THE 3IOBXIXG OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1917. a NO 8-HOUR DAY IN LUM BEH INDUSTRY Proposal of Federal Mediation Commission Is Rejected by Employers. EARLY ACTION IS RECEIVED Lumbermen Point Out That .They Cannot Have 8-Hour Day in .Northwest and Compete With Cheaper Labor of South. Efforts of Secretary of Labor Wilson nd the Federal Mediation Commission to induce the lumber manufacturers of the Pacific Xqrthwest to adopt a basic eight-hour day with the prevailing 10 hour pay for the shorter day have failed. The lumbermen have unitedly decided against the proposal. They have taken the position that they will Tatify such a programme only when the eight-hour day is made National n scope by legislative or administrative action and applicable to all lumber manufacturers throughout the United States. Lumbermen of the Pacific Northwest opposed thep lan to impose the shorter workday exclusively in- this section of the country for the reason that the iSouth. which competes in shipbuilding and in pine , manufacturing-, employes negroes at $1.50 for an 11-hour day and white men at $2 for the same length workday. They assert it is manifestly Unjust to permit that con dition to continue and at the same time ask the lumbermen of the Pacific Northwest go on -an eight-hour basis with the 10-hour pay of $3.50 a day. They -urge, furthermore, the objection that to place 'the industry in this sec tion on a basic eight-hour day would undoubtedly result in reducing the out put of the lumber camps at a time when the Government is seeking in- every way to encourage a maximum production of lumber products. Plaa at First Favored. At the request of the Federal Medi ation Commission the Western Pine Manufacturers' Association held a meeting at Spokane, Wash.. Decebze,r 7. to consider the eight-hour day plan. -At this meeting arguments were pre sented in behalf of the commission in favor of adopting a basic eight-hour day, meaning the present 10-hour pay for eight hours' work. A considerable majority of the 30 manufacturers in at tendance at this meeting voted in favor of the proposition on patriotic grounds as it was represented to them that the adoption of the eight-hour day would .help to speed up the production of lum ber for military use and for the further reason that their example would prob ably be followed by the fir and spruce manufacturers of Western Oregon and Western Washington. Five days following the Spokane meeting, December 12, Secretary Wil son and the members of the Federal Mediation Commission met jointly with a large number of Douglas fir manufacturers of Oregon and Wash ington at Seattle. After a long con ference Secretary Wilson asked these manufacturers to agree to a proposi tion similar - to that which had been adopted by the pine manufacturers at Spokane, The lumbermen, however, re sponded by submitting a counter prop osition, in which they agreed to the shorter day provided it was made Na tional in its scope. This proposition was submitted in the following form: C'ounter-PropoHltJon Stated. "In accordance with the two primary- requests made by the President's Mediation Commission, we have to the best of our ability disclosed to th Commission the troubles from which the lumber industry in the PaWc Northwest has suffered, and now offer as a constructive suggestion, based on our experience as operators and look ing forward to the uninterrupted pro duction of that part of our product which the Government may need, the following: "We believe there is not a general demand that we operate on less than a. 10-hour basis, which basis is neces sary and -will be required if the mate rial needed by the Government is produced. and propose that the Government co-operate with us by "1. Stamping out the activities of the I. W. W. or other seditious organiza tions or individuals. , ... "2. Continuing to return loggers and mill workers from the Army to the camps and millsas long as the shortage of labor continues or as long as the Government needs our product. "3. In the event it is found neces sary, exempting men- in the mills and camps from the draftr Sdi Met, Is Opinion. "We trust the commission 'win give due consideration to our opinion that this programme, if carried out. will meet all the needs of the Government at this ti me in the event, however, that the commission does not fel that it can work with us along thse lines, but believes a basic eight-hour work ing day should be established, we an nounce our willingness to assist in put ting the industry in this section on a basic eight-hour day (although our firm conviction is that the result will be a reduction in output) whenever it can be made National in scope by leg islative or administrative action or otherwise. "If our principal competing producers remain on their present standard of a 10 and 11-hour workday, we believe that the Commission will not feel that in Justice it should attempt to use Its power to put into effect a regional eight-hour day in our industry. We be lieve the above expresses the Judg ment of the industry in the Pacific Northwest." Learning of the action of the fir and spruce manufacturers at the Seat tle meeting, the Western Pine Manu facturers' Association yesterday called another meeting at Spokane and re scinded its former action in declaring for the eight-hour day with 10 hours' pay. It was reliably reported last night that the counter proposition, pre sented to the commission at the Seattle meeting, was read and approved by the Spokane meeting yesterday.. JLUMBERMEX DROP 8-HOl'R DAY Move Conflicts With Western Pine Manufacturers' By-Laws. SPOKANE. Wash.,. Dec. 2S. (Special.) The action of the Western Pine Man ufacturers' Association here December 7, voting to put into effect the eight hour day in the lumber camps and mills of Eastern Washington and Ore gon, Northern Idaho and Western Mon tana, today was rescinded by the asso ciation, it was announced tonight by a committee of members. Announcement made public tonight by J. P. McGoldrick, Spokane: D. C. Eccles, Baker, Or., and E. 11. Polleys, Missoula, Mont., as a publicity com mittee for the Western Pine Manufac turers' Association, said: "A special meeting of the Western Fine Manufacturers' Association, called by tie airectors, today considered fully the action of the meeting of December 7 on the matter of the eight-hour day and found this action Xo be illegal, un der the constitution and by-laws of the association. The action of December 7 was. therefore, declared to be null and void. No further action was taken." .The basic eight-hour day will be come effective next Tuesday, in the lumber plants of 20 companies in East ern Washington and Northern Idaho, it was announced later by Mr. McGoldrick. These include practically all the plants in the district except two, which are owned by Montana concerns. The Washington and Idaho lumber men are acting as individuals, it was declared. Mr. Polleys, speaking for the Oregon and Montana lumbermen, declared that their position was that installation of the eight-hour day would curtail pro duction and that their action was the patriotic one to take. SHIPYARD NEEDS 200 MEN Coos Bay Company Wants Ship wrights, Also. Unskilled Workers. J1ARSHFIELD, Or.. Dec. 28. (Spe cial.) James H. Polhemus, manager of the Coos Bay Shipbuilding Company, has announced the company is desirous of engaging 200 additional men as quickly as they. can be obtained. The yard is constructing four Gov ernment vessels and employing 225 men. The new workmen desired,. Mr. Polhemus says, are largely skilled la borers, but there is room for young men who are not experts. In speaking of the suddeni need, Mr. Polhemus said the yard is anxious to speed up the construction and before the present vessels are completed he expects to have 600 men working on the ships. The Coos Bay Shipbuilding Company wants in particular,' shipwrights, and pays the Government scale. ALLIED- CAUSE MUST WIN (Continued From First Page.) George the British Prime Minister, was read. After thanking the conference for a resolution of the parliamentary committee of the trades union congress and the national committee of labor which partly suggested that Great Britain make a declaration of the war aims of the entente, the letter said: "A statement in regardt to the war aims of 'the allies can, of course, be made only in agreement with the other nations who are fighting in alliance together in the war. The question of issuing a fresh joint declaration on this subject is one which is constantly kept in view by the allied govern ments, but it is not one about which it is possible for the British govern ment to speak by itself. Russian IVews Lacking;. "We had looked forward to an inter chang eof views on this subject with delegates .appointed by the Russian government to attend the conference held in Paris, but to our regret the absence of any representative of Rus sia at that conference made any such consultation impossible." As to Great Britain's war aims, the Premier referred the conference to his speech on the adjournment of Parlia ment and expressed the hope that this speech would remove any misunder standing. Mr. Lloyd George's letter said that to his mind "the ideals for which we are fighting today are precisely those for which the British Empire entered the war." , "We accepted the challenge thrown down by Prussia," the letter continued, "In order To free the world once and for al) from the intolerable menace of militaristic civilization and to make passible a lasting peace by restoring the liberty of oppressed nationalities and by enforcing respectful those laws and treaties which are thep rotection of all nations, whether great or small." Thfe Premier concluded that he was never more convinced that the purposes for which the allies were continuing the war were not imperialistic or vin dictive, but that their achievement was essential to the future freedom and peace of mankind. Joseph Havelock Wilson, president of the International Seamen's Union, char acterized the memorandum as the most contradictory document he ever had seen presented to a trades union con gress. "Until we have made the German nation feel that it has made a grevious mistake anS it has repented of its crimes and foul murders, our aims should be to carry on the war," said Mr. Wilson. James Henry Thomas, assistant gen eral secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railroad Servants, said that when peace was discussed it must be a world peace. He added that if Ger many did not agree to labor's war aims, labor must fight on to secure what labor believed to be right. Attempt to Amend Falls. An attempt to amend the motion to consider the memorandum was made by Stephen Walsh, parliamentary sec retary of the local government board and a labor member of Parliament. Mr. Walsh contended that as many branches of the national labor move ment had not had an opportunity to consider the memorandum further dis cussion of it -should be adjourned for a month. The proposed amendment was rejected by a vote of 2132 to 1164. STEVENS CALLS FOR FAITH 0 ((tontlnued From First Pa ge. ) to commandeer food, and a famine threatens for which the peasnts large ly are responsible. There also is a coal famine, and the production is only one, third of normal because the miners are refusing to work. "At Vladivostok the supplies of all kinds arecarefully guarded. The port authorities have erected large ware houses and there is not much -deterioration of j the supplies. The Bolshe vik! are hr possession and tly? soldiers maintain order, but laborers are un easy at the .prospect. "Siberia is not so much disturbed as Russia, and it Is the people's desire to support any government appearing to be stable. The uncertainty In Russia rests in the vast preponderance of the 130. P00. 000 persona in the peasant class. If Germany is allowed to finance and advise them the situation is lost." Mr. Stevens said that everywhere he found the people well disposed toward America. Even when soldiers stopped his speical car and entered it they apologized and withdrew on learning that the passengers were Americans. The American influence is strong, pos sibly stronger than that of any other of the allies, and Mr. slevens thinks it now should be exerted to the ut most, but that the application of phys ical force in any degree is not advisa ble. In conclusion Mr. Stevens said: "Not for a moment should the allies relax their sympathy and help, but on the contrary, should quadruple their efforts. The best sentiment in Russia is with us, but the question is how to give in such a manner as to maintain the sympathy of the intelligent classes and offset the German influence. We should earnestly beg the allies not to punish the Russian people, who love their country, nor to abandon them to the Germans. "We are going back and will stay there as fong as we can be of any as sistance to the Russian people." Corvallls Man Gets Captaincy. CORVALLIS, Or., Dec 28. (Special.) E. F. Ayres, of this city, has received notice that he has been given a com mission as Captain in the Engineering Corps, and ordered to report at once at Petersburg, Va. He left this evening HOSPITAL TAKES THIRD OF TROOPS Eight Thousand Men. Stricken at Camp Bowie, Gen- J Greble T j. ' DEATH HATE SIXTEEN Fatal Conditions Avoidable, Com mander Testifies at Hearing, if Clothing. Tents, Hospital Sup- . plies Had.- -cnt. . WASHINGTON. Dec 28. Disease epi demics and clothing and equipment shortages at Camp Bowie, Texas, and Camp Doniphan, Okla., were described to the 'Senate military committee by the respective commanders of those National Guard cantonments, Major Generals Greble and Wright. Both officers said the epidemics at their posts were under control and that adequate supplies of overcoats had been received, but they gave dismal pictures of earlier conditions. They told, too, of enormous shortages of rifles, machine guns and other equip ment, still existing. Food has been plerjyful, they said, and of good quality. General Greble's story showed condi tions at Camp Bowie to have been the worse. He declared the lives of many men who recently died there ( would have been saved had Winter clothing, sufficient tents to avoid overcrowding and proper hospital facilities and sani tation been provided. Twelve Crowded Into One Tent. He told how the War Department ordered 12 men housed In each tent whereT he said., they were "so thick you couldn't walk between them." During November, General Greble said, 8000 men, or about one-third of his command, passed through the hos pital with deaths from pneumonia, measles and other diseases averaging 16 daily. At one time 1800 men, he said, were crowded into a hospital built to accommodate 800 and that without a sewerage system. In September, the Gerreral said, he protested against the crowding of 12 men into a tent, and gave warning that sickness would result. Before more tents arrived the epidemic broke out. Now, however, he added, there are only 800 men on the sick list. Relief Steps Taken. During the hearing the committee also1 received from Secretary Baker a letter in reply -to Its resolution re questing immediate action to relieve clothing shortages in the cantonments, stating the necessary steps -had been taken and that he would report fully as soon as all camps were heard from Each of the camps investigated today has about 25,000 men, with Missouri and Kansas -lational Guardsmen large ly composing the personnel at Camp Doniphan and Texas and , Oklahoma Guardsmen thn at Camp Bowie. Health conditions at both,-were recently re ported by Surgeon-General Gorgas, whjm General Greble said today had made a correct report of conditions at the Texas cantonment. The two camp commanders were be fore the committee all day, testifying for three hours behind closed doors regarding conditions among -General Pershing's forces, which they r-cently inspected. They said General Pershing is short of no supplies except motor trucks. Wright's Men Well Clothed. Although all the m'en at Camp Doni phan now are well clothed. General Wright said his command still was short for overseas service. However, he felt confident .that he would get sufficient clothing upon starting for Europe. Most of the men at (he camp are under canvas, the witness said, but the tents are well floored and are heated "too well." General,' Wright said the death rate was low,' while the sick rate was not large, considering thtyf many cases of measles were brought to camp by draff men from Camp Funston. Most of the pneumonia cases at Camp DonipWan, General Wright said, are a result of measles. Army officers were, not surprised at the amount of sick ness, he added, especially measles. Meningitis and scarlet fever, however, were" unexpected developments. Food supplies he pronuonced "fine." General Wright said his troops had not used broomsticks or wooden rifles. Despite the bayonet shortage at Camp Doniphan, bayonet training. General Wright said, was continued. PIONEER FARMER IS' DEAD Charles Walker Young Located Xear Eugene in Year 1852. EUGENE. Or.. Dec. -25. (Special.) Charles . Walker Young, who "crossed the plains to Ore'ogn in 1852, died to night on his far near Eugene, which he acquired under thehomestead law 65 years ago. The land is located just across the WUlametter River from Eu gene and is one of the most valuable properties of its kind in Lane County. "Mr. Young was 87 years of age, and had been ill for several weeks. He is survived by two sons and five daugh ters: . Bexter young, - of Springfield; Cal Young, of Eugene; Mrs. Thomas Vanduyn, of Coburg; Mrs. James Shields, of Bellingham, Wash.; Mrs. William Wallace, of Spokane, Wash.; Mrs. Claude Copple, of Hood River, and Mrs. Frank McAlister, of Eugene. Funeral services will be held at" the family residence Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. , EUGENE PIONEER IS . DEAD s II. D. Edwards Served as County Commissioner for 12' Years. EUGENE, Or, Dec. 28. (Special.) H. D. Edwards, pioneer farmer and busi ness nan, and for 12 years County Commissioner, crossed the plains to Oregon with his parents in 1854. He died at his home in Eugene today at the age of 69 years. Mr. Edwards was born, at Oekaloosa, Iowa. April 28, 1848, and was a son of T. D. Edwards, who settled on a donation claim three miles east of Springfield, soon after coming to this state. Mr. Edwards was a Republican in politics, and took a great interest in public affairs. Mr. Edwards is survived by a son and three daughters, A3 follows: C. D. Edwards and Mrs. T. J. Sweeney, Jr., of Springfield; Mrs. Carl S. Miles,, at Marysville, Cal., and Mrs. E. R. Hogan, of Jefferson, Or. Keeplnr the Quality Up. LAXATIVE BKOMO QUININE, the "World Famous Cura for Colds and Grip, is now 30c per box. On account of the advance In th price of the mix different Medicinal, Concen trated Extracts and Chemicals contained In LAXATIVE BROHO QUININE, it was nec essary to Increase the price to the Druggist. It has stood the test for a Quarter of a Century. It u used by every Civilized Nation. Adv. 1 MEN'S NEW SHIRTS T in a Special SALE at $1.29 t3 L Fresh, new, crisp shirts, in ADVANCE SPRING 1918 styles. There are fancy heavy Oxfords and percales in the real lOOx -v 100 square. All are worth ever so much more than this special sale price. The Oxfords are made with double soft French cuffs and the percales with -Stiff cuffs. Really wonderful shirts at $1.29. Main Floor, Just Inside Washington-Street Entrance. , v nerchand.se oTcy Merit Only" Charge Purchases Today and Balance of Month Co On January Bills, Payable February 1 BIG PACKERS RULE Witnesses at Hearing Tell Trust Control. of ALL COMPETITION STIFLED Small Dealers Driven Out of Trade by Combine -Territory Parceled Out Among Members by Gentlemen's Agreement. BOSTON, Dec. 28 Testimony about the squeezing of small dealers out of competition by the alleged grasp of the big packers upon the meat, render ing, soap and fertilizer industries of the country was given today by wit nesses before the Federal Trade Com mission. Francis J. Heney, special counsel for the commission, said, the packers con trolled the rendering business from its collection of butchers' waste to the manufacture of valuable by-products. By their methods of gaining control of meat scraps, fat and bones, he added, the commission sought to show that the man who bought a steak or a roast paid an unnecessarily high price for his dinner. Witnesses engaged in the rendering business asserted that the packers sti fled competition for the sale of waste products by bidding up prices beyond the reach of the independent dealers, by resorting to the scheme of giving short weight for refuse, by giving bo nuses to retailers to break contracts with competing rendering firms, by fo menting agitations against the erection of new competing rendering plants and by dividing territory among themselves by "gentlemen's agreements." John Glennle, of North Andover, a man of the rugged type, stated that he had refused an offer of $250,000 for his plant, which, according to his own esti mate, will be worth not more than $35,000. This offer was made, he said, when the "trust" tried to put him out of business. They resorted first to the usual methods,, he said, of bidding up prices for war materials,' by hiring away his men and by "leasing" away his customers by the bonus system. "Finally." he said, "a representative of the combine' came to me and said he was sorry, but if I persisted in be ing stubborn it would be necessary to put me out of the business, much as the members of the combine hated to do so." "And you persisted?" asked Mr. Heney. M went Into their own territory after the. business," Glennie replied. "Even at ehe prices they boosted up I was able to make a living. I did much of the work myself and knew what my men were doing. I did not have the heavy overhead expenses of the com bine." "But do you mean to say," Interposed Commissioner Victor H. Murdock, who presided, "that you refused the differ ence between.. J35.000 and $250,000 for the sake of a fight?" "I was. out to earn a living," Glennie said, "and if it is necessary to fight for it, I'll fight. I built my business up with my own hands and I won't have it bought away from me by any such methods as that. What I get I'll earn and I won't live on tasy money." ROAD CONTRACT SIGNED HIGHWAY WILL CONNECT HA1XROCK AND NATIONAL, FOREST. Funds to Finance Project Have Been Appropriated by Government, State and Lane County . Court. EUGENE, Or., Dec. 28. Contracts have been signed by representatives oi Federal Government, state and Lane County for the construction of 15.9 miles of standard road, extending from Rainrock to the western boundary line of the Siuslaw National Forest, ac cording to an announcement made by State Highway Commissioner E. J Adams. The Government and state will expend $46,000 each In connection with the project and Lane County will spend $30,000. The work will be undertaken as soon as weather conditions will permit. The Rainrock road will form a part of the new coast section of the Cen tral Oregon Highway, the completion of which was insured by the recent action of the Lane County Court in making appropriations from road con struction and bridges. - During the coming Summer the first road con necting Florence, the seaport town of Lane County, and the outside . world will be opened to the public. A road has been opened from Flor ence to Acme, which is one-fourth mile from the railroad and the highway at Cushman. The court also has ap propriated $5000 for building a road from Acme to Cushman An appropria tion also has been made for building a bridge over the Siuslaw River at a Comfort Baby WithCuticiira Soa 25a. Olntaaant 25 mmd 50 o. point about five miles above Florence and for building two miles of road con nectinaf the present highway and the proposed bridge. This construction will close gaps which have, shut the coast region off from the remainder of Lane County and state, so far as highways are concerned. WOOD SHIPS TO BE BUILT (Continued From Flrat Page.) them that price for ship lumber, and they withdrew their offer. Admiral Bowles did not know whether the standard- average price of ship lumber on the Pacific Coast had ever been advanced beyond $35 per thousand. Without naming specific yards. Admiral Bowles testified that the construction of wood ships ..on the Pacific Coast had been delayed in some instances because of the inability of the yards to get lumber as needed. Questioned by Senator Jones, he ad mitted he had no personal knowledge of the condition, but that the informa tion had come from Captain John F. Blain, of Seattle, district officer of the Shipping Board. Chairman Hurley, of the Shipping Board, today notified Senator Jones that contracts for- two more wood ships will be awarded Wright Bros., of Tacoma. This is the second new contract Senator Jones has secured for Washington yards as the result of facts he has developed at the investi gations. PRICES DECLARED TOO HIGH Admiral Bowles Says Coast Ship builders Demand Too Much. WASHINGTON, Dec 28. Rear-Admiral Bowles, assistant to the general manager of the Emergency Fleet Cor poration, testifying today before the Senate committee . Investigating the shipping situation, declared that Pa cific Coast shipbuilders were anxious to get contracts but only at very high prices. Pacific Coast plants, he said, have increased their demands $15 to $20 a ton ir., . ..ps, making the prices asked from" $180 to $185 a ton, while some even are asking $200 a ton. Mr. Bowles made these statements In connection with an outline of legisla tion wanted by the Shipping Board, one portion of which was a suggestion that Congress protect the shipbuilders from operation of the war excess' profit tax law, or at least modify the law as it pertains to shipbuilders. Mr. Bowles said operation of the law now was so uncertain that the board is having dif ficulty in placing contracts at a rea sonable price, as the builders claim they will have nothing left from the profits on the ships after paying the tax. Mr. Bowles denied he had stated the wooden ship programme was a flat failure. He said he. believed the ship ping problem would be solved by build ing steel ships and that wooden snips should be built only, when tonnage could be increased more rapidly by that Astoria Chooses New Auditor. ASTORIA. Or.; Dec. -28. (Special.)- f Girls' RAIN COAT Sets I 0 Special $2.98 The kind of liftle girls from weather. Some rain coats 6 to 12 are belted that in and will protect all sorts of " others are loose. In black and white checks and plain blue or tan, made with turn-down collars in tailored style. GIRLS' RAIN CAPES Very Special $1.59 Sizes for girls 4 to 1 4 years old. Attract-, ive little models in navy blue or red sateen finished material with heavy rubber lining. All have hood lined with plaid material.' Exceptional specials at $1.59. GIRLS' SWEATERS, $2.49 Navy, Oxford and cadet blue sweaters, made in full belted style with two pockets and ruff neck. In a heavy weave that is warm' and smart. Girls' Peter Thompson Dresses Half Price Fine alI-wool navy blue serges, made in regula" tion styles and deep yokes, side pockets and large sailor collars. Smartly trimmed with braid and emblems. Sizes 1 3 to 17 years. SMALL WOMEN'S AND MISSES' DRESSES AT $14.95 The most attractive dresses, designed especially for smaller women and misses, on lines that are graceful and becoming. The very newest styles are shown in navy blue and black serge. . Many have very smart white satin collars and some have peg top skirts and others have clever braid trimmings. Very smart and practical. Fourth Floor Lipman, Wolfe & Co. WHY NOT Invest Your Xmas Money in a Good VICTROLA : J it v i I i i Victrolas are becoming more and more scarce. After the present supply is exhausted it will be almost impossible to replace certain models. Fortunately our stock is complete; we have excellent assortments of every wanted model. EASY TERMS NO INTEREST Come in and hear the newest records. Seventh Floor Lipman, W olfe S- Co. I I i i Taking the place of Y. D. Quilliume, present official, B. G. Oearhart was elected Auditor and Police .Ttidee by the will enter the Army. (learhart is the Clatsop County Treasurer at present. MONDAY NIGHT Watch Party The Brightest Spot in Town Supper Dancing Beginning at 9 P. M. New Year's Eve in Arcadian Garden Grand Ballroom Assembly Hall Unique Old English Buffet 'Uuncheon in Ball and ; ".Assembly Rooms. Admission by Ticket Multnomah Hotel