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Germany Had Virtual Trade Mo
nopoly in Czar’s Domain—War
Upsets Arrangements and Deal
ers Turn to America for Needs.
Military Officers Commandeered
Nearly All Automobiles at Start
of Hostilities, and Demand for
Trucks Is Becoming Enormous.
By JONATHAN WINFIELD.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.—The
shattering of the great German trade
with Russia has opened up a large
and growing field for the manufactur
ers and merchants of other nations,
and American consular agents in that
country are calling attention to the
possibilities for developing a market
for American goods in the Czar’s do
main.
As a result of the war, Russian not
only is obliged to seek new sources
from which to draw Its Imports, but
also is called upon to readjust its
centers of distribution and its chan
nels of trade. A large share of its
Import trade will remain permanent
ly In the hands of those who can in
troduce immediately articles hitherto
furnished by the nations of Central
Europe. The large number of Ger
man and Austrian business houses
and banks established in Russia prac
tically have ceased operations.
Germans Well Intrenched.
The German commercial organi
sations in Russia were so firmly es
tablished and so closely connected
with branches scattered over the en
tire country that they were in a posi
tion to substitue goods furnished by
other countries by German products
of a similar type. The great bulk of
the trade in the Caucasus district was
held by German concerns until the
outbreak of the war, and is now In a
state of complete disorganization.
Russian merchants, therefore, are
left in a position where they are
obliged to buy their goods in other
markets and to establish direct con
nections with manufacturers or in
duce them to establish agencies in
the principal distributing centers, like
Tetrograd. Moscow, Odessa and Riga.
Dealers at these places have applied
to American consuls for the names
and addresses of the manufacturers
of American goods, such as motors,
pumps, automobiles, motorcycles,
hardware, electrical goods and me
chanical appliances of all kinds.
Demand for Autos.
Consular agents point out that the
time is particularly favorable for the
introduction of automobiles, motor
trucks and other vehicles, as practi
cally all those in the country have
been requisitioned for military pur
poses. As soon as the danger of fur
ther requisitions has passed the de
mand for all classes of motor vehicles
will be large. Kotor trucks were
commonly used in the oii fields, mines,
on farms, by factories, for passenger
traffic and for general traffic on the
roads to Persia.
The large American manufacturers
of agricultural machinery already
have agencies, and their business will
be considerably increased by the elim
ination of German competition.
There is a good demand for hy
draulic motors, traction engines, pow
er transmitting machinery and marine
motors to replace the German ma
chines. Sawmill machinery also ;s
needed.
The necessity for sending out com
mercial travelers with samples has
been repeatedly pointed out by local
dealers, and is strongly recommended
in view of the enormous market in
Russia for many lines of present con
ditions, which have created unprece
dented opportunities for enterprising
American manufacturers.
b
Alabama to Show Its
Products at 1915 Fair
MONTGOMERY, Dec. 26.—An en
tire carload of Alabama mineral prod
ucts will be displayed at the Panama-
Pacific Exposition in San Francisco,
according to H. A. Thompson, field
agent of the Alabama Exposition
Commission. This exhibit will be
made by a sin^.e large corporation at
an expense of $5,000.
There will be two or three carloads
of other exhibits from this State.
Julius Kruttschnitt
Predicts Prosperity
Southern Pacific Executive Chairman
Believes Bottom Reached and
Upturn at Hand.
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 26.—Julius
Kruttschnitt, chairman of the execu
tive committee of the Southern Pacific
Company, and one time E. H. garri-
man’s right-hand man in matters per
taining to practical railroading, believes
that better times are at hand, and that
prosperity for the whole country is not
far distant.
He said so upon his arrival in Los
Angeles, heading a party of high South
ern Pacific officials on his annual tour
over the system.
"It may be simply a state of mind,"
said Mr. Kruttschnitt, "but I can’t
help but believe that we have 'touched
bottom’ and that conditions are im
proving. I am confident that we have
seen the worst and that better times
are ahead of us
"The European war was directly re
sponsible for only a small part of the
conditions, but business interests are
so intertwined that, like a house of
cards, when one card Is hit the whole
house falls."
Pitchforks, Shovel,
Used in Lawmaking
WASHINGTON, De. 26—The annual
report of the Secretary of the Senate
carries some items of expenditures that
seem odd for such an august body.
On the list of disbursements are these
items: Two pithforks, one scoop shovel
and 48 horseshoes.
Under "medicines and lotions"
are: One bottle of gargling oil, one bot
tle of liniment, one bottle of balsam,
one pound of powdered rosin, five
pounds of salts, five pounds of hoarhound
drops, two bottles of headache cure, two
dozen seidlitz powders, one pound soda-
mint tablets and nine packages of Cop
enhagen snuff.
One exhaust-heater stuffing nut cost
70 cents.
The sum of $122.50 was paid for meals
served to Senate pages detained at the
Capitol for night sessions.
A local hardware concern was paid
$7.65 for cleaning and adjusting revolv
ers.
No Farms Wanted
For Belgians in U. S.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 —The Bel
gian Government resents the activities
of certain philanthropically disposed per
sons in the United States who have
started a movement to induce Belgian
farmers to immigrate to the United
States after the close of hostilities.
It was believed the United States
would offer a haven and a refuge for
numerous Belgians, particularly the
farmers, and the attention of the In
terior Department was directed to the
matter. The Department took the mat
ter up promptly with representatives
of Belgium here, and It then developed
that the Belgian Government did not
think it a good thing, and resented the
movement. It was explained that after
the close of hostilities Belgium will need
its farmers.
Harvard May Teach
General Information
CAMBRIDGE. Dec. 26.—"General in
formation” may be soon an established
course at Harvard. Professor Charles
T. Copeland, of the department of Eng
lish, is heartily In favor of the uni
versity establishing such a course,
which, he says, would deal with noth
ing in particular, but everything in gen
eral.
Professor Copeland believes that men,
especially young men, know far too lit
tle of the events of daily life. Tests
made in his course in English have
served to confirm his suspicion.
The Harvard Illustrated editorially
indorsed the project, saying the course
would certainly not be out of place, al
though its claim to a part in the curric
ulum was doubtful.
‘Save-a-Baby’ Cry
Throughout Florida
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Dec. 26.—
Save a baby is the cry throughout Flori
da. Under the auspices of the Chil
dren's Home Society, a campaign to
bring Christmas cheer and hope to the
•‘kiddies" is sweeping over the State.
A "save a baby club” is in full swing
here, and the idea has spread rapidly
elsewhere. Social and religious workers
are aiding to spread the movement by
collecting clothing, money and food.
The articles will be shipped to the "Save
a Baby" headquarters for distribution
Christmas week.
Spanish Dreadnought
For Opening of Canal
MADRID (via Paris), Dec. 26.—Ad
miral Miranda, Minister of Marine, an
nounces that the Spanish Government
will be represented at the opening cere
monies for the Panama Canal by a
delegation headed by Vice Admiral Es
trada on board the dreadnought Es-
pana.
THIEF TAKES LOVE LETTERS.
FORT WORTH, Dec. 26.—A robber,
whose identity thirty students of the
Texas Women's College would like to
know, stole thirty to forty love letters
from the polytechnic branch office. He
read them. too. as evidenced by their
scattered contents. No valuables or
stamps were taken.
“She Did Not Save My Life;
Knew I Would Go Free,” Says
Father of Girl Who Told Story
of Her Shame at Murder Trial.
“Anna Will Be Happier With Us
Than as the Wife of Eugene
Newman, and She Wanted to
Atone,” Declares Freed Parent.
NEW YORK, Dec. 26.—While little
Mrs. Anna Cleary Newman lay in her
room prostrated by the ordeal she
had undergone when in court she
swore away her reputation to save
her father’s life, William V. Cleary,
the acquitted man, was jubilantly
telling a reporter that he would have
beaten the case without her aid.
"Do I think she saved my life?” he
asked. "Why, no. I know I would be
acquitted the second day I woke up
In jail. It was very fine of her to
take the stand for me. Please say
she offered to do it herself, and was
not forced to by either my counesi or
myself. However, I am sure that
even without her help I would have
been acquitted. You see, I did not
know what I was doing; so how could
I have been guilty?
"She Wished to Atone.”
"Anna knew she had disgraced us
and so she wished to do all that lay
in her power to atone. We did not
know she would testify until the
Monday before the trial. She insist
ed upon doing her share. That scene
in the courtroom was pitiful, wasn't
It? You see, I hadn’t seen Anna since
my arrest. I told my wife not to
bring my boy or girl up while I was
in jail, and that was the first time I
had seen Anna.
"It was this way: Anna loved her
husband, or thought she did, and
when this terrible thing happened—I
mean when I killed the boy—she was
just prostrated and for some time al
most incapable of thinking. But aft
er a while the calamity that had be
set me became paramount in her
mind and she determined to help save
me, though I knew ail along that I
would be acquitted.
Sure She Will Be Happier.
"While I would certainly undo my
act if it lay in my power, I feel sure
Anna will be happier with us than if
she were the wife of Eugene New
man. Marriages of that kind always
end in misery; whereas now she will
Just take up the threads of her for
mer life and be happy. She intends
to resume her music. She is a splen-
oid pianist. When she recovers her
health all will be as before.
"My wife and I will sail for a long
visit wdth friends in the South. We
expect to spend some time in Florida.
No, I do not think Anna will go along,
though we may change our minds
and take her. Upon my return I will
go back to Haverstraw and take up
my old work and style of living. I
am not afraid of anyone up there, in
spite of the threats that have been
made against me.
“Free From Shadow.”
"I am merry because I feel no
shadow resting upon me. When I
killed young Newman I was drunk
and the whole thing seems like a
dream. I remember nothing of the
happening, and so know that my
work and life will not be affected by
remembrance of the crime. The
worst thing of it all was those months
in Jail.”
Cleary laughed when informed that
the papers had stated he was to sign
a pledge.
"I never said I was going to sign a
pledge never to drink again,’’ he said.
"I always have drunk like a gentle
man. If I was a drunkard and ‘bar
room politician,’ as I have been called,
I would not have been so afTected by
the liquor I consumed the night be
fore this crime. That proves I never
drank much."
When Cleary was talking several
friends dropped in to make merry
over his acquittal. He greeted them
all in a jovial manner and spent
several minutes on the telephone, ar
ranging for other men friends to call
in the evening for a celebration.
"You can see for yourself how my
friends have stuck to me.” he said.
"We have not lost a single friend
through this trouble, but have gained
some. We owe it to these friends to
Continued on Page 4, Column 2.
Clark Sees Peril of U. S. ‘Empire 9
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Speaker Analyzes State POUND BY
Modern Inventions Which Wipe Out
Boundaries and Indifference of Com
monwealths, He Gives as Causes.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.—Statesmen are giving much thought
to the growing tendency of the American people to centralize im
portant governmental functions in Washington. This political dis
position of the people is generally regarded as momentous in its
possibilities. The doctorine of State's rights unquestionably is
giving way gradually before the pressure of a new Nationalism.
Imuportant instances of this tendency are to be found in the
Hobson nation-wide prohibition resolution, the woman suffrage
amendment to be debated in the House when Congress reassembles
after the holidays, Postmaster General Burleson’s suggestion for
Government ownership and control of telegraph and telephone lines,
President Wilson’s proposal for Government ships, and many
others.
Whatever opinion one may hold in regard to these proposals,
either individually or collectively, all Americans must be inter
ested in the change in American thought of which these proposals
are such striking manifestations.
Second in authority only to the President, and second to no
man in American political life in breadth of legislative experience
and knowledge of American political history’, no one is better able
to discuss this important sign of the times than Speaker Champ
Clark. The Speaker has written his views on this subject for the
Hearst newspapers, and they are here presented with confidence
that they will be of widespread interest.
By CHAMP CLARK. *
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
To those who, having eyes, see and, having ears, hear, it is
clear as a crystal that the tendency in this country for several
years has been to concentrate all governmental functions in Wash
ington, and this tendency is growing at an amazing rate. The Ham
iltonians are glad of it. All others, who think on the subject, re
gret it, but they can not shut their eyes to the fact that such a ten
dency not only exists, hut is increasing.
Our dual system of government—State and national—is an
involved system ; in many respects a system in conflict with itself.
The makers of the Constitution were, perhaps, the wisest set of
men ever assembled under one roof. They thought that the general
government should be clothed with powers sufficient for dealing
with foreign nations and for control in those matters in which we
are interested as a nation; but they believed that the State govern
ments the most competent instrumentalities for the exercise of local
functions.
INVENTIONS WIPE OUT STATE LINES.
Little by little, however, the Federal Government is taking
over many of the functions formerly regarded as belonging to the
States.
Some of the reasons for this tendency to have the Federal
Government do all things are not far to seek. They are as plain
as the nose on Lord Napier’s face.
Among the reasons or causes, I would name first and foremost
modern inventions—such as telegraphs, railroads, steamboats, etc.
These have brought the various parts of our wide extended do
main into closer juxtaposition, have made neighbors of Maine and
California, Oregon and Florida. They in a large sense have oblit
erated State lines and have been the direct means of multiplying
business in the Federal Courts many fold, thereby diminishing
the power of the individual States and increasing enormously the
power of the Federal Government. This, taken in connection with
the growth in numbers and wealth of corporations, has taken to the
Federal Courts most of the more important and profiatble litigation.
COURTS’ MOST SWEEPING RULE.
In a business way the most far-reaching court decision ever
rendered in America was the one declaring a corporation to be a
citizen of the State in which it has its headquarters within the
meaning of the Constitution conferring jurisdiction on Federal
courts where a citizen of one State sues a citizen of another State.
The most important clause in the Constitution, the one which
has wrought the most prodigious changes, is the one conferring
control of interstate commerce on the Federal Government. It is
an interesting fact that that clause was inserted as a compromise
and as a result of a log-rolling performance. New England and
New York wanted it. The extreme Southern States wanted the
African slave trade to continue until 1808. So these two extreme
and widely separated sections entered into an arrangement, where
by, voting together, they overrode the Central States. The Federal
Government was endowed with control over interstate commerce
and the African slave trade was continued until 1808.
A COMMITTEE’S RISE.
Of course, interstate commerce at that time amounted to little,
but it has grown with our growth and strengthened with our
strength until it is staggering in the figures of its volume.
When I first came to Congress, in 1893, the Committee on In
terstate and Foreign Commerce did not stand in importance higher
than seventh or eighth among the committees of the House. Now
it is really the leading committee in the House, next to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means.
An examination of the Congressional Record for the last five
years will show that barring tariff bill making sessions, more time
is consumed in discussing billH from the Committee oil Interstate
and Foreign Commerce than, bills from any other committee except
Appropriations.
It superintended the building of the Panama Canal; with its
S Z™' HAMP CLARK, Speaker of the House of Representatives
! who sets his face sternly against the constant aggrandize
ment of the powers of the central government.
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pure food hills and bills of kindred character, it has been instru
mental in creating an army of Federal officeholders so numerous
that it would make the fathers turn over in their graves could they
contemplate it.
To show how rapidly the business of Federal Government has
grown, take the Committee on Postoffices and Postroads. When
1 entered Congress in 1893 the appropriation for the Postoffice De
partment was about $50,000,000; now it is about $300,000,000.
A HALF BIILION SERVICE.
I heard Judge Moon, of Tennessee, the able chairman of that
committee, say on the floor of the House not long since that in a
very few years the annual appropriations of that committee would
amount to $500,000,000. Why this enormous growth?
1. Because a multitude of towns have grown into the situa
tion required for free city delivery.
2. Because the establishment of Rural Free Delivery, which,
beginning experimentally in 1893-4, now costs the Government
$43,000,000 per annum.
3. Because the Government has established the Postal Savings
Bank and the Parcel Post.
4. Because every mail ear runtiing into a great city is a post-
office on wheels, not only segregating the mail for that city, but
subdividing it into parcels for the various sub-postoffices, thereby
making it ready for the carriers’ hands the moment the train
reaches the depot, thereby expediting the delivery by a few min
utes.
And in this day one minute is more important than a month
when the world was young and Methuselah was tabernacling in
the flesh.
All these things cost money and create officeholders, and these
officeholders look to Congress for everything, thereby increasing
the power of the Federal Government. It is only fair to state that
the Postoffice Department is now self-sustaining—in fact, produces
a surplus.
STATES ABDICATE FUNCTIONS.
But of all the causes which tend to centralize all functions of
government in Washington, the fact that the State governments
have practically abdicated many of their functions heads the list.
Numerous things that the States ought to do are not done by them,
but are passed on to the Federal Government. Macaulay says that
Sir Robert Walpole was '‘avaricious of power.” The great histo
rian might well and truly have extended his remark to include all
mankind.
Consequently Congress has gone on legislating on subjects
over which its jurisdiction is shadowy and doubtful, until the en
tire fabric of the Government is rapidly becoming a consolidated
empire.
The things ought to be done. The States ought to do them,
hut neglect and refuse to do them. The people want them, and
Congress, being in a eon plaisant frame of mind, does them, thereby
exalting the Federal Go vemment at the expense of the State gov
ernments.
Kaiser's Army of Invasion Beating
Fruitlessly Against Russ Line
of Defense and Fierce Engage
ments Rage Night and Day.
Quantities of Finest Troops Lost
Merely in Effort to Keep Czar
Men From Offensive Campaign
Analysis of the News Shows
s
Special Cable to The American.
LONDON, Dec. 26.—Late news from
Berlin and Petrograd clears, to a great
extent, the situation in the eastern
theater of war and enables military
experts to form a reasonable estimate
of the location and development off
six great battles that are going on
simultaneously night and day.
It is obvious, first of all, that the
German army of invasion in Poland
has been stopped in full stride and is
beating fruitlessly against the Rus-
sion defenses 3ft miles west of War
saw. The Russians are holding the
right bank of the Bzura River and
have thrown back every German
force which attempted to gain a foot
hold on the right bank. A regiment
of the Prussian Guard was annihilat
ed by the Russian artillery, which
commands the right bank of the river
for 18 miles south of its junction with
the Vistula.
Strong Defense Line.
After evactuating Lodz on Decem
ber 6 the Russians withdrew to a lino
of trenches which together with ar
tillery positions and natural obstacles
form a strong defense line from west
of Novo Georgievsk, 25 miles north
west of Warsaw, to Opoczno, 25 miles
east of Petrokow. For two weeks th«
Germans have battered at the Rus
sian line, but have made no appreci-4
able progress and are compelled to
sacrifice great numbers of men, In
cluding detachments of the Prussian
Guard, their finest troops, in order to
hold the Russians on the defensive.
The Petrograd correspondents off
The Daily News and The Daily Mail
assert that Russia* is entraining and
sending westward heavy reinforce
ments, who will be employed for an
offensive campaign when the plans off
the Grand Duke Nicholas are com-,
pleted.
Ceiebration III Timed.
It is realized by Berlin military
writers that the enthusiastic celebra
tion over decisive victories won in
Poland by Von Hindenburg was pre
mature, and that the German armies
have accomplished nothing more Im
portant than the maintenance of the
offensive. The German War Office
avoids mention of the situation in
East Prussia, says that the situation
in West Prussia remains unchanged,
and confines its report on operations
in Poland to the bare statement that
the Germans are continuing their at
tacks against the Russian positions.
From every standpoint it appear*
that the German jollification was a*
little in accordance with the .facts as
was the recent celebration in Petro
grad over rumors that several Ger-
man corps had been trapped and cut
to pieces.
The newest development of the situ
ation In the east bodes ill for Ger
many. It Is an offensive movement
by a large Russian force which haa
fought its way along the Lower Vis
tula from a base at Plock to and over
the southern frontier of West Prussia.
Russians Over Frontier.
The German official statement ad
mits that there are operations in West
Prussia, and It is reported from Pet
rograd that the Germans will have to
face a determined attack made by the
Russians toward Thorn.
Russian forces are gathering in
strength on the north bank of the
Vistula and are heading for the great
base i>oint of German operations in
Poland—the fortress of Thorn. The
news confirmed a statement sent from
Petrograd several days ago that the
invaders in front of Warsaw would
find themselves imperiled by a Rus
sian army operating In their rear.
The Russian force appears to be
spreading over the German frontier
southwestward from Mlawa.
The third movement Is the Russian