Burlington Weekly Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 1

of Burlington VIIIC. NEW SERIES VOL. LXIV. FEDERAL AMENDMENT FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE FINALLY GETS WILSON'S SUPPORT President Advises Delegation of House Leaders to Vote for the Amendment as an Act of Right and Justice to the Women of the Country and of the World--Recedes from Former Position Although Still Believing Proper Way of Dealing with Question Is by States--Changed Conditions, He Indicates, Demand Changed Attitude--Suffragists Elated -House Votes on Anthony Amendment Resolution To-day. Washington, Jan.

Wilson -night threw his support to the federal amendment for woman suffrage. On the eve of a vote on suffrage in the House, 12 democratic members called at the White House with word that many of their colleagues wanted advice from the head of their party as to the position they should take. There was a conference of forty minutes, the result of which was described in this statement, dictated by the President himself and made public by the delegation. "The committee found that the Presilent had not felt at liberty to volunteer his advice to members of Congress in this Important matter, but when we sought his advice, he very frankly and earnestly advised us to for the amendment as an act of right justice to the women voted of the country and of the world." SUFFRAGISTS SEE VICTORY. In these few lines suffrage champions saw certain victory where a few days ago most of privately were conceding defeat.

A large majority of the republicans In the have been counted upon to support amendment and enough demo- House, crate are committed to assure a close vote. With the weight of the President's Influence to swing doubtful democrats, Representative Raker, chairman of the suffrage committee, Jubilantly predicted would be exceeded by fifteen or twenty to-night that the, necessary two-thirds votes. Opponents of suffrage here claimed a safe margin against the amendment luring the day, in spite of intimations from the' suffragists that a trump card vet was to be played. There were no formal predictions from the opponents to-night, but a tremendous "fight is promised. A COMPLETE SURPRISE.

The news the President's action came as a complete surprise to nearly everybody in the capital, though some of the suffrage leaders, have insisted I for a long time that the President was with them and would tell anybody who asked him. Until now in all public utterances the President has held to the view that suffrage was a question to he determined by the individual States and not federal action. No statement was forthcoming from the White House to -night to explain his present stand. Members of gress who participated in the conference, however, said the President told them he still believed that the proper and orderly way of dealing with the was to permit each State to question take its own action, but in view of conditions now existing in the United States and the world generally he felt free to advise submission a federal a amendment to the States. In emphasizing this view, he is said to have declared that the United States as a leader in the greatly family of nations cannot disassociate itself from the family and cannot be reactionary on any great world question.

When his callers talked of the State rights issue, the President is said to have told them he did not feel that this complicated the situation at all; that suffrage was a policy and not a principle. He pointed out that federal Constitution now deals with the qualification of those entitled to vote for members of Congress. FUNERAL OF COL. ILSLEY Will Be Held To-day at MiddleburyBody to Lie In State -Burial In New York. Middlebury, Jan.

body of Col. 8. A. Isley, whose death occurred Monday, will be taken to the Memorial Baptist Church and will lie in state from 11:30 to 2:15 this afternoon. Services will be held at 2:80 o'clock, the Rev.

Roy E. WhitteW. A. Davison of Burlington. a The Lotus more officiating, assisted by the Rev.

Dr. Male quartet of Tremont Temple, Boston, will sing. The remains will be taken on the sleeper to-night to New Rork, for burial in Greenwood cemetery, The funeral party will consist of Mrs. Isley, the widow, the Rev. G.

B. Isley, cousin, Mrs. F. W. PadelCord.

A. B. Eruikshank of New York, Col. (isley's attorney, and Judge J. E.

Weeks und the Rev. Roy E. Whittemore of Midflebury, who will perform the committal service, and A. J. Blackmer, funeral Ifrector.

TO HAVE SCHOOL NURSE. Miss Mary L. Haynes Gets St. Albans Appelati Held Position. St.

Albans, Jan. a meeting of the hoard of school commissioners this evening it was voted to accept the recommendation of Superintendent George S. Wright and appoint a school nurse for the remainder of the school year. It was voted to engage Miss Mary L. Haynes, who held that position last year.

Miss Haynes comes here from New Rochelle, N. Y. She will be paid partly from the Thompson fund and partly by the city. Superintendent Wright was Instructed to arrange for a technical instructor of drafted men in classes one and two, as requested by the State commissioner of education. It WAS arranged that each teach.

er in the schools should be provided by the city for the supply of thrift stamps to sell to the pupils. a a BURLINGTON, VERMONT, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1918. ALL R. R. EMPLOYES WANT MORE PAY Pending Disputes with the Railroads Will Be Transferred to Government.

NO STRIKES THREATENED. Labor WIll Point Out Necessity of Wage Increase to Keep Men from Entering Other Industries. Washington, Jan. wages will be asked of the railroad administration soon by nearly all classes of organized labor. It was learned to-dey that many pending wage disputes will be transferred to the government from railway executive boards, and in other cases new demands will be formulated for presentation to -General McAdoo, who probably will deal with them through investigation boards.

Strikes are not contemplated by any organization, it is said, and wage questions will not be put up to the director-general Las demands. Railroad labor leaders are represented as not seeking to take advantage of government operation to press for more pay, but rather as pointing out the necessity of wage increases to keep employes from being attracted to other industries. Up to the present, the only general demands for wage increases considered by Director McAdoo are those presented by the four railway brotherhoods and the Switchmen's Union, whose prestdent, S. E. Heberling, conferred with Mr.

McAdoo -day. The brotherhoods case will be investigated by a board of four to be named by the director-general to-morrow, and he also may ask this body to Inquire into the switchmen's demand. The director-general announced to-night that he expected to name railroad directors for certain sections of the country to assist him in administering government operation, but said he had not determined how many would be appointed nor what territory each director should supervise. It is considered probable, however, that not more than six or seven will be named. Mr.

McAdoo said specifically that he did not plan to name State directors. The Senate and House interstate merce committees to-day continued their hearings on the railroad bill. Before the House committee Interstate Commerce Commissioner Anderson reiterated that it seemed impracticable to change the bill to provide for termination of government control at a specifled time after the war. This would bring chaos in railroad affairs, he said, and the proper procedure should be to leave the question of return of the roads private control to future determination by Congress. SAYS DAIRYMEN'S LEAGUE HAD $40,000 FUND Indicted Omcers of the League Plead Not Guilty to Conspiracy.

New York, Jan. has been obtained by District Attorney Swann that the Dairymen's League of New York State spent $40,000 in "feld work" in an effort to "corner the milk supply" and regulate prices in this city, according to an announcement to-night by Assistant District Attorney J. E. Smith. Five of seven officers and members of the league who were indicted Monday on a charge of conspiring to raise milk prices pleaded not guilty to-day and were held in $1,000 bail each.

Mr. Smith said he had evidence to show that the New York city public was discriminated against in the regulation of prices by the league and that farmers who refused to abide by the rules the league were intimidated by measures which included "tarring" of their to make them go "dry" and the dumping of their. milk in the road. A letter alleged to have been sent to its members by the league in September contained the following: "The great test of our organization has come. The dealers would like to destroy the league.

Now is the time to stand fast." SUBMARINE BARRED ZONE IS EXTENDED London, Jan. extention of the submarine barred zone is announced in a wireless statement sent out by the German government. becomes operative on January 11. The new zone ineludes the Cape Verde Islands and Madeira, of the northwestern coast of Africa, and part of the coast of French Senegal. The islands and the region about Dakar are alleged to "enemy supporting points." The new order follows the one of November which extended the barred zone to include the Azores, which lies northwest of Madeira and north of the Cape Verde Islands, The new order virtually cuts off Spain, the only neutral in southern Europe, from communication with North and South America.

TO DROP ORGANIZATION OF U. S. GUARDS Washington, Jan. organization of the United States guard has been suspended, Secretary Baker nounced to-day, and the special protective duty for which the guard was authorized will be done by army troops supplemented by the 1,800 federal guardsmen, to which number enrollment is now limited. Originally it was planned to make the guard a special federal police force of about 25,000 officers and men for service largely in the communities in which they were enlisted enforcing enemy alien proclamations and other such work.

"Changed conditions," is the only reason given in the order for the new plan. ROYAL ARCANUM CASE IN COURT. Bost. Jan. that the Royal Arcanu a fraternal insurance order, was running behind at the rate of $1,000 a day, counter-claims that the order was solvent and a suggestion that a federal inquiry into time, its marked a hearing in the federal affairs might be proper at this court The proceeding were of counsel for district motion the order for on a dismissal of a bill receiver asking brought for the apthe pointment of a and James B.

by Upstons, thur F. Cummings Hampshire. Judge Hale both of New the case under advisement, took Press HAPPENINGS NEWS BY COUNTIES ADDISON GOUNTY MIDDLEBURY. Miss May Calhoun has returned to her duties as teacher in the high school at Hawthorne, N. after two weeks at home of her parents, Mr.

and Mrs. Allen Calhoun. Lieut. Robert C. Ryder, who has been spending a four days' furlough with his parents, Mr.

and Mrs. Eben C. Ryder, has gone to Hoboken, N. where he was ordered to report. He expects to sail soon for France.

He was accompanied as far as New York by his sister, Miss Elizabeth Ryder, who has gone to Atlantic City after spending two weeks with her E. Swartz of Brandon has entered the employ of the Register company here and has charge of the press department. -Miss Margaret Forest gone to Cambridge, N. where she has secured a position. -Mr.

and Mrs. Henry H. Bradley with their son, John C. Bradley, and their daughter, Mine, Isabelle Bradley, of Chateaugay, N. have returned after spending two weeks in Middiebury and vicinity.

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Easton have moved to Shoreham, where he will take charge of his father's farm the coming year. His place as city mail carrier will be filled by Lesslie M. Day of East Middle- Minnie McDonald has returned from Pittsford, where she was called by the death of her brother, Stephen -The Rev.

E. B. Holmes, rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Chuch, has returned from Richford, where he has spent a week with his former parishioners. -Cards have been reelved announcing the wedding of Edgar Lorenzo Blinn, son of Mr.

and Mra. R. G. S. Blinn of this village to Miss Ethel Marie Cooper of Mystic, who is well known in this vilbeen employed as trimmer at lage, having the Gee sisters' millinery store for three seasons.

The affair took place at the home Tot the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Cooper of Mystic, Mr. and Mrs. Blinn are in New York spending their honeymoon, after which they will make their home with the bride's parents.

Mr. Blinn is employed at the Groton Iron works in were sent out Saturday to the 66 registrants whose numbers run from 1,167 to 1,233, H. Merritt, a former president of Middlebury, who has been absent from town for 16 years, and who has been in town for a few days, started Saturday night on his return to Cleveland, where for several years he has been a prosperous merchant. Miss Ida S. Waugh is -Mr.

and Mrs. Joseph Goulette of College stree are parents of a Forest and Mr. and Mrs. William Mellen, who have been spending a at the home of Mr. and Mrs.

Joseph Forest, have returned to Cambridge, N. Bullock, who was recently appointed an auxiliary mail carrier in this village, is 111 with pleurisy. -The Rev. Charles S. Murkland, a former resident of this vil- lage and at one time president of the New Hampshire State College, has gone to France to enter the Y.

M. C. A. work. His daughter, Miss Marie Murkland, who has been here for a few days, attending to some business affairs, will also go to France as chief accountant for the Y.

W. C. A. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the National bank of Middlebury was held Tuesday afternoon in the parlors of the banking establishment and the following directors were elected: Charles E. Pinny, John A.

Fletcher, John A. James, E. M. Saunders, Charles I. Button, John E.

Weeks, all of Middlebury, and D. H. Bennett of Bridport. The directors elected the following officers: President, Charles E. Pinney; vice-president, D.

H. Bennett; cashier, Robert S. Pinny; assistant cashier, P. J. Hincks; bookkeeper, P.

S. Calhoun.Miss Mary Marshall died Tuesday mornIng at the poor farm of old age and plications. She was about ninety years of age. Charles A. Clarkwright of Pensacola, is in this section on an experimental visit, as he says.

He would like to experience for once, if for only a short time the difference between Vermont and Florida winters. -The Misses Mary and Carallyane Malcolm of Amsbury, are spending two weeks in town. -Chester S. Elmer died at his home in East Middlebury Monday morning at five o'clock. He WAS 73 years of age and leaves a son, Hilton Elmer, now serving in the bugle squad at Cambridge, and an adopted daughter.

He was born in Addison October 17, 1844, the son of Horace and Mary (Bump) Elmer. He served in the Civil War, having served in Company E. Vermont Volunteers, and was a member of William P. Russell Post, No. 89, G.

A. of this village. The funeral was held at his late home yesterday at ten o'clock. The Rev. R.

L. Taylor officiated and burial was in the Bridport -The Auxiliary and Aid society of St. Stephen's Church held a wellattended meeting at the home of Mrs. L. C.

Russell on Court street Tuesday afternoon Miss Mary Whitney, who has been ill for some time, died at the home of Mrs. Dugald Stewart on North Pleasant street Tuesday morning at the age of 84 years. There are no relatives. She lived with the Deacon Allen family for 35 years and for the last 40 years lived with Mrs. Stewart and was one of the family.

She was a member of the Congregational Church of this village. The funeral will be held at the house Thursday morning, and burial will be in the West cemetery. The regular monthly meeting of the Middlebury Suffrage Study club will be held at the home of Mrs. J. E.

Crane Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock; Mrs. Crane, chairman. The members will tell what the club has done for them and friends are cordially welcome to regular monthly meeting of the Home and Foreign Missionary society of the Congregational Church was held Tuesday afternoon, with a good attendance. Miss Susan Wright acted as hostess. The subject WAS "Chaos or Christianity in China.

Which?" and the leaders were Mrs. D. Twitchell, Mrs. Floyd Keese and Mrs. Kate Mills.

-Mark Boyland and daughter, Katherine, have returned to Niagara Falls, N. after a 10 days' visit with his mother, Mrs. Mary Boyland. -Harry Abbey, assistant pressman at the Register office, who painfully injured two of his fingers on his right hand, which were caught under a heavy marble imposing stone, has so far recovered as to be able to resume his duties again at the F. Bentley has leased, with a privilege of buying, what is known as the old Warner Judd marble shop and has started to remodel it into a Arst class saw mill.

He has already got wood sawing machine in operation and is having a large amount of logs and wood drawn in. It is understood he will keep all kinds of lumber and also have a wood yard. Bean, who was called here last week by the death of his mother, Mra. L. C.

Bean, started on his return to his bama in Decatur, Ill, Wednesday, He was NUMBER 28. BAD WEATHER ON BATTLE FRONTS HEAVY LOSS OF BIG MERCHANTMEN 18 Ships Exceeding 1,600 Tons Each Is Again Week's U. Boat Toll. London, Jan. British admiralty reports the sinking in the past week of 18 merchantmen of 1,600 tons or over by mine or submarine, as well as three merchantmen that tonnage.

Ashing vessels also were sunk. The admiralty statement follows: Arrivals, sailings, 2,244. British merchantmen of over 1,600 tons sunk by mine or submarine, including two previously, 18; under 1,600 tons, including one previously, three. British merchantmen unsuccessfully attacked, including two previuosly, 11. British fishing vessels sunk, four.

The admiralty report of January 2 gave the sinking of British merchantmen for the current week as 21, eighteen vessels of 1,600 tons over. This was a material increase over the previous week, when the sinkings numbered 12, eleven of vessels more than 1,600 tons. Thus increase the in the submarine sinkings has been more than maintained in the past week, as they comprised 21 merchantmen and four ing vessels. MONTH'S PAYROLL IS $100,000,000 Washington, Jan. payroll of the fighting forces of the United States is now nearly $100.000.000 a month.

This sum includes salaries of officers and enlisted men the army and navy serving both in this country and abroad, family allotments and compensation certain services rendered. but does not take into account family allowances paid by the government toward then support of families of listed under special field conditions, nor does it include any special compensatory features of the military and naval insurance act. Details of the pay received by soldiers and sailors and of the operation of the war risk insurance bureau have just been compiled by the several departments for information of the public and those relating to the navy were made public to-night by the committee on public information. The others will be made public later and arately. The committee's statement shows that in December approximately 000,000 was disbursed as monthly compensation for the services of some 000 officers who constitute the uniformed the navy.

ardemon GERMANS TORPEDO HOSPITAL SHIP Bristol, England, Jan. hospital ship Rewa was torpedoed without warning in the British channel an hour before midnight January 4 and sank within an hour. According to custom the vessel was lighted up after dark Friday evening, 80 that there could be no possibility of submarines mistaking her identity. The torpedo struck the vessel with a terrifle crash and was so effective that there was no chance of saving her. There were over 555 person on board, including 30 and a number of soldiers suffering from malaria.

The lights on the hospital ship were put out by the force of the explosion and the wounded and sick had grope about in the dark for their clothing. Many of them were unsuccessful in their quest and had to leave the ship without clothing. While in the boats and on rafts they had little or no protection from the piercing cold wind. All the patients, the ship's staff and the members of the crew, with the exception of three Lascars who were killed by the explosion, were safely rescued from the boats and rafts. They had hardly left the Rewa, which was sinking on an even keel, when the steamer suddenly plunged forward and disappeared.

The rescued men were two hours adrift before they were picked up. WILSON'S ADDRESS IS APPLAUDED IN PARIS The Temps Likes That Part about Alsace-Lorraine. Paris, Jan. a summary of President Wilson's address to Congress had reached Paris, by way of London, up 1 to noon to-day. The Temps says it is awaiting the arrival of the full text of President Wilson's declarations before commenting on his peace program 08 a whole.

Meanwhile, however, it says of the passage in the President's address dealing with Alsace-Lorraine: "It is the first time the president of the United States has declared himself on the Alsace-Lorraine question. We had no doubt as to his sentiments, but we are profoundly glad that he has expressed them. We thank him also for placing the problems on its true ground, in presenting the restitution of Alsace as a sary condition for a general peace and not only as a special claim of the French people." "President Wilson was right in ending with 8 declaration of America's determination to fight until these objects are attained, as arms alone, not speeches, will convince Germany of the justice of our cause." accompanied by his father, who intends to remain with him for the rest of the munication of Union Loc -There will be HOLO A. this evening at eight o'clock, with work in the felloweraft and master Mason's degrees. Refreshments will be Delphia has returned from the Mary Fletcher hospital, where he has been for a few days' treatment for one of his eyes.

-The D. A. R. meeting which was to have been held at the home of Mrs. John H.

Stewart on Court street, has been postponed until Saturday afternoon. -The funeral of Miss Mary Whitney will be held at her late home at Mrs. Dugald Stewart's this afternoon four Sadie Bullock has gone to Worcester. where she will visit for 10 days. The funeral of Chester Elmer was held at his late home yesterday morning at ten o'clock, the Rev.

R. L. Taylor officiating. Burial was in Bridport. A delegation from William P.

Russell Post, G. A. attended. The bearers were: John Randall, Bert Peck, W. W.

Turner and Edward Day. A. R. Slader Son, the Rutland Optometrist-Opticians, will be at. the Sargent, Thursday, January 10.

(adv.) 7.2t VERGENNES. The Ferrisburg Congregational Church originally was graced with a. "meeting house" spire, but having gotten out of true, some 20 years since, the spire that had become styled "the holy was cut off and pulled over to the roadside under the direction of Wesley Jackman, and that the architecture could be preserved to future generations, the only picture extant, was loaned by Mrs. Elmer Preston. This picture was losing its clearness, but with a pride-of-the-town spirit Mrs.

Rachel Robinson Elmer of New York city, a daughter of the late Rowland Robinson, applied her skill in trying to restore from oblivion the landmark of travelers by land or lake. This she has succeeded in doing and has had an electrotype made. From this, at Mrs. Elmer's request, postcard pictures have been made and are to be sold by the local branch of the Red evening, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs.

Fred W. Flagg at the Mary Fletcher hospital. Miss Fannie Breckenridge of this place has an enviable record for work done for the Red Cross, having made 12 hospital shirts, Ave pair of pajamas, four helmets, 10 sweaters, three pair of socks, two pair of thumbless mitts and one Ferrisburg Congregational Church has granted the pastor, the Rev. J. Hall Long, a leave of absence for the balance of January.

Mr. Long will spend part of his vacation in Nathan Travis and sister, Miss Lydia Brown of Addison, visited their brother, Alderman Levi H. Brown, Saturday and Sunday. The fourth quarterly conference of the Vergennes Methodist Episcopal Church will be held in the vestry of the church Friday A. Oliver has returned to Westport, N.

after a visit to his brother-in-law, Alderman John Rev. William Laughton preached at the Rutland Baptist Church Sunday morning in the absence of the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Peck and administored the sacrament of the Lord's supper. -The body of the infant son of Mr.

and Mrs. F. W. Flagg, who died at the Mary Fletcher hospital Saturday evening, was brought here Monday and placed in the vault in Prospect cemetery. George and Lewis Milo have returned to Worcester, after a visit to their father, Isadore Milo and their sisters, Miss Julia Milo and Mrs.

William Betta Merton Hewitt of Southboro, has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Homer N. Ball. -Mrs.

Richard G. Woodbridge has returned from a visit to her children in Brooklyn, N. farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Aunchman of Charlotte was the scene of a very pleasant gathering New Year's eve, the event being the 15th anniversary of their marriage.

Nearly 70 friends and relatives were present. The house was prettily decorated with ferns, potted plants and patriotic colors. A four -piece orchestra furnished music for dancing until midnight, when refreshments were served. Mr. and Mrs.

Aunchman received many beautiful gifts. The funeral of Frank Perkins, whose body was brought here from Holyoke, was held Thursday afternoon in St. Paul's Church, of which the deceased member while a resident here. The was a E. Elmer McKee officiated and the J.

bearers were W. H. Adams, H. B. Slack, Hallock, S.

Harry Burroughs, W. Henry A. Foote and H. A. Farrar.

The body was placed in the vault in Prospect cemeThere was a profusion of floral tribtery. Among those present from out of utes. town were the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Belle Vinal, Miss Angle Blakely and Mr. Dibble of Holyoke, John Perkins of lington, Mr.

and Mrs. Alfred Gilmore of Weybridge, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Kerns of Mooers, N. and Miss Lorette Holland of Colchester.

Mr. Merkins was in the 56th year of his age and his death was the result of heart trouble and complicaHe was born in Canada, but for tions. many years was a resident of this place, where he carried on the business of contractor and builder. Several years ago removed to Holyoke, where he carried he business. Besides a wife, he on the same survived by one brother, John Perking is of Burlington.

of Company First VerThe members Volunteer Militia, are rehearsing for mont minstrel entertainment to be a military given under the auspices of the company at the opera house Wednesday evening, January 16, in which the whole company take part. The entertainment will be will the direction of William E. given under who for a number of years has Larrow, on1 some of the best local minstrel put shows ever given here. Part of the proceeds will be given to the Vergennes branch of the Red Cross and- the remainder will be devoted to the establishing of a company and Mrs. Trackenburg of Boston are visiting her Mr.

and Mrs. A. D. Orman. parents, -H.

S. Stone of New Haven Mills visited his Oliver brother, E. Tatro, George in the E. United Stone, serv- ice, at Camp Devens, who several weeks ago was promoted from private corto poral, has recently been made a sergeant. Sergeant Tatro is the son of Mr.

and Mra. Oliver Tatro. -Mrs. Grace Stevens Brooklyn, N. is visiting Mr.

and Mrs. R. W. Warner. -The Ferrisburg branch of the Red Cross will meet next Thursday for an all-day meeting with Miss Cora Bard.

During the last campaign 117 names were added to the list of Alden and Mrs. Lillian Robare were married Saturday morning at St. Peter's Church, the Rev. L. A.

Vezina performing the ceremony. -To help in the conservation of fuel the committee of the Vergennes school has had the fire put out and drained. heating and plumbing system school building. -Dr. W.

C. (Continued on page two.) However, Make Successful Raid on German Line near Verdun. HEAVY SNOW IN ITALY. Central Powers and Bolsheviki Said to Have Resumed Peace Negotiations at Brest-Litovak. VISITORS ALL DEMOCRATS.

All of the members, who went to the White House were democrats and most of them supporters of the amendment but there were several uncommitted. In the were Representatives Raker, California: Taylor, Colorado: Barkley and Cantrill, Kentucky; Hayden, Arizona; Gregg and Jones of Texas; Ayres, Kansas; Caraway, Arkansas; Mayes, Utah; Lin-1 thicum, Maryland; Brumbaugh, Ohio. After Mr. Raker had explained the ob- ject of the call each member told President of the situation in his State. One said the President's advice would aid him in many other determining members the were question similarly and that sit- uated.

The President is said to have replied that while he had felt it was not proper to send for members or to volunteer his advice, he was glad of the opportunity that the the delegation gave him. He indicated that he had not felt at liberty to go beyond the party platform which had declared woman suffrage to be a issue, until changed conditions necessary. State, Representative Taylor spoke of the King of Belgium's advocacy of woman suffrage, of how England was pledged to it and probably France. The President said the governor-general of Canada, who had luncheon with him to-day, told him Canada was going to have woman suffrage. Any member of Congress opposed to woman suffrage under any circumstances, the President said, ought not to vote other than his convictions, but his own opinion as that this was the time to vote for amendment.

While the President was talking one of the members made a note of what he sald. The President took a pencil and said he would put it in writing himself, and the statement later was dictated to a White House stenographer. SUFFRAGISTS THRILLED. Woman suffrage leaders elated over the President's action, issued statements tonight by the dozen. Mrs.

Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage association, said: "We are thrilled by the President's statement. Most of all do we appreciate his setting forth that the passage of the amendment is an act of right and justice at this time to the women of this country and of the world. The President's statement 1S most important he has yet made on suffrage question, and coming the when it does ranks as a war utterance with the statement of Premier Lloyd George, Mr. Asquith and the premier of Canada on this same subject." Miss Alice Paul, head of the Woman's party who with others served jail sentences and went hunger strike for so-called picketing of the White House in behalf of the suffrage amendment, said: "It is difficult to express our gratification at the President's stand. For four years we have striven to secure his support the national amendment for we knew that this and perhaps it alone would Insure us success." The House begins debate to-morrow on the Raker resolution for submission of the Susan B.

Anthony constitutional amendment to the States, under an agreement to end general debate at five o'clock in the afternoon A vote probably will be reached early in the evening. MAY ATTEND OFFICES'R SCHOOL Men Who Have Seen Service to Enlist First-class Privates--Military Experience to Be Utilized. Montpelier, Jan. H. T.

Johnson, acting adjutant-general, has received tice from the federal military department which provides that have seen service may attend an officers' school, enlisting, it is understood, first-class privates and getting that pay which the rank carries. The information is that, in order to utilize the military experience of staff, retired and reserve officers, and home officers of the National Guard not already in service the secretary of war approved plans which provide that the application of such officers may be made on forms provided and those whose records show value for service with troops will be notified by telegraph to report at one of the training camps January 15. In case of more than can be accommodated selection of will govconclusion of their training successful candidates will be commissioned, the highest rank to be that of major, with age limitations governing. V. V.

M. ASSEMBLY. Commissioned Officers to Meet at Montpeller 22 and 23. Montpelier, Jan. annual assembly of the commissioned officers of the Vermont Volunteer Militia will occur in this January 22 and 28, with headquarters at the Pavilion, while the school will be held in the armory of Company I of this city, This is held under the provisions of the laws of Vermont and will convene at 7:30 o'clock the evening of the first named day.

Lieut. Harry Pratt will have charge of the course of instruction and the regulation has been made that service in volunteer count as in the Not' of acquirit service medals Kiven for Ave years' service. Bad weather continues on most of the major battle fronts, but the heavy artillery duels are proceeding and at several points infantry of small proportions have been carried'. out. The Germans of these manoeuvres, which apparently was more of a raid than an attack by large forces, entered British advanced posts north of YpresStaden railway, but later were forced out by a counter attack.

On the famous St. Mihiel salient southeast of Verdun, which has made a sharp wedge in the battle line since early days of the war. French troops have raided German positions on a mile front, destroyed the positions and returned to their own line with 178 prisoners and some machine guns. The German war office admits the French success in invading the German positions, but says the French were ejected from them in a counter attack. On the Italian front a heavy snow is falling and aside from intensive artillery duels from the Asiago plateau to the Piave river and small patrol encounters there has been no fighting worthy of mention.

Both the British and French newspapers enthusiastically endorse President Wilson's statement of war aims. Likewise it has met with the entire approval of the representatives of labor in Great Britain. In a manifesto the laborites say that in the present statement the Labor party can find no portion upon which the allied democracies are likely to disagree and that if it reaches the peoples of the central powers it will reinvigorate the popular movement toward peace in those countries "and give their demands for peace a weight and authority that cannot be denied." According to an Amsterdam despatch. which probably emanated from Berlin, the Brest-Litovsk peace conference again is in session with Leon Trotsky, the Bolshevik foreign minister, and the German Austro-Hungarian foreign minister and the Turkish grand vizier in attendance. In addition to their endeavor to straighten out differences with the Bolshevik, the Teutonic allied representatives are declared to be negotiating with the Ukrainians in an endeavor to earn their good will.

GOVERNMENT PREPARES TO CONTROL OIL SUPPLY' Washington, Jan. government is preparing to take control of the oil supply. under the fuel administration. A man has been selected to take charge and his name will be made public with the announcement of the government's decision. It is understood that the government's plans are not fully matured and will not be until the new appointee makes an investigation.

Licensing of the oil industry from the wells to the wholesaler is contemplated. FOUR JOCKEYS INJURED; TWO HORSES KILLED New Orleans, Jan. jockeys were injured, none seriously and two horses killed in accidents during to-day's running races at the fair grounds track. Jockey Arthur Johnson, an apprentice who came here from the Pacific coast tracks, received bruises when Popee, his mount in the second race, fell at the half mile and was killed. Most of the eleven horses in the race ran over mother Johnson.

In the seventh race Jockeys J. Cruise, J. Williams and W. Kelsay received painful bruises when their mounts fell in a tangle at the six furlong post, Checks, Williams' mount being killed. Cruise, Williams and Kelsay will be able to ride tomorrow it was announced, but Johnson may be out of the saddle for several days.

MRS. HICKS PLEADS GUILTY Admits Manslaughter in Case of Alice Bradshaw--Given Prison Term of Seven to Twenty Years. St. Johnsbury, Jan. after the afternoon recess in Caledonia county court to-day the case of Mrs.

Etta May Hicks was taken up and she asked leave to change her plea of not guilty of the murder of Alice Bradshaw on July 5 last to that of manslaughter. State's Attorney Campbell called attention to her weak mental condition and said he was satisfed to leave the matter of sentence entirely with the court. Alexander Dunnett, the respondent's lawyer, admitted her mental condition and explained to the court that the reason his client had not talked about the case more, particularly at the time of the murder was because she was afraid of the Kenerson woman. Mrs. Sarah Isabella Kenerson is now serving a life sentence for her part in the murder of the little girl and John Kerwin, who pleaded guilty to being accessory after the fact, is serving a sentence of from two to five years in State's prison.

The court to-day sentenced Mrs. Hicks to hard labor at State's prison for a term of not less than seven years or more than 20 years. Explaining that he gave her this sentence because of her mental condition. This entirely disposes of the three participants in most revolting mur. ders ever committed in Caledonia county.

REEVES MAY BE COLONEL Norwich President Now a LientenantColonel In Adjutant-General's Department. Northfield, Jan. war department orders President Reeves, now a lieutenant-colonel in the regular army, is named to All a vacancy in the a department. His promotion to a full coloneley is expected within a few weeks. The not state whether or not he is to Washington; but it is ordination pected that he will for the time being at least..