VOL. V. NO. 45_CORDOVA, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1920 _ _ PRICE TEN CENTS
ALLEGED OFFENDER HAD CHARGE
' OF STEEL SHIPBUILDING PROGRAM
[ IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON
SEATTLE, Jan. 23 (by Associated
^ gate the alleged frauds in connection
with the shiubuilding program of the
government on the Pacific coast, re
turned its first indictment today, the
■accused man being Captain John F.
Blaine, formerly district manager of
the United States Shipping Board.
It is charged that Captain Blaine re
ceived secret commissions from the
&tewart-Davis Machinery and Equip
ment Company of New York on sales
which the company made to the Ship
ping Board while Blaine was district
manager. It is alleged that these com
missions totaled approximately $16,000.
Captain Blaine had charge of the
government’s gigantic steel shipbuild
ing program in Washington and Ore
gon. Formerly he was assistant man
ager of the Pacific Coast Steamship
Company, and commanded the steam
ship Pennsylvania on the Alaska run
in the early days of- the gold excite
ment in the territory. At one time he
was federal inspector of hulls and
boilers.
The federal investigators say that
other indictments are coming, and that
this is only the beginning of the shi
yard probe.
RECORD PRICES
INDECEMBEROF
FOOD STAPLES
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (by Assoc!
^ *.ted Press).—The bureau of labor
statistics has just published figures
showing that twenty-two articles of
food, including, sugar, eggs, flour, rais
ij^, milk and canned salmon, reached
record prices during December. In
that month these prices were 2 per
cent higher than in November, and 89
per cent higher than in December,
1918.
THREE YOUNG MEN
HANGED FOR MURDER
g OF CANADIAN FARMER
MONTREAL, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—Three young men—Baptiste
Lemay, Murdock Allen and Romeo
Lucoste—were hanged here today for
^he murder of Alieide Payette, a
farmer, whom they shot when he re
fused their demands for money.
NETHERLANDS’ REFUSAL
OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED
THE HAGUE, Jan. 23 (by Associ
a ted Press).—Formal announcement
was made today that the Netherlands
government had refused to comply
with the demand of the allies for the
extradition of the former kaiser.
National Honor at Stake
LONDON, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—Holland’s reply to the de
mand of the allies for the surrendei
of the former kaiser declares that she
can not be bound by a treaty to which
she was not a party. Neither the Dutch
(institution nor Holland’s traditions
pernjit the granting of the demand o]
the allies.
‘'National honor does not permit the
betrayal of confidence of those whe
entrust themselves to her and to hei
free institutions,” says the reply.
LETTISH TROOPS PUT
BOLSHEVIKI TO ROUT
* LONDON, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—The Lettish troops have
forced the Bolsheviki to withdraw
from Reshitza, a railway town sixtj
miles northeast of Dvinsk.
0&- - r.*.
L .
SAYS PALMER
HAD BAD CASE
OF COLD FEET
WASHINGTON. Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—Representative Roden
burg charged today that Attorney Gen
eral Palmer had a case of ‘cold feet”
when he failed to appear yesterday
before the house committee on rules
to explain the need for further anti
sedition legislation.
Mr. Palmer submitted his views in
writing.
WASHINGTON VARSITY
WINS FIRST GAME IN
BASKETBALL SERIES
SEATTLE, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—The first basketball game of
the series between the University of
Washington team and that of the Uni
versity of Oregon was played last
night, and resulted in a victory for the
former by a score of 38 to 26.
CLAIMS OF BUILDERS
OF WOODEN VESSELS
ARE TO BE ADJUSTED
i
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—The house of representa
tives today passed the bill authorizing
the United States Shipping Board to
adjust the claims of the builders of
wooden ships, growing out of the can
cellation of contracts. It is estimated
that the claims will total $15,000,000.
PASSENGERS ARE SAFE
FROM WRECKED VESSEL
*
NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (by Associated
i Press).—All passengers of the trans
port Powhattan have been safely
transferred to the transport Northern
'Pacific and are now on their way here,
according to a wireless report.
, -To Be Landed at New York
NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—The transport Northern Pa
; cific, which rescued the passengers of
•! her disabled sister transport, the Pow
; hattan, is expected to arrive here to
i night. The Powhattan is being towed
j to Halifax.
INTERESTING FACT DEVELOPED
PERTAINING TO TURKEY’S ACTION
IN JOINING FORCES WITH KAISER
CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 23 (by Associated Press).—Turkey en
tered the war on the side of Germany after the cabinet had decided
to join the allies, according to the report of a secret parliamentary
committee.
Enver Pasha, who was war minister, and whom the allies have
been endeavoring to apprehend, was responsible for the change of
front of Turkey. .
PROHIBITION
LAW PROPOSED
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—Representative Sabatk,
Democrat, of Illinois, has introduced
in the house a proposed amendment
to the prohibition law, to permit the
manufacture and sale of beer contain
ing 3 per cent alcohol and of wine con
taining 9 per cent alcohol.
The Illinois representative also has
introduced a resolution declaring that
whisky is needed for the cure of in
fluenza, and proposing a suspension of
the law for ninety days.
„ At least six thousand eases-, be said,
were reported in Chicago.
MURDER TRIAL
IS ATTRACTING
MANY PEOPLE
MONTESANO, Wash., Jan. 23 (by
Associated Press).—This town is be
ginning to resemble a boom camp.
All hotel accommodations have been
taken in anticipation of the trial of
the Centralia “wobblies,” which will
commence next Monday.
The prosecution has subpoenaed
more than two hundred witnesses and
the defense more than one hundred.
Attorney Vanderveer, representing
the defendants, says he expects the
trial to last several weeks, and that
two weeks or more will be spent in
securing a jury.
Will Attend in Uniform
TACOMA, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—A special to the Ledger from
Washington says that Centralia ex
soldiers are planning to attened the
trial of the “wobblies” at Montesanc
in uniform. They wired to Congress
man Johnson asking if the federal law
permitted them to do so, and were in
formed that the wearing of uniforms
was permissible if the red chevron
were worn also.
SEATTLE CANDIDATE
REFUSES INDORSEMENT
OF TRIPLE ALLIANCE
SEATTLE, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—Three candidates for mayor
—James Duncan, Mayor Fitzgerald anc
Hugh Caldwell—will deliver addresses
before the King County Democratic
Club at a luncheon to be held tomor
row.
Duncan has accepted the indorse
n^ent of the triple alliance. Council
man Hesketh, who is running for re
election, does not want the triple al
i lienee indorsement, which was giver
! him, because the radical element is ir
I control in the alliance.
WET GOVERNOR
HAS STIRRED
UPDEMOCRATS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—Secretary of the Navy
Daniels takes issue with the statement
of William J. Bryan, that Chairman
Cummings of the Democratic national
committee should resign or sever his
connections with Governor Edwrards of
New Jersey.
In an interview here today Secre
tary Daniels said that 90 per cent of
the platform upon which Governor Ed
wards was elected was excellent. He
saW he did not agree with Edwards
on the prohibition plank.
OPPOSITION IS
DEVELOPED TO
PARIS, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—Tumultuous scenes were en
acted in the chamber of deputies yes
terday when the Millerand cabinet re
ceived a vote of confidence of 272 to
23. The vote was considered a moral
defeat for the government because of
the fact that three hundred deputies
refrained from voting.
Many of the deputies said they had
given the premier fair warning <that
they woi(ld vote against him the next
time.
The trouble arose over the appoint
ment of M. Steeg to be minister of the
interior. It was charged that he was
an accomplice of Malvy, who was ban
ished for communicating with the
enemy during the war.
POINDEXTER TO TOUR
HOME STATE IN HIS
PRESIDENTIAL CANVASS
SEATTLE, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—It is reported that Senator
Poindexter will make a tour of the
state of Washington next month in
the interest of his campaign for the
Republican nomination for the presi
i dency, speaking at all the principal
1 cities.
The Washington delegation to the
national convention is conceded to
, Poindexter, and the Poindexter men
say his campaign is gaining strength
in the East.
TO PREVENT SMOKING
IN EATING PLACES
COLUMBIA, S. C., Jan. 23 (by Asso
i ciated Press).—The senate has passed
to its second reading the bill prohibit
ing smoking in public eating places.
NAVAL BOARD
FAILS TO AGREE
Wim DANIELS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—Admiral Austin Knight,
chairman of the board which is inves
tigating the award of war honors in
the navy, told the senate committee
on naval affairs today that his board
was unable to agree with Secretary of
the Navy Daniels, that naval officers
who lost ships through submarine ac
tion of the enemy, and performed
meritorious action in connection with
their loss, should be awarded high
decorations.
Admiral Knight’s contention was
that such awards should not be made
unless the officers conducted offensive
actions.
GASWELLSIN
CALIFORNIA
LOOKING UP
• A ' V
FRESNO, Cal., Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—Preparations for the
drilling of five wells in the Tulare
Lake region, south of here, are being
made by the Pacific Oil and Gas Com
pany and the California Natural Gas
i and Development Company.
Recently a well was brought in fif
teen miles south of Corcoran, near
the Tulare-Kings county line, with’a
reported flow of 20,000,000 cubic feet
of gas a day.
TAILORING CLASSES
ARE ADVOCATED FOR
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
r
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23 (by As
sociated Press).—The Pacific Coast
Merchant Tailors’ Association, in ses
sion here, has adopted resolutions fa
voring classes in tailoring in the pub
lic schools, and for a competitive sys
tem in the selection of men’s dress,
rather than selection by a few chosen
designers.
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
AT TACOMA ARE TO BE
SETTLED BY BOARD
TACOMA, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—The Tacoma Labor Council
has voted to accept a proposal that in
future industrial disputes shall be set
tled by a board of conciliation, to be
composed of an equal number of dele
gates from the council and from the
Associated Industries, representing the
employers.
ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE
AT VERA CRUZ, MEXICO,
CAUSES GREAT DAMAGE
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—A strong earthquake
shock was felt at Vera Cruz yesterday.
There were no casualties, but several
residences were damaged.
The earthquake yesterday destroyed
all the structures at Couztlan which
were not* destroyed by the quake of
January 6.
SAYSCARRANZA
STARTED RAIDS
ON AMERICANS
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Jan. 23 (by
Associated Press).—John Walls, dis
trict attorney at Brownsville, and L.
R. Barnes, in charge of the army in
telligence service during the war, tes
tified yesterday before the senate com
mittee investigating the Mexican situ
ation that Carranza and a few of his
lieutenants instigated and directed the
long series of raids on American prop
erties that began along the Rio
Grande in 1915, as late as June in that
year giving aid to the participants in
the raids.
The testimony of the two witnesses
was supported by documentary evi
dence.
CHAMBERSOF i
TORTUREFOR
OBJECTORS
NEW YORK. Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—The National Civil Liberties
Bureau, in a statement published here
yesterday, declared that iron torture
chambers had been introduced by
Colonel R. D. Johnson, executive of
ficer at Alcatraz prison, San Francisco,
in which conscientious objectors to
military service had been placed.
The statement was made that Robert
Simmons, serving a ten-year sentence,
was kept in one of these chambers in
which it was impossible for him to
sit down, lie down or to stand upright.
The chamber was absolutely dark and
there was little air.
TRAINMEN SEEKING
INCREASE IN WAGES
WANT DIRECT ANSWER
CLEVELAND, Jan. 23 (by Associ
ated Press).—The Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, with a member
ship of two hundred thousand, will ask
on Tuesday next for a direct answer
to their demand for a 40 per cent in
crease in wages.
MEMBERS OF UNION
OF RUSSIAN WORKERS ’
ARE HELD IN SEATTLE
SEATTLE, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—Ten alleged members of the
Union of Russian Workers have been
arrested here and are being held at
the immigration detention station.
Forty-three alleged members of this
organization are now in custody here.
FLOURHAS ADVANCED
80 CENTS A BARRE
TACOMA, Jan. 23 (by Associated
Press).—Millers of this city announced
yesterday that the price of flour had
jumped 80 cents, to $17 per barrel.
INFLUENZA BREAKS OUT
IN CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23 (by Asso
ciated Press).—One hundred cases ot
influenza have developed here.
..J