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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1916)
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER PRINTS THE NEWS THE DAY IT HAPPENS" VOLUME XVI LA GRANDE, OREGON. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1916. NUMBER 51. . PRESIDENTS R EJECT WILSOfS PROPOSAL i ARMY BILL 6 PRESIDENT DISAPPROVES OF EXEMPTING RETIRED OF FICERS FROM DUTY BALANCE OF BILL IS CALLED WISELY GENEROUS "Whole Army Reorganization Set Back By Veto Message Covering the Subject Sent to Congress This Morning New Bill Introduced Im mediately with objections Gone. Washington, Aug. 18. President Wilson sent a special message to con gress vetoing the army appropriation bill which was pa3sed last night. He objected to the provision exempting Tetired officors from discipline and duty under the articles of war. Mr. Wilson declared such an exemption is unconstitutional. The message said: "With genuine reluctance the Presi dent returns the bill which wisely and generously provides a national de fense. The existing articles of war undoubtedly are ai-chaic and have not undergone a revision for over a hun dred years. Therefore the President more keenly regrets he is unable to give his approval of this revision of the articles of war." He declared retired officers are not mere pensioners and ho uphold the President's right to summon them to duty in emergencies. The veto holds up a $2G7,000,000 appropriation and delays the general military reorganization. An hour after the veto was receiv ed Chairman Hay of the house mili tary committee again introduced a bill, eliminating reference to articles of war. A bitter conference fight is expected on the new bill. HAISTEN'S AD. OMITTED One of Regular Ads Left Out of Pic nic Program In the official program for the O-W. Employes Picnic yesterday F. D. Baisten, one of the regular advertis ers in the program, was omitted. The Observer job department got out the program and in the rush this ad was left out. This mention is made for Mr. Haisten has had regular space in each and every program of the three picnics that have been held by the employes, and it was no fault of his that the ad did not appear in this issue of the official program. MANY APPLICATIONS Landoffice Officials Face Big Run of Business Business at the United States land office in La Grande continues to show a healthy increase and steadiness. The following homesteads were al lowed today: Stephen H. Lofton, Trester; Icey Hewitt, Richland; Chns. K. McAnulty, Imnaha; Russell E. Walls, Wallowa; Ella G. McBroom, Pilot Rock; Marshall van Bibber, Monument. The following applications were filed: William R. Pearson, home stead, North Powder; Geo. S. Smith, Monument, additional homestead; Wesley W. Slaughter, Rittor, addi tional homestead; Jesse E. Johns, Trester, additional homestead; Ches ter J. Evans, Rihaldn, homestead; Andrew Ryan, Beech Creek, addition al homestead. Final homestead proofs issued are: Asa P. Craig, Enterprise; Lee Parks, Enterprise; Albert Hartshorn, Joseph; G. Edmon Long, Enterprise; John S. Sheasley, Ritter. North Powder Couple Marry. North Powder, Ore., Aug. 17. Jas. Dalton, wealthy rancher and stockman of North Powder, and Mrs. Rose Springer of the same place were united in marriage at St. Anthony, Idaho, August 14. Both the bride and groom are well known people of this section, especially Mr. Dalton, who ame here in his early boyhood from Tennessee, and by industry and busi ness ability has become one of our foremost citizens. He self-made man in every respect and stands hign in the esteem of the community, as does his wife. They have just com pleted a honeymoon trip to Yellow stone park and have returned here to receive the congratulations of their many friends. Their trip through the park was made in company with Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Monday, also of this place. RECRUIT, 44, IS READY TO SERVE CAPTAIN CLARK SIGNS MAN ON VERGE OF LIMIT. Oldest Recruit to Leave Station Here Off for Clackumaa This Evening. Young men are not alone in their desire to enlist in the Oregon national guard regiment now at the border. True, Captain Clark, recruiting of ficer for Eastern Oregon, has signed up young men principally, until to day, and then he encountered a man on the verge of the 45-year limit. Hubert J. Bryan, whose relatives re side in Idaho but who has made his home in La Grande, todav aDDlied for enlistment papers and got them. He is 44 years old, one year under the age limit. Mr. Bryan has a compan ion recruit in the persea of Guy Hart sough, at one time of Montana but now of La Grande and who has rela tives in Elgin. Mr. Hartsough is 21. Both these recruits will go to Clackamas tonight for their outfits and then be ready for border service. At noon today Archie JJ. Keynolds of Kansas City, Kas., aged 20, ap plied for enlistment papers and was put through the necessary paces. He will likely go down this evening with the other two men. LAI) OF 14 IS SLEEP WALKER AT CAMP SHOT AT BY BROTHER St. Helens Doctor Will Likely Ampu tate Wounded Leg St Helens, Ore., Aug. 18. Choun cey Smith accidently shot his brother Walter, 14, last night. The boys were camping. Walter walked in his sleep and Chauncey challenged a supposed prowler. There was no reply and he fired a shot gun in the direction of the noise. He hit his brother's right leg. Despite .the horror of the shock Chauncey kept his nerve and tied the arteries and rushed Walter here. Doctors probably will amputate the leg. PROPOSES NEW CALENDAR. Spokane Minister Claims to Have Perfected Schedule. iSpokane, Wash., Aug. 18. "Why not adopt a new calendar?" asks the Rev. H. P. Hames, a Spokane minis ter. And to show that it is not an idle question, Mr. Hames has figured it out carefully, and proposes that on January 1, 1922, the world (by com mon consent of the inhabitants) adopt the one he has made up. His unique proposal calls for 13 months of 28 days each, the unlucky one to be termed "Holiday" and to be sand wiched in between June and July. That would accommodate 3G4 days of the year. The extra or 365th day is not counted in any month, but pre cedes the first day of January as New Year's day. He also has arranged to take care of the extra day on leap year. He would have this fall in the new month of Holiday, between Saturday, Holi day 14th, and Sunday, Holiday 15th, and he proposes to call it Leap Year day and treat it just as New Year's is treated. Under the Hames perpet ual calendar system each month would begin on Sunday and end on Saturday. Some of the advantages which he ascribes to the system are: Each month has the same number of days like a school month. The same date in each montli falls on the same day of the week. A printed civil calendar for each month will not be necessary, as the days of each month are identical with those of the first month. The calendar is good for all time to come, and, like Bill Nye's Railway guide, "will be just as good two years ago as it was next spring." Holidays, anniversaries, etc., are easily fixed or transferred. It will facilitate business calcula tions. A month will mean 28 and not 29, 30 or 31 days. Wages by the week, fortnight and month are read ily adjusted without even referring to the calendar, which is easily com mitted to memory. This calendar could, by general consent, be adopted Sunday, January 1st, 1922, without disturbing in the least the present calendar. Repairing Bridge A small bridge span in the Grandy lane which was out of order is being repaired. Rain yesterday stopped proceedings but Bridge Superintend ent Davis declares the work will be ready in a short time when travel over it may resume. BROTHERHOODS, ON OTHER j HAND AGREE TO ACCEPT IT JOINT CONFERENCE OF MANAGERS SET FOR TO MORROW BROTHERHOODS AGREE AT LATE HOUR TO ACCEPT WILSON'S PROPOSALS RAILROAD OFFICIALS HOSTILE TO WILSON'S ADVANCES LIKELIHOOD OF STRIKE AGAIN SERIOUS ONE- Washington, Aug. 18. A national strike, halting every railroad, loomed again thiis afternoon. The presi dents called to Washington left .the White House after a conference with President Wilson determined not to accept President Wilson's proposal. They meet him again tomorrow in a joint conference with railway man agers. At the same time that the presidents refused the peace plan, the Brotherhoods announced! the Brother hood Committees had voted to accept the proposition. Washington, Aug. 18. It is learned on reliable authority President Wil son plans to summon the Boards of Directors of the country's biggest railroads if the railway presidents persist in refusal to accept his strike settlement plan. Washington, D. C, August 18. The first bit of news to break from the strike situation with the begin ning of Friday, was that the Brother hoods had asked President Wilson to modify the proposition he made last evening. The proposition President Wilson made yesterday proposed: An eight-hour day as a basis for wage computation; regular pay at the eight-hour rate for overtime; refer ence of all collateral issues to a small commission on which the employes, railroads and public would be repre sented. The president, addressing the em ployes' general committee yesterday evening, declared he believed in the eight-hour day principle, and thought the majority of Americans held a sim ilar view. He admitted he is at a loss about settlement of the collateral is sues. Cabinet Meeting Postponed. President Wilson was up early this morning preparing an appeal to the railroad presidents who he was to meet at 2 o'clock this afternoon, that hour having been chosen during the morning. He cancelled the cabinet session. Presidents Are Hostile. This morning more presidents ar rived to join those who came yester day and last night, and hostility to- I wara me rresiueno s proposal 10 me railroaders has developed, lhe pres idents are determined, it is indicated, to support the railway managers' re fusal to accept Wilson's proposals. There is every indication that if the railroad presidents sustain the mana gers, the President will appeal finally to the financial powers controlling tho roads. It is his purpose to deal with the ultimate authority before giving up. Nobody can say what will be effect of an appeal such the United States' President, speaking in the nation's name, can make. From obtainable in formation it appears the railroads are unalterably opposed to granting an eight-hour day without arbitration, but are ready to arbitrate anything in almost any form of arbitration on which the employes and their commit tee may agree. On account of the situation growing serious, congress began paying more attention yesterday and there are many indications of intervention to prevent a nation-wide tie-up. The general expectation is that the railroad officials after a conference with the president will ask several days to consider their course. A score arriving last inght immediately met with the managers. There developed further indications that the chiefs will back the managers in their atti tude adopted toward the President's proposals. It is said they went over the situation thoroughly and agree entirely with what the committee has done. Two plans are being considered for the make-up of the proposed com mission in case the President's plan is accepted. The first provides for the appointment of all three mem bers if that size commission is sug gested by the president. The other is for the president to select one mem ber, tile managers one and the em ployes one. Ballot Is Slow At noon the trainmen had failed to complete balloting on Wilson's pro posals and adjourned until 2:30. At 2 o'clock the railroad presidents began arriving at the White House. A few walked, some came in automo biles and others in taxi-cabs. Luther Leaguers in Convention. Eagle Grove, Aug. 18. Nearly four thousand visitors are here today at the opening session of the National convention of the Luther League, which will continue for two days. Among the delegates are 200 minis ters and 500 laymen, also relatives of i delegates and visitors from all over ! the United States. Many families of : ! the town volunteered to the Com-1 mercial club to open their home for the entertainment of the visitors. I HURRICANE HITS SOUTH. Dallas, Aug. 18. A gulf hurricane hit the coast at 2 p. m. today. All wires between San Antonio and Brownsville are down and a 40-mile gale rages at Galveston. f N Galveston, Aug. 18. It is reported i the steamship Pilot Boy foundered in high seas off Port Arkansas, Texas. 1 Ten are missing. Three seamen reach 'ed shore.. Thousands are leaving Galveston fearing a hurricane. Two houses were demolished at 2:30. COUNTING ALL GLOBES. Electric Light Company Has Crew ' Listing All Connected Loads. Every connected load of electricity in La Grande is being checked up and counted. A crew of nearly a dozen men employed by the Eastern Oregon Light & Power company, is out on the works now listing every lamp globe used in each house, and listing also just what loads of various kinds each home pulls from the feed wires. This information will be sent to the Public Service commission. Two years ago the company made out a statement somewhat similar to this report. WORKING ON TRACK. Sprinklers and Rain Assist Mater , ially in Making Course Good. Splendid results have attended the efforts to shape up the fair grounds track for the September races. The surface had been loosened under the direction of Jack McCarthy, and sprinkling had been conducted day and night when the recent rains be gan, and these downpours have had a very beneficial effect on the course. Harrowing and floating is now under way and the track will be ready for the ponies and nags to step on long before the meet opens. i HUGHES SPEAKS OFTEN. Rear-Platform Addresses Made in California Tour Today. Dixon, Cal., Aug. 18. Mr. Hughes emphasized the necessity of co-operation and unity among Americans to make the United States a foremost nation when he spoke from the rear platform at Woodland, Davis and Sis son enroute to San Francisco. He voiced a desire to serve the American people to the best of his ability. COUNTY CHAIRMAN HOME. Hears Hughes' Speech in Portland Is Enthused Over Result. 1 J. H. Peare, county chairman of the Republican County Central committee returned last evening from Portland where ho and other county chairmen of the state occupied special seats at ' the Hui'hes speech. Mr. Peare is much impressed with the satisfaction expressed everywhere at the outcome of the Presidential . candidate's visit. He declared today . Portland gave Hughes an ovation ' that was remarkable, and that there , was a decided tone of contentment ! among state leaders over the at mosphere left by the Presidential Re publican standard bearer. I WEDDING ENDS A . JAIL SENTENCE PROF. ANDERSON OF BAKER RE MOVES CRIMINAL CHARGE. Because He Married Woman Prefer ring Charges, Baker Man Is Freed From Cell. Baker, Aug. 18. iWith Rev. A. R. . Willett officiating and Sheriff Ander son and a taxi driver acting as wit nesses, Prof. Anderson, an elderly Baker county man, and Mrs. Hannah McCann were married at the lattcr's home yesterday, fulfilling the promise made to District Attorney Godwin, .the marriage automatically removing i the statutory charges against the professor who is well known here. The latter after securing his license yesterday morning and starting for the home of the bride-to-be for tho ceremony, expressed doubt to the sheriff as to whether or not Mrs. Mc Cann would marry him. "Oh, that will be all right," answered the sher iff. 'But," parried Anderson, "if she refuses, you will have to throw her in jail the same as you did me." I The district attorney notified An derson after he was jailed, that mar riage would relieve matters and the prisoner promptly complied, the wom an toeing wiUing. FELLOW CLASSED AS DANGER OUS LUNATIC RATIONAL Contention That Smith Was DngerouB Denied By Prisoner Himself Portland, Aug. 18. Patrolman Smith has arrested John Thompson, a lunatic escaped from the Salem asylum recently. He was placed in the county jail awaiting arrival of asylum officers. Thompson appeared rational and de nied the report he was a dangerous lunatic. He said he fled from the madhouse to see his sons and denied he intended to kill his wife. He said: "If I intended to kill her I could easily go to Milwaukee and do so". Spokane Expects Militia. ISpokane, Aug. 18. Under the new national guard law Spokane will be made headquarters either of an entire regiment of infantry or of a-'battalion of field artillery, it is announced by Adjutant General Maurice Thompson. "I have worked out and submitted to the war department a tentative schedule of Washington national guard organizations, based upon the requirements of the new army 'bill, which provides that Washington must have 5600 men by the end of five years," ho said. "The organization recommended provides for the follow ing units: Three regiments of infan try, one regiment (six batteries) of field artillery, 14 companies of coast artillery, one squadron (four troops) of cavalry, two companies of engi neers, one field company of signal corps, one field hospital, one ambu lance company. Wo now have one regiment of infantry, nine companies of coast artillery, one troop of cav alry and the signal corps. Spokane should have either infantry or artil lery units exclusively, as a different type of armory construction is desir able for each branch of the Bervice. Whether the war dopartment decides to assign light or heavy filed artillery to this state is not settled yet. If heavy howizers are decided upon the field batteries should be located in western Washington, as the howitzers are auxilary to coast defenses, being used to defend the coast artillery from attacks on tho land side. In this event Spokane will be made an infan try headquarters. If light field ar tillery is assigned to this Rtate, how ever, Spokane probably will be called upon to provide a battalion of three batteries of 190 men each." PARALYSIS FOUGHT Forty States Agree on Grenter Pre ventative Measures Washington, Aug. 18. Health au thorities in 40 states have agreed on "closer survillance" for infantile pa ralysis. It is planned to require health certificates of all children un der 10 traveling on interstate jour neys. ISLANDS BILL PASSES Greater Independence Provided Phil ippine Islands by Measure Washington, Aug. 18. Tho house voted 31 to 27 today in passing the Philippine bill. It provides increased independence. The bill already has pasHcnd the senate, and is ready for Wilson's signature. ID M ALLIES TAKE FLEHR1 FORT FRENCH RECAPTURE STRONG HOLD WITH CURTAIN FIRE, SCHEME I BRITISH GAIN TRENCH S0U1H OF MARTINPUCH Berlin Statement Admits British Vic tory at One Point But Otherwise Says Teuton Forces Are Holding Their Own, Even Gaining at Certain Places Italians Halted. London, Aug. 18. It is announced French have recaptured Fieury. Cur tain fire prevented Germans rein forcing to save it but there was bloody street lighting before the Ger mans withdrew. French advanced near Thiaumont and British have made extended gains northwest of Bazentin-LePetit and found trenches crowded with corpses. English repulsed counters near Maurenoech. Petrograd has claimed Russians are approaching the mountain summits ' near Koromezo, Hungary and have captured Lygiec and Stary southwest of iStanisluu. Teutons Generally Successful Berlin, Aug. 18. It is admitted the Tjrftr&i have seized the German first line south of Martinpuch, but else where the attacks were repulsed. A drawn battle exists northeast of Hardicourt. Turks have reenforced Bothmer and repulsed Russian attacks. Germans have progressed in the Carpathians. A delayed Vienna announcement said Austriang are advancing in south western Bukowina and repulsed six massed attacks northeast of Stanis lau. All Italian assaults were de feated, Berlin says. Censor Not Fool You Take Him To Be BY HAL O'FLAHERTY, London, Aug. 1. (By Mail) "The consor is not the d fool you take him to be." The above line was penned by a British censor upon a letter from an officer at the front to his wife, in which an ingenious code was discovered. It meant to disclose to the anxious wife just where her husband was fighting, but it was spoiled by the censor and an order was issued by tho war office prohibit ing such practices. Before the officer, who wrote the code letter, left for tho . front, he secured two maps showing the entire British fighting line. The maps were identical. One he left with his wife and the other he took with him. Thereafter, each time he wrote a letter, he placed the station ery on his map, stuck a pin through it directly over Paris, another directly over Brussels and a third at the point where he was stationed. Upon receiving the letter his wife would superimpost it on her map adjusting the extreme pinholes over Paris and ' Brussels and her husbands where abouts would be indicated by the mid- die hole. This is but one of a score of codes and secret signals discovered by the censors recently. England does not censure the relatives of men at the front for wanting to know the locality in which they arc fighting and 'perhaps dying, but such disclosures became a menace. No one knows how j extensive Germany's espinonage sys tem may iv, uiiu iiiiuuu la utiving uv chances. Another code system used by a certain officer was more elab orate than the one pointed out by the censor, with his "damn fool" notation. It was arranged by the officer with 'his wife, just before he sailed for France, and co meiflmtPcifJzchTYmMMnda, and consisted of two charts of the battle line, one of which he retained while the wife kept the other. Each map was laid out in blocks an inch, square; each square could be identi fied by combinations of letters indicat ing each line of square from left to right. Down the left hand Bide was another row of letters. In writing home, the officer would say: "Give my regards to L. A. Smith." Being a fictitious name, the wife would know it as a key to her secret code. Put ting her finger on the "A" line of the squares on her chart, she would fol low along undor the ''L" squares, in which was her husband's position nt the front. It is improbable that any information contained in these code ilottcts has ever reached the Germans, !but there is a possibility of such a I' mischance and England is losing no opportunity to defeat a spy system that has made Engliohmon gasp.