Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 17, 1917, Page 1

“VOLUME XV, NO. 45. _ARMORY BUSINESS PROPOSITION IN BEMIDJI; THAT IS ALL THERE'STOIT 415,006 of Outsidle Money Would Be. >" Brought and Spent Here for " Craftsmen and Labor. $8,000MORBE ADDED IF BOND ISSUE IS CARRIED . Speakers at Mass Meeting Explain Their Opinions; Nation’s Editors Coming; What's the Answer? Shall Bemidji have an. armory building, combining a suitable audi- ventions, exhibitions, public gather- ings, etc., the structure to be of brick, handsome in design, modern in every detail and a permanent, -substantial improvement for the “eity, or shall she not? This is substance was the topic - discussed at the mass meeting at the city hall last evening to explain what the project is, what it means, the cost thereof and any other point up- .on which enlightenment was de- sired. Plans and sketches of the proposed building were opened for inspection and show a handsome désign which would be a credit to any community. Purely Business Proposition. E. A. Barker, lieutenant of the Bemidji naval militia, presided and explnined the object of the meet- - ing, calling*upon E. E. McDonald -to “"‘lxnln.ln what the armory proposi- tion embodied. Mr. McDonald spoke at length and from the viewpoint of the many ad- -wantages that would accrue from the city possessing such a structure. He said no city could stand still—must -either go forward or decay. He ask- ed that the proposition be looked at as something that Bemidji needed, with the proposition of the city giv- ing $8,000 and receiving $15,000 from the state for the erection of a $23,000 building in Bemidji. He d the proposition resolved its self ply into one strictly business and that the $15,000 was to be given by the state outright without a cent 4= -of interest. { Cost is. thht. All the cost would be the bonds of $8,000. voted by the city to ex- tend over a period of twenty years, -at 4 per cent, payment not to com- mence for five years and then $500 per year, to be spread over the entire assessed valuation of the city. He called attention to the future resi- dents of the city participating in the payment of- the bonds and interest, ‘not only those who cre present resi- dents. He'stated that was the prin- ciple of all bond igsues, w0 matter what for, and was the why of the extension over a period of several years—that those of the future who received benefits sfiould also share the expense of the Dbamefits so de- rived. Kaplan in Negzative. Morris Kaplan also spoke and op- posed the armory proposition in toto. He asserted that he was not at all opposed to the erection of a unicipal auditorium for the city and was willing to assist any such proposition even to the issuance of ‘bonds up to $35,000 or whatever was desired, but was not willing to sup- port a’ project that would be con- trolled by the state and not the peo- ple of Bemidji. He stated he did not doubt the sincerity of Mr. Barker in the least, but was opposed to any project for the people of such nature that wasn’t purely local, and that if it was to be an auditosium for the people he wanted the military feature ;amputated entirely. Roy Carter also spoke briefly, ex- pressing himself as opposed to the proposition. 600 Editors Coming. Late in the meeting, H. M. Clark ~<@tered the hall. He had been en- " gaged in long distance phoning to St. Paul, with H. E. Reynolds, and -as he was called upon for his views he exhibited a message from Mr. Reynolds which stated that the lat- ter had been successful in inducing the National Editorial association, through the Minnesota Editorial as- sociation, to come to Bemidji in June on the annual trip throughout a large portion of the country, their 4tinery including the northern por- tion of the United States this year. “Thig will mean the coming of fully 6 of the leading editors and news- ¥ per men of the United States to M idji for a visit enroute and Mr. Clark said ‘that all he had to say was that he hoped Bemidji would have fi a suitable place in which to enter- + tain the distinguished visitors, as —_— s (Continued from Page Six) e torium for the entertainment of con-| BEMIDJI. MINNESOTA, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1917. “ Five United States submersibles in the Gatun lock on the Atlantic side of the canal. Extraordinary precnuflom bhave been taken to guard the waterway. All Germans in the employ of the government were dismissed immediateiy we broke with the kaiser. ANARMORY WILL BE ERECTED IN BEMIDJI; WHAT KIND DESIRED The question of the $8,000 bond issue to be voted on next Tuesday- for the proposed new armory, does not by any means settle the armory pro- ject for.the city of Bemidji. There will be expended this summer the $15,000 offered by the state for the erection of an armory in Bemidji on the site purchased by enterprising citizens for the location of the ar- mory at the foot of Third street and the lake. * The $8,000 asked to be voted is to enable the city to have a handsome structure such as it would not be ashamed of and a center for commu- nity activities of proper nature. It was stated last evening at the mass meeting that the erection of the big brick structure would bring to Bemidji $15,000 of outside money to be spent here for labor and material for the building, 75 per cent of the cost to remain here, it was esti- mated, for craftsmen, laborers, etc. The cost of maintenance is pro- vided by statute. The city has al- ready voted $250 per year, as pre- scribed. The janitor and engineer at the public library receives $15 per month, and it is figured not more than $20 per month would be suffi- cient for the armory building when needed. Then there would be rental for affairs of various nature, all go- ing into the mainainence of the ar- mory. Whether the armory shall be a handsome brick structure or one of less import is a question the voters will be asked to decide. RAILROAD OFFICIALS OPITIMISTIC: NORMAL IN 10 DAYS, BELIEF (By United Press) Chicago, Feb. 17.—Although the situation is acute and freight com- gestion in the middle west is increas- ing, rail officials are optimistic to- day. Barring a new cold wave, move- ments will be normal in ten days, it is believed. PROGRAM SUNDAY The program which was to be given by the Luther league of the Swedish Lutheran church on Febru- ary 4, was postponed on account of weather conditions and will be given at the church, Sixth street and Am- erica avenue, Sunday evening at 7:30 o'clock. All are cordially invited. UNITED STATES LISTS CITIZENS IN GERMANY (By United Press) Berlin, Feb. 17.—The United States is listing all citizens in Ger- many to facilitate their movements in case of war. The Spanish ambas- sador_is doing the actual work! The American Chamber of Commerce and the United Press assisting in the work. Berlin is quiet and American business is continuing uninterrupt- edly. | Basketball Free-for-all Is Won By Bemidji, 20 to 18; Police Chief Guards Referee It might have been basketball but it appeared more like a riot, the game played last night at the Ar- mory between .the Bemidji high school team and the Brainerd high school quintet, and for a few min- utes Chief of Police Ripple was of the opinion a jamboree of the I. W. W. was like a pink tea compared with what seemed to be .threaten- ing. Bemidji won, score 20 to 18. The trouble was over Referee Schropp of St. Cloud. Coach Juv- rud of the local H. H. team had tried to secure three referees and was unable to secure one and Little Falls recommended Schropp. Coach Juv- rud is a newcomer to Bemidji and was not aware of some ill feeling hanging over from a year ago, and with what was regarded as deliberate unfairness on the part of the referee, some of the spectators generated what might be termed a free-for- all, Chief Ripple being obliged to protect Referee Schropp. uvrud Regretful. “I am Jt.x-uly sorry,” t:tated Coach Juvrud of the Bemidji team to the Pioneer today. *“We had accepted Mr. Schropp as referee and were pre- pared to abide by whatever rulings he might make. We believe we are sportsmen and no matter what we might ourselves .think of decisions we have made it our practice to ac- cept them without whimpering. I have no comment to make on _ last night’s game, only that what oc- curred if continued will bring us in- to disrepute and make scheduling of games with first class teams impos- sible. It hurts the school’s reputa- tion in athletics and the members of the team and'the city. Fosston will not come here, as it was said they were afraid of the crowd. I sin- cerely hope nothing will occur in the future to lower us in the estima- tion of other schools and have it said that visiting teams cannot be treated in a sportsmanship manner in Be- midji.” tar for Bemidii. Claude Bsiley and Herbert War- field again starred fn the point get- ting for the locals, closely followed by Phibbs, Bailey Warfield- and Phibbs doing all the scoring for the NEW EPISCOPAL RECTOR AND FAMILY ARRIVE Rev. George Backhurst, the new Episcopal minister, and wife and five children, have arrived in Bemidji and will make their home at 520 Bel- trami avenue. Their former home was at Morristown, N. Y. Rev. Backhurst will preach both morning and evéiaing Sunday. PRINT PAPER PROBE BEGUN BY UNITED STAJES JURY New York, Feb. 17.—The inquiry ordered by the Department of Jus- tice to ascertain whether there is a combination or conspiracy among manufacturers of news print paper to limit production and increase prices in violation of the criminal sections of the Sherman anti-trust law has begun before a special Fed- eral grand jury here. It is expected to last six weeks. o Bemidji boys. Rice, Crowell and Falconer were the biggest point get- ters for thq yisitors, Score: BEMIDJI . -5+ - BRAINERD Bailey ........R.F.......... Reis Phibbs . L. F. Falconer Warfield .C. . Coswell Gainey . .R. . Peterson Witting L. . Overly Sub.—Tennstrom tor Witting. ‘Warner for Overly. - Field baskets: Bemidji—Bailey 3; Warfield 4; Phibbs 2; Brainerd— Rice, 3; Croswell, 2; Falconer, 1. Free throws—Falconer, 6 out of 15; Bailey, 1 out of 6; Warfield, 1 out of 5. Referee, C. F. Schropp of St. Cloud. Timekeeper, Riley; scorer, Hannah. ARMY OF INSPECTORS ARE GOING THROUGH GERARD AND PARTY (By United Press) Halifax, Feb. 17.—Thoroughness of England’s inspection of the Scan- dinavian-American liner, Frederick VIII, bearing Bernstorff and party back to Germany, is indicated in a semi-official ‘announcement. It may be a week before the liner is passed. A huge staff and naval customs and immigration inspectors with in- terpretators and women assistants and translators have started the min- utest examination of bags, passen- gers and their persons. Lighters are alongside the ship to land the cargo to permit inspectors to get to the bottom of the hold of the vessel. GOPHERS LEAVE BORDER TODAY FOR HOMES (By United Press) San Antonio, Feb. 17.—The First battalion, Minnesota field artillery, !lelt this afternoon for Minnesota. The Fourth South Dakota infantry leaves San Benito for Fort Cook to- morrow. TEACHER FALLS ON STEP: ) IS BROKEN Miss Christa Wallace fell on her doorstep at 1200 America avenue yes- terday and sustained a broken rib. Miss Marjory Shannon will teach Miss Wallace’s school in district No. 148 until she has recovered from her injury. PAPER MAKERS COME TO TERMS ON THREAT (By United Press) Washington, Feb. 17.—It was learned this afternoon that the ad- ministration’s threat to take nation- al emergency measures unless the news print paper manufacturers same to terms with publishers had brought forth suggestions to arbi- trate print paper costs and distribu- Historical Society (GERMANY DECLARES X &!Jp-fo-the-Minute Dispatches bj the United Press---Greatest Afternoon Paper Service < BEMIDJI DAILY I?;, sfi‘>lE]EIR, OTA 45 CENTS PER MONTH ARMED U. S. MERCHANT SHIPS TOBE SUNK SUBMARINES HELP PROTECT PANAMA CANAL BOLDLY INTENT; PORTSAREBLOCKED; BRITISHNAVY ALERT RAIN, COLD COATS WALKS WITH ICE; MANY ACROBATICS Some time, one day, someone .sat himself down and wrote “Pride goeth before a fall,” and if that be the case.there was considerable pride rampant in Bemidji last evening and this forenoon, all on account of the ice coated condition of the - side- walks. Last evening a slight mist became noticeable ‘and later tiirned inte & fine drizzle, freezing as it fell to the walks, making walking decidedly uncertain and Bemidji experienced great difficulty in navigating. There were some of the best acro- batic feats pulled off in the history of Bemidji and some of them would have made a circus performer turn green with envy. One man's feet went from under him at the corner of Beltrami avenue and Second street and when he land- ed he broke a two dollar bill in a wallet in his hip pocket. Another man slipped coming out of the city Hall after attending the armory mass meeting and broke the Ten Commandments in two places. A lady living in North Bemidji slipped as she was returning from a neighbors and fractured three ribs— of her umbrella. And there were numerous tumbles and falls throughout city. . 2 KILLED, 9 MISSING; SHIP STRIKES MINE (By United Press) London, Feb. 17,—Two killed, nine missing and five injured was the toll when the British steamer Lady Ann, 1086-ton vessel, struck a mine. The injured are in a hospital. PROHIBITION TALK TONIGHT LUTHERAN FREE CHURCH Charles J. Hall, the eloquent Cali- fornian, will speak on State and Na- tional Prohibitjon ,explaining the new ‘‘get-togethier’” movement of the committee of sixty, which is com- posed of leading representatives of all temperance organizations, at the Lutheran Free church, Nymore ward, tonight at.7:30 o’clock. His message is unique; he is dif- ferent. A cordial invitation is ex- tended to all to hear him. HUGE WAR LOAN IS RAISED BY BRITISH (By Unifed Press) London, Feb. 17.—England has subscribed $55,000,000,000 or more to the war loan. The exast figures are expected to be given out later. The campaign has been wholly patri- otic. Nearly all subscriptions have been paid. GAS VICTIM ABLE T0 RESUME DUTIES - Miss Capitola Stewart resumed her duties as clerk at the Bazaar store this morning after a few days’ illness. Miss Stewart and her mother nar- rowly escaped asphyxiation when gas escaped from the coal stove. A brick had fallen -into the chimney, clogging it so that the gas came in- to the room instead of going up through the flue. Mrs. Stewart's son, S. T. Stewart, who occupies a room upstairs in the building, was but slightly affected and was able to resume his business the next day. STANTON HOME TOMORROW H. Mayne Stanton, editor of the Bemidji Sentinel, will return from other the St. Paul tomorrow morning where he attended the editorial association meeting in the Saint Paul hotel. 4 e — |ened by fire this (By United Press) . Washington, Feb. 17.—After two weeks of broken relations with Ger- many, President Wilson finds the in- ternational situation increasingly difficult. A break with Austria seems im- minent and United States ports are virtually blocked. Apparently rec- ognizing the effectiveness of the Ger- man blockade, indications are that Germany hds not changed its course. Germany has boldly announced that she will sink any American merchant ship if armed without any formalities, warning or inspection. Meanwhile, .England has renewed measures to combat submarines. This leads to the belief among officials that the submarine campaign is fizzling, as the number of victims is decreasing. Eight Ships Arrive, New York, Feb. 17.—Eight ships from BEuropean ports safely entered the harbor here today almost at the same time. They reported that a fleet of fast British destroyers con-. voyed the eight through the danger zone together. GERARD LEAVES SPAIN TUESDAY FOR HOME (By United Press) Paris, Feb. 17.—Former Ambas- sador Gerard, recaHed from Berlin, will leave Paris for Madrid, Spain, Tuesday and will proceed to the United States. | ‘ Paris, Feb. 17.—Joseph Grew, sec- retary to Ambassador Gerard at Ber- lin, has been ordered to Vienna to assist Ambassador Penfield. HOPE ABANDONED FOR BISHOP; END IS NEAR (By United Press) Rochester, Feb. 17.— Episcopal Bishop Erdsall is growing weaker and all hope of recovery is abandon- ed this afternoon. Physicians say the end is near. AERIAL SQUADRONS OF ENEMIES ACTIVE (By United Press) London, Feb. 17.—Naval aero- planes simultaneously and success- fully attacked Brugge harbor and the aerdome at Chistells yesterday. Berlin, Feb. 17.—German aerial squadrons extensively bombarded im- portant enemy positions behind the lines yesterday, destroying ammuni- tion depots in the Somme sector. STUDYING SPRING STYLES Miss Kate LaFontisee is expected to return from the Twin Cities to- morrow morning or Monday where she has been the past several weeks studying spring styles in millinery and purchasing stock for the La- Fontisee millinery store. $250,000 FIRE DAMAGE IN MINNEAPOLIS TODAY (By United Press) Minneapolis, Feb. 17.—The down town section of the city was threat- morning when flames attacked the Narraganset building, entailing a loss of $250,- 000. A 30-mile gale was blowing and the big fire wall barely saved the Tblg Dayton department store.