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