St. John's Daily Star, 1921-04-06

              The St. John's Daily Star New fO iUtd lm*<3 THE WE A ikiER Probs-WMwAtfm and Cool i f ---—*  VOL. VII. Price: One Cent no. 14 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1921. ($3.00 per Annum.) ANOTHER OPPOSITION DRIVE AGAINST THE STAR IN HOUSE I Sir Michael Cashin and His Colleagues Tumble All Over Themselves in Their Eagerness to Pay Attention to This Paper—Devote Most of Afternoon to Attacks on The Star. ■ 1 ' CASHIN RESOLUTION OF CENSURE OF THIS PAPER MEETS WITH DEFEAT — j Honorable Members Of Assembly Unanimously Pass Resolution "Regretting" That The Star Published That Front Page Editorial Criticism, "Gambling Graveyard." ; J mem and it passed unanimously. ■ I Then The Star came in for the j bouquets. ; The Jwime minister started to an!! swer four thousand questions j asked by His Majesty's Loyal Oppo-| j sition. One of these was by the : honorable Mr. W. J. Walsh (Pla-j centia, opposition) and had to do I with a^.jrumor which he had heard • conceriijog a threatened law-suit be; tween The Star and the government,! over rumored non-payment by the latter of a bill due The Star. The j prime minister explained the little j epidode and then went on to make j some observations concerning The j Star, IVJr. Walsh, the opposition, and the government Position of The Star "As the honorable Mr. Walsh and other membersiof the opposition have ■on many occasions made reference to The Daily Star," he said, "and, i * I presume, are likely to do so during the coming session, I might inform the house as to the position of The Star in connection with this and < other matters , appertaining to the i government and government patron- i age. • "The Star is an independent newspaper supporting the principles of ] Liberalism, democracy and truth, lv ] has not aggressively pursued the i government for patronage from gov- t ernment departments, but solicits s patronage from the government with < THE STAR received more boosting in the House of Assembly yesterday. „ , First the house joined in-resoluting that it regretted that The Star had | published the article, in Saturday's issue, >about the little card party at f Government House, and then The Star came in for some very nice bouquets and compliments. The sitting might well have been termed "a Star sitting," for by the time the subject of The Star had been dropped there was little time in which to do any other business. Sir Michael Cashin. leader of the opposition, led off for his side. Sir Michael introduced a resolution of "indignant and forceful protest and emphatic condemnation of article in The Daily Star newspaper of Saturday last, entitled, "Gambling for a Graveyard." Sir <MichaelV resolution went on to state that the article constituted "a brutal and un-! called-for attack upon His Excellency the Governor." Calm and Peaceful Mr. J. R. Bennett, St. John's West, opposition, having'seconded it, lhtf-*i»i*«piwl»«ked for an immediate explosion. There was none. Instead, Mr. S. Samson (Twillingate, government) moved an amendment -to the effect that the house "regretted*' the publication of the article. Mr. A. Targett (Trinity,* government ( seconded the amend- ■-—. —,t I the same and no greater persistence (jthan it solicits from any mercantile . firm or others having job printing or advertising work to be done. » "While The Daily Star does not expect the present government to pay for printing at tJhe same exorbitant figure that the late administration [arranged with The Daily News Corai pany for payment for the printing of the Consolidated Statutes, The Star is not prepared to do printing work at any cheaper rate than it would do similar work under similar conditions for any business man on , Water Street. The Star charges the government the same margin of profit for its work that it would charge any other patron of its job printing,—no more and. no less. Not Party Hack "The {political support of The Star to the present government does not depend upon the question of whether lit receives government patronage or whether it doe* not, but solely as to whether the present government I pursues what The Star conceives to jbe the policy of Liberalism, democl racy and square dealing in connec! tion with public affairs." The prime minister told about the j difficult path which had to be trod jby a newspaper which kept true to its ideals, and went on to tell how | The Star had during the war been hampered and tied in every way possible."During the war The Star was! threatened with suppression on sev-j eral occasions," he said, "because of ; its criticism of the way that the gov- { ernment was handling certain militia I and other matters.. On one occasion 1 it was actually suppressed by the late administration, and the paper was republished only after an order of the supreme court was given removing the suppression. Position Was Just "I am quite* satisfied that with the knowledge and light of today any person who reads the articles in The Star~> for ,whichi that paper was threatened with suppression and was suppressed will recognize the truth and justice of the position taken. i "Some. years ago a prominent business advertiser threatened The , Star that if the editorial policy in . certain matters was not made to con', form more closely with his views he . would organize jan advertising boycott against it klong Water Street. , The management of The Star took the-independent position of informing that gentleman that the policy of The Star and its editorial comments were not governed by the wishes of jits advertisers, that advertiscr.entsj | were a business proposition in 'vhich I The Star gave value as an advertis-j ing medium, .but that under no cir-j cumstances would the policy of the J | paper in connection with political,) 'public, social or any other malteisi (be dictated to by the patronage of j ! advertisers or those who had job I printing to give. Long, Weary Wait "The latest attack on The Starj i was threatened by the honorable j member, Mr. .Walsh of Placentia, who said that he proposed to have' the editor of The Star arrested on a charge of criminal libel. As soon as the editor of The Star heard this! he made the necessary arrangements | for bondsmen, and he and his bondsmen have been waiting some weeks for Mr. Walsh to proceed. "The attitude of The Star in placing a claim against the government in the hands of its solicitors, who notified the government that action f> V\ m l-« »/ r» w»i nrnrnr * m -■ I : Prime Minister, Answering Questions From r Opposition Side of the House, Handles His j Critics Without Gloves and Paralysis Cash r mites With His Sarcasm and His Wit. t - .__  : MR. FOX IS SENT RIGHT TO SLEEP . BY PREMIER'S STRAIGHT HITTING n :  t Told That His Question Re Purchase of Sudbury H as Military Hospital is Sneakish in the Ex\ . treme and Embodies a Lying Insinuation Against The Squires Government. : would be taken if the bill was not ! paid, is the best evidence that it could give that it is not cringing for government patronage, that from no government it seeks favors on the one hand and has any feelings of fear on the other. "The only policy which guides the j editorial management of The Star is (the policy of fair play, the exposure of corruption, and the upholding of liberalise and democracy in this land. "The Daily Star day by day lays before the public facts and opinions in connection with matters of. public j importance as its editor sees them. It does not profess infallibility, nor j does it profess lo.be the sole custo-i dian of good judgment; but it does profess to lay before the public, a! straightforward and fearless opinion, irrespective of the prestige, popularity, wealth or influence of those who jmay be affected by its expression of | opinion. Such a paper, with such j principles, an enoj-mous power for j good in any country, and is a great power behind any government the policy of! which it is prepared to aup•port."Fully Awwered The prime minister answered other questions, and tabled a number of desired reports. His reply to Mr. C. J. Fox (St. John's East, opposition) was as follows: "Mr. Fox has been pleased to ask the following question: n mc government nas purcnasea L the residence of fylr; C. R. Thomp| »on, off Water Str jet West, as a military hospital; i ! so .for what figure; if Mr. Col jshaw was the 1 vendor thereof; if {jhe building, had not been previousn; offered to the government at a figfjre five thosuand dollars below the jfrice paid for it " and refused; and if the House is to understand that as;-.a result of this circumstance Mr. ; Collishaw has been given an opportunity to make ' five thousand dollars by merely acting as a middleman in this transaction. I "The first portiorf- of the question down the words "v»mdor thereof" is perfectly in order. "1 [he latter portion of the question is both impudent and discourteous and is intended by Mr. Fox to suggest .'to the public improper dealings on behalf of the gov ernment or Mr. Collishaw or both, in connection with; this property. The object of the:; question is to provide information', and it is an abuse of the privilege which the opposition has when * an attempt is made, such as has* been made by Mr. Fox in thisxas*:, to use a question for the purpose of imputing dis I honesty, or corrupt Vtaotkes. "Mr. Fox would got daVe to make j att{/ \such imputations tne j government or Mit> Collishaw over I his own signature itfjthe public-press but in this contemptible manner he \ uses his position as ji member of the | House of AssemblyJand his right to. ask questions for purpose of making base insinuations. Purpose of F urchase. "I will answer IVfe Fox's question fully. It was essentia that a military hospital be provide! for the treatment of soldiers wlp required, hospital treatment—offea class that could not be provided #t the general , hospital. A committee was appointed to make inquiries as to what properties in St. John's were suitable for the purpose and; what would be the cost of building. An offer "was made by Mrs. C. R. Thompson of » [ a large piece of freehold land off ; Water Street, together with her valu r able residence, for the sum of 35,---, I 000. Inquiries -were made as tp vaci- {ous other locations and costs, and ! the government decided that the ; most suitable would be the Sudbury I property. That was decided.upon af- i I ter a full conference with the mili- j . [ tajy. medical men and others. "Information was got from vari- i ous people as to the value of the I Sudbury property, and the govern j ment decided that the sum of $35,- | j 000 would not be an' unreasonable i price to pay, and that it would be | i cheaper to buy the property at $35,- j ! 000, seeing that the land was free- j j held and the building was almost j I new, than to attempt to build a new j ! hospital. In fact, from the opinions j submitted a suitable site could not ;be secured and a suitable hospital built for less than twice that figure. ' Negotiations. " "A committee of council, consist- I ing of the minister of marine and fisheries, the minister of agriculture and mines and the Hon. S. J. Foote j K» C., was appointed as a sub-committee of council to take up the mat; ter of the purchase of the property j The committee met and appointed! the Hon. S. J/ Foote* as their repre- i sentative to negotiate the purchase, i The value which the government; set upon the property for, the pur- j pose of Mr.' Foote's negotiations . "Mr. J- R- MacDonnell Insists Upon Answer to 1 i* His Frivolous Question and Gets it in a [ Shape That Staggers and Sobers Himi,. Opposition Wooden Heads Pulp Supply- \ INSINUATIONS AGAINST THE U.T. CO. > EXPOSED BY PRIME MINISTER SQUIRES 5 » ■" -• . j .  !! Leader of Government Asserts Company Has J No Customs Bonds Unpaid and Refuses tc Publish Names of Other Firms Who Have i Been Unable to Take Up Bonds at Jfljaturity | with Mrs. Thompson was a sum of $30,000. An effort was made to secure the property for $35,000. Ne- • gotiations were continued for a con siderable period of time, Mrs Thomp son standing firm for $35,000 and i the government making «-ji offei lof $25,000. Ultimately after some | negotiation Mrs. Thompson offered ito accept $30,000 and finally closed lat the sum of $29,000, at which ; price the property was considered tn excellent bargain. I "Mr. E. Collishaw was not the seller of the p.lperty, nor was he j connected directly or indirectly with I the purchase, nor did he make any I commission, fee, or receive an 3 i emolument whatever in connection j therewith. He was as much unknown ito the government or to Mr. Foote, I and had no more to do with the ! transaction than Mr. Fox did him! self. Price Was Cat "In the 1>; ■•:\t ol his speech , I Mr. Fox c\ 'eat sug< gestion the- d beer | previously o\, ._ . . . .crnmenl jat a figure $5,000' below the prict i paid for it and refused by the govj eminent. This portion of the ques| tion must have been drafted by Mr. 1 Foix with the deliberate intention !of leading the public mind to th< conclusion that there was something wrong in connection with the trans- ARE IN BAD CONDITION ii w HtwvW. F. Coaker, at Sydney, Tells of State of European Countries Following the War. GREAT BRITAIN ONE BRIGHT SPOT CYDNEY, N. S., April s—The couui tries of Continent?! Europe are in a frightful state of depression. Great Britain is the one bright spot over there and Canada is a paradise compared! with any of them. So declares Hon. W. F. Coaker, member of the Newfoundland government, who passed through the city today, en route home to St. John's after a tour of Europe, where he was seek\ ing new markets for the fishermen of the ancient colpny. Mr. Coaker said he could say noth' ing as to the results accomplished . by his mission overseas until he has conferred with the Newfoundland government. He sails by the steamer Kyle tomorrow from North Sydney. MENACE TO THE ALLIES :' - _ ' Much Depends On weeks Defeat i ing The Turks ' Constantinople, April s—The ' (security of the Allies occupying I Constantinople is believed by J some to be threatened, unless the Greeks are able to hold firmly the ' Turkish Nationalists. The Allies J are considering the employment! of their fleets to protect Mudania j { and Ismid. * j ■ m> ■ ' ."„■'.: < FATAL HUNTING TRIP ' __■ 1 Bodies Of Three American Sports [" * j men Are Found . * ; Syracuse, N.Y., April s—The * ! bodies of three Cortland hunters, ' I > missing since November 8, were ' < found at Long La we West to- * ! day. The men were W. C. Perk! ins, of Little York, A. D. Perfcias ; and Joseph Sharp, of Cortfemd. ' ». On the night of November 8, * ! their overturned boat was found ' in the third pond near Long Lake \ West. ] i j GREEKS IN RETREAT ■ ___________ » • Abandon Position Captured in Re' cent Offensive Constantinople, April s—Thi Greeks are evacuating Afiane Karshisapr, an important junction point on the Bagdad Railway, which their . southern army captured in the recenl offensive drive, it was announced here today. The Greeks in this sector are retiring to their old {positions. PRINCE NOT WOUNDED No Truth in Report Tino's Brother TMed in Battle Paris, April s—The Greek legation here today denied the reports that Prince Andreas of Greece, brother of King Constantine, had died i/Tom wounds received While fighting in Asia Minor. Prince Andreas has not left Athens, the legation declared. 1 m i ' REPRISALS CONDEMNED Church of England Prelates Protest to Lloyd George London, April s—Endorsing the Archbishcp of Canterbury's recent protest in the House of Lords against reprisals in Ireland, nine bishops and the heads of the principal Non-Conformist churches in Great Britain have sent a letter to the prime minister and the Irish secretary pleading for peace in Ireland. "The present policy," says the letter, "exposes us to misunderstanding and hostile criticism, even of the friendliest of the world's nations." . > m» ■ FORTY-ONE MEN IN IRONS Mutinous Crew of Steamer Manoa Brought to Providence | Providence, R. 1., April s—The steamship. Britannia is due to dock here tomorrow and has aboard fortyone men in irons, the alleged mutinous crew of the steamship Manoa. The Manoa was forced into Horta, bound from France to Montreal, in February, according to wireless information today from the American consul at Horta. The United States mail on the Manoa was rifled during the mutiny. The Scbastopo! sails for ports in Fortune and Hermitage Bays tomor row morning. j _______ The Portia arrived at Grand Bank at 6.05 p.m. yesterday. ii PURPOSE OF VISIT r|  it Viviani in United States to f Tell Americans of Posir tion of France as Result of the Great War. FIRST STATEMENT AS TO HIS MISSION ; WASHINGTON, April 4—Rene Viviani, former premier of France, in j a statement today to the Associated Press, said the purpose of his visit : to the United States was to sound public opinion in the United States and inform the people of that country of conditions in prance. The statement of the former French premier, was the first he has I made since his arrival in the United ' States in which the purpose of his mission was set forth. In connection with is conferences, M. Viviani said he had authorized no one to state the conclusion he had drawn, presumably having reference to despatches published abroad purporting td outline his views. ■ • »  LABOR DISTURBANCES Employment Of Non-Union Men At Boston Causes Trouble Boston, April s—Disturbances , again marked the employment of , non-unien men on building trades jobs to-day in East Boston and in the Back Bay. Groups of sym-' j pathizers with union men were involved in the disorders that necessitated the calling out of the < police reservists. .Bricks were thrown and revolvers were drawn , in the Bast Boston disturbance. Several arrests were made. s —« : i Viscount Astor Resigns < London, April s—The resignation of Viscount Astor as parliamentary j secretary to the minister of health is 1 officially announced. Viscount Astor a has been in Egypt and is reported to i be suffering from lung troube s —— c The schr. Rosalie Belliveau arrived t yesterday afternoon from Cadiz via Pkcentia, where the vessel has been harbored during the past month ow- p ing to conditions. «I RIOTING IN THE OLD COUNTRY FOLLOWS MINERS'STRIKE  — i Police Have to be Called Out in Fifeshire to Suppress Disturbances Caused When Strikers Refined to Allow Management of Local Mine to Keep Works Clear of Water. MOB ATTACKS THE POLICE STATION AND OPERATE UNDER THE RED FLAG Public Fear Strike Will So Extend As to Par; alyse Transportation System of Great Brit j am- Lloyd George Portrays Seriousness of j Situation to House of Commons. I • —■ ! LONDON, April . — Rioting broke out tonight in connection with the coal strike in Cowdenbeath, in Fifeshire, according to a Central News despatch from Dunferline. Police attacked strikers with batons but the strik ers hoisted the red flag and besieged the police station. The. situation is assumng a critical aspect, the despatch says. The trouble arose when the strikers captured- an under-Maf* ager of the- mine who refused to cease manning the pumps. The police responded to the call for aid and rescued the man,, but the police were surrounded by the miners whose forces had by this j time been increased to thousands.U. 8. After Coal Trade New York, April s—The United States bids fair to win the English coal export trade if the present strike in Great Britain lasts any length of time, said a statement issued here tonight by the Wholesale Coal Trade Association.-Foreign buyers have been much displeased by recurring troubles in British coal mines and subsequent interrupted shipments on contracts, read the statement. United States export ers are* very anxious to secure this business. i Country Anxious London, April s—The stoppage of all .coal mining in Great ] an accomplshed fact 11 and the question the public is con sidering anxiously tonignt is whether the paralysis wHI extend to the railways and other means of transportation and even spread among workers generally. Both Houses of Parliament discussed the situation today with ; out taking any steps to relieve it. The National Transport Work ers Federation conferred without reaching decision as to whether to call a strike in support of the miners. Three branches of the Triple Alliance, railwaymen, transport workers and the miners,will meet separately to-morrow, which pro- j fciises to be a decisive day. The! most serious feature of the posi-1 tion continues to be the threat of j, the ruin of mines by flooding.! The miners took strong measures i in several places today against ] the owners *ho &re protecrrng their property. There was a successful attack on the guardian of an important \ mine near Edinburgh, Scotland, a thousand miners marching to the pit head of the Oc«n collieries in Rhonda, Wales, and successfully demanding the with- J drawal of all officials working ' the pumps. Referees in several towns have refused applications * of striking miners for unemploy- * ment pay. J Union Conferences The four hundred delegates representing thirty-five unions and c half million workers. attended I the meeting of Transport Feder i ation, do not always coincide, and it is reported they are con, I! sidering other measures to helj I 1 miners as an alternative to strife ! ing, one measure being refusal U; j transport coal. Some scattering i unions in other trades are asking j whether they should permit th« use of stored coal in factories.- Reports of factories closins continue to be published, but ij iis impossible to estimate the ex) . ,-| j tent tp which the industry is sufr i feripg through the strike crisis | because temporary closing and i short time have been extremely 1 common recently. The attitude of the public and j workers seemingly is that this is ) as good a time as any for thresh ing out the vital problem of re duced wages, which the employ - ers\ content is necessary if th« country is to continue doing busj ness, and which the works insis' should be accomplished by gradual stages if it cannot be avoid Workers In Conference London, April s—Four h|m dred delegates - of the National Transport Workers' Federatgnij assembled here this  consider their attitude toward? . the miners' strike. The meeting was considered momentous as tti| transport workers form part oj the triple alliance and virtuallj hold the power of deciding whey ther the, nation shall be'plunged into a general strike. Decisions were looked upon ai specially important, as the Na tional Union of Railwaymen aa pear to have decided" to join th< miners. Premier On Outlook London, April s—Prime Minis ter, replying in the House of Con monB to-day in the debate on thi coal situation, declared thai what all wanted was to arrive1 aj paoification in a very dangeroui dispute, if it could be done in i way compatble with the interest) of the nation as a whole. Mi contended,1 however, that subs! dizing the great industry of taxa (Continued on page 8) (Continued on Page 8) CTHE CRESCENT THEATRE! 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