Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 21, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 1917 Page: 1 of 6
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Official Organ of the Unit
Marketing System, the
Farmers’ Sales and Pur-
chasing Agency of the
Rio Grande Valley
e
Devoted to the Advance-
ment of the Agricultural
and Commercial Interests
of the Rio Grande Valley
Subscription Price, $1.50 f
VOLUME IV
MERCEDES, TEXAS, HIDALGO COUNTY, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1917
NUMBER 21
COTTON GINNING SEASON STARTS TODAY IN MERCEDES
MERCEDES
FIRST BALE
r
Grown by Teofelo Reyes
on Lieneman Farm
BROUGHT IN MONDAY
Second Bale Grown By Same Man,
Brought In Tuesday—Both Will
Be Ginned Today
Mercedes’ first bale of cotton of the
new crop will be ginned today. The
first load, weighing 1,720 pounds, was
brought in Monday and the second
load, weighing 1,575 pounds, arrived
Tuesday. It was grown by Teodor
Reyes on the land of Mr. Henry Lie-
nemann, a short distance from town.
All was activity at the gin Wednes-
day, getting in readiness for the cot-
ton season which is now practically
at hand, for the two bales already re-
ceived are only the forerunners of
what we may confidently expect to
be at least fifteen hundred to two
thousand more.
It all depends on the weather now.
The crop is in fine condition and no
insect pests have as yet bothered it in
any way. It is generally believed that
if the present dry weather continues
the outturn may be described as a
bumper crop.
•The cotton market is now above 26
cents per pound and the sale of the
crop at present prices together with
the cotton seed will mean something
like a million dollars more in circu-
lation among the farmers of the Mer-
cedes canal.
Cotton Acreage Is Reduced
NEW ORLEANS, La.—The Times-
^icayune cotton report, taking the
belt as a whole, says there has been
moderate decrease of acreage, about 5
per cent. Conditions are exceedingly
spotted, almost ideal in some districts
and almost calamitous in others. Plant
is small but vigorous. As a rule culti-
vation has been thorough. Possibili-
ties^of development are consequently
-"great. Labor is scarce in many sec-
tions.
Cotton Goods Trading Quiet
NEW YORK.—Trading in cotton
goods was quiet during the week.
Spring underwear lines were open-
ed this week at price advances rang-
(Continued on page 5)
ROSEVELT MIXES
WITH MR. GOMPERS
Union Labor’s Part in East Saint Louis
Riots Was tlie Issue
NEW YORK.—Denial by Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, that trades un-
ions had had any share in the East St.
Louis riots which was met by a vehe-
ment denunciation of Theodore Roose-
velt of the murder of helpless negroes,
precipitated a tumultous demonstra-
tion at a mass meeting held in Car-
negie hall here in honor of the Rus-
sian mission to the United States.
Mr. Roosevelt was interrupted by
Mr. Gompers, who rose from his seat
and approached the former president.
“Why don’t you accuse after an in-
vestigation?” the labor leader de-
manded.
With the words he returned to his
seat. Roosevelt strode over to his
chair and exclaimed:
“Mr. Gompers, why don’t I accuse
afterwards? I’ll answer now, when
murder is to be answered!”
With that the colonel brought down
on Mr. Gompers’ shoulder his open
left hand which he had raised above
his head. At this juncture many of
the men on the platform leaped to
their feet and there was a storm of
hisses, jeers and “boos” from all parts
of the house.
When Mr. Roosevelt could make
himself heard above the din, he went
on:
“I will go to any extreme to bring
justice to the laboring man, but when
there is murder I will put him down.”
When the former president had fin-
ished, Mr. Gompers, deeply stirred,
started to rise to make rejoinder but
was pushed back into his seat by those
who sat near him while Mayor Mit-
chell, who presided, pounded vigor-
ously with his gavel in an effort to
restore order. As the excitement sub-
sided, Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Gompers
found themselves sitting side by side.
Mr. Gompers had declared ••that
many laboring men are in much the
same position as Russians under the
old regime, and read a telegram he
said he received from the president of
the Federation of Labor of Illinois.
This message purported to explain
thei origin of the East St. Louis riots.
It stated that instead of labor unions
being responsible for them, they re-
sulted from employers enticing neg-
roes from the South to the city “to
break the back of labor.”
“In the past we have listened to the
same excuse from those in authority
in old Russ'a for the fearful' outrage
on the Jews. I care not a snap of my
finger for a telegram from the head
of the labor unions of Illinois. Let
there be the fullest investigation into
these murders.”
It was at this point that the inter-
(Continued on page 4)
EMBARGO PROCLAMATION . ISSUED ‘
I
WASHINGTON, D. C.—President1 Wilson issued his long-expect-
ed embargo proclamation and made it plain that if the United States
is to feed the world she is going to control' the business with an iron
hand.
The embargo includes every basic commodity in the list of things
that may not be exported without the license of the secretary of com-
merce. The president specifies every country in the world, allied, nue-
tral, and enemy, as countries to which the embargo commodities may
not be shipped.
But primarily the embargo was issued to check the export of
food stuffs to neutrals adjacent to Germany. The president is deter-
mined that no more sustenance shall reach our enemies through these
mediums.
The proclamation does not mean that none of the commodities
may be exported. They may be exported only in such quantities as:
1— To relieve the stringency and high prices in our own country.
2— To effectually prevent the neutrals from sending any pos-
sible surplus into Germany.
3— To provide, so far as possible, an equable distribution of the
food, fuel and iron supply among the nations of the allied world.
The first effect of the proclamation will be the immediate organi-
zation in London of the buying council for the allies. This council
will proceed with the purchase of wheat through one central agency
and its allotment to the countries of the world outside the central
powers.
The council immediately will establish an agency in the United
States for the purchase of our wheat. It is probable that the federal
food administration will be asked to perform this function under the
direction of Herbert C. Hoover.
NEUTRALS PROTEST STEP
This step was not taken except with strenuous opposition both
from the neutrals and England. The president has finally been con-
vinced, however, that the instrument of control must be placed in the
hands of the United States.
If, as the neutrals allege, their present imports from this coun-
try are no more than enough to make up something like their own
needs, in view of the cutting off of other sources of supply, like Rus-
sia and Roumania, they will have to show this to the exports council.
And the exports council will have to be “shown” beyond the
shadow of a doubt. This will be difficult for the neutrals to do. It
is known here that the government’s agents have sized up the situa-
tion abroad in a very thorough manner. The best opinion is that the
recent figures made public as to the amount of foodstuffs finding its
way through neutrals into Germany were very conservative.
PROMOTIONS
FROM THE 16th
Regt. Sgt. Maj. Blanken-
ship Is Now Major
REMARKABLE-ADVANCE
Many Other Non-Commissioned Offic-
ers Promoted to Higher Rank-
List of Advancements
To be promoted from a non-com-
missioned officer at a salary of $60
per month to major at a salary of $300
per month is a most unusual occur-
rence. It is so unusual as to be re-
markable, and if anything of the kind
has occurred before, we do not know
of it.
Yet that good fortune came to Regi-
mental Sergeant Major Jacob A. Blan-
kenship, headquarters company, Six-
teenth United States cavalry, Merce-
des, a few days ago. Alomst immed-
iately after receiving his commission
as major, he was ordered to proceed
to San Antonio and report in person
to the commanding officer, where he
has been assigned to duty in the ad-
jutant general’s department.
Major Blankenship enlisted as a
private in the First cavalry from the
state of California some nineteen
years ago. From private he was pro-
moted to squadron sergeant major in
that organization. When the Sixteenth
regiment was organized last year he
transferred from the First to the new
regiment and was assigned to the’
headquarters troop as regimental
sergeant major, the highest rank a
non-commissioned officer can hold. He
applied himself diligently to the study
of military science and last August
stood an examination at Fort Sam
Houston for the rank of major in the
officers’ reserve corps and as is self
evident, he won out.
Major Blankenship came to Merce-
des with the Sixteenth, arriving here
on the 22d of last February. During
his stay here, he and his estimable
wife as well, have made many friends
among the citizens of Mercedes, who
will read with real pleasure of his
high promotion.
Major Blankenship was relieved as
regimental sergeant major by Squad-
ron Sergeant Major Arthur Matz, whp
himself has just been notified of his
promotion to a second lieutenancy.
Lieutenant Matz expects to be reliev-
ed of duty as regimental sergeant ma-
jor by Squadron Major Drake, Second
squadron, Sixteenth cavalry, now at
Brownsville.
PROMOTIONS TO SECOND
LIEUTENANCY
Telegraphic instructions from the
adjutant general at Washington were
received at headquarters here Monday,
advising that the following named
non-commissioned officers of the Six-
teenth cavalry had been appointed
temporarily second lieutenant, caval-
ry, with rank from June 30:
Headquarters Troop — Squadron
Sergeant Major Arthur Matz, Ser-
geants Clyde Austin, Robert C. Smith,
Otto Seidel.
Machine Gun Troop—Sergeants L.
Grulich, John Edwards, S. Stanton, H.
Langbine.
Supply Troop—Regimental Supply
Sergeants Henry Schlaegel and Peter
Lang, Sergeant Rufus Britton.
A Troop—First Sergeant J. Hagan,
Sergeant Jas. Beddinfield, Sergeant
John Chapman, Corporal Clyde Rob-
ins, Sergeant Bert Morse.
B Troop—Sergeants Geeo. Kreuder
and C. McCall.
D Troop—Sergeant Peddicord.
E. Troop—Sergeants Frank Schil-
ler, John Boyce and Jos. Bourgeeois.
F. Troop—Sergeant John Tassick.
G. Troop—Sergeant Leonard Nosek.
H. Troop—Corporal John Mathews,
Sergeant W. Curry,
I Troop—Sergeants Joseph Malloy
and H. Crocker.
K Troop—Sergeant G. Blanchard.
L Troop-—Sergeant David Mims.
M Troop—Sergeants John Aldridge
and C. Dugger.
Quartermaster Corps Sergeant Geo.
Nash.
With Field Artillery
The following non-commissioned of-
ficers of Sixteenth cavarly have been
appointed temporary second lieuten-
ants, field artillery, with rank from
June 30 :
Supply Troop—Sergeants Thomas
Wyatt and John Fitzpatrick.
Machine Gun Troop—First Sergeant
Harry Miller.
B Troop—Sergeant J. Murphy.
C Troop—First Sergeant Geo. Lam-
ar.
G Troop—Sergeant Leslie Groover.
K Troop—Sergeants Alburn, Pot-
ter and Wm. Gillott.
M Troop—Sergeant Robt. Palmer.
Headquarters Troop—Squadron Ser-
geant Major J. F. Unsolt.
MERCEDES AVIATORS;
DONNA BOY IN FRANCE
Young Crawford and Treon to San
Antonio, Champion Is With
Pershing
Mercedes stands to have at least
two representatives in the aviation
corps of Uncle Sam.
About three months ago young
Dwight Crawford, familiarly known
as “Skeeter,” came to his dad, pro-
prietor of the A. G. Crawford garage,
and asked permission to go with Joe
Champion’s stock train to Fort Worth,
where Mr. Champion was shipping
some cattle to market.
The lad, who is but 18 years of age,
secured permission of his father to
go, and left. The next thing Mr.
Crawford heard of his boy he had en-
listed in the aviation corps at San An-
tonio. That was about three months
ago.
Last Sunday Roland Treon, who has
a large number of colonies of bees,
but between times of gathering and
marketing honey, puts in work at the
Crawford garage, left, ostensibly for
a visit to San Antonio.
Yesterday Mr. Crawford was sur-
prised to receive a telegram from his
helper, whom he thought was gone
but on a short visit, asking for recom-
mendations, as he had decided to ap-
ply for enlistment in the aviation
corps of the United States army.
The aviator has a high-up profes-
sion and a high-up salary after he
learns how. But as a general propo-
sition it is the most dangerous branch
of the entire military service. We
wish both boys good luck.
Donna Boy at ttlie
Front in France
Young Andrew Champion, aged 18,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cham-
pion of Donna, is at the front in
France, The parents of the young
man were advised of this by the gov-
ernment at Washington Wuesday.
With the information came also a
placard from Washington on which is
printed “There is a man from this
house fighting in France.” The card
has been affixed to the outer wall of
the Champion residence and is point-
ed to with patriotic pride by his par-
ents.
Young Champion enlisted in the
marine corps a little less than four
months ago. At the time of his en-
listment he was attending the St. Louis
college at San Antonio. At the call
to arms he decided to join the army
and obtaining the consent of his par-
ents, did so, choosing the marine
branch of the service.
Others who have joined the colors
from Donna, are: Walter Snow, L. D.
Snow, Henry Snow, Harold Vertress,
Ed. W. Vertress, Forrest Hester, Tom
I. Hester, R. J. B. Lister, Ryan Col-
lier, S. A. Noorwood, Chas. Christensen
and Jack Gibson.
-:<$>--
BONE-DRY FAILS TO
PASS IN THE SENATE
WASHINKTON, D. C. — Bone-dry
prohibition failed to pass the senate.
By a vote of 52 to 34 the lawmakers
refused to include beer or wine in the
class with whisky. v
Immediately afterward the senate
passed a drastic amendment by Sena-
tor Cummins forbidding not only the
importation of whisky into the coun-
try during the war, but also the with-
drawal of any bonded distilled spirits
for beverage purposes. -This was adopt
ed by a vote of 54 to 30 and later by
separate votes.
CARRANZA ISSUES DRY
ORDER FOR CHIHUAHUA
CHIHUAHUA CITY, Mexico —By a
decree, to be effective at once, manu-
facture and sale of intoxicant liquor
of any kind in the state of Chihuahua
is forbidden under severe penalties.
The decree was issued under direct or-
ders from President Carranza and is
considered a war measure in further-
ance of the efforts to stamp out ban-
ditry and revolution in this, the larg-
est of the border states.
Pecos County Prohibition
FORT STOCKTON, Texas.—Practic-
ally complete returns from the prohi-
bition election held in Pecos 'county
Saturday show 264 prohibition and 136
against.
-<$>-
SEIZE SPECULATOR’S POTATOES
DATE FOR FEDERALIZING
NATIONAL GUARD NAMED
All Units of National Guard to Be
Drafted into Federal Service on
August 5—Army Will Total Half
Million Men on that Date.
WASHINGTON, D. C.—All units of
the national guard will be drafted in-
to the federal service on August 5, in
order to preserve the rank of the offi-
cers, and in doing so the department
will make a legal distinction between
“calling” the guard to the federal ser-
vice and “drafting” into the federal
service.
Under the former status the guard
could be used anywhere in the United
States only, but when drafted it may
be used in or outside the United
States.
The units will be called July lt> and
25 and August 5, and the formality of
drafting will be on the last given date.
Officers rank according to date of
their commissions issued by the gov-
ernors.
The idea of drafting the entire
guard on the same day would bring
all national guard officers into the
federal service at once, thus leaving
precedence in rank just as it was when
they were members of the state or-
ganizations..
The guard needs 106,880 additional
men to bring it to war strength, and
the impression prevails that the num-
ber lacking when the selective draft
is placed in operation will be supplied
by those called under the national ar-
my act. The same will be true of the
regular army.
At this time there are 705,000 in the
army, navy and national guard, but
when additional recruits are secured
and the selective draft applied the de-
partment estimates that on September
1 the total immediately available for
service in all branches of the coun-
try’s fighting force will be 1,580,000^ a'
The department has extended rec-
ognition to a number of national
guard units, the organization of which
has been authorized but not complet-
MILLION AMERICAN
WOMEN TAKE STAND
ed, in order that the state might re-
ceive full credit for all their men un-
der arms in computing the quota of
the states due for the national army,
or that portion of the fighting force
to be secured by the selective draft,
that total to be 650,000.
The most notable national guard in-
crease under this recognition is that
of 7,845 men and twenty officers for
the state of Texas.
All Southwestern states now out
will be called to the federal, service on
August 5 and drafted into the service
on the same date.
Will Command Home Troops
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Men chosen
from the officers’ training camps for
commissions in the new national ar-
my, says the adjutant general’s office,
will be assigned to command troops
from their own states under the lead-
ership of regular army officers.
A vigorous campaign is being made
for young blood to fill the ranks of the
new series of training camps to open
August 27. The department has put
out a definite call for more men be-
tween the ages of 25 and 31, or even
younger.
President Will Not
Draw the Members
s
WASHINGTON, l^U, July 11.—Sec-
H^C.,
aker,
retary of War Baker, it was stated
here today, will probably draw the
numbers whidh will tell who will be
drafted, if he does not, then it will
fall to..Che lot of the highest officer.
The rumor that President WTilson
.himself would do the drawing was
denied. The plan to have a blind-
folded boy, the son of a member of the
cabinet, has been abandoned because
of the criticism that might have fol-
lowed.
THE BLACK HAND
AND LABOR TROUBLES
Have Signed Pledges to Follow Food
Conservation Policies Under
Administration
Responsible for Two Deaths and Prop-
erty Loss in Chicago
Thirty Thousand Pounds Destroyed by
Officers in New York Because They
Were Withheld From Market
NEW YORK. — Thirty thousand
pounds of potatoes were destroyed
here by the health authorities with the
result that the Florida shipper, whose
name was withheld, suffered a specu-
lative setback.
When the vegetables of exceptionl-
ly fine quality reached here from the
South the shipper ordered his commis-
sion agents to keep them off the mar-
ket until higher prices prevailed.
These did not materialize and when
the shipper ordered the potatoes sold
health officers condemned them as
rotten.
WASHINGTOON, D. C.—A million
American women, it was announced,
have signed pledges to follow the food
conservation directions of the food ad-
ministration. All will be enrolled as
actual members of thei food adminis-
tration and will be sent instructions
on household economics.
The first list of directions sent out
to be posted in the kitchens of women
who have joined the administration,
are:
One wheatless meal a day. Use corn, oat-
meal, rye or barley bread and non-wheat
breakfast foods. Cut the loaf on the table,
and only as required. Eat less cake and pas-
try.
Eat beef, mutton or pork not more than
once daily. ^Use freely vegetables and fish.
At the noon meal serve smaller portions and
stew instead of steaks. Make made dishes of
all left-overs.
Save the milk. The children must have
milk. Use buttermilk and sour milk for cook-
ing and making cottage cheese. Use less
cream. Save the fats. Use butter on the
table, but not in cooking. Reduce use of fried
foods.
Use less candy and sweet drinks, but do
not stint sugar in putting up fruit jams ; they
will save butter.
Save the fuel. Use wood when you can
get it.
Fruits and vegetables we have in abun-
dance. As a nation we eat little green stuffs.
Double their use and improve your health.
Store potatoes and other roots properly and'
they will keep. Begin now to can or dry all
surplus garden products.
General rules—Eat less, serve smaller por-
tions, preach the clean plate; don’t eat a
fourth meal; don’t limit the plain food of
growing children; watch out for the wastes
in the community. Full garbage pails in
America mean empty dinner pails in America
and Europe.
-<*>-:—
SHOULD HOLD THEM AWHILE
NEW YORK.—Emma Goldman, and
Alexander Berkman, were found guil-
ty of conspiracy against the selective
draft by a jury twenty minutes after
the case was submitted to it. Federal
Judge Mayer sentenced them to serve
two years in the penitentiary and to
pay a fine of ten thousand dollars
each. After serving their sentence
they are liable to deportation.
CHICAGO, 111., July 11.—Three
bomb explosions in widely separated
sections of the South Side last night
took a toll of one man dead and an-
other proUabiv fatally injured. Scores
of buildings were damaged and doz-
ens of families were driven into the
streets. Two of the explosions are
laid at the door of the “SlackT-
and the other to labor troubles, ac-
cording to the police.
-<*>—-
Sergeant Accidentally Shot
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, July 11.—
Sergeant L. Hirsch, of Company D,
Fifth engineers/ was shot through the
head at the engineer barracks shortly
after six o’clock last night. The shoot-
ing was accidental.
From what could be learned, how-
ever, it seems as if one of the mem-
bers of the company was taking his
gun from the holster when in some
manner it became tangled in the leath-
er and was discharged. Sergeant
Hirsch was a resident of New York.
-<»--
NEW YORK. — Charles Chaplin,
moving picture comedian, has been
signed by the First National Exhibi-
tors’ Circuit for a series of eight pict-
ures for which he will receive $1,075,-
000, according to an official announce-
ment given out here.
? EMBARGO ON THESE
AFTER JULY 15th
Coal, coke, fuel oils, kerosene,
gasoline, food grains, flour and
meal, fodder and feeds, meat and
fats, pig iron, steel billets, ship
plates and structural shapes,
scrap iron and scrap steel, ferro-
manganese, fertilizers, arms, am
munition and explosives.
Fenalty
Seizure of vessel carrying any
such goods, fine of not more than
$10,000 or imprisonment not
over two years or both, for in-
dividual making attempt to ex-
port.
Applies to every country in
the world, allied, neutral and
enemy.
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Hoyt, L. T. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 21, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 12, 1917, newspaper, July 12, 1917; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1062901/m1/1/: accessed June 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.