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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 1917)
iaumal Sbe Hail FULL LEASED WIRE DISPATCHES CIRCULATION IS OVER 4000 DAILY FORTIETH YEAR NO. V SALEM, OREGON, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1917 PRICE TWO CENTS Jjggg GERARD WL FIRM REFUSING To SIGN TREATY IN BERLIN German Government Attemoted to Coerce American Am bassador Into Making Certain Concessions In Event of War Threats Were Directed Against Americans In Order to Influence Action-Many Are Still Being Held Virtually As Hostages in Berlin German Officials Now Make Near-Apologies For Treatment of Embassv By Carl W. Ackerjnan, (With Ambassador Gerard's Party at Berne) Berne, via Paris, Feb. 12. The German government intends to delay departure of Americans now in Berlin in order to have such citizens in hand for retaliatory measures in case America declares war and interns Ger man citizens in the United States. Permission for Americans eventually to depart was only obtained by the strong stand of Ambassador Gerard. From neutral soil today it is possible to reveal the pres sure with the German government brought powerfully to bear on the American ambassador to force from him sign ing of a treaty which would practically guarantee the safety of German ships in American waters. Gerard persistently refused. He declined even to communicate such proposals to Washington unless he was granted freedom of confidential communication. When the American correspondents in Berne went to Gerard in a body and told him of what they had heard, Gerard replied: "I told Count Montgelas, Gerard said today, describing his interview with the German foreign office attache who put up to him the practical "ultimatum" as to his signing of the treaty, "that I'd sit there until kingdom come and not leave until all Americans were permitted free exit." After this the Berlin officials granted passports to those dsiring to leave with Gerard. A large number of Americans atill remain in Berlin and are anxious to leave, but the indications when the Ge rald party left were that they would lie delayed days and even weeks. The Berlin government, fearing that Anieri en may declare war, apparently desires to have a few American citizens within Germany on which retalitory measures might he exacted in case Germans in America are interned. Meanwhile the foreign orriee is atriv- .... 1 . , ... the military party long ago prepared toi American hostilities and is only lake-1 warm in its support of the statesmen on i he Wilhelnistrasse. The general feeling of Americans I left in Berlin was expressed by thoj young son of Davis Jlstldy: "If 1 ever get my feet on American j soil again, I'll never take them off." Gecard appeared worn out today, not I only from the journey from Berlin but from the strain of the past events. He was warmly received by representatives of the Swiss government and the allies. i. .'. . i fui tha ' i ir ti Pnri, I from there going to Spain for the voy age to America. In the meantime he is communicating all details of the past week to Washington by Bode dispatches. Judging from the foregoing dispatch -n,i w Ad- I and otlicr messages ,, , ,, JIJMIl.lt CBtUI I. HL-1HI 111. HI! I .1 I in-' t ornian, received dniiiiir the last tewi t . A - , . , '. ,., , t, strictest silence on his departure, retus days, it seems like v that the action ofi. . . ' ,. iU . ' .ii- -i ing anv comment whatever. Other dis the (ierman government in delaying toe 9 , - . , , . , ' ., B . patches received here, however, detail- sk if ;!; ABE MARTIN . Soe fellers spend half tryiu' t' hide a bald spot, o' difference between lh' an t.h' rater wagoi departure of Americans from its terri tory was based on inaccurate and sen sationally distorted reports reaching Berlin of anti-German demonstrations in this country. foreign Secretary Zimmerman was quoted in wireless dispatches received last night as stating that falsity of these reports had been established and it is felt in Washington that when the previous erroneous ideas are completely dispelled in Berlin the situation will iciuicklv ad list itself I 1 Gerard Has No Plans London, Feb. 12. His sailing plans not even tentatively made at Madrid, but safely out of Germany, Ambassa dor Gerard was supposed to be in Berne Switzerland, today, finishing the first stage of his journey homeward. The ambassador and nearly two hun dred other Americans, including his embassy staff, American consular offi cials and other American citizens, ar rived at Zurich last night. They had intended remaining over in that citv. but on learning that the American min ister to Switzerland, Pleasant A. Sto vall, had reserved accommodations at Berne, he left the special train furnish ed by the German government and took an ordinary train for Berne. The Swiss government accorded all possible hon- ors 'he recalled envoy, sending a led something of the pressure to which the American amoassador was subject ed while awaiting his passports from the Imperial (ierman government. What Germany Wanted Germany was exceedingly anxious to obtain reaffirmation of the treatv of 1 79H, as amended in 1828, which grants citizens of America and Germany per mission to remain nine months in those countries, following a declaration of war. Gerard resisted all efforts to have him affirm such a provision, holding that he no longer had authority from his government. It developed that what the German government really desired was a protocol, not only reiterating the old treaty provisions, but going further, in that it would sl'ccifv citizens in both i countries should be permitted to cpn- I tinue their businesses indefinitely, be protected from seizure and that parent? should not be forfeited. One provision aimed direct to protect German ships in AniCTiean harbors, exenipted ship ping from seizure and another was de signed to guard against internment of citizens by either nation. I Copenhagen dispatches today insist led that when Gerard firmly refused to jsign sneh a protocol, German officials j retaliated with a barely concealed hint that certain Americans min In be held I in Berlin, presumably as hostages. At I the same time Gerard was prevented ' t her lives from communicating with Washington Ther'a lotslby his code, plain messages only being baud wagon j permitted to pass. (Continued on page fivo.) PROMINENT WANTS THE R.OADS TO ii i -in, nm m ... IPrMPM mm VH.TjUrVrOrM m UT Tttt 9y ' TR.ADC "AND (S VAOrXKINO AT IT iM oh rue mcrWAYS TH6 keCiiSKATUK.t COMMANDER Of I IS DEFIANT Warned Tug and Firemen Away While Vessel Was Burning at Dock Honolulu, Feb. (. (By mail) When the crew of the interned Gorman cruis er Geier set fire to their vessel here Sunday in an attempt to destroy her, George Kodiek, the German consul in Honolulu stood on her deck and warn ed the commander of a naval tug com ing lo the rescue that if he or any of his men came aboard it wauld be "a hostile act.' 1 This warning was sufficient to keep the tug away. Although the flies were discovered by the public and govern ment authorities at 8 o'clock in the morning, Rodick and Captain Grassot'f, commanding the cruiser, did not sur render the Geier until 1:30 in the af ternoon. Engines of the city fire depart ment stood idle on pier 7 until just be fore the captain surrendered his ship. At that time the flames were spread ing so rapidly that the crew were forc ed to leave tiie vessel. The firemen did not succeed in subduiug the blaze un til 5 o'clock, after it had been burning nearly ten hours. Investigation by United States offi cials of the disabling of eight German merchantmen interned here indicates that the damage to the ships will total $500,000. Preparations were under way to sink the Pommern, largest of the (Continued on page three.) E AI SATURDAY SESSION Many Measures Are Passed Upon During Sessions of Saturday The. senate having disposed of the 'Rogue river fishing bills, Xos. 24M and 1 208; the former making the use of I seines unlawful and the latter increas ing the length of the season for eom Imereia fishing on the river near Grants j Pass, concluded it had fight enough for one day, and settled down to the I work of clearing its calendar, which it i did by passing 12 senate and 13 house I bills and killing none. With the seven bills passed in the morning the record , for the day was a total of 32 bills ! passed. Several of these were of a local character and none of them of great im I portance, not enough at least to cause tne senators to raiK aooui mem. ine'prPflg i ,.prtainlv wi ! bills were read, explained briefly by the j Ma for j)u, eollntrv. chairman ot the committee reporting! ..Wo haV(1 a piUfllllv SBmn nun,.r them or the author of the bill, if origin-; of lrijitary and licensed civilian pilots ating in the senate, and after that the!to mcet ail enwrgenCy but that need .oil w. nun .rue HO itl i.m iK iUIj1 monotonous remark "the clerk will read the next bill." Many Bills Passed. The following are the bills passed: S. B. No 299, by horticulture commit tee. Relative to appointment of eounry fruit inspection. S. B. No. 280, by Huston. Providing for the safety and life Of property in the construction and use of steam boil- ers Bln8le Kn- S. B No. 175, bv i.einenweber. Tol "Every step in the European war's confer jurisdiction on justices of the development of air craft has proved ! peace i that it is the light, quick machine that 1 8- B. No. 267, by Hurlev. Amending fn Sft UI 8,1(1 lolvn aud around rail I law relating to petitions to county I "Ny, that is the most effective. They board of equalization for reduction of ', ea-tl iumP in and do their damage and i assessments. j get away while heavier planes are get- H. B. No. 205, by Hmith of Josephine.! ting started. To proteet miner's in regard to wages. i "You can't combine weight and ef 8. B. No. 151, by Shanks. To prevent! ficiency in aircraft. The heavily arm ' and heir wbb feloniously eauses death or ored plane has been a failure and I 'disability of another from taking anvl think we will eventually come back to beneficiary proceeds under policy of in - surance. i 8. B. No. 180, by Orton- To provide! ; i (Continued on page two.) ' ACTORS IN THE LEGISTATIVE DRAMA 7 a r m r i vn ! BRYAN'S ACTIVITIES F 1 OR PEACE ATTRAC NOTICE OF OFFICIALS " i Bodies of Several Victims Be Pronoganda Is Thoroughly Sieved To Be Buried In Organized and Maintains Expensive Headquarters Washington. Feb. 12. Peace propa ganda largely fostered by former Sec retary of State Bryan and his fi ends had grown to an extent that attracted the attention of government heads to day. As one feature of a concerted drive to enlarge the peace spirit, two hundred women representing tho. "emeregency peace federation,'' booked to Meantime two big peace offices here with heaw corns oi stenographers were shooting out peace letters, while peace propaganda telegrams poured into the White House anil state department. The whole situation distrissed admin- j istration officials. They felt it maau- ! factured more peace spirit already large anil helped tie the government's hands it case it regarded was against Germany as necessary for preservation of American rights, honor and dignity. Officials laid the German feeler of Saturday suggestion of a United States-Germany conference to avoid war directly to peace propaganda, while some authorities suggested that the hand of former Secretary of State Bry an was in the deal. Much as the govern- (Continucd on page eight.) ORVILLE WRIGHT WILL " FIGHT FOR COUNTRY j Inventor of the Aeroplane Will Organize Aerial Army for United States New York, Feb. 12. Orville Wright, inventor of the aeroplane, announced today that in case of war with (lei many he would abandon his private affairs and offer his services to the government to help organize an aerial army. "While I could not duplicate Henry I'ord's offer to manufacture war ma - chines because 1 have disposed of my interests in the manufacturing end of tfc Business, Wright told the Fluted do everything ot trounle UB tt Kroat (leal jf wt ,,,,,( the situation promptly. '"It does not take but about two j weeks to develop and train a good niili ' tarv aerial observer. It takes two weeks more to make him a competent fighting man. As for the type of aerial defense, I would favor the small high climbing !"-. S' "" uuaimeu excepi Tor a ! the smaller one. 1 know I am not al- wavs agreed with in this, but it is true, nevertheless. (Continued on page rare.) StNATOR- AWORTON A. rtAR W0R.KfV. Coot- LIVES LOST Ice-Coated Debris Minneapolis, Minn-, Feb. .12--Thirteen lives arc belicvod to have been lost in a midnight fire which destroyed the ' Kenwood hotel here. Bodies of 12 of the victims are believ ed to be buried in tile ice-encased debris of the hostelry. The body of the other i victim, a woman who died from injur ies suffered when she jumped to the ! street from a third floor window, is at the morgue. The blaze, which originated on the I lower floor of the old stone structure, ! discovered about 11:40 last night ! I'ivC9 ,f f'8 P"?ns living in the build mg were imperiled by the flames, wtneti caused a loss estimated at about 35, 000. The known dead: Mrs. Lucille Squire, jumped third floor, head crushed, died at pital. Missing and believed dead: Mrs. Van. Gladys Thurst. Dun Boone. Margaret Bheppard. William Button Mrs. Blanche Benson. Bluer Johnson. C. l.uce. Unidentified man, Detroit, Mich. Agnes , char woman. rem hos- mm (Continued on page eight.) 1 (Continued on Page 8.) GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS NOW WILLING TO NEGOTIATE ISSUE By Robert J. Bender Washington, Ftfe. 12 Presii at Wil ermany ;int can i sun today formally notil i d j that the I'nited States gover j enter into no negotiations tending to avert an armed clash between the two illations until the new I'-bout decree is i withdrawn. i (flic president's coinmunicat ion, sent oinmiiiucation, sent through SwisfV Minister Hitter, renre- Mnting the (ierman government in the United States, was made public at tho state denartiucnt after it had been ad- inittcd overtures hp-, been received 1'"1111 'he German government. This government declared it would Uadty discuss anything with Germany; -but only in event Germany withdraws her U-boat decree of January iil and renews her pledges or May 4 last the Sussex case. The Swiss Statement Washington, Feb. 12. The state ,i(- that partment this afternoon admitted the (ierman government "is willing to negotiate with the United States, pro vided that the commercial blockade of Kngland would not be interferred with." In reply, this government said "it would gladly discuss with the (ierman government any question it might pro Kse for discussion, ' ' if it withdraws its U-boat decree. In admitting that it had received a suggestion from the German govern ment via the Swiss minister, the de partment gave out the following state ment: "In view of the anoearHiice in the newspajiers of February 11, of a report that (icmiany was initiating negotia tions with the United States in regard to the submarine warfare, the depart- ; ment of state makes the following : statement: I "A suggestion was made orally to the deiiartment of state late Saturday afternoon bv the minister of Swit.er - land that the German government is : willing to negotiate with tin- fiiitid States provided that the commercial PLAN 10 ARM MERCHANT SHIPS IS UNDER WAY Reserve Guns of Navy WiH Be Available Soon for This Purpose MORE AMERICAN SHIPS IDLE AT NEW YORK DOCKS More Toll of Allied Shipping Is Taken by German Submarine By Carl D. Groat (United Press staff correspondent) Washington, Feb. 12. Reserve guns of the United States navy designed for use on merchant auxiliaries and submarine chasers will probably be available soon to American shipowners who brave the German danger zones. The navy department has a number of these guns, which, it is said today, could be condemned or even loaned li rectly, if necessary. They are just the type for merchant ships. Officials admitted today that Amer ican merchant ships will have to de pend upon the navy for any armament desired. President Franklin of the Am erican line has notified the department ,iiiuviit. he has been unable to get guns from " "' ' ' - "., ,o ,c mil pro- any other source with which to arm his T"' """"vi b," X "J; is cepted from the dog license. The house Officials suggested that condemna-j "'"t. in,0,.al ''ommittee of the whole, tion of the guns would make them avail! a.,"! lately representatives of va able for ship lines without putting an lous ''ounties in the valley wished to Official seal on the transfer. lmvc ,,he,r eounttej exempted until the While the state department has held Pom became so general there was the direct transfer could be made, there! drger or leaving the bill apply to Ma were signs today that ttie government I rl" ''"""ty only. Hesired to avoid iiialiins such armine seyour Jones objected to the valley appear to be mi official move. More Liners Arc Idle New York, Feb. 12. Two more Am crican liners will be at their piers to day to lay idle until conditions in Bet many s unresti'icrou sunmanne wanum arc better. The New York was due to dock dur- ing the day. The Kroonland arrived yes- terdav. Both came from Liverpool While officials of the American line are holdine back the action which will send their ships unprotected Into the danger Mine, another American freight-1 heavily timbered and should be except er, the Owcgo, has gone out to bravo ed. the terrors of the submarine zone. Representative I.afferty favored the The Owcgo, a 2,210 ton ship is on her j hill and Representative CartraiU urged way to Genoa. She carries a general that the measure be not trentd tightly, cargo of 2,"00 tons, sent out by the He declared the people want a stringent Federal line, aer owners, i apuuo ami field, her master, anil iwo uurus oi "'"( blockade lgainst En d would not be request of tho I suggestion was eaented lo him interferrcd with. At secretary of state t made in writing am I pi by the Swiss ininist The communication i ' ' ' Memorandum -' ment has been reqn er Sunday night. j as follows: flic Swiss govern (sted by the Ger-J n . ' , ""' government lo say mil me lancr in government to say that the latter is, now as before, willing to negotiate, formally or informally, with the Unit- . ... - . , , '., Ma,eS' Ilro""" " u,c ""'" blockade agaiiist-hnglnnd will not "v "lom-ii nvj. ( (Signed " 'I'. Kilter . "This memorandum was ftVan i4 i mediate consideration ami tne tonow- ing reply was itispatciien yesterday: '"My dear Mr. Minister: I am re ! quested by the president to say to you in acknowledging the memorandum which you were kind enough to send me on the eleventh inst., that the gov ernment of the ( nited Mtates woum gladly discuss with the Oerman gov crilllli'l l ailV Iiiu-Jiiiuii H iiiut 'iTiim.T. for discussion, .e it to withdraw it. proclamation of the 31st of January, in which, suddenly and without previ ous intimation of any kind, it cancelled the assurance which it had given this government on the fourth of May last, but that it does not feel that it can enter into any discussion with the Ger man government concerning the poli cy of submarine warfare agaiust neu - trais wnirn it is now pursuing and until the German government re news its - assurances of the fourth of j May, and acts upon the assurance. I am, my dear minister, etc. "To his excellency, Dr. Paul Ritter, minister of Switzerland.' "No other exchanges on this sub ject has taken place between this gov ernment and any other government or persons. 1 But so long as there is no break in I diplomatic relations ith gentle spring, we should worry a whole lot lew. FIGHT FBR DOGS ENLIVENED HOUSE THIS MORNING Representative Ai Bill .to license Causes It REPRESENTATIVE LEWIS HAS MEASURE KILLED Parole Officer Bill Is Recalled by Senate This Morning After Fight A lively dog fight, or preferably, a fight on dogs, enlivened the session of the house of representatives this morn ing during its hour and a half period of work. Four bills were passed, two kill ed on final vote, and one strangled by indofluite postponement. The dogfight resulted when Al Jones" bill to license dogs in the counties wen of the Cascade mountains and creating a fund for stock killed by them. As the coast counties wished to lie exempt from this provision on account of being a timbered country nod dogs were need ed, Representative Jones moved that the house go into a committco of the wholo i ,.,,.: i i . . .,, counties being exempted and be was backed up by Speaker Stanfild, Repre sentatives Griggs, Clark and Bean. Rep resentative Bean stated that this kind of legislation had been before the leg islature for several sessions and that tiuunt,- ucn. in i.unu county, he said the sheep raising iedus- try had been practically ruined by docs ami ut nerds have practically vanish- ed. The farmers demanded nrotectinn for their herds from the dogs. The bill urns to restrain the curs who have no i home or owners. The coast counties are i nog law, hnstern Oregon was exempted because dogs there are needed in caring ror tne siieep. Before the committee of the whole rose to report, the counties of Polk, Washington and Clackamas, which ask ed exemption, were included in the bill, which on final vote passed. Lewis' Bill Killed. The "electric juggernaut" flatl ended out Itepieseutative Lewis this morning when his bill to prevent the payment of more than twice the assessed valua tion in purchase of property for public, purposes was killed. The members de clared it was a foolish and vicious meas ure and cast serious reflection on the honesty of public officials. XI r. Lewis declared that he knew men who had sold property to the public and had enough money to buy a four-story building. House bill No. 104, by Martin, limit ing the salaries of the president and professors of the O. A. C. to $5,000 a year, was also flattened by the elcctrie Juggernaut. The bill was declared fool ish in that it tied the hands of tho rcucum oi me insulation in secmuring Jconipoti Jcomiictent. heads of institutions. Aa there was a long calendar, Corbett moved the previous question and shut off debate. The bill failed to nass. The first bill up this morning was houae bill No- 120, by Childs, adjusting tne salary ot the state printer and pro- vidiug for the appointment of tho state printing board. With a fey explanation the author, it im id. House bill No. 12(i, by Tichenor, fix ing bonndaiies of all counties border ing on the Pacific ocean, passed. House bill No. 327, by Porter, ( pro I vidiug sanitary containers for milk and ice cream, passed. A resolution was introduced and ' adopted prohibiting people without au- . , ., w - , . fiSEJE'flM" '' 'Vh''T I during the session. The resolution direct ed thai, the sergeant-at-arms under tho (Continned on page three.') ! THE WEATHER ; f Oregon : To night and Tues day fair; colder tonlgat; winds mostly northerly.