I:.;;
.$hmmi- jgg rfptttim ;
VOL. LYII NO. 17,564. PORTLAND, OREGON,, THURSDAY. 3IAKCII 8, 1917. . PRICE "FIVE CENTS.
coins TO BE
NERVE TONIC SOLD
AS RUSE BY SPIES
E RULE OFFER
PEKIN LOOKS FOR
IMMEDIATE BREAK
i i i
19 WORDS SETTLE
CASHIER APPEAL
SENATORS AGREE
ETO
CALLED 111 APRIL
GERMAN AGENTS HAVE CONNEC
TIONS IN ENTENTE CAPITALS.
CTTTNA EXPECTED TO JOIN EN
TENTE ALLIES.
FEDERAL COURT SETS RECORD
for brevity: ix orrxiox.
m
ALL POSTOFFICES
OPEN TO CONTEST
Examinations to Decide
Each Postmastership.
MAD
NSHMEN
A
V
President Decides on
Extra Session.
OCEAN LINERS TO BE ARMED
Wilson to Ask Only to Use
"Other Instrumentalities"
and for $100,000,000.
PROMPT. ACTION ASSURED
Agreement by Senate to Curb
' Filibustering Leads to De
A cision by Executive.
" BY JOHN C ALLAN- O'LOUGHLIN.
WASHINGTON, March 7- (Spe
cial.) The Senate of the United
States having agreed to curb filibus
tering, President Wilson has deter
mined to call Congress in extra ses
sion about April 1.
When Congress reassembles it will
find that the President has acted in
the matter of arming merchant ships.
It will not be requested to confer such
authority upon the Chief Executive.
It may be asked to empower him to
employ "such other instrumentalities
and methods" as may in his judgment
be necessary and adequate to protect
American vessels and American citi
zens in their lawful and peaceful pur
suits upon the high seas.
$100,000,000 to Be Asked For.
It will be asked to make an appro
priation of $100,000,000 for the Presi
dent's use in this connection, the
money to be raised, as was proposed,
by the issue of 3 per cent bonds
, In the light of what is happening
throughout the Nation, there is no
doubt that Congress will act promptly
and practically unanimously in accord
ing the President whatever power he
desires and the amount of money he
fixes.
The way in which the country has
rallied to the support of the President
and denounced the "filibustering doz
en," as the Senators who made the
United States "powerless and con
temptible" are being called, has con
vinced the Chief Executive and his ad
visers that the people are determined
to provide protection for American
citizens and American ships.
President Gets 'Inspiration.
The President looks upon their ac
tion as an inspiration and demonstra
tion of the existence of fervid patriot
ism. Memoranda submitted to him by
the Secretary of State and the Attorney-General
establish that he has
the power to authorize the armament
of merchantmen and even to supply
them with guns. Before the end of
the week formal announcement will be
made that the Government intends to
place weapons upon American vessels
desiring them.
There will be no struggle of conse
quence in connection with the formal
action of the Senate in modifying its
rules. The President was informed
today of the change agreed upon by
the joint committee of the Democratic
and Republican members, and he
acquiesced therein.
Senators in Accord.
At the separate conferences of the
Senators of the two parties, the Dem
ocrats unanimously adopted the rec
ommendation of the committee, and
the Republicans acquiesced therein by
a vote of 30 to 2, the nays being cast
by Senator Sherman, of Illinois, and
Senator France, of Maryland.
Senator Cummins, of Iowa, was a
member of the committee represent
ing the Republican side of the cham
ber, and helped to draft the amend
ment to the rules. Senators Kenyon,
Gronna, of North Dakota, and Nor
ris, of Nebraska, who failed to sign
the "Round Robin" in favor of the
armed neutrality bill, joined in plac
ing the limitation upon debate.
La Follette Not on Record.
.Senator La Follette, of Wisconsin,
left the conference before the vote
was taken and therefore is not on
record. He will make a speech, prob
ably a long one, on the rule and then
will reveal his attitude. On the
Democratic side Senator Stone, of
Missouri, who spoke for four hours
and fifteen minutes in favor of an
amendment to the armed neutrality
.(Concluded on Page erColumn-4.) 1
Important Documents From Washing
ton to Be Laid Before Grand
, Jury in New York.
NEW YORK March 7. Department of
Justice officials were preparing today
for presentation' to a Federal grand
Jury tomorrow evidence concerning
the German spy conspiracy In this
country. Important documents arrived
by messenger from Washington which
it was believed would further connect
Dr. Ernest Sekunna, a German chemist,
and Dr. Chandre Chakraberty, a Hindoo
"physician," with Wolk von Igel. at
tache of the CJerman Embassy, who
sailed with Count von Bernstorff after
Indictments against him had been dis
missed. Dr. Sekunna and Dr. Chakrab
erty, according to police, confessed that
they had plotted under directions of
"Von Igel to Invade India with a mili
tary force by way of China.
After searching the quarters of the
two men the authorities announced
they had found a letter written in code
which Indicated Dr. Sekunna had been
in communication with persons in Ber
lin, Petrograd and Paris.
As near as they could learn, they ad
ded, the letter pertained to a nerve
preparation for which Dr. Sekunna de
clared he was the selling agent here.
Agents of the Department of Justice
pointed out, however, similar occupa
tions on the part of German spies had
been found to be ruses for them to
operate without attracting undue atten
tion. PROPOSED DRY ACT TABLED
Minncsotans Satisfied With Consti
tutional Measure.
ST. PAUL, Minn., March 7. By a vote
of 81 to 47 the Minnesota House Indefi
nitely postponed action on the Ander
son statutory prohibition bill. The vote
killed any chance for further legisla
tion at this session to abolish the liquor
traffic.
Many of the drys, unwilling to enact
further prohibition legislation at this
session in view of the passage of the
constitutional prohiibtion bill, today
voted for postponement of the Anderson
measure.
GENERAL SCOTT RETAINED
Detail as Chler of Army Staff Is Re
newed by President.
WASHINGTON. March 7. Major-General
Scott was re-detailed as chief of
staff of the Army by President Wilson.
Because of his intimate 'association
with the Secretary of War the chief of
staff has to be reappointed when a new
Administration begins during his term.
General Scott will eerve until next
September under the ordinary proced
ure, when he will reach the retirement
age. In the event of war, however, he
would continue in active service with
out regard to the age limit.
TERMS MAY BE PUBLISHED
Germany Considering Slaking Pub
lic Peace Proposals.
HAVRE, France, March 7. The Ger
man government, according to infor
mation received here through confiden
tial agents, is considering the publica
tion of Germany's terms of peace.
Under these terms Belgium would be
declared independent, subject only to
permanent German garrisons at Ant
werp, Liege and. Namur, and to the con
trol by Germany of ports and railways.
Belgium, under the terms, would
have no national army, but would; be
policed by a gendarmerie.
GRAYSON EXPECTED TO WIN
Opponents to Confirmation Think
Filibuster Is Useless.
WASHINGTON. March 7. Republi
can opposition to the confirmation of
Dr. Cary T. Grayson, President Wil
son's naval aide, Just renominated as
medical director and Rear-Admiral, is
not expected to develop much strength
at the present special Senate session.
Senator Weeks, who led the fight in
the last session. Is said to have con
cluded that it would be useless to at
tempt another filibuster and the Demo
crats will vote solidly for confirmation.
BIG LOAN READY FOR CHINA
Chicago Bankers Consider Provid
ing $25,000,000.
CHICAGO, March 7. The Continental
& Commercial Trust & Savings Bank,
which lent the republic of China $5,000,
000 several months ago, is considering
making an additional loan of $25,000,
000 to that government.
Next Saturday John J. Abbott, a vice
president, and Henry Russell Piatt, an
attorney for the bank, .will depart for
Pekin to investigate conditions. They
will sail from Vancouver, B. C, for
China within 10 days.
COLD KEEPS PRESIDENT IN
Mr. Wilson Takes to His Bedroom,
but Condition Is Not Serious.
WASHINGTON. March 7. President
Wilson took to his room today with a
cold contracted about a week ago and
made worse during his inauguration
Monday. After seeing a group of Sen
ators early today and then conferring
with Secretary Lansing and Secretary
McAdoo he decided to Bee no more
callers and went to his bedroom.
His condition is not serious.
Ulster Proves Stum
bling Block.
TERMS ANGER NATIONALISTS
Premier Scored for Limiting
Act to Those Desiring It.
COMMONERS JEER SPEECH
Lloyd George Suggests Conference
or Commission to Settle Differ
ences Between Contending
Parts of Country.
LONDON, March 7. The presentation
by the Irish Nationalists In the House
of Commons this evening of a resolu
tion calling for the immediate applica
tion of the Home Rule statute to Ire
land precipitated one of the most bitter
sessions in months and threw the Home
Rule question back into Its old position
of uncertainty.
The resolution forced the government
into a declaration of policy towards
self-government, namely, that any part
of Ireland that wished Home Rule
could have it but no coercion would be
employed to compel Ulster to accept.
Tlsterltes Reject Proposal.
At the same time the proposal drew
from the Ulsterites the ultimatum that
they would not accept, which, coupled
with the government's pronouncement,
effectually crushed all hopes for a
speedy settlement.
The Nationalists tonight, headed by
their leader, John Redmond, were in
conference, having withdrawn in a
body from the House of Commons and
Mr. Lloyd George was facing his first
embarrassing situation since he as
sumed the Premiership.
Premier la Censored.
For more than an hour before the
Nationalists left the House the Pre
mier had faced a. whirlwind of angry
censure from the Nationalist quarter,
which at times forced him to take his
seat because he could not make him
self heard. He was called a "turncoat"
on the home rule question -and one
Nationalist exclaimed:
"Hangman Carson! He is only fit to
be a hangman not First Lord of the
Admiralty."
The Nationalist resolution was in
troduced by T. P. O'Connor, who as
serted that the manner In which the
government had handled the Irish re
bellion had transformed a friendly peo
ple into one filled with bitter hatred
against England.
He pleaded that home rule should be
put into operation immediately for the
sake of Ireland and in the Interests of
England, the empire and the allies.
Tribute Paid Wilson.
At one point he paia tribute to the
President of the United States, saying
that President Wilson in his recent
speeches and notes had shown that the
Concluded on Page 6. Column 2.)'
............. .. --TTTT.1.I.1 .!.. .. .......
i .
Premier, "Who Left After Resigning,
Decides to Return to Capital
and Resume Post.
PEKIN, March e. CDelayed.) The
immediate breaking off of relations
with Germany is expected here, and it
is generally predicted that China will
Join the entente.
This belief Is due to the fact that
dispatches from Tien Tsln say that
Tuan Chl-Jul, who resigned March 4
and left for Tien Tsln, has decided to
return to the capital immediately and
resume the Premiership. It is said that
President LI Tuan Hung has agreed to
give the Cabinet full power to frame
the foreign policy.
The Cabinet is known to favor the
severing of relations with Germany,
and Parliament Is showing a disposi
tion to follow the leadership of Tuan
Chl-Jul rather than that of the Presi
dent. A dispatch from Pekln on March 4
said the Cabinet had decided to Join
the United States In severing diplo
matic relations with Germany, but that
the President refused to approve of
such action. Thereupon the Premier
resigned and left for Tien Tsln, accom
panied by several other members of the
Cabinet.
LONDON, March 7. A dispatch to the
Exchange Telegraph from Amsterdam
says a message received there from
Berlin asserts that neither the German
Foreign Office nor the Chinese legation
in Berlin has heard anything of a, pos
sible rupture between China and Ger
many. The dispatch adds that the Ber
lin authorities have had no reports
from the German Minister in Pekin for
three weeks.
0HI0AN GETS ALASKAN JOB
II. A. Meyer Appointed Assistant to
Secretary of Interior.
WASHINGTON, March 7. Herbert A.
Meyer, of Ohio, was appointed today
assistant to the Secretary of the Inte
rior. Mr. Meyer, who has been private sec
retary to Secretary Lane, will have
administrative charge of the Alaskan
railroad now being built.
COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN
Second Lieutenuntcles in Marines
Offered Oregon Young Men.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, March 7. Oregon boys between
the ages of 20 and 25 who desire to
become second lieutenants in the Ma
rine Corps will have opportunity to
take a competitive examination July 10.
The examinations will be held at
Portland, Baker or Klamath Falls.
TENNESSEE RIVER RISING
Chattanooga Is Practically an Island
and Trains Are Cut Of.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March 7.
The Tennessee River continued to rise
today, and Chattanooga practically
was an island.
Railway trafflo has been Impeded,
and between 4000 and 6000 persons
have been driven from their homes.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS INARMS
Fear Expressed That Republi
cans Will Win Places,
PROTESTS ARE TOO LATE
Some Representatives Complain
That Order Will Remove Some
of Their Most Active Po
litical Supporters.
WASHINGTON, March 7. Postmaster-General
Burleson announced
today that after' April 1 the appoint
ments of all postmasters of the first,
second and third-class will be subject
to competitive examinations. Nomina
tions will be sent to the Senate as in
the past, but in making selections the
President will be guided by the results
of examinations and will send in the
names at the head of the lists.
Whether a Civil Service Commission,
under which fourth-class postmasters
are now named, will conduct the ex
aminations, has not been determined.
Incumbents Not Disturbed.
The President's forthcoming order
will provide for a form of modified
Civil Service classification under
which all vacancies. wh,th.r i,ri
by resignation, removal or death, will
oe lined by competitive examination
Those alreadv in the fterv1c.it win rnn -
tinue without examination until the
expiration of a four years" term begin
ning wun their last appointment and
will then, it is understood, have to
undergo the eomrjetltive tost
A hornet's nest was stirred up by
the announcement- n t tii. r.nitAi
where scores of members of Congress
were in their offices preparing to
leave ror home.-The. order was round
ly denounced because some of the
Democratic leaders and several mem
bers construed It as a move to get
combined Democratic and Republican
support in & politically uncertain
House.
Democratic Leader Protests.
Democratic Leader Kltchin. of the
House, delayed his departure for North
Carolina to go to the Postoftice De
partment to register his protest
One Southern member asked If the
Postmaster-General had called them
there to ask their views or to tell
them what had .been done.
"I am telling you what Is going to
happen, he replied.
The Postmaster-General is quoted as
having told them that It was too late
to protest, as the order had been de
termined upon and would be carried
out. He. Intimated that he was not the
author of it. but that it was a measure
of efficiency and economy.
Another member suggested that the
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 4.)
Letters of Gernert and Le Monn Are
Returned With Remark That
Comment Is Unnecessary,
What is reputed to be the shortest
Judicial opinion on record In mail
fraud cases is that filed with the clerk
of the Appellate Court at San Francisco
Monday. It was the opinion sustaining
the Judgment of the local Federal
Court in the conviction of O. E. Gernert,
one of the defendants in the United
States Cashier Company fraud case.
A copy of the opinion was received
yesterday at the office of the United
States District Attorney. It contained
two letters, one from Gernert to F. M.
Le Monn and a reply letter from Le
Monn.
In the first letter Gernert Intimated
that & reply he should receive while
selling stock In California would indi
cate that so many unsolicited orders
were pouring into the sales headquar
ters that one would not believe there
were so many banks and paymasters In
the country. It was also to contain.
Gernert intimated, that the factory was
working 24 hours a day three eight
hour shifts in making the coin ma
chines. The reply from Le Monn to Gernert
contained the Information Gernert re
quired to show prospective stock pur
chasers. The opinion of the Appellate Judges
followed the reproduction of the letters.
Here is the entire Judgment:
"We agree with the attorney for the
Government that comment upon these
letters is unnecessary.
"The Judgment is affirmed."
LINER BALTIC IN PORT
Vessel Overdue Because ot New
Course; Rochambeau Follows.
NEW YORK, March 7. Two trans-
Atlantic passenger liners arrived here
tonight after successfully running the
German submarine blockade. The
White Star liner Baltic, which brought
l:6 cabin and 10 steerage Dassensrers
docked tonight and the French liner
Rochambeau will dock, tomorrow after
spending the night at quarantine.
The Baltic was several days over
due. The delay was attributed by pas
sengers to the following of a new
course far from the regular steamship
lanes. The vessel sighted no subma
rines.
BEER BREWING IS TO END
Northern Germany to Save Maize
for Bread and Coffee Substitute.
COPENHAGEN, via London, March 7
The Berliner Tageblatt says that the
suspension of all beer brewing In
northern Germany is imminent.
This action Is due to the desire to
save maize for bread and malt to take
the place of coffee.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
TESTER DAY'S Maximum temperature, 49
uegieti, minimum, otr degrees.
TODAY'S Occasional rain; southwesterly
winas.
Submarine.
German paper iayi President Wilson la most
aisnonoraoie. raso 4.
Berlin attempts to Justify plot. Page S.
President likely to act In submarine case
wunin lew aays. raffs 2.
China expected to break with Germany at
once. rifs is
Special session of Congress to be called about
iirst oi Apnir rage 1.
Entente may seize Dutch shipping. Page'.
War.
French people learn of dire necessity Cf mil
Itary victory. Page 4.
British are within 28 miles of Bagdad.
rage 4-
Forelgn.
Ex-President Gomez, of Cuba, captured by
uovernmeni troops. rage 2.
Horne rule offer to any part of Ireland de
manding It angers natlonaliata. Page 1.
Mexico.
Motorcar machine gun corps sent against
viiusias. rage o.
National.
Shipbuilders promise to limit profits and
rush worn on naval vessels. Page 3.
Senators of both parties In caucus agree
to cloture rule, rage l.
Postmasters of first, second and third
classes to be chosen after competitive
examinations. Page 1.
Senator Lane says he was not opposed to
armed neutrality bill, rage 7.
Xomestic
German spies pose as nerve tonle agents.
Page 1.
Miss Helen 'ITaramond wins success as dec
orator at New York. Page 5.
German-American soldier in United States
Army convicted of giving information to
Germany. Page 3.
New York "bell-hops drill on roof of hotel.
Page Z.
Sports.
West trims East In men's tennis doubles
match. Page 14.
Stovall's threat to whip McCredle amazes
latter. Page 14. v
Multnomah septet defeats Seattle. Page 15.
' Pacific Northwest.
Jury to try Mayor Gill for liquor conspiracy
la seiectea. rage a.
Governor Lister threatena to move to Ta-
coma, closing mansion. Page 6.
X. W. W. Jury evenly divided between men
ana women, rage e.
Commercial and Marine.
Northwestern wheat markets lower with
Chicago. rage 13.
Stocks Irregular, with coppers strong and
rails weaa. rage m.
Barkentlne Benlcta arrives at Sydney.
Paa;e 16.
f Portland and Vicinity.
Senator Lane haa not resigned,
as re-
quested yet. Page 9.
Ad Club condemns Senator Lane's action.
rage .
Federal Appellate Court sets record for
brevity in (jaanier case. Page x.
Council of Jewish Women voices its loyalty.
rage w.
$02,000 Involved In seven divorces started.
rage n.
Mother repulsed by child won In long, legal
oaitie. rase o.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 19.
Earl O. Buxton. Forest Grove cashier, and
$2000 of own money disappear:. Page 8.
Rabbi Wise makes fiery plea for peace.
rage lo.
Fes of ,A1 Kader puts new punch in Baker
TO CLOTURE RULE
Both Parties Decide in
Caucus on Rules.
FILIBUSTER TACTICS KILLED
Democrats Are Unit and Only
2 Republicans Oppose.
EARLY ACTION IS EXPECTED
La Follette and Gronna Absent as
Pact Is Made Senator Walsh
Points Out Danger of
Treachery, Even In Senate. .;
WASHINGTON, March 7. Democrats
and Republicans of the Senate In caucus
today cleared the way for early modi
fication of Senate procedure bo as to
make filibusters such as defeated the
armed neutrality bill impossible In the
future.
The Democrats voted unanimously to
support a rule under which debate
could be limited by a two-thirds' vote,
recommended by a conference commit
tee of 10. five representing each party,
as the best way to solve the filibuster
problem. The Republicans voted 30 to
2 to support the same change.
Report Today Likely.
The resolution embodying the pro
posed rule probably will be reported
to the Senate tomorrow for prompt
adoption.
Senators La Follette and Gronna. Re
publicans, who were among the 13 who
failed to sign the manifesto approving
the armed neutrality bill, did not at
tend their party caucus. How much
significance is to be attached to that
fact neither Republican nor Democratic
leaders could foretell tonight, although
the Democrats had a distinct impres
sion that the appearance of the rule
would be the signal for speeches .by .
these two Senators on armed neutrality.
Long Opposition Not Expected.
There were a few Democrats who had
views different from the large majority
but while they may contribute a few
speeches on the subject of changes In
the rules, no prolonged opposition is
expected.
In the Democratic caucus there were
more than 40 Senators and with the 30
Republicans who voted for the change
this makes about eight more than two
thirds of the Senate. Several Senators
of both parties are absent from Wash
ington or ill. so that the proportion of
those here for the change is over
whelming. Sherman and France Object.
Senators Sherman, of Illinois, and
France, of Maryland, were the two Re
publicans who cast the negative votes. ,
Senator Sherman declared the Republl- '
cans would be put In the position of ac
ceding to it because of the demand of
President Wilson in his public state
ment on the defeat of the neutrality
bill, and in his conference today with
Democratic members of the conference
committee. Senator France said he op
posed any kind of cloture rule.
Senator Walsh on the Senate . floor
argued that the Senate was not a con
tinuing body, that each new Senate was
a separate entity, and that it therefore
should enact its own rules without re
gard to existing rules of procedure.
Delay Called Dangerous.
"The people." Senator Walsh said,
"are evidently resolved to take upon
themselves the burden of providing and
maintaining a naval and military es
tablishment greater than ever hereto
fore borne in time of peace. A genuine
alarm' pervades the country lest some
enemy may in the very near future at
tack us. Imagine the time at hand
and the foe bearing down upon us.
The crisis involves the very life of the
Nation. The occasion brooks no delay.
Actifcn immediate action by Congress
is imperative. It is scarcely conceiv
able that war should be precipitated or
be impending without an appeal from
the President for some hurried action
by Congress.
"Such an appeal copse to this body.
It finds a ready response except from
a small coterie of Senators who spell
each other on the floor until the enemy
thunders at the gates of our cities and
the republic has had its death blow.
They may be honest, but misguided,
peace-at-any-price men who refuse to
believe war is meritable and continue
to hope that the awful horror of armed
conflict may be averted by further
peaceful overtures.
Sentiment of 1S61 Recalled.
"Multitudes of sagacious men be
lieved in 1861 that the South would
not fight, and others that the North 1
would never resort to arms to preserve
the Union. It is not conceivable that
the obstructionists, filibusters, may be
actuated by traitorous sentiments. The
revolution had its Arnold. I trust I of
fend no sensibilities in referring to the
fact that in 1861 10 or more members of
this body were expelled for treason. A
Vice-President' of the United States,
who for four years presided over the
Senate was indicted and tried for trea
son and a Senator charged with him
for th.is capital offense escaped expul
sion by but one vote. The Senate had
already at that early day expelled one
of Its members for .perfidious negotia
tions with the enemies of his country.
'We are all sworn to bear true faith
and allegiance to the United States, a
needless oath unless it be that some of
t " . -
-. f
4Cuu.cluU.ed on i'ago 2,
Column si.).
i
now, rare .