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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 16, 1917)
I .-. -sr- VOL. L.VII NO. 17,571. PORTLAND, OREGON, I- It IDA Y, MARCH 16, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ; I . .1 :.i v:-.-.i V CZAR ABDICATES; MICHAEL REGENT Russian Ministry Swept Out of Office. SWIFT REVOLT IS SUCCESS pro-German Element Ousted When Soldiers Join in Move by People. BREAD RIOTS FINAL CAUSE Minister of Interior Is Killed, New Cabinet Announced and Premier Chosen. 'PETROGRAD, March 15 The Em peror of Russia has abdicated and Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, his younger brother, has been named as regent. The Russian Ministry, charged with corruption 'and incom petence, has been swept out of office. One Minister, Alexander Proto popoff , head of the interior depart ment, is reported to have been killed, and the other Ministers, as well as the president of the Imperial Council, are under arrest. New Cabinet Announced. A new national Cabinet is - an nounced, with Prince Lvoff as presi dent of the Council and Premier, and the other offices held by men close to the Russian people. ' For several days Petrograd has been the scene of one of the most re markable risings in history. Soldiers Hear Cry of People. Beginning with minor food riots and labor strikes, the cry for food reached the hearts of the soldiers, and one by one the regiments rebelled, until finally those troops that had for a time stood loyal to the government took up their arms and marched into the ranks of the revolutionists. The president of the Duma, Michael V. Rodzianko, was the leading figure among the Deputies who unanimously decided to oppose the imperial order for a dissolution of the House. They continued their sessions, and M. Rodzianko informed the Emperor, then at the front, that the hour had struck when the will of the people must prevail, r . Imperial Council Approves. Even the Imperial Council realized the gravity of the situation and added its approval to that of the Duma, that the Emperor should take steps to give the people a policy and government In accordance with their desires and in order that there should be no in terference with carrying on the war to a victorious ending. The Emperor hastened back from the front only to find that the revo' lution had been successful and that a new government was in control. The Empress, who, it is alleged, has been influential in the councils opposed to the wishes of the people, is reported to have fled or to be in hiding. Casualties Not Large. Although considerable fighting took place, it is not believed that the cas ualties are large. The early period of the uprising bore the character rather of a mock revolution staged for an immense audience. Cossacks, charging down the street, did so in a half-hearted fashion, plainly without malice or in tent to harm the crowds that they playfully dispersed. The troops ex changed good-natured raillery with the working men and women, and as they rode were cheered by the popu lace. Revolt Starts Goodnaturedly. A long line of soldiers stationed in dramatic attitudes across Nevsky Prospect, with their guns pointed at an imaginary foe, x appeared to be taking part in a realistic tableaux. Machine guns firing roulades of blank cartridges seemed to- add another realistic touch to a tremendous thea tric production, which was using the whole city as a stage. Until Sunday night this pageant continued without serious interrup tion. Then, in a flash, the whole scene lost its theatric quality. It became a genuine revolution. The regiments had received an order from the commandant to fire upon per .(Concluded on Page 5, Column 1.. WALL STREET CALM "OVER CZAR'S FALL EFFECT IX IXVAJTCES IS NOT APPARENT. Russian Ruble Reacts Slightly; Amer ican Uoans to Government and Banks Are Heavy. NEW YORK. March 15. Financial In terests representing the entente allies seemed, disposed to attach little Im portance to the reported overthrow of the Russian government . i far as Its financial effect Is concerned.' They pointed to the relative steadiness of ex change on Petrograd In support of this opinion. Rubles reacted from 28.20, their high est point of the day, to 28.12 at the close of the market. The latter quota tion, however, was frc.u to 94 above the range of the early -week and well above the minimum, of last year, which approached 27 cents, or a discount of al most BO per cent. Since the war the Russian govn ment had floated two loans aggregat ing $75,000,000 In this market, one of $50,000,000 for three years on a 6 per cent basis, and the other for 125.000,000, runnlnr,' for five years on a 6 per cent basis. In addition to these undertakings enormous amounts of Russian treasury notes have been accepted In payment by American manufacturers of muni tions and explosives as well as by de liveries in foodstuffs and other sup plies. American banking Interests have also made heavy private loans to Russian banks to facilitate commercial credits in this country. The amount of these credits is believed to be . larger than that represented by the two loans to the Russian government. H0NDURAN VESSEL IS SUNK Steam Schooner Golden Gate Is Lost In Lower California. LOS ANGELES,' CaL, March IB. The two-masted steam schooner Golden Gate, flying the Honduran flag, was reported to have sunk In the harbor at Ensenado, Lower California, today, ac cording to Information received by cus toms brokers here. Her crew of 19 was ' saved. The cause of the sinking was cot known. The Golden Gate sailed from San Pedro, CaL, Tuesday. She was of 137 tons net. The captain Is Robert Jones and the vessel was owned by R. Sibling. FEED SCARCE IN KLAMATH Ranchers, In Quest for Supplies, Only Find 1 6-Year-Old Hay. KLAMATH FALLS, Or, March 15. (Special.) According to George "W. Offleld. of Merril. who Is In the city today on his return from a trip to the north end of the county in a search for hay, Bloomlngcamp Bros, are now feeding hay on their Wood River Val ley ranch near Fort Klamath, north of this city, that is 16 years old, which was all they could get.. Mr. Offleld says conditions are very bad and that stockmen there are hav ing the most difficult times In years to obtain sufficient feed. PRESS MAY CENSOR SELF Navy Considers Advisability of Per sonal Co-operation. WASHINGTON. March 15. Secretary Daniels is considering the advisability of seeking the personal co-operation ot press association officials and manag ing editors of leading newspapers In his effort to prevent publication of military Information relating to the arming and sailing of American mer chant craft. A conference with the New Tork editors, including those of Philadel phia, Baltimore and Boston, may be ar ranged for Saturday. CHINESE SEIZE VESSELS Five Germans Taken Over and Crews Sent Ashore. 6HANGHAI. March 15. The Chinese naval authorities early Wednesday morning took possession of the German steamers Albenga (4249 tons), Deike Rickmers (4178 tons), Mei-Dah (162$ tons), Mel-Lee (1683 tons), and Siklang (1840 tons). The vessels were lying in the Whang-Poo River. The crews were put ashore. The taking over of the vessels was accomplished without untoward Inci dent. TEXAS GOVERNOR CLEARED Legislative Investigation Committee . Disproves Charges. AUSTIN, Tex.. March 15. Governor James E. Ferguson was exonerated of charges preferred and investigated by the legislative Investigating committee in a report submitted to the House late today by the committee. ' The House adopted a resolution hold lng the charges were unworthy of im peachment. TROOPS ARET0 GUARD DAM Germans Near Elephant Bntte Are Watched hy Secret Service. EL PASO. Texas, March 15. United States troops from Columbus, N.- M are expected to be sent to the Elephant Butte dam near Engel, N. M.. to guard the concrete structure. Secret service agents are also watch lng the movements of Germans In that part of New Mexico, REVOLT SEEMS TO BE SPONTANEOUS Red Flag Flying. in All Parts of Russia. LEADERLESS MOB IS YIGTQR Order Restored Immediatelv After People Win: WILDEST HOPES EXCEEDED Rising-, Brought About by Hunger, Develops Rapidly to Point Giv ing Populace Power Not Even Thought Of. BT ARNO DOSCH-FLEUROT- (Copyrlght by the World, New York.) PETROGRAD. March 14, via London, March 15. (Special.) After an almost bloodless revolution, developing unex pectedly out -of the shortage of bread in Petrograd It looks as If the Russian people were acquiring rights beyond their wildest dreams. At this moment, when the cables are open for the first time in four days, it is Impossible as yet to say whether a dozen rumors In the air are true; but .It is certain the Duma and the revolutionary party are n complete control of Petrograd, Moscow, Khar kov, Nljnl-Novgorod and the great naval base at Cronstadt. Red Flag of Revolt Everywhere. Every regiment for miles around has marched Into the city behind its band. and the red flag of revolt is . every where, f The most remarkable feature of the whole stirring revolution Is the rapid manner in which, order has been re stored In the city. Less than 48 hours ago I saw soldiers everywhere handing over their guns to civilians and taking to cover. Oh Monday night,- within a few hours of the beginning of the revolt the crowd was In complete control of the city, having Jumped from point to point In an unbelievably shorf time. Crowd Never Ont of Hand. It seemed to me that even the bril liant men who formed the committee of safety of the Duma would he un able to keep order and prevent looting, regardless of their good Intentions. But the crowd never got out of hand, little drinking took place, and though the streets of the city were not, nor are even now, safe on account of the re maining police hidden on roofs.' who snipe at 'the crowds In revenge for their killed comrades, there has been no time when I found it impossible to go throughout the city. By luck too sudden for design I happened to be at the central point where the revolution commenced, on the Levlnsky Prospekt opposite the (Concluded on Page 8. Column 1.) PEOPLE'S DISTRUST OF CZARINA GREAT EMPRESS TS HIDING, FEARING POPULACE. Alexandria, Who Was German Prin cess, Suspected of Influencing Czar Nicholas. LONDON, March 16. A Petrograd slspatch to the Dally Chronicle datea Wednesday says the Enpnw of Rus sia has bees placed under aruard. LONDON. March 15. A "dispatch to Reuters Telegram Company dated Wednesday night says the British and French Ambassadors established offi cial business relations with the execu tive committee of the Duma. The dispatch adds that the Grand Duke Cyril informed the Duma that he would place at its disposition the marines under his orders and afterward visited M. Rodzianko In the Duma and told him he was entirely at Rodzianko's orders. The correspondent says- that the people of Moscow adhered to the revolutionary movement without blood shed. According to information received here, the Russian people have been distrustful during recent events of the personal Influence of Emnress Alex andra. She was supposed to exercise the greatest Influence over Emperor Nicholas. It Is stated that her where abouts is not known, but It is believed she is in seclusion, fearing the popu lace. , The Empress Alexandra before her marriage to the' Emperor of Russia in 1894 was the German Princess Allx of Hesse-Darmstadt. NEW CABINET IS . NAMED Lvoff Is Premier, President of Coun cil and Interior Minister. PETROGRAD, via London, March 16. The members of the National Cabinet are announced as follows: Premier, President of the Council, and Minister of the Interior, Prince Georges E. Lvoff; Foreign Minister, Professor Paul N. Mllukoff : Minister of Public Instruction, Professor Manulloff. ,of Moscow University; Minister of War and Navy ad Interim, A. J. Guchkoff, formerly president of the Duma; Minis ter of Agriculture, M. Ichingareff. dep uty from Petrograd; Minister of Fi nance, M. Tereschtenko, Deputy from Kiev; Minister of Justice, Deputy ICa renskl, of Saratoff ; Minister of Commu nications. N. V. Nekrasoff, Vice-President of the Duma; controller of State, M. Godneff, Deputy from Kazan. MOB'S SACKING DESCRIBED Count Fredericks' Aged Wife and His Daughter Are Mistreated.' LONDON, March 16. The -Times Petrograd correspondent.descrlbes the sacking of the ' residence of Count Fredericks, Minister . of the Imperial Court . and aide de camp to the Em peror. Count Fredericks' house was set on fire. His aged wife was carried out fainting.- His .daughter, who is frail, rushed out, carrying her favorite dog. The girl was ill-treated by the drunk en mob and the dog was killed. Both women eventually were laKen to a place of safety. Count Frederick now is in attend ance upon former Emperor Nicholas. TOO HOT FOB THE CZAR! LOST YEKJVff HEY MCK? PRESIDENT AMAZED BY STRIKE ORDER War Crisis Pact Was Previously Expected. EXECUTIVE THOUGHT HELPLESS Power to Take Over Roads Not Provided by Last Congress. TIE-UP IS - INCONCEIVABLE Precedents Under ' "Which Govern ment Might Enter Into Situa tion Are Searched Compro mise Forecast by Some. WASHINGTON. March IB. Word that a general railroad strike had been ordered to begin Saturday night was rccEiveu ot t-resident Wilson tonight with amazement. He had confident ly expected that the mutinr v- tween the railroad and brotherhood representatives in Nw .Tork would re sult in some kind of an agreement that would prevent Interference with trans portation facilities at least while the .Nation Is on the verge of war. No statement was authorized by the White House. and all officials pro fessed to be Ignorant of what the President might intend to do. Wilson Practically Powerless. The President is known to regard a strike as inconceivable In view of the International crisis, the already con gested condition of freight traffic, and the ever-rising cost of food. Apparent ly, however, he feels ho practically Is powerless unless It becomes necessary for him to adopt measures to keep the mails moving. After a telephone conference with Secretary Wilson, of the Labor De partment, it is understood the Presi dent decided to make no move tonight. Soma Expect Compromise. There s a disposition among some Administration officials to believe that even If - begun Saturday the progres sive plan for the strike will never be carried to a conclusion. Before next Wednesday, the day the walkout would be effective throughout the country, they believe a compromise will have been reached. Precedents under which the Govern ment might take a hand in the situa tion are being searched tonight. A- proposed law under which the President would have been empowered to take over and operate the railroads in time of emergency failed to reach a vote during the last session of Con gress. Other Unions Net to Join. While the strike called by the rail road brotherhoods will have the full moral suDDort of the AmirlMti v.h.p. atlon of Labor no plans have been made by Federation officials for extending (Concluded on Page 3. Column 2.) PARRAL TAKEN BY FRANCISCO VILLA BANDIT LEADER THEN MOVES CHIHUAHUA CITY. I ON El Paso Has Report of Raid at Magis tral by Outlaws, "Who Kill Two Americans. EL PASO, March 15. Francisco Villa captured Parral. Chihuahua, Saturday, aefeating the Cajrnma nr-. ,,,. according to a report received by .Gov ernment agent3 late today and forward er io wasnlngton. Villa then led his forces down the nonr ih. ctirUH toward Chihuahua City with the Inten sion or attacking the state capital, ac cording to the same sources. A Mexican minus- mn rrtii jr. today from Magistral. Durango, and re ported to his employers that Villa forces entered Magistral- is riva mm and killed two Americans. Lou Zeigler and C. A. Winn, and a numoer of the Mexican mining men employed there. xnis report has not been confirmed from official sources. Winn Is said tn hn .!..- whero In New Tork State, while Zeigler Deen m Mexico many years, ac cording to American mlnlnr mn vkn have operated In that part of the re public. The Magistral company Is owned by a German syndicate. No re ports were received regarding the de struction of any of the mine property. FLAG BURNERS SENTENCED "Melting Pot" Participants Get 30 Day Term Each. NEW TORK, March 15. The maxi mum sentence of 30 davn In lall nri a fine of $100 was given today to Bouck White, pastor of the Church of Social Revolution, who was convicted of dese crating the American fine- bv itn rn i n ir it In a "melting pot." August II. Henkel and Edward Ames, convicted with him. were sent to Jail each for 30 days. i JAPAN HONORS AMERICAN Offer of Warship to Bring Body of Late Ambassador Accepted. WASHINGTON. March 15. Japan's offer of a warship to bring home the body of the late Ambassador Guthrie was formallv accent H tnrinv Th mini neutrality restriction as to coaling and lengm or stay will be suspended. Officials tnrinv Tnri..H .ir, wvv tlon at the signal honor accorded to the late. Ambassador by both the "Japanese government and people. PARIS PAPER IS v SEIZED Action Is Due to Criticism of Cham ber of Deputies. PARIS, March 15. The -Figaro was seized this afternoon. , ' This was attributed to an editorial published in the newspaper this morn ing crltlclsng the attitude of the Cham ber of Deputies toward General Lyau tey. who resigned last night as Minis ter of War. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. ISTRDArs Maximum temperature, 60 degree; minimum, 81 degrees. TODAY'S Fair; westerly winds. Russian Revolt. Wall street not disturbed by fall of Czar Pan 1- Czar of Ruula abdicates and Grand Duke im uiaua regent. a. g 9 i. Russian revolution la victory for anti-German element. Page 2. Axno DMch-Fleunit, Portland boy, tells de tail story of Russian revolution. Pag 1. Regent once exiled by Czar. Page S. Unrest In Russia began with war. Page 2. Washington dumbfounded by downfall of Czar. Page 3. Czarina's pro-German Influence Is real cause of revolution. Page 1. Railroad Strike. 1 Railway men to strike tomorrow. Page 1. Many roads declare embargo. Page 4. Railways would let Goethals Commission settle dispute. Page 4. t President, .expecting agreement pending war danger, amazed by strike order. Page 1. War. France has new Minister of War. Page 8. , ' National. Greatest erder for warships ever given Is placed by United States. Page 6. President to take action to prevent treason by Germans In America. Page 8. Portland man on torpedoed ship. Page 8. Mexico. . Villa captures Parral and moves on Chihua hua City. Page X. Sports. Amateur Athletic Union's Page 14. scope large. Freddie Welch to fight Thursday next. -r-age i. Honolulu's tropical clime helps Beaver crip plea. Page 14. Paclfle Northwest. Fred Bllllngsley says police chief was always willing to help ring. Page 8. Mrs. Jennings testifies husband caught her and O. II. 6kotheim compromised. . Page 6. Ex-Governor Moody's funeral will be held In Salem tomorrow. Page 6. I. W. W. appeals for riot read. Page 6. Commercial and Marine. Wool shearing has started In Yakima VtN ley. Page 10. Wheat firmer at Chicago on export buying. Page 19. Stock market little affected by adverse fac tors. Page 10. - Xew French Minister la In. Page 5. Portland and Vicinity. Lettera of Mrs. Flandera to Corean boy read in court. Page 16. Exodus of Immigrants after war opposed by railroad. Page 13. Grand jury investigates liquor raid tin. Page 12. Mr. Daly's light plant figures declared ab surdly low. Page S. Umatilla wheat grower urges need of grain elevators In Portland. Page 11. Two more petitions are sent on to Senator Lane. Page 8. - Alexander hearing continues today in face ot injunction. Page 7.1 Gambrlnua brewery leased by new creamery combine. Page 15. Convention committee aska School Board to School Directors ballot, but action thought RAILWAY (III ill 400,000 Employes Galled Out by Chiefs. MOVE TO BE 'PROGRESSIVE Strike to Spread to All Lines Within Five Days, Unless Wilson Can Avert It, ROADS REFUSE DEMANDS Brotherhoods Decline to Let Eight-Hour Commission Settle Dispute. NEW YORK, March 15, "A pro gressive strike" of the 400,000 mem bers of the four great railroad broth erhoods, to begin at 6 o'clock (Central time) Saturday on Eastern roads, was ordered here late today. The walkout will extend to all the railroads in the country within five days. Chiefs of the workmen's organiza tions set the strike machinery in mo tion within a few minutes after an utimatum delivered to the conference committee of railroad managers had been rejected. Counter Offer Rejected. A compromise proposal offered by the managers ' was declined without debate. Only successful intervention by President Wilson, it appeared tonight can avert a strike. The brotherhood leaders gave no in dication that even an appeal from the Nation's Chief Executive can change their purpose to obtain a basic eight hour day and pro rata time for over time through the use of the "protec tive feature" of their organizations. They refused flatly to submit their . cases to the eight-hour commission headed by Major-General George W. Goethals or to await the decision of the Supreme Court on the Constitu tionality of the Adamson law. Strike to Extend West. J Freight employes, yardmen and ent gine hostlers on the New York Cen-) tral lines, east and west; the Nickel ( Plate and Baltimore & Ohio railroads," . and in the great yards in Chicago and ; St. Louis will be the first to leave ' their posts. They will be followed Sunday by the 1 same classes of workmen on the . Southern Railway, the Norfolk and ' Western," the Virginia, Chesapeake & Ohio, and on a group of Northwestern roads. No formal outline of the brother- . hood's programme beyond the plans' for these two days was made either ' to the managers or to the public. It was said, however, that the freight employes on the other roads in the -country would be called out by groups at 12 and 24-hour Intervals after Sun day. Passenger Jin to Follow. If the paralysis of freight traffic thus caused does not result in sur render by the railroads before that time the employes on all passenger trains will be ordered out Wednesday. The railroad managers said tonight they expected that enough of their men would remain loyal to enable them to maintain a skeleton service on most roads. . The managers some time ago caused & census of their employes to be taken to determine how many would refuse to go on strike. This resulted. It was said, in varying; percentages, ranging from a very few on some roads to from BO to 60 per cent on others. The managers estimated that be tween 30.000 and 40.000 men arB em ployed on the roads on . which the strike is to begin Saturday night. ' . New Conference Possible. The members of the managers com mittee will remain here until tomor row. If the men ask another confer ence it will be granted. They said they would make every effort to operate their roads in spite of the strike. Preference will be given to the move- . ment of trains carrying food and fuel. "When the managers, in their counter proposition at the final momentous conference offered to abide by any de cree of the Goethals commission if the Adamson act were declared un constitutional. "W. G. Lee. president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Train-,, men. spokesman for the employes, de clared: "That wotfM be only another form of arbitration, and our men are sick and tired of arbitration." Men Firm In Demands. The brotherhood chiefs contend their demand for the basic elght-tiour day !' .(Concluded, oa fag 4. Column .. J. : 1