a
flbe Doitej
FULL LEASED
WIRE DISPATCHES
llouruol
CIRCULATION IS
OVER 4000 DAILY
OjjDjlPjO
FORTIETH YEAR NO. 5
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1917
PRICE TWO CENTS
EUEVE GERMANY
PREPARING FOR
T QFFENSI
Allies Say Desperate Need of
Peace Is Back of Final
Effort
THAT FOOD SHORTAGE
HAS BROKEN SPIRIT
Teuton Advance In Rumania
Captures Many Towns and
Prisoners
London. Jan. 5. Germany is about
to attempt another great offensive oa
tlie western front against the allies.
The same desperate need of peace
which the allies believe inspired the
Oman proposal is thought, now that
Iiose peaee pleas have been rejected,
to be behind a gigantic thrust on the
west, designed as Germany's supreme
effort.
Dispatches from Paris today indi
cated general belief there that the Gor
man blow was now being- prepared.
Gustave Ilnrvc in an editorial in l.a
Viotoire fixes the time when this blow
will be struck in February. La Figaro
and La Temps agree that a "push"
is impending, but thiuk it will come
letter in the year.
With German public opinion now be
lieved to be dangerously near breaking
uader the suffering of "food privations,
the German government is thought to
realize that it must be led on some
great military attempt at a victory
against Germany's major foes. The
Rumanian victory, although hailed as
another evidence of German Invinci
bility, has failed to evoke the German
public enthusiasm, expected because of
icalivition of Rumania's military weak
im-ss. According to information here
German officialdom is realizing that it
" list make some move to offset French
suceessei at Verdun and British power
manifested last summer.
But if Germany is preparing anoth
ei offensive, she will find the allies
ready. Speeding up of all bra-nehes
has been the first Uuty of the new
Lloyd-George ministry.
London was awaiting today publi
cation of tho allies' reply to President
Wilson ' peace suggestions. The note
itself may be handed the American am
bassador at Paris today. Arrangements
for simultaneous publication from
Washington and the allied capitals
will probably delay its text becoming
known until early next week.
British Lose Heavily
Berlin, via Sayville wireless, .Tan. 5.
"Sanguinary losses" were inflicted
'i British troops on the east edge of
Lois by a detachment of Altenburg
infantry which penetrated into the
fourth hostile trench, today's official
statement said.
The Barman forces cleaned out and
blasted several galleries, returning
with fifty one prisoners.
Fighting activity on the west front
for the mot part was confined to
ant all patrol enterprises and artillery
fire, on account of bad weather, the
statement said.
Capture Rumanian Towns
Berlin, via Sayville wireless, Jan. 5,
Capture of Slobozia and Rotesti 'n
Rumania was announced today by the
war office.
Gurguesti and Romanul, two other
Rumanian towns, were captured after
hand to hand battles, proceeding from
house to house.
The German forces took 1100 prison
ers and six machine guns.
"South of the Buzau the Ruasiaa
(Continued on page three.)
Th' tnrnin' point in many of our
Pves comes when we're in a auto.
Lver notice how quickly a grocery cigar
T break up a conversation T
GREA
VE
Miss Ida M. Tarbell,
Famous Writer, May Serve
on Federal Tariff Board
.irtfrfffiflrll H
LLsHH LLsH
j,
O IDA M TflRBEL L. O O
According to information which
seems to be credited in well informed
circles in Washington, President Wilson
has under consideration the appoint
ment of Miss Ida M. Tarbell, the fam
ous author, investigator and publieits,
as a member of the federal tariff com
mission. It has been understood that
two of the three democratic members
will be Professor Frank William Taus
sig of Harvard university and Daniel
C, Koper, formerly fist assistant post
master general, who was clerk to the
house committee on ways and means
when it drafted the Underwood tariff
law, and was in charge of the Held
work of the democratic national com
mittee in the recent campaign.
Miss Tarbell was a strong advocate
of President Wilson's re-election.
It was said in an authoritative way
that President Wilson had practically
completed the selection of the members
of the tariff commission, but that one
of those he wanted was "elusive," and
it was not certain whether his services
could be obtained. The action of con
gress in reducing the salaries of the
tariff commissioners to $7,500 a year
has increased the difficulties of ob
taining persons of the character and
ability desired. Under the law they
are obliged to give up other employ
ment. FLOUR UP 20 CENTS
Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 4. Flour
prices advanced 20 cents per 49 pound
sack today us quoted by Minneapolis
mills. Today's advance makes the to
tal increase for the week $1.30 per
barrel.
GENERAL OSTERHAUS DEAD
!
i
-a.
iJerlin, Jan. 3. Peter Oster
haus, last surviving major gen
eral of the United States forc
es in the civil war, died at the
home of his daughter-in-law
at Duisburg. Interment took
place today at Coblenz.
General Osterhnus is the fath
er of Head Admiral Osteriiaus
of the United States navv.
.
Youthful Robber
Killed at Seattle
Seattle, Wash., Jan. 3. With three
police bullets in his body, young Km
met Whitfield, identified holdup man.
died at the city hospital here at
o'clock this morning.
Whitfield fell within a few feet of
Central Station while trviug to escape
police officers an hour earlier.
Whitfield, 21 years of age, had lived
in Seattle less than a year.
A. M. Johnson, cigar store propriteor
identified Whitfield as the man who
had robbed him in his store at 1:30
a. in. About $9 had been taken from
cash register. The police had been no
t'l'ietl, and patrolmen were watching
suspicious characters in the streets that
fringe the downtown district.
Patrolman Max Myer met Whitfield
and after a brief chase the shooting oc
curred. SNOW FALL IS HEAVY
La Grande, Or.. Jan. 3. Snow has
been falling in Union county the past
four days and is beginning to cause
J alarm.
The railroads alreadv are bavins dif-
Ifieulty keeping the tracks clear and
large numbers of men are employed
keepiag the streets of this city open.
J!
BIG TEMPEST IN POLITICAL TEAPOT
:: ::
H. L. C. HITS COURTS
Kan Francisco, .Ian. S. And
now the high cost of living has
struck the courts of law.
.lodges are having cliff iiulty
in getting working folks to
servo on juries because they
''can't afford to."
"Out of more than 200 men
who have been placed on the
list for the Mooney trial," said
Superior JndgB Franklin Grif
fin today, "more than fit) ask
ed me to be dismissed because
they are working men. They
said they had families to sup
port and couldn't do so on the
i2 a day received for jury duty
Other courts are having simi
lai trouble."
Says He Did Not Know of
Note's Existence' Did Not
Talk to Baruch
Washington, Jan. 5. Scathingly de
nouncing Representative Wood for men
tioning hia name before the house rules
committee today, Secretary to the Presi
dent Joseph P. Tumulty in a prepared
statement declared Wood should pub
licly apologize for bringing Tumulty's
name into the proceedings on informa
tion based "solely on hearsay and rum
or." Tumulty seat the statement up to the
capitol with the request that it be read
before the committee.
Tumulty said he would appear before
the committee "gladly and without a
subpoena-"
Tumulty's statement follows:
"la very glad to say publicly that
I did not know of the existence of the
president's note on peaee until the
newspapers were informed. Very fre
quently the president, who knows that
1 am bombarded by newspaper men and
(Continued on page three.)
PRESIDENT WILSON FEELS SITUATION CRITICAL
DOORS OF PEACE
II
BUT ARE ROT SIT
Matter In Such Uncertainty
It Will Not Be Discussed
in Cabinet
By Robert J. Bender.
(United Press staff correspondent.)
Washington, Jan. 0 With tne door on
peace believed to be swinging uncer
tainly, deep annoyance was expressed
in official circles today at what was
regarded as Teutonic, propaganda do
signed to influence this government's
next move.
In the last three days there has been
much said about what this government
proposes to do as its next step.
President Wilson and Secretary
Lansing have said nothing about it
whatever. They still are a -ting in sec
recy. The president, admitting that he dots
not know what action he will tyke, has
told no one, with the possible -xception
of Colonel House, what is in h:.s mind.
So critical does the president feel the
peace situation to be that it is consider
ed unlikely he will discuss it even wild
members of the cabinet today at the
regular meeting.
Before the cabinet meeting the presi
dent will see M. P. Roscboom, function
ary at the International Bureau of the
Court of Arbitration to The Hague, who
is the guest of The Netherlands minitser
here. Roseboom called "merely to pay
his respects" it was emphatically stat
ed, and not to discuss peace in any
way.
He has, however, been interested in
different phases of the war, especially
French prisoners of war in Germany,
and may discuss briefly his work when
he sees the president.
At a conference between the presi
dent and House yesterday the two dis
continued on page three.)
SWING TO AND FRU
WOOD'S CHARGES
BASED UN HEARSAY
AND IDLE RUMORS
i
President's Secretary, Tumul
ty, and Mrs. Wilson's
Brother Named
COULD NOT NAME FACT
HE COULD VOUCH FOR
Did Not Try to (Verify Rumors
Lawson To Appear
Monday
Washington, Jan. 5. Xames of men
high in Washington official and New
York financial circles were brought in
to the house "leak to Wall Street"
probe this afternoon by Representative
Weod of Indiana.
Basing his charges on "hearsay" re
ports and "reliable information,"
Wood, the author of the probe reso
lution, mentioned Presidential Secre
tary unuilty, Otto Kahn of Kuhn, Loeb
and company; Paul M. Warburg of the
federal reserve board, and Mr. Boiling,
a brother of the president 's wife.
Wood became confused when demand
was made for supported facts. He fail
ed to mention one fact he would vouch
for.
Secretary Tumulty shot a statement
to the capitol post haste demanding an
apologv from Wood.
At the end of .an hour Wood was
through and the rnles committee went
into executive session.
After being sworn, Wood made a
strong effort to be permitted to give
his testimony behind locked doors, Un
successful in his effort for an execu
tive session, Wood told how ho "had
heard" LnFayette, Ind., and Oshkosh,
Wis., brokers received confidential ad
vices to sell short before the stock mar-
(Continued on page three.)
Colonel Harts, U. S. A.,
Will Be the Master of
Inauguration Ceremonies
Colonel William W. Harts, United
States army, will have a prominent
part in the coming inauguration cere
monies if he retains his present as
signment of superintendent of public
buildings and grounds in Washington.
For many years that post has been
held by an officer of the army en
gineer corps. On inauguration days
he acts as a soft" of master of cere
monies and has charge of the capitol
with the stands erected for tho
spectators.
.-.JfPlflSBv
2
i
I
i
!
I
WHALE WRECKS LAUNCH
San Pedro, (nl., Jan. 4. A
thrilling tale of being ship
wrecked off the California
coast by a sixty foot black
whale was told this afteruoou
by Mike Stanovich, a fisher
man, following his rescue.
Stanovich was on his way to
the San Clemente islands in the
launch Stnbbard when four
miles off the breakwater, the
whale suddenly appeared and
struck the vessel with its huge
tail.
The blow threw Stanovich
into the water and his vessel
sank rapidly. He was able to
cut a skiff loose from the
launch and drifted in this until
rescued.
I
IN PASTJF1VE YEARS
He Is Overjoyed at Being
Pardoned But His Family
Is "Horrified"
Joliet, 111., Jan. 5. Herman Billik,
feeble and stricken from the terrific
strains of entering the shadow of the
gallows five times, will leave the peni
tentiary here today, pardoned by the
state, to face a terrified wife and
daughter.
Billik, over joyed at hearing of his
pardon, announced he would go to
Cleveland tonight, where his wife and
j daughter are living. But when informed
i by long distance telephone of Billik 's
intention they were horror stricken.
"We can't have him here," Mrs. Bil
lik said.
"We don't want him," broke in
Edna, the daughter. "How did he know
we were heref
And Billik, ignorant of the torn fam
ily ties, planned today that his daugh
ter Edna should be married to "Jerry"
Vrznl, who sent him to the foot of the
(Continued on page -ix.)
AMERICA Will BE
IF IT CONTINUES
Lewis Says Opposition Will
Be Construed Abroad As
Partiality
By J. P. Yoder.
(United Press staff correspondent.)
Washington, Jan. 5. "I agree with
'Secretary Lansing or anybody else who
says the war cannot continue without
America being involved in it," said
Senator Lewis in the senate this aft
ernoon while urging pa.-sage of Senator
Hitchcock ' note endorsement.
Lewis thrust the war idea on the
senate with startling suddenness. Am
erica, he said, cannot proceed further
in accepting "apologies" for Injuries
done by ship commanders, presumably
referring to (lerman submarine com
manders. "I do not think We will ever aguin al
low captains of ships, officers of armies,
or officers of diplomacy to deliver upon
this country an injury and escape with
the excuse that orders were misunder
stood or that the officers acted in ex
cess of zeal," he said-
"The I'nited States is the agent of
morality in this step and the president
is to be admired by the world for it.
No More Apologies do.
This country cannot accept apology
hereafter and will punish to the extent
of her (lowers any such injury.''
"The nations abroad," he said7"will
argue potently that the opponents Oi
tins resolution are influenced to con
tinue the war that this nation of ours
can continue to benefit with the riches
of war.
"Or they will conclude that race prej
udice has grown so strong in this na
tion, made up of nationalities, that
these able senators are unable to di
vorce themselves from race influence in
(Continued on page three.)
INVOLVED IN WAR
"Find Out" Why Food
. Is Dear," Government
Tells G. W. Anderson
Department of justice officials an
nounced that chief activity in the gov
ernment 's nation wide investigation ih
hi mi- Higu cusi or living would snitt to
the middle west, special attention be
ing paid to the activities of coal deal
ers in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit,
Toledo and other cities.
George W. Anderson, Unjted States
district attorney for the Boston dis
trict, directs the inquiry. He will go
oyer information outlined for presenta
tion to the federal grand jury in Chi
cago and probably will visit also De
troit, where another ernnd inrv in
quiry will be began. Later ho may goj
to St. Louis, Kansas City and Minne-j
npolis.
After analyzing figures obtained
from the department of agriculture of
ficials conducting the Inquiry say that
one of the chief needs of the country
is a better method of distribution of
foodstnffs.The method followed at pies
cut, it is said, would fail in time of
emergency. Indications are that this
phase of the subject will be placed be
fore' the president.
TO LEASE NIAGARA
Washington, Jan. 4. The house to
day passed the Wadsworth bill, author
izing the secretary of war to grant to
water power users the entire twenty
thousand cubic feet of water a second
divertable by tho United States from
the Niagara river under a Canadian
treaty.
The bill has passed the senate and
will go to conference so amendments
may be straightened out.
SPUDS $1 A BUSHEL
Chicago, Jan. r. Potatoes
Bold tods at $1 a peck in Chi
cage's exclusive groceries,
while eggs retailed at 05 cents
a dozen. The general price at
other stores was 66 cents a
peck and ."0 cents a dozen. Hut
tcr, too, was up, selling from
44 to 4" cents u pound. ,
Coal dealers have raised the
price of anthracite $1 per ton
and predict that it will be sell
ing at from $1:2.50 to 15 next
Week, Flour alone remained
tetionary, selling
$0.80 a barrel.
Wound
aft
Hitchcock Resolution
Endorsing Peace Note
Passed Senate Today
-
By J. P. Yoder,
(Inited Press Staff Correspondent.)
Washington, Jan. 5. Shorn of any
idea of endorsing either war or a break 1
with Onrmany or approving ontang i
ling alliances or interferences in!
European affairs, the Hitchcock reso-
lution, approving President Wilson's!
note to belligerents passed the senate;
today, 4S to 17.
Th,. ... UMJ nl Ihn nlnui O
afternoon f dramatic speeches in j
which Senator Iewis, majority whip,
had declared the war could not go on j
without involving America; thnt
America would accept no more apolo-1
gies for mistaKcs ana injuries tun-
posed liilercntially by Ueruiuny.)
Efforts to substitute a minority
resolution for Senator Hitchcock's
failed. But at least, with tho Hitch
cock resolution toned down, the senate
rushed through its work and many re
publicans joined the democrats in ac
cepting the measure, as amended by
Senator Jones, Washington, republican.
The senate, by a vote this afternoon,
approved merely the ipresident'a re
ciuoBt for peace.
DCDIIA D 11 I UflQ
DUlNAnU L L W 1 0
u 1 1 1 n iiiiinri r
lULLd niMdur
I
Shot Rings Out As Officers
Come to Arrest Him For
Murder of (Sri
WOMAN'S UNDERSHIRT
IS FOUND ON HIS BODY
Circumstantial Evidence Is
Strong That He Killed
Mazie Colbert
Philadelphia, Jan. 5. An ever-growing
chain of circumstantial evidence
was this afternoon closing around Hie
name of Bernard Wesley Lewis, scion
of a wealthy Pittsburg family, who com
mitted suicide in an Atlantic City hotel
us detectives burst into his room to ar
rest him in connection with the murder
nf Mazie Colbert. Police declared (he
evidence points ever more strongly to
him ns the slayer of the stunning little
model.
Detectives declared today that Henry
Pox, a criminal lawyer, had roeognir.ed
in Lewis through newspaper pictures
the young roan who two days ago rush
ed into his office at Norristown and
asked to be defended on a charge of
'murder. The man hired an automobile
near Haverford and was intensely ner
vous and excited as he talked to the
lawyer. In addition, the chauffeur has
also identified Lewis, through tho same
means, according to polico statements.
Another significant development this
afternoon was admission by detectives
that bloodstains, several days old, had
been found on the socks Lewis wore
when he killed himself. These steins, it
was said, were, below the sboetopa, near
the ankles, indicating that Lewis, if he
was in Miss Colbert's apartment, was
not iuny domed.
The End of the Trail
Philadelphia, Jan. 5. Bernard Won,
ley Lewis, Yale graduate, scion ef a
wealthy Pittsburg family, reached the
end of the primrose path today. His
body, disfigured by a bullet hole
through the center of his forehead
self-inflicted was in an Atlantic City
morgue today.
She who trod the sumo primrose
path with Lewis, Mazie Colbert, age
25, of humble birth and beautiful nutil
some frenzied murderer crushed her
delicate features and body into gross
flesh and blood was in a simple gvavo
in Philadelphia.
Mazie Colbert was murdered. And
Bernard Lewis all but, confessed mur
derer of his beautiful paramour when
he committed suicide last night in an
Atlantic City hotel, just as dotcotives
were about to seize him. The primrose
path led the rich man to death as it
led the poor girl there.
In Pittsburgh today a wife, father
and mother were waiting for final
word from Philadelphia's poliee to
render final verdi't whether or not
Lewis was actually the man who
fiendishly killed the pretty wodel.
Theit verdict admittedly must be
based on circumstantial evidence nKine.
Hut it was Lewis who took a taxicab
to the Wilton apartment, whero Mazio
Colbert lived, who was the last man
known
to have seen the girl alive and
who ran away seeking to lose himself
when police fastened upon his trail.
Taxi Drivsr Identified Him.
, Last night, in Atlantic Oity'a
morgue, the taxi unver wno carrieu a
man to the Wilton on tho night Ma.iej
Colbert was cruelly beaten to death,
identified as his fare the man whoso
body was then in the morgue, a bullet
through the head.
Lewis must have felt the net tight
ening about bim. Mis room at the
Atlantic City hotel had been prepared
as a death i hamber. Lewis had Bluf
fed a towel over the transom of his
room and cut off the batr boom in
isoniewnai siiuuui uf-iuvn.
around the window had been stuffed
i with paper. Key holes had been stop-
,,,-d up as if Lewis cringed before tho
eye 01 tne law inai am mm
.. .. , .v... i... i........ va.rtu ..ou-
stantly seeking him.
His liebmaings were in
disorder. The
(Continued on page twQ
THE WEATHER
Oregon:
To-
night and Satur
day unsettled,
probably tain;
cooler tonight,
westerly wiada.
TO AVOID ARHES
vnTweftr)
I on THE Golf;