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