VOL. MV.- NO. 16,873. PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER V 1 DEFEATEDIN HOUSE Hobson Has Majority; Fails of Two-Thirds. SPIRITED CONTEST WAGED States' Rights Issue Figures , Prominently in Debate. VOTE IS TAKEN AT NIGHT Totes on Several Amendments Pre cede Final Decision Qualifica tions of Members Left to Own Consciences. PARTY ALIGNMENT IN VOTE ON HOBSON RESOLUTION. Ayes. Noel. DRY RESOLUTION Democrats 114 141 Republicans 68 46 Progressives .11 1 Progressive . Republican.. 4 ... Independent 1 Totals ..197 189 WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. The Hobson resolution to submit a constitutional amendment for National prohibition to the State Legislatures was defeated in the House tonight, 197 members voting for and 189 against it. An affirmative vote of two-thirds was required to adopt the resolution. Party, lines were wiped out in the struggle. "Democratic Leader Under wood and Republican Leader Mann fought shoulder to shoulder at the head of the forces opposing the resolution. When the vote came, of the 197 stand ing for the resolution, 114 were Demo crats, 68 were Republicans and 11 were Progressives and four were Independent Republicans.. . . Prohibition Members Satisfied. Immediately after announcement of the vote, the House adjourned, the crowds which had packed the gal leries throughout' the prolonged debate dispersing with mingled expressions of regret and Jubilation. Prohibition leaders declared that, the majority for the resolution had ful filled their . expectations, as they had not hoped for Vt two-thirds vote at this time. Whether a similar resolution pending in the Senate submitted by Senator Sheppard. of Texas, would reach a vote in the Senate at this ses sion was not certain tonight. Admin istration leaders were inclined to be lieve, however, that it would I not.' in view of the action of the House. Vote TJnwusnally Heavy. Notwithstanding repeated public as sertions that many members of the . House would try to dodge a record vote . en the issue, the rollca.ll disclosed a hvy attendance, larger than the aver age throughout the session. . On'the final vote 386 votes were re corded. To have carried the resolution Would have required 258 affirmative votes. It thus failed by SI votes. It was at the conclusion of one of the most stirring contests of recent days in Congress, and following votes on several amendments tfiat the final vote was reached. Representative Hobson had closed the general debate, participated in by all the House leaders, many of whom were repeatedly cheered by men and women in the crowded Concluded on Page 3.) PORTLAND CHIEF WHEAT MAR KE TIN 0- CENTER, OF NORTHWEST. Since wheat-growing began on a commercial scale in the Pa cific Northwest, Portland al ways has maintained its position as the leading market center for grain in this section. During the past few years Portland has been the principal market for wheat on the entire Pacific Coast. 'Several causes are re sponsible for Portland's suprem- aey .as a wheat-trading center. The water-level route from the grain - growing sections makes this city the natural marketing and distributing center; the building up of the business long has been in the hands of experi enced and energetic merchants; the sale of the cereal to foreign markets has been facilitated by the grain standards established each year by the Chamber of Commerce; the existence of a trading organisation, where an open market is provided and grain is sold in any quantity on a cash basis has proved to be a special advantage. The story of how "and why Portland is a great grain-marketing point will be told in an interesting and convincing manner in the forth coming edition of The Oregonian Annual. - FRENCH WARY OF JAPANESE HELP AMERICAN VIEWPOINT IS TAKEN INTO, CONSIDERATION. Statesman Takes View Nippon Would Always Consider Sbe Had Played Large Part in Settling War. .PARIS, .Dec 22. Gabriel Hanotaux, ex-Foreign Minister, expresses In the Figaro today what appears to be the prevailing view in France concerning the proposal that Japan send an army to the battlefields of Europe. . M. Hanotaux takes the view that even though Japan should send no more than 250,000 men, a force which would hardly.be large enough to exert a de clslve influence, she would always con sider, in the event of a victory for the allies, ' that she had played an im portant part in settling the war. Although M. Hanotaux m dees no allusion to the United States, It may be said that the American viewpoint has been taken Into consideration by the government. AID HAS DIPLOMATIC VALUE Ex-Ambassador to France Tells of Effect of American Hospital. NEW YORK, Dec 22. Myron T. Herrlck, ex-Ambassador to France, ad dresssed a meeting today of the local committee which la raising funds for the American Hospital in Paris. The hospital Was organized while Mr. Her rlck was at his post in Paris. "We did not begin the work as a diplomatic measure," said Mr.. Herrlck, "but I cannot emphasize too strongly the great v diplomatic ' value it has proved to be. The work Is of the highest International Importance and it depends entirely on contributions from Americans in this country to keep it going." CHINDA SCOUTS WAR TALK Stories of Expected Trouble With Japanese Deplored by Ambassador. ' SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 22. Viscount Stuteml Chinda, Japanese "Ambassador to the United States, was a guest to night at the annual dinner of the New England Society of Northwestern Chinda touched briefly on the relations between Japan and the United States, deploring the frequently- printed stories that war be tween the tw countries was Inevit able. ' . " TROOP TRAINS IN CRASH Thousand Austrian Soldiers Killed or Injured In Collision. LONDON. Deo. 28. Nearly 1000 Aus trian soldiers are reported to have been killed or injured in a collision of two troop trains near Kalisz, Russian Poland.' according to the Daily, Tele graph's Petrograd correspondent." The trains are reported to have met while running at full speed as the re sult of the accidental opening of a switch. Many of the cars were reduced to matchwood by the impact, and the passengers were crushed. FILIBUSTER IS DESTROYED Carruiza Fore Annihilates Party From Texas, Saya Report. BROWNSVILLE, Tex., - Dec 22. A filibustering party- from Texas was "met and completely destroyed", by Carranza troops opposite Zapata, Tex, near here, December 20, according to a message received by the Carranza commander at Matamoras, Mexico, to day. . The message said a dozen horses, 50 rifles and 2000 rounds of ammunition were captured. FEW WOUNDED SUCCUMB Of Half Million Treated by French, 42. 4 S Per Cent Die. PARIS, Dec. 22. Almost half a mil lion wounded soldiers were treated in French hospitals between September' 15 and November 10. - The figures were submitted to the army committee of the Chamber of Deputies by the chairman of the com mittee, M. Troussaint. who gave the precise number as 489,733. Of this to tal 2.48 per cent died. PETROGRAD SOBER 4 DAYS No Arrest for Drunkenness During Period Establishes Record. PETROGRAD. via London, Deo. 28. For the first ' time in the history of Petrograd four consecutive days passed without an arrest for drunkenness, not withstanding these days included two Russian holidays and Sunday. This is one of the results of the re cent governmental order forbidding the sale of alcoholic ltquora. - ; AIRMAN RAIDS DOVER, ENG. Bombs Are Dropped and British Fleet Position Is Reconnoltered. BERLIN, by wireless to Sayville, N. T, Dee. 22. The official Press Bu reau announced today: "The German navy aviator. Lieutenant Stephen von ProndzynskI, flew over Dover, threw bombs and reconnoltered the position of the British fleet." The date is not given!.. GIRLS RATTLE WITH SLAYER OF FATHER Battered Burglars Con fess Murder. MILLIONAIRE SHOT BY YOUTHS Son of Murdered Los Angeles Man Also Is Wounded. HAIR BRUSHES ROUT PAIR I. W. W., Son or Former Idaho and San Francisco Minister, Is' On of Thieves, Admitting Killing William M. Alexander. LOS ANGELES. Dee. 22. Their scalDS a mass of wounds, inflicted by the two daughters of their victim, Charles Eth- eioert uxnam, son of a minister, now dead, and Glenn Witt, aged, 23, who describes himself as a casual work are in Jail here tonight, charged with mo muroer or William Montrose Alex ander, a millionaire retired attorney, of Dallas. Texas, who was killed today while resisting burglars In his nome. Oxnam. who was born In Million Idaho, 18 years ago and whose father was pastor 'of Methodist chiiroho in San Francisco, San Diego and Birming ham, Ala., confessed that he killed Mr. Alexander and wonuded his son, Will lam M. Alexander, Jr.. who went to the assistance of the elder man. Both Men Are Identified. Both he and Witt were taken to the Alexander residence after their arrest today and identified. Mrs. Alexander, the widow of 'the slain man. Bald today that she was Just entering the room 'where "Mr. Alexan der met the burglars and had taken off her her rings to give to them when the fatal shot was fired. Mr. Alexan der, with a bullet through the heart. died in her arms. Ou their return from . the Alexander residence the prisoners were taken., to the receiving hospital, where for two hours they occupied the attention. of the surgeons. 'Oxnam had been shot in the left leg by Mr. Alexander's son and b.oth had been . beaten" severely by Misses Penelope and Anna Alexander, aged 16 and 18, who rushed to the aid of their father and brother. Hairbrushes Inflict Deep Waunda. The young women wielded hair brushes, silver-backed and heavy, with such effect ,that the entire areas of their scalps were covered with gashes and cuts that required suturing. "Those girls fought like tigers," re marked Witt, who had borne the brunt of their attack. Witt said he came from Duquoln, (Concluded on .Page 3.) : ' , l - OPEN REVOLT. ; t r rr i INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS . . The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 84 degrees; minimum. 24 degrees. ' TODAY'S Probably fair; southeast winds. ' War. Russians advance In Germany and report successes on other fronts. Pace 1. Germans In New Orleans confess plot to sink French steamer. Pue 1. Turks charged with cruelty to Jews expelled from Jaffa. Pago. 4. Allies make some gains in Flanders and France and repulse German attacks at . other points. Pago 2, French not enthusiastic over obtaining aid of Japanese In Europe. Page . Premier Vlvlanl. of France,- declares for war -without mercy untU permanent . peace Is secured. Page 5. Carranza commander, besieged In Kaco, re fuses to abandon town. Page 2. National Hobson resolution to submit prohibition amendment falls of two-thirds vote in House. Page 1. Prohibition resolution Is defeated In lower House of Congress. Page 1. Domestic, Wounds Inflicted on burglars by young daughters of murdered millionaire lead to arrest and confession. Page 1. - Federal labor Investigator says peace, but - not at any price, is desired. Page 8. Harry Thaw Is watched by New York de tectives. Pago 5. ' Danish freighter Malakka Is left to fate on rocks in Pacific Page 2. - - . Sports. Salt Lake bas to fle-ht for players under coutraot to defunct Sacramento club. Page 12. Negotiations virtually completed for trans fer of Yankees. Page 12. Two swimmers brave Icy waters of river. Page 12. . , Ruling- on use of emery ball in Coast League due before season opens. Page 12. Pacific Northwest. United States Court restrains Clarke County. Washington, from putting local option law into effect. Page 4. , State Superintendent approves high school credits for Bible study In Sunday school. Page . City sovereignty reiterated by State Supreme Court. Page 8. Commercial and Marine. - All grain bids . higher on local exchange, Page 17. Wheat . rallies after break at Chicago on heavy export buying. Page 17. Supply of stocks In Wall street In excess of demand. Page 17. Passing law making precaution against plague compulsory among suggestions of Federal official here. Page 11. Portland and Vicinity. Kurope's demand for wheat quickens mar ket here. Page 18. - Associated Charities' relief fund goes past record of any previous year. Page 11. Rosarlan excursion list growing rapidly for California trip. Page 13. Funeral of IS. Henry Wemme - Is ' held. Page 13. Public defender proposed by Thomas Mc Cusker In bill. .Page T. Cold, clear day is weather man's prediction. .rage l-t. Stama sale breaks record at Portland Post- .office. Page 14. Time extended for free transportation of supplies Intended for Oregon's cargo for Belgium. Page 5. . Legislative committee criticises present school system. Page 4. Weather report, data and forecast. Page IT. i OFFICER OF 1 D ArKfLLEb r . . . Mexican Is Identified as California Slayer by Scar. SAN FERNANDO. Cal., Dec 22. By a scar on the cheek of a Mexican sus pect an eye witness of the shooting identified him as the man who shot and killed Frank B. Smith,. City Mar shal, today. . Smith, who was appointed to office yesterday, attempted to arrest three Mexicans suspected of burglary. He found them asleep by the roadside out side San Fernando, but on rousing them one of the men fired three shots into the Marshal's body. RUSSIANS ADVANCE IN EAST PRUSSIA Germans Thrown Into Bzura, Says Foe. AUSTRIAN MOVEMENT BROKEN Vienna Admits Battle Is on South of Carpathians. PRZEMYSL SORTIE BEATEN Right Wings of Kaiser's Armies In Blnznr Lake Regions and Before Warsaw Are Threatened, .. According to Petrograd. LONDON. Dec. 22. With Russia tor nlght denying recent reports 'of a sweeping German victory in - Poland, and asserting that the Czar's armies are still advancing on. the Thorn-Al-lenstlne lnterburg railway, which par allels in East Prussia the western boundary of Poland, and also that the Germans have been defeated in the Mlawa region jand pushed back until their lines are now behind Soldeau, the German press bureau contents itself tonight with saying merely that the Germans are advancing, at an un named point and that great battles are raging. The Petrograd official report saya the Germans who had crossed the Buzra River were thrown back "into" the river with heavy losses, and the Aus trlans who had crossed the Nlda River were forced to recross the stream by a Russian bayonet charge. Russians Gsla la Gallcla. ,. Further successes in Gallcla are re ported by the Russians, the statement saying a division of the Austrian army being defeated with heavy losses at Ryglice. The Austrian official statement ad mits that a battle Is in progress In the Carpathians "south of the' mountain ridge." The German report says the Rus sians are holding lines on the east bank of the Dunajec River, West Gall cla, to Tochow . and then southeast ward past Krosno. Austrian Advance Broken.' Another battle also is progressing in the Iiopkow Pass, says the Ger man report, where the Russian com munication declares that the Russians have broken the Austrian advance in the Carpathians. ' Petrograd contends that Russian successes north of the Vistula serious ly threaten the German right wing in the Mazur Lake region and also the Tuesday's War Moves HEAVT righting Js taking place on both the Eastern and Western fronts, but without producing any ma terial change in the positions of the opposing armies. In France and - Belgium the allies' offensive is being pressed, and, while some ground has been gained at' wide ly separated points, other attacks have been repulsed by the Germans from their strongly entrenched positions. In the northern area the artillery and warships yesterday took up the battle, giving -the Infantry a rest, but lower down the line and from the Oise to the Meuse fierce fighting took place in many districts. While the progress of the allies is ex tremely slow, it is the belief of mili tary experts here and in France that the gains which the general ataff has been able to report are disturbing the Germans' system of fortncatlons at vital points and will, if successfully continued, compel a retirement by the Germans from their present lines. In the East, most of the Germans north of Vistula have retired across the East Prussian "frontier before the onrush of the Russian forces, but south or mat river, between the Bzura and i'lllca, the Germans continue their rl vance and annuonce that in a. finrni battle they have succeeded In crossing d ranches of the Bzura and Rawaka Rivers at many places. This should bring the main armies close tnnthar and a few days will tell whether the merman advance is to be definitely cnecked or whether . the Germans are again to threaten Warsaw. Fighting also continues in Gallcla, but here, as along the East Prussian frontier, the Russians seem to have been successful in holding back the Au-stro-German forces. The Germans, who are extremely strong along the whole Eastern frontier, already are reported to be moving troops back to the West to meet the allies' offensive It is not considered likely that their movement will reach large proportions until some decisive result has been at tained in the contest against the Russiana The Turks, like their allies, are being attacked on two sides. The Russians say they have inflicted a severe de feat on them in the district of Van, while the allied fleets have been bom barding Kilid Bahr in the Dardanelles and a French destroyer has shelled their troops on the mainland opposite the Island of Tenedos. The first real view of the extent of the South Africa rebellion is given by the Minister of Justice, who says that 4000 rebels are now In prison and that 1200 have been sent to their homes on parole., ...There are still a few roaming about the country, but they are without lead ers and are surrendering on the ap pearance of union forces. The French Premier Rr. viu.i took occasloln yesterday at the reopen- lug oi me t rench Parliament at Paris to reiterate in behalf of the govern ment the declaration of France's policy with reference to the European war. "There is at this time but one single policy," he said, "a combat without mercy until such' time as we accom plish the definite liberation of Europe by a'vlctory insuring peace." ' The Premier alluded to tho treaty made September 4 last in which the British, French and Russian govern ments engaged not to conclude peace separately during the present war. and not Co demand conditions of peace without previous agreement among the allies, and declared: "France, acting in accord with her allies, will not sheathe the sword until she has taken vengeance for outraged rights; until she has united for all time to the Frerfth fatherland the provinces ravished from her by force; restored heroic Belgium to the fullness of her material life and her political inde pendence, and until Prussian militarism has been crushed, to the end that it will be possible to reconstruct on a basis of justice a Europe finally regener ated." Of nearly 600,000 wounded soldiers treated In French hospitals between September 15 and November 30, less than 2ft per cent died. A German wireless dispatch says that another German aeroplane has flown ever Dover, England, and dropped bombs. It also reconnoltered the posi tion of the British fleet. CHRISTMAS IDEA DROPPED Allies' Attack Changes German Plans for Celebration. . BERLIN, via London, Dec. 23. A special correspondent of the Cologne Gazette, who has Just arrived at the headquarters of the Duke of Wurttem- burg, telegraphs that the comparative quiet hitherto prevailing on the west front has given place, within the last three days to such unusual activity that the soldiers have dropped all thoughts of preparing for a Christmas celebra tion. The French and British, adds the correspondent, have been trying for several days to break through the German positions, especially at Nieu port a,nd on the Yser Canal, supported by strong reserves. They have main tained a stubborn fire on the German positions with their heaviest artillery. Nowhere, says the correspondent, have they achieved the desired success. The spirit of the German troops everywhere Is excellent-. CHRISTMAS SKIES CLEAR Snappy Temperature, Except Pos sibly In Gulf States, Indicated. WASHINGTON. Dec. 22. Snappy Christmas temperatures and clear skies will prevail Christmas day throughout the United States, with the possible exception of the gulf states. This is according to indications to night at the weather bureau. L OUISIANA GERMANS PLOT TO SINK SHIP Four Arrested, 2 Con fess, Say Sleuths. DYNAMITE BOMB CONFISCATED Frenchman at New York Ob ject of New Orleans Scheme. . INFORMER IS RELEASED Fear or Destruction of' Innocent Persons Cause Failure of Plan . to Express Explosive to "Do Something for Fatherland." NE ORLEAXS, La., Dec. 22. the arrest here tonight of four Germans is believed by the police .to have frustrated a plot to blow up the French steamship Rochambeau. The police confiscated a box containing 75 pounds of dynamite set by clockwork to ex plode six and one-half days from to night. The prisoners, two of whom are said by the authorities to have confessed, said they understood the Rochambeau was to sail from New York Saturday. Shipping records, how ever, . show that she left 'New York December 13, and the police believed the alleged conspirators miscalculated the date of her departure. Two of those arrested confessed, according to the pclice. . Disaster at Sea Intended. The plan, it was said, was to ship the bomb by express consigned' to the Rochambeau at New York. It was in tended that the vessel would be blown up after she got to sea. I Worry over the prospective loss cf innocent lives Is believed responsible for discovery of the plot. One of those arrested. Peter Langlaan, When, ques tioned by detectives who have been at work on the case for ten days, is said to have told them that while he was willing to blow up a French or English ship he was not willing to see persons not directly connected with the war die. Oji information given by Langlaan, the police arrested Frank Ilelon, alias Hans Hellar, and held him on a charge of preparing explosives for shipment in violation of the Federal statute. , II o tub Preparation Admitted. George Summers and George Brink man, the former the proprietor of the Faut Hotel, were held as accessories, and Langlaan was allowed his freedom. Ilelon admitted, the police say, that h prepared the bomb and expected to , express it tonight from the Faust Ho tel. Summers admitted, the police say, that he knew Helon was working upon explosives but denied he knew for what purpose he intended using, them. After being confronted with his al leged conspirtators the police say Ilelon admitted that It was his intention to blow up some French or English ship, and that If the attempt against the Rochambeau falled.be expected to try some other vessel. lie said he was a waiter without a position and wanted to "do something to help the father land." Britons Destroy German Shops. BERLIN. Dec. 22 (Via wireless to Sayville, N. Y.) An official report given out by the press bureau tonight says: "At Sunderland (England) . the populance has destroyed German shops. The police , made no arrests." 1,000,000 BUILDIXG -IMPROVEMENTS TANGIBLE EVIDEXCB OF CITY'S PROGRESS. Buildings and improvements aggregating $1,000,000 are practi cally certain to start In the early Spring on the East Side, and several enterprises are already under way. The Western. Cooperage Com pany, which has assembling plants at San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, Is constructing a plant at SL Johns that will rep resent an Investment of more than $100,000. It will give em ployment to 300 and 400 men. and use Oregon fir, spruce and hem lock in output going to the East. The Pacific Iron Works is erecting a plant on the East Side at a present cost of $25,000, which, with the six-acre site, will represent ar investment of some thing more than $50,000. Plans are made for the erec tion of the four-story Blake-Mc-Fall building on East Ankeny street at a cost of $90,000. A four-story modern brick building, costing about $40,000, will be built on the northeast corner of Grand avenue and East Alder street by a syndicate of which N. U.' Carpenter, of the Citizens Bank, is at the head. The city will build this Spring the Willow-street ' sewer, which will cost 1200,000 without the laterals. This sewer system .w.111 cost completed something over $500,000. Including the laterals and house connections. It is for the Mohtavilla district. 4 0