Medford mail tribune., May 22, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

Forty-seventh Year.
Dally Twelfth Year,
Separatist Agitation Culminates in
Resolutions Favoring Secession
and Re-establishment of Grand
Duchy Sharp Comment Evoked in
Russia Authority Denied.
IIELSIXGFOKS, Finland, Monduy,
May 21. A congress of the Swedish
political party, representing a major
ity of Finland's wealthiest and most
influential classes, yesterday passed
a resolution favoring a complete
separation of the grand ; duchy of
Finlnnd from Russia.
The resolution reads :
"The Finnish people has progress
ed so far in cultural and political de
velopment that Finland is entitled to
make a demand to take htr place as
an independent state amour, the num
ber of sovereign nations. "i
Separatist Agitation.
This radical resolution is only the
latest development of the tepaiatist
agitation which started after the rev
olution which is occasioning anxiety
in Petrograd and bringing ou: sharp
comment in the Russian press.!
The agitation began when Finland's
pow premier, M. Tokoi, a social dem
ocrat in. a speech in paVliament used
an expression implying that Russia
had ceased to be a suzerain power
and had become a friendly neighbor
and possible ally. The temporary
government in 1'etiogiad, in restor
ing the Finnish constitution on
March 20, claimed that the new Rus
sian government had succeeded to all
the rights of the former Emperor
Nicholas as grand duke, but the Ilel
sjngf'ors parliament during the debate
on the food bill last week declared it
H-m npc-lo question whethor tho
claim of the temporary government
was correct and whether, therefore,
that government had inherited the
former emperor's rights to sanction
Finnish parliamentary acts or refus
ed its sanction to them.
Awaits Xational Assembly.
In addition, the Finnish govern
ment has suggested to Russia the im
mediate passage of measures in
creasing Finland's present measure
of independence, but the temporary
government holds .that this action
must await the meeting of the con
stituent assembly to draw up a eon
stitittion for the whole empire.
Although some members of the
Swedish parties and of the socialist
group oppose the independence claims
as premature and as likely to cause
irritation in Russia, the only party
solidly opposing the independence
parliament is the old Finnish party,
, which always has been persistently
opposing such a move.
Prominent aiming the advocates of
complete Finnish independence is
Professor Erich, who declares that
Finland attained absolute indepen
dence by the fact of the revolution
when the revolution occurred, adding
that Finland's future relations with
Russia would depend exclusively up
on the will of the Finnish people and
Could bo regulated only by voluntary
,l'inno-I!nssian treaties of an inter
national character. ,
y
NEW YOU K, May 22. The Jewish
Daily Forward received n cablegram
from its correspondent in Petrograd
today suyinJhul an unsuccessful at
tempt was made to assassinate War
Minister Kerensky, The dispatch
reads:
"An attempt on the life of War
Minister Kerensky was made just
now. Kerensky escaped. All the
participants arreted. Rumors that
the plot was arranged by the sup
porters of the old regime.
COPKXHA(iKX, May 22. Three
Swedish steamers the I.uzic. the fio
eta and the lviell, have been captur
ed and taken to a tiernian port, a--cording
to advices received lv the
Polttken from Stockholm today.
FINNS SEEKING
INDEPENDENCE
FROM RUSSIA
MEDFORB
KAlStR FEARS HIS PEN
Maximilian HaRDELN
One of Ijio mightiest wciiioiis
against liiscrism in Germany is the
(ten of Maximilian Harden, editor of
the Zttkunft. The kaiser fears this
daring journalist may prove his Nem
esis, but docs not dare to stop his
pen from writing seathiiLg articles
RECENT DECREE OF
KIO JANEIRO, Hay 22. Presi
dent Braz has sent a message to con
gress recommending the revocation
of the decree of neutrality in the war
between the United States and Ger
many. Congress is expected to ac
cept the recommendation by a large
majority.
The message declares that the or
der to the Brazilian authorities en
Joining the observance of neutrality
was only intended to have effect until
congress met. It continues:
"Today, in consideration of the fact
that the United States is an integral
part of the American union, in con
sideratton also of the traditional pol-
licy of Brazil which has always been
governed by a complete unity of view
with the United States and 'finally In
consideration of the sympathies of a
great majority of the Bazilian nation,
the administration invites congress
to revoke the decree of neutrality.'
BRILLIANT ATTACK,
immik
(From a Staff Coitii
BocinU'd
ipmnient of the As-
1'rt'SH.)
WITH THE FRENCH A If MIES ON"
THE FRENCH FRONT, May 22
While the (lemmas were throwin
musses of men ngmnst the French
positions along the C'hcmin )
Dames, only to Buffer defeat with
terrific losses, the French effected an
attack in the Moronvilliercs section
and drove the Germans from some of
their strongest positions. The French
plans were brillianllv conceived and
executed vlthoul a hitch. Their ob
jective was most difficult ; a hilly
ran'e filled with deep caverns af
forded shelter to hundreds of men
and machine guns, hut the French
infantry stormed the heights of
Casque and Telon, respectively 7HII
and 7.VI feet in height, and carried
them with a rush, while other col
umns captured the trenches lining the
northern slopes of Mount Carnillet.
The result of these operation
jives the French a commanding view
on their hit. The value placed on
the possession of these hill- is shown
by the violence of the (iennan coun
ter attacks, in the course of the
early morning, which everywhere
broke down. They left more than
Mlrt prisoners in the hands uf the
French, while hundreds of bodies,
strew the ground and he in the cav
trnouii shelters.
pjy5 'till
? f I
WEATIIER Maximum yesterday, 67;
MEDFORD
SLOWLY YIELD
BEFORE ALLIES
Terrific Pounding Gradually Wearing
Germans Down Policy of Sudden
Thrusts Abandoned for Steady
Hammering Crisis in Russia Con
tinues Acute.
LONDON. May 2.2. "We made
successful raids last night northeast
of Epehy and during the night east
of Bullecourt, south of the Arras
Cambrai road and west of Lens," says
today's war office report.
"Yesterday afternoon we destroyed
a large German ammunition dump on
the Arras-Cambrai road noreaat of
Queant. The shock of the explosion
was felt at great distances behind our
lino."
PAIIIS, May 22. Three separate
counter attacks by the Germans on
positions captured yesterday by the
French were repulsed last night, ac
cording to an official statement Issued
by yio French war office this morn
ing.. The number of prisoners taken
by the French yesterday was 1000.
Germans Slowly Yielding.
The German armies in France are
slowly yielding under the terrific
pounding to which they are subjected
day and night. In the belief that
soon the iron German ring must eith
er break or crack. The ailed com
manders apparently have abandoned
the policy of sudden thrusts and are
relying on a constant hammering over
a wide front.
Last night's actions on the French
front confirmed French possession of
the commanding high ground won In
the previous night near Moronvll
lleres, In the Champagne; " The Ger
mans thoroly bombarded these new
French positions and then delivered
several infantry attacks, but were un
able to shake the French off and
suffered heavy losses.
Itussin Still Chaotic.
Meanwhile the latest news from
Russia indicates that the crisis In
that country continues acute and the
menace that Russia may either with
draw from the entente or be plunged
Into chaos still throws Its shadows
oyer the future. Rumors are still
persistent that the Russian radicals
are to force Russia's withdrawal from
the entente.
On the credit side of the account Is
the rising tide of Indignation against
Germany in Scandinavia and Spain.
The anti-German faction in Sweden
has been powerfully reinforced by the
action of the Germans In sinking
three Swedish grain ships, In viola
tion of their own agreement to Te
Rpeet the safety of the vessels. Spain
Is still awaiting a reply to her protest
over the sinking of the Spanish steam
er Patricio, also destroyed while sail
ing under a German guarantee and
the tone of the Spanish press Is in
creasingly peremptory In It demand
that Germany be compelled to respect
Spanish rights.
- KAVnlA Bombarded.
SOFIA, May 22. Today's Bulgar
ian war office statement, ofter re
porting artillery actions in various
sections of the Macedonian front, an
nounced that 13 enemy warships bom
barded Kavala while twelve airplanes
dropped bombs on the town. Several
houses in Kavala were destroyed, says
the statement, but no military dam
age was done. One hostile airplane
was shot down.
REPORTED AT LARGE
KEW YORK, May 22. Informs
tlon that the British naval authorities
suspected that a German sea raider
escaped from a German port and was
at largo was brought to America to
day by an arriving Belgian relief
steamship.
The Belgian captain said his vessel
was fired upon by a British cruiser
on May 13 off the north of Scotland.
Tho relief fhlp halted and was exam
ined by the Briton.
The latter explained, thn Belgian
vaptain reported, that the relief ves
sel, which carries four masts, was
mistaken for four-masted raider
which was believed to have left Ger
many under the guise of a merchant
man. 1
TEUTON ARMILS
liiiuinumi today, 39. Forecast: Tonight and tomorrow,
Mail Tribune
OliEOOX, TUESDAY, MAY 22. 1917
MOB AVENGES
GIRLBYBURNING
NEGROTOOEATH
Chained to a Fallen Tree, Tennessee
Negro, 'Who Confesses to Ravish
ing and Beheading Young Girl Is
Soaked In Oil, Strung Up and Set
Afire Girl's Mother Urges Mob.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 22
Chained to a fallen tree nt tho scene
of his crime, Ell Persons, a negro,
who confessed ho killed Antoinette
Rnppal, a young girl, three weeks
ago, was burned to death today by
a mob in the country about ten miles
from Memphis. Afterward the head
was severed from the body and plac
ed on the roadsido nearby, where it
remained several hours.
The mother of the dead girl identi
fied the negro and in a short speech
to the mob urged them to bum the
slayer of her child. She refused,
however, to apply the match.
Chopped Girl's Head Off.
Persons confessed that he had
chopped the girl's head off and im
plicated two other negroes.
A mob estimated nt from 2000 to
3000 saw tho death of the negro.
In preparation for burning, the
body was soaked in oil and afterward
suspended in midair from the limb
of a tree. A torch was then applied
and the body burned fiercely until it
fell to the ground.
Persons repeated his confession
Hint ho killed the child and implicated
two other negroes. Members of the
mob immediately set out in pursuit
of them.
When all was in readiness, Mrs,
Rnppal, mother of the dead girl, was
taken to the bridge, where tho pris
oner was held, and identified him. In
a short speech to the mob she declar
ed she wished Persons to suffer the
tortures he dealt to his victim.
Telephone messages stnte that the
mob has captured Hewitt Ford, n
mute, one of the negroes implicated
by Persons in the murder of the Rap
pal girl, and is on the way to the
scene of the first lynching. He will
be held pending the capture of other
suspects.
BEAN BILL RULED
OFF BALLOT BY
E COURT
SALEM, Or., May 22. The Oropm
supreme court held here today lliat
(lie so-enlled Renn lull was panscd il
legally by ilio Oregon legislature and
issued nn injunction restraining the
clerk of Marion county from putting
it on the ballot to he submitted nt n
state referendum election June 4.
The bill is aimed to force county as
sessors to list on their assessment
rolls the land in the Oregon and Cali
fornia railroad grants.
Circuit Judge Bingham of Salem
recently held (he measure was law
fully enacted nnd hud a place on the
ballot. The action to fnrco the bill
off was brought by the district attor
ney of Marion county.
AN APOLOGY TO J. F. M'CARTHY
In the issue of May 12, 1017, the
Mail Tribune published an article
concerning J. V. McCarthy with ref
erence to certain land transactions
in the Rogue River valley, and to the
effect that Mr. McCarthy had l.ur
ricdly departed from this section.
This article was from news items
furnished by others, and was pub
lished without any thorough investi
gation under the belief that the facts
as they had been given to us and us
therein stated were true.
However, Mr. McCarthy is here and
has returned prepared to show that
his transactions were not irregular,
and insists that the statements con
tained in the article were entirely
unwarranted. The article was ;uh
lished without any malice and with
out any disposition or deaire to either
misstate facts or injure Mr. Mc
Carthy, and the Mail Tribune is glad
at this time to make whatever retrac
tion is necessary to put Mr. Mc
Carthy rife-ht before the public,
COMPROMISE
UPON MAIL TAX
IS AGREED UPON
Rate to Be One and One-Half Cents
Per Pound in First Zone to 8 Cents
in Eighth Zone Amusement Places
to Pay 10 Per Cent on Cash Re
ceipts. WASHINGTON, May 22 A com
promise on the iroposed second-class
mail tax so as to make it from lVa
cents per pound in the first parcel
post zone to 8 cents in the eighth
zone was agreed upon today by the
houso ways and means committee.
Receipts from educational enter
tainments were excluded by the house
from the proposed 10 per cent amuso
ment tax, by a vote of 114 to 1, Rep
resentative Moore of Pennsylvania
opposing. He insisted that it was
unfair that William Jennings lirynn
should receive from $200 to $750 a
nifht for "educational entertain
ments" while the government got
nothing from them.
Ainu-sciiiciit Tax.
No other ehnr.gcs were made in the
amusement tax section.' All amuse
ment places will pay a 10 per cent
tax on their cash receipts and each
person admitted free must pay 5
cents. A tax of 1 cent on each ticket
sold to a child under 12 years, un
less the maximum admission feo is 5
cents, would he charged. Club mem
bers would pay 10 per cent of their
club dues. Entertainments for the
benefit of religious or charitable or
ganizations would bo exempt from
taxation.
The war stamp section, considered
next, was amended so as to exempt
building nnd loan associations oper
ated for tho solo benefit of their
members.
Tax on Playing Cards.
An nmendment proposed by Demo
cratic Leader Kitehin to reduce the
tax on jiluying cards was rejected.
Representative Howard of (leorgia
argued that "society swells" and
"gamblers'' ought to pay the lax of
8 cents a deck in addition to tho 2
cents under the present law. The
house had a little fun out of the in
cident. Mr. Kitehin nnd Mr. Howard
disclaimed any expert knowledge of
cards nnd called on Representative
Ixmgwort lv of Ohio uiid former
Speaker Joe Cannon for expert testi
mony. Representative Mason of Illinois
proposed a tax of 1 cent a pound on
all canned meat, hut it was lost on a
point of order.
The inheritance tax was adopted
without change.
F
PORTLAND, IIMaine, May 22. It
was officially made known that tho
reported presence of a submnrino off
tho Maino coast was being Investi
gated by naval stations.
A patrol scrutiny of these waters
was ordered following a report to
tho naval stations that a periscope
was High ted Into yesterday afternoon
and that at six o'clock last night a
Hiibmarlno was Been running awash
off Machlas.
On tho heels of tboso reports came
tho word today from three lohstcr
fishermen that they had sighted from
two different points whut they Ikj
llcved to bo a (iermnn submarine.
They sighted the craft, they say, off
tho mouth of tho Kennchee river at
9:15 o'clock this morning. The fish
ermen brought tho report to Ilop
pam station. When It was reported
to tho naval officer ho furnished the
Machlas end of tho story and con
firmed tho press reports that an In
vestlgatlon was under way.
It was later unofficialy said that
a coast guard at Cross Island had
sighted the supposed submarine and
watched It for five minutes, when It
submerged.
WASHINGTON. May 22. Tho na
val commander of the Maine district
has forwarded reports of a German
submarine in that vicinity which he
said were so far "without confirma
tion." Investigation Is continuing.
partly cloudy.
DUMMY GERMAN MINE
This innocent, looking diimniv flcr
man soldier was found bv lint-dish
soldiers on the French front. It is
loaded with explosives and anyone
touching it would have, been blown to
pieces. The trick was discovered in
timo.
1 TO PREVENT
SELECTIVE DRAFT
SAN FRAlN'CISCO, May 22.-The
supromo court of California denied to
day a petition to prevent Oakland city
officials from enforcing military reg
istration. Tho petition alleged that
this was in violation of the thirteenth
amendment to tho federal constitu
tion, prohibiting involuntary servi
tude. SAX FRANCISCO, May 22. The
thirteenth amendment to tho federal
constitution, prohibiting involuntary
servitude was Invoked hero today in
the supremo court of California to re
lieve Fedlnand Claudius of Oakland
from military registration.
Walter It. Dunn, counsel for Claud
ius, filed with tho roiirt a petition
asking for a writ of prohibition
against John L. Davfn, mayor of Oak
land, I. V. Cummings, city clerk, and
their subordinates, preventing thorn
from registering Clnudlus, for mili
tary service to which ho was liable
undor tho law.
Tho thirteenth amendment says:
"Nolthor h1 ti very nor hivoluulary
sorvHudo, except as a punishment for
crlino whereof tho party shall have
been convicted, shall exist within the
United States, or nny place subject to
their Jurisdiction."
Claud Iiih, through counsel, holds
that this npplics to him, If he Is forced
to register.
Tho petition was taken under Im
mediate) consideration by tho court.
Kt dKNK, (Jr.. May 'J-. For the
first time in Injury (lie universities
ami colleges nt" Ihc I'tiiled State- nn;
in n position to net in unison, ami ho
long as the war lasts they nre j'niiiLr
to net tnf."'lher with ever-inretiin'.r
effWt ivenefK lo ni-eumplish war
ends, acconlint,' to President ':mii
hell, who in biM-k IVoui Wii-di'miMon,
0. ('., where he represeuled Ihc 1'ni
versitioM of Oregon and Washington
at what he rlinriiHi'rizc n Mm hirg
es( and inot important MHlhcrin ol'
university executives ever held.
Fir-1 steps were (nken ti put into
operation three type of activity
first, cu-operal ion with t ho Red
Crosn; second, the development of
war nnd after-war efficiency courses
in the curriculum, and third, nil nt
tenipt to organize agencies for the
disAcmimilion of correct information
concerning the war and to interpret
itb meauiug.
Uflfvorslly f Oi-Puon ' -Library
y
NO.
L
AS A REPUBLIC
Reform Legislation Enacted Com
prises Income Tax Law, Eight
Hour Law, Labor Union Recogni
tion, Workmen's Compensation and
Educational Extension.
(From a Staff Correspondent of the As
sociated I'resa.)
LISBON', May 22. President Ber
nardino Machado, of Portugal, told
of what tho eliange rrom monarchy to
republicanism had done for Portugal,
Inln an interview today with a repre
sentative of the Associated Press. He
also told of the satisfaction he felt In
having aligned Portugal with the en
tente allies at the outset of the war,
soon ofter he became president.
Speaking of the revolution, he said:
"It was In line with the Bpirlt of
the times, for everywhere the old Idea
of arbitrary authority, oligarchy and
Caesarism, Is giving way."
lie declared that the present gov
ernment Is thoroly representative as
it cornea up from the people Instead
of descending from a few at the top.
Reform Lcjrtslutlon.
As examples of reform legislation,
he pointed to the Income tax law, the
eight-hour law, worUIngmen'B com
pensation nnd the recognition given
lubor unions. In rogard to education
he said: i
"Wo have oven adopted a new form
of education, which we call mobile
schools, in which the teachers travel
about to tho factories to teach women
during hours of leisure. In universi
ties wo had but one under the mon
archy, now we have three."
Tho president roferrod with ap
proval to tho complete separation of
church nnd state which had beon
brought nbout under the republic. By
this now system the churches remain
open but their activities are restricted
to church affairs without extending
Into aay public or official activities.
Tho departure of the rellglottB or
ders has also suspended their activi
ties and tho work they formerly did
in conducting schools, hospitals, etc..
has now boon taken over by the state,
lteliitions AVftli America,
Referring to Ills country's relations
with tjio United States, Wig president
said:
"I am glad to say Portugal has the
most friendly relations with the Unl
tod States and Portugal has received
in many ways evidences of the cordial
sentiment of America towards us. Wo'
havo sent considerable numbers of
Portugueso to America and have col
onies In California, Boston and many
other points. These aro not part of
tho Illiterate Immigration against
which tho United States has Justly
adopted restrictions, hut they aro
among the best classes of the com
munity In America and aro promi
nent In business, finance and public
llfo In American communities. We
aro glad that some of our best stock la
taking part in tho remarkable devel
opment of America.''
IE
E
lirUANdO, Colo., May 'J'.'. SI. A.
I'hcucy, assistant superintendent of
the luiirth division of .lite llenver &
Itio (tnuid.- riiilroitil, was shot and
m-t. inlly killed today in his office by
John K. (linves, iic,cnt here for tho
road. Tho shnutimr is said to he the
remit of a personal urievanee of laiiff
-liindiii','. (Irnves surrendered to tho
sheriff.
MINVKii, Muy 22. Edward
(Ireen, superintendent of the highway
department of the eily of Denver, was
shot and fatally wounded today by
WiUiimi H. Seny, former district 8U
pcrinh mlcnt of the department, who
hud been dischiinjcil yesterday. Tho
sliooliii' occurred in the eily hall.
Ui'ccn died at the hospital.
(Ireen hud discharged Seny. Today
(Ireen was standing in the office of
W. V, I!. Mills manager of parks nnd
improvements, when Seay entered.
Mills was the only other person present.
APIDP
FOR PORTUGA
if