WHERE. RAIL5 AND RIVERS MEET
THE NENANA DAILY NEWS
VOL. II.
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
NENANA, ALASKA. TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1920.
NO. 281
BROTHERHOODS WILL GIVE LAW TRIAL
RECORD NUMBER OF WOBBLIES SENT TO PRISON
VOLUNTEERS TAKING PLACES OF STRIKERS IN FRANCE
MONTESANO, March 2.—Attor
ney Vandeveer, who is acting as
counsel for the wobblies on trial in
connection with the Centralia Ar
mistice day massacre, was reproved
again today by Judge Wilson, who
warned the lawyer against further
attempts to show that threats were
made against the wobbly hall by
business men of Centralia, until he
is able to show that Grimm, mur
dered parader, was connected with
the alleged attack on the hall. The
court ruled that Vandeveer has
failed thus far to prove an overt
attack on the part of the murdered
man.
Gus Bray, aged 16, took the
stand today for the defense and
testified that Grimm was shot while
in front of the wobbly hall. Wit
nesses for the state had previously
testified that he was fully 100 feet
from the hall at the time of the
shooting. Under cross-examination,
Bray said he believed he saw Grimm
in front of the hall, but he was not
absolutely certain on the point.
Bert Bland, one of the defend
ants, testified that he fired from
four to eight shots from Seminary
hill into the marchers below him.
Ole Hanson and Lorn Roberts, he
said, also had fired. He stated fur
ther that he had seen a man on
horseback and had heard a com
mand, and then saw the marchers
rush toward the wobbly hall. He
heard glass break, and then shots.
The ..'18-56 rifle introduced in court
belonged to Davis, he said.
Elmer Smith, another defendant,
testified that he had been retained
as a lawyer for individual wobblies,
but not for the organization. Lamb,
O. C. Bland and Melnemey also
were called to the stand for the de
fense.
Dr. Frank Bickford, who testified
at the inquest, testified that Grimm’s
platoon did not break ranks. The
witness said he had heard a com
motion behind him, the men scatter
ing and some rushing for the hall.
He heard shots, but could not say
if they were the first fired.
Mike Sheehan, one of the defend
ants, testified that he did not par
ticipate in the shooting. He said
he was in the wobbly hall during
the shooting and had hid in the ice
box for safety. The police, he said
further, were compelled to knock
some of the soldiers down to pro
tect wobblies under arrest after the
shooting.
Walter Morrille testified that he
had witnessed the parade, and part
ly corroborated the state in its
contention that Grimm was at the
head of his platoon when shot. He
said he saw Grimm clasp his stom
ach, and at that time he was at a
considerable distance from the hall.
He also saw a man at one of the
windows of the Avalon hotel with
what appeared to be a gun.
Frank Forbush testified that he
had seen soldiers rushing toward
the wobbly hall, but he could not
WAGE DEMANDS OF TRAINMEN
WILL NOT BE PRESSED NOW
!
!
i
i
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 2.
—According to official announce
ment made by representatives of
the four great railroad brotherhoods
today, the trainmen have decided
to give the new railroad law a trial
before insisting upon the settlement
of wage demands which have been
pending for some time.
say whether it was before or after
the shooting.
It is understood that Vandeveer
will make another attempt tomor
jrow to prove that a conspiracy to
raid the hall existed and that Grimm
[was one of the conspirators.
_
WASHINGTON, D. C„ March 2.
-The house naval committee has
! indicated that favorable considera
jtion will not be given to the re
quest of the naval board for an
'appropriation for the construction
jof a great naval base at San Fran
cisco. Members of the committee
jsay tht all of the requests for funds
| cannot be considered at this time,
in view of the financial conditions
jand the heavy demands that are
j being made upon the national trea
sury by the various departments.
The navy general board, in addi
tion to recommending the establish
ment of a great base on San Fran
cisco bay, favors the establishment
of submarine bases at Port An
geles, on the Columbia river, and
the enlargement of the Puget Sound
Inavy yard. Members of the house
committee have not indicated what
their attitude is regarding the sub
marine bases.
GEDDES IS NAMED
II. S. AMBASSADOR;;
— !'
LONDON, March 2.—Sir Auck-'j
land Geddes has been formally ap- j
pointed British ambassador to the i
United States, upon assurances from j
Washington that his appointment is j
acceptable to the state department.:
■Geddes will leave within the month
jfor his new post and will receive
an advance in salary to cover the
increased cost of living at the Am- j
erican capital.
C. H. Ward, of Chatanika, who: i
came to Nenana several days ago’|
to look over the district, returned |
to the upper town today. I|
The mail leaving Fairbanks on I
February 4 reached Seattle on Feb- I
ruary 28. * j
The question was voted upon yes
terday by the brotherhood repre
sentatives and a decision reached to
give the law a chance. In referring
to the action today, one of the rep
resentatives said: “We are (rood
Americans and desire to go with the
President as far as we can.”
The action of the brotherhoods
means that the danger of a general
strike is removed for the present,
and it is believed that the respite
will give the railroads an opportuni
ty to get on a solid basis before be
t ing compelled to face labor trou
bles.
Selecting Commission.
i President Wilson has asked the
RESERVATION IS ADOPTED
WASHINGTON, I). C., March 2.
—The Republican reservation to the
league of Nations covenant reserv
ing for America the right to decide
domestic questions independently of
the league, was adopted by the sen
ate this afternoon, in spite of vig
orous opposition on the part of tht
Democrats. While the question was
up for discussion, the Democrats
endeavored vainly to amend the res
ervation.
Fourteen Democrats voted witl:
the Republicans for the adoption ol
the reservation.
TACOMA WOBBLIES
MUST GO TO JAIL
TACOMA, March 2.—Thirty-five
alleged wobblies who were tried in
this city on the charge of criminal
syndicalism, and found guilty, were
sentenced today, the sentences rang
ing from 18 months to 10 years,
with fines ranging from $250 to
$500.
Eight of the defendants were giv
en three-year sentences, five will
1 serve two years, eight were given
! terms of eighteen months, twelve
iwere fined only, and two were sen
tenced to ten years each. The last
itwo, however, being under 21 years
; of age, will be released, under sus
; pended sentence, during good be
havior.
This is the largest number thus
:far sentenced under state syndieal
; ism laws.
FRENCH RAILROADS
SLOWED BY STRIKE
PARIS, March 2.—The five larg
;st railroad systems of Prance have
>een crippled by a general strike
vhich is now in progress, but relief
s coming slowly in the form of
volunteers, five thousand already
laving offered their services during
he emergency. This has made it
>ossible to operate trains which otn
?rwise would have been idle, and
■IRST WOMAN NAMED
CUSTOMS COLLECTOR
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 2.
—Estelle Collier has been nomin
ited collector of customs for Salt
-<ake. She has the distinction of be
ng the first woman ever selected in
his country for such a position.
TEMPERATURE *
As reported by the government R
observation station, Nenana R
-— at
Tuesday, March 2. R
Maximum .30 above R
Minimum .15 above *
*. RRRRRRRRRItacitHltHls »
1
new schedules are being: established
almost daily, as additional assistance
materializes.
Pending: a general resumption of
service, the government is using
motor trucks wherever possible to
transport food to isolated districts,
and airplanes are rendering valuable
service also, by carrying both pass
engers and mail and light express.
OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS
RATIFY AMENDMENT
OKLAHOMA CITY, March 2.—
Both houses of the Oklahoma legis
lature have ratified the woman suff
rage amendment. The lawmakers
were assembled in special session for
the purpose of considering the ques
tion, and at the opening of the ses
sion received an urgent appeal from
President Wilson to consider the
amendment favorably.
JAPANESE DIET WAS
DISSOLVED BY RULER
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 2.
—Dispatches received in this city
from Tokio state that the Japanese
[railroad executives to join with him
! in selecting representatives for the
bi-partisan board which is to con
jsider the Southern railway wage
! problem. The names of the regu
lar wage commission, provided for,
! in the bill, are now being consid
ered by the President and will be
iannounced soon, it is believed.
j emperor has dissolved the diet as aj
(result of the recent violent scenes j
jin parliament over the suffrage
, question. The dissolution was re
! quested by Premier Hara in conse
quence of the inability of the cab
inet to agree with the majority par
ty of parliament regarding the ex- j
tension of suffrage.
I
LARGEST VESSEL
i Of YANKEE NAVY
I
i NEWPORT NEWS, Ya„ March 2.!
:—The superdreadnaugh Maryland,!
I which is under construction in the j
: local yards, will be ready for the,
water this month, announcement
(made today statin# that the launch
jin# will be held probably on March,
! 20th. !
j The Maryland is the largest ship
! ever built for the American navy J
'and will be one of the most (lower-:
jful war vessels afloat when finally
j turned over to the navy. The ship
•will have a displacement of 22,000
tons, is 600 feet Ion#, and the main
; battery will consist of eight 16-inch I
; rifles, the heaviest guns used on any'
j warship. *
‘ The building program of the navy j
. includes the construction of six su- :
perdreadnaughts of 48,000 tons dis-j
placement.
TACOMA, March 2.—Admirers of I
Herbert Hoover in this city, follow
ing the lead of Seattle, have organ
ized the Pierce County Hoover club,
with a large membership, and plans
are now being formulated for ex-|
tending the activities of the organ
ization throughout the county. The
intention is to hold rallies in all of
the principal towns.
The organization is strictly non-j
partisan.
HOOVER IN MICHIGAN
TO STRADDLE TICKET
LANSING, Mich., March 2.—It
is expected that Hoover’s name will
appear on both Republican and
Democratic tickets in this state.
—
Hsnana, Alaska's Interior rust Depot 1
PALMER OPENLY
SEEKS PLACE AI
HEAD OF TICKET
WASHINGTON, 0. C„ March Z. -
Attorney-General A. Mitchell Palm
er has openly announced his can
didacy for the Democratic presi
dential nomination. In a letter ad
dressed to Hiram Gardner, secre
tary of the Georgia Democratic
committee, Palmer says that if the
Georgia Democrats choose him a<
standard bearer he will receive the
honor with deep appreciation.
As a result of Palmer’s open an
nouncement, it is expected that
others of the Democratic aspirants
will make similar declarations.
The Democratic candidates most
talked of at the present time in
clude Herbert Hoover, William G.
MeAdoo, William .lennings Bryan,
former Ambassador Gerard, Champ
Clark, Senator Owen of Oklahoma,
and Governor Cox of Ohio.
PIONEERS 10 MEET
IN SEATTLE SOON
SEATTLE, March - An All
Alaska reunion of oldtimers will be
held in this city on Thursday under
the auspices of the Yukon Order of
Pioneers, the gathering having been
arranged as part of a campaign to
increase the membership.
The meeting will be held in the
Masonic temple.
SENATOR BANKHEAD IS
VICTIM OF INFLUENZA
WASHINGTON, D. C„ March 2.
—Senator .John H. Bankhead, Dem
ocrat, of Alabama, died in this city
yesterday, a victim of la grippe.