,
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VOL. I,VII NO.- 17,566.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, MARCH lO, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
prirprtiiaii.
SHIPS ARMED; EXTRA
SESSION IS CALLED
President Issues Order
From Sick Bed.
59 YARROWDALE'S
MEN ON WAY HOME
COALITION MAY BE
TRIED IN CONGRESS
DEFENSE RESEARCH
MEETING IS CALLED
LASTW0RD SPOKEN,
SAYS ZIMMERMANN
B1LLINBSLEY LAYS
THREAT TO PASTOR
FACE CUBAN ATTACK
V - -
t
ROUTE OF RETCRX IS OXE CHO
SEX BY UNITED STATES.
SCIENTISTS TO HOLD IMPORTANT
SESSION SOON.
DECISION DECLARED IN PRESI
DENT WILSON'S HANDS.
1
AffiERICA
ARNES
.r ,
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t
' )
WAR DEPENDS ON GERMANY
Washington Thinks Secret Im
munities May End.
U-BOATS MENACE TO .CANAL
Mr. Wilson Convinced Berlin Is
Prepared to Carry Reign of
v Terror Into . American
Waters If Necessary.
John callajt oiyOUGHiiN.
WASHINGTON, March . (Special.)
From his sick bed. President Wilson
issued Instructions to the Navy Depart
ment today' to arm American merchant
men. At the same time the President
Issued a proclamation calling Congress
into extra session on April 16. His
primary object In so doing Is to assure
legislation necessary for the defense of
the American merchant marine.
Legislation Is Pressing.
The official statement Issued by Sec
retary Tumulty at a conference with
the President says:
"Secretary Tumulty stated In con
nection -with the President's call for an
extra session of Congress that the
President Is convinced that he has the
power to arm American merchant ships
and Is free to exercise It at once. But
so much necessary legislation Is pres
sing for. consideration that he is con
vinced that it Is for the best Interests
of the country to have an early session
of the 65th Congress, whose support
he will also need In all matters col
lateral to the defense of our merchant
marine."
President Will Make Statement.
Immediately after Congress as
sembles the President will appear be
fore It. acquaint It with his action
In arming merchantmen and the con
sequences thereof In connection with
Germany, and will ask for an im
' mediate appropriation of $100,000,000
. to pay all expenses arising out of the
'defense of our merchant marine.
Conditions may compel the Presi
dent to go even farther. No one In
Washington can say tonight what ac
tion on the part of Germany will follow
the armament of American ships. Up
to this time, American vessels have es
caped destruction, due. as the authori
ties believe, to secret Instructions is
sued by the Berlin government. But
the Intimidation blockade has contin
ued, to the injury of American trade,
and this the President Is determined
hall be broken.
War Depends ea Germany.
Germany recently gave this Govern
ment to understand that the armament
f ships would mean war. If this in
timation should be translated Into dec
laration, the President would be under
the necessity of requesting Congress
to pass a joint resolution announcing
the existence of a state of war. .
Bo much evidence has accumulated
that Germany will stop at no measure
to attain her end victory that the
President and his advisers admit their
Ignorance of what she may do against
the United States. There have been
unearthed plots to create Internal dis
sension. There has been discovered, in
addition to the proposed alliance with
Mexico and Japan, a far-reaching
propaganda throughout Central and
South America directed against this
country.
German submarines are believed to
be in close proximity to the United
Etates and the Panama Canal, prepared
to bring to American waters the reign
of terror which exists about England
and in the Mediterranean.
Belligerent Intention Apparent.
In other words, everything the Pres
ident has obtained shows that Germany
Intends to make war upon the . United
States, If that be necessary, as her
statesmen believe It to be necessary,
to force a German peace In Europe. '
In the light of this knowledge, the
President feels he is compelled to re
tort to measures for the defense of the
Nation.
If Germany - wants war with the
United States It has become more and
more apparent from the temper of the
President and of Congress that she can
have it. Neither Mr. Wilson nor mem
bers of the Senate and House want to
embark in the European struggle. But
there is no question of the overwhelm
ing determination to defend American
lives and American rights and to pre
pare adequate means for such defense.
Senate's Prompt Action Effective.
In determining to call Congress to
gether the President was actuated,
first, by the necessities of the coun
try, and secondly, by the promptness
with which the Senate revised its rules.
It has been no secret that the Presi
dent did not want Congress on his
hands. He realized that if It convened
a fight would take place at once on
the question of organization of the
House of Representatives and that both
chambers would dawdle along and sit
until late PalL Mr. Wilson will be
pressed by the Senators and members
favoring stronger measures against
Germany to adopt a more warlike pol
icy. The pacifists will urge htm to
hold back and suffer any humiliation
lOanalnAed M S a, Cmma a.) '
Company Leaves Brandenburg for
Swiss Frontier News Tbcy Were
, on Armed Ships Surprises.
BERLIN. March 8. (By wireless to
Tuckerton, March 9.) Fifty-nine Amer
icans taken from vessels sunk by the
German raider In the South Atlantic
and brought to Swlnemuende on Jan
uary 1 on board the captured British
steamer Tarrowdale, were released
from quarantine today and left at 4
P. M. for the Swiss frontier. The route
over which they departed was the one
chosen for their return by the United
States Government.
News of their Impending release was
conveyed to them In the detention camp
at Brandenburg yesterday by the As
sociated Press correspondent. Thetr
attire and wardrobes hardly qualified
them for a walk up Fifth avenue, but
the Information that their quarantine
had ended and that they soon would be
homeward bound elicited an instant
cheer.
Most of them were seamen and were
unaware that the Georgic and Mount
Temple, upon which steamers they had
been shipped were armed merchant
men and were considered by Germany
as fair prizes of war. The majority of
them live In Boston, Brooklyn or Phil
adelphia. Their detention for the last
23 days was due to the discovery of
spotted typhoid fever in their camp. .
625 DIE ON TRANSPORT
British Vessel With African labor
ers Sunk in Collision.
LONDON. March 8. The British
transport Mendl, carrying South Afri
can native laborers, was sunk after a
collision February 21, and 625 persons
lost their lives.
The Mendl was a British steamer of
4230 tons gross, built In Glasgow In
1905, and owned by the 'British &
African Steam Navigation Company, of
Liverpool (the Elder-Dempster Com
pany). The last entry In shipping
records regarding her movements was
on December 27 last, when she was
reported arriving at Port Natal from
D&r- es-Salaam.
CITIZENSHIP IS SCORNED
Porto Rlcan Editor Declines to Be
come American Subject.
SAN JUAN. Porto Rieo. March. 9.
Vincent Balbaa, editor of Herald de la
Antilles, a native Porto Rican, and a
consistent anti-American, has declined
to accept American citizenship under
the new organic act.
In a declaration made before the
District Court Balbas says he will go
to Spain and renew his Spanish citi
zenship there. Thus far he is the only
person In Porto Rico who has refused
American citizenship.
VILLA AMMUNITION FOUND
Large Hidden Quantity
by Prisoner.
Revealed
CHIHUAHUA CITY, March 8. A
large quantity of hidden Villa ammu
nition was found by the de facto troops
following the battle at Cusihuiriachlc,
Chihuahua.
A prisoner, captured by the Carranza
forces In the battle, revealed the hiding
place of the ammunition in return for
a pardon. The cache contained several
thousand rifle cartridges and artillery
shells, according to an official report
received here.
DYNAMITER JOINS MARINES
ft ecru it Says He Is Ready to Blow
tip Tin Can or Battleship. 1
CHICAGO, March . Robert S. Phil
lips created considerable excitement at
the Marine Corps recruiting station
here yesterday when he applied for
enlistment, assuring the enlisting of
ficer that he could "blow up anything
from a tin can to a battleship."
He was accepted for service, how
ever, when he explained that he was a
professional dynamiter. . He left last
night for the East, where he will Join
a. mining company on the seaboard.
25 STUDENTS DISLOYAL
About 2SOO Others at University of
Washington Pledge Selves.
SEATTLE, Wash.. March 9. Twenty
five hundred students of the University
of Washington gathered In an all-uni
versity assembly today, adopted reso
lutions pledging loyalty to the Presi
dent of the United States during the
present crisis, and . condemning Sen
ators who prevented passage of the
armed neutrality bill.
There were 25 votes against the res
plutlon. DEPORTATION IS STOPPED
Pope Reported to Have Caused Ger
many to Stop Practice.
ROME, via Paris, March 9. The Cor
rlere d'ltalia's Zurich - correspondent
says he learns from Berlin the German
government has suspended the deporta
tion of Belgians, as a result of inter
vention by the Holy See.
Of 60.0P0 persons deported, says the
correspondent, 13,000 are reported as
already having been sent back to their
homes
Parties Will Try Issues
First, However.
BOTH SIDES ARE CONFIDENT
House Leaders Claim Votes
Enough to Organize.
THREE REPUBLICANS ILL
Another Said Not to Favor Mann
for Speaker All Agree Fight
Must Not Tie TTp . Bust- .
, ness - In Grave Crisis.
WASHINGTON. March 9. Optimistic
forecasts of the control of the next
House came from Democratic and Re
publican leaders tonight when they
heard of the President's call fcr an
extra session of Congress April IS.
Many unbiased observers, however,
foresee only a long and bitter organiza
tion fight unless a coalition agreement
prevents.
Both Speaker Clark and Representa
tive Woods, of Iowa, chairman of the
Republican Congressional committee.
predicted victory for their respective
parties. Each said his party was as
sured of at least 218 votes and that
this probably would be Its minimum
strength.
Vacancy Is In Democratic District.
The official standing of the incoming
House is: Republicans, 215; Democrats.
214; Prohibitionist. 1; Progressive 1;
Progressive Protectionist. 1; Socialist,
1; Independent. 1; vacant, L
The vacancy exists In the Fifteenth
New York district, which Is overwhelm
ingly Democratic Under the New Tork
law this vacancy can be filled before
the extra session begins if a special
election Is called before next Filday.
It has been generally believed Governor
Whitman would call the election, which
would make virtually certain a tie at
215 between the Democfat and Repub
lican membership on the opening day
of the session.
Then the winning side would have to
gain three of th- five so-called Inde
pendents in order to have a majority.
Three Republicans 111.
Republican leaders are worried over
the Illness of three of their members
and the statement of a fourth that he
does not favor Representative Mann
for Speaker. Representatives Hill of
Connecticut. Sulloway of New Hamp
shire and Graham of Pennsylvania are
ill. Though their conditiou is not seri
ous, there are fears that Hill . nd
Sulloway may not t out for some time.
Representative Helntz, of Cincinnati,
who succeeds ex-Representative Allen.
a Democrat, recently said a letter to a
query that he did not "favor" Mr. Mann,
He did not say, however, that he would
not vote for him.
All of the newly elected Democrats
Concluded on Page 2, Column 4.)
THE BOY STANDS ON
IL
Dr. G. E. Hale, Director of Mount
Wilson Observatory, Prepares
to Go to Washington.
PASADENA. Cal., March 9. (Spe
cial.) Lowering war clouds are calling
Dr. George E. Hale, director of Mount
Wilson Observatory and chairman of
the National Research Council, to the
National cap'tal, where he will have
headquarters for several months and
ther work In the Interest of prepar
edness. He will leave Pasadena Sun
day for the East. v
Dr. Hale said tonight the council
will hold an Important meeting In
Washington In April, when matters of
vital importance In regard to the coun
try's defense will be considered.
Dr. Hale said .he work of the council
was largely secret for the present, at
least. He is one of several cf the coun
try's leading scientists who are e'evot
Ing their- learning to helping the Gov
ernment prepare against every war
emergency. He went to England last
Fall In the interests of ' the work of
the council.
BRITISH TO CONTROL FATS
Ministry of Munitions Takes Over
Source of Glycerine.
LONDON, March 9. It Is announced
that the Ministry of Munitions, by ar
rangement with the Minister of Agri
culture and the food controller. Is
assuming control of all fats, oils and
oil seed, and their products. Including
oil cake, soap and margarine.
For this purpose a new branch of
the Ministry of Munitions has been or
ganized under Alfred Blgland. member
of Parliament, who for a year has had
charge of the work of the Ministry of
Munitions In the matter of oils and
fats required for extracting glycerine
for use In the manufacture of ex
plosives. PROF. NEARING OUT AGAIN
Teacher of Economics In Trouble
Over Views on Submarines.
TOLEDO. O.. March 9. Declaring
that he is hampered In his work by an
element clamqping for war between the
United States and Germany. Scott Near
ins, professor of economics In Toledo
University, today tendered- hta resigna
tion. He hu been -criticised ' adversely
recently because of his attitude toward
the submarine controversy, about
which he has made several public
speeches.
Professor Nearing came here about
a year and a half ago from the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania.
PRESIDENT STAYS IN BED
Dr. Grayson Orders Anothe Day's
Rest as Precaution.
WASHINGTON. March 9. President
Wilson probably, will be confinod in bed
at least one more day because of the
cold from which he has been suffering
since Monday.
Dr. Cary T. Grayson, his physician,
said tonight that, although his fever
had disappeared, he thought it better
that the President rest completely for
at least another day.
THE BURNING DECK, AND THAT
Rebels Are in Suburbs
of Santiago.
REINFORCEMENTS ARE RUSHED
Government Force En Route to
Threatened City.
GUERILLAS WRECK BRIDGES
Considerable Damage Is Wrought
Also In Outskirts of Province
Capital, Although Revolt la
Believed to Be Broken.
WASHINGTON. March 9. American
marines and bluejackets occupying
Santiago, recently the stronghold of
the Cuban revolutionists, appear from
latest Navy Department dispatches to
be facing the possibility of an attack
by the rebel bands waging guerilla
warfare In the city's suburbs.
General Attack May neveles.
The dispatches, apparently several
hours behind developments, said the
rebels had turned back after fleeing
the city and were doing considerable
damage'around the outskirts In a move
ment which showed some signs of de
veloping a general attack.
Cuban government troops ander Gen
eral Betancourt were ' reported hurry
ing to Santiago to reinforce the small
government garrison, however, and
many officials believed the rebels would
stay out of the city proper and avoid
a clash with the Americans. '
Guerilla Campaign Feared.
Although the loss of Santiago Is re
garded here as marking the collapse of
the revolution. It is realized that a
continuation of the guerilla campaign
in outlying sections may make serious
trouble for the government command
ers. When the rebels fled they left a
notification that they would continue
to refuse allegiance . to. the Menocai
administration, and already they are
reported to have destroyed several
bridges and to have wrought great
navoc in the cane nelds of the Santiago
district.
MANY ARE REPORTED KILLED
Engagement Is Fought In Vicinity of
San Luis. ,
SANTIAGO, March 9. Major Rlgo
berto Fernandez, leader of the liberal
fortes, left Santiago last night with his
troops and many civilians. Before
leaving he liberated all political pris
oners, including Ttodriquez Fuentes. the
ex-Governor. The city continues peace-
tul under we protection of American
sailors.
An engagement Is reported in the
vicinity of San Luis, and many com
batants are said to have been kiU d
and wounded.
The cane fields at Satillo and San
Ana have been destroyed, as well as
all railroad bridges of the Cuba Rail
way Company and three locomotives of
the same railroad.
ISNT ALL HE DOES.
Berlin Still Ready to Head Alliance
to Maintain Peace, Says
Foreign Minister.
AMSTERDAM, via London, March 9.
Dutch newspapers publish the follow
ing statement made by Dr. Alfred Zlm
mermann. the German Foreign Secre
tary, to a representative of a Budapest
newspaper:
"So far as the United States is con
cerned, we have spoken our last word
and the decision is in President Wil
son's hands.
"We are determined to carry through
the submarine war to the end. The re
sults of unrestricted submarine war
thus far h.ve been very satisfactory.
"As to peace I may say that, despite
the refusal of our peace oiTer. Germany
still stands by the words of the Im
perial Chancellor and is prepared to
place herself at the head of an alliance
of states for the maintenance of the
world's peace.
"As to Luropean neutrals, I believe
there will be no change in their present
relations with us in the course of the
war. Neutral shipowners should give
up their trade with England. They have
made enough money and can afford to
bear the loss of English trade.- They
will soon recognize that' It is to their
interests to keep their ships at home so
that they may use them to the best ad
vantage after the war."
-Jr. Zimmermann added that the mili
tary situation Is entirely satisfactory to
Germany.
AMERICA'S AID IS SMALL
Contribution Less Than 4 Per Cent
of Belgian Relief.
NEW TORK. March 9. The United
States has contributed a total of J9.
9S0.602 to Belgian relief, according to
a statement made by the Commission
for Relief In Belgium here tonight.
This sum, the statement said, was
less than 4 per cent of approximately
J25O,000,0O0 that has been expended
by the Commission in Belgium and
Northern France.
STORK MAKES 20TH VISIT
Eureka Mother Receives Congratula
tions on Annual Event.
EUREKA. Cal.. March 9 Mrs. Clar
ence A. Thurber. - 43 years old. wife
of a local butcher, was receiving con
graiuiauons loaay on tna Dirtn of a
daughter, her 20th child. Thirteen of
the children are living.
The stork has visited the Thurbers
every year since they were married.
with two exceptions.
BOISE HAS RECORD SNOW
Fall Is More Than 7 Inches In Less
Than 20 Hours.
BOISE. Idaho, March 9. Seven and
one-tenth inches of snow fell here be
tween midnight Thursday and 7:30
o'clock Friday night.
This Is the greatest 24-hour snow
fall for March since the establishment
here of the Weather Bureau station
In 1899.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
TEPTERDAT'S Maximum temperature, 47
degrees; minimum. 37 degree.
TODAY'S Partly cloudy; northwesterly
winds.
Submarine,
Sailing of first armed American merchant
men wi 11 put war or peace up to C-er-roany.
Page 4.
War.
Belgian Minister says German story of
Belgo-Brltish compact Is fable. Page 2.
Rapid British advance In Mesopotamia due
to aid of Arab tribesmen. Page 4.
Tarrowdale sailors released. Page 1.
Foreign.
American marines face possible attack In
Cuba. Page X.
France estimates there will be deficiency In
cereals. Page 4.
Women deny plot to poison British Cabinet
Ministers. Page 2.
Kaiser mourns Count Zeppelin's death.
Page 8.
National.
President orders arming of ships and calls
extra session of Congress. Page 1
Coalition may solve problem of organizing
next House. Page 1.
Administration asks press not to print news
of movements of armed vessels. Page X
Both parties In Congress approvs extra ses
sion call. Page 4.
German naval Captain arrested at Los
Angeles as plot suspect. Page 8.
Sports.
Beaver boosters to work for 20,000 attend
ance at opening game. Page 32.
Towers septet wins Coast amateur Ice hockey
championsh 1 p by d e f tsating Multnomah
Club. 8 to 3. Pnge 12.
Pitcher Higbee sustains Injury to arm. Page
12.
Plnkman ties Wyerd In 6eattle. Page 13.
Pacific Northwest.
Two amendments to same section of Oregon
election laws apparently conflict. Page 6.
Ir. Matthews, says Bllllngsley, threatened
exposure If bribe was not confessed.
Page 1.
Wash tnr ton legislature adjourns after $4.-
wu.uuw Dm passea. r&ca e.
Patriotism dominant theme at JSugene H.
A. R. session. Page 16.
Rural credit rate not guaranteed. Page 7.
First shot of I. W. W. battle laid to In
vaders. Page 5.
Commercial and Marine.
Unsold stocks of wheat In Northwest be
lleved to be overestimated. Page 17.
All classes of Wall-street stocks are higher.
rate it. ,
Steamship Interests protest against fish
traps at Price Island. Page 10.
Portland and Vicinity.
Mayor Harley fights landowners to get naval
osse Tor Astoria, rtfe o.
Council has heated session over jitney ques
tion. rag9
Active- campaign started In favor of road
dohu ihuo. ri i,i.
Demand for Pen a tor .Lane's resignation Is
crowing, f age in.
Fantan dealer accused of killing patron.
Telephone engineer expects 500.000 In Port-
land In 3 937. Page 9.
Portland widely advertised In East for edn- i
canon convention. i-'age 7.
Oregon City Coundlman'removed for drunk- 1
nness. age o. i
Weather report, data and forecast. Page IT,
Dr. Matthews Demands
Confession, He Says.
BETRAYAL OF GILL CHARGED
Witness Says Mayor Got'
$4000 to Release Papers; .
CARLOAD ORDERS -FOLLOW
All Crimes on Calendar, Including
Murder, Are Admitted and De
fense Is Told That Its Ust
of Arrests .Is Short.' '
SEATTLE. Wash.. March 9. Lo;aa
Bllllngsley. confessed liquor seller In
prohibition states and chief witness tor
the Government In the trial of Mayor
Hlrara C. Gill, Chief of Police Beckins
ham. ex-Sheriff Robert T. Hodge and
City Detectives Peyser. Doom, Poolman
and McLennan, testified today that
Dr. Mark A. Matthews, pastor of th.
First Presbyterian Church, threatened
him with Indictment by the county
grand Jury last November If he did not
"come through" with a confession that
he bribed Mayor GUI with 7500 to per
mit him to sell liquor under police pro
tectlon.
Bllllngsley testified that he went at
once to Mayor Gill and asked him if
he regarded Dr. Matthews as his friend,
and Gill replied that he did.
GUI Disregards Threat.
Bllllngsley testified that he-warned
Gill that the clergyman was double
crossing" him. and repeated to Gill the
threat that Rev. Mr. Matthews had
made. GUI. according to the witness,
told him not to worry aout the
county grand Jury, because It never
indicted any .offenders .except littls
ones.
Earlier In the day Bllllngsley had
testified that In August. 1916, after he
had become Involved -In a "world of
troubles" owing to the seizure of all
his business correspondence on July 25.
1916. when his drugstore was raided
by the police, his lawyer set afoot ne
gotiations with Mayor GUI for a "com
promise," by the terms of which the
prosecution of Billlngsley and his
brothers for selling liquor and for forg
ing permits to import liquor were to
be dropped. .
40O0 Paid Gill, He Says.
Bllllngsley said he clinched the bar
gain with GUI In the office of Chief
of Police Becklngham on August 30.
by giving GUI a roll of 4000 In !10l
bills, which Gill pocketed-at once, the
incriminating papers seized in the
drugstore raid being returned to him
the same day. ,
Bllllngsley swore that before he had
effected the arrangement with GUI he
had been a retailer. Importing barrels
and cases, but afterward he became a
wholesaler, importing carload lots and
furnishing goods to retailers in Seattle.
Bllllngsley told his story of his al
leged dealings with the police In the
most matter-of-fact way. as though he
were describing something that' hap
pened a long time ago. and in which
he had only a spectator's interest.
10 Glvea Police. He Testifies.
He was asked why ho had tele
graphed to San Krajicisco. asking for
shipment of 50-gallon barrels instead
of 40-gallon barrels, and explained that
as he was obliged to pay J10 for each
barrel to the waterfront detective
squad he saved money by getting the
larger barrels.
He said that when Sergeant Putnam,
of the dry squad, seized some of his
liquor at a railroad terminal. Detective
Peyser, one of the defendants, warned
Putnam against the seizure. "That Is.
Peyser told me he did." added Billlngs
ley. The only time during the day when
Billlngsley appeared humiliated was
when he told of losing his correspond
ence In the police raid. He told the
Jury It was not his practice to be so
careless, but that morning he brought
the papers from a safe place to refer to
'some of them.
Kergotten Crimes Recalled.
Late in the afternoon direct exaanJn
ation of Billlngsley was ended, and he
was turned over to the defense for
cross-examination. His record of trials
and convictions In Oklahoma wa
brought up immediately, but he replied
calmly to all questions, assuring coun
sel that their list was far from com
plete. He told how he had got Into illegal
liquor selling accidentally, by import
ing bottles for his friends. He himself
had never liked whisky that Is, to
drink, lie added.
Bllllngsley matched his wits against
those of Wllm.or Tucker, of counsel for
Mayor GUI. and honors were about even
when court adjourned for the day. -
The point of the defense was to estab
lish by Billlngsley"s own admission that
the witness had had a long record of
convictions against him and instead of
rattling the witness. BiUingsley admit- '
ted everything and assisted the defense
In elaborating on the record.
"Were you ever arrested and charged
with rape?" Tucker asked. - -
"Yes. rape or seduction, something. of
that kind," was his answer. ..
"And yu married the girl and killed
her father?" continued Mr. Tucker.
"Yes, as a direct answer, but I will
be glad to explain the circumstances of
the case." returned Billlngsley.
At' another point.. In cross-examina-(Concluded,
on Pan. 6. Column 2:lr- "
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