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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.