Wichita Daily Times. (Wichita Falls, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 13, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 28, 1912 Page: 1 of 8
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♦
FIVE O’CLOCK EDITION •
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,«
Wichita Wailn Times
♦ f EIGHT PAGES TODAY m ♦
VOLUME VI
WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS. TUESDAY. MAY 28th 1912
Number 13
GIVEN DIPLOMAS
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF
HIGH SCHOOL ARE HELD AT
OPERA HOUSE.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
• ♦
♦ Wilbur Wright Sinking. •
♦ ♦
• By Associated Press. ♦
♦ Dayton, O., May 28.—Wilbur ♦
• Wright la slowly sinking. His •
♦ temperature continues about •
• the 104 mark. Hla pulsation •
• gradually grows weaker and •
• the respiration more irregular. •
♦ r ♦
FIND BABY BOY
***************
4 WEATHER FORECAST +
IN FRONT YARD : Tonight fair and cooler in :
111 I null I I nnu ♦ in south portion; Wednesday ♦
HEALTHY INFANT IS LEFT AT
LUTHER THOMPSON HOME
EAST OF CITY.
• fair.
♦
♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
4 4 4
TWENTY- NINE IN CLASS
♦
**444
*%
Orations and Essays By Students and
(Address by Judgs John C. Kay
Are Delivered.
The largest class which has grad-
uated from the Wichita Falla High
School during the twenty-three years
or more since the foundation of that
' institution in this city appeared on
the stage of the Wichita Theatre last
—night, and at - the close—ofethercog
mencement exercises the young men
- and young ladies were presented with
their diplomas by Prof. T. L. Toland,
superintendent of public schools.
About 8:30 o’clock a good sized au-
dience composed mostly , of friends
and relatives of the graduates, was
called to order and an Invocation waa
delivered by Rev. J. E. Coe, pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
graduates were seated in a semi-cir-
cle on the stage, the girls being dress-
ed in white and the boys in black.
Bouquets of carnations and rosea were
carried by the former and a white
carnation was worn by each of the
latter. The boys In the class num
bered thirteen and the girls sixteen:
Following the invocation, a number
of undergraduate girls dressed in
white marched on the stage and to
the accompaniment on the piano by
Miss Ruth Trueblood, sang, "The Owl
and the Pussy Cat," by George In-
grahiam. They had been trained un
der the personal supervision of Mias
Alice Gordon, supervisor of music in
the public schools, and the manner
in which they performed reflected
credit not only on themselves but on
their teacher aa well.
"The United States Life Saving Ser-
vice" waa the subject of an essay
read by Miss Goldie Moore, the salu
tatorian. IB an interesting manner
she pointed out the work that is be-
ing done by the United States Life
Saying Service, and briefly sketched
• its history. She concluded by predict
ing even greater strides in the fu
ture than have been made in the past.
One of the moot entertaining num
bers on the evening's program was
an address by Laverne Sommerville.
who represented the class when he
- spoke on “The Causes of Success
and Failure," which was well deliver
ed and ahowed careful preparation.
The High School Choral Club next
sang a song entitled "The Bees. Al
though singing classes and chore
clubs have existed for some time In I
few of the ward schools, the fact that
the high scool Choral Club has onlj
been organised since the Christian
holidays led many not to place their
expectations too high regarding the
performance of the club. These
however, were agreeably surprised
and the success of the club during it':
abort career will do much toward:
bringing about a permanent organise
tion of a like nature in the Wichits
Falls High School.
Following the song by the Chora’
Club, Brack Hawthrone, one of the
graduates, discussed “Universal
Peace." He believed that the day o
■ Universal Peace la fast approaching
/and that modern inventions will sooi
/ have progressed to such a state that
war will become almost- impossible
HIs address was given careful atten
tion, and; he received a full share of
Y. M. C. A. BOYS TO HAVE
RALLY SATURDAY NIGHT.
Next Saturday night a meeting of
all boys interested in the summer
camp Will be held at the Y. M. C. A.
rooms and all who expect to join the
camp, whether members of the Y. M.
C. A. or not, are expected to be pres-
ebt. Refreshments will be nerved and
a general good time is promised. The
directors of the boys’ department will
hold a meeting tonight in connection
with the camp. :----- -
o
"FINDINGS IS. KEEPINGS"
STEAM ROLLER IN
WORKING ORDER
BOLT IS TAKEN
BY TAFT FORCES
ALLEGE THEY WERE NOT TREAT-
ED FAIRLY BY EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE. .
TO BE RUMP CONVENTION
* **************TITAAi nrnn
* * |||ANIL KtrU
♦ New Senatorial Candidate. ♦ us fllllV II LI VI
♦ ---♦
• By Associated Press. ♦
• Sherman, Texas, May 28.— ♦
• Matt Kellmer of Fayette, •
♦ Rockwall county today entered. ♦
♦ the United States senatorial ♦
• race, sending his application •
• to O. L. Bailey, county chair- • -
♦ man. ♦
*********++****
MADE PUBLIC
SENATE
COMMITTEE FLACES
MUCH OF OLAME UPON DE.
h CEASED CAPTAIN.
CREW MEMRERS BLAMED
MAY COAX RAIN
WITH DYNAMITE
POST’S PLAN WILL POSSIBLY BE
TRIED NEAR THIS CITY
Mr. and Mra. Thompson Have Already
Adopted Infant and Will Provide
Home For It.
“It’s a baby and we're going to
keep It” answered Mrs. Luther Thomp-
son to her busband’s question this
morning when she came into the
house tenderly carrying a bundle af-
ter a trip out to the yard gate to in-
veatisate ancobleck-ihex-bad-seen-ly-
ing there for more than an hour.
was a baby—a vigorous and
healthy boy apparently about a month
or six weeks old—and there has been
a mighty stir in the Thompson home
today in the making of a wardrobe
for the youngster. Relatives in town
were telephoned the news of the find
early this morning and soon automo
biles were hurrying out to the Thomp
son home about a mile and a half
WILSON FORCES TAKE COMPLETE
CHARGE OF STATE CONVEN- *
TION AT HOUSTON.
FOR DELEGATES-AT-LARGE
Caucus Names Slate-Sheb-wilnams
—w-Sayn All. Dategates’Should. Besom
Wilson Msn.
SOON.
HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFOL
Method Consists of Firing Large Num-
ber of Small Dynamite Charges.
- Many Favor Experiment.
C. W. Poet’s plan of exploding dy-
namite to make rain may be tried at
Wichita Falls. Parties are now in-
vestigating to find whether the dyna-
mite necessary for the experiments
can be secured within a reasonable
time. If it can be secured money
will be raised by subscription for the
experiment. It is estimated that from
$600 to- $1,000 will be necessary for
the experiment.
Mr. Poet claims to have produced
rains st Post City at a coat of one-
fourth a cent an acre. His plan to
lire off several thousand pounds of
dynamite. His method Is to distri-
bute the dynamite at intervals in a
string several miles long a hundred
pounds at a place. Each hundred
pounds ia divided into two pound lota
east of the city with infant garments.
Later Mr. Thompson came to town
himself and visited several dry goods
stores wherefrom he carried great
bundles. Never a waif met with a
+
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
*
+
4
warmer welcome or found a better ♦
home than this.
♦
Summary of Convention
Called at noon
which are fired one after the other. t ..
it la reported that Mr. Post has made and triendly.
Mrs. Thompson sighted the bundle
when she first got up this morning
and called Mr. Thompson's attention
to it but they concluded it was only
a piece of paper blown there by the
wind last night An hour later after
Mr. Thompson had finished ‘ some
chores at the barn and was preparing
for breakfast they saw that the ob-
ject was still lying by the gate and
Mrs. Thompson decided to Investi-
gate. A few seconds later she came
running toward the house and an-
nounced the nature of the object and
also declared the family's intentions
in connection therewith.
The baby was clad only in a thin
slip and was lying on a small blanket.
It had evidently been there several
hours and when picked up by Mrs.
Thompson was purple from the cold.
It appeared to be enjoying the situa-
tion, however, and when brought in
to the kitchen fire grew very sociable
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦ ♦ ♦
♦
Solid Wilson delegation to •
Baltimore. •
Unit rule to apply. •
No second choice for Texas ♦
delegation.
Platform making
to develop fight over:
repeated experiments at Post City
covering a period of several years
and that he has never yet failed to
produce a good rain.
RATHER HAZY OUTLOOK
IN BASEBALL CIRCLES
The identity of the child's parents
is a mystery but they evidently knew
something about the Thompson fam-
ily and that the baby would find a
good home there, for there are not
better folks anywhere than
Thompson and his family.
Thompsons aren't going
Mr.
The
to
Roosevelt Faction Meeta and Pro-
ceeds to Business As the Regular
Convention.
By “Associated Press.
Fort Worth,, Texas, May 28.—The
expected bolt developed at the Re-
publican convention today.
The first certain move toward a
ACCIDENTALLY KILLING
AT VICTORIA MONDAY.
Ry Associated Press.
Victorts. Texas, May 28.—Lowrie
Jones, 17 years old, shot and Instantly
killed here last evening by Dynia
Oliver Shooting was purely accident-
al, being but another of the “unload-
ed" gun type of tragedy. The dead
boy was the son of James J. Jones.
split between the Lyon Roosevelt end
MacGregor/Faftuforees-in the-Stateron ,
Republican-convention —today came 4 ========
whof-the.Tatt crowd-alten meeting
in a small hall and Appointing a
steering committee to determine the
holding of a second convention, ad-
journed to a larger ball to await the
formerly district clerk of this county
report.
The delegates marched the streets
shaded by a band, past the hall where
MAY OUST MADERO
AS PEACE MOVE
♦
the Roosevelt men stood waiting for
11 o’clock when the convention was
to open. As the Tatt men passed the
ball, the Roosevelt men called out
"You may have the baud, but we've
Hit OFFICIAL HEAD SAID To HAVE
BEEN PROMISED TO END
, STRIFE.
expected •
• got the band-wagon."
Indorsement of Kandell's bill •
to prohibit public officials ac •
cepting corporation fees. ♦
Initiative,
recall.
referendum and •
Free raw material.
+
By Associated Press.
Houston, Texas, May 28.—The
Democratic State Presidential oonven
tion here today open at 12:30 with
the formal admission of the Harmon
forces that Woodrow Wilson would
have Texas' forty delegates at Balti-
more.
Sheb Williams, chairman of the
executive committee, called the con-
vention to order. He said "Governor
Wilson has carried Texas and la en
titled to a solid delegation, committed
to his nomination. There are none,
I hope, who will be sulkers or ob-
structionists."
He urged the Wilson men to write
Into the platform the specific princi-
ples on which the Wilson campaign
In Texas was urged.
Richard H. Mayes of Corsicana was
elected temporary chairman by ac-
The Taft followers say the open
strife resulted from the fact that the
executive committee has seated 175
delegates without saying who they
are or submitting their credentials.
H. F. MacGregor says Taft men were
not allowed to see the list of these
delegates. It wss then determined,
the MacGregor faction says, that a
separate convention should be con-
sidered. A steering committee was
then appointed.
The first action taken by the Taft
forces was to adopt a minority report
complaining that the executive com-
mittee seated delegates over protest
and without their having an opportuni
ty to know who they were. Unfair
action in Beating Bexar, Dallas and
Harris county delegates was alleged.
C. T. McDowell was made temporary
OPPOSITION IN CONGRESS
Members Who Are Unfriendly to Exe
cutive Reported to Be Plotting
With General Orozco. -
By Associated Press
Chihuahua, Mexico, May’ 28.—Gen.
Orozco’s promise to recognise the
present National Congress in return
for assistance in removing Madero
from the head of the government may
be made the basis for negotiations
for peace in Mexico. Unofficial ad-
vices have been received st headqusr-
ters that an emissary representing a
controlling part of Congress is now
on his way here to confer with Oros
co and his counsellors.
It has long been the plan of the
C. T. McDowell wax made temporary revolutionists to oust from power not
chairman. Adjournment was to 2:30. only the president and his cabinet
~ * but congress as well. It Is no secret
There were about 300 men In the Taft
meeting.
The Roosevelt men met, effecting
temporary organisation. R. E. Haney
of Hempstead was elected temporary
chairman. This convention was much
more largely attended than the Taft
convention. Cecil Lyon made a speech
attacking MacGregor and his follow-
ers. '
The majority report of the executive
that a large part of the deputies and
many of the senators are not in ac-
cord with" Madero. According to in-
formation here this clique has agreed
to propose to Orosco that If be will
agree to recognise Congress they will
remove Madero.
clamation. The Wilson caucus
nominated the (following delegates-at-
larke: | , committee on roll call was adopted.
applause.
The next number on the program
the valedictory by Miss Ola Mac
Hamlin, was especially good. She
chose as her subject, "Domestic
- Science in the Public Schools," and
in her discussion of the theme, she
went into detail regarding the estab
lishment and spread of the movement
"The Swing Song" was next ren
Anered’ by the Girl’s Chorus, after
which the address of the evening war
made by Hon. J. C. Kay, wbo spoke
• in part as follows: .
"What a glorious thing it is to be
young. When we are young Nature
holda out her hands to us and cries
’Thia way. Madam; this way, my
Lord.’ Art spreads her jewels before
you and says, ’Take these and take
me.’ Honor’s voice Is heard inviting
you to earn and wear her laurels.
"What then la the reason for this
popularity of youth? It la just this;
only that you have more days work
* wrapped up in you. You are in fav.
. or with the world and with nature
for the same reason that folk put
more value on a young horse.
"I trust that you are filled with
pride. Pride ia about the only thing
Three Franchisee About Ready to Be
Surrendered—Few Teams Re-
elving Proper Support. c
The end of the first month of ths
Texas-Oklahoma league session finds
it pretty wobbly as to finances, rather
'op-sided as to club standing and rath-
ar bssy as to future, but still doing
business at the old stand, neverthe-
less. The recent decision to end the
arst part of the season on June 10
has revived the fainting hearts of
some of the club owners and there in
still hope.
Owners of three clubs—Greenville,
McKinney and Ardmore—are under-
stood to have expressed a willingness
to sell their franchises. None are
receiving much In the way of support
and are understood to be losing mon-
ey.
Individual club finances, for that
matter, are all in the same fix. Bon-
ham is said to be doing pretty well,
and Sherman is not as bad off as
some, but for the most part the clubs
are losing money. In towns the size
of those in this league there are not
make any search for the baby’s par-
ents for fear that if they found them
they might- want to get the baby
back. He has already been named
Luther after bls foster father.
RAYNER POINTS MORAL
IN TITANIC DISASTER
Calls Attention to It * Exampit' of
Speed Madness.. Draws Lesson
From IL
By. Associated Press.
Washington, D. C., May 28.—Die
cussing the Titanic disaster in the
Senate today, Senator Rayner of
Maryland denounced the United
States admiralty and navigation laws
as “an Incongruous collection of an-
tiquated statutes, which should be
repealed and re-enacted so as to meet
the necessities of ocean Intercourse
of the present day.” Senator Rayner
dwelt at length on the “lesson of re
ligious faith" that the Titanic disas-
ter should have taught and asserted
that the country needs “severe les-
sons that will strengthen the pillars
and altars of its faith."
On this point the Senator said:
. many who are able to get off on week-
lay afternoons, while the necessity
for going outside the city limits on , , . . ...
Sunday also tends to keep the patron- tying th" ordinances of God and the
“We are to a large extent today de-
age down.
The outlook would be much worse,
however, if there were not several
towns anxious to enter the league.
Paris la said to be trying to sever
her connection with the South Cen-
tral organisation. Gainesville would
like to "come back" and Hugo, Okla-
homa, has been trying to get hold of
a franchise ever since the league
was formed.
sooner we awake unto a realizing
sense of our responsibility the better
it will be for the spiritual elevation
of the country. We are running mad
that I disagree with the ministers
about. I hold it to be a virtue. Why
should you not be filled with pride?
The torches that have been bonded
down to you by your teachers were
some of them, lighted et altars that
wers burnlag before the deluge. That
(Continued on pose p
Locally, there has not been much
improvement in the support given the
team. The last stay at home with
with two tail-end teams, but even that
fact does not excuse the miserable
patronage given the game here.
z Fort Werth Cattle
By Associated Press.
Fort Worth, Texas, May 28.—Cattle
receipts 6200; steady, fifteen to twen-
ty-five lower; 8.80 to 7.88; cows 3.25
to 6.00; bulls 3.65 to 4.50; calves
4.50 to 7.00; hogs 500 head. Tope
7.85, bulk 7.40 to 7.45.. Sheep ten to
18 cents higher.
with the lust of wealth, and of power,
and of ambition. We are separating
society into castes with fabulous for-
tunea upon the one side and destitu-
tion and poverty on the other. It
takes a terrible warning to bring us
back to our moorings snd our senses.
We are abandoning -the devout and
simple lives of our ancestors and the
fabric of our firesides to weakening at
the foundation. If thia disaster
teaches no lesson or points no moral
then let us pass it by with stoical In-
difference, until the next disaster
comes, and in the meantime let the
carnival go on. May the heartren-
dering scenes upon this night of an-
guish and of woe give us faith and
land us beck to ths altars of our
fathers. I will not rehearse the
agonies of this midnight sacrifice. I
(Continued on Page Eight)
Cone Johnson of Tyler, T. W. Greg-
ory of Austin, Chas. Culberson of Dal-
las, T. H. Ball of Houston, M. M.
Crane of Dallas, Marshall Hicks of
San Antonio, T. M. Campbell of Pal-
estine, R. L. Henry of Waco..
Alternates-at-large—M. M. Brooks
of Dallas, A. S. Burleson of Austin,
J. W. Stephens of Fort Worth, T. B.
Love of- Dallas, M. E. Footer of Hous-
ton, W. M. Rice of Houston, T. F
Garrison of Tintpeon. J. C. McNealus
of Dellas was elected temporary
secretary.
All resolutions will be referred to
the committee on resolutions without
debate.
Committees were named on resolu-
tions, platform and credentials, follow-
ing which a recess waa taken until 4
p. m., while the committees sre at
work.
The democratic state executive com-
mittee this morning recommended the
selection of Richard Mays of Corsicana
as temporary chairman of the con-
vention. Two contests were disposed
of and the -temporary roll made up.
The delegation headed by Archie Farr
from Duval county and that headed by
Claud Hudspeth of El Paso county
were ordered on the convention’s tem-
porary roll. The Lavaca county con-
testing delegation failed to materialize
and the other waa seated.
State convention leaders predicted
this morning that the convention might
last two days on account of the ex-
pected platfrom struggle. Of the fac-
tional contests the one moat discussed
was the supremacy of the opponents
of Senator Bailey. Although the jun-
ior senator’s wonted influence waa
lacking it was evident today that pos-
sibly the most intense interest of the
convention would' hang on what plat-
form plank should be adopted wth any
bearing on Mr. Bailey's political prin-
ciples.
(Continued on Page 4)
A poll showed 169 counties represent.
ed by 171’ votes. Seventy-nine coun-
ties responded. Perfecting of per
manent organisation was scheduled at
3 o'clock following the routine.
IOWA PARK VOTERS FORM
MORRIS SHEPPARD CLUB
Membership of Ninety le Enrolled in
Behalf of Interests of Texarkana
Candidate.
Ninety voters at Iowa Park have
signed the membership roll of the
Morris Sheppard Club at that place.
There are about 120 voters in the box
and probably a few Sheppard men
have not been seen. The members
include: J. B. Winfrey, W. H. Gwinn,
Gale Lowrance, D. K. Harbour, J. C.
Ralston, W T. Phillips, R. W. Corn
forth, A. B. Womack, J. A. Tanner.
ROOSEVELT APPEALS TO
SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS
win Be Unable to Make Speeches In
That State Me Bays, But Urges
- Progressive Vote
By Associated Press We*
Sioux City, S. D., May 28.—The
Sioux Falls Press today prints a tele-
gram from Col. Roosevelt - advising
that he cannot come to this State be-
fore the State primaries on June 4
on account of bls Memorial Day
speech at Gettysburg, but makes an
appeal to’the people inwhich he says:
"Events at Chicago will show that
either I will bo nominated or a re-
actionary will be. Any progressive
who votes for another la merely giv.
ing aid to the reactionaries.”
DEMOCRATS WOULD
DEPOSE GEN. WOOD
Washington, D. C., May 28.—The
army appropriation bill was reported
D. B. Smith, Guy Akers, H. B. John-______4 -._________
son, N. L. Lowrance, C. V. Harris, 8. with anti-administration amendments
8. Fields, C. E. Fields, C. E. Davis,
back to the senate by the conferees
E. B. Beasley, W. P. Beasley, J. W.
Flemans, R. M. Payne, 0. W. Welle.
H. L. Terhune, W. U Browning, W.
C. Williams, Orville Mills, W. W.
Overby, C. M. Moyers, Claude Reeves.
C. E. Trauatman, O. Trautman, Z. O.
Alfie, W. T. Roberts, C. Beasley, Rus-
sell Ralston, Ed Terhune, J. W. Mat-
thewa, Locke Lowrance, J. F. Crosby,
R. F. Abernathy, J. P. Sunday, G. T.
Hester, R. A. Crowell, W. L. Conwill,
J. O. McKeivery, J. AG Deatnick, J.
H. McCarty, I. N. Robertson, J. C.
Gains, J. F. Love, John,Growe, L. C.
Denny, Harry Zink, O. T. Smith, John
T Bell, George Reasus, O. H. Critea,
J. C. Hill. L. E. Dunn. R. Smith, J.
M McClenden, J. L. Beloate, S. R.
Munden, J. B. Sisk, Jay Alberding, J.
A. Putnam, H. B. Fields, T. E. Hale,
C. H. Clark, J. R. Pace, J. C. Hines,
which would legislate Major General
W. F. McKinney, E. A. McCleskey,
GAS FLOW IS STRUCK , Robert R. Brumaker, George Mills, J.
IN NAVARRO COUNTY.
Wortham, Texas, May 28.—At 7.30
o'clock Monday morning the city of
Wortham came into possession of an
enormous gas well. It was being
sunk by Claude Witherspoon of Cor-
sicana for the city In search of arte-
sian water. The gas is dry and is
shooting up into the air at least 1M
feet high. The roar of the blast can
be heard for four miles and hundreds
of people are flocking to the scene.
N. Smith, J. H. Green, J. M. Smyth,
W. P. Rogers, W. 1. Hodges, J. W
Morgan, T. A. Tucker, B. N. Fergu-
son, J. F. Boyd, 1. R. Harper and W.
H. Johnson, W. C. Heath.
Chisago Grain
By Associated Frees.
Chicago, IIL. May 28.—Wheat cloo-
ed nervous at 1.11 1-4 for July, gain
of 3-8 Corn switched to the up grade,
close steady, July 3-8 higher at 75
6-8.
Wood out of, office as chief of staff
and would leave the location and dis-
tributing of military posts, to a com-
mission of retired army officers and
two members each of the senate and
house committee on military affairs
The amendment which would re-
move General Wood also would pre-
vent either Brigadier Generals Croz-
ler or Funston from ever attaining
the office of chief of staff. s
No officer who haa not spent ten
years In the line with troops before
becoming a brigadier would be eligi-
ble. Many army officers charge that
the fight between the line and the
staff which recently resulted in the
retirement from the army of General
Ainsworth is responsible for that pro-
vision. .
The report was not acted upon In
either house today. A sharp conflict
over the amendments is anticipated.
COFFEE INJUNCTION
. IN NEW YORK DENIED.
By Associated Press.
New York. May 28.—Judge Lacomb
this morning field the decision of the
federal circuit court judges denying
the motion for an Injunction to re-
strain the alleged Brasilian coffee va-
lorization combine from parting with
950,000 baga of the coffee in Brooklyn
warehouses. . . . 7
Lack of Discipline is Severely Crit-
icised—New Maritime Regula-
tions Arc Urged.
By Associated Press.
Washington, D. C., May 28.—The
report of the special Senate commit-
tee which has been Investigating the
Titanic holocaust was made public
today.
- Blame for the Titanic disaster is
chargenble-dlracthin the failure of
Jha dei Cantalnsuylh, 1. besd. US-gm
peated warnings of icebergs ahead
but responsibility for unnecessary
loss of life-must be shared by Captain
Lord of the steamship Californian,
through his disregard of distress sig-
nals. This is the finding of the Sen-
ate committee which investigated the
sinking of the Titanic, as prepared in
a comprehensive speech delivered by
William Alden Smith, of Michigan,
cahirman of the committee.
Senator Smith declared that re-
sponsibility also rests upon the Brit-
ish Board of Trade, "to whose laxity
of regulation, and hasty Inspection,
the world is largely indebted for the
awful fatality," in denouncing Cap-
tain Lord, of the Californian, the
Senator said the Titnale’s distress
signals were plainly seen from the
decks of his vessel a short distance
away.
America will leave to England the
chastisement of those guilty asserted
the Senator, and he quoted British
Isw to show that Captain Lord might
be prosecuted for a misdemeanor.
Other conclusions presented, in
brief, were as follows:
Before the Titanic departed on her
maiden voyage there were no suffi-
cient tests of boilers, bulkbeads,
equipment of signal devices.
Officers and crew were strangers
to each other and not familiar with
the ship’s implements or tools, and
no drill or station practice took place
and no helpful discipline prevailed,
The speed of the Titanic was 24 1-2
miles an hour at time of the accident,
although officers of the Titanic had
been advised of the presence of ice-
bergs by the steamships Baltic, Ame-
rika and Californian.
Passengers were not advised of
danger, although President Ismay of
the White Star Line, who was taking
the vessel’s maiden voyage, was in- ,
formed. No general alarm was given
nor any organized system of safety
undertaken.
Of the 1,324 passengers and 899
members of crew on board, there waa
room in lifeboats for only 1.178 per-
sons, and because of lack of orderly
discipline the boats took off only 704
persons, 12 being rescued from the
water.
Officers of the White Star Line
battled with the truth" after receiv-
ing information from their Montreal t.
office Monday morning following the
accident.
Senator Smith condemned "anti-
quated shipping laws and overripe ad-
ministrative boards" and asked that
all nations act together in shipping
reforms. "New laws," he saffi, "will
best testify our affection for the
dead."
Captain Rostron, of the rescue ship
Carpathia , was praised by Senator
Smith and he urged that Congress
recognize his valor.
At the outset, Senator Smith defend-
ed the course of his committee in
holding British subjects to secure
their testimony without delay, and
briefly answered criticism of bis lack
of nautical knowledge.
"Our course was simple and plain
to gather the facts relating to this
disaster while they were still vivid
realities,” he said. “Questions of di-
verse citizenship gave way to the
universal desire for the simple truth. -
It was of paramount importance that
we should act quickly to avoid Juris- s
dictional confusion and organised op-
position at home or abrosd. We, of
course, recognized that the ship was
under a foreign flag; but the lives of
many of our own countrymen had
been sacrificed and the safety of many
had been put in grave peril, and it
was vital that the entire matter
should be reviewed before an Am-
erican tribunal if legislative action
was to be taken for future guidance.
“Without any pretension to experi-
ence or special knowledge of nautical
affaire, nevertheless I am of the op-
Inion that very few important facts
which were susceptible of being,
known escaped our scrutiny Energy
is often more desirable than learn-
ing, and the Inquisition serves a use-
ful purpose to the State.
“In the construction of the Titanic.’*
continued the Senator, "no limit of
coet circumscribed their endeavor and
(Continued on Page Seven.)
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Donnell, B. D. Wichita Daily Times. (Wichita Falls, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 13, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 28, 1912, newspaper, May 28, 1912; Wichita Falls, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1663116/m1/1/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas State Library and Archives Commission.