Times Herald from Washington, District of Columbia • Page 1

rrv Today Don't Stir Up Labor. English Lords Best Investment. No Tortnre for Lady Drinker. Jerusalem Too Small for Jews. A lady guilty of drunkenness in "dry" Washington was sent to jail for thirty days.

"She would not tell where she procured the whiskey." Observe that it is al-tt -b WHISKEY in "dry" places. It i. easy to drive out the harmless light Btimulants, but whiskey STAYS. A while ago, before the French revolution diminished the powerof the ruling classes, they would have forced this whiskey drinking lady to tell where she got the whiskey by applying torture until she did telL A few turns of a thumbscrew would have sufficed. We have improved we no longer torture human beings to make them confess.

When revolution ended torture of witnesses, leading citizens said "that will mean an end of justice, anarchy will come. How can you get facts if you don't torture witnesses? Two thousand years earlier the greatest Greek said that end of slavery would mean end of civilization, since without slaves there would be no leisure class to do the thinking. But courts do get testimony without torture. Public education has increased respect for justice. r- And we still have a leisure class too much of a.

leisure class plenty of time for those that want to think, and without slavery. Machines do well the work that slaves did badly. A little increase in the power of thought, a little decrease in the power of selfishness, and the steel, iron, steam and electric of this day would give leisure to every man and woman and child. That leisure will come some day, when human beings learn how to give each man what he NEEDS, distributing the rest among tbj others. Jerusalem, conquered, will go back to ownership of the Jews.

But the Jews, fortunately for the world, will not go back to Jerusalem they have important work to do elsewhere. Some will return, the deeply religious, and find intense happiness in returning. But the average energetic Jew, like the average energetic Irishman, Scotch man, Italian, ana rrenenman, knows that th-etu earth js th field-of every intelligent man'Spon the earth. The Scotchman doesn't return to the bleak hills over which his ancestors raced bare-legged. The Irishman does not return except as a sightseer to the peace and quiet of the little' soft green field, the cabin and the stone wall of his great-grandfather.

The modern Jew will visit Jerusalem a little later in his flying machine and then return to do his work elsewhere. In Bussia he will fight to make democracy real. In America he will continue his share of building this great republic's prosperity. In music and painting, in literature, in the drama he will continue his work all over the world not huddled up within the old walls of Jerusalem. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." The earth is also man's, and the property of man.

All men will occupy it, improve it, compete in demonstration of their various racial powers Ultimately all races will become welded into one great world-ppssessing, homogeneous race, free of hatreds, prejudices, animosities and that will be the beginning of real civilization Which is still removed from this earth by thousands of years. Gladys Vanderbilt is a United States "foe" because she is married to a Hungarian. Count Szecheny. Now she is probably singing the old song, "Oh, little did mv mother think when first she cradled me," etc And, more interesting, the sister-in-law of Ambassador Gerard is also a "foe." Shecnar-ried Count Anton Sigray von Felsoe, also a Hungarian. Strictly interpreted, the law will not allow these "alien enemy" ladies to go near the water front or live in Washington, D.

C. Moral: If you must acquire a nobleman, buy an English one. It may be less romantic and more expensive, but it is safer. The country depends largely upon contented labor. Organized labor has a great deal to say as to labor's contentment.

Honorable judges should think over carefully any important decisions antagonistic to labor during the war. All kinds of decisions will come AFTER the war, for capital will need a good deal of help in the line of reconstruction, and capital's first constructive idea is always CHEAPER MEN. For the present, decisions from judges and statements by important public men, questioning, denying, or limiting the right of men to organize for self-defense might do considerable harm. These words are addressed to all courts, big or little. Study England.

They do not stir: uj labor over there. WEATHER: CLOUDY TONIGHT, SNOW THURSDAY NUMBER 10,375. U. S. PATROL OPEN SEASON FQRINQUIRIES BY CONGRESS IS AT HAND Members, Prodded By Constit uents, Will Investigate What Administration's War Machine Is Doing.

By DAVID LAWRENCE. (Cupjilsht, M7, by New Tortc Evening Pott Com pur) Investigation season is on in earn est. Quietly and without much rumpus Congress has decided to find out for itself whether the war machine of the United States is moving as fast as it should. Fundamentally the motive is pa triotic both Democrats and Republicans want to know, the country has bees kept too much in the dark and members are merely reflecting a na tion-wide inquisitiveness on whether efficiency or inefficiency reigns in Washington and whether any remedy can be applied before the pathetic cry of "too late" so often heard in England is repeated in America. May Become Embarrassing.

But while the object Ii constructive and not destructive, nevertheless there partisanship enough on Capitol Hill to embarrass the Administration') It the Inquiry isn't confined to fMto1ACJijWHH' TTlrTiriril aaeMkraBF cum Judged from what members say, the Investigation being conducted by the Senate Military Affairs Committee has nothing personal In It. No each confidence prevails as to the purpose of the proposed quiz Into the affairs of Herbert Hoover and Harry uarfleld. food and fuel administrators, respectively. Criticism of llevrer. Those Senators who were opposed to Mr.

Hoover when the food control bill was before the Senate are already saying the Food Administration hasn't come up to expectation. That is literally true, because the same Senators expected It to be a failure and quite the reverse has happened. The Food Administration has little to fear from an Inquiry. Its greatest accomplishment has been to check rising prices and to exercise a degree of control which, while unpleasant and drastic nevertheless has eliminated speculation and prevented food riots In America. As for the Fuel Administration, its troubles have been cumulative.

With the shortage of coal, it has been heart-breaking to lear nthat thousands of tons of coal are on sidings unable to move, scores of mine owners are frantically calling for cars to haul the coal to consumer and the latter Is. In many parts of the country, shivering because of the general confusion. Transportation at Fault. Probably In the end It will be found that the break-down In the nation's transportation facilities, for which no particular Individual was responsible, bad an much to do with the coal crisis ax any other factor. The Fuel Administration, however, will be able to withstand the attack In Congress though the investigation may conceivably prolde a stimulus for prompt action on the railroad situation.

The Inquiry Into War Department affairs promises to be most compre henslve. There Is a good deal mors Impatience and fretfulness over the War Department than any other branch wheel of the Government. This Is due to the many unprecedented but nevertheless essential steps taken by this department In Interference wit a the normal activities of the country. Draft Cote Indnstr.es. The selective draft has cut hard Into several Industries.

Commissions have been awarded to some mho dldn. deserve them and withheld from many who should have been given them. This Is a natural outgrowth of the haste with which the Government has tried to change from a peace to a war basis. Senators and Representatives have heard from home about conditions In cantonments. The absence of luxur t- 1 1-1-1 ire auu iiiu n.iui.1 uaruauips OI camp life have boen confused In many cases with Justifiable complaints of a lack of equipment, but on the whole there would have been little Impetus behind a Congressional Inquiry If the War Department had been able to satisfy the demands of members for Information.

Much hiding behind the shield of the censorship, much evasion and red tape has given the Impression of inefficiency. Congress Is Jfet Prejudging. Congress Isn't prejudging the case, but when certain Senators learn that there are difficulties In supplying the American army with ordnance, all the (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) ftewadtfttri An Anonymous Gift of Five Hundred Dollars Another Contribution Toward the Fond for the War Sufferers. From a man who does not want his name published, a New Yorker temporarily residing In Washington, we receive the following letter enclosing check for Five Hundred Dollars. My Dear Mr.

Brisbane: Temporarily resident In Washington, I wish to make my small contribution to the fund for the war sufferers In Europe, and enclose my check for Five Hundred Dollars to your order. Please see that It reaches the treasurer ot the fund as a contribution from one ot your friends, and without mentioning my name. Sincerely yours, Congressional Investigation of the coal situation In the District Is likely to become an Important part ot the Inquiry Into the coal and sugar shortage ordered by the Lodge resolution adopted by the Senate yester day. The Inquiry will be made by the SMatj-ComniUttjjnlIs4iuXsit and will be naTnrflTlTuiicope. It un doubtedly, will take, cognizance ot the coal sltuatlopherer Inasmuch -as members hare nrst opportunity for Investigation here, and are familiar with the Inability of many IVasblngtonlans to get coal despite the efforts and promises ot the Fuel Administration.

Legislation will be recommended If needed. Will Push Inquiry. Senator "Jim" Reed of Missouri, chairman of the Manufacturer Committee, will push the Investigation. Senator Reed opposed the food control law In the first place, and It Is a safe conjecture that he will not rest content until he finds out why the country and particularly Washington Is suffering for lack of coal and sugar. Many Senators believe that the Fuel Administration Is not using to the limit its powers to take over coal at the mouth of the mines and see to Its distribution.

They believe that Dr. Oarfleld haa attempted to regulate rather than administer the coal business, and they want more forceful action. The fuel administration has been directing distribution of free coal, and Is now checking all free coal ot the various producing companies to determine the maximum amount available. It Is directing distribution ot this supply as fast as contracts expire, or In supervising new contracts. It (Continued on Page 20, Column 3.) FORM OF RAILROAD SETTLED TODAY Plans for wartime control of railroads will probably be accomplished before night.

With the railroad war board sched uled to see President Wilson, and with the brotherhood chiefs In town. It appeared likely that definite methods of unified operation would be devised The President will then be ready within a short time to advise Con gresa of his desires as to this vital project. As affairs now are shaping, it appears likely that the Government railroad dictator perhaps Secretary of Interior Lane will be appointed to run the lines. He would have power to pool the lines and their equipment: to eliminate unessential schedules and so direct finances that the railroads at the end of his tenure would be on a sounder basis than be- 'ore- However, both the railroad war board and the brotherhoods Intend to Impress upon the President their views that prltate control, with a single head, can accomplish desired war efficiency, provided the Govern ment lends a hand In strengthening the roads' finances The President himself has been non committal thus far, though the gen eral Impression Is that he Is favorable to the Government control Idea, Congress as a whole appears sym pathetic to such a solution of the railroad problem, but will be amenable to whatever suggestions the President mty make. COAL ENQUIRY TO IKE CAPITAL CONTROL WILL BE WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY BOAT BLAST AND WAR PLANT Trolley Delay Probably Saved Hundreds of Workmen From Injury in Big-Delaware Munitions Factory.

WILMINGTON. DeL. Dec. 12. An explosion in a loading room of one of the buildings of the Bethlehem Steel Company's munitions plant which was felt eighteen miles awav.

set fire to a Dortion of the es tablishment early today and threat-' ened to cause heavy damage. One man was killed. Five were injured. Because of delayed trolley cars, hundreds of men, usually at work at the hour of'the explosion, had not-arrived when the blow-up occurred. The flames were extinguished at noon and an immediate investigation was begun by Superintendent Par-ris.

Police Chief Killed. Chief of Police Jacohson. of the (plant, in the only man killed. He was carrying a case ot shells which Jwas blazing, from tha plant when It blowing his head off. The explosion followed a fire In the meltinc room of the three-Inch pro jectile loading house.

Only ten men were employed there and. they fled from behind their protecting barriers to saretr. -The. Are occurred durjns-txjfcjnelti lng of T. a powerfuTwplbslVel ot tarllke consistency that Is-Ilquinea before being placed In shells.

It burned so slowly that most ot the workmen escaped before the explosion. The flames exploded hundreds ot loaded projectiles stored In the room, and a barrage of shell fragments and shrapnel drove fire flghten and others half a mile a ay to safety zones. Some of the shrapnel bombard-ed houses In Dobblnsvllle. a mile distant from the plant. Inquiry Begun.

NEW TOIIK, Dec 12. Officials of the Bethlehem steel company U' nntineed here todav that an expl0 slon had occurred In the experimental part of their plant at Newcastle, Del. They were unable-to give any details as to what caused the explosion. They said that an Investigation was In progress to determine whether there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding It. Reports from Wilmington stated that one man was known to have been killed, but company officials here Insisted that no one ai Injured.

The Bethlehem Steel Company's plant at Newcastle was established Immediately following the outbreak of the war It cost about SI 000,000 and was created for the purpose of filling foreign contracts The plant Is composed of several large buildings, situated on the Delaware river, and covers nearly five acres Nearly 1,000 are employed, mostly men ON D. C. BUDGET The District or Columbia subcom mlttee of the House Appropriations Committer wsh designated at a meeting of the Appropriations ommltlee today. It onlsts of Congressmen Sisson. MrAndrews.

(iallltan, Davis and llawney Mr Msson will be chairman of the subcommittee. This subcommittee will be in charge of the District appropriation bill- The new members are Messrs Sis-1 son. Galllvan. snd Ilawne). They i take the place of Congressman Page I of North Carolina, who was chairman last session, and Howard ot Georgia and blemp of Virginia I COMMITTEE APPROVES 'GARABED' RESOLUTION The "Garabed" resolution Hunp the in SUBCOMMITTEE IS ANNOUNCED United States Government the use the alleged world revolutionising dls ETo iu iiosion Armenian.

Gara-bed Olragosslan, was unanimously ap proved by tli House I'atents Committee today will be reported to the House tomorrow, probably with request for action before the Christ mas holidays Supporters of Garabed planned to rueh Investigation of Its practicability that It may be applied to the war at once It found feasible EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1917. Oosa SUNK OFF ATLANTIC PORT AN ATLANTIC POET, Dec. 12. A United States patrol boat lias been sunk off here in collision with two other vessels, the identify of which has not yet been established. Wireless disptohes received here stated that the crew of the patrol vessel was saved and a great deal of her equipment removed before she sank.

Only the most meager details of the collision were contained in the radio message telling of the disaster. Halifax As It Looks After the Explosion More of These Photographs on Page Seven. hamMaa1aWaWQLeaaV-4ialX-9 Til JaaaHaCaaiaBaaaaaaaaaBlaaaaHaaL treAf'JraiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaKaeaaW 9HbbbbbH anHilalsssssssssssssssssswTsl 1 i7fatlliBHBassalssalssasM This was one of the freak results 85-MILE SWEEPING WmMJAXHsOOTERS SHOT ST. JOHNS, N. Dec 12.

Ac eighty-five-mile gale has heen -sweeping the northeastern coast for twenty-four honrs. Today it was estimated 1,000 herring nets and many fishing boats had been destroyed." Many buildings along the shore -were damaged. During the storm the thermometer dropped to zero. Fifteen hundred men, women, and children died in the Halifax disaster, wireless messages announce officially today. A big percentage of the dead have not been identified.

SUFFERS REVERSE couitT iiorsE. coNcortu x. Dec. 12 With the defense fighting bitterly, the trial ot Gaston Means, charged with the murder of Mrs. Maude A.

King, today -went to argu ment. The defens made a grand play at the closing of the evidence to recoup much lost ground. Attorney Frank Armfleld. for the defense, filed a mo tion to strike out the testimony of eleven of the Mate's witnesses rela tlvc to the financial dealings of the defendant. T023-4 PERCENT I I TVci.Irnt Wilson todav Issued nrrrlsmatlon limiting the alcoholic content ot malt liquors, excepting ad porter, as predicted In The Times yesterdaj, to a4 percent, nB also ordered that the total amount of food, fruit, and feed ma terial used shall not exceed 70 per cent of their average consumption In the production of malt liquor during 117.

No person will be permitted after January 1 to produce malt liquor with out a license from the commissioner of Interns! revenue. The license will compel the brewer to comply with rules ana regulations 10 ne proraul To Import liquor a license from the division of customs of the Treasury Department will oe necessary it will hind the holder to any import regulations which ina bo promulgated. U. S. TO BUILD BARGES.

The Shipping Doard today launched a new program that calls for the building of large fleets of barges and tugs to ply Inland waterways. MEANS ARGUMENT BEGINS PRESIDENT CUTS ALCOHOL IN ORINK mwms IP lmSKsBBmKBSKBm of the explosfyo, the church being completely demolished, but the steeple was left practically intact a Looters Shot. HALIFAX. Nova Scotia. Dec.

12. U'lth the city under absolute martial law, the American hospital and relief units found It leas difficult today than formerly In rendering succor to the 111 and wounded from the zone laid waste by Isst week's explosion. Several persons. It la reported, have been shot for looting. Only one la known ofrtclallly The looter In Question, was shot and his body was strapped to a post.

Over the head was placed a placard bearing the words: "This was a looter." Military officials declined to comment on the report of others who have been dealt with in the same manner. Hundreds of persons who barely escaped with their lives are today being equipped with fresh clothing to replace the burned and tattered garments they have been forced to wear since the explosion. Many BUaded. American surgeons are still picking glass from the eyes of many people who suffered when the window glass In their homes was shattered by the explosion. Many of them will be marked or blind for life, the physicians say.

An official report of the physicians Is to the effect that there are more wounds from glass than any other one cause. Five little children In a. single ward are reported half blind, and the spe delists aro working hard to save their eyesight. Maay TelegTama Arrive. Telegrams continue to pour In from the United States asking about relatives or friends, but on account of the limited telegraphic service, not one-tenth of them have been answered.

A relayed cable message from Lon- don announces that King George nas contributed J5.000 to the lord mayor's relief fund for lialllax. the Prince of Wales tlfiOO and the lord mayor and lady mayoress 150 guineas. The group of Dartmouth men who jesterday boarded a steamship that stood In the harbor here and extinguished a fire that threatened to cause an explosion and Inflict further damage to the stricken city are today being hailed as heroes. The crew of the vessel abandoned her when flames leaped from her superstructure The ship Is said to have been loaded wHh munitions. Schenectady lit Xmu run.

T.tinn nf New Yi-irlr. mayor of Schenectady, announced that his city has Inauguraiea a movement that he hopes will be taken up by other cities. Schenectady will present to Halifax as a Christmas present a fund sufficient to rebuild one of the homes destroyed In the recent Are and explosion. He suggests that other cities raise funds with which to build one or more housts In the stricken zones and restore them to their former owners. 0 WaD Street Prices.

raiiai MORE THAN 5-10 PERCENTINCREASE Impetus was given the fight for an Increase In pay for Federal employes In excess of the present 5 and 10 per cent raise, by the adoption last night of resolutions by the Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants Association. An Identic resolution framed by Isaac Cans for both or ganizations, was unanimously-adopted. as follows: "Be It resolved. That the Chambe; of Commerce (Retail Merchants iSfl sociation) not only urges tne rairness of the allowance of the Increased percentage heretofore granted by Congress to Federal clerks up to S1.S00, but that this association favora larger proportion of Increase In the salaries, and that also the Increase be extended up to and Including $2,400 for all those who were employedfby the Government prior to January 1, 1017." Gau Statement. Mr.

Gans. who has long been Identified with all movements for the bet terment of the Government employes" inntlllnii ffn Th Tlm tnrfnr! FOR CLERKS URGED For years I have fought for an In-1 crease In pay for all Federal and Dls- trlct employe. As even body knows, the cost of IKIntr has advanced stead-Ion lly In recent cars to the point where no clerk In the Government service can lle on the pay he or she receives. It is high time the Government recog. (Continued on Page 3, Column jacobTonesotedoed after target practice Admiral Sims advised the Navy Department today that the destroyer Jacob Jones had been torpedoed following target practice This may Indicate that the vessel had gone a considerable distance from the usual submarine paths, and that for this reason had considered filp nracttcallv aafe INAL EDITION Situation Presents Greater -Strategic Possibilities for the Enemy Than Elsewhere on Long Front.

BULLETIN Four Anatro-Germin divisions were virtually exterminated in the recent Italian battle between" Brenta and the Piave river, official Rome cables today stated. WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN THE FIELD, Dec 12. Long lines of rail transports literally swarming with German re-enforcements were seen behind German lines on the northern British flank of the Cambrat sector. America's battiefront in Franc, may be thejpysterions objective for-which Germany is massing- new troops in the west. No other part of the allies' line from the North sea to Switzerland presents such strategic possibilities toTthe Germans It is nor known that tha' American troop mro-faein thefCeiiaasis ulLUiu iiUUery rangs-of the Lorraine border.

At the same time Switzerland's exchange of communications with America concerning assurances that American troop3 will not trespass on Swiss territory, strongly suggests that Alsace, bordering Switzerland, is also within the' American war lines. May Center on This Front. The Alsace-Lorraine front, therefore, will probably ba afire with some ot the most Intense activity of the war when America's major offensive begins. This front Is dangerously near German territory In Lorraine and passes directly Into Germany In southern Alsace. There can be little doubt ot the de.

presslon to German morale that would result from a quick advance by the Americans through Lorraine and Alsace toward the Rhine. May Prempt Early Attaek. To attempt to prevent a maneuver of this character the Germans may be planning an early attack In Alsace and Lorraine before the Americana are fully ready. In reality snch a movement would be a defensive offensive designed to throw back the present French lines and compel tha Americans to make a longer journey before reaching Germany. There Is little reason to believe.

however, that a German attaek In Alsace or Lorraine would be more successful than along any other part of the western front. Predict Seed Verdun. second Verdun might well ensue the German crown prince. la fact, any offensive tactics employed by the Germans In the est will proba bly work to the advantage of strategy by depleting still further Germany's waning man power Yet If the Germans can persuade the Austro-Hungarians to donate men for the slaughter. Alsace Lorraine will probably see von Hlndenburg taking" a chance The American trenches are too near German soil for the Kalser'r comfort.

ALL INDICATIONS POINT TO GERMAN PREPARATION FOR "GIGANTIC THRUST LONDON'. Dec 1--Th German high command is feverishly hastening Its preparations for soma great stroke the western front. Dispatches today reported vast forces being massed day anl night at various points along the Franco-British line. More German airplanes than have been seen In months have been aggressively seeking to spy out British positions, batteries, munitions dumps, and supply stations. Unusual raiding activity, part ot the same effort to obtain Information as to strength of front positions, developed all along the line.

A perceptible lessening of pressure on the Italian front was reported to-da It served to confirm belief here in London that considerable forces of Austro-ltungarlan troops had been switched from that theater to the west Great numbers of the Emperor Carl's troops are reported already there, having been transferred from the Russian lines. The artillery duel along both French and British fnmts today waa attaining a maximum ot violence. GERMANS' BLOW MAY STRIKE AI SAMMIES 'i a 4.