Morning Oregonian., February 02, 1917, Image 1

VOL,. LVI. NO. 17,535.
PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
I
REPLY TO BEMJII
IS KEPT SECRET
German Policy, However,
Not to Go Unchallenged,
UNION pacific is
SNOWBOUND AGAIN
ACCUMCXATIOX FROZEN SOLID
IX WYOMING CUTS.
BERNSTORFF EXPECTS BREAK
Question Is Whether Solemn
. Warning or Quick Sever
i ance Will Come Next;
FAMILIAR LINES FOLLOWED
Necessity for Preparing for
Eventualities May Be One
. . Reason for Mystery.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, Whatever
course of action President Wilson has
chosen to meet Germany's declaration
of unrestricted submarine warfare is
known only to three or four members
of his official family. Neither the
Cabinet as a whole nor the foreign
affairs committees of Congress have
been taken into his confidence.
One high official close to the Presi
dent declared tonight that no com
munication had been sent to Berlin or
to Count von Bernstorff, who out
wardly was expecting a severance of
diplomatic relations.
Secrecy Observed as to Reply.
There was every indication in of
ficial quarters that a note hat been
determined on, but the indications as
to whether it actually had been dis
patched were about evenly divided,
with a few high officials as authority
that it had not and some others who
gave intimations of a belief that it
had.
From under the curtain of official
eilence, drawn closely over every move
today, came various indications taken
everywhere as index fingers pointing
toward the probable course of the
United States.
It was undisputed that the Govern
ment would not permit Germany's an
nouncement to stand without chal
lenge.
Policy Is Undisclosed.
Whether President Wilson's answer
will be solemn warning of a break in
diplomatic relations if Germany's
campaign of ruthlessness is carried
, into execution, or actual severance of
relations without further waiting, re
mained undisclosed.
White House officials and Secre
tary Lansing followed the same course
they have adopted on previous occa
sions when a communication had been
dispatched to Berlin and they were
waiting its receipt in the German capt
tal before making any announcement
In this country. It was a course of
absolute silence, of flat refusal to dis
close any information whatever, to
' iscuss the subject in any way, or to
answer any inquiries upon it.
Lansing Out to Callers.
All the day's developments fol
lowed this same course, which has be
come familiar to close observers of
the procedure of the Administration
when it is dealing with a foreign
crisis. ' .
Secretary Lansing began by deny'
ing himself to all callers. Nothwith
etanding it was the regular day for re
ceiving representatives of foreign
povernments at the State Department,
he declined to receive such persons as
the British and Japanese Ambassa
dors, and they were turned over to
subordinate officials.
It became known then that Mr.
Lansing was engaged at work "on
something for the President."
Shortly before noon the Secretary
went to the White House, taking with
him some documents, and,, instead of
going to the executive offices, went
to the mansion itself, where he and
the President conferred undisturbed
for more than an hour.
Secretary Will Not Answer.
When he left the President Mr. Lan
sing refused absolutely to discuss the
situation or answer any inquiries,
Then, later in the day, when he met
newspaper correspondents, he said
have nothing to tell you; neither will
I answer any questions."
He modified his latter statement
only to say that he had no communi
cation throughout the day with the
German Ambassador, adding that
.Concluded on Page 2, Column. S.
Many Trains Are Unable to Proceed
in Either Direct! , n Kansas
Feels Blast, Too.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., Feb. 1. Snow
driven before a high wind and frozen
solldily in cuts along the line of the
Union Pacific Railroad by a 15-below-
cero temperature today, renewed the
blockade which has been hampering
that line Intermittently - for the past
nine days.
The blockade Is between Laramie
and Rawlins. Eight passenger trains
were held at Rock River, unable to
proceed in either direction. Several
others were held at Laramie and Rawlins.
KANSAS CITT. Mo., Feb. 1. Kansas
City and vicinity faced a temperature
tonight which the Government Wea
ther Bureau here eald would be as low
as 15 degrees below zero before day
break. The thermometer registered
two degrees below zero at 7 o'clock
tonight. St. Joseph. Mo., registered
six degrees below.
Clearing weather covered the terri
tory between . here and the Gulf of
Mexico. Temperatures in Southern
Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkan
sas, ranged from eight to 22 degrees
above zer the latter reading being
reported both from Amarillo. In the
Texas Panhandle, and from Little
Rock, Ark.
Children Are Thrown From
Flames; 25 More Missing;
COLD AND ICE HAMPER
U-BOAT DAMAGES AMERICAN
Schooner William Jones Fired on
When in Bay of Biscay.
PENSACOLA. Fla Feb. 1. A letter
saying the American schooner William
Jones had been fired on and damaged
by a German submarine some weeks
ago in the Bay of Biscay was received
here today from Captain Charles Shra
der, of the vessel.
It did not say whether the Jones
tried to escape after being hailed, and
gave no other details except that she
made port at Lisbon in distress, and
that one sailor, frightened at the at
tack. Jumped overboard and was
drowned.
TURKS STARVING LEBANON
Entire Region. Surrounded by Strong
Military Cordon.
LONDON. Feb. 1. Information re-
elved from authoritative quarters, says
the Reuter Telegram Company, shows
that the Turks have surrounded the
entire region of Lebanon with a mili
tary cordon, thus preventing any food
from getting through, with the result
that about half the Christians and
Druse tribesmen In the zone have died
of starvation.
Syria and Palestine have been devas
tated and the olive and orange gardens
ruined. Large numbers of the most
Illustrious families have been deported.
MRS. BYRNE TO OBEY LAW
Birth Control Advocate Accepts
Conditional Pardon.
NEW TORK. Feb. 1. Counsel for
Mrs. Ethel Byrne announced today that
she would accept Governor Whitman's
pardon, which will release her from
prison on condition that she refrain
from further dissemination of birth
control information.'
By the Governor's order the prison
authorities today were directed to per
mlt the woman to confer with her at
torney. She has been in prison about
ten days and for a time was on a
"hunger strike."
NEW GERMAN LOAN LOOMS
Authorities Advised to
Britain's Campaign.
Copy
LONDON, Feb. 1. "An article in the
Frankfurter Zeitung intimates the
imminence of a sixth German war
loan," says Reuter's Amsterdam corre
spondent.
"The article says the authorities who
in a fortnight's time will have direc
tion of the propaganda for the sixth
German war loan, would do well to fol
low attentively the British war loan
propaganda, which works with tre
mendous zeal."
PERJURY SENTENCE LIGHT
Prisoner In "Oliver Osborne" Case
Is Pawn of Others, Says Court.
NEW TORK. Feb. 1. Franklin D.
Safford, twice convicted of perjury
growing out of the "Oliver Osborne"
case, was sentenced today to- nine
months in prison. Execution of the
sentence was stayed until May 1 and
the prisoner s bail reduced.
In passing sentence. United States
Judge Hand told Safford he was lent
ent because he onsidered him "only a
pawn in the hands of others."
BILL FOR FORTS PASSED
Usual Objections Lacking When Sen
ate Takes TJp Measure.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1. The annual
fortifications bill, carrying $51,000,000,
passed by the House Monday, passed the
Senate today unamended.
Usual objections were lacking, the
only Senators who suggested changes
expressing concern as to whether the
amount would be sufficient in view of
the situation with Germany i
SCORES ARE BURIED
BY GAS EXPLOSION
Tenements in Chicago
Swept by Fire'.
WOMEN LEAP FROM WINDOWS
UMATILLA WOMEN
OFFICERS GIVE BALL
HUNDREDS OK PERSONS ARE AT
INAUGURAL CELEBRATION.
Entire District Rocked as by Quake
and Glass Broken for Mile or'
More Physicians Organize'
and Homeless Cared For.
CHICAGO. Feb. 2. Two. persons are
known to have been killed and the po
lice assert that between 40 and 60 oth
ers perished In an explosion here early
today which wrecked a three-story
tenement building and caused unestl
mated damage throughout the foreign
quarter of the West Side of Chicago.
The two bodies taken from the ruins
of the tenement were those of Char
lotte Spltzley, 35 years old. and an un
identified man about 45 years old. More
than a dozen persons suffering from
serious injuries had been aken from the
wreckage to nearby hospitals early today.
Street Lights Pat Oat. .
The wreckage caught fire from the
gas escaping from a bursted main and
the street lighting system was imme
diately disabled. As a result volunteer
rescuers were able to do little but fight
the blaze.
Both buildings were tenement houses
and were situated In the heart of the
West Side foreign quarter. Neighbors
estimated that there were 25 children
and double that number of adults In
the wrecked building and about half
as many occupants In the building
across the street. Probably one-fourth
of these were unable to escape before
the wall and floors fell in. Several
children, injured by being thrown from
upper story windows, were taken to
the Cook County Hospital nearby.
Physicians Organise Rescue.
Six adults, three of them believed
to , have sustained fractured skulls
from leaping from the crumpling tim
bers of the structure, also were taken
to the hospital.
A call sent throughout the district
brought a number of physicians, who
volunteered to care for the scores of
homeless persons, who fled from their
wrecked rooms scantily clad and suf
fered severely from the cold, the ther
mometer registering well below zero.
Water, freezing almost as fast as it
fell, formed a thick glaze over the
wreckage and still further hampered
the work of the rescuers and firemen.
Groans Heard Under Debris.
Groans heard gave rise to a belief
that a number of persons might be
alive underneath the wreckage. Physi
cians said, however, that they could
Opening of Brilliant Affair In Opera
House Is Marked by Blowing of
Whistles and Bell Ringing.
UMATILLA. Or., Feb. 1. (Special.)
The newly elected woman's administra
tion of the city of Umatilla gave an
inaugural ball in the opera-house here
tonight. It was a brilliant affair, and
from all over the Eastern part of the
county visitors are in attendance. Hun
dreds of persons came by automobile
and train from Pendleton, Hermlston,
Stanfleld and Echo. So great waa the
crowd that it became necessary to open
the Masonic Hall, adjoining the opera
house, to entertain those who came to
pay their respects to the fair officials
of this town.
The ball began at o'clock P. M.
Marking its formal " opening, every
whistle In the O.-W. R. & N. Company's
yards was tied down 'for two minutes,
engine bells rang and the crowds all
cheered for the women officials. All
In all, woman suffrage batted well
above .300 here tonight.
The women's administration will suc
ceed, apparently, as they have the sup
port of-virtually every person of the
city. The ball tonight was one glori
ous affair, ' having been carefully
planned, and It passed without a hitch,
fair augury of the future of the new
administration.
Mayoress Starcher and her Council of
women are striving in every possible
way to improve the city morally, fl
nancially and physically, and are suc
ceeding.
TEUTON F0RTSVEX DUTCH
Holland Paper Wonders at Meaning
of German Border Actions.
AMSTERDAM, via London. Feb. 1,
8:10 P. M. The Handelsblad asks
whether there Is any connection be
tween German concentrations and for
tifications on the Dutch eastern fron
tier and the threat of the new sub
marine warfare.
Regarding Holland's action, the
newspaper says much will depend on
the attitude of the United States, and
that If that country abides by the con
tention of her own notes she will be
obliged to declare war on Germany.
OFFICIAL SLAIN BY
SEEKER OF PENSION
HOUSE OVERRIDES
PRESIDENT'S VETO
Tragedy Takes Place in
Olympia State House.
E. W. OLSON SHOT AT DESK
John Vandell Moved to Deed by
Rejection of Claim.
SLAYER THEN SURRENDERS
IMMIGRATION BILL IS PASSED
AGAIN, 286 TO 106.
(Concluded on Page 17, Column 2.)
WIDOW CHOSEN OUT OF 26
Pendleton Mayor Ends Deadlock of
Council Over Matron.
PENDLETON, Or.. Feb. 1. (Special.)
Mrs. John Kearney, widow of the late
Chief of Police, was elected last night
by the City Council for matron of the
city restroom. Mayor Best cast the
'leciding vote after the Council was
deadlocked.
There were 26 applicants for the po
sition, which carries a salary of $35 a
month. The restroom is to be opened
at once.
BELGIAN RELIEF TO GO ON
Steamships Will Continue to Sail
Without Pear, of Destruction.
NEW TORK, Feb. 1. Steamships of
the Belgian Relief Commission will
continue p sail without tear of de
struction because of the new German
naval policy, it was announced today
by Alexander J. Hemphill, chairman of
the New York committee.
Award of $58 for Industrial Acci
dent Fails to Satisfy Claimant
of Life Indemnity Victim
Insurance Chairman.
OLYMPIA. Wash., Feb. 1. (Special.)
With the remark. "Hello, old-timer."
John Vandell, a logger, early this aft
ernoon fired three bullets from a .38
caliber revolver into the head of E. W.
Olson, chairman of the State Industrial
Insurance Commission, aa Olson sat at
his desk using the office telephone.
The revolver was fired at a range of
a few Inches, and Olson died instantly
where he was sitting.
The only witness of the tragedy was
J. E. Leonard, of Chehalls. former
State Senator. He was discussing a
claim with Olson at the time, and
saw Vandell come into the private of
fice with a revolver in hand, but had
no time to realize the danger before
the tragedy had happened, as Vandell
began to shoot when he greeted Olson.
Vile Remarks Follow Shots.
After firing the three shots, all of
which took effect. Vandell, with a vi's
remark, addressed his victim, strode out
through the outer offices, remarking to
H. E. Norwood, at the outer door: "I
got him, and now the state will have to
take care of me. anyhow."
Flora the Capitol building the mur
derer went to the Sheriff's office,
where ha handed hla revolver to Dep
uty Fred McCorkle, saying: "f have
Just' killed a " man. Lock me up as
quick as you can." Later, In the
County Jail, ha made a complete state
ment to Thomas O'Leary, Prosecuting
Attorney, In which he admitted the
shooting and motive.
In apparently utter indifference Van
dell said that he left Olson after a
conference less than half an hour be
fore, went downtown and bought a re
volver to kill Olson because the latter
was trying to starve him to death in
refusing him further compensation
payments on a.n injury claim Vandell
had before the department.
Murder Charge Filed.
Prosecutor O'Leary Immediately filed
an Information charging murder in the
first degree, and Vandell was arraigned
later this evening before Judge John
R. Mitchell. He said he wanted an at
torney, but had no means, and the
court appointed W. J. Milroy, who
subsequently asked for a continuance
until he could learn more about the
cas .. particularly as to a witness now
in Oregon or Callfronla, whom Vandell
Vote Probably Will Be Taken To
day In Senate, Where It Origi
nally Stood, 64 to 7.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1. President
Wlson's veto of the Immigration bill
because of its literacy test feature was
overriden in the House tonight by a
vote of 2S6 to 108. Party lines were
Ignored In the fight. Republicans and
Democrats being almost equally di
vided on either side.
The action of the House will be re
ported tomorrow to the Senate, where
the bill passed originally by 64 to 7.
An effort to override the veto will be
made there without delay and advo
cates of the measure say it is certain
to bo successful.
For 20 years there has been a fight
to establish a literacy test as a re
striction on immigration.
Four times such a provision has run
the gauntlet of Congress and been ve
toed by President Cleveland, by Prest
dent Taft and by President Wilson -in
1915 and this year.
The House had 25 votes more than
the necessary two-thirds majority to
night. Republican Leader Mann and
Democratic Leader Kitchln voted to
gether against the President.
Representatives Hawley. McArthur
and Slnnott. of Oregon; Dill. Hadley
Johnson and La Follette. of Washing
ton, and Smith, of Idaho, voted to over
ride the veto. Democrats voting for
the bill, despite the veto, numbered
149. and Republicans 131. Four Progres
sives and one Prohibitionist also vot
ed for the bill.
: 3
RAIDER REPORTED SUNK
British Squadron Is Said to nave
Ended Career of German.
RIO JANEIRO, Feb. 1. Persistent
reports have been received by the
newspapers here that the German
raider bus been sunk in an engage
ment with a British squadron.
The British cruiser Amethyst Is said
to have been In an engagement with a
German submarine.
(Concluded on Pace 6. Column 2.)
WELl, HERE WE ARE AGAIN. j
.--- S.S..S ..... s.a o.s.o s . s JtAX.MJJL.il .O. . J .H .. J. I JAM .IJJLIJ-t.A ..MXIlit.t..M. J.JJL .JLXJLA
BONE-DRY BILL III
HANDS OF GOVERNOR
Senate Passes Measure
and House Concurs.
UPPER BODY IS UNANIMOUS
Executive to Sign Bill Making
It Law at 4 This Afternoon.
FOUR AMENDMENTS MADE
GOTHAM'S GATES GUARDED
Precautions Taken at Army Reser
vations Adjacent to City.
NEW TORK. Fsb. lj Precautions to
safeguard the approaches to New York
i. arbor against any eventuality were
put in force tonight at all Army re
servations extending from the Narrows
to Atlantic highland, it was learned
authoritatively.
Act Permits Sending Telegraphic
Orders TTp to 3:50 o'clock Today
and Then Allows Five Days
for Final Deliveries.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 40
decrees; minimum, 83 deer...
TODAY'S Rain or .now; southerly winds.
Submarine Campaign.
Wilson considering- suggestion that neutrals
bo asked to act with United States in en
forcing peace. Page 2.
Earlier memorandum from Germany given
out. Page 8.
Washington preserves secrecy ss to next
move In submarine crisis. Page 1.
Germans united on policy, say newspapera
Page 2.
Wall street wildly excited, many margin,
wiped out. Page 7.
Congress calm In crisis. Page 8.
German Chancellor says ruthless warfare
is means of hastening peace. Page 3.
Comment of American press. Page 8.
Ex-Premier confident of victory. Page 2.
Neutral to await declaration from Wash
ington. Page 2.
legislature,
Washington legislators to ask return to
capital punishment. Page 6.
Oregon antl-allen bill will not pass: Japan
protests at Washington. Page 7.
Bone-dry bill awaits Governor's signature.
Page 1.
House votes to reduce Fair secretary's pay
to t-00Q. Page fi.
House takes two hours to pass two bills.
Page 6.
Excess of state budget over limit reduced
So410. Page 6.
Mexico.
Three thousand five hundred refugee with
Pershing's army. Page 4.
National.
House overrides President's veto on Immi
gration bill. Page 1.
Purchase of all West Indies by America pro
posed. Page 4.
Leak Inquiry takes graver turn. Pago 4.
Domnl Ic.
Gas explosion buries many under building.
Page i.
Union Pacific trains are snowbound again
In Wyoming. Page 1.
American purchase of all West Indies recom
mended to National Chamber of Com
merce. Pago 4.
wports.
Wrestlers to meet for 1500 purse tonight.
Page 18.
Hollocher signs Beaver contract. Page 16.
Five dog teams remain In race. Page 16.
Orea-on Argles to hold relay games April 7.
Page 16.
Real danger to baseball 1. seen la strike
agitation. Page 16. -
James John five defeats Hill. 36 to 7.
Page 17.
Pactfle Northwest.
Commissioner E. W. Olson killed by pension
seeker at Olympia. Page 1.
Umatilla women officers have Inaugural
ball. Page 1.
Commercial and Marine.
Northwestern wtieat markets follow Eastern
decline. Page 21.
Break at Chicago Is worse than anticipated.
Page 21.
All part, of stock list affected by heavy
selling. Page 21.
Alaska Engineering Commission opens local
agency. Page 18.
Portland and Vicinity.
J. N. Teal's sharp letter credited with bring
ing Government recognition of Port of
Portland. Page 11.
Harry Bloors wound Is not serious, and
wife is released. Page 15.
Captain Boehm. German spy suspect, is
Portland man. Page 15.
Mrs. J. P. Chapman proposed for vacancy
on School Board. Page 10.
K. W. Flalsig, traveling salesman at 80, re
calls early Portland. Page 11.
Lumbermen send Esch rate plsn back to
Interstate Commerce Commission. Pag
14.
Auto Show attendance large.. Page 10.
C. P. Howard elected president of Central
Labor (Jouncll. fase a.
JYeaUier. report, data aad forecast. Pas SX.
BILL TO BECOME LAW AX 4
O'CLOCK THIS AFTERSOOX.
STATE CAPITOL, Salem. Or,
Feb. 1. (Special.) Governor
Wlthycombe informed Ben C Dey,
a Portland attorney who asked
for the information today, that
he will sign the bone-dry bill at
4 o'clock Friday afternoon.
Telegraphic orders for liquor
thus can legally be sent up to
3:59 o'clock tomorrow. The bone
dry bill gives five days' leeway
in which liquor may be shipped
Into the state under the restric
tions of the present two-quart
prohibition law. provided it has
been ordered before the new act
becomes effective.
As it carries an emergency
clause, the bone-dry law will be
come effective Immediately after
It is signed by the Governor.
STATE CAPITOL. Salem, Or.. Feb. 1.
(Special.) As soon as Governor
Wlthycombe signs it, which probably
will be tomorrow, the Anderson-Eddy
bone-dry bill will be the law of Oregon.
With only a few changes from the
form in which the bill passed the
House Monday with seven dissenting
votes, the Senate this afternoon passed
the measure by unanimous vote.
The emergency clause, which was at
tacked In the House by "some Repre
sentatives, did not even draw fire In
the Senate. The only reference to It
was made by Senator Huston, and his
complaint was that there might be a
question as to whether it was strongly
enough worded.
SO Vote as L'alt.
President Moser brought down his
gavel with a solemn thump to announce
the passage of the bill at exactly 8:45
o'clock. Senators and the big gallery
on band gave a mighty cheer. Twenty
nine Senator voted "Aye." the lone ab
sent member being Senator Bingham,
who is in New York.
One hour later, on motion of Repre
sentative Anderson, joint author of the
measure, the House unanimously con
curred in the Senate amendments. This
brings the bill before the Governor for
his approval.
Four amendments were made by the
Senate and concurred In by the House.
These amendments tend to tighten up
the bill and to make It even more bone
dry than when first passed by tha
House.
Fourth Amendment Added.
Three of these amendments were re
ported In two days ago by the Senate
committee on alcoholic traffic and
adopted by the Senate at that time. A
fourth amendment, urged by Senator
Shanks, chairman of this committee.,
with the approval of its other members,
was made on the floor of the Senate
this afternoon by unanimous consent.
Senator Shanks explained that in the
(Concluded on Pace 8, Column 5.)
Yesterday in the Legislature.
THE outstanding feature yesterday
in the Oregon Legislature was the
passage by the Senate, by unanimous
vote, of the Anderson-Eddy bone-dry
prohibition bill. The few amendments
made were concurred in promptly by
the House. The bill is now before Gov
ernor Wlthycombe, who has announced
that he will sign at 4 o'clock today..
The Senate and House consolidation
committees have agreed to consolidate
the desert land board with the stale
land board, and cut one commissioner
off the state tax commission, recom
mend that its biennial appropriation
be cut from $30,000 to .15,000. and
place the remaining commissioner un
der the Governor, Secretary of State
and State Treasurer. .
Among the bills passed by the House
were the following: Cutting the salary
of the secretary of the State Fair Boetrd
from $3000 a year to (2000; removing
the Penitentiary warden and parolo
ofticers from the State Parolo Board
and enabling the parole officer to live
at the Penitentiary; the sterilization
bill and a bill establishing Cascade
County.
The House passed an aggregate' of
23 House bills and threw Senate bttls.
Including three appropriation meas
ures, and also concurred in the Senate
amendments to the bone-dry bill.
The House committee on revision of
laws tonight heard representatives of
capital and labor on Kubli's an--ftic&et
tUL. -'-