Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 18, 1916, Page 1

.,/ Flour Mill Co. group. * burn, of the Washburn-Crosby Co., | / THE BEMIDJ1 AILY P10 ‘VOLUME XIV, NO. 302. 'BEMIDJI. MINNESOTA, MONDAY E VENING. DECEMBER 18, 1916. CAR SHORTAGE IS BEING PROBED BY FEDERAL AGENTS,; ATTORNEYS BUSY ‘Serious Situation is Confronting the Country; Shipments are Being Held Up. LARGE MILLS AT ST. PAUL MAY BE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN Railroads Refuse Shipments From Northwest to Distant Parts; Freight Piles Up. Chicago, Ill., Dec. 18.—An inves- tigation of the coal and car shortage situation extending over the United States has been started. Federal and state authorities will co-operate in the inquiry. At the Chicago head- quarters for the nation-wide probe, daily joint sessions of representatives of the interstate commerce commis- sion and state utilities commission will be held. George Anderson, spe- cial attorney general, of Boston, and Myron Walker of Grand Rapids, Mich., are in charge of the investi- gations. St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 18.—Darstic embargoes were made effective Sat- urday by the Northern Pacific and St. Paul railroads in an effort to relieve the car shortage and congestion at Eastern railway terminals. As far west as Chicago is an unprecedented congestion of freight. Two more big mills closed down in Minneapolis Saturday, leaving only 35 per cent of the capacity of that city operating. Freight is piling up at the At- lantic seaboard and there is a lack of ships at the Atlantic coast to carry it abroad, according to President J. M. Hannaford of the Northern Pa- cific road, who returned from New York Saturday. Traffic experts say that submarine activity has made ships cautious about putting to sea with cargoes from the United States. The Northern Pacific road order, effective Saturday, accepts no grain shipments to St. Paul and Minneap- olis from points west of the western Montana line. The road will receive no lumber from west coast mills for shipment east beyond St. Paul, un- less loaded in cars for roads operat- ing east of St. Paul. The St. Paul road will accept no freight of any kind—flour, grain or anything else—in carload lots from St. Paul to Chicago if billed beyond Chicago. Shipments to Chicago are accepted. The two mills closed in Minneap- olis Saturday were in the Pillsbury John Wash- said today that his company will close three more mills today. It i9 reported that five of the ten country mills operated by the Rus- gell Milling Company of Minneapolis, have been closed because of the car ghortage. SLEEP SIX NIGHTS IN W00DS WITHOUT FIRE You folks when you get up these <risp mornings and complain of the fire in the furnace, how’d you like to sleep six nights out in the woods in a tent this weather? But that's what Nils A. Otterstad, representing the Clark Pole & Tie company, and J. J. Opsahl of the Red River Lumber company did on a jaunt of sixteen days they have just completed look- ing over the timber in township 63, range 24. A portion of the time they .-occupied a camp established by some "\pan‘.les from Stillwater. The trip was a hard ome and in the course of the cruise Mr. Otter- stad had the *‘pleasure” of missing stepping on a big bear by about six inches. He had just climbed over the root of a huge tree and jumped to the opposite side. Bruin was sound asleep and Mr. Otterstad had no intention of disturbing his slum- bers as he was unarmed at the time. HOLDUPS RAMPANT IN WINTER CRIME CARNIVAL Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 18.— Highwaymen bade defisnce to 300 ‘heavily ‘armed policemen ‘spread oyer the city in a bandit dragnet with orders to ‘‘shoot to kill,” early Sun- .day morning and shot and wounded JA. V. Duncanson in a holdup at- ‘tempt. One bullet passed through his right forearms and the other through his right thigh. Mr. Duncanson was -taken to the city hospital and later to his home. He will recover. Duncanson was accompanying Miss 4~ Blanche Lewis, 4320 Duncan avenue -.gouth, to her home. They had just left a street car, when three bandits -accosted them. One covered Dun- .canson with. a gun, Miss Lewis screamed and wto bandits beat her. Duncanson attempted to protect the girl and was shot. The bandits secured no money, but «escaped. FALSE ALARM OF FIRE COSTS CITY THIRTY DOLLARS It cost Bemidji about $30 yester- day afternoon for the members of the fire department to make a run and take a look at the mnewly erected warming house erected by the city on the lake where the new rink is located. There was no fire and some- one with a “funny” inclination sent in a false alarm. And while mentioning this, a smoky flue late last week got an- other individual excited and an alarm was turned in, causing more need- less expense. CITY FATHERS HELP ASSOCIATED CHARITIES The fact that there are no city poor charges this winter, enriches the coffers of the Associated Charities by $30 for their work of bringing cheer to the worthy poor thig Christmas, theé sum having been appropriated by the city council as the city’s share toward the noble undertaking. The fact that the city authorities have no ‘“regulars” at this time caused them to turn the appropria- tion over to the association which will render an account of its ex- penditure to the city. CHICAGO SHIVERS WHILE COAL SUPPLY IS SHORT Chicago, Dec. 18.—Shivering from the cold wave sweeping the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicagoans learn- ed they face a coal famine within a week. Coal experts estimated the largest available supply in any dis- trict of the city could not hold out more than 10 days. A statement that G. W. Anderson, special assistant to the attorney gen- eral, is looking into the coal short- age, was made at the office of the United States district attorney. Government investigators, accord- ing to the statement, “are engaged on the problem of how far the high price of coal and other necessaries in Chicago are due to combinations obnoxious to the anti-trust laws.” Mr. Anderson is quoted as saying: “No one has any right to give cur- rency to the idea that a famine either in coal or in any other necessity ex- ists, because such reports simply play into the hands of speculators and would-be promoterst of illegal cor- ners.” GOVERNORS DEMAND THE RETURN OF THEIR MILITIA Washington, Dec. 18.—With prac- tically every governor in the country, whose troops are still on the Mex- ican border, demanding their return, Secretary of War N. D. Baker de- clined to intimate when the national guard will be brought home. Governor E. F. Dunne of Iillinois called on the secretary to request im- mediate return of all Illinois troops remaining on the border. Mr. Baker was busy when the governor reached his office and so Mr. Dunne conveyed hig request through Senator Thomas Walsh, Jr.,, of Montana. Senaior Walsh added his recommendation that the governor’s request be acted upon favorably. Governor Dunne es- pecially wants the men home by Christmas and if it is impossible to get them back then, he wants them in Illinois not later than Jan. 1. GEORGE OUT AGAIN. (By United Press) London, Dec. 18.—Premier Lloyd- George hopes to get out today to re- sume all duties after a week. It seems certain he would be able to address the House of Commons to- morrow, outlining the policy of the new government and stating Brit- ain’s view of the peace proposals. WILSON'S CHRISTMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ‘Washington, Dec. 18.—President Wilson plans to spend Christmas in ‘Washington this year with the mem- bers of his family. It will befthe second Christmas since he cam¢/into office that he had remained at the White House for the day. In 1915 he was at Pass Christian, Miss., and last year he spent the day at Hot Springs, Va. AFTER NEW MEMBERS. Bemidji council, U. C. T., is mak- ing a campaign for securing new members and is meeting with marked success. The council now has a ros- ter of 34 members. As an induce- ment toward effort a handsome $5 pipe is offered to the one securing the most members. The campaign closes May 1. Harry Koors is the senior counsellor of the council. During the winter a series of informal dances will be given, twice monthly. ARGUMENTS ON OPTION. On Thursday of this week the local | option contest arguments will be heard on the evidence submitted by both “wet” and “dry” factions. GOES AFTER WITNESS, ... Sheriff . Johnson has gone to Good- land to accompany back the individ- ual known as “Joe” who, it is al- leged, was held up in the Soo yards by Fred Wilson and Mac Wroat and relieved of $4 at the.point of & gun. The hearing of the accused is set for Wednesday. CHRISTNAS MAIL [CARRANZA PEEVED SHOULD BE SENT | OVER ACTION OF IMMEDIATELY, IS | GENERAL MURGUIA WARNING ISSUED Postmaster Ritchie Urges All to Get Busy; Wrap Securely and Address Plainly. PLACE YOUR NAME UPON PACKAGE BEFORE MAILING Don’t Call Postoffice Over the Phone to Inquire for Mail During the Christmas Rush. Get your mail packages into the postoffice at the earliest possible moment to insure delivery at their destination in time for Christmas, is the warning issued today by Post- master Ritchie. The Christmas rush commenced today at the postoffice and is on in earnest as indicated by the congestion of boxes and pack- ages. Mail destined for distant points shoudl be mailed immediately. Postmaster Ritchie says all pack- ages should be wrapped securely and fastened securely. Addresses should be marked plainly and the name of the sender and address should also appear upon the package. The money order window will close at the regular time, 6 o’clock, throughout the week, but the deeliv- ery window and receiving window for parcel post will remain open until 8 o’clock. No extra clerks or carriers will be employed during the Christmas rush, but the men will work over- time in an effort to clean up the mass of Christmas mail. Owing to the rush at the post- office, Postmaster Ritchie requests all persons not to telephone the office with inquiries as to whether there is mail there for them as it takes up considerable time of the employes and delays the work of the post- office employes. Again—get that package into the postoffice immediately. Do it now. WET AND DRY LINEUP ENGROSSES NEBRASKA (By United Press) Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 18.—With the convening of the Nebraska legisla- ture’s thirty-fifth session here Jan- uary 2, interest will center on the wet and dry lineup and the legisla- tive battle for laws to make effective the dry amendment passed by almost 30,000 majority at the recent elec- tion. The wets, realizing that prohibi- tion would carry, centered their fight toward the last on winning enough members of the legislature to block, if possible, passage of laws aimed to make prohibition effective. The drys have a slight majority in the house. In the senate the ma- jority of the members are personally wet, but of the thirty-three members, six are known as “law-enforcements.” These are men who before election admitted that they were personally not in favor of prohibition but would be governed as legislators by the ver- dict of the people on the prohibition amendment. These ‘law-enforce- ments” combined with the drys out- number the out-and-out wets in the senate. CITY JAIL LONESOME. The city jail presented a lonesome appearance last night, no lodgers be- ing accommodated. During the past couple of days Chief Ripple and his men have been active in cleaning the city of “floaters” and all who can- not give an account satisfactory to the police are invited to make a few tracks with their heels toward Be- midji. _ COLD CAUSES SHIVERING. Just what it was all about is a mystery, but general complaint was heard this morning and throughout the day of the cold. The school farm register indicated 14 below at 6 o’clock this morning but the . air seemed raw and a general shivering on the part of pedestrians and all others was the result. MEET THIS EVENING. It should be borne in mind that the committees appointed to promote a Carnival association for Bemidji will meet this eévening in the Com- mercial club rooms. The future work of the association is to be outlined and discussed and all committee mem- bers should be present. IMPORTANT. MEETING The regular meeting of the Com- mercial club will be held tomorrow night and it is urged that all mem- bers be present as there are matters of importance to be discussed. FOOD RIOTS IN SPAIN. . Madrid, Dec. 18.—A country-wide strike will be in effect today to voice the protest of workingmen against the dearth of food supplies. ‘IN HOLDING BACK Failed to Hasten to Relief of Chi- huahua City During Recent Bandit Attack. [ TREVINO GOES TO CAPITOL TO CONFER WITH HIS CHIEF Denies His Evacuation of Chihuahua Has Been Criticized; Says Ammunition Short, (By United Press) El Paso, Dec. 18.—It is intimated that First Chief Carranza will insti- tute an investigation into the con- duct of General Murguia for failure to go to the relief of Chihuahua City during the bandit attacks three weeks ago. General Trevino left last night for Mexico City for a conference with President Carranza. He denies that his action in evacuating the city has been criticised by the Mexican ad- ministration. . Lack of ammunition and fear for the safety of the non-combatants caused the abandonment of the north -ern capital, he stated. ) According to Trevino, Murguia stayed six days in Santa Rosalia, 25 miles from Chihuahua City, when tlxi_.attack was begun and failed to g0 to the aid of the city. Early Solution Near. Philadelphia, Dec. 18.—An early solution of the Mexican border prob- lems hinges on the action of the Mexican - American commissioners who reconvened here today. Albert J. Pani, who carried the Atlantic City proctocol to Carranza, arrived here last night with an answer from Carranza. BRITAIN WILL TAKE VOVER IRISH RAILWAYS _ London, De¢. 18.—The government has decided to take over the Irish railways, according to an announce- ment by James Henry Thomas, labor member of parliament for Derby and assistant general secretary of the Amalgamated Saciety of Railway Servants, It is hoped, it was explained, thus to avert a threatened strike. The danger of a railway strike in Ireland has lessened, according to a Central News dispatch from Dublin, and trains are running as usual. WOLF OR DOG? PUZZLE AT AUDITOR’S OFFICE There’s a mystery at the court house—a deep, dark mystery, and it is all about the identity of a hide that reposes peacefully in the county auditor’s office under the guise of a wolf hide. The question under discussion is, is it a wolf or a healthy specimen of a farm dog? There is a difference of opinion among those who have view- ed the pelt and it seems as if it would have to be taken up before Presi- dent Wilson to appoint a board of arbitration. Meanwhile, Deputy Auditor Alsop isn’t saying @ word. When asked for an opinion his only answer was a smile. STANTON IN ST. PAUL. Distriet Judge C. W. Stanton went to St. Paul last night and will return tomorrow. His trip was on court business. { BULGARS ARE ADVANCING. (By United Press) Sofia, Dec. 18.—According to an official dispatch, the Bulgars have advanced in both the Dobrudja and East Wallachia. In Dobrudja the Teutonic line has now been ad- vanced to a point between Lake Coleviza and Testamet. The Ger- mans are also advancing in Rou- mania. ' COSTUMES SELECTED, The costume selected for the Be- midji pilgrims to the St. Paul carni- val is to consist of red mackindaw, red trousers, white toque cap and white sogks for the men. For' the ladies, white toques and white spats will be worn, their garo to consist of red skirt and white coat. This is the decision of the committee named to gelect a suitable costume. - CLARK TAKES JAUNT. Probate Judge M. A. Clark is in the northwest part of the county on business pertaining to his office. BILL DRAWN | rical Society OWNED PA) BT 0. i uRE St. Paul, Minn., Dec. 18.—Attor- ney General Lyndon A. Smith is drafting a bill for introduction in the next legislature providing for the establishment of state owned paper mills on state timber landd as pro- posed by the Minnesota Editorial as- sociation following the conclusion that the situation as to the 1917 sup- ply of print paper is so serious as to threaten discontinuance of many Minnesota newspapers. A draft of the bill was urged by Frank A .Day of the Fairmont Sen- tinel, and secretary to Governor John A. Johnsonx\Chairman Herman Roe of the Northfield News and other publishers on the legislative commit- tee of the association who consulted Mr. Smith and other state officials on the subject Friday. ALLEDGED HOLDUP PAIR'S HEARING WEDNESDAY Fred Wilson and Mac Wroat, the pair accused of having held up Harry Reed and his companion known to him only as “Joe,” were held Satur- day afternoon under bonds of $5,000 each to await a hearing before Com- missioner Fisk next Wednesday morn- ing at 10 o’clock. They were unable to furnish bond. The men demanded a hearing up- on the charges and were accommoda- ted. They denied any part in the al- leged holdup. VILLISTAS TAKE JIMINEZ: SEVERS SUPPLY CHANNEL El Paso, Tex., Dec. 18.—Moving swiftly southward, Villista forces have captured Jiminez and are in possession of that city as well as Santa Rosalia, the only important point between them and Chihuahua City, according to advices reaching mining companies here today. The occupation of these two towns by bandit forces effectually severs the only channel of supplies and ammu- nition for General Murguia’s govern- ment army in the north. The town of Jiminez is an im- portant railway junction on the road to Torreon. The railway line from Parral joins the national lines at that point. STEWART FINDS FARMERS . ALIVE TO SCHOOL NEEDS W. B. Stewart, county superin- tendent .of schools, returned yester- day from a week’s trip in the north- ern portion-of the county in the in- terests” of the schools. He reports some of the school closed for the holidays and others that will run through. He leaves again tonight on another trip on official buginess. He says there is an awakening among the residents in the isolated portions of the county in behalf of their, schools and also better facili- ties for reaching Bemidji are needed, this problem being one of the chief topies of discussion. CHANCE FOR BUSINESS. Chicago, Dec. 18.—There is plenty of room and a welcome for the Am- erican business man in Russia to- day. And clean cut business methods will get him much in the land of the Cossack as in his own United States. The business man who wants to be “babied” had better stay away. Sitting on the doorstep of a Russian ministry waiting a handout of juicy orders, will bring only an order to beat it. No use, either, working on the theory that one has to “culti- vate.” The American who tries to bribe his way there is a chump. There is a huge demand for manu- factured goods. > ENEMIES MEET T0 DISCUSS WARFARE Rome, Dec. 18.—How hostilitiés between Italian and Austrian troops were femporarily suspended while blindfolded officers from both sides met to discuss the merits of a cer- tain explosive in ecivilized warfare was told here today for the first time. The Austrians hoisted the white flag of a temporary truce and nego- tiated a discussion by wigwags. The Italians accepting, the Austrian rep- resentatives masked their eyes and crossed No Man’s Land for the Ital- jan trenches. The Italians gave them safé conduct to headquarters. Fol- lowing the conference the blindfolded officers were led back to their own fortifications and hostilities were re- newed. WILSONS MARRIED ~ YEAR AGO TODAY (By United Press) ) ‘Washington, Dec. 18.—President and Mrs. Wilson celebrated their first wedding anniversary today. De- spite the freezing weather the presi- dent went out early on a round of golf.- The balance of the day was spent as usual. There will be a fam- ily supper at the White House this evening. RUSS CAPTURE HEIGHTS. Petrograd, Dec. 18.--Ini the advance of the Russian forces in the Carpa- thians around Little Porsk and east of Glashutte they captured several heights, the enemy counter attacks being repulsed. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH rort: AND THE U, §. URGED BY CENTRAL POWERS T0 BACK THEIR PEACE PLAN Such is Report in Circulation in Rome; German Flyers Attack Retreat. BOMB RUSS0-ROUMANIANS . WITH SUCCESS, IS REPORT - Russians Repulsed in Attacks Around Luck; Czar’s Soldiers are Fighting Fiercely. Rome, Dec. 18.—The Central Pow- ers have urged the Pope and the United States to back their peace pro- posals, according tc a report in cir- culation here. Teuton Air Attack. Berlin, Dec. 18.—The retreat of the Russo-Roumanian forces to Braili was attacked by German flyers with observed success. The general situa- tion is not changed. Russ are Repulsed. Berlin, Dec. 18.—The official state- ment today reported that Russian at- tacks around Luck and near Bols- pork had been repulsed. Northwest of Luck the Russians strove in vain to capture positions. Near Augusto- voka and South Zeborov similar at- tacks failed. SINGING MODELS ARE LATEST FASHION STUNT (By United Press) Chicago, Dec. 18.—Singing models, the first time in the history of fash- ion, it is said, made their appearance at the convention of the Designers’ Association of Women’s Clothes here today. Special melodies are sung with different styles. A brown or black tune takes a sombre tune, a green or pink suit a dashing strain, grey requiring some- thing in a reverie. It's to illustrate the psychology of clothes and to im- press women with the faci that their personality is shaped to a large ex- ‘tientsby the taste with which they ress, ALLEGED MURDERER COMMITS . SUICIDE AS ARREST NEARS Fargo, N. D., Dec. 18.—Otto Suket, a farmer, 49 years of age, killed him- self by shooting at his home near Haggard, six miles west of Fargo, late Saturday, while a sheriff’s force was enroute to arrest him for the murder half an hour earlier of John Deason, 69 years old, a neighbor. The man ended his life with a shotgun and that of his neighbor with a re- volver. MUNICIPAL XMAS TREE PLAN OF QUEEN ESTHERS Plans are being made by the Queen Esther society, of which Miss Elsie Schmitt is the president, to have a municipal Christmasi tree. This will be the first year Bemidji has at- tempted to have a city tree, but neighboring cities and towns have had them and they have proven a success. The plan is to trim the tree at- tractively and have it lighted with colored electric lights. It will be placed at the Netzer Pharmacy corner for three evenings and school chil- dren, assisted by older people, will sing Christmas carols. NEW CANAL FIGURES. i (By United Press) ‘Washington, Dec. 18.—Torty-two vessels of Latin-American registry passed through the Panama canal during the fiscal year 1914-15, ac- cording to figures of the Panama Canal Record available today. Of these four were Peruvian, three Hundurian, one Nicaraguan, 33 Chil- ean and one Panamanian. These figures do not mean that each vessel enumerated was a different one. LOSES CHRISTMAS CASH. Mrs. Albert Keehr, residing west of Bemidji, had her Christmas shop- ping greatly curtailed Saturday, and if there are any whé are wont to receive presents from her are shy this Christmas they should bear in mind that Mrs. Keehr lost her purse containing between $75 and $80 in Bemidji. She would appreciate it very much if the finder would return the purse and contents. SEAIS SELLING RAPIDLY. Red Cross seals are selling splen- didly in Bemidji this year, according to a report of those interested. Last year at this time the sales’amounted to about' $170 while to date this year the ‘sales have réached $239.79, in- 'deed a gratifying showing. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ander- son, 417 Minnesota avenue, Friday, a son.