Morning Oregonian., April 21, 1917, Image 1

VOL. NO. 17,602.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
AUTHORITY TO UMIT
FOOD PRICES ASKED
HUNGER NOT FIRST,
SAYS HINDENBURG
PRAYS FOR
'DYNAMITE JOHNNY,'
80, ENJOYS PARTY
CUBAN : OFFICIALS COMPLIMENT
BLOCKADE RUNNER.
SENATE DECIDES Oil
PRESS CENSORSHIP
GYPSIES ROB UNDER
'S
NOSE OF OFFICERS
TOM
POT AT 150 SHIPS
CARAVAN HERDED ACROSS HOOD
STRIKE OX SUCH GROTfDS DE
CLARED INCONCEIVABLE.
RIVER COUNTY BY SHERIFF.
BRITAIN
REG0I1
CAPACITY
AD
GS
1
. -I $
Si
Supervision of Distribu
tion Desired, Too.
PROGRAMME UP TO CONGRESS
Administration Would Operate
Factories in Emergency.
$25,000,000 IS REQUESTED
Power to Take Complete Control of
Concerns Handling Necessities
and Govern Transportation
Is Contemplated.
WASHINGTON, April 20. The Gov
ernment's programme for food control
during the war was put before Con
gress today by Secretary Houston in a
communication to the Senate asking:
power, for the Department of Agricul
ture to take direct supervision of food
production and distribution . in. . the
United States and requesting a $25,000,
000 appropriation for putting the plan
into operation. -
Authority was asked for the Council
of National Defense, in an emergency,
to buy and sell foodstuffs and to fix
maximum or minimum prices.
As outlined to the Senate the Govern
ment's plan is first to make a complete
survey of the country's food supply to
determine its ownership and distribu
tion, if necessary to license and control
the operations of all concerns engaged
in the manufacture of food or feeds,
agricultural implements and all mater
ials required for agricultural purposes.
" Operation Is-Considered.' '
Authority is sought for the Agricul
tural Department to take over and op
erate the concerns if that course is
demanded by the public interest.
Giving the Government power to deal
directly in foodstuffs probably would
make its application unnecessary. Sec
retary Houston declared, as its very
existence would tend to keep conditions
normal. He proposed that the Govern.-
tnouia nave rull discretion, say
ing it might be wise If an emergency
arose to fix prices on a single commodity-
Market grades aid classes for
farm pro-ducts. Secretary Houston said,
form one of the chief needs of the coun
try to Insure proper conditions in pro
ducing and marketing farm products.
Transportation Supervision Asked.
Authority also was asked for the
department to require of transporta
tion." companies preference for the
movement of farm machinery, seeds
fertilizers and materials that enter into
the processes of food production.
Enlargement of the market news
service of the department was recom
mended as a means of insuring equl-
'"iuuuon to prevent undue
food shortage in any consuming center
and to provide against wastes, due to
temporary over-supplies of food in
some communities. The department
wisnes to allow the market service ril
vision to assist in obtaining re-routing
of foodstuffs to relieve congestion on
transportation lines.
In its plan for an investigation of
xne present food supply, the Agricul
tural Department has arranged for the
help of the Federal Trade Commission,
which, with the department, was di
rected by President Wilson early in
the year-to make an Inquiry to ascer
tain the amount of food stocks and to
determine if the anti-trust laws have
been violated in food production, stor
age and distribution. That inquiry has
Deennaxted for lack of an approprla
tlon. The present Congress, however,
has voted money for conducting it the
House the $ 4 00,000 asked and the Sen
ate $250,000.
Congressmen Are Consulted.
The two -houses are expected to get
together on an amount to be appro-
priited for this specific inquiry and as
Eoon as it is available the Trade Com
mission will proceed. The Commission
already is laying plans for the in
qulry and today called into conference
more than a dozen Senators and Rep
resentatives tor suggestions. The con
cert of opinion, it was said afterward
was that the Commission should in
terpret the act creating it in the most
liberal fashion and should get down
to basic facts concerning the handlln
of food resources.
Some believe the Trade Commission
has enough power to make unneces
sary the use of extreme legislation in
-regulating the control of food, al
inougn additional powers should be
given for an emergency.
The Senators and Representative
with the Commission today were chosen
from among the large number that have
Introduced food legislation in Congress
and others who are particularly inter
ested in the food situation. Many of
them had suggestions to offer as to the
scope of the investigation. As outlined
tentatively by the Commission, the in
quiry would go into every phase of
food production and distribution.
Data on Food Are Lacking.
Officials of all 'departments and dl
visions of the Government realize that
the facts of the situation existing mus
be learned before remedies can be
planned. Now, no one knows how much
food there is in the country and how
it is distributed. Of certain foods th
Government has exact knowledge, bu
cf others it has virtually none.
Suggestions that the Government is
(Concluded on Pa.cs 6, Column 1.)
Severely Pressed Armies Cited as
Necessary Explanation Why
Workers Should Resume.
DOXDON, April 21 A message sent
by Field Marshal Von HIndenburg to
General Groener, head of the German
Munitions Department, with reference
to strikes in Industrial communities,
has been received here by wireless
from Berlin. Field Marshal Von HIn
denburg says he recognizes that the
population has been hit hard by the
reduction of the bread ration, but that
undoubtedly the Increase in meat and
the regular delivery of potatoes will
compensate therefor. While he is con
vinced that the authorities will see to
the proper distribJtion of foodstuffs,
the Field Marshal said:
"I am. therefore, quite unable to see
how the food situation can be made
the ground for strikes by workmen
while our present position on the
western front, which must be fought
out there, demands an undiminished
production of war supplies of all
kinds. This is the first task and takes
precedence over all others.
"Every strike, however small, may
be the means of an unjustifiable
weakening of our defensive force, and
Is an inexcusable crime against the
fighting forces, especially the men in
the trenches who bleed in conse
quence." A Reuter dispatch from Amsterdam
says that Von HIndenburg concludes
his message by asking General Gro
ener to see that all means are em
ployed to continue the production and
dispatch of arms and munitions, and
also to have the necessary explana
tion given the armament workers to
that end, which "In my opinion ap
pears the principal condition for at
taining our great aim."
BOY SCOUTS GET CALL
National Planting Day Is Set; Bean
Growing Is Advised.
WASHINGTON, April 20. A call to
observe April 21 .as ."National planting
day" by the Boy Scouts of America
was sent out today by the 213,000 mem
bers under the plan that "every scout
feed a soldier."
NEW YORK. April 20. On the ground
that beans are the best of foods for
war emergencies, Herbert C. Hoover,
chairman of the National Food Com
mission, urges the Boy Scouts of Ameri
ca to devote their energies to the -cul
tivation of this crop..
DAH0 GUARDSMAN SHOT
Charles Iv. Overton Wounded When
He Orders Prowler to Halt.
SPOKANE. Wash., April 20. Charles
K. Overton, a member of the Idaho Na
tional Guard, whose home is in Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho, was shot in the leg to
night while patrolling a Great North
ern railroad bridge. Overton ordered
the man to halt, according to word
reaching here, and received two shots
as an answer, one of which entered the
leg. The prowler escaped.
MADGEBURG IS RI0T-T0RN
Ten Thousand Strikers Try to Burn
Town Hall; Soldiers Kill Many.
LONDON, April 21. Ten thousand
strikers, mostly munition workers.
tried to burn the town hall at Madge-
burg Friday, according to a dispatch
to the Exchange Telegraph Company
from Oldenzaal, Holland.
Soldiers fired on the rioters, killing
and wounding many and the town now
is in a state of siege.
ARCHBISHOP BLENK IS DEAD
Prelate at New Orleans Is Victim of
Complication of Ailments.-'
NEW ORLEANS, La.. April 20. The
Most Rev. James Hubert Blenk, since
1906 Catholic archbishop of the eccles
astical province of New Orleans, died
here tonight, aged 62 years.
Physicians announced death was due
to a complication of ailments superln
duced by heart trouble. He had been
In poor health about two years.
MARYLAND GETS ITS QUOTA
Women Help in Effort to Recruit
800 for Service in Navy.
BALTIMORE, Md.. April 20. After a
spectacular campaign in which women
took a leading part. Maryland's total
of 800 men for the United States Navy
was completed tonight. It was said
this was the second state to get the
quota asked, Oregon being the first,
More than 150 men were recruited
today.
HOPE FELT FOR BERNHARDT
Physicians Say There Is Every Rea
son to Believe Actress Will Live.
NEW TORK. April 20. While Sarah
Bernhardt still is in a serious condi
tion, her physicians said in a bulletin
tonight that there is every reason to
hope for her recovery.
Whitlock Reaches Havre.
HAVRE. April 19. (Delayed.) Brand
Whitlock. United States Minister to
Belgium, arrived this evening to as
sume his duties at the present seat of
the Belgian government here.
Tribute Paid America
Without Precedent.
KING AND QUEEN PARTICIPATE
St. Paul's Rings With Two Na
tions' Patriotic Airs.
STARS AND STRIPES FLOAT
Vast Audience Celebrating New
Ally's Entry Into War Includes
Nobility, Men From Trenches
and Diplomatic Corps.
LONDON, April 20. The entry of the
United States Into the world war on
the side of the entente allies was cele
brated in St. Paul's Cathedral today.
King George and Queen Mary and
numerous members of the royal house
hold, the Mayors of the 26 boroughs of
London, dressed in their official robes
of scarlet; Peers, Cabinet Ministers, the
Ambassadors and Ministers of the en
tente countries, with their staffs; high
army and navy officials and many
Americans, including Walter Hlnes
Page, the American Ambassador, and
his staff, were present. Not a seat
In the vast edifice was vacant.
King Deeply Interested.
The service was an impressive one
and King George evinced the deepest
Interest In It. The sermon was preached
by the Right Rev. C. H. Brent, Episco
pal bishop of the Philippine Islands.
The archbishop of Canterbury delivered
the benediction.
The entire congregation arose near
the end of the service, when the band
played "The Star-Spangled Banner,"
and there was audible throughout the
cathedral the sound of subdued voices
singing the anthem. Even King George's
lips moved as he followed the lines, and
at the end of the stanza the words.
the home of the brave," brought
smile to the monarch's face and he
turned and nodded to the Queen.
Kins Refralna Fnm SInfflnK.
'God Save the King" was a great
vocal chorus, in which everyone partic
ipated except King George.
A large American flag and the Union
Jack were the only decorations In the
cathedral.
London and many other cities and
towns throughout the United Kingdom
were bedecked today with the Ameri
can flag In honor of the occasion. Even
on the Victoria tower of Westminster
Palace the Stars and Stripes were
flung to the breeze beside the British
flag. Never before has any flag ex-
ept the Union Jack or the royal stand
ard been .flown from the tower.
After the services in St. faurs. Ilng
George greeted Ambassador Page and
Rear-Admiral Sims, TJ. S. who Is t n
(Concluded on Page 3. Column 1.)
yor- iaso tvxz g-o. s v sr-er!?:SsrJ. 'v-Ut" i3fl?oi
( -C,o7
"Captain Unafraid" O'Brien Recalls
Landing "Fred" Funston In
Cuba In Early Days.
NEW TORK April 20. "Dynamite
Johnny" O'Brien, a famous filibuster,
celebrated his 80th birthday here today
at a reception arranged in his honor
by the government of Cuba. It was a
happy day for "Captain Unafraid." as
the Cubans call him.
His one regret, he said, was that
Fred" Funston. the late Major-General,
could hot be among his guests.
It was "Dynamite Johnny" who, on
one of his numerous blockade-running
trips through the Spanish patrol fleet,
landed Funston on the coast of Cuba,
in the days of the revolution, and ever
since then Funston has been his hero.
The old man who did so much to
make the Cuban revolution possible by
smuggling arms and ammunition into
the island enjoyed every minute of his
reception. In the morning he received
cablegrams of congratulation from
President Menocal and Vice-President
Nunez, of Cuba.
O'Brien now is a Captain In the Cu
ban navy at full pay.
TURKS ROUTED BY BRITISH
Passage of Shatt-el-Adhem Is
Forced; 12 44 Captives Taken.
LONDON, April 20. General Maude.
commanding the British forces In Meso
potamia, has forced a passage of the
Shatt-el-Adhem. attacked the Turkish
main positions and. completely routed
the Turkish forces, says an official
statement Issued today by the British
War Department.
So far 1214 Turks have been taken
prisoner.
HOTELS SAVE POTATO EYES
Distribution to Backyard Gardeners
Is Promised.
COLUMBUS, O.. April 20. After I
conference with Governor Cox, Colum
bus hotel proprietors announced today
that in the future they will . save the
eyes of the potatoes they use.
These will be-distributed to back
yard gardeners as seed.
SEED POTATOES ARE SHORT
Supply Is 2 S. Per Cent Under Nor
mal, Chicago Mayor Learns.
CHICAGO. April 20. Mayor Thomp
son said today on authority of an ex
pert of Armour & Co.. that if every
seed potato now in this country were
planted the crop would be 25 per cent
under normal. t
1500-FOOT FALL SURVIVED
Aviator at San Francisco Slightly
Hurt in Ocean Plunge.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 20. Lyman
Doty, aviator, fell 1500 feet into the
ocean here today and escaped with
wrenched shoulder and scratched face.
His biplane was wrecked.
CONCERNING THE FOOD SITUATION.
President Empowered
to Regulate Papers.
RULES MUST BE REASONABLE
Enemies of Measure Declare
It Is Unconstitutional.
SECRECY TO GUARD TROOPS
Administration Bill Is Modified, but
Party Lines Are Ignored In De
termination to Control News
papers During War.
WASHINGTON, April 20. The Senate
recorded Itself today in favor of press
censorship during the war.
A censorship clause of the Admlnls
tration's espionage bill, after decided
modification, was retained in the bill
by a vote of 43 to 33, in which partisan
division was disregarded. The vote
came after three days of sharp debate
and was regarded as definitely fore
casting final retention of the censor
ship provisions.
Later the bill, still far from com
pleted, was laid aside indefinitely to
permit consideration, beginning tomor
row, of the war Army measure. The
House Judiciary committee has com
pleted its draft of the espionage bill.
also with a censorship clause, and will
report it Monday.
News of Troops Forbidden.
The provision as finally accepted by
the Senate follows:
"Whoever in time of war, in viola
tion of reasonable regulations to be
prescribed by the President, which he
Is hereby authorized to make and
promulgate, shall publish any informa
tion with respect to the movement.
numbers,, description, condition, or dis
position of any of the armed forces,
ships, aircraft, or war material of the
United States, or with respect to the
plans or conduct of any naval or mili
tary preparations, or with respect to
any works or measures undertaken for
or connected with, or intended, for the
fortification or defense of any place.
or any other Information relating to
the public defense calculated to be use
ful to the enemy, shall be punished
by a fine of not more than $10,000 or
by Imprisonment for not more than 10
years, or by both such fine and Ira
prisonment, provided that nothing In
this section shall be construed to limit
or restrict, nor shall an regulation
herein provided for limit or restrict.
any discussion, comment or criticism
of the acts or policies of the Govern
ment or Its representatives or the pub
lication of the same."
Art Held Unconstitutional.
Advocates of the provision admitted
that it would confer wide powers, upon
(Concluded on Page
Column S.)
Ranchers Report Losses of Milk.
Chickens and Horse Feed, While
One Pocket Is Picked.
HOOD RIVER, Or.. April 20 (Spe
cial.) With half a dozen deputies
sworn in to assist them. Sheriff John
son and City Marshal Carson have ex
perienced today the busiest hours of
their official Uvea escorting across the
county a band of more than 50 gypsies
who arrived at the west edge of the
valley at an early hour over the Colum
bia River Highway.
On opening their offices this morning
the Sheriff and marshal were greeted
by telephone calls from ranchers, who
reported thefts of milk, chickens and
horse feed. Deputizing the first citi
zens they met. the officers hurried to
meet the nomads, preventing them from
scattering over the orchard districts
("id carefully herding them until the
Wasco County line was reached at the
top of the Mosler ridge. Officials of
the neighboring county were warned of
the advance of the gypsies. Despite the
vigilance of the corps of officers, half
a dozen of the Romany women this
afternoon, at the intersection of the
dock road and the main trunk highway,
held up and robbed A. E. Willard. a
prominent citizen of The Dalles, who
had Just arrived on a river steamer.
The money, in bills, was extracted
from Mr. Willard's vest pocket by one
of the women while others Jostled him
and demanded to tell his fortune. The
currency was recovered by Marshal
Carson.
SLAVS REJECT PEACE IDEA
Council of Workmen and Soldiers
Tells Armies to Fight On.
PETROGRAD, via London, April 20.
Delegates from seven of the Russian
armies conferred today with the coun
cil of workmen's and soldiers' delegates
and asked the council whether it fa
vored a separate peace. L Soyoloff, on
behalf of the council, replied:
'The council rejects any idea of a
separate peace."
COLONEL'S SON TO FLY
Quentin Roosevelt Joins Reserve
and Goes to Aviation School.
WASHINGTON. April 20. Quentin
Roosevelt, youngest son of Theodore
Roosevelt, ex-President of the. United
States, has enlisted for the signal of
ficers' reserve corps.
He received his papers at the War
Department today and will be sent lm
mediately to the aviation school at
Mlneola. L I.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, C
degrees; minimum, 44 degrees.
TODAY'S Showers; south to west winds.
War.
Authority to limit food prices asked by Ad
ministration. Page l.
American Embassy at Berlin infested with
Germtn spies before break In relations.
Page 2.
British, Including royal family, sin to
America. Page 1.
French gain In three districts. Page 4.
HIndenburg puts public hunger secondary
to need zor munitions. age l.
Government ready to arrest 8000 German
suspects In 24 hours. Page 2.
First call on banks for war funds to be made
soon. Page 3.
Senate to begin fight on Army bill today.
age 4.
' Mexico.
Villa loses S00 killed and wounded In action.
and luO hanged. Page 0.
Foreign.
Strike of German munitions workers con
tinues. Page 3.
National.
Senate decides on censorship of preset
i'age X.
Opposition develops to McAdoo's plans for
raising revenue. Page 2.
Shippers divided as to necessity for freight
rate increases. Page 4
Ioinestlc. "Dynamite Johnny" O'Brien. Cuban fili
buster, observes 80th birthday. Page 1
Beauty, once society leader of Denver, dies
in poor house. Page 2.
Sports.
Pacific Coast League results: Portland 5.
Oakland 6; San Francisco 3, Salt Lake 0;
Vernon 2, Loa Angeles 1. Page 14.
Both Plnkman and Bronson talk confidently
of winning. Page 14.
"Patsy" Cardiff, famous boxer, dies at Sa
lem. Page 14.
Multnomah Club sends IS athletes to O.
C. relay meet Pfge 14.
Faclfle Northwest.
BUT In ira leys making determined fight against
serving sentence. Page 0.
Gypsies rob wayfarer under nose of officers
In Hood River. Page 1.
Boy walks 100 miles to enlist. Page 8.
Commercial and Marine.
Advance In wheat checked by course of
Eastern market. Page 19.
Government plan to fix food prices breaks
Chicago marget Page la.
Speculation stocks sold at declines by pro
fessionals. Page 19.
Oregon can build 150 ships a year for Fed
era! Government. Page l.
Portland and Vicinity. '
Social Workers Club calls Idle women to
task of Increasing food production.
Page 8.
Spectacular film play will aid recruiting.
Page 13.
General White rejects offer of Dr. Psrrtsh's
property. Page 15.
Mayor moves to stop alleged crooked boxing
bouta Page o.
More young men are wanted for officers'
reserve training camp. Page 8.
Car shortage grows less. Southern Pacific
report says, page t.
Oregon's quota of 800 men for Navy in 20
day is exceeded. Page 8.
Portland's men teachers quit posts to go
into more prontaoie vocations. Page 8.
Portland is past bonded debt limit. Page 15.
Portland banks to take $1,000,000 of Treas
ury certificates. Page 16.
W. F. Woodward asks Welfare Commission
for right to employ women after 6 P. M.
Page 15.
Food conference to be held today. Page 16.
Hamilton Holt urges international co-operation
Instead of competition. Page 5.
Students of Bnson Polytechnic School dis
play handicraft. Page 2.
Simmer of "melting pot" is seen at Iadd
night school graduation. Page 3tf.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 19.
Builders Meet to Plan
Government Work.
LUMBER REPORTED AVAILABLE
Committee Named to Send Re
port to Shipping Board.
LABOR TO BE ASSEMBLED
11 Yards In State Are Ready to Aid
in Federal Programme of Con
structing Wooden Vessels,
and More Will Open.
(
Tards operating in Oregon and more
than can be opened may build 150 wood
en ships annually for the Government,
each of 3600 tons dead weight.
Sawmills on the Willamette and Co
lumbia rivers and in the Willamette
Valley can cut lumber in abundance for
the work, probably 20 per cent of their
output being used for ships.
Government departments will help
provide additional labor forces from
the Interior, as well as facilitate deliv
ery of iron and special material, so
builders can depend on orders being
filled promptly.
Builders Hold Meeting;.
Those and numerous other points
were brought out at a community ship
building meeting held in the Oregon
building yesterday afternoon, the quarJ
ters of the Acacia Club being filled at
3 o'clock with men representing wood
en shipbuilding concerns, lumber mills,
banks and forces expected to lend their
aid In the present emergency confront
ing the Federal Shipping Board, in
turning out an adequate number of
vessels in the next year that will meet
requirements in fighting against the
German submarine warfare and to care
for certain lines , of commerce other
than the trans-Atlantic routes.
One of the Important actions grow
ing out of the discussion was the ap
pointment by President Corbet, of the
Chamber of Commerce, of a. live com
mittee to take charge immediately and
shape a definite report for the Shipping .
Board as to the quota of new vessels
Oregon is prepared to undertake.
Members Are Kamed.
On that committee are L. J. Went-
worth, of the Portland Lumber Com
pany; George B. McLeod. of the Ham
mond Lumber Company; It. L. Donald,,
of the Willamette Valley Lumber As
sociation, and Kurt H. Koehler, of the
Eastern & Western mill , while the
shipbuilding force on the rivers will be
represented by 11. E. Pennell, chairman
of rivers, harbors and navigation com
mittee of the Chamber, as well as be
ing a lumberman and vessel operator;
U. M. McDowell. Oregon manager ior
A. O. Andersen & Co., and in direct
charge of the McEachern Ship Company
at Astoria, and I. N. Day, superintend
ent of the Kiernan & Kern Shipbuild
ing Company. Alfred Tuoker, in the
general shipping business, was named,
a committee to delve into the feature
of supplies, and on the financial end
are J. C. Alnsworth, of the United
States National Bank. Emery Olmstead.
of the Northwestern National Bank,
and E. A. Wyld. of the Kirst National
Bank.
Data to Go t. WaaMngton.
A motion, responsible for the naming
of the comirrittee, waj that the n.:n rs
outain all detailed data and forward It
to Washington. C. F. Swigert, of Port
land, who went from Dayton. O.. to
Washington at the request of Portland
ers and has been tfc for a few days
in the interest of the new construction,
is to receive the information to be pre
sented by him direct to Major-General
oethals, who has taken full charge of
the management of the Federal Ship
ping Board's most extensive pro
gramme. O. M. Clark, of the Clark -i Wilson
Lumber Company, and former president
of the Chamber, spoke on the prepara
tory details and said he did not believe
this region would be confronte" by
graver laror features than oth- sec
tions of the United States.
H. B. Van Duzer, of the Inman-Poul-sen
Lumber Company, -aid the percent
age of lumber cut by the mills that
would be available for shipbuilding
might run 20 to 2o 1 r cent of the cut.
depending on Government require
ments, which, if rigid, might lessen the
percentage.
Mobilisation Report Prepared.
R. L. Dona. .. chairr. an of a special
co mlttce of tha Willamette Valley
Lumbermen's Association, had prepared
a special report covering mobilization
methods for ship construction. He said
1.000,000,000 feet of lumber would be
required to build BOO ships on the Pa
cific Coast, and if 200 ships were built
on the Willamette and Columbia rivers
600,000.000 feet would be needed, while
he said there should also be on hand
1,000,000 feet of asst d material and
25.000 ship knees. . Mills should start
cutting -t once, Mr. Donald advocated,
so the material could be assembled and
alr-drled. to facilitate which he suggest
ed that land be rented or leased on the
river in South Portland or the old fair
ground property, where the lumber
could be stored and graded by the in
spection bureau of th5 w est Coast
Lumbermen's Association.
Mr. Donald favored a fund being
made available with which to handle
the material storage, and that it be
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 2.)
I.'.
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