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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1917)
VOL. LVI. NO. 17,536. PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. BREAK is ram OFFICIALS HI Germany Held to Have Chal lenged National Honor. QUESTICN ONLY OF METHOD Wilson and Advisers Part for Night's Reflection, but t Will Act Promptly. WIGHT MEETING DRAMATIC No Rest.'aining Developments Appear to Stem Tide Set ting Toward Crisis. GROUNDHOG PROVES WINTER IS DONE 'SRKERY" BEAST FALLS TO GET GLIMFSE OF SHADOW. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2. The sub marine menace sweeps on and every hour draws the United States nearer a break with Germany. No restraining developments ap pear to stem the tide. Official Wash ington is convinced the crash is only a matter of time and a question of form. A long session of the Cabinet at a dramatic night meeting of the Presi dent and Senators at the Capitol devel oped a unanimity of opinion that a challenge to the honor of the United States must be met. "Night's Reflection'' Decided On. The means, of doing so appears to be the only question undetermined. When President Wilson and his ad visers parted, "for a night's reflec tion," as the President himself put it, ppparently it had not been deter mined whether the United States should delay action until Germany commits an overt act or whether pass ports ehould be handed to Count von Bernstorff with or without a warn ing note to Berlin. After the President and the Cabi net had been in session more than two hours Mr. Wilson hastened to the Capitol and this statement was is sued at the White House: "The President and the Cabinet thoroughly canvassed the situation, but there is nothing to announce." Cabinet Sworn to Secrecy. Members of the Cabinet, sworn to silence, left the White House with grave faces. One of them later suf ficiently broke the rule, of silence to say: "The near future will develop some thing very, very serious." Another gave a hint that an overt act might be awaited, or at least a Warning given by saying: "The last chance has not yet gone. While Germany has announced her purpose, she has not yet carried it into effect, so far as we know." The Cabinet unanimously agreed, however, that the United States could in no circumstances countenance such an invasion of its rights as Germany's campaign of ruthlessness proposes. President Consults Senators. At the Capitol the President had an hour's conference alone with Senator Stone, chairman of the foreign rela tions committee, and then sent out word that he sought the views of all Senators. Many of the Democrats hastened to his room on the Senate floor. Seated there with Senators grouped about him in a semi-circle. the President gave no indication of a decision of his own, but frankly an nounced he had come to hear their opinions. To induce open expressions he was careful not to specify what he had in his own mind, but invited discussion of three propositions: To break off diplomatic relations with Germany at once . and deliver Ambassador von Bernstorff's pass ports tomorrow. To delay action until some overt act has been committed against the rights of the United States. To re-define the position of the United States, as outlined all through the submarine controversy, with final warning that an offense means a diplomatic break. Another Warning Opposed. The sentiment of a large majority cf the Senators was against the lat ter course. Senator Stone and Senator Lewis favored assuming that Germany did not intend to invade American rights. but were for meeting any such in vasion with an immediate severance cf relations. Other Senators were so (Concluded on Page & Column 2.) Prophecy of Indian George Is Upset by Unfailing Sign Wild Gees Seen Hying North. Indian George's stock Is way down today, for a greater prophet than be has spoken. ' "There ain't groin" to be no hard Win ter." eald Bre'r Groundhog yesterday. That Is, he tacitly issued this announce ment, for everybody knows whatjiap psned yesterday and everybody knows that yesterday was Groundhog; day. Furthermore. Miss Hlldegarde Plum mer, who lives in the vale surrounding Council Crest, saw and heard a flock fof wild geese going north yesterday morning at 7:45 o'clock. Therefore, Winter must be doubly done. The wild-geese sign seldom falls, and if anyone doubts the groundhog verity, a little memory-chasing will recall that a year ago there was cold, bright sun shine when Groundhog day came In, and naturally the "skeery" beast saw his shadow black as ink. We all re member how we spent the next few weeks shoveling fuel into the hungry furnaces and how, after that, it rained and rained clean up into the latter part of July, so that we didn't get more than a dozen days of Summer before it was Fall again. That's what it means when the groundhog comes out and sees his shad ow. Yesterday, however, he didn't see It. It was a dull gray, drizzly day, and nary a shadow could there have been. The Weather Office showed ab solutely no sunshine during the day. And the reading of this portent is thus: It will rain more or less for about six weeks nothing serious and then Spring will come in, mild and beauti ful, and we won't have any more bad weather all the rest of the season. Already It began to wax milder yes terday afternoon. The weather man announced that there will be rain today robably. LANSING ADVISES LINER HOT TO SAIL Few Passengers, How ever, Cancel. WARSHIP TO WATCH INTERNEDGERMANS PORT OFFICIALS AT SAN FRAN CISCO ASK HELP. OBEGOH'IIOW SO DRY AS TO RIVAL SAHARA MANY AMERICANS WAITING Five Steamers Sail, One Fly ing Stars and Stripes. DUTCH VESSELS HELD UP Complete Tie-TJp of Holland and Scandinavian Shipping for Pres ent Indicated British Have No Negative Word. None of Three Vessels to Be Per mitted to Leave Withont Word From Washington. . v BAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 2. Collector of the Port John O. Davis asked for a United States destroyer and revenue cutters today to patrol Ban Francisco Bay, where three German merchantmen have been tied up since 1914. Davis said he would grant clearance to none of them without first pdttlng tt up to Washington. Davis1 action followed deciphering of code messages from Washington and conferences with naval officers. The three German vessels here are the steamer Zrapls, the bark Ottawa and the power schooner Neptune. None has asked for clearance. Davis desig nated watchers yesterday to pay occa sional visits to the vessels. The United States destroyer, it was said, would be assigned - from Mare Island Navy-yard. The revenue cutter McCulloch Is in port. The measures were described as simply precaution ary. AMERICANS FLEE HOME Reservations Are Booked on First Boat to Sail. LONDON. Feb. 2. The German note has resulted in a rush of Americans to procure passage to New Tork on the first available boat. Large num bers who expected to sail . within i fortnight have decided to leave Satur day and before noon all the first-class accommodations on Uie, steamer were booked. Among those applying for passage are 120 persons who Intend to sail on the Holland-America liner Nleuw Am sterdam, which was to have left Falmouth on Tuesday. This vessel, however, has been recalled to Rot terdam, whence she sailed two days ago. WYOMING HAS FUEL FAMINE Legislature May Adjonrn Because Capitol Has No Coal. CHETENNE. Wye, Feb. 2. Con tinued blockade of the Union Pacific Railroad, which became absolute once more yesterday morning and has con tinued so. has produced coal shortages that are becoming acute in towns from Laramie, Wyo.. eastward along the line of the road. Reserve supplies here are used up, the Legislature is considering adjourn ment because fuel for the Capitol fur naces is exhausted , and the local cen tral lighting and heating plant must close unless it gets fuel by Sunday. Should the railroad be opened, coai trains will precede passenger trains over it. " - WASHINGTON, Feb. 2. At the con elusion of the Cabinet meeting today Secretary Lansing said It was his opinion It would be better If the American liner St. Louis did not sail from New Tork tomorrow, or until the Issue had .been decided, and that he probably would so advise the Interna tional Mercantile Marine. NEW TORK, Feb. 2. Pending offi cial advices from Secretary Lansing, of the State Department. President P. A. S. Franklin, of the International Mer cantile Marine, said tonight that no of ficial announcement could be made as to the sailing of the American line steamship St. Louis, scheduled to leave here at noon tomorrow on her regular trip to Liverpool. On being informed Mr. Lansing had Bald in Washington that the line probably would be advised not to send the ship away, he added that naturally he would act In con formity with such a recommendation Sailing Preparations Go On. Preparations for the sailing of the ship proceeded today and when the passenger office closed for the night it was announced that passage bad been booked by 280 . persons, with only 15 cancellations. Of the number now list ed 180 are in the cabin and a large percentage of them ere American cltl zens. President Franklin emphasized statement that the American line is i National institution." having a con ract with the United States Govern ment for carrying malls to Europe on regular dates. The American line." he said, "was organized under the mall act of 1891 it is maintained under provisions of that act. and in this crisis we feel that we must be officially advised what tc do." When asked if the ship would sail as scheduled even though the State De partment did not comply wi! T.is re quest for instructions, Mr. Franklin said: That is another matter. I cannot say now what we will do." British Lines Cnlnstructe. None of the British lines has received any new Instructions as to the sailing CATS NOT TO BE BANISHED City Council Lays Aside Request to Curb Felines. Cats won out before the City Council yesterday in the move started by U 8. Wright to prohibit cats from running at large. The Council placed Mr. Wright's request on file which was rejection of consideration. Mr. Wright contended that cats are a nuisance in that they howl at night and destroy birds. "We feed birds In Winter and get them fattened up and then some cat derives the benefit," said Mr. Wright. , MAN WAITS LONG FOR AID Grover Curtis Suffers Broken Leg When Horse Slips and Falls. THE DALLES. Or.. Feb. 2. (Special.) Grover Curtis, of Grand Dalles, was brought to The Dalles Hospital this afternoon suffering from a broken leg which he sustained by being thrown from a horse. His horse slipped and fell, and the young man crawled 150 yards to the house where he telephoned for help, which arrived five hours later, and he was brought here for treatment. NORWEGIAN MAIL STOPPED t Letters to America and England Declined by Postoffice. CHRISTIANIA. Norway. Feb.- 2. via London. The regular daily mail and passenger service between Norway an England was stopped today while the Norwegian-American liner Krlstiania fjord, which was scheduled to sail to day. is being held for further orders. The Norwegian postoffice is declining to accept mall for the United States as both the direct route and that by way of England la closed. Concluded on Page 2. Column 2.) DYING CHIEF BARS DOCTORS No-Shirt Believes Old Indian Cast Spell Over Him. Has PENDLETON. Or, Feb. 2. (Special.) Chief No-Shirt, the Walla Walla In dian chief, who lies at the point of death, believes that a spell has been oast over him by She-Low-He-Tammy, an old Indian doctor on the Umatilla reservation, and absolutely refuses medical aid from white doctors. The dying Indian has an Indian medicine man in attendance, but holds no hope that this doctor can save him from the evil influence of She-Low He-Tammy. The latter Indian is better known as "Big Jim," and ii -eald by tribesmen to have caused the death of several Indians recently. ILL BABE CARRIED 14 MILES Forest Ranger Brings Pneumonia . Patient Over 8 Feet of Snow. GRANGEVTLLE. Idaho. February 2. (Special.) JohnW. Long, forest ranger, and Mrs. Long, who were wintering at Oxford Station, 14 miles from Pierce City, had a hard experience this week when their 2-yea--old -daughter- con tracted pneumonia. The parents start ed for Pierce City on snow shoes. The snow was eight feet deep, with a crust that made walking difficult. The little girl is now recuperating in a hospital. , CHAMBER WITH PRESIDENT Excess Profits Tax Provision of New Revenue Bill Opposed. WASHINGTON. Feb. 2. The Cham ber of Commerce of the United States, in a resolution adopted here today, de clared the support of its membership to President Wilson in the international crisis and bound Itself to stand behind him in any outcome. The Chamber also adopted a resolu tion opposing in vigorous terms th excess profits tax provision of the new revenue bill- Bone -Dry Bill Signed by Governor at 4. LUNATIC STARTS $250,000 BLAZE PART OF BI3 LUMBER PLANT . AT ASTOKIA DESTROYED. RELIEF SHIP SUlii; W. C. T. U. IS AT CEREMONY Henry Sneak, Pioneer of Pro hibitionists, Is Witness. . 'EN IS GIVEN MRS. UNRUH Battle for Exile of Liquor, Fought Since 1B04, Is Won at Last and Workers Are Well Satisfied. Governor Asks Co-operation. SALEM. Or., Feb. 2. (Special.) Oregon became bone dry it i P, 11 today. Surrounded by those who have been faithful to the prohibition cause for many years. Governor Wlthycombe at tached his signature to House Bill No. 100 and legal traffic in alcoholic liquors, as far as Oregon la concerned. ceased as the electrlo clock In the ex ecutive offices ticked the hour of 4 Representative Anderson and Senator Eddy colloborated on the bill which makes Oregon dry. Pen Gives Mrs. 1'nrnk. Mrs. Jennie M. Kemp, president of the state organization of the W. C. T. U.. and Mrs. Ada Wallace Unruh. chairman of the union dry committee. were among the Interested spectators at the obsequies pronounced over John Barleycorn, and to Mrs. Unruh Governor Wlthycombe presented the-pen with which the bill was signed. Shortly before the Governor affixed his signature to the document, as he was chatting with some friends of pro- hibition who had gathered in the of fices. Henry Sheak. of Philomath, en tered the room. Pioneer f Drya greeted. "Well, bless your soul." said Gover nor Wlthycombe, Jumping to his feet and stepping across the room to gree Mr. Sheak. "here is the man they call the plo..ser of prohibition." Mr. Sheak has gained that appellation in Benton County. He is 73 years old and since 1882 has been'devoting much of his efforts toward bringing about a dry regime in Oregon. He came Salem today with one object in view to witness the signing of the bill and he declared it the hap piest moment In his life when he saw the Governor affix his signature. Bill Carefully Examined. House bill No. 100 was delivered to the Governor at about 11 o'clock this morning- by Representative Anderson, who- introduced the bill in the House and who followed it closely through the enrollment committee. In the afternoon Mr.-Anderson and Senator Eddy Joined with the Governo: Two Hundred Men Made Idle and Other 311119 Guarded, as Plot Is Feared. ASTORIA. Or.. "Feb. 2. (Special.) A fire, started by Pere Sllvola, an Insane man. did fully $250,000 damage tonight to the Clatsop Mill Company's plant. The flames started In the box factory and the sash and door plant at about the same time and spread to four dry kilns, all of which were de stroyed, with their contents. Consid erable lumber in the yard was also burned. The main mill was saved. The loss probably Is three-fourths cpvered by Insurance. Two hundred men will be thrown out f employment until the plant can be rebuilt. After starting the fires, shortly be fore 8 o'clock, Sllvola ran by the com pany's office, laughing and swinging an ax. with which he smashed the office windows. He also slashed the curtains of an automobile. After a five blocks' chase he was captured by Patrolman Carlsons, whom he tried to stab. Slivola admits com mlttlng the crime, saying the devil told him to do It. He is a Finn, about 80 years of age and says he came from Portland. As a result of this fire and fear that tt may be part of a plot, extra watch men are guarding the other mills In the vicinity. 5 KILLED IN TRAIN WRECK (Concluded on Pare Column 8.) FOR OREGON IS BONE DRY TODAY. I lKMY 4 a S A I wAr5N ) - gSlF SAYS JisMSrl THriBEOt - '-" . " . tT?:o V I cveocr; voML v "7 c" "N a wow T-r -rsst&s ffWWkY tWS&lJ? Jj I ' cirtl Steamer Euphrates Is De stroyed by U-Boat. Five Pullmans Tumble Down Foot Embankment In Iowa. 40- OMAHA, Feb. 2. Five persons are known to have been killed and eev eral Injured when Chicago, Burlington & Qulncy train No. 12 was wrecked near Cromwell Station. Ia.. at 10 o'clock tonight. The train struck a broken rail and five Pullmans were thrown down a 40-foot embankment into the ditch. The engine, the tender and the ob servatlon car left the track but were not ditched. The injured are being taken to Creston. MRS. N. CLARK, 92, DEAD Salem Pioneer of IS 32, Who Walked Part Way to Oregon, Psmrs. SALEM. Or.. Feb. 2. (Special.) Mrs. Nancy Clark. 92 years of age and pioneer of 1852, died today at 'i o'clock at her home in this city. When com ing to this state she walked and drove oxen half way across the plains. For 66 years Mrs. Clark lived In the house where she died, She was born in Illinois In 1824. Th funeral will be held next Monday. IE CAMPAIGN VESSEL MOUTE TO U. S. Snips Chartered by Belgian Commission Previously Safe From Attack. SOME OF CREW RESCUED INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 51 decrees; minimum. 34 degrees. TODAY'S Occasional rain; southerly winds. Submarines. Lansing advises American liner to postpone alllnx. rase 1. Belgian relief ship Is first victim under new policy. Page 1. Washington believes break with Germany Is certain. Page 1. Washington finds Nation united In opinion Page 2. Germans hope to destroy 1.000.000 tons of hipping monthly, rage z. German ship In Portland Is searched by customs official. Page 8. Germany willing to open sone to American passenger snips not carrying cooirmnaa. Page S. Ex-President Taft is tor peace, but with National honor. Page 2. Anxious Europe waits - on United States. Pag S. Legislatures. Governor signs bone-dry law. Page 1. Budget items still tl.814.lT3 above legal limit. Page 9. Antt-alien measure to die In Idaho. Page Bill providing for recall of school directors ready tor signature, fage - Olympla talks of restoring death penalty after Olson murder. Page 4. Bill restricting Initiative signers passed by House at Salem. Page 4. Senate passes 13 bills; kills B. Page 4. House passes bill to curtail Macleay infar ct.. Page 7. War. Brazilian press bitter against Germany. Page 2. National. Committee now convinced there was real "leak" of President's note. Page 5. President angrily voices -opposition to com pulsory service. Page 3. ' Domestic. Indiana prohibition bill passed; Alaska measure up to President; Tennessee law signed. Page 6. Borne still alive In Chicago wreckage, sevea dead; 27 missing. Page S. . Sport. ' New Beaver pitcher has five no-hlt games to credit. Page 14. O'Conrell gets decision over Vledhof. Page 14. Benson Tech defeats High School of Com merce. 32 to 25. Page 14. Lincoln Htgh septet defeats Washington. S to 1. Page 14. Pacific Northwest. Lunatlo starts S250.000 mill firs at As toria. Page 1- Commerclal and Marine. Speculation In hide market brought to stop. Page 19. May wheat breaks at Chicago on selling due to rumors. Page 19. Railway stocks In Wall street yield to pres sure. Page 19. Myrtery ship halls Beaver off Oregon coast. Page 18. Use of boats by Portland urged by W. F. Woodward. Page 18. Inland Empire wheatgrowers Insist on ele vators here. Page 18. Portland and Vicinity. Groundhog proves Winter Is done. Page 1. Express companies won't receive any more liquor. Page 6. Marquam Hill site favored for County Hos pital. Page IS. F. H. Donning will be burled tomorrow. Page 11. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 18. Victor Murdock tells of trip through China. Page 15. Carmen ask more pay and new scheme Is being arranged. Page 8. Press Club Jinks Is jolly affair. Page 10. Between 25 and 30 Persons on Board None Known to Be Americans. LONDON, Feb. 2. Official infor mation received concerning the sink ing of the steamer Euphrates shows that the probable first victim of the new submarine policy of the central powers was a Belgian relief ship. The Euphrates had carried a cargo of relief supplies from the United States and was homeward bound in ballast when she was torpedoed. Sev eral members of the crew have been rescued and have reached an outlying port. Vessels Conspicuously Marked. In connection with the sinking of the Euphrates, it is pointed out that all relief ships, even when homeward bound, conspicuously display the flags of the Commission for Relief in Bel gium and carry balls at the mast heads, the latter to prevent aerial at tacks. They also carry the safe conduct of the German Consul-General at Rot terdam just as loaded vessels carry a safe conduct from the German Con-sul-General at New York. No Americans Aboard. The sinking of the Belgian steamer Euphrates of 2809 tons gross was an nounced by Lloyd's Shipping Agency February 1. NEW YORK, Feb. 2. The steam ship Euphrates was under charter to the Belgian Relief Commission and would have taken another cargo from New York to Rotterdam had she re turned safely to America, it was said by representatives of the commisison here today. She carried a crew of between 25 and 30 men, none of whom was an American so far as is known. Navy Tender Loads Torpedoes. NEWPORT. K. I.. Feb. 2. The ten der Melville, attached to the destroyer force of the Atlantic fleet, took on a large number of torpedoes today. The Melville will sail tomorrow morning for Guantanamo to Join the fleet there. Yesterday in the Legislature. i OVERNOR VTlthycombe signed the I VT bone-dry law at 4 o'clock today (Friday) and as it carries an emer gency clause it becomes immediately effective. Persons who ordered liquor shipments prior to 4 o'clock today may receive them up till 4 o'clock Wednes day, at which time the five days of grace allowed by the law expires. It is now too late to place orders. The Legislature has now completed four weeks and two-thirds of its six weeks' session. Both houses adjourned tonight until 10:30 Monday morning. The Senate wound up its week's work by passing 15 bills and killing five. - Most important of the measures passed was that declaring streams of the state to be highways, and provid ing for the granting of franchises to companies doing a log driving busi ness, under the Jurisdiction of the Pub lic Service Commission. One of the bills killed was that pre pared by Mrs. Alvah Lee Stephens, of the Multnomah County Parent-Teacher Association creating a bureau of Ju venile and parental relations to super sede the Juvenile court. The House cleaned up Its calendar for the week and adjourned at 6:15 until 10:30 Monday morning. Among important bills passed by the House were Senator Olson's bill to pro tect Illegitimate children; Senator Eddy's, to make School directors sub ject to recall; Representative Gordon's, to prevent frauds in Initiative and ref erendum petitions. A bill to restrict commercial fiehlng at the mouth of Rogue River, which was lost In the House on Wednesday, was reconsidered and carried after a sensational fight on the House floor. The first of the Joint consolidation committee bills providing for the reor ganization of labor bureaus was Intro duced In the House. f
