscite in Upper Silesia as
announced today by the interallied
commission is: Germany, 716.408; Po
land, 471,406.
OPPELN, Upper Silesia, March 22.
Indications in official quartern today
were that the French section of the
inter-allied commission would seek to
convince the council of ambassadors
that Poland had won virtually the en
tire industrial section of Upper Silesia
on the left bank of the Oder, despite
the general German majority.
The Germans are claiming the in
dustrial region as a whole by 50,000
majority and are conceded to, have
won the plebiscite by 245,000, but the
French suggest a Polish victory by a
majority of the communes in the big
mining and industrial center. Ger
many won In the large cities, but the
country districts being Polish, a ma
jority of the communes' voted for the
Polish side.
DOUGHTY DENIES CHARGES
Alleged Bond Thief Arrested In Or
egon Pleads Xot Guilty.
TORONTO. Ont., March 22. John
Doughty, charged with having stolen
bonds worth $105,000 from his former
employer, Ambrose Small, theatrical
magnate, who. has been missing more
than a year, today pleaded not guilty
on arraignment here.
Doughty, who was arrested In Ore-e-on.
subseauently revealed to police
i the hiding place of the missing bonds.
Delegation Plans Trip to
Negotiate Pact.
EARLY NEGOTIATIONS SOUGHT
Lloyd George Declares Cap
italism Attitude Reversed.
BRITISH ACT DEFENDED
Agreement Is Declared One Purely
for Business Moscow Re
ports More Treaties.
LONDON, March 22. (By the As
sociated Press.) The Russian soviet
government has appealed to Presi
dent Harding and the American gov
ernment to resume trade relations
with Russia, said a wireless message
from Moscow 'today.
The soviet government proposes to
send a delegation to the United States
to negotiate a trade agreement, the
message said.
The appeal, made by the all-Russian
central executive committee,
suggested that negotiations be started
Immediately for the resumption of
trade. '
Advantages Are Cited.
It asserted there has been a long
existing htpe for friendly relations
with "the great northern republic,"
referred to "the hostility of the demo
cratic administration," trusted that
the present government will "ap
preciate the great advantages which
would ensue to both republics by the
resumption of trade lelations," and
declared it is to the interests of both
nations to remove the wall which
separates the two countries.
When many other states have con
cluded treaties with Russia, absence
of normal relations with the United
States, the appeal said, appears as a
"strange phenomenon."
Lloyd George Defends Pact. ,
Premier Lloyd George, defending
the govednment's trade agreement
with Russia, declared in the house of
commons today that a complete
change was evident in the attitude of
the bolshevik government toward
what is called capitalism.
Some of Lenine's speeches might
have been delivered by Mr. Churchill,
he said.
The soviet premier was beginning
to realize that trade was essential,
that locomotives cannot be patched
up with theories and that the original
soviet theories are unworkable, said
Mr. Lloyd George.
Agreement Purely Business.
The agreement, he continued, was
purely a trade agreement recognizing
the de facto government of Russia,
not a treaty of peace. Claims against
Russia as to loans or for injuries to
nationals had been reserved for dis
cussion when there would be a gen
eral settlement; in the meantime all
claims were amply safeguarded.
He ridiouled the idea that the trad
ing community was opposed to the
agreement and asserted that every
prediction about bolshevism ending
had failed of realization. The bol
shevists were in as complete control
in Russia as any government could
be under the circumstances.
Treaties Reported Ratified.
A Moscow wireless announced rati
fication by the soviet government of
treaties with Turkey, Persia and
Bokhara, and also signature of a
peace treaty with Poland and a trade
agreement with Great Britain.
"Not all these treaties conform to
our desires," said the message, "but
they are significant successes for the
soviet and show the consolidation of
Its power on the international front."
The Polish treaty, according to the
message, means cessation of external
war and a certain diminishing of
civil war, provided Poland carries out
its undertaking not to allow the or
ganizers of counter-revolution ref
ugees in Polish territory.
Recognition Held Indirect.
It pointed out that the British
agreement means resumption of in
dustrial and other relations with the
"bourgeois" states within the sphere
of British influence and declared It
is indirect recognition of the soviet
by Great Britain and opens the door
to a similar agreement with the
United States.
China and Roumania have addressed
a proposal to Russia to enter into
peace negotiations, continued the
statement, which added: "Thus
France, with her cold, persistent ha
tred of soviet Russia, will remain a
solitary power keeping aloof from
soviet Russia."
Referring to treaties with Persia,
Turkey and Bokhara, the message
said there are ties of common inter
est, principally self-defense,' against
Imperialistic aggression.
Fidelity Is Held Shown.
By the Persian treaty, said the
message, soviet Russia showed fidel
ity to Its principles by voluntarily
renouncing all concessions violently
extorted from PerBia by czarist
Russia. ' '
By its treaty Bokhara obtains as
sistance from Russia, "owing to so
viet Russia's international policy that
soviet Russia shall become the cen-
(Concluded on Pace 8, Column 1.)
Department Stores Declared Best
Barometer for General Busi
ness Conditions.
Retail sales in Portland department
stores averaged 10 per cent more In
February, 1921. than In the corre
sponding month of 1920, according to
estimates of store officials yesterday.
Business men declared that depart
ment store sales were the best barom
eter for the general business condi
tion of the city.
The three largest of the Portland
department stores reported that their
February sales this year were from
8 to 12 per cent more than last year.
The cheek on sales was made In con
nection with the federal reserve
bank's report on similar sales In other
cities in the 12th federal reserve dis
trict. The Portland was well above
the general average.
SAN FRANCISCO. March 22. Re
tail sales in February, 1921, In six
cities In the 12th federal reserve dis
trict were 8.1 per cent greater in value
than sales in February of last year,
according to a statement issued here
today by the federal reserve bank.
The statement was based on re
ports submitted by 25 representative
department stores and mall order
houses in Oakland, Los Angeles, Spo
kane, San Francisco, Seattle and Salt
Lake City.
"In the rural sections," the state
ment said, "largely due to decreased
buying power, coincident with the de
cline in value of farm products, sales
were less in amount than a year ago,
offsetting the increase in the cities.
For the district as a whole, retail
sales were 2.9 per cent less In value
than In February, 1920.
"As the dollar will buy more com
modities at present than in February,
1920, this figure does not mean that
the volume of trade has been smaller.
Retail prices were approximately 10
to 30 per cent less than a year ago
and It is probable, therefore, that a
greater volume has been turned over
this year than last year."
j i
UQU0FT PEDDLING, CHARGE
j
Push Cart Ice Men and Milk Wag
on Drivers Are Suspected.
NEW YORK, March 22. Thousands
of pushcart - ice peddlers and milk
wagon drivers, astute in sensing
trade for spirituous stimulants among
their housewife customers, have de
veloped this potential bootleg market
into wholesale proportions, federal
prohibition enforcement agents re
vealed here tday.
Most of the pushcart Icemen, they
said, have headquarters In apartment
house basements. By a simply work
ing agreement their customers along
the dumb waiter shafts make known
their wants by answering "Yes" or
"No" to the iceman's call for "ice."
Milk wagon drivers operate differ
ently, enforcement agents say. They
either carry hip flasks or deliver
liquor In opaque containers.
ESCK iN COMMERCE JOB
Recess Appointment Is Given Wis
consin ex-Representative.
WASHINGTON. March 22. John J.
Esch, ex-representative from Wiscon
sin, received a recess appointment to
day by President Harding as a mem
ber of the interstate commerce com
mission. Dwight Davis of St. Louis, Mo., re
ceived a recess appointment as a di
rector of the war finance corporation.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather,
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature,
60 decrees; minimum, 41 degrees.
TODAY'S Generally fair; winds mostly
westerly.
Foreign.
Russian soviet government appeals to
President Hardin for trade agreement
with United States. Page 1.
Berg doll testifies against United States
agents at trial In Germany. Page 4.
German reparations bill passes lords and
now needs only king's -assent. Page 3.
National.
Tariff aid held too late for fanners.
Page 2.
Packers and union on way to terms.
Page 3.
Poles claim nine districts In Upper Silesia
as result of plebiscite. Page 1.
Congress called for special session April
11. Page 1.
Domestic.
Five alleged terrorists, shackled, held In
New Orleans tor investigation. Page 2.
Labor charges use of spy system ty rail
ways. Page 1.
Cardinal Gibbons' Illness takes unfavor
able turn. Page 1.
Superdreadnaught Colorado Is launched
in east. Page 2.
Campaign against International drug ring
launched In New York. Page 5.
Pacific Northwest.
Bloody finger prints may Identify mur
derer of Woodland farmer. Page 5.
Loganberry growers win contract fight.
Page 9.
Sports. '
France and Duffy post 300 forfeit for
.bout. Page 14.
Fun tempers rigor of training camp.
Page 14. i
Commercial and Marine.
Another decline announced In local flour
prices. Page 21.
Columbia-Pacific Shipping company reor
ganizes again. Page 15.
Portland and Vicinity.
Attorney-general of Oregon holds canneries
may not employ aliens to fish under
state licenses. Page 13.
Representative Fordney, in letter to Port
land man, tells why American indus
tries need prottective tariff. Pass 8.
Seattle offers aid in telephone case.
Page 7.
Dr. Bouchet sobs story of killing sweet
heart. Page 1.
Spring buyers find new styles smart.
Page 12.
Flour, butter and eggs hit price toboggan.
Page 1.
Washington expected to pay Us share of
tourist advertising. Page 4.
Mayor Baker urges help for needy by
community chest drive support. Page 0.
Each hour's delay fatal in China, says ex
Portland woman. Page i .
Portland sales gal 10 per cent. Page 1.
Poeschl testifies in own defense. Page 12.
Community chest givers protected. Page 6.
$800,000 Spent in 1914
by One Line, Is Charge.
BOARD HEARING IS HOT ONE
Atterbury Accuses Unions of
Forcing Closed Shop.
ARSENAL USE IS REPLY
Walsh Accuses Pennsylvania Road
or Keeping- Munitions Handy
for Labor Troubles.
CHICAGO, March 22. Charges that
the Pennsylvania railroad was fight
ing for the open shop and that the
road maintained a spy system before
the war were subjects of heated dis
cussion before the railroad labor
board today.
W. W. Atterbury, vice-president of
the road, charged the unions with
attempting the force the closed shop,
and F. P. Walsh, labor attorney, re
taliated with declarations that thd
Pennsylvania had maintained spies
and arsenals to take care of labor
troubles.
The testimony revolved about Mr.'
Atterbury's stand that no just and
reasonable agreements, applicable to
the entire country, could be written.
He charged the unions with assuming
to represent all employes and using
coercion in attempting to mako them
join the union.
fSOO.OOO Spent In 1014.
Attorney Walsh stated that J800.000
had been spent in 1914 on the road's
police system. Mr. Atterbury ex
plained that this amount covered all
protective measures, such as crossing
watchmen and similar employes. He
admitted that the road did maintain a
spy system, but declared he could cot
say how much had been spent.
When Mr. Walsh asked if the road
did not have "little arwia-'s, where
you kept guns and revolvers?" Chair
man R. M. Barton halted the examina
tion and observed that he could not
see "what this subject had to do with
national agreements." Several board
members joined in the discussion, but
C. A. Wharton, labor member, finally
insisted that the examination con
tinue. Union Bullrtin Rend.
Mr. Walsh explained that the rule
on discrimination against any em
ploye because of union affiliation was
the "most Important rule." His ques
tions, he said, were Intended to show
that "a situation might arise and had
arisen on the Pennsylvania where
disputes between employes and" the
road could not be settled." . .
Mr. Atterbury Introduced a union
bulletin which Informed shop craft
employes . that there would be "no
seniority provisions for or positions
provided for any other than employes
end members of the organizations af
filiated with the railway employes'
department" of the American Federa
tion of Labor. This bulletin was an
attempt, he asserted, to force non
union men to join the union under
fear of losing their seniority rights.
Labor Attitude Probed.
Allegations against the Pennsyl
vania were brought up by Mr. Walsh,
who read a copy of a letter purported
to have been written by I. W. Geer,
general manager of the St. Louis
Columbus division of the Pennsyl
vania, in which supervisory employe
were ordered "even to resort to
defamation of all labor organizations
if necessary" to obtain certain In
formation. The letter asked officials to inquire
into the attitude of employes regard
ing proposed wage reductions and
was dated March 10. Mr. Atterbury
declared he had never heard of the
letter and after calling Mr. Goer In
St. Louis by telephone, announced
that Mr. Geer denied he had written
such a letter.
Two votes on piece work taken by
the unions, showing 98 per cent of
the employes In favor of the hourly
basis of pay, were not fair, Atterbury
said, and he declined to accept the
union figures as correct.
He also read from a declaration of
principles by the Cleveland Chamber
of Commerce and signed, among oth
ers, by W. S. Stone, president of the
engineers, and W. G. Lee, head of the
trainmen.
This declaration said: "Freedom of
contract should never be impaired,"
and declared employes and employ
ers should negotiate agreements for
their own guidance. This principle,
he said, was the same on which the
railroads took their stand.
REDS ROUTED iN ARMENIA
Bolbhevik Efforts to Recover Lost
Towns Prove Fruitless.
NEW YORK, March 22. Attempts
by the bolshevik! to recapture lirivan
and other parts of Armenia from
which they were recently driven have
failed, according to a radio message
received here today by the near east
relief. All of Armenia, it was said,
except Delijan and Nakhitchevan, has
been cleared of Kussian troops.
A coalition government is belns
formed in Armenia, the message
added.
1
f -
t. '
f-r.
i - I