Newspaper Page Text
As Mediators Meet, Villa Defeats 4,500 at Saltillo
THE WEATHER
Fair tonight and Thurs
day.
VOLUME XIX. No. HO.
u W(gdk g E®ia@w a© Bdhui HL §□ €©im! Sclmim
FIRST SESSION HELD IN
PEACE EFFORT BETWEEN
UNITED STATES, MEXICO
Formal Opening of Madation Conference at 3 P. M. Exchange
of Courtesies and Adoption of Plans to Govern the Inter
national Gathering Only Features of Today’s Proceedings.
Niagara Falls, Ont.—The Mexican
delegates to the mediation conference
called formally today upon the diplo
matic representatives of Argentine,
Brazil and Chile, who will adjust if
they car., the troubled conditions in
Mexico. No sooner had the Mexican
representatives departed than Messrs.
Lamar and Lehmann, delegates of the
United States made their formal call
and this opened the way for the first
session of the mediation . conference
late this afternoon. No one of the
mediators would hazard an opinion as
to the probable duration of the con
ference.
Nature of Powers.
While the question of the elimina
tion of Huerta was believed to be
paramount in the minds of the media
tors, it was realized by those closely
in touch with the situation that the
final solution of this problem would
depend to a considerable extent upon
the nature of the powers conferred
upon the Mexican delegates. In the
event that these powers were plenary,
it was thought that the question could
be approached with directness as one
of the first proposals to be submitted.
After the informal meeting the Am
erican delegates escorted by Minister
Naon went to the room which tb«ji
have reserved for then, on the Cana
dian side and completed arrangements
for telephone connection to Washing
ton, later returning by automobile to
the American side.
Some Skepticism.
One of the American representatives
explained that in their meeting with
the mediators and the Mexicans, the
subjects to be taken up at the media
tion conference were not even ap
proached.
While some observers here profess
skepticism as to the immediate suc
cess of efforts to adjust the whole
Mexican situation seeing difficulty in
the apparent unwillingness of the con
stitutionalists to participate, nearly all
ar eagreed that out of it will come a
better understanding of the part the
United States seeks to play.
Paid 15 Cents a Day For
14 Years; Worth $53,380
New York.—Surgeons at Bellevue
hospital while examining Carl Schmidt
who was taken from a Bowery lodging
house yesterday, discovered several
packages of tattered clothes contain
ing a total of $3,380 and several bank
books showing that he had $50,000
more on deposit. Schmidt is 78 years
old and ha! occupied a 15 cent a day
room in the lodging house for the past
14 vears.
400 MEMBERS OF THE M. & M.
TO VOTE SOLIDLY FOR THE BOND
ISSUE TO FINISH LEVEE WORK
Election Means More to Augusta Than Anything That Has
Gome Up in Many Years—To Close Stores at Noon on Day
of Election —To Ask City to Declare a Holiday.
An enthusiastic meeting of the
ways and means committee of the
Merchants A Manufacturers Associa
tion was held at the M. & M. rooms
last nighwand the bond issue to be
voted on »ne Ist was enthusiastically
endorsed. It was decided to ask the
merctiants to declare a half holiday
ao thwtoll of their employes may have
time to vote and It is probable also
that the manufacturing establish
ments of the city will be asked to
close a half day.
The suggestion was made to close
the stores all day, but after some dis
cussion It wns decided that It would
be better to close about noon and re
main closed the other portion of the
day
A special committee of which Mr.
James M. Hull, Jr., Is chairman, was
appointed to conduct a vigorous cam
paign foT the bonds smong the mem
bership of the Merchants and Man
facturers Association.
There were a number of very able
talks made to the merchants last night
on the question of the bonds. All
realised the necessity of passing them,
but the matter Is such a very grave
one that every possible Influence must
be brought to bear to poll more than
2.000 votes on June Ist for the bond*
It was the concensus of opinion among
~r=z-r\ : -THE ONE PAPER IN MOST HOMES—THE ONLY PAPER IN MANY HOMES.
THE AUGUSTA HERALD
Villa, With 4,000,
Whips 4,500 at
Battle Saltillo
Estacion, Mexico, via El
Paso, Texas.—General Fran
cisco Villa, leading 4,000 con
stitutionalist troops has won
the first important engagement
of the Saltillo campaign when,
at Paredon, he defeated 4,500
federals retreating from Mon
clova.
Estacion Amargos, Mexico,
via ElPaso.—Not only did Gen.
Villa administer a decisive de
feat, but he thus prevented the
arrival of reinforcements at
Saltillo which would have ad
mitted materially to the de
fensive force of the objective
point of the campaign. He also
captured supplies which would
have been of value to the gar
rison of Saltillo.
CONFESSION NOT
to mom
Court Refuses to Admit As
Evidence Story Told by “Dago
Frank” Before Electrocution.
New York.—The confession that
' I)ago Frank" Ciroflci made an hour
before he went to the electric chair,
will not help Chas. Becker in his fight
to prove his innocence of the murder
of Herman Rosenthal. The supreme
court before which Becker is on trial
for the second time refused today to
admit the confession. “Dago Frank”
before he died swore he had never
heard the name of Becker mentioned
until Rosenthal had been killed.
The court held that evidence per
taining to the confession was not ad
missible because it was an incident
that occurred after the murder.
the merchants present that unless the
bond Issue passes there will he no
need to talk of future development for
Augusta, no need to talk of any more
hotels, small enterprises of various
character, etc. It will simply be a
death knell to Augusta's hopes for a
many years to come.
The Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, with Its more than 400
members, expects to poll every ou*
for the bonds.
It will be the purpose of special
committee of which Mr. Hull is
chairman, to see to It that every mem
ber votes.
The city will be asked to declare
Monday, June Ist, as a half holiday
and all of the city employes will thus
be given full opportunity to vote.
The bond election of June Ist means
more to Augusta than anything that
has confronted the city in a long while.
Augusta simply must pass It and the
M. & M. members, composed of peo
ple from all walks of life, will put
their shoulders to the wheels and get
the bond Issue passed. There must he
no cogs placed In the wheels of Au
gusta's prosperity and on June Ist
there will be a great victory won at
the polls, one which means Infinitely
more than all the other elections this
year commblued.
AUGUSTA. GEORGIA. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 20, 1914.
PRES'T HAS
SPECIAL
WIRE
Well Keen in Closest Touch
With Progress of Mexican
Mediation at White House.
Wires Silent on Saltillo Battle
Washington, D. C.—Officials in ad
ministration and diplomatic circles
here turned their attention today to
proceedings at Niagara Falls. Presi
dent Wilson kept in close touch with
the progress of the Mexican media
tion negotiations by means of a spe
cial wire set up between the White
House and the headquarters of the
American mission.
Anxious Over Silliman.
Some anxiety was expressed over
John R. Silliman, American vice con
sul, who had been held by federal of
ficials at Saltillo. Silliman was said
to have been released and started on
his way to Mexico City, but definite
report of his movements still was
lacking today. The state department
also awaited the result of representa
tions to the Mexican foreign office
over the reported detention of ten
members of the Smith family at To
nala, Chiapas.
More Serious Trouble.
Continued reports from Mexico City,
tending to support the theory that an
effort soon will be made there to un
seat Huerta, renewed interest in de
velopments at the federal capital.
Greatest fear in Mexico City, declare
refugees arriving in Vera Cruz, is not
that the plot against Huerta will be
executed, but that it may not occur
before the entrance of the Zapata
forces which might precipitate more
serious trouble.
The Saltillo Battle.
That the constitutionalists had re
newed their active campaign south of
Torreon was indicated in reports of
desperate fighting before Saltillo,
Villa's most immediate goal.
No official reports bearing on the
Saltillo battle have reached either the
state, war or navy departments. Ap
parently all wires out of Saltillo are
now silent.
DESTROYED
BODY OF
PARKS
Funston Reports Return of the
Young U. S. Infantryman’s
Horses. Sec’y of War Gets
Information About Fate.
Washington. Brigadier General
Kunston at Vera Cruz, today confirm
ed reports' that the two horses taken
through the Mexican federal lines by
Private Parks had been returned by
Mexicans. He said the note brought
by the Mexican messenger made no
mention of the fate of the young in
fantryman. Secretary Garrison was
informed by telegraph tnis morning
that Captain Percy Willis, of the
coast artillery corps, at Key West,
had obtained an affidavit from A. W.
Bland, lately arrived from Vera Cruz,
bearing on the Parks case.
Baw Dead Body.
Bland states that he saw a man
who saw Parks' dead body and who
declared the young Infantryman was
shot and that the corpse later was de
stroyed.
General Funs'on informed the war
department today that Dr. Urrutla.
formerly General Huerta’s minister
of the Interior, who fled the Mexican
capital to save his life, planned to
sail from Vera Cruz today on the
liner Atlantis for Galveston.
More Than Week.
Washington.—So persistent Is the
silence for the last few days of the
Mexican foreign office with regard
to the American requests for actual
information regarding Vice Consul
Silliman that some officials fear he
may have been killed. It Is more
than a week since the Mexican for
eign office and the Brazilian minister
In Mexico City declared that Silliman
had been released from prison at S*al
tillo and was cn route to the capital.
AT WASHINGTON’S TOMB.
Washington.—An official visit to
the tomb of George Washington by
Governor H. C. Htuart of Virginia
was the feature of today’s program of
the Indies of Mt. Vernon Association,
in session at Mt. Vernon.
THE ‘A. B. C.' MEDIATORS WHO MET U. S. AND
MEXICAN DELEG A TES TOD A V AT NIAGARA FALLS
TRYING TO PREVENT WAR.
Left to right: Dominico de Gama
ambassador front Brazil; Romulo S.
12 Hours After Roosevelt Returned From
Jungle , Plunges Into Thick of Politics
Paces Library, Dictates Let
ters and Telegrams at Top
Speed—Anticipates Hardest
Campaign of Career
Oyster Bay, N. Y.—Twelve hours
after Theodore Roosevelt returned
from South America he was back to
day in the thick of polities. He was
up early and as soon sb breakfast
was over he was hard at work pick
ing uo the threads where he dropped
them seven months ago.
Colonel Roosevelt, It was learned
today, looks forward to one of the
hardest political campaigns of his
career. Except Tor the time occupied
by his trip to Spain for the wedding
of his son Kermlt, he expects to de
vote to politics most of his time
until November.
Mapped Out.
Already a tentative plan of action
has been mapped out. The former
president has In mind a campaigning
trip taking him from the Atlantic to
the ’ Pacific, and several shorter
trips in m-arby states.
In his library today he paced the
floor and dictated lotters and tele
grams at top speed. His desk was.
piled high with messages from all
parts of the world Inquiring as to
his health and Informing him of po
litical conditions. Colonel Roosevelt’s
present desire is to get back in touch
an soon as possible with affairs of
the Progressive party In all parts of
the country.
Work Planned.
Before he left South America he
planned his work, arranging by cable
for conferences with Progressive
leaders. The first of these was set
for today.
Colonel Roosevelt will go to his
editorial office in New York tomor
row morning and will spend most of
the day in meeting political asso
ciates. At that time he will confer
with the New York state leaders.
RETAIL GROCERS.
Louisvill, Ky.—Discussion of the
national bankruptcy act, repeal or
which was favored by a number of
speakers at the national Association
of Retail Grocera at thedr annual con
ventlon here yesterday temporarily
was held In abeyance today that the
entertainment program might be car
ried out. .
After a short business session the
delegates arranged a pleasure trip on
the Ohio River
Reformed Preebyterisne.
Cincinnati, 0.-Receptions to min
isters and delegates to the annual
general synod of the Reformed Pres
byterian church occupied the time of
the committee having that matter in
charge today. The synod will open
this evening when Dr. Wrn. Bailey o.
Philadelphia, will make the opening
address. It will continue until Mon
day and will discuss reports of com
clttees.
MERCHANTS’ TAX PROBLEM.
Richmond, Va The annual eonven.
tlon of the Virginia Retail Merchants’
Association was opened here this
morning
The merchants' tax problem Is the
principal matter before It.
VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIANS.
Richmond, Va.—The diocesan con
vention of the Kplseopftl Church In
the diocese of Virginia was opened In
St James Church here this morning
A eoatjutor tor Bishop Gibson Is to
be elected.
Naon, minister from Argentina, and
Senor Edauardo Suardz, minister from
Chile. The “A. B. C.” mediators. In
MELLEN'S TALE OF
JUGGLED MILLIONS
Former Pres’t of the New Haven Road Resumes His Remark
able Story Before Interstate Commerce Commission.
Loans of Many Thousands to Owners of Newspapers,
Loans of Millions to Other Roads.
Washington— Details concerning the
relations of the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad and the Hillard
Company through which the latter or
John L. Hillard made a profit of $2,-
700,000, were given to the Inter-state
commerce commission today by Char
les S. Mellen, former president of the
New Haven.
Mr. Mellen declared that Hillard was
a strong and honorable man—as hon
orable a man as f ever knew." hut he
related incidents of his shrewd trans
actions with the New Haven with evi
dent gusto.
The purchase of the Worcester,
Nashua amt Rochester Railroad by the
Boston and Maine was taken up. It
developed that It was brought about
by the late J. Plerpont Morgan, Mr.
Mellen testifying that Mr. Morgan
handled the details of that purchase.
The road cost the Boston and Maine
$2,925,691 as an entirety. Mr. Mellen.
while he considered the property val
uable, frankly said he had not approv
ed of the purchase.
Resumes His Btory.
Washington, D. C.—The romarkahle
story of the disappearance of mil
lions of dollars from the treasury of
the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford railroad, through the acquisition,
at extravagant prices, of subsidiary
properties, was resumed before the
Inter-state commerce commission In
conducting a sweeping Investigation
into all features of the road's financial
operations. .
The chamber in which the hearings
are In progress was thronged with
eager spectators. Unusual Interest has
been aroused by the description given
tiy Mr. Mellen on the stand yesterday
of how the late J, Plerpont Morgan
absolutely dominated the New Haven's
affairs, and how millions of dollars
were spent In awed and Ignorant sil
ence at the master financier’s com
mand,
$300,000 Loan.
The witness was questioned when
today's session began, regarding a loan
of $300,009 to Mr Haskell of the Bos
ton Herald, Asked as to the date of
this trsnsaetlon, Mr. Mellen replied
it occurred "two years before notes of
Haskell were sold to Mr. BWai'd.”
In further explanation he said:
"I had known Mr. Haskell some
years and I laid the case before the
finance committee and they agreed
to the loan."
"Was the fact that he was owner
nt the Boston Herald an inducement?"
Mr. Folk asked
“It was certainly not a had Induce
ment."
"What was [lending In lh<- Mass
achusetts legislature at the time of
the loan to Haskell?"
Always Something,
"There was always something pend
ing In the Massachusetts legislature. ’’
“At what time was the bill Incor
$6.00 PER YE AR—5 CENTS PER COPY.
efforts to avert a war between the
United States and Mexico began their
first session today at Niagara Falls.
porating the Boston Railroad Holding
Company before the legislature?"
"About .Tune, 1909.”
"Were there any other loans made
by the New Huven or New England
Navigation Company tq anybody be
sides Mr. Haskell and Mr. Hillard?”
Paper Loans.
"I think some others were made.
Paper loans of five or six millions
was made to the New York Central
and the Pennsylvania railroad. They
all were arranged through the finance
committee of the board of directors.*
"I had nothing to do with the nil
lard Company,” added Mr. Mellen.
"What were Haskell's notes worth?”
"At the time of the loan, I think,
ami for sometime after they were
worth their face value."
"Are they worth that now?”
"I do not think so.”
"Did you have anything to do with
the re-organization of the Boston Her
ald?” asked Mr Folk.
As An Observer,
“At the request of Mr. Hemingway
I attended a meeting kt which the re
organization of the Herald was con
sidered. I jiaid no special attention to
the matter. I was there as an observ
er. 1 took no part In the proceedings.”
Questioned regarding the llostug
Railroad Holding Company Mil pass
ed by the Massachusetts legislature
while Kben H Draper was governor,.
Mr. Mellen said it was Gov. Draper's
desire to bring the stoek of Boston
and Maine outside of the state under
ii. company controlled by the state of
Massachusetts. The witness said he
was not particularly Impressed. with
the holdlhg eompany Idea, hut thought
it better than the situation that ex
isted following the sale of the Boston
and Maine stock to Hillard, which, he
declared, had been discredited In sev
eral quarters and caused annoyance
to the New Haven.
Before Its Passage.
Mr. Mellen testified further that
copies of the draft of the till! had been
sent to him before Its passage.
“Did you retain Mr Choate to draft
this bill?”
"Mr. Choate about this time was
our registered legislative agent. There
were other attorneys employed, too,
Mr. Kiririls among them."
"I felt that an enlightened public
would favor railroad ownership of
trolleys and believed that we were en
titled to that ownership," Mr. Mellen
declared.
"Did you spend $400,000 In enlight
ening public sentiment In this re
gard?” nsked Mr. Folk
Nothing of That Kind.
"I know nothing of that kind."
Mr. Mellen said he knew little of
details of the work of Vice President
Timothy K. Byrnes of the New Haven.
"Did he spend money to Influence
legislation?”
(Continued on market page)
HOME
EDITION
T. R. JUMPS
RIGHT IN;
SCORES
MELLEN,
TOLLS
The Colonel Says Payment to
Colombia Was “Blackmail.”
Right to Arbitrate Canal
Question
Cyster Bay, N. Y.—The Wilson ad
ministration's attitude In the contro
versy with Colombia over the Panama
Canal was criticised, today by Coi.
Roosevelt. Ho objected strongly to
payment of what he termed "biack
muil” to Colombia and characterized
this action as "unthinkable."
Col. Roosevelt expressed himself ns
strongly opposed to the repeal of the
law for the exemption of American
coastwise ships from payment of Pa
nama Canal tolls. He said he thought
it perfectly right, to arbitrate the
question, if the rights of the country
to grunt exemption were questioned.
Mollen’s Testimony.
Col. Roseveit referred to the testi
mony in Washington yesterday of
Chas. K. Mellon. Ho said that when
Mr. Mellon went io him to discuss the
merging of the New Haven with the
Roston and Maine he told him that so
far as he was concerned he would have
no objection providing the merger
came within the law.
When he goes to Washington next
week, Col. Roosevelt said he would he
ready to refute expressions of doubt
as to his discovery of a great river in
the wilds ut South America.
"The river is still there," said the
colonel With a laugh. "It wasn't like
climbing an unexplored mountain or
going to the North Pole for such expe
ditions leave no traces which are there
a year later.”
The colonel exialned why he made
tile trlji lo South America. *‘l wanted
to do something more,” lie said. “I
getting to the ago where ( felt that If
T was to do anything reqitirng unuas
ual physical exertion I must do it
now.”
"Rut there isn't a place like this af
ter all," lie continued. "The tropica
isn't In it with this.”
The colonel protested that he felt as
well as ever.
“That Is." he »ald, "I'm going to he
as well as I ever was.”
MIL LOST
POINT TO STATE
Court Rules Testimony Con
cerning Character and Ver
acity of Daughter Can Be
Introduced.
Greenville, 8. C. —Introduction of
witnesses by the prosecution was re
sumed today at the trial here of Geo.
W. Tidwell, Hr., Tor the killing of 1L
Emmett Walker, paymaster of a local
milling concern. The defense, while
admitting the killing has claimed that
Tidwell was temporarily Insane at
the time because he believed that
Walker had wronged hi* daughter,
Miss Ollle Tidwell. Witnesses for
the state today v/ere Introduced to
attack the character of Miss TllwalL
State Wins Point.
Greenville. "Your honor, 1 appeal
to you for protection. A man who Is
temporarily Insane Is apt to become
really Insane with such treatment as
this,'’ said G. W. Tidwell, accused of
murdering Emmet Walker, when he
became nettled at the Tierce cross
examination by Solicitor Hanham.
The state won a legal point when
the court ruled that testimony con
cerning the character and voracity
of the daughter of the defendant
could he introduced and when the
name of the defendant’s wife and
questions against, her were allowed
to be asked The defense hud con
tended that It was only what Tidwell
actually knew that was relevant, but
when the state estsbllahed the fact
that It sought to shaw that. Tidwell
was not shocked for the first time
just a lew days prior to the slaying of
young Walker, Judge Mauldin ruled
that the state was correct.
Ollle Tidwell, the duiighter, wept
bitterly when a letter from Walker
to her was read to the Jury. She was
In the afternoon subjected to a severs
cross-examination, but stood It well,
except for weeping almost continu
ously.
Evldnce was Introduced to show
that, there was Insanity In Tidwell’s
family.
Thu defense will rest Its esse to
day.