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SALEM, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1917
PRICE TWO CENTS XAvc
FORTIETH YEAR NO. 296
T hope Janta
UftlN" ME A
ut '
CROIli GRILLED
BY COMMUTE ON
THE STAND TODAY
Chief of Ordinance Not Al
lowed to Withhold Facts
From Inqusitors
CHAIRMAN CHAMBERLAIN
PRESSES INVESTIGATION
Crozier Finally Blames Sec
retary of War For Delay
In Munitions Supply
..
INTO SECRET DETAILS
Washington, Dee. 13. Aftor
grilling Crozier three houra in
open session, the committee
this afternoon went into a meet
ing with him behind barred
doors.
They will demand to be
shown nil secret facts and fig
ures on the rifle, machine gun
and artillery situation as it
affects the American army.
"
Washington, Dec. 13. Eight months
after the -United States entered the
war, rifle factories in this country are
only making half as many rifles daily
as they were making far the allies be
' fore we got into the war.
The machine gun officially adopted
for the American army has never been
piven a test under actual war condi
tions. These disclosures were made today
to the senate military affairs commit
tee during a grilling cross examination
of Major General William Crozier,
chief of ordnance. .
President Wilson, however, showed
his faith iu Crozier by reappointing
him today.
Disputes Over Gun Jypca
Crozier reluctantly told, under cross
examination, how disputes over tho
types of machine gun had prevented
manufacture of any for the American
forces for a year before wo got into
the war, in s4to of tho fact that a
large appropriation had been mado for
these weapons.
"Who is responsible for this situa
tion t" demanded Senator Chamber
lain. "The secretary of war," replied
Crozier, almost in a whisper. '
Crozier said that although the -Brown
(Continued on page two)
"HOW WILL WAR END?"
SHOULD BE THE ONLY
QUESTION
Note William G. Shepherd, stafi
correspondent of the United Press,
who, since 1914, has visited all the bel
ligerent nations and ihas served on
mqje war fronts ,than any other Amer
ican correspondent, returned from Rus
sia on leave a month ago. Since tliat
time he has been traveling and lectur
ing in the middle west. T'je following
article Is from a trained observer -who
has been stirred by a serious condition
?ud a danger not generally sensed.
(The editor.)
By William G. Shepherd
(United Press staff correspondent)
Chicago, Dee. 13 Bolshevikism is
trying to poison and weaken the mili
tary strength of the United States,
just as it did Russia. To an Americau
conversant with the situation in Rus
sia and familiar with the methods and
tactics of the Bolsheviki and other
German conspirators, tho situation de
veloping in the middle west, under the
very noses of the most patriotic ele
ments among our citizenry, is an ap
palling one.
As a nation we are as much a factor
in the war as any one of the allies
which already paid their heavy toll in
dead. As a people Americans at home
have not gtitten the war spirit. The
issues are little discussed and less un
derstood. The situation is ideal for the
spread of Bolsheviki propaganda.
Everywhere the question of the hour
is "when will the war end!" Seldom
is it "How will the war end?" For
months the stock question of the Ger
man propagandist in Russia has been
"When will the war end?"' It is the
question, constant reiteration of which
finally undermined the Russian morale
and brought about the collapse.
- America is n.'t angry. Germany
knoivs this, counts on it. It is her frame
to avoid arousing tins nation, liern
s.'orff played it well- The propagandists
li" !tft b'liird are playing it well.
" Germany well Kr.ows that to sin'if an
American transport would fill tlie
0 T V.
4 V-
f v l
4-. r J
'. V "
ism:
Gen. William Crozier.
SOAP BOX ORATOR
URGES CANADIANS
TO VOTE FOR DRAFT
Sentiment of Canadian Sol
diers Strongly Favors
Conscription
By J. W. Pegler
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
American Field Headquarters, France,
Pee. 13. Conscription in Canada will
win in u walk if the sentiment of Can
adians among the American militia now
'over here" can be regarded as a bar
ometer. The "Simon pure" Americans in tho
expeditionary forces routed out all their
Canadian pals today and cheered them
as they entered polling booths to vote
on the question
Out m trout of one polling place a
led heand New Yorker, formerly n
Tammany Hall soap box orator, pulled
an impromptu electioneering speech
f . nin tho tailboard of a supply wagon.
"What will happen if conscription
ioses in Canadaf" ho demanded. "Why,
the Canadian corps will melt from the
line like September snow under an In
dian summer sun. Am I right?'
"Of course you're right," came an
answering yell from his audience.
'You're" dog-gone right I'm right,"
tlo oraror resumeu.
"And what '11 the kaiser say if con
scription loses?"
"Well, he'll slap Hindenburg on the
shoulder Fnd say, 'Hindy, old boy, we
;ve licked -Canada.' Ain I right!"
The chorus came instantly and thun
derously. "Of course you're right."
'You're dog-gone right I'm right,"
(Continued on pag two)
ASKED NOW
front pages of American newspapers
and carry sorrow and anger to every
corner of the United States. The Am
erican navy's brilliant convoy system
is not to go under estimated but the
fact remains that no transport filled
with troops has been sunk. The fact
has the same lulling effect that Ger-
j man inaction had on the Russians.
German propaganda cannot be
preached to an angry American public.
The German game is to keep the Am
erican people tranquil while the poison
of German propaganda is poured into
them by the Germans in the United
States. This was the German maneuver
in Russia. It is to German advantage
not to provide heavy casualty lists,
just as long as German peace propa
ganda can be carried on in American
cities. When the propaganda campaign
fails. America will .learn the meaning
of " f rightfulness."
To ciie who has been in Europe in
war time, who has seen the life and
death struggle there and the despera
tion of the citizens in their willing
ness to sacrifice everything to stamp
out Germany's military menace, the
apathy and the unthinking selfishness
of unaroused, unangered Americans is
something of a shock, in That it can
'mean nothing other than an indefinite
) dragging out of the conflict. American
action spurred by anger ana amrm,
can alone bring a satisfactory answer
to the qnestirn "When and how will
the war end?"
MUNICIPAL FISH BOAT
Portland. Or., Dec. 13. A municipal
fish boat is to be Portland's latest pub
lic utility. The council today authoriz
ed nf 9 vessel to nnornte in the
-fish banks off the Oregon coast and
! supply the municipally owned and op
' crated fish, market. The council also
(plans extensive educational and adver
tising campaigns to increase fish consumption.
KERR NOT OFFERED
JOB B Y THE KANSAS
COLLEGE,
(Kansas City Star Nov, 26, 1917)
Tapeka, Nov. 26. Dr. W. J. Kerr,
president - of tho Oregon Agricultural
college, has not been offered tho pres
idency of tho Kansas Agricultural col
lege. This was the statement of the
board of administration today. The
rotemibcrs of the board returned from
Washington, where they have been in
conference with agricultural college
men from all parts of tho country.
"This board has mado no offer to
Dr. Kerr," said E. W. Hoch, chairman
of the board. "We have never discuss
ed tho presidency of the Kansas school
with him. We met him as wo met many
GENERAL STRIKE ON
BUT ENDS QUICKLY
PRESIDENT ACTS
s
Federal Arbitration Beard Is
Ordered to Proceed to
Twin Cities at Once
St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 13. The general
strike of all union labor affecting every
industry in the Twin Cities was called
off at 1 p. m.
Every striking employe was ordered
to return to work.
Iu several instances men who had
been out only a few hours were refused
their jobs when they returned,
' Strike Was General
St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 13. Labor lead
ers at 12:30 o'clock this afternoon said
the general strike which had been in ef
fect for two and a half hours, in sym
pathy with locked out union street car
men, may be called off at any moment.
Secretary , Lawsou of the Minnesota
Labor Federation at Washington is re
ported to have telegraphed Twin City
labor leaders to call off the strike and
order the men back to work, following
(Continued on page eight)
Kerr Decides to Stay
For Raise of Salary
Oregon Agricultural College, Cor
vallis, Dec. 13. After carefully weigh
ing all features entering into the of
fer from the Kansas ' Agricultural col
lege and his present position as head
of the Oregon institution, Dr. W. J.
Kerr has announced that he will re
main here and. devote his undivided
attention to a continuation of the de
velopment of this state.
Dr. Kerr's salary has been advanced
from 7000 to $8400 a year.
Dr. Kerr mado known his decision
yesterday morning at a special confer
ence with J. K. Weatherford, president
of the board of regents. His strong
faith in the future of the state and
the affection of himself and family
for the people of Oregon, combined
with the wish to push forward tha
many features inaugurated under his
administration, led him to tho decision
he said.
Dr. Kerr was offered $9000 a year to
accept the presidency of the Kansas
college, but he will remain here on a
salary of $8400. He is assured of the
fullest support of the regents and will
have an otficiab residence on the cam
pus, it has been announced.
"I am glad Dr. Kerr has agreed to
stay," said Mr. Weatherford. "I be
lieve we have one of the greatest col
lege presidonts in the United States.
and know that it would have been a
costly thing to lot him go. The state
would not have been satisfied with a
lesser man in his place, and in tho at
tempt to procure his equal wo should
have been in competition with more
populous and wealthy states in tho
east. It is exceedingly doubtful wheth
er we could- have found an easterner
acceptable for this western position
at any prh'e-" '
Field Marshal Haig
Pays Glowing Tribute
to American Engineers
By J. W. Pegler
(United Press staff correspond
ent)
American Field Headquar-
ters, France, Dec. 13. Field
Marshal Haig paid eloquent
and grateful tribute to the Am
erican army engineers today.
He wrote General Pershing
thanking him and Pershing's
engineers for "prompt and val
uable assistance near Gouzea
court," in tho rectnt German
assault there.
"I trust you will convey to
these gallant men," Haig wrote
"how much I appreciate their
prompt and soldierly readiness
to assist in what was for a
time a difficult situation- I
much regret the losses they suf
fered. ' '
BOARD SA YS
other agricultural college men at Wash
ington, but the matter of the presi
dency of our school was nc-t discussed
in more than a casual manner. We
never even asked him if he would like
l to have us consider him as a possiblo
president." -
The other members of the board sub
stantiated the statement of Governor
Hoch. "I cannot understand how on
earth the report ever get out," said
Dr. Wilbur Masou.
The report that Doctor Kerr had
been asked to accept the presidency
of tho Kansas state agricultural col
lego was sent out from Portland, Ore.
SECRETARY H'ADOO
AND CONGRESS MAY
HAVE FINISH FIGHT
Clash Will Come Over Raising
Revenues by Taxes Or
Bond Issues
Washington, Dec. 13. A clash be
tween congress and Secretary of the
Treasury McAdoo ou the issue of war
taxes xorsus bonds sems inevitable. A
determined movement is under way in
congress today to fix a definite and
stable war financial policy.
Statesmen on capitol hill have, since
the outbreak of the war, chafed under
the administration's course, which, they
claim, has relegated congress to the
background. It is freely predicted that
a flareup may be precipitated by action
on war finances.
It Is possible to state on the highest
authority that McAdaa has not himself
determined upon the, proportion of bonds
and taxes. He does not want to
forced to a decision at this time. He
does not want any new tax .legislation
at this session and hopes to avoid
amendment of the war revenue bill pass
ed at the last Bession. It is estimated
that $10,000,000,000 in . bonds will be
needed to provide revenue for this year
over and above the sum raised through
existing items and $7,000,000,000 addi
tional in 1919. With the $12,000,000,000
worth of bonds authorized at the last
session, the grand total in bonds as
against the $5,000,000,000 taxes the rev
enue law will raise in tie two years
may lead to disaster, according to high
taxationists.
WOULD INCREASE LICENSE.
Portland, Or., Dec. 13. Street car
ofTvprtininir Tina not suffered bv war
times, according to Commissioner Kel-
laher. Today he will introduc.o an ordin
ance boosting the local street car ad
vertising concession's license from $250
to $1000 on the ground that the firm
is making too much money.
Auto Bandits Held Up
Cashier and Take Funds
Chicago, Dec. 13- Four bandits held
up tho cashier of the State Bank of
LaGrange, 30 miles west of here short
ly before nor,n today and escaped in
an automobile with between $15,000
and $25,000. At least $15,000 in gold
was taken.
The bandits, all cf whom were un
masked headed for .Chicago, closely
pursued by LaGrange policemen in two
automobiles. Chicago detectives, in an
other automobile, drove west to meet
them. A battle is expected.
Abe Martin :
V
"TV worst thing about short skirts
an' pink hose," said Rev. Wiley Tan
ger, t'day, "is th' tendency among our
young men t' marry in ha9te." Ail
some folks seem t' eaf about the' war
is that they don't have t' go.
VISIT TO TREEI1ES
OF FIRST SAMS
0 GAVE UP LIVES
Correspondent of Use United
. Press Also Visits Utile
Graveyard
By W. S. Forrest
(United rPess Staff Correspondent)
With the French Armies in The Field,
Dee. 13. I have walked over hallowed
soil today over the ground dyed by
the blood of the first Americans of
the army to die in action fighting the
fight of right against might.
Through courtesy of the French army
headquarters the United Press corres
pondent was permitted to spend a day
and a night in the very trenches where
Privates Gresham, Hay and Kiiriirht per
ished in the Gorman raid November 2.
The night, was spent in a dugout a
few feet distant frrom the spot where
the first American was taken prisoner
by the Germans. Before dawn the Unit
ed Press correspondent accompanied a
French patrol party out over the exact
spot on No Man's Land where the Am
ericans made their first reconnaissance,
Later our party talked to a French sur
geon who prized as his most precious
possession a piece of the historic Ger
man sholl which wounded the first Am
erican. Then, later, with an American col
league, Paul Scott Mowrer of Chicago
we were guided by a French chaplain
to a tiny village two miles to the rear
of the fighting hues.
We found tho town simply a hamlet
typical of this part of Franco.
We were guided to a ten-acre field
surrounded by a high stone wall. The
field's suoping surface was marred by
rusted wire entanglements.
. At the very bottom angle of the wall,
eleven fresh sod-topped mounds mark
ed the resting places of American dead.
Wilted flowers covered them. At tho
head of each was a five foot roughly
hewn wooden cross.
Of the eleven mounds, the first three
at ouo end were enclosed in tiny, un-
painted pine fences. Farthest away the
cresses' told-us-thre lay Die t ody of
Private Thomas Euright. Next was the
grave of Private Merle D. Hay and
nearest of the three was tno mounu
covering the resting place of Private
James B. Gresham.
Tho markers for these three heroic
Americans were octagonal wooden
nameplates. Their full names, with the
regimental numbers of each man and the
date of their death, was inseriDca on
each gnd an intpr-twined background
of thcrStars and Stripes and the French
tri-color made them stand out promin
ently,
On the fenco inclosing these graves
of the first three Americans to fall is
a wooden sign with Black painted on o
white back ground.
The inscription, translated, is:
"Hero lie the first soldiers of the
noble republic of the United States to
fall on French soil for justico and liber
ty." We paused at the graves of this heroic
trio and then passed to the other eight
graves not so well garnished with
flowers.
The first three in this group wero the
graves of Abraham Meadows, Stanley
Janovicy and Harry Meyers according
to the roughly printed name boards.
Here, while the scream of shells came
unceasingly through tho air, with occas
ional explosions vibrating the very
earth in which these Americans rest,
our chaplain said a brief prayer. My
colleague and myself placed sprigs of
evergreen foliago on each grave and
then went back under drenchink skies
toward the trenches
WANT3 TO ENLIST
Oakland, Cal., Dec. 13. "I'm tired
of knitting. Please let me enlist.''
That was the plea of Miss Lillian
Luttrell, pretty Oakland girl, to tho
navy recruiting office here today but
she is ba'k at her knitting again. There
Amhular.ee Section of
Americans Bound For
Italian Fighting lines
" By John H. Hearley
(United Press sdnff correspond-
'ent)
Rone, Dec. 13. The first
American nmb ilance section to
enter active service on the Ital-
ian front departed from Milan
today. There were three units,
comprising 65 ambulances and
110 American university stu-
dents in the detachment-
The Americans were given a
great sendoff by citizens of
Milan. They passed in review
before high officials there ltt a
grteat parade and then were
bade farewell as they entrained
The American Red Cross, it
was stated, expects to have at
least 2O0 of its cars in the
field on the Italian front by
January 1.
' The units today are Ameri-
ca's first official participation
in the war on the Italian front-
FAIL TO BREAK THE
BRITISH LINE IN
lASSEDAnACKS
Long Prepard Attacks Gain
Only Slight Hold In First
Line Trenches
FIGHTING IS NOT OVER
BUT GREAT FORCE SPENT
Artillery Is Reported Very
Active All Along French
Positions Today
By William Philip Simms
(United Press Staff Correspondent)
With the British Armies iu the Field,
Dec. 1J. British forces early today had
apparently stopped Crowii Prince Kuiip-
1-0.,l,t'a 1 T..,n7wl ,A A- 1 v
tne jjriusn nom around Jiullecourt."
Fighting was still continuing fierce
ly, but as this is cabled it appears that
the Germans only succeeded iu advanc
ing a few yards. The attack was per-
naps me most lornuaable the British
have yet had to sustain in this sec
tion. .
It was made with tho greatest con
centration of men and guus the Ger
mans have tried on this sector.
The attack was patently designed by
Crown Prince Rupprecht to break
Byng's lines. The Uerman objectives
were far beyond tho first British po
sitions. Bavarian shock troops attack
ed early Wednesday morning in dense
masses to tho accompaniment of an in
tensified artillery fire, which showed
a tremendous concentration of guns.
The German drive seems arrested ear
ly today with the enemy holding a short
section of advanced British positions.
Simms dispatches yesterday hinted
4t an impending battle in the Cambrai
sector; indication of - which wero fur
nished in oxtremely heavy concentrated
German aerial forces to keep British
aviators from spying over the German
lines. Ho also mentioned an increase in
artillcrying which is usually regarded
as preparatory to an attack,
British Lines Hold.
London, Dec. 13. British Hues out
of Cambrai hold firm today despite a
tremendous blow struck in almost con
tinuous fighting yesterday bv Crown
Prince Rupprecht 's reinforced army,
Field Marshal llaig reported today. Tne
German drive, he said, carried some
of the enemy through the British line
to obliterated British trenches, but the
(Continued on page two)
Mr. Plummcr Explains Why
He Wants An Agricultural
Agent For Marion County
By O. M. Plutnmer
(Special Representative of U. S. De
partment ot Agriculture;
Just a word in explanation of my
prcsonce in Marion county at the pres
ent time. When tho Marion County bud
get for 1918 was published for the first
time tho U. H. Dep't of Agriculture rep
repsentatives in Oregon were much con
cerned when they discovered that the
amount of $1700 for County Agricultural
Agent work did not appear iu the pub
lished budget, notwithstanding the fact
that the County Court had signed an
understanding with the U. S. Dep't. of
Agriculture, under date of Sept. 6,
agreeing to put the amount of $1700 in
the budgot in lieu of which tho U.-S.
Dep't. of Agriculture immediately ap
pointed nn agent for this couuty and ap
propriated $1200 to take care of his sal
ary and upkeep for the balance of 1917.
This agent in the person of Air. F.
R. Brown has been working in this couu
ty for about three months.
The highest federal authorities from
President Wilson and Food Administra
tor Hoover on down have stated that
every eounty in tho United States
should have an agent not later than
February 1, 1918 and have appealed
to the county officials of the United
States for unanimous action saying
that increased production is of first im
portance and that the County Agent is
a first line defense man.
People representing perhaps less than
five per eeut of the tax paying strength
of Marion County filed a remonstrance
with the court, and for this reason your
county officials left the $1700 out of
the tentative budget which will come
up for final amendment and adoption
at 10 a. m. Saturday, December 29.
At the time this remonstrance was
filed tho signers did not know that
the United States government requested
this appropriation as a matter of para
mount importance calling upon the citi
zens of Marion county to respond as a
measure of patriotism of equal impor
KOIilllLOFf WAS
DEFEATED SAY
THERIVALLEADERS
Leader cf Anti-Bolsheviki
Forces Said to Have Beea
Wounded
FIGHTING IS REPORTED
AT DIFFERENT POMS,
Constituliocal Democrat Party
Declared Rebels by
Lsnine Faction
London, Dec. 13. General Korniloff
was defeated and himsolf wounded in
the fighting with Bolsheviki forces be
tween Bielgorod and Sumy, according
to Bolsheviki claims received here to
day. . :
The dispatches insisted flint r.tra
of Korniloff and his entire force of
Cossacks was imminent. The Maximalist
commander claimed to have th r,..l
completely surrounded.
Othor Petroirrad diRnntnlien ronnrtnit
that tho railway union had refused to
transport Kaledines' reinforcement in
his rebel colleague, Korniloff.
ixiromisrs ana membors of tho cadet
(constitutional democratic) party wero
reported today to the righting for pos
session of Rostoff. According to tha
viewpoint of Russia observers hero,
there is little ground to believe that tho
Cossack Uprising will succeed. The bol
sheviki. it was said, will nrobablv ha
ablo to suppress it.
JNot more than fifty delegates to tho
constituent assembly arrived at Potro
grad and attended tho first meeting of
that body, according to- advices from
ine Jtussinn capital today. More than
a thousand delegates were supposed to
be in attendance.
Cadet Party "Bebels."
Petrograd, Dec. 13. The Bolsheviki
government today proclaimed all mem
bers of the cadet (constitutional demo
crat) party "enomios of the people".
asserting they were aiding tha Cossacks
in the counter revolution.
Scores of prominent cadet loaders)
were arrested, including Habokoff, Via
aver, Kutlcr, Doditcheff and Countess
Pan in.
Fleet Takes Part.
Petrograd, Dec. 13. The Black sea
battle fleet is co-operating with tho
Bolsheviki forces in the fighting at Ro-
stoff, according to dispatches received
(Continued on page two)
tance with Liberty Bonds, Red Cross,
and Y. M. C. A. funds to which causes
your Marion county peoplo responded bo
nobly. Without question had these re
monstrants known the true situation
these petitions never would have been
filed, and each individual who did sign
tho remonstrance will reccivo a person
al letter from a representative of the
United States Department of Agricul
ture requesting him, on tho score of
patriotism, to write tho eounty court re
questing that his nnme be taken from
the remonstrance, and it is safe to pre
sume that this will be done almost to
a man.
For many years tfio writer has been
assisting in promoting in every way pos
sible, the agricultural resources, of not
only Oregon but the entire northwest,
and was one of the first to realize tho
importance of County Agent's work,
having assisted very materially in the
past three years in their establishment
in various counties of Oregon.
Knowing this fact well, the United
States Department of Agriculture ap
pointed the writer a special representa
tive to come to Marion county, eonfer
with Judge Bushey and his colleagnea,
and come to some mutual understanding
as to the proper cause to pursue to
bring about the results so necessary to
a successful termination of the war
increased production. After several con
ferences with Judge Bushey here in Sa
lem, the Federal Food Asministrator of
Oregon requested Judge Bushey to coma
to Portland for a conference there. This
meeting was held Wednesday at 3 p. m.
Mr. W. B. Aver, federal food adminis
trator, Judge" Bushey, Director of Ex
tension O. I). Center and the writer be
ing present. Mr. Aver told Judge Bushey
of tho urgent need of nn agent in Mar
ion county appealed to the people of
Marion county for co-operation as a war
measure. Judge Bushey immediately eon
ceded that as a war 'measure this mat
ter appealed to him in an entirely dif-
(Continueil on page two)