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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (June 4, 1915)
WHAT YOU NEED The other fellow may have; what you have the other fellow may want. Come together by advertising in the Press. . BARGAIN DAY Is every day with the Merchant who advertises in the Preas he has some thing to sell and says so. Buy Your Groceries From Your Home Grocer VOLUME XXVIL ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OBEGON, FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1915. NUMBER 24. GERMAN NOTE JUSTIFIES SINKING OF LIMANIA in Puts All Blame on England By Declaring Vessel Was Armed Cruiser and Carrying War Munitions. , , WASHINGTON EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT Failure to Answer Plain Demands of United States to Be Referred to In Early Answer. President Wilson Declared Ready, If Nec essary, to Sever Diplomatic Relations. Sinking of Gulf light and Cushing Is Admitted. Berlin Germany, in its reply to the , United States, flatly declares the sink ing of the Lusitania to have been justified on the grounds of self-defense. The Lusitania, it contends, carried am munition to be used in killing German soldiers. It is also contended that the Lusitania was an auxiliary cruiser of the British navy; that she was armed and that she carried Canadian troops, as well as war material. No indication of desire or intention of abating the submarine plan of war fare is given in the German reply. The note, however, is not .framed as a direct answer to the American de mands, but is rather an ad interim reply, setting forth that cetain facts are first to be decided on before the main issues are discussed by the two governments. " The Berlin government takes up first the cases of the Gulflight and the Cushing. It saysthee are now being investigated, but that it isiot Ger many's intention to submit neutral ships on the high seas, guilty of no hostile acts, to attacks. When neu trals through no fault of their own are damaged, Germany will pay indemnifi cation, she says. The case of the Falaba also is men tioned, and in this instance it is de clared that the captain of the Ship is himself to blame because of his efforts to escape and to Bummon aid. The declaration that the Lusitania had cannon aboard and was an auxil iary cruiser of the British navy is made strongly. All blame for the de struction of the vessel is placed on the British owners, who are accused of at tempting "deliberately to use the lives of American citizens as protection for the ammunition aboard and acted against the clear provisions of the American law, which expressly pro hibits the forwarding of passengers on ships carrying ammunition and provide a penalty therefor." ' The reply says it deems these cir cumstances "important enough to rec ommend them to the attentive exam ination of the American government." The reply says that final decision on the demands of the United States is withheld until receipt of an answer to the preliminary note, but it reminds the United States that it "took cogni zance with satisfaction" of the media tory proposals submitted by the United States to Berlin and London as a basis for a modus Vivendi for maritime war fare. The realization of - these proposals, say the reply, "was defeated, as is well known, by the declinary attitude of.the British government." Washington, D. C. Germany's re ply to the American note concerning the sinking of the Lusitania produced a feeling of profound disappointment here. Dissatisfaction at the failure of Germany to answer the demands of the United States was reflected in government circles generally. President Wilson had retired early Sunday before the text arrived but from a reading of the summary pub lished and Ambassador Gerard's fore casts, he had an accurate impression of what it contained. Secretary Bryan would make no comment. Other cabinet officers were reticent, but there was little conceal ment anywhere that the answer from Berlin had produced a grave situation in the relations between the United States and Germany. Just what course of action the United States will pursue is undetermined. Press dispatches giving the text'of the reply came in the course of the evening and were sent to the White House. From a previous knowledge of Pres ident Wilson's position, it was gen erally predicted that a prompt answer would be sent to Berlin perhaps within 24 or 48 hours. In German quarters here it 'was again reiterated that the Lusitania was armed. ; ..."-a To controvert this the United States has proof gathered before the Amer ican note was sent that there were no guns aboard. Furthermore, the Brit ish, government entered into an in formal agreement with the United States early in the war to see that no British vessels left American ports armed. FIFTEEN TONS RUSSIAN DYNAMITE EXPLODES Seattle, Wash. Fifteen tons of dy namite, stored on a scow anchored in the west waterway, said to have been awaiting shipment to Russia, exploded at 2 o'clock Sunday morning and caused damage estimated at $40,000 to, plate-glass windows in Seattle. An unidentified watchman who is supposed to have been guarding the dynamite is missing and doubtless was killed. Roy Lillico, manager of the Lllllco Launch & Towboat company, who had supervision of the explosive, said he had hired the watchman Saturday night without learning his name to take the place of two men who pre viously guarded the scow in a launch, but who had been sent to Tacoma for a tow. The cause of the explosion had not been determined, but Port Warden Paysee is of the opinion that it was not accidental. The explosive was brought - to Seat tle from San Francisco on the steamer F. S. Loop, May 18, and was trans ferred to the scow upon the steamer's arrival. Mr. Lillico said the explosive was awaiting the arrival of a steamer to take it to Russia. The explosive was to be shipped to Vladivostok on the steamer Hazel Dol lar, now loading army supplies at Ta coma. It became known that two weeks ago the Russian consul in San Francisco received information that an attempt would be made to blow up the Hazel Dollar before she left port - Detectives were employed by the Russian government, and for two weeks have been guarding the Hazel Dollar. Walter R. Thayer, local rep resentative of the detective agency guarding thegsteamer, said he believed an infernal machine had been concealed among the cases of dynamite Btored on the scow, with the expectation that the explosive soon would be placed aboard the steamer. Fire Marshal Bringhurst said he could offer no other explanation for the explosion than that it was mali cious, although he admitted that he had been unable to gather any evidence in support of this theory. Battleship Runs Amuck. Boston The battleship Virginia rammed a wooden bulkhead while ap proaching her dock at the Charleston navy yard Sunday and in backing away ran into and nearly overturned 4he naval tug Sioux. Another accident occurred at the navy yard when the battleship New Jersey, while moving to a pier, was carried by a strong wind and tide against the docks. The port guns were raked from their carriages, which were damaged. The warship itself, it is said, was not damaged. Strike Deputies Guilty. New Brunswick Nine of the ten deputies who have been on trial here for a week on the charge of murder in the first degree, for having fired into a crowd of chemical plant strikers in Roosevelt last January, killing two and wounding a score of strikers, were convicted of manslaughter. One deputy, John Smith, was last week ordered acquitted by the court, no evidence having been adduced to connect him with the killing. Criticism Exiles German. London Otto Humbert, owner of the Queens Hotel, Queenstown, a nat uralized British subject of German birth, has sailed from Liverpool for New York. Several Lusitania survi vors were taken to Mr. Humbert's ho tel on their arrival at Queenstown. His origin aroused antagonism and he be came the target of bitter criticism on the part of some of the survivors and their friends. ' His behavior has been above suspicion, but his presence where military and naval officials make their head, Barters caused protests. . Raiding Zeppelin Falls. Geneva A dispatch received here from Friedrichshafen, on Lake Con stance, sets forth that one of the Zep pelin airships which three days before had raided the town of Southend, at the mouth of the Thames, 40 miles east of London, was struck by one of the British shells. Owing to the re sultant loss of gas it was unable to reach the mainland and fell into the sea off Heligoland. ' Whether the crew was saved is not known. Late Legislative Measures Now Become Effective Now that the time for invoking the referendum against measures passed by the recent legislature has expired, all such laws have gone into effect without further formality. Among them are several of an im portant nature, in addition to those that became effective immediately after they were Bigned by the governor by virtue of the emergency clause which they carried. - ' Principal among the new laws is that amending the existing workmen's compensation act providing relief for industrial employes throughut the state. This measure fixes a new grad uated scale of premiums against the employers based on the nature of the industry and the hazard that it in volves. It contains an accident pre vention clause that reduces the pre miums in proportion to the reduction in the number of accidents and im poses criminal responsibilities upon those employers who are negligent in providing safety devices in their plants. The "Railroad Commission of Ore gon" has passed out of existence. The commission now is known as the Pub lic Service commission. This, the leg islature believes, more nearly describes its duties, inasmuch as it has charge of all public utilities as well as railroads. Stricter regulations are imposed upon persons operating under the food and dairy laws of the state. Uniform methods of preparing food and display ing it for public consumption are pro vided. A fixed standard also is pre scribed for refrigeration of foods. The state institutions and the var ious political subdivisions of the state now will be permitted to grant a dif ferential of 6 per cent on all home made goods in granting public contracts. Many . important changes in the school law also have been provided. One of these is the measure that pro vides a four -year high school course without tuition, for every boy and girl in the state. Those districts that do not have high schools are required to levy an assessment so that their chil dren can be sent to neighboring' high schools. .' v The old-fashioned school meeting that has prevailed in Portland up to this time to levy the school tax has been abolished. None but taxpayers are allowed to vote in the school elections and at the time of registering a voter must des ignate whether he or she is a taxpayer. However, inasmuch as the existing registration books will be used at the forthcoming school election, this law can not be utilized at this time. Another measure which was the sub ject of much interest at the time it was under consideration by the legis lature was that providing women school teachers salaries equal with tnose oi the men teachers. A new registration law requires that it shall be the duty of the attending physician or midwife to file a certifi cate of birth, properly and completely tilled out, giving all particulars, with the local registrar of the district in which the birth occurred, within 10 days after date of birth. The so-called "anti-trading Btamp law" is another now in effect. It im poses a tax of 6 per cent of the gross income not only on the trading stamp and coupon companies, but on every person giving trading Btamps, coupons, certificates and other trade devices re deemable in merchandise. The trading stamp companies are evading the merchandise feature of the law by making the stamps redeemable in cash, with which premiums may then be bought The same 'Course, has been adopted by a chain qf tobacco stores giving certificates. .The consti tutionality of the laws will b attacked in the, courts, according to the com panies affected. ' Railway Renews Work. - Eugene A crew of 40 men has re sumed operations in the Willamette Pacific gravel pit, near Natron, and trains will begin hauling rock from the Upper Willamette to the Lower Siuslaw. The gravel will be used by the railroad for the concrete piers on the Siuslaw bridge, construction of which is well under way. In a few days gravel will also be used as ballast for the newly-laid track from Mapleton to the bridge site near Acme. The grade past the rock quar ry and the Point Terrace Mill, where construction was delayed by right-of- way difficulties, will soon be com pleted. ' Another crew of 40 or 60 men will be placed at work by the Southern Pa cific this week constructing the Wil lamette River wagon road. Bunk cars were Bent up the river over the Oak- ridge line. The railroad is rebuilding the Willamette wagon road in compli ance with the orders of the Circuit court to replace the road which it took for its roadbed on the Natron exten- Food for Mexico Is Plea. Salem Replying to a letter from C. Q. Devol, acting chairman of the American Red Cross, that many Mexi can women and children are facing starvation, and urging Oregon to give whatever aid is possible, Governor Withycombe said he would confer with the head of the society in this state regarding Mexico at once. "Probably," continued the governor, "the most efficient way will be to ap point a special committee to handle the work. My advices are that thousands are facing starvation. I am sure there will be many here who will feel able and willing to help." Eight Thousand See School Work. Oregon City Eight thousand per sons visited the exhibit of the work of pupils in the three Oregon City public schools before it closed this week. There are between 12,000 and 15,000 pieces in the display, which range from the simple line drawings of the first grade to carefully constructed rocking chairs and desks of the senior class in the high school. The exhibit is an annual affair and is intended to illustrate the nature and scope of the work of the local schools. . Work from every room in the three buildings and from almost every pupil was displayed. Florence Club Is Alive. Florence Portland, with a Com mercial club membership of 6000, claimed the largest per capita club membership in the world. Eugene, with a membership of 560, challenged Portland's claim; now Florence, at the mouth of the Siuslaw river, with a club membership of 85, disputes the claims of all others. The club is said to be the "live wire" organization in Western Lane county. It had entire charge of the recent festival.. It brought about the laying of the first hard-surface pavement Ashland Springs Appointment Made. Ashland Chester Stevenson has been appointed member of the Springs commission, succeeding R. A. Winkler, resigned. The appointment is made by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the council.- The other two members of the board are Bert R. Greeve and J. P. Dodge. The commission pos sesses almost unlimited powers in handling the various phases of mineral springs development now going on here, involving the expenditure , of $176,000. . Bar Soundings Being Taken. Astoria Under the direction of As sistant Engineer Michael, a force of United States engineers has been tak ing soundings -on the bar during the past few days, operating from the steamer George H. Mendell. The work will probably continue the rest ol the week. .. . While definite figures are not yet obtainable, it is understood the sound ings show a decided improvement in the channel, considering the short time the dredge Chinook has been working this season. . During ' the week the Chinook dug and carried out to sea 100, 000 cubic yards, , or, approximately 15U,U00 tons of sand, in addition to the vast amount of material pumped up to be swept into deep water by the cur rent and tide. ..Highway Work to Resume. Astoria Arrangements were per fected this week between the State highway engineers and Peterson & Johnson, the contractors who are to resume work at once on , the construc tion of the portion of -the Columbia highway lying between"' this city and the east line of the county at West port. ;-" , ; - -V? 'rr Camps are being established and crews of men are assembled to'; begin actual construction - work. ' It . is estimated that the road can be com pleted so as to be available for sum mer travel at an expense of $61,000. To make up this amount Astoria people have advanced $26,000 and $35,000 has been appropriated by the state. Oregon Horses in Demand. Wallowa The horse sale held here this week brought many buyers and horses. The prices ranged from $60 to $150 a head. There were 450 horses offered and more than half were sold. Nine cars were shipped out the last of the week and more will go later. M. L. Marks, of South Omaha, was the heaviest buyer, shipping four cars. During the month of May 354 horses were sold, bringing $37,000. Under the management of A. B. Hall, $140, 000 worth of horses have been sold since January " 1 in Wallowa county. Mr. Hall is planning to hold another sale the 29th or 30th of June. Loganberry Pool Formed. Salem At a meeting here the Ore gon Loganberry association decided to form a pool of this year' crop, which, with the pools of the Salem Fruit Union and H. S. Gile & Co., of this city, will comprise more than 80 per cent of the crop. The management of the three pools will operate in conjunc tion, so that the best prices may be ob tained. Dr. C. W. Keene, Silverton, is president of the association, and L. H. Roberts, of this city, is vice presi dent Seymour Jones and J. J. Mc Donald are additional directors. Klamath irrigation Increasing. Klamath Falls More Klamath county acreage is to be brought under irrigation this season by the use of pumping plants. " Robert A. Emmitt will irrigate 1200 acres on his ranch on the Keno road south of here. He will use electric power furnished by the Kerns Bros.' plant at Keno. How ard Boggs, who owns a ranch in Lan gell valley, will water 60 acres with water raised by gasoline engine from a lower lake on his property. Tillamook Votes S30.000 Bonds. Tillamook At a special election it was decided to bond the city up to $30,000 for a new city hall. The vote was 811 in favor and 113 against BIG GUNS DAMAGED IN PUGET ; SOUND FOOTS; PHOTOS TAKEN Port Townsend, Wash. An attempt to put the big guns out of commission at Fort Worden and Fort Flagley, guarding the entrance to Puget Sound, was made several days ago, it became known here, and as a result all visitors have been barred from the forts in this district X - f' It is reported that breech blocks of four guns were removed and the load ing mechanism damaged. Officers at the forts have endeavored to keep the matter secret The discovery followed a report that Fort Worden had been photographed in details by persons who had surrepti tiously entered the grounds. The pho tographs gave the relative locations of the big guns and the hidden batteries. It is said that the War department hearing of the photographing of the forts, sent two secret service men here to investigate. It iB reported they found no trouble in gaining entrance to the batteries and the subsidiary sta tions connected with the defenses. Up to the time of these discoveries automobiles with sightseers were per mitted to visit the elevation where the batteries are located, but new orders have been issued forbidding any per son to visit the batteries without a special permit from the commanding officer, and such permits will be limit ed, and those who receive them will be accompanied by a guard. German Submarines Sink Two 1 Unra ViwaIc UiIIiaiiI Wrninnr - nunc itu muiuui naming London Germans-submarines have sunk-the Danish steamer Soborg and the British steamer Dixiana. The crews and officers of both were saved. The Soborg was sunk in the English Channel. The Dixiana was torpedoed just before noon Saturday off Ushant The crew of the Dixiana was landed at Cardiff, Wales, by a Greek steamer which picked them up from small boats. Two members had been in jured by debris falling into their life boat after the explosion which wrecked the vessel. " According to the reports of members of the crew, the only warning given the Dixiana was the firing of several Bhells at the steamer by the sub marine. After the crew got into their boats a torpedo was fired into the Dixiana's engine room. The Dixiana was of 2147 tons. She left Brunswick, Ga., May 7, and Sa vannah May 11, for Havre and Swan sea. She was in command of Captain bong. The Dixiana was formerly the Put ney Bridge. She was built at West Hartlepool in 1901, and was owned by the Dixiana steamship company. The vessel was 331 feet long, 47 feet beam and 24 feet deep. The Soborg was built at Sunderland in 1899 and was of 1833 tons net regis ter. The vessel was 268 feet long 43 feet beam and 19 feet deep. She sailed from Boon on her last eastern trip across the Atlantic April 6, when she was bound for Kirkwall and Aarhus. - - ' I .. . De Palma Mote New Record in 500-Mile Auto Race at Indianapolis Indianapolis jRalph De Palma won the fifth 600-mrfe international sweep stakes on the Indianapolis motor speed way here Monday In the remarkable time of 5 hours 83 minutes and '651 seconds. The victor traveled at 'an average speed of 89.84 miles an hour and broke the record for the race es tablished in 1914 by Rene Thomas, who finished in 6 hours 8 minutes, and 45.9 seconds. - V , ' .Dario Rests, who finished second. contested every mile of the way with the winner and the battle of these two pilots was the feature of the contest. Resta never quit trying to head off De Palma and finished only four minutes after the winner crossed the tape. Resta's time was 6 hours 87 minutes and 84.94 seconds. Gil Anderson was third and completed the race in 6 hours 42 minutes and 27.67 seconds. Out of 23 cars that started, 11 finished, of which 10 received prise money. Italy and Russia Greet. Rome King Victor Emmanuel has sent the following message to the Rus sian emperor: "At the moment when the soldiers of Italy are advancing boldly against the common enemy, binding closer the brotherhood of arms between us and the brave Russian army, I send to Your Majesty my cor dial greetings and fervent hopes." The emperor replied: "I am deeply touched by the considerate thought of Your Majesty. I desire to express to you the great pleasure I feel at seeing our two armies united." Piutes Violating Parole. Rant Fa. N M Tk PI. utes, of Southern Utah, are violating their Dromisa to General Kritt tn re main inside the reservation; are roam ing over the country, and making threats against the white inhabitants, according to A. H. Spencer, of the Mexican Hat, Utah, trading post, who nas arrived at rarmington, N. M. The parole agreement provided that if the Indians left the reservation the state authorities should return them forcibly. FISHING TACKLE! The Trout Season is here, and we are prepared , to give you anything in the Tackle line you may de sire. We are carrying a dandy line of Split Bamboo Rods Reels, Leaders flies, fly Books, Baskets, Etc. Call here for your Fishing and "Hunting Licenses. LOOK OpR -BIG STOCK OVER. Foss-wiisHip" Hardware company V Barrett Building, Main Street Athena, Oregon. Y . . ..'it tf - if. '1 tx I V ESTABLISHED 1865 frston-Shaffer Milling Co. AMERICAN BEAUTY FLOUR Is made in Athena, by Athena Labor, in one of the - very best equipped Mills in the Northwest, of the best selected Bluestem wheat grown anywhere. , L., Patronize home industry. Your grocer sells the famous American Beauty Flour. The Flour Your Mother Uses Merchant Millers and Grain Buyers Athena, Oregon. Waitsburg, Washington. tMssstd Home of QUAUTY Groceries Good Groceries go to the Right Spot Every Time 1 isj is the Right Spot To go to Every Time for Groceries. Try These They'll Please! 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