Atlanta tri-weekly journal. (Atlanta, GA.) 1920-19??, March 25, 1922, Image 1

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She Atlanta 2touvnal VOL. XXIV. NO. 76 FARM MARKET FEDERA TION TO RAISE $500,000 FUND Organization Certain of Suc cess—Votes to Apply at Once to Superior Court for Charter —Those at Meet Setting $500,000 as the goal, def inite concrete Steps are being taken to complete the organization of the Georgia Farm Market federation, which is the outgrowth of the move ment jointly inaugurated by the Country Bankers’ association and The Atlanta Journal to provide mar ket facilities for handling the di versified products of Georgia farms. A whirlwind campaign, fashioned after the methods pursued in the successful Liberty loan drives, will be conducted to raise the necessary funds. So confident are the movants in the proposed market federation that ■uccess will crown their efforts that at a meeting of the organization committee, in the chamber of com merce Thursday, it was agreed unanimously to apply at once to the superior court for a charter for the Georgia Farm Market federation, un der the provisions of state and fed eral co-operative laws, and in ac cordance with charter provisions heretofore approved. To Apportion Funds At the suggestion of J. W. Vaughan, the well known Carters ville banker, the funds to be raised will be apportioned among the sev eral counties of the state, in accor dance with their banking resources, and in each county a finance com mittee will be appointed to direct the canvass for subscriptions, which will entitle the holder to capital stock in the market federation. It also was decided to enlist the aid of chambers of commerce and other civic organizations through out the state in raising the funds and the belief was confidently ex pressed that the entire capital stock of the corporation will be available to record time. Attending the meeting were: W. B. Hunter, chairman; C. C. Haw kins, of Americus; D. W. Boone, of Newnan; L. R. Adams, of Atlanta; M. W. Bell, of Atlanta; B. S. Bar ker, of Atlanta; J. S. Kennedy, of Atlanta; Ralph Smith, of Atlanta; Fritz R. Jones, of Atlanta; C. O. Carpenter, of Macon; W. G. Middle brooks, of Macon; James W. Morton, of Athens; J. G. Oliver, of Athens; J. W. Vaughan, of Cartersville; B. M. Gilbreath, of Cartersville; Herbert Uren, of Cartersvihe: J. R. Hender son, of Cartersville; H. H. Milam, o f Cartersville; B. M, Ragsdale, ot Cobb county; W. B. Hunter, of Cor nelia; C. R. Porter, of Rome. To Name" Subcommittee Front among the membership cf the organization committee, Chair man Hunter will name a subcom m.ttee of five to direct the campagn for funds. The personnel of this i comm.ttee probably will be announc ed Friday. , The meeting was one of the most successful and enthusiastic that has been held in connection with the or ganization of the market federation. Prior to author.zing the application for a chartei* and the campaign for subscription to the capital stock, the details of the charter and by-laws, as heretofore tentatively agreed upon, were carefully considered. A number of important changes were made in the tentative charter, all of which were designed to place complete control of the organization in the hands of the producers—the farmers of hte state. / “It is important to the success o’ the movement that it be understood by every person in Georgia that the market federation is neither a bank ers’ nor a business man’s institu tion,” explained L. R. Adams, sec retary of the-Country Bankers’ as sociation andXfather of the idea. “The bankers and business men of Georgia propose simply to help the producers the farmers, if you please —to help themselves, and we are going to provide the capital for an organization that will be controll ed from the ground up by the pro ducers. Purpose of Federation The federation will have for its purposes the following: A. Effecting a closer co-operation and mutually helpful relation be tween the agricultural and business and commercial interests of the state. B. Bringing about a greater and more widespread crop diversification in the state of Georgia. C. Promoting the increased con s imption of Georgia- raised products. D. Encouraging and establishing a better and more profitaole system of marketing Georgia farm products. E. Conducting publicity and adver tising campaigns designed to bring about these results. F. Encouraging the production of a higher standard of quality of Geor gia products. G. Assisting in the establishment of standard grades and packing of Georgia products. H. Promoting better and more ex tensive warehousing and storing fa cilities for Georgia products and more thorough and practical prepa ration for markets. I. Co-ordinating and federating the efforts of all organizations within the state which have these same ob jects or any of them. J. Encouraging and assisting in the formation and operation of lo cal co-operative associations among the producers of these commodities throughout the state under the co operative marketing acts of 1920 and 1931. K. Stabilizing these commodities so far as possible as collateral for bank loans. Big Peanut Acreage ‘ In Butts County JACKSON, Ga., March 23. —The planting of peanuts on a scale that will justify carload shipments is be ing undertaken by the farmers ,of Butts county. Quite a large acreage will be put in, and farmers are be ing assisted in obtaining fertlizers and seed by banks, merchants and fertilizer dealers. Peanuts are look ed upon here as a safe and profitable crop and the necessary machinery will be installed to market the prod uct to best advantage. Many farm ers are planting peanuts on a guar anteed price for fall delivery. NO MINE VIOLENCE WILL BEIOLEBJTED WASHINGTON, March 23.—warn ing that the federal government would tolerate no use of violence to prevent coal production during the threatened coal strike was issued today by Attorney General Daugh erty. Mr. Daugherty declared he was making no threats, and he believed a man, or a set of men, have the right to strike in an orderly man ner, but they do not have the right to interfere with those who take their places. The attorney general did not dis close the government’s plans for the miners’ walkout, but it was under stood that he conferred yesterday with President Harding and Secre tary Davis upon the possibility of a public appeal by the president to avert the strike. In an eleventh-hour attempt to halt preparations for a nation-wide strike in (the coal industry, the arbi tration committee of anthracite miners and operators met behind closed doors here today. The committee was composed of eight men. four miners and four op erators. With them sat tw*o non voting neutrals, a chairman and a secretary. John L. Lewis, presi dent of the international organiza tion of United Mine Workers, heads the milers’ Delegation. The spokesman for the operators was S. D. Warriner, of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company. Upon the conference will depend whether the 200,000 anthracite work ers shall proceed with their 400,000 brothers in the bituminous fields and prepare to drop their tools April 1, while their nineteen wage demands are given consideration. The miners’ representatives enter the meeting with little expectation of reaching an agreement to avert the strike. ‘‘Of course, we have hope,” said Mr. Lewis. ‘‘lt would be possible for us to conclude an agreement within forty minutes. Such a thing might happen. But I recall that similar wage arbitrations in pre vious years has taken from four weeks to several months. There'is no reasonable doubt but that the general strike will be called April 1, as scheduled.” Representatives of the operators declined to make any predictions as to the outcome. They continued to maintain secrecy concerning the program of wage reductions which they will offer as the basis for a new contract, as opposed to the wage demands of the miners. Mr. Lqwis annourreed today that the United Mine Workers were still ready and willing to meet with the mine owners in any move to decide upon a new wage scale. His organi zation wa sin perfect accord with attempts of the administration at Washington to “urge the operators to change their policy of absolutely refusing to deal with the unions.” he said. SERIOUS BREAK THREATENS UNITED MINE WORKERS CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 23. A possible serious breaks in tilts ranks of the United Mine Workers today threatened to disrupt the or ganization as the members cf the mine policy committee gathered here for opening sessions tomorrow. The committee of 116 engineers was called to formulate plans for con ducting the mine tie-up, scheduled to start at midnight, March 31. Possibility of a split was seen by union leaders in the threat of Frank Farrington, president of the power ful Illinois group, that he and his foPowers would insist upon single state wage negotiations with opera tors, strongly opposed by interna tional officers of the miners. • While it was stated in some quar ters, Farrington’s demands are based largely on questions of internal pol icy, his stand is not regarded light ly because of the large following he controls, the Illinois district being the largest in the union. Disscn sion of this group would interfer seriously with conduct of the walk out, it was admitted. Other problems before the commit tee w’ill deal largely with methods of financing the walkout, including the probable declaration of strike benefits to miners during the suspen sion period. Miners, however, are said to be in excellent financial condition for the tie-up. Sentiment among most committee men today apparently was opposed to single state negotiations, advo cated by Farrington, and, it is be lieved, some plan or compromise will bo effected. VISIBLE COAL SUPPLY FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT WEEKS WASHINGTON, March 23.—The nation has sufficient bituminous coal to last seven or eight weeks in the event of a. nation-wide coal tie-up, a survey of the department of labor revealed- today. The an thracite supply which was estimated at about 11,000,000 tons would last four weeks. The bituminous sup ply was given as between 65,000,000 and 75,000,000 tons. The railroads supply was estimated as sufficient to keep the trains in operation for forty-five days. Earthquake Shocks Felt in Six States Around St. Louis ST. LOUIS, March 23.—Seismolo gists of St. Louis university today ascribed “weak spots” in her firma ment as causing old mother earth to tremble in parts of six states sur rounding St. Louis vesterday. The earth tremors radiated 150 to 250 miles southeastward from here, and were reported as far south as Troy, Tenn., and Hickman, Ky., and as far east as Evansville, Ind., according to reports received here from the affected area, which also included northern Arkansas, south eastern Missouri and southern Illi nois. Shaking buildings and homes for from twelve to eighteen seconds, the shocks were described as severe and at times as violent by observers of the seismograph. Only slight damage, consisting mainly of 'falling chimneys and plaster, was caused by the tremors, which rattled chinaware and dis lodged pictures and ornaments from their places. HELD ON CHARGES OE BANKJRIBEBV Robertson Submits to Arrest and Puts Up Bond, Along With Bank Officials, as Result of Failures OKMULGEE, Okla., March 23 (By the Associated Press.) —Gover- nor J. B. A. Robertson, of Okla homa, and several officials of Ok mulgee banks were under bond to day for trial on indictments alleging illegal transactions involving two lo cal banking institutions. Governor Robertson is charged -Specifically with accepting part of a $25,000 bribe to place $150,000 of state funds in the former Guaranty State bank to prevent closure, when that bank was known to have been insolvent. The state executive came here last night from Oklahoma City, accepted service on a warrant, fur nished bond of $5,000 and left in a few hours to return to the state cap ital. He said his visit was to meet the issue without delay. The gover nor declined further comment on the charge, declaring the case was in the hands of his attorneys, whose advice he wouls follow. Besides those arrested •Yesterday, a warrant is held for Fred Dennis, former state bank commissioner, jointly indicted with the governor. Dennis is charged in the indictment with having shared the $25,000 bribe with the governor. Dennis has been missing from Oklahoma City since he resigned several months ago. A search will be instituted for him. The indictment returned by the dis trict court grand jury against Gov ernor Robertson and the former state banking commissioner charges that Dennis, with the knowledge of the governor, made an examination of the Guaranty State bank in Sep tember, 1920, which disclosed that the institution was insolvent. Specific Charge Bribery The governor and the banking commissioner, having the power and authority under the law to deter mine the solvency or insolvency of the bank, the indictment alleges, took from John H. Rebold, wealthy oil operator and vice president of the bank, a bribe of $25,000 pur suant'to an agreement that $150,000 in state funds would be deposited in the insolvent bank and that “through the influence” of these of ficials the bank would be allowed -to—continue business although in solvent, in violation of the state laws. The $25,000 was delivered by Re bold to Governor Robertson and Dennis by means of a cashier's check, and they received cash in lieu of the check, it is charged. Dennis took the check tendered by Rebold, deposited it in an Okla homa City bank and split it three ways, records taken before the grand jury purported to show. Governor Robertson was alleged to have re ceived a check for $8,333.34, and Dennis a similar amount, with which he purchased a farm. No rec ord of the third check was produced. When a legislative investigation of the transaction was made last year with a view to the impeachment of Governor Robertson, Dennis admit ted receiving $25,000 from Rebold, but said it was in consideration of an oil lease which he sold to the oil man. Governor Robertson was paid one-third of the $25,000 for his in terest in the lease, Dennis declared. Charge of Corruption A report of the house committee, recommending impeachment, which failed of adoption by a tie vote be fore the full house, declared the land in question “was not worth one dol lar per acre, and that the sale of the lease, if any sale was made, was to cover up a corrupt transaction.” Rebond at the time said he paid the $25,000 to Dennis for the oil lease, but said he had never ex amined the property and did not hold title to it. Governor Robert son’s name did not appeal* in the lease as -the holder of an equity. Rebold and John P. Cooke, for mer president of the Guaranty State bank, are under joint indictment for tendering the alleged bribe. Both are charged with accepting deposits hi an insolvent bank, and in addi tion, Rebold is charged with accept ing bribes and borrowing money from the bank while an officer. The Guaranty State bank was pur chased on January 3, 1921, by the Okmulgee Bank of Commerce, and the failure of the latter brought about the grand jury investigation into banking transactions here. County Attorney Hepburn, who conducted the grand jury investiga tion, started off on a vacation to day, and he announced that the date for trial of defendants in the bank ing cases would not be fixed until he returned in a week or ten days. Ante-Bellum Negro Dies at Age of 105 CANTON. Ga., March 23. —“Uncle” Henry Washington, colored, died at his home near Waleska, eight miles north of here, Monday morning. “Uncle Henry,” as he was familiarly known by all who knew him, was perhaps the oldest person in Chero kee coutny, being, according to the most authentic information obtain able, 105 years old. He has been in excellent health for anyone of his advanced age, and was able to go where he pleased up to within a short time of his death. He originally came from Virginia when only a very small boy, having been brought here by his slave master. “Uncle Henry” would often grow very sentimental and would speak with much feeling while re lating the occurrence of his being sold on the “block” when a_ mere lad. He has been heard to say many times that he remembered distinctly being sold and taken away from his home, this being the last time he ever saw his mother. He was re spected by all who knew him, both white and colored, being the ante bellum type of negro, of whom but very few remain. His remains were buried Tuesday in a local cemetery. ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1922 CO-OPERATION OF BANKERS AND FARMERS IS URGED Sloan Simpson, Texas Cot ton Association Treasurer and Former Banker, Ex plains Plan to Associates BY RALPH SMITH DALLAS, Tex., March 25. Sloan Simpson, who was an executive in the American Ex change National bank, of Dal las, before he became treasurer, of the Texas Cotton association, made a speech at the conven tion of the Texas Bankers’ as sociation, at Fort Worth, that helped to straighten out some of the bankers who have la bored under a misapprehension about the co-operative market; ing of cotton. Mr. Simpson is a business man, and not a farmer—a business man whose experience was gained through long service with the biggest bank in Texas. Mr. Simpson’s connection with the association is not, or was not, of his own seeking, nor was it of the seeking of the association itself. Mr. Simpson was selected for treasurer of the farmers’ association by the big bankers of Texas—the men representing institutions that underwrote the co-operative as sociation for upwards of $3,- 000,000. The big banks of the state were impressed with the pos sibilities of the co-operative movement, but before they were willing to put out any hard cash to support it, they insisted that they be permit ted to nominate a man to man age and direct its . financial af fairs. The cotton association acceded to this request, and Mr. Simpson, then an execu tive in the American Exchange National bank, was nominated to handle the financial affairs of the farmers’ . organization. Interested in Georgia Talking to Mr. Simpson, at Fort Worth, before he ad dressed the bankers’ convention, he expressed a regret at his ina bility to visit Georgia and take an active hand in the organiza tion of the co-operative associa tion. “I believe I know enough about this thing to convince the people with whom I come in contact that it is a wonderful conception and almost certain to succeed,” said Mr. Simpson. “I feel sure that city banks in Georgia, at least, will co-oper ate if the matter is properly explained to thefn. That has been our experience in Texas. I have had absolutely no diffi culty in getting money from our city banks, all that we have needed, and our only difficulty in the country, with the banks, has arisen from the fact that JOURNAL RADIO CONCERTS HEARD 1,000 MILES AWAY CONCERTS broadcast by Station WSB, operated by The At lanta Journal, were heard over a radius of 1,000 miles and more, according to information received by the radio de partment. R. F. Fahrlander, of Union, Nebraska, writes: “I heard your radiophone this evening (Tuesday, March 21) and wish to report that it came in loud and clear with a one-step amplifier and home made regenerative equipment. The music was fine. There was quite a bit of QRM and QRN (static and interference). I also heard your radiophone Saturday night.” Union, Nebraska, is judged to be approximately 1,000 miles from Atlanta. This is the most distant station that has reported having heard the radiophone concerts sent out by Station WSB. ' Radio fans in nearby states have no difficulty in listening in on The Journal’s nightly entertainments. J. H. Wilburn, of Columbia. Tenn., writes: "WSB came in loud and clear Tuesday.” Similar reports have been received from radio operators through out the southeast. “Southern News Special” Is Triple Bargain Here’s a brand-new sensation in subscription oilers— a bigger, better buy than this paper, or any other paper, ever announced. Read the details—three standard Southern news papers, five issues every week, practically the same as < a daily paper—all for the unheard of sum of sll HERE IT IS! The Tri-Weekly Journal Only The Weekly Commercial Appeal a aa The Weekly Alabama Times tp g All Three Five Issues 260 One Year Every Papers Each Week A Year The Tri-Weekly Journal, Atlanta; The Weekly Commercial Appeal,'Memphis; and the Weekly Alabama Times, Montgomery, come from three great Southern states —the heart o's the South. Nobody from the At lantic ocean to the Mississippi river could find a combi nation of greater interest or value. This offer is subject to withdrawal at any time. Better take advantage of it NOW. Clip and mail the Coupon TODAY! The Atlanta Tri-Weekly Journal, Atlanta, Ga. Gentlemen: Enclosed please find $1 for which send me your "Southern News Special,” as described above. N Postoffice State R. F. D many of them do not understand co-operative marketing. “In no instance has the asso ciation failed to convert either a city or country bankei* unless that banker had a private ax to grind.” An appeal for co-operation be tween bankers, merchants and farmers impressed me as the high light of Mr. Simpson’s ad dress , to the bankers’ conven tion. Certainly, it held the very close attention of the 800 bank ers present, and subsequently was freely discussed in the lobby of the hotel. “Under our marketing plan.” said Mr. Simpson, “the farmer does not receive the f ill amount of the sale price of bis cotton when the cotton is sold, but re ceives it in three or four pay ments during the season. This is orderly marketing. It is the very heart and soul of our or ganization. It is the method ap proved by the state bankers’ association. Co-ordination Urged “The carrying out of this plan, however, has proven a hardship this season on the farmers as well as the bankers, Ai some cases. Why? Because the farmo ’ notes fell due in Oc tober and November, and in turn your notes to the city banks and the federal reserve bank fell due at approximately the same time. You’could not get settle ment in full from the farmer, so you could not meet your obli gations. “Now, let's co-ordinate our business. We ask that you ar range your maturities to con form to our plan of orderly mar keting, and also arrange matur ities of your farmer customers to conform to these same plans. ■ON ut ‘ABS ‘fiuj m- uioqt vember, January and March. “If this is done, we assure you that in the majority of in stances, the farmer- will receive his money in time to meet his obligations. I realize that this will be changing the entire cred it system of Texas, but it will be a change for the better, as it will tend to stabilize the money market, just as we expect in time to stabilize the cotton mar ket. "‘We are not asking the coun try banker to lend the associa tion any money, inasmuch as we have been able this season to borrow approximately $3,500,000 from the city banks of Texas, and another* $1,500,000 from the war finance corporation, and we are assured we will receive even greater consideration next sea son. But we do ask the country bankers to carry our farmer members not only through the period of production, but also through the period of orderly marketing.” Credit Agreements Concerning the credit agree ment between the association, on the one hand, and the coun try bank or country merchant, on the other, to which reference (Continued on Page 6. Column 5) BERRIEN BLAMES BANK FOR TROUBLE 111 OWNSTAJENIENT Lawyers Will Begin Argu ments* When Trial of the Broker Indicted on Twelve Counts Is Resumed The case of R. N. Berrien, Jr., in i vestment broker, charged with lar ( ceny after trust in connection with i a shortage in state school warrant I funds, went to the jury early Friday i afternoon. Arguments were begun Friday morning and were completed shortly after noon. After a short re cess Judge John D. Humphries de livered his charge to the jury and turned the case over to them for a verdict. Solicitoi* General John A. Boykin and Attorney General George M. | Napier delivered the arguments far I the state, while Attorneys James L. . Anderson and Edgar W atkins spoko ! for the defense. | The feature of Thursday after ' noon’s session of the trial was the unsworn statement of the defend ant, read by him from the stand. Berrien went on the stand .at 4 o’clock, and finished at 4:30 o'clock. The former broker blamed a local bank for his financial difficulties. I In June, 1921, he said, a* New Y’ork I banking house wired him $430,000? | and the local bank made an error j in transcribing the telegram, leav- I ing off two of the ciphers, and cred- I iting his account with only $4,300, whereas he should have been cred ited with $430,000. This caused a “run” on him and practically ruin ed Berrien told the jury. Believing that he had been cred ited with $430,000 wired him by his New York correspondent, said Berrien, he drew checks against that amount. The bank refused to honor his checks, he said, and on I November 14 he had only $l2B to his Credit. On November 21, he continued, he went to New York in an en deavor to make financial arrange ments which would allow him to straighten out his affairs in Geor | gia. Berrien declared that at the time he ewent to New York he did not know of the existence of criminal charges against him here. He said that his trip was solely for the purpose of seeking financial assist ance from New York banking houses, in order that he might meet his obligations in Georgia. Referring to the testimony of T. W., Colvard Thursday morning, Ber rien said the draft Mr. Colvard said he never received, was mailed to Colvard by his, Berrien’s secretary. He did not know whether Mr. Col vard ever received the draft, said Berrien, but he had not been in formed that the draft did not reach Colvard. Dr. M. L. Brittian was recalled to the stand by the state to rebutt the testimony of Berrien to the effect that he had not received a letter from Dr. Brittian November 21 de manding immediate payment of the shortage. Mr. Anderson testified to certain transactions between Berrien and the Atlana Naional bank about the time the alleged embezzlement is said to have taken place. ( He said that early last November Berrien deposited in the Atlanta National bank checks against an account in his name in the Citizens’ and South ern bank, of Savannah, and depos ited in the latter bank checks on his account in the Atlanta National bank—-a process known technically as “kiting” when carried out an proximaely simultaneously, which Mr. Anderson said was done bv Ber ri.m. “The checks were of large amounts and the intervals about every other day,” he testi fied. The last two checks deposited in the Atlanta National bank, Mr. An derson said, aggregated about $14,- 000, and were returned unpaid. ' To cover the resultant overdraft, the witness said, Berrien deposited aboutsso,ooo in school, tyarrants, attached to a draft‘on his' New York bank connection. The governor or dered this draft stopped and it came back with the warrants attached, leaving the overdraft. On this Ber rien deposited $5,000 subsequentlv, leaving his account in the Atlanta i\ a L' anal bank overdrawn about ♦9.000 at the time he left Atlanta. Testimony by W. V. Crowley of U tizens and Southern bank, that Berrien had resorted to ques tionable means in getting certain bonds from the Empire Trust com pany to secure a check, was one of the features of the hearing Mr Crowley said a check on Mr. Berrien for about a thousand dol- I lars came to the Citizens and South- ' ern bank on November 17, 1921 t L u o L that , the broker had only about sl-8 on deposit. He said that Ber- A Ca - me T ?? the bank later with $- It. x in Liberty bonds to guaran tee thx. qheck. Dr. M. L. Brittain, state superin tendent of schools, testified Thurs day that Berrien admitted irregu larities in handling school warrants, but said if given proper time he would make them good. Dr. Brittain testified that in the I presence of himself and Attorney | General George M. Napier on No- i vember 17, 1921, the banker admitted | a shortage of about $25,000, and in a letter written subsequently he ad mitted approximately the whole shortage of about $43,000 charged against him. T. W. Colvard, of Murray county, ; testified that as superintendent of schools of that county he received a warrant for $2,141, indorsed it, sent it to Dr. Brittain, but had never received a draft or check from Ber rien. This is the case on which Ber rien is being tried. J. W. Davis, superintendent of j schools of Bullock county, and Carl i Shultz, superintendent of schools of Lumpkin county, testified they also had received warrants, but that checks signed by Mr. Berrien for the amounts had been turned down when they reached an Atlanta bank. The indictment on which Berrien is being tried —one of twelve similar indictments pending against hm—> alleges larceny of deferred school warrant funds to the amount oi (Continued on Page 6, Column •) Soldier Bonus Bill Passed by House By Great Majority PACIFIC W HSMiraTIOH IN SENATE VOTING WASHINGTON, March 24.—A long succession of proposed amend ments and reservations to the four power Pacific treaty -were voted down one after another by the sen ate today as it approached a final roll call on ratification. For the most part the majo ->'ties were overwhelming and virtually coincident with party lines. Only a handful of Democrats stood with their titular leader, Senator Under wood, of Alabama, against the effort to qualify the ratification resolution, and only the little group of irrecon cilables opposed the Republican leadership of Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, to vote with the res ervationists. The strength recorded for the pro posed qualifying declarations hover ed close to thirty on succeeding roll calls, but was not sufficient to ruf fle the confidence of the two party chiefs, both of whom were members of the American arms delegation, that the final count on ratification later in the afternoon would show a safe margin over the necessary two-thirds. Mrs. Harding, wife of the presi dent, was in the reserved gallery. In the diplomatic gallery were sev eral members of the diplomatic corps, including Baron de Car tie*, the Belgian ambassador, and Alfred Sze, the Chinese minister, both of whom were delegates to the arms conference. Antigonish Ghost Tale Investigator Now Sees ’Em at Home, He Says NEW YORK, March 23.—Dr. Walter Franklin Prince, who re cently investigated the Antigonish ghost, today revealed that the ghosts are investigating him. He told about a ghost which has caused alarm and amazement in his New Jersey home. Dr. Prince’s ghost, from his state ments, appears even more remark able than that of Antigonish. It rocks beds, producing a sensation akin to seasickness in the occupier, it raps, imitates a peg-legged man walking on the floor above the haunted bedroom, and gives other unearthly demonstrations of its presence. Like the spook of Nova Scotia, Dr. Prince’s private spirit is dependent upon a girl for its communication With this world. Theodosia Prince, the scientist’s daughter, is very psychic. “I have lived in the house where this ghost is demonstrating for three years,” Dr. Prince said. “It made known its presence by raps, which continued at .times for months. “Visions of persons never known to my family or myself floated in the air. Later, tjiey were identified. “Mr. Daughter, Theodosia, tells W’onderful things with the aid of a crystal. She was able to describe furniture on the third floor of this house as it existed many years be fore we occupied it. “Recently, the ghostly rappings have occurred in my office. These are not heard by others than myself. They usually occur in groups. “One phase of the unearthly phenomena was the violent shaking of my daughter’s bed after she re tired. This would keep up some times for half an hour. When I oc cupied the' bed the same thing oc curred. It produced a feeling akin to seasickness.” Character of Girls Prosecuting Rickard Attacked in Court NEW YORK, March 23—Attack ing the character of Nellie Gasko, twelve, one of the witnesses against George L. Rickard, Defense Counsel Max Steuer today made her. admit being a check forger. Under Steuer’s questioning, the little girl said she forged t’*o name of Julius Berliner, of the Echo Ce ment company, where she worked. She made out checks to “F. Hurley,” a fictitious character, signed Ber line**’s name, indorsed and cashed them, she said. Three checks for S3O, $56 anC S3O were specified in the testimony. Rickard, famous sports promotor, is on trial before Justice Wasser- | vogel charged with misti-ecdjng girls. The Gasko girl also admitted hav ing entered a house, the name of the owner not being given, believ ing the family was out, and that she could steal money. Prodded by the lawyer’s questions, she admitted once having forced open a drawer and stolen stamps. The Gasko girl was temporarily excused from the stand when she began to cry. Steuer had subject ed her to a severe cross-examina tion, during which she admitted tak | ing Sarah Schoenfeld complaining | witness in the trial —to see Rickard j because he was kindhearted and j gave money to children outside i Madison Square Garden. Steuer de veloped a number of discrepancies in her story. \ Sarah Schoenfeld was recalled. 5 CENTS A COPT, A TEAM. Canning $4,000,000,000 for World War Veterans, Bill Now Goes to Senate for Action WASHINGTON, March 23.— The four billion dollars soldiers’ bonus bill was passed tonight by the house by an overwhelming majority. It now goes to the senate, where its fate is regarded as uncertain. The vote was 333 to 70, or 64 more than the two-thirds majority neces sary for passage of the measure un der parliamentary pro-»dure selected by Republican leat' for the ex pressl purpose of .eventing the Den ats from offering a motion to recommit. Party lines disappeared, both in the general debate and on the final roll call, 248 Republicans, 84 Demo crats, and one Socialist supporting the bill, and 42 Republicans and 2i Democrats voting against it. Representative Jeffers, of Ala bama, jazzed up the debate by charging the Standard Steel Tire company, with which Secretary of the Treasury Mellon is said to be connected, as having robbed the government. Then he flung at the Republicans this attack on Mellon: “This Mellon is your man, the prince of profiteers and grafters, who rides in a limousine and opposes a bonus for the man who risked his blood for the flag to make the coun try safe for such profiteers as he.” When Representative Luce, Mass achusetts, spoke against the bonus as a “needless burden,” he was hissed. The special gag rule enabling its hackers to put it through without alteration was called up in the house after it convened at 11 o’clock, and tie semblance of a fight was started. It was, however, more a game with the cards stacked, for the whole af fair had been rehearsed to a nicety; noses had been counted and the bonus, was to go through late this afternoon without real difficulty. American Legion men, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, society women and the idly curious watched the play enacted on the crowded floor. I Chairman Campbell, of the rules committee, presented the rule. At once Representative Garrett, Demo cratic leader, made thf point of or der that the rule was not privilege'! —in that it was “violative” of a pro vision of the house rilles. Resolution Passes 221-121 The vole on the resolution w<s 221 to 121 and was without a roll call. Previously .the house had adopted a motion for the previous question by a roll-call vote of 276 to 126. As the roll-call proceeded there was more than the usual hubbub on the floor and those in the crowded galleries, strangers to congressional custom, looked down in surprise as the members milled about, talking and laughing while the clerk read the 435 names on the list. Those voting were forced to shout at the top of their voices in jrder to have their vote heard at the clerks’ desk. There w r as a breaking of party lines on the vote for the suspension resolution. Many of the Democrats who voted in the negative on this motion were counted upon to sup port the bonus bill on the final vote and leaders were confident that more than the two-thirds majority required under the rules would be obtained. Discussion Begins Chairman Fordney, of the way* and means committee, was at once recognized by Speaker Gillett, for a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, whereupon the house launched into four hours’ of discus sion. Some members were glved only one minute, others two minutes, others three, but by unanimous con sent all had leave to extend their remarks in the Congressional Record during the next ten days. Quoting a statement by Henry Ford that if given the Muscle Shoals project for development under gov ernment contract, work would be provided for many former service men now jobless, Representative Crisp, Democrat, Georgia, breaking into the bonus bill discussion, urged the house military affairs committee to speed up its inquiry and make a recommendation on disposal of the Alabama properties. 3 MURE COUNTIES JOIN COTTON PLAN Three additional Georgia counties —Chattooga, Laurens and Ogle thorpe—have gone “over the top” in the drive of the Georgia Cotton Growers’ Co-operative association, it has been announced by J. E. Con well, manager of the organization committee. This increases the num ber of "over-the-top” counties to fourteen, and there is every indica tion that scores of others will fall in line within the next few days. “We have signed up 175,000 bales, said Robin Hood, the public ity director, "and our reports from workers in the field justify the ex pectation that we will reach our goal of 200,000 bales by April 1, pro vided our field men continue their relentless efforts. “Considering that F. R. Shanks, our general director of organization w’ork, has been ill with influenza for a week, we feel very much er* couraged ov?r the accomplish ments.” Richmond Police Will Use Radio To Locate Thieves RICHMOND, Va„ March 23.—Po lice Chief Charles A. Sherry has ap plied for a government permit to in stall a complete radio station at headquarters here with a radius of -400 miles. This will bring the local headquarters within range of all of the big cities of the east and will, the chief believes, be of invaluable assistance in halting auto thieves es caping in stolen machines.