Jjj
VOL.. LIX. C 18,1G1.
POHTLAJfD, OREGON, THURSDAY, FKHKUAKY C, 1919.
l'UICI FIVE CENTS.
DROP IN BUTTER AND
EGG PRICES CHECKED
lap ir nnii.Tir.Me government troops
MR. ALBERS FOUND
GUILTY ON 2 COUNTS
CARE OF SOLDIERS IS
CRITICISED IN SENATE
LLHUULUI NnilUlVU
HANGS IN BALANCE
ROUTE BREMEN REDS
V
OF SEATTLE FOLK
IiARGE SHIPMENTS TO SEATTLE
STEADY IiOCATj MARKET.
SPARTACANS RETREAT AFTEI
FIGHTING MEN SAID TO HAVE
RETURNED PENNILESS.
BOMBARDMENT OP CITY.
HE LEADERS
STANDING Ell
FEAR
Piez Alone Can Avert Walk
out, Union Men Declare.
Referendum Votes in Many
4 Unions Kept Secret From
o
Their Own Members.
CITY LIGHTS TO BE KEPT ON
Hundreds of Citizens Volunteer
Services; Light Employes
Exempted From Strike.
SEATTLE, Feb. 5. The Seattle
Central Labor Council toi.ight of
ficially ratified the time of the gen
eral strike, set for 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning, when an estimated 65,000
v-orkers will become idle if the ex
pectations of labor leaders are ful
filled. The strike is a sympathetic
one, called in support of 25,000 strik
ing metal trades workers, who left
work January 21, demanding higher
Tvages.
SEATTLE. Feb. 5. With Seattle's
general strike called for 10 o'clock to
morrow morning, pending final ap
proval by the Central Labor Council
tonight, strike leaders said they be
lieved nothing would avert the strike
at the 11th hour xcept a concrete
settlement of the shipyard workers'
demands by Charles Piez, head of the
Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Interest today centered in the re
ported receipt by Bert Swain, secre
tary of the Metal Trades Council, and
by Tacoma labor councils of a tele
gram from Mr. Piez with regard to
summoning a conference at once to
consider the question of wages and
hours of the men provided they would
jtturn to work and live up to their
agreement with the Government until
March 31, the dato of its expiration.
This, the strike leaders said, would
not be acceptable as a compromise.
Referendum Vote Kept Secret.
The outstanding feature of the
Strike shortly before it was to become
an actuality was that many labor
unions have refused to announce their
referendum vote on the strike ques
tion to their own members; that some
votes announced show that the two
thirds majority required by their in
ternational regulations failed, and
that many unions "are on the fence"
because of fear to violate the orders
qf ?ir international officers not to
flrike. The streetcar men ccme in
this general category, and their find
action was to be decided at a mass
meeting at 1 A. M. Thursday.
That Seattle will not be a dark city,
beginning tomorrow night, seemed as
""Pured late today when the strike con
ference committee agreed to exempt
the city light workers from the strike.
Citizens Volunteer Services.
Just prior to this action, however,
dhe Municipal Civil Service League,
.'Jtomprising the city civil cDrvic. em
ployes, adopted resolutions pledging
their support to the city in operating
all the city's utilities, including light,
electric and steam power and water.
During the day hundreds of citizens
went to he City Hall to volunteer
their services in operating any of the
utilities, and plans were made by the
city authorities to replace possible de
sertions in the ranks of regular em
ployes with these volunteers.
The city-owned streetcar lines will
be run, according to definite announce
ment tonight. Whether the employes
would strike or not was not known
Armed guards will be sent with the
cars if necessary.
Federal Attorney Issues Warning,
United States District Attorney R.
C. Saunders warned strikers that Fed
eral property must not be interfere
with. Scnool operation until noon
Thursday is certain. After that time
operation will depend upor. action .
the engineers, firemen and jenitors
who were said to have asked exerro-
iion from the strike of the strike com-
rnittee.
Other developments today included
Secretary Ernest Newschan said the
United Mine Workers of District No.
. 10 would not consider a strike unless
a general state-wide strike be called
the Ministerial Federation made
final and vain appeal to labor leaders
.Concluded on Page 1J, Column 1.)
Potato Prices Slump on Average of
2 5 Cents a Sack, but Other
Vegetables Remain Firm.
The declines In egg and butter prices
have been checked, at least temporarily.
During the last few days large quanti
ties of Oregon eggs have been shipped
to Seattle and this has steadied the
Portland market.
Dealers In the Puget Sound city are
stocking up in anticipation of a gen
eral strike, which, among other things,
they believe, might shut off the supply
of fresh meats. In that case the de
mand for eggs would be large.
The fall in butter prices in the
Northwest was stopped by the recovery
in Eastern markets. In all eections of
the country consumption of butter has
been stimulated by the lower prices
ruling, and the same is true of eggs.
Dealers do not believe prices will re
main stationary for long, however, and
in a week or two they look for further
declines.
These are the only two commodities
that have become cheaper to consumers
to a noticeable degree. Eggs, at 50
cents a dozen, have fallen 30 cents
from the high point reached before the
holidays, and butter, at 55 cents a
pound, is 20 cents cheaper than It was.
Fresh meat prices are about as they
were. Livestock at the stockyards is
selling close to the high Winter prices,
and livestock men say there is nothing
in the situation to warrant belief in an
early decline.
There has been a small drop In po
tato prices, averaging 25 cents a sack,
but other vegetables are high and not
likely to be cheaper bef6e Spring.
Staple groceries also continue high
and. until the nwrops are on the
market, the-. grocers do not look for
much change in price.
GOLD STAR IS REMOVED
Yakima Boy, Reported Bead, Ar
rives With German Helmet.
YAKIMA, Wash., Feb. 4. (Special.)
William Wheat, aged 18 years, former
Yakima High School boy. reported
killed in action, yesterday went 'to the
high school building to see the gold
star pinned on the gold service flag
for him. The star was removed.
Wheat is a son of Mr. and Mrs. G.
M. Wheat, of this city. Rejected in
America, he enlisted in the Canadian
army and went overseas within four
weeks. He was gassed. He walked in
on his parents yesterday morninc.
bringing an assortment of German hel
mets and; other battlefield souvenirs.
He may continue his high school
studies, but says that after seeing men
fight and die, school life seems dull.
OFFICE HELD UNNECESSARY
Bill Introduced to Oust Controller
of Currency.
WASHINGTON'. Feb. 5. A bill to
abolish the office of Controller of
Currency, now held by John Skelton
Williams, and transfer its functions to
the Federal Reserve Board, was intro
duced today by Senator Weeks, of Mas
sachusetts, Republican.
It was referred to the Senate bank-
ng committee, which meets tomorrow
to take up the rcnomination or Air
Williams, confirmation of which is op
posed by a number of Republican Sena
tors. ACCUSED S0L0NS EXPLAIN
Report of Meeting With Anarchists
Brings Out Statement.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. Representa
tives Mason of Illinois and Dillon of
South Dakota, mentioned in the Senate
debate yesterday as having attended an
anarchistic meeting hero Sunday, spoke
in the House today on points of per
sonal privilege.
Mr. Dillon said he did not attend the
meeting. Mr. Mason said no suggestion
was made by anybody that the laws of
the United States should be changed
by force.
AGENT OF VILLA ARRESTED
Texas Rancher Charged With Theft
of Machine Gun and Ammunition.
EL. PASO, Tex., Feb. 5. George
Holmes, who claims to be an agent of
Francisco Villa, on the border, was ar
rested at his ranch. 125 miles east of
here, early today charged with theft
of a Vickers machine gun 3600 rounds
of machine gun ammunition and seven
rifles from the United States Army bor
der camp near here.
MEN THOUGHT DEAD ALIVE
Prisoners Who Escaped I'rom Al
catraz Island Not Drowned.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 5. That four
prisoners who escaped on a raft from
the Army disciplinary barracks at Al-
catraz Island last November were not
drowned as was supposed after being
swept through the Golden Gate, but
managed to land, was reported by Her
man Kunig, one of the number, who
was apprehended here today.
MORE TURK CHIEFS TAKEN
Arrests Made to Avert Possible En
tente Intervention.
WASHINGTON. Feb. S. Further ar
rests have been made in Constanti
nople of leading members of the Turk
ish party of Union and Progress.
The Turkish government explained
that the arrests were made to prevent
disorders that might have involved pos
sibility of entente intervention and to
prevent Bolshevik disturbances. "
Equality Demand of Small
. States Threatens Plan.
BIG POWS WOULD CONTROL
Fear of Being in Minorif . elt
by "Big Five."
LITTLE NATIONS fJ7 QUIT
Situation Said to Be Developln;
Where League Flans May Fail, as
at Second Hague Conference.
PARIS, Feb. 5. Although the five
great allied and associated powers
which are directing: the peace confer
ence have turned over much of the
work 'to commissions, the society of
nations question, especially with refer
ence to the smaller nations, is becom
ing rather a knotty problem.
The smaller nations, it is declared,
want full equality In a. societyof na
tions and greater powers than the
plans already outlined give them. The
great powers, on .the other hand, are
faced with a situation that if each
slate has one member on a. supreme
court of nations they might find them
selves in the -minority, although their
interests might be . much greater and
probably would be.
Expert Vet Have Hope.
It is not believed that the great
powers would consent to an arrange
ment of this kind, and a situation
similar to that at the second Hague
peace conference appears to be in the
making. The experts on the society
of nations question are hopeful of
finding' a way to get the smaller
states to agree to the plan so that it
will not fail, as Elihu Roofs scheme
for a supreme court of nations failed
of approval at the second conference
at The Hague.
ine airecting force ef the peace
conference, which resides in what now
are generally called the 'big five" al
lied and associated powers, is finding
great relief from the study of the de
tails of complicated secondary ques
tions through the commissions which
have been created for these special
problems. -In this category falls the
subject of the conflicting claims of the
smaller nations of the enterrte to ter
ritory which is likely to be taken
from enemy countries. This question
takes a great deal of time to study.
Claims W ill Be Heard.
It is the design of the supreme coun
cil or "big five" that such questions as
these be ultimately adjusted in har
mony with the principles of the society
of nations, it is explained, but pending
the completion of the organization of
that society it has been found expedi
ent to arrange for a full bearing of all
these claims.
Thus complex issues raised by the
claims of Greece, not only to enemy
territory, but to sections also claimed
by other friendly states, after being
(Concluded on pass 2. Column 1.)
I
Reinforcements for Revolutiona:
Element Said to Be Coming
Prom Other Places.
COPENHAGEN', Feb. 5. Governmen
troops entered Bremen last night aftert
heavy fighting and occupied the Town
Hall and the Stock Exchange. The
Spartacans have retreated to Grocp
singen. The government troops made their
entrance after the city had been bom
barded. Many persons are reported to
have been killed In the bombardment.
Armed Spartacans from Eisenach and
Gotha are on their way to Bremen
to support the Spartacans there.
LONDON'. Feb. 5. During the bom
bardment of Bremen, the old cathedral,
the Bourse and the City Hall were dam
aged and many houses partly destroyed,
according to an Exchange Telegraph
dispatch from Copenhagen.
AVIATORS GO TO SIBERIA
100 French Fliers and Mechanics
Leave San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 5. Carrying
their own airplanes, airplane and food
supplies,'' 100 French aviators and me
chanics departed from this city for Si
beria today. They were members of a
party of 500 French aviators and troops
which came here more than two months
ago on their way to the Siberian front.
Two hundred departed January S.
The 200 remaining here will return to
France, it was announced.
REPORTERS GET ADVANCE
House Votes to Raise Salaries of
Official Scribes.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. An increase
from $5000 to $6000 & year in the
salaries of official reporters of de
bates in the House and of hearings
before its committees, was voted today
by the House.
No further legislation is necessary
for paying the increases.
FEATinEJ OF THE OREGON
LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY".
Senate.
Gordon's red flas'bill passes.
Ncrulad introduces bill prohib
iting white girls from working
in Oriental restaurants.
Effort to suppress salary bills
c c.'in.y officials defeated.
House.
Insurgency develops, headed by
Representative Burdick, as re
buke to attitude of Speaker
Jones in opposing salary in
crease for Supreme Judges and
to alleged "tight-wad" attitude
of Marion County members.
Representative Burdick pro
poses to raise salaries of Gov
ernor, Secretary of State, State
Treasurer and Attorney-General,
and to purchase mansion for the
Governor.
New bill, providing for 1 cent
tax per gallon, on gasoline and
half a cent on distillate, comes
from Roads and Highways Com
mission, and is the first to pass
the new legislative committee on
introduction of bills.
THE GIRL HE LEFT BEHIND HIM.
Defendant Turns Ashen as
Verdict Is Read.
NEW TRIAL MAY BE SOUGHT
t
brty Years In Prison, $20,-
000 Fine Maximum Penalty.
BROTHER VOICES REGRET
Conviction Based on Conversations
and Utterances Calculated to En
courage Resistance to V. S.
J. Henry Albers. millionaire Pacific
Coast miller, was found guilty on two
counts of violating the espionage act
by a Jury in Federal Court'yesterday
morning when the sealed verdict,
reached the night before, was returned.
Motion of the defense, made by John
McCourt. attorney for the defendant,
for 30 days in which to file motion for
a new trial, was granted by Federal
Judge Wolverton. In the meantime
Albers la released on his previous bond
of J10.000. furnished by John O'Neill.
As the verdict of the jury was read,
at 10 o'clock. Albers turned ashen and
visibly slumped in Us chair. He was
seated between two of his attorneys
John McCourt and R. Citron. Henry
E. McGinn, third of the counsel for
the defense, was not present. Under
the law the convicted miller may re
ceive a sentence of 40 years in Federal
prison or a fine or $20,000, or both.
Verdict Baaed oa Two Coasts.
The defendant was convicted on the
third and fourth counts of ths indict
ment, based on the conversations he
had with the Government's witnesses
on the night of October 8 while a pas
senger on a Southern Pacific train,
traveling from Grants Pass to Rose
burg. Count three charged him with utter
ances calculated to Incite, provoke and
encourage resistance- to the United
States and to promote the cause of its
enemies. The fourth count charged
him with supporting and favoring the
cause of Germany and opposing the
cause of the United States.
Members of tv . jury which convicted
Albers were: B. F. Holman. foreman;
J. J. Van Kleek. T. J. Elliott. Arthur
A. Hastings, Frank W. Bartholomew,
John Frye, George Litchfield, Harry
Ball, Walter Durham. George Thyni,
Karl Fischer and .'llliam Larson It
deliberated less than three hours.
Defender T :Iared Harmless.
According to ui.official gossip the
Jury stood 1C to 2 for conviction on
all seven counts on the first ballot and
11 to 1 on the second. Later the agree
ment was reached by which Albers was
found guilty on the to counts.
"Henry Al". ers is a victim of the heat
and temper of the times," wi the
statement made by his counsel. John
McCourt. "He is as harmless as a.
child."
"The verdict of the Jury Is con-
lOonctuded on Par 11. Column .
!!
New Jersey Senator Levels Guns on
President Wilson in Connection
With His Trip Overseas.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 5. Criticising
alleged failure to equip properly Amer
ican forces abroad, delay in payment
to soldiers and dependents, and many
acts of the Government in the war.
Senator Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey,
said in the Senate today that Ameri
can soldiers had returned ragged and
penniless, "clad more like tramps."
He advocated placing of responsibility
and concluded with the following ref
erence to President Wilson:
"It is very well for the President to
break the precedents of a century that
he may head triumphal processions in
foreign capitals, sleep in the cham
bers of royalty, dine off gold plates in
the palaces of the modern Caesars, and
have his photographs taken . . . .
with kings, queens and princesses.
But what of the American private who
returns to his native shores . . . .
dismissed without a dollar in his
pocket."
Senator Kirby, of Arkansas. Demo
crat, replied briefly to Senator Fre
linghuysen. He charged that Incidents
had been unduly enlarged upon, and
said criticisms had been made for
partisan purposes and with little and
often no foundation In fact. The ratio
of complaints to the number of men in
volved has been exceedingly small.
Senator Kirby declared.
EFFICIENCY EXPERT ASKED
Alleged Extravagance of Legislature
' May lie Probed.
STATE CAriTOL. Salem. Or., Feb. S.
(Special) Representative Graham,
of Lane, tomorrow will introduce a reso
lution to Instruct the Secretary of State
to hire an efficient expert to determine
the efficiency of the present plan of
legislative organization. The 'move is
taken because of criticism of the legis
lature and its alleged extravagance as
to clerks and the use of supplies.
The resolution calls for an appropria
tion of JjOO for the work.
SINN FEINERS TO BE FREED
Government Plans Karljr Release of
Prisoners, It Is Said.
DUBLIN. Feb. 5 (By the Associated
Press.) The Lord Mayor of Dublin an
nounced today that the Lord Lieutenant
and lYiv Chief Secretary for Ireland
were arranging for the early liberation
of imprisoned Sinn Feiners.
The Dublin Eveninsr Mail suggests
that Professor Edward De Valera, who,
with two other Sinn Feiners. are re
ported to have escaped from Lincoln
prison, is going to Ihp Taris peace con
ference. GRAPE MEN TO FIGHT "DRY"
California Associations to Start
Statewide Referendum.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 5. A state
wide referendum, directed against the
Federal prohibition amendment, is to
be started In the next 10 days under
the direction of the California Grape
Protective Association and the associa
tion opposed to National prohibition,
a nation-wide organization, H. F. Stoll,
se-retary of the grape association, an
nounced here today.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
1 b Hfotbcr.
TESTERPAT'S Maximum fmpfuturr, 4S
I TODAY'S rrobabty fair; moderate westerly
i indi.
Tvar.
j Official casualty 11M. Pace 7.
! l ords".
Liru or nations nangs in psiance. raga I.
Spartirana at Bremen routed by govern
ment troops. Page 1.
Reds In North Russia flee when V. S. ma
chine runs play. Pica 3.
Electricians" strike ties up London trains,
rail 4.
' German propaganda renewed In new news
paper, face 4.
Story of General Korniloffs death told.
Pas 6.
National.
Car of soldiers crltlrlwd In Senate.
Draatln war plans of few months
rass 1.
a so re
vealed. Page 2.
I. W. w. Inquiry to he under Jurtge-Advo-cate-General's
office. Page 2.
Figures on rifle strength ot powers show
German defeat Inevitable. psge 3.
Demobilisation of Navy personnel Is pro
ceeding speedily. 1ie 3.
I.eg islet urea.
Many plana to develop Oregon presented to
legislature. Pin 6.
Burdlrk steam roller sounds first toot In
rotate Legislature. Pace .
Olympla solone iray on eve of atrike. Pace, 6.
Pacific Northwest.
Fear grips minds of Seattle folk as strike,
hour rears. Page 1.
Strike leaders declare Pies alone can axert
walkout. Page 1.
Wcnatrheo applea find ready demand.
Page T.
h ports.
Hal Chase acquitted of conspiracy crarge.
rage 13.
Penner annexed to Portland Beavers.
Pago 12.
Com mere! al and Marine?.
Bean market Is weakened by excessive sup
ply. Page 1. ,
Wool auction wilt be held In Portland
March 1. Page 19.
Copper' stocks weak feature of Wall-street
market. Page 19.
Wooden steamers may carry flour. Page 3.
Portland and Vicinity.
Strikers
Page
Revival
Page
ak
13.
signs
11.
support of Portland labor.
sbown by lumber Industry.
Mr. Albers
found guilty on two counts.
Page 1.
Drop In butter and
Page 1.
g prices checked.
Livestock building planned.
Millinery showing lures
Psge 13.
Coast buyers.
Paga 13.
Isolation of Influenza cases found effective.
Page 10.
Horrors of the Huns not to be forgotten.
Page 10.
Weather report, data and forecast, rage IS.
Workers Will Join Strike
But Dread Idea.
FEW AT ALL DISSATISFIED
No Threats of Violence Used,
but Timid Are Going to
"Play Safe" and Quit.
GROCERS DO BIG BUSINESS
People Laying in Big Stock of
Provisions: Preparedness Is
Everywhere Order of Day.
SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 5. (Spe
cial.) The genera strike which is
scheduled to begin at 10 o'clock to
morrow morning finds many pros
pective strikers in the same frame of
mind as the Yankee farmer whom
Colonel Roosevelt used to tell about.
Someone accosted the farmer on his
way to town.
"Where are you going ?" was thj
inquiry.
"I'm going to town to get drunk,
and Lordy how I dread it."
Idea of Strike Is Dreaded.
It is safe to estimate that fully 60
per cent of the men and women who
threaten to quit their jobs tomorrow
morning dread the idea. They are
well satisfied with their own wages,
hours and working conditions, and
down deep in their hearts are firmly
opposed to the strike. But they arc
going out because they fear to stay
at work.
Their fear is not based on any
tangible thing. They don't know
exactly what they are afraid of, but
pressure from the union leaders has
been so insistent in the last few weeks
that almost every working man and
working woman has had it drilled into
his or her head that they had better
strike when the rest of them strike.
No Violence Threatened.
No threats of violence have been
used and no promises of rewards have
been made, but the entire atmosphere
of Seattle is so surcharged with the
boants, the proclamations, the ulti
matums and the motley assortment of
official utterances coming from labor
headquarters that the more timid
wageworkers, whether they belong to
the union or nor, are going to "play
safe!' and quit when the others quit.
On the other hand, a considerable
prinkling of workers in various trades
and crafts throughout the city have
determination enough to defy the
group of labor leaders who arc con
ducting the strike and they propose to
stay right on their jobs.
Walkout lo Be Complete.
But if the strike order goes into ef
fect as scheduled, it is generally con
ceded that the walkout will be prac
tically complete. There is no question
but that a large number of union men
and women are going to strike in per
fect good faith, believing that they
are doing something altruistic for
their brother unionists and for so
ciety in general.
But it is just as certair. that the
great majority of those who will be
found in the strikers ranks tomorrow
would rather be at work. This ma
jority never had a chance to vote at
the so-called referendum, by means erf
which each local union expressed its
purpose to join in the strike or not to
join.
nefcrendums Ruled by Minority.
Most of these referendum were
conducted at open meetings of Use re
spective locals, but, as everyone
knows, only a comparatively small
proportion of the members attend
these open meetings. These meetings
are run by the more aggressive and
more radical members, who may be
entirely sincere, but who frequently
have no interests at stake excepting
their own personal interests, who have
no families, no propertv and many of
whom are not even citizeus.
This was well illustrated this morn
ing when the electrical workers voted
to join. This means that the mu
nicipal light plant and the Fuget
Sound Traction, Light & Power Com
pany's plant will be tied up and the
city will be thrown into darkness. The
tConcluded on'i'age 13, Column 4