Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 43, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 7, 1921 Page: 1 of 10
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MERCEDES BOY
IN HAITIAN PRISON
Malcolm Riess Imprisoned After
Defending Employer’s Property.
State Department Interested in His
Release.
Because he killed a negro in self
lefense after his assistant had fled,
Malcolm Riess, son of Mr. and Mrs.
G. K. Riess of Mercedes, was at last
reports confined to jail in the island
of Haiti, and faces trial before a ne-
gro court and a negro jury.
Malcolm Riess is a graduate from
Mercedes High School, entering
Bucknell College after completing
his preparatory work. 'Later he left
college and entered the employ of
one of the large sugar companies
operating in the black republic. It
was while driving away thieves from
the property of his employers that
.the incident occurred which led to
(his incarceration. It seems that
| when th^ thieves were discovered,
Riess’ assistant fled, and in the en-
suing fight they were driven off,
leaving one of their number mortally
wounded. The wounded man, in an
ante mortem statement, is reported
to have said that Riess killed him
in self defense.
Mr. Riess immediately surrendered
himself to the commander of the
nearest body of United States Ma-
rines, and after a careful investiga-
Ition by the United States military
[authorities, was released, whereupon
re was taken into custody by the
faitian officials and incarcerated.
Jl efforts to date to secure his re-
lease ha* proved unavailing.
The Unwed States Senators from
iTexas, Culberson and Shep-
herd were informed by the father of
[he boy of his predicament, and at
fence took the matter up with the
fetate Department and with the com-
Imandant of the United States Ma-
Irine corps, Major General Lajeune.
■General Lajeune wrote Senator Cul-
jberson that he had dispatched a radio
message immediately to the com-
mander of the Marine brigade sta-
tioned on the island, and that the
Marines would keep in close touch
with the situation. The State De-
partment is also watching develop-
ments veiiy closely, and it is expect-
ed that yWng Riess will soon be re-
leased.
persons closely in touch with re-
lations between the United States
and Haiti express the opinion that
(the Haiian authorities will do noth-
ing to antagonize this government
as they are very anxious that the
Marines be removed from their island.
Several petitions to that effect have
been sent to Washington and a sen-
atorial commission is at present in
the island investigating conditions
PRESIDENT HARDING TO RE-
CEIVE MERCEDES GRAPEFRUIT
,ET$ IN HARLINGEN
kt an ample supply of cars to
[t the coming vegetable crop of
Galley had been assured by
Sis of the Gulf Coast Lines, was
report made by Manager J. J.
I Elliott of the Rio Grande Growers
(Exchange at the meeting of the Val-
iley Chamber of Commerce held at
Harlingen last Friday, Dec. 2nd. Mr.
Elliott stated that he had been told
(by the officials that the Gulf Coast
[Lines would have the full coopera-
tion of both the Santa Fe and the
Illinois 9*tral railroads insuring
the rapid transportation of the crops
as well as securing an ample sup-
ply of refrigerator cars.
A resolution was adopted stating
the great and irreparable loss sus-
tained by the Valley as a whole and
of every organization in the Valley
occasioned by the death of Col. Alba
Ileywood of San Benito.
The matter of extending the Old
Spanish Trail to run from the Hi-
.dalgo County line to Laredo was
taken up by the Chamber of Com-
merce, as well as the proposition of
having an exhibit at the Cameron
mty Fair this week.
[arroll SAimaker of Alamo w§.s
Mnted a»iember of the Budget
Ihniittee.
A Republican President and some
twenty odd Republican United States
senators will have their Christmas
brightened by the receipt of a crate
of grapefruit a piece .grown in Dem-
ocratic Hidalgo County. However,
the curse will be removed in this in-
stance by the fact that the fruit was
grown in the orchard of one of the
Valley’s most steadfast Republican’s
Albert H. Kalbfleisch of Mercedes.
Mr. Kalbfleisch was in receipt of
a telephone message Wednesday af-
ternoon from Hon. R. B. Creager of
Brownsville, personal friend of the
President, who requested that suf -
ficient grapefruit be reserved by the
Mercedes man to supply the President
and twenty favored senators.
Besides filling numerous individ-
ual orders, Mr. Kalbfleisch is plan-
ning on shipping a solid car of the
golden fruit some time next week.
HIGHWAY REPRESENTATIVE
INSPECTS HIDALGO ROADS
F. M. Johnson, an engineer from
the State Highway Department was
in the county the latter part of last
week for the purpose of inspecting
the work now being done on the
road leading from Edinburg to the
Brooks County line. He expressed
himself as being highly pleased with
the manner in which this work is
progressing.
While in the county, Mr. Johnson
went over the east and west road
of the county to determine what
changes in the present route wil
have to be made.
He stated that all roads receiving
State and Federal aid must have at
least a sixty foot right of way. The
present right of way is only 50 feet
and the additional 10 feet will have
to be secured.
^The State Highway Department
insists upon the elimination of all
sharp and unnecessary turns, replac-
ing the sharp turns with what is
known as the “S” curve.
LOCAL TDURIST~
CAMP PROPOSED
Rotary Club in Conjunction With
Business Men Investigating
Sites and Possibilities
VALLEY CLUB WOMEN
MEET AT EDIN6UR
State President Mrs. Lee Joseph and
Other Notables Speak. Disarm,
ament ConferenceEndorsed
With an attendance of over five
hundred representing the thirty-
eight member clubs in the Valley,
the Rio Grande Valley Federation of
Womens Clubs held its regular
semi-annual session in Edinburg on
Tuesday of this week.
The feature of the convention was
the attendance of Mrs. Lee Joseph,
president of the State Federation of
Womens Clubs, who has been in the
Valley for the past week. Mrs. Jo-
seph addressed the assemblage on
“Our Awakening to Power and Re-
sponsibility,” showing how the wo-
men of the country were becoming
a power for good in the United
States. Rev. E. B. Paisley of McAl-
len gave a very enjoyable and' in-
structive talk on the “Value of the
Mexican as an American Citizen.”
Announcement was made by the
Scholarship Committee that the schol
arship for this year had been award-
ed to Miss Dorothy Calahan of Ed-
inburg, now a student at the Uni-
versity of Texas. This scholarship
is awarded annually to some Valley
girl who intends to become a teach-
er, and is in the nature of a loan,
to be repaid by the recipient as
soon as possible after securing a
position as teacher.
Resolutions were adopted by the
Federation pledging support to the
Disarmament Conference now in pro
gress at Washington, and telegrams
R„ R. Commssioner Mayfield Advises
Installation Within 30 Days.
Hearing Cancelled
G. A. Taft, general manager of
of the American Railway Express
Company with offices in Hous-
ton, Texas, has authorized the estab-
lishment of free express delivery
and pick-up service in Mercedes
within the next thirty days, and has
so informed the Railroad Commission
of Texas. In a letter to C. N. Camp-
bell, superintendent of the express
company at San Antonio, Mr. Taft
states that he understands this
service can be put on in Mercedes
economically, and that if this is the
case, he desires that it be installed,
and that the hearing before the Rail-
road Commission set for the 13th of
this month be cancelled.
Subsequent advices received from
Commissioner Earle B. Mayfield ad-
vised that the hearing scheduled
for next Tuesday has been canceled,
and that word has been received
from General Manager Taft that the
service asked for by Mercedes will
be installed within the. next thirty
days.
The telegram from Mr. Mayfield
announcing the prospective installa-
tion of the service is as follows!:
“Have just received a letter from
Mr. Taft, general manager Ameri-
can Railway Express Company ad-
vising pick-up and delivery service
will be established in Mercedes with-
in next thirty days, hearing before
Commission set for December 13th
stating the position of the Federa- has therefore been dismissed. Am
The Mercedes Rotary Club is con-
sidering plans whereby in conjunc-
tion with the business men of Mer-
cedes, a tourist camp may be es-
tablished here R. F. Kern who
left on Tuesday of this week for
Waco and Dallas, expects while away
to confer with the owner of the
site formerly occupied by the Bap-
tist Church as to the possibilities of
securing this land for the camp, j
With the awakening interest through
out South Texas in good roads, and
the prospects of a hard surface road
through Hidalgo County in the near
future an avalanche of tourists is
expected to throng the Valley. The
majority of these will be automobile
tourists, and some accommodations
are necessary for their comfort. A
beautiful palm guarded tourist camp
has already been established in Mc-
Allen which has drawn considerable
comment and favorable publicity
throughout the State, a picture of
the camp being published in the il-
lustrated section of last Sunday’s
Houston Chronicle. Pharr, Alamo,
San Juan and Harlingen each all
ready have camps or are making-
plans for their immediate establish-
ment
That a well drained convenient and
beautiful free tourist camp will
prove a great asset to the City of
Mercedes, is the opinion of those who
are interesting themselves in its es-
tablishment.
tion on this matter were dispatched
to Texas congressmen. A telegram
was also sent to the traffic mana-
ger of the Gulf Coast Lines urging
that crossing signals be installed
along the branch line from Harlin-
gen to Sam Fordyce for the purpose
of giving adequate protection. The
Civic Department of the Federation
was authorized to sign a pledge as-
suring the cooperation of the mem-
ber clubs in beautifying the route
of the old Spanish Trail.
The question of securing a trav-
eling library for the benefit of the
Valley cities was discussed and it
was decided to accept the proposition
made by the state. The details of
the plan are already being worked
out in Harlingen.
Miss Kittie Washington of Home
Economics Department of Texas A.
and M. College and Miss Ross of the
Dallas Y. W. C. A. were present and
addressed the convention.
The next meeting of the Federa-
tion will be held in Donna this com-
ing May. Lyford, as the newest city
represented in the Federation, as
well as the smallest, announced that
plans were bing made for the enter-
plans were being made for the enter-
city.
writing Mr. Taft requesting service
to be established sooner if possible.
Am always glad to serve the people
of the Valley whenever occasion af-
fords. If Texas Commission has its
original rate-making power over
the railroads that it once enjoyed we
could give you people still greater
relief. Command us when we can
serve you.”
(Signed) EARLE B. MAYFIELD,
Commissioner
MISSION DEDICATES
NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL
Americanization Program to Be Ob-
served With Gov. Neff and Cullen
F. Thomas as Speakers
Thursday of this week will be ob-
served as Americanization Day in
Mission, the occasion being the ded-
ication of the new South Side Gram-
mar School building. Among the dis-
tinguished guests attending the cer-
emony are Governor Pat M. Neff,
Cullen F. Thomas, and Mexican Con-
sul fY. M. Vasquez of Brownsville.
The opening event in the program
AMERICAN LEGION ELECTS
OFFICERS FOR ENSUING YEAR
The regular meeting of the J. A.
Garcia Post of the American Legion
on Wednesday night of this week
was largely occupied with the elec-
tion of officers for the ensuing year
and in the discussion of plans and
policies. It was decided to hold a
post dance on the night of Dec. 29.
and a committee composed of Oscar
Roman, H. L. Schmyalzaried, L. T.
Acker, II. L. Stebbins, and C. V.
MacVean was appointed to make the
necessary arrangements.
Officers were elected as follows:
Post Commander, Ralph L. Buell;
Vice Commanders, R. T. Drysdale and
Martin H. Pugh; Adjutant A. W. Ers-
kine; Finance Officer James Howze;
Chaplain H. L. Schmalzaried; Ath-
letic Officer Don Warner; Surgeon
D. L. Heidrick; Sergeant at Arms
Lenton T. Acker; additional members
of the Executive Committee, B. O.
Snell, A. 0. Payne, H. C. Sampson,
Oscar Roman, Charles Buck.
-o-
FARMERS MEETING DISCUSSES
THE TOMATO SITUATION
The major portion, of the meeting
of the Farmers Cooperative Society
last night was given over to a dis-
cussion of the tomato situation in the
Valley, with particular regard to the
poor carrying qualities being dis-
played by the Valley tomatoes this
year. In the course of the discus-
sion it developed that in years pre-
vious this trouble had not been en-
countered with such serious results
as has shown up this fall.
It was stated that tomatoes grown
on new land which was in cultiva-
tion for the first time, displayed bet-
ter carrying qualities than did those
grown on land which had been farm-
ed for a number of years, indicating
that cultivation had taken some es-
sential component out of the soil.
Various varieties of tomatoes are
to be tested by the Association, and
an analysis of the soil made in an
effort to determine just what rs lack-
ing for the proper needs of the to-
mato plant.
-G---——
SEED LOANS TO FARMERS IN
NORTHWEST BEING REPAID
VALLEY TO LAREDO
ROAD PROPOSED
Starr and Zapata Counties Interest-
ed in Extension of Old Spanish
Trail—Cameron Co. at Work
With the voting of Hidalgo Coun-
ty’s bond issue, interest is being
manifested in all neighboring coun-
ties in the good roads. Cameron
County announces that an election is
to be ordered very soon for the pur-
pose of issuing sufficient bonds to
complete their concrete road from
Brownsville to the Hidalgo County
line. Work is now in progress be-
tween Harlingen and La Feria, the
present dirt road being widened and
graded, eliminating some of the mud
holes which have made that road
tween Harlingen and La Feria. The
turns at Bixby and at the old stage
coach station the other side of La
Feria are being eliminated the new
right of way following the railroad
tracks.
The Old Spanish Trail Association
announced that elections are soon
to be called in Live Oak and Jim
■Wells counties. A petition has been
received from Stare and Zapata
counties asking that the Old Span-
ish Trail be extended from the Hi-
dalgo County line to Laredo, and
both counties have pledged immediate
calls for election providing the As-
sociation lends its cooperation.. Bond
elections in these two counties will
give a completed road from Browns-
ville to Laredo, and a great tourist
loop from San Antonio to Browns-
ville, thence to Laredo and return
to San Antonio. .
IN MERCEDES
Members of the Hidalgo County
Bar Association were entertained
with a banquet by the Mercedes Bar
on the night of Friday, December 2,
at the Coy Apartments. About forty
members of the Bar Association were
present. Invited guests included
Sheriff A. Y. Baker, District Clerk
T ,, „ , Charles Fortson, and W. D. Holland
In the face ot another unfavorable anfl Ralph Eue„ „f the Mercedes 'Trib
crop year farmers of the northwest
une.
Following a social hour at the of-
fices of Gause and Kirkpatrick the
assemblage repaired to the banquet
table where a bountiful seven course
turkey dinner- was enjoyed. Inter-
spersed between the courses, toasts
were given by all presnt, Fred E.
Bennett of Mercedes acting in the
role of toastmaster.
Scheduled toasts included the “ad-
dress of welcome” by Judge Jno. P.
Gause of Mercedes: “The benefit of
the reasonable doubt” by B. F.
Strickland of Mission; “A Lawyer’s
Road to Wealth,” by Walter G. Weav-
CULLEN THOMAS TO SPEAK
IN CITY PARK SATURDAY
Wwing to a change in the schedule
Cullen F. Thomas was unable to
meet with the Mercedes Rotary Club
at their weekly luncheon on Tuesday
of this week. However, he will
make a public address in the City
Park Saturday afternoon at four
o’clock, the subject of his discussion
being “The Soul of America.”
will be the Americanization Parade
Among those attending the conven- j which will take place at 2:30 p. m.
ion from Mercedes were Mesdames! included in the parde will be the
E. E. Evans, J. J. Elliott, G. K. Watt- j American Legion, school children, |
son, J. J. Murray, Margaret King,'and members of the various clubs ■
Perry Perkins, and Miss Nannie Met Iand lodges of Mission. The parade |
Buck. I wiH l36 reviewed by the Governor, j
-o- Mr. Thomas, and Consul Vasquez, be- \
NEW SIDING COMPLETED |sides the heads of the various or-j
BUT NOT ACCEPTED I Sanizations in the parade.
__ ; The dedication program will be-;
The siding leading to the new i and include addresses ;
. ,. . . by the Governor and Senor Vasquez.!
loading sheds of the Mercedes Farm-! - __. '
v | In the evemng at 7:30 Cullen F. i
ers Cooperative Society has been j Thomas will deliver an address,
completed but is not yet in use,! “The Soul of America,” in the High j
owing to the fact that it has not been' School auditorium,
accepted by the railroad authorities! At 9:00 °’clock a Nejfc-T.homas
It is expected that this will be done!banquet wiU be given in honor of \
one or two days and the So- ^bese guests and Consul Vas-
ciety able to make use of this added auez‘
convenience The recePtion committee and guests |
' Work has been progressing stead -! be served luncheo1 at r:0°
ily on the siding intended for nse of °'c'ock > Third Year Home
the Acker, Jones & Saladino Com-
are gradually repaying the govern-
ment the loan for seed advanced
them early this year as an emer-
gency measure made necessary by
three years of total or partial crop
failure in drought stricken areas.
Total collections up to November 15
amounted to $286,000 according to
returns reported by representatives
of the United States Department of
Agriculture, who are handling the
work at the temporary field office
established for the purpose at Grand
Forks, N. Dak.
About 14,000 farmers received
government aid' in the form of er of Danna. „The Lawyer as a Pa_
oans from the two million dollars triot,” by R. N. Bounds of McAllen
made available by Congress for their and «The Puture of tbe Valley Law_
relief. As a result of three succes- yer,” by County Judge George P.
sive bad crop years financial condi- Brown of Edinburg.
tions among the faimers in the I Late in the evening the social-
stiicken legions have been very se- bour was turned into a business ses-
nous, many of them had exhausted j sion, at which time Attorney Daw-*'
their ci edit and wer e unable to pur-; son 0f Mission urged that the Bar
chase seed for planting crops this Association take steps looking to the
year. The Federal Government came
to their relief with a credit of two
million dollars to be applied by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture.
Within 20 days after the passage
of the act the department had per-
fected and organization and began to
make loans to the farmers. In re-
turn the farmers gave promissory
notes on the crops to be grown from
the seed payable . .ovember 1st
immedite. relief of the congested con-
dition now prevailing in the District
Court. Mr. Dawson stated that in
his opinion justice was being per-
verted in many instances due to the
fact that the docket ifras so crowded
the cases were extremely slow in
comin gto trial which influence many
not to take their cases into court. He
suggested that the Bar Association
work for the establishment of another
District Court for Hidalgo County
Economics Class.
nlTtPd 11 T Tbab!y bG C°m" | MEMBERS OF VALLEY PRESS
a veek oi ten days. TO VISIT CAMERON CO„ FAIR
EPISCOPAL SERI ICES | On Friday of this week the Valley
ANNOUNCED I OR MERCEDES Press Association will be entertain-
- I ed by the Harlingen Star at Har-
Word has been received in Mer- j lingen and after dinner be the guests
cedes that Rev. W. Johnson, vicari of the Cameron county Mid- Winter
of All Saints Church in San Benito j Fair.
will hold services in Mercedes on ■ Dr. Bizzell president of Texas A,
the second Sunday of each month & M. College will address the Asso-
was unanimously
in the evening, until a successor to
Rev. McIntosh is appointed.
The first of these'‘services will
be held next Sunday at 8 o’clock;
chtxn. at the dinner and efforts are
being made to secure the presence
of Governor Pat M. Neff for the
occasion.
It might be kind not to censure a
man for leaving during church until
you learn whether he walks in his
sleep.
Maybe you have noticed the in-
crease in beauty contests since the
women have become voters.
Christian Auxiliary.
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Christ-
ian Chiirch met in the kindergarten
room Dec. 6, for the monthly mis-
sionary meeting. Mrs. W. M. Bailey
had charge of the lesson, the sub-
ject being China, each member pres-
ent took part and an interesting
program given.
r
Early in October repayments began alone,
coining in. And the work of collect-; A resolution expressing the sorrow
ing the loans has gone steadily for- j 0f the Bar Association in the death
ward since, in spite of the fact that 10f Assistant County Attorney James
the runners are in but little better |H Wolfe, and extending the sympa- .
position now than they were last j thy of the ASiSociation to the family
year.| The crops have been only of Mr> Wolfe
fair this year, with partial failures I adopted
in many places, and as a result the! A ,. ,
. .... . Adjournment was taken at a late
borrowers are m financial straits! bQnr
again.
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Holland, W. D. & Buell, Ralph L. Mercedes Tribune (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 43, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 7, 1921, newspaper, December 7, 1921; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth637915/m1/1/: accessed July 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.