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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1917)
l$fJI VOL. L.VII. XO. 17,733, PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 23, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. PLOTS TO HOLD FORGOTTEN WINE SIDETRACKS WAR ROU3IAN1AX 3ILXISTER.. ASKS AMERICAN TO SAVE LIQUOR. TEUTONIC POWERS REPLY TO PONTIFF PRIESTS MUST GET WINE OF DRUGGIST HURLEY WASHES HIS HANDS OF STRIKE GENERAL BLISS TO BE CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL SCOTT TO SEE SERV ICE IX FRANCE. ARGENTINA HAY BE KAiSEB'S FOE TODAY MS BARED ATTORNEY-GENERAL . SAYS . AU DITOR CANNOT GIVE PERMIT. V Teutons Seek Influence to Avert War. BERNSMFF WOULD BRIBE State Department Traces In trigue From Foreign Lands to Washington Embassy. DUPLICITY IS SHOWN UP Ambassador's Note Proves Surprise at Receiving Pass ports Not Unfeigned. KAISER'S IXTRIGCE AND BLODEBS. Germany, through the then Foreign Secretary Zimmermann, plotted to align Mexico and Ja pan in war against the United States. She sought to Influence the Congress of the United States against war by expending a sum up to 150.000. She used the Swedish Minister at Buenos Aires as a means of communicating Count Luxburg's Insolent advice that all vessels be "spurlos versenkt." She used the Swedish diplomat Cronholm at Mexico City as her active messenger, and. according to a letter in American posses sion, also as a direct spy. She plotted through 'her ally. Austria, for destruction of muni tion plants in the United States. She tried to stir up a revolu tion In the Philippines by prom ising the Philippines white wom en in return for an uprising. WASHINGTON, Sept. 21. The American Government's publicity spot light revealing German intrigue in neutral lands turnea today upon the expenditure of money by the Berlin Foreign Office in an effort to influ ence Congress on the eve of the ruth less submarine campaign which drove the United States to war. Secretary Lansing made public without comment the text of a mes sage sent by Count von Bernstorff to Berlin last January asking authority to use $50,000 to influence Congress through an organization which the Foreign Office was reminded had per formed similar service before. Peace Societies Suspected. To supplement this move Von Bernstorff suggested an official dec laration in favor of Ireland for its ef fect here. The organization to be em ployed was not named in the message, and Mr. Lansing did not discuss its identity. It was freely suggested among other officials, however, that it was one of the various societies which flooded members of the House and Senate with peace messages when President Wilson was asking that a state of war be recognized. Berlin Directly in Charge. This disclosure adds another chap ter to the amazing story begun with publication of the famous Zimmer mann note, in which Germany pro posed an alliance with Mexico and Japan against the United States and which has included the German Swedish breaches of neutrality in Ar gentine and Mexico. It connects the German government and Count von Bernstorff directly and conclusively with machinations which the American public had assumed was a part of the world-wide Teuton in trigue, but which many people firmly believed were carried on or financed in this country by German-Americans without actual authority from Berlin. Congressmen Are Indignant. Little surprise was occasioned either in official circles or at the Capitol, although members of Congress were highly indignant. There was some talk at the Capitol of demanding an Investigation, and Senator Overman, chairman of the Senate lobby com mittee, and Representative Flood, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, arranged to go to the State Department tomorrow and ask for further information. On the floor of the House Repre sentative Heflin, of Alabama, asserted that he could name 13 or 14 members of the two branches of Congress who Coac:ui4 ea Fax 2, Column . Paper Complains That Thoughts of Cabinet Member Devoted More to Saving Cellar Than City. AMSTERDAM. Sept. 21. A telegram received here lrom the 'Wolff Bureau, the German semi-official news agency, quotes the Bucharest newspaper Lu mlna as complaining bitterly against Take Jonescu, the Roumanian states man, for urging his country to enter the war. The paper publishes a tele gram sent by Jonescu from Jassy, De cember 17, 1916. and addressed to American .Minister Voplcka at Buchar est, which reads: "I forgot to tell, you. In the cellar of my house there are several bottles of bock. Even if you have to smash the lock, please take the wine and drink my health. Many thanks. (Signed) Take Jonescu." The Lumina' adds: "When the fate of Bucharest was sealed and the King and the government were preparing to flee. Jonescu had nothing better to think of than his wine cellar. It is an example of the boundless frivolity with which he hurled us into war. FARMERS-ASK EXEMPTION Protest Will Be Laid Before Presi dent Next Monday. WASHINGTON, Sept. 21. A protest against drafting of farm laborers for the Army will be laid before President Wilson Monday by a delegatlo of farmers and representatives organized by the Federal board of farm organi zations. Reports will be presented, it is said, stating that local and district boards have exempted few of the farmers necessary for maintenance of the agri cultural Industry and that unless this policy is modified, food production will be curtailed seriously next year. BUTTE. Mont., Sept. 21. Aliens resid ing in this city, several hundred of whom have been included in the draft by the city exemption board, which refused to allow exemptions on the ground of foreign citizenship, today petitioned President Wilson to inter cede on their behalf. WHEAT SHIPMENTS URGED Minneapolis 31111s Hope to Overcome Shortage of Grain. MINNEAPOLIS. Sept. 21. Eight thousand letters from local grain men, urging prompt shipment of Spring wheat today were being delivered to shippers in all parts of the North west as a result of the meeting yesterr day between Prank L. Carey, repre senting the Federal food administra tion and Minneapolis dealers. Wheat receipts continue to improve, 276 cars arriving today as compared with 296 a year ago. Local flour mills now are operating at more than 71 per cent of their capacity it was an nounced. BIGGER LOAF WILL WAIT Increase in Size Is Not Expected Be fore Octiber 1. That there will be no increase in the size of a loaf of bread before Octo ber 1 was the opinion advanced by H. K. Rittmann. president of the Log Cabin Baking Company, yesterday. It Is probable that the loaf will be slightly increased shortly after that time, or as soon as the quotations on new flour are ascertained. The Master Bakers' Association will hold a meeting some time next week to make a survey of the future flour situation and it is likely that the ques tion of increasing the size of the loaf will be taken up at that time. BONDS ARE AT PREMIUM Liberty Issue Quoted at 100.02 in Xfw York Market. NEW YORK. Sept. 21. For the first time since liberty bonds were listed on the Stock Exchange in June, when the securities sold at a slight premium during the initial week of their offer ing, they went above par today, reach ing 100.02 on small transactions. After the sale of two blocks of JiOO.OOO each and one of $513,000. the securities rose to a premium. Trading in the bonds was active. BAKERS MAKE NO CHANGE Federal Plan for Control of Food Prices Is Awaited. CHICAGO, Sept. 21. Members of the National Association of Master Makers, in closing .their 20th annual meeting here today, announced that no action fixing the price of bread would be taken until after the Federal Govern ment has formulated a definite plan for the control of food prices. CREDITS BILL UP TO WILSON Measure Provides for Issuance of $11,000,000,000 In Nation's Paper. WASHINGTON. Sept. 21. The 11-billion-dollar war credits bill confer ence report was adopted today by the House and the measure sent to the Vhite House for the President's sig nature. The Senate acted yesterday. Austria Is Ready for Disarmament. FREEDOM OF SEAS DESIRED Charles Accepts Plan of Com pulsory Arbitration. KAISER HOPES FOR PEACE Note Relates Keen Interest of Em peror In Pope's Efforts and Evinces "Lively Desire" Na tions May Heed Appeal. AMSTERDAM. Sept. 21. Peace would come from the recent proposals of Pope Benedict if the belligerent nations would enter Into nesotlations in the sense of the pontiffs suggestion. Em peror Charles, of Austria-Hungary, says in his reply to the Vatican note. The reply of the German Kaiser, made public at the same tinle. "cher ishes a lively desire" that the Pope's appeal may .meet with success. The reply says that the effort of the Pope to pave the way to an under standing might most surely be reck oned to have a sympathetic reception from the whole-hearted support of the German Emperor, since he has regard ed it as his principal and most sacred task to preserve the blessings of peace for the German people of the world. Basis for jvesrotlatton Sert. Emperor Charles sees in the Pope's peace plan a suitable basis for start ing negotiation toward a just and last ing peace and expresses the hope that the nations opposing his own may be animated by the same idea. The Austrian reply was -handed to Mon&ignor T. Valfre dl Bonjo, the papal nuncio at Vienna, on Thursday. The Austrian Emperor admits that the future arrangements of the world must be based on the elimination ' of armed force and on the rule of Inter national justice and legality. " Austria Favors Arbitration. Austria Is prepared, the reply states, to enter into negotiations for the sub mission of international disputes to compulsory arbitration. The Pope's idea of negotiations be tween the belligerents, for an under standing for simultaneous and recipro cal reduction of armaments on land and sea and in the air by which the high seas, which rightfully belonsr to all nations, will be opened equally to the use of all. is supported by Emperor Charles. Freedom of the seas is one of the peace hopes of Emperor Charles, in order that heavy material burdens could be taken from the nations of the earth and new sources of prosperity opened to them. Austria-Hungary's ruler received the (Conluded on Pm?e 6. Column 1.) HOW BERNSTORFF Apothecary Is Only Person "Who May . Import . Liquor for Any Pur pose, Opinion Asserts. OLYMPIA, Wash.. Sept. 21. (Spe cial.) In reply to a Question from the Prosecuting Attorney from Benton, Attorney-General' Tanner today ruled that priests and clergymen cannot, under the Reed law, obtain permits from County Auditors to import alco holic liquor for sacramental purposes into the state. They may, however, obtain It from druggists. If this opinion is sustained it makes a registered druggist the only person who can import intoxicating liquor. He may sell it for sacramental, medical, mechanical or scientific pur poses. Although the bone-dry law passed last Winter is suspended by referen dum, the Attorney-General holds the permit system of the initiative prohibi tion law to be eliminated by the Reed law. LIBEL CHARGE DISMISSED Grand . Jury, However, Raps Pub lisher of Offensive Matter. ASTORIA, Or., Sept 21. (Special.) The Circuit Court grand jury has re turned a not true bill in the case against J. S. Dellinger, who was charged with libel for publishing an article criticising the actions, of the Port of Astoria Commission. In its report the grand jury commended the Port Commission on the excellence of the dock and grain elevator which it had constructed with ' the county's money. The report suggests that taxpayers ''should visit the docks before making criticism." SPOUSE TOO INDUSTRIOUS Wife in Divorce Suit Complains Husband "Is Demon for Work." ABERDEEN. Wash., Sept. 21. (Spe cial.) Mrs. Ruth H. Strasser has asked for a divorce from her. husband. James W., on the ground that he is a demon for work. She says he does nothing but work and apparently is interested in nothing but accumulating property. Mrs. Strasser alleges, that her. hus band works from 14 to 16 hours a day himself, including Sundays, and that he wanted her to do likewise sd ihatJ he even complawted-of the ooiir took off to teach Sunday school. DR. FRED C. AYER RESIGNS Oregon Professor Accepts Cliair of Sociology at Washington. EUGENE, Or., Sept. 21. President Campbell, the University of Oregon, today announced that Dr. Fred C. Ayer. for five years professor of the school of education, had accepted the chair in educational sociology at the University of Washington. Dr. Ayer has been prominent in the educational circles of the state. President Campbell said that the se lection of Professor Ayer's successor had not been determined. WOULD KEEP THE UNITED STATES T Hope of Settlement in Shipyards Given Up. WAGES WILL NOT EE FIXED Whole Trouble Goes Back to Men and Operators. DELEGATIONS GO HOME Only Hope Is That Secretary Wil son Can Reach Agreement With Men Bidding for Labor May Be Prevented Hereafter. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, Sept. 21. "We have said good by to the shipbuilders of Portland and Seattle, and to the representatives of labor on the shipyards of these cities; we came to no settlement or agreement with them; there is nothing more we can do. They must settle their dif ferences among themselves." In this way Chairman Hurley of the Shipping Board today summarized the results of abortive conferences that have been' in progress In Washington for more than a week. What the ulti mate outcome of wage hours and union disputes will be in the Northwestern cities he did not attempt to prophesy, but he expressed the greatest confi dence in Secretary of Labor Wilson, who is to visit all-the Coast cities as head of the newly created committee appointed yesterday. Issue in Mr. Wilson's Hands. Mr. Hurley expects Secretary Wilson to do much on the Coast to bring about an understanding between the ship builders and their men. Mr. Hurley himself has abandoned the idea of go ing, so far as the existing controversy Is concerned. Mr. Hurley said emphatically that the Shipping Board will not attempt to fix a scale in the Pacific Coast or any other shipyards; it will not dic tate, as to the hours of labor, nor will t mie WfcyAoaiii) eiWr. agftoiL.na. or closed shops. These matters," he. ex plained, must be settled by the yards in agreement with their men.'; The Shipping Board will keep hands off. Bidding: for Men Must Stop. After an extended talk with General Manager. Rodgers, of the Skinner & Eddy yard at Seattle, Mr. Hurley de clared that the great need in this coun try is for a complete understanding which would put an end to the prac tice of enticing labor from one yard to another, either by offering of higher wages, more attractive hours and other means designed to bring about piratical competition. Settlement Effort Begun. SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 21. Gavin SicNab, San Francisco attorney ap- (Concluded on Page 2. Column 3.) OUT OF THE WAR. New Head of Army Is Expected to Remain in Office Some Time After Age of Retirement. WASHINGTON. Sept. 21. Major General Tasker H. Bliss today was named chief of staff .of the Army to succeed Major-General Hugh L. Scott who retires from office tomorrow. General Scott, who is 64 years old, has reached the age of retirement, but he immediately will - be recalled to active service. Secretary Baker said that for the present the General would be assigned to duty in connection with the training of the troops in the United States, but would not specify the com mand. General Bliss will reach the age of retirement on December 31 next, but before bis appointment there were in timations that he would remain as chief of staff for at least those three months.. When the American forces be gin to reach France in large numbers, however, the strain on the chief of staff will become so great that a younger officer may be called. General Scott's assignment to duty in connection with - the training of troops, it is believed, will be followed later by his appointment to field com mand, possibly a division at the front. He has eagerly sought such a command. FARMER IS RESERVIST Kansas German Put in Guardhouse for Refusing to Don Uniform. CAMP FUNSTON, Junction City, Kan, , Sept. 21. P. H. Schleimann, a German farmer from Casper County, Nebraska, and a member of the quota of that county, was placed in the guardhouse today because he refused to don a uniform. Schleimann said he was a German reservist and had never been natural ized. . MOO WING WANTS TO FIGHT Drafted Celestial Says He- Doesn't Want to Cook. - TACOMA. Wash.. Sept. 21 (Special.) Moo Wing,, a Chinese farmer drafted from Clarke County, will take his fight ing in the trenches. He does not know how to cook and does not want to. Moo was born in Oregon 29 years ago and arrived at Camp Lewis yesterday. AMEfHCAN-NQTES-STOPPED Ejnbassy at Constantinople Xot AN lowed to Use Cipher. COPENHAGEN, Sept. 21. The Frankfurter Zeituns; says that the Swedish embassy, which has taken over the affairs of the American embassy at Constantinople, has been ordered to cease the transmission of cipher mes sages to America. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature. 62 degrees; minimum, 01 degrees. TODAY'S Unsettled, probably showers; moderate winds, mostly southwesterly. War. Bernstorffa plot to use German money to Influence Congress revealed. Page 1. Congress resents implication of bribe In Bernstorff expose. Page 2. Austria ready to negotiate for International arbitration and for simultaneous dis armament. Page 1. German defenses are tactical error. Page 3. Foreign. Roumanian Minister postpones war plans until his wine cellar Is saved. Page 1. Gerard sums up in final article deeds of autocracy. Page 5. M. Tcheremisoff made chief of Russian staff, supplanting Alexieff. page 4 Argentina expected to declare war on Ger many today. Page 1. Grandmother of revolution is optimistic. Page 3. National. General Bliss is made Chief -of -Staff. Page 1. Mr. Hurley washes his hands of whole ship yard trouble. Page 1. Viscount Ishll exposes German plots to bring war between America and Japan. Page 14. Domestic Y. M. C. A. war budget calls for $35,000,000. N Page 9 Business men's war council urges centralized buying for nation and Government price, fixing. Page 4. Sports. Pacific Coast League results: Portland 3, Oakland 2; Salt Lake S, San Francisco 2; Vernon 10, Los Angeles 2. Page 8. Entries for State Fair races close. Page S. Multnomah Club eleven haa good prospects. Page &. White Sox fans rejoice over cinching of pen nant. Page S. Pacific Northwest. Attorney-General holds druggist is only person who may import liquor. Page 1. Judge Pack wood, last of signers of state Constitution, dead. Page X All roads lead to Pendleton. Page T. Wells Jury disagrees In Seattle. Page 7. Annual conference of the Oregon Methodist piscopal Church opens at Spring Held next Tuesday. Page 9. Commercial and Marine. Small increase In domestic wool production this year. Page 17. , Copper shares stimulated by fixing of metal prices. Page 17. Shipyards strikers call union mass meeting for Auditorium for tomorrow night. Page 14. Portland and Vicinity. Portland rentals declared too low. Page 18. D. D. Clarke resigns as chief engineer of water department. Page 6. Northwestern millers and grain dealers con fer on wheat and flour prices and market problems. Page 13. Mystery of rotting onions reveals great boot legging scheme. Page 12. Movement of drafted troops from South and East to American Lake continues heavy. Page 4. Miss Annie Smith Peck, world-famous moun tain climber, is visitor. Page 12. Rain welcomes California conscripts bound for Camp Lewis. Page 4. Dairymen say cows responsible for high cost of milk. Page 14. Testimony now being taken relative to freight rates on bumpier Valley Kailway. Page 5- Portland electrician employed by telephone company vote for strike, belief of of Ion officials. Page . Weather report, data and forecast. Page 14, Declaration of War Is Expected by Capital. TROOPS WOULD GO TO EUROPE Emperor's Approval of Acts of Luxburg Causes Break. CHAMBER TO. HEAR REPORT Foreign Minister " Causes Postpone ment of Debate Because of Ad ditional News That He Will . Present to Houses Today. BUENOS AIRES, . Sept. 1 21. Th Chamber of Deputies late today post poned until tomorrow discussion of the crisis with Germany caused by the unfriendly action ot Count von Luxburg. the dismissed German Min ister. This postponement was taken after receipt of a statement from For eign Minister Pueyrredon that the gov ernment had received new information which he will present to Congress to morrow. . It was announced that the govern ment was prepared to take grave and rapid measures, in view of certain new developments. Declaration Today Expected. A high government official declared that these measures probably would Include an Immediate declaration of war against Germany, to be followed by the dispatch of troops to Europe. News that Emperor William had ex pressed approval of the loyalty dis played by Count von Luxburg, the dis missed German Minister, was received here just before the opening of debate In the Chamber of Deputies today on the reso' ition declaring for a rupture of relations between Argentina and Germany. Early Approval Predicted., ' This was looked on in some quarters as likely to hasten materially the de cision in favor of a break. : Early ap proval of the resolution was predicted. " SAlTjOSE, C. R., Sept. 31. The Costa Rica government, by an official account this evening, severed diplomatic rela tions with Germany. Passports were handed to the diplomatic and consular representatives of Germany here to night and the Costa Rican legation, and consuls in Germany were recalled. People Approve Action. The people and the newspapers strongly approved of the government's action. A dispatch from San Jose September 17 said that diplomatic relations be tween Costa Rica and Germany were considered severed because President Tinoco had discovered that German res idents had joined with the followers of ex-President Gonzalez in conspiring against the government. The advice added that, all German residents in Costa Rican ports bad been ordered in terned and that the President ' had called Congress in special session to consider the situation. ATTENTIVE FRIEND LOSES Seattle Man Restrained From Speak ing to Another's Wife. SEATTLE, Wash., Sept. 21. Superior Judge Kenneth Mackintosh today is sued an injunction order restraining Emil Lemon from paying any attention to Mrs. Hattie Mervyn, wife- of Robert Mervyn. Lemon is cited to show cause why he should not be enjoined perma nently from writing or speaking to Mrs. Mervyn, or In any manner, either by word, letter, writing, sign or sym bol communicating with her or giving her presents or showing her attentions in any manner whatsoever. Mervyn says in his complaint that Lemon has been attentive to Mrs. Mer vyn for a long time and has taken her to dances, shows and to the bathing beaches. SENATOR MAY BE ARRESTED Minnesota to Investigate Alleged Seditious ITtterances. ST. PAUL. Minn., Sept. 21. Governor Burnn.uist announced tonight that if an official investigation of the alleged dis loyal statements made by Senator La Follette at the closing session of the-Non-Partisan League High Cost of Liv ing Conference here last night re veals that his remarks were seditious, the Minnesota public safety commis sion, of which the Governor is chair man, will ask for the Senator's arreat. PRESIDENT DENIES APPEAL' Washington Farmer Sought Exemp tion on Industrial Grounds. SPOKANE, "Wash., Sept. 21. Presi dent "Wilson has denied the appeal of Roy R. McKellips, of Mohler, Wash., the first person, it is said, to appeal to him for release from the Army draft, according to a telegram received by the district exemption board here to day. McKellips songht exemption on In dustrial grounds as a farmer.