Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, May 5, 1915, Page 1

s VOLUME 13, NO. 108, BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, WEDHE;_DAY EVENING, MAY 5, 1915. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH. EFFICIENCY MARKS LIFE IN WAR ZONE Shepherd Tells Story of British Wash- ing Establishments—Everyday Life Keeps Army Happy. SOLDIERS ACT AS ENTERTAINERS Have Theaters, the Object of Which is to Make Men Forget Trenches— Many in Need of “Rest Cure.” The following is one of a series of articles by William G. Shepherd, United Press staff cor- respondent, who is the only American newspaper man rep- resenting solely one press asso- ciation, with the British army at the front. . By WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD (Copyright, 1915, by United Press) (Copyright in Great Britian) With the British army in Northern France, April 20.—(By mail to New York.)—A week with the British army is divided into two parts. You spend the first part, if you're an American, learning that quietness and absence of fuss don’t mean in- efficiency; you spend the second half in observing demonstrations of 100 ] per cent efficiency. It is not only in the brilliant ends of warlike flying and fighting that| you see the remarkable results at- tained; it is in the common every- day affairs of maintaining the army and keeping it happy. & He Wears a Monacle. I can show you a young English officer, who probably wears a mona- cle, whose stride is Piccadilly and who never loses his well bred expres- sion of being bored, even while he’s showing you over the great bath house and laundry which he started some months ago. ““Well, here’s the bag of tricks,” he says as he waves his riding stick across the entrance of the red brick building, in a certain town. “You see there were an awful lot of our men who got no chance to bathe dur- ing the early part of the war. Some of them went three months without bathing. I've got two of their shirts nailed up in picture frames, which ought to be presented to a British museum. It isn’t the dirt so much as the little animals, what? Well, ‘we took this jolly old place and turn- ed it into a cleaning house for the soldiers.” Incidentally, “we’” is in reality this London chap. Bathe Thousand a Day. “Had to work with what we had here,” he explained. “We're bathing a thousand soldiers a day .here. It takes a soldier an hour to get through | the mill and he comes out with his uniform sterilized and his socks, shirts and underwear all fresh and darned.” ““How do you get the clothes wash- ed and dried so soon?” “Oh, you see, he doesn’t get his underwear and shirts and socks back. He gets a layout that was left by some soldier yesterday; he leaves his: lay out here and some soldier that| comes tomorrow will get that. Beats those patent drier sort of things, doesn't it? Couldn’t get the patent drier things here anyhow. Did the best we could. Get just exactly the same results. Man turned out in an hour; not a bug left on him; not a germ on him; underclothes fresh ag new. Thousands a day going through this old thread factory. Rather in- teresting, what?” Not a Waste Moment. In the most matter of fact way this young English officer shows you 2 marvel in the way of adaptability and efficiency. There’s not a waste mo- tion in the place. The big tubs are so efficiently used and the drying rooms yield such vast results consid- ering their small space that it looks as if the building had been made for a bath house in the first place. A hundred French women, chura- ing away with the washing machines, of every description which the young officer had found in the neighbor- hood, were happily chanting a (Continued on last page.) GULFLIGHT WAS TORPEDOED WITHOUT WARNING, IS CLAIM (United Press) ‘Washington, May 5.—‘“The Gul- flight was torpedoed by German sub- marines as it followed in the wake of two British patrol boats, flying the American ensign,” said a message from the owners to the state depart- ment this afternoon. This message followed a report from Chief Officer Smith of the Gulflight. A. E. Witting left last night for Minneapolis, where he spent today on business. From there he will go on a trip through the west, and will be gone for a month, returning to Bemidji by the Canadian route. William Begsley and daughter, Mrs. Beryle Neumann, of Kelliher, were Bemidji business visitors to- day. : MENU IS ANNOUNCED Splendid Meal to Be Served By Men of Presbyterian Church Rev. S. E. P. White of the Presby- terian church this morning announc- ed that the menu to be served at the annual ham and egg pancake supper by the men of the congregation will include the following: Assorted pickles, Swift’s Premium ham, L. & L. fresh eggs, German fried potatoe’s, escalloped tomatoes, cream bread, doughnuts, flapjacks, maple syrup and Dennison’s Colonial Inn coffee. A large force of waiters will be named and the service will be of the best. The supper will be served next Tues- day evening. Congressman Lindbergh Says Repub- licans Are Regaining Strength— To Make River Canoe Trip. NATIONAL PROHIBITION IS ISSUE Congressman C. A. Lindbergh, ac- companied by his daughter who is a teacher in the Akeley schools, will visit Bemidji next month for the pur- pose of beginning a trip which will be made by canoe down the Missis- sippi river to his home in Little Falls. The congressman has several reasons for making the trip, one being to se- | cure needed recreation and the other | to secure a better understanding of the geography of the country through which he will pass. In a recent interview with a rep-| resentative of the United Press, Con- gressman Lindbergh asserted that na- tional prohibition will soon be a live issue in the United States congress. His comment indicated that he con- sidered Staples would soon join the ranks of the dry cities, and seemed pleased at the success of the drys at Brainerd. N Business conditions are improving, | the congressman said. Although he did not consider a boom imminent, yet he believed that the present inclina- tion with business men is to loosen up. Commenting upon the political status, Mr. Lindbergh admitted that the Chicago election had in it a strong local element, but insisted the feeling throughout the country ex- ists that if the Republicans were ‘o £0 to the polls at this time that they would be unhesitatingly successful. There is considerable criticism lev- eled at the present administration, he sai for its Mexican. policy. His opinion was that the feeling exists that the administration should either enforce the Monroe doctrine and see that the citizens of foreign countries are protected, or else abandon the doctrine and let every nation protect her own people. 6,254 GANADIANS BAVE MET DEATH IN EUROPEAN WAR (United Press) London, May 5.—Under Secretary Tennant this afternoon announced to the House of Commons that the total casualties of the Canadian division was 232 officers and 6,024 men. Prin- cess Patrica’s regiment alone lost 24 officers and 308 men. CLUB LIBRARIES FREE. Good Reading Matter Provided for Country People of Minnesota. The Minnesota Public Library com- mission is prepared to supply farm- ers’ clubs with free traveling libra- ries. These consist of twenty-five volumes of selected works, micely bound and securely boxed ready for shipment. By this means every rural community can provide itself with good reading matter. They are loan- ed absolutely free for six months, ex- cepting that freight is paid each way by the borrower. The usual one- way freight charge is 25 cents. Fish Car In Bemidji. One of the special fish cars of the Minnesota Game and Fish commission arrived in Bemidji last evening. Fry was left at various places along FORESIGHTS G. 0. P. VIGTORY o GERMANY'S LATEST VICTORY IMPORTANT Full Meaning of Russian Defeat in Western Galicia Cannot Be Known Until Further Details Arrive. WARSAW CAMPAIGN ABANDONED This is Shown by Announcement That General Von Mackensen Was in Charge of Victorious Troops. By J. W. T. MASON. New York, May 5.—The full mean- ing on the Russian defeat in Western alicia cannot be known until fur- ther details are announced deserib- ing the extent of Germany’s victory. The only detail as yet made public is that the Germans were commanded by General von Mackensen. This is an important admission. General von Mackensen, who is Von Hindenberg’s alblest army com- mander, had control of the German operations west of Warsaw. His transfer to Galicia tends to confirm the suggestion of the new Baltic cam- paign that the Germans have aban- doned hope of capturing Warsaw by direet attack. The new army with which General von Mackensen crush- ed the Russians has probably been withdrawn from its lines about the Polish capitol. A purely defensive campaign in Northern and Central Poland would require less men than offensive operations, and the Galician fighting, therefore, does not neces- sarily mean vast new contingents have joined the eastern battle line from the German training camps. Measures Sixty Miles. The front along which the Russians have been forced to retreat measures about sixty miles. The Russians have been in undisturbed possession of the district since early last winter. They had ample time to construct elaborate entrenchments and perfect all their defenses. Elsewhere throughout the war the Slavs have been at their best in defensive trench fighting. Von Hindenberg’s inability to follow up his East Prussian victories, as well as the successful defense of Warsaw, prove ‘the excellence of Russian sol- diers in entrenched positions. The sudden expulsion of the Slavs from their trenches in Western Galicia [JOHNSON TO TALK AT MEETING | Forest Ranger Will Disouss Fire Laws at Farmers’ Club Session. With L. F. Johnson, the Bemidji fire ranger, as the: principal speaker, a meeting of the Bemidji Farmers’ club will be held at the Thomas Phibbs home next Saturday morning at 11 o’clock. Johnson will talk on the state fire laws and regulations. The club’s topic for discussion will be land clearing. All members of the club are invited and they are re- quested to take their lunches. RESULTS IN. MUGH BENEFIT Merchants Confident That Formation of Association Has Been of Much Advantage—Aids Co-operation. ROUND-TRIP TICKET SALES DROP It is the opinion of members of the Bemidjt Merchants’ association that the organization has been of great value to business circles of the city since its formation and at the Tues- day meeting of the organization, at which there was a banner attend- ance, everyone present expressed the opinion that they have derived much benefit from its influence. That the feeling of good-fellowship and co-operation between the mer- chants of the association, the farm- ers and the citizens of Bemidji has been substantially increased, was one of the points brought forth as indi- cative of the success of the organiza- tion. A letter from R. E. Fisher, ticket agent at the Union station, was read, showing that the round-trip sales of tickets to residents of Bemidji who leave for short trips has been on the decrease. A resolution was adopted by the association to urge everyone who makes trips to other points to buy round trip-tickets. This is but one of the many ways we can boost our city and citizens should keep in mind that every dollar increase at the local ticket office counts for Bemidj GERMANY CONFIDENT THAT VIGTORY WILL suggests, therefore, that the Germans brought an overwhelming force to bear against a weakened enemy. Tt is probable the Russians were lulled into false security by the inaction of the Austrians and Germans in West- ern Galicia. Too Many Withdrawn. More troops than safety warranted doubtless were withdrawn from Donajec trenches and sent to the Carpathians. If this assumption is correct then General Von Macksen’s victory is a duplication of Von Hin- denberg’s two major successes in East Prussia. The Germans, discovering the weak- ness of the Donajec lines must have made a rapid concentration, and struck the under-manned Russian trenches before Slav reinforcements could arrive. An admirable railway system runs throughout Galicia. In the Donejec engagement it was at the disposal of both sides, and in fact favored the Russians more than the Germans, owing to local peculiarities of strategic construction. But Slav officers have never been trained to get the most out of railways because of lack of proper trackage in Russia. Extent Not Stated. How far back the Russians were driven beyond the Donajec is not yet announced by Berlin. Under normal circumstances, the distance would be little if the Slavs have constructed secondary entrenchments behind their front lines. But assuming that the price cause of the Russian de- feat was lack of numbers along the entire battlefront, normal ecircum- stances of trench warfare would not prevail. Under this condition, the Russians would have to continue gaining ground until large reinforce- is no means yet of telling where this arrival probably occurred, hence the be stated. Female school teachers in Oregon the route. ments arrived from a distance. There | extent of the German victory cannot | RESULT FROM WAR (United Press) Berlin, May 5.—Germany is thor- oughly confident that the efforts of her enemies to crush her is all in vain. The three-fold offensive in Flanders, Galicia and Northwest Rus- sia has been successfully prosecuted, and there is a feeling of enthusiasm in military and civilian circles which exceeds even the stirring days preceding the war. Flags are flying everywhere with the imperial standards of Germany and Austria predominating. There is also a goodly showing of the Turk- ish crescent. Bands are playing as regiment after regiment passes through the city entrain to the front. Troops of the first liné are fighting men and have been trairied complete- ly. As the soldiers move through Willhelmstrasse with hats and guns decorated with flowers, mothers, sis- ters and sweethearts cling to them giving them encouragement. At both the eastern and western battle fronts where the offensive has just begun it is reported that sur- prising gains have been made. Ypres, which is the British army base, has been encircled and the German gun fire is soon expected to make this place untenabie. Ground has also been gained between the Meuse and Moselle rivers. In Galicia the Ger- mans continue push the Russians ‘back and an announcement is ex- pected here soon that the Slav inva- sion of Hunigary has been repulsed. T. L. Shevlin Visits Bemidji. T. L. Shevlin, head of the Crooks- ton Lumber Co., and J. A. Nichols, the Minneapolis lumberman, arrived in Bemidji this morning and in com- pany with W. H. Gemmell, general manager of the Minnesota & Inter- national railroad company spent the TH CHIEF SAVS— AN’ N0V MAY FALL ON TO \S RICHT- T FALLONTO AN THEVVE HADME. LOCKED UP HERE- EVER. SINCE ! A GOOD STORY— FALLON T MY BEAN N TH CELLAR the Glenwood hatchery this morning. men. evening. SCOOP erorter REPORTER You Can't Squeeze Blood From A Turnip jday up the Red Lake line on business. i The car was returned to are paid the same rate of pay as the ‘They will return to Minneapolis this man who painted the water tank last Saskatchewan, where he has spent ACTIVE CAMPAIGN T0 BE INSTITUTED Friends of Revolving Fund Amend- ment Plan Work in Its Behalf—To Start Ball Rolling at-Coleraine. VOTED ON AT NEXT .ELECTION Would Call for $250,000 to Be Used in Improving Unsold State Land—De- velopment Association to Help. It seems likely that the opening gun in the campaign which will be conducted in behalf of the passage of the proposed constitutional amend- ment authorizing the legislature to set apart from the state school land funds the sum of $250,000 to be used as a revolving fund for the improve- ment of unsold state lands, will be fired at Bemidji when the winter con- vention of the Northern Minnesota Development association wil! be held next December. Althougl! _amendment will not be submittyq to the ~ote of the peo- ple until the general election in No- vember of next year, its friends are anxious that an active campaign in its behalf be instituted. Coleraine is Mentioned. There is also the probability that the campaign may be started next month at the summer meeting of the association which is to be held in Coleraine. Boosters for the project, however, feel that it is advisable to postpone the launching of the cam- paign until the winter convention. Some of the backers of the project believe that better results would be obtained if the campaign for the proposed amendment is not started too early. Fund for Improvements. The 1915 legislature passed a law, which submits to a popular vote a proposed amendment to the consti- tution by which the legislature is au- thorized to set apart from the funds derived from the sale of school and swamp lands a revolving fund of not more than $250,000 to be used in constructing ditches, roads and fire breaks through and around unsold lands and for partially clearing the same. The amendment provides that such fund shall be replenished from the enhanced value from the sale of lands so-benefited. - 3 The idea of the promoters of the reclamation project is to have the state improve and partially clear state lands for the prospective set- tler, the cost of the improvement to be added to the price of the land when sold. The cost of the improve- {ment would then be deducted and turned back into the revolving fund to be used again in the same work. Those who are behind the project be- lieve that such a law on the statute books would be of immense benefit to the incoming settlers and effectually serve to develop the country. Amendment at Next Election. Senators P. H. McGarry of Walker and L. H. Nord of International Falls and Representatives Paul Marschalk of Warroad and L. H. Miner of In- ternational Falls performed a valiant service in the legislature in securing the passage of the bill authorizing that the constitutional amendment be proposed at the next general election. 1t is probable that when the North- ern Minnesota Development associa- tion does take the matter up, a sys3- tematic campaign in the interests of the proposed amendment will be started. A fund for this purpose will probably be raised. The association fund, which is derived from public funds, is not available for use in a campaign to further such a project, and it will be necessary for a sep- arate campaign fund. SNOW AT MINOT. (United Press) Minot, N. D., May 5.—Snow nearly one inch deep fell here last night. The weather is not severe and it is ibelieved that no damage has been caused to the crops. Paint Shop Open. Carl Kverno, of Kelliher, who re- cently established a paint shop in the old Star theater building, is now ready for business. Kverno is the summer. TAX MATTER IS ARGUED. Backus Interests Would Make Sheriff of Koochiching Show Cause. A case involving an interesting point was argued before Judge C. Stanton in chambers today. Sheritf Thomas P. White, of Koochiching county, has issued notices to delin- quent taxpayers warning them °of property sales if taxes due were not paid. The Backus interests, opera- tors of the large paper and lumber plants at International Falls, delin- quent to the extent of about $16,000, caused a temporary restraining order to be served on the sheriff, citing him to appear before Judge Stanton and show cause why an injunction should not be issued to compel him to stop the levying business insofar as the Backus property is concerned. Sheriff White was represented by County Attorney Franz Jevne today and Attorney Harris Richardson of | St. Paul appeared for the company. MOTHER'S DAY NEXT SUNDAY Will Be Observed in Bemidji and Ser- vices of an Appropriate Nature Will Be Held in All Churches. ALL SHOULD WEAR A FLOWER Sunday, May 9, is Mother’s day. It is one day of the year when everyone wishes to pay special tribute to his mother. Mothers in Bemidji, and mothers of sons living hundreds of miles away will be recipients of floral remembrances when the an- nual observances of Mothers’ day are held. On that day every one will wear a flower in honor of his mother. The prevailing method is to send flowers to her if living and wear a red flower in her honor, or if dead, to pay trib-| ute to her memory by wearing a white flower. The custom has become through the world. With the separa- tion of families, sons and daughters living away from home as often is the case, the sons and daughters write but occasionally, and a bou- quet from the son or daughter is wel- comed by the mother. Special services on the theme will be given in many churches and homes in all parts of the city will be ‘the scenes of reunions Where ¢hildren return for a visit in honor of the day. ‘With the past three years Mothers’ Day has attained wide popularity. A thoughtful custom or remembrance to mothers is now being fostered by florists throughout the United States in the advocacy of sending either cut or potted flowers on the occasion. Florists of the city say that already many orders have been re- ceived for bouquets to be delivered “To Mother” néxt Sunday. NEUTRAL NATIONS AWAIT AGTION OF UNITED STATES (United Press) ‘Washington, May 5.—All neutral nations are watching closely the ac- tion of the United States following the attack of American vessels by Germany. Various ministers have called at the state department for information. It is cited that Italy’s ships are immune from attack by Ger- many, this being believed because of the present delicate situation exist- ing between that country and Aus- tria. It is believed that a note will soon be sent giving a detailed his- tory concerning the Kaiser’s recent naval activities affecting the United States, which will be protested. Plants Trees At Cemetery. Many improvements are being made at the Sacred Heart cemetery and the Catholic burial grounds will be greatly beautified as a result. Under the personal direction of Fath- er J. T. T. Philippe, forty trees are being planted, being obtained from the Clinton Falls Nursery company. Other trees will be added from time to time. Dr. C. R. Sanborn returned to Be- ,midji this morning from Saskatoon, the past week on business. general | BEMIDJI CITIZENS CANLOWERTAXRATE W.|Auditor George Tells Commercial Club Members That Honesty in As- sessments Will Bring Results. CITY MAY HAVE NAVAL MILITIA Interest in Organization Renewed and Most Active Year in History is Ex- pected—New Members Elected. That the citizens of Bemidji are themselves responsible for the city’s |high tax rate was the text of a short italk made by James L. George, :county auditor, at the regular month- ly meeting of the Commercial club held Tuesday evening. Mr. George admitted that the tax rate is high and he explained,that such a condi- tion could be remedied by employ- ment of honesty in dealing with the assessor. ““There is one way in which every taxpayer can assist in reducing the Bemidji tax rate,” said the auditor, “and that is by truthful statements to the assessor concerning personal property, thereby increasing your to- {tal valuation and consequently re- |ducing the rate. We must admit that as conditions exist and the board of 'review is powerless to increase as- Isessments when proper because tax- payers are not willing to testify as to |the low valuation on his neighbor’s |property. But if each man would make it a point to state true and full !figures to the assessor he would be in a position where he would and could force the man next door to do ithe same.” Club Activity Renewed. Much interest was taken in the meeting and that a period of re- newed activity in the accomplish- jments of the club has begun was most evident. There was a large at- tendance and the sentiment seemed to favor a plan to change the by-laws ,of the organization whereby the board of directors would relinquish much of its authority to the club as ja whole. E. A. Barker, president of the Merchants association, W. L. Brooks, cashier of the Northern Na- tional bank and W. Z. Robinson, of the Smith-Robinson company, weré appointed as a committee to inyesti- gate the feasibility of such a change. Schumaker Makes Appeal. R. H. Schumaker, president of the club, has appealed to every member of the club to attend all meetings and to assist in securing desired results. It is Mr. Schumaker’s idea to make the organization a Commercial club in every sense of the word; a club, the influence of which will be of suf- ficlent importance and strength to promote and further the progress and advancement of Bemidji. May Have Naval Militia. Much enthusiasm was shown over the possibility of securing a naval militia for Bemidji. Harry H. Mayer, secretary, read a letter from Guy A. Eaton, of Duluth, commander of the Minnesota naval militia, in which it was stated that Bemidji will be given opportunity to secure a com- pany, providing 50 to 70 young men can be secured for such a purpose. The state is to have eight such or- ganizations. Ralph B. Lycan, John {M. Herbert and Ralph Brandon were Iselected as a committee to interview the young men of the city and ascer- tain whether the required number needed can be secured. The train- ing should be a great inducement. Good Service is Certain. Captain W. M. MacLachlan at- tended the meeting and outlined his plans for the providing of passenger and freight service on the lake this summer. He insisted that the ser- vice would be the best Bemidji has ever had and announced that four trips would be made to all points around the lake each day. The first will be made at nine in the morning, another at one in the afternoon, the third at three in the afternoon and the last at 7:30 in the evening. Rogers Addresses Club. C. F. Rogers, president of the Min- nesota Electric Light and Power company, which last Saturday closed a deal whereby it merges with the Warfield Electric company and the Beltrami Electric Light & Power company, addressed the club. Mr. Rogers assured those present that the good service which has been provid- ed in the past will be continued. Kaith Plan Discussed. The proposition made to individu- als recently by Mr. Kaith with re- gard to the establishing of a destruc- tive distillation plant in Bemidji was discussed, the matter being explained by George Kinney and E. H. Wiiter. Jack pine and white pine stumps will be used as material for the plan, these to be purchased from farmers at $4.00 a cord. Turpentine, pine tar, stains and varnishes will be ex- tracted from the stumps. The estab- lishment of the plant would require ‘lll investment of about $30,000. Would Clear Large Tract. It is estimated that such a (Continued on last page.)