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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1917)
jj wmgmmm VOL. IVII. NO. 17,797. PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECE3IBER 6, 1917. PRICE FIVE CENTS. CONGRESS CLEARS DECK FDR ACTION War Resolution Passes Committee. CHICAGO NEW YEAR GAIETIES TO PASS MISS ALICE GRAM IS SOLDIER'S BRIDE AUSTRIA TO QUIT IF GRANTED INTEGRITY BURLESON WANTS TO CONTROL OF WIRES OPERATE SURPRISE BIBTTLOTJS ORGIES PROSCRIBED BECAUSE OP "WAR. PORTLAND GIRL QUITS HCXGER . STRIKE FOR ALTAR. POSTMASTER-GENERAL TO SEEK FEDERAL LEGISLATION. GOVERNMENT rflAY MAURICE GERMAN OWNS RAILWAYS PRESIDENT'S PLANS CARRY Measure Is Directed Against Austria Alone. 1 LITTLE DEBATE EXPECTED Consideration, by Both Houses May Begin Tomorrow and Overwhelm ing Favorable Vote Is Counted Certainty. TVASHTNGTON, Dec. 5. -- Congress cleared the way today f6r prompt re sponse to President Wilson's call for a declaration of war with Austria-Hungary. A Joint resolution, approved by the President and the State Depart ment, declaring existence of a state of war between the United States and the Austro - Hungarian government from today noon, was introduced in the House and unanimously approved by the. foreign affairs committee. It will be reported tomorrow for beginning of House debate on Friday, with final ac tion in the Senate late this week or early next week probably. Conforming to the President's rec ommendations, the resolution, which authorizes an ddlrects employment of the Nation's armed forces against Aus tria and pledges the country's re sources to victory, applied to Austria alone. Germany's other allies, Turkey' and Bulgaria, are not mentioned. No Dissenters In Committee As perfected by the Hoase committee and ordered reported without a dis senting vote, the resolution reads as follows: "Whereas, The Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarlan government has sev ered diplomatic relations with the Government of the United States of America and has committed acts of war against the Government and peo ple of the United States of America, among which are Its adherence to the policy of ruthless submarine warfare adopted by its ally, the Imperial Ger man government, with which the United States , of America . Is at war, and by giving to its ally active support and aid on both land and sea in prose cution of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America; therefore, be it "Resolved. By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America In Congress assembled. That a state of war be and is hereby declared to exist and to have existed since noon of the fifth day of Decem ber, 1917, between the United States of America and the Imperial and Royal Austim-Hungarian government, and that che President be and he is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the "United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hun garlan government, and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States." Senate to Act Friday. The Senate foreign relations commit tee will consider the .resolution Infor- ally tomorrow morning and Chairman Stone expects the committee to report to the Senate when It reconvenes Fri day. The Senate may on Friday begin consideration simultaneously with the House. Although sentiment remains strong in both branches of Congress to have the war declaration extended to Turkey and Bulgaria, approval of the resolu tion as it now stands is regarded as virtually certain. Senator Stone and Representative Flood conferred with Secretary Lan sing and it was understood to bo the Secretary's conviction that no circum stance yet warrants action against Turkey and Bulgaria. Some officials are still said to hope that German dom ination of her lesser t,ools may yet be broken. Ovrraktlnlnc Vote Expected. The arguments were so persuasive that in the two hours' deliberations to day of the Hoyse foreign affairs com mittee on the Austrian war resolution only one member. Representative Miller of Minnesota, who recently returned from the Western European war thea ter, voted to include Turkey and Bul garia in the resolution. On the final vote he joined with all others present in apprtving the Austrian document. The principal debate and strongest demand for addition of Turkey and Bulgaria to the Nation's formal foe is expected in the Senate. One day's de bate Is expected- to suffice in the House. Passage of the resolution by an overwhelming vote before adjourn ment of the House Friday is expected. Executive Departments Busy. While Congress is working on the actual declaration of war, the execu tive departments of the Government are setting in motion the machinery which will make the declaration ef fective. To official Washington the declara tion of war on Austria is secondary in interest to President Wilson's state ment of America's war aims. It Is con sidered at once" a reply to the peace ideas of the Marquis of Lansdowne and an announcement to the world that (.Concluded on Page 2, Column 2.J Mayor Thompson Determined to Put End to Fountain. Bathing and Other High Jinks. CHICAGO, Dec. 5. (Special.) Fur tive gay dogs and women who bounce into the limelight of New Year's eve and create enough scandal to keep the papers and public busy for a year are to remain in obscurity this year. Chicago rounders also will miss the spectacle of the somewhat "splfll cated" and breezy young female per son hanging by her slender ankles to the straps In crowded streetcars. The equally entertaining young lady who formerly took a bath In the fountain at the Pompelian room, will have her bath at home. Likewise the spritely women who danced on the tables and osculated promiscuously, which was not anything to write home about at best these also will find the lid clamped on hard and tight. Inquiry today developed that, the ho tels and restaurants, formerly scenes of doings that were talked about in awed whispers, are not making any preparations this year. Various reasons enter Into all this. First, of course, is the war and the fact that the public will not stand for dis graceful high Jinks when men are giv ing up their homes, money and lives to maintain the country. Mayor Thompson, who always has opposed the riotous New Year affair, has tightened the screws all along the line. ENGINEERS' RANKS OPEN Urgent Calls Sent Ont for Enlist ment of Millmen and Loggers. Urgent calls are being sent out by the Government for enlistment of mill- men and loggers to fill the ranks of the 20th Engineers Regiment, now forming and to be sent overseas as quickly as possible. The United States Forestry Service Is giving every: possi ble aid In attracting the recruits need ed in this division. Applicants may apply direct to the district forestry office. Beck building. Portland, or to forest supervisors at Eugene. Medford, Bend, Lakevlew, John Day, Baker, Prineville. Albany, Grants Pass, Pendleton, Roseburg and Wal Iowa, Oregon, and Chelan, Republic, Okanogan, Olympia. Tacoma, Seattle, Bellinghara, Walla Walla and Leaven worth, in the sttte of Washington. HUNS TO CONSCRIPT BOYS German Youths of Iff and 17 Years to Be Called Shortly. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 5. Intimations that Germany is planning to force boys of 16 and 17 years into the army are contained In an appeal appearing In the Essen General Anzeiger that they immediately Join the Juvenile corps. "This great struggle between the nations," says the newspaper, "will ne cessitate those who are now 16 and 17 being called up at no very remote date for army service." DRAFTED DENTIST OFFICER Nyssa Man Celebrates Promotion by Marrying Boise Girl. TACOMA, Wash., Dec. 5. (Special.) Thomas E. Cosgrove, a private draft ed from Nyssa, Or., and transferred to the Medical Reserve Corps, has been promoted to a First Lieutenancy. Cos- V grove Is a dentist. Lieutenant Cosgrove celebrated his promotion by marrying Miss Nettle Brlggs, of Boise, Idaho. His fellow members In the Medical Corps celebrat ed the wedding, which was held in the Hostess House, pelting him with rice. AUSTRIA FIGURES WAR COST Total so Far, In American Money, Nine Billion Dollars. AMSTERDAM. Dec. 5. Count Czer nin, the Austro-Hungarlan Foreign Minister, in discussing the budget with an Austrian delegation, said the cost of the war during the past three years has been 43,000,000.000 crowns ($8,711. 800.000), a Vienna dispatch today states. The budget for 1917-18, if the war lasted the entire budget year, he esti mated at 20,000,000,000 crowns ($4,052, 000,000). "STUPID" BOY PROVES SPY German Youth Found to Be Expert Telegrapher and Map Maker. NEW YORK, Dec. S Although he was a German subject, Eric Hoecker, a butcher boy, possessed an air of such profound stupidity that he was per mitted to call dally at Fort Totten in his rounds. Today he was interned on Ellis Is land after Army intelligence officers discovered that he had Important pa pers among his effects and that he was an expert telegrapher and mapmaker. RETAILER LOSES LICENSE Food Administration Issues First Cancellation Order; WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. The food ad ministration today Issued its first revo cation of a retail food dealer's license. Morris Singer, a produce dealer here, was charged and found guilty of per mitting two. carloads of potatoes to rot in the railroad yards. Federal Action Is Held Imperative. "NO TIME FOR TEMPORIZING" Interstate Commerce Commis sion Pleads for Carriers.- MEASURES ARE SUGGESTED Unification of Systems Must Be Permitted or-Federal Manage- ncnt Adopted Relief Is Declared Urgent. WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. Immediate action to effect National unification of the railroads, either by Government operation on by suspension for the war of anti-trust and anti-pooling laws, a Federal loan and regulation of security issues to permit more effective vol untary ao-operatlon, was recommended today by the Interstate Commerce Commission in a special report to Con gress. Neither plan was specifically In dorsed, but an Implication that the majority believed the railroads might successfully work out their own unifi cation, prompted Commissioner Mc Chord to submit a separate report, emphatically urging Government con trol, and saying "the strong arm of Government authority, is essential If the transportation situation is to be radically Improved." Any voluntary pooling plan would fail to meet war exigencies, he declared, because of the unavoidable influence of selfishness among roads. There was no disagreement as to the proposition that competition among railroads must be diminished, if not altogether eliminated, to prevent a se rious breakdown of transportation fa cilities under the war's strain. Rate Increase Inadequate. The railroad's own proposed solution for the difficulties an Increase In rates in order to attract capital was char acterized as entirely Inadequate by the Commission. Even with more funds, the report said, the shortage of equip ment could not be remedied materially because of the inability of industries to manufacture It. Doubt also was ex pressed whether sufficient capital would be attracted In view of the flo tation of such enormous quantities of Government war securities. These considerations led the Commis sion to what it considered an Inevit able conclusion that a high state of efficiency could be maintained for the railroads only by thorough co-operation, elimination of duplication of routes and other elements of expendi ture and energy and elimination of the economic waste which comes from com petition. This would mean, it was pointed out, a complete reconstruction of the policies under which railroads have been developed. Steps taken by the railroad war (Concluded on Page 5. Column 1.) THERE'S SOMETHING DOING EVERY MINUTE AT THE ALLIED RED CROSS BAZAAR. SHOP .L THA 'Tod" Hidden, University of Oregon Graduate, Sow at Camp Mills, Claims Militant Worker. Miss Alice Gram, Portland girl who sprang into the public spotlight a few weeks ago when she picketed, t"- White House, and went to ja trouble and "the cause," has bride. A sturdy young soldier, Charles (Tod) Hidden, of Portland, who has been stationed at Camp Mills. L. I., led her from a "hunger strike" to the altar, and the wedding was solemnized late last week at the home of Mr. Hidden's sister in Pennsylvania. The details of the wedding are being brought to . Portland as fast as the transcontinental mall train can click off the miles.- The eventful missive is expected today by Mrs. A.. P. Gram, 362 Larrabee street. . mother of the bride. The wedding followed immediately upon the release of Miss Gram from Jail In . Washington, where, with other picketers of the National Woman's party, she had been for several weeks, part of the time on a hunger strike. With her was her sister. Miss Myrtle (Betty). Gram, formerly a teacher in Portland, and a University 'of Oregon girl who has made the stage her career. Mrs. Hidden, with her sister, is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at University of Oregon. As Alice Gram she hurried to Washington sev eral weeks ago and was met there by her sister. On the first day of their actual- picketing they were arrested by the Capitol police. Mr. Hidden is the son of Mrs. W. S. Hidden, of Irvington. He also is a former University of Oregon man and a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. INDUSTRIAL WORKER JAILED Charge Against William Ford Not Divulged by Officers. TVilllam Ford, whose true name Is Bruno Koslowsky, a short time ago a conspicuous I. W. W. agitator, was ar rested again yesterday morning In the I. W. W. hall by Detectives Coleman and John Moloney at the request of Federal authorities. The reasons un derlying Ford's arrest were not made public. Ford was one of the first I. W. W. members taken into custody in Port- land when that society , was put under the ban by Federal authorities several months ago. At that time he was an L W. W. organizer. He was given a six months sentence in Municipal Court on a state charge of vagrancy, but ob tained his liberty on an appeal to the Circuit Court. MERRY CHRISTMAS IS SURE Nearly 600,000 Packages Mailed to Soldiers Abroad. NEW YORK, Dec. 5. Approximately 600.000 Christmas packages have been dispatched to American soldiers abroad as a result of the public's response to the country-wide campaign urging early mailing of gifts. It was reported tonight by the railroad's war board. Military and postal authorities have been deluged with parcels of varying size for several weeks, each having to be opened, examined and re-wrapped. Not a single parcel was rejected be cause of size and, although the limit had been placed at 20 pounds, many weighed 100 pounds. Guarantee Against Dis memberment Asked. .vra1' SETS -FORTH POSITION Plea Made for Peace With Russia by Monarch. THANKS GIVEN TO POPE Monarch Declares Nation Ready to Conclude Peace and Says Inter vention of . Pontiff Gives "Joyful Satisfaction." AMSTERDAM, Dec. 5. A dispatch re ceived here from Vienna quotes Em peror Charles, of Austro-Hungary, as saying In an address to an Austro Germaiudelegation that the dual mon archy is ready at any time to conclude peace that would guarantee the lnteg rity of the monarchy. He added, how ever, that his country would not cease fighting until its enemies renounced their intentions of dismembering It. "The glorious success of our armies and fleet," said Emperor Charles, "fill us with patriotic pride. After a glori ous defense of our position we are now, as before, ready at any time to conclude an honorable peace which guarantees the existence and. integrity of the mon archy. Pope's Iaterventlon Pleases. "Guided by this Idea, we greeted with Joyful satisfaction the noble minded intervention of the Pope and will In the future neglect no opportunity- to end as soon as possible the costly strugle and great sacrifice the war is causing. - . "In the spirit of these intentions our government has declared its readi ness to accept the Russian govern roent's invitation to- enter into nego tiations for a general peace. May the blessings of the .Almighty rest upon this work for peace and restore the peoples of Europe to a state of recon ciliation and mutual trust. . "The sorely tried Russian people may be sure that we sincerely desire to restore our former friendly relations with them. "On the other hand, we must regard It our sacred duty not to lay down the sword which plunder-seeking and ra pacious neighbors forced into our hands until our enemies unequivocally have disavowed their mad plans of dismem berment and oppression. "We will remain the masters in our own house. Our alliance with the Oer man empire has been gloriously strengthened by our victorious march southwest. The most cordial and fra ternal relations bind us to the progres slve Bulgarian people. I confidently hope a period of fresh prosperity and secure development awaits the closely allied Ottoman empire." VIENNA, via London. Dec. 6. The (Concluded on Paicr 2. Column 2.) Congress May Provide for Placing Telephone and Telegraph Lines Under Postal Department. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Dec. 5. Postmaster-General Burleson Is still desirous of taking con trol, as Government agent, of all tele graph and telephone systems In the United States, including' the Alaska telegraph and cable systems, now oper ated under the War Department. Now that the United States Is at war, Mr. Burleson thinks the argument In favor of Government ownership is stronger than ever, and his annual re port indicates his intention to go be fore Congress and ask authority to take over the wire communication sys tems and operate them as a part of the postal service. In his annual report Mr. Burleson says: 'The principle of Government own ership and control of telegraphs and telephones is practical and finds its greatest strength In the Constitution. That these utilities should be made part of the postal establishment has been . the opinion of practically all Postmasters-General of the United States who have had the welfare of the people at heart. This result can be accomplished only when they are made a part of the postal service and operated with a view to serving the public and not of making a profit. "In Alaska the telegraph and cable service Is under the control of the War Department. As the reasons why It should be under the control of that de partment no longer exist, the Secre tary of War has recommended its trans fer to this department. "Recent developments have made It all the more Imperative that Govern ment ownership of telegraphs and tele phones should no longer be delayed, and action by Congress in this matter is urgently recommended." WOMEN WILL REPLACE MEN War Conditions to Change Method of Handling Crop. PENDLETON. Or.. Dec. 5. (Special.) That women will be sent Into the fields to aid In next year's harvest was the opinion expressed by O. P. Hoff. State Labor Commissioner, In an address at the state convention of the Farmers' Union last night. He said where one man had gone from a com munity four would be gone by next season. L . Women and improved machinery must make up. the difference, he said. He will prepare a schedule of the num ber of acres in crop next season so as to adjust the labor supply in the best way possible. AVhltman Educator to Speak. Dr. S. B. L. Penrose, president of Whit man College. Walla Walla. Wash, will speak to former Whitman students and ex-Walla Walla people In the assembly room of the Portland Hotel tonight at 8 o'clock. The Whitman College Club of Portland desires all who have at tended the college to act as hosts and telephone to all Walla Walla people whom they may know. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. TESTERDAT'S Maximum temperature. 45 decrees; minimum. Si degrees. TODAY'S Probably rain: moderate south-m-esterly winds. War. Austrian KJng professes readiness to make peace If Integrity of monarchy Is guar anteed. Page 1. Austrians renew Italian drive. Page 2. Allied conference arranges to use all avail able ships to rush American troops to France. Page 2. Brussels residents greet German invaders with sullen silence, writes Hugh Gibson. Page 4. General Manrise owns up to surprise attack of Von 1-udendorff. Pago 1. House today is expected to pass Austrian war declaration. Pago 1. v Foreign. President's address Is well received In Great Britain. Page 2. National. Postmaster-General urges Government con. trl of telegraph and telephone systems. Page 1. Status of Austrian serving rn United States Army questioned, ras 3. Farmers urged, aa wax necessity, to raise more hogs. Page 3. Government may assume operation of rail roads. Page 1. Americans do not fully realize seriousness of war, says Secretary McAdoo. Page 7. v Domestic. Sixty-sixth Field Artillery sets three bonds. Page 6. Chicago will put lid on New Year's celebra tions. Page 1. Sports. Johnny McCarthy has good ring record. Page 1 5. Benny Leonard wins again In eighth round of 10-round bout. Page 15. Bezdek will coach Marines. Page 14. Allentown eleven's se!ectfon for Pasadena game arouses little enthusiasm. Page 15. Pacific Northwest. Spokane would make Army officer Chief of Police. Page . Committee plans mass meetings to Insist on Mayor Gill's lmpeachmenc. Page 7. Commercial and Marine. Northwestern wheat will be shipped to Eastern mills. Page 10. Oata sell at record price for season at Chi cago. Page 19. Rail atocks advance owing to Commerce Commission's report. Pago 10. Columbia River to be shipbuilding district, with headquartters In Portland. Page 16. Two sailors without Identification taken from ships In port. Page 16. Portland and Vicinity. Twenty-one alien enemies caught near liver to be Interned. Page 8. Large crowd attends openlnr night of Allied Red Cross Baxaar. Page 14. Oregon State Association or Hotel Men as sembles today. Page 11. Richard B. Knight, druggist here since 1882, dead. Page 11. Excess of eggs In storage must be reduced. Government says. Page Is. Secret of Fallng will long, kept. Page 12. Reed teams to debate at Tacoma tomorrow. Page . Weather report, data and forecast. Page 16. "Tod" Hidden, soldier, leads Alice Gram from, hunger strike to attar. Page 1. County officials score Frailer ltentioa Home. Pace a. Von Ludendorff's Plans Well Executed. BRITISH POSITION AWKWARD Teutons Break Through Brit ish Lines 6000 Yards, MANY GUNS ARE CAPTURED Substantial German Gains Are Con ceded and Claims of Artillery and Troops Taken Not Denied, but Considerably Discounted. (By the Associated Press.) LONDON, Dec. 6. Speaking of the German attacks on the British salient in the Cambrai area. General Maurice, chief director of military operations, said: "The enemy has to a certain extent got us Into an awkward position and some adjustment of our line may be necessary. We may have to make slight withdrawals on the north of the salient. Von Ludesdorirs Plaa Good One. . "There Is little doubt," continued General Maurice, "that the latest Ger man attacks in the Cambrai sector have been planned and superintended by General von Ludendorff himself. "Von Ludendorff's plan was a thor oughly good one, as most of the Ger man plans are. It was an attack on both flanks of our salient, followed by an attack In force on the center. Surprise la Effected. 'His attacks on our north and center failed completely, but on his left the enemy succeeded In breaking through a part of our front. He attacked not only our new front, but on a part of the line as it existed before to the south. He succeeded In effecting a surprise and broke through to a depth of nearly 6000 yards- clear through our gun positions. But we had ample reserves available and promptly drove him back two-thirds of the distance covered. German. Gains) Conceded. "One cannot say the Germans have not made substantial gains as a- result of this effort. When you are In a narrow salient even a small inroad on one's flanks increases greatly the dif ficulty, of holding the salient and sup plying the men in It. The supply to the men on certain portions of our front has now become a matter of con siderable difficulty." After alluding to the readjustment of the line that might be necessary to some extent in thta area. General Maurice continued: Brltlaa Ua Captured. "For the first time in many a day the enemy captured some British guns. The last British guns he captured were four from a territorial battery behind the French lines in the battle of Ypres in May. 1915, during the first gas attack. Since then we had not lost a single gun on the western front and have captured 650 of the enemy's, of which 610 were captured In 1917. German Claims Discounted. "The number of guns we captured at Cambrai Is 13S. The Germans claim 100 of ours and I am not yet able to tell exactly how far this claim is true, as complete returns from the batteries are not yet in, but the promptitude of the announcement and the round num ber used leads to suspicion. I believe the Germans have included in the count numbers of trench mortars, etc., and that therefore this number will be subject to a large discount on in vestigation. The same probably is true of the 6000 prisoners which is claimed. "In Mesopotamia we are continuing Concluded on Page 2. Column 3.) OREGON'S ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 1917 TO BE TOLD. The forthcoming annual edi tion of The Oregonian will con tain a complete review of the progress of the state for 1917. Oregon's achievements have been many and great; new rec ords in important lines of activ ity have been established. Strides have been made in com mercial institutions; a new in dustrial era has dawned. The advance in agriculture has been big; the increase in food produc tion has been of great propor tions. The world war has opened great possibilities for Oregon; the people have a more definite conception of what the immediate future has in store. These are some of the fact that will be set forth in the Annual Oregonian. All impor tant subjects will be illustrated; in fact, from a pictorial view point, the edition will surpass all previous special numbers. The edition will be issued Janu ary 1, 1918.