- ?v VOL. LVII NO. 17,561.- PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, 3IARCH 5, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ." v. A 1 CQIIGRESS DEFIED BY 12 SEHATOBS Filibuster Defeats Bill to Uphold 'Wilson. - MIN0R1TYDISKEGARDSCR1SIS Forces Led by La FoIIette, With Active Support of Stone of Missouri. CLOSING DEBATE IS BITTER Action Is Denounced as Most Reprehensible in History of Civilized Nation. WASHINGTON, March 4. Twelve Senators, led by Senator La Follette and encouraged by Senator Stone, Democratic chairman of the foreign relations' committee, In a filibuster, denounced by President Wilson's spokesmen as the most reprehensible in the history of any civilized nation, defied the will of an overwhelming ma jority in Congress up to the last minute today and denied to the Presl dent a law authorizing him o arm American merchant ships to meet the German submarine menace, Unyielding throughout 26 hours of continuous session to appeals that their defiance of the President would be humiliating .to the country; un compromising in a crisis described to them as the most serious to the Na tion since the Civil War, La Follette and his small group of supporters re fused a mabrity of their colleagues an opportunity to vote on the armed neutrality bill, and it died with the Sixty-fourth Congress at noon. 76 Senators Sign Manifesto. To fix responsibility before the country, 76 Senators, 30 Republicans and 46 Democrats, signed a manifesto proclaiming to the world that they favored passage of the measure. This declaration, embodied in ' the record of the Senate, referred to the fact that the House Thursday night had passed a similar bill by a vote of 403 to 13 and also recited that the Senate rule permitting unlimited de - caze gave a small minority oppor tunity to throttle the will of the ma jority. Thirteen Senators declined to sign the declaration, but Senator Pen rose. Republican, of Pennsylvania, an nounced that he would have voted for the bill, had opportunity been afforded him. Twelve Constitute Opposition. The 12 who went on record with the 13 members of the House against granting to President Wilson the au thority he asked from Congress the crisis were: in Republicans Clapp, Minnesota; La Follette, Wisconsin; Cummins, Iowa Gronna, North Dakota; Kenyon, Iowa Norris, Nebraska; Works, California. Democrats Kirby, Arkansas; Lane, Oregon; O'Gorman, New York; Stone, Missouri; Vardman, Mississippi. Associated with them in opposition to' the armed neutrality bill were the following Representatives who voted against the House bill Thursday night Republicans Benedict, California Cary,' Wisconsin; Cooper, Wisconsin Davis, Minnesota; Helgesen, North Dakota; Lindberg, Minnesota; Nelson, Wisconsin; Stafford, Wisconsin; Wil son, Illinois. Democrats Shackleford, Missouri Decker, Missouri; Sherwood, Ohio. Socialist London, New York. Senators Who Stood by President. The 76 Senators who signed the manifesto were: Democrats A shurst, Bankhead, Beckham, Broussard, Bryan, Chamber- Iain, Chilton, Fletcher, Hardwick, Hitchcock, Hollis, Hughes, Husting, James, Johnson, South Dakota; Kern, Lea, Lee, Lewis, Martin, Virginia Martine, New Jersey; Myers, New- lands, Overman, Owen, Phelan, Pitt- man, Pomerene, Ransdell, Reed, Robin son, Saulsbury, Shafroth, Sheppard, Shields, Simmons, Smith, Georgia Smith, Maryland; Smith, South Caro lina; Swanson, Thomas, Thompson, Tillman, Underwood, Walsh and Will iams 46, Republicans Borah, Brady. Bran deree. Catron. Clark, Colt. Curtis. Dill lnsham, DuPont, Fall, Fernald, Hard Coaolwld m P&ss 4. Column 2.) SENATORS WHO KILLED ARMED NEUTRALITY BILL THROUGH FILIBUSTER. WASHINGTON, March 4. (Special.) The 12 Senators seven Republicans and five Dem ocrats, who by their filibuster killed the armed neutrality bill are: Moses E. Clapp, Republican, of Minnesota. , Albert B. Cummins, Republi can, of Iowa. ' Asle J. Gronna, Republican, of North Dakota. William S. Kenyon, Republi can, of Iowa. William F, Kirby, " Democrat, of Arkansas. Robert . M. La Follette, Re publican; of Wisconsin. Harry Lane, Democrat, of Ore gon. . . : - George W Norris, Republican, of Nebraska. James A. O'Gorman,' Democrat, of New York. William J. Stone, Democrat, of Missouri. J. K. Vardaman, Democrat, of Mississippi. John D. Works, Republican, of California. Senator Wesley L. Jones, Re publican, of Washington, signed the round robin with reservations and then did all he could to kill the armed neutrality bilL RICH ARE ASKED TO SAVE Appeal for Moderation by All In Eating Is Issued. NEW YORK, March. 4. An appeal to th rich and well-to-do of New York City" to "buy carefully, to eat moderately, and not waste ' any food at all" was issued last night by -Mayor Mltchel's - food supply committee. In the hope, it was announced, of reduc Ing- prices to consumers generally. Reductions in the price -of potatoes and onions were again reported today, BRITISH DESTROYER LOST All Hands ' Go Down With Vessel, Probably Victim of 311 nc. LONDON, " March 4. A British de stroyer was sunk with all hands in the North Sea on Thursday, the Admiralty announced today. . . It is believed she struck a mine, the announcement -says. . - : ' - TWELVE UNITED STATES SENATORS WHO PREVENTED ACTION BY .... - . , tssssSBsssssjBjBasssssSBBSSBBBSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSasSsasjSSl Sl?,,. ffd. - .. . ... I UPPER ROW (LEFT TO 'RIGHT) ESATOR HARRY tASE, OF OREGOJTl SESATOR ALBERT S. C1JMMIXS, OF IOWA BESATOR JOH3T D. WORKS, OF CALIKORXIAj SEWATOR ROBERT LA POLLETTE, OF WISCOSSIX. SECOND ROW SENATOR WILLIAM J. STONE, OF MISSOl RI SENATOR S. W. NORRIS. OF NEBRASKA SENATOR JAMES A. O'GORMAN, OF NEW YORK SENATOR WILLIAM S. KENTON, OF IOWAi SENATOR WILLIAM F. KIRBY, OF ARKANSAS. BOTTOM ROW SENATOR ASLE J. GRONNA. OF NORTH DAKOTA) SENATOR J. K. VARDAMAN. OF MISSISSIPPI! SENATOR MOSES E.VCLAPP. OK MINNESOTA. ALL OF THESE SENATORS WERE StfUARKLY Olf RECORD AGAINST THE BILL. AT LOWER RIGHT IS SENATOR WESLEY L. JONES, OF WASHINGTON. WHO SIGNED ROUND ROBIN, WITH RESERVATIONS. BUT DID HIS UTMOST TO HELP DEFEAT BILL. GUARD HEADS PUN DRASTIC CHANGES Men Must Drill, Is Edict Set Forth. CONDITION IS UNSATISFACTORY Portland to Lose One and Pos sibly Three Companies. PUZLIC APATHY IS. BLAMED General Staff Decides Officers Must Keep Commands Up to Require ments or Give Them TTp. No More Nursing Along. Action of a drastic nature is to he taken to bring the Oregon National Guard up . to a hlgher'point of efflci ency. The general staff held a speclaC session yesterday rieioon at the Portland headquarters and decided one company here will be transferred once to some other point. Transfers of other companies will follow unless con dltions improve. ' Unsatisfactory attendance at drills and lack of public support of the varl pus guard units are blamed for present conditions. The general staff yeBter day declared it as a new and fixed policy for the state forces in future that unless the showings made by the companies themselves furnish evidence of their efficiency and fitness for serv ice -those companies will be disbanded or transferred promptly. No longer will lagging organizations be nursed along if unable to stand alone. Present at the general staff yester day were Adjutant-General George A White, Portland; Colonel John L. May, Portland; Colonel Creed C Hammond, Eugene: Major W. W. "Wilson. Portland; and Captain John A. Buchanan, ' Rose burg. Rocking; Chair Patriots Blamed. It was the general opinion of all these offlers, after . a close : scrutiny of conditions, that rocking chair pa triots and after-dinner enthusiasts have had their way , with the .Guard ' long (Concluded on. Page' fl. Column 2.) INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 49 degrees; minimum,. 42 degrees. TODAY'S Occasional rain: southerly winds. Submarines. Coneress -defied by 12 Senators, who kill armed neutrality bill . with - filibuster. Page 1. President without sower to arm ships, in absence of legislation. Page 1. Chinese Cabinet Insists on break with Ger many. Page 1. Senator Lane fears war would result from arming ships. Page &. Three spy suspects travel In liner with ex- Ambassador Gerard. Page Senate rendered Impotent by its own rules. Page 4. National. - Impersonator of Miss Rankin plays hoax on House members. Page 10. Five hundred women fall to sTt Interview at White House. Page 8. Preslden takes official oath. Para 2. No vacancy created by delay In Inauguration. Page 3. Three llfessvlng crews believed lost. Face 11. Domestic Zlmmermann message captured by Indiana soldiers. Page . Previous inaugural ceremonies described. Page 2. Sports. Gruman says Darcy is still card In New York. Page 14. Northwestern League revises constitution. Page 15. Dancing with rubber overshoes on ice to follow Thursday's skating racea Pace 14. Baseball boosters to meet today. Page 16. " Beavers lost to Chinese, 4 to 8. Page 14. Pacific Northwest. One killed and two injured in Cherry Grove hotel fire. Page 6. High schools are taking np military train ing plan. Page tf. State . Commissions need more office 'space. Page 6. , Portland and Vicinity. Guard heads plan drastic changes. Page 1. Girls put character ahead of looks or wealth in mate. Page 8. Raymond Abst allowed liberty after fatal auto accident. Page 18. ' Dr. Hlnson takes pulpit at East Side Bap tist Church. Page 13. Dr. C. B. Waller delivers first sermon at White Temple. Page 13. " Grand opera opens tonight with A!dj Page 12. Burglar tells of routine fellow craftsmen and taking their loot. Page 12. W. H. Stone gives fiery address on "Pa' trtots and Traitors." Page 18. - Daughters of Revolution prepare code of etiquette tor flag. Page 7. Henry Melster is shot and killed by Emit H. Spranger. Page JL Weather report, data and forecast. Page 10. Much legislation shut out at close of ses sion. Page C 2 OFFICERS JNRAID KILLED Mayor of North Carolina Town Shot by Defender of Whisky. TARBORO, N. CL, March 4. Police Officers Ramon Gwattney and Patrick Rlggin were killed and Mayor J. P. Keech was fatally wounded here Satur day by W. C. Nelson when the officials unearthed a quantity of whisky In Nel son's home. Chief of Police Puller and spectators who rushed to the house ; when the- heard -shots'1 overpowered Nelson' against whom feeling ran high tonight. THE PRESIDENT TO UPHOLD NATIONAL HONOR AND SAFETY, AND i HENRY MEISTEB IS KILLED BY FRIEND Shot Fired in Quarrel by Emil H. Spranger. VICTIM RICH BUSINESS MAN Husband Shot Dead After Drawing Own Weapon. REVOLVER IS FIREDTWICE Slayer Arrested and Mrs. Melster Is Ilcld for Time, but Freed Later. Spranger Maintains Otljer Tried to Shoot. Henry Melster, . 62, president of the Van Horn Transfer Company, and for merly owner of the Mount Hood Brew' ery. In Sellwood, was shot through the heart and killed instantly at 9:40 o'clock last night, by Emil H.. Spranger, a life-long friend, during a quarrel at the door of Mr. Spranger's rooms in the Auditorium Court apartments, 331 Third street. Mrs. Melster, his wife, and Mr. Spranger were detained by the ponce. Mr. Spranger admitted the shooting to the police and Coroner Dammasch. but asserts that Mr. Melster was jeal ous because his friend had been play ing cards with Mrs. Melster, and was trying to shoot him. Card Game Causes) Quarrel. Mr. and Mrs. Melster. who live with their family in the Auditorium Court Apartments, had been playing cards In Mr. Spranger's apartments' most of the afternoon. At 7;30 o'clock Mr. Melster went out to attend a meeting. He returned home at 9:30 o'clock and was told by his daughter that Mrs Melster had gone back to renew the card game 1 in Mr. Spranger's room. Then, it is alleged. Mr. Melster ran to the basement, secured, an unloaded re volver and went to search for his wife. Wife Flees at Threat. Mr. Spranger told the police that the husband came to ma door and threat ened to shoot him. Mrs. Melster fled. , Mr. -Metsterls :then'iBa1Td-'i have- tfirust (Concluded on Page 10, Column 2.) CHINESE CABINET INSISTS ON BREACH PREMIER RESIGNS WHEX PRES IDENT. REFUSES ASSENT. Crisis Expected . Over Proposal to Follow Example of TTnlted States In German Situation. PEKIN, March 4. The Cabinet' to day decided that China should Join the United States In breaking off relations with Germany. This decision was submitted to the President, who refused to approve the Cablnefa action, saying that such power rested entirely with him. Pre mier Tuan Chi Jul immediately re signed and left for Tien Tsin, accom panied by several other members of the Cabinet. The resignation of the entire Cab inet is expected. Parliament is virtually unanimous In Tavor of . the opinion ' of the Cabinet. The leaders of all the political parties are adversely criticising the President's position. The Vice-President of the republic supports the action of the Cabinet. ' A statement Issued from the Presi dent's office says that the break be tween the President and Premier was due to personal differences rather than to the foreign policy. President LI Yuan Hung; has sent representatives to Tien Tsin to induce the Premier to return to Pekln. VILLA'S DEATH IN DISPUTE Two Factions of Bandit's Followers Make Conflicting Reports KLi PASO, March 4. One faction of the Villa Junta Is .authority for the statement that VUla has died from pneumonia In the. mountains -near San Andres. The other faction says this report is given out to cover Villa' movements, and It is added that Villa Is so short of ammunition he is unable to carry out an offensive. For the same reason Carranza troops in the north are said also to have abandoned the offensive. BRITISH CONTINUE GAINS Two-Thirds of Mile Advance on Two-Mile Front Reported. LONDON, March '4. The British troops, in their forward movement' in the Ancre area ' in France, have made another advance east of Gommecourt along a two-mile front of about two thirds, ot a.mUe,'jLcir.nrrltna;.,tx.Aha: of ft- clal report" from headquarters tonight. Nearly 200 prisoners were captured. ANOTHER WHO VOTED WITH THEM POWER TO DEFEND President Issues Formal Address to Country, CONSTITUTION NOT ENOUGH Senate Is Urged to Revise Rules to Supply Means of Meeting Situation. NATION FACES . DISASTER Group- of Wilful Men Rapped for Rendering Their Gov ernment Contemptible. WASHINGTON, March . 4. Presi dent Wilson tonight informed the country in a statement that he may bo without power to arm merchant ships and take other steps to meet the Ger man submarine menace, in the absence of authority from Congress. An extra session of Congress, the President says, is required to clothe him with authority, but it is useless to call one while the Senate works un der the present rules which permit a ' small minority to keep an overwhelm ing majority from acting. Revision of Rules Proposed. The President proposes . therefore, that the special session of the Senate, which he has called to meet tomorrow, revise the rules, "to supply the means of action and save the country from disaster." "A little group of wilful men," saya the President in his statement, "rep resenting no opinion but -their own, ' have rendered the great Government -of the United States helpless and con temptible." Text of President's Statement. The President's statement in full follows : "The termination of the last session of the Sixty-fourth Congress by con stitutional limitation discloses a situ ation unparalleled in the history of the country, perhaps unparalleled in the history of any modern govfh-.vnet.t. Tn the immediate presence of a crisis fraught with more subtle and far reaching possibilities of National danger than any other the Govern ment has known within the whole history of its international relations, the Congress has been unable to act either to safeguard the country or to vindicate the elementary rights of its citizens. "More than 600 of the 531 members ef the two Houses were ready and anxious to act; the House of Represen tatives had acted, by an overwhelming majority; but the Senate was unable to act because a little group of 11". Senators had determined that it should not. Physical Endurance Supreme. "The Senate has no rules by which debate can be limited or brought to an end, no rules by which dilatory tactics of any kind can be prevented. A single member can stand in the way of action if he have but the physical endurance. The result in this case is a complete paralysis alike of the leg islative and of the executive branches of. the Government. "This inability of the Senate to act has rendered some of the most neces sary legislation of the session impos sible, at a time" when the need for it was most pressing and most evident. The bill which would have permitted such combinations of capital and of organization in the export and Import trade of the country as the circum stances of international competition j have made imperative a bill which the 1 business judgment of the whole coun i try approved and demanded has I failed. Other Legislation Blocked. "The opposition of one or two Sen ators has made it impossible to in crease the membership of the- Inter state Commerce Commission or to give it the altered organization neces sary for its efficiency. The conserva tion bill, which should have released for immediate use the mineral re sources which are still locked up in the public lands, now that their re lease is more imperatively necessary than ever, and the bill which would have made the unused water-power of the country immediately available for Concluded on Pas . Column 4. . 1 " r t- ( I IN f 5 lr i r -. 1 I.' "