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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1917)
VOL.. IVII. NO. 17,694. PORTLAND, OREGON, 'VEDNESUAY, AUGUST 8, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. KAISER HATED U. S. AT START OF WAR GERMANY DEMANDS GOLD FROM SWISS SENATE WILL VOTE. Of FOOD BILL TODAY "KAISER" PAGE TO STAY IN SPELLER THIN COSSACK LINE HOLDS BACK PANIC SUSPICIOUS BLAZE GUTS WEISER YARDS FEW EXEMPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED LOAN" OF METAIi MONEY - RE QUIRED FOR COAL. ' CHICAGO BOARD DECLINES TO ORDER ELIMINATION. $5 0,000 EARLY MORXIXG FIRE HITS LUMBER PLANTS. American Ambassador in High Disfavor. AUDIENCES AT COURT REFUSED f Army Officers Who Come as Observers Insulted. NATION TREATED AS ENEMY Ambassador Gerard Taken by Back Stairways at Night to Confer With Von Tirpitz at Rooms In Navy Department. BT JAMES W. GERARD. American Ambassador to the German Im perial Court, July 28, 1913, to February 4, J.817. (Copyright. 1917. by the Public Ledger Company.) The Kaiser left Berlin on August 18 for the front. I wrote to his master of the household, saying that I wished an opportunity to "be art the railway station to say good-bye to the Em peror, but was put off on various ex cuses. Thereafter the Emperor virtual ly abandoned Berlin and lived either in Silesia, at Plessor some place near the western front. At first, following the precedent of the war of 1870. the more important members of the government followed the Kaiser to the front; even the Chan cellor and the Minister of Foreign Af fairs abandoned their offices in Berlin. Not long afterward, when it became apparent that the war must be carried on on several fronts and that it was not going to be the matter of a few weeks which the Germans had first supposed, these officials returned to their offices in Berlin. In the mean time, however, much, confusion had been caused by this rather ridiculous effort to follow the customs of the war of 1870. When Von Jagow, Minister of For eign Affairs, was absent at the grand general headquarters the diplomats re miiring "behind conducted their negoti ations with Zimmermann, who in turn had to transmit everything to the Great General Headquarters. V In August there were apparently rumors afloat in countries outside of Germany that prominent Socialists at the outbreak of the war had been shot. The State Department cabled me to find out whether there was any truth In these rumors,-with particular refer ence to Liebknecht and Rosa Luxem burg. ' Liebknecht's Visit to Embassy. Liebknecht Is a lawyer practicing in Berlin and so I telephoned him, asking him to come and see me. He did so, and, of course, by his presence verified the fact that he had not been executed. He told me that the rumors as to the treatment of the Socialists were en tirely unfounded, and said that he had no objection to my cabling a statement that the Socialists were opposed to czarisrrx and that he personally had confidence in the German army and the cause of the German people. Many persons confuse Liebknecht with his father, now dead. Liebknecht, the son, is a man of perhaps 43 years, with dark, bushy hair and mustache and wears eyeglasses; a man of medium height and not at all of strong build. In the numerous interruptions made by him during the debates in the Reichstag during the first year of the war his voice sounded hlga and shrill. Of course, any one who defies the heavy hand of autocracy must suffer from nervousness. We all knew that sooner or later autocracy would "get" Lieb knecht, and its opportunity came when he appeared in citizens' clothes at an attempted mass meeting at the 'Pots damerplatz. For the offense of appearing out of uniform after being called and mob ilized and for alleged incitement of the I people he was condemned for a long J term of Imprisonment. Liebknecht Has Future. One cannot but admire his courage. I believe that he earns his living by the practice of law before one of the minor courts. It is hard to say Just what role he will play In the future. It Is probable, when the Socialists set tle down after the war and think things over, that they will consider the leadership of Scheidemann has been too conservative, that he submitted too readily to the powers of autocracy and too easily ' abandoned the program of the Socialists. In that case. Liebknecht, perhaps, will be made leader of the So cialists, and it is within the bounds of probability that Scheidemann and cer tain of his party may become Liberals rather than Socialists. The rush of getting the Americans out of Germany was over in the Au tumn of 1914. The care of the British civilians was on a business basis, and there were comparatively few camps of prisoners of war. Absolutely tired by working every day until 12 at night. I went to Munich for a two weeks' rest. Germany announced on February 4, 1916, that on the coming February 18 the blockade of England through sub marines would commence. Negotiations Are Mysterious. Some very peculiar and mysterious negotiations thereafter 'ensued. An American, who was very intimate with (Concluded on Paso . Column LA Situation Believed by Washington Of ficial to Emphasize Stress in ' German Finances. WASHINGTON, Aug. 7. Confirmation has reached the State Department of the report that Germany has demanded a loan in gold from Switzerland in return for coal. In official circles here this is taken as emphasis to the stories of financial difficulties in which Ger many finds herself at present. Switzerland is resisting the demand and If it is pressed she is in far better shape than Holland or the Scandina vian countries to meet either military or economic aggression from Germany. Under present conditions Switzerland is dependent upon Germany for her coal, but it is believed that the allies may be able to meet her needs. GOULD . WILLING TO SERVE Capitalist's Son Thinks Perhaps Wife "Can Skimp Through." NEW YORK. Aug. 7. Klngdon Gould, of Lakewood, N. J., eldest son of George J. Gould, who claimed exemption when called before the draft board at Tom's River.' N. J., . yesterday, on the ground that he had dependents, explained to night that he probably would not stand on fhe .claim. His wife, a bride of only a. month, was willing for him to serve, he said. Mr. Gould explained that Us action before the exemption board was prompted by the fact that after he had passed the physical examination It was necessary for him to declare his inten tion of claiming exemption at once, and as he had not consulted his wife be adopted that course. "The only doubt In my mind was whether my wife could skimp through on my allowance," he said. 2 MEATLESS DAYS URGED Butchers Also Ask for Investigation of Fish Prices. MINNEAPOLIS. Aug. 7. A recom mendatoion that the sale of meat be prohibited throughout the United States on Tuesdays and Fridays was adopted and forwarded to Herbert Hoover, food administrator, by the United Master Butchers of America, meeting in annual convention today. . The "recommendation also suggested that the Government make an Investi gation Into the prices of fresh and frozen fisrw- which are declared to be unreasonably high. A law prohibiting slaughter -of young- animals and fowls also was urged.- -- INTERPRETERS IN DEMAND Western Department of -Army Or gunizing Censorship Division. SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 7. A corps of Interpreters consisting of 175' men able to read, write and speak English, French and German will be organized here Immediately, the censor for the Western Department of the Army an nounced today. All but 72 members of the organization will be commissioned The others 'will rank as noncommis sioned officers. . . 'Men who have seen service In the German and French armies and who are now citizens are particularly desired, it was said. President Honors First Drafted. WASHINGTON, D. C. Aug. 7. Harry C. Gilbert, of this city, the first drafted man to qualify in the National Army, has been appointed by President Wil son as a provisional Second-Lieutenant MEMBERS OF THE THREE DISTRICT BOARDS FOR OREGON WHO MET IN ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE YESTERDAY TO FORMULATE ,.,i.l .'H i..i.iiimtnii-i irwVurf mimmntn' ..aami. - ., r jm,' WJiSWlllMgsW ..j M dl $ V, li t V S.Ii' r ' : 1 ' ..is. . Y'V rr . ') , ; i u? - ' y - tuz 4 . t , -r-. , --'-7- r-- S ... i; "I- It, - i ' . . - - ' x--"-1 i A : i , , , igw i ; a utkc jAtii vvni fmm on Appeau rro K!g-l.t Sittlnic Lee M. Travis, "VaJ KoLTkendajlU Xr. rncit F TucUx. Approval of Conference Report Expected BIG MAJORITY IS LOOKED FOR Wadsworth Demands More Publicity of Expenditure. PARTYV LINES DENOUNCED Senator Williams Pleads for Patri otic Action Democrats Chief Op- -ponents of Adoption of Meas ure Asked by Administrations WASHINGTON, Aug. 7. After an other day's debate of the Administra tion food-control bill, the Senate late today reached a formal agreement by unanimous consent to vote tomorrow at 4 o'clock on tne conference report which was approved bv the House last week. Both advocates and opponents of the legislation said tonight there was no doubt of the Senate's approval of the conference report, probably by an over whelming, majority. Sending of the measure to President Wilson . for bis signature will be delayed until Friday, because the House adjourned today un til Friday, and the final draft must be signed by presiding officers of both houses. . Few Speeches Expected. - But few speeches are expected In the Senate' tomorrow before the vote. Ad ministration leaders predict that there will be less than a dozen votes in op position. Immediately after its dis position it is planned to adopt the con ference report on the first Adminis tration food bill, providing a food sur vey and appropriations to stimulate production. Little opposition is ex pected. Discussion today, in criticism of many features of the legislation and mostly by Senators who expect to vote for conferees' draft, apparently re sulted in conviction among the oppo nents that further discussion would achieve nothing. . 1 . More Publicity Advocated. The principal speech of the day was made by Senfetor Wadsworth. who said the good things in the bill outnum bered the bad ones, but protested elimi nation of the provision for a Congres sional committee to supervise war ex penditures . and predicted that the S2 minimum wheat price-fixing provision might not operate as its proponents believe. He urged co-operation be tween the legislative and administra tive branches of the Government and a greater degree of publicity of the conduct of the war. The New York Senator denounced the delay in enactment of the first food bill as a breaking of faith by the Gov ernment, with the people. . Coigreu Is In Dark. "Some power, some person or some in fluence prevented the enactment of the so-called food survey bill," he said. "We are told that the delay was a piece of clever legislative strategy. It may be , a piece of clever legislative strategy, but I say that in view of the promised word of the Government, it "oncluded on Page 8. Column- 2.) POHCY. m HuiinKa of jLocal boarui mm to bXfiuytionM and iliac h antes From Military Service tnder the Drafts Left to ter M. Pierce, M. Svarrerud, R. M. Flscaer Otto R. HartwJg, J. F. O'Conaell J D, Brown C, T Bacon Dr, AVUliam LcU to Eight. S tan dinar F. - S.-IvaAhoe N. K Weit Dai J. Halarjker . t . . . . School Directors, Appointed Recently by Mayor Thompson,' Control Ac tions of Educational Body.. CHICAGO, Aug. 7. A proposal to tear out of 130,000 public school spell ing books a page, entitled -"The Kaiser In the Making" was defeated, 7 to 3, at a meeting of the School Board today. . By a similar vote motion to""report to the Federal authorities the names of parents who refused to let, their chil dren eliminate the page with its com plimentary reference to the Kaiser was lost. - : --. The Board, hoiwer. granted a re quest of Superintendent of Schools Shoop to eliminate 0 pages,- Including the offending page, from 70,000 spellers still In the hands the Board. - The board is controlled by recent ap pointees of Mayor Thompson. " The le gality of its existence is being ques tioned In court by certain officers of the former board. CANADA'S COST IS FIGURED - - War-Expense $850,000 Daily With Total of $623,000,000. OTTAWA, Can., Aug. 7. Canada's war expenditures are now about $850, 000 a day, the total to July being $623, 000,000, according to figures made pub lic today. This sum Includes upkeep of Canadian troops In France, for which Canada owes Great Britain $272,000,000. Advances to the munitions board amount to $288,000,000, while $22,000,000 was spent for hay, cheese, flour, etc. Canada is supplying about $10,000,000 a month to buy cheese arid contributing $25,000,000 a month to ..the Imperial treasury for the purchase of munitions in Canada.- LIBERIA DECLARES WAR German Merchants to Be Interned, So United States Is Informed. WASHINGTON, Aug. 7. Liberia, the negro republic on -the coast of Africa, has declared war on Germany. Some time ago Liberia broke off diplomatic relations. The declaration of war now gives opportunity to Intern German merchants and others who have been accused of unneutral activities. The. United States was advised today of the little republic's action, w i i m i i ' POISON BOTTLET- EVIDENCE German Timekeeper Suspected of J t Plan to Poison Cattle. ' HONOLULU, T. H., July 81. (By Mail.) Max 'Webber, a German time keeper on a plantation on the Island of Maui, has been placed under arrest by Federal officers who had - been trail ing him for, some days. . In Webber's possession was found' a bottle labeled "poison." A chemical and bacteriological an alysis of Its contents was ordered There have been rumors of a plot to destroy cattle by scattering anthrax germs. $300,000,000 PAPER TAKEN Oversubscription Marks First Of fering Under Second Liberty Issue. WASHINGTON. Aug. 7. The Treas ury's offer of $300,000,000 in certificates of indebtedness maturing "November 15. first financing under the projected sec ond offering of liberty bonds, was largely oversubscribed when subscrip tions closed at 3 P. M. today. Eyewitness Tells of Rout of Russians. RETREAT TEACHES LESSON Holding of Soldiers' Councils Is. Proven Dangerous. NAME OF TRAITOR LEARNED Fifteenth Man,' Fearing Death, Tells Whoso Words Started Panic. Advancing Teutons Ten Miles Behind Retreating Russians. BY-ARNO DOSCH-FLEUROT. (Copyright, 1917. ' by Press Publshing Com pany. Published by arrangement with the New York World.) PETROGRAU. Aug. 7. (Special.) The vital force of the Russian army, even in, full retreat, is shown by an eyewitness of the Galiclan debacle, an officer of an allied country. His Judg ment Is that there still Is hope of fur ther activities by the army. "I went to the front line," he eald. "which was assigned-to the Seventh Army, accompanying a Russian Captain who had been sent to Investigate the report that the . trenches had been de serted while a soldier council debated whether the order called for enough men to fill them. I learned that Aus trians . had come into the trenches searching for the Russians, which ehows the state, of disorganization there was before the panic among the soldiers. Panic Seises Soldiers. ' "Suddenly we heard ' rumors that German cavalry had broken through and was surrounding us. Immediately a panic began in the Soldiers' Council. It was Impossible to prevent a rush to the rear. The men, knowing that the death penalty had been, abolished, had no fear of punishment for desertion. Almost before we realized it. the Rus sian Captain and I were left entirely alone In the Frenches. Seeking our automobile we found that the tavarish had seized it and gone." . The allied officer repeatedly referred to the soldiers as tavarish; which is Russian for comrade, which the soldier- fioclalists use ln'addressing one another. Equipment Thrown Away. "We ran for the main road, where we could see that a full retreat was on. The tavarish, leaving their materials and supplies, were crowding Into the motor trucks and heading to the rear. The Russian Captain with me, who was one of the bravest men I ever met, seized an automobile and raced ahead to cut off the masses mad with fear. It was awful to see an army throwing away its arms, coats and boots. "The roads were Jammed, so we cir cled the plains and got ahead of the rush. We Jumped In front of the first motor truck, -which was loaded with fully 100 tavarish. The Captain com manded them to halt, and when the tavarish tried to make the driver con tinue despite the order, the Captain leaped into the motor. Jerked the driver from his seat and flung hinf into a ditch. Captain Stops Rout. "Immediately the tavarish tumbled off in bunches. Others arriving were (Concluded on Page 4. Column 2. ) Incendiary - Charge Strengthened When Yad and Home Fires Start at Same Time. WEISER. Idaho, Aug. 7. (Special.) Weiser had a $50,000 fire at 1:30 o'clock this morning. The plant of the Gem State Lumber Company, valued at $25, 000; the plant of the Weiser Ice & Cold Storage Company, valued at $10,000; the office and yards of the Lyon Coal Com pany, Including eight cars of coal, valuation unknown, and 16 Ford cars were destroyed. There is a suspicion the fire was of an incendiary origin. Shortly after It broke out In the coal sheds, a barn In the rear of the resi dence of C. W. Hamilton, some distance away and in the opposite direction from which the wind was blowing, burst Into flames. The police have two suspicious characters who are being watched. Reports and rumors associating the 1. W. W. activity are being heard in con nection with the fires. BACKWARD TOTS TREATED Albany Teacher Pays Expense of Trip; Physician Operates Free. EUGENE, Or.. Aug. 7. (Special.) Mrs. Earl Miller, teacher In the public schools of Albany, brought four boys and a girl, pupils in her room who were backward in their lessons, to Eugene today for operations which she believes will make her duties as a teacher light er and be of great benefit to the health of the children, who had adenoids and tonsils removed. Mrs. Miller paid the expenses of the party to Eugene and a physician here performed ' the operations without charge. EX-PRESIDENT TAFT ILL . Lecture Trip Is Interrupted at Clay Center, Kan. CLAY CENTER, Kan.. Aug. 7. The condition of ex-President William H. Taft, who became 111 here last night, was announced by his physicians late today as improved. The physicians stated, however, that It was uncertain whether Mr. Taft would be able to resume his speaking schedule at Lin coln, Neb., tomdrrow. Mr. Taft was suddenly stricken last night following a speaking engager merit. The cause of the Indisposition was said to be' stomaoh trouble. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 71 degrees; minimum, 57 degrees. TODAY'S Fair; moderate northwesterly winds. Foreign. British Admiralty shaken up. Page 2. Germany demands loan of gold from Swiss. Page 1. Struggle between Von Kuehlmann and Helf ferich expected in Germany. Page 4. Berlin press lukewarm in welcoming new Ministers. Page 4. Wmr. .Kaiser hated America at start of great war says Mr. Gerard. Page 1. Thin Cossack line stops rout of Russians. Page 1. Russian gains few on eastern front. Page 4. British lines tighten about Lens. Page S. National. American Army units to be Page 2. reorganized. Senate votes at 4 o'clock today on confer ence report on food bill. Page 1. President asks haste in cost investigation. Page 5. West Coast shipping men fighting bill giv ing foreigners free rein.1 Page 16. Miss Rankin blames J. D. Ryan for strife la copper districts. Page 9. Mobilization plans for new Army being worked out. Page 3. Railroad profits Increase. Page 3. Domestic. Chicago School Board declines to order naiser page torn from spellers. Page 1. Joe Howard, bankrupt actor, owes money to 80 chorus girls. Page 8. Rich St. Louisan shot fatally and detectives seek woman. Page ' Apaches take warpath: Isolated Arizona mlnes menaced. Page 14. State opposes release of Mrs. DeSaulles on ground of serious illness. . Page 3. Sport. Pacific Coast League results: Salt Lake 2, Portland 1; Vernon 1, San Francisco 0; Oakland 4, Los Angeles 3. Page 15. California Engineers defeat Portland Field Hospital at baseball. Page 15. Bathing suit parade to be feature at Co lumbia Beach Saturday. Page 15. Sale of Shortstop Hollocher to Chicago Cubs to stand. Page 15. Pacific Northwest. Montana Governor receives threatening tele- grama from I. W. W. Page S. Portland bank successful bidder for state road bonds. Page S. Suspicious fire costs Weiser, Idaho, S50.000. Page L Rain aids crews to battle Idaho forest fires. Page tf. Fireworks injected in State Highway Board discussion of West Side route of Pacific Highway.- Page 6. Commercial and Marine. Early variety of hops advances to quarter on large sale. Page 19. Wheat firm at Chicago, with reports of dry weather damage in Canada. Page 19. . War stocks unsettled by talk of lower con tract prices to allies. Page 19. Last steamer, delayed by strike, resumes run. Page 16. Portland and Vicinity. Dollars for relief pile up at Italian fete. Page 14. Few exemptions will be granted in Oregon. Page 1. Mayor assured wood prices will not be in creased unnecessarily. Page SO. Breeder declares boycott on lamb is unfair. Fags 12. Forestry expert warns of Increased demand for lumber. Page 11. Realtors' special leaves at 1:30 for conven tion at Grays Harbor. Page 2. Judge Bean upheld In sentencing H. H. Kiaaen lor lana trauas. page 13. Lasting peace pact, involving all warring Chinese tongs, in prospect. Page 12. Five more accidents added to long list of and more are on way. Page 7. Three more accidents added to long list of two days. Page 14. I. W. W. curse Army in courtroom. Page T. Weather report, data and forecast. Page 19. "Come Out of the Kitchen" scores big hit at Heillg. Pag 14. Oregon Boards Insist on Best of Reasons. STRICTEST RULES ADOPTED Dependent Is One Who May Become Public Charge. PSEUD0 FARMERS WATCHED Industrial Claims Will Be Allowed Only if It Is Shown That Man Is Absolutely Essential to Conduct of Enterprise. If there is any doubt as to whether a man is entitled to exemption or dis charge from military service under the draft, that doubt, so far. as the three Oregon district exemption boards are concerned, will always be resolved against the applicant. This was one of several Important matters of policy decided at a meet ing held In the office of Adjutant-General George A. White yesterday by the members of the three district boards in the state. Resnilatlons Carefully Studied. These boards, which have head quarters at Portland, Eugene and La Grande, respectively, will pass on all case3 involving exemptions or dis charges that are appealed from the decisions of local exemption, boards. They also have direct Jurisdiction over all claims for exemption on the ground of employment in any neces sary industry, including agriculture. The boards outlined their policy only after going very carefully through the regulations, which were read word for word and throughly discussed to clear up any doubt as to their interpretation. Slackers to Have Trouble. They were unanimously of a mind to make it hard for any slacker or dodger, from military service who appears be fore them. To be perfectly blunt and frank about it, the boards will have a sharp ax ready at all times for gentle men who seek to avoid military serv ice without a legitimate reason. Moreover, even when the reason is legitimate. It must be an exceptionally good one. That was made clear in two resolutions adopted by the boards. One of these resolutions defines the policy of the boards in regard to de pendents. Dependency Mast' Be Clear. Here is the test each board will apply when called to pass on appeals from decisions of local boards on claims for exemption or discharge on the ground that the man sought to be exempted or discharged has a de pendent or dependents to support: "Resolved, That these district boards construe a dependent as one who might become a burden upon the community if the person upon whom he or she claims to be dependent was Inducted into the military establishment of the United States." If there is any doubt about it, the policy of the boards will be to deny the appeal and hold the man for mili tary service. Applicants Must Be Necessary. The other resolution relates to granting of discharges to persons claiming it on the ground of employ ment in a necessary industry, includ ing agriculture. Such claims cannot be considered by local boards, and must be made direct to the district boards. They can only be made, however, after the applicant has passed his physical examination and has been posted by the local board as called up for service and not ex empted or discharged. The resolution adopted by the dis trict boards relative to their policy In dealing with such claims follows: "Resolved, That these district boards will not discharge any person on the ground that he Is engaged in any ag ricultural or other exempted industry, unless such person Is necessary to the maintenance of such Industry and is regularly and continuously engaged in such industry as distinguished from an occasional or temporary employ ment therein." Regular Worker Favored. Under this policy, the man who works regularly and continuously as a farm hand, or as a ship carpenter, or as a munitions maker, and the like, who applies for discharge on the ground that his work is necessary In that industry, will receive thorough consideration. But the fly-by-night type of worker, and the man who feels . sudden call back to the soil about the time his turn comes in the draft will not. The boards will be especially on the watch for rich men's sons who desert the golf links and evince an interest in farm ing when they are due to be called. Newlyweds Also Watched. In any event, however, a man will not be discharged on industrial grounds unless it is clearly demonstrated to the board before which he appears that his employment is necessary to that in dustry. V The district boards likewise will keep a watchful eye on the newlywad .(Concluded on Page 13. Column 1.)