WEATHER Maximum yesterday, 37; minimum' today, 32.; precipitation, .OS. FORECAST Tonight and Tomorrow, partly cloudy.
EDFOl
Forty-sixth Year.
Dally Klevonth Yonr.
ffiDPORD, ORKCIOST, SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1917
NO. 299
BRITISH POOR GATHER COAL IN BAGS AND GO-CARTS
GILL POCKETED
T
SUIT, TO FORCE
1 rvK
ARMEDSHPSTO
in win
DEFENDANTS IN
ON
POISON PLOT ASK BRIBE WITHOUT
TRIALBYORDEAL A 'THANK YOU'
AT SUBMARINES
ITOISSLTIN
Mere Appearance of Periscope in
' Presence of Armed American Mer
chant Vessel Entitles That Ship to
Take All Measures of Precaution
That U-Boat's Purpose Is Hostile.
WASHINGTON, March 10. Tin
more appearance of a German subma
rine or its periscope in the presence
of nu American armed merchant ves
sel would entitle that ship, according
to state department opinion today, to
take all measures of protection on
the presumption that the '-boat's
purpose was hostile.
Under this ruling," an American
aimed merchantman could fire on a
Geimnn submarine the moment it is
sighted, without being considered ns
taking aggressive nclion. This view
is based on fiormun.v's declared in
tention to sink on sight within certain
zones nil vessels, neutral as well ns
belligerent, and ( whether passenger
vessels, freighters or contraband car
riers. Presence Means Hostility.
The United States was said to
stand flatly on its nrmed merchant
men warning of March 27, last, in
which it definitely recognized the
right to prevent capture as part of
the "right of self-possession, which
could be exercised either by flight or
resistance.
The mere presence of n German
submarine is declared ground for as
suming hostile intent because of the
deliberate statement by Germany that
all vessels are to be sunk on sight
Denial by Germany of the old rule of
visit and search makes all its U-boat!
actually hostile.
The consensus of opinion in diplo
malic quarters was that the United
States was nearer to war with Ger
many than at any time within its his
tory. Navy to Kquip Ships.
Navy yards were ordered today to
C(uip the vessels as fast as pnssi
blc and the nclion will put the United
States in the position of armed ncu
tralily, the next step beyond the sev
erance of diplomatic relations with
Germany and possibly the preliminury
of war. What, ships are to bo armtd
first and when they will sail, will be
kept secret in order to avoid endun
gering the lives of Americans aboard
them.
President Wilson issued the neces
sary orders yesterday in the belief
that he has ample executive power
without spcciul authorization from
congress. Simultanously, however, he
called congress to meet in spcciul ses
sion April l(i, to be in position to sup
port him if necessary.
ilYeparo for Defense.
Preparations for defending Ameri
can merchant vessels had already
been taken by the government and
actual work of equipping the vessels
only awaited the navy department'
nppioval of applications from shi
owners. In the various navy yards
along the Atlantic coast are stored
guns, ummunition and other neces
sary equipment ready for installa
tion.
In official circles today confidence
was .expressed that Secretary Tlnn-
iel's appeal to newspapers not to seek
nor nublish specific, news of the arm
ing and sailings of American mer
chantmen would be observed. A sim
ilar appeal was made to telegraph and
cable companies.
"The best news the ridcrs can
have,"' said the secretary, "is that
the government will protect the rights
of America to the freedom of the
seas. The publication of details can
serve no good purpose and might
jeopardize human life."
FLORENCE, S. C, March 10.
tight officers of the steamship iLieb
enfels, sunk til Charleston harbor
the night of January 31 last, today
were sentenced to a year In the Atlan
ta federal penitentiary and to pay
a fine of $500 each. They were
convicted yesterday of sinking a ves
sel In a navigable stream In violation
ot the navigation laws.
Southern Pacific Does Not Have to
Sell Its Control of Central Pacific
According to Decision of Federal
Court No Evidence to Support
Petition of Government.
NEW YORK, March II). The
Southern Pacific company announced
here today receipt of advices that the
United States circuit court of ap
peals at St. Louis had rendered a de
cision in favor of the Southern Paci
fic in the suit of the government to
compel the company to sell its control
of the Central Pacific.
The opinion in tho ease was written
bjf Judgo Hook, it was said, Judge
Sanborn concurring. Judge Curlin
dissented.
VIoIiiUmI Slicrnnui Iiivw.
Tho suit was brought in February'
11)1 J, the government alleging that the
operation of the two roads under the.
same management resulted in a viola
tion of the Sherman law and of what
)s known as the Pacific railroad law
passed by congress in lSli'J, designed
to provide continuous connected lines
from the Missouri river to the Pa
cific coast with equal advantage to
all other roads.
"Conditions complained of by the
government had been 'in existence for
over thirty years," said J. P. Blair,
general counsel of the Southern Pa
cific, in commenting upon the decis
ion. "The communities which would
have been injured if a violation of
the Sherman law was involved had
never complained and testified that
they were perfectly satisfied and the
Union Pacific which would have been
aggrieved if there should have been
a violation of the Pacific railroad act
had never complained and were per
fectly satisfied. "
No Kvidenco Offered.
SALT LAKE CITY, March 10.
States government in its suit to com
pel the Southern Pacific to sell its
coal rol in the Central Pacific rail
road, sets forth that the two roads''
were operated on a continuous lino
and that all the requirements regard
ing trains, schedules, freight and pas
senger service had been met. As a
result, ihe decision, a copy of which
was received here today by Clerk
JcXin W. Christy of the federal court
in this city from St. Louis, where the
I decision was made, states there is no
evidence to support the petition ot
the government. The decision was
not n unanimous one, Judge C. C. Car
land dissenting. The decision of Judge
Carland is to the effect that the su
preme court of the United States had
decided a similar case, to wit : The
t'nion Pacific and the Southern Pa
cific, thereby preventing a merger.
KRV YORK, March 10. Max
Wex, a native of Hamburg, is under
arrest here charged with swindling
Germans in different part of the
country by means of a machine said
to be capable of reproducing pucr
currency. The police say they have
complaints 1'roiu Germans in New
York, St. Louis, Cincinnti, Chicago
and other places.
Frank Sternberg of this city told
the police that Wex assured hiin that
he had been sent out by the German
government on a mission to entangle
the currency in this country so that
there would be more paper money in
circulation than there was gold to se
cure it. '
WASHINGTON, March 10. Pres
ident Wilson practically had recov
ered today from tho cold which has
kept him in bed for the last four
days. While he remained In his
room this morning it was expected
he would he able to atend to public
business. He bad no engagements
today.
nnrninriiT nrnnwrnn
FROM SFVFRF mi n OCCASIONAL RAINS
LULU FOR COMING WEEK
The picture shows tho difficulty In Kngland in gottlug coill for the home. Poor and rich alike arc forced
to carry their own coal, the rich In automobiles, the poor in 'bags and go-carts. This picturo was taken at Nat
tersea, ,
T
NKW YOKK, Miirch 10 Tho Km
.m'jjtmry Pence federation boji'an an
organized rumpiniiu today to keep Hie
United States out of war with Ger
many. Prominent pacif'iets have been
summoned here to direct the move
ment. More than ,$4000 has been
raised to meet the cost. The money
was subscribed last nijrht at a mass
meeting. Mrs. J. Serjeant Tram,
headed the list of pledges with $1000.
Hcsolutions were adopted declaring
that the country could not allow its
self to be drawn into the war nor
enter upon relations of "veiled hos
tilities likely to lead to war".
The resolution advocated the np
pottment of a "joint Iu'liIi commission"
to endeavor to settle the questions at
issue between this country and Ger
many and urged President Wilson to
summon all the great powers to dis
cuss plans for peace.
A message from "William J. Bryan,
read at the meeting slated Mr. Bry
an's opinion that "an overwhelming
majority' of the American people
favor keeping Americans off bellig
erent ships and would exclude arms
and ammunition from all American
and neutral ships onrrymg passengers
between the United States and Eu
rope." Mr. Bryan said he did not be
lieve ihe government should arm ves
sels carrying munitions.
IS ORDERED CO!
Judge Calkins oMhe circuit court
Friday afternoon handed down a de
cision on the motion to strike (nil
portions of the complain! filed in the
case of Charles T). Colby vs. the City
of Mcdford, Ihe suit to test the valid
ity of the Hanson plan and the right
of the city to sell bonds under that
plan.
The motion to strike out was filed
by city attorney Krcd Wears, so Hint
the complaint filed be freed of all hut
the main issues so Hint in event the
case is carried to the supreme court
the amount of matter to he handled
will be kept down to the minimum.
The decision of Judge Calkins elim
inates about ton of tho allegations
from the complaint and parts of
others, reducing the complaint about
five pages. t
II. K. McCaho, attornev for the
plaintiff will file nu amended com
plaint the first of next week which
will be answered by Mears later in
the week.
WASHINGTON', March 30. The
weather predictions for the week be
ginning Sunday, March 11, issued by
the weather hureaii today, are:
"Pacific states: Generally fair in
California and occasional rains in
Washington nnd Oregon: tempera
tures near seasonal iioruiul,-'
,
IAN RELIEF
SUNK BY U-BOAT
LONDON, Inarch 10, Official in
formation was receivou bore today to
the effect that tho Norwegian steam
er Storstad, a Belgian relief ship,
which had one Amerieun citizen on
hoard, had been sunk by a submarine.
Tho steamship Storstad was a Bel
gian relief ship which was bringing
a cargo of -wheat from liuenoH Ayres.
On entering tho &uhmariii3 zono tho
Stortad is reported to have been or
dered to put into Latv Palmas, Can
ary islands, as she was without
German safe conduct, but evidently
her commander determined to risk
continuation of the voyage by the
northerly route. The steamer, tj 02 S
tons gross, sailed from Buenos Ayres
on January 13.
Twenty-seven members of the crew
including the American, havo been
landed. Ono memher of t ho crew
died from cxposuro and others are
missing. It is stated officially that
the Storstad was flying tho flag of
tho American commission for relief
in Belgium and bore the marks des
ignated for the relief ships.
The London office of tho 'commis
sion states that the Storstad carried
10,000 tons of maize, which was need
ed badly in Belgium, where the short
age as a result of the detention of
grain cargoes will soon ho felt e
verely. Tho Stovstad was ordered to leave
Las Palmas on February 111. Slio
took on coal at Gihraitar and her
master was instructed to proceed to
Rotterdam by the northerly route.
ECHAft
HKItl.IN, .March 10. IrWlan
troops in the Champagne attacked the
German lines near 1'rosnes yesterday.
Today's war office announcement
says the Russians penetrated German
tronches at some points but were sub
soquently driven out. South of lti
pont in the Champagno new fight
ing developed without important re
sult. The French fallod In an at
tack on the Verdun front.
The statement reads: '
"Western front: South of the
Avro tho Krcnch attacked portions ot
our trenches near Lnucourt and
south of Crapoaninennil. They were
defeated In ham; to hand fighting.
Twelvo prisoners remained in our
hands.
"East of Ithelms our raiding de
tachments brought hark 11 men
from the hostile lines, in tho west
ern Champagne, on both sides of
Prosnes, Hessians led by French of
ficers advanced against our posi
tions. The detachmentH which en
tered In some placeB were driven off
by a counter attack.
"South of Itlpont, west of Cham
pagne Fe, which has Beveral times
change In the situation. Fifty-five
veloped which led to no Important
clianeg in the situation. Fifty-five
prisoners were rutaiucd there.
SLAVS TAKE BIJAR
LONDON, March 10. Tho nrltlsh
troops in Mesopotamia on Thursday
wer.o engaging Turkish forces which
wore holding the Dlala river lino, six
miles below liugdad, In some strength
it was announced officially.
riJTItOGR.M), March 10. An of
ficial stateaient issued today on tho
operations in western Persia say:
"In the direction of Bljar tho Rus
sians took tho town of Senen and
tho Turkish positions in tho vicin
ity." PARIS, March 10. Violent fight
ing occurred in the Champagne fast
night in consenuenco of a Gorman
attempt to recapture the ground won
by tho French between Rutto du
Mosnil and Malsons do Champagno.
Today's official statement says that
after several desperate chargos had
hen made with alternate advances
and retreats tho French succoodod
In holding all tho ground they had
gained and ill making fresh progress.
On tho Verdun front tho Germans
attacked tho trenches recaptured by
the French north of Caurieres wood.
They penetrated those positions at
some points but were ojected by a
counter attack.
Tho French continued their raids,
penetrating the Gorman positions
cast, of Ainiancourt as far as tho
third trenches nnd taking prisoners
near Crouy, northeast of Kolssons.
10 JUSTiFY LEVY
LONDON, March 10. Official an
nouncement was made hero today
that Austria Hungary has issued a
proclamation to the Albanians stat
ing that It has granted autonomy to
A 1 l)iin i;i under Its protectorate. In
fluential Albanians have puhlishcd
from Salikl. the statement savs. a
protest saying the Austrian procla
mation useless because it Is directed
toward a country, which alreadv In
dependent, has declared war on the
enemies of the entente.
The purpose of the Vienna govern
ment in issuing this nrhrlmnnHnii
the statement says, is ohvionsly to
justify the levy of men for Its armies.
Aftor the occupation of Serbia nnd
Montenegro by troops of the central
over wfth ,tho exception of tho sec
tion In tho south below Avlona which
is still htld by tho Italians. Kssad
Pasha, provisional president of Al
bania, served with tho Turkish army
early In tho war, but later left It and
declared war on tho central powers.
WHITE STAR LINER
ADRIATIC ARRIVES
Ni:' YOKK, March 10. -The
White Star line steam-hip Adriatic
from Liverpool, will arrive at fpiarun
tine this afternoon, according to a
wireless message received from Ihe
captain.
Mohammedan Lawyer Defending
Women Accused of Having Con
spired to Poison Lloyd-George
Asks Defendants Be Permitted to
Walk Over Hot Plow Shares.
LONDON, March 10. Mrs. Allco
Wheeldon, her daughtor, Mrs. Wini
fred Mason, nnd tho hitter's husband,
Alfred George .Mason, wero found
guilty today of conspiracy to murder
Premier Lloyd George and Arthur
Henderson, member of the war coun
cil. Miss Harriet Ann Wheeldon,
another daughter of Mrs. Wheeldon,
who also was tried ,on the same
charge was acquitted.
Mrs. Wliochlon was sentenced to
HI years penal servitude. A sentence
of seven yarn's was imposed upon Al
frcd Mason, while his wife was given
five years penal servitude.
LONDON, March 10. In nn elo
quent and vigorous speech today In
slimming up tho case of th"e four pris
oners on trial charged with conspir
ing to murder Lloyd George and Ar
thur Hondorson, momber of tho coun
cil, S. 11. rtl-,a, tho Mohammedan
luwyof who Is acting as attorney for
the defendants, startled the court
room by suggesting a trial by ordeal.
Ho rofcrred to tho medieval of form
of judicial trial In which in place ot
evidence supernatural aid is invoked,
as In a test by fire, water, poison or
other agencies.
Attornoy Rlza bad boon endeavor
ing to Impress tho jury with tho al
leged sinister significance of the fall
uro of the crown to produce a certain
witness against the four defendants,
Mrs. Alice Wheeldon, lior two daugh
ters and Alfred George Mason, hus:
hand of ono of the daughtors. This
porson he said was a "man who
should have been 'II:: principal wit-
loss, namely tho mysterious Becret
government agent known as Gordon,
laired on lly Hpy.
Tho attorney declured tho ninu was
a police spy who had Blurted the
whole plot, who had lured the do
fondants on and then when ho had
got them well within his not had
handed them over to another agent
named Booth, bo that his own con
nectlon with tho caso would not bo so
flagrantly apparent.
"Why wasn't It posslblo for Gor
don to como Into court nnd face the
jury?'' asked t(jo lawyer, "llecnuso
from him," he continued, "tho jury
would have drawn a very different
version of tho caso. Tho case rests
wholly on the evidence of Booth, who
moroovor, was allowed to rend the
whole of bis evidence In tho absence
of this mysterious Gordon tills trial
la not a trial.
"Heforo tho Jury commits tho de
fendants it should Insist on the pro
duction of Gordon In tho Interests of
the public and the safely of tho coun-
try." .
Then after a long and impressive
pauso Attorney Rl.a suddenly said:
Ask Trial by Ordeal.
"Ill tho absence of Gordon I would
suggest that the defendants should
havo a trial by ordeal."
Tho judgo was puzzled and said:
"I fear that would ho Impossible.
It has been abolished. Do you se
riously suggest the hollos should walk
over hot ploiigshnres in order to
prove their Innonccm c?"
lilza: "I do."
Tho judge: "It ls in ns submit
ting such a suggestion. You aro not
serious."
Itlza: "1 do sorioiisly suggest It."
FINISHED STEEL
I'lTTSIU'UO, March lO.-Compi-lation
today of the advances in the
price of finished steel as announced
by I'itlshurg mills the past few days
show the following increases:
Merchant liars $7 a ton to ;.'.n
per hundred pounds; structural iron
7 per ton to .fil.liil per hundred
pounds and plates $15 to $1.50 per
hundred pounds. Light mils were ad
vanced $5 n ton. The market, au
thorities declare, is sold to the limit .
with Ihe exception, of course, of gov
ernment requirements, r
PRICESADVANCED UNFILLED STEEL ORDERS :
Billinijsley Never Took a Receipt or
Gave Marked Money Planned to
Pay $7,500, But When Mayor Was
Satisfied With Less, Let It Go
Loaned Sheriff $500,
. , , i
SKATTLK, Wash., March 10.
"Mayor Gill didn't even say 'thank
you.' lie just picked up the $4,000
roll of bills like a box of matches,"
testified Lop;un Billingsloy, chief wit
ness for the United Stntos govern
ment in the so-called liquor graft
trials when ho was cross-examined
this morning concerning his alleged
payment on August 30, Inst, to Mayor
Hiram C. Gill for protection of Bil-
lingsley's liquor bill. " '
Mayor Gill, Chief of Police Charles
fj. Bockinghain, former Sheriff Rob
ert T. I lodge and City Detectives Pey
ser, I'oolman, Doom and McLennan
aro on trial in the United States dis
trict court, charged with conspiracy
to viohito the federal laws by import
ing liquor into tho sluto of Washing
ton. , Jn answer to questions by counsel
lor the defense liillitigsley said:
"The mayor Hlnrted to put tho roll,
which was half us thick as n man's
ankle, into his pants pocket, biit
changed his mind and placed it in his
sido coat pocket. The Mayor then
left the office of the chief of po
lice, where tho money had been paid.
didn't want hiin tu stay; I wnnted
lo go, too."
Counsel for Gill asked him how ho
camo to pass tho money to Gill on
such short acquaintance Billingsley
having sworn that he had never met
.(till, until lho .. day of thn, bribed''.
Tho witness 'replied: "I'm a pretty
good authority on how to give n man
monoy; I havo had a good denl of
experience; I havo paid a lot of
money." . .. .,
"Didn't you ask tho mayor for a
receipt?" asked Gill's eounsol. '
"I have never taken or given a re
ceipt in matters of this kind," ro
plicd Billingsley. . .
"Was the money marked f ;
"I never gavo nn officer or nn of
ficial marked money in my life," ro
plied tho wilhncss with emphasis.
Willing to Pay $70(10.
The witness was nsked how ho
camo to offc'f .$4,000 to Gill. Ho re
plied: "I fc-as willing to pay him
di7,500. My attorney advised me to
offer $7,500. My brothers wanted me
to offer $7,f0(), and I had that sura
rcudy. It is bad policy to offer a
man less than he will take. I did not
regard Gill as a cheafi man, but I
l"ok a chance with $4,000 and the
mayor accepted. I felt well pleased
with the deal I had made."
Counsel for 1 lodge questioned Bil
lingsley concerning the contribution
of $1,000 Billingsley swore on direct
examination ho had mudo toward
Hodge's campaign fund, nnd the loan
of $500 he hail made lo Hodge. Bil
lingsley replied :
"1 made tho contribution to tho
campaign fund ns all contributors to
campaign funds inuke their contribu
tions as an investment. I nsked
friends about 1 lodge's chances of get
ting Ihe republican noniinulion for
governor, and they told mo the
chances were good, and I gave $1,000
to the fund, voluntarily. I loaned
$500 to 1 lodge, which I suppose ho
used in his campaign. Ho told mo
ho was hard up. Hodge and I never
discussed my business, and there was
no suggestion or ngrooincnt that ho
was to help me in my business. I
have met llodgc only two or'three
limes. The sheriff's office has little
Ifi dfi wilh (ho liquor business .here,
there being only five or six deputy
sheriffs in Seattle."
NUW YOKK, March 10. Tho un
filled orders of the United States
Steel corporation 1'ebrunry 28 wore
1 1,570,01)7 tons, breaking all previous
records. Tho figures showed nn in
creaso of 102,013 Ions over ihe re
port for January 31, Inst.
The previous high record was that
for December 31, 1010, when the nn
filled orders slood at 11,547,280
Ions.
BREAK RECORDS