AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1922, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN *ND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

LOS ANGELOS, Feb. 17.

While the press Is full of sensational stories of blackmail plots, love, jettlousies, etc., as the cause of the Taylor murder, the authorities are still without a definite clue; »' After days of questioning Mabel Normand and Mary Miles • Minter aird other friends of Taylor, the nearest approach to a tangible clue is the story of ai garage man who supplied petrol to a fashionably dressed woman who had driven furiously from the city the same woman having been observed in the neighbourhood of Taylor’s house about the time of the crime.

The Attorney-General has received a letter purporting to be from Edward Sands, Taylor’s missing valet, who is wanted by the police, offering to surrender and slear up the murder if a charge of embezzlement made by Taylor a yea r ago is withdrawn. The letter says that Sands did not commit the murder, but he knows who did.

The District Attorney immediately issued a statement, promising that if Sands surrendered and established his innocence, steps would be taken to waive the old charge.

AFTER A CLUE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 18,

A Los Angelos message states latest development in the hunt for Taylor’s murderer was an investigation conducted to seek the taxicab driver who has disappeared since the afternoon of the day of Taylor’s murder. The police declared the taxicab driver left home with a, thirty-eight calibre revolver, which was the same style of weapon that fired the bullet killing Taylor. The police Sfty they found three cartridges in the driver’s room exactly like the one that shot Taylor. The also announced the driver answers the description of the man seen hovering about Taylor’s home on the evening of his murder. FOUR POWER TREATY

WASHINGTON, February 18. While it is authoritatively learned

President Harding sees no necessity or justification for making American reservations to the Four-Power Treaty, the “Irreconcilable” Senators are perfecting their programme, with the object of attaching reservations to the pact, and this with the possible support of a majority of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. Senator Brandagee, who has been one of the most bitter opponents of the Wilson peace programme, has announced his intention of demanding reservations to the pact. These will stipulate: Firstly, that the United States is not under any moral obligation to use force under Article Two of the Four-Power 'Treaty; secondly, that no international agreements or adjustment made through the conferences of the signatories shall be binding, without the consent of Congress; thirdly, that, if any one of the four signatory Powers violates the Treaty, the others are automatically released from all its obligations. Senator Johnson is a]so unfavourable to the Naval Treaty, he questioning Britain’s right to fortify Singapore, and Japan’s right to fortify her naval bases, ivhile the Treaty specifies that America can have no fortifications east of Hawaii. TEX RICKARD. NEW YORK, February 18. Tex Rickard (who is undergoing trial for ill-treating girls)' lias resigned as matchmaker and president of the Mansion Square Gardens 'Coy. Mr John Ringling, c ircus owner, has succeeded him.

AMERICAN POLITICS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 18.

Opposition to the sales tax to raise honns revenue is increasing. Due to the unpopularity of the scheme the Republican leaders arc suggesting several schemes to substitute for the Sales Tax. Representative Fitzgerald to-day devised a plan proposing to increase the adlv'antagejs iof Government insurance for ex-soldiers thus providing a compromise on the cash bonus. Fitzgerald also advocated the issuance of treasury certificates bearing a four-quarter interest instead of a cash bonus eert'ficates, would be retired when the condition of the country justified. PLUNKETT’S VIEWS. NEW YORK, February 19. Sir Horace Plunkett sailed for Cherbourg to-day. He said many Americans asked whether Irishmen were not raising a doubt regarding their capacity for self-Government. “I do not think the critics understand the extraordinary conditions wherein Ireland exists. The American struggle for freedom was much retarded by a difference among the Americans as our struggle differences are among ourselves. Everything is bound to g 0 wrong before righted, but there is no alternative to aelf-Government. Any attempt to restore British rule would result in a prolongation of the troubles.