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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1918)
74 Pages SixSections Section One Pages lto22 VOL. XXXVII NO. 2. PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY- MORNING, JANUARY - 13, 1918. PRICE - FIVE CENTS. 1 1 if s a l E v ii i s-a ' t a ir i it SUICIDE IK OF SLAYER OF 4 Army Captain Kills Himself at Gamp Funston. MURDER MYSTERY ELEAFE Letter Tells Intention to Find Reason for Taking Own Life. SURVIVOR IDENTIFIES MAN Guilty Man Ends All Follow Ing Issuance of Finger Print Order. CAMP FUXSTON. Kan., Jan. 12. Vith the finding- lat today of the body of Captain Lewis R. VThisler,,of Saliva. Kam, in his office at the J a tional Army cantonment here, the mystery which had surrounded the looting last night of the Army bank and the subsequent murder of four men and serious wounding of a fifth is believed to have been cieared up. The murders were committed with a band ax. Captain Whisler killed himself, fir ing two shots from a regulation Army rifle into his head. The first bullet rlanced downward through one cheek. but the other lodged in his brain. Suidde Follows Clew. The suicide followed a general order from headquarters instructing all Cap tains at lie cantonment to report and have their finger prints taken. The body of Captain Whisler was positively identified tonight as that of the man who killed four men and wounded a fifth in the Army bank within the cantonment "last night, by Kearney Woman, the only one of the men attacked who escaped with his life. Body Taken to Hospital. . The condition of Woman, who " it was feared at first had been fatally injured, improved' throughout today. His lucid Intervals became longer and it was decided tonight to subject the injured man to the ordeal of attempt ing to identify the officer who shot himself. Whisler's body was wheeled into the hospital beside WornaU's bed and the figure unshrouded. That's the man," was the laconic statement of Wornall, as he sank back upon his bed with a groan. Death Pretext Found. - A note was left ly the Army officer, addressed to woman whose name the authorities so far have 'declined to di vulge. The note said: I have been thinking of committing suicide for a long time, but I never had good reason. Yesterday I went out and made myself a reason." The room in which Captain Whis ler's body was found was smeared with 'rftood spots. Two blood-soaked towels were found in the room and the table was spotted with gore. Captain WhUler borrowed two hatch- irniKlnlM on . V I'oiumn t. I f .........t. :1 , - -"' " V .............. rtr,.r r ... y ... .......... , .; GT1 107.2 , : """'wll,wwl"wws .ii n.iui - y mm i ii mi sjssssaKsiBssiissisi issati iii im ii i in w i . ii 1 1 i in .. astsiaigssigsam i i mmmmmmmmmmmmmt'm'9 1 iim i k tmnmmmmmmt U. S. BUILDS HALF 1917 SHIP OUTPU TOTAL CROSS TOXXAGE FOIt YEAR FLACED AT 1 01,223. Sinking by Submarines for Last 1 Months ft, 000, 000 Tons More Lake Vessels to Be Used. WASHINGTON. Jan. 12. America merchant ship production in 1917 la put at 901,;rs "gross tons ' In reports mad to th Shipping; floard This nearly double that of 191 and almoe half of the world's output of 1,899,943 tons that year. Figures showing; construction . 1 other countries In 1917 have not been received In .this country, but Shipping- Board officials believe America led th world In tonnage output. England and Japan, they said, probably were th only countries that increased their pro dactlon over that of 191(. Sinkings by submarines In 1917 are generally reckoned at E. 000.000 tons, probably about twice as much tonnage as was built. England is now building ships at a fast rate and Japan also has vastly increased Its construction, bu just now Japanese operations aro ham pered by 'lack of steel. Other conn tries are building few ships. The Shipping Board today decided to remove from the Great Lakes an addi tional 30 ships for uewn service. The vessels will be cut in half this Winter and will b removed through the Wetland .Canal and reassembled when navigation Is resumed in the Spring.- Already iZ ships have been brought ont VIENNA CLAMORS FOR FOOD Serious Rioting Reported at Capital on New Tear's Day. WASHINGTON. Jan. II Food riot Ing in Vienna on New Tear's day Is described In a dispatch - received here today from Switzerland. W-tien the au thorities announced that 609 Serbian pigs would be put on sale at 75 cents a pound, more than 20.000 people as sembled outside the market, most of them remaining throughout the New Tear's eve In Intense cold " for the chance to buy. In the morning., the dispatch says. th crowd lost Its patience, broke through the police. Hires and invaded ha market. Then crowds are said to have marched through the streets de nouncing the municipal authorities and the imperial government. IRST - FILM SEEN AT 91 Gold Hill Woman Wants Actors to Talk Loud Enough to Be Heard. ' GOLD HILL. Or, Jan. 12. (Special.) Mrs. George W. Sparry, aged 91 years. nd a recluse, residing is Gold Hill the past quarter at a century, witnessed her first motion picture at the local playhouse this week. While watching the films with amazement, she asked her companion. Why don't those actors speak louder. so Lean bear them V ROYALTY HONORS ROYALTY Japanese Emperor and King of Eng land Exchange Courtesies. TOKIO. Thursday. Jan. 10. Emperor Toshlhlto haa conferred the rank of Field Marshal upon King George of England. The King haa conferred the same rank upon the Emperor. The newspapers refer to thla ax- change of courtesies as a unique epi sode in Anglo-Japanese relations which hould be marked with a white atone in the history of Japan. STEAMER ON CUBAN SHORE Vessel Grounded Near Havana; All Passengers Taken. Off. HAVANA. Jan. 12. A passenger steamer, bound from Key west to Havana with 14 passengers, went ground at a point IS miles from this ly early today. A Cuban tug look oft all the passen gers In safety and none was Injured. CARTOONIST SECRETARY FR0W1IS Senators Told Present System Is Better. INQUISITORS GRILL OFFICIAL Sluggish Movements of War Department Criticised. WITNESS MAKES DEFENSE Mr. Baker Declares Nation May Feel Secure, but Senators Complain Secretary . Pictures Con ditions "Too- Lovely." WASHINGTON. Jan.I2. Secretary Baker, In- the course of another vigor ous cross-examination before the Sen ate investigating . committee today, voiced strong opposition to the crea ion of. a. department of munitions and was further criticised by Senators fo broad, general . statements regarding adequacy of Army equipment which Senator Chamberlain said, would "lull the country Into a Reeling of security.1 r. Baker's 'Opposition to a muni- ions department followed that ex pressed to the House leaders yesterday by President Wilson. It was based. he Secretary said, upon the fact that he recent reorganization of the War Department will meet all requirements and give better efficiency and that the position of minister of munitions would Impose an "Impossible task. laqalry Will Be Made. While Senators strongly criticised the reorganisation of the department as detailed by the Secretary, thus pre saging a possible conflict later at the Capitol over legislation which the com mlttee has announced It will press, it was decided to investigate further the operation of the department under the reorganization plan before interrupt- na the Inquiry to champion Senator Chamberlain's bill for a minister of munitions .and other measures. In opposing Senator Chamberlain's bill. Ms. "Baker said -he minister" of munitions would be an "industrial dic tator" and that "no human being could be found to decide all the questions the office would present.. . rvsaparlaoa Is Made. The. Secretary also pointed out that his Judgment on military-matters would be subservient to that of the munitions director, and insisted that the- recent departmental reorganization is virtu ally similar to the Navy Department's system and also the British munitions directorship. Chairman Chamberlain and Senators McKellar, Hitchcock. Wadsworth, Weeks and New were among those taking issue with the Secretary regarding the ade quacy of the reorganization of the War Department, but they admitted it was an Improvement over the old system. Senators Beckman and Klrby expressed satisfaction with the new. plan. Parchasea t Be Separate. In detailing the reorganization. Sec retary Baker said the war industries board, by authority of "common con sent, if not technical legal power, would become the supreme arbltlng au thority In co-ordinating industrial needs of tb,e war, and added that Presi dent Willard, of the board, and General Goethals. acting Quartermaster-General, approve the plan." Questioned, by Senators, Mr. -Baker admitted that, under the new Army sup ply department, th ordnance, quarter masters, medical, aviation and engineer bureaus would do separata purchasing, but said it would be co-ordinated and directed. This feature was . sharply criticised by committee members as (Concluded on Page ft, Column l. REYNOLDS COMMENTS OfifllT INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS The Weather. TESTERDAT'S Maximum- temperature, . BS degrees; minimum.- degrees. TODAY'SRaln; fresh "southerly winds. War'.. Four-hour .fight' of '. Luckenbaeh sua crew with U-boat told. Section 1. page 4. Portland man. enlisted In Canadian army, awarded Victoria cross. ; Section page d. Aerial activity Intense on Italian front. bectlon 1, page 7. " .' .. ( . ' ' ' . " ; Foreign. '. ' Trotsky to treat fearlessly with Teutons a . Brf.c-L.itov.lt. Section 1. page 1. Rus.lan mab held hack by Ambassador r rancls. bectlon 1, page X. British -destroyer Raccoon founders In 'snow storm and all on hoard perish. Sec- , tlon 1, page 3. , - . National. War Secretary faces charges of delay at -military committee Inquiry. Section page L C. N. McArtbar announces candidacy for re . nomination to Cougress. Section 1, page 2. Cnlted States' ontput of ships In 1917 half ' -that of whole world. Section 1. page 1. jocaqoo s rules, on unloading cars are easy section z, page 3. - Domestic. Eastern States continue at mercy of bliz lard. becuon 1, page 1. Army Captain's suicide clears - mystery of camp e unston murder. Section 1. page 1. Storm halts stl railroad traffic centering-ai inicago. bectlon l.- page's. Worklcss days In industries may go Into ef icel soon, bectlon- 1. page 2. ffc Inconclusive peace wanted, says Tiieo core jtoosevelt. bectlon 1. page 3. United States In war to very end. says Sec .retary Lansing. Section 1, page 8. Sports. McCredle leaves for Seattle Wednesday. Sec lion z. page L. - Portland hockey team to have particularly Dusy week.-- section. K, page 1. Multnomah Club five is strong this sesson. bectlon z, page 2. - Scholastic fives prepare for season. Section 3.- page 2. . - Willie Hoppe tells secrets of road to success in billiards. Section 2. page 2. , Career of John E. Madden, trainer ansl breeder, la told. Section 2, page 2. ' College athteUcs'to be fitted to programme or neiping win tne . war. Section page 2. .... Shoot scheduled for todsy. Section 2. page X - - . . . , California fighters have easy time with orthweaterners. Section 2. page 8. Laonird ,and . "Ted'V Lewis would furnish great match. Section 2, page 3. Grenade throwing Is new track event. Sec Ion 2. page 3. . Encouragement to young golf players is sug- g?stea. bectlon 3, page 4. Mike Collin. Fred Fulton's . manager, scores Champion. Jess Willard. Section 2, page 4. Athletic Union to aid Army sport a Section page 4. Multnomah Club wins state swimming meet. section x, page s. , - . ' Pacific ' Northwest. . Governor advised action may be directed against stewards- Club. Section 1. page 4. Six-cent fare order not likely to be sus- pended. section 1. page 6. Gravs Harbor 1917 lomber ontput breaks all records, bectloa 1. page v. University of Oregon campus takes on mar tial mien, section 1. page 9. - Commercial and Marine. Offers of flour for February shipment called lor o- r ooa Administration, section 2. page 13. Blizzard baits movement' of grain in Mld41e west, section 2. page 13. Industrial shares weakest-reatare of Wall street market. . Section 2. pave 13. mprofed demand for feeder cattle at local stockyaras.. SecUon 2, page 15. Captain and other officers of liner Itose I'lty enrolled with Uncle Sam. Sec-1 tlort 2. page 14. Portland aad Vh-lnlty. Grand epera performances close. Section'!, page o. H. M. Esterly urges election of Democratic National Committeeman from . Oregon ' at primary. Section 1, page 7. apanese Consul tells of training in Hawaii. Section 1, page 10. C.'H: Gram aspires' to Labor" Commissioner- ihlp. Section 1. page 10. , ' Fruits of victory await American Army, says Colonel Deniler. bectlon 1, page 11. Advertising agencies consolidate Interests under name of Botsiord-Tyler Company. Section 1. page 14. German populace still clings to bone of vic tory, but starves. Section 1, page 14. Railroads strive now for car economy. Sec tion 1. page 15. Oregon retail hardware dealers to meet here January 22-25. bectlon 1, page 14. Bureau of mines Issues notice regarding licensing of exploslvea Section 1. page Id. W. V. Olds makes Christmas gift to Reed College. Section 1. page IS. Spruce output to be speeded to limit.... Sec- llOn A, Art. T. M. C. A. hut" formally opened. Sec tion 1. page 19. Al tvader Temple completes plans for semi annual ceremonial.- dectlon 1, page 19. Judge Ryan, of Oregon City, candidate for office of . State Treasurer. Section 1. page 19. Knights of Columbus to canvass for $50,000 -t war 'fund, this -week.- -Section 1. page 20. Women take men's Jobs on railroad with result satisfactory all around. Section 1, page -t). pavtd Benson tells of wife desertion with three children. Section 1. page 20. Knitters assured abundance of best Oregon wool yarn. Section 1. page 20. Ban lifted on all meats In -West except pork for two months. Section 1. page 0. T. W. C A. campaign winds up with great success. Section 1. page 21. Columbia Ploogh project favored. Section 2, page 0. Weather report, dita and forecast. Section I", page 8,' ' PICTORIALLY ON SOME TROTZPUArllO, TO FACE TEUTONS Peace Fight Will Go On at Brest-Litovsk. SPEEDY AGREEMENT AIMED AT Bolshevik! Disavow Secte Diplomatic Methods. FULL SINCERITY ASSERTED Foreign Minister at Conference Makes Vigorous Statement of Pol Icy of. Big Political Party That He Leads. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 12. Leon Trotsky,' tho Bolshevik! Foreign Mln ister, at the conference at Brest Litovsk: yesterday said that In order not to "leave any possibility in the fight tor peace unutilized,. the Russian delegation accepted the demand that the negotiations be continued at Brest Litovsk. ' Trotrky said he had noted the state ment of the Central Powers that . the basis of a general peace as formulated In their ' declaration of December 25 was null and void, and added: We adhere to the principles of democratic peace as proclaimed by us." , Consistent Policy Avowed. Referring; to the objection raised by the central powers that the transfer of the negrotlations to Stockholm or some other neutral point, aa requested by Russia, might enable the entente nations to interfere, M. Trotsky said the Bolshevik! government had been consistent and Independent In Its peace policy and that there was no reason to assume entente diplomacy would bo able to oppose the conclusion of peace more successfully on neutral sou thau In Petrograd. As for the fear of the centxa. Powers that tho entente nations - might en deavor, behind the scenes to hinder the onclusion of peace. M. Trotzky de clared the Bolshevikl policy was con- ucted without .the secret methods of the old diplomacy, which,, like many other things, had been abolished by the Russians In their victorious revolution of October. Russians See K Reason. It . was the opinion of the. Russian elegates.- he - said., that, neither polit ical nor technical circumstances, ren dered it necessary to continue to bold the sessions at Brest-Litovsk Moreover. M. Trotzky continued, the Russian delegation could not pass over another point, which had been men tioned by the German Chancellor, Count von Hertllng. I refer," he said, "to the portion of Count von Hertling's statement (before the Reichstag main committee), - in hlch he referred, in addition to Ger many s Just intentions, to uermany s powerful position (Machtstellung) . -; IVntioa's Weakness Admitted. "The Russian delegation cannot deny and does not intend to deny that its country, owing to the policy of the classes until recently In power, has been weakened. But the world position of a country is not determined by : its technical apparatus alone, 'but also by its inherent possibilities as. indeed, Germany'a- economic strength . should not be Judged by her present condition and means of supply." M. Trotzky considered that " the greater forces of the Russian - people had been awakened and developed by the. revolution Just as the reformation of the 16th century and -the revolution of the 18th century had vitalized the tConcluded on Page 2. Column 1.1 ' EVENTS IN THE PAST - WEEK'S NEWS. MOB IS HELD BACK BY U. S. DIPLOMAT d: r. fraxcis, with revolver, halts russian rioters. : Threat to Kill First Man Entering American Embassy at Petro- . grad las Desired Effect. ST. LOUIS, Mo..' Jan. 12. Charles R. Crane, head of the American mission to Russia, in an address here today told how Ambassador Francis stood at the door of the American .embassy- in Petro grad, and, with a revolver in hand, held off a mob. ' 'f. ' ' Mr. Crane said that a mob, believing that a man named Muni (in reality Mooney, the San Francisco dynamite suspect), wag to be executed in this country, started for the American em bassy. The Petrograd authorities warned Ambassador Francis by telephone that the mob was approaching. Guests at the embassy- begged the Ambassador to flee with them, but he refused, said Mr. Crane. - Mr. Francis told the negro servant to get a revolver. With this weapon the Ambassador met the mob at the dooK -. "Your Government is going to hang our leader. Muni, and we are going to clean out the American embassy," said the leaders. "No,-you are not," replied Ambassa dor Francis. "Thii. is American soil. and-J I will kill the first man who crosses the line." -" - Mr. Crane said the mob then dis persed. .He said-he heard the noise at the embassy and arrived there Just as the crowd went away. From the negro servant Mr.-Crane' learned the details. GIRL'S VICTIM NOT ROBBER Slayer, .of Joker Collapses . When Error Is Discovered. MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 12. Miss Mabel urumater, clerk In a fuel company office, who last night shot and killed E. F. Orr when he told her to throw up her hands, suffered a nervous col lapse when she learned later that he was only joking and today her condi tion is serious. Orr, who was a rail road switchman with a wife and sev era! children, entered the office to order some coal. As the girl raised her arms in compliance with his de mand, one 'hand held a revolver and the first shot' pierced Orr's brain. First reports of the police were that robber had been killed. GIRL RAILROAD OPERATOR Switchboard Deserted In Aberdeen - for "Post of Flagnoman. ABERDEEN, Wash.,- Jan. 12. (Spe cial.) The first Grays -Harbor woman to assume a Job in the operating de partment of a railroad, is an Aberdeen telephone operator. Miss Minnie Cul- ley, who .this week assumed the posi tion of flag-woman at a crossing at the east entrance to the city. The -eight-hour day does . not cover her work. She is employed by the Northern Pacific EX-CHIEF HEALEY IS FREE Trial of Former Chicago Police Head Ends In Acquittal. CHICAGO. Jan. 12. Charles C. Hea- ley, ez-Chlef of Police of Chicago; De tective Stephen Barry and William Skidmore.. a saloonkeeper,, were found not guilty by a Jury tonight of charges of conspiracy to protect Illegal resorts. The Jury was out five , hours. The trial began October 15, 1917. COAL- MINERS IMPRISONED Explosion in English Pit May Mean Loss of Many Lives. HALMEREND, North Staffordshire, England, Jan. "' 12. An 'explosion oc curred in a mine pit here today, and it is feared heavy loss of life resulted.. Of 207- men in the mine at the time of the explosion, 100 have reached the surface. iiuniii YEARff.STUNS EAST Icy 'Bonds Fetter. Cities of Many States . FAMINE MENACES THOUSANDS Transportation Stops;' ;Food V- Supplies Dwindle. ARCTIC ...COLD . PREVAILS Terrible Visitation of Winter CoTers i Vast Area From' Rockies to - Al leghenles ' and From - Hud son's Bay -to Gulf. : . . . " ...J - I E A S TE R N AND - SOTJTHERJT BLIZ Z ARD TIES VP ' VSfl'TED STATES. , Washington Secretary McAdoo informed" that all railroad pas senger . service will have to be abandoned west of the Mississippi unless the blizzard abates. Chicago ;Schools and , depart ment stores close to conserve fuel and army of 60,000 pupils J rushed to shoveling snow. St. Louis All . blizzard .: low I temperature records broken. at 19 below. " ' ' J Tornadoes followed by worst sleet and snow storm in history i In Georgia and Alabama. Record death toll of nearly score and in- 1 jury to 100 persons. New Tork -Tropical rain falls, changing - situation to one like Spring in few hours. " Omaha Trains scheduled t leave here on transcontinental trips tomorrow morning, includ ing Oregon-Washington Limited, will not move. 7. Minneapolis Trajns . on all roads west stalled somewhere in drifts. t " '" " Philadelphia Twentieth Cen tury Limited and many other trains stalled somewhere. All freight traffic .abandoned. CHICAGO, - Jan. . - 12 From the Rocky Mountains to , the ' Alleghenies and from the Gulf of Mexico to Hud son's Bay the most terrible storm in more than 50 'years today paralyzed transportation and cut off entire cities and. states, from all communication with the outside world. With temperatures far ' below zero prevailing over most of this sectton, relief work . was made impossible by high winds and .drifting snow, while untold thousands battled with the grim specter of - famine -with ,no re lief in sight for days. ,'''' Railway's early abandoned the bat tle with the storm and devoted their entire efforts to the Telief of scores of passenger trains maroonedin snow drifts. " In most cases their efforts were ren dered futile by a driving gale which sifted snow over' the tracks as fast as it could-be removed. J ... . .. Business Stop 1st Chicago. In Chicago" ail business was prac tically suspended early In - the day. The big department' stores closed at S P. M. All schools were closed for a week and the 60,000 children urged to help clear the streets' to avert the danger of conflagration and permit the delivery of fuel and food. Nine deaths were reported as a re sult of the blizzard. Arctic temperatures', accompanied the storm, ranging from, 37 below (Concluded on Page 3. Column 8.) turuu