:fllllil
VOL. LVI.-XO. 17,24G.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, 3IAKG'lI 1, 1916.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
111 1 1 I : i in t
X
WILSON CALLS
FOR SHOWDOWN
Congress Told to Vote On
Warning Proposals,
DIVISION IS EMBARRASSING
Conduct of Foreign Affairs De
clared Duty of President.
Not Legislators.
GRAVITY IS MADE PLAIN
Teutonic Demands Said to
Have Been Stiffened by
Report of Dissension.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29. Presi
dent Wilson decided today that he
cannot proceed with the German sub
marine negotiations while dissension
in Congress weakens his position be
fore the world, so he called for a show
down on the pending proposals to
warn Americans off merchant ships
of the European belligerents armed
for defense.
Making clear that he considers the
President, and not Congress, charged
with the conduct of the foreign rela
tions of the United States, he wrote
a letter to Representative Pou, acting
chairman of the House rules commit
tee, asking him to provide parli
mentary means for bringing the agi
tation out into the open on the floor
of the House for full discussion ' and
vote.
Leaders Called to Conference.
Later he summoned Senator Stone
and Representative Flood, chairman of
the foreign affairs committee, and
Senator Kern, majority leader in the
Senate, for a conference at the White
House tomorrow morning. Then he
will request that one of the various
pending resolutions be acted on in both
houses.
Administration leaders, working
steadliy for the last week strengthen
ing their lines and counting on the
support of the Republicans, now are
6o sure of their position that they
plan to end all agitation with a vote
of confidence in the President.
Divided Counsels Harmful.
The President's letter to Mr. Pou,
the signal that the Administration was
ready to give Germany a demonstra
tion of unity, follows:
"My Dear Mr. Pou Inasmuch as I
learn that Mr. Henry, the chairman of
the committee on rules, is absent in
Texas, I take the liberty of calling
your attention, as ranking member of
the committee, to a matter of grave
concern to the country, which can, I
believe, be handled, under the rules of
the United States Congress, only by
that committee.
"The report that there are divided
counsels in Congress in regard to the
foreign policy of the Government is
being made industrious use of in for
eign capitals. I believe that report
to be false, but so long as it is any
where credited it cannot fail to do the
greatest harm and expose the country
to the most serious risks.
Early Vote Is Urged. v
"I therefore feel justified in asking
that your committee will permit me to
urge an early vote upon the resolu
tions with regard to travel on armed
merchantmen, which have recently
been so much talked about, in order,
that there may be afforded an im
mediate opportunity for full public
discussion and action upon them, and
that all doubts and conjectures may
be swept away and our foreign rela--tions
once more cleared of damaging
misunderstandings.
"The matter is of so grave im
portance and lies so clearly within the
field of executive initiative that I ven
ture to hope that your committee will
not think that I am taking unwar
ranted liberty in making this sugges
tion as to the business of the House,
and I very earnestly commend it to
their immediate consideration. Cor
dially and sincerely yours,
"WOODKOW WTILSON."
I Coune DiMi'UHMrd in Cabinet.
This course was decided on alter to
fiav's Cabinet meeting, at which it was
iscussetj. and alter a. week's quiet,
steady work at the Capitol. Prompt
action is desired particularly in the
House, where agitation has been most
turbulent, and where Speaker Clark
prelicttti anti-Administration resolu
tiors when first introduced would have
WEALTHY. FARMER
SHOT BY ACCIDENT
TRIGGER OF Cl". IN SOX-IN-LAWS
HANDS HITS POOR.
Horace Murch Killed Instantly
Near Coburg Wlien C. W. Buck
ingham Goes After Hawk.
EUGENE. Or.. Feb. 29. (Special.)
Horace Murch, 63 years old, native
son of Lane County and a wealthy land
owner, was killed instantly today. A
Sun in the hands of his son-in-law, G.
W. Buckingham, was discharged acci
dentally. Mr. Buckingham, who lives near Co
burg, stepped to the front porch of his
home to shoot a hawk, and the trigger
caught on the doorsill.
Mr. Murch retired from active life
several years ago and had been mak
ing his home with the Buckingham
family. They had Just finished break
fast, when a hawk was discovered flying-
over the house. Mr. Buckingham
took his gun and started out of the
front door. Mr. Murch and the other
members of the Buckingham family
were seated together in the room
where he was killed.
Mr. Murch had been engaged in va
rious mercantile enterprises in Lane
County. His estate includes a 500-acre
tract of valuable land in this county.
He is survived by his two sons, Har
old Murch, of Golconda, Ariz., and
George Murch, of Portland, -and daugh
ter, Mrs. Buckingham, of Coburg.
Mr. Murch was born on the farm
where the tragedy occurred.
Coroner Vcatch brought the body to
Eugene tonight.
MARCH ENTERS LIKE LION
Month Will. Go Out liven as a Lamb
if Oil Adaec Proves Serviceable.
If the old saw about the weather
holds good, and it has done duty for
many, many years, March will go out
like a lamb, for it came in like a lion.
Strong blustery winds and rain chris
tened it and a general storm that pre
vailed over the Pacific Northwest her
alded the approach of the Spring month.
for oi March 20 the genial season of
buds and blossoms opens officially.
Storm warnings flew at the mouth
of the Columbia River and elsewhere
on the Coast yesterday. Portlanders
may expect southerly winds of some
strength today, together with rain.
This is just the condition, say the
weatherwise, to assure a mild, pleasant
ending of the month.
CLASS DRESSJTO COST $7
Senior tiirls of Pendleton High
Scliool Fix Graduation Limit.
PEXDLETOX, Or.. Feb. 29. (Spe
cial.) At a meeting- of the seniors of
Pendleton High School, held today, it
was decided to cut down the cost of
graduation gowns to $7. . The cost Is
to include the purchase price only,
which will bring: it within the means
of all the girls in the class.
The following commencement officers
were chosen: Class poet, Angela Bow
ler; class prophet, Edith Richardson;
class historian, Ernest Boylen. Charles
Gordon will give the advice to the
juniors and Chester Reed is to read the
class will.
GIRL, 14, RUNS OFF TO WED
Baker Lass Elects and Marries
Vaudeville Actor in I.a Grande.
BAKER. Or.. Feb. 29. (Special.)
Without telling her schoolmates, 14-
year-old Ida, daughter of Mr. and Mrs
Isaac Koski, joined Voktor Lunt, a
vaudeville performer, and went to La
Grande, where they were married by
Rev. C. E. Edwards. pastor of the
Methodist Church and formerly with
the Baker church.
The girl was a freshman in Baker
High School, and met Lunt July last
here. While Lunt traveled he left a
trail of letters behind and the girl
replied.
RAILROAD PAYROLL GROWS
Distribution in Central! This Year
Ea peeled to Keacli $100,000.
CKXTRALIA, Wash., Feb. 29. (Spe
cial.) T. E. Denny, yardmaster for the
Northern Pacifio in Centralia, said yes
terday that the railroad payroll in this
city last year averaged more 'than
a month and that with in
creased transportation it was expected
to reach $400..00 this year.
There are 400 men employed here by
the Northern Pacific, Great Northern
and O.-W. R. N., these men, with
their families, comprising nearly one
fifth, of the city's population.
RADIO SPEED SEXTUPLED
Two Hundred Words Minute Trans
mitted "by Wireless.
CHICAGO., Feb. 29. A speed of 200
words a minute, said to be a hi
record for wireless transmission, has
been accomplished by the wireless sta
tion at the Great Lakes Naval Train
ing School, North Chicago, through
the use of a transmitting relay thee
and a recently invented receiving ma
chine at a private station here, it was
announced today.
Thirty words a minute has been con
sidered a fast record previously, ac
cording' to officials at the station.
Portland Man Appointed.
OUEGOXIAX NHWS BUREAU. Wash
ington. Fob. 29. George A. Benedict
of Portland, has been appointed land
appraiser for the Interstate Commerce
U-BOATS BELIEVED
MINING NEAR DOVER
Maloja Officers Sus-
pect Germans.
VICTIM SHIPS SINK RAPIDLY
Lifeboats Are Made Virtually
Useless by Explosions.
AMERICAN BARELY SAVED
Kansas Man Has Series of Peril
ous Experiences Following De
struction of Liner Hour
Is Spent In Water.
LONDON". Feb. 29. That German sub
marines have been sowing mines on
Dover was the belief expressed today
by Ralph Foster, of Kansas, and other
survivors ot the Maloja disaster, in
cluding some officers of the ship.
The fact that a number of disturb-
ances have occurred in me in
Dover during the last two Sundays is
considered in some quarters in London
as possible evidence that German sub
marines, knowing that a numc-er 01
boats clear for foreign porn Saturdays,
have taken advantage of that fact in
order to- creep in as near the coast as
possible at night time and discharge
cargoes of explosives.
Lifeboat Virtually ViwIcm.
In the opinion of Mr. Foster, life
boats virtually are useless where ships
strike mines, as almost invariably they
sink ouicklv and the crews are drilled
insufficiently for quick action and the
boats car.not be lowered when a snip
heels over on her side as the Maloja
did. Mb. Foster had a thrilling experi
ence. He was afloat in the water on
an upturned boat an hour when he was
rescued by a trawler.
'I was promenading tne oecit wen
forward about 10:20 o'clock isunoa
morning," said Mr. Foster today to tne
Associated Press representative, "when
I heard a slight report. I thought it
was a gun firing a blank shot until 1
saw debris falling. Even then the con
cussion had been so slight that I con
cluded an accident must have happened
to some other ship near by.
Pa.aport Is Saved.
"I rushed back toward the stern of
the Maloja, but before I had taken a
dozen steps the ship began to list, and
I started toward a lifeboat that had
been allotted to my cabin. It was so
full of people I saw I was likely to be
swamped, so I -went below for a life
belt. I put on my overcoat and the
lifebelt and also took my passport.
"By this time hardly three minutes
after the explosion the passageways
below were arush. I returned to the
lifeboat and tried to help shove it clear.
Two of the white crew of the steamer
were standing by to lower the boat,
but only a steward and myself were
making any efforts to put it off from
the ship's side. We could not get the
"onoluld on Page 4. Column 4.1
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INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 41
a e 47 reed; minimum. 3 1 cexreei.
TODAY'S Rain; strong- southerly winds.
Mar.
U-boats believed sowing mines sear Dover.
rage i.
Germans capture five more villages near
Verdun. Page 2.
National.
Wilson calls on Congress for showdown.
age 1.
McAdoo ready for first step in new currency
move, rage
Sports.
Beavers, with Wilie and TIarstad, now ready
for training camp. Page 12.
Washington. James John itiid Pen&oa all
win basketball games. Page 13.
Pacific Korttiwest.
Steamer Fifield is wrecked at Bandon.
Page 3 0.
Wealthy Lane County farmer shot by acci
dent, fage 1.
Search for legendary flawlc of mercury leads
ro Cisco very of rich cinnabar mine.
Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Bids received from East for wheat at higher
prices. Page 17.
Chicago wheat rallies after slump of last
week. Page 17.
Stocks firm at opening, but decline in latter
part of session. Page 17.
Federal law relative to allotment of sail
ors' salaries to be enforced. Page 16.
Portland Is negotiating for wool-scouring
pianc .fage i.
Portland and Vicinity.
School test conducted for The Orcgonlan on
behalf of the public. Page 1.
February records gain in drunkenness.
Page 1.
Wire tapping admitted in Rlddell divorce
case. page T.
Sex talks start today. Page 7.
Dr. E. E. Chase to head meat inspection
force. Page t.
Car shortage in Oregon grows less acute.
Pago 13.
Portland War Relief Society, during Lent,
will make bandages for soldiers, rase 10.
Move to elect T. B, Wilcox to Chamber of
Commerce presidency grows. Page 4.
PINEAPPLE CROP IS HEAVY
Hawaii Will Ship 00,000 Tons of
Canned Product to America.
HONOLULU. T. H., Feb. 29. Sixty
thousand tons of canned pineapples will
be shipped to the mainland by the
growers of Hawaii this year, in ac
cordance with their agreement with the
Matson Navigation Company to ship by
that line for five years a minimum of
three-quarters of the annual pineapple
pack.
The freight rate on the product Is
$3.25 a ton. The pack this year will
be exceptionally large.
WOMAN SCORNS ALIMONY
Xo True Feminist, Says Fair Plain
tiff, Xeeds Man's Support.
CHICAGO. Feb. 29. Mrs. Crystal
Eastman Benedict, a suffragist, paci
ficist, business woman, wife of Wal
lace Benedict, electrical engineer, is
suing for divorce. She cites actions of
Benedict and an unidentified woman as
cause for the suit.
No alimony is sought, as Mrs. Bene
diet asserts that a real feminist does
not think of alimony and does not have
to be supported by men.
IS KISS NOT WON CRIME?
Insuruncc Man Charged With As
sault for "Intent" to Steal Caress.
WATERLOO, la.. Feb. 29. J. V
Rhodes, an insurance man, surrendered
to the police today to answer a charge
of "assault with intent to kiss," which
was made by' Jtfrs. William Bunce, ot
Laporto City.
airs. Bunce charges Rhodes attempted
to steal a kise from her while on
visit to her home. Rhodes declares he
is innocent-
CLUB PRESIDENTS
GIVE SCHOOL TEST
Six Officiate
of The
OBJECT IS GENERAL SURVEY
Pupils of Eighth and Ninth
Grades -Examined.
IDEA APPROVED BY BOARD
J. P. Jaeger, Chairman of Commit
tee, Says Endeavor Is to Deter
mine Definitely if Results Be
ins Attained Are Satisfactory.
FACTS ABOUT SCHOOL. TEST.
Subjects History, grammar,
geography, spelling and arith
metic. Pupils participating Eighth
and ninth grades of all Portland
public schools.
Plan Conducted under auspices
of The Oregonian by committee
acting independently and with
the consent of Board of Educa
tion. Committee J. P. Jaeger, presi
dent Progressive Business Men's
Club; Mrs. George V. McMath.
president Oregon Congress of
Mothers: Mrs. Isaac Swett, presi
dent Council of Jewish Women;
Mrs. G. J. Frankel, president
Woman's Club; W. D. Whitcomb,
president Ad Club, and N. G. Pike,
president Rotary Club.
Results Gradings will be
passed on by the committee and
made public.
Pupils of the eighth and ninth grades
of the Portland public schools yester
day participated in a written examina
tion, conducted independently of the
city school authorities.
The examination w-as held under the
auspices of The Oregonian and was In
charge of a committee selected by this
newspaper, because of thei represen
tative standing as the presidents of six
of Portland's chief civic organizations.
The object of the examination was
to make a general survey of public
school work in the fundamental studies.
Before the results are made known
the papers will be passed upon by the
committee. This committee also chose
the questions to be asked, the grades
in which the 'test was to be made and
passed upon all details. The results
of the examination will be gauged by
the committee and publicly announced.
Move Approved by' Board.
The Oregonian undertook the pro
motion of this examination as a mat
ter of news interest to every citizen
of Portland. The suggestion of hold
ing such an examination met with the
(Concluded on Page ltj. Column 1.)
RICH MINE OF 50
YEARS AGO FOUND
SKARCII FOIl LEGENDARY POT
OF MERCURY BRINGS FIND.
lunt for Iron Flask Unsuccessful,
Mit Seeker Takes Samples Whicli
Show Fine Cinnabar Deposits.
BAKER, Or.. Feb. 23. (Special.) A
story so old that it becomes a legend
has led ' to the rediscovery, after SO
years, of a. valuable deposit of mercury
near Canyon City, once the glory of
the mining country. After half a cen
tury of idleness, mercury deposits in
Cinnabar Mountain, thought to have
run out in the '60s. have been redis
covered by Ralph M. Curl, of Canyon
City, because he believed the legend.
Mr. Curl has relocated the old claim
and is preparing at once to reopen the
mine of cinnebar, or mercury ore.
Grant County.
A legend, handed down from the
early days when mercury was taken
from Cinnebar Mountain to aid in the
extraction of gold, tells of an iron flask
containing some 90 pounds of mercury
and left in the underground works of
the mine when it was closed down.
Mr. Curl, having heard of this cache
and being aware of the steady advance
in the price of mercury, made the trip
recently to investigate.
He could not gain entrance to the
tur.nel, but did bring down some sur
face croppings and samples from the
dump which on being tested showed
high percentages of cinnebar.
TAX COLLECTION HELD UP
Court Grants Injunction LiClting Cit
ies Off From Paying for Roads.
EUGENE. Or., Feb. 29. A temporary
injunction waa granted by Judge Skip
worth in the Circuit Court today re
straining Sheriff Tarker from collect
ing a two-mill road tax levied by the
County Court on property located in
Eugene and Springfield. The city holds
that the tax is illegal and that the
country districts should stand the ex
pense of road building.
Pending a decision on the merits of
the case, the Sheriff will collect two
mills less from the citizens of the cities,
which, it is contended by the tax col
lector, will cost the county at least
$1000, no matter which way the deci
sion goes.
WHITMAN TO GET $200,000
Walla Walla County Ranch to Go to
College at Death of Heir.
WHITMAN COLLEGE, Walla Walla.
Wash., Feb. 29. (Special.) When the
will of the late W. G. Preston, of
Waitsburg, was filed for probate Sat
urday, it became known that Whit
man College was the ultimate heir to
the share of Charles B. Preston in the
Summit ranch near Waitsburg.
This property is in the best wheat
country in Walla Walla County, and
is worth at least $300,000. At the death
of Charles Preston Whitman College
will get the property, and the income
will be used to furnish free scholar
ships for needy students.
CARROLL B. OPENS BIG VEIN
Gold, Running $500 to Ton, Is Un
covered in Baker District.
BAKER. Or., Feb. 29. (Special.)
That a 14-inch vein of gold ore run
ning foOO to the ton has been struck
at the Carroll B. mine was Vie state
ment made this raorninj by John
Cronan, in charge of operations at the
mine, wha was in the city today.
Twenty sacks of the precious rock have
already been taken out for shipment,
and there is no indication of the vein
conting to an end.
Milling ore averaging $15 a ton is
being taken from two ledges at the
mine, one eight and the other seven
feet in width.
DRY LAW HELPS DAIRIES
Consumption of Sweet and Butter
milk Shows Increase, f
"Prohibition has broucht a great in
crease in the amount of milk consumed
in Portland, according to information
received from dairymen and creamery
men by Dr. D. W. Mack, chief of the
City Milk Inspection Bureau. While
no figures have been compiled Dr.
Mack estimates that the demand for
milk has been increased several thou
sand gallons daily.
Increase in consumption of butter
milk also is reported. And the dealers
are looking for still greater increase
next Summer.
MINES LAID OFF SWEDEN
German Flotilla Working V'ndcr
Protection of Warships.
COPENHAGEN", via London. Feb. 29.
The Aftonbladt reports that a large
German flotilla ie engaged in laying
mines south of Falsterbo. but outside of
Swedish territory, and that it is under
the protection of 20 German patrol
ships.
Falsterbo is a small seaport of Swe
den near its southern extremity, on the
Baltic Soa. A dispatch from London
today said that the Swedisli steamship
Knippla had struck a mine eouth? of
Falsterbo and had sunk.
Only One American on Board.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29. Consul
General Skirner at London today re
ported to the State Department that
only one American. Ralph B. Foster,
was itboarc the liner Maloja. sunk by
a. mine Sunday off Dover, and that he
was savel
BQOZE INFLUX GAINS;
ARRESTS KEEP PAGE
SavingsAccounts Grow
With Prohibition.
BUSINESS FINDS READY MONEY
Real Estate and Rental Values
Show No Falling Off.
PUBLIC SAFETY INCREASES
Bootlcgcing, However, Is Delicved to
He Prevalent Depite Cam
paign ami Confiscation
in Raids by Police.
PORTLAND AFTER TWO DRY
MONTHS.
February shows sharp increase
in arrests for drunkenness.
Blind pigs and bootleggers get
down to working basis and are
thought to be on increase.
Express shipments of liquor
into city three times quantity im
ported in January.
Public safety increases under
dry law. Accidents drop sharply
in traffic statistics.
Savings accounts grow and
stores report better collections.
Demand for store locations
takes quarters left vacant by sa
loons, and realty men report bet
ter demand for homes.
Real estate and rental values
have not decreased because of
prohibition.
The Demon Rum. who was thought
to have received his death blow Jan
uary J, shows some signs of reviving.
After a remarkable showing in Jan
uary for decreases in arrests for drunk
enness. February returns indicate there
is some lifo left in the Demon, for he
has been noticed during the past 29
days to stretch himself, wiggle a fin
ger or two and show Indications of re
turning life.
Arrests for drunkenness are increas
ing. During the short month, just
ended, statistics show a distinct gain
over January.
The past two weeks have been most
fruitful of all the elapsed time this
year in bookings on the police blotter
recording arrests, for drunkenness.
Much Seized Liquor Returned.
This, too, despite the fact that dur
ing the month, as well as in January,
officers of the law have been active in
raiding blind pigs and quantities of
liquors have been seized that would
float a moderate-sized battleship. Much
ot this confiscated stuff has been given
back to the owners, due to the- fact
that convictions, it was believed, could
not be obtained.
Bootlegging is thought to be on the
increase in Portland. Despite the haz
ards the officers throw about this
branch of trade, it is said not to be
difficult to find a man who knows
someone else who can buy a bottle for
the required amount of currency.-
The use of alcohol as a beverage i3
reported to be gaining.
"Wbttc-LInera" Multiply.
The "white-liner," one who mixes
water or other liquids with alcohol
and drinks it. is said to be growing
In numbers, and this sort of a "jag"
is providing work for the police, the
doctor and, incidentally, the undertak
er, for the drink is believed to be the
most deadly form of intoxicant.
Drunks picked up by the police often
are carrying bottles containing alcohol.
Where did you get it?" is the first
q-stion asked by the officers, who
c?'. to" cut off the source of supply in
Inis way, but it is infrequently that
the desired information is gained.
There was a big jump in express
shipments of liquor into the city dur
ing the past month. The figures are
three times those of January. Affida
vits filed with the County Clerk for
January shipments show that 727 per
sons imported liquor into tho state for
their own use. while the February affi
davits will undoubtedly reach 2500 and
probably 2600.
Storage Stocks Depleted.
This seems to indicate that storage
stocks are being depleted, while the
general public is becoming familiar
with the processes for importing drink
ables from outside, and it may have its
part in the increase of drunkenness. It
is predicted that March will show
heavy importations.
Several causes may combine to make
the showing of the police records of
arrests. Drunk" and disorderly persons
taken to jail by the police up to last
night during February numbered 160.
as against 119 during January, a month
two days longer.
Vagrants arrested, during February
numbered 130. as compared with 122
for January. The total for he past
month is 290, as against 241 for Janu
ary. The total will be increased by
last night's arrests. The police arrest
ed 13 during the month for violations
of the dry law, and there was one man
arrested who had. the delirium tremens.
Statistics Are Complied.
Maj or Albee has compiled statistics
on tne subject, which do not tally x
actly with the above figures. He givs
450 a tne number of arrests during
I (Cuucludiu oa I'uije 0. Column 1.)
.lop 1 1 o.o (
9 '