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Germans Admit Russians Are Of
fering Determined Resistance
in Poland, but They Ciaim Teu
ton Troops Are Making Gains.
Repulse of Allies in Night Attack
Is Claimed by Kaiser’s Soldiers
in an Official Statement That
Has Been issued at Berlin.
Special Cable to The Amerloan.
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 26.—A Ger
man squadron of considerable size ia
reported to have sailed out into the
North Sea early to-day. proceeding
toward the coast of England to give
battle to the British fleet.
PETROGRAD, Dec. 26.—The tier-
man cruiser Hertha and a Germail
mine-laver have been sunk in the
Baltic Sea, according to inform&tioA
received by the Russian Admiralty.
No details accompanied the message
telling of the Germans’ double loss,
but Admiralty officials believe that
the Hertha was sunk while it was try
ing to protect the mine-layer in its
operations along the Russian coast,
being overtaken by a fast Russian
cruiser.
By FREDERICK WERNER.
Special Cable to The Amerrcan.
BERLIN, Dec. 26.—Though admit
ting that the Russians are offering
desperate resistance to the Germans
in Poland, Berlin military experts de
clare that the troops of Field Mar
shal von Hindenburg are making
steady progress and point out that the
advance to Lubocz shows the Ger
mans have gone 43 miles down the
Pilica River Valley toward the Vis
tula.
Sifting of the official reports from
Poland shows that the Germans have
won no overwhelming victory there,
and no claims are now being made to
that effect.
The effect of the Gei^nan advance,
however, has been twofold. It has
kept Silesia from menace, and is
threatening Warsaw. Berlin experts
are building the highest hopes on
General von Hindenburg's exploits.
Despite the early exaggeration of the
Russian retreat in Poland, they an
ticipate the fall of Warsaw at an early
date, with a consequent crippling of
the Russian army for months. This,
they declare, will strengthen the of
fensive in the west through the addi
tion of troops sent from the east.
(Note—The foregoing dispatch was
passed by the German censor. It is
the first received from Berlin substan
tiating the Russians’ declaration that
they were not routed in Poland.)
French and Germans
Try New Drives.
PARIS, Dec. 26.—Severe fighting is
In progress at two points to-day in
France, the outcome of which will
have an important bearing upon the
great conflict. On the Moselle River
the French troops are trying to reach
Metz and cut the German lines of
communication leading into Northern
France.
South of Arras the Germans are at.
tempting a similar drive toward
Amiens, from which radiate several
railway lines upon which the French,
Belgian and British troops in Flan-
ders and the extreme northern part
of France depend for their supplies,
except as come from England through
Dunkirk. Calais and Havre.
Attempt to Rsaeh Amiena.
News that the Germans are striv.
ing to reach Amiens explains the
continued fighting about the Albert,
where the conflict rages from house
to house, and the capture of a single
trench or a gain of a few yards is
considered important enough to
chronicle In the official statements.
Conflicting reports reach here as to
the situation along the Moselle It la
stated unofficially that the French
have made so good progress there
that they have been able to bring
their heavy artillery to bear upon
Metz and are shelling the outer fort*
of the German stronghold in Lor
raine.
It is known that the French troops
have made important gain* in the
Julius Kruttschnitt
Predicts Prosperity
Clark Sees Peril of U. S. ‘Empire 9
+•+ +e+ +•+ +e+ +e+ +•+ +•+ * +e+ +e+ +e+ +e+ +e+
Speaker Analyzes State Rights
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 instanees 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, But 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 liues 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 dne 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 B^oreign 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 bills from the Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce than bills from any other committee except
Appropriations.
It superintended the building of the Panama Canal; with its
pure food bills and bills of kindred character, it has been instru-
VOL. II. NO. 38.
(Copyright, 1913, by
The^Beorgian Company.)
★★★
ATLANTA, GA., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1914.
Southern Pacific Executive Chairman
Believes Bottom Reached and
Upturn at Hand.
LOS ANGELES, Deo. 26.— Julius
Kruttschnitt, chairman of the execu
tive committee of the Southern Pacific
Company, and one time E. H. Harri-
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 fall6.’’
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 axe 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.
Letter Carrier Frozen
On Ice Floe in Lake
CHEBOYGAN, WIS., Dec . 26.—
When an ice floe drifted ashore this
morning from Bdis Blanc Island, in
Lake Huron, Fred Roberts,' a mail
carrier, drove his dog sled from the
floe to the nearest lighthouse with tlje
body of Joseph White, another car
rier, frozen stiff beside him. Roberts
himself was severely frost-bitten and
unable to walk.
The two men had been carried away
from Bois Blanc Island Christmas
Eve, when a change in the wind drift
ed the floe out into the lake.
‘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.
Two Fatally Shot
In Graveyard Duel
LOUISVILLE, KY., Dec. 26.—John
Center and Soldier Noble, having
quarreled at Hazard, Ky., Christmas
Day, agreed to repair to a graveyard
and fight a duel with pistols.
Both fell at thi first fire so badly
wounded they are not expected to live.
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.
SACRIFICE IS
BELITTLED
BY CLEARY
“She Did Not Save My Life; I
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 hei* 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 counesl 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
l 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 paraxnount in her
mind and she determined to help save
me, though I knew all 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
did pianist. When she recovers her
health all will be as before.
“My wife and I will sail for a long
visit with friends io 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 affected 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 Pago 4, Column 2.
mental in creating an army of Federal officeholders so numerous
that it would make the fathers turn over in their graves could the^
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
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 car running 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,
but neglect and refuse to do them. The people want them, aud
Congress, being in a cort plaisant frame of mind, does them, thereby
exalting the Federal Go vernment at the expense of the State gov
ernments. ,
DIRE NEED
OF GOODS
This 'Edition ot The American >
Consist* of tho Followlno Section*:
1— Lat© New*. 5—Magazine,
2— Sport*, Auto* and 4—Editorial and City i
Want*. Life. j
S—Society. S—Comic*.
Be Sure You Get Them All
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
zations 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
Petrograd, 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, '"otor trucks were
commonly used in the oil 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 is
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.
Doctor Badly Burned
Saving Three Women
DENVER, COLO., Dec. 26.—Seven
ty-five guests were routed from their
rooms and five were badly burned in a
fire at the Buckingham, a fashionable
Capitol Hill apartment building, eacjy
this morning.
Dr. William E. Stenen rescued three
women from the flamos, and was
badly burned.
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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