VOL. LVI NO. 17,498.
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 191G.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
POWERS ASKED Tl
CHRISTMAS BONUS
LONDON LIKELY TO
REPLY THIS WEEK
STORMS AND WRECK
HOLD BACK MAILS
TILTS ARISE OVER
MILITARY SYSTEM
MAYOR SEIZES CAR
MASKED ASSASSIN
SHOOTS MAIL CLERK
PLAN STRIKES CITY
OF COAL FOR POOR
GIVE PEAGE TERMS
SEVER All BIG CONCERNS WTLXj
REMEMBER EMPOTES.
ROTARY SXOWPLOWS BUST - IN
KASTERN OREGON.
DIRE NECESSITY IS GIVEN AS
REASON FOR ACTION.
V
to
DISCUSSION BASIS SOUGHT
Action Taken Without Notice
Amazes Entente and
l. German Diplomats.
MEDIATION NOT OFFERED
Mr. Wilson Points Out He Is
Merely Proposing That
Soundings Be Taken.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20. Presi
dent Wilson has appealed to all the
belligerents to discuss terms of peace.
Without actually proposing peace or
offering mediation, the President has
sent formal notes to the governments
of all the warring nations suggesting
that "an early occasion be sought to
call outfrom the nations now at war
Buch an avowal of their respective
views as to the terms upon which the
war might be concluded and the ar
rangements which would be deemed
satisfactory as a guarantee against
its renewal or the kindling of any
similar conflict in the future, as would
make it possible frankly to compare
them."
Action Taken Without Notice.
Wholly' without notice and entirely
contrary to what 'Administration of
ficials have described as his course,
the President last night dispatched
the notes to all the belligerents and
to all the neutrals for their informa
tion. Summarized in the President's
own words as contained in the notes,
his attitude is as follows:
"The President is not proposing
peace; he is not even offering media
tion. He is merely proposing that
soundings be taken in order that we
may learn, the neutral nations with
the belligerent, how near the haven
of peace may be for which all mankind
longs with an intense and increasing
longing.' He believes that the spirit
in which he speaks and the objects
which he seeks will be understood by
all concerned, and he confidently
hopes for a response which will bring
a new light into the affairs of the
world."
Notes Possibly at Destination.
Thi3 latest development in the rap
iary moving worm events toward a
discussion of peace was not permitted
to become known until tonight when
the notes were well on their way to
the American Ambassadors in the bel
ligerent capitals and probably already
in the hands of some of them.
It was a most distinct surprise to
all official Washington, which had
been led to believe that with the for
mal transmittal of the( proposals of
the Uentral .Powers the offices of the
United States would await further
moves between the belligerents them- j
selves and that certainly, in view of
the speech of Premier Lloyd George
and the announcements in Russia,
France and Italy, further action by
neutrals would depend upon the next
careful and delicate moves of the bel
ligerents. Peace Prospects Improved.
The whole tenor of official opinions
throughout Washington, when the
President's action became known, was
that it immeasurably improved the
prospects for some sort of exchange
looking toward an approach to peace
discussions between the belligerents'
without impairing the position of the
United States should they finally be
Unable to find a good ground on which
to approach one another.
At the White House no statement
whatever could be obtained as to
whether any of the powers even had
intimated how they would receive the
note, and there was every indication
that the same careful secrecy which
lad prevented anything whatever be
coming known about the President's
action until it had been taken, would
surround any of the succeeding moves.
British Embassy Surprised.
Nowhere on the surface appears
any indication of the history-making
events which diplomatists generally
are convinced must have transpired
President Sends Note
All Belligerents.
(Continued on Page 3, Column 1.)
Pacific Telephone Company, Standard
Oil, Southern Pacific, General
Electric, Among Several.
Seven hundred Portland, telephone
girls will have for Christmas a pres
ent of added salary from the Pacific
States Telephone & Telegraph Com
pany. All employes of the company,
1300 in number, will receive a like
bonus. Those in service from three
months to one year will be given two
weeks' salary and those employed more
than one year will get' three weeks'
salary.
The Standard Oil Company announces
that beginning January 1 the employes
of the Standard will all go on an
eight-hour basis. Employes who work
by the day and whose wage is less than
?3 will be advanced to $3. Those paid
by the month whose salaries are less
than $75 will be raised to that figure.
All other employes will receive an ad
vance of 5 per ceitt in salaries. This
will affect several hundred employes.
The Southern Pacific Company will
give a bonus of 10 per cent of salaries
f,or the year to employes whose pay
for the year. Including the bonus, will
be $2500 or less. Several hundred rail
road workers In Portland will benefit.
The General Electric Company em
ployes in this city will receive a bonus
of '10 per cent on the month's earn
ings, confined to those who earn $2500
or less . a year. Until further notice
another 10 per cent bonus will be added
to each monthly pay check.
The Northwestern National Bank
will hand each employe $25 with wishes
for a merry Christmas. The Hlbernia
Savings Bank will make the usual
presents to all on its staff.
The Portland Gas & Coke Company
will give each of Its men a box ot
cigars and each girl a box of candy.
BRITAIN MAY BE BONE DRY
Absolute Prohibition of Manufacture
and Sale Said to Be Decided.
LOXDOX, Dec. 21. The newspapers
learn that the government is prepar
ing measures for the future control of
the production and sale of alcoholic
beverages, which may go as far as ab
solute prohibition. It is stated from
one source that it has already been de
cided that the manufacture and sale
of whisky in Scotland will virtually be
prohibited, and that this is likely to
be fallowed by a similar step in Eng
land and Wales.
As regards" Ireland; It Is said that
the government, from the first of Jan
uary, will take over the Irish distiller
ies for the manufacture of munitions.
CONVICTS TO VISIT HOMES
North Carolina Governor to Parole
Trusties for Holidays.
RALEIGH, N. C, Dec. 20. So they
may spend Christmas at home, "trus
ties" in North Carolina prisons and
prison camps will be paroled for three
days beginning next Sunday by Gov
ernor Craig. The convicts will be re
quired only to give their word of honor
that they will return to the prisons by
noon, December 27.
Governor Craig last Christmas pa
roled more" than 800 prisoners under
similar conditions and all reported to
the authorities at the time designated.
MAYOR'S GAVEL IS MISSING
.Relic of Dozen Years Mysteriously
Disappears for First Time.
An old mahogany gavel which has
been wielded at Council meetings by
every Mayor in the last 12 years has
mysteriously disappeared from the
Concil Chamber. The relic was missed
yesterday at the regular Council ses
sion. Apparently it has been stolen.
The gavel was installed prior to the
administration of Mayor Harry Lano
and has been on the job ever since.
This is the first time it has disap
peared. NEW MACHINE GUN TESTED
Weapon Thowlng 3000 Pojectiles
Minute "Worked Electrically.
VALLKJO. Cal.. Dec. 20. A centri
fugal machine gun. said to throw 3000
projectiles a minute at an initial ve
locity of 4000 feet a second, was tested
by naval authorities here today. The
initial velocity of the Army rifle is
2000 feet per second.
The .centrifugal gun is operated
wholly by electricity.
CHINA TO REMAIN NEUTRAL
Humor of Preparations to Join En
tente Denied.
PEKIN, Dec. 20. Hsia Ti Ting. Vice
Minister of Foreign Affairs, appeared
before the lower house of Parliamen
today and answered a rumor that China
was preparing to Join the entente.
He declared that China absolutely
was not considering entering the Euro
pean struggle and that she would main
tain the strictest neutrality.
TREATY RATIFIED BY DANES
Folkcthing Passes Bill for Sale ot
West Indies.
COPENHAGEN, via London, Dec. 20
After a single reading the Folkething
today passed the bill ratifying th
treaty for the sale of the Danish West
Indies to the United States.
The vote was 90 in favor of and 16
against ratification. Five members
were absent.
Answer to Berlin Pro
posal to Be Rushed.
WAY FOR PEACE LEFT OPEN
Note Expected to Make Direct
Offer of Terms Possible.
UNITED ACTION EXPECTED
Lloyd George's Speech to Be Fol
lowed in Main Desire Is to
Dispatch Note Before Christ
mas All Allies to Act.
LONDON, Dec. 20. There is a strong
probability that Great Britain's reply
to the German peace proposal might be
made before Christmas. This was the
opinion . in well-informed government
circles today, where it Is also believed
the reply will be brief and will likely
follow the lines of Mr. Lloyd George's
maiden speech as Prime Minister, inso
far as it will leave the door open for
Germany to make concrete peace, pro
posals. Great Britain's official reply to Ger
many, as prominent officials preferred
to term it, will be. dispatched simul
taneously with that of her allies.
Note Cause of Many Connclli.,
Ever since the German note was
handed to the Foreign Office by the
American Ambassador It has been the
subject of discussion between Premier
Lloyd George and his cabinet council,
whicji meets dally. The note and the
nature of the reply also have been dis
cussed with Great Britain's allies and
it Is stated that these conversations
have progressed so rapidly that prelim
inary drafts have already been made.
It would, therefore, not be surprising
If the allies' reply were ready by the
nd. of the week. Especially, it is said
would this' be true in the case of Great
Britain's note, which the Prime Minister
declared to be anxious to dispatch
without delay.
Note May Be Sent Direct.
When the terms of the note are defi
nitely agreed upon and the document
is signed by Lord Robert Cecil, who is
acting Foreign Secretary In the ab
sence of Mr. Balfour, it may be handed
to Ambassador Page with the request
that he forward it to the State De
partment at Washington for transmis
sion to Germany. This is said to be the
most likely method. Inasmuch as the
United States represents the allies' in
terests in Germany.
It is just possible, however, that
Great Britain may desire to dispatch
the eply direct to the British Ambas
sador at Washington, with instructions
to turn it over to the State Deparment
A dispatch to Reuter's Telegram
Company from Zurich says information
(Concluded on Pace 17. Column 4.)
Mcacham Is in Grip of Storm and Is
Scene of Derailment, Tying
Traffic Several Hours.
LA GRANDE. Or. Dec. 20. (Spe
cial.) Storms in the East and two
boxcars off the track at Meacham tied
up transcontinental traffic this morn
ing several hours.
Mail trains from the East are an
average of 12 hours late each day. and
are again tonight, but a stub train
is being run into Portland as No. 19
tonight. The Meacham trouble was
righted after about six hours and traf
fic was running normally again by
noon except for trains which come to
the division late from the East.
A seven-inch snowfall in Eastern
Oregon necessitated the presence of
two rotarles on the mountain tracks
most of last night and this morning.
PENDLETON, Or.. Dec. 20. (Spe
cial.) With three feet of snow on the
ground and snow still falling. Meacham
in the grip of a heavy storm. The
storm started yesterday and continued
throughout last night.
A small freight train wreck at
Meacham caused a delay of many hours
In east and westbound trains. Sev
eral inches of snow fell at Pendleton
last night and this morning, but was
meltedby a rfln this afternoon. The
wet snow here caused many telephone
and electric light wires to break under
the weight.
GUARDS' PEOPLE TO GET AID
Appropriation for Families of Sol
diers Ready for President.
WASHINGTON. Dec 20. An urgent
deficiency appropriation bill, carrying
approximately $4,500,000, was passed
today by House and Senate and sent
to the President for approval.
It provides 14,250,000 for dependents
of National Guardsmen engaged In
Mexican border service; $210,000 for
the Philadelphia, J37.O0O for the Den
ver, and $25,500 for the San Francisco
mints, and $45,000 for the New York
Assay Office.
ADAMS0N MEASURE WAITS
Attempt to Continue Newlands Com
mittee Delayed by Holidays.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 20. Attempts to
obtain action on the Adamson resolu
tion to extend the life of the Newlands
railroad committee, now Investigating
all phases of the railway situation,
until January 7. 1918, were abandoned
today.
They will be taken up after the holi
day recess of Congress.
JAPAN D0UBTS SINCERITY
Foreign Minister Motono Says Reply
Will Await Consultations.
TOKIO. Dec. 20. Viscount Motono,
Foreign Minister, today told members
of Parliament that ,he believes the
German peace proposal lacked sincer
ity and. that Germany does not really
desire peace.
He added that Japan's reply to the
proposal would be made after consul
tation with her allies.
THE DANCE IS ON.
Charge of Inefficiency
Rouses Congress.
SHARP CONTROVERSY LOOMS
General Scott Says Little Is
Expected of New Order.
RECRUITING. COST CITED
Members of Rouse Committee De
clare Men Refused to Enlist Be
cause of Assurance They Would
See No Active Service.
WASHINGTON. Dec 20. Sharp con
troversy In Congress over the future
of the National Guard in the Federal
military system was foreshadowed to
day at hearings before committees ot
both the House and Senate.
Major-General Hugh L. Scott, chief
of staff of the Army, encountered
vigorous cross-examination by several
members of the House military com
mittee when he touched upon results
of the mobilization of the state troops
for border duty as shown in the Gen
eral Staff report. Conclusions drawn
from the figures to support the con
tentlon that the-guard system is in
efficient and unreliable were ques
tioned. -
47,000 of 95,000 Report.
When General Scott before the House
committee quoted from the mobilisa
tion report to show that out of an en
rolled strength of 95,000 men In certain
units of the Guard, called for border
duty, only 47.000 actually were avail
able for the Federal service. Re pre
sentatlve Anthony, of Kansas, asked
whether It was fair to judge the N
tional Guard system on a mobilization
of what was in, reality the old or
ganlzed militia. Representatives Hull
and Greene Joined in this view.
"Is it not a fact," insisted Represen
tatire Greene, "that neither the Na
tional Guard nor the regular Army as
contemplated by the National defense
act of 1916 was In existence when the
border call came?"
Nevr Plan Regarded Dubiously.
General Scott admitted this was true,
as the act did not go Into effect until
after the call was made.
He reiterated his opinion, however.
that completion of the new organiza
tlon would produce little better re
sults.
Representative Tilson, of Connecti
cut, who commanded a Guard regiment
on the border, asked if the order that
men with dependent families be dis
charged was "not enough to disorga
nize any military organization.
"That order was issued by the Sec
retary of War -and I cannot discuss its
merits," General Scott said. He ex
plained later that the Secretary Issued
'Concluded on Pego i!, Column il.)
Prosecutor to Be Asked Whether Coal
Is Being Shipped Out to Keep
Cp Prices.
DES MOINES, Dec 20. By order of
Mayor Mac Vicar today the police here
seized a carload of coal In the local
yards of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad. The Mayor announced that
the coal was to be delivered to the poor.
The Mayor Informed the railroad and
the owners of the coal that it had been
seized "by virtue of dire necessity and
In accordance with the law."
A cheek paying for the coal at the
prevailing wholesale rate was mailed
to the coal company.
Mayor MacVicar, in a statement, said
he would place in the hands of the
County Attorney for presentation to
the grand Jury evidence which, it is
alleged, points to a combination on the
part of the mine owners to ship coal
out of Polk County with the purpose
of maintaining high prices here.
-
NEW WORK TRAIN MODEL
X
Western TTnion Linemen Will Travel
With Every Convenience.
EUGENE. Or.. Dec 20. (Special.)
Linemen in the employ of the Western
Union Telegraph Company In Western
Oregon will travel and live In Pullman
cars in the future. The old work cars
have been discarded. The new model
work train put into commission on the
Coos Bay branch of the Southern Pa
cific system consists of a sleeper, i
smoker, a car fitted with a bathroom,
reading-rom and lavatories, a dining-
car and a car fitted up for the use of
the foreman of the crew.
U-BOAT SINKS BATTLESHIP
French Man-of-War Saffren Victim
of Submarine Attack.
BERLIN, via London. Dec 20. A
German submarine torpedoed and sank
the French battleship Suffren. accord
Ing to an official statement given out
tonight. The statement reads:
"One of our submarines sank on No
vember 26 by a torpedo an enemy ship
of the line northwest of Lisbon. It was
the French battleship Suffren. reported
lost with the entire crew by the French
Admiralty on December 8."
TEMPERATURE IS VARIED
Thirry-Four Below Zero Recorded in
Xorth; 78 Above In South.
WASHINGTON. Dec 20. A storm
over the Mississippi Valley played
havoc today with temperature normals.
While It was 34 below zero at Devil's
Lake. N. D., the temperature at Gal
veston, Tex., mounted to 78 above, the
highest December reading on record.
INDEX" OF TODAY'S NEWS
Th Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 49
degrees; minimum. 41 degreed.
TODAY'S Occasional rain; southerly winds.
War.
Night artillery fighting- on 'Verdun front Is
spirited, rigt!
Germany must oiior oasis for peace, says
British press. Pag 4.
Powers asked by President TV limn to avow
peace terms. Page 1.
Great Britain may reply to German, peace
proposal before Christmas. Page 1.
Foreign.
South American war forecast by Socialist
writer. Page iti..
National.
House Independents plan to wield power.
Page 2.
Denunciation of National Guard system
causes tilts in Congressional committees.
Page 1.
Vot on District of Columbia prohibition bill
is UQJayna. i'ape 17.
Secretary Lan Indorse Malheur and Owy-
lice reclamation projects, .fage
bometttlc.
L.uthr Rurbank to wed his private secretary
today. Page 10.
Agents hired to any, rot dynamite, says
German Vice-Consul rage 1 1.
Iowa Mayor st-lzes coal for poor. Page 1,
H-.t. sandlocked. mny be "logged out like
big tree. Pane 22.
Ftocks tumble In .Wall Street. Psge 2.
sports.
Waflhlngtonprobably only school on Coast
to change football couch. Page IS.
Leslie Darcy, middleweight, secretly quits
Australia. rage
Jack Cook may manage Bees and Cal ETwlng
Oak. Page i 5
Manager McCredle favors retention of draft
1 uie. Page 1.
Pacific Nortbweat.
Storms and wreck in Eastern Oregon Isold
back malls. Page l.
Board report assails Penitentiary system.
Page 5.
Governor scores Central Oregon Irrigation
Company. Page o.
John Mlll.-r Murphy, pioneer newspaperman.
dies at Olympia, rage e.
Hawley paper mill to build second addition.
Pago 1 1.
Oliver Iundgrn, O. A. C. student, drowns
at 1 orvama. ago O.
Commercial and Marine.
Local whrtt bids lower, with Inactive mar
ket. Pago 2-'.
Forced llauldatlon break stock market.
Psko SW.
Chica.Ro wheat depressed by peace reports.
Pago
"Big Three" line lifts freight embargo,
rase
Portland and Vicinity.
Christmas bonus plan strikes city. Page 1,
Chamber to study bills that affect Indus
try. Page 1.
Multnomah legislative delegation will or
ganixe tonight. Pago 9.
Belated shoppers charge on stores. Page 8.
Lumber prloca advance 91 a tnouaand.
Pago 39.
Christmas rush congests postofflce. Page 19.
Welfare Bureau seeks $10,000 In three days.
Page 11.
George H. Alden praises sacrifice of Pilgrim
fathers In address. Pago 19.
Jitney men persist In franchise attempts.
Pajce 13.
City Council orders co-operation to stop
financial leaks. Page 8.
Masked assassin shoots at mall cleric
Page 1.
Oregon Hotel may be replaced by magnifi
cent structure. Pag lo.
Waathar report, data and forecast. Page 22.
Nathan Hankin Called
to Door'of Home.
BULLET FRACTURES FOREARM
"Your Time Has Come," Says
Intruder as He Fires.
POLICE INVESTIGATE CLEW
Door Is Slammed Shut In Face of
Assailant, AMio Tires Through
Wood and Hits Mark Oft
Made Threats Reported.
Nathan Hankin, an employe In Post-
office Station E, at Fifth and Gll
san streets, was shot last night In
his home at 1312 East Fifteenth streeu
North by a masked assassin who
called Mr. Hankin to the door and an
nounced that he had come to kill him.
Mr. Hankin tried to close the portal
in the assassin's face, and the man
fired through the woodwork. The shot
took effect in Mr. Hankin's right fore
arm. He was sent to the Good Samari
tan Hospital by Motorcycle Patrolmen
Gouldstone and Bales. Dr. L. O. Rob
erts, 1395 Union avenue North, at
tended him.
Your Time Haa Come," lie Says.
Mr. Hankin, whose wife is visiting
In Australia, was playing; a phono
graph when his assailant knocked on
the back door of the house. Mr. Han
kin says the man was masked with a
white handkerchief.
"Tour time has come." Mr. Hankin
says the intruder threatened as the
door opened. The police found the mark
of a .32-callber bullet in the door. After
the shooting- Mr. Hankin walked to the
home of P. P. Morton. 1308 East Four
teenth street Xorth. and the Mortons
called the police and a physician.
Clew to Assassin Followed.
The bullet Is believed to have broken
his arm. although the shot did not pass
entirely through the limb. The police
ty Mr. Hankin haa been threatened
with violence before. Detectives Mal
lett and Price early last night were on
the trail of a roan they believed con
nected with the shootlns.
The only possible clew to the Identity
of the assassin so far discovered by the
police lies in Mr. Hankin's statement
that he is at outs with some of his
relatives. Mr. Hankin says he did not
recognize his assailant, and has no rea
son to believe that any acquaintance of
his was concerned in the shooting.
Mr. Hankin has been separated from
his wife about a year. Mrs. Hankin has
their two children with her.
Half-Played Record on Machine.
The police carefully scrutinized the
premises where the shootlns took place
and found that each of Mr. Hankin's
assertions regarding the shooting was
borne out by the evidence.
On the phonograph, which he said he
was playing when he heard the knock,
on the door, was a half-played record.
God Save the King." The bullet hole
in the door ranged slantwise, indicat
ing that the door was partly shut when
the shot was fired.
Bridegroom of Day Attacked.
Two men were seen running from
the neighborhood of the house about
the time of the shooting, and the po
lice are trying to obtain a description
of the fugitives to see if either corre
sponds with the meager description
given by Mr. Hankin.
James Rinehart, 1313 East Four
teenth street north, reported that two
men had thrown pepper in his eyes
and robbed him of 120 at East Four
teenth street and Ainsworth avenue,
near the scene of the attempted killing.
Mr. Rinehart was married only last
night, and was returning to his bride,
when the alleged hold-up- occurred.
The police are dubious concerning his
story.
COAL MEN ASK PROBE
.
Famine Is Possibility ' In Chicago,
Say Dealers.
CHICAGO, Dec. 20. Following a
series of conferences Chicago coal
dealers, facing a possible coal famine,
today announced that an appeal for an
Inquiry into the local situation had
been made to the Federal Trade Com
mission. Railroad men and coal dealers as
serted today that they saw some relief
for the shortage, which seriously
handicapped the heating of some of the
larger buildings in the city, in the fact
that coal had begun to move into Chi
cago again from the West Virginia
fields.
GUARD IN MIDNIGHT MASS
Celebration at Camp Wilson to Bts
First or Kind Since Civil War.
SAN ANTONIO. Tex.. Dec. 10. Mid
night mass In a military camp will be
celebrated at Camp Wilson here on
Christmas eve for the first time in this
country since trie Civil War, it is said.
The seventh Illinois Infantry, from
Chicago, is composed mostly of Roman
Catholics, and the Rev. Father A.
O'Hearn is chaplain.
Bishop Shaw granted the dispensa
tion for the service.