Ita Doit
" FULL LEASED
WIRE DISPATCHES
CIRCULATION IS
OVER 4000 DAILY
j - "
THIRTY-NINTH YEAR-NO. 277
SALEM, OREGON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1916
KK1CE TWO CENTS S??54in
iUottruol
MAY BE AN ENTANGLING ALUANCE"
. i-U-i i
oniinmiuw mu
tU U UNO MAI
E
CHANGE POLICIES
International Enforcement of
Peace Guarantee Would
Do It
WOULD LINK UP WITH
PAN AMERICAN NATIONS
At Same Time Would Be
Forced to Join Powers
Enforcing Peace
By Robert J. Bender.
(United Press staff correspondent.)
"Washington, Dee. 2:1. The I'nited
Srates may have to enter what has pre
viously been regarded as "an ontaug
ling alliance" if present peace Begotla
tidal go down to the point of interna
tional enforcement of peace guarantees.
The state department announced this
i icially today for the first time.
-Secretary Lansing today liekl it to be
somewhat premature to discuss such
problems at this time, but indicated this
government halt considered the possible
necessity for an alliance if any peace
agreement is to bind us.
The department manifestly regretted
the allied interpretation that President
WHson, himself, had said both sides in
Europe were fighting for the same
tiling.
It was pointed out that the peace no to
specifically said that leaders of both
noes had named t-ho things tor wuicu
they were fighting and that their state
ments of purpose had agreed.
In tie matter of the possible alliance,
it was held that the United States would
naturally link herself with the Pan-Am-i
, Van nations, at the same time probab
ly joining with certain European nations
in an agreement which this country
might have considered "entangling."
AU Speculation.
Washington, Deo. 23 Government of
ficials believe today it will be after
Christmas before peace answers are
framed by European powers.
This was purely an opinion. The state
department was without definite infor
mation as to when it might receive the
r. Mies' answer to the , German pence
proffers or to President Wilson's note.
The wdiole situation has simmered
down to the realm of speculation,
though it wag entirely possible that con
crete information as to when the answer
would arriv might be forthcoming over
Monday.
The apparent coldness of the allied re
ception of Wilson's message may be
tempered by time, it is believed, but
authorities are in the dark, except fOr
press reports, as to what they might ex
pect by way of reply.
EIGHT-HOUR DAY CONFERENCE
Cleveland, Ohio, Dec! 23. W. G. Lee
pri sidcut-of the Brotherhood of Kail
-way Trainmen, announced this after
noon that the four brotherhood presi
il nty and a committee of railway man
asters will meet in New York next
Thursday in au attempt to settle the
eiuht-hour day controversy out of
court.
per cent of railroad
ea rntngs.
Th' principal objection t! appoinlia
commission ; t ' investigate someUaa,'
i- that nobuddv but th' commnstuii
ever gits anything out of it. When
you do git a ho'd of a good niekel se-gar
FORC
CflyNTRY 11
you ve got sometnin . .
:,y HOLESALE BOOTLEGGING
San Francisco, Dec. 23.
.osan Billineslv. wealthy Seat-
1' IU V .TVW.l 111,.... IS 111 1U..1
) o that northern city today in
custody of federal officers to
answer indictments charging
complicity in bootlegging ring
of huge proportions.
Billiugsly was arrested at the
1 St. Francis hotel. A number of
1.. .Imir ot.rd mnn . mi riwli
others were named in the indict-
inents. Billingsly is alleged to
have shipped more than i'iU.-
000 worth of illicit liquor into
Washington since March.
5(S ift Ji 5fl Sj? 5c JC sjl 5jC 5l
100,000 Pittsburgers
Out with 3 Million in
Spending Money Today
Tittsburg, Dee. 23. One hundred
thousand men aud bovs with 3,000,006
in their pockets gave ,the Christmas
shopping symphony a grand finale to
day. They are the workers in the big steel
and munitions plants of the Pittsburg
district prolmblv the highest-priced
army of skilled and unskilled workmen
i n t lie count i v t day.
Nearly all of them were paid within
the last 24 hours but this was the half
holiday when they were expected to
cash in at the stores.
Hundreds of those who received fat
envelopes an1 men whose earnings have
been above $3,000 for the year. At a
hearing in Turtle Creek recently, three
workers told Justice Riddle that they
had made, respectively, $4,100; $4,5004.
$4,800, As many of the "boys" lli
to 21 receive frm $5 to $10 per day
the man who ekes out only about $3,500
isn't such -m. much.
Three Out of Five
Bank Robbers Caught
o ) .. iTT i. T on nv
tmioM ad the retracing of the route
of escape taken by the Bothell bank
robbers through Lake Forest Park by
one of the bandits, had convinced the
police today that they have evidence
incriminating the entire gang of five
men rounded up o,y rairoiman, r-u
Hageu yesterday.
Walter McDonald, bridegroom or six
days, is the latest member of the gang
to admit having been one of the Bothell
robbers.
'It was my first job, though," he
is alleged to nave tout tne ponce.
"And I was foolish for getting info
this mess." He is a longshoreman who
was "down and out and needed
money." He said Hounds and Lowe,
who have both confessed to the rob
bery, according to the. police, didn 't
split fair with him.
-1 only got $380 out of the $2,700,"
he said.
A. P. Pounds, the CI year old black
smith, lias also confessed to the rob
bery according to the police.
Stole Things for Children's
Christmas Dinner But
No Prosecution
Sail Francisco, Dec. 23. The most
pathetic .Santa Claus in San Francisco
is out of jail today because the wheels
of the law were summed up by the
Christmas spirit and wouldn't work.
A woman detective followed "Mrs.
X" this particular Santa Claus to
her poverty stricken home in the Mis
sion district, fully intent on arresting
her on charge of shoplifting. But there
she met the stare of four tiny children,
anaemic and gaunt from hunger and
neglect.
The detective was n woman, and
right or wrong, she refused to rob the
family of n Christmas, even if it was
shoplifted.
"I won't book her," said the lieuten
ant at the police station.
'I won't charge her," said the de
tective. T won 't punish her, ' ' said Judge
Brady.
So the family's Christmas dinner will
be as happv as any this year even if
it was assembled through means not
ordinarily recognized by the law.
The husband of "Mrs. X" is paral
yzed and that's why she had to adopt
unusual wavs and means for getting
Christmas cheer.
LIFTED 7-CENT LIMIT
Tarrytown, N. Y., Dec. 23. Ten dol
lar gold pieces were given to more than
00 employes on the John D. Rockefeller
estate at Poeatico Hills today.
LONDON PRESS IS
COM j KG OFF IIS
LOFTY PEDASTAL
Pall Mall Gazette Would Like
President to Withdraw
Note
OTHERS THINK HE HAS
"SOMETHING UP SLEEVE"
German Press Jubilant Over
Reviving Prospects of
Peace
By Ed L. Keen.
(United Press staff correspondent.)
London, Dec. 23. The London press
took u new taVk today in figuring out
why President Wilson sent his peace
note. The first outburst of indigna
tion having died down somcwhtat, edi
torials today began speculating on the
belief that the American president has
"something up his sleeve."
Some had the idea that the note was
based on special information which Wil-
son had Obtained as to the exact terms
I which Germany is willing to make and
that the note was not an indication ef
an anti-ally sentiment.
The two statements by the American
secretary of state were held thoroughly
bewildering but the editorials agreed
they were a side issue.
All newspapers expressed the hope
that the president's hint that peace may
be "just around the corner" might
have been based on secret information i
from Germany.
The Pall Atall Gazette came out
franklv today with the suggestion that i
the president withdraw the note.-
Whether it was simnle oversight or I
a case of over-sublltv." the editorial as-
serted, "the president has gravelv ;
blundered and unless the blunder is re
yoked it will bear evil and irrevocble
fruit."
The German Comment.
Amsterdam, Dec. 23 The Cologne
Volts Zeltnng views President Wilsons'
peace note with suspicion, according to
dispatches received here today.
"From our knowledge of President
Wilson," the newspaper comment, "we
can easily picture the kind of peace
he wants. If he is sincere he should
simply make the entente assent to the
German proposals and state their terms
n't a conference."
Other German newspapers expressed
eagerness as to the outcome of the presi
dent 's proposals.
The Berlin Allgemeine Zeitung de
clared, "In view of the entente's state
ment and their recent declaration that
neutral interference would be consider
cd unfriendly, We await eagerly the en
tente's attitude on the Wilson note."
"Anyhow," observes the Vienna
Neue Freie Press, "the note will cause
the peace question to remain for a con
siderable time in the foreground. The
entente powers will be compelled to dis
cuss reasonable peace, the desire for
which has thus been strengthened in
entente countrdies. "
Pleased With Outlook.
Berlin, T)ec. 23. Keenest interest,
mixed with jubilation over reviving
prospects for peace, was aroused here I
today by news of President Wilson's
peace note. Newspapers subordinated
the war news and lengthy speculation as
to what the British premier meant in
his speech of Tuesday, to the Washing
ton endeavor. The move came when edi
torial comment reflected the public
view that peace was far off, in view of I
the I.loyd-Genrge s speech.
The Tageblatt had aptly expressed
the general belief in its editorial con
cluding "the abyss between Lloyd
George's standpoint and that which
Germany has designated as her peace
basis is very great."
French Press Comment.
Paris, Dec. 23. Paris editorial com
ment is almost united in suggestine
that President Wilson's plea be answ
ered in the same words with which
President Lincoln rejected Kuropean In
terference in the middle of tae Civil
war.
The Petit Parisiene declared today
that the entente reply to Germany's
peace proposals was nearly completed
being a fairly lengthy document listing
the allies' grievances and the "heavy
responsibilities of the German pow
ers.' '
"Although inspired by high mo
tives," LeMatin asserts, "it js doubt
fully opportune. It comes at a time
when it is to Germany's interest to
stop or slow down hostilities."
"President Wilson does not remember
that Belgium's neutrality was violated,
(Continued on page seven.)
Beat the Incinerator
San Francisco, Dec. 23. All
the city incinerator needs for a
Merry Christmas is a Tew gal
Ions of cranberry sauce.
Today it devoured 23 fat tur
keys purchased by Sheriff
Thomas Finn at $3.30 each for
his 23 deputies.
It's the ash man's fault.
Finn bought the birds last
night and hud them put into a
box and sent to lis office. The
sheriff was early at the city
hsll today prepared to play
Santa Clans, but the ash man
was earlier.
Finn lined his deputies up,
complimented them on their
work and announced his gift.
"Bring in that box of turkeys
from the coriidor, " said he to
the orter.
"They ain't no box," the
Kirter responded. ' If you mean
that box of garbage that was
out there this morning, 1 gave
it to the ash .nan.' '
Vina mat!1" a lash Tn his auto
mobile to the incinerator but
was too late.
!
i
i
I
'
!
II
SOURCE OF LEAK IN
LANSING'S OFFICE
Also to Learn If Any Official's
Relatives Profited by
Information
Washington, Dec. 2:1. Administration
men said today Secretary
Lansint' will i
welcome the investigation by which
Representative Wood proposes to ascer
tain whether any government officials
or other relatives ijrfited by the Wall
street upset attendant upon Lansing's
two interpretative statements Thursday
and the Wilson peace note.
It was stated exceptional care will be
taken hereafter to guard against pos-
sible leaks of advance information from
Washington that might tend to caue
Price fluctuation.
Government men indicated they were
admittedly concerned over the apparent
fact that a tip as to the peace note Wed-
(Continued on page three.)
WANTSTODISCOVER
BETHMANN-HOLLWEG, WHO ANNOUNCED
GERMANY'S READINESS FOR PEACE
CHRNCELLOfZ VON BETHMANN HOLLSHEgT
Theobald von Bethmann Hollwep, , chancellor has been filled by Cnprivi,
who announced to neutral nations and j Hohenhoie, Buelow and Bethmann-Holl-the
Vatican Germany's willingness tojw(l named y Brand(nburger
open peace negotiations, it chancellor bv btaa and was educated in the law,
of the German empire and thus hoMs jenteilng the civil service of the Ger
the position first oceupred by the great man government in 1879. He held var
Bismarck. He is ex-officio premier of ious offices before becoming Prussian
the empire and responsible for its gov- minister of the interior in 1905, and he
eminent. Hinre Bismarck's deposition attained his present post in 1609. Ho
by th'j present kaiser the offiee of was sixty year old on Nov. 29,
CARRANZA'S GRIP IS WEAKENING
CHRISTMAS MAIL
SWAMPS OFFICES
AND STILL COMES
Chicago Office Handled 2,150
Tons In Three Days
This Week
FAST FREIGHT TRAINS
PRESSED INTO SERVICE
.
Last Year Made Record But
This Raises It by 25
Per Cent
Washington, Dec. 23. Millions of
pounds of mail are inundating the post
office department all over the United
States today a part of the biggest
Job by 23 per cent that the Christmas
season ever has brought postmasters.
Kverv postofcicc in the country has
been hit by the deluge. A hundred tele
grams a day to the department have
told of record mails and rocoTd obsta
cle to their delivery in every big
town between New Von; and San Fran
cisco. Postmaster General Burleson today
ordered railroads to impress fast freight
trains into service in an cttort to catch
I.., ii'Ui. il. kiniMBi w,ii.w If
' , Mra .;,.' ,,,. ,,. t,.,w(,i
to Santa Claus.
At the same time, mail superintend
ents at all stations were ordered to
employ inuii handlers wherever they can
be found and to send the bills to the
railroads, bound by contract to handle
the mail and unable to get labor to do
it. ' -
l'ostoi'fiee officials refused to make
any estimate of the volume of mail.
Chicago handled 2,150 tons 4,300,000
pounds in three days this week. One
Chicago mail order house used 10,000
mail sacks and paid $20,000 postage in
one day.
(Continued on page three.)
!
,
s
l
i
Seattle, Wash., Dec. 23. Mat
tresses, soaked in oil, and brok
en furniture arrangVd to burn'
rapidly, connected to a heap of
rubbish by a long fuse, wero
ready 1'or lighting in the'4touse
at 4723, 45th avenue south,
when detectives arrested three
men on a charge of arson late
yesterday afternoon.
The men were Andrw Palmr,
alias Parker, who is alleged to
have rented the place anil who
had $1500 insurance on it; Kea
rny Myers, of the Kochester ho
tel, who, the police say, had
$200f insurance on the place
and Fred Hratnvr, alleged to
have been seen nt the house.
'kVj rto ,Push A
5000 Employes Out
From Perk Barrel
Buenos Aires, Nov. 2. (By Mnil)
Terrible lamentation is heard in Argen
tine official circles today because the
new government headed by President
IrigOVOn intends .lanuary 1, to stop tho
salaries of all national employes whose
services the president does not consid
er absolutely necessary.
The unofficial estimate is made that
about 5,000 job holders throughout the
country will be affected. The number
is considerable considering that Argen
tina's population is only 7,000,000' to 8,
000,000 but even the 'employes them
selves know that greu' numbers have
done absolutely no work and thut prac
tically nobody has worked anywhere
near up to his maximum capacity.
As an illustration of the manner in
which the members of the Irigoyen re
gime have been "speeding up" the gov
ernment departments, Minister of Fi
nance Salaberry suddenly dropped into
thethe custom house just after midnight
a few days after he was appointed.
Such a tiling was never heard of before
in the whole history of South America.
E
Grants Part of Switchmen's
Demands Gives Flat
Increase
New York, Dec. "3. Partial grant
ing of the demands of the Switchmen's
l.'nion of North America for an eight
hour day was made in un award tiled
with the ITnited States district court
today by the federal arbitration board.
The switchmen demanded a rate of
one and one-half pay for overtime
against 13 railroads f the east and
middlewest. The award toduy was for
an increase of pay from December 23,
!!il(i. to the same date in I if 1 7, of five
cents an hour for conductors and help
ers and grant of an eight hour day
with pro rata pay for overtime.
When the award was filed Chairman
Howry of the b ard explained that the
settlement docs not give any single ar
bitrator what was demanded, but was
a compromise composed of all conces
sions sifted out.
Thi' award ucipiiesccd in the re
quest by the employes tot an eight
hour day, li denial of the employe's re
quest for time and a half for overtime,
pro rata wujjes being given instead,
these to be computed on the basis of
actual minutes worked, and a flat in
crease of five cents an hour for a yard
foreman (conductors) and helpers
(wird brakemen.)
In uddition the award stipulated that
pay of regular switchmen shall begin
at the time required to report for duty
and end when they are relieved and
that switchmen should be relieved at
designated points. It fixed six a. m. to
six p. m. as the period for day rates
and tho other twelve hours for ''night
pay.' '
Special meal hour regulations were
also approved to cr-ws assigned to
more than eight hour shifts.
- J. B. Connors, W. A. Titus, E. F. Pot
ter and T. N. Kvans of the arbitrators
dissented from portions of the award-
Tho award was accompanied by a
lengthy statement by Arbitrators
Charles B. Howry and Jeremiah W.
Jenks, explaining the eight hour day
and the iacrease in wages as "likely to
serve the interests of the public."
The statement declared, however, nn
eight hour day will not be possible at
nresent to more tnait a sman nuwni
of switchmen; but that fixing of this
as a standard will enable men who de
sire longer off to take it and men who
desire more wages to moke it by extra
work. ' 2 .
GOT INSURANCE POLICIES
Portland. Ore., Dec. 23. Three hun
drcd employes of the Fleischner, Mayer
company, wholesale dry goods, received
a Christmas gift today in the shape of a
life insurance policy. The company had
every worker from highest to lowest in
sured in a "group policy" amounting
FIREBUGS AT W A.K
VILLA CAPTURES
I
I
Bandit Troops Marched Into
Torreon Early Yesterday
Afternoon
LITTLE RESISTANCE
WAS MADE BY GARRISON
Villa Now Controls Railroads
of Northern Mexico WK1
Attack Murgia
El Paso, Texns, Dec. 23 Villa today
is in possession of Torreon, the most
important railway center in northern
Mexico., At I o'clock yesterday the
bandit forces marched into the city.
In nn early morning assault yester
day the ViMistas met with a brief resist
ance from the Cnrranzista garrison,
which then abandoned the city.
Authentic, reports of the fall of Tor
reon were obtained by United States
department agents here during the night
and transmitted to Washington. Despite
the silence of the Mexican consulate,
iJnited States authorities here appear
sure of their ground.
This stroke places Villa at the haight
of his power since Oenornl Pershiag's
expedition chased his broken bands into
Durango.
Through "undei- ground" sources
mining men here learned additional de
tails of the Carranzista disaster. With
six troop trains, the bandit chief pass
ed through Bermejillo after the gov
ernment forces had hastily withdrawn
into Torreon.
Made no Resistance.
Led by Colonel Fernandez, the Vil
listas started their attacks upon tho
Coahuiln metropolis through tiomez
Palacio and Lerdo before daybreak yes
terday. Thoy met with desultory resist
ance from the Carranza forces, mean
time the government garrison, estimated
at from 1,000 to 3,000 men, evacuating
the city.
Several Americnns In charge of three
foreign owned enterprises fled to Aguaa
Culieutas before the attack began. Per
ceiving preparations for evacuation, the)
Villistas waited until the garrison of
Torreon had made good their escape.
Shortly after noon Villa's followers oc
cupied the city. All lines of communi
eii t ion north are now held by the ban
dit chief.
Advices today place General Salazar,
next in command to Villa, south o'f Chi
huahua City in a strategic position hold
ing General Murguia in the northern
etipital and preventing movement of
government troops toward Toreron.
Salazar is reported to bo making pre
parations for another attack upon Chi
btffeJk ua
Contiguous fighting bus been going on
the past three days a short distaneo
south of the city between a column sent
out by Murguia to halt the approach of
the Villistas.
May Smash Murguia,
In military circlet here tho latest
movements of Villa are being watched
with keenest interest. Officials discern
in the reported capture of Torreon Vil
la's boldest stroke a smashing blow at
the strongest for.e in northern Mexico,
estimated at 12,000 men.
With this army eliminated, the bandit
chief Would hold undisputed sway in
the north. By the occupation of Tor
rson Villa parulyzes the rnilway of the
entire northern states of Mexico. The
city is at the convergence of a network
of lines from the lower United States
border ami north and west, and severs
communication with Mexico City. It is
in tne center ot a populous anil rit-u
district.
United States department ngents de
clare that Villa in person is in coia
niand of the troops at Torreon whil
others say he remained at .limine?, di-
(Continued on page seven.)
THE WEATHER
Oregon: To
night and Bun
day rain wast,
rain or snow east
portion; fresh,
gusty southerly
winds interior;
fresh south to
southwest gal
along th teast.
M
IMPORTAN
RAILROAD CENTER
" I Hope iA
(Saows fofA
to 200,OOO.