Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, September 20, 1917, Image 1

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Medford mail tribune., September 20, 1917, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTribune EDFORD 1 forty-ieventh Tear. Dally Twelfth Year. MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1917 NO. 155 BR IN VICTOR DRIVE AT YPRES yiAiL f ia FLANDERS OFFENSIVE Uffl British Infantry Goes "Over the Top" on a Wide Front East of Ypres; Penetrating German Positions as Far as Zonnebeke-Gheluvelt Line Rush Evidently Successful, as Haig Describes Progress Satisfac toryTo Compel Abandonment. LONDON, Sept. 20. Dritisli troops are repored to have penetrated tho German positions In their offensive on the Flanders front as far as the Zonnebeke-Gheluvelt line, Router's correspondent at lirltlsh headquar ter stelegraphs. Early this morning the British in fantry went "over tne top" on a wide front east of Ypres and the Flanders offensive wus on again. The rush evidently was successful at the outset, for the capture of po sitions of value was reported by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig during the forenoon and the progress made was described as satisfactory. The renewal of tho offensive came after a long pause In which inton sive preparatory works had been car ried on unceasingly, ' 1 - Attack nt Dawn. BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN BELGIUM AND FRANCE, Sept. 20. By the Associated Press.. Field Marshal Haig's offensive, which was begun at dawn this morning on tho Belgian battle front is proceeding with marked success, especially in the crucial sector between the Ypres Roulers railway and Hollebeke. The German infantry is making a most determined resistance to retain this vital ground and the Teuton ar titeery is retaliating heavily against the British big guns. A bitter fight is In progress in the neighborhood of Inverness Copse, INuns wood and Glencorse wood. If the attackers maintain tho positions to which they have advanced In this section, they have accomplished one of the most remarkable and most Im portant achievements in recent months. ltiittlo of Men I n Itnnd. Today's offensive will be known as the Battle of Menin road. Fair weather had improved the ground, but the mud was deep and the whole territory covered with waler-filled shell holes, tangled barbed wlro and shattered trees. Tho German de fenses were composed largely of eou- " rete redoubts. The Germans poured a wicked stream of bullets Into the ranks of the advancing troops from concrete redoubts. Every little elevation and all the woods were choked with rapid fire guns. ; Tho British encountered hard fight ing in many placeB, but their magnif icent artillery work had done much to make the first stage of their drive easier. The British barrage swept the country like a broom. Tho Germans knew the attack was coming, but were unaware of its exact locality. There was a light rain last night, but the weather cleared this morn ing and the visibility Is Improving. Objective of Drive. Field Marshal Haig's selection of (Continued on Page Two.) FOOD ECONOMY RULES FOR ENGLAND LONDON, Sept. 2d. Tnauj.-ur.iHon of a new food economy ounipaii:ii in fcrent Britain was niiiiouneeil today by Ha ron liliomlilii, the food con troller. If voluntary measure fail, be said, "I shall have no compunction in putting Hie nation on compulsory rations." SHERMAN LAW DRAWBACK TO WAR'S CONDUCT Anti-Trust Act Declared to Be Ham pering Efforts of Business to Co operate With Government Labor and Capital Both Blamed by Wilson for Industrial Unrest in Country. .ATLANTIC .C1TL, N. J., Sept. 20. A vigorous denunciation of the operation of the Sherman anti-trust act as hampering the efforts of busi ness men to aid the government In prosecution of the wnr was made by Alba It. Johnson, president of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, before the war convention here of American business men today. "If there Is any one thing this war has demonstrated," he said, "It is the principle of the Sherman act will not stand the strain of war. The moment the stress of war comes to the natloh we see this temple to a false god overturned. The govern ment Itself is eliminating competition and has realized that business must be conducted on a basis of reason able profit. The only way to reach a basis Is by conference among pro ducers." Cause of Labor Unrest, Tho bill pending in congress to permit combination in export trade should bo passed Immediately, Mr. Johnson declared, that American In dustry may act In concert in fur thering tho country's foreign merce. com-Ji,, Unpatriotic business men seeking excessive profits were blamed for the spirit of unrest among labor by Sec retary of Labor Wilson, who spoke before the lnbor section of the con vention. "Labor has been restless," ho said, "because the word has gone forth that Iron and steel men are making 200 to 400 percent and that shipping, mining and the other great Industries arc getting excessive returns. This feeling on the part of labor has been justified. In my investigation of the coal Industry In the east it was shown that operators in somo instances ex torted five and six dollars for coal that cost them ono dollar and a half. IjuIkh Also Illaincd. havo told labor this Is no time to insist on recognition of their un ions, nor to force changes In labor standards, but this program endan gers the future liberty of the people I come with the power to tell you American business men It Is not time, to insist on profiteering, as many have been doing. You should wel come prlco fixing because it means a logical standard of pay for labor. Let labor mid yourselves find a commun ground that is acceptable, If not sat isfactory, to insure the greatest amount of production at the least cost in cash and labor. There should be no swag to divide between capital and labor." MKXICO CITY, Sept. 20. Folke Cronholm, former attache of the Swedish legation, In a statement to tho Associated Press today, denied that German Minister Von Eckhardt offered or promised him a decora tion in a German order, or that he received any such decoration. Cron holm also denied that ho had "fur nished the German minister with In formation gathered among the ene mies of his country In Mexico." STEEL TRUST ADVANCES WAGES TEN PER CENT MAY YlHi'K, Sept. L'l. -The Unit ed Slates Steel eorMiration today nn nnunee.l a 111 mt cent advance in the wiiL'e of its workers, lo take cITis-t October 1. fillip-- xr - fefelBll Kindred spirits touched shoulders as Mrs. PnnkJinrst, noted ISrilLsh militant suffnigot, ' and Mudnmo Vein llotclikiirevn, loader (r tho Hussion women's "liatlalion of Itvatli," stood side by side In Ufis picture. Mrs. Punkliurst, at the ICnssiuit woman lealecs' right, looks coinpaiiillvoly harmless In thLs company. ARGENTINE SENATE y WASHINGTON, Sept. 29. Kews that the Argentine senate had voted overwhelmingly to sever diplomatic relations with Germany was received Washington today with no' littlo Officials had recognized that the recent disclosures concerning cable grams sent to Berlin by the German minister at Buenos Aires through the Swedish foreign office had been the cause of making a .grave situation, but it had been assumed that with the German minister handed his pass ports, no further official action would be taken pending receipt of Berlin's explanation. Jtrcnk Is Welcomed Although it is understood the state department's purpose in making pub lic copies of the cablegrams was only to expose the German government's world-wide system of duplicity and intrigue, It is no secret that Argen tine's participation in the war would be welcomed. Even tho breaking off of relations, it is pointed out, would have a power ful effect on public opinion in all South American countries where German influences aro known to be strong. That action also probably would result in considerable material benefit to thu allies by restricting Argentine gruln and meat expolis to neutrnl countries through which they might find their way to Germany. Argentina Is now the only great neu tral food producing country. HO BE A FIELD COMMAND WASHINGTON, Sept. 20. Secrc lary Baker said today there would soon bo an announcement concern ing tho chief of staff. Major General Scott, chief of staff, reaches the re tirement age this month and tho un derstandlng Is that he Is to bo re tained In active service with a field comand. Iliif successor Is expected lo bo Major General Tasker II. Illlss. now assistant to the chief of staff. 0.0. P. XKW YOHK, Sept. 1(I. - Mayor John I'urrov Mitchell, fusion onndi dale, won' Hie republican innyoralty uoiiiiiinlion in yesterday's primary by a plurality of approximately Hull voles over William M. Ileniictt. Willi only two districts missing out of -lUKI, Mayor Mitohel's vote wns 3(i,OI0 tind Ucimctt'H 'J',-7. WHEN MILITANT MEETS MILITANT TWO WOMEN FIGHTERS TEUTONS PLOT ER PEACE EFFORT Efforts to Create"1 Atmosphere for Peace Maneuver Apparent Lon don Press Rebukes Pacifists Germans Consider Belgium Too Valuable to Jeopardize. LONDON, Sept. 20. Tho nltcmpl. by the German press and officials lo create the atmosphere for nnothef peace maneuver, ngnin is given prom inence in (lie morning papers, whieh arc of the unanimous opinion Unit there can he no pence until Prussian militarism is crushed. The' Daily Mail, under the caption, "The I Inn peace plot," deduces: "The true friends of pence aro I lie allied armies of the goveromcnls which are (driving lo remove the cause of. nil this misery, unrest, and bloodshed by destroying Germany's military autocracy." The Daily Mail rebukes, the pnoif isls, saying: Rebuked by Press. "President Wilson has shown how these people can lie handled. He is the most senipulniiK f democrats. but he knows Unit liberty at such moments us Ihis has the most lo I' from its pretended friends. Pence agilation in the United Slates is no longer tolerated and' editors of jour nals printed in the Gorman language lire no longer permitted to cry fret fully for peace with dishonor." The limes piol.es Ihe Atlantic City speech of Secretary Lime, ami adds that Ihe war will em! as Scci-elni-v line says, "when Germanv knows she must give hostages" for good lie- navior in the lutiirc. The Kxpress assorts "that the U boui figures issued Inst night are the best commentary on Germany's "de sire for peace," milling "they are the worst on record lor Germnnv." BY HILL LINES SAN FHASCISCO, Sept. 20, Two steamships havo been chartered by the Great Northern Pacific Steamship company to replace tho twin liners Northern Pacific and (irent Northern, taken over by the government, on (he run between Havel, Ore., anil San Francisco, according lo announce ment today. These vessels are the F. A. Kllliurn and tho llreskwater. It Is plnnned to charter a third ship as soon as possible. - ANOTH 8 ELEVEN BILLION PASSES SENATE WASIIPNGTON, Sept. . 20. Tho conforonco roport on tho eleven .bll. lion, wnr credits bill wus adopted today by tho senato without a roll call. Approval by tho house and final enactment is expected tomorrow. Records for speed and unanimity were established In the bill's con sldorntlon. It passed the house Sop- tomber 9 and tho senate Soptombor 1C, after brief debate, and by unanl mous votes. Conferees reached agreement yostorduy within a half hour and today's sonato discussion occupied but 15 minutes. The bill authorizes $4, 000, 000 of new bonds for nllles loans; J.1,r38,- 1)00,000 for converting bonds prcvl ously authorized for that and other purposes, and $2,000,000,000 each of war savings certificates and cortlf bonds aro to be at 4 percent and con vertible and subject to Incomo sur taxes and war profltss excess taxes Before tho conference repoitt was approved today. Senator Weeks In quired If there bo a dofmlle plan for extending loans to the allies. Sena tor htone In his- reply said no set plan was laid -before tho committee, but that presumably tho credits would not havo been approved unless con gross was satisfied thoro Is substan tial reason for tho loans. "I am disturbed over thoso appro priatlona of 21 billion dolurs," said Senator Weeks. "It seems thut cvory messenger in Washington Is hurry Ing to tho capltol with request! for additional appropriations. I have somo curiosity as to what Is being dono with the money." GERMAN REPLY 10 POPE DELAYED ItO.ViK, Sept. 19.- Cardinal Gas parri, the pupal secretary of state, to night declared lo the Associated Press that the reply of the Central powers to Pope Benedict's peaco proposals had not yut been received ut tho Vati can. Cardinal Gasparrl believes that the reply of the Central powers was held up when L'mpcror William went to Itlga anil it Is not likely that It will reach tho vutlcan until next week. PAItIS, Sept. 20. Three French merchantmen of more than lfiOO tons and two vessels of less than that ton nage were sunk by Teuton submarines or mines In the week eliding Septem ber 9, according to an official state ment given out today by the French admiralty. In this period 9M0 vessels arrived and Si cleared at French ports. Two French ships were un successfully attacked. FRANCE REFUSES TO TALK PEACE New Ministry Associates Itself With President Wilson's Refusal to Tleat With Enemy So Long as Ruled by Military Caste Advo cates Society of Nations. PAK1S, Sept. 19. Premier Paln levo, replying today In tho chamber of deputies to Interpellations by Dep uty Frederic Brunei, who asked tho government to . associate Itself with President Wilson's refusal to treat with tho German people bo long as they were submissive to the military caste and advocating an institution or society of nations, said that he had made every effort to preserve collabo ration with the socialists, "I failed, and I regret It," the pro mlor said. No Change In Policy. After paying a tribute to Albert Thomas" services, tho premier said that the absence of socialist ministers would make no chango in bis policy. He declared bis determination to pro ceed energetically against all tn-j trlguos and certain foreign agents, but added that he did not Intend to allowe these scandals too much pub licity in tho press, because thoy were published abroad and weukenod tho country's morale This part of the promlor's speech' was Intorruptod, es pecially by tho Loft, as woro his dec larations . that tho censorship was necessary and ought to bo respected Tho government, ho said, hoped to remain In agreement with the press by appealing to tho newspapors to maintain their own discipline. Tho chnmbor applauded the pre mier s allusions to tho Bocloty of na Hons and President Wilson's message as tho principle- to which Franco fully adhorod, thereby showing her abne gation and moral grandeur. 1'nity Willi Alllcw. Alexandre Itlbot, mlnlstor of for- olgn affairs, told tho chamber that all documents concerning France's agreements with the allies were ready and could be published tomorrow, but that the entonto alllod nutlons must bo consulted, saying: "Tho nearer wo roach tho end of tho war, the closer must bo our unity with them." M. Itlbot added that Franco could not roply to Pope Benedict's nolo without an agreement with hor allies, "but our war alms aro known and wo aro ready to rontsituto a so ciety of nations when we huvo the heccsary guarantee." M. Itlbot said that tho Petrograd government had asked blm to defer tho publication of tho French-Itus slnn agreement. Ho said that ho con sldered that bo aught to comply, ow ing to the difficult situation of their great ally. Pierre Hcnaudcl said that tho so cialists would await Premier Paln- leves' acts before voting for hi in Confldenro was then voted by tho chamber :)7S to 1. Tho socialists did not vote. SEVEN BANDS PLAY FOR CAMP LEWIS CAMP LKWIK, Tucninn, Wash., Sept. 1211. There will he seven regi mental Im nils organized soon in Camp Lewis, according to present n ims. tirporal Leliinil I), llnllanl has been assigned to I lie .lliith nrlillery unit recommended ns bund lender. Ser geant Julien, a recent arrival from rt McDowell, Oil., has been as signed lo the llb'Tth field urtillery and recommended for Ihe same posi- ion. llu was formerly baud load"!' in the Second California infantry. 1'rivnlo . M. Ilet.ler, in the lin nnce department of he miscellaneous company of the ipiiirlciimi-tcr corps, and Miss llulh Thumbing of Santa lliirlnini, Oil., were married Monday at the home of Hov. W. K. ISntcs of South T aeoniii. 1 he bride is a grad- unto of Ihe University of Culifuruiu.l WITHAUTOCRACY IMPROVEMENT E3 ASSESSMENTS ARE VALIDATED Supreme Court Decision Holds Han son Plan Illegal Only in Its Com pulsory Features, Which Conflict With Bancroft Act Paving In debtedness Properly Incurred.' Decision of the supremo court in the caso brought by C. D. Colbv and Wm. Stuiley against tho Cily of Med ford, in which (bo Validity of publio improvement assessments tnndo under tho Bancroft net was sustained, nml the Hanson plun of refinancing tho city declared in vnlid because "compulsory" instead of "permissive," was written by Jus lice Harris and concurred in by Jus tices llcHride, Benson and Burnett. Under the decision, nil outstnndihg assessments und interest charges are validated and collectable, nnd any plan, like the Hanson or Medynski schemes, which attempt to modify tho terms under which tho indebted ness wns incurred, is void. Hud the Hnnson plan, however, been optional with each property owner, instead of compulsory, had nny person desiring to comply with tho original provis ions, been offered the opportunity, the plan would have apparently beeu legalizeil. , - Toibiilcalltios Overruled. All the -technical olijecfioiis' raised" by thu plaintiff's were overruled. The enacting clause wns held not to be essential nnd the property owners protesting the validity of assessments were held to hnve hud their day in court. In ils cssentiul features, the opinion, a 48-pngo document, rends in part as follows : "The federal constitution prohibits a Ktulo from passing any law impair in tho obligation of contracts: Art. 1, section 30; und this prohibition ap plies to cities and towns when they amend their own ehnrters, becniise thoy lire but ngenck'S of the state ex ercising legislative power which the stale has delegated to them. If the Hnnson plan impairs the obligation of any contract created by the Bancroft bonding net then to that extent the Hanson plan is void. Obligations of Contract. If tho duly to iH-rform is lessened and either pnrty is deprived of the benefit of his contract, the obligation of the contract is impaired. The ob ligation of u contract is impaired by the repeal of n law which constitutes n contract, or by a stntuto which ul lers the lerius of Ihe contract by im posing n new condition or which adds new duties, The eslnblishcd rule is tlinl every eonlinet embraces nnd in cludes till those lows which exist nt the lime ami place where the contract is executed and w here it is to be per formed, and nffeet tho' validity, con struction, dischargo und enforcement of the contract. Under Ihe terms of the charter a properly owner is notified that an assessment has been made nguilist his properly; und if ho does not pay tho assessment within ten dnvs from the service of notice, tho city cun enforco tho payment by n sale of the property. The Buncrol't bonding net interposes, however, and offers to Ihe proH'rty owner the privilege of pnying the nssessmcnt in install ments. Tho property owner cannot accept this offer unless he agrees to waive all irregularities or defocts, pirisiiii'iioniil or otherwise, in the proeeclings relating lo the improve- (Continued on page six.) OAKLAND, Oil., Sept. UO.-Sixtv- cisjht women were engaged as window washers for Ihe Pullman Cnr com- pnnv here today, displacing men who struck yesterday for an increase in pay. The men demanded 2."i cenls an hour instead of tho established raid ho of 17 lo "JO cents un hour.