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.
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