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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1917)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 23, ' 1917. GERMAN PUBLIC IS LOSING PASSIVISM Democratic Element Shows Inclination to Pit Itself , Against Feudalism. JASTE OF POWER IS FELT a Q, George T. Odell in Analyzing Condi tions Reaches Conclusion That Keoent Message of Presi dent Wilson Will Help. CTbls Is the fourth of a. series of article tn which will be described the forces which .re at work in Germany to democratize the nation and meet the demand of President Wilson that a government be established whose leaders will be accepted as "men of their word." Few realize hOJT tar this movement has progressed. Mr. Odell has been stationed as a correspondent in the last two years at Berlin. Copenhagen and Stockholm. He is able in this series to divulge facts which are little known.) BY GEORGE T. ODELL. "If war should end this Winter, what would we do wlti all the men?" This question, asked by Frau Res! at gathering of women industrial work s in Berlin not long ago, brings to nd the whole economic problem hich weighs both for and against the efforts of the liberal political leaders to obtain parliamentarlzatlon of the German government. Just as the German masses have arrived at an understanding of their Importance and power in the war itself, so, the liberal leaders believe and the reactionary leaders fear, the industrial workers and the peasants will realize after the war that a new era has dawned for them. One in which both the authority and the power to shape economic policies for the nation will rest, not with self appointed hereditary rulers, but funda mentally with the masses, as it does In ether democratic nations. The broad economic policy upon which the German empire has been fcuilded was laid down by Bismarck aome 40 or 50 years ago, and his suc cessors have steered the ship of state straight along the course he laid out nd strictly according to the letter of je chart which he made. They did t have the political sense to keep reast of the times. BUmarck's Chart Followed. In the chart that Bismarck made, military prowess, the power of a huge army trained to the highest degree of human efficiency and discipline, the erection of a big navy; in a word, mili tary preparedness, raised to the 'nth power, played an Important pa t. Bismarck proposed that German militarism should frighten and so keep at bay the other great powers, while German science applied to. commerce and industry was accomplishing the conquest of the world. His successors have not deviated one hair's breadth from the plan, but. under the impetus of the present Kaiser's will, they have strained to the utmost for military dominance that he might feed upon it his overweening love for the pomp and panoply of feudalism. While civil government In Germany lias been zaaterially aiding in the sci entific development of industrial en terprise and foreign commerce to the point of highest efficiency. German militarism has constantly Intruded to compel business to conform to the laws of military preparedness and to con trol Germany's political Intercourse With the other nations of the earth. Civilians Poshed Aside. In other words, in its relations to world politics. German militarists have pushed aside the civil government, and they have never allowed their interests to be lost sight of in the industrial development of the empire. It was this dominance of German militarism which brought on the war. It was the politico-military policy. Initiated by Bismarck and carried out with a zeal that amounts almost to mania, by a set of men whose power to rule is inherited and whose vision Is circumscribed by the military forces they have created huge armies, rings of forts and a navy, soon to become the largest In the world which has finally overwhelmed Germany with the hatred of the peoples of all the liber alized nations of the world. The German military oligarchy could not see the onward march of demnrrarv throughout the western world, nor couia tney visualize the moral forces which were being marshaled to accom plish their downfall. Seeing the great strides in trade and commerce which Germany has made in little more than a quarter of a century, these overlords of feudalism , hereditary rulers of Prussia, usurpers ' power in me empire, thought that their army was the chief Instrument of the nation's commercial success. They were blind to the progress of political thought outside, and, for the most part, they still are blind. Public Hard to Room, Although liberal thinkers in Germany have for a long time tried to engage the attention of the Dublic on th mix tion of democratic government, they ivC una nine success in raising more than a passive interest. Among others, Maxmillian Harden, by his pungently written, fearless edi torials in jjie ssukunrt (the future), has been pointing out the fallacy of the militaristic policy and has predicted catastrophe In following out this scheme of holding the world In the grip of fear through its military prowess. He managed to Incite con siderable comment, but there w no active demonstration of a national will to overtnrow tne monarchy. Before the war the German people were passlvists so far as their Inner politics were concerned. They accepted 1 rule of their Prussian overlords U. pursued the even tenor of theil ys, happy and contented. rJven the compulsory military serv ice, which In the 70s and 80s had driven eo many young Germans to emigrate. was no longer looked upon, as a terrl tle bogey. The people were lulled into a state of acquiescence In the existing oroer or tnings by a long period ot "good times." The war has shaken the passivism of the German people to Its founda tions. During the year Just passed they have been pitting themselves against the old order of feudalism with determination In their hearts to over throw it. That determination might have "been even more forcefully applied if the people had been fully convinced that the advent of democracy into their government would in itself bring about a "peace of understanding" and not merely a peace which woonl mean the substitution of economic warfare for the war of arms, with the same ene tniee against them. rm Democratic Advocates Active. f resident Wilson's enunciation of Vswfr aims in his message to Congress recently will give a tremendous im petus to the German people's struggle lor freedom. In due course of time the full and true significance of that message la bound to reach the masses, and the liberal leaders may be depended upon to extract the last degree of advantage obtainable from it to further the cause of democracy. Nor is it beyond reason to believe that this message will serve to incite the people to a final trial of strength against their masters and against the pan-Germans who seek to block the reform. The ground which the German peo ples have already gained in their bat tle for democracy, the power which labor now feels and which to a cer tain degree it has already exercised, shows the means by which they may be expected to accomplish their salva tion. They needed some authoritative as surance that their enemies, and par ticularly America, were not fighting a war of conquest, and President Wilson has given them the assurance which they wanted. In view of the political awakening which has come over the German peo ple and the emancipation from feudal ism which is going to be achieved as the result of this war, it isnot without Interest to examine the war economic conditions which have brought the peo ple to a sense of their own power and to an understanding of their respon sibilities to the world outside. . In a following article I shall try to analyze these new economic conditions. Progress of the War. Not only are the Italian lines hold ing in the - Monte Asolone region, on the northern front, where a threatening salient was driven in them early last week, but considerable progress has been made toward restoring the orig inal position. This process, begun by the Italians on Thursday, was con tinued on Friday, the Rome War" Of fice reporting the recapture of further ground in the hotly disputed area. The Austro-German command evi dently has In mind the expansion of the Asolone wedge in a way further to im- Al'TOH CAN PASS- THROUGH TC NORTH, THOUGH HIGH WAV IS HIT BY HIGH WATER. KALAMA, Wash., Dec 22. (Special.) Pacific Highway from La Center to Kalama has been washed out, but autos can get through. The road from Kalama to Kelso is fair for this time of year. From Kelso north to Castle Rock roads on both sides of the Cowlits River are not passable. Bridges are out. Slides will cause the road to be closed for a week. peril the entire Monte Crappa position to the east the Italian bulwark against , the intended drive into the plains and this possibility still re mains. The Italians, however, have negatived much of the enemy advance, and even the fierman accounts of the fighting concede that for the present the ag gressive is on the Italian side, with the Asolone heights the objective of re peated attacks. There has been no fighting of con sequence in any of the other war areas, military activities being at a low ebb everywhere else. Even the artillery en gagements along the French front ap pear to have lessened in Intensity and there has been no indication of a re vival of the Infantry activity in Upper Alsace, where a German demonstra tion on Friday gave the enemy a tem porary advantage which was quickly wiped out by the aggressive French reaction. In Russia the strife for control Is assuming broader aspects. The ap parent solidification of the Ukraine- Cossack movement in Southern Russia seems to be giving the opposition to the Bolsheviki a firmer hold on that territory. The Petrograd commissioners them selves are considerably worried by the spread of the separatist movement, which prospectively is cutting huge slices off Russian territory, not only in the direction of the Ukraine and the Don region, but in various other quarters. Evidence of this appears In their sending emissaries to the numerous af fected districts in an effort to line them up again in support of the Bol shevik! regime at Petrograd. The status of the Russian peace ne gotiations continues uncertain. Reit erated reports are coming out of Petro grad that the negotiations were broken off because of the objectionable nature of the German terms and that the Russian representatives have left Brest Litovsk. Up to a late hour there had been neither confirmation nor denial from official sources of these reports. Some hint that the Teutonic offers were not of the acceptable nature the Bolshevik! had indicated they were ex pecting may be found in a declaration by Leon Trotzky, the Bolshevlki For eign Minister, that the Russians would fight rather than submit to the ob jectionable terms. This was coupled, however, with what appeared to be an admission of Russia's present military Impotence and the assertion that if the Russians were thus compelled tempo rarily to submit they would Join with German people in rising against Ger man militarism the familiar Bolshe vlki prediction of a German revolution being thus echoed. The British admiralty announced the loss of the British armed steamer Ste phen Furness, of 1712 tons, which was torpedoed and sunk by a German sub marine in the Irish channel with a loss of six officers and 95 men. JAPAN HOLDING OFF Reports of Army and Navy Activity Are Denied. 'STOCK-JOBBING DEPLORED Xation Is Taking Measures to Main tain High Standing of Military Forces but Has So Fear of Complications in Orient. TOKIO. Dec. 22. Notwithstanding reports of the activity of the Japanese army and navy, it may be stated posi tively that Japan not only has not moved, but does not Intend to move troops to Harbin, Vladivostok or else where. Statements that any portion of the Japanese army is being mobilized are unfounded. At the headquarters of the army staff the Associated Press is in formed that no mobilization is contem plated and that reports of such proj ects originated in the fact that the authorities at present are not permit ting the return to' their, homes of sol diers whose normal period of service has -expired. Consequenly there has been some -increase in the army. These men have been trained as a precaution against depletion of the army of highly trained men. A similar policy is being observed in the navy. The older trained men are not being permitted to leave the ships and depots. Figures regarding the in creases in the army and navy are of course unavailable. Similarly lnforma tion .regarding warships is withheld absolutely. The authorities state that a pro gramme Involving expenditures will be placed before the coming session of Parliament. It includes provisions for modernization of the artillery, the sup plying of armored cars, bombs and other accessories and also enlargement of the aviation service, which the staff regards as more important than an In crease in the number of divisions. The naval programme abandons the big navy plan, resting content with the present organization, but favoring an increase in light craft, including sub marines, .destroyers and light cruisers. Officials of the army and navy unan imously condemn reports circulated abroad concerning present Japanese activities, which they describe as ."stock-Jobbing." Japan is taking the necessary precautionary measures to maintain the highest standing of the army and navy. This does not result from anticipation of serious complica tions in the Far East. In fact, well- informed persons express the confident belief that the grave situation in Rus sia is not likely to continue. They say, however, that Japan must endeav or to increase the efficiency of her army and navy during the time the European struggle continues. A dispatch to the London Times from Washington, forwarded here, stating that severe fighting had occurred at Vladivostok and that Secretary Lan sing had received a request from the American Consul for troops. Is denied categorically, as well as a report from the same source crediting the Jap anese Embassy at Washington with confirmation of the report that Jap anese troops had been landed at Vladi vostok. These ' reports have caused mystification and concern here, as well as considerable comment in the Japa nese press. CAPPS DELAYS BUILDING (Continued From First Page.) I did not seek this place. I took it very reluctantly." The changes in design of the wooden ships after construction was begun drew some criticism from members of the committee. Senator Martin asked Mr. Piez who was responsible. The reply was that the change was made by Civil Engineer Ferris, the corpora tion's designing expert. "Don't you think that shows incom petency?" asked the Senator. "I would say," replied Mr. Piez, "that it was unfortunate." "Yes," the Senator said, "unfortunate ignorance." The committee taking up the opera tion of ships sought to develop if the Army has handled inefficiently the ships turned over to It. Officials of the board explained that they now are in vestigating that subject. Rear-Admiral Bowles presented figures showing the present progress of ship construction but the committee decided to keep the statistics confidential. A fire at the great Krupp munitions plant at Essen, Germany, appears to have been less serious than the early reports Indicated. Apparently the dam age was confined to the electric pow er station, where an explosion occurred due to a short circuit. This building, however, is reported by Dutch sources to have been seriously damaged. BUSINESS COMES TO COAST Wood Ship Contracts Hereafter to . Be Placed Here. ORETJONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Dec 22. The building of stand ard wood ships for the Shipping Board is to be continued, but hereafter con tracts for wood shins will be awnrriAri ! only to yards on the Pacific Coast which alone have an abundant and available supply of material. Wood ship construction on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts has proved a dismal failure, primarily because of inability of East ern yards to get the necessary large timbers. .Those Eastern and Southern yards will be permitted to complete contracts now on hand, but with the completion of these vessels, wood ship construction on the Atlantic seaboard will end. Some Eastern yards now having contracts are unable to fulfill them, and those contracts are to be transferred to available yards on the Pacific Coast. This, in substance, is the new attitude of the Shipping Board regarding the wooden ship, as explained today to the C7 1 1 t ocuaio bvmwctuo thulium lico ujr ii n - ager Piez, of the Emergency Fleet Corporation. In addition, Mr. Pies said. the Shipping Board Intends to encour age Pacific Coast yards to take con tracts to build small wood ships for American account ships of 2500 tons and less. Mr. Piez eays 'the Shipping Board is modifying the commandeering regula tions and will hereafter be generous in the terms It imposes upon yards build ing for private American account. The only desire, in fostering this line of building, is to guard against Inter ference with work on ships being built for the Government Mr. Piez said he deemed it poor pbl lcy to continue to transport big ship timbers across the continent by rail to Atlantic Coast yards and thought it would be better to build wood ships, where the big timber is to be found namely, on the Pacific Coast. The South, he said, had confessed its in ability to produce -the big keel timbers, and the board and architects had agreed that there is no substitute for the big timbers the Pacific Coast alone can produce Composite keel timbers, such as the South can produce, he said, would not answer. , Summarizing on the wooden ship, Mr. Piez said: "The construction of wood ships has been demonstrated to be feasible and practicable. I was opposed to wooden ships at first, but I have confidence in their ability to be of service. The fact that other ships have been taken from the coastwise trade renders their construction essential." HEADS OF WHITE SHRINE NO. 1 IN THE NORTHWEST, WHO ARE CHARGE OF CARD PARTY AND DANCE TO BE GIVEN DEC. 28. IN ' ; :J- s 4 - f i The third of a series of benefit dan ces for the Masonic and Eastern Star Home will be given by the White Shrin e of Jerusalem Friday night. December 28, at Masonic Temple. The invitations are extended to all Masons, White Sbrinera and Eastern Star members. HONOR GUARD PAPER OUT CONTRIBUTIONS TO DECEMBER IS SUE FROM ALL. PARTS OF" STATE. Much Space Is Devoted to Food Conser vation Policy and Other Patriotic Enterprises. From every part of Oregon came the clever and interesting contributions to the December issue of the magazine of the Girls' National Honor Guard of Ore gon, which is now in circulation. The issue is comprehensive, and affords an accurate estimate of the invaluable services, of the organization. - There are letters to the Oregon Honor Guard from Miss Theodora Booth, National president; Governor Withycombe, and Miss Lucile Danforth, state manager, while the 75 remaining pages of the number are given over to chatty articles, reports and original pa triotic poems. Considerable space, both in prose and verse, is devoted to the policy of food conservation, while other patriotfc en terprises are strongly supported. The magazine staff is as follows: Editor, Lenna Melton: assistant editor, Wanda Danforth; business manager, Marjorle Cannon; assistant business manager,- Caroline Simons; circulation manager, Kate Brasel; literary depart ment, Beatrice Locke; art, Mildred Kling-ensmith; Jokes, Emily Evers; news items. Eunice Ross; "What Do You Want to Know?" Marian Voorhles; social service work. Janet Daniel; util ity work, Mildred Cushing; social events. Miss I. N. Cage; "Over the Fence" (Guard Activities), Miss Alta Faber; personals, Minnie Backus; ath letics and sports, Maude Herrick. As sociate editors: Albany, Marceil Aus tin; Amity, Mildred Jones; Coquille, Ada May Newell; Cornelius. Irene Van derburg; Cottage Gove, Mrs. Lee Ten nis; Elgin, Verna Mayfleld; Forest Grove, Luclle M. Higby; Freewater, Frances Rogers; Harrisburg, Mar guerite Keefe; Hillsboro, Florence M. Garrett; Lakeview, Mrs. Helen Brown; Ontario. Hazel Bervln; Pendleton, Quindaro Wilcox; Seaside, Leah Per kins; The Dalles. Bernlce Bright; En terprise, Ann I. Sexton. SCHOOL TRUSTEE FINED SULLIVAN, OF TIMBER GROVE, ASSESSED S5 AJVD COSTS. Two Resiarnatlons Filed and Rev. Mr. Wettlaufer May Unit, Too, and Eliminate Fend. OREGON CITY, Or.. Dec. 22. (Spe cial.) B. Sullivan, the Timber Grove School District board member who was convicted last Tuesday of assault and battery upon Rev. Mr. Wettlaufer, a fellow member, was fined $5 and costs by Justice- of the Peace Slevers today. There is no appeal from a fine under 20. The costs in th case will run in. the neighborhood! of 1 50, and Include an item for an auto trip to and from the Timber Grove country, to get Mr. Sulli van following the Issuance of the war rant. Mr. Sullivan, upon being notified of the charge by telephone, refused) to come in to pleadi and it was neceseiary to make a special trip after him. A new turn lr the School Board rumpus was made known today with the filing of the resignations of Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Buche, the two mem bers of the board accused of assault ing Mr. Wettlaufer. Mr. Buche was freed by the jpry. The resignations were filed with County Superintendent Calavaru It is Intimated that Mr. and Mrs. Wettlaufer, who are also members of the board, will probably also resign, and thus end a nasty feud that has been raging between the two factions for over a year. - DAIRY PRORE PLANNED GOVERNOR WITHYCOMBE APPOINTS COMMISSION OF THREE. man and Winiam Albert, C. C. Chap W. B. Dodson Named to Investl arate Creamery Conditions. SALEM, Or.. Dec 22. (Special.) William. Albers, C. C. Chapman and W. B. Dodson, of Portland, today were named by Governor Withycombe as members of a commission to Investi gate creamery and dairying conditions in the state. These men will act with Dairy and Food Commissioner Mickle and W. K. Newell. The latter two were selected at a meeting of cream erymen held in Portland some time ago. The Governor previously named a commission of three for this purpose. Shop in the Specialty Stores Avoid the Crush of the Department Stores and Help Build Up .Your Home Town L'TTjT-im my j tfE3fcl' ill Wl4J faff htt' I, EL pit' 1 , -iSwX KMra$r! pli Christmas Gifts for Men Give your menfolk good things to wear, and make this a homelike Christmas. This store will be ready tomorrow with scores upon scores of things men like. Choose your gifts here and receive courteous service. Lounge Robes Priced Here $4 to $15 Neckwear, silk and knit, 50c to $4 Gloves and Gauntlets $2 to $10 Silk Half Hose 50c to $12.50 Silk Shirts $5 to $12.50 House Coats Priced Here $6 to $20 Suitcases, Traveling Bags $7 to $30 Suits of Pajamas $1.50 to $7.50 Men's Umbrellas $1.50 to $10 Silk Mufflers $1.50 to $7.50 Boys' Haberdashery Shown on Second Floor Help the Men on Land and Sea Join the Red Cross Tomorrow ma en llro rTRT Morrison Street at Fourth in at the t-equest of the creamerymen. the three selected being T. S. Townsend and E. L. Thompson, of Portland, and Frank G. Deckebach, of Salem. For various reasons these men could not serve, and in addition they felt It would be better if the creamery Interests themselves would be left unrepresented on the commission. The new commission is composed of business men, Mr. Albers being of the Albers Milling Company, Mr. Chapman editor of the Oregon Voter and Mr. Dodson secretary of the Portland Chamber of Commerce. The object of trie commission is to investigate creamery conditions gener ally anil also, primarily, to ascertain if possible some means of saving the country creameries from gradually be ing forced out of existence. Warden to Talk on Fish.. State Game Warden Shoemaker will be the speaker at the members' council of the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow noon. His subject will be "Oregon's Fish Resources in Dollars and Cents." He will discuss the fish situation in general and will show how valuable and important It is to make the most of it. Smokers' goods and fine candies. SIg Slchel & Co., 9 3d, 347 Washington. Adv. Christmas Dinner 35c Soup Chicken and Dumplings Potatoes and Gravy Cranberry Sauce Bread, Butter and Coffee 35c Woods Quick Lunch 101 6th SU corner of Stark Great .Christmas Concert at the at 3 P. M. today. Store Open Evening December 24th Christmas, 1917 THE LAST MINUTE SHOPPING "Join the Red Cross today all you need a Heart and a Dollar." Open Evenings Established 1894 jilKii. Abendroth JEWELER 146 Broadway, Eilers Bldg, Bet. Alder and Morrison. Very Large Selection of Diamonds Diamonds, Jewelry, Watches, Sterling Silver, Bracelet Watches, Umbrellas, Etc. will find GUI's prepared to take care of all comers. The big srift hnn will help you solve your Last-Minute Gift Problems. " In Choosing for the Children Why Not Give Books ? A few suggestions from the Juvenile Book Department: The Christmas Carol, Illustrated by Rackham $1.50 The Boy's King Arthur, by Sidney Lanier, ill. by Wyeth $2.50 The Child's Garden of Verse, 11L, by Jessie Wilcox Smith $2.50 The Black Arrow, Kidnaped. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Wyeth, each $2.50 Poems of Childhood, Eugene Field, Illustrated by Parrish $2.00 Little Lord Fauntleroy, by Burnett, illustrated by Birch $2.00 The Red Indian Fairy Book, by Francis J. Olcott $2.00 Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris, illustrated by Milo Winter $3.00 Four Christmas Specials Little Ta-Wish, regular price $1. special 60c The Book of Wonders, regular price $2.50, special $1.75 Blossoms From a Japanese Garden, regular price $1.60, special.. 75c The Little Days, by Frances Gill, regular price $1.50, special. ... $1.00 The Second Floor Gift and Art Shop Gifts for Old and Toung, Gifts for Everyone. Dolls. Games, Toys Celluloid Toys Trains on Tracks Floating Toys from 5c to $1.50. To wind or attach to motor to ' run by electricity, price 75c to Character Dolls ,500 Non - breakable Dolls, Bisque RllllrJlTI rr R lr-o Dolls. Jointed Dolls, - Teddy DUllQlng OlOCiVS Bears, Celluloid Dolls, etc., . . . , priced from 25c to $10. . ' S'Utf TSIoc1ks' Wood, Blocks, Puzzle Blocks, etc , etc.. price Ml 10c to-$2.50. eccanno and Building Toys, Etc. Bt?ufe ToyDs J ' Stuffed Bears, Donkeys. Dogs, Educational games and toys. Woody Tigers, Elephants, etc., priced from 15c to $10. etc., price 35c to $6. Tbe J. Iv. Gill Co, Booksellers, Sta tioners, Office Outfitters. Third and Alder.