Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1919)
mi. f I, Advertising ijtre cAthena Pre3B circulate in the Spies of readers who reside in the heart of the Great Umatilla Wheat Belt, and they have money to spend 1 v . Tf Nxtice! If this notice is marked RED, it sig nifies that your Subscription expires with this issue. We will greatly ap preciate your renewal $2.00 per year Entered at the Post Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mall Matter ATHENA. UMATILLA COUNTY. OREGON. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 7, 1919. NUMBER 6 Ml SIS GUILTY T Henry Albers, wealthy milling man of Portland and well known throughout 'the northwest aa a capitalist, was 6und guiltv on two of the seven counts of the indictment for sedition, at Port land. The maximum penalty on each count is tlO.OOO fine and 20 years im : prisonment. The jury deliberated abcut three hours and brought in a sealed verdict, ' vVdn"-day evening which was read in yesterday morning. The court ' granted a 90 days stay, j TfiSjjbcrs was released on $10,000 i bonds the same as previously. TESTIMONIAL CERTIFICATES I; FOR RETilRNiNG SOLDIERS jH9- , Conforming to the appointment of 'Bayers by the Patriotic Service League to act as chairmen of reception com mittees in their respective towns and I f -cities in welcoming home returning soldiers and sailors, Mayor Watts has named B. B. Richards and F. B. Boyd ? as committeemen here, j At a meeting of the city council Monday evening, it was decided to .. .present to Athena soldiers and sailors j& a certificate of appreciation for their Wi patriotic response in defense of their country. The certificate which is beautifully lithographed in the Nation al colors, reads as follows: "We. the Mayor and Council of the City of Athena, desire to express to you, of the , of the American Military Force, with sincere gratitude our deepest admira tion and indebtedness for the splendid contribution you have made towards the defense of the Country in the great European War and a sense of our plea sure at your return. "Your patriotic response to defend the Country at a time when her safety was threatened by a treacherous and ruthless enemy was evidence of the loftiest patriotism, and your valor un der arms has won for this City and Country a nime that will ever hold an honored place in the annals of the Nation. "While we all regret with profound sorrow that some of your brave cum tades have laid down their lives on the field of honor, we are thankful that you have been sparedljto return home, and we present you with this testi monial as a record of the appreciation of our citizens." CHARLES M LEAN DIED ' HERE FRIDAY EVENING Charles McLean died at his home in this city Friday evening, after suffer ing from an illness of long duration. He had been confined to his home for several months, and since returning to Athena from Washtucna, Wash., near which place he had resided for the last eight years, he had been unable to be on the streets only a few times. Mr. McLean was born in the Province of Ontario in the Dominion of Canada, of Scotch parents, August 2. 1853 where he was raised, and married to his wife, Isabella, in 1880. In 1880 they made the long move from there to the state of Oregon, at first settling hear Pendleton, and shortly afterward buying land near Athena, where he has since resided with the exception of a few years spent near Washtucna, Wash. For many yesrs he was a great suf ferer from asthma, which much duced his strength; and for the past few months declined very rapidly. He ib survived by his wife and three eons, onfe ann having died some years ago; also by a niece who for a number of years was a member of his family. Early in life he became a member of the Presbyterian church, to which he adhered ever since. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the residence in Athena, conducted by the Rev. W. A. Pratt of the Methodist church, in terment being in the Weston cemetery. RESUME OF WORK GF OREGON LEGISLATURE Half of Session Has Passed With Few of Really Import ant Bills Presented. New Manager. John Montgomery, until recently in the employ of the Pacific Coaat Ele vator company at Pendleton, has taken over the general management of the Farmers Union Grain Agency in Uma tilla county. W. W. Harra, president of the Agency, and one of the principal stockholders in the concern, aecom paiied by Mr. Montgomery, was in tb city Tuesday. Meetings at Weston. Tb Ministerial Association of Wes ton bis decided to hold a union revival meeting in the near future. They are fitting up a brick building on Main street in which to hold the meetings, and are understood to have secured the services of Evangelist George Taylor of Los Angela, to conduct them. Anti. Radicals Bills Passed Lack of Harmony on Road Legislation Non Political Judicial System Measure Prohibits Lobbying Curb ing of Phone Companies Asked Would Be Establish Death Penalty Eight Dilla Become Effective. Salem When the legislature as sembled Monday for the fourth week of the session there was very little to Its credit in the way of bills passed and sent up to the governor. As a matter of fact, very few of the im portant measures have been intro duced In either bouse. While the house did considerable work last week, the senate mostly marked time, due largely to the fact that the senate committees reported out few bills for consideration. Both houses from now on must get down to a steady grind and work longer hours if the usual congestion during the last days of the session are to be avoided. Perhaps the most Important piece of legislation passed during the third week of the session was the Dlmlck Kubli syndicalism bill, designed to suppress Bolsheviki, t W. W., and kindred radical movements. The bill carried an emergency clause to make it effective immediately when signed by the governor. The house by a very large vote passed the Gordon red flag bill, which forbids the display of the red flag, the emblem of anarchy' and Bolshe vism. This bill will undoubtedly meet with approval in the senate, Senate Passes Anti-Trust Bill. The anti-trust bill passed the senate without opposition, but it is likely to cause discussion in the house and will be amended or voted down. At this time no one can tell jus! what may be expected in the way of road legislation. There is lack of harmony about many features, but the $10,000,000 road bonding bill 1b being whipped Into shape and is scheduled to appear this week. It will provide that 75 per cent of the funds given the highway commission shall be spent on the primary roads outlined in the road building program of lsl7, while the remaining 25 per cent is to be used In the discretion of the com mission on any roads which it may decide are necessary of improvement. It will provide that the rate of Interest Is not to be more than 4V4 per cent and that the bonds shall be retired at the end of 25 years. Non-Partisan Judiciary Sought. A bill introduced by Senator Nor blad, of CJatsop county, provides for a non-polfUcal judicial system in Ore gon. This measure is one which has for many years been advocated throughout the state, and the present assembly is expected to enact this bill into a law. It is provided in the bill that all candidates for these offices shall be placed on a separate ballot at pri mary elections and this ballot shall be officially designated as the "official primary nominating non-political ju dicial ballot." Anti-Lobby Bill Prepared. Complying with President Vinton's request that legislation be introduced curbing the activities c-t the huge paving lobby that descended on the legislature last week to lobby against measures striking at the paving trust, Senator Dlmick drafted a drastic measure prohibiting lobbying. Under the terms of the bill all lob byists must register with the secre tary of state, giving their names and the nature of their business. Lobby ing with members either in or out of the statehouse is absolutely forbidden, the measure providing that if the lob byists have an argument to advance for or against a measure, it must be made before committees, In the press or in printed statements delivered to the members on their desks. Phone Regulation Urged. Alleged failure of the public service commission to take any action in curb ing the telephone companies of the state in imposing rates and charges contrary to the statutes of Oregon and In violation of the rights of the people, Representative Graham, of Lane, introduced in the house a joint resolution calling upon the commis sion to take such steps as may be nectssarr to suspend tie enforcement I SsiMX laaaaaB KB I BjHpf 3B fin ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL SERVICES AI METHODIST CHURCH. A nation-wide memorial for Theo dore Roosevelt is set for next Sunday, February 9, when memorial services will be held in churches and chapels throughout the country. The general rule adopted in honoring the great American is for memorial sermons to be preached in the different churches, but in Athena a union meeting will be held in the evenin;; at the Methodist Episcopal church, where Rev. Fratt, the pastor, announces that Rev. H. F. Pemberton of The Dalles will deliver the memorial sermon. It is expected that i large assemblage of people will attend the service and thus pay tribute to the memory of one .of . America's greatest men. KEPT PLEDGE TO SEND BREAL American Nation Maintained Al lied Lot.' Through Self Denial at Home Table. II GROUP OF INTERESTING LETTERS AVERTED EUROPEAN DESPAIR of said felepnone toil charges or to secure the annulment thereof as may be necessary. The resolution recites that the rates charged should be reasonable rates and based on the elements usu ally considered In determining the reasonableness of a rate. Memorials Planned for Soldiers. Evory county in Oregon will be au thorized to expend at least $5000 Is constructing sultabb memorials or arches In memory of the soldiers and .sailors who took part in the recant war, if a bill introduced by Senator Handley becomes a law. The measure asks that all county courts be given authority to spend 55000 of the public money for this purpose. Capital Punishment Bill Introduced. Death penalty for all persons here after convicted in this state of mur der or treason in the first degree is provided for in a proposed constitu tional amendment introduced in the senate by Senator Dimick. No alternative penalty is provided, so if the amendment should be passed by the legislature and approved by the voters it would mean that all per sons convicted of murder in the first degree must be sentenced to death. The amendment, if adopted, would be self executing. Governor Signs Eight Measures. Eight bills have been signed by Governor Wlthycombe and filed with Secretary of State OleotL They are: Soldiers' and sailors' commission bill, appropriating $100,000 and carry ing an emergency clause. Now effec tive. Measure appropriating $552,385 to meet deficiency appropriations of the emergency board. Emergency clause attached. Measure appropriating 125,000 to pay per diem and traveling expenses of members of the legislature and sal aries of clerks and stenographers. Emergency clause attached. Bill empowering cities and towns, without consent of property owners affected, to annex property that has been or will be surrounded by the city limits. Measure has particular appli cation to Portland. Two bills by Senator Baldwin plac ng state bank members of the federal reserve system on the same footing as national bank members. Measure empowering the state high way commission to Bell obsolete or wornout machinery. Measure extending the power of eminent domain for county courts and the highway commission so that use may be made of property before com pletion of condemnation proceedings. Bill Provides For New State Prison. Authority to construct a new peni tentiary building at a cost of 1500,000 Is sought in a bill Introduced by Sena tor Ritner. The bill provides that the juestion he referred to a vote of the people at the next general, regular or special election. U (he bill becomes a law, the board 01 comrui will nave authority to use $125,000 annually for four consecutive years to pay lor the cost of the new building. It is not required that this amount shall confirm to the 6 per cent statutory iim.iation. May Abolish Parole Officer. Senator LaFolleit, of Marlon coun ty, has introduced a bill for the aboli tion of the office of state parole of ficer. The bill, which would amend the present law, would make it the duty of circuit judges when paroling persons to make written conditions of the parole order, to be forwarded to the warden of the state penitentiary, Instead of to the parole officer, and provides that the persons paroled re port to the warden Instead of the par ole officer. Liquor Laws Al1 Tightening. Two hills aimed at bdptleggiiiR were '.rodnccd in the senate' by Senator ""berhard. One provides that munic introduced in the senate by. Senator court and the other Rives a municipal judge the right to Issue soarcn&yar rants in seeking to suppress the ltqVpr affic. Under the present state 1st these powers arc delegated only to state officials. Legislative Brevities. Representative Schuebel's bill pro viding for creation of a board of con ciliation and arbitration in labor dis putes met defeat in the house, Representative Thrift offered a joint memorial asking congress to retain the United States employment service. . The house passed the joint resolu tion of Representative Smith, of Mult nomah, providing for a committee to Investigate the wood shipbuilding In dustry and enlarged it to cover the steel shipyards as well. Curfew shall ring each night for the canines if a bill introduced by Repre sentative Dennis becomes a law. All dogs must be safely tucked Into bed by 8 o'clock each night and remain there until 6 o'clock the next morn ing, under this bill. Representative Bean has introduced a bill providing for a $50,000 appro priation to create a revolving fund under which the state printing plant would print all the text books used In the schools of the state, the same to be sold at actual cost. More expedltous transaction of cir cuit court business is the purpose of a bill introduced by the senate judi ciary committee, authorizing the chief justice of the supreme court to assign any circuit Judge to duty in any cir cuit court of the state. Congress is "earnestly requested to appropriate suttlclent funds for fin ishing the steel and wooden shipb now under contract, ' in a memorial passed by both houses. Senator Dlmick s bill making It a crime to teach the German language lu the public scIioo'b and colleges of Oregon, was passed by the senate by t vote of 18 to 1L There':) a whole lot to being mns tered out besides changing clothes. With Military Demands Upon Ocean Shipping Relieved, World Is Able to Return to Normal White Wheat Bread. Since the advent of the latest when: crop the only limitation upon Amerl can exports to Europe has been the shortage of shipping. Between July 1 and ctober 10 we shipped 05,1(80,0: bushels. If this rate should coin lira, until the end of the fiscal year we Will have furnished the Allies with mori than fiy7,500,000 bushels of wheat am Hour In terms of wheat The result of Increased productlm and conservation efforts In the Unltei, States bus been that with the cease tion of hostilities we are able to re turn to n normal wheat diet. Supplies that have accumulated in Australia Argentine and other hitherto Inacces slble markets may be tapped by ships released from transport service, and European demand for American wheal probably will not exceed our normal surplus. There Is whaut enough nvnll able to have a, white loaf at the com mon table. But last year the tale was different Only by the greatest possible savin: and sacrifice were we able, to keep i steady stream of wheat and flour inov ing across the sen. We fouud our selves at the beginning of the harvest year with an unusually short crop. Even the most optimistic statisticians figured that we had a bare surplus of 20,000,000 bushels. And yet Europe was facing the probability of n bread famine and In Europe bread Is by far the most Important article In the-diet. All of this surplus had left the country early in the fall. By the first of the year we had managed to ship a little more thon 50,000,000 bushels by practicing the utmost economy nt home by whcutless days, whentless meals, heavy substitution of other cereals and by sacrifice at almost every meal throughout the country. In January the late Lord Rhonddn, then British Food Controller, cabled that only If we sent an additional 75, 000,000 bushels before July 1 could he take the responsibility of assuring his people that they would be fed. The response of the American peo ple was 85,000,000 bushels safely deliv ered overseas between January 1 and July 1. Out of n harvest wh'ch ge us only 20,000,000 bushels surplus we actually shipped 141,000,000 bushels. Thus did America fulfill her pledge that the Allied bread rations could be maintained, and already the American people are demonstrating that, with an awakened war conscience, laet year's figures will be bettered. E" . Our exports since is country I entered the war have Justified a statement made by tho Food Ad- ministration shortly after its con- eeption, outlining the principles fr and policies that would govern the solution of this country's food problems. "The whole foundation of de- mocracy," declared the Food Ad- ministration, "lies In the lndl- vldual Initiative of Its peopk and their willingness to serve the f Interests of the nation with com- plete self effacement In the time of emergency. Democracy can yield to discipline, and we can ! solve this food problem for our own people and for the Allies In this way. To have done so will hnvv been a greater service than our Immediate objective, for we have demonstrated the rightful- ncss of our faith and our ability to defend ourselves without be- Ing Prussianized." T Creatures of Habit. The Olean (N. Y.) Times headlines It this way: "Twins Born Seven Times In One Street." The news fills us with amazement and tempts us to philosophize. Amazement, because twins should like being born so well lhat they repeat the act seven times; tr philosophise on the force of habit which makes them continually choose the same street as tho scene of their natal encores. It seems to us that If we were twins with an Incurable birth habit, we should desire u bit of vari ety. Having been born once In Olenn, we should yearn for some different place for our next debut; we should try to be born In China, In France, In Salamanca, In Cattaraugus, iq Indiana, t Aurora Pond. Cleveland Plain Dealer. Obermendig, Germany, Dec. 7.5, '18. Friend Colonel: It has been some time since I have written you, so here goes. Today is Xmas, to the Germans and people in the States, but to the soldiers of the Army of Occupation, it is just a holiday. It snowed last night for the first time, so that makes it seem a little more like Christmas, But when we tret home we'll celebrate all the Holidays we've missed and some more besides. I have forgotten where I was when I wrote you last, but anyway I have done a lot of traveling and all of it in the Holt mail routej My Division went on the front the 1 nt of June and was under shell firpalmost continuous ly till the nniifir We were on the Marne near Chateau Thierry on July 15th when the big show opened and we followed.it on around to the St. Mihiel drive, which wasn't nearly as bad, be cause the Bosche either surrendered or run like H . And then we were sent to the Verdun front and the Argonne Woods This was about the worst place of all. Every foot of ground we gained meant a lot of hard fighting. I have been close to the Athena boys in the HKth but have never had a chance to see them. I was able to see the work they did on the Marne. and believe me, if any of the Athena boys were pulling the lanyard, you can bet she has her full quota. I guess most of the boys will beat me home, as 1 am in the Regulars and liable to stay over here for some time yet. Well, the whistle just blew and the "chow hounds" are lining up for the Xmas dinner, which consists mostly of the famous "corn Willie" so must close and line up. We are stationed in a small village near Coblentz, Germany, on the Rhine. Pvt. John L. Wall, H. Q. Co., 88th Inf. John encloses the program of a "Real honest-tO'goodness American Minstrel Show, staged directed and played by members of Headquarters Company, 8th Inf, 'R.oq!J.o, the Marne Rgt.' " on Christmas -Bw, of which he was a member of the chorus. serbillig. Stayed there four or five days and Tuesday morning started on our way again That night stopped at Batsburg, next night at Budesheim, and. last night landed here. Sam F. Starr, Bat. D, 118 F. A. Sam Slarr Tells of Movements. Walsdorf, Germany, Dec. 18, '18 Since the Armistice has been signed the censorship is not so rigid, so will try to tell you something of what we have been doing. On Jan, 23, 1918, at a a. in., we left Camp Merritt and loaded on the S. S. Baltic, at Hoboken, N. J., and early in the morning of the 28rd we slid out of the harbor and be gan making our way to Halifax. There we joined a British convoy and began our course to England. We landed at Liverpool on the morning of the nth of Feb., the day after the Tuscania was sunk. I don't know how true it is, but it is said that the torpedo struck our ship first and glanced off, then struck the Tuscania. Irvin Cobb wbb on the Baltic. From Liverpool we went by train to Winchester and were there a few days for rest, then we went to Southampton and crossed the channel on the Prince George. At Havre, France, we had a few more days rest then we took a box car ride to Camp De Sauge, near Bor deaux. There we got our big 6-Inch long range guns. They will shoot about ii miles and only neigh 17 tons. The i'liilh have small Holt caterpillars but the 148th have large Renault trac tors. Our Regiment Iibb more than 110 motor driven machineB. Frorr DeSauge we made a short move to Costillon and did convoy duty until we were ready for the Front. OnJuly.4th, we went to Libourn and loaded out for the front, and on the evening of the seventh We took up a position Bouth of Chateau Thierry, on the evening of the 8th we fired our first shot st the enemy. We were in the drive there until Aug 11, When we were at Chehery Chateau, we were ordered to the rear. We then made a Another Letter From Bat. D. Wasserbillig, Germany. Dec. 6 'li. We Athena hoys are all getting along fine We are following the Huns up aa fast as they vacate. I guess we have seen France for the last time. The people here are German,, but they treat us fine. We are billetted in hojusea with them, we occupy one patt of ths house and they another. Luxemburg is a neutral country, and gets all tieir provisions from Germany, therewe they had to do about as Germany said, so the people tell us here, and that Germany starved them almost to death and they sure show it. Luxemburg M a small country, not larger than Urn; tilla county. This is a very rich cm try, and the most civilized we bav seen since we left the States. Then are some great farms here and it is great mining country for coal and ifoi Verdun was the last large town cams through in France. It is cl to the line where the Germans held tor four years and they say there were ly 34 hoir that were not shelled by the Germans. It wbb a large city and there is hardly a house left stapling. There is an underground town in this city and it is sure a sight to see the trains and everything underground. They had large ammunition plants un der there and our trains got their ammunition lrom there while we were on thst front. Wasserbillig is at the mouth of the Moselle river. We have been on the road five days and have several days to go yet. We are headed for Co blentz, on the Rhine. The German line is just scrosB the river from where we are now. We can see the Prussian Guards walking along the bank of the river, but that doesn't bother us any. We have troops in Germany a long ways now and they are still going. They are rather slow in di awing their tmops back, but it takes time; and we are not going to allow them' to re organize and give ub any trouble, so we ere keeping close behind them. I will give you a little history of tbe Front. I had some narrow escapes but never i: hit. I have a couple of pieces of ehrapnel that struck in a tree just over my head about a foot. We were in one position for about four weeks at a town called Nantellois, near the Argonne Woods. The Huns shelled us every day and night and it Bure got on our nerves. One could hear most of them coming but couldn't tell where they were going to hit, so it gets one's goat. Ed and I had one pretty cloBe shave. We were in the recoil pit between the trailers of the gun when a large shell hit about ten feetfform us. It nearly buried us but didn't hurt ub, but scared us out of a year's growth. Some of the pieces hit the gun and put five holes nearly through the barrel. We had to take it back of the lines and get it fixed up. It took us three weeks. Then we went to the front again. The Huns were sure H to get out of the Argonne Woods. On Hallowe'en night we sure did dump over the furniture. We opened up over 2500 guns and the ground after the barrage looked like it had been plowed. You never saw the like of dead horses and Huns. They tried to get away, but no chance. The Infant ry captured a lot of prisoners as well as a lot of horses and guns. Our Bat talion was the advance battalion of the regiment so about 12 o'clock the next night we had to go. We traveled for a long wayB. were two days catching up. Then we went into position in a small v alley, the Infantry just ahead of us a little way and the Huns were pretty 1 1 & mi ' "Sou. , ' t I: r -J 1 I tna cm. vi, v tn Hnlixpfritirt ftnuth (if Toul, we went into billets there and cloBe. ony bout "ix hundred yarda, staved onlv u few days then were te- 80 vou 8ee we were Pty close for dered back to the front. We went to n.eav,y artillery. We were ahead of St. Mihiel an! started them off there and followed them as far as Limay. Then we went to the Verdun front and were at La Clair when' the big drive started on Sept. 25. From there we moved up to Esnes. but did not fire from there. Then D. Bat. began flirt ing with disaster. We pulled our guns to Nantillois, about three or four hun dred yards behind our line of defense. We were there 211 dayB and under shell fire most of the time. NantilloiB is about three miles north of Montfuu con. Next we took a position beween Ain creville and Clery Le Grand, about two and a-helf miles from Dun-Sur-Meuae. We were there when the armistice was signed. Then we went back to Bler court and were there until Dec. 2nd, when we started on our way to Ger many. The first night out we stopped at Piennes, the next day went to Kchifflinger, Luxemburg, near Etch; the light artillery. We fired at a very low elevation at first The next day we went over to Bee what damage our shells had (tone. It uas an awful sight it sure was a slaughter. We were firing into a town calledfDun-eur-Meuse on the Meuse river. They left everything behind and traveled. There we saw a slaughter house where they had plenty of horse meat hanging on the hooks, and also several dogs. So you see they were getting pretty low on eats. We hope to be home before long. We won't see rrance any more, but expect to embark from Holland. Well, this will be all the history for tonight. Harry Keller. Bat. D, 148 F. A Harry also gives a very Interesting account of how the people of Luxeni- burg fared and were treated by the Germans, durinir tha war which will were there two days then went to Wan- J appear ia the Frero later. ' :