Morning Oregonian., November 01, 1917, Image 1

r1 7
VOL. liVII. NO. 17,707.
PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, XOYEJI.BEK .1, 1917.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
PHONE STRIKE 15 ON,
THOUGH CALLED OFF
SCHOONER IN FAR
NORTH DISAPPEARS
CHALLENGE HUHLfO
BACK IHlhI fLE
BANK CLEARINGS
LARGEST KNOWN
120,000 ITALIANS
MADE PRISONERS
AMERICAN TROOPS
WAR TAX BECOMES
OPERATIVE TODAY
EAGER FOR FRAY
AVHITE BEAR, WITH FOUR MES
ABOARD, BLOWS TO SEA.
BONDS, WHEAT . MOVEMENTS
AND HIGH PRICES COMBISE.
MUCH AERIAL WORK REPORTED
AT CAMP IX FRANCE.
federal Mediator's Ef
j. forts Fail in Part.
IPORTLAND GIRLS WALK OUT
'Seattle, Tacoma and North
! Yakima Operators Quit.
SPOKANE SITUATION BAD
ilos Angeles Workers Reported to
! Have Won Wage Increase and
! . Arbitration Point, but Offi-
i
' (. clals Deny Rumor.
j' Telephone operators In Portland,
I Beattle and Tacoma went on strike last
.night. Similar action In San Fran
j Cisco was halted pending efforts of
f Federal Arbitrator Reed to bring the
j opposing: factions together, while In
( los Angeles, It was announced by
I union men that a message had been
received from their San Francisco dele
irate stating that the company had
! granted a wage increase and agreed to
i arbitrate other Issues, thus preventing
a. strike In Los Angeles,
j At a late hour it was announced that
; the Spokane operators had received no
instructions to postpone the strike and
i that they probably would go out before
morning. ,
j Vote JTere TTnanimooa.
i Union delegates to the conference at
I Ban Francisco, other union leaders and
I officials of the Pacific Telephone &
i Telegraph Company denied knowledge
of the Los Angeles compromise. Verner
Z. Reed, , Federal mediator, would go
no further than to say that, while he
knew nothing of any such offer, he
had on his own account made certain
tentative proposals that had not yet
been approved by the company.
vote iere last night. It was said,
i was unanimously ' in favor of a strike,
I follbwing a telegram from L. C. Grass-'-er,
vice-president of the International
!. Jirotherhood ot Electrical Workers,
from San Francisco, saying that the
1 girls will be treated on the same basis
as the men. .This was hold to be too
indefinite. -
The union forces are estimated at
S00. while it is said that about 200 op
erators do not belong to the union. The
Portland exchanges will be at least
80 per cent closed, it was said.
Appeal Fall on Deaf Kara.
Telephone girls in Tacoma were re
ported undecided. They said they were
on strike, but had received a message
from San Francisco reporting that
Commissioner Reed had recognized
their union. Another meeting was
called for late tonight.
North Yakima operators followed the
Seattle lead. The union officials claim
that 44 of the 50 operators there are
on strike.
The action of the Seattle girls came
in spite of a telegram from San Fran
cisco asking them not to strike. It is
reported, that there are a few opera
tors at work there and that arrange
ments have been made to house and
feed them at the exchanges.
SAX FRANCISCO, Oct. 31 The
threatened strike of electrical workers
and exchange operators of the Pacific
Telephone & Telegraph Company has
been deferred until such time as Verner
Y.. Reed, Federal labor mediator, or the
full mediation commission named by
President Wilson, may thoroughly in
vestigate the points at issue and ren
der a decision, according to an official
statement Issued tonight by Mr. Reed.
c ; Full Inquiry Provided.
The written statement given out af
ter the first day's conference between
Mr. Reed and representatives of the
telephone company, the electricians and
the girl operators, follows:
"At the request of Verner Z.- Reed,
member ot the Presidents mediation
commission, directed to the officers of
the International Brotherhood of Elec
trical Workers, which request was that
without annulling the strike vote the
Mrio ucicneu until sucn ttme as
Commissioner Reed, or the full com
mission, could thoroughly investigate
the points at issue and render its de
cislon, the strike has been deferred.
X'nlom Leaders Silent.
Representatives of the unions in
volved declined to make any statement
whatever. L. C. Grasser. vice-president
of the International Brotherhood, and
John Morgenthaler. president of the
Pacific district council of that body
said that all that was to be made pub
lic was embodied in Mr. Reed'a state
ment.'
When Mr. Reed was asked what con
cessions had been made either by the
(government, the company, or the em'
pioyes. ne would say nothing more
than that the deferring of the strike
had been granted upon the request for
further time in which to study the
issues.'
Conference Lasts Seven Houra.
Today's conference began in the aft'
ernoon,' and lasted continuously for
about seven hours. It will reconvene
tomorrow forenoon.
Among the electrical workers In the
conference, besides, -the leaders men'
tioned, were C. D. Mull, of San Fran
cisco; W. F. D Laney, of Seattle, and
F. J. Rohde, . general organizer, of
Springfield, 111.- The representatives of
the telephone girls, recently unionized
were Slits Lilly Schunke, of Statu
(Concluded on Pago 5. Column 1.)
Tus Seized by Nome Citizens Sets
Out Through lee. in Search of
Missing Vessel.
NOME, Oct. 31. The power schooner
White Bear, carrying a crew of three,
one passenger and a shipment of bul
lion, was blown to sea by a north gale
Sunday while en route from Solomon
to Nome and has not been heard from
since. A committee of Nome citizens
today seized the lighterage tug
Genevieve and set out through the
drifting ice in an effort to find the
White Bear.
As the White Bear carried no extra
fuel or food and as the weather over
Bering Sea Is Intensely cold. It is
feared here that all aboard have been
lost.
The Genevieve was seized today afVer
its owners had refused permission to
the captain of the coast guard crew to
allow him to take the tug to sea. Last
night a. mass meeting of citizens was
held at which money was subscribed
to outfit the Genevieve.
LEG BROKEN IN CLASS MIX
Philomath Faculty Calls Halt
Scraps After Accident.
to
PHILOMATH COLLEGE, Philomath,
Or, Oct. 31. (Special.) A friendly inter-class
scrap now 'and then may be
all right, but when such things result
as students suffering broken legs, it's
time to call a halt. This was the deci
sion of the faculty today, following an
investigation of the injury of Robert
Ringland, an academy senior.
Seniors of the college and the acad
emy were having a Joint social Monday
night. Freshmen sought to break up
he gathering and in the friendly set-to
Ringland sustained a broken leg. He
was carried for a quarter of a mile on
an improvised stretcner.
His fellow students will pay the ex
penses of his enforced rest.
SUBMARINE TOLL LESSENS
Considerable Decrease In Sinkings
From Previous Week Jfoted.
LONDON, Oct. 31. Fourteen. British
merchantmen over 1600 tons were
sunk by mine, submarine in the last
week, according to the Admiralty re
port tonight.
Four vessels under 1600 tons were
also sunk but no fishing craft.
The British losses of merchantmen
for the current week show a consid
erable, decrease as compared with the
previous week, when 17 vessels -over
1600 tons and eight under-that ton
nage were sunk.
WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH
Mrs. Minor Hull Morris, victim,
Once Ejected From White House.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31. Mrs. Minor
Hull Morris, whose forcible ejection
from the White House during President
Roosevelt's first term created an up
roar of National proportions, was
burned to death today In the rooming
house where she lived.
No one seems to know, how it hap
pened. She was discovered wrapped
in flames.
OFFICIAL CANVASS NOV. 5
. V . , t . 1 T .. A nna. a.OTl V
at Least 100 0 Votes.
DES MOINES, la.. Oct. 31. The state
executive council has adjourned until
November 6.
If returns are complete, the council
will begin the canvass that day of the
vote cast in the recent election in Iowa
on the constitutional prohibition
amendment, which apparently was de
feated by a majority of at least 1000
votes.
SYMPHONY HEAD ASSAILED
Refusal to Play "Star-Spangled
Banner" Is Condemned.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., Oct. 31. Reso
lutions condemning the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra and Dr. Karl Muck,
conductor, "for his deliberately insult
ing attitude" in failing to play "The
Star-Spangled Banner" at a concert
last night after being requested to do
so by a number of women, were adopt
ed today by the Rhode Island Council
of Defense. ' '
HUNS ARE RAIDING LONDON
Aircraft in Relays Cross Channel
and Head for City.
LONDON, Nov. 1, Thursday. "Air
craft crossed the southwest coast in re
lays between 10:45 P. M. and 11:30
o'clock last night and proceeded toward
London," says an official communica
tlon just issued.
"The raid is proceeding," the state
ment adds.
MINT IS MAKING PENNIES
Denver Establishment Turns
600.000 Coppers Daily.
Out
DENVER. Oct. 31. From today until
some undetermined time in the future,
the Denver mint will turn out nothing
but pennies 600.000 of them a day-
to relieve the need for great numbers
of coppers caused by the war tax bill.
Major-General Denies
Trade Influence.
UNDERWORLD WOMEN WARNED
Reported Drive on Tacoma
Spurs. Police to Action.
SEATTLE MAYOR IS BLAMED
Major-General Greene Says He Is
Taking No Pare In Propaganda
of Tacoma Against Seattle in
Present Vice CrusaJe.
TACOMA, Wash.. Oct. 31. (Special.)
Major-General H. A. - Greene has
hurled a challenge back in Seattle's
face.
Denial that he is taking part in any
propaganda of Tacoma against Seattle;
that he has any Interest to which city
trade of the soldiers of his command
goes, came direct from him. He as
serted further that he will decline, if
asked, to give the names of the men
he believes is backing the vice ring in
that city.
This statement came in reply to in
quiries as to whether 1 e would accept
the challenge of the Seattle City Coun
cil to name the officials said to be con
niving at vice, and to the statement
made by Mayor Gill, "that he la tied to
the tall of a political kite."
Trade Combine Denied.
"I am not identified with any move
ment of Tacoma to secure the trade
of the Army post, nor with Dr. Mat
thews, of Seattle, or any other per
son in this matter," said Major-General
Greene. "I am simply gathering evl
dence for the bearing It has upon the
conduct of my command to guide my
own acts.
"Anyone who says otherwise is mis
representing, and knows bJ misrep
resenting. To the best ot my belief. It
is eisy to obtain the information that
the Seattle Council seems to want. The
power is theirs to get it.
More Evidence. Sought.
"I have no knowledge of any chal
lenge to produce evidence other than
accounts I have read in the newspapers.
If such a request is made upon me, I
shall consider it, but I do'not intend to
give it now. It Is too early in the
game for me to lay my cards on the
table. I have yet some things I want
to And out."
Advices that the alleged "vice ring'
In Seattle is planning a drive on Ta
coma, In which a hundred or more men
and women of the underworld would
swoop down on the city some night this
week, armed with whisky and a desire
for revenge, caused Chief of Police
Harry M. Smith to Issue orders to the
police today to keep a close watch for
(Concluded on Pas. 4. Column 3. )
SEEMS UNCLE
' "
'k jop ok my SHOW I TS I
Livestock Receipts In Portland 92 7
Carloads Wheat " Receipts Are
Twice Those of Year Ago.
The month of October, just closed.
was the largest in volume or. oapn.
clearings in the history of Portland.
Despite the fact that the shipyards
were closed during most of the month,
the total bank clearings for October
were $108. 442. 931. Largest previous
clearings for any one month were those
of October, 1916, when. they totaled
$79,605,393.
The liberty bond campaign and sub
sequent large cash payments througn
the banks had much to do with making
the big total. So did wheat movements,
the increased cost of commodities and
other factors.
Livestock receipts for the month at
the Portland Union Stockyards were
greater than for any previous month.
They totaled 927 carloads. This was
Increase of J24 carloads over re
ceipts in the best previous month, and
of 168 carloads over last October.
Wheat receipts in Portland for the
month were 1946 cars, more than twice
the receipts of last October, which to
taled only 896 cars.
Postal receipts climbed also. The es
timated total for the month is $112,000.
compared to $103,046.56 last October.
Postal Savings Bank deposits, on the
other hand, showed a decrease of about
$45,000 during the month. This. of
course, was due to withdrawals to
make liberty bond payments, which
was encouraged by the Postoffice De
partment. Building permits showed a material
Increase during October over those for
September. There were 327 permits is
sued during October involving a total
of $266,420. In September there were
265 permits, involving $184,285.
WILSON WELCOMES BRAZIL
President Sends Message . to New
Ally Against Germany.
WASHINGTON; Oct. 31. Upon Bra
zil's declaration of war against Ger
many, President Wilson sent this mes
sage to President Braz:
"Dr. Wenceslao Braz, President of
Brazil. Rio de Janeiro: Allow me in
speaking for the people and the Gov
ernment of the United States to say
with what genuine. pleasure and heart
felt welcome we have the association
with ourselves and the other nations
united in war with Germany of the
great republic of Brazil. Her action in
this time of crisis binds even closer the
bonds of friendship which already
united the two republics.
"WOODROW WILSON."
STEN0GRAPERS IN UNION
Tacoma Accountants and Bookkeep-
ers Start Organization.
TACOMA, Wash., Oct. 31. (Special.)
A union of Tacoma accountants, sten
ographers, bookkeepers and assistants
has Just been organized. The new
union already has a membership of 60.
Organization of these workers in Ta
coma is a part of the Nation-wide move
ment of the American Federation of
Labor to form unions In every city in
the country.
SAM'S CENSORING SIDE SHOWS ON
Increase in Losses on
Isonzo Reported.
HUNS GET THOUSAND GUNS
Engagements With Invading
Austro-Germans Continue.
ANOTHER STAND INTENDED
Many Details of Late Reverse With
held World Sow Realizes That
Action- Must Be Taken to
Defend Southern Front,
BERLIN. Tia London. Oct. 31. The
number of Italians made prisoners by
the Aust ro-German armies nas In
creased to over 120,000, says the offl
cial communication Issued this even
ing. The communication adds that
more than 1000 guns also have been
taken.
ROME, Oct. 31. There were various
hill and canal engagements between
the Italians and the Invading Austro
German troops yesterday, says the War
Office announcement today. The
Italian covering units and cavalry per
mitted the other troops to continue
their move towards their new line.
Some of the engagements occurred
on the hills of St. Danlele del Fruill
and others along the Ledra Canal, the
statement shows.
The town of St. Danlele del Fruill is
approximately 12' miles northwest of
Udine and only about 3 miles east
of the Tagliamento River, along which
it is believed the Italians intend to
make a stand.
(By the Associated Press.)'
ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTHERN ITALY. Tuesday, Oct. 30.
Everything for the moment has had to
yield to military necessities and this
will explain the lack of details which
can now be given .briefly concerning
one of the most momentous phases of
the war. The' supreme command has
no desire to keep the facts from Amer
ican, British or foreign public, but in
such a supreme moment its first con
sideration Is not to publish details
which may afford the enemy the slight
est clue either to what has occurred or
what is in store.
One of the commanding officers in
formed the correspondent that the pub
lie should be placed on guard against
reports which doubtless would spread
from scattered information. The fact Is,
those who have actually witnessed the
recent stupendous drama are extremely
few outside the military authorities
and all these witnesses, like the cor
respondent, are gladly respecting the
decision which the supreme command
feels the situation requires. Within
the narrow limitations, a few salient
facts can be glvei..
General Cadorna's bulletin has struck
Concluded on Part 2. Column 8.)
PUGET SOUND.
Artillery Action Continues, With
AYcather Somewhat Showery
and Much Colder.
(By the Aww'ftted Prpss.l
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Oct. 31. Conditions in the
sector in which the Americans are sta
tioned were normal today. The artil
lery work continued. The weather km
showery and much colder.
For the last two days there has been
considerable aerial observation; late
yesterday three German airplanes flew
over the American trenches.
So great Is the enthusiasm among the
Americans to go on patrol that the
French commander has ordered that
none of the higher grade officers per
form other than their regular duties.
It Is the duty of the Junior command
officers and the non-commlssloned offi
cers to go with patrols, but tbe offi
cers of higher rank, such as Majors,
were anxious to go out.
The quartermaster now has supplies
for several days within reach of the
American position as a precaution
against any transportation difficulties
with the bases.
CITIZENS HUNT FUGITIVES
Hundreds In Search for Murderer
and Companion.
MODESTO, Cal.. Oct. 31. Hundreds
of men were patrollng the country in
all directions from here tonight in
search of Maurice GofT. convicted of the
murder of Earl I'olley. who escaped
early today from the jail here in com
pany with John Hennion.
Bloodhounds have traced the fugl.
tlve to a point near the scene of the
Polley murder at Keyes. and the suppo-
tion of officials is that Goff took that
direction for the purpose of securing
$S00, alleged to have been the loot at
the time of the crime.
Goff was convicted on October 14 of
the murder of Karl I'olley, a bank
cashier in the village of Keyes. who
was murdered on June 20, and $SO0
stolen from the bank.
CLIFTON STRIKE SETTLED
Workers to Resume Places in Big
Copper Mines.
CLIFTON. Aris., Oct. 31. Final set
tlement of the strike of copper miners
the Clifton Morencl-Metcalf district.
which has been in progress sine July
1, was announced tonight by Secretary
of Labor William B. Wilson, chairman
of the Federal industrial commission in
vestigating labor conditions in the Ari
zona copper camps.
Approximately 7000 men are affected.
TEACHERS GET PAY RISE
Astoria School Directors Grant In
crease of $12.50 a Month.
ASTORIA. Or., Oct. 31. (Special.)
The City Board of School Directors de
cided today to increase the salaries of
all grade teachers and principals by
$12.50 a month, beginning December 1.
The salaries of the high school teach
ers were advanced from $90 to $100 a
month.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature, 66
decrees: minimum. 44 degrees.
TODAY'S Fair;- moderate southeasterly
-winds.
War. '
American soldiers In camp In France eager
for action. Page 1.
Germsns take 120,000 Italians prisoner.
Page 5.
Canadians gain important new ground on
' Flanders front. Pase 4.
Foreign.
HertMng's views on peace outlined. Page 2
New German Chancellor strong with Cath'
ollc party in Reichstag. Page 2.
National.
Hurley gives order to speed up shipbuilding.
Page 3.
Staple food now under Government control.
Page 7.
German agents' work aids food pledge cam
paign. Page lo.
lometic.
Railway men's demand for more pay pre
cipitates labor crisis. Pag. 3.
Elections to be held in several states No
vember 6. Page 4.
American Defense Society urrei declaration
of war on Austria-Hungary. Page 4.
Advance in wages of shipyard workers will
depend on living cost. Page
Phone girls strike in some cities, wait ac
tion in others. Page 1.
Schooner with four men aboard disappears
in Far .North. Page 1.
Sports.
Marines expect bard game with Oregon.
Pag. to.
Washington High eleven loses to Jefferson,
14 to O. Page 10.
Ritchie In city on wsy to Camp Lewis.
Page le.
Portland fans expect to see Beavers out of
Coast Leagu.. Page 17.
Pacific Northwest.
Major-General Greene hurls vice challenge
back In seams s xace. page l.
Charter stands In way of suggested car com
pany savings, report says. Page 9.
French officers arrive at Camp Lewis to
teach trench warfare. Page .
Commercial sod Marine.
Merchants Exchange adopts Chamber of
Commerce grain standards. Pag. 21.
Record receipts at Portland stockyards In
October. Pag. 21.
Losses In wall-street stocks are partially
recov.rea. rage -i.
Corn futures close . lower at Chicago.
Pag. 21.
Rose City encounters dense smoke on North
ern trip. Page 18. ,
Portland and Vicinity?
New war tax effective today.' Page 1.
Bank clearings ior uciouer largest ever
known. Page 1.
Many sign pledges or food conservation.
Page JO.
Inferno too realistic at "Y" Halloween
party. Pag. 7.
Cut in car service proposed. Page 22.
Beautiful decorations add brilliancy to ban
quet In honor of Japanese Emperor.
Page o.
Orpheum Theater to have occasional
Wednesday nignt snow. Page 8.
Prussianism threatens Western states. Co
lumbia prolesaor warns. Page 11.
Weather report, data and forecast. Page 2L
Rich and Poor Alike
Will Feel Burden.
rJGUM AND INCOMES INCLUDED
New Law Designed to Raise
$4,000,000,000 in Year.
SCOPE SURPRISINGLY WIDE
Penny Is Certain to Become Even
3Iore Popular Intent Is Not to
Lot Anyone Escape Sports and
Business Must Contribute.
Lightly upon some, heavily upon
others, but generally upon all, falls the
new Federal war tax which becomes
effective in most of its provisions today.
The new revenue bill is designed to
raise $4,000,000,000 during the fiscal
year to help pay the unusual and enor
mous expenses of the war. Judged
from the comprehensive scope of the
tax measure. It Is safe to assume it
will do all that is expected of it.
The Intent of the tax law is not to
let anyone escape; each must pay ac
cording either to his ability or his use
of taxable articles. These cover a
range that is astonishingly wide.
Stamp, and Income Covered.
It will be a shifty and crafty man.
Indeed, who can escape the revenue
law's provisions. It contemplates ex
penditures as trifling as those required
to effect the purchase of a postage
stamp or a box of sugar-coated pills.
On the other hand, the man who has
net Income of more than $1,000,000 a
year must hand over half of It to the
(Jovernment with the best grace he can
muster. -
One big, distinct feature, of the new
war tax is that it is certain to make
the copper cent piece even more popu
lar than it has so recently become. The
tax makes expenditure of many kinds
fall in odd cents.
In buying stamps to cover 3-cent
postage it will be difficult to make the
cost come out even. Extra coppers are
added in ever bo many purchases, and
railroad tickets, formerly sold for even
change throughout the West, will now,
with the added war tax, make heavy
demands upon the supply of copper
coinage.
Travelers Mill Do Their Share.
The traveler will do his full share
in helping raise current war revenues.
The war tax of 8 per cent Is added to
the regular price of every railway and
steamship ticket costing over 35 cents.
except in the case of commutation
tickets that cover a distance of not
over 30 miles.
Mileage and scrlpbooks. used by per
sistent travelers, such as commercial
men and others, which are partly used.
bought before November 1, are required
to pay 8 per cent of the cost of mileage
remaining unused after November 1.
Excess baggage of all classes, in
cluding that" of theatrical companies,
must pay an 8 per cent war tax, and
to sleeping car tickets, both standard
and tourist, and to parlor car reserva
tions is added 10 per cent of their cost
.21 Added to Jitw York Fare.
The traveler going to Salem today
will pay 12 cents war tax on his ticket,
costing $1.60. One buying transporta
tion for Medford. fare $9.90. will pay
79 cents more than would have been
required of him yesterday. A ticket to
Eugene, costing $3.60, has 29 cent
added to it by the new revenue law.
A ftrst-class ticket to San Francisev
by rail, costing $20, will have a war
tax of $1.60 added. If the traveler
elects to go on the Shasta Limited,
paying $5 additional for the privilege
he will be nicked 40 cents war tax Om
the $5 fee.
The fare to Chicago is $53.57. but
there is now an added war tax of
$4.69. A ticket to New York, first
class, costs $77.67. The war tax super
imposed upon that figure is $6.21.
r I'mlal Rates Be-glsi Tomorrow".
And so it goes throughout the whole
list. Railroad companies and steam
ship companies, too, are compiling
schedules that show the added costs,
and these lists are Interminable. Tlcke
agents for the railroads will do all the
collecting, and the railroads are as
sembling special auditing staffs to
make a complete accounting to the
Government. The carriers bear their
share of the war tax in standing all
the expense of this added work.
The stamp tax on letters and postal
cards will leave no one unscathed. On
letters the increase is 50 per cent and.
on postal cards 100 per cent. Letters,
commencing tomorrow, must bear 3
cents postage Instead of the usual
single likeness of George Washington.
Drop letters, delivered In the same city
where mailed, are excepted. Postal
cards must bear 2 cents in postage in
stead of the former 1 cent.
Aatos and Chewing Goa Inelnded.
It will cost more to be a sportsman
hereafter. Excise taxes are laid upon
golf balls, fish rods and reels and all
games, save children's games and toys,
to the amount of 3 per cent. This in
cludes automobiles, motorcycles, talk
ing machines and records. Jewelry, both,
real and imitation; baseball outfits,
footballs, playing cards and what' not.
A tax of 2 per cent Is laid upon cos
metics, pills, powders, lozenges, etc.
also on chewing gum. The taxes on
Coaludcu uu .i'age 4, Column 4