PORTLAND, OREGON, FRIDAY, MAY &3, 1919. VOTj "LiVIII- 0 1S"1 Entered at Portland (Ortrtut 28 PAGES. PRICE FIVE CENTS. SCORE MEET DEATH IN FACTORY BLAST Even Hundred Hurt When Explosion Wrecks Plant. ALIEN RADICALS KEY 1 IS BAN ON ALL TALK WITH GERMANS TO BE LIFTED T MANNHEIM IN PANIC; INVASION IS FEARED BELIEF GERMAN V WILL NOT SIGN ALARMS CITIZENS. IWILSON REFUSES ! TO WINNIPEG STRIKE FOREIGN FIREBRANDS GO, OR GENERAL CLEAX-tP BEGINS. FIRST, SAY ALLIES PLANS DISCUSSED GATES ARE NOT TO BE THROWN OPEN FOR FORMAL DEBATE. HUN SIGNATURE MERCHAN MARINE CONVOYS ID I I ! FLAMES ADD TO CATASTROPHE Douglas Starch Works, Cedar .Rapids, Is Obliterated. PROPERTY LOSS $3,000,000 Or 100 Men and Boys on Night Shift, Only 1 1 Escape as Walls Crash to Earth. CEDAR EAPIDS, la.. May 22. A Score of persons were killed and 100 injured by an explosion at the Douglas etarch works tonight. Of the 100 men and boys who had just gone to work In the night shift only 14 escaped injury or death. The entire plant was burned by re sultant fire, which was confined to the Douglas property. The loss is J3.000, 000. The cause of the explosion is un known. Fifteen bodies were removed from the building within half an hour. Many employes were in the works at the time of the explosion. Scores were buried beneath the wreckage and are being removed to hospitals. Persons on the streets and about the works were injured by flying wreck age and broken glass. Windows in the business district were blown in and many people in the buildings were cut by flying glass. The shock was felt all over Cedar Rapids and for miles around. Kire followed the blast and consumed the chattered plant, though the entire de partment was called out. ' Firemen Kescne Victim.. Firemen extricated dead and wound d from the debris hastily to avoid in cineration. The injured were rushed to hospitals and homes as rapidly as volunteers with, automobiles could be mustered. So severe was the explosion that per eons a .mile away were thrown from chairs. The cause of the accident is thought to have been due to either a defective boiler or spontaneous com bustion. Many of the hundreds of emnlnvo. were In or near the factory building when the blast covered the crounrt f I blocks with wreckage. Some were bur-I led tn the shattered buildings while others were hit ' bv flvinn- r.mno... Flaraea Block Rescue, With the fire raging, cries were heard coming from the dryingroom of the plant, but firemen were unable to cut their way in, and it was believed that the death toll would grow. Sevral dis charged overseas soldiers aided in the 1 rescue work. Additional explosions from the oil- rooms scattered the burning wreckage an dflremen .were hard pressed to pre vent me spreading or-the flames to Tiearby industries. Men covered with starch were taken 1ro mthe ruins by their comrades, and many thrilling rescues were made; Some of the victims were stark mad nd did not know what had happened, Blast Breaks Mains. Water mains were cut by the force of the explosion, making the work of the firemen harder because of the lack of water. An engineer who was blown out of the building said he believed his boiler had exploded. General Manager Lend ers would advance no theory as as to the cause. Every window In the central part of the city was broken. Chimneys caved in on families at the supper table and guests in the dining-rooms of hotels were thrown from their chairs. The front of the city hall and the T. M. C. A. building were shattered. Ticket sell ers In moving-picture theaters were in jured by falling glass. Red Cron Olvea Aid. The Red Cross established first-aid stations near the wrecked plant for the injured as they were brought from it. J. D. Boorman of Chicago was .blown through the window of a hotel and suf fered cuts and bruises. Frank Sodoman was taken out of the plant alive. His legs were blown off. He begged th ecrowd to kill him. C. C. Craft, member of "the fire de partment, was seriously injured. !Nr.Hf)0L DIRECTOR TARGET Bend Citizens Start Move to Recall Carl A. Johnson. BEND, Or., May 22. (Special.) As the result of the failure of The Bend echool board to re-elect a number of the present teachers for next year, a petition was circulated here today seeking the recall of Carl A. Johnson, school director and prominent Bend lumberman. A. B. Hick3 is mentioned as recall candidate. Allegations of incompetency, ineffi ciency, allowing outside influences to dominate his' actions as a member of the board, and unwillingness to re spond to the wishes of school patrons, are the chief charges set forth in the petition. Mr. Johnson in a statement issued today branded the entire list of charges as.false and declared that he would make a vigorous fight against the re- Dominion Authorities Will Take a Hand in Situation, Is TTUi matum Sent Leaders. "WINNIPEG, Man., May 22. The ques tion of permanent industrial peace in Winnipeg, evolving from the present general strike of local labor unions, rested tonight on the future status of radical enemy aliens. Leading citizens of Winnipeg, ln i i i . if.v.. ph.,u, tv firav and members of the common council, today joined with provincial and federal au thorities in informing union labor workers that either the alien extrem ists in the union ranks must be ousted or every force of law and order will be concentrated to rid the dominion of this element. Tomorrow morning, in the council chamber of the city hall, representa tives of every phase of dominion, pro vincial and municipal activity affected by the general strike will discuss the situation. The chief purpose of the meeting. Mayor Gray said, is to clear the air of the menace of radical prop aganda and possible misunderstandings which with Winnipeg as their strategic breeding grounds were threatening to involve the whole dominion. Morning and evening editions were issued by the Winnipeg Free Press, the first newspaper In the city to publlsn 1 since the general strike got under way. Various officials who today partici pated in the movement to restore in dustrial tranquility, said they were hopeful that the meeting tomorrow would result in suspension of the gen eral strike. Since yesterday, when aggressive op- position to the isolation programme of the strike leaders was begun, constant improvement has been reported in various branches of commercial and public service. Nearly all the stores In the business district were open to- day and many made deliveries, tele phone service was partly restored by volunteer operators, restaurants and other places of business displayed placards announcing they would open tomorrow, and leading employers re ported clerks who had been on strike had applied for reinstatement. Word has been received here that 30.000 workers at Calgary, Alt a., are voting on a general sympathy strike; but should the Winnipeg trouble be ad justed, no strike order would be issued even should the vote favor it. C0W IS NURSE TO LAMBS Oat Grove Orchardlst Utilizes Bossy to Save Sheep . Crop. HOOD "RIVER, Or., May 22. (Spe cial.) Herman Pregge and W. R. Hoo ver, Oak Grove orchardists, find sheep- raising a profitable sideline. The for m". with ten ewes, has 16 fine lambs. Mr. Pregge has 23 ewes, and his lambs for the season number 30. "1 am going to save all of my ewe lambs, about half of my increase or tne season," says Mr. Pregge, "and increase my herd. Last year I sold my dressed lambs for an average of $18 each One of the mothers of twin lambs in Mr. Pregge's flock was unable to nurse them. The owner, however, had a fresh cow at the time, and he taught the lit- tie sheep to take nourishment from the cow. The lambs are now regular boarders at the cow lot, and the foster- mother seems as fond of them as though they were her own offspring. GIRL, 15, TAKES HUSBAND Marriace Takes Flace After Ac qnaintance of Four Days. TACOMA, Wash., May 22. (Special.) -Robert E. McLin, age 31, and Vada Poole, age 15, were married yesterday in Seattle, after evading the girl's parents in Tacoma. The couple have known each other but four days. They became acquainted when McLin came to the girl's home to repair electrical fixtures. When the girl left home she wrote a note to her motner. i. am going on my honeymoon trip," she said, and signed it "Mrs. R. E. McLin." She gave her age as 19 at the marriage license bureau and her appearance bore out ner statement. FIRE LOSSES ON INCREASE Underwriters Report Largcnt Pay ments Since San Francisco Fire NEW YORK. May 22. Fire losses aggregating $290io00,000, the greatest in any year except 1908, when the San Francisco earthquake and conflagra tion occurred, were reported for 1018 to the national board of fire under writers here today. The year also showed progress In bringing to bar persons responsible for Incendiary fires, according to a com mittee report which announced 441 convictions had been obtained In 4 I states. Of these cases, it was stated 172 were attempts to defraud the in surer, while 156 were attributed to pyromania or other forms of insanity. RACING DAYS RECALLED "Lucky" Baldwin's Her Competency LOS ANGELES. Cal., Girl Defend; In Court. , May 22. De tails of horscracing days In southern California, in which her father, the late E. J. ("Lucky") Baldwin, was a central figure, were related today in the superior court here by Mrs. Clara Bald win Stocker, first witness in the trial of the suit of her son, Albert E. Snyder of San Francisco, to have her declared incompetent to care for her $10,000,000 estate. Mr. Snyder asks that his mother's properties be placed in the hands of a trust company. Commissions, Until That Is Given, ..Impossible. RANTZAU PLEA TURNED DOWN prisoners Of War tO Get NO Special Consideration. DrtWrDO AIM AT IIIQTIP' I uillJ mm 'I'll jwwiiv - Assurance Given That Teutons Will Be Treated Fairly and All Prop erty Rights Respected. PARIS, May 22. The following cor respondence between the allied peace ri.l.at.. anri th German TIP ACQ del- atM ,s made public today: -prisoners of war. Letters from Brockdorf f -Rantzau to M. Clemenceau: German Peace Delegation, Versailles, May 10, 1919. Sir: The German dele gation has noted with satisfaction that the draft treaty handed to it recog nizes the principle that the repatria tion of German prisoners of war and j German interned civilians is to be ef fected with the greatest possible rapidity. Special Commission TTrajed. It is in accordance with the opinion of the German peace delegation that the task of settling the details of the execution of that repatriation should bo entrusted to a special commission. Direct conversations between the com missioners of nearly all of the bellig erent states in regard to prisoners have been shown to be the best mcana of solving Vhe difficulties, and it ought to be all the easier at the present mo ment to clear up by early discussion in a commission any divergencies of view or doubts in regard to certain points. The German peace delegation, bear ing in mind the difference of Jurlsdlc- various countries concerned. 13 Ol-tne opinion, lor insiKnte, iuai v is indispensable for prisoners of war and interned civilians who have been detained for offenses other than those against discipline to be repatriated un conditionally. Germany recognized this same principle aa regarding prisoners of war and interned civilians of the i allied and associated powers detained in Germany. "Certain Alleviations" Sought. "In the view of the German peace delegation certain alleviations should as a matter of course and for reasons of equity, be agreed to in favor of pris oners of war and interned civilians for the period which will elapse until their final departure. "The German peace delegation has. however, been compelled to note that the arrangements contemplatd are fa vorable only to the allied and associ- (Concluded on Past Column , . t 7 " 1 y ' t &mz&-"w2 Wrl know how-to WM I I WM t Reasonable Discussion of Matters Really Essential Will Be Per mitted Through) Experts. ET HERBERT BAYARD SWOPE. (Copyright by the New York World. Pub lished by arrangement.) PARIS, May 22. (Special Cable.) Oral interchanges are to be permitted between the Germans and the allies. I am a to make this statement upon indif ble authority. It must not be tak , mean that the gates are to be th' wide open for the formal debate of i, ry possible point by full delega t but there will be reasonable dis- .on of matters really essential, ne plan which has been definitely O proved by. President Wilson and has -en tacitly accepted by his associates ,. bilr four to .rrange for i series of meetings,, ostensibly of ex perts of the various commissions, who will exchange ideas on certain phases of the treaty. From this beginning there will be an expansion of subjects, until all the essential matters In dis pute will be reviewed. This may not seem to be much of a variation from the announced pro gramme, but It really constitutes a radical departure, for up to this time there have been no meetings to discuss the actual treaty, the conferences that have been held having related to mat ters that arose 'before the treaty was submitted, such as the German pay ment for food, relaxation of the block ade, financial measures, the armistice. and kindred matters. The new plan will bring together members of the allied and enemy dele gations, at what will be termed meet lngs of experts, at which efforts will be made to change the real or fancied German belief that the treaty was de signed for the economic or political de structlon of Germany. In the beginning the meetings will be attended only by persons assigned from the American, French and British ex perts. As the subjects develop and are extended, a plenipotentiary or so will be presented in person or by capable deputies. I am informed that the first sugges tion for meetings came from the French, who do not relish the thought that Germany may refuse to sign the treaty. The Americans thought well of it, and they put it up to the president who favored it as being a natural means of aiding the speeding-up pro cess in bringing peace back to the world. He has all along favored any plan from. w.hwh benefit might be expected, even though the no oral dis cussion programme might thereby be disarranged. There was agreement on the plan for no oral discussions, in order to keep up the appearance of a dlstated peace The peace will still be dictated, for it is etremely unlikxely there will be any changes of moment in the text of th terms. By the new plan, however, there will be clearer understanding of th situation and all doubts will be re moved which otherwise . the German might utilize as an excuse for a course that might better be avoided. The extension of time which has been granted for tresh notes will en able the Germans to tabulate and re due to final form their requirements i raw supplies and their suggestions a to -the means ot paying for them. subject of Importance to America and (Concluded on Page 3, Column 1 SIR WALTER RALEIGH s f f s ' s- -" v . a Operation of Ships to Be Decided Upon. HURLEY OUTLINES 3 NEEDS Maintenance of U. S. Ocean Mail Service One Essential. WIRELESS CONTROL URGED 1 Government Versus Private Owner ship Principal Topic at Con ference in Washington. WASHINGTON, May 22. Operation of the government-built merchant ma-I rin an nat dustrlal organizations called into con ference by the shipping board. We have different points of view,' Chairman Hurley told the gathering. "The shipper wants reasonable freight rates. The carrier wants reasonable earnings. These two objectives are not inconsistent. Efficient operation can achieve them both Arrangements must be made where by each section of the country will have every opportunity to establish through steamship lines in connection ith its railroads so that every com munity may receive first-class serv ice." National Needs Outlined. Three great national needs of the merchant fleet were outlined by Mr. Hurley as follows: 1. Maintenance of an American ocean mail service capable of covering sltate changing the law to permit com- pensatlng ocean carriers on a business basis, "bringing it down from the realm of impracticability and making It apply to the sea-going units which we actual ly possess." 2. Establishment of centrally con trolled wireless telegraph service for promoting safety of life and property at sea and for giving American snip ping and shipping Interests the ad vantage of constant commercial Infor mation. Mr. Hurley said this service would be under control of the navy. 3. Adequate provision for training officers so that American ships always would go to aea in charge of American citizens. Labor Yet t-'adeclde-d'. James O'Connell. . representing the American Federation of Labor, declared the laboring man wanted to know which would give him the best working conditions, government or private own ership of merchant marine. He said the federation had not directly in dorsed government ownership of ocean transoortatlon lines, but that "some Concluded on Page 3. Column I.) &i I e in peace was discussed from many a.peace "y understanding on the basis gles today by representatives of fj e German counter proposals. While the German i,,.ti.a -, i- tn ional labor, agricultural and in- I , " , cl I working: for this iinri,t,nim. La r ire Crowds Stace Protests anil persons ficc From city; licriin impresses Regret, MAKXHEIM, May 22 (By the Asso ciated Press.) Alarmed bv the belief that Germany will not sign the peace treaty and that th allies will occupy Mannheim, citizens became panic stricken today and stormed the munic ipal savings bank. Many persons have fled from Mannheim. Large crowds later held protest meetings and other demonstrations, which added to the general confusion In the town. An official expression of regret has Deen issued In Berlin that the 'S of Mannheim "appear to have heads." isctvLi.N, May 21. (By the Asso ciated Press.) The majority socialists held a demonstration of nrotest acralnst tlfe peace terms in the Wilhelmsplatz today. The crowd, in contrast with earliest meetings, received the speeches or leaders in frigid silence. Chancellor Scheidemann said he hoped ,n lne interest of humanity to attain added, it was the task of the govern- ment to raise its voice on behalf of the conciliation, not the alienation, of peo ples. A peace of conciliation only was possible if Germany is included as an equal In the league of nations. The league, he declared, was a sity. but the government was against the spirit of its present form which made the Germans the slaves of other nations. He concluded by calling for cneers for the league. Herr Mueller, for the independent socialists, said the socialists of all coun tries must regard peace as Impossible under the present treaty. Frau Juchacs said that if the allied peace terms were carried out they would perpetuate a war of hunger. The Independent socialists also held a demonstration. OREGON GETS 88 TRUCKS Army Vehicles Alloted to State for Road Construction. PALEM Dr., May 2!. (Special.) otlce was received by the state high way commission today from the United I states department of agriculture that 88 army trucks, used during the war, will be allotted to Oregon for use in road work, the only stipulation being that they be used in building state- aided roads, including forest and post roads. The trucks have a total value of about 220.O00. They are now in Chl- cago awaiting delivery to Oregon. ; FOREST FIRES ARE BURNING Minnesota Seltlers In Xo Immediate Danger Rain Expected. ELT Min-., May 22. Forest fires are burning in remote sections, some 30 miles from here, mostly to the south. but immediate danger to settlera Is not feared. The forest ranger forces are continually fighting the fires and seem to have the situation fairly well in hand. The fires in the section 30 miles distant have been exhausted. Rain was expected soon to extinguish fires and help farmers. INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 66 degrees; minimum, ftO degrees. TODAYS Probably rain; gentle westerly winas. Foreign. Foreign radical element holds key to Win nipeg strike situation. Page j. Mannheim in panic, invasion by allies feared. I'aga 1. Allies put bMhevikl to flight In northern Kusma. Tagn U. Corv-misatona impossible until Huns sign, say shim. fag 1. President declines to ask for safe conduct for Irish delegates. Page 1. Oral interchange between Hun sand allies to be presented. Page 1. Northwestern men in Mst division died while fighting bravely. Page 5. President's work at peace conference of high value. Page z. Germans continue obdurate regarding peace treaty, l age 2. National. Regulations nrged in wire operation. Page 1. Merchant marine plana discussed at con ference called by chipping board. Page 1 Big. urgent appropriation bill speedily put through house, i'age o. . Senator McNarr secures important chair manship. Page 6. Domestic Republicans discuss plana for presidential campaign. rare a. Baptists denounce low salaries paid: presl dent rntlclset about athollca. rise 4 Score, dead. 100 Injured, in explosion at Cedar Raplda factory. Page 1. Pacific Northweat. Brigade post rumors are beard agaia at Vancouver barracks. Page 11. Jarsey breeders visit Polk, county stock farms. Page s. Episcopalians tavor addition to Good Samari tan Hospital, page 2. Staiue, "The Pioneer," unveiled at Eugene. I'age 10. Cemmerrial and Marine. Lamo Increase, in northwest is above aver age. Page Zi. Com strong at Chicago on reports of back wardness of crop, page Zi. Bond market la active and stronger. Pago 27. Dock -commission, to build big oil tanks. Page 1. Engineer reports grain annex safe for fin ishing work. Page l, Sport a. Pacific Coast results At Fan Prsnclsco. Portland 0. !-an Francisco 0; at Fa'.t Ike. Salt Lake 11. Oakland 8: at Sacra mento. Sacrament, 4. Vernon 2: at Los Angeles. Los Angeles Q. Seattle 3. Page Ki. Cchool teams eager for annual classic. Page 17. Entries In grammar school meet exceed 1500. Page r7. Commercial and Marine. Portlaod's record for pure mUk high. Page 11. 'Weather report, 6 a la and forecaiu Fast 27 Report From London Says No Request to Be Made. SAFE CONDUCT NOW DOUBTFUL Behavior of Debates While in Erin Given as Cause. PEACE CONGRESS YET GOAL Letter from Walsh. Dunne and Ryan Sent to Wilson Takes Issue With Word of Colonel House. BY JAMES M. TUOHV. Staff Corresronder t The World. (Copyright by -,hi Ne York "-'orld. Pub- ed ry .trranitement PARIS. Vny 22. Spc;! Cabc .1 There in ro- r.o lo-thf r doubt ihit th. president has decl.ned to ask for rafs conduct for the, S!n-i 1 ein leader? to Ihe peace c ;..ereri-f. owing to 'h manner in 't.:-h :re Irish-. me-it r. delegates ac -d m '..fluid. Colonel Hoi. t,- issue with the acceunt given by i.ie Irish-American delegates of their dealings with him. He savs the president turned them over to him; that he never had any inter view with the president- respecting their mission.'1 but he simply took their word that the president had asked them to see him. Did Not Ask, Saya House. The only request he made to the British delegation through the liaison officer. Sir 'William Wiseman, he says. was for an amendment of their pass ports to enable them to go to Ireland. He says he never asked Premier Lloyd George to see them, but the premier expressed a wish to do so. The text of the letter sent to Presi dent Wilson yesterday by the Irish- American delegation follows: Dear Mr. President Following the Interview courteously acocrded by you to the chairman of our delegation on the 17th ult.. Colonel House made the following request of Lloyd George: That safe conduct be given by the govern ment of Great Britain from Dublin to Paris and return for Edmond de Valera, Arthur Griffith and Count Plunkett. the representatives selected by the people of Ireland, to present its case to the peace conferenc. ( Printer's Name Vaed. "Vpon the day following Colonel House conveyed the information that Lloyd George was willing to comply with such request, but desired an in terview with the American delegates before doing so, and It was the desire of Lloyd George that arrangements for meeting him be made through Philip Kerr, his private secretary. After two tentative dates had been set by Kerr for meeting him and not yet having met him. we were advised by Colonel House to repeat our original request in writing to Secretary Lansing, which we did on the 17th inst. At this moment we have been informed by the private secretary to Secretary '.ansinfT that our request has been referred to you. Appeal to Mlaon Made. "May we not therefore respectfully ask of you that the undersigned, our full delegation, be given an opportun ity to present to you In person, in as brief manner as is consistent with the importance of the case, suggestions which Messrs. De Valera, Griffith and Plunkett have a.sked us to convey to you, together with certain facts of grave importance now in our posses sion? 'May we also take the liberty of sug gesting, in view of existing conditions in Ireland, which are rank and will not bo denied, but to foreclose its case by refusing a hearing to its represen tatives at this time would be disconson ant with the declared purpose for which the war was prosecuted, and out of harmony with the common princi ples of demcoracy? "We would greatly appreciate a re - sponce at your convenience, and with assurance of our continued high re gard, sincerely. FRANK P. WALSH. EDWARD F. DUNNE. "MICHAEL P. RYAN." FORSAKEN TOT IDENTIFIED Mother and Grandmother Said to Have Confessed. SALEM. Or.. May 22. (Special.) Identification of the 2-year-old baby girl found on the porch of the B. C. Miles residence nearly three weeks ago as the daughter of a 20-year-old girl of Jefferson, Or., has been made by Sher iff Ncedham and Chief of Police Var- ney. The girl. June Armstrong, and her mother, Mrs. J. w. Armstrong, have both confessed they abandoned the child. They said they did so in the hope that the baby would find at good home. The baby is In the custody ot the juvenile court, while the girl and her mother are held under bonds for cir cuit court action. EXCHANGE SEATS $85,000 1lii;hct Price Paid Since Iff 10 When SO 1.000 Recorded. NEW TORK. May 22. Two New Tork stock exchange seats were sold for JS5,000 each, the highest price since 1910, wheo a seat brought $94,000. tall. 105.5v