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VOLUME 13, NO. 116, A 4 THE BEMIDJIT BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 14, 1915, ILY PIONEER FORTY CENTS PER xom RUSSIAN DEFEATS. MAY CiSE ITALY TOENTER .~ ICT Danger That Slavs May Be Expen. From Galicia Means Petrograd May Be Compelled to Make Terms. COUNTRY’S OPPORTUNITY COMES Entrance Into War Measured by Mili- tary Considerations and Loss of Life Necessary to Gain Istria. By J. W. T. MASON. New York, May 14.—The continued defeats of the Russians in Galicia may be the final factor necessary to carry Italy into the war. Since the Austro-German drive across Galicia from the west began the Slavs have been unable to hold their lines. They have lost not only their long main- tained positions east of Cracow, but also the territory gained during the Carpathian battles. The Austrians ’ and Germans are now approaching the environs of Przemysl and there is a very real danger that the Russians may be expelled entirely from Ga- licia. Un‘er these conditions the Petro- ‘ grad government may be compelled to make terms with Italy almost im- mediately or be prepared to forfeit s all the alien territory the Slavs have won. Russia has been the most se- rious stumbling block to Italy’s en- trance into the war. It is now prac- tically certain that Austria is willing to grant Italy extensive territorial concessions along the Northern Ital- ian border. Italy, therefore, is in a position to obtain a valuable return for her neutrality. But far more im- i portant to the Italians than the in- r land Trentino and Udine are Istria and Dalmatia, which forms Austria’s northern and eastern shores of the Adriatic. Reristance Supported. Austria has declined to part with a her scaltoard under any considera- tion, for to do so would be to make the Hapshurg empire practically an interior state, certain to decline in power. To the present time Russia has snpported Austria’s resistance That is to say, Russia has let it be known she objects to Italian predom- NEW STOBE TO ‘'OPEN S00N 0. J. LaQua, Former Bemidji Resi- dent, Will Start Clothing Store. 0. J. LaQua, a former resident of Bemidji, has decided to open a men'’s clothing - store in the building for- Aerly used by J. E. Maloy for saloon purposes. The building is owned by Mr. LaQua and he is also the owner of other valuable property in Be- midji. Carpenters are at work ar- rnn"ifig the cabinets and shelving on the inrerior of the store and display windows have been installed, the building to be entirely remodeled and redecorated. Mr. LaQua operated a store at Puposky at one time. He is now at Iron River, Wis., where for six years he has conducted a men’s clothing and women’s ready-to-wear store, and expects to return to Be- midji the first part of next week at which time he will make arrange- ments for the opening of the new es- tablishment. His family will reach Bemidji during June. RIVALRY AT LAND SALE High Bidding Marks Morning Session at Tax Judgment Sale of Govern- ment Land--Will End Tomorrow. _— i DEPOSITS OF AGENTS ARE SPEfiT Although the attendance at the tax judgment sale of government land which has been in progress at the conrt house during the past week was slightly reduced today, much ex- citement was aroused by the sensa- tional bidding for tracts, large honus amounts being secured on almost ev- ery forty offered. One forty brought a bonus, or ex- cess, of $135, believed to be a record. It appears that several agents who arc representing numerous clients at the sale have determined to secure as much of the most valuable land as poseible, refusing absolutely to com- promise with other prospective pur- chasers, much rivalry being the re- suit. A short delay was caused this morning when it was rumored that several agents had used all money de- posited with the county treasurer. An investigation resulted and the sale continued. ok + It now seems probable fiut the sale will be concludéd. by tomorrow. afternoon. The bonus money . will inance along the Eastern Adriatic The population of Austria’s seaboard provinges is predominantly Slavonic: If Austria is to be broken up as a result of the war Russia wants the Adriatic to continue to be party Slav and wants her protege, Servia, to ha | the guardian of this extension of | pan-Slavism. Driven Into Corner. Italy, therefore, has been unable to make sure that even if her armies conquered Istria and Dalmatia the peace conference after the war would ratify the conquest. This uncertainty has grea'y 3 strengthened the hands of the non- interventionists in Italy and has probably been the deciding influence which has kept Italy out cf the war. Now, however, Russia is being 3 driven into a corner and an Italian ] diversion may prove to be essential to prevent the most serious Slav catastrophe of the war. Here may be Italy’s opportunity. Russia’s plight may compel the Allies to give every assurance Italy desires that what i Italians conquer they can keep. In this case the last barrier preventing ! the Adriatic from becoming an Ital- ian lake will be reviewed as far as Roman statesmanship can foresee The question of Italy’s entrance into the war will then become one of meas- uring the military considerations and deciding whether the losses of life and money compensate for the oceu- pation of Istria and Dalmatia. Class to Banquet. Members of Mrs. M. F. Cunning- ham’s Sunday school class are to be guests at a banquet to be served in the basement of the Methodist church next Monday evening at 7 o’clock. A social evening will be spent and it is expected that every member of the class will be in attendance. The din- ner will be served by Mrs. Cunning- ham, assisted by the mothers of boys of the class. Ploneer want ads bring results. SCOOP REPORTER REPORTER very likely exceed .that secured last year, about $15,000 “THE SPOILERS” AT GRAND Nine-Reel Film Version of Rex Beach’s Romance to Be Shown Here Rex Beach’s famous romance, “The Spoilers,” with William Farnum as Glenister and Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte, will be shown in a nine-reel feature film at the Grand theater tonight, tomorrow matinee and evening. This is a story of the Alaska northland, in which the scenes are exceptionally vivid, the action strong and the picturing of the passions of men marvelous. The film is realistic in every detail and spectators imagine themselves in the: streets of Nome, living, breathing, absorbing the life and atmosphere of’ the turbulent days of the gold miners. VETERANS CLOSE CONVENTION San Jose, Cal., May 14.—Five thou- sand civil war veterans, their friends and families, closed a three day con- vention here today. A parade of veterans, during which they were showered with ‘“bullets” in the shape or roses and wild flowers, was one of the features of the week. Chief Larson Returns. H. A. Larson of Denver, chief spe- cial officer of the government Indian department, spent today in Bemidji. Chief Larson has a large number of special officers working in the terri-| tory of the 1855 treaty and is here for the purpose of outlining new plans whereby the provisions of that document may be enforced. Louisville, Ky., has a woman whoj’ holds the position of municipal scrun- ber and it is her duty to see that all tenement homes are kept as clean as the health department decides the same shall be. ston; ‘out objection of -withdraw the Lake Trip, Automobile Tour and Din- ner at New $12,000 Summer Hotel Entertainment to Be Provided. TRIP NOT TO BE A “JUNKET” Bemidji is preparing for the sena- torial expedition into Northern Miu- nesota which is to take place next month and every effort will be made to make the stop of the legislators here a most enjoyable one. The governor, state officials and senators and their friends will reach Bemidji during the evening of June 16 from Hallock, and they will re- main here until 6 o’clock in the af- ternoon of the next day, going from here by special train to Walker. Other places to be visited by the party are the following: Cloquet, Duluth, Coleraine, Hibbing, Virginia, Inter- national Falls, ~ Spooner, Baudette, Warroad, Thief River Falls, Crook- ston and Brainerd. ,R. H. Schumaker, president of the Commereial club, and L. G. Pender- gast, have formed a tentative pro- gram for entertainment and it will probably be adopted by the reception and entertainment committee of the club. On the morning of June 17 the vis- itors will bord the passenger boat, ““City of Bemidji,” and will be taken down the Mississippi river to the power dam and hatchery. A trip around the lake will follow and then the new $12,000 summer hotel at Birchmont Beach will be inspected, dinner to be served. Here automo- biles will be provided and the legis- lators will complete the trip around the lake, being taken through the virgin pine forests which may in the near future be converted into a park by Bemidji. The formal invitation which has been sent to the state officers and members of the legislature is signed by the following: Messrs. Patrick H. McGarry, ‘Walker; Leonard H. Nord, Interna- tional Falls; River Falls, D. P. O'Neill, Thief R. T. Buckler, Crook- Baldwin, Frazee, Fred D. Vibert, Clo- quet; George H. Gardner, Brainerd; George M. Peterson, Duluth; Charles B, A dams, Duluth; O. H. Griggs, Vir- ginia; John A. Healy, Hibbing, and ichard Jones, Duluth. The officials to be invited will be asked to signify by May 20 the num- ber to be in their party. ern Pacific railroad has been auth- orized to provide the transportation facilities. sense a junket, as each senator and other official and any other invited guest will meet the expense of actual carriage out of his personal funds. The North- This expedition is in no WANTS T0 EXCHANGE FLAGS Winnipeg, Can., May 14.—Robert- son Presbyterian Theological college of Edmonton, Canada, is in search of a college in the United States which -will exchange a Stars and Stripes for the Union Jack as a souvenir of the 100 years of peace between the United States and Canada. Arrangements ‘with two colleges have already failed ‘because the authorities of the colleges iR the United States are afraid of of- fending the Germans, who are patrons or supporters of these colleges in the United States. One of these colleges had agreed to make the exchange of Deace tokens, but when the war broke German patrons college authorities to agreement. Another college in the United States was asked to make the exchange, but it, too, also Tefused for the same reason. Prin- cipal Dyds, of Robertson college, has caused the \already purchased a fine Union Jack land is ready to make the exchange 'with any United States college that rwill reciprocate with an exchange of the Stars and Stripes. | Cate Visits Bemidji. L. B. Cate of Minneapolis, the pro- ‘moter of a plan to establish the $30,- 000 turpentine plant in Bemidji, ar- rived in the city this morning and iwill remain here several days. Albert Kaiser, cashier of the First National bank at Bagley, arrived in "Bemidji this noon to visit his nine- year old son who was operated upon j-vesterday for appendicitis. The rapid ‘recovery of the lad is expected. This “No Stop” Special Goes Right Through N. S. Hegnes, Argyle; John HJ - STATE'SRESOURCES Extension Division Worker Says Wa- terways Will Play Big-Part in Min- nesota’s Welfare for All Time. LANDS EQUAL ANY IN WORLD Remarkable Climate, Rivers, Forests, Game and Fish- Make Country Attractive to Immigrants. —_— Rivers of Minnesota constitute one of the most important natural sources of the state, both on account of the water power they furnish and the waterways they provide, says E. M. Lehnerts, of the general exten- sion division of the university. Mr. Lehnerts says that the total water power of the state exceeds one- half million horse-bnwer, equivalént to the strength of.fifteen 'million strong men ready to do full work without food or [rest twenty-four hours every day throughout the year. Unlike the coal fields of other states, Minnesota’s waterpower will not be- come exhausted but will remain avail- able for all time. Continuing Mr. Lehnerts says: : Carries More Tonnage. The waterways of Minnesota fur- nished routes of trayel for the explor- ers and fur traders of early days and for the Indian hunters of long ago, and played an important part in the settlement and industrial ‘develop- ment of the state. ‘It is not gener- ally known that regular steamboat service connects International Falls with Canadian ports by the Rainy river and the Lake of the Woods, one of the most scenic of waterways; and that improvements on the Mississippi from Minneapolis to St. Louis promise to give a new impetus to the freight and passenger traffi¢ on this import- ant route, especially when the stim- ulating effects of the Panama canal make themselves felt more and more. The Lake Superior route already car- ries more tonnage than any other in- land waterway in the world, and Du- luth already rivals Liverpool and New York in the number of vessels and the tonnage of th ight which puts out of it§-harbor. Unsurpassed. in. Fertfllty. The farm lands of Minnesota pos- sess soils unsurpassed in fertility by any state or country in the world. Analysis and tests, comparing soils from nearly every state, place Min- nesota in the first rank and show that its soils contain the highest per- centage of plant foods. In accounting for the high pro- ductivity of Minnesota farms, sev- eral additional reasons may be men- tioned. These are, briefly, the favor- able depth and physical texture of the surface soils and subsoils; the adequate and unfailing supply of rain and underground water; the abun- re- dant content of decaying vegetable matter or humus; the satisfactory conditions of sunshine, temperature, and air moisture; the total absence of injurious soil elements, such as alkali salts; the comparative freedom from hail, drought or floods; and lastly, but of the utmost importance, since duce the best crops, the good farm- ing methods now in general use throughout the state. Its Climate Remarkable. Minnesota possesses a climate re- markable for its dry and healthful atmosphere, invigorating winds, and abundant-and productive rains during the growing season. The average an- nual precipitation for the whole state is about 26.9 inches, varying from 21 inches in the extreme morthwestern part to 33 inches in the southeastern counties. Great Pulp-Wood Producer. At the time when the first settlers came into the state, about five- eighths of Minnesota, chiefly in the northern and northeastern part, was covered with virgin forests. Although much of the timber has been cut away, Minnesota still ranks among the great lumber and wood-pulp pro- ducers of America. At present there remains about 28,000,000 acres which still bear forests of some kind. The leading varieties are white pine, Norway pine, red and jack pine, spruce, cedar, tamarack, birch .and good soils will not of themselves pro- PLAN FOR SENATORS'VISIT]L EHINERTS TELLS QF | 2 ressors rosearax Large Number Will Attend Enter- tainment at Reynolds Farm. About thirty Bemidji persons are planning to attend the entertainment which is to be given at the N. G. Reynolds farm tomorrow evening. The play, “Our Awful Aunt,” will be presented by members of the Farm- ers’ club and school children. A small admission charge will be made and after the show lunch will be served. Six automobile owners have already announced their intentions to make the trip and others are expected to join. The proceeds of the play will be used to assist in providing books for the town of Northern school library. MAYERTO ATTEND SESSION Secretary of Bemidji’s Commercial Club Accepts Invitation of Commer- cial and Civic Federation. WILL DISCUSS CLUB PROBLEMS Bemidji’s Commercial club is to be represented at the state conference of commercial club seeretaries which is to be held all day Friday, May 28, at the Radisson hotel, Minneapolis, Harry H. Mayer, of the local orga- nization announcing today that he would in all probability attend. This will be the first statewide con- ference of its character ever held in Minnesota and is called by the newly organized Minnesota Commercial and tivie Federation. The officers of that body say that | acceptances have been already re- ceived from the secretaries of the commercial bodies of Duluth, St. Paul ' Minneapolis, Winona, Rochester, | Brainerd and about twenty other! cities, large and small. Three subjects will be discussed: “How to Get Members;"” “How to Col- lect Dues;” “How to Plan Programs of Civie Developments.” The time, place and subjects of the meeting were determined by a small vote of the secretaries. President Wilson of the Federation has- received an invitation from the Minneapolis Rotary club that the whole number of secretaries attend- ing the conference shauld be guests of the Rotary club at luncheon, CELEBRATION AT BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, Ala.,, May 14.—Cele- bration of the completion.of the lock system in the Warrior river at a cost of $12,000,000 was begun here and at other points today, with various distinguished citizens, headed by Sen- ator Bankhead, taking part. The completion of this work means a navigable stream to the gulf of Mo- bile for Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. * One lock and dam, No. 17, are the highest and largest in the United States. The river is raised 63 feet at this point. poplar. Two large tracts, the Su- perior National Forest and the Min- GERMANY'S ANSWER T0 UNITED STATES NOTE WILL BE DELAYED SEVERAL DAYS; NO MOVE MADE T0 PREPARE FOR WAR Message Calls Attention “To Grave Situation Which Has Resulted” From Violation of American Rights on the Seas— Kaiser is Now at Battle Front. BELIEVE GERMANY WILL HESITATE BEFORE BREAKING WITH U. §. Secretary Brym in Closing Message Says That Germany Will Not Expect This™ Country to Omit Any Word or Act in Per- formance of Sacred Duty. PSP R R | " (United Press) Washington, May 14.—Official Washington refuses to comment whether optimistic or pessimistic concerning the outcome of the United States note cabled late yesterday to Ambassador Gerard, for presentation to the German government, calling attention “to the grave situation which has resulted” from the viola- tion of American rights on high seas, culminating in the sinking of the Lusitania with-the loss of over 1 hundred Americans. Nothing Wwill be said until the Kaiser’s answer has been received, and-Germany will be allowed to de- cide without help, having one year’s. friendship as guidance. Delay of Several Days. It is believed that the answer of Germany will be delayed several days because of the Kaiser’s presence at the battle front, and cable conditions ias a result of the war. The cabinet at its session this af- 'ternoon reviewed the situation but no action was taken. No effort is be- ing made to place either the navy or the army on war footing. The navy is mobilized at New York and the ammunition magazines are crammed. However, this is only in regular rou- tiné. It is believed that Germany will hesitate before breaking with States complains, and that they will make reparation, so far as reparation is possible, for the injuries which are without measure, and that they will take immediate steps to prevent the recurrence of anything so obviously subversive of the principles of war- fare for which the German govern- ment in the past has so wisely and so firmly contended.” In its conclusion, the note states that Germany “will-not expect the government of the United States to omit any word or act necessary to the performance of its sacred duty of maintaining the right of the United States and its citizens, and of safe- guarding their free exercise and en- joyment.” In regard to the declaration of the war zone by Germany because of the “measures adopted by their adversar- ics in seeking to cut off Germany from all commerce and to adopt methods of retaliation going heyoi)d ordinary methods of warfare at m." the note says that the United States has already informed Germany it can- not admit the adoption of such meas- ures ‘“or warning of danger to op- erate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights of American ship mas- ters or of American citizens bound on lawful errands as passengers on mer- chantmen of belligerent nations, and that it must hold Germany to strict MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. | | reason being on account of the Dres- nesota National Forest, have been set aside by the Federal government as forest reserves, and eight smaller areas have been set aside by the state legislature as state parks. These are fhe Itasca, Burntside, Pillsbury, Alex- ander Ramsey, Minneopa, Fort Ridge- ly and ‘Austin State parks, and the Interstate park at Taylors Falls. Game and Fish. Game and fish still furnish large quantities of fur and food, and con- stitute one of the state’s assets, With the exception of the buffalo, which formerly roamed in immense num- bers over the prairie and the beaver which has but a few colonies left in Itasca State park and in the Superior Game Preserve, all the animals orig- inally in Minnesota, are still fairly well represented and deer, moose, bear, fox, lynx, skunk, raccoon, mink and musk rat abound. The wild pigeon, which formerly existed in al- most countless numbers, is no longer seen in the state, and wild geese are getting scarce; but partridge, prairie chicken, quail and duck are numer- ous. The best varieties of food fish abound in the streams and lakes of Minnesota, and the value of the an- nual catch approximates a million dollars. In recent years, pearl fish- eries have become important on the upper Mississippi. *HOP” THAT-T'LL HAVE TO COME BatK? .|or incidental. " .|trade of their enemies llo! in the the United States, the dominating na- accountability for any infringement tion of the western hemisphere, one of these rights, intentional or inei- dental. It does not understand Ger- many to question these rights, but assumes on the contrary, that Ger- many accepts the rule that the lives. don' affair, leaving a none too friend- ly feeling with Chili, dominating South America, through A B C com- pination. The note éxpresses the confident ex- pectation of the United States “that the fitperfal Gérman goverhmént will disavow the acts of which the United | of neutral or bellizerent countries, by .the destruction .of unarmed mer- chantmen,” Text of the United"States Note, The full text of the néte was made public by the state department as- follows: ‘‘Department of State, ‘Washington, D. C., May 13, 1915, ““The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador at Berlin: “Please call on ‘the minister of foreign affairs and after reading to : im this communication, leave with him a copy. “In view of the recent acts of the German authuriues in violation of American rights on the high seas, which culminated in the torpedoing and sinking of the British steamer Lusitania on May 7, by which over 100 American citizens lost their lives, it is clearly wise and desirable that the government of the United States and the imperial German government should come to a clear and full understanding as to the grave situation which has resulted. “The sinking of the British passenger steamer Falaba by a German submarine on March 28, through which Leon C. Thrasher, an American citizen, was drowned; the attack on April 28, on the American vessel Cushing by a German aeroplane, the torpedoing on May 1, of the American vessel Gulflight by a German submarine, as a result of which two or more American citizens met their death; and.finally, the torpedoing and sinking of the Lusitania, constitute a series of events which the government of the United States has observed with concern, distress and amazement. Loath to Believe Acts. “Recalling the humane and enlightened attitude hitherto assumed by the imperial German government in matters of international right, and particularly with regard to the freedom of the seas; having learned to recognize the German views and the German influence in the field of in- ternational obligation as always engaged upon the side of justice and humanity; and having understood the instructions of the imperial German government to its naval commanders to be upon the same plane of hu- mane action, prescribed by the navy codes of other nations, the govern- ment of the United States was loath to believe that these acts so absolutely contrary to the rules, the practices, and the spirit of modern warfare, could have the countenance or sanction of that great government. 1t feels it to be its duty, therefore, to address the imperial German govern- ment concerning them with the utmost frankness and in the earnest hope that it is not mistaken in expecting action on the part of the imperial German government which will correct the unfortunate impressions which have been created and vindicate once more the position of that govern- ment with regard to the sacred freedom of the seas. “The government of the United States has been apprised that the im- perial government considered themselves to be obliged by the extraordi- nary circumstances of the present war and the measures adopted by their adversaries in seeking to cut Germany off from all commerce, to adopt niethods of retaliation which go much beyond the ordinary methods of warfare at sea in the .proclamation of a war zone from which they have warned neutral ships to keep away. This government has already taken occasion to inform the German government that it cannot admit the adop- tion of such measures or such a warning of danger to operate as in any degree an abbreviation of the rights of American ship masters or. of Ameri- can citizens bound on lawful errands as passengers on merchant ships of belligerent nationality, that it must hold the imperial German government to a strict accountability for any infringement of these rights, intentional It does not understand the imperial German government to question these rights, assume, on the contrary, that the imperial Ger- .|man government accepts, of course, the rule that the va of non-combat- ants, whether they be of neutral citizenship or citizens of one of the nations at war, can not lawfully or rightfully be put in jeopardy by the capture or destruction of an armed merchantman, and recognize, glw, as all other nations do, the obligation to take the usual precaution of visit and mrch % and to ascertain whether” a suspected merchantman is in nee of belugerent nauonality or is in fact carrylng contraband of war. nnder a _neutral nn‘ American o],,e‘mon. regards as imperative. It is praticai: “The government of the United|ly impossible for the officers of. States, therefore, desires to call the ‘submrlne to visit & merchantman gt Y .o oo o o . |séa and-examine her papers and car- attention of the Impdrial G@erman'8ov- | i 1y g practically. impossible for ernmert with the utmost earnestness them to make a prize of h@r, and it “| to the fagt that the objections of their they cannot puta prize crew on board n'mm et hmi of attack agalnst the her, they cannot sink her without leaying her crew. and all on baard of her, to. the mere, ot the sea ‘in.her small boats. These chu it is lmder- stood the imperial gnvernmont Innk- practical lmpossihflity of employlng submarines in the destruction of com- merce wlthmlt disregarding those rules’ of fairness, reason, justice and numdanity’ which l\l ‘modern -opinion of non-combatants, whether citizens: cannot lawfully be put in jeopardy <