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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1916)
VOL. LiVI. NO. 17,314. PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, 31AY 19, 191G. PRICE FIVE CENTS. FLAMES DESTROY 4 PRISON BUILDINGS DOG SUMMONS AID FOR INJURED MEN OF SHIRT PACJ'C COAST TO FINDING KAISER ALTERS HIS ARAN POLICY Change Is Believed to Presage Peace Plan. DRY BILL IS BEFORE PARLIAMENT TODAY SHOUTING IS OVER; PRIMARY OH TODAY Campaign of Bitter In vective at End. S.LP-FEED ALLIES OV J rnrr nnn' i rntt ai-.-Lui PIKCE OF BLOODY SIIlliT CAIt KIKL AS SIONAIi. ORDER FOR 30,000 TONS GRAIX IS PLACED, OF BItlTISII COLUMBIA MKASCKE PROVIDES I'OIt 11KFEKESDUM. MAY Convicts Dare Death in Fighting Fire. FLAX DRYING PLANT GUTTED Prisoners at Oregon Peniten tiary Do Not Try to Escape. ORIGIN OF BLAZE MYSTERY Asylum I'atients Also Aid in Sub duing I-'ianies l-'irc Is Second in Six AVceks Greatest l'erll Over When Oilroom Saved. SALEM, Or., May 18. (Special.) Fire at the Oregon Penitentiary today destroyed four large brick buildings in a group of six, menaced the main prison structure and caused a loss estimated at $25,000. There was no insurance. The origin of the fire is not known. The fire was discovered at 4:45 P. M. by convicts, when flames were seen issuing from the rear part of the build ing used for drying retted flax and adjoining the boiler room. Fanned by a high wind from the northwest, the fire spread rapidly and in less than 10 minutes it had been communicated to four buildings. The flax drying plant contained about 20' tons of retted flax, valued at $25 a ton. The prison steam plant and the shoe shop were gutted by fire, the roof was burned off of the machine shop and the machinery badly damaged by water. The penitentiary schoolroom In the rear of the dryer was destroyed. Convicts Salvage Flax. Two buildings north of the four burned structures were not damaged. These contained the state's large flax plant with probably 300 tons of scutched flax. Through the efforts of convicts, most of the flax was removed from the buildings when it was feared the en tire group was doomed. Heroic Work of the prisoners, as sisted by the Salem fire department ani a score of asylum patients, un doubtedly prevented the destruction of the entire flax plant. "Water to fight the flames was obtained from the prison and from the auxiliary plant of the Elate Hospital. Many of the convicts endangered their lives by plunging Into the burning- buildings to aid in fighting the flames and several sustained painful cuts and bruises from falling timbers and broken glass. None Attempt Escape. With the discovery of the fire, the night force of guards Just coming on duty were rushed to the east wall, doubling the number on guard, but no attempt to escape was made. After the fire had been extinguished It was discovered that a number of knives were missing from the prison shoe shop, but upon investigation no convict was found to have them in his possession. That the fire was caused from a smut explosion in the flax drying room is the theory of Superintendent Minto, who said that this - was a danger which It had been necessary to guard against throughout the handling of the crop. A few months ago some oil-soaked rags were found by prison employes hidden in a pile of flax straw and at the time it was suggested that some prisoner had attempted by this means to destroy the flax crop. This same group of buildings was gutted by fire about seven years ago when the prison foundry was located in them. The fire started at midnight and its origin was never discovered, though incendiarism was suspected. Fire la Second In Six Weeks. Six weeks ago sparks from the boiler-room; set fire to the roof of the building containing rhe flax, but con victs extinguished the flames before material damage had been done. The south wall of the building con taining the boiler room was partially wrecked during the fire today when a quantity of lime stored within ex ploded with a terrific detonation. No one was in the vicinity at the time. The oil room, situated In a brick building at the rear of the dryer, was saved from destruction by desperate work of the fire department and con victs. The saving of this building. It is said, probably prevented the spread of the flames to the entire prison. Great amounts of oil were stored in this building and had the flames reached it the explosion would have been dis astrous. Prisoner Brave Falling Timbers. Most of the material in the Bhoeshop was carried out of the building by convicts. Lines of .hose were run to the roofs of the blazing structures and prisoners, asylum patients and mem bers of the Salem Fire Department vied with one another in battling the flames from above. One crew of prisoners braved the suffocating smoke and fall ing timbers from the roof of the dryer to carry a line of hose inside the build ing. Several of them were in a faint ing condition and bleeding from bruise caused by falling embers when relieved by others. In the machine shop great damage was sustained from water. The roof was burned away and a portion of the interior was burned. The fact that the wind was from the northwest undoubtedly- prevented the (.Concluded on Page 3, Column Eugene Farmer and Assistant Are Seriously Hurt by Stump-Fuller, Far From Assistance, EUGENE, Or., May 18. (Special.) Two men were seriously and perhaps fatally injured, and a dog occupied the role of hero, in an accident at Deer horn, 20 miles from Eugene, this aft ernoon. The victims, J. Hi Steele, a farmer, and hts employe, Ole Pufpe, were brought to the Mercy Hospital in Eugene tonight. The men were working with a stump-puller when the sweep broke, knocking them' both un conscious. The scene of the accident was a field quite a distance from the Steele home. Pufpe -was-the-first-to recover his senses. He realized that he was seri ously injured and could not. summon help by calling. Raising himself to his elbow he saw his employer's dog. Tying a piece of his bloody shirt around the animal's neck, he sent It home. "When the dog arrived at the house Mrs. Steele understood and, summon ing help, rushed to the assistance of the "men, while physicians' were called from Eugene. Steele sustained a broken leg and was badly bruised about the head and face. Pufpe is in a serious condition. He is cut and bruised in many places and, it is feared, is internally Injured. NAM PA BOY'S BODY FOUND Corpse of University Senior Student liecovercd by Fishermen. I EUGENE, Or.. May 18. (Special.) The body of Owen Whallon, a senior at the University of Oregon, who was drowned in the Willamette River April 30, was recovered today by fishermen. Whallon, who was a son of C. V. Whallon, of Nampa, Idaho, lost his life when a canoe in which he was riding with companions capsized. The three other members of the party escaped with their lives after floating down stream for more than a mile. For days the University of Oregon students patrolled the banks of the river in a vain search to find the body. Dynamiting was resorted to in an effort to bring it to the surface. A reward of $25 also was offered for its recovery. Coroner Veatch is holding the body awaiting I directions from the boy's father. WOMAN IS NOT EXEMPT Desertion of Child Held Equal to Man's lieaving Family. SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. (Special. That it is as much a criminal offense for a woman to desert her minor chil dren as for a man to desert his wife, was decided today by Judge Graham, and a bench warrant was Issued for the arrest of Mrs. Agnes F. Centlivre, who Is known as Agnes St. Claire, being sued for divorce. Centlrrre testified that he had offered her $75 a. month, but that she had left him, saying that she did not care for him or the children. - "It is unnatural for a mother to de sert the children she brought into the world," said Judge Graham, as he is sued the warrant. He will reserve de cision in yrhe divorce case until Satur day. t KINDNESS IS REWARDED Salvationists Return $60, Found in Old Clotlies, to Woman. They were sorting Did clothes at the Salvation Army Industrial Home the other "3ay, with never a thought of hid den riches in the frayed and spotted garments that had been given to char ity. Yet the task was enlivened when a handbag dropped from a bundle of clothes before the workers. They opened it to discover six $10 bills. The woman who had contributed the bundle was at -once sought and located. To Captain Andrews, who returned the money, she expressed her gratitude by presenting one of the bills to the Sal vation Army. MICE ARE WAR REFUGEES Animals Used in Medical Research Taken From Zeppelin Path. NEW YORK, May 18. Four mice, whose ancestors had been inoculated with tumor germs for 15 years, took up their residence today in the Crocker cancer research laboratory at Columbia University. In the last German air raid over Lon don a bomb was dropped near the laboratory where the mice were being kept, and it was decided to send them to the United States for fear that an other bomb might destroy the work of years. LODGE NAMES PENDLETON Woodmen Convention at Athena Id Well Attended. PENDLETON. Or.. May 18. (Spe cial.) Pendleton was chosen as the meeting place of the next district con vention of the Woodmen of the World at the convention held in Athena yes terday. The next convention will be held in 1919. The Athena convention was well at tended by delegates from every lodge in the district. The council 'was pre sHed over by Judge Thomas Fitzger ald, of Pendleton. Garment Probably Was Worn by Slayer. SIZE WRONG FOR THOMPSON Assumption Garment Was Ristman's Also Disproved. ACCUSED MAN CONFIDENT Case Built Up Around Ex-Convict Is Upset Sew Theory Is That Itistman .Was Killed and Then Mrs. Jennings. The murderer of Mrs. Helen Jennings at the Gore farm, and Fred Rlstman, the automobile man who drove the slayer front Portland. Monday night, probably wore a dark-striped, white shirt,, size 15, ripped under the arm pits, and fastidiously darned with white thread where a collar had rubbed holes. The torn cuff and gold link found In the roadway near the blood-stained Panama hat identified as Ristman's were not- from the shirt of the Jitney driver, as assumed by the authorities, but were torn from the shirt, the blood stained remainder of which was found yesterday by Constable Virgil Wickers, of Sherwood, Washington County, and Deputy Sheriff Robert Phillips, of Port land, 420 yards north of the Gore home. Saspecrt's Shirt Larger. Bennett Thompson, ex-convict, the suspect arrested within 48 hours after the crime on circumstantial evidence which satisfied Washington County and Portland authorities of his guilt, has a thick neck and, according to the au thorities, wears a 16 H or 17 shirt Ristman, the night he was murdered, wore a blue chambray shirt, size 17, with soft collar and cuffs of the same material. Sheriff J. E. Reeves, of Washington County, announced last night that he was coming ito Portland today to see If Mrs, Ristman could "identify the torn shirt found yesterday as her husband's, but Airs. Ristman told The Oregonlan last night she was absolutely positive her husband wore no such shirt. Theories Are T'pset. The finding of Ais shirt upsets the house of cards the detectives had built fastening the crime on Thompson, for there is every indication that the stained shirt found yesterday was worn by the man who committed the two ghastly murders. This conclusion is predicated on these facts: , The ' cuff and link was found Tuesday in the roadway, 300 yards from the Gore ranch home. The -jreen laprobe, matted with blood, flesh fragments and human hair; the stained Panama hat identified as Ristman's, and the red-spattered election card, were found in the brush at the edge of the roadway, carefully hidden. The t Concluded on Fbk lio. Column 3.1 . ; : t M'l 4 THEMTHa-fiE WSSl 'J 1' ' i 1 Wn5w J Shifts on the 'Jvfll tAJ 1 j - JIN5 '. - Cost of Delivery to Be Greater Than Value of Food.-t uf I Ship ment Is Via Galveston. SAN FRANCISCC, May 48. (Special.) A wartime story presenting the fea tures of Pacific Coast food supplies for the allies, scarcity of ships and aston ishing cose of ocean transport devel oped today in the practically completed arrangements f the Marseilles and Liv erpool purchasers through George W. Luce and W. B. Barnwell, of the South ern Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads, to have delivered to them by the end of July 30,000 tons of Coast grain, mostly barley. The cost of transportation is to ex ceed the value of the grain. The latter Is worth in the market today $1,110,000. It will cost $40 a ton for delivery, or $1,200,000. The two railroads receive $8 a ton for the haul to Galveston, or $240,000. The ocean carriage amounts to $32 a ton, or a total of $960,000. Mr. Barnwell and Mr. Luce, who are the freight traffic chiefs of their rail roads, are now in the East closing the transportation deal, which is consid ered one of the oddest since the Euro pean war opened. ALLIES BUY RHUBARB HERE Washington Fruit to Serve as Anti dote to Trench Gases. TACOMA, Wash., May "l8. Several thousand cases of canned rhubarb have been sold by a Washington association to the allies for use by men in the trenches. The rhubarb will be shipped at once. Six ounces of the vegetable will be given each man in the trenches daily when fighting since it has been found the men suffer keenly from in digestion as a result of poisoned gases. Twenty-one tons of rhubarb were canned at the plant yesterday. ELECTION BULLETINS TONIGHT. Are you interested in the re sults of today's primary nom inating election? If you are, come to Sixth and Alder streets tonight and learn who is nom inated. The polls will close at 8 o'clock, and as soon as the count is well under way The Oregonian will .begin , flashing returns. You will be kept in touch with the canvass of votes just as fast as it progresses. The state returns, as well as those from the Portland primar ies, will be thrown on the screen. Six motion-picture corned ie? will intersperse the bulletins, and there will be cartoons and extemporaneous verses bearing on the election. . By the way, do you know the location of the polling place in your precinct? A complete, re vised list is published on page 11 of The Oregonian today. TODAY -WE SHOW OUR COLORS. FRIENDSHIP IS MUCH DESIRED Germans WarnerAgainst Plot ting in United States. LAWLESSNESS MUST STOP Slnk-on-Sight Policy at Sea Also to End United States Expected to Ho Influential When Terms Are Discussed. CHICAGO, May 18. (Special.) John Callan O'Laughlin, in a special dispatch from Washington to the Chicago Her ald, says, in part, that in furtherance or his government s changed policy to ward the United States. Count von Bernstorff, German Ambassador in Washington, took steps today to put an end to German lawlessness in this country. By direction of Herr von Jagow, Ger man Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador issued instructions to all German Consuls directing them to urge respect for American laws by German subjects. Germany's new policy contemplates: First Abandonment of the sink-on-sight policy on the high seas. Second Merchantmen to be visited and searched and provision made for the safety of passengers and crews be fore destruction. Deetruetlon In America to Stop. Third Cessation .of operations by Germans to destroy ships and munition factories in the United States. It is the belief of the high German officials that In modifying its attitude with reference to this country the Ger man government is actuated by a de sire to regain American friendship in anticipation of the Inauguration of peace negotiations. - It is apparent to Berlin that the United States will play an important pait in the negotiations. It may inl tlatu them through a tender of media tion and It may even participate in them, should American interests be come involved. The moral Influence this country will be able to exert in any case will be tremendous. Parallel Case Recalled. In this connection it is recalled that the change in American public senti ment during the Russo-Japanese peace negotiations was responsible for the abandonment by Japan of certain de mands which threatened to cause a re sumption of hostilities. It is known that the action of the German government was the result of a lengthy review by Count von Berns torff of the situation of Germany In connection with the United States. The Ambassador has emphatically de niea any . oinciai uerman connection onclud'1 on PRgs 2. Column l.y Jail Sentences for Infractions Would Be Given Instead of Fines. Success Predicted. VICTORIA. B. C, May 17. The gov ernment's bill for a referendum on pro hibition in British Columbia which was to have been introduced in the provin cial Parliament today had not been pre sented when th House rose tonight. The cause for the delay was not di vulged, but it is understood the bill will be introduced tomorrow. The measure, which would become ef fective July 1, is more drastic than the Washington State law. There is to be no interference with the consumption or keeping of liquor in private houses, but it must be imported for the pur pose. Offenses against the act will not be punishable by fines except in the cases of corporations,. where the punish ment for infractions will be a flno of $1000. As to Individuals, Jail terms of from six to 12 months are "provided. Dispensaries are to be established and administered in most cases by the provincial police. Sacramental wines and liquor for doctors and hospitals will thus be provided. A doctor may get two quarts at a time, a dentist is limited to a pint and both must keep records for inspection by the Attorney General's department. Of a house attendance of 40 mem ber, probably less than 10 will vote against the measure, and these mostly on the ground that some compensation should be provided for the liquor in terests. MORE QUAKES PREDICTED Shock of Great Violence Felt on Adriatic Shore in Italy. ROME, via Farls, May IS. An earth quake of particular violence has oc curred along the Adriatic coast be tween Rimini and Cezena.' At the lat ter town a dozen persons were injured. Father Alfani, director of the observ atory at Florence, predicts a repetition of the earthquake, which extended to the Venetian provinces. The entire central section of Italy was shaken by repeated earthquakes, which lasted through Tuesday and Wednesday. Only meager details have as yet been received in this country and it is not known what loss of life occurred, if any. ARTIST'S FREEDOM ASKED Patrons Seek to Liberate Girl Held as Incompetent. POUGHKEEPSIE. X. T.. May 18. Miss Marion Blakelock. daughter of R. A. Blakelock, the painter, and herself an artist, may soon be released from the Hudson-River State Hospital in Poughkeepsie. A movement similar to that which won freedom for her father from the Middletown Asylum is under way among art patrons in Chicago. As an incompetent she is having dif ficulty in marketing her paintings. Withiira few days a committee will be chosen by the local court and habeas corpus proceedings to procure her free dom will follow. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 57 dwrees; minimum, .J degreei. TODAY'S Partly cloudy and occasionally threatening weatner; warmer; northwest erly winds, I'orrlRH. Government to Intioduce dry bill In British Columbia Parliament today. Page 1. War. Rupfdan and British submarines sink three German steamers. Psk 4. Pacific Coast to help allies. Page 1. National. McAdoo figures need of revenue is diminish ing. Paso '1. Land frrant bill scheduled for passage by House Wednesday. Face 2. Efforts made t- safeguard Americans In Mexico. Pa 4. Administration five-year Navy prourammi rejected by House committee. Pagre JL. Kaiser's rdr to Cermans in America to stop lawless acts may presage peace move. Pane 1. President personally pleads with Britain la behalf of Irishman. Page 4. I torn ft t ic. Plan to enforce i-eace with armed forces debated. Pae 6. Hutches far In lead In poll nf preferences of members of Congress. rage 6. Three Methodist bishops elected. Page S. New York Mayor's . plot charge denied. Pnga 2. A. I. Mohler to resign presidencies of I'nion Pacific and Oregon Short L4no. Page 5. Sport. ParMfl roast Learue results: Fait lake 11, Portland 4; Vernon 7, Oakland 2; San Krancisro 4, I.os Anseles 1. Page 1. Walter Mfllr says Gotch will nut defend title. Page 17. Giants w in eighth consecutive victory. Page IK. v.eveland beats Walt Johnson and retains league leadership. Page 10. Pacific Northwest. Etato prison has 25.V fire. Page 1. Hoc summons aid for Injured men. page 1. Crown Willamette Paper Mill raises wages attain. Page S. Compromise over Nat tonal committeeman suggested when Elder faction loaes. Page 7. Commercial and Marine. Larn quantity of Baker County wool sold. Page 91 Chicago wheat breaks nearly cents on peace rumors. Page 21. Stocks, led by Reading, are active at ad vances. Page 1. New ships take shape at St. Helens. Page 20. Port land sad Vicinity. Primary election on today. page 1. Murder case takes new turn. Page I. Summer school plans laid. Page S. Buyers to come in A up us t. Page !. Jitnev driver and car conductor fined for speeding. Page 22. Portland Joins Nation-wide demonstration for preparedness. Page 10. Hen lays ere in court and is restored to owner. Page IS. Polling places chosen. Page 11. Senator Cummins arises from sick bed to keep appointments. Page 2. POLLS OPEN 8 A. M. TO 8 P.M. Count May Not Be Completed for Several Days. RELIGION IS MADE ISSUE Oregon's Vote on Presidential Fref. . crenco Relieved Important, as Xante of Justice Hughes la on Xo Other Slnle Ticket. There now remains only to cast th votes and count them. The shouting la over. This is the day of the stats primary nominating election. In Multnomah County this primary culminates one of the bitterest pri mary campaigns of recent years. Though one or two nominations for state offices are closely fought, la neither warmth nor lack of dignity has the statewide campaign in any in stance approached that for several of fices In Multnomah County. Polls Open Mt 8 o't'loek. The polls open throughout Oregon at S o'clock this morning. They close at 8 o'clock tonight, and the count beKins. It is quite possible that two or three days may elapse before the nominees for certain offices are known. With one exception, the only contests of Im portance are in the Republican pri mary. The Republican ballot is long-, so the count will be slow. The exception noted is the race for the Democratic nomination for Repre sentative in Congress from the Third District (Multnomah County). John A. Jeffrey Is the only Democrat, whose name is on the ballot. Xame to Be Written. However, recalling Mr. Jeffrey's active I. W. W. leanings of a few years ago, John II. Stevenson. Newton Mc Coy, W. Maurice Hudson, Oglesby Young and others have urged Demo crats to write in the name of C Li. McKenna for the nomination. . Otherwise the Democratic ballot is as devoid of interest as it is devoid ot candidates for most offices. Nomina tions in great part will have to be made by writing- in the name of fa vored brethren. l'rorflf Have Clear Kleld. No Interest whatsoever attaches to the Progressive ballot. Only 10 Pro gressives are running for anything, and all must be selected because there is no opposition. Kight names will be on the Progressive ballot in Multnomah County. No other parties participate in the primary election. Prohibitionists and Socialists name their candidates at party conventions. So the primary is principally a lie publican affair. Republican voters of the state today will make nominations for three Representatives In Congress, Secretary of State, two Supreme Court Justices, Dairy and Food Commissioner. Public Service Commissioner in both the Western and Eastern Oregon dis tricts, 17 Circuit Court Judges, 17 State Senators and 60 State Representatives. County O0riera to De Named. In addition to these are nominations to be made in each county for various county offices. Representatives in Congress, Circuit Judges. Public fctrvice Commissioners, Stale Senators and" State Representa tives are voted tr by districts. Mult nomah County n fckes nominations for one Representat ve in Congress, three Circuit Judges, one Public Service Com missioner, six State Senators and 13 State Representatives. One of the lat ter Is to be nominated jointly with Clackamas County. Delegate to lie Chosen. Though this is a primary nominating election, elections are made for two offices. Both Republicans and Demo crats elect 10 delegates to the Repub lican and Democratic National conven tions, respectively, chosen two from each Congressional district and four from the state at large. Kaoh voter thus votes for six delegates. ,. The Progressive elect live delegates. Each of the three parties also elects five Presidential electors, the same number as Oregon has Congressional Representatives. Lending additional interest to the race for delegates is the fact that for the first time In Oregon women are candidates for this important party office. Women Are In Race. Mrs. O. L. Buland. of Portland, is running for Republican delegate-at-largc. being one of 12 candidates for the four delegates-at-Iarge to bo chosen. Mrs. Helen 1. Tomlinson, alto of Portland. Is one of eight candidates for Democratic delegates-at-large. The total registration in the state this year is 241, 4Si, or which 161. 19 are Republican, 60,570 Democratic and 1275 Progrossie, lo Multnomah County the registra tion figures for the three parties are: Republican 55,701, Democratic IS, 190 and only 668 Progressives. It is conservatively estimated that about 60 per cent of the Republican vote will be cast. This would be about (.ConcluUtU on 1'ago 10, Uluniu 1.) 4